Everyone looked at Lou Qianxue in utter surprise.
“…” Lou Xiaoxiao and the juniors from Qingyun City curiously stared at Lou Qianxue. They were at a loss for words. “Qianxue? What did you do again? Why are you famous again?”
Before Lou Qianxue could reply…
“An alchemist? Hmph! So what if you’re an alchemist? All alchemists rely on pills to increase their cultivation. Do you think that I’ll be scared of you?” When Mu Bailing saw that everyone ignored her and focused their attention on Lou Qianxue, a look of deep hatred and jealousy appeared in her vicious eyes.
“In that case…” Lou Qianxue said as she looked at her and raised her brows. “Are you challenging me to a fight?”
“That’s right! Lou Qianxue, I’m challenging you now. Two years ago, you secretly signed up for the Imperial Academy, yet didn’t show up at the examination because you got scared! What a coward! You’ve been an eyesore to me for a long time. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson. I’ll let those idiots of Fengyang prefecture know who’s truly the most powerful person from that batch.”
“The most powerful people from that batch probably are Ye Zhuixun and Xiaoxiao, right? So, what are you competing with me for then?”
“Ahem, Miss QIanxue, don’t say this! Everyone knows for a fact that Mu Bailing can’t defeat Sister Xiaoxiao and Young Master Ye.”
As the juniors of the Lou family spoke, they cast strange looks of pity at Mu Bailing. “She probably thinks that she can defeat you even though she can’t defeat Sister Xiaoxiao and Young Master Ye.”
“You guys! Shut up!” After she had been exposed by them, Mu Bailing became even more furious.
“Lou Xiaoxiao and Ye Zhuixun are in the Mystic Martial Realm, while I’m only in the Essence Martial Realm. It’s normal for me to lose to them. What’s so embarrassing about that? However, Lou Qianxue is only at the Essence Martial Realm, just like me. I don’t believe that I’ll lose to her!”
When the crowd heard that, they nodded. “Yeah, since both of them are in the Essence Martial Realm, their capabilities should be on par with each other. They both have a chance of winning… Plus, Mu Bailing trained at the Imperial Academy for two years. On the other hand, although Lou Qianxue defeated a Mystic Martial Realm newcomer at the academy, she might not defeat an experienced Essence Martial Realm student.”
“Exactly!”
As everyone discussed, they looked at the two of them in anticipation.
“Lou Qianxue! Do you dare to accept my challenge?” Mu Bailing menacingly glared at her. “However, before you accept it, I must tell you something!”
She coldly smirked as a vicious expression appeared on her face. “I want to bet on this battle.
“Lou Qianxue, if you lose, you’ll cripple your cultivation and leave the Imperial Academy! We don’t need cowards like you here!”
Everyone gasped in shock.
“Cripple her cultivation? Isn’t this too ruthless?”
“Yeah! If she cripples her cultivation, she’ll be ruining her life. She might not even become an alchemist!”
“However, although Mu Bailing is evil, she’s really smart.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Think about it. Since Lou Qianxue is a high-level alchemist, many experts would want to win her favor for pills. Hence, even if she loses this match, she can still take her revenge in the future! However, if she cripples her cultivation, she’ll become useless. Without the ability to refine a flame core, she won’t be able to practice alchemy. No one would be willing to take revenge for her. Even if Lou Xiaoxiao and the rest are behind her. With Mu Xueying around, who would dare to touch Mu Bailing?”
“I see… Mu Bailing is ruthless! If I were Lou Qianxue, I’d turn down the challenge. Anyway, there’s nothing embarrassing about a new student refusing an experienced student’s challenge offer.”