C103 His Plans

"50,000 contribution points!"

Lin Xuan hadn't even finished speaking when Hu Yuanhua cut him off, his face set in a steely expression as he laid down a wager.

It was no small gamble.

Even for an elite disciple like him, that many contribution points was significant.

But what was that in the face of getting Lin Xuan to accept his challenge?

Lin Xuan's potential was renowned throughout the Drifting Cloud Sect.

He was even whispered to be the sect's top prodigy.

It was a given that he'd become a Core Disciple, and climbing to the upper echelons of the sect's hierarchy wouldn't be a stretch for him in the future.

Hu Yuanhua saw this clearly.

And with Lin Xuan's rapid pace of cultivation, reaching that milestone was likely only a few years away.

That's exactly why he stepped up to challenge Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan's talent was so formidable it was the talk of the Scorching Sun Domain. His future as a martial arts powerhouse was all but assured.

Yet, if such a luminary as Lin Xuan were to fall to him, to suffer such a defeat, it would tarnish Lin Xuan's record.

Whenever Lin Xuan's name came up, so would his.

For Hu Yuanhua, this was an opportunity. It was a chance to greatly enhance his own standing.

He aimed to ride on Lin Xuan's coattails, to amplify his own fame as Lin Xuan's soared.

The greater Lin Xuan's accomplishments, the wider Hu Yuanhua's reputation would spread.

Along the way, he'd also reap additional benefits and advance further on his martial path.

That was his calculation.

Sure, as an elite disciple at the Condensation Spin Stage, challenging an ordinary Inner Sect disciple like Lin Xuan might seem like an unfair fight.

But given Lin Xuan's track record, having instantly defeated top Inner Sect elite Lee Quan, who could still see Lin Xuan as just another disciple?

Once he defeated Lin Xuan, it wouldn't just be any genius he'd bested—it would be the sect's number one.

As Lin Xuan's star fell, Hu Yuanhua's would rise, his fame built upon the downfall of the sect's brightest talent.

The prevailing thought was that an elite from the Inner Sect had bested a mere ordinary disciple.

But Lin Xuan was so astoundingly powerful that it eclipsed his true standing.

He had the sect's geniuses gasping for air under his oppressive might.

And they were all secretly hoping for his downfall.

Yet, his actions were perfectly aligned with the majority of the sect's disciples' wishes.

So naturally, there was no idle chatter about him.

Instead, there were countless cheers and applause in his favor.

Hu Yuanhua watched Lin Xuan, his eyes alight with expectation, hoping for him to rise to the challenge.

But Lin Xuan was far from foolish.

His cunning rivaled that of the most seasoned elders.

Upon hearing the challenge, Lin Xuan's brow furrowed, and he held his response.

"A Strong List heavyweight challenging me? And wagering a lofty 50,000 contribution points? Now that's intriguing!"

Lin Xuan's gaze, shimmering with insight, fixed on Hu Yuanhua.

He had seen right through the ruse.

Then, sweeping his eyes over the crowd of disciples in the square, he noted their schadenfreude.

Suddenly, it clicked for Lin Xuan.

This was Hu Yuanhua's play, leveraging Lin Xuan's luminous reputation for his own ascent.

Indeed, Lin Xuan's brilliance had stirred envy and resentment in the shadows.

But Lin Xuan was no easy target!

A flicker of rage sparked in his eyes.

If Hu Yuanhua dared to target him, he would show no mercy.

Yet Lin Xuan's face remained stoic as he shook his head and countered:

"Senior Brother Lee, as a Strong List luminary, do you really think 50,000 contribution points is a fair stake?

Especially given the risk I'm taking.

Let's make it 80,000 contribution points."

The words dropped, and a hush blanketed the arena.

Eyes wide, the crowd stared at Lin Xuan, their disbelief palpable.

Had they misheard?

Lin Xuan was demanding a staggering 80,000 contribution points?

Fifty thousand was already beyond their wildest dreams, the highest stake ever seen in the Fighting Arena.

And now Lin Xuan was upping it to eighty thousand?

Was his thirst for wealth that insatiable?

Who would agree with him?

Many disciples believed Lin Xuan had gone mad.

Eighty thousand contribution points was a significant sum even for the top fighters on the Strong List.

For the Inner Sect elites and ordinary disciples, it was nearly inconceivable.

Was Lin Xuan not concerned about the potential fallout from a loss?

Given his status as a mere ordinary Inner Sect disciple, and despite his exceptional talent, it seemed impossible for him to amass such a vast number of contribution points.

Or perhaps he believed he could defeat a Strong List powerhouse like Hu Yuanhua?

The disciples were greatly shaken and filled with doubt.

Yet, in the arena, Lin Xuan stood unfazed.

He was certain Hu Yuanhua would accept his challenge.

Provided his prediction was accurate.

Indeed, after a moment of visible internal conflict, Hu Yuanhua gave a firm nod.

"Fine! I accept your challenge!

Since you've had the audacity to wager so much, I'm now even more intrigued by your capabilities."

With that, Hu Yuanhua's face twisted into a mocking sneer.

These 80,000 contribution points represented nearly all of his current savings.

Should he lose, he'd be forced to leave the Drifting Cloud Sect for many months to undertake grueling missions and slay demonic beasts.

But if he won, not only would he avoid any loss, but he'd also gain 80,000 contribution points.

More crucially, leveraging Lin Xuan's rising reputation, he could elevate his own status even further.

The future held many advantages for him.

Weighing his options, he made his decision.

As a peak Condensation Spin Stage fighter on the Strong List, he had swiftly defeated many other peak warriors of the same stage.

Could he really not overcome an ordinary Inner Sect disciple who had just started less than two months ago?

Upon hearing the agreement, the surrounding disciples were stunned once more.

They hadn't expected Hu Yuanhua to actually consent to such an outrageous bet!

Quickly regaining their composure, their anticipation grew.

With 80,000 contribution points on the line, this match had become even more compelling.

They couldn't afford to miss it!

Back on the arena.

Lin Xuan smiled at the turn of events.

Yet, the icy resolve in his gaze intensified.

He turned to the referee.

Observing Lin Xuan's demeanor, the referee advanced to the center of the arena with a grave air and began to announce:

"The duel is on!"

With those words, he spun on his heel and strode away, leaping down from the fighting platform.

Lin Xuan might have been a newcomer to the sect, but his prowess was already at the peak of the Condensation Spin Stage.

Hu Yuanhua was an elite disciple on the Strong List, capable of dispatching a typical warrior at the peak of the same stage in mere seconds.

The ripple effects from such a clash were bound to be formidable.

Even though he was at the peak of the Condensation Spin Stage himself, he wasn't sure he could endure the fallout.

It would be wiser to keep his distance.

After all, it would be a real shame to sustain severe injuries before getting to see an epic showdown.

The other disciples caught the referee's cue and immediately grasped the situation.

They hastily flew back, not stopping until they were well beyond the arena.

The officials stationed around the platform exchanged uneasy glances and wry smiles.

They hadn't anticipated such a spectacle from a fight between two junior members.

Quickly, they stowed away tables, chairs, books, and the like into their storage rings, then joined the rest of the disciples in retreating to the outskirts of the plaza.