Chapter 128: This Place Is Too Cramped—Let's Switch Venues

"Hoo!"

A chorus of sharp intakes of breath immediately rang out around them.

A thousand million right off the bat!

Seeing this, Han Mengqing's eyes seemed to sprout currency symbols, and she beamed from ear to ear:

"You got it! Big spender boss! Wishing you a fortune, boss!"

As she spoke, she pulled out a small notebook and began jotting things down.

"Boss Ye Kong, betting on Ye Kong to win—one thousand million!"

"Alright, anyone else want to place a bet? We're handing out money here, hello!"

With Ye Kong taking the lead, the students around who had been merely watching could no longer sit still.

Anyone who could enter Long Xu Ban came from families with at least some foundation.

Add the hefty scholarship on top of that, and nobody was short on cash.

Besides, the odds were simply too tempting.

One to ten!

Ye Kong was a Space-type—his winning odds were already high to begin with. This was practically free money!

"I'm in on Brother Kong too! One million!"

"Brother Kong, carry me to the moon! We're getting rich this round!"

"Me too, me too! I'm betting on Ye Kong as well!"

In an instant, the crowd scrambled to snatch from Han Mengqing's hand the slip of paper bearing Ye Kong's name.

Han Mengqing was swamped with work, the smile on her face never once fading.

"Jackpot… this is it, jackpot…"

Just then.

A short boy squeezed his way out of the crowd.

He pushed his glasses up, his heart a tangle of indecision.

"One to one-point-one… one to ten…"

"Even though everyone's betting on Ye Kong, I feel like the bookmaker and big shot Lin Mo are both so calm—they've definitely got a trump card."

"At a time like this, you've got to go against the grain!"

The boy gritted his teeth and grabbed the slip of paper with Lin Mo's name on it from Han Mengqing's hand:

"Um… Classmate Han, I'm betting on Lin Mo! Five million!"

The moment those words left his mouth,

everyone around looked at him as if he were an idiot.

Passing up the one-to-ten high return to bet on Lin Mo at one to one-point-one? And betting that much money too?

Is this guy's brain fried or what?

Han Mengqing froze abruptly.

She raised her head, looked at the boy, and the smile on her face vanished in an instant.

"This classmate here."

Han Mengqing's gaze was sincere as she spoke with earnest weight:

"How about you think it over again?"

"This is no small sum, you know."

"Look, Ye Kong is an SSS-rank Space-type. Lin Mo is just a blank-slate mage. A Space-type fighting a mage—isn't that like chopping vegetables?"

"And with these odds, betting on Lin Mo only pays one to one-point-one. There's no profit in it."

The boy froze for a moment, then yanked hard at the slip in Han Mengqing's hand.

It didn't budge.

Han Mengqing's grip was shockingly strong, as if the slip had been welded into her palm.

"No… Classmate Han, just let me bet! I just want to play it safe! And I'm just rooting for Lin Mo!"

The boy grew anxious. "Let go! I want to place my bet!"

"No!"

Han Mengqing grew anxious too.

You've got to be kidding!

If I let you bet on Lin Mo and Lin Mo wins later, even though the payout isn't huge, I still have to return your principal!

A five-million that's already in my belly—and you think I'm giving it back?

Not a chance!

"Classmate, listen to good advice and you'll never go hungry!"

Han Mengqing clung tightly to the slip. "Think about the Space Walker's 【Spatial Leap】! One silky-smooth flash-step burst of speed—which squishy could tank that?"

"What does Lin Mo have to win with? His head?"

"This isn't playing it safe—this is picking a fight with money! Go bet on Ye Kong—one turns into ten! Steady now, bicycle turns into motorcycle!"

The boy was somewhat shaken by Han Mengqing's torrent of arguments.

But the contrarian gambler's instinct inside him was still at work:

"But… but what if Lin Mo wins? I'm not being greedy, I just want to play it safe!"

Just then.

Ye Kong, who had been standing nearby, suddenly spoke up.

"There's no 'but' about it."

"This classmate, since you don't trust me so much."

"Then I'll give you a promise, and at the same time I'll give every classmate present a promise."

"Anyone who bets on me to win, and I end up losing — I'll, Ye Kong, cover your principal in full!"

The moment these words came out, the whole venue erupted.

Domineering!

Way too domineering!

Losses covered?

This is basically zero risk!

"Hear that? Hear that?!"

"Someone's covering the losses! This is a guaranteed-profit deal! If you still don't bet on Ye Kong, then you're truly a fool!"

Han Mengqing said to that boy.

The boy froze.

A one-to-ten high return, and someone covering the principal?

What the hell is there to hesitate about?!

"Bet! I bet on Ye Kong! All-in on Ye Kong!"

The boy let go, took another slip of paper with Ye Kong's name on it.

"You got it!"

Han Mengqing happily jotted down the betting information.

Across the board, all-in on Ye Kong!

She looked at the ledger in her hands, as if she could already see countless little coins waving at her.

……

Not far away.

"……"

Watching this scene, Han Mengyao helplessly held her forehead.

She turned to look at Lin Mo and said apologetically, "Lin Mo, don't take it to heart. Once we're back, I'll definitely give her a good talking-to."

But Lin Mo's face was perfectly calm. He waved his hand and said:

"It's fine. Before we came, Mengqing had already discussed it with me on the phone — I'll take ninety percent of the money we make on this round."

"……"

Han Mengyao looked at Lin Mo, then glanced at her sister in the distance, the corner of her mouth twitching uncontrollably.

So you two are in cahoots together, huh?

……

Just then.

The arena's main door was pushed open.

Xu Wenchang strode in with big steps.

Right behind him followed a middle-aged woman.

"Teacher Xu!"

Everyone greeted him in turn.

Xu Wenchang nodded, pointed at the female teacher behind him, and introduced:

"This is Director Su from our school's Medical Department, a Level 85 Healing-class professional."

"Today I heard our Long Xu Ban was going to decide the class monitor early, so I specially invited Director Su over to hold the fort."

Hearing this, everyone was instantly filled with respect.

A Level 85 Healing-class professional!

That's a real, top-tier healer!

After the introduction, Xu Wenchang's gaze swept around the surroundings.

He looked at the five-hundred-square-meter combat stage, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"Why choose this place?"

Xu Wenchang shook his head. "This place is too small — can't spread out properly."

After saying that, he waved his hand grandly:

"Let's go, switch venues."

"To the Advanced Arena."

"……"

Everyone froze.

The Advanced Arena?

Isn't that… a venue prepared for professionals above Level 60?

Ye Kong couldn't help but speak up:

"Teacher Xu, there's no need for that, is there?"

"At our level, five hundred square meters is plenty. Going to the Advanced Arena… isn't that a bit of a waste?"

In his view, a few Flash Steps would be enough to end the fight — there was no need for such a large venue at all.

Xu Wenchang, however, looked at him deeply, then glanced at Lin Mo not far away.

"Not enough. Don't talk anymore, let's go to the High-Level Arena."

Having spoken, Xu Wenchang offered no explanation, turned, and walked out with that female teacher.

Lin Mo and the others also stepped forward, following Xu Wenchang out of this Low-Level Arena.

Ye Kong stood in place, watching the backs of Xu Wenchang, Lin Mo, and the others.

He felt somewhat uneasy.

Going to the High-Level Arena was certainly not because of him.

His own strength was already fully sufficient to be displayed in the Low-Level Arena.

Then...

It could only be because of that guy?

Could that guy really be that strong? Strong enough that even the Low-Level Arena could not contain his skills?

Ye Kong took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the doubts in his heart.

"Hmph, then I'll just have to see if you, Lin Mo, are truly worthy of this High-Level Arena!"

"Let's go!"

Having spoken,

Ye Kong also led Wang Dawei, stepping out of the Low-Level Arena.