Chapter 104: One Against Two

Many top-tier students signed up to challenge Xin Lang, but seeing Huang Shiyu’s registration made them hesitate.

A gold-ranked student slightly weaker than Huang Shiyu said to another, “Should we still sign up? Xin Lang is bound to lose against Huang Shiyu! If he loses, won’t our gold coins just go down the drain?”

Another gold student replied, “Yeah! And if Xin Lang somehow beats Huang Shiyu, we’ll just lose when facing him!”

Though a hundred gold coins might be trivial for some, no one wanted to engage in such a losing bet.

Suddenly, with Huang Shiyu ranked tenth on the gold list stepping forward, many of those intending to teach Xin Lang a lesson stopped registering.

“Why aren’t you all going to the arena to earn points? Why gather here?” An old man suddenly appeared at the edge of the crowd.

“Principal!” Someone immediately recognized the elder.

This elder was the very same man who had registered Xin Lang and others previously—the principal of the Martial Arts Academy, Huangfu Sheng.

Someone in the crowd said, “These two have set up a private challenge platform and are charging exorbitant fees for challengers!”

“Hmph, that’s unheard of!” Huangfu Sheng, a man wise with age, thought to himself, “Such a profitable opportunity should belong to the academy, not them personally!”

Pushing through the crowd, Huangfu Sheng approached the registration desk that had been illegally set up by the chubby man.

He scrutinized the banner and then looked over the contract. “Hmph… one hundred gold coins per challenger!”

Upon seeing the list of challengers, he exclaimed, “There really are people coming to challenge!”

After understanding Xin Lang’s intentions for these matches, Huangfu Sheng murmured, “Xin Lang… that name sounds familiar. Ah, I remember now—the special student who got half off his tuition! He’s quite interesting.”

Turning to the chubby man, Huangfu Sheng asked, “When does the contest start?”

Though unfamiliar with Huangfu Sheng, upon hearing he was the Martial Arts Academy’s principal, the chubby man dared not be disrespectful. “Our leader is arranging a suitable arena, but since this involves both silver and gold-ranked students, coordinating the venue is tricky.”

“That’s not difficult at all!” Huangfu Sheng seemed enthusiastic. “Set the contest at Arena No. 1! Chubby, go find Xin Lang.”

Huangfu Sheng then said to Wang Feihong, Huang Shiyu, and the other challengers, “Come with me to Arena No. 1 and prepare for your challenges.”

“Arena No. 1?” Student A exclaimed, “The principal is holding the contest at the promotion arena. Does that mean he believes Xin Lang will advance?”

“I don’t think so,” Student B objected. “I feel the principal just said that casually.”

“However…” Huangfu Sheng called back to the chubby man, “There will be a special arena usage fee of one hundred gold coins this time. You have no objections, right?”

For the chubby man, a hundred gold coins was nothing. He pulled out the coins and handed them over to Huangfu Sheng. As long as Xin Lang’s affairs were handled satisfactorily, he’d gladly pay the fee again.

The event, now personally overseen by the Martial Arts Academy principal, immediately turned official, causing a sensation throughout the school. Martial arts students from all departments flocked to Arena No. 1 to watch.

Huangfu Sheng’s decision to hold Xin Lang’s matches at Arena No. 1 was well thought out. It was the largest arena in the Martial Arts Academy.

Arena No. 1 was the largest because promotion matches were different from same-level matches—they were cross-level challenges, the most thrilling fights, attracting the largest audiences.

Wang Feihong, Huang Shiyu, and two other challengers sat ready in their seats, but the main figure causing the stir across the academy had yet to appear.

Student A said, “Xin Lang really is a big shot—hundreds of people waiting just for him! And not only do they have us wait, they even make the principal wait!”

Student B replied, “If two beauties fight over you, even to the point of serious injury, then you have the right to act like a big shot.”

“Ugh! I really don’t understand why Murong Yueyin and Hu Qingqing like him,” Student A said jealously. “Look at me—handsome and elegant—and yet no beauty notices me.”

Student B glanced at Student A’s pitiful appearance and was speechless.

When Xin Lang arrived at Arena No. 1, all preparations were complete, and the first challenger, Shi Longtao, ranked 39th on the silver list, was already standing at the challenge platform.

Under the gaze of nearly a thousand spectators, Xin Lang jumped onto the stage and faced Shi Longtao.

Crossing his arms, Shi Longtao looked at Xin Lang with great displeasure. “Kid, you’re really high and mighty! Making us wait is one thing, but you don’t even consider the principal’s time, making him wait here so long!”

“Hmph…” Xin Lang frowned inwardly. “The match hasn’t even started, and they’re already shading me.”

Xin Lang had long heard from the chubby man that the principal would preside over his matches, so upon entering Arena No. 1, he immediately noticed the elder who had once registered him.

At this moment, Principal Huangfu Sheng sat upright in the front row, appraising Xin Lang from head to toe.

Their eyes met, and after examining Xin Lang, Huangfu Sheng smiled and nodded in approval.

The principal already held a good impression of Xin Lang. Upon further scrutiny, he noticed Xin Lang’s demeanor had grown more composed, and his cultivation had advanced significantly.

Ignoring Shi Longtao’s provocation, Xin Lang addressed Principal Huangfu Sheng, “Principal Huangfu, I was delayed handling some personal matters earlier, causing a waste of everyone’s valuable time. To make up for it, I’d like to face two challengers simultaneously. May I have your permission?”

“What?”

Inside Arena No. 1, everyone—including Principal Huangfu Sheng—was stunned by Xin Lang’s words.

Arrogant! Beyond arrogant!

A bronze-ranked student who had only just joined the academy was already provoking silver and gold-ranked students. Now Xin Lang wanted to face two silver-ranked opponents at once.

If they were ordinary silver-ranked students, it might be one thing, but Xin Lang’s challengers were ranked thirty-ninth and twenty-seventh on the silver list.

Previously, people thought Xin Lang was just seeking attention to attract the eyes of beauties, but now, facing nearly a thousand martial arts students and the principal himself, he still dared to be so audacious. If he wasn’t foolish, then he must possess absolute strength. The latter seemed more plausible.

Huangfu Sheng paused for a moment, then regained his composure. “In our Martial Arts Academy, facing two challengers at once isn’t unprecedented. If you defeat both silver-ranked challengers, you’ll earn ten points from each, qualifying you to be promoted to silver rank.”

At these words, all eyes turned toward Bi Yuntao, ranked twenty-seventh on the silver list.

Bi Yuntao, ranked twenty-seventh, had cultivated the “Stone-Cracking Force” to the fifth level—a prodigy not to be underestimated. He would never tolerate Xin Lang’s contempt. As soon as Huangfu Sheng finished speaking, Bi Yuntao jumped onto the stage.