Chapter 103: The Challenge of the Tenth Place on the Honor Roll

“Oh, really?” Xin Lang said cheerfully, “That’s actually a good thing!”

“Yeah, it is!” Fat Gu and Qian Baidu looked at Xin Lang in disbelief. “Boss, if it doesn’t work out, let’s hide outside the academy for a while and lay low!”

Xin Lang cursed, “Hide my ass! We start right away—get ready to face their challenges!”

A peculiar sight had appeared at the entrance of the Martial Arts Academy’s cafeteria: a makeshift challenge registration desk set up with a table and some banners.

On the banners was written: “Annual Star of the Martial Arts Academy — Xin Lang Challenge Registration.”

Below that, it read: “Want to know the real reason behind Murong Yueyin and Hu Qingqing’s duel? Want to hear the details of how Hu Qingqing was pushed? Come challenge! If you win, you’ll have the chance to learn the whole truth!”

Further down, the registration requirements were listed: “Challengers must be Silver-ranked students or above!”

“Damn! Xin Lang is way too arrogant! Challengers have to be Silver-ranked or higher? Who does he think he is, just because he won a few matches and thinks he can make the Gold List?” Student A complained indignantly.

“Well, maybe he really has the skills! Don’t forget, he’s undefeated in eighty-one matches, and most of them were instant kills! Instant kills!” Student B replied.

“Tch, even a Gold-ranked student can instantly defeat a Bronze-ranked student like him!” Student A scoffed.

Nearly a hundred students gathered to watch the spectacle, and their numbers kept growing. However, despite all the interest, no one stepped forward to register. Although these battles were permitted by the academy, losers still had to pay a points penalty—ten points for Silver-ranked, twenty for Gold-ranked students—making these points extremely precious.

Seeing everyone hesitating, Fat Gu immediately dropped another bombshell.

He shouted, “Challengers! If you want our boss to take the stage, each person must pay a hundred gold coins as a challenge fee! And our boss will only accept challenges from three Silver-ranked students; all others must be Gold-ranked!”

Fat Gu’s words caused an immediate uproar.

“What the hell! Who does he think he is, charging a hundred gold coins just to challenge him? Does he think he’s number one on the Gold List?” Student A yelled.

“Heh, I think this is just a show! Charging a hundred gold coins clearly means he’s afraid of being challenged!” Student B said.

“No way! That Xin Lang is way too arrogant! A hundred gold coins? I can afford that! I’m going to challenge him and teach him a lesson!” Student B made a move to sign up.

Student A said, “You? Are you even Silver-ranked? Besides, he’s instantly defeated so many Bronze-ranked students. If you go, you’ll just be giving him gold coins!”

“That doesn’t matter! That brat’s too cocky; he deserves to be taught a lesson!” Student B said with righteous indignation.

Many who had wanted to teach Xin Lang a lesson were hesitant, fearing they’d lose points if they lost. But Fat Gu’s announcement about limited challenge slots and the hefty challenge fee stirred up a lot of anger.

Almost immediately, four or five very confident Silver-ranked students stepped forward, tossing gold coins carelessly as they registered.

Fat Gu, seeing them throw gold coins around like trash, regretted, “If only I had charged them a thousand gold coins!”

“Are you all Silver List students?” Fat Gu asked.

“What? Does that mean only Silver List students can challenge?” Challenger A asked disdainfully.

Fat Gu laughed, “Our boss said only Silver List students have the right to challenge him!”

Arrogant! Too arrogant!

Following that, dozens more stepped forward to challenge Xin Lang, but unfortunately, they didn’t meet the criteria—they weren’t on the Silver List.

“I’m thirty-ninth on the Silver List! How about that? Am I qualified?” Challenger A snorted.

“Heh, yes!” Fat Gu handed Challenger A a contract. “This is the academy’s ranked challenge contract. If you lose, you’ll pay ten points.”

Challenger A didn’t even look at it and signed immediately, as all students knew such contracts existed at the academy.

“I’m twenty-seventh on the Silver List!” another Silver-ranked student tossed a hundred gold coins and signed the contract.

“I’m third on the Silver List!” another stepped forward to register.

“Third on the Silver List! That’s Wang Feihong, Hu Qingqing’s devoted admirer. He used to be Gold-ranked but was recently downgraded after losing a match!” Student A explained.

Fat Gu didn’t take Wang Feihong’s hundred gold coins but said, “You’re free to compete. No fee needed.”

“Why?” Wang Feihong was puzzled, and even the onlookers were confused.

Fat Gu explained, “Our boss said that once he defeats two Silver-ranked students, he earns twenty points and qualifies to be Silver-ranked himself. Since he’s ‘taken’ your Silver-ranked spot, he feels bad charging you a hundred gold coins!”

“Taken my Silver-ranked spot? Hah, what a boast! He’ll pay for those words!” Wang Feihong didn’t hesitate and signed the duel contract.

After Wang Feihong signed, more Silver-ranked challengers came forward, but Fat Gu said, “Our boss only accepts three Silver-ranked challengers! If you want to challenge him further, you have to be Gold-ranked first!”

Bang! A golden identity badge was tossed in front of Fat Gu.

A pale, handsome young man said, “I’m Gold-ranked. I have the right to challenge him, right?”

“Wang Shiyu! Number ten on the Gold List!” Student A exclaimed.

“Number ten on the Gold List! Of course you’re qualified! But you still have to pay a hundred gold coins first!” Fat Gu said.

PS: Explosion preview—tomorrow at dawn, first update tonight after midnight!

C!