39: Forced Deathmatch Card

Xu Le spent more than ten minutes reading through most of the online posts, finally discovering that the culprits were the announcements released simultaneously by the top ten academies.

In less than six hours, things had completely blown up.

Setting aside the abusive posts, there were already over a thousand posts offering bounties to kill him.

Many were just people jumping on the bandwagon, but there were definitely quite a few who actually intended to take action.

Xu Le looked at Li Yang; this guy had definitely come over specifically to protect him, fearing he might be in danger.

His strength was a bit on the weak side.

Still, it was quite touching.

“Go back,” Xu Le said.

“I'm heading to the First District tomorrow with the teacher in charge of admissions.”

Li Yang was about to argue, but Xu Le said, “If you leave, I'll leave too. I'll go find a hotel to stay in.”

His home address had already been exposed, so he might as well change locations.

If some idiot actually ignored the law and attacked his home, it would be a loss if the house got damaged.

However, this grudge had to be avenged!

...The next day.

Xu Le followed Hong Yuantai to the Teleportation Array at the City Lord’s Mansion.

Teachers and recruited students from the other ten schools had also arrived.

Zhu Daxiang and the other nine representatives looked calm and composed, acting as if nothing had happened.

Hong Yuantai said with a smile, “Don't look at me. Demon Slaying Academy only accepts the strong, not cowards. As long as things don't cross the line, I won't intervene.”

Xu Le pointed at Zhu Daxiang: “What if I mess with him?”

Hong Yuantai grew interested: “If you can win, I'll handle the rest.”

“However, Teacher Zhu is a Rank 72 Light Bishop. If you lose, even if you're killed, I won't step in.”

His words were somewhat cold, but they also served as a reminder that the opponent was a Rank 72 Advanced class.

With just a few sentences, Xu Le gained a preliminary understanding of the Demon Slaying Academy's style.

They weren't afraid of trouble.

But you were responsible for the trouble you caused yourself.

What they could do was create a relatively fair environment.

Xu Le turned his head and issued an invitation in a strange tone: “Pig... Da-xiang... Teacher, I heard you have a problem with me. Why don't we go to the Life and Death Stage and talk about it?”

Whoosh!

Everyone felt their heads buzzing.

Even though Xu Le had shown such intentions before, hearing such a blunt invitation still made their mouths go dry and their bodies tremble.

A mere high school graduate actually dared to invite a Blue University admissions teacher to a life-and-death battle? What kind of courage was this? What kind of arrogance?

Hong Yuantai also looked at Xu Le in disbelief.

Even he found a Rank 72 like Zhu Daxiang a bit troublesome, yet this kid went straight for a life-and-death battle.

This kid is just like me!

If he doesn't die, I must personally train him!

Zhu Daxiang's Face was grim. He had only accepted thirty million Credits from the Tang Family and hadn't expected to lose so much Face over these two days.

Had he known earlier, he wouldn't have taken this job, even if it meant refusing the Vice Principal's hint.

If word of this got out, the name Zhu Daxiang would likely be ridiculed by the world.

He took several deep breaths in secret to suppress his anger: “Student Xu Le, you are still young and don't understand our good intentions.”

“I don't blame you. Being young and impetuous is just how it is. When you...”

Xu Le interrupted his rambling and asked sharply: “The Life and Death Stage. Get on it if you dare, and stop your yapping!”

‘I'll get on it!’

‘Am I, a Rank 72 Light Bishop, supposed to be afraid of you?’

Zhu Daxiang's eyes widened in anger, and he was about to agree, but the moment he made contact with Xu Le's confident, icy gaze, he immediately lost his nerve.

Even though the opponent was only a Rank 32 Contractor.

But that confident gaze looked exactly like that person's.

It was precisely that person who had caused him to lose his spirit ever since, leading him to stay at Blue University to nurture students.

He hadn't been to the front lines in over ten years!

His subsequent Ranks were all raised by grinding dungeons.

“Tsk tsk...”

Hong Yuantai instantly saw through Zhu Daxiang's hesitation and clicked his tongue in disdain.

He didn't even dare to fight a Rank 32 Contractor; this man was completely finished!

He was just resting on his laurels, relying on past experience to scrape a living.

The ridicule was like a venomous snake, biting hard into Zhu Daxiang's heart.

He wanted to open his mouth to explain.

Going onto the Life and Death Stage with a student—if he won, it was embarrassing; if he lost, he lost his life, which was even more embarrassing.

But in his heart, he knew he was afraid.

Stepping aside, he said stubbornly, “Young man, I am a teacher, and I won't lower myself to your level. I only hope you don't encounter petty people in the future.”

Xu Le laughed loudly: “You dog, you're not petty? After saying those few words yesterday, you went online to write an essay. If you have the guts, get on the Life and Death Stage!”

Zhu Daxiang's Face turned even greener!

As an admissions teacher, he had no damn business writing essays on the official website.

But he couldn't say that; saying it would be admitting defeat.

Things already looked bad; he had to keep his last shred of dignity.

A student who couldn't stand it anymore stood up: “Xu Le, you're so damn arrogant. The teacher is giving you a chance, yet you're still so insolent. Your character is indeed low!”

Xu Le looked at that person: “Then I'll give you a chance to kill me. Get on the Life and Death Stage.”

The person sneered: “Aren't you just lucky enough to have obtained a few top-tier contracted beasts? Look at how capable you think you are. If you have the guts, go wipe out the Abyss!”

“The. Life. And. Death. Stage. Do you dare, or not?” Xu Le questioned.

“Heh. A trash Contractor indeed! Can't stand others having good Aptitude, so you threaten people with the Life and Death Stage all day. If you have the guts, just kill me directly. I'm right here.”

The person tilted their head up, deliberately putting their Face in front of Xu Le.

Just as Xu Le was about to step forward, Hong Yuantai blocked him and handed a black card to him.

Forced Deathmatch Card!

“30 million. Give it back if you don't want it.”

Xu Le grabbed it and used it on Zhu Daxiang without hesitation.

[Using Forced Deathmatch Card, scanning...]

[Target has not engaged in malicious taunting; does not meet the rules.]

[Please keep prosperity, democracy, and harmony in mind...]

Xu Le: “...”

He aimed it at the person who had insulted him.

[Using Forced Deathmatch Card, scanning...]

[Target's Rank is similar to yours and has engaged in malicious taunting. Meets usage rules. Constructing Deathmatch Arena...]

The person received the notification at the same time and immediately panicked.

“No, I don't accept the deathmatch.”

“I refuse!”

“Professor Zhu, I refuse the deathmatch! Xu Le's morality is low; he's a total menace!”

“He's already this arrogant and cruel at a low Rank. When his Rank is high, won't he be a disaster for the entire Great Zhou? A disaster for the entire Human Race?”

“Professor Zhu, help me accept the deathmatch first and help me kill him...”

[Life and Death Arena construction complete.]

The person was pulled into the battlefield.

The two stood facing each other, ten meters apart.

The person panicked and warned sharply: “Xu Le, your reputation is already stinking. If you kill me too, you'll be drowned in the spit of public criticism.”

Xu Le shrugged: “Doesn't matter. It won't get any worse.”

With a snap of his fingers, Little Yellow Chicken and Little Black Snake appeared on the battlefield.

Little Yellow Chicken glanced at the person, lacking interest.

Little Black Snake, however, was very excited. Having rarely had the chance to fight, it was rare to encounter an opponent with no one else to snatch it from. It rushed forward swiftly.

The person was stunned!

He turned to look at Zhu Daxiang, only to find his Face grim, without the slightest intention of taking action.

‘Is even he afraid?’

‘What kind of demon did I provoke?’

He finally realized and hurriedly kowtowed to admit his mistake: “Student Xu Le, I was wrong! Forgive me, I only did it to please Professor Zhu. I had no intention of hurting you at all.”

Xu Le curled the corners of his mouth: “But I have every intention of hurting you!”