25: Zhu Yulin and Chen Qing face their first battle at Wuhan University

Inside the Martial Arts Arena.

The largest challenge ring in the central area was already overflowing with people.

On the stage, a battle was underway.

A new student not on the leaderboard was currently dominating a ranked new student.

“Zhu Yulin, can I still place a bet? I’ll bet 10 credits on the challenger winning.”

“Of course not! Betting closed once the fight started. Besides, the situation is so clear now; even minimum guarantee isn’t bought like this.”

A slightly plump young man pulled up a stool and sat at a viewing platform.

On the stool, a odds board was displayed, showing 1.2:1.5.

“Hehe, bet again next round. Many new students are expected to challenge the rankings this year! There will be plenty of opportunities, take your time!”

Zhu Yulin chuckled, then suddenly saw someone approaching and quickly stood up to greet him.

Chen Qing and Fu Mingyu had just arrived at the Martial Arts Arena and were still watching the ongoing battle.

Without needing much introduction, they saw a large screen directly above the ring, currently displaying the names of the two fighters.

One was Guo Hao, ranked ninety-eighth among new students, and the other was Liu Yuan, whose challenge target was Guo Hao.

The two watched for a long time, then Fu Mingyu suddenly frowned: “He’s not too weak. I heard before that typically, among new students, only the top 50 are considered decent fighters with high talent and extra time to Cultivate Martial Skills. It seems that’s not the case now. That challenger, Liu Yuan, displayed at least two Martial Skills, both E-grade. He must have learned them at an external martial arts school. Although his proficiency isn’t too high, being able to Cultivate to this level before school started shows strong talent.”

Chen Qing nodded. He had actually noticed it too. Although he had been diligently Cultivating recently, he had also read many Martial Skill scriptures and learned several basic E-grade and lower Martial Skills.

The Martial University offers all basic Martial Skills below E-grade for free, and Chen Qing’s dorm had quite a few.

“Haha, this batch of new students is indeed good, much stronger than our batch,” a strange voice came from nearby.

Chen Qing turned his head and saw a slightly plump, somewhat naive young man.

“My name is Zhu Yulin. I’m a sophomore. You don’t need to call me ‘Senior Brother’; I don’t bother with those formalities, it sounds awkward,” he laughed. “I’ve checked Liu Yuan’s information. He has an A-grade ability but has always kept a low profile. This guy is a bit cunning; he’s probably stronger than he appears.”

Chen Qing looked at Zhu Yulin with flickering eyes. This guy was definitely coming for him, probably knowing his information.

“Senior Brother Zhu, do we know each other?”

Zhu Yulin chuckled, “We can get to know each other! I won’t hide it from you, Chen Qing. I know you’re one of only two S-grades among this year’s new students. I’ve met the other one; he’s very cold and doesn’t bother with anyone.”

“How about it, Chen Qing? Do you want to challenge the rankings today? As a first meeting gift, I’ll give you 10 credits. You go challenge, and I’ll open a betting pool for you. You can bet on yourself.”

Zhu Yulin’s smile was a bit mischievous, and his slightly plump physique seemed at odds with the “Yulin” in his name.

“Open a betting pool? I say, brother, aren’t you afraid the school will shut you down for running a betting pool?” Fu Mingyu asked.

“The school generally doesn’t interfere with such matters. As long as you operate properly, can manage the betting pool, and are able to compensate for losses, the school won’t bother you.”

“Then give me 10 credits too! I’ll bet on myself as well.”

Zhu Yulin actually didn’t really want to give him credits. He also knew Fu Mingyu’s information, which was much more extensive than Chen Qing’s, so he naturally guessed that Fu Mingyu wanted to challenge Li Cunxu, who was ranked first. He thought this guy was just going to be an easy target.

However, after thinking about it, he still transferred 10 credits to him. If 10 credits could make him an A-grade friend, it was a sure profit.

“Challenger Liu Yuan wins. Liu Yuan is now ranked ninety-eighth.”

“As all participants are first-time challengers, and the challenged party has not achieved any previous victories, their ranking is not protected and they are directly removed from the list.”

A mechanical broadcast voice echoed throughout the venue.

The second sentence was easy to understand: the ranking list was subjectively arranged by the school, and everyone was unprotected. Unless they achieved a victory like Liu Yuan, a defeated challenged party would directly drop off the list instead of their ranking simply shifting back one spot.

And on the stage, a new challenger jumped up.

“Is student Chen Qing, ranked 100th, present?”

Chen Qing heard someone looking for him; it must be a challenge from someone below the rankings.

He smiled and slowly walked towards the stage.

Zhu Yulin was busy returning to settle the bets, but he still pulled Chen Qing aside and quietly asked, “This person is Yu Cheng, First-Stage Initial-Phase, B-grade fire ability. How about it? Do you have confidence?”

Chen Qing, hearing this, also quietly asked back, “Do you know his vitality strength?”

“Hehe, if you asked others, they might not know, but I actually do. It’s around 1.2, not very high. This guy should have Cultivated an E-grade basic Martial Skill, ‘Fierce Ox Fist,’ and his power control is probably only around 50%.”

Martial Artists in the First-Stage have a vitality index between 1 and 3. Once it reaches 3, they can Breakthrough to become a Second-Stage Martial Artist.

A vitality strength of 1 to 1.5 is First-Stage Initial-Phase,

1.5 to 2 is First-Stage Middle-Phase,

2 to 2.5 is First-Stage High-Phase,

2.5 to 3 is First-Stage Peak.

Chen Qing nodded. 1.2 was indeed not high. Coupled with 50% power control, the power he could unleash would only be around a 0.6 vitality index.

“How about it? Can you win?”

Chen Qing remained calm: “Nine for me, one for him.”

“Damn it, do you think I don’t take risks when I open a betting pool? Fifty-fifty!”

“Eighty-twenty! I’m the one fighting up there. If you dare to go lower, believe it or not, I’ll go up and concede! Also, my 10 credits, I’m betting on myself.”

“Seventy-thirty! I really can’t go any lower; I won’t earn much myself if it’s lower than that!”

Chen Qing stared at him, saying nothing.

Did he think he was stupid? This guy wasn’t just opening a pool for him, and he wasn’t just making this one profit.

“Alright, eighty-twenty it is. Consider it me making a friend.”

Only then did Chen Qing turn and walk towards the ring.

Zhu Yulin was speechless internally, and also turned back to his betting station.

“Bets open, bets open! The new S-grade ability Prodigy is about to face his first challenge since entering the Martial University. According to school information, this talented new student has not yet Breakthrough to a Martial Artist, while the challenger is already a First-Stage Martial Artist. Can student Chen Qing withstand this challenge?”

Zhu Yulin shouted at the top of his lungs: “Place your bets now! Betting closes once the fight starts, so if you want to bet, hurry up!”

Many people, seeing and hearing his shouts, gathered around. Most were older students; new students didn’t have credits yet, but they could bet Federation currency.

The odds board showed the odds for the two: 1.8:1.2, with Chen Qing at 1.8, meaning Chen Qing was the underdog.

Everyone nodded, finding it reasonable. A non-Martial Artist indeed finds it difficult to defeat a Martial Artist, and the fact that an S-grade was still at the non-Martial Artist Realm indicated that Chen Qing had no time to Cultivate Martial Skills. The help an ability provides in combat for Martial Artists in the lower three stages isn’t that great, so giving him 1.2 odds was a sign of respect for his S-grade ability.

“I’ll bet 10 credits.”

“I’ll bet 10 credits too.”

“I’ll bet 50 credits.”

“I’ll bet 100,000 Federation currency.”

...People continuously placed bets, though the vast majority bet against Chen Qing. However, some, driven by a gambler's mentality, bet on Chen Qing.

Fu Mingyu chuckled, secretly betting 10 credits and an additional 1,000,000 Federation currency on Chen Qing.