Chapter 85 — Reluctant

After placing the hundred million wager, the Sacred Family stepped down from running the house, and Yang Xin took over.

Since Yang Xin was running the betting pool, Nie Li had no further reason to keep playing.

"Nie Li, you'd better put in your best effort! Ninety percent of the people are betting on the Sacred Family to win. I've staked everything I have on you alone!" Yang Xin cast Nie Li a bewitching glance, her pink cherry lips curving into a smile. Those soft, rosy lips hovered near Nie Li's cheek, her breath fragrant as orchids. Her shapely figure pressed close to his side, and he could faintly feel the softness against him — utterly tantalizing.

This woman was nothing short of a lethal enchantress!

"Sister Yang jests — that little bit of money is nothing to you. Even if it vanishes without a trace, it wouldn't matter," Nie Li replied with a faint smile. He certainly wasn't the type to be so easily seduced.

"I staked every last coin of my private savings!" Yang Xin pouted, feigning displeasure, though those slender willow-leaf brows were practically brimming with amusement.

"Then there's nothing I can do — I'll just light some incense and leave it to fate!"

A moment later, the betting began.

Nie Li and the Sacred Family's Shen Ning both stepped down into the fighting arena.

The entire arena erupted. Cheers rose on every side — some shouting for Nie Li, others for Shen Shen Ning.

"Last round, that Tian Hen Family brat swindled us out of a fortune. This time, we're getting it back!"

"That Tian Hen Family brat actually fused with a Tiger Fang Panda Demon Spirit — what a joke. Sure, he played a dirty trick on the Sacred Family, but Shen Ning is already a Silver Five-Star Demon Spirit Master, so Shen Ning is guaranteed to win!"

Although Nie Li had won the previous round, the victory had been anything but honorable. Shen Fei's loss was far too unjust, so this time the vast majority of people placed their bets on Shen Fei. Still, a small handful saw potential in Nie Li and believed he could pull off a miracle. After all, he had already won once.

Watching Nie Li in the arena, Ye Ziyun let out a soft laugh. She had heard that the Sacred Family had placed another hundred million in bets. That guy Nie Li was too wicked — even though his scores during the Year-End Test hadn't been particularly impressive, Ye Ziyun had always believed that his cultivation had reached unimaginable heights. How else could he have controlled his strength and Soul Power to such a degree? In her eyes, Nie Li would surely be able to defeat the Sacred Family's Shen Ning, so she had taken out all of her private savings and bet on Nie Li to win.

Thinking of Nie Li's roguish manner, Ye Ziyun found him a bit annoying, yet for reasons she couldn't explain, she couldn't help but feel drawn to him. This was exactly why, upon hearing that Nie Li had entered the Genius Tournament, she had rushed over here in a hurry.

"It's just concern between ordinary friends, that's all," Ye Ziyun told herself, her gaze fixed on Nie Li, though her pretty cheeks flushed slightly warm. She had never paid such close attention to a boy before.

The battle began.

Shen Ning immediately fused with his Demon Spirit. His entire body burst into blazing flames as he transformed into a powerful Sacred Flame Demon Bear.

Roar!

Shen Ning took a single step forward, and a towering column of flames erupted skyward. A tremendous wave of force swept across the arena, sending the ground trembling. The stone floor was scorched black wherever the flames touched.

"It's actually the Sacred Flame Demon Bear!"

"A Silver Five-Star Demon Spirit Master paired with the Sacred Flame Demon Bear — he's practically invincible among the younger generation! That brat Nie Li is about to suffer. After the way he brutalized the Sacred Family's young master earlier, they won't let him off easy."

Those who had bet on Shen Ning raised their arms and roared, their voices surging like a tide.

"Fusing with a Demon Spirit without even a word of greeting — how terribly rude!" Nie Li muttered.

Hearing this, Shen Ning couldn't help but grimace. In the previous match, Shen Fei hadn't had the chance to fuse with his Demon Spirit before Nie Li had beaten him half to death. How could Shen Ning possibly afford to hold back? This battle was far too important — he would fuse first and foremost. As long as he completed the fusion, there was absolutely no way Nie Li could beat him with that pathetic Tiger Fang Panda!

Shen Ning was already confident of victory.

Nie Li swiftly fused with his Tiger Fang Panda Demon Spirit, transforming into a plump, adorable, and thoroughly harmless-looking Tiger Fang Panda.

No matter how you looked at it, this Tiger Fang Panda didn't seem the least bit threatening.