“Bullshit! Do you think we would just believe what you say?”

A burly youth in green robes immediately cursed at Sol from below the stage.

The disciples in the surroundings nodded, while another voice rang out, this time coming from a female disciple wrapped in black robes.

“That’s right, why would we trust you to keep to your word to suppress your strength? And why even do this? What do you get out of this?”

With the cold expression on this girl’s face, along with a sword strapped to her back, she looked extremely intimidating. Especially, since by merely standing there, she radiated a feeling of sharpness.

The disciples in the surroundings didn’t dare stand too close to her.

The burly wasn’t any less extraordinary. He wasn’t giving off any grand aura, but this made him even more terrifying as how could such a burly person seem so unremarkable? He seemed like a tiger that was crouching in the bushes and waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting prey that happened to walk by.

“It’s Elder Brother En-Ho and Elder Sister Bai Yin!”

“So it’s true, they were going to have a spar today.”

“It’s mainly because of their spar that I came here. I prefer to watch these two who are considered the best among the batch of new students fight rather than this suspicious person.”

From listening to the crowds’ hush whispers, Sol was able to figure out who these two were. He smiled and turned to give them a nod.

“You’re both fearful of my unknown intentions which makes you cautious of me. In the future, never stop being fearful because it might decide your life and death. However, my Father once told me that true strength comes from being fearful of something but still having the determination to face it head-on.”

After Sol said this, the crowd went a bit silent. Now he sounded extremely suspicious.

However, En-Ho and Bai Yin mull over Sol’s words a bit. Soon, Bai Yin cupped her fist towards Sol on the stage and said.

“Thank you, Senior Brother, for the advice.”

En-Ho followed suit thanking Sol.

Even though Sol didn’t look much older than them, his cultivation made it so he demanded respect from new disciples like them.

However, after rising from their bow, neither En-Ho nor Bai Yin made a move to enter the stage.

Sol smiled awkwardly and scratched his cheek when he saw this.

Coughing in his fist to hide his embarrassment, he then said.

“My Father also said that one should not mistake facing your fear and being strong with being reckless. You two would surely become great figures in the future.”

The disciples around the stage looked at Sol strangely but they didn’t have the guts to voice what was on the tip of their tongues.

Sol coughed in his fist once more before saying.

“How about this, to make it more attractive to step onto this stage and fight me, I’ll put up a reward of five million mid-grade Aether Stones. How about it?”

Sol raised his five fingers in front of him, looking like a businessman trying to secure a massive deal.

Immediately after the number left Sol’s lips, the crowd went deathly silent, however, heavy breathing could faintly be heard.

The disciples were all in disbelief at what they were hearing.

The Academy only gave out one hundred mid-grade Aether Stones per month to each disciple, while missions posted by the various Pavilions went as low as a few low-grade Aether Stones to a few hundred mid-grade Aether Stones.

With that perhaps in a single month, a diligent disciple would be able to rack up a few thousand mid-grade Aether Stones.

Taking this into consideration, it was no wonder these disciples were completely stunned upon hearing Sol’s offer.

Normally some disciples would cry out in surprise in this situation, but not a single disciple here could think straight much less have time to voice their surprise.

With heaving chests, the disciples all gained bloodshot eyes. It looked as if all of them were about to leap onto the stage and devour Sol.

Sol’s scalp tingled a little when he saw the intense stares of so many disciples. This happened because his sense of money had been skewed after he had scammed those people in Pearl City. He thought the amount would be too low so he had even planned to increase the amount if it wasn’t enough, however, he realized he might have overdone it.

Sure, some of them were scared to fight Sol even though he said he would suppress his strength, but some just didn’t see the need to fight him when there was nothing in it for them. However, that completely changed.

If there was one thing that could overpower the fear of a cultivator was the possibility of gaining profit!

Nonetheless, there was still some bit of hesitation in their hearts.

“Even if the reward was double that, what difference would it make? We still won’t be able to defeat you.”

Bai Yin was the one who said this, and all the disciples agreed.

However, Sol smiled and said.

“You don’t have to beat me; you just have to make my feet move from their current positions to win. Also, you can use any means you want.”

With those words from Sol, all the reservations the disciples had went out the window.

They didn’t know why this person wanted to fight them so badly, perhaps he was just a scion from a Clan or Sect that wanted to show off.

Nevertheless, a fight was about to break out amongst these disciples to decide who got to go on the stage first.

En-Ho and Bai Yin glared at each other. It seemed like they would immediately attack if the other made a move to go onto the stage.

Seeing this, Sol chuckled. He didn’t know if they were doing this because they were confident they could make him move, or they just simply wanted to go first.

However, before a brawl could break out, a figure suddenly jumped up from the crowd and shot towards the stage. He was extremely fast and the disciples around him couldn’t even react.

En-Ho and Bai Yin’s eyes flickered and used speed no slower than this figure to jump up towards the stage as well.

As they did, a sharp Sword Aura was emanating from Bai Yin’s body that caused anyone who looked at her to feel a stabbing sensation in their eyes. Meanwhile, En-Ho was radiating a wild and ferocious aura that weighed down on the surroundings. If one looked closely, one would even be able to see the faint image of a golden ape roaring noiselessly behind him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep