Song Yuan Valley, Arena No. 37.
Today, there were no lectures scheduled in Arena No. 37, yet throngs of people gathered from all directions.
Most of them were Outer Disciples, with a few servant disciples who were performing menial tasks nearby.
"Gao Ming, I’ve wagered over four hundred Essence Energy Pills on you. For this petition, you better give it your all—don’t embarrass yourself by losing to some fluke."
A slightly chubby youth among a group of Outer Disciples admonished Gao Ming.
Another Outer Disciple chuckled and said, "Senior Brother Cui, you’re worrying too much. He’s nothing but a loser who awakened a Wasted Martial Soul. What’s there to worry about? Just get ready to collect your Essence Energy Pills."
"It’s better to be cautious."
The chubby youth frowned slightly and said, "Even though Luo Cheng awakened a Wasted Martial Soul, he still managed to take first place in the Green Cloud Trial and dared to stake everything on this gamble. He must have some kind of confidence. Losing the Essence Energy Pills is a small matter, but if we lose to trash like him in front of everyone, we’d be utterly humiliated!"
Gao Ming laughed, "Senior Brother Cui Wen, don’t worry. Over the past three days, I’ve been focusing intensively on prehending the Mist Shadow Step. I’m just one step away from the entry-level stage! How could that piece of trash possibly surpass me?"
Gao Ming’s voice brimmed with confidence.
"You’re right, I suppose I am overthinking it."
Cui Wen also broke into a wry smile.
In terms of talent, cultivation, or time spent practicing the Mist Shadow Step, Luo Cheng was thoroughly outclassed by Gao Ming. What could he possibly use to win?
Thinking about this, Cui Wen remarked, "A piece of trash who rose from the ranks of servant disciples dares to be this brazen? This time, we have to make sure he learns his place!"
"Of course!"
A sinister glint flashed in Gao Ming’s eyes.
He’d already decided—he was going to make Luo Cheng lose face in front of the entire crowd, utterly ruining his reputation so he’d never be able to hold his head up again!
That was the price of provoking him!
As the day wore on, Gao Ming scanned the crowd but saw no sign of Luo Cheng, prompting him to frown.
"That kid... could it be he doesn’t dare to show up?"
Cui Wen sneered and said, "He might avoid it for now, but he can’t hide forever. If he doesn’t show, it’ll count as him forfeiting! He’ll still owe the Essence Energy Pills—every last one!"
Just then, the crowd parted, and Luo Cheng walked in with his two panions.
Seeing Luo Cheng, Gao Ming’s eyes lit up as he sneered, "I thought you were going to cower and not show up, you piece of trash!"
At these words, Yuan Zhilan frowned and said, "We’re all fellow sect members here. Why must you insult him outright?"
Gao Ming scanned Gu Lingfeng and Yuan Zhilan with disdain, smirking, "Fellow sect members? You two must have just been promoted to Outer Disciples yourselves. Don’t think that qualifying through the Green Cloud Trial puts you on the same level as us. Laughable! Trash is trash—no matter how ’exceptional,’ it’s still trash!"
Gao Ming’s fellow Outer Disciples burst into uproarious laughter, their eyes full of derision as they looked at Luo Cheng and his two panions.
Even within the Outer Sect, there was still a clear hierarchy.
Outer Disciples who had risen from servant disciples were at the very bottom!
"You—!"
Yuan Zhilan’s face flushed red, and she was about to retort, but Luo Cheng raised a hand to stop her.
Taking a step forward, Luo Cheng approached Gao Ming and said flatly, "To be honest, I was wondering if I should go easy on you. But now, I see there’s no need for that."
"Go easy on me? You piece of trash! How ridiculously arrogant you are!"
Gao Ming sneered and brought out a small wooden box. "In here, there are two thousand Essence Energy Pills! Where’s yours?"
Without wasting words, Luo Cheng took out a pouch he’d prepared in advance.
When opened, the rich flow of Essence Energy immediately permeated the air, stunning everyone nearby.
"Wow, this kid is loaded! He brought in two thousand Essence Energy Pills all by himself!"
"So what if he’s loaded? All of it is going to someone else! Seriously, a piece of trash peting in movement techniques against Gao Ming—he might as well be asking for death."
"No kidding. Two thousand Essence Energy Pills... He’s going to regret this so hard he might vomit blood later!"
The nearby spectators broke into animated chatter.
Within the crowd stood Sha Qi, his long blade slung over his back.
"Sha Qi, didn’t you say you wanted to settle things with this guy?" an Outer Disciple dressed in green asked from beside him.
Sha Qi stared at Luo Cheng and smiled coldly. "No rush. Let’s see how this plays out first."
Sha Qi had promised Jin Min he’d cripple Luo Cheng.
But Luo Cheng had spent most of his recent time in isolation training, leaving Sha Qi without an opportunity to strike.
When Sha Qi heard about Luo Cheng peting in movement techniques against Gao Ming, he immediately came to watch.
To Sha Qi, crippling Luo Cheng would be a simple matter.
But seeing Luo Cheng humiliate himself in front of everyone first... that would be even better!
Luo Cheng packed away the pouch and handed it to Yuan Zhilan before addressing Gao Ming. "So, how do you want to pete?"
Gao Ming’s gaze shifted from the pouch to Luo Cheng, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "You’re letting me decide the petition rules?"
Luo Cheng smirked and raised his voice, "That’s right! You pick the terms of the petition. That way, you can’t back out when you lose!"
Upon hearing this, Gao Ming’s face darkened.
This piece of trash had insulted him again and again!
"He’s too arrogant!"
"Gao Ming, just start already! Show him how it feels to lose face in front of everyone!"
"I can’t wait to see how humiliated he’ll be when this is over—he won’t even have the guts to stay in the Outer Sect anymore!"
Even the Outer Disciples around the scene were infuriated, glaring at Luo Cheng with rising anger.
Gao Ming’s expression turned icy. "You’ve got guts, kid. But you won’t be laughing for long!"
"We’ll pete in speed! You live on Cuiliu Peak, right? We’ll race from here to the boundary marker of Cuiliu Peak and leave our Handprints there as proof. The first to return here wins. How about that?"
Yuan Zhilan couldn’t hold back and protested, "That’s not fair! You’re a Sixth Layer Transcendence Realm Martial Artist, while Luo Cheng is only in the Fifth Layer! You already have an innate advantage in speed!"
Gao Ming sneered. "Until we break through to the Third Stage of Tongxuan Realm, we can’t use Essence Energy, which means our Mist Shadow Step mastery is the only judge of speed. Without a test like this, how else would we determine the winner? Besides, it was his idea to let me determine the petition rules!"
"What, are you going to go back on your word?" Gao Ming said, eyeing Luo Cheng.
"We’ll do as you say," Luo Cheng replied indifferently.
To him, the specifics of the petition didn’t matter at all.
"Luo Cheng..."
Yuan Zhilan’s eyes showed concern. If Luo Cheng lost, she couldn’t imagine how these people would ridicule him.
Luo Cheng smiled faintly and said, "Don’t worry. I’ll handle it."
Seeing Luo Cheng agree, Gao Ming exchanged knowing smiles with the others.
Yuan Zhilan’s objections were perfectly valid. As a Sixth Layer Transcendence Realm Martial Artist, Gao Ming indeed had a natural advantage in speed.
Coupled with his near-mastered Mist Shadow Step, it was almost impossible for him to lose this petition!
"Heh, let’s begin!"
Gao Ming licked his lips, barely able to contain his glee.
Luo Cheng nodded. "Alright!"
In the next moment—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Both figures shot out simultaneously, sprinting toward Cuiliu Peak. In an instant, they vanished from everyone’s sight.
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