Yu Tianhuang and the other person both turned to look at Mu Feng, their eyes filled with confusion.
To keep the hulking idiot Xu Sanshi from overhearing, Mu Feng explained in a low voice, "Qiu Li is a level thirty-four Soul Elder. That big idiot is fighting her while sealing off his own soul skills. He definitely won't end up well."
Nanmen Yun'er and the other person covered their mouths, clearly stunned by Di Qiuli's strength. They had been too busy discussing Mu Feng's martial soul earlier to realize that Di Qiuli beside him was no less formidable.
Yu Tianhuang asked doubtfully, "What do you mean by 'making a big score'?"
Mu Feng smiled. "Brother Yu, I'm guessing you don't know who that big guy is yet. 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 did not know much about such matters, but anyone called one of the Twin Stars certainly could not be weak.
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 Xu Sanshi had arranged a fight with a new student.
One of the Outer Court Twin Stars facing a newly enrolled student was an irresistible spectacle. Within moments, huge numbers of students flocked over, and the Soul Arena was packed with people.
Inside the waiting room, Mu Feng walked to Di Qiuli's side and whispered something into her ear. Then he pulled Nanmen Yun'er and the other person aside to discuss matters quietly. Xu Sanshi, watching from nearby, frowned slightly, feeling that they were up to no good.
After learning Mu Feng's plan, the two raised their brows. Nanmen Yun'er asked uneasily, "Brother Mu, is this really okay?"
Though she was usually a little mischievous, this was her first time helping someone set a trap, especially for a famous Outer Court genius.
Mu Feng smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Yun'er. With me here, even if he figures it out after entering the arena, there's nothing he can do to you."
Mu Feng then gave Nanmen Yun'er a meaningful look. She reluctantly stepped forward, but the moment she stood before Xu Sanshi, her earlier awkwardness vanished. In an overbearing tone, she said, "Big idiot, dare to make a bet?"
Her masterful change in expression was no worse than Di Qiuli's. Mu Feng had not expected this petite little girl to possess such entertaining acting skills.
At those words, Xu Sanshi's brows finally relaxed. He had thought they were planning some underhanded trick, but they merely wanted to bet with him. He could not help chuckling. "You don't actually think you can defeat me just because I sealed two soul skills, do you?"
Nanmen Yun'er ignored Xu Sanshi's 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. But if you lose—"
"No need. I can't possibly lose," Xu Sanshi cut Nanmen Yun'er off immediately. Whether in terms of strength or combat experience, he could not possibly lose to a freshman who had just enrolled.
Nanmen Yun'er frowned delicately after being interrupted. She had not expected the big idiot before her to be so arrogant. "Just make sure you don't go scurrying away with your head in your hands after getting beaten up."
Nanmen Yun'er did not reveal her delight. Instead, she continued, "Then what will you do if you lose? You're not going to welch on the bet, are you?"
At that moment, Yu Tianhuang dutifully played along. "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 all the money Mu Feng had brought with him. In just a few sentences, he had thoroughly sized up Xu Sanshi's arrogant temperament. Even for Xu Sanshi, one thousand Gold Soul Coins was no small sum. With his pride, he would certainly produce a treasure worth several times more than the wager.
Mu Feng had seized upon Xu Sanshi's arrogance. And among the things on Xu Sanshi's person worth more than one thousand Gold Soul Coins, there was only that Profound Water Pill.
Looking at the porcelain bottle Xu Sanshi had taken out, Mu Feng's lips curved upward. Let's teach this innocent fool a little lesson first, so he won't suffer a huge loss in the next few days. It's for your own good.
Eagerly awaiting the start of the match, Xu Sanshi did not realize that the one with the lowest presence among the four was actually the most scheming. Before he knew it, he had fallen into Mu Feng's carefully prepared trap.
Bei Bei listened in surprise to the announcement from the soul-tool loudspeaker, repeatedly confirming that Xu Sanshi was about to fight a new student.
"That turtle really is getting worse with age. Bullying classmates in the same year is one thing, but now he's actually challenging a freshman to a soul battle," Bei Bei remarked.
Tang Ya, beside him, was somewhat excited. Pulling on Bei Bei's arm, she said, "Why don't we go take a look?"
Bei Bei smiled helplessly. Before the challenge had even begun, the academy had thoroughly hyped it up. Not only had it publicized Xu Sanshi's restrictions on himself, but even the wager the group had made in the waiting room 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 it was now taking place between Xu Sanshi, a prominent figure in the Outer Court, and an unknown freshman.
By the time the two arrived, the enormous viewing stands were already packed to the brim. Only by relying on his reputation did Bei Bei manage 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 Arena. The referee stepped into the center, and his powerful voice instantly spread throughout the Soul Combat Zone.
"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. Two yellow and one purple soul rings—the optimal soul ring configuration—rose from beneath his feet, while an enormous Tortoise Shell Shield appeared before him.
As cries of amazement rang out from the sidelines, Xu Sanshi looked at Di Qiuli with disdain in his eyes.
In an instant, the gazes of hundreds upon hundreds of spectators fell solely upon her. Di Qiuli was not intimidated by the grand scene before her, and her expression remained calm.
At that moment, Bei Bei suddenly sensed that something was off. He quickly said to the intently focused 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, "Who would have thought our Young Master Bei was such a flirt? That junior sister 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. "It really does seem like there was someone like that. But not long after, Mu Feng left together with them."
Tang Ya studied the golden-haired figure in the arena again, gradually matching her with the girl in her memories.
"Hiss, now that you mention it, she really does look very similar. They both seem to have long golden hair too."
While the two were still discussing Di Qiuli's identity, her aura suddenly surged. Soul rings identical to Xu Sanshi's in both number and color configuration slowly emerged around Di Qiuli.
The venue abruptly fell silent. The entire Soul Combat Zone became deathly quiet, before earth-shaking cheers and screams nearly lifted the roof off the arena.
Xu Sanshi was even more dumbfounded, muttering, "A freshman... a level thirty Soul Elder!"
Before you continue