Chapter 100

Today, after just returning from Hu Xiaogu, Tang Jie saw Cai Junyang walking towards him on the way back through the Dueling Arena.

Approaching Tang Jie, Cai Junyang smiled and asked, "How did it go today?"

Tang Jie replied, "272 coins, not bad. How about you?"

"Don't even mention it," Cai Junyang shook his head. "I encountered several tough opponents today. Although I managed to win, it took a lot of effort, and I ended up losing four consecutive matches due to exhaustion."

"That's not surprising," Tang Jie responded.

There were times when Tang Jie was forced to return from Hu Xiaogu early and would visit the Dueling Arena, where he deeply understood the situation there.

More and more students were entering the Spirit Spring stage, and some of them, after being there for a longer time, began to practice magical techniques diligently.

From nothing to something, it was the period when their strength rapidly increased, and everyone's abilities were growing quickly.

Although these people mostly did not pose a threat to Cai Junyang and Tang Jie, Cai Junyang and his group had to exert more effort and pay a higher price to win, leading to a decrease in their winning rate due to exhaustion.

This was not unusual, after all, it was normal to lose in a series of matches.

However, some people, after winning one or two matches by chance, would shout things like, "I beat Cai Junyang, the eight transformations of Yumen are nothing special," or "I beat Tang Jie, what's the point of learning the Divine Lightning Sword Canon, it would have been better if it was passed to me," which made people feel uncomfortable.

Those at the top inevitably had the mindset of wanting to dominate and be supreme;

Those at the bottom inevitably had the mentality of feeling elated after a small success.

At this moment, Cai Junyang said, "If this continues, our chances of making the list will decrease, and the resources we obtain will also decrease, further slowing down our strength improvement. Those guys will only become more arrogant."

"That's just the way it is," Tang Jie smiled. "With thousands of students competing, how can everything go as we wish? Xiqia World ultimately isn't here for us. If not for this, I wouldn't have to run to Hu Xiaogu every day. Compared to competing with other students, I prefer fighting against beast monsters. It's dangerous, but at least it won't make me feel like a small person."

"But we still have to try," Cai Junyang replied.

"Hmm? It sounds like you have some ideas?"

Cai Junyang said, "Brother Tang, you know that for us cultivators, to reach the great path, mere hard practice is not enough; we need resources to support us. The resources from the list are far from enough. Even if we manage to secure a position after great effort, it's just a few pills, which are just a drop in the bucket for cultivation."

Tang Jie nodded, "That's true, but it's the same for everyone. Unless we can participate in the formal trials at the Spirit Lake stage, our sources of resources are only the Dueling Arena and Hu Xiaogu."

"That's not necessarily the case," Cai Junyang smiled. "These are just the financial paths provided by the academy, but we students can also open our own financial paths."

Tang Jie was taken aback, realizing something, "You mean... taking private jobs?"

"What private jobs, that sounds too vulgar. It's just that someone invites us to add some prestige," Cai Junyang blushed and waved his hand.

Although the Spirit Spring stage is the lowest stage in the cultivation hierarchy, in the entire mortal world, Spirit Spring students are already considered high-ranking figures.

Not to mention other abilities, just the ability to move swiftly and effortlessly is something ordinary people can't achieve. If Tang Jie and Cai Junyang left the academy now, they could easily become top-notch martial artists in the world.

However, the most important thing is their identity as students of Xiyue Academy.

Xiyue Academy, as the reserve disciples of the Xiyue Sect, is somewhat like a party school. No matter how they perform, they will inevitably have a status when they graduate.

Not only do they have abilities, but they also have status.

Therefore, many noble families in the country want to curry favor with these students, especially those medium-sized noble families with no one capable of entering the academy.

For students who are endlessly seeking resources, these noble families are another source of income—like entertainers dining with wealthy patrons, sometimes just showing up and being a guest of honor can earn a substantial income.

Especially those students who have gained a reputation in the academy, they are like celebrities in the entertainment industry. Once they leave the academy, they all have some value.

Students like Cai Junyang, Tang Jie, and Liu Hongyan, who are relatively outstanding in the academy and often receive brave evaluations, generally have a value of about 300 spirit coins.

The next level, like Ping Jingyue, is around 200.

The next level is the ordinary level, around 50 to 100.

As for those who are incompetent and dare not enter the Dueling Arena, they usually only get a labor fee of ten spirit coins, and even that depends on whether anyone is willing to pay.

In a sense, students who become guests of honor are like prostitutes. Strength is their beauty, ranking is their fame, and talent is their skill...

It is said that the current highest-valued student is An Rumei. As the only student with an invincible evaluation and also a beauty with good talent, her price for accompanying drinking is 1000 spirit coins. It is said that if she were willing to sleep with someone, the price could be several times higher.

What a generous offer!

Unfortunately, An Rumei has never agreed to anyone.

The academy is not the entertainment industry, and people in this era value their reputation. Most people would not bend for "five measures of rice." The academy itself does not support such practices, and the one-day holiday each month is an invisible constraint.

Unexpectedly, today, Cai Junyang brought up this matter.

Perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed, Cai Junyang added, "It's a coincidence. It's Lin Dongsheng's ancestor's birthday, and he wants to invite some prestigious guests to add prestige to his family, so he approached us."

Lin Dongsheng is a student of the Free and Easy Society and one of the earliest members. He also has some status in Wanquan City.

Since Lin Dongsheng is their classmate, going to wish him a happy birthday is a legitimate reason that won't damage their reputation, which is why Cai Junyang and his group accepted it.

"Since it's the Lin family's birthday banquet, that's fine," Tang Jie nodded. "But I'm quite busy recently, so I might not have time."

Cai Junyang smiled, "Dongsheng said that as long as we are willing to go, each of us will receive 200 coins as a thank-you gift."

Tang Jie smiled, "Brother Lin is quite generous."

Although it's a bit lower than the normal price, it is a legitimate reason, and there is a classmate relationship, so it's not stingy.

Thinking about how Tang Jie risked his life in Hu Xiaogu for a month and only earned 300 coins, it shows that the world is such that those who sell themselves always earn more than those who sell their labor.

Tang Jie's eyes narrowed, "Who else is Brother Lin planning to invite?"

"About seven or eight people," Cai Junyang replied. "He can't afford more, ha ha!"

Tang Jie didn't laugh, just asked, "When is it?"

"In ten days."

"Alright!" Tang Jie nodded. "I'll definitely go."

After the two left, Tang Jie's expression turned serious, "Is it starting...?"

Calculating the time, the people from Anyang Prefecture should have already arrived.

These people naturally can't enter Xiyue Academy, so they can only wait for Tang Jie to come out.

Students rarely leave the academy, so waiting is not feasible. Therefore, someone needs to find a reason to call him out.

Using a birthday celebration as a reason, with the lure of benefits and the bond of classmate friendship, it's a reasonable excuse.

But... why did Cai Junyang come to call him?

Could Bao Yuan be him?

Tang Jie was reluctant to believe it.

Although he suspected from the beginning that Bao Yuan was among Liu Ping, Cai Junyang, and Shu Mingyang, he could never confirm who it was.

He originally suspected Liu Hongyan the most.

After all, it was Liu Hongyan who suggested pulling him into the Free and Easy Society, and her familiarity with his situation exposed her intentions.

The second suspect was Ping Jingyue. Everyone could see that this girl seemed to have some feelings for Tang Jie, but this affection seemed inexplicable.

The third suspect was Shu Mingyang, a bookish person with great ambitions, who always held a book, using it to hide his face and secretly observe, making him the most suitable.

As for Cai Junyang, he was the last on the list.

He couldn't imagine the always bold and ambitious Cai Junyang, who wanted to become a sword hero and fight for justice, suddenly turning and saying he was a heavenly spy. Emotionally and logically, he didn't want to believe it was Cai Junyang.

However, today, it was Cai Junyang who invited him, which left Tang Jie somewhat puzzled.

Could Bao Yuan really be him?

Had he been wrong about the person all along?

Or was he just being used by someone else?

If so, could it be that the abnormal behavior of Liu Hongyan, Ping Jingyue, and others in previous encounters was also due to someone's manipulation?

After all, many things happen once and can happen again. If they could be used once, they could be used multiple times.

If so, would the basis for suspecting Liu Ping, Shu Mingyang, and others be overturned?

He stood there thinking for a long time but couldn't find an answer.

Knowing a person's face but not their heart, this game of guessing the spy is perhaps the most unpleasant game in the world.

Gu Changqing was certainly troubled by Tang Jie's identity, and Tang Jie was also troubled by Bao Yuan's identity.

When people look back on the past, they always think that many clues were already exposed, and not noticing them only shows someone's stupidity. But when one is in the situation, without the God's-eye view, facing countless choices and possibilities, one realizes that they are completely at a loss.

Then one realizes that the so-called stupidity is ultimately one's own.

With fewer people to deal with and more interactions with Liu, Shu, and Cai, Tang Jie couldn't identify Bao Yuan. Gu Changqing, who couldn't even meet Tang Jie once, faced even more choices. How could he confirm anything?

In such a situation, his decision to immediately arrest someone shows great courage. Most people in his position would only hesitate and think more.

It's easy to belittle others, but it's hard to do well oneself!

At this moment, with a thousand thoughts swirling in his mind, Tang Jie couldn't find an answer. He shook his head, dispelling the myriad thoughts, and said to himself, "Forget it, as cultivators, we should be brave and fearless, regardless of any difficulties. No matter who you are, Bao Yuan, I will accept it. As long as you dare to come, I will dare to kill you with one sword!"

There were things he had long wanted to do but couldn't because the time wasn't right.

Now that the enemy has made a move, it's time for him to make his move!

Thinking of this, his fighting spirit surged, and he no longer worried about who Bao Yuan was, suddenly throwing his head back and laughing loudly.

Some passing students were startled, thinking he had gone mad.