Chapter 15: The Balanced Scale

The next day at noon, in the Grand Arena on the 100th floor.

Luo Ya and Emma had both entered the arena.

The scene was broadcast via the Mana Net to anyone who wished to watch.

Ever since the conflict between Xia An and Yi Sen the day before, the incident had been gaining momentum.

Now, their duel had pushed the event to a fever pitch.

The live broadcast’s concurrent viewership had already surpassed 700,000.

Within Deep Blue’s Mana Net, messages flew at lightning speed.

-This Luo Ya is a controversial lucky dog, a complete newbie.

It’s debatable whether she even counts as an apprentice.

On the other side, Princess Emma is just a hair’s breadth away from becoming a Formal Mage.

What’s this all about?

What’s there to even fight?

-Honestly, I don’t get what’s worth watching.

It’s not even close, and she won’t show her face even if she wins.

Bullying someone who’s only been studying magic for less than half a month?

What’s there to be proud of?

-You don’t get it, do you?

This kind of duel, where both sides have Grand Magisters backing them, is essentially a contest between two masters.

-Tell us more, upstairs.

-Whale moment.

-Got it.

-You have to be tough yourself.

There’s a rumor that last night this Luo Ya flattened Princess Emma on the ground.

-Anyone record it with a recording device?

Please post it.

-Don’t believe rumors, don’t spread them.

-Battle reports can lie, but the frontlines don’t.

Just look at the odds, and you’ll understand.

Above the arena, a huge Magic Balance floated in the air.

That was the betting pool for this duel.

The two sides of the balance represented the money wagered on Luo Ya and Emma respectively.

Without a doubt, the scale tilted completely toward Emma, with Luo Ya’s side practically lifted to the ceiling.

In stark contrast, while Emma’s side was overflowing with gold coins, Luo Ya’s tray held only a pitiful few.

The numbers on each side of the balance showed the total amount bet on them.

Emma had already reached five million gold coins, and it was still growing.

As for Luo Ya… well, it was almost to ten thousand.

The odds had reached an astonishing 500 to 1.

Only a fool would miss it: everyone viewed this match as a foregone conclusion.

Meanwhile, all over Deep Blue, countless people watched the livestream with great interest.

“Hey, hey! That’s my wine!”

In a bar on some floor, Ye Yan complained indignantly as Dai Anna snatched her drink and made faces at her.

“Mind your own business! Aren’t you supposed to be guarding the Forbidden Books Area? This wine is confiscated!”

“I took leave! I have six months of paid vacation! What’s wrong with using one day? And by the way, since when did I actually become an employee? Does anyone pay me a salary?”

“Ladies, don’t rush. I can buy Ye Yan Master a drink.”

Ruiken, bartending for the day, smiled and skillfully shook the shaker, mixing ice with base liquor and filtering the foam.

“Quiet, you two. It’s about to start.”

Ka Er stared at the magic crystal screen in the bar.

“Wait, where’s Little Xia An?”

Ye Yan realized.

“Hmm, probably holed up in his study again,” Dai Anna said.

At that moment, Yi Sen was also in his room, staring intently at the screen with a grim expression.

Hoping to recoup at least some of the losses from those magic tools, he had placed a heavy bet.

“Hmph! No way I’ll lose. Absolutely impossible!”

Yi Sen muttered viciously, his eyes glued to the screen.

In a corridor, a group of students gathered around a screen, chattering.

A petite figure wrapped tightly in a cloak stopped as well.

Zhī Zǐ stared at Luo Ya standing proudly on the screen, her pupils narrowing.

The discussion on the Mana Net continued.

-The odds have reached 500 to 1.

Ridiculous.

-Everyone’s betting on Princess Emma.

There’s no sucker betting on Luo Ya.

We’re all going to make money off those idiots, but there aren’t many idiots left.

In the end, we won’t make much even if we win.

-You think others are stupid?

This is a losing game.

Who would be dumb enough to throw money away?

-With odds at 500 to 1, heavy rewards will bring brave men.

Wait for it.

-Maybe betting on Luo Ya will pay off?

Don’t hesitate, just go all in.

I took out a loan and went all in.

Not only did I pay back the principal, but I also made tens of thousands of gold coins.

Now I have face in front of my classmates.

-Who says there’s no perfect crime?

-There are still many good people in this world.

-I beg you, please stop.

Luo Ya was adjusting her breathing, trying her best not to be affected by the overwhelming mockery and taunts.

For some reason, the moment she stood on the battlefield, she became eerily calm.

Maybe it was her experience of wandering for thousands of miles, or maybe it was hardship beating down on her frail body again and again.

At the most critical moments, Luo Ya was always at her calmest, most decisive, and in peak condition.

Perhaps she was destined from birth to hold a blade and fight.

Was it that she and Xia An had such good chemistry?

Both of them were usually well-mannered, smiling politely in the face of ordinary offenses.

But the moment you touched their bottom line, they’d turn hostile and grind you to dust without hesitation.

Luo Ya gently used her Mental Power to draw the magic from the Sapphire Pendant.

The power of the Cold Calamity flowed out endlessly.

That power felt so familiar to her, like being gently embraced by Xia An.

She opened her eyes, her gaze filled with firm resolve.

Suddenly, a broadcast message popped up, scrolling across.

[Grand Magister Xia An has entered the livestream!]

[Grand Magister Xia An has wagered five million gold coins on Luo Ya!]

On Luo Ya’s side of the balance, gold coins poured onto the tray endlessly.

With one person’s effort alone, they forcibly tilted the scale back to balance, as if some will had turned into an invisible hand pulling the scale back!

Even the odds were pulled back to nearly 1 to 1!

After a brief silence, the Mana Net exploded.

-Wait, what!

There really is someone?

-This Master Xia An is so protective of his disciple?

-This isn’t right.

Something is very, very wrong!

“Huh? Lord Xia An?”

Luo Ya stood frozen in place.

You trust me that much?

Meanwhile, in his study, Xia An watched the livestream.

His disciple was being mocked by the crowd?

That wouldn’t do.

That sum wasn’t small for him either, but it didn’t matter.

To Xia An, this was just a simulation.

With only ten years left of his life, Luo Ya was the most important thing to him.

So without hesitation, he stepped in and pulled the odds back.

“What the hell, Little Xia An let himself get carried away?”

In the bar, Ye Yan nearly jumped up.

Ka Er adjusted his glasses with a grave expression.

Dai Anna and Ruiken also exchanged glances.

“I knew it! I knew it!”

In his study, Yi Sen saw the odds pulled back and flew into a rage.

“This Xia An! He’s definitely targeting me!”

Luo Ya snapped out of her daze and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.

She took a deep breath.

Then she cleanly whipped out her staff—a short rod about the length of her forearm, one of the many pieces of equipment Xia An had given her.

“Sorry, I might be a bit emotional today.”

Luo Ya gave a slight bow to Emma.

Emma, just recovering from her shock, flinched at Luo Ya’s sudden change in demeanor—so dramatic and almost theatrical.

“My master has placed great expectations on me. I am deeply moved right now.”

Luo Ya spoke softly, then raised her eyes.

Inside them were coldness and resolve.

“So, in a moment…”

“I might not be able to control my strength.”