Wager: Gold Soul Coins

The Battle Soul Zone was a highly important area within Shrek Academy. Located at the northwest corner of the Martial Soul Department, near Shrek City, it was a place frequently visited by many upper-year students. All kinds of matches could be held here, with dedicated teachers serving as referees to determine victory or defeat, protect the students, provide aid, treatment, and so on.

Of course, all of this required payment.

To hold a Battle Soul match, both sides had to pay at least ten Gold Soul Coins as a venue fee. Even so, many students never tired of it. After all, there were no restrictions on fighting here, and they did not need to fear causing danger by striking too heavily. The teachers serving as referees would keep matters well under control.

Matches in the Battle Soul Zone were open to all students, provided they paid the fee: one Silver Soul Coin for admission.

For prominent figures in the academy like Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, their one-on-one duel naturally drew the attention of many students. Of the students who had witnessed the commotion at the academy gates earlier, regardless of year, the vast majority chose to follow them over and watch.

As for their subsequent challenge match with Yuwen Tuo, hardly anyone cared. After all, Yuwen Tuo was merely a one-ring Soul Master. Many guessed that the two had only agreed to the match because they wanted to teach him a lesson and show their junior what it meant for heaven to be high and earth to be thick.

"Yuwen Tuo, what exactly are you thinking? Even if you wanted to fight a Battle Soul match, you should be fighting someone around your level. Who starts off by challenging the two strongest people in the Outer Academy?" Xiao Xiao walked beside Yuwen Tuo, continuously trying to persuade him. "There's still time to cancel. Being embarrassed would be one thing, but if you face Senior Bei Bei, whose attack power is even stronger, you could easily get hurt."

Yuwen Tuo ignored Xiao Xiao's nagging. Instead, he stroked her hair and smiled. "Xiao Xiao, look. There's a betting pool over there. Let's go join in."

Xiao Xiao's face turned bright red again at Yuwen Tuo's natural, intimate gesture. Embarrassed and annoyed, she said, "Honestly, you big idiot, were you even listening to what I said?"

"Place your bets, place your bets! The strongest attack in the Outer Academy against the strongest defense in the Outer Academy! Bets are final once placed!" Sure enough, a bookmaker had set up a stall.

There were two sections. The first was Bei Bei versus Xu Sanshi. If Xu Sanshi won, the odds were 2.65. If Bei Bei won, they were 2.80. A draw paid 3.05.

Unexpectedly, Bei Bei's odds were slightly higher than Xu Sanshi's. It seemed more people were betting on Xu Sanshi. After all, Xu Sanshi was a fifth-year student while Bei Bei was in his fourth year. Their martial soul quality and Soul Power cultivation were roughly equal, so it came down to whose combat experience was more extensive.

In reality, though, Bei Bei had long been qualified to advance to the fifth year. He was even slightly older than Xu Sanshi. He had remained in the fourth year only to stay with Tang Ya.

The second section was for whichever of the two fought Yuwen Tuo after their match.

No matter which of them won, the odds for that match were 1.05, while Yuwen Tuo's odds had reached an astonishing 1:100. Clearly, everyone believed Yuwen Tuo's challenge was nothing more than a moth flying into a flame, seeking his own death.

Yet even with such high odds, no one bet on him. After all, nobody wanted to throw away money for nothing.

Seeing this, Xiao Xiao grew even angrier. "What is this? Why does no one think you'll win? I'm going to show my support for you."

She seemed to have forgotten that she had just been trying to convince Yuwen Tuo not to overestimate himself. Now, all she wanted was to seek justice for him.

When she had tried to persuade Yuwen Tuo, it had been out of kindness and concern that he might be hurt, not contempt. She could not stand others looking down on him like this.

"Six Gold Soul Coins, all on Yuwen Tuo!" Xiao Xiao directly pulled out six Gold Soul Coins and slammed them onto the table.

Yuwen Tuo was somewhat surprised. After all, once Xiao Xiao deducted her food expenses and miscellaneous cultivation costs each month, she only had two Gold Soul Coins left as spending money. This was equivalent to betting an entire quarter's worth of her allowance in one go.

Even though she knew there was a high chance those six Gold Soul Coins would never return, she still wanted everyone to know that someone was willing to support Yuwen Tuo.

"Thank you, Xiao Xiao!" Yuwen Tuo said with heartfelt gratitude. "I won't let you down."

He stepped forward as well and took out a Gold Soul Coin card. "Thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins, all on myself."

This was all of his assets. Honestly, Ma Xiaotao had indeed never treated him poorly when it came to money. She usually gave him plenty of Gold Soul Coins, and over the past six years, he had had little need to spend money, so he had saved it all.

Nor was he worried that the bookmaker would be unable to pay when the time came, because he knew this bookmaker was actually the Great Soul Arena itself.

A great power that had endured for ten thousand years possessed wealth far beyond that of ordinary factions.

"Are you sure?" The person in charge of the betting stall could only think Yuwen Tuo had gone mad.

He was a one-ring Soul Master. Where did he get the courage to bet his entire fortune on himself? Was he really so confident he could defeat a three-ring Soul Elder?

"I'm sure!" Yuwen Tuo said firmly.

"Fine. In that case, bets are final."

"Yuwen Tuo..." Xiao Xiao was utterly shocked. Just as she was about to say something, Yuwen Tuo pressed a finger to her lips.

"Shh!" Yuwen Tuo smiled. "Xiao Xiao, this time, just trust me. Once I win the money, I'll buy you a soul bone as a gift someday!"

"Mm, good luck!" Xiao Xiao nodded. There was nothing else she could do. The bets had already been placed. All she could do was try to trust the big boy before her, the first person who had made her heart flutter.

Inside a resting room in the Battle Soul Zone.

"Bei Bei, your Xiao Ya is way too vicious. Look, just look..." Xu Sanshi lifted his shirt toward Bei Bei with a dissatisfied expression. On the right side of his waist was already a huge swollen lump, as though he had been bitten by mosquitoes again and again until the bites had piled on top of one another.

Bei Bei snorted. "Serves you right. Who told you to bully my junior brother? How about this: give me one Mystic Water Pill, and I'll help you remove that Dragon Beard Needle. Otherwise, you'll have no choice but to dig out that piece of flesh yourself. This Dragon Beard Needle was left behind by the first-generation ancestor of our Tang Sect. Getting hit by it means you're blessed across three lifetimes."

Xu Sanshi said, "That kid was really from your Tang Sect? I didn't see anything special about him! Forget about the Mystic Water Pill. Hurry up and remove it. Maintaining my martial soul consumes a lot of Soul Power too, and this Dragon Beard Needle is especially good at piercing Soul Power. I let my guard down for a moment and actually fell for Tang Ya's trick. How depressing."

"Whatever. Give it or don't. You beat up my junior brother and wrecked his stall, so enjoy that Dragon Beard Needle yourself. The match is about to begin anyway. I refuse to believe you can still contend with me while carrying that thing." Bei Bei said gleefully.

Xu Sanshi gave an angry snort. "Fine, Bei Bei, just you wait. See how I deal with you later. I won't be holding back."