Everyone was taken aback, Shi Hao had actually agreed to Du Bei’s challenge?
How blindly confident was this guy in himself?
Not just the crowd was stunned, even Du Bei could hardly believe it.
Everyone who was qualified to enter the Heavenly Palace Academy knew that Founding King Court was an absolute crush on Self-Observation. The more talented an individual was, the clearer the understanding of one’s own strength and that of others.
Therefore, even though he had issued a challenge to Shi Hao, he did not really expect Shi Hao to accept it.
But initially, their realms were the same, and now his realm held the advantage. In that sense, his challenge could also be considered fair competition—who made you slow at improving your realm?
Once Shi Hao backed out of the fight, he could verbally belittle Shi Hao and gain back the face he lost, so he could calmly return home.
But now, Shi Hao had actually agreed.
Du Bei revealed a smile, "Since you want to be hit, I am of course happy to oblige."
"Fine, tomorrow at noon, at the academy’s martial arts field, don’t be absent." He quickly struck while the iron was hot. Now that they had made this public agreement, if Shi Hao backed out, he really would lose all his face.
Shi Hao gave a faint smile, "Alright!"
"Then I’ll see you tomorrow!" Du Bei said, and turned to go back inside the house.
A lot of people burst out laughing. "See you tomorrow," he said so resolutely and solemnly, yet you are living right next to each other—when you don’t see him upon lifting your head, you’ll see him when you lower it.
After some thought, Shi Hao also returned to his house.
He wasn’t in a hurry for this one day’s time, but since Du Bei made him waste a day, he would definitely beat him up properly.
However, it was only a short while later when Weng Nanqing came running over, fiery with haste.
"Why did you agree to a duel with Du Bei?" she asked as soon as she entered.
Shi Hao smiled and corrected her, "It’s a friendly contest, not a duel."
"It’s all the same." Weng Nanqing bared her teeth. It’s come to this point, and you’re still quibbling over words?
"He’s stepped into the Founding King Court, even if it’s just the beginning, but under the crushing pressure of realms, you don’t stand a chance," she said with a sudden seriousness. "So, you will undoubtedly lose tomorrow."
Shi Hao spread his hands, "Didn’t you say before that you would drive Du Bei away? I was full of confidence in you."
Weng Nanqing’s pretty face blushed, she indeed had boasted such a claim, but Du Bei was such a rascal, despite her pleas and persuasions, he just refused to leave.
While she had a powerful background, Du Bei was not weaker than her, and this was the Heavenly Palace Academy, where she couldn’t just attack someone for no reason.
For face’s sake, she had threatened Du Bei numerous times, hoping he would back off on his own. She wanted to wait until he was gone before telling Shi Hao about this. She did not expect that he would break through so quickly.
Feeling embarrassed by Shi Hao’s reminder, she found it hard to face the matter.
"This matter, well, I..." she stammered, still too proud to admit it.
"How will you compensate me?" Shi Hao asked.
"How do you want me to compensate you?" Weng Nanqing, feeling at a disadvantage, found her momentum completely suppressed.
However, she thought to herself, if Shi Hao dared to suggest something like her spending a night with him, she was definitely going to beat him up.
Hey, why did she even think of sleeping, such a filthy word?
Oh my god, she couldn’t possibly be falling for this jerk, could she?
"Just give me a stalk of Spiritual Medicine that strengthens Soul Force," Shi Hao’s voice rang in her ears at that moment.
Weng Nanqing was startled, then greatly annoyed.
You jerk, can’t you see that there’s a stunning beauty standing right in front of you?
Why don’t you make some improper demands?
Even if I wouldn’t agree with you, would it kill you to ask?
"Why don’t you want to sleep with me?" she blurted out without thinking, the words leaping out before her brain could intervene.
Then, there was silence.
Shi Hao looked at her in surprise, taking a sharp intake of breath. Were women nowadays this forward?
"I’m really sorry, but I already have someone I like," he said. "I’m truly sorry. I can understand you wanting to sleep with me, but I definitely can’t betray the person I like."
"Who wants to sleep with you!" Weng Nanqing said, flustered and furious.
She really didn’t mean it; the question had just been on her mind, and after being provoked, it had slipped out.
"Right, you don’t want to sleep with me, and I don’t want to sleep with you. We are good friends, good brothers," Shi Hao hastily added with a laugh.
Weng Nanqing gave him a fierce glare and turned to leave.
Soon after, she could hear Du Bei’s wails coming from next door.
"Weng Nanqing, what have I done to you? Why are you hitting me?"
Sigh, offer your condolences.
Shi Hao thought to himself. Weng Nanqing had been irritated by him but took out her anger on Du Bei, truly a stroke of bad luck for him.
Not long after Weng Nanqing left, Shi Feng arrived quietly.
Of course, he had changed his appearance. For a Great Sacrificial Heaven expert, altering one’s physique and facial muscles was a trivial matter, and with the protection of his domain, unless someone forcefully broke through it, it was unlikely they would see his true face.
However, he was already the number one person in Great Sacrificial Heaven, and only those Ascending to Saint Position, which were few in number within the academy and typically in seclusion, could break through his domain—and they would not likely show themselves without a significant reason.
"Dad, how did your collection go?" Shi Hao asked.
Shi Feng nodded. "I can’t kill Elemental Creatures beneath Great Sacrificial Heaven, but there’s the second battlefield where I can fight, and I’ve gained a lot. I’m confident that I can break through and Ascend to Saint Position in about half a year."
Shi Hao was naturally overjoyed. Although he never relied on others, if his father became a saint, he could use it to intimidate others, at the very least to negotiate a fair competitive environment.
"Hao’er, your opponent tomorrow is from Founding King Court. They overpower you by a whole realm. How about I help you out and knock that person down to Self-Observation?"
This is a true father!
Shi Hao smiled and said, "No need, I’ve already entered the Ninth Phase, so dealing with a newly promoted Founding King Court shouldn’t be a problem."
Even if Du Bei is a genius.
Shi Feng was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.
He chose to believe in Shi Hao.
"Good. You truly are my son, Shi Feng!"
Sheesh, dad is pretty vain.
Shi Feng was decisive. Since Shi Hao was confident, he fully trusted him and soon stood up and left.
A night without words.
The next morning, as usual, Shi Hao practiced his cultivation until noon, then went out.
At the same time, Du Bei also stepped out, timing his departure.
However, Shi Hao immediately noticed that Du Bei’s left eye was black and swollen.
Sheesh, that must have been Weng Nanqing’s handiwork.
A strike from Supplementing Divine Temple, even without full force, would leave behind injuries that couldn’t vanish overnight.
"Haha!" Shi Hao laughed.
Enraged, Du Bei couldn’t help it; this guy had stolen his fiancée, and now his fiancée had beaten him so badly because of this guy that he almost had his face ruined.
He resolved to leave both of his opponent’s eyes black and swollen in the upcoming fight!