I Bet on Myself

Through the backstage private passage, Qin Ming led seven teenagers slowly in, with Lin Wuyuan and Wang Ze following on either side. All three had changed into casual clothes and were not wearing their instructor uniforms, blending in inconspicuously into the crowd.

"You guys go wait in the waiting area first. Instructor Lin, Instructor Wang, and I will go to the betting area." Qin Ming stopped and winked at everyone with a smile. "Since we've come all this way, we naturally want to support our students. We'll each bet a few games on you to win, just as a little bonus."

Lin Wuyuan smiled slightly, "I've lived most of my life and rarely misjudge people. You kids have a very high chance of winning."

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. "Teacher Qin, you're betting too? Then I want to bet too! I'll bet two hundred Gold Soul Coin, all on Brother Lin Chen winning!"

As she was about to hand over the Gold Soul Coin, Qin Ming looked at Xiao Wu's confident expression and couldn't help but laugh.

Lin Chen stood to the side, and upon hearing this, he flicked his finger and took out a bag of five hundred Gold Soul Coin from his Chaos Space; it was quite heavy. He handed it to Qin Ming, his tone calm. "Teacher Qin, could you do me a favor? I'm betting everything on myself to win the first solo match."

Qin Ming paused for a moment, looked down at the stack of Gold Soul Coin, then looked up at Lin Chen, and burst into laughter. "You kid, you're pretty confident. Alright, I'll place the bet for you. The odds aren't low, 1 to 3, you can get 1,500 if you win, it's a pretty good deal."

Seeing this, Yu Tianheng's face flushed slightly. He coughed awkwardly and said in a deep voice, "I'll also bet three hundred, on Lin Chen."

As soon as she finished speaking, Dugu Yan's eyes flickered slightly, and she took out one hundred Gold Soul Coin: "I'll bet one hundred."

Ye Lingling was aloof and cautious by nature. Seeing everyone placing bets, she calmly took out one hundred Gold Soul Coin, tacitly agreeing to follow suit and bet on Lin Chen to win.

Brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo looked at each other, smiled honestly, each took out a hundred gold soul coins and bet on Lin Chen. For a moment, the whole team bet on Lin Chen to win the single match.

Looking at the group of teenagers working together so seamlessly, Qin Ming's eyes were full of smiles. "Alright, I'll handle it for you all at once."

After exchanging a few words of laughter, Qin Ming and his two companions turned and headed towards the betting area. Lin Chen led the group towards the waiting area, where they could see the matches through the fence along the way—the flashing swords, the clash of Soul Power, and the constant cheers.

The waiting area was already filled with participating Soul Master, including fierce-looking burly men, sharp-eyed Agility Attack System, and Control System Soul Masters who were resting with their eyes closed. When they saw a group of teenagers in academy uniforms enter, they all cast surprised glances at them, some curious and some disdainful.

"Kids come to Soul Fighting? Aren't you afraid of getting beaten up and crying for your mom?" A burly man with a bare upper body sneered from the corner, which made the people next to him burst into laughter.

Xiao Wu wrinkled her nose, about to retort, but Lin Chen raised his hand to stop her. He didn't look at those people, walked straight to a seat by the window, closed his eyes, and composed himself.

For him, the opponents in the Great Soul Arena were merely whetstones. The important thing was not winning, but using the battles to hone the fusion between his physical body and the Chaos Pearl.

Not long after, a staff member walked in and announced loudly, "Soul Elder Level Solo Tournament, Match 8, Zhou Meng vs. Lin Chen, prepare to enter!"

Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes and stood up.

"Go, Brother Lin Chen!" Xiao Wu clenched her fist to cheer him on.

Yu Tianheng nodded slightly. "Be careful. I've heard of Zhou Meng; he's notoriously ruthless."

"I understand." Lin Chen nodded slightly, then turned and followed the staff member out.

As you pass through the long corridor, a cacophony of noise assaults your senses, growing louder and louder. The moment you step out of the corridor, blinding lights illuminate the circular Soul Fighting, surrounded by thousands of spectators, their shouts surging like a tidal wave.

In the center of the Soul Fighting, the host, holding Amplifying Soul Tool, loudly announced, "First, please welcome our red team player—the Mad Saber Zhou Meng, who has already achieved three consecutive victories! A level 38 Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder, wielding the Seven Star Saber Martial Soul! Since his debut, he has rarely encountered an opponent of his level, and his Seven Star Consecutive Slash have struck fear into the hearts of his opponents!"

A cheer erupted from the east stands, clearly indicating that Zhou Meng had many supporters.

A burly figure leaped onto the Soul Fighting Arena. He was about thirty years old, with a face full of scars, seven narrow-bladed longswords strapped to his back, and his muscles were bulging all over his body. He stood there like an iron tower. He slapped his chest, and three Soul Ring— yellow, yellow, and purple—rose from beneath his feet.

"Zhou Meng! Zhou Meng!"

The cheers from the audience grew even louder.

The host raised his voice and continued, "Next, please welcome the blue team's contestant— Lin Chen, a first-time participant! Twelve years old, a level 36 Control System Battle Soul Elder, Martial Soul — Chaos Pearl!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the audience was stunned for a moment, then erupted into an even bigger uproar.

Twelve years old? Level 36? You must be kidding me!

"What does a kid know about Soul Fighting? Hurry up and get down there, lest Zhou Meng hurt you!"

A chorus of doubts and laughter rose and fell; no one had any faith in this teenager. Twelve years old and at level thirty-six—it sounded like a fantasy. Even a genius from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy wouldn't be this outrageous, would they?

Zhou Meng stood opposite him, arms crossed, looking Lin Chen up and down with disdain. He grinned and said, "Kid, are you even grown up yet before you Soul Fighting? Admit defeat and get out of here, and I might spare your life. Otherwise, don't blame me if your blade gets chopped off later."

Lin Chen stood still, his expression calm, as if he hadn't heard his provocation. He simply raised his right hand slightly and gently activated his Soul Power.

Buzz--

The first purple Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath his feet, its color deep and solid. The second purple Soul Ring followed closely behind, the two purples shining together, and the fluctuations of Soul Power surged instantly.

Immediately following, the third ring, a deep, inky black Soul Ring, rose steadily from the ground like the night sky, stopping at the outermost ring.

Purple, purple, black.

Three Soul Ring floated up and down beneath his feet, the ancient pressure emanating from the black, Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring spreading outwards as if it were a tangible substance.

The previously noisy audience seats fell silent instantly.

It was as if someone had grabbed him by the throat; all the laughter and all the doubts came to an abrupt halt.

Thousands of spectators stared wide-eyed at the black Soul Ring, their mouths agape, wide enough to fit a fist.

The host, holding Amplifying Soul Tool, opened his mouth wide for a long time before suddenly raising his voice, his throat hoarse. "A black... a black Soul Ring! A ten- Ten Thousand Year Third Soul Ring! My God! Am I seeing things?! Twelve years old, and a ten- Ten Thousand Year Third Soul Ring!"

Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?!

"It really is black! The Third Soul Ring is already ten thousand years?"

"My god! What kind of monster is this? A twelve-year-old, ten- Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?"

After a brief silence, an even more frenzied uproar erupted. The audience was in complete chaos, everyone standing up and craning their necks to look at the Soul Fighting, trying to see if the Soul Ring was real.

Zhou Meng's mocking expression froze instantly, his pupils contracted sharply, and he stared intently at the black Soul Ring, his hair standing on end.