Old Lady Zhou's expression immediately hardened. "I am indeed very interested in anyone who can cultivate a Talisman Martial Soul to the Soul Elder realm before the age of twelve."
"But Mu Jin, stop trying to flatter yourself. Feng Piaoling was simply assigned to your class by chance; you can hardly call yourself her teacher."
Although Mu Jin was no longer young, she could certainly be described as youthful and beautiful. She shook her head with a smile and said:
"Oh? So, Teacher Zhou is determined to have my student? But setting aside the fact that class assignments are already finalized by the Academy, even if you were willing to teach him, he might not be willing to join your class. After all, your reputation as 'Old Lady Zhou' has long since spread throughout the Academy."
Zhou Yi's face turned cold. "Are you provoking me?"
The smile vanished from Mu Jin's face as well. "What if I am? Don't you consider yourself a master at teaching students? I'd like to see how you intend to compete with me this time. Yesterday, when I heard that Dai Huabin from your class lost to Feng Piaoling from mine, I felt quite wonderful."
"Ever since I begged you back then and you still expelled my brother, I haven't been this happy in a long time."
Just then, Feng Piaoling entered the Dueling Arena with Jiang Nannan.
Zhou Yi ignored Mu Jin's repeated provocations. Instead, she stared in Feng Piaoling's direction. After a moment of contemplation, a sly look crossed her face, and her lips curled upward. "Do you dare to make a bet with me?"
Mu Jin was taken aback. "A bet? What kind of bet?"
Zhou Yi finally revealed her objective. "I bet that I can convince Feng Piaoling to join Class 1 and study under my personal guidance. If you lose, you must agree to his transfer. As for the Academy's administration, I will handle that myself."
"You must be insane," Mu Jin said, both shocked and furious.
"Why? Scared? If you're afraid, stay far away from me. Don't let me catch a whiff of that nauseating perfume you're wearing." Zhou Yi used her habitual goading tactics.
Predictably, Mu Jin took the bait. "Who's afraid? A bet it is. But if you lose, then what?"
Zhou Yi replied, "If I lose, I'll give you a soul bone."
"A soul bone? You really are putting everything on the line, you old hag. But I don't want your soul bone. If you lose, have Fan Yu forge a close-combat soul tool for me."
Mu Jin huffed, proposing the same stakes as the original freshman assessment match between Huo Yuhao's team and Ning Tian's team.
Love-struck brains and love triangles—those who know, know.
Zhou Yi frowned. "I am the one betting with you, not him."
"That's your problem. Regardless, I've stated my conditions," Mu Jin sneered.
"Fine, I'll agree on his behalf." A tall, middle-aged man strode toward them.
He stood about 1.8 meters tall with broad shoulders and a powerful build. He wore simple cloth clothes, and his arms were exceptionally thick and sturdy, with muscles that looked like carved granite. Standing there, he gave off a sense of mountain-like heaviness.
His identity was none other than the Fan Yu mentioned by Mu Jin—Zhou Yi's husband, the former teacher of the Sun Moon Empire's Prince Xu He, and the object of Mu Jin's unrequited affection.
Seeing her crush appear, Mu Jin's expression changed instantly. Her previous toughness vanished without a trace. She turned pale, took a step back, and looked at him with reddening eyes. "You're actually teaming up with her to bully me."
Fearing Zhou Yi would misunderstand, Fan Yu frowned. "You were the one who repeatedly provoked her first. If you want to bet, then bet. If not, go away. Also, don't forget that Zhou Yi is my wife."
"Fine... fine. Today I will bet with her. Back when you chose her over me, I lost. But that doesn't mean my student will make the same choice you did. Just you wait and see."
Mu Jin whipped her head around, her hands tightly gripping the front-row railing of the arena. Her eyes, blurred with tears, fixed upon the competition grounds of the assessment area.
The arena was too noisy for Feng Piaoling to realize that Zhou Yi and Mu Jin had made a wager. After entering the arena, he separated from Jiang Nannan and went to the registration lounge to sign in.
Xu Sanshi had already been waiting for a long time.
Seeing Feng Piaoling arrive, he said with full confidence, "I thought you wouldn't show up."
"You seem quite confident?" Feng Piaoling noticed that Xu Sanshi seemed like a different person compared to yesterday after his victory over Dai Huabin, and he began to feel inwardly wary.
"Hmph. Without confidence, how would I dare to place such high stakes against you?"
Before arriving, Xu Sanshi had already experienced Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing. It was, undeniably, a powerful support skill. With the aid of Huo Yuhao's detection, Beibei—whose strength was originally on par with his own—had been no match for him at all.
"Then give it your all." Feng Piaoling remained wary, but he wasn't overly concerned. No matter how many trump cards the opponent had, he possessed enough methods to overcome them.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the front row, Beibei, Tang Ya, and Huo Yuhao stood among the crowd.
"Yuhao, how is it? Can you handle it?" Beibei looked toward Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao released his Spiritual Detection to sense the area and nodded. "It should be no problem. From this position, as long as Senior Xu Sanshi doesn't move more than fifty meters away from me, he should be able to receive the shared detection."
Because Huo Yuhao was already a Soul Grandmaster at this point, his spiritual coverage was significantly higher than it was during his enrollment in the original story.
Beibei nodded. "That's good. I've already instructed Xu Sanshi on this point; he will try to keep the battle zone close to us."
Tang Ya, listening to their conversation, said hesitantly, "Feng Piaoling's strength is so monstrous. Even with Little Yuhao's help, can Xu Sanshi really defeat him?"
"That's in the hands of fate." Beibei was also uncertain. After all, they still had no idea what kind of soul skill Feng Piaoling had obtained from his third soul ring after absorbing the five-thousand-year Dark Golden Terrorclaw Bear.
Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered. "Brother Beibei, Teacher Xiao Ya, perhaps I have a way."
"What way?" Both turned to look at him simultaneously.
Huo Yuhao said, "This morning, after absorbing the purple Qi of the rising sun and practicing the Purple Demon Eye, I discovered that by combining the Purple Demon Eye with my Spirit Eye Martial Soul, I can launch a spiritual attack. If I can strike while Feng Piaoling is off guard, it might create a small window of opportunity for Senior Xu Sanshi."
"That probably carries a significant risk for you." Beibei frowned. Generally speaking, attacks involving the spiritual level were constrained by the mental power of both parties. Feng Piaoling's soul power far exceeded Huo Yuhao's; there was no guarantee Huo Yuhao wouldn't suffer a backlash.
"As long as I can help Brother Beibei's friend, I am willing to risk the backlash."
Huo Yuhao's words sounded exceptionally noble. However, listening to him, Tang Ya couldn't help but feel that something about it was a bit off.
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