Not long ago, they tried to trick him into enrolling and then force him to go out and earn money. But now, with this agreement in hand, who's using whom? That remains to be seen.
"Let's talk about the wager," Ye Chen said. "If the conditions are too harsh, this agreement means nothing."
It was clear he didn't mind a fair challenge, but he wouldn't tolerate unreasonable terms.
Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged glances and then walked to a quiet corner of the training ground to discuss. A few minutes later, Flender returned and cautiously explained, "It's simple. If your soul power exceeds Dai Mubai's in a month, you win. If it doesn't, not only will you owe me 100,000 gold soul coins, but you'll also have to accept my personal training, no matter how tough or grueling."
"That's a bit much, isn't it?" Zhao Wuji whispered, frowning. Flender had shortened the original timeline by two months and added the strict training clause on top of it.
"Deal," Ye Chen agreed immediately, flipping another page in his book as if nothing had happened.
Flender blinked, surprised. He'd expected some pushback. But Ye Chen seemed unfazed, as if he already had the outcome in his grasp.
Could he really be this confident? Flender wondered. He doesn't train, he sleeps all day… Is it all just a front?
Shaking his head, Flender tucked away his copy of the agreement. Just then, Tang San and the others returned from their run around the city.
"You're all too slow!" Flender barked. "Ten more laps! Dai Mubai, since you're the oldest and strongest, you get twenty more!"
Dai Mubai nearly collapsed. "What? That track is massive!"
"Thirty more!"
"Please, Headmaster, I—"
"Fifty laps. Move it!"
Flender was in no mood for mercy. With 100,000 coins on the line, he wasn't taking chances. Even if Ye Chen looked lazy now, he might be training in secret.
Just in case, Flender summoned his spirit—an owl with four glowing eyes—and took off to monitor the training.
Dai Mubai, thinking the headmaster had come to relieve him, smiled weakly. "Headmaster, did you—"
"Training isn't a joke!" Flender roared from the sky. A massive rock, tangled in vines, dropped in front of Dai Mubai with a thud.
"You'll carry that for your next 50 laps. Report back when you're done."
Dai Mubai stared at the boulder, speechless.
Is he targeting me? Did I do something? Was it because I snuck a girl into the dorm last night? What did I do to deserve this?
He dragged himself over, hoisted the rock onto his back, and began his grueling run.
"Hang in there," Ning Rongrong said sweetly, patting his shoulder before bursting into laughter and skipping away.
"Hang in there!" echoed Xiao Wu and the others, giggling as they left him behind.
Dai Mubai was left alone, running into the sunset with a massive stone on his back.
By midnight, he finally finished the 50 laps. But just as he thought he could rest, Flender grabbed him and dragged him to the Spirit Hunting Forest for another round of brutal training. They didn't return until the next day at noon.
Tang San and the others eventually learned from Zhao Wuji about the bet between Flender and Ye Chen. That explained the harsh training.
In contrast, Ye Chen seemed completely unaffected—still sleeping in, eating well, and showing no signs of training.
Ten days passed.
That morning, Tang San found Ye Chen still snoozing.
"Remember our promise from six years ago? I know why you haven't been training or hunting for a new spirit ring. You wanted to face me fairly. Now's the time."
Tang San's body glowed faintly with internal power—he'd just broken through to Rank 30.
Ye Chen smiled and stood up. "Perfect. I've always been curious about your true strength."
The two walked to the field behind the dorm. It was finally time—two boys from the small Saint Soul Village, ready to settle their long-standing rivalry.
A crowd quickly gathered. Flender and Dai Mubai took front-row seats.
"Pay close attention," Flender whispered. "This match might reveal Ye Chen's true strength. Both of them give me a strange feeling…"
Dai Mubai nodded. Ever since he learned he was part of the bet, he hadn't complained once. He just trained—relentlessly.
Nearby, Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu chatted.
"Who do you think will win?"
"Of course my brother will. He's way stronger than he lets on."
"I think Tang San's deep, but I believe in Ye Chen. He's going to win. I know it."
"I think so too," said Zhu Zhuqing softly.
Ning Rongrong turned, smirking. "You like him, don't you? Don't lie—I've seen you two exchanging glances. Eye contact. Smiles. Spill it."
Zhu Zhuqing blushed but didn't deny it. "I'm not trying to steal him from you, I just… couldn't help it."
"Hmph. Fine," Rongrong muttered. "We can like him together. But if things get serious—you better not keep him all to yourself."
"Wh-what are you saying?" Zhu Zhuqing stammered, her cheeks turning bright red.
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