CHAPTER 179: CHAPTER 178: FRUGALITY FOREVER!

Three days later.

The gates of Beast Square opened, and the old and new students from the Awakener University flooded into the square like a deluge.

As they entered, they were immediately stunned by the scene before them.

On the bleachers above the square, red flags fluttered in the wind, printed with four large golden characters — "Stinginess Forever!"

Below the flagpoles, various small stalls were set up, displaying promotional materials of the "Planting Club" and various magic plant by-products. Some specialized in selling Magic Honey, others in selling Blood Stopping Magic Potion, Defense Fruits, or Fire Qilin Fruits.

Apart from the small bosses who stayed at the stalls, all other Magic Plant Department students enthusiastically approached and handed out flyers to the students pouring in, inviting everyone to visit the Magic Plant Department’s stalls after the competition.

To someone unaware, it would seem like they weren’t here for the competition, but to sell their products.

The flyers distributed by the Magic Plant Department students included not only the Planting Club’s recruitment forms but also links to betting activities. Surprisingly, they even had discount coupons for a "Farm Stay" experience, allowing the holder to visit the plantation at the Magic Plant Academy’s back mountain for an 80% fee and enjoy an experience of killing magic plants.

In the past, students from the Skill Department always openly and secretly came to the back mountain, killing the magic plants that the Magic Plant Department students had tirelessly grown, all in the name of practice. Since they needed practice so badly, the Magic Plant Department specifically set up the "Farm Stay" activity, letting them come to the back mountain of the Magic Plant Department openly and legitimately to use the magic plants for practice!

Of course, the Magic Plant Department not only doesn’t provide safety services but also charges money!

But even so, the "Farm Stay" attracted quite a number of Skill Department students, especially newcomers facing magic plants for the first time, eager to try fighting them.

"Boss, their Magic Plant Department is really impressive, isn’t it?" Lv Henxin, standing next to Xu Jing, couldn’t help but marvel at the bustling square.

"Hmph, what good is being impressive? They’ll still lose the competition," Xu Jing sneered, his eyes red as he looked at the square. "Eventually, every single person in their Magic Plant Department will kneel before us, admitting their magic plants are worth nothing!"

And the formula for Blood Stopping Magic Potion, he could get his hands on it too!

"Let’s go, to Dean Fan," Xu Jing led his followers towards Fan Jinghai. Although they had been inexplicably ambushed, beaten, and hospitalized for three months, they were finally discharged and had no major issues, capable of dealing with ordinary people with ease.

Fan Jinghai and Principal Zheng were sitting in the front row. Seeing Xu Jing, Fan Jinghai asked expressionlessly, "Are you ready?"

Though he believed the Skill Department would surely win the bet, the relaxed posture of the Magic Plant Department instilled a tiny amount of unease in him.

"We’re ready, don’t worry!" Xu Jing said confidently, "As long as they don’t use that Frenzy Potion, no matter how many Defense Fruits they eat, they’ll be knocked out within 10 minutes!"

From what he knew about Qian Qi, she’s unlikely to endlessly provide Defense Fruits for her classmates. Ultimately, the Magic Plant Department is doomed to lose!

"Hmph, better be so!" Fan Jinghai said irritably. If it wasn’t for the fact that even if they lost the competition, it would be Xu Jing’s team embarrassing themselves and paying the Magic Plant Department, he, as the Dean of the Skill Department, would never allow the Skill Department’s reputation to be damaged.

"Don’t worry, Dean!" Xu Jing said indifferently, "There’s no way they’ll win. Haven’t you heard? Qian Qi has abandoned them and switched to the Magic Beast Department."

"Oh?" Fan Jinghai turned towards Principal Zheng unexpectedly, "Principal, is this true?"

Principal: "... Haha, it is indeed true."

However, Qian Qi not only switched to the Magic Beast Department but also stayed in the Magic Plant Department.

But he found no need to elaborate this to Fan Jinghai. This old man, boasting the best performance, often contended with him. There was no need for him to kindly remind him, especially since... Xu Jing was the one paying, not Fan Jinghai.

He was curious, though. How exactly did Qian Qi plan to win against the Skill Department?

"Yo, what’s everyone chatting about?" Just as the principal pondered, Qian Qi’s cheerful yet mischievous voice rang out from nearby. She strode confidently towards them, flip-flops slapping the ground.

"Talking about the competition," seeing that Xu Jing’s group was unwilling to speak, the principal responded, "When does it start?"

Qian Qi checked the time, "Soon, it’s not 10 o’clock yet."

She winked at them, especially at Fan Jinghai, "Dean Fan, aren’t you placing a bet? Participate symbolically?"

"Humph! Flamboyant, idle, showy!" Fan Jinghai scoffed, "If only this energy was put into studying, you’d have become a top-tier professional by now!"

"Oh my~" Qian Qi laughed, covering her mouth in a mock-whiny tone, "No way, no way, does Dean Fan lack confidence in the Skill Department’s students? Don’t even dare to bet for a bit of encouragement?"

She glanced at Xu Jing’s crew and let out a few brazen chuckles, "True, only daring to attack the weakest batch of magic plants, doesn’t really inspire confidence."

"You!" Xu Jing fumed, "You may have a sharp tongue, but we’ve already signed our victory!"

"Who’s convinced? Put your money where your mouth is and bet on your own win~" Qian Qi crossed her arms lazily, "I’ve already put down 200,000 on our department."

What? 200,000?

Xu Jing hurriedly opened the betting link and found indeed the Magic Plant Department had placed 200,000, but the Skill Department had obviously more, reaching 700,000.

"Hmph, I’ll add another 300,000!" Xu Jing, not short on money, promptly bet another 300,000, raising the odds to 1:5.

Qian Qi’s expression froze for a moment, then she rolled her eyes and walked away.

Xu Jing stood in place triumphantly.

The principal glanced over with a complex expression:... Sigh, silly kid, duped without realizing.

After baiting Xu Jing, Qian Qi ran over to Zhang Feng and Liang Yuting, taking them with her. Until the clock stroke at 10, Qian Qi ascended the elevator in the center of the square and patted the microphone in her hand.

This time with ample preparation, she could make full use of the Beast Square tool from Uncle Li, standing steadily on the elevator, her street-influenced delinquent image enlarged on the three-dimensional projection above the square.

After clearing her throat twice, "Qian Qi" from three projection angles began the introduction:

"Hello new and old classmates! Welcome to today’s competition between the two departments. I believe many newcomers aren’t aware of the competition rules, so as the organizer Qian Qi, I will formally introduce the competition rules!"

"The competition will follow a best-two-out-of-three format. The Skill Department will field three E-level Awakeners, while the Magic Plant Department will field three, with Skill Department Awakeners’ abilities not exceeding D-level and no Frenzy Potion or Defense Fruit allowed for the Magic Plant Department!"

Upon hearing the prohibition of Defense Fruit, the entire venue buzzed.

Since to these students, Magic Plant Department students, being ordinary people, if they can’t use Defense Fruits and Magic Potions, what else can they use to defeat Skill Department students?

Even students from the Magic Plant Department realized contestants can’t use Defense Fruit, leading to bustling discussions with anxious expressions on their faces.

Seeing the surprised faces among Magic Plant Department students, others were equally taken aback, convinced that the Magic Plant Department was bound to lose this time!

Backstage, the betting pool for "Skill Department sure wins" surged instantly as more and more people believed the Skill Department would indeed triumph in this competition.