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Bei Bei gave a faint smile, his tone teasing as he glanced at Xu San Shi. "Do I need to go easy on you?" He extended his right hand, subtly gesturing with a smirk.
Reluctantly, Xu San Shi reached into his robes and pulled out a small white porcelain bottle, tossing it toward Bei Bei. Catching it deftly, Bei Bei grinned. "Thanks."
Without wasting another moment, Bei Bei moved to Xu San Shi's injured side. With precise movements, he pressed his fingers against the tense muscles surrounding the wound. Channeling his Xuan Tian Gong soul power into the contracted tissue, he worked steadily. After a short while, an impossibly thin golden thread, finer than a strand of hair, began to emerge from Xu San Shi's waist.
With a gentle tug, Bei Bei plucked the golden thread free. It snapped back instantly, coiling into a tiny golden bead that disappeared into his palm with a flick of his wrist.
Xu San Shi exhaled deeply, relief washing over him, though his face remained stormy with indignation. "Bei Bei, you little opportunist! A Xuan Water Pill is a treasure even in my family. Fine then—let's make this interesting. If I win this match later, you're giving that pill back."
"Sure," Bei Bei replied nonchalantly, his eyes glinting mischievously. "But if you lose, I know you've got more of those pills stashed away somewhere. You'll owe me another one."
His intentions were clear. As one of the few disciples currently under Tang Sect Master Yu Tian, alongside Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei had plans for the pill. The Xuan Water Pill was renowned for enhancing a person's innate soul power, especially benefiting those with low natural aptitude. While Bei Bei himself possessed substantial innate soul power and had little use for such a remedy, Huo Yuhao was a different story entirely. Years of malnutrition during childhood had left Huo Yuhao with a mere Level 1 innate soul power—a crippling disadvantage. Even their sect's revered Xuan Tian Gong cultivation technique might not be enough to compensate for such a deficit. Only the purifying effects of the Xuan Water Pill could cleanse his meridians and elevate his potential.
Xu San Shi frowned, suspicion creeping into his expression. "Wait a second… Why do I feel like I've just walked into a trap? You seem awfully confident about this bet."
Bei Bei's expression didn't waver in the slightest. "You're the one who proposed the wager, not me. You can always back out now. But remember—if you lose, no whining or reneging on the deal."
Xu San Shi snorted, his pride clearly stung. "Me? Lose? Though I may not necessarily defeat you, winning won't come easy for you either. What happens if we end up in a draw?"
Bei Bei shrugged, uninterested in falling for that bait. "We walk away empty-handed. What else?"
Xu San Shi gritted his teeth, visibly frustrated but unwilling to back down. "Fine! I'll take the bet. Worst-case scenario, I'll get scolded by my old man."
He couldn't stand being goaded like this. Losing face before a longtime rival? Unthinkable.
"May I join this wager as well?" A calm voice interrupted. Yu Wen Tuo entered the room, having been invited earlier to participate in the upcoming soul battles. As such, he had every right to be here.
"You?" Xu San Shi raised an eyebrow, his tone dismissive. "What do you have to offer in a bet? You don't even belong in our league."
"Come now, Xu San Shi," Bei Bei interjected smoothly, cutting off any further protests. Turning to Yu Wen Tuo, he gave a polite bow. "Yu Wen Tuo, what exactly would you like to wager?"
Bei Bei's courtesy stemmed partly from respect for Ma Xiao Tao, whose relationship with Yu Wen Tuo was well-known within the academy. Additionally, there lingered a lingering sense of guilt toward Yu Wen Tuo due to past events involving Shrek Academy.
"I propose betting the two Xuan Water Pills already on the table," Yu Wen Tuo stated confidently, locking eyes with Bei Bei. "As for my stake—I'll put up two Soul Ascension Pills. Though I don't have them on hand right now, I'm certain Bei Bei knows I can obtain them without difficulty."
It was a calculated move. While Xuan Water Pills typically held no value for someone like Yu Wen Tuo, who already possessed maximum innate soul power, his current condition was unique. His soul energy was in the process of transitioning to a higher state, and the specialized properties of the Xuan Water Pill could potentially aid him in achieving true peak innate soul power—Level 20!
Bei Bei understood perfectly. The person Yu Wen Tuo referred to was none other than Ma Xiao Tao, the direct disciple of the academy's headmaster. Acquiring two Soul Ascension Pills wouldn't pose much of a challenge for her, given her status. Moreover, rumors abounded that Ma Xiao Tao held Yu Wen Tuo in high regard, almost possessively so. If he asked, she'd likely oblige without hesitation.
The Soul Ascension Pill was indeed on par with the Xuan Water Pill in terms of rarity and potency. When used together, they could significantly boost Huo Yuhao's progress.
Though Bei Bei, with his position, could easily procure such items from the academy, he prided himself on keeping personal and institutional matters separate. He refused to misuse academy resources for the benefit of Tang Sect members.
Thus, obtaining Xuan Water Pills required creative methods—like relieving Xu San Shi of his stash. And if today's gamble yielded two additional Soul Ascension Pills, it would truly be a windfall.
"Agreed," Bei Bei said smoothly. "Two Xuan Water Pills versus two Soul Ascension Pills."
"Ah, so this junior isn't as simple as he seems," Xu San Shi mused aloud, observing Bei Bei's quick acceptance of the wager. Not everyone could casually produce two Soul Ascension Pills after all.
Unlike the original storyline, Xu San Shi had never met Ma Xiao Tao personally, only heard whispers of her name as an elder sister figure within the inner court. With her demonic flames mostly subdued, she no longer required his water-based abilities.
"Fine, since Bei Bei has agreed to the terms, I'll play along too," Xu San Shi declared, snapping open his folding fan with an exaggerated flourish. Strutting out of the room, he exuded nothing short of arrogance.
In the designated dueling arena, spectators gathered in droves, drawn by the promise of an exciting showdown. Estimates placed the crowd at over four hundred eager onlookers.
Huo Yuhao, Tang Ya, Xiao Xiao, and even Wang Dong sat anxiously in the stands, awaiting the match. Meanwhile, Bei Bei made his entrance. As one of the academy's most prominent figures, his appearance immediately drew cheers from supporters scattered throughout the audience.
"Thunderous Bei Bei! Thunderous Bei Bei!" chants echoed through the venue.
Smiling graciously, Bei Bei waved to the enthusiastic crowd, though his sharp gaze swept across the stands, searching for familiar faces.
Tang Ya stood up, waving enthusiastically at him. Catching sight of her, Bei Bei exchanged a series of subtle hand signals with her. Their long-standing partnership ensured seamless communication; Tang Ya quickly responded with gestures of her own, signaling her understanding.
"Huo Yuhao," Tang Ya whispered discreetly, leaning closer to him. "What's the maximum range of your Spirit Detection Shared Vision?"
"About fifty meters in a single direction," Huo Yuhao replied softly.
Nodding, Tang Ya raised her hand, signaling several more gestures toward Bei Bei. He acknowledged her with a slight nod.
At the same time, Xu San Shi entered the arena from the opposite side, accompanied by a middle-aged instructor serving as the referee for the duel.
Once inside, both competitors adopted their characteristic adversarial postures. Despite their outward rivalry, Xu San Shi and Bei Bei shared a deeper camaraderie known only to themselves—and perhaps Yu Wen Tuo, who operated similarly. Over years of duels, they had amassed considerable winnings through private side bets. Publicly exposing their close ties would ruin their carefully maintained facades.
The referee stepped into the center of the arena, his voice carrying authority. "Fourth-year student Bei Bei challenges fifth-year student Xu San Shi. Please prepare yourselves."