Chapter 26: "I'd Win"
As soon as he said this, the expressions of Tang Ya, Bei Bei, and Huo Yuhao instantly became subtle.
They clearly knew that Lin Xuan was a genuine Soul Elder.
If they really followed Xu Sanshi's rules of "half Soul Power, limited to the first two Spirit Abilities"... the question wouldn't be whether Lin Xuan could last three minutes, but whether Xu Sanshi himself could avoid being beaten into a pig's head within three minutes.
Han Ruoruo, who had originally intended to mediate, now pressed her lips together tightly, barely managing to suppress her laughter.
She had wanted to stop them... but now it seemed that letting Xu Sanshi learn a lesson wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Under the complex and varied gazes, Lin Xuan suddenly smiled lightly.
His gaze calmly met Xu Sanshi's.
"Apologize? That stake is far too boring."
Xu Sanshi frowned, vaguely sensing something was wrong, but he was currently furious, and Jiang Nannan was watching. If he backed down, where would his dignity be?
"Then what do you want to bet?" he asked in a deep voice.
Lin Xuan took two steps forward, came to Xu Sanshi's side, and whispered in a volume only they could hear,
"Since we're playing, why not play for something bigger?"
"I'll bet a Thousand Year Spirit Bone, nearly ten thousand years old, against you."
"Do you dare?"
Xu Sanshi trembled all over, as if a basin of ice water had been dumped on his head, instantly sobering him up significantly.
Something is wrong!
It's twelve parts wrong out of ten!
What kind of freshman dares not only to directly confront a fourth-year senior like him, but also casually offer a "nearly ten-thousand-year-old Soul Bone" as a stake?!
That's a Soul Bone! It's a supreme treasure that could spark a bloody battle outside and make Spirit Emperors and Soul Saints envious!
He abruptly looked at Lin Xuan, the anger in his eyes slightly receding, replaced by uncertain scrutiny.
But Lin Xuan wouldn't give him a chance to analyze calmly.
He glanced out of the corner of his eye at Jiang Nannan, who was watching nearby, and a playful smile curled his lips. His voice remained very low,
"Oh, right, before enrollment, Senior Bei Bei mentioned introducing me to a girlfriend named..."
He paused as if thinking,
"Oh, I think her name was Jiang Nannan? I heard she's the most beautiful senior in the Outer Academy."
"You—!"
Xu Sanshi's pupils contracted sharply. The anger he had just suppressed flared up instantly, surging straight to his head. That sliver of rationality was immediately swallowed by churning jealousy and rage.
His fists clenched, grinding audibly, veins pulsed faintly on his temples, and he squeezed out a low voice through gritted teeth,
"...A bet it is! I accept!"
He stared intently at Lin Xuan, continuing, practically grinding his teeth,
"But I don't currently have anything on me equivalent to a Thousand Year Spirit Bone."
"A minor issue,"
Lin Xuan said easily, as if he had expected it. "You can give it to me later, but I have a requirement..."
"I only want a spirit tool, at least Grade 7, and it must be offensive."
Xu Sanshi's heart sank, and he fully understood.
How could this be an ignorant freshman?
This was clearly someone who was confident in his own strength, acted with impunity, and calculated every step, just waiting for him to jump into the trap!
Even the type and grade of the spirit tool were clearly specified... this person was definitely not simple.
But now, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, with Jiang Nannan still observing, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"...Fine!"
Xu Sanshi's face was ashen,
"A Grade 7 offensive spirit tool, my Xuanming Sect can afford that! The bet is established!"
He said no more, abruptly turned around, pushed through the crowd, and strode toward the Soul Dueling Arena.
To Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Huo Yuhao, and the many other onlookers, Lin Xuan and Xu Sanshi had simply approached each other and exchanged a few low words. Afterward, Xu Sanshi, looking even angrier, left first. It was clear they had agreed to resolve the conflict through a soul duel.
As for what exactly they discussed and what the stakes were, no one knew the details except Han Ruoruo, who possessed the cultivation of a Soul Saint and exceptional hearing.
Han Ruoruo watched Xu Sanshi's retreating figure, then looked at the still composed Lin Xuan beside her, and gently shook her head.
Junior Lin Xuan's method of Extortion was precise and ruthless. Xu Sanshi was probably going to suffer a huge loss this time... she thought to herself.
Specifically asking for a Grade 7 offensive spirit tool... it seems Junior Lin Xuan gathered information solely for the sake of a spirit tool?
Watching Xu Sanshi's aggressive retreating figure, Lin Xuan was in no hurry. He merely turned to Han Ruoruo beside him and casually asked,
"Senior, are you heading straight back to the Inner Court now?"
"No rush to return to the Inner Court,"
Han Ruoruo smiled sweetly. "I'm quite eager to go to the Soul Dueling Arena and witness Junior Lin Xuan's true strength with my own eyes."
The moment she finished speaking, Bei Bei and Tang Ya approached, bringing Huo Yuhao with them.
"Senior Han." Bei Bei spoke first, his tone gentle and respectful.
He then looked at Lin Xuan, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes,
"Junior Lin Xuan, I didn't expect you to know Senior Han too."
"Wow, Lin Xuan, you actually know Sister Ruoruo!"
Tang Ya was even more direct, her large eyes darting between Lin Xuan and Han Ruoruo, filled with astonishment.
Her personality was lively, and her curiosity was no less than Han Ruoruo's. She immediately leaned closer to Lin Xuan, lowering her voice but unable to hide her excitement as she asked,
"Quick, tell me, what did you whisper to that Xu Sanshi guy just now? His face turned green with anger!"
Lin Xuan turned his head to look at her, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and softly uttered two words,
"A secret."
"Hey—!"
Tang Ya immediately puffed out her cheeks, wearing an expression that said, "You're unfair."
Seeing this, Bei Bei smiled helplessly and patted Tang Ya's shoulder, signaling her to calm down.
He turned to Lin Xuan, his expression becoming a bit more serious,
"Junior Lin Xuan, although I don't know the specifics of your agreement, Xu Sanshi's strength cannot be underestimated; he is on par with me."
"Even though he said he would only use half his Soul Power and his first two Spirit Abilities, he... can be quite stubborn sometimes and has an extremely strong desire to win. If he finds that Junior Lin Xuan's strength far exceeds expectations, I worry that he might..."
Bei Bei didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.
He was worried that if Xu Sanshi felt his dignity was threatened, he might disregard the previous restrictions and use his full power.
At that point, Lin Xuan might be put on the defensive, or even suffer a loss.
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Bei Bei."
Lin Xuan nodded slightly, his attitude polite, but his composure was even more apparent.
"Don't worry..."
The corner of his mouth curved slightly, and an aura called confidence seemed almost visible.
"I will win."
As soon as he spoke, Bei Bei was slightly stunned, and Tang Ya blinked.
Han Ruoruo, however, raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at Lin Xuan's perfect profile, and the curiosity and anticipation in her heart intensified.
"Let's go," Lin Xuan took the lead, walking unhurriedly toward the Soul Dueling Arena. "Don't keep Senior Xu waiting too long."
Han Ruoruo chuckled softly and naturally followed.
Bei Bei and Tang Ya exchanged a look, and also took Huo Yuhao with them, following the crowd.
Due to Xu Sanshi's immense reputation in the Outer Academy, and because some students looking for excitement specifically ran to the broadcasting room to announce the news of "Xu Sanshi challenging a first-year freshman" via a spirit tool amplifier, the entire Outer Academy became lively within just over ten minutes. Students of all cultivation levels flocked to watch the match.
This included some unexpected figures.
By the Sea God Lake, an old man dressed in gray robes, disheveled and dirty, holding a chicken leg in one hand and a wine gourd in the other, groggily stood up.
"Xu Sanshi vs. a first-year freshman? Interesting..."
He mumbled vaguely, and his figure suddenly blurred, quietly vanishing from the spot.
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