185: Chapter 185 The Story of the Boy Who Cried Wolf

As Xie Fuyao's voice fell, the atmosphere in the lounge dropped to freezing point.

The experts from various classes stepped forward one after another. Although they were mentally exhausted, the aura belonging to the strong converged, still pressing down on Jiang You like a great mountain.

This time, there were no excuses, and no retreat.

This was naked intimidation by sheer force!

However.

Facing this monstrous pressure, Jiang You laughed instead.

"Now that's more like it."

Jiang You stood before the matching button, looking back at the crowd. The deep, ghostly blue light in the depths of his eyes no longer concealed itself, leaping like demonic fire:

"Wouldn't it have been better to be this honest sooner?"

"Since you all want to educate me so much…"

"Then, this junior…"

"Will just have to reluctantly give you seniors…"

"A lesson."

"Click!"

The button was pressed by Jiang You once again.

However.

This time, the reaction in the lounge was completely different from before.

There was no scrambling, no collective outrage, and not even a single person moved.

The entire hall fell into an extremely awkward and eerie silence.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

A full five seconds passed, and yet, not a single person walked into a combat pod!

Those seniors who were just shouting threats and acting aggressively were now, at this moment, as if they had been hit by a freezing spell.

There were even a few with weaker mental fortitude who subconsciously cast their gazes toward the refreshment table—

Fearing that in the next second, this guy Jiang You would pull another piece of cake out of his pants and say with a grin, "Just kidding with you guys."

After all, that last wave of the "Empty Fort Strategy" was just too mentally taxing.

No one wanted to be that poor sap again, rushing in to pit their wits against thin air, only to end up exhausted to death.

This was the classic "Boy Who Cried Wolf" effect.

Jiang You stood before the matching console, looking at this group of timid experts, and couldn't help but sigh, his face full of frustration at their lack of courage.

"You've got to be kidding, right?"

Jiang You tapped on the console table, making a "thump-thump" sound:

"Seniors, what's wrong?"

"Is the network lagging?"

"Or did your fingers all cramp up at the same time?"

He pointed to the large screen lit with a red light and spread his hands with a sincere expression:

"I've already laid flat… oh no, I'm standing straight and waiting to be beaten."

"The opportunity is right in front of you!"

"As long as you press that button, you can beat up this arrogant freshman and maintain your dignity as experts."

"With such a huge temptation, you can actually resist it?"

Facing Jiang You's mockery, a fourth-year senior from Class A swallowed a mouthful of saliva and shouted with a fierce-looking but weak interior:

"Jiang You! Don't try that again!"

"Who knows if you're fishing again?"

"What if we go in and you, damn it, cancel again?"

"Exactly!" the person next to him immediately chimed in. "Your credit rating is currently negative! We won't fall for it!"

Hearing this, everyone from Class F couldn't help but cover their faces.

Lu Xingye clutched his head in pain: "Embarrassing… too embarrassing… Is this the so-called 'strong' we are supposed to challenge? Actually scared into becoming birds startled by the mere twang of a bow?"

Jiang You also shook his head helplessly.

"Where is the most basic trust between people?"

His gaze gradually turned cold, and that ghostly blue light no longer flickered, but became as deep as the sea:

"Since none of you dare to move…"

"Then I'll just call someone out."

Jiang You's gaze crossed the crowd and precisely locked onto a burly man who was currently struggling with his expression.

"Senior Cong."

Jiang You called out with a smile.

Cong Nanshan shuddered, like an elementary school student called upon by their homeroom teacher, and subconsciously straightened his body:

"W-what?"

"I saw that you were the loudest just now, and you just lost to Xie Fuyao, so your points are a bit in danger, right?"

"If you win against me, not only can you avenge being toyed with just now, but you can also stabilize your ranking."

Jiang You extended a finger and crooked it in an extremely provocative manner:

"How about it? Want to make a bet?"

"Bet on whether I actually want to fight, or if I'm just playing with you?"

"Boom!"

This sentence directly ignited Cong Nanshan, that powder keg.

As a physical cultivator known for his explosive temper, how could he endure such a provocation?

Even knowing it might be a trap, he couldn't stand it anymore!

"Arrogant!!"

Cong Nanshan's eyes were bloodshot, the humiliation of being toyed with overwhelming his reason:

"I don't believe it! Do you really think you can play me for a fool again, damn it?"

"Jiang You! If you dare to back out this time, even if I have to risk disciplinary action, I will crush your bones in reality!!"

Amidst the roar, Cong Nanshan, like an enraged bull, charged into the combat pod with a sense of resolute and tragic determination.

"Bang!"

The pod door slammed shut violently, shaking the entire lounge three times.

Everyone's gaze instantly locked firmly onto the big screen.

Everyone's heart was in their throat.

Was it real or fake?

If Jiang You was playing a trick again this time, Cong Nanshan would probably have a cerebral hemorrhage on the spot.

However.

The next second.

"Ding!"

A crisp, pleasant, yet death-knell-like system notification sound echoed throughout the venue.

On the big screen, the image instantly froze.

No cancellation.

No reversal.

[Match Successful]!

[Red Side]: Class B, Third Year, Cong Nanshan (Fourth Order, Mid-stage)

VS

[Blue Side]: Class F, First Year, Jiang You (Second Order, Mid-stage)

"Phew…"

Seeing this, everyone in the lounge let out a long sigh. For some reason, an absurd feeling of "thanks for not killing me" welled up in their hearts.

Finally… it was finally, damn it, real!

This kid finally stopped acting!

"Although Senior Cong spent a lot of energy in the last match against Senior Xie, dealing with a Second Order shouldn't be a piece of cake?"

"Exactly! Fourth Order Mid-stage fighting Second Order Mid-stage, this is simply bullying!"

"The anger suppressed just now can finally be vented by watching Senior Cong!"

In the spectator stands, students from other classes finally relaxed and began to discuss among themselves.

Most of them did not favor Jiang You; after all, the gap in cultivation between the two sides was right there, like a chasm.

Even Lu Xingye couldn't help but frown. Although he had confidence in Jiang You, Cong Nanshan was, after all, one of the top five experts in Pool 1, a real tough nut to crack.

But immediately after, a more solemn atmosphere enveloped the entire venue.

Xie Fuyao looked at the matchup list on the screen, his eyes complex.

Cong Nanshan, although his spiritual energy was greatly consumed in the previous match, was still a genuine physical cultivator expert.

Even if he didn't activate his Supernatural Ability, just by relying on that toughened body, he would be enough to crush an ordinary Fourth Order Early-stage.

And Jiang You…

This first-year freshman who had always relied on "clever tricks" and "mysterious ocular techniques" to rise.

Was going head-to-head with Cong Nanshan in his enraged state.

On what grounds?

…

Inside the virtual battlefield.

The scene was randomly generated: Ancient Coliseum.

All around were stone walls towering into the clouds, and beneath their feet was hard, rocky ground.

There was no cover here, only the most primitive hand-to-hand combat and slaughter.

"Huff… huff…"

Cong Nanshan stood in the center of the arena, gasping for air.

Although his virtual body was in its prime state, his spirit was exhausted.

Cong Nanshan shook his head, forcing himself to perk up, and stared fixedly at Jiang You opposite him:

"Kid, running into me, consider yourself unlucky."

"Even if I'm only at seventy percent, it would only take one punch to crush you!"