"Barely Becoming a Titled Douluo, and the Counterattack System Arrives

A small bet brings joy, a big bet hurts your wallet.

With this in mind, Lin Fan casually placed a modest bet of 100 gold soul coins each on the following matches:

Xiao Wu's match

Tang San vs. Zhu Zhuqing

The trio's group match

"All bets placed, Sword Shadow Douluo? Only that little?" Flender glanced over and casually asked.

"I'm just playing for fun. No need to bet big," Lin Fan replied indifferently.

He then glanced at Flender's betting slip and teased, "Dean, you didn't seriously bet the academy's tuition funds, did you?"

Flender had wagered over 1,000 gold soul coins!

"Of course not! That's money I earned from running my shop here in Soto City!" Flender straightened his expression and quickly explained.

"Oh? Be careful, or you'll lose everything, down to your underwear," Lin Fan said casually, casting another glance at Flender's bet slip.

To his amusement, Flender had bet 500 gold soul coins on Zhu Zhuqing winning against Tang San!

"Well, if I lose, that's just my poor judgment."

Flender then noticed Lin Fan's bets and frowned, "Eh? You're also betting on Tang San's match… You bet on him to win?"

"Sword Shadow Douluo, even though Tang San's spirit power is two levels higher than Zhu Zhuqing's, and yes, control-types do restrain agility-types, soul master battles aren't only about spirit power. Martial soul quality plays a huge role, too," Flender explained seriously, trying to persuade him.

"Tang San's martial soul is just the common Blue Silver Grass, whereas Zhu Zhuqing's Netherworld Civet is a high-grade martial soul. That gap alone could easily make up for the two-level difference."

Lin Fan nodded solemnly. "Dean Flender, your analysis is quite thorough. In that case, why not bet even more?"

With that, Lin Fan walked away, leaving Flender deep in thought.

"I'm going to make a fortune!" Flender muttered, grinning.

As they walked to the private viewing rooms on the second floor, Dai Mubai sighed.

"Dean… Don't tell me you placed another bet?"

Ma Hongjun dug at his nose and chuckled, "Heh, does the dean ever visit the Great Spirit Arena without betting?"

"Mind your own business, kids! Now, where are Tang San and the others?" Flender shot them a glare.

"They're already preparing backstage… Sigh, I can't believe Tang San's first match here is against Zhu Zhuqing," Dai Mubai muttered, somewhat concerned.

"I hope she doesn't get too discouraged from losing."

Lin Fan casually picked up a cup of juice and added with a smile,

"See, even Mubai knows Tang San will win. Dean, maybe it's not too late to change your bet?"

"What?! You bet on Zhu Zhuqing to win?!" Both Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were stunned.

They'd already experienced Tang San's strength firsthand. It was clear who would win.

"Hmph, what of it?" Flender huffed, refusing to back down.

Just then, the arena's loudspeaker activated:

"Contestants Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing, please proceed to Arena No. 15 for your match."

Ma Hongjun sighed helplessly,

"Well, it's too late now. Looks like the dean's going to lose again… There goes our food budget."

Moments later, everyone's eyes were on Arena 15.

Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing faced each other from ten meters apart.

"Please go all out," Zhu Zhuqing said coolly.

"I want to know how far apart we are."

She released her martial soul, taking a battle-ready stance.

"Alright." Tang San nodded calmly and released his Blue Silver Grass.

The host of the arena announced loudly,

"Both contestants are newcomers, each at the Grandmaster rank—one a control-type, the other an agility-type.

Who will claim victory today? Let's wait and see!"

"Match… begin!"

As soon as the host's words fell, Zhu Zhuqing dashed forward at lightning speed, leaving afterimages in her wake.

Her Netherworld Civet martial soul indeed gave her impressive speed. Against Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing might've stood a good chance at winning purely through speed.

However, Tang San possessed the Purple Demon Eye and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track techniques, granting him speed that rivaled hers—and he had Blue Silver Grass for control.

Facing Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San held a natural advantage.

With the Purple Demon Eye active, he could see through Zhu Zhuqing's footwork and predict her movement.

"First Soul Skill—Bind!"

Tang San calmly set a trap in her path, releasing Blue Silver Grass at just the right moment.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flashed with suspicion as she evaded, swiftly closing the distance between them.

Her fingers sharpened into claws, and a black-purple cat tail appeared—this was the power of the Netherworld Civet.

This was the beast-type martial soul's trademark ability.

Beast martial soul users strengthen themselves physically, using their bodies as weapons.

Tool martial soul users, in contrast, rely on external tools to fight.

As a result, beast martial soul users generally had superior physical strength compared to tool users.

"First Soul Skill—Nether Thrust!"

Now less than two meters away, Zhu Zhuqing launched a fierce stab toward Tang San.

But just before she could strike, Tang San's figure flickered—he left behind an afterimage and dodged to the side.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened in shock.

What kind of soul skill is that? He dodged me instantly! His speed matches mine!

"Blue Silver Bind!"

Tang San, now at the arena's edge, quickly seized the chance, commanding his Blue Silver Grass to weave around Zhu Zhuqing.

He used the confined space of the arena to limit her mobility.

"Purple Demon Eye and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track… These techniques make Tang San an almost unfairly perfect control-type soul master," Lin Fan muttered, genuinely impressed by Tang San's Tang Sect techniques.

System, when are you going to reward me with cultivation methods? Something like Nine Yang Divine Skill or Nine Yin Manual would be nice…

As usual, the system remained completely silent, as if it had malfunctioned again.

It only ever showed up when Lin Fan completed tasks or received new missions. Otherwise, it stayed utterly dormant.

If not for the transparent status panel before him, Lin Fan would've thought he was hallucinating the whole system.

Meanwhile, in the arena, Zhu Zhuqing realized she was trapped.

I've been baited… I thought he was merely slowing me down, but he trapped me completely!

With her mobility restricted in midair, she had no way to dodge.

In an instant, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass tightly bound her, leaving her unable to move.

"My control is more than enough to restrain you," Tang San said calmly.

"The Blue Silver Grass also has a numbing effect, making it harder for you to channel your soul power. Do you still wish to continue?"

Zhu Zhuqing struggled briefly before sighing in defeat,

"…I concede."

Tang San nodded and released his vines.

"Contestant Zhu Zhuqing has conceded! Let's congratulate Tang San on his victory!" the host declared.

Lin Fan stood and turned to the dumbfounded Flender with a smile,

"Well then, Dean, I'll go collect my winnings."

"No way… Zhu Zhuqing lost that fast?!"

Flender's face crumpled into an expression of utter despair.

"My money…!"

Seeing Flender's dramatic "pain mask," both Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai were left speechless.

Outside the arena, Lin Fan passed by Zhu Zhuqing, who looked utterly crushed.

He paused beside her and said flatly,

"You're an agility-type soul master. Your battlefield lies in more complex terrains.

Stealth, reconnaissance, and assassination—that's where your true strengths lie."

Here we go…