Chapter 243: Bai Cheng's Gamble
A black shadow of a fist, carrying terrifying energy, suddenly appeared before Fu Ao's eyes. As the fist surged forward, the very space around it seemed to ripple, and the deafening sonic boom that followed was like continuous thunder, echoing without end.
Under Mo Yu's fierce attack, which was as swift as lightning and as powerful as thunder, even the solid ground beneath them began to crack with a series of sharp sounds. Cracks spread rapidly from Mo Yu's feet, under the astonished gazes of the crowd.
Mo Yu's speed and power were like a violent storm, even causing the judges, Elder Su and Vice Principal Hu Qian, to flash with surprise in their eyes.
On the plaza, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a blinding flash of lightning and a surge of energy erupted, causing gasps of astonishment from the spectators.
This fierce attack was probably on par with those of the top-ranking experts on the Strong Ranking.
Boom!
As the two collided, a deafening explosion erupted in the plaza. The point where they clashed crumbled into dust, and cracks spread out like a spiderweb from their feet.
At the edge of the plaza, Fu Ao's shirt was almost completely torn to shreds by the force of the impact. His entire body was covered in bruises caused by the shattered stones, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, making him look particularly battered. But the most shocking sight was his bloodied hands clutching the broken remains of his trident. The weapon had been shattered, clearly broken by sheer force.
To shatter a trident of such high quality with a single punch, even after a three-star Dou Spirit like Fu Ao had used an advanced combat skill, was something that even those ranked around 50th on the Strong Ranking would struggle to achieve.
Yet this Fu Ao, who was known even within the inner academy of Jia Nan Academy, had been defeated head-on by a newcomer to the academy, using such a wild and direct method!
Looking at Fu Ao struggling to get up at the edge of the plaza and glancing at the broken trident, some of those who had bet on Fu Ao winning suddenly felt a deep sense of regret and frustration welling up inside.
From the strength Mo Yu displayed, this student who had taken a two-year leave was indeed a genius.
As the dust in the plaza slowly settled, the silver-eyed youth walked out, his clothes immaculate, without a single crease. In contrast, Fu Ao looked utterly defeated and disheveled. It was clear to anyone with any sense that Mo Yu's strength far exceeded Fu Ao's.
What was even more surprising was that Fu Ao was a three-star Dou Spirit, while Mo Yu's aura suggested he was only a one-star Dou Spirit!
Challenging and defeating someone stronger—this was the mark of a true genius!
As this realization dawned on the crowd, gasps could be heard all around the stands, and the way they looked at Mo Yu shifted, now filled with respect and awe.
A young Dou Spirit who could challenge those stronger than him was considered exceptional, even within the inner academy of Jia Nan Academy.
Not only had Mo Yu defeated Fu Ao, but he had also broken the academy's long-standing record of an outer academy student defeating a Strong Ranking member from the inner academy!
Seeing this, many couldn't help but feel like they were witnessing a historic moment.
Even the judges, Elder Su and Vice Principal Hu Qian, exchanged glances, smiling knowingly.
As the academy's senior members, they had seen countless geniuses over the years, and in their youth, they had been hailed as geniuses themselves. However, someone like Mo Yu, who had risen so suddenly and shone so brightly, was something they had not seen in decades.
They had a feeling that it wouldn't be long before the top ten spots on the Strong Ranking would have to make room for new names.
"He's really strong..."
On the stands, those around Xiao Yu stared in shock at the tall, slender figure in the arena. One girl couldn't help but whisper, stars practically twinkling in her eyes. Who would have thought that the powerful Fu Ao, with his three-star Dou Spirit rank, would be defeated in just a few moves, even after using a powerful combat skill!
Just moments ago, they had been discussing how long Mo Yu might last, but before they could finish their conversation, the battle ended in a way that left them all speechless.
"As expected of him... He's improved so much in just two years." Xiao Yu whispered, her beautiful eyes shining with admiration as she watched the slender figure in the arena.
"Haha, Mo Yu really is our boss's cousin! His strength is incredible. Thanks to him, we won so much fire energy!" In one corner of the plaza, a group of students wearing black badges shaped like a heavy ruler cheered as they watched their fire energy points increase rapidly on their crystal cards.
Seeing this, a young girl in green couldn't help but smile slightly, looking at the black-robed youth beside her. "As expected of Mo Yu, he never disappoints."
"Yeah, back at the Yunlan Sect, if it weren't for Mo Yu stepping in at the critical moment, the Soul Hall expert would have turned the tide against us," Xiao Yan said with a sigh.
Hearing this, Xun'er glanced at the silver-eyed youth in the arena, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
Although she had already heard about the situation from Ling Lao, she could still feel the tension of the crisis from Xiao Yan's description. After all, it was the Soul Hall they were dealing with, and behind that organization lay even more formidable forces...
Thinking of this, the girl's beautiful eyes couldn't help but reveal a hint of curiosity.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the arena, Bai Cheng's face turned extremely dark as he watched Fu Ao's defeat. In his eyes, Mo Yu was just a student from a distant, insignificant empire. Maybe he was considered a genius in that place, but in Jia Nan Academy, he was nothing special.
But now, to his surprise, his trusted subordinate, Fu Ao, had been unexpectedly defeated by this outer academy student who had taken a two-year leave!
With this thought, Bai Cheng's face twisted in unwillingness. His eyes darted back and forth as a cruel idea flashed through his mind, quickly hidden away as he leaped onto the stage.
As a top-ranked expert on the Strong Ranking and the leader of the White Gang, Bai Cheng's appearance immediately attracted the attention of many students, sparking a wave of curiosity.
"Boss, I'm sorry, I failed," Fu Ao said, wiping the blood from his mouth, looking both ashamed and fearful.
Suppressing the anger in his eyes, Bai Cheng forced a stiff smile and waved his hand. "It's fine. Mo Yu is obviously very strong. It's normal for you to lose."
"You must be Mo Yu. I've heard Xiao Yu mention you often. Seeing you today, you really do have an extraordinary presence," Bai Cheng said with a smile after turning to face Mo Yu.
Narrowing his silver eyes as he looked at Bai Cheng, Mo Yu noticed the darkness hidden deep in Bai Cheng's gaze. With a slight smile, Mo Yu said, "I've heard a bit about your reputation, Bai Cheng. There's a term from my hometown that suits you perfectly."
"Oh? And what might that be?" Bai Cheng asked, his face showing confusion.
Seeing Bai Cheng's puzzled expression, a cold glint flashed in Mo Yu's silver eyes as he replied in a low voice, "The term is 'Cao Cao.'"
"Cao Cao?" Bai Cheng repeated, his confusion deepening. He muttered the name to himself, not understanding its meaning, but something told him it wasn't a compliment.
"Heh, Mo Yu, you're quite humorous. I've never heard of this 'Cao Cao' before, but as your senior, I have a request. I wonder if you'd be willing to hear me out?" Bai Cheng said, forcing a smile.
"Oh? What is it that you want?" Mo Yu asked, his tone full of hidden meaning.
"I just saw how you decisively defeated my subordinate, Fu Ao. It's clear that even though you're new to the academy, your strength is quite formidable. To be honest, I don't even have confidence that I could defeat you. So, I would like to challenge you to a duel. Would you accept?" Bai Cheng said, using flattery to coax Mo Yu into accepting his challenge.
"Bai Cheng, Mo Yu has already passed the Strong Ranking challenge. Your actions are out of line!" Elder Su, who was standing nearby, frowned and spoke sternly.
"Hehe, Elder Su, you've forgotten that Mo Yu is now an inner academy student since he's passed the challenge. And in the inner academy, competition between students is common. What I'm doing is completely within the academy's rules," Bai Cheng said with a light laugh.
"As long as Mo Yu accepts my challenge, we'll follow the rules of the arena. If I lose, half of the fire energy in my crystal card will be transferred to him. Since Mo Yu is new and doesn't have any fire energy yet, I'm willing to take a bit of a loss as his senior," Bai Cheng added, attempting to lure Mo Yu with the prospect of gaining fire energy.
Hearing this, Elder Su and Vice Principal Hu Qian exchanged glances. As seasoned veterans, they could easily see through Bai Cheng's intentions.
However, Bai Cheng wasn't wrong; his actions did follow the inner academy's rules. After all, the arena was set up to encourage competition and challenges between students.
What surprised them was the extent of Bai Cheng's determination. As a top-ranked fighter on the Strong Ranking, Bai Cheng possessed a crystal card that granted him access to the sixth level of the 'Heavenly Flame Refining Tower' and had over a thousand units of fire energy. Such a wager was something very few in the inner academy could match.
As the news of Bai Cheng's challenge to Mo Yu spread, it quickly reached every corner of the stands.
Unlike Fu Ao, Bai Cheng was not only powerful but also one of the top figures in the inner academy. His involvement immediately attracted the attention of all the students.
Meanwhile, Mo Yu, as the first outer academy student in the history of the academy to defeat a Strong Ranking member from the inner academy, was already basking in the spotlight.
"Ugh, Bai Cheng is so shameless. Mo Yu has only just joined the academy, and Bai Cheng has been training here for years. He's clearly bullying someone younger!" one of Xiao Yu's companions from the Moon Sect said angrily.
Her words immediately sparked agreement among the other members of the Moon Sect. After all, Mo Yu wasn't just Xiao Yu's fiancé; he was also handsome, graceful, and incredibly talented for his age. It was no wonder he had already won the hearts of many girls.
Seeing this, Xiao Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. On one hand, she worried that Mo Yu might act rashly and accept the challenge, only to lose to Bai Cheng. On the other hand, seeing her friends more upset than she was about the situation made her realize just how much Mo Yu's charm had affected them.
Meanwhile, in the Pan Gate area:
"Xiao Yan, aren't you worried about Mo Yu? Bai Cheng, the leader of the White Gang, has had his eye on Xiao Yu for a long time. He's ranked 34th on the Strong Ranking and has the strength of a six-star Dou Spirit. Mo Yu, he…" Xun'er trailed off, her concern evident.
Xiao Yan's deep black eyes glimmered with a hint of a smile as he calmly replied, "Don't worry. Even though Mo Yu is young, he always thinks things through. If he didn't have confidence, he wouldn't accept Bai Cheng's challenge. If he accepts, then he's confident he can win.
In my opinion, Mo Yu is likely to accept the challenge. First, Bai Cheng may be strong, but he's probably no match for Mo Yu. Since Bai Cheng is offering himself up, Mo Yu will likely teach him a lesson. Second, the wealth Bai Cheng has as the leader of the White Gang probably surpasses that of our entire Pan Gate." As he spoke, a hint of excitement flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.
"Hehe, it seems Xiao Yan really understands Mo Yu. Let's see how this plays out…" Xun'er chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Yeah," Xiao Yan nodded. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he quickly added, "If there's another opportunity to place bets, put all our fire energy on Mo Yu. It looks like today is our Pan Gate's lucky day, thanks to Mo Yu."
Seeing Xiao Yan's excitement, Xun'er couldn't help but smile and then turned her attention back to the arena.
In the arena, Bai Cheng looked at Mo Yu and smiled, asking, "So, what do you say to my challenge, Mo Yu?"
"Mo Yu, don't be hasty," Hu Qian quickly warned, concerned that Mo Yu's youth might lead him to make a rash decision.
Bai Cheng was not like Fu Ao. As a six-star Dou Spirit, his strength and experience were leagues ahead. Even among other Dou Spirits, Bai Cheng was formidable, likely capable of defeating those ranked above him.
From Mo Yu's aura, he seemed to be only a one-star Dou Spirit. While this was already impressive for someone his age and he had shown the ability to defeat a three-star Dou Spirit, defeating Bai Cheng would be another matter entirely.
A public defeat could damage Mo Yu's confidence, potentially creating a mental block that could hinder his future cultivation.
Hearing Hu Qian's well-intentioned advice, Mo Yu smiled and nodded. But just as Hu Qian was beginning to relax, Mo Yu's calm voice rang out.
"I can accept Senior Bai Cheng's challenge, but I have one condition."
Hearing this, Bai Cheng's eyes lit up, worried that Mo Yu might change his mind. He quickly asked, "What is your condition? As long as it's within reason, I swear by my position as the leader of the White Gang that I will agree to it."
Seeing Bai Cheng's eagerness, Mo Yu raised an eyebrow, a faint smile curling on his lips. "Oh… my condition is that if Senior Bai Cheng loses, he must give up his position as leader of the White Gang to me."
(End of Chapter)