Chapter 276: The Gamblers Are Here
“Once you register and confirm that you’re challenging a second-year student, the system will immediately match you with an available second-year. The match is random. After the opponent is confirmed, you’ll have ten minutes to prepare—and those ten minutes are also the betting window.”
As they headed to the second floor, Meng Chuanling gave her final reminders.
“There’s a private section on the forum dedicated to the arena. Once your match is set, Tan Ning and I will start spreading the news there. A rare first-year newcomer stepping into the arena? That’ll definitely attract a wave of upperclassmen bets.”
“You shouldn’t place any bets yourself. That’d be too obvious.”
“I’m not saying I don’t trust you, but let me confirm one last time—Xu Zhi, are you absolutely certain you’ll win?”
Meng Chuanling’s hands were clenched tightly. No matter how well she had calculated everything, the biggest variable—and her greatest reliance—was the seemingly delicate girl in front of her. The outcome wasn’t in her own hands.
Xu Zhi’s expression didn’t change. It was as if she hadn’t just been asked a grave question at all.
“If I didn’t have that confidence,” she replied casually, “do you think I came here to play philanthropist?”
Fair point.
Meng Chuanling exhaled in relief. Xu Zhi herself had taken out a three-thousand-credit loan!
“Then… good luck.”
Xu Zhi smiled gently.
Perfect timing. Curse Speech had just broken through Level 20—roughly equivalent to the stage when extraordinary individuals first step into Longevity. Meanwhile, Xiao Yi, who had been quietly coiled around her wrist, had already entered the first stage of Longevity.
Xu Zhi now understood something clearly.
Her followers’ former special trait—[Evolution]—represented the number of steps they had taken on the path of Longevity.
Only when a follower reached Level 20 would the [Evolution] trait appear. Because Level 20 meant breaking free from Comprehension and stepping into Longevity. And only when [Evolution] was fully stacked would one fulfill one of the conditions to advance into the Named.
Second was level. Level 49 was the upper limit of Longevity for followers. Once they stepped into Level 50, that signified becoming Named.
Even followers had to accomplish a Great Deed.
But in that great war, without question, all her followers had completed their Great Deeds—because they had merged with her as one.
Which meant that she—and her followers—would face very few obstacles advancing into the Named stage. At most, those whose [Evolution] wasn’t fully stacked would need to continue walking the Longevity path a bit longer.
One follower newly stepped into Longevity. One already in Longevity Stage One. Plus herself—Level 6 Comprehension.
If she still couldn’t defeat a second-year student, she might as well just slam her head into a wall.
In ordinary extraordinary academies, first-year students were usually around Level 2 Comprehension. Inner Court freshmen were stronger—mostly Level 3 or 4. By second year, most reached Level 5 Comprehension. Level 6 was rare. Level 7 became more common in third year.
But since each level became progressively harder to advance, reaching Level 7 and successfully stepping into Longevity was typically something only fifth- or sixth-year students achieved.
There had never been a second-year who became a Longevity practitioner. That would be absurdly monstrous.
There was a threshold at Level 7 Comprehension before stepping into Longevity. It wasn’t easy to cross—even Inner Court students often stagnated there for a long time. Becoming Longevity was a form of rebirth, and if achieved during one’s time at the academy, it came with a massive reward.
So against a second-year, Xu Zhi could win without even stepping onto the stage herself.
This wasn’t even a challenge.
She was already adding items to her shopping cart, waiting to check out once the arena credits were settled.
At the registration desk, Xu Zhi handed over her student ID.
“Hello. First-year student. I’d like to challenge a second-year.”
The student union member in charge had noticed her earlier while she was walking over. He had assumed she was accompanying someone else.
She didn’t look like a combat specialist at all. It was her aura—far too gentle.
The redhead beside her looked more like someone here to fight.
Yet the one speaking was the most delicate-looking one.
And a first-year?!
“J-Junior?”
He took the ID uncertainly and confirmed she was indeed a first-year.
“You’re sure?”
This wasn’t a virtual match. Though the arena had protective measures to prevent fatalities—and the academy had high-level [Heart] attribute healers—injuries were unavoidable.
“I’m sure. I’m in a hurry. Please arrange it quickly, Senior.”
“In a hurry” somehow sounded like she was rushing to get beaten up.
Still, since she insisted, he said nothing more. He entered her information, locked the opponent to second-year, and began matching.
In less than three seconds, an opponent was found.
“All right. Your opponent is Chun Ming from Class 3, second year. No backing out. Withdrawal will be recorded by the student union. The match begins in ten minutes at Arena B16. Swipe your student ID to check in.”
He didn’t elaborate on the consequences of being recorded by the student union—but an organization that held real authority surely had plenty of ways to discipline those who broke trust.
That was why the arena was operated by the student union. Only they had the prestige to ensure no one feared the house running off with the betting pool.
Since it was within the academy, no extra registration was needed. Opponent details weren’t provided either. Show up and fight. Efficient and convenient.
Xu Zhi was satisfied.
As she headed toward the arena, a post had already appeared in the forum’s arena section.
It wasn’t even Meng Chuanling who posted it—but the student union member himself.
[Quick! A first-year is challenging the arena! Don’t say I didn’t warn you to place your bets!]
He didn’t describe Xu Zhi’s appearance. There were always gamblers who liked betting on the underdog, waiting for a miracle payout. He wasn’t that kind of person. If he revealed how weak her aura felt, what if no one bet on her side?
He posted precisely to lure gamblers in and increase the pot.
Even earning a tiny commission was still earning!
Grinning to himself, he placed one thousand credits on Xu Zhi’s opponent.
Soon, bets began pouring in.
Almost no one bet on Xu Zhi’s red side. The odds skewed heavily. He shook his head.
“Looks like we’ll have to subsidize the pool again.”
Then, suddenly—
Nine thousand credits landed on the red side.
He grinned instantly.
“The gamblers are here!”
In the small arena group chat with friends, he typed cheerfully:
“Guys, gamblers just delivered us credits. What do we say?”
“Milk them dry!”
More gamblers followed, tossing small bets onto the red side. In no time, the red side neared fifty thousand credits—still pitiful compared to blue, but at least the student union wouldn’t need to cover the gap themselves.
“Well, if gamblers insist…”
He muttered while adding another two thousand to blue.
The Inner Court had nearly 150,000 students. With arena wandering at peak hours and such a flashy matchup, over five thousand people had already placed bets.
Most were on blue. Even with small bets, blue’s total skyrocketed—approaching one million credits.
Then—
A massive one hundred thousand credits dropped into the blue pool.
The registration officer clicked his tongue, annoyed.
“Again? Trying to lower the ratio and force the student union to subsidize?”
The ratio was already terrible—worse than he’d expected. Were people really this bored?
Once the ratio exceeded twenty, the student union was obligated to intervene. An unspoken rule.
That 100,000 bet pushed the ratio past twenty.
More bets continued pouring in. The student union had no choice but to inject more credits into red to stabilize the pool.
It wasn’t the first time someone tried exploiting the system to fleece the union.
Seeing this, Meng Chuanling covered her mouth in shock.
“Wow. What a huge sucker!”
Whoever that was—so rich and so foolish—she absolutely needed to meet them.
