chapter 17 Fighting beast ===

The situation took unexpected turns, with two families mocking each other, the mysterious intervention of the Pill Treasure cockloft, and the looming threat from Leafaris Xue. Each step was perilous and thrilling. All of this revolved around one person—Verdantius Liu! Leafaris Xue's intervention, in the eyes of everyone, seemed to finally bring an end to the chaos. The mighty Xue family was about to crush the Xu family like ants. At a critical moment, Valerrie Xu stood up, holding a token and slamming it on the table. The token was engraved with a nine-footed bird, symbolizing the Imperial College, and no one could replicate it. "She has been admitted to the Imperial College and accepted as a disciple by Sylvion Baili." The crowd erupted in astonishment. The Imperial College was the highest institution in the Yan Empire, gathering the elite talents from across the nation. The yearly admission was extremely limited, and the official admission process was still months away. Where did she get the token? Sylvion Baili's name had long been spread throughout the empire. As one of the three deputy deans of the Imperial College, becoming her disciple meant a bright future and becoming a regional powerhouse. Even Verdantius Liu showed a trace of surprise. He didn't even know when Valerrie Xu joined the Imperial College. Rapid, anxious breaths came from all directions. Many wished they could also become students of the Imperial College. The academy's notoriously challenging assessments weeded out countless talents, recruiting only the best among the elite. "So, you're the new disciple of Dean Sylvion Baili." The expression on Leafaris Xue's face changed from shock to astonishment. Rumors about Sylvion Baili recruiting a new disciple had been circulating in the capital, but the person's identity was unknown until now. Although it was not uncommon for someone to be accepted as a disciple without going through the usual assessment, it usually happened to monstrous geniuses who were given the academy's token in advance. Sylvion Baili was extremely proud, and there were not many people she would take as disciples. Valerrie Xu was one of them. "I was impulsive just now. Miss Xu, please don't take offense. Coincidentally, I have also been admitted to the Imperial College. We are classmates now. I apologize for today's incident and offer compensation to Miss Xu." Leafaris Xue's attitude changed rapidly. He took out an identical token from his pocket. Joining the Imperial College allowed him to get close to Valerrie Xu. Ferins Wan, Oakenhart Tian, and others, their faces twisted with resentment, hated Verdantius Liu even more. The farce finally concluded in an unexpected way. No one, including Master Huo, expected this outcome. Looking at Valerrie Xu, even Master Huo's gaze held a hint of awe. Members of the Wan and Tian families, as well as the others, found their seats and returned to their respective areas. However, the chubby member of the Song family, sitting casually, chose to sit next to Verdantius Liu. "Thank you for speaking up for us just now." Verdantius Liu smiled slightly. He was surprised that the chubby boy could step forward; such people were worth befriending. "I didn't help much. Sister Xu is amazing. When you become a student at the Imperial Academy and soar to success in the future, remember your buddy here." Ivydan Song appeared quite familiar, quickly striking up a friendship with the two. The relationship between the Xu family and the Song family is relatively close. Valerrie Xu has met Ivydan Song a few times, and the two have always addressed each other as brother and sister. A beast's roar interrupted everyone. It came from the central area of the beast-fighting arena, signaling the beginning of the beast battles. "Verdantius Liu, sit with us. The view is better over there." Master Huo came back, walking towards Verdantius Liu. His seat was close to Leafaris Xue, and the three tables were set apart from the others, where Leafaris Xue and Oakenhart Tian were having a quiet conversation, occasionally glancing in their direction. "No need. I'm fine here." Verdantius Liu didn't stand up. He wasn't very interested in today's Beast Meeting. In the last moments, the heads of the Wan family, Song family, and Tian family came together, sitting at the table next to Master Huo. The three tables were now fully occupied. The beast-fighting arena looked like a massive cage, and the spectators sat around it, overlooking the ground. Several beast-fighting platforms were set up in the middle, presenting the audience with a close view. On the central platform stood an elderly man holding a microphone. "Welcome, everyone, to the Hundred Beasts Meeting organized by our Wan family. As usual, the meeting consists of two parts: beast battles and beast-taming." Beast battles were straightforward—two mythical beasts were released onto the platform, and they fought each other. The survivor was the winner. Beast battles were brutal and bloody. For cultivators, witnessing such scenes could improve their psychological resilience, preventing them from being frightened when facing similar situations in the future. Beast-taming, on the other hand, was different. It involved taming or subduing mythical beasts through challenges, serving as a way of training and gaining experience. The Wan family, being the wealthiest among the four major families, had a thriving business in the beast-taming arena. They provided various mythical beasts for cultivators to practice with. Hunting mythical beasts in the mountains was extremely dangerous, risking one's life. The beast-taming arena, however, provided a safer alternative. It not only simulated real environments but also featured 100% authentic mythical beasts. In case of danger, beast-tamers would intervene promptly. Of course, exceptions existed. Some mythical beasts had uncontrollable aggression and could end up devouring their tamers. Compared to hunting in the mountains, the beast-taming arena had minimized risks, making it a booming business. "We will arrange ten beast battles for everyone's enjoyment. As usual, we will set up some small betting opportunities. If you are interested in betting on the beasts, you can find detailed information on each of your tables. If you prefer not to participate, we won't force anyone. Let's all have a good time." The Hundred Beasts Meeting was essentially a promotional event, aimed at increasing awareness of beast-taming and beast battles, ultimately encouraging more people to participate and fill the Wan family's coffers. Opening the booklet placed on the table, it contained detailed information. There were ten beast battles in total, and the first one featured a confrontation between the Swift Leopard and the Rhinomon, emphasizing offense versus defense, a clash between spear and shield. The odds were set at 1:1 for the Swift Leopard's victory, while the Rhinomon had odds as high as 1:10. From the odds, it seemed that the Swift Leopard had a significant advantage, making its victory almost certain. However, exceptions always existed. "Verdantius Liu, interested in placing a bet?" Ferins Wan suddenly spoke, looking at Verdantius Liu with a smirk, inviting him to join the betting. Betting options were divided into two kinds: those based on the odds set by the arena and private bets among themselves, unrelated to the Wan family. "We shouldn't trouble Verdantius Liu. Can he even afford the initial capital?" Oakenhart Tian sneered, highlighting the well-known financial struggles of the Liu family. With weapon production issues and financial constraints, they probably couldn't afford to gamble. The two of them worked together, not expecting Verdantius Liu to actually join in. Refusing would, at most, lead to some mockery, and the matter would end there. They didn't expect Verdantius Liu to participate, and this was just an opportunity to mock him. "How do you want to bet?" A sly smile appeared on Verdantius Liu's lips, surprising everyone. Each person was well aware that Ferins Wan and Oakenhart Tian were using a psychological tactic to force Verdantius Liu into agreeing. Choosing to refuse would, at most, result in some mockery, and the matter would be dropped. The two of them didn't expect Verdantius Liu to actually participate; they just wanted to taunt him a bit. "Betting through the bookmakers is not interesting. How about a private bet among us? It's more direct this way." The odds from the bookmakers were too low, making the betting less thrilling. Betting privately on the outcome of the beast was their own affair, with stakes determined by them. "Good suggestion." Verdantius Liu nodded, thinking that Oakenhart Tian had a valid point. Betting privately on the beasts was more convenient and more directly stimulating. Valerrie Xu stomped hard on Verdantius Liu's instep, making him inhale sharply in pain. He pretended not to notice, but it served as a reminder that this was a trap, and he was walking right into it. Infuriated, Valerrie Xu puffed up her cheeks and decided to ignore him. "How much capital can Verdantius Liu provide?" Ferins Wan asked with a mocking smile, as if telling him not to embarrass himself if he had only a few thousand gold coins. "I didn't bring any money when I left today." Verdantius Liu shrugged. It was the truth; he didn't have a single gold coin on him. The last batch of medicinal herbs he purchased was covered by the Pill Treasure cockloft. "Chuckle!" Laughter erupted around them. If he had no money, what was he betting? "Verdantius Liu is truly extraordinary. If you need it, I can lend you some." Ferins Wan's tone contained a hint of sarcasm, presenting a stack of cards. These cards could store anywhere from ten thousand to a hundred thousand gold coins. For convenience, the Yan Empire created these cards. The white card stored one to ten thousand gold coins, while the green one stored ten to a hundred thousand. The cards bore the soul imprint of the owner, preventing unauthorized use. "Master Liu's bet, I'll cover it for him." At this moment, Master Huo stood up. "Here's 500,000 gold coins. Master Liu can use it freely, no need to return it. If it's not enough, I can have more sent over." The heads of the Wan, Tian, and Song families showed a trace of astonishment. What had happened? Five hundred thousand gold coins, casually given away. How many people wouldn't earn that much in their entire lives? Valerrie Xu's small mouth slightly opened in surprise as she looked at Verdantius Liu. Verdantius Liu showed no signs of gratitude, casually accepting the card. This scene made the three family heads exchange glances, trembling with suspicion. Could it be that Master Huo had colluded with this waste? "My bet is already in place. What about your bets?" Now it was Verdantius Liu's turn to mock them. Ferins Wan, unable to produce five hundred thousand gold coins at once, looked toward their family head. Immediately, someone brought over several cards, totaling over a million gold coins. In their view, Verdantius Liu was sure to lose. In the midst of their conversation, two more mythical beasts had appeared on the stage: the Swift Leopard and the Rhinomon. "I bet 50,000 gold coins on the Swift Leopard to win!" Ferins Wan placed the first bet, a smirk playing on his lips. This made many people in the audience disdainfully voice their opinions. "Ferins Wan, have some shame. As the host, you should yield the initiative to the guest. What's the meaning of placing the first bet?" The chubby guy jumped up again, disapproving of Ferins Wan's actions. It was clear that he was setting up Verdantius Liu.