Lin Lei was now on the verge of stepping into the second level of warrior strength. A first-level warrior could typically lift around a hundred jin, while a second-level warrior could swing that weight with ease.
"You... cough, cough." Land clutched his throat, coughing a few times, before glaring furiously at Lin Lei. "You... you actually..."
"Awesome!" Yeru suddenly shouted, his face alight with excitement. "That was fantastic, Third Brother! Who knew you had such strength?"
"That kid's not that old. What incredible power."
The fifth and sixth-level mages were all surprised. Some of the academy's magic instructors were also present in the hotel, and they looked on with astonishment at Lin Lei.
An eleven- or twelve-year-old boy had just lifted a man of eighty or ninety jin with one hand as if it were nothing.
And this boy was a mage!
"Hey, Land, didn't you claim to be the top first-year?" Yeru taunted.
Land's face flushed crimson with shame and anger. He fixed Lin Lei with a sharp glare and yelled, "You... are you even a mage? If you have any skill, compete with me using magic! What kind of trick is this? A noble mage resorting to the crude abilities of a warrior!" He was mortified. He had just won the first-year arena competition, but when Lin Lei had grabbed his throat and lifted him off the ground, the feeling of his life being in someone else's control had terrified him.
"Exactly! Use magic if you dare! Are you even a student of
However, all four of them felt a twinge of fear toward Lin Lei. The incredible strength he had just displayed was deeply unsettling.
"Magic?"
Rein burst into laughter, declaring proudly, "Land, do you really think winning the first-year arena makes you the strongest in our year? Dream on. The top first-year is our dorm's Third Brother. You? Step aside."
"Third Brother, show him what you can do," Yeru added.
George, who had been scolded by Land earlier, now showed no mercy: "Land, I'm telling you, don't overestimate yourself. Many experts in our academy don't bother with the grade competitions. Don't think you're all that special."
Land's expression grew even uglier.
"A little competition will settle it. Come on, Land, take him on," the fifth and sixth-year youths said with smiles. To them, a squabble among first-years was just amusing entertainment.
Land was only ten years old, but he had been hailed as a genius since childhood. Even at Ernst Academy, he was among the very best. When had he ever been so humiliated?
"First place?" he said through gritted teeth. "First place isn't won through talk, it's won through combat. If you have the guts, compete with me using only magic!" He was supremely confident in his magical abilities; after all, he had fought through numerous matches to earn his top rank.
"Huh? Why isn't the hotel staff doing anything?" A few onlookers noticed the peculiar lack of intervention.
In truth, the Hua Deli Hotel's manager was watching from a distance, but he had no intention of stepping in.
He recognized the students.
Setting aside what being an Ernst student implied, several of them held statuses he didn't dare cross, especially... Yeru.
"Young Master Yeru is here too. Well, forget it. Let them cause whatever trouble they want. Even if they tear the hotel down, it's none of my concern." The manager held his head in the distance, shaking it helplessly. He absolutely did not dare offend Young Master Yeru.
Since entering Ernst Academy, Yeru's standing within his family had soared dramatically.
"Well said. First place isn't won by talking, it's won by competing." Lin Lei also stood up, his expression cold as he looked at Land. "Land, a magical duel without stakes is boring. How about this: if you win, I'll avoid you whenever I see you. But if I win, you have to avoid me."
Land scoffed. "The stakes are too low. The loser doesn't just have to avoid the winner—they also have to hand over a hundred gold coins. How does that sound?"
Lin Lei's brows furrowed involuntarily.
A hundred gold coins?
His entire annual allowance was only a hundred gold coins. He wasn't one of those wealthy students.
"Ha! Land, only a hundred gold coins? You dare suggest that?" Yeru interjected, his voice loud and triumphant as he tossed his magic crystal card in his hand. "Make it ten thousand gold coins for the loser. What do you say?"
"Ten thousand gold coins?!"
The words sent a collective gasp through the hotel. Ten thousand gold coins was no small sum. Among all the students present, there were probably only a handful who could produce that amount without batting an eye.
"Ten thousand gold coins?" Land's heart skipped a beat.
His family was indeed considerable, but his annual allowance was only three thousand gold coins. He didn't come to the Hua Deli Hotel every day; this visit was to celebrate his and Ruisen's first and third places in the grade competition.
"Scared?" Yeru prodded, flashing the magic crystal card.
"Land, accept it," Ruisen said beside him. "The four of us can scrape together ten thousand gold coins. I don't believe some random kid we've never heard of is your match."
Land exchanged glances with his three companions.
"Fine! Ten thousand gold coins it is!"
Land shouted, then looked at Lin Lei with a cold sneer. "Let's go. This place is too cramped. We'll go to the arena where the grade competitions are held. If you have the courage, follow me!" With that, Land strode haughtily out of the hotel, his three followers walking out with similar confidence.
"We're going too," Yeru said, his eyes shining.
Rein and George were equally excited. Lin Lei nodded as well, a faint smile on his face. "Ten thousand gold coins, and they're offering to hand it over. How can we refuse?"