Trap and Wager

Yu Tianhuang and the other looked at Mu Feng in unison, confusion in their eyes.

To keep the big fool Xu Sanshi from overhearing, Mu Feng explained in a low voice, "Qiuli is a level thirty-four Soul Elder. That big fool is even sealing his own soul skills to fight her. He definitely won't end well."

Nanmen Yun'er and the other covered their mouths, clearly shocked by Di Qiuli's strength. They had been so focused on discussing Mu Feng's martial soul that they had not expected Di Qiuli, standing beside him, to be no less formidable.

Yu Tianhuang asked doubtfully, "What do you mean by 'making a big score'?"

Mu Feng smiled. "Brother Yu, I suppose you don't know who this big guy is, do you? He's Xu Sanshi, one of the Outer Court's Twin Stars. Since he took the initiative to provoke us, how can we let him leave without suffering a major loss?"

The two were stunned. They had only just entered Shrek Academy and knew little about such matters, but anyone called one of the Twin Stars was surely not to be underestimated.

The commotion in the cafeteria naturally drew plenty of onlookers. Among those eating were upperclassmen who recognized Xu Sanshi, and they immediately spread the news that he had arranged a duel with a freshman.

One of the Outer Court's Twin Stars fighting a newly enrolled freshman was an enormous spectacle. Within moments, great crowds of students came rushing over, and the Soul Fighting Arena was packed with people.

In the lounge, Mu Feng leaned close to Di Qiuli's ear and whispered something. Then he pulled Nanmen Yun'er and the other aside to discuss matters quietly. Xu Sanshi frowned slightly as he watched them, vaguely feeling that they were up to no good.

After learning of Mu Feng's plan, the two raised their brows. Nanmen Yun'er asked uneasily, "Big Brother Mu, is this really all right?"

Although she was usually rather mischievous, this was her first time helping someone set a trap, especially for a famous genius of the Outer Court.

Mu Feng smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Yun'er. With me here, even if he realizes what happened after entering the arena, he won't be able to do anything to you."

Mu Feng gave Nanmen Yun'er a meaningful look, and only then did she reluctantly step forward. Yet once she stood before Xu Sanshi, all traces of her earlier awkwardness vanished. In a domineering tone, she said, "Big fool, dare to make a bet with me?"

Her masterful change of expression was no less impressive than Di Qiuli's. Mu Feng had not expected this petite little girl to possess such amusing acting skills.

At those words, Xu Sanshi's frown finally eased. He had thought they were planning some underhanded trick, but it turned out they merely wanted to bet with him. He could not help but chuckle. "You don't seriously think you can defeat me just because I sealed two of my soul skills, do you?"

Nanmen Yun'er ignored his mockery and continued, "Don't tell me you're scared?"

"What a joke. What do you want to bet?"

"I'll wager one thousand gold soul coins. If you win, they're yours. If you lose—"

"No need. I can't possibly lose," Xu Sanshi immediately cut her off. Whether it was confidence in his own strength or his combat experience, there was no way he could lose to a freshman who had only just enrolled.

Nanmen Yun'er's delicate brows furrowed after being interrupted. She had not expected this big fool to be so arrogant. "When you get beaten up later, don't go running off with your head in your hands."

Nanmen Yun'er did not reveal any delight on her face and simply continued, "Then what will you do if you lose? You won't try to welch on the bet, will you?"

At that moment, Yu Tianhuang stepped in as the perfect straight man and chimed in, "Exactly. Don't deny it when you lose."

Xu Sanshi took out a small white jade porcelain bottle and said impatiently, "If you win, this pill is yours."

One thousand gold soul coins was already all the money Mu Feng had brought with him. In just a few sentences, he had thoroughly figured out Xu Sanshi's proud temperament. Even for Xu Sanshi, one thousand gold soul coins was no small sum. Given his arrogance, he would certainly bring out a treasure worth several times more than the other side's wager.

Mu Feng had accurately exploited Xu Sanshi's arrogance, and the only thing on Xu Sanshi worth more than one thousand gold soul coins was that Profound Water Pill.

Mu Feng looked at the porcelain bottle Xu Sanshi had taken out, the corners of his lips curling upward. I'll teach this innocent fool a lesson first, so he doesn't suffer a huge loss in the next few days. It's for your own good.

Xu Sanshi, anxiously waiting for the match to begin, had not realized that among the four of them, the one with the most schemes was actually the least conspicuous. Before he knew it, he had fallen into Mu Feng's carefully prepared trap.

Bei Bei listened in surprise to the announcement over the soul tool loudspeakers, confirming again and again that Xu Sanshi was about to fight a freshman.

"That turtle is really getting worse with age. It would be one thing if he bullied classmates in the same year, but now he's actually challenging a freshman to a soul duel," Bei Bei remarked.

Tang Ya, standing beside him, was somewhat excited. Tugging on Bei Bei's arm, she said, "Why don't we go take a look?"

Bei Bei smiled helplessly. It had to be said that the academy had played up the spectacle to the fullest before this challenge. Not only had they publicized Xu Sanshi's self-imposed restrictions, but even the wager made by the group in the lounge had been leaked by an "informed source who wished to remain anonymous."

A wager worth one thousand gold soul coins—such a shocking gamble had not been seen in the Outer Court for ten years. Yet now, it was taking place between Xu Sanshi, a prominent figure of the Outer Court, and an unknown freshman.

By the time the two arrived, the vast spectator stands were already packed solid. Bei Bei had to rely on his own reputation to squeeze through with Tang Ya to a spot near the front.

At that moment, a man and a woman stood facing each other in the Soul Fighting Arena. The referee stepped into the center, his powerful voice instantly spreading throughout the dueling grounds.

"Freshman Di Qiuli challenges fifth-year student Xu Sanshi. Are you ready?"

Both nodded.

The referee said solemnly, "Begin."

Xu Sanshi was the first to release his martial soul. The optimal soul ring configuration of two yellow and one purple rose from beneath his feet, and an enormous tortoise-shell shield appeared before him.

As a chorus of astonished cries erupted from the sidelines, Xu Sanshi looked at Di Qiuli with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

In an instant, the gazes of hundreds and thousands of spectators all fell upon her. Di Qiuli was not intimidated in the slightest by the grand scene before her, and her expression remained unchanged.

At that moment, Bei Bei suddenly sensed that something was off. He hurriedly said to the fully absorbed Tang Ya beside him, "Xiao Ya, don't you think that girl in the arena looks familiar?"

"Oh?" Tang Ya glanced at Bei Bei and teased, "I never expected our Young Master Bei to be so flirtatious. That junior sister has only just enrolled, and you're already trying to get close to her."

Bei Bei tapped Tang Ya's forehead with a finger and said helplessly, "Stop fooling around. Don't you think she looks like the one we met in the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Only then did Tang Ya finally remember. "There really did seem to be someone like that, but Mu Feng left with them not long afterward."

Tang Ya carefully examined the golden-haired figure in the arena once more, and gradually, she overlapped with the person in Tang Ya's memories.

"Hiss, now that you mention it, she really does look quite similar. They even seem to have the same long golden hair."

Just as the two were still discussing Di Qiuli's identity, her aura suddenly surged. The same number of soul rings as Xu Sanshi's, with the same color configuration, slowly unfolded around Di Qiuli.

The venue suddenly fell silent. The entire dueling area was utterly quiet, before earth-shaking cheers and screams nearly blew the roof off the arena.

Xu Sanshi was even more dumbfounded, muttering, "A freshman... a level thirty Soul Elder!"