159: Help you spend some money

“So, both of them had one win and one loss today?” Long Yuan asked, enlightened.

“Exactly!” Hong Biao nodded.

“I understand! However, there’s still some difference between this cloud cabin challenge and real combat. We don’t need to care too much about winning or losing. In fact, showing weakness now is a good thing!” Long Yuan pondered.

“A good thing? Captain, you mean…”

“Didn’t they see our school’s results in the test matches? They must be holding back, eager to surpass us, right? So today, as soon as the main competition started, they went all out. Maybe they’ll let their strong players fight more matches, but we don't need to. Even if I win two matches in a row, the total number of wins would only be four, still behind them. So, the results of today's challenges will probably be like this, and there's nothing to compare…” Long Yuan analyzed.

“Ah, this?!” Hong Biao and Qin Gui were both stunned.

“Alright, since I’m already here, I’ll fight one match to test the waters!” Long Yuan said, seeing an empty cloud cabin, and walked in.

Soon, he logged into his account. Just as he was about to select a weapon, he suddenly noticed an envelope-shaped icon blinking in the upper right corner of the screen, with a number '99+' next to it. “This is… someone sent me a message?”

Clicking on the icon, countless emails immediately flooded in, and almost all of them started with the word “Challenge”!

“So, they’re challenge letters…” Long Yuan realized. He casually opened one to read and found it was from someone in a certain base city in Shaanxi Province. The content of the letter was quite arrogant, stating that if he could defeat him, besides paying the challenge fee, he would also be willing to pay an additional hundred low-grade xuan stone as compensation!

“Oh? I can collect a challenge fee? And there’s extra compensation, not bad, not bad, you’re generous, my friend…” Long Yuan was a little surprised. It seemed participating in cloud cabin challenges wasn't entirely useless; at least he could collect some interest. If it were before today, he would have been very excited because it meant another way to make money. But after learning that Zhu Nan had come to Fengyang to find him, Long Yuan knew very well that he was almost crushed by money, so this small challenge fee was not enough to even fill his teeth.

However, even a mosquito's leg is meat, and who would be against money? It was a simple matter, and it didn't take up time… Long Yuan continued to browse and found that Fu Fei and Chu Qingxuan, whom he had defeated last time, had both sent challenge letters, and multiple times, showing their eager mindset. He clicked to read them and found that Fu Fei promised compensation of five hundred low-grade xuan stone, while Chu Qingxuan offered one thousand low-grade xuan stone!

“What big spenders! For just a cloud cabin challenge between students, they’re offering so much compensation. Do they have no concept of money?” Long Yuan exclaimed. One lower-grade xuan stone was worth one hundred taels of silver. One challenge was fifty thousand to one hundred thousand taels of silver. This was enough for ordinary people to live a comfortable upper-middle-class life! These two must be either rich second-generation or official second-generation, probably with more pocket money than they could spend… “Then let me help you spend some!”

He thought about it. Since he was only fighting one match today, he should pick the one with the highest cost-effectiveness. And that person was, of course, Fu Fei, because he was currently suppressing his cultivation to the Martial Apprentice Realm, which was most suitable for fighting against Fu Fei, who was at the Peak of the Martial Apprentice Realm. Although Chu Qingxuan offered one thousand low-grade xuan stone as compensation, defeating him might attract the attention of certain people, so it was better to keep a low profile for now.

So, he clicked 'confirm challenge' on Fu Fei's challenge letter. He didn't know if he was still by the cloud cabin at that moment. After waiting for a while, he heard the intelligent voice say: “Challenger Fu Fei is in position. Student Long Yuan, please select your weapon and prepare to accept the challenge!”

It seemed Fu Fei had indeed been waiting for him by the cloud cabin. Long Yuan chuckled inwardly, selected a long sword, and soon arrived at a mountaintop. The terrain here was extremely high, towering above the clouds. Looking in all directions, there was a vast sea of clouds, rolling and unfurling, utterly magnificent… “Long Yuan, you’re finally here!” A spatial fluctuation, and a figure appeared with it. It was Fu Fei from Shuntian No. 1 Middle School. He was holding a long saber, and as soon as he entered, he said through gritted teeth. He had been waiting the entire day today, long past his patience, but fortunately, Long Yuan had finally appeared.

“My apologies, I had something today and only saw your challenge letter after coming online…” Long Yuan rubbed his nose and smiled.

“Hmph, last time you took advantage of a trick to get ahead. This time you won’t have the chance. Prepare to die!” Fu Fei didn't bother with more words and attacked first, striking fiercely at Long Yuan with a “Splitting Mount Hua” move!

After his last defeat, he had once doubted if he had truly lost to Long Yuan’s sword, but later, guided by experts in his family, he realized he had made the mistake of underestimating his opponent and losing the initiative. This led to him being passive throughout the battle, without even a chance to attack, until he was ultimately stabbed by Long Yuan and defeated. So this time, he attacked first, determined not to give Long Yuan any chance to strike.

Long Yuan shifted his body slightly, and his sword 'swished' as it thrust towards Fu Fei's eyes!

Fu Fei’s “Splitting Mount Hua” was a killing move from his Fu Family Saber Arts, and also a combo technique. With this move, even if the opponent could dodge the first strike, it would be difficult to dodge the subsequent continuous saber techniques. However, he had not even used half of it when he noticed a cold light rapidly approaching. His eyes could almost feel the bone-chilling coldness. He was horrified and quickly turned his head, while simultaneously redirecting his saber to parry the opponent’s long sword!

But he quickly realized something was wrong, because Long Yuan’s long sword was now descending with the momentum, stabbing towards his wrist that held the saber. If he were to be stabbed… Fu Fei didn't have time to think much and immediately turned his long saber again, moving to meet the incoming sword!

However, after all that maneuvering, the flaw in his right leg was completely exposed. Long Yuan’s long sword gently pushed, striking his right knee joint. This spot was exactly the same as where he was struck last time!

“Ah——” Fu Fei screamed, falling to his knees with a 'thud', his long saber flying out of his hand and disappearing… “You’ve lost again!” Long Yuan pointed his sword at his throat and smiled.

Fu Fei’s eyes were bloodshot, staring fixedly at Long Yuan as if he wanted to devour him, but his figure gradually became ethereal, eventually disappearing completely… “Long Yuan wins! Do you wish to continue fighting?” The intelligent voice sounded at the opportune moment.

“No!” Long Yuan thought, and that wisp of Divine Sense returned to his body.

“He’s too weak to fight, I thought he had made some progress!” Long Yuan thought to himself.

This time, defeating the enemy with a single sword, Long Yuan felt the terror of the Heavenly Dao Nine Swords. He had already cultivated the second form, Breaking Sword, to the Minor Achievement Realm. And whether facing a swordsman or a saberman, the principles were somewhat similar, only requiring some minor adjustments. With Fu Fei's level, he couldn't escape the coverage of Breaking Sword, so it was not surprising that he could defeat the enemy with a single move…