53 The Bet's Reward (1)

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***

Everyone stood separately from Ja Sun and Ah Yin. Despite her beauty, as long as Ja Sun stood next to her, none dared even get close to her. Who knows what unholy words Ja Sun might utter.

It was already the next day and Ja Sun wore a clean set of the uniform. Altogether, they had seven uniforms and they could apply for more after their teacher's approval. Last night, after reading through the directories of the poison, Ja Sun's insight on it had grown considerably and he understood that Neidan Pear was a detoxification fruit that could counter poison developed by any spirit beast or herb under the cultivation of 100,000 years. With that, he tried to add another mission.

Qian Daoliu had given him the task of finding out the missing pieces in the use of his first two spirit abilities. Naturally, he set the mission regarding it. But now, how could his trait set the mission? The objective was to find the hidden pieces in his ability to control the spirit abilities. Most probably, it meant that he was lacking in experience. If there was some information about this particular 'experience' in writing, then sure, the trait would have created the mission. But it may have been unable to find it. Without being able to measure the difficulty of the mission, it cannot set a mission rank, and thus, Ja Sun was stumped.

On the other hand, when he set the optional objective of revealing the mystery of the restricted forest, the information regarding it must have been jotted down somewhere, allowing his trait to know of it.

But Ja Sun felt that this was good in its own way. Instead of being stuck for a single mission for a month, he can create multiple missions around Bibi Dong and reap multiple rewards.

Right now, Bibi Dong stood in front of her 18 students. It was clear to her that the information of Ja Sun's sharp tongue reached her other students for all 16 of them stayed away from Ja Sun and Ah Yin. Yesterday, she wouldn't have cared. But slowly, even Bibi Dong started to realize that her mission wasn't as simple as tutoring the team of the first champions of the Continental Competition, discussions of which were already underway.

So she couldn't help but frown. Her bad temper flaring momentarily.

"Today's lesson is simple. It doesn't involve sparring or figuring out an old array. I call this a martial lesson."

Saying that, she took out 18 scrolls that floated around her while being wrapped by the potent spirit energy.

"In here is a simple martial technique developed by the elders of the Spirit Hall. Though extensive, I brought only the first level. I do not require perfect mastery. Read it and you will understand my objective.

I want all of you to reach the tenth step of the first level at the very least. If you cannot meet my requirements, then you already know the answer. You have till 9 in the night."

---

"Tenth step..." Qian Daoliu frowned. He would observe Bibi Dong's lesson not only for his recently adopted disciples but also for Bibi Dong herself. It was made perfectly clear that the only ones she will be allowed to cultivate will be rogues and not the orthodox students of the academy. This isn't to make her life difficult, but to enrich it instead.

In Daoliu's eyes, the 18 students present were already amazing. With Bibi Dong's current temper, he half expected many to be removed yesterday but only now did he realize that while his son managed to teach this lass the ability to hold one's fist, he also made Bibi Dong's ambitions extremely wide and for what reasons, Daoliu understood that, too.

'The tenth level in less than one day... that's the potential of Titled Douluo. In all the records of the Spirit Hall, those who achieved this record and don't die in their youth have all stepped into rank 90. The only difference within this heavenly potential can be considered by how quickly they reach it.

It is now certain that Bibi Dong considers teaching everyone a waste of time. But not everyone will reach her expectations either... if that's the case... heh, that's good, too. Genius breeds competition. In closer proximity outside, they will certainly grow better. Originally rogues, why do we need to keep them sheltered?'

Qian Daoliu smiled and looked at his son kneeling in front of a large statue of an angel, reciting his morning prayers.

Daoliu was only capable of 'seeing' that farm As to what actually transpired, Qian Xunji is the one who informed his father of Bibi Dong's decision.

'He wants me out of the Spirit City for a while,' Qian Daoliu shook his head. He was the head of the martial realm of the Spirit Hall and the highest voice of the organization. How would he not understand the intentions and the play? But even if he stayed, it wouldn't matter since Qian Xunji would usually find a way to accomplish an objective distasteful and refutable by the elders. This much, Qian Daoliu trusted Qian Xunji with. If that is the case, he might as well take the excuse of the first plan of the many subsequent ones and take a rest.

---

In front of the restricted forest, everyone unfurled their scrolls, and began reading them.

'Well...' Ja Sun frowned the more he read. The technique within the first level was simple. It was an external method to refine spirit energy before absorbing it. But not only was it complicated, it also placed a burden on the energy since the refinement is external and not internal.

In total, there were fifteen steps. Each step harder than the last. It could be used by any level of spirit master, in fact. Just that the quality of refinement would be corresponding to the spirit rank.

In essence, this technique was quite useless. Maybe that is why Bibi Dong revealed this technique so quickly. Who would spend spirit energy to refine the slightest wisp of external spirit qi and then absorb it? Not only is it a waste of time, but it also consumes more spirit energy than it provides. Others understood it themselves. Even though the lowest of them were merely Spirit Elders, they were all older than 18. Each one of them, despite being somewhat hardheaded, had enough experience in cultivation to understand the large demerits of this technique.

"I will return later."

With that, Bibi Dong entered the forest.

"What do you think?" Ja Sun looked at Ah Yin.

"It's possible to reach the 10th step," Ah Yin nodded.

Ja Sun sat down cross-legged when Ah Yin and Ja Sun found themselves surrounded by every other student.

Snickering in his heart, Ja Sun did what would frustrate this group the most.

He ignored them.

Stretching his arm out slightly, he slowly produced a concentrated sphere of spirit energy.

"What is it?" Ah Yin inquired calmly instead.

'Sigh, she has so much to learn,' Ja Sun shook his head internally.

"We're here to for Ka-ul, of course," Roldiarra, the self-proclaimed son of Ja Sun, opened up.

"Get on with it, speak," Ah Yin sat down with a sigh, and now everyone was angered at the two of them. Clearly, the group understood that their own side was acting slightly unreasonably but can't they have the slightest bit of attention.

"You were quite loud yesterday. Instead of sparring, how about we settle with this lesson?"

Everyone was motivated. Collectively offended by Ja Sun, even if holding a calm state of view of the world, they wished to deal with this menace. He had already startled everyone with his ability and if they cannot even be pleasing acquaintances then they didn't mind being cruel competitors either.

"Oh?" Ja Sun tilted his head up. Right in front of him stood Xie Xan, the wielder of Moon Blade.

"This task is difficult. Do you dare bet that you will complete the task the quickest?"

"How can we determine this bet based on time if Teacher herself will only come after 9?" Ja Sin inquired curiously. Everyone frowned. Even now, they fell into his conversational skills. Although everyone was relatively in the same age group, how could any of them speak well when they had only fought and cultivated their entire lifetime?

"Let's do it like this," Ja Sun stood up and removed his belt.

"This is my storage essence tool. Within this, there is one essence tool that can hold plants and herbs under the cultivation of thousand years filled with a variety of herbs. There are six more storage essence tools stored within. One of them holds four corpses of rare thousand-year-old dragon-type spirit beasts. This is my entire wealth.

Once the teacher arrives, we compete with the number of steps we have accomplished."

He didn't reveal his entire wealth even now.

Everyone gazed at the essence tool in Ja Sun's hand. Even Liu Erlong's mood fluctuated and she spoke up, "I'm willing to compete. What do you want me to bet in return?"

"I'm betting my entire wealth. Of course, I will ask the same."

Ja Sun smiled.

"But..." Hu Lana frowned and shook her head, "You are betting against 16 of us. This martial lesson is based on our talent and control of spirit energy. There is a high chance you can show a better result than most of us."

Her words woke up everyone. A Spirit Elder showing two purple spirit rings, how can his talent be lower than theirs?

But those unwilling to see reason will refuse its existence even when slapped with it.

Sneering, Roldiarra scoffed, "So? I believe in my talent. I believe in my control even more. I will take this bet."

He looked valiant and from the corner of his eyes, he couldn't help but glance at Ah Yin unconsciously. Who wouldn't? Aside from Hu Lana who had a fierce charm about her, Ah Yin attracted other's attention by her unspoken calmness.

However, his lips trembled when he already found a glowing circle drawn over Ah Yin's outstretched palm, and within this circle was a strangely shaped line of spirit energy. Ah Yin's action attracted everyone and they scowled instantly.

Hu Lana had the clearest mind since the beginning and she gave Roldiarra a sidelong glance.

"I don't have time to waste. As teacher said, insults can be repaid with insults. Not treasures and time. Ka-ul, Ah Yin, I hope that we all get to continue studying under teacher."

With 'all', Ha Lana meant a clear few. With that, she pulled a slightly unwilling Xie Xan. Liu Erlong's slightly twisted expression calmed down. Unknowingly, she was almost willing to give her entire wealth again. This time, her gaze towards Ja Sun changed and turned a little cold but far more respectable. Being robbed twice would have been the shame of her life. How could she not hold such a glib-tongued opponent with caution and respect?

Slowly, everyone dispersed with Roldiarra being the last. Sighing softly, Ja Sun glared at Ah Yin, and seeing her slightly narrowed smirk, his heart itched.

"How about the two of us make a bet?" Ah Yin inquired. Their competitive nature was already known to each other. Seeing Ah Yin proposing this, Ja Sun naturally agreed.

"The terms?"

"Same as you said. Whoever reaches the highest step of this technique wins."

"And? What do I get?" Ja Sun smiled.

"Anything you want."

Ah Yin's words weren't light. She already had many silent suitors and hearts were shattered like pitiful glass when she said so.

"Anything?" Ja Sun's eyes lit up.

Ah Yin nodded.

"Then I will take your storage essence tool."

"What?" Ah Yin blinked. She had just felt Ja Sun's bold gaze over her.

"Tch, relax. If something does happen between us, it wouldn't be because of a measly bet. A bet involves finance. Do you want me to sell you out for coin?" Ja Sun was unbridled. His earlier sentence won the favor of girls, admittedly. Who hasn't ever encountered a shameless bet like that in their life? But his further passage made their expressions bleak.

How could Ja Sun not understand sexual tension? He had that relationship once, though it was a dry and bloody experience.

But he also couldn't cheapen his own experience by a bet.

Ah Yin's gaze brightened.

"Then you storage essence tool is mine."

"Deal."

Both of them nodded. Ja Sun didn't sit with Ah Yin but moved away and sat in solitude.

First thing first, he began to transfer all of his valuables into a single storage ring. Silently, he moved the storage ring from one of the jade points of the belt on the back of his waist and hid the ring within his pocket.

With a satisfied smile, he mumbled under his breath.

"Set Mission."

[Set Parameters.]

"Reach the fifteenth step of the External Refinement Qi Array and find an enclosed place privately."

He would add this constraint nowadays so that his reward doesn't pop out in front of everybody. In his last life, it was alright since everyone would have weird traits. But not this one.

"Additional Objectives:

1) Reach the fifteenth step in 10 hours.

2) Reach the fifteenth step in 6 hours.

3) Reach the fifteenth step in 3 hours.

4) Reach the fifteenth step in 1 hour.

5) Reach the fifteenth step in 10 minutes.

6) Win the recently established bet against Ah Yin."

He wanted to maximize his rewards.

[Objective: Complete the fifteenth step of the External Refinement Qi Array and find an enclosed place privately.

Optional Objectives:

1) Complete the fifteenth step in 10 hours.

2) Complete the fifteenth step in 6 hours.

3) Complete the fifteenth step in 3 hours.

4) Complete the fifteenth step in 1 hour.

5) Complete the fifteenth step in 10 minutes.

6) Win the recently established bet against Ah Yin.

Mission Ranks: F/E/D/B/B/A-E

Mission Rewards: One Step Array Refining Technique/Two-Step Array Refining Technique/Three Step Array Refining Technique/Seven-Step Array Refining Technique/Seven-Step Array Refining Technique/Nine-Step Array Refining Technique—Ah Yin's Dudou.

Time Limit: 17/10/6/3/1 hours/10 minutes-17 hours.]

Distracted by the last reward, Ja Sun hurriedly shook his head and didn't accept the mission. Instead, he added another objective. There was a possibility of S-rank, of course!

The final result was—

[Objective: Complete the fifteenth step of the External Refinement Qi Array and find an enclosed place privately.

Optional Objectives:

1) Complete the fifteenth step in 10 hours.

2) Complete the fifteenth step in 6 hours.

3) Complete the fifteenth step in 3 hours.

4) Complete the fifteenth step in 1 hour.

5) Complete the fifteenth step in 10 minutes.

6) Complete the fifteenth step in 3 minutes.

7) Win the recently established bet against Ah Yin.

Mission Ranks: F/E/D/B/B/A/S-E

Mission Rewards: One Step Array Refining Technique/Two-Step Array Refining Technique/Three Step Array Refining Technique/Seven-Step Array Refining Technique/Seven-Step Array Refining Technique/Nine-Step Array Refining Technique/Myriad Step Array Refining Technique—Ah Yin's Dudou.

Time Limit: 17/10/6/3/1 hours/10/3 minutes-17 hours.]

Accepting the mission, Ja Sun cleared his mind and began. Many gazes lingered on him since a few students were astonished by the fact that Ja Sun hadn't started even now.

Taking a deep breath, Ja Sun removed his left gauntlet.

He knew that this was going to be a bloody experience.

Despite wearing gauntlets, Ja Sun kept his bandaged by a warm gauze since nobody knows when he loses his gauntlets. Right now, he didn't bother to unwrap his arm due to limited time and instantly tugged on his spirit energy.

Snowy white spirit qi instantly glowed extraordinary, distracting the viewers. Ah Yin's control over her spirit energy suddenly trembled and she shot a glare in Ja Sun's direction, however...

Despite wearing a mask, Ah Yin could feel a certain emotion out of Ja Sun.

Which meant that things aren't good at all. Instead of worrying about him, she began focusing on her task.

She was still on the second step. Unexpectedly, despite her enhanced body, her hand right hand felt tremendous pressure as of this moment. It was the pressure of her spirit energy!

*Gasp*

Shocked gasps rang and Ah Yin's second-worst fear came true. She glanced towards Ja Sun and found the gauze around his left hand. There was a small crimson point over the cream gauze that began to bloom.

"He's..." Xie Xan's gaze constricted. Liu Erlong frowned but when she saw Ja Sun's blood, her body trembled regardless.

Roldiarra, who had his eyes closed and was lost in his focus finally opened his eyes in a bad mood and fell into a daze.

What was this?

Snowy-white glittering spirit energy over a bloody hand. It looked quite beautiful.

"He's already at the third step," Hu Lana whispered. Within the circle, there were three sets of lines already completed— drawn from one point on the perimeter of the circle and completely placed on the other.

In fact, the main issue with this technique wasn't only the control, but the body's natural restriction.

Why did this technique act as a potential determiner amongst the higher-ranking individual of the Spirit Hall? Because certain meridians are suppressed while using this technique. Within 24 hours, certain individuals have their suppressed meridian slowly loosen their restriction. That is the mark of natural talent.

Ja Sun busted his veins willingly.

That is the mark of a junkie.

"Fifth step," Roldiarra gulped.

*Drip*

A little over one minute passed and finally, a drop of his blood dripped over his boot. The soft 'pitter' sound was extremely clear in this silent environment.

Ja Sun's body trembled and extreme pain passed not only through his hand but his entire body. But his gaze grew brighter. 5 steps in a minute. 15 in 3.

Within the gauze, his fingers were somewhat lacerated with blood bursting out. The gauze even looked somewhat swelled up.

But he didn't mind the loss of blood. He can easily support this pace of loss for three minutes.

His gaze concentrated and he simultaneously focused on the Bright Goddess Butterfly doing an obstacle course around the needles of mental energy so that he doesn't focus on the pain too much.

6th step.

Everybody's gaze turned slightly rough.

Others in the classroom understood why Ja Sun would act like a madman and offend everybody. As it turns out, he is one.

7th step.

The light in his hand was extremely concentrated. Ja Sun finally began to feel the area above the array distorting slightly as if pulling something out of the air itself.

8th step.

Ja Sun's shoulder trembled for a moment but he continued with a strict gaze.

This wasn't as torturous as being zapped on an electric chair!

9th step.

This wasn't as dangerous as the claws of a tiger piercing his thigh.

10th step.

This wasn't nearly as dangerous as drowning while having a shark almost bite his head off!

11th step.

This isn't as emotionally wrecking as killing his very first teammates.

12th step.

Through the forest, just a little distance away, Bibi Dong's eyes were widened in astonishment. Naturally reaching 10 steps means the potential of a Titled Douluo.

What was Ja Sun doing was the equivalent of cutting himself and bleeding out till reaching that level and it wasn't even needed. Bibi Dong estimated that in less than 7 hours, he would have naturally reached the 15th step, much less 10. After all, her rank was a little over 6 hours, too.

13th step.

The three-minute time period was almost up and persisting till now, Ja Sun wasn't planning on going down bloody without an appropriate reward!

*Hrrr*

He finally revealed a sound for the first time. A low, guttural growl and his bloodlust itself oozed slightly.

*Shhh*

Everyone instantly stepped back.

14th step.

Fourteen marks revealed extremely astonishing light and a sliver of snowy white energy was on the verge of condensing.

"Get!" Ja Sun's throat rumbled.

15th step!

The single sliver of energy dispersed within his body. The light crumbled and Ja Sun's left arm weakly fell to his side as the pool of blood already dripped over the edges of his silver pants.

Another uniform was ruined.

Ah Yin moved swiftly. Even before Qian Daoliu or Bibi Dong could. Grasping Ja Sun's almost destroyed hand with a sharp expression she sent waves after waves of pure vitality.

***

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