Chapter 53: Heavenly Pride Battalion Shakes, the Wager!

What do I have to fear?

Su Yu gazed calmly at Shi Sword before him.

If we talk about earlier, when no rare item—the gold-thread soft armor—had appeared, Su Yu would still have been a bit wary of Shi Sword.

But now...

With the gold-thread soft armor, at least those without Organ Tempering Realm strength can't possibly harm Su Yu!

Shi Sword stared at Su Yu, his eyes involuntarily narrowing; he truly had no idea where Su Yu got the nerve to speak to him like that.

He simply dismissed it as Su Yu's arrogance.

Shi Sword's mouth twitched into a smile; he said, 'Since that's the case... better to pick today than another day—see you on the platform?'

Su Yu smiled faintly, extending his hand: 'Please!'

Shi Sword gave Su Yu a deep glance, then turned his head and slowly walked toward the platform.

Su Yu likewise stepped forward, walking toward the platform.

As the two moved, the surrounding crowd instantly erupted.

'Hiss, what's the situation? Su Yu actually dared accept Shi Sword's challenge! 1111111111'

'Well, you can't even call it a challenge; it's completely Shi Sword's one-sided slaughter!'

'Exactly, Shi Sword is a peak Blood Refining Realm expert; even against an Organ Tempering Realm newcomer, he still has a fighting chance, and that was his record from half a month ago—now Shi Sword will only be stronger, not weaker!'

The surrounding crowd couldn't help but discuss.

With the crowd's chatter, the news that Shi Sword and Su Yu were going onto the platform instantly spread throughout the Heavenly Pride Battalion.

Many people, aside from those still in seclusion among the Heavenly Pride, rushed toward the platform, their faces all showing a desire to watch the spectacle.

'I didn't expect the top newcomer to run into Shi Sword so quickly; this Su Yu is also just… he's only just arrived at the Heavenly Pride Battalion and already stirred up so much!'

'Hehe, breaking the Holy Spear Marquis's record—if it were me, I'd be just as bold, but he's facing Shi Sword!'

'Exactly, Shi Sword is a terrifying presence ranked eleventh on the Heavenly Pride Ranking, and he even reached the ninth floor of the Phantom Tower—just one layer shy of matching the tenth‑ranked one!'

'Having said that, if one could storm the sixtieth floor, that would be equivalent to having Organ Tempering Realm strength—the top ten are truly formidable!'

The entire Heavenly Pride Battalion seemed somewhat chaotic at this moment.

Noisy and bustling, it even drew out some instructors.

At this moment, in Jiang Shang's office.

Bai Zhan arrived at Jiang Shang's office; upon pushing the door open, he spoke anxiously.

'Boss, something's wrong!'

Jiang Shang's brows furrowed slightly as he closed the folder.

'What's the matter?'

Bai Zhan hurriedly told Jiang Shang about Shi Sword and Su Yu going onto the platform.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shang's mouth twitched slightly.

'This brat really won't rest until he's stirred up chaos throughout the Heavenly Pride Battalion!'

Jiang Shang let out a deep sigh.

Bai Zhan, standing nearby, seeing Jiang Shang unmoved, quickly said:

'Boss, quickly think of a solution—Su Yu has only just entered the Heavenly Pride Battalion a few days ago; facing Shi Sword so soon, he's simply no match for him!'

'Moreover, I think Shi Sword still harbors some resentment toward Su Yu; if he goes too hard and injures Su Yu, what then?'

Jiang Shang, faced with Bai Zhan's rapid-fire questions, replied irritably:

'What do you want me to do? They're both acting within the rules—I can't violate them even if I wanted to!'

'Besides, that kid Su Yu isn't simple; since he dared accept, he likely has some hidden tricks up his sleeve.'

Bai Zhan still said, somewhat unwillingly:

'But…'

The result was Jiang Shang cutting him off directly.

'There's no "but"; all we can do now is go and see—at least if Su Yu truly loses, we can still lend a hand.'

Having said that, he strode straight out of the office and headed toward the platform.

Bai Zhan watched Jiang Shang's reaction; though anxious, he still followed.

At this moment, on the Heavenly Pride Battalion's platform.

The platform lies to the southeast of the Heavenly Pride Battalion; it is where the battalion's members settle grudges—after all, they're all hot‑blooded youths, so it's only natural.

On the platform, Shi Sword stood still in the center, a black‑iron long staff slung across his back; his stance was as straight and towering as a pine tree.

Su Yu, meanwhile, walked leisurely from the crowd; seeing him, the onlookers instinctively made way for him.

In the crowd, many wore sneers.

'This Su Yu defeated Wu Jie and his lot, yet really thinks he can run rampant in the Heavenly Pride Battalion—forget that Wu Jie and company are only around thirtieth place, while Shi Sword is eleventh!'

'Exactly, with the top ten monsters absent, Shi Sword is now the battalion's number one, while Su Yu is merely a fresh‑faced newcomer who's only been here a few days!'

'This battle, Su Yu will surely lose!'

Many people said as much.

They, with a mindset of watching the spectacle, attacked Su Yu.

Finally, under the gaze of many, Su Yu leisurely arrived onto the platform.

Shi Sword looked at Su Yu and gave a cold snort.

'I thought you wouldn't dare come!'

Su Yu smiled faintly, appearing calm and unbothered.

'If you want to keep me from coming, you're not even qualified!'

As soon as these words were spoken, it immediately aroused dissatisfaction among many people.

"Arrogant! This kid is really too arrogant, does he know who he's facing? That's Shi Sword!"

"Exactly, I originally felt some pity for him, but now I think we should let Shi Sword properly teach him how to behave."

Su Yu's such arrogant remarks provoked dissatisfaction from many people.

Even Shi Sword's face darkened at this moment.

He stared fixedly at Su Yu and said in a low voice.

"Getting on the stage, there are stage rules; once on stage, there must be a stake...."

His gaze swept over Su Yu's body.

"I see you just exchanged two third-revolution Congealed Blood Pills; why not use that as your stake? Don't tell me you're not daring enough!"

Shi Sword said without smiling.

Su Yu's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Looks like this guy has taken a fancy to my third-revolution Congealed Blood Pill; his appetite is not small.

In response, Su Yu merely gave a faint smile.

"Third-revolution Congealed Blood Pill—I can produce it; it just depends on whether your stake is enough. I can't let myself be the only one losing out."

Shi Sword licked his lips; he had been waiting for Su Yu to say that.

He gave a sinister chuckle.

"Simple—I'll put up two thousand points as the stake; how about that?"

Two thousand points!

The surrounding crowd instantly erupted; many present, who have been in the Heavenly Pride Battalion for so long, have never even seen two thousand points before!

Grand gesture!