CHAPTER 84: CHAPTER 82: SCHEMING STONE MAN

The three awaited the ’plot’ to unfold, and shortly saw three people approaching the dorm entrance.

The person coming was precisely the Zhang Shi whose position had been taken.

He arrived at the entrance, scanned the three, his face darker than coal.

"So, it’s you three, huh?"

Cai Yuanji didn’t answer, instead questioned, "Are you Ye Yun’s older brother? You do look somewhat like him."

Lin Chen’s eyes widened, Zhang Shi looked like a brute, whereas Ye Yun appeared refined, they certainly didn’t look alike.

"Who the hell knows Ye Yun?" Zhang Shi was bewildered and shouted, "I’m called Zhang Shi, Zhang as in Zhang Shi, Shi as in Zhang Shi."

"..."

The scene fell silent, including the two teammates behind Zhang Shi, all looking up at the sky...

Their team captain was good in every aspect but assumed his humor was fantastic.

Unaware his jokes were not just unfunny but awkwardly cold.

Zhang Shi noticed the awkward atmosphere, pointed at them, asking, "Which one of you took the third spot?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen and the others understood immediately.

The next second, Qin Hao and Cai Yuanji pointed at Lin Chen...

"..."

Lin Chen was speechless, was there really a need to sell him out so quickly?

"Alright, it’s you, huh..."

"What do you want?" Cai Yuanji was quite bold there, considering it wasn’t directed at him, he mocked, "If you dare... go hit him."

Zhang Shi’s anger flared but he really didn’t dare to make a move.

The rules of the Inner Courtyard were rules, messing up could lead to expulsion.

"If you don’t dare, then get lost." Cai Yuanji laughed outright.

Lin Chen didn’t mind. Although Cai Yuanji was somewhat showy, the other party certainly wouldn’t be a friend now, so flaunting was fine; anyway, he couldn’t hit him.

"Lin Chen, right? I’ve heard of you..." Zhang Shi pointed at Lin Chen saying, "Do you have the guts for a duel?"

"We’re not stupid; you’re a Level 2 student, who’d fight you?" Cai Yuanji replied.

"My second spirit beast is similar to yours, also Level Twelve." Zhang Shi said, "Be a man, don’t shy from battle."

Lin Chen naturally wouldn’t agree, but Zhang Shi then said:

"If I win, we swap positions back; I’m the fourth. If I lose, the fourth position is yours."

"There are just three of us, what do we need so many positions for?" Cai Yuanji sneered.

However, Lin Chen was slightly moved; he quietly asked Cai Yuanji, "Do you think the spot in the Small Secret Realm could be sold?"

"Of course it can, and it’s quite popular too, you..." Cai Yuanji’s eyes brightened.

He hadn’t just met Lin Chen yesterday; he always liked to maximize profit.

Zhang Shi’s wager was actually a losing deal; even if Lin Chen lost, at worst he’d have the fourth position, and there wouldn’t be much difference in Spiritual Qi.

Lin Chen’s eyes shone with greed, he took a deep breath then spoke, "I’m soft-hearted and think you speak sensibly; taking your spot, I do feel a bit guilty..."

"..."

Qin Hao and the others rolled their eyes, they truly couldn’t see how guilty Lin Chen was.

"As you wish."

Following Lin Chen’s final word, Zhang Shi’s face revealed sheer joy.

He didn’t doubt Lin Chen’s words, thought the latter truly felt guilty, thus found Lin Chen somewhat pleasing to the eye.

....

While speaking, Zhang Shi led them to the Beast Fighting Arena.

The Inner Courtyard’s Beast Fighting Arena was essential for students to travel and exchange skills.

Someone spread the news, hearing Zhang Shi was going to have a beast duel with Lin Chen, a large crowd gathered.

"You can place bets?" Cai Yuanji and Qin Hao were surprised.

Betting here also had limits, or it’d become a gambling den, though the limits were higher than those at the Beast Tamer Guild, capping at ten thousand.

"Buying?"

"Zhang Shi’s second spirit beast goes in now: Profound Gang Beast, surely guaranteed to win."

"This Lin Chen is no pushover, led the team to rank first on the Hundred Stars Chart."

"That’s because their team is strong, Ning Tian’s brother Ning Zimo is in it too."

Students started discussing, some began betting - from multiple levels, students showed up, like...

Chen Tao.

Chen Tao saw Lin Chen, a complex look appeared on his face.

Despite not being involved in malicious teaming, he was guilty of complicity, so faced serious punishment.

After contemplating, Chen Tao ultimately bet on Lin Chen.

"What’s wrong with you? Scared of getting hit?" Someone recognized Chen Tao, since he was once second on the Hundred Stars Chart.

"None of your business, I’m loaded, alright."

Chen Tao retorted, directly betting ten thousand.

He chose Lin Chen because he had witnessed Xiaobai’s terrifying prowess himself...

Being able to rival even a Thunder Pattern Beast, planning to best a Profound Gang Beast was extremely tough.

[Profound Gang Beast]

[Intermediate Spirit Transformation]

[Skill 1: Energy Bomb]

[Skill 2: Aura Shield]

It’s also called Spiritforce Beast, relying on Gang Qi to defend and attack; it’s an all-round combat pet and at Spirit Transformation level.

Qin Hao and Cai Yuanji naturally backed Lin Chen mindlessly, as his extraordinary abilities were well known.

....

Betting completed, the notary began closing bets; odds were based solely on table stakes; the notary took only two hundred. Though not everyone underestimated Lin Chen in the Inner Courtyard, due to the previous incident Lin Chen was involved in, sentiment and reason dictated supporting Zhang Shi.

"Ready to begin." The notary announced.

"Hold on for a minute." Zhang Shi requested.

Everyone was puzzled, looking at Zhang Shi.

At the moment, the Profound Gang Beast sat still, started meditating, no one knew what it was up to.

Lin Chen didn’t bother with him, gave Xiaobai some instructions since it was Xiaobai’s first confrontation against a Spirit Transformation level beast.

"...Remember, absolutely don’t use the Barbaric Bloodline."

Lin Chen had his considerations, Xiaobai lately ate a lot, trained more, but lacked in actual combat.