Smoke billowed within the glass enclosure, and the air was thick with tension. Even with the pheromone-blocking shield in place, Luo Yuan could feel the oppressive weight of the atmosphere. He could not help but turn his head to look.
Inside the mud pit, Ni Wentian held a mud ball, grinning at Ling Jiuxiao with malicious intent. A sharp killing intent radiated from his eyes. Alpha bloodlines naturally contained aggressive factors, usually restrained by reason and safety constraints. Now, with that mask stripped away, they could compete without restraint, determined to settle the score. The higher the grade of an Alpha, the more combative they became. Ni Wentian’s grade was two levels higher than Ling Jiuxiao’s, which was a crushing gap in strength.
The rules of the game dictated that Ling Jiuxiao could not dodge and had to stand there and take the hits. In truth, the result was already clear. Ling Jiuxiao was bound to lose.
However, Luo Yuan still felt guilty. If he had not acted on his petty impulses and had instead answered the questions seriously, perhaps the right to serve would have been in Ling Jiuxiao’s hands. It was his fault! He should not have brought his personal grievances into the game.
[It is over! My Jiujiu is done for.]
[Ni Wentian’s level is higher than Ling Jiuxiao’s; this will absolutely be a one-shot kill.]
[My Jiujiu will definitely make a comeback against the odds.]
[Ling Jiuxiao’s fans, do not be so ridiculous. Do you even know how powerful an A5-level Alpha is? It is only one step away from S-level.]
[A3 and A5 are only two levels apart, but the gap is enormous. They are not in the same league at all. Ling Jiuxiao is guaranteed to lose.]
[The betting pool is open. I am going to place my bet.]
The duel had not yet ended, but the bullet comments were heavily skewed toward the belief that Ling Jiuxiao would lose. Ni Wentian thought so as well. His high level and the game’s rules were like stacking buffs to grant him extra skills; it would be hard not to win. The prospect of trampling a fellow Alpha under his feet excited him. He weighed the mud ball in his hand, murderous intent instantly filling his eyes.
He raised his hand, exerted force, and the mud ball flew toward Ling Jiuxiao. His target was Ling Jiuxiao’s chest. Ni Wentian’s attack speed was so fast that by the time Luo Yuan reacted, the ball was already flying toward Ling Jiuxiao.
“Watch out!” Luo Yuan could not help but shout. He ran forward a few steps, but his footing was unsteady, and his legs trembled uncontrollably.
It was over! Ling Jiuxiao was definitely going to get hit.
A smug smile appeared on Ni Wentian’s lips, but the sarcasm in his eyes froze before it could spread, suddenly stiffening in his gaze. How could this happen?
An attack that should have had no suspense led to an unexpected result. The mud ball flew past Ling Jiuxiao’s shoulder, slammed into the ground, and merged with the muddy earth.
Plop!
The sound of the ball hitting the ground felt almost like it had slammed into Ni Wentian’s face, shattering his smug expression into pieces. He widened his eyes, shouting in disbelief: “This is impossible!”
Ling Jiuxiao watched Ni Wentian’s reaction, his long, narrow phoenix eyes flashing with mockery. “Brother Ni, why did you go soft? Your aim is truly terrible.”
Ling Jiuxiao wore a wicked smile. “Is this the strength of an A5?”
Ni Wentian clenched his fingers tightly, gritting his teeth in hatred. However, he forced a smile onto his face: “It is just a game. It is all about the atmosphere; being serious takes the fun out of it.”
Ling Jiuxiao raised an eyebrow: “That is not what you said just now, Brother Ni. You said you would use your full strength.”
Ni Wentian could barely hold his smile together. Damn it! Ling Jiuxiao really had a sharp tongue. Once he found an opportunity, he would definitely teach this impudent brat a lesson.
“Since you put it that way, I will not hold back when I get the serve next time.”
Ling Jiuxiao: “Bring it on. I would rather be defeated than admit fear.”
Ni Wentian sneered. You are only arrogant with your words. I do not even take an A3 seriously.
Ling Jiuxiao looked toward Luo Yuan: “Little Tangyuan, can I get the serve?”
Luo Yuan looked at him blankly: “That ball? How did it…”
How did it suddenly change its trajectory? He had seen it clearly. Ni Wentian’s throwing arc was perfect; it was flying straight toward Ling Jiuxiao’s chest. How could it suddenly change direction and graze past Ling Jiuxiao’s arm? It was as if an invisible, mysterious force had dragged the ball, forcibly altering its trajectory.
Ling Jiuxiao’s eyes flickered: “Little Tangyuan, you must do your best! Whether your brother Jiu wins or loses depends entirely on you.”
Luo Yuan instantly felt the immense pressure. He stood frozen outside the glass, panicked and stuttering: “That… Ling Jiuxiao… what do you like to eat? What do you like to drink? What is your favorite color? Do you like…”
“Hey, hey, hey!” Director Zhao shouted through the loudspeaker: “Little Tangyuan, I am still alive! Can you try to cheat when people are not looking?”
Luo Yuan’s cheeks turned deep red, and he lowered his head to apologize: “Director Zhao, I am sorry! I will not ask anymore.”
“Little Tangyuan, just answer whatever you like.”
Hearing Ling Jiuxiao’s reply, Luo Yuan’s brain went numb. He roared in his heart: The director told you to answer based on your preferences. You are asking me! Ahhh! This stupid Alpha.
[What did I just discover? Jiujiu’s preferences are the same as Little Tangyuan’s.]
[Let us just say, is it possible that Ling Jiuxiao did not understand what Luo Yuan meant?]
[I think Ling Jiuxiao has already given up and is letting Luo Yuan do whatever. He is just leaving his fate to the heavens.]
[This pair is truly sweet to death. You guys do not even know how perverted my smile is right now.]
[Lock the “Wine-Fermented Glutinous Rice Ball” CP, get married right here, consummate the marriage right here, and have babies right here.]
The bullet comments were active, but the atmosphere on the scene was tense. The second round of questions began. Luo Yuan’s hand speed was not fast enough; he could not snatch the answer away from Cui Qinglan at all, and he did not get a single turn to answer. Cui Qinglan stumbled through his answers and actually got one right. Ni Wentian received the serve again.
He grinned viciously at Ling Jiuxiao: “It seems my luck is not bad.”
“Is that so? But why do I feel like the Goddess of Fortune has always been standing on my side?”
Ling Jiuxiao turned to look at Luo Yuan outside the glass: “Little Tangyuan, are you not going to cheer for me?”
Luo Yuan was looked at by his burning gaze, his cheeks slightly hot, but he still endured his shyness and said: “Go, Ling Jiuxiao!”
Ni Wentian scoffed. Even at a time like this, he does not forget to show off. He is truly a traffic star who relies on his face. Unlike him, he relied on his strength.
He raised his hand and threw the ball. This time, he was aiming for Ling Jiuxiao’s face. Striking a person without hitting the face was the rule; hitting the face was an absolute insult. But Ni Wentian simply wanted Ling Jiuxiao to know that an A5 was far stronger than an A3. In the face of absolute power, the weak would be trampled.
Luo Yuan’s heart rose to his throat, and his eyes turned red with anxiety. It is over! Will Ling Jiuxiao’s nose be flattened? He looked at Ni Wentian with anger, feeling that this person was doing it on purpose.
Cui Qinglan frowned, feeling a bit sickened. He managed to get the serve by answering blindly; this is truly infuriating.
Bang!
The sound of the collision rang out, clearly captured in the live broadcast room. That sound seemed to slam into everyone’s hearts. Outside and inside the camera, countless eyes looked over at the same time.
At this sight, everyone was stunned!