Chapter 102: Let's Make a Bet—Do You Dare?

In the opening ceremony venue, the crowd was bustling and noisy, and Lu Qingyu and a few others stared into the distance.

Jiang Chen walked slowly forward.

His aura was steady as a mountain.

Repeated Instance training had already altered Jiang Chen's aura, making it completely different from the freshmen's; the difference was evident at a glance.

Feng Xiu's gaze fixed on Jiang Chen: "He's become stronger."

Lu Qingyu also nodded: "Seems so; this guy looks more formidable."

Han Li's eyes flashed with battle intent: "He still has a combat aura; he must have just come out of an Instance."

Feng Xiu agreed with Han Li's view.

Jiang Chen's appearance drew everyone's attention.

"That's Jiang Chen, the National Top Scholar."

"He looks different now."

"He seems stronger than he was during the college entrance exam."

"Really, looking at him makes me a little scared."

The students began to chatter.

In the Battle Space, everyone had seen Jiang Chen.

Without Jiang Chen's help, more people would surely have perished in the Battle Space.

Lu Qingyu waved a hand and signaled: "Jiang Chen, we're here."

Jiang Chen saw Lu Qingyu, smiled, his combat aura gradually faded, and he quickened his steps toward them: "So you've come too."

Lu Qingyu said irritably: "Nonsense—if we hadn't come, it would mean we weren't admitted."

Jiang Chen also realized the slip in his words and smiled apologetically.

Han Li suddenly asked: "What level are you?"

Jiang Chen didn't hide it: "Level 22."

What!

Lu Qingyu let out a weird shriek, then quickly covered her mouth.

Feng Xiu also jumped in shock—how did he reach Level 22 after being gone for only a few days?

What level was he during the college entrance exam, and how did he advance so fast?

Lu Qingyu showed a shocked expression: "You

how did you train, how did you level up so quickly?"

Jiang Chen replied casually: "Just grinding Instances makes you level up."

Feng Xiu said gravely: "The university has a Dungeon Hall, which contains many Instances, and you can spend points to purge an Instance's cooldown, allowing repeated grinding."

Lu Qingyu had also heard of the Dungeon Hall; with their background, they know more than ordinary people.

Han Li didn't understand, so she just listened silently.

Lu Qingyu said: "You've grinded a lot of Instances in the Dungeon Hall, right?"

Jiang Chen nodded; it was indeed so.

Lu Qingyu sighed: "You have plenty of points to spend recklessly; I can't, I only have a few points and must spend them sparingly."

"You should know that points are hard to earn."

Jiang Chen didn't know how to reply; he thought that although points aren't easy to earn, they shouldn't be that hard.

Getting rich isn't easy, but earning enough points for daily needs shouldn't be too difficult.

Feng Xiu said gravely: "Even with repeated Instance grinding, this leveling speed is astonishing."

Reaching Level 22 in just a few days is indeed astonishing.

How could they have known, if Jiang Chen hadn't been leading people for the last two days?

Now they're probably able to reach Level 24.

Leveling isn't difficult for Jiang Chen.

With a bell ringing, the opening ceremony began.

On the podium, which had been empty, a person appeared in the blink of an eye.

"Hello, students. I am the Academic Affairs Director of Shenlong University. My surname is Fei; you may call me Fei Zhuren."

"First, welcome all of you to Shenlong University."

"I'm sure each of you was a school genius in high school, and during the college entrance exam, you even captured the City Top Scorer, Provincial Top Scholar, and even the

National Top Scholar."

"But those achievements are now in the past; from now on, you are merely freshmen of Shenlong University."

"At Shenlong University, you will learn knowledge you've never encountered before, and experience all sorts of Instances and various battles."

"Mentors will teach you new skills and survival methods; likewise, you must complete the tasks assigned by the university."

"The specific tasks have already been sent to each student's Communicator; after the ceremony ends, you may check them yourself."

"I'll give a brief overview now. At the university, there are regular students, academy department students, and students of the Top Academy."

"It sounds a bit clunky, but you'll get used to it."

"The three tiers enjoy different resources, so students, strive to climb upward; the higher you go, the more splendid life becomes."

Fei Zhuren continued his impassioned speech.

In the sky, beyond the clouds and mist.

A few figures stood suspended in the void.

Hong Jishi was also among them: "Old Fei, this guy repeats the same speech every year; can't he update it?"

Lin Zhenzi hummed, "If you're capable, go ahead."

Since yesterday, Lin Zhenzi has been confronting him, retorting at him with every sentence.

Hong Jishi was unfazed: "Fine, I'll go next year. Lao Li, write a speech for me."

Li Xueru shook his head: "I won't write it; you can improvise."

Hong Jishi's complexion collapsed instantly: "Lao Li, you can't treat me like that."

Li Xueru turned his head and ignored him.

Fei Zhuren spoke for a full twenty minutes, finally covering everything that needed to be said.

Some words are useful, some are not; either way, everyone has to listen.

The hardest part to endure is the students standing below

the listening students.

Then he shifted tone: "At the opening ceremony we also have a traditional program, the popular New-Old Student Challenge Segment."

"Senior Students may issue challenges to Freshmen, and the Senior Student will wager the corresponding points."

"Freshmen can decline, but if a Freshman wins, the Senior Student's points go to the Freshman."

"Of course, regardless of win or loss, Freshmen owe nothing."

As Fei Zhuren finished speaking, a group of Senior Students stepped onto the podium.

Hong Jishi sneered: "Same old routine, just trying to suppress the Freshmen so they learn the ropes—what's the point?"

Lin Zhenzi, however, didn't think so: "These Freshmen are top scholars from everywhere—city, province—they all consider themselves geniuses, each one unbearably arrogant. If we don't suppress them a bit, their asses will be stuck up in the sky."

Hong Jishi naturally understood his point and chuckled: "I just don't know if anyone will challenge Jiang Chen."

Challenge Jiang Chen?

Li Xueru said lightly: "No one would be that desperate, right?"

There's actually such a program.

It's even such a great thing.

Winning brings rewards; losing is fine, at worst you just lose face.

But losing to a Senior Student isn't shameful at all.

It's the Senior Student who loses that would be shameful.

Many people are itching to act.

Someone asked: "Fei Zhuren, our level and Skill differ from the Senior Students', we can't possibly win."

"And how is safety guaranteed?"

Fei Zhuren had long anticipated this question.

He immediately smiled and replied: "That's a good question; the Academy has already accounted for that."

"The Contest will take place on a professional Combat Platform, with Formation Suppression equalizing both sides' levels, using the lower level as the standard."

"For example, if one side is Level 22 and the other Level 17, the level will be automatically suppressed to Level 17, and all attributes will be those of Level 17."

"Skills work the same way; any Skill above Level 20 cannot be used."

"As for safety, there's no need to worry."

"With Formation Suppression protection, even a fatal blow won't endanger life on the Combat Platform."

"The Academy has Divine-level Healers; even if you lose an arm or a leg, regrowing it takes mere minutes."

The Academy's considerations are thorough.

As a result, both sides seem to be brought to equality.

Someone feels stirred, and many show battle intent.

The Senior Students each smile, as they love this traditional program.

They took the Academy's task, which is to teach Freshmen how to be proper people.

At this moment, a Senior Student stepped forward, carrying a longbow, pointing at a Freshman also bearing a longbow: "I challenge you."

That Freshman happens to be the local Provincial Top Scholar, extremely self‑confident.

He accepted without hesitation.

Then the Senior Students all stepped forward, issuing challenges to each Freshman; some accepted, some declined.

At this time, those Senior Students stepped forward one after another, issuing challenges to each Freshman; some accepted, while others refused.

Suddenly a voice rang out.

Jiang Chen looked up; the one challenging him was Lei Ren.

This guy really is relentless.

Three or four times.

The murderous intent in Jiang Chen's eyes flashed and vanished.

Unfortunately, in the Academy, he can't kill him.

"Jiang Chen, you are this year's National Top Scholar; do you dare to fight, or are you scared?"

Lei Ren pressed forward step by step, repeatedly asking.

Jiang Chen said gravely: "How many points are you putting up?"

Lei Ren said without hesitation: "I'll put up 5,000 points."

Jiang Chen shook his head: "That's too little."

Lei Ren frowned; Jiang Chen actually said his 5,000 points were too few.

Jiang Chen shook his head: "Too little."

Lei Ren frowned, Jiang Chen actually said his 5000 points were too little.

Lei Ren demanded in a low, stern voice, "Then how many points do you want before you'll accept a challenge?"

Jiang Chen held up one finger: "A hundred thousand."

Whoa!

The entire hall fell silent.

Most of the people here had at most ten thousand points.

Usually around five thousand to seven thousand.

They had never even imagined a hundred thousand points.

Lei Ren's face was full of disdain: "Are you joking? Do you know what ten thousand points means? Do you even have a hundred thousand points? You wouldn't be worth that much if you sold yourself."

Jiang Chen said, "How about this — let's have a wager fight, with my points as the stake."

"If I win, however many points I have, you pay me that many in return."

"If I lose, all my points go to you."

"Do you dare? Senior Lei Ren!"

Jiang Chen bit down on the word "Senior" especially hard.

The question was simply — do you dare or not!

Jiang Chen's gaze was firm as he stared coldly at the speaking Lei Ren.