Chapter 139: Chapter 99: Just a Small Bet, Thanks to You

The other participants had apparently left, leaving only Pei Ze’s group of three on the vast mountaintop.

After a moment of silence, Su Shouhai took the initiative to speak. "From now on, we’re teammates. Why don’t we get to know each other?"

"I’m Su Shouhai, an officer in the Seventh Battalion of the Silver Light Legion."

Xiao Xi followed suit, smiling. "My name is Xiao Xi. I’m a third-year at Violet Academy."

Pei Ze said, "Pei Ze, a first-year at High Tower Academy."

As soon as he said this, Xiao Xi and Su Shouhai were stunned.

They had seen how outstanding Pei Ze’s strength was and had assumed he was a third-year. Who would have thought he was just a first-year?

’Are all first-years this powerful nowadays?’

Su Shouhai was secretly amazed and filled with envy.

They were all among the three who had secured a spot in the competition, but he was self-aware.

He was just a Wizard Apprentice with limited potential. But Xiao Xi and Pei Ze were different. With their talent and aptitude, it was only a matter of time before they became Wizards.

Especially Pei Ze. Having reached the standard for condensing a Spirit Crystal at such a young age, his future couldn’t be brighter.

Given time, Pei Ze would surely reach a level he could never hope to attain.

Thinking of this, Su Shouhai couldn’t help but sigh. The thought of trying to build a good relationship with them also faded.

’The power gap is too large. There’s no point in trying to get close to them.’

After a few more words, the three went their separate ways down the mountain.

After the trial ended, the crowd gathered on the mountainside had mostly dispersed, leaving only a group of curious onlookers.

The first person Pei Ze saw was Gu Lin.

The girl was looking smug, grinning like a fox that had just stolen a chick.

Beside her, Yin Guang wore a speechless expression.

Across from the two, a group of people were huddled together, whispering about something. The young man in the lead had a terrifyingly grim expression. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

As Pei Ze got closer, he noticed the group was wearing the insignia of Shadow Academy.

"Our hero has returned!"

Gu Lin was the first to spot Pei Ze and immediately threw her hands in the air, cheering.

’Hero?’

Pei Ze was taken aback.

’It was just securing a spot in the competition. It’s not that big of a deal, is it?’

Hearing this, Yin Guang, who was standing nearby, rolled his eyes and muttered, "He’s *your* hero. Don’t drag me into it."

He then glanced at Pei Ze, his expression incredibly complex.

After witnessing Pei Ze’s performance in the trial, he had come to a full realization: the gap between them was likely one he could never close.

This made him, someone who had always held himself in high regard, feel particularly conflicted.

Gu Lin paid no mind to Yin Guang’s muttering. She rushed forward and, without a word, gave Pei Ze a hug.

"That was amazing, Pei Ze! I knew I wasn’t wrong about you."

Pei Ze was baffled by her actions, but the soft feel of the girl’s body wasn’t bad, so he didn’t push her away.

Fortunately, his confusion didn’t last long.

Meng Kai walked over, his face dark. He tossed a dimensional pouch to Gu Lin and said coldly, "There are 497 Magic Stone Coins in here. With the pouch itself, that’s enough to cover the bet. We’re even!"

Gu Lin gleefully counted the coins. After confirming the amount was correct, she looked up and said with a grin, "The amount is right. Thanks! Be sure to call me next time there’s an easy score like this."

Hearing this, Meng Kai’s expression grew even gloomier. He just snorted coldly and didn’t respond.

He turned his head, shot another cold glance at Pei Ze, and then left with his companions.

Gu Lin pouted at his departing figure, but her smile quickly returned, right up until a voice spoke from beside her.

"Quite a big win, huh?"

"Yeah."

Gu Lin replied instinctively, then it dawned on her. She looked up and met Pei Ze’s teasing gaze.

"Er..." Gu Lin chuckled sheepishly. "Just a small bet. All thanks to you."

From the chatter of the people around them, Pei Ze had already pieced together what had happened, and he found it rather amusing.

’This girl... she actually made a bet on me with someone else, and for as high as five hundred Magic Stone Coins.’

’When she bet with me, she was only willing to part with twenty Magic Stone Coins, but now she didn’t hesitate to put up five hundred.’

’Even if she’s well-off, five hundred Magic Stone Coins must be a veritable fortune to her.’

’Just how much confidence did she have in me?’

A glint appeared in Pei Ze’s eyes. He smiled. "So, you’re saying I deserve some of the credit for that money, right?"

Gu Lin instantly became wary. She hugged the dimensional pouch tightly like a mother hen protecting her chicks, staring at Pei Ze with vigilance.

"What are you planning?"

Pei Ze chuckled. He took out a list and handed it to Gu Lin. "How about you just help me gather the Gemstones on this list?"

The list contained the Gemstone materials needed to create the Flash Magic Tattoo.

Gu Lin took it and glanced at it. She quickly realized something and asked with wide eyes, "You’ve learned how to do Magic Tattoos?"

Pei Ze shook his head. "Just one of them."

Gu Lin was stunned, her eyes filled with shock.

’Even if it’s just one Magic Tattoo, that’s still incredible.’

’How long has it been since Pei Ze got the Gem Enchantment knowledge? To master Elemental Runes and Magic Tattoos one after another in such a short time... his talent is simply out of this world!’

’Even those young Enchantment Apprentices her family was cultivating, the ones who were said to be exceptionally gifted, couldn’t learn this fast, could they?’

After a long moment, Gu Lin stared fixedly at Pei Ze and said faintly, "I’m starting to seriously wonder... is there anything you’re *not* good at?"

Pei Ze shrugged. He was about to casually reply, ’I can’t give birth.’

But on second thought, for a male Wizard, as long as one could get over the mental hurdle, getting pregnant didn’t seem to be all that difficult. The words caught in his throat.

Gu Lin didn’t mind his silence. She glanced at the list again and began to quickly calculate in her head.