It had to be said, Chen Beiyuan's words from last night had some effect, successfully stirring up a hidden hostility in Leng Ruobing towards Lin Xiao.
Whether or not Lin Xiao was behind her mother's sudden coma was beside the point.
The fact remained that if last night's events had succeeded, and Lin Xiao, who would have benefited the most, simply vanished, she and the Leng Family behind her would have to bear the Donghua Chen Family's fury.
At that point, the Leng Family would likely have no place to bury their dead.
It was precisely for this reason that Leng Ruobing hadn't revealed what happened last night to Lin Xiao, choosing instead to remain silent and observe coldly.
Undeniably, Leng Ruobing did have some small feelings for Lin Xiao.
But Chen Beiyuan's cold tone last night was like a sharp knife, successfully shattering those feelings into pieces.
Moreover, Chen Beiyuan also successfully showed Leng Ruobing that Lin Xiao, who seemed upright, just, and unafraid of power, also possessed a selfish and greedy side.
More importantly, last night, Chen Beiyuan's display of dominance, which was different from his usual demeanor, gave her a strange feeling.
Leng Ruobing took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil and complexity in her heart. The cold and domineering figure involuntarily surfaced in her mind, and her body trembled:
"I was also bewitched by Lin Xiao, it's all Lin Xiao's fault. Beiyuan obviously knows this too. Although last night was a bit much, making me kneel all night..."
"But I was trying to harm him, and he didn't have any killing intent towards me, nor did he make a move against the Leng Family. This means that he still cares about me, it's just because of Lin Xiao that he was so angry..."
"He still likes me..."
At this moment, she, who fancied she had understood Chen Beiyuan's thoughts, gradually began to regain her confidence, and the slight unease and fear in her heart were gradually suppressed.
It had to be said that the original body's kindness towards her before was too deeply ingrained, making her overly confident.
That kind of confidence is called, those who are loved, are always fearless!
Last night, Chen Beiyuan's slap still hadn't completely shattered her delusional self-confidence.
And with the "bet" between Chen Beiyuan and Lin Xiao officially set,
everyone in the Battle Martial Zone also began to buzz with excitement, clearly not expecting things to escalate so much!
"Woah, are they serious?!"
"Chen Beiyuan actually agreed?!"
"Isn't this normal? Who in Donghua Academy doesn't know Chen Beiyuan likes Leng Ruobing? Lin Xiao dared to openly provoke him, trying to get involved. He's probably going to get beaten to a pulp!"
"Tsk, where did Lin Xiao get the nerve to provoke Chen Beiyuan like that? What's his basis for this? Could he really think he's invincible just because he won a few matches?!"
"As expected, a beauty is a curse. Lin Xiao actually dares to fight Chen Beiyuan for Leng Ruobing!"
"This is going to be good. Chen Beiyuan hasn't fought since he killed a Fifth Rank Fierce Beast with a single punch and palm five years ago. No one knows how strong he is now. We might get a glimpse today!"
"Sigh, Lin Xiao is still too impulsive. He's too young and full of himself. Although his combat strength is outstanding, having defeated Wei Xu, who's from a noble family, at the Mid Stage Battle General level while only being at Early Stage Battle General, he's clearly not a match for Chen Beiyuan. However, with his strength, he might be able to force Chen Beiyuan to show some of his true power!"
"Alas, two promising students of Donghua Academy are coming to blows all because of a woman!"
"Let the bets begin! Let's bet on how many moves Lin Xiao can withstand before losing to Chen Beiyuan..."
"I bet Chen Beiyuan will beat Lin Xiao to death!"
In an instant, the entire audience in the Battle Martial Zone erupted in excitement.
A pair of peculiar gazes focused on the two figures on the Battle Stage.
However, in everyone's eyes, Lin Xiao, this suddenly rising dark horse, had a slim chance of victory against Chen Beiyuan!
And at this moment, Leng Ruobing, sitting in the front row of the audience seats, also became the center of attention.
It was obvious that in everyone's eyes, the reason Lin Xiao had made such a foolish bet was because of her!
As one of the focal points of the entire arena, Leng Ruobing felt a strange stirring within.
She found herself somewhat enjoying this feeling of being the center of attention...
On the Battle Martial Zone stage, the referee in charge of the competition quickly sought instructions from the high-level officials of the academy on the main platform.
Soon, a new referee with a receding hairline returned to the Battle Martial Zone stage.
It was clear the academy's higher-ups had approved this final battle, which carried the nature of a "bet."
"I will reiterate the rules of the competition. Friendship first, competition second. Do not use lethal force. Stop when you've made your point. If one side admits defeat, the other must stop. I will intervene at critical moments!"
"During this grand competition, the use of divine artifacts and treasures exceeding the Fifth Rank is prohibited. You may only use weapons equal to your own cultivation level!"
The middle-aged referee, watching Chen Beiyuan stand with his hands behind his back, briefly stated the rules of the competition, his expression becoming serious.
At this moment, the cultivation aura of a Sixth Rank Battle King faintly emerged from his body.
This middle-aged referee, who had been brought in to replace the previous one, was clearly a whole realm stronger than the Fifth Rank Battle Marshal referee.
Evidently, the academy's higher-ups were worried that the Fifth Rank Battle Marshal referee wouldn't be able to control the situation, so they replaced him with a Sixth Rank Battle King.
A Sixth Rank Battle King refereeing a battle between two Fourth Rank Battle Generals? Such high-level treatment was likely rare!
"The match begins!"
Dong!
A deep bell rang out.
It signaled the official start of the finals for this academy competition!
"Chen Beiyuan, everyone thinks I can't beat you. Even you probably think that, right? Unfortunately, you're all wrong. You're all wrong! You have no idea what I've sacrificed for this day!"
"I will show everyone who underestimates me who the future of the Empire is! Today is the day Lin Xiao makes a name for himself in the Empire!"
Lin Xiao, dressed in plain black clothes, suddenly burst into mad laughter. He seemed to have lost his mind, and his eyes flashed with a ferocious and violent light. It was as if a starving wolf, suppressed for years, had torn off its sheep's clothing, completely revealing its true nature.
In an instant, under the gazes of countless disbelieving people,
He ripped off the simple necklace around his neck. His cultivation, which should have been at Early Stage Battle General, began to surge wildly at that moment, no longer concealed.
Clearly, the unassuming necklace was a treasure capable of masking his cultivation!
Mid Stage Battle General!
High Stage Battle General!
Peak Stage Battle General!
In an instant, Lin Xiao's aura reached Peak Stage Battle General, a Fourth Rank Battle General.
He was only a step away from being a Fifth Rank Battle Marshal!
Roar!
A behemoth over ten meters long suddenly appeared behind Lin Xiao. Its massive shadow covered most of the Battle Stage, and its lowered, ferocious head emitted a low, heavy roar.
The scales were the color of ink, and its face, resembling both a dragon and a python, was menacing. Two large, pulsating fleshy tumors grew on its head, as if something was gestating within. Its four thick, powerful claws easily carved deep cracks into the sturdy Battle Martial Zone stage.
Along with the ferocious roar, a terrifying pressure spread outwards without restraint, stirring up waves of energy.
This was none other than Lin Xiao's Battle Soul!
A Black Flood Dragon on the verge of transforming into a dragon!
At once, the entire arena was stunned.
The entire audience section erupted in an uproar.
Even some of the academy's high-ranking officials on the main platform couldn't help but stand up, staring intently at the enormous Battle Soul on the Battle Stage.