53: Chapter 53 The Public Bet

Wang Pingan's gentle, almost sincerely "concerned" question rang out clearly in everyone's ears within the noisy mission hall.

"Do you want me to... lend you some?"

All the clamor, all the discussion, and all the sounds of breathing in the hall were snuffed out in an instant by an invisible giant hand.

It was dead silent.

Every single person there turned their gaze toward the two individuals in the center of the room.

One was the harmless-looking Wang Pingan, a warm smile hanging on his face.

The other was Cold, whose face shifted from ashen to flushed, and finally to a deep shade of purplish-red.

Humiliation.

This was blatant, public humiliation without any disguise!

What had Cold done before?

He had used his connections and social circle to unite almost all the Third-Rank Students, intending to block every channel Wang Pingan had to obtain points.

He wanted to watch Wang Pingan be thrown out of Heaven Grade Room Number One by the system like trash because he couldn't afford the sky-high rent.

He wanted Wang Pingan to lose all face in front of everyone and become a laughingstock.

But now?

Not only had the guy not been played to death, he had turned around and taken a mandatory mission that everyone considered a dead end, returning completely unscathed.

Not only did he return, but he fucking earned fifteen hundred points directly!

This wasn't just a slap in the face anymore.

This was taking Cold's handsome face, pressing it into the dirt, and grinding it back and forth ruthlessly with the sole of a shoe!

Even more lethal was Wang Pingan's final sentence.

"Lend you some?"

A surge of scalding blood rushed straight to the crown of Cold's head.

He felt like his lungs were about to explode from rage.

He clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands, his knuckles letting out an overburdened creaking sound from the sheer force.

"Wang. Ping. An."

The three words were squeezed out from between Cold's teeth one by one, carrying a thick, inseparable malice and killing intent.

"You're fucking looking for death!"

With a roar, Cold's blood and qi erupted violently, and the pressure of a mid-stage Third-Rank Martial Artist rolled toward Wang Pingan without reservation!

However, Wang Pingan just stood there quietly, without even lifting an eyelid.

He even spread his hands, the expression on his face becoming increasingly innocent.

"Hey, why are you getting so worked up?"

"It was just a joke. Is classmate Cold such a sore loser?"

He looked around at the surrounding Students, who wanted to laugh but didn't dare, their faces flushed from holding it in. His voice was just loud enough for everyone to hear clearly.

"Or rather... did I hit the nail on the head?"

"Can the dignified Young Master of the Xiao Family really not afford next week's A-grade nutritional meals?"

"Pfft."

Someone in the crowd was the first to fail to hold it in and let out a laugh.

This completely ignited the powder keg.

Suppressed snickers spread through the mission hall like a tide.

"Holy shit, this guy really dares to say anything!"

"Killing the heart after killing the person! Cold has completely lost face this time."

"Right? He tried to screw the guy over, but the guy ended up becoming a tycoon instead. I'm dying here."

These discussions were like red-hot steel needles, mercilessly stabbing into every one of Cold's pores.

He knew.

If he couldn't reclaim his dignity today,

From now on, he, Cold, would become the laughingstock of the entire Special Recruitment Camp!

An idiot who tried to play someone to death, only to be pressed into the ground and humiliated in return!

"Very well."

Cold suddenly calmed down. That expression of extreme rage instead transformed into a grim coldness.

He stared at Wang Pingan with a gaze that looked like it wanted to devour him.

"Wang Pingan, don't you think you're very capable?"

"Don't you think you're invincible under heaven just because you beat that trash Iron Bull?"

"Do you dare to play a game with me?"

Here it comes.

This was exactly the sentence Wang Pingan had been waiting for.

"Oh? What kind of game?"

He asked with great interest, looking as if he didn't care about Cold's threat at all.

Seeing his nonchalant manner, the anger in Cold's heart flared up again, but he forced it down.

He wanted to use the thing Wang Pingan was most proud of to utterly crush him!

"Next week is the camp-wide 'Simulated Combat Tournament'!"

"At that time, you and I will sign a Life-and-death waiver and duel on stage!"

As soon as these words came out, the entire hall erupted!

The Simulated Combat Tournament, although called "simulated," aimed for realism. Aside from not being allowed to deliver a killing blow, all other attacks were real!

Every year, people were seriously injured in the tournament, some even left with permanent disabilities!

Signing a Life-and-death waiver for a duel took the nature of the matter directly to the highest level!

This was a situation where neither would stop until the other was finished!

Wang Pingan looked at Cold's face, which was twisted with malice, and slowly shook his head.

"Not interested."

"Fighting you has no prize."

Cold was stunned for a moment, then began to grin savagely.

"What? Scared?"

"Don't worry, as long as you dare to step on that stage, I'll give you a prize you can't refuse!"

He extended a finger and pointed it toward Wang Pingan from a distance.

"If you lose, I want you to crawl between my legs in front of the entire camp and then crawl out of Heaven Grade Room Number One like a dog!"

"From then on, that room belongs to me!"

Heaven Grade Room Number One!

This prize made everyone gasp.

That was the top cultivation resource in the entire training camp!

An independent spiritual energy pipeline with a continuous twenty-four-hour supply!

Its value simply couldn't be measured in points!

Cold stared intently at Wang Pingan. He believed that no one could refuse this temptation, and no one could bear the price of losing it.

He was using this to force Wang Pingan to take the bait!

However, Wang Pingan just picked his ear, a dull expression appearing on his face.

"That's it?"

"Your vision is only this limited."

He took two steps forward, coming face-to-face with Cold. His calm gaze carried a sense of downward-looking pressure.

"If you want to play, let's play bigger."

"Since it's a bet, the stakes should naturally be equal."

Wang Pingan paused, looking Cold in the eye, and spoke clearly, word by word.

"I'll fight you in next week's tournament."

"If I lose, I'll hand over Heaven Grade Room Number One with both hands. And I'll admit in front of everyone that I, Wang Pingan, am just a useless, pretty-boy waste."

"But..."

His tone shifted, and a sharpness that made Cold's heart go Cold seeped through that gentle smile.

"If you lose..."

"Give me your entire Spirit Crystal quota that you received from your family this month."

"Not a single one can be missing!"

Spirit Crystal quota!

If Heaven Grade Room Number One was a top-tier cultivation environment, then Spirit Crystals were the most direct and effective energy supplement for a martial artist breaking through realms!

Especially for a scion of a great family like Cold, the monthly Spirit Crystal quota was an astronomical figure!

Its value was even higher than the usage rights of Heaven Grade Room Number One!

Wang Pingan was going for... a total undercut!

He didn't just want to win; he wanted to sever Cold's cultivation foundation for a long time to come!

Cold's pupils constricted violently.

He didn't expect Wang Pingan's appetite to be so large!

He especially didn't expect Wang Pingan to actually dare to bet Heaven Grade Room Number One against him!

That was his greatest reliance!

Is he crazy?!

Looking at the hesitant Cold, Wang Pingan smiled.

"What? Don't dare?"

"Where's that drive to kill me from just now?"

"Weren't your connections and your little circle the ultimate path in your eyes? Why are you chickening out when it's time for real action?"

"Or is your life, Young Master Cold, only worth one room? You can't even part with a few broken stones?"

Every word cut to the heart!

Every sentence accurately trampled on Cold's arrogant yet fragile self-esteem.

The way the surrounding Students looked at him had shifted from watching a good show to a hint of disdain.

All talk and no action?

All bark and no bite?

"Fine!"

Cold suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot. His handsome face appeared somewhat hideous due to extreme rage.

His reason had been completely incinerated.

The huge temptation of Heaven Grade Room Number One and the intense desire to wash away his shame made him reach a decision.

"I'll bet with you!"

He gritted his teeth, roaring out word by word.

"Wang Pingan! I'll be waiting for you to crawl out of Heaven Grade Room Number One like a dog next week!"

"I'll be waiting for you to kneel before me and admit that you are trash!"

Just then.

A majestic and Cold voice rang through the hall via the mission hall's public address system.

It was Chief Instructor Thunderstorm.

"The bet is established."

"Notarized by the system. Violators will have their cultivation base revoked and be expelled from the camp."

Accompanied by Thunderstorm's words, an unalterable electronic contract was displayed on the central light screen in a Cold electronic voice.

The names of the two individuals and the full details of that shocking gamble were written clearly on it.

Now, there was no room left for regret.

The entire mission hall completely boiled over!

A peak duel concerning dignity, the future, and a massive amount of resources was set!

Wang Pingan looked at the contract on the light screen and turned to leave with satisfaction, leaving behind a back view that made Cold wish he could eat his flesh and drink his blood.

Cold stood where he was, his chest heaving violently. Several of his lackeys quickly gathered around.

"Big brother, don't be impulsive! That kid is a bit strange!"

"Yeah, big brother, he could knock over Iron Bull with one punch, he definitely has a trump card!"

"Shut up!"

Cold whipped his head around, glaring fiercely at his lackeys.

"A bunch of useless trash!"

"No matter what trump cards he has, he's just a newly broken-through Third-Rank Martial Artist with an unstable foundation and floating blood and qi!"

"Whereas I am already at the mid-stage of the Third-Rank! Between us, there is a chasm!"