Awakening the Divine Spark-Chapter 120: To rig a boxing matChapter

"Did you hear? Fairy Mei is the one holding the lecture today!" Lee kept hearing people telling each other on the way to the training grounds.

As usual, he pretended to be limping on the way, but was already getting annoyed by the act, and questioned whether he should drop the act.

This was only Lee’s third time to fight in the arena, but on the previous days he overheard people discuss the lectures that were held here. This time, though, he arrived much earlier, and the current crowd could easily be compared to the numbers of Lunax’s followers that gathered in front of the rift gate before they were sent on a conquest.

While standing in the back, Lee wondered at what level one had to be for everyone wait for them with such enthusiasm. He was clearly late and there was no chance for him to get to closer to the elevated platform the lecturer was supposed to sit on. It was regrettable he wouldn’t be able to hear anything, but it was fine, he was not in a rush – there will be always more lectures.

The crowd had to wait for a while, but when with a gust of wind, a girl appeared on the platform, people gasped in ecstasy. Lee couldn’t tell whether she was pretty or not, but the light green robe, similar to the hair that stretched to her knees, accentuated her slim body, and for most people it probably was enough.

Turns out there was more to her.

"Hello!" Lee heard her say, similar to how Lunax was heard across the crowds.

It was obvious that the speaker was smiling while she spoke, but while the rest of the crowd enjoyed the sweetness of her voice, Lee was more interested what trick she used to be heard by everyone. The best guess was that it was the result of the girl using an artifact. Since if it was possible to create a bottomless bag like his, Lee was certain that the Refining Hall could craft anything they wanted.

The lecture was about sensing the elemental energies using simple cultivation techniques, and for the most present was too basic. Despite that, countless guys in the crowd murmured or even said out loud promises of eternal love, while the girls watched their idol with starry eyes.

Lee was engrossed in the contents, but at the same time amused. It was funny to see that the true rock stars of this place were the most talented cultivators, but it made sense.

***

After the lecture was over, Lee got punched on the nose and knocked out in front of much larger audience than usual, but no one really payed any attention to him. The next moment he woke up, he was thrilled, though. Last night he almost avoided the hit!

To any sane person, the progress he considered incredible would seem embarrassing, but for Lee, it was a necessary step towards new wealth. And even though he was abused again the following evening, the next day when he met Xiao Lian, Lee was ready for the step one of his plan.

"Are you sure?" Xiao Lian asked, after hearing Lee’s idea.

"Absolutely!" Lee said, "And you’re not risking anything. This is just a preliminary test."

"Test for what?" Xiao Lian asked.

He clearly didn’t like to involve himself in gambling schemes, but Lee promised he would earn at least hundred contribution points. In the two day mission Xiao Lian was on, he only managed to earn twenty, and even then he thought it was not worth it because of the danger the group went through.

"You’ll see." Lee said, "But I promise to not keep secrets from you. We’re partners in this after all. I’m not going to risk your money. Otherwise who’ll carry me home afterwards?"

It took a bit of brainwashing, but when Lee and Xie Wuking intended to enter the arena, Xiao Lian’s encouragement brother Lee, you can do it! I bet you can avoid his punch this time! immediately drew attention. His honest insecurity was too obvious and there were some, particularly from Xie Wuking’s group, who were ready to take the bet.

Xiao Lian turned out to be the perfect shill. His only weakness was his lack of confidence, but it transformed into strength this time.

Lee suggested he would stake ten contribution points on him not getting knocked out with one hit with anyone who dared to take the bet. But there were over twenty people who challenged Xiao Lian and the latter got cold feet.

Fortunately he went along with the plan in the end, although agreed to wage only five points with each of the people who tried to take advantage of him. Nevertheless, he was about to gamble away more than two hundred contribution points and it was close to three months of hard work.

Even Xie Wuking walked over to him and made the bet, and Xiao Lian almost fainted from the cruel grin the guy had. Strangely enough, Lee’s faint smile and careless attitude for some reason gave him hope.

It was only logical that a sixteen-year-old would defeat a four or five years younger opponent. And since on previous days it was done with a casual punch, it made sense that the scenario would only repeat.

But the small crowd, that was attracted by the previous betting, gasped when Lee ducked as Xie Wuking’s fist whistled by his ear and their eyes widened when he landed a punch in return. It was only on Xie Wuking’s chest, but he did hit the opponent.

A heartbeat later Lee lie on the ground unconscious, but while Xiao Lian collected his winnings, not being able to believe his luck, Xie Wuking was having hard time walking around with the usual haughty expression. Only he knew how much Lee’s earlier hit hurt and it was surprising his ribs were still in tact.

From that day on, the Hall of Ascension’s outer sect arena was transformed into an entertainment zone. Xiao Lian continued to take on occasional bet, but never more than a couple. And sometimes he won, sometimes he lost, but to Lee the most important part was that many more people began bet on or against his progress.

The news of Xie Wuking beating up a guy with a broken leg quickly spread, and to not make things too awkward, Lee suddenly got better.

He continued to walk with a stick, though. After using it for several days, he got an idea for a weapon. All he needed was to earn, or rather, get enough contribution points to place an order in the Refining Hall.

With days going by, the exchange of pointers with Xie Wuking slowly began to resemble actual fights. Lee improved, but the guy also tried his best. It was embarrassing to let a kid land painful punches on him with tens, and after a month – a couple hundred fellow disciples watching.

Realizing he actually soon could be punched on the nose if the things continued this way, Xie Wuking started to diligently practice. Lee did the same, but there was one important difference.

Xie Wuking might’ve been a bully, but he wasn’t a complete idiot. He began to spend his days in meditation, increasing his understanding of elemental energies and increasing his progress toward becoming an elemental master.

Lee, on the other hand, meditated only a couple times a day, but spent the rest doing physical exercises. He knew that meditation was the key to achieve true power in this world, but he already messed up and had two beast sparks inside of him. But that didn’t mean he was not going to earn money, or in this case – contribution points.

Xiao Lian also became more and more confident in his new business partner. While placing occasional unimportant bets, he didn’t loose or win anything, but the big thresholds, like punching Xie Wuking back in the face or surviving five, and afterwards ten hits, earned him increasingly more points. The last one, for Lee to remain standing longer than it took for an incense stick to burn, allowed Xiao Lian to double his current wealth.

***

Two months later the decisive match, at least in Lee’s eyes, was about to start. As usual, both opponents stood in the arena, but the spectators were still making bets. Xiao Lian was currently sitting on whopping five thousand contribution points, and even though he knew it was his turn according to the plan, he was hesitant.

Earlier Lee explained that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, but Xiao Lian was reluctant to risk so big. In a couple of months he had earned almost three thousand points which normally would take him close to two years to gather.

Lee said to him that if he was worried, he should only bet three thousand and keep his initial two. Even if he lost, he wouldn’t technically loose anything, but would not have the profit from their endeavor.

But having ten thousand contribution points meant he could exchange those in the Hall of Knowledge for a premium cultivation technique! And that, in turn, meant he would become an elemental master much sooner.

He already was capable of feeling the elemental energy and it was only a matter of time until he ignited his spark, but if, or rather, when he did it – he would become an inner disciple and his life would completely transform.

’Fine!’ In the end the greed won, and following the proposed plan, Xiao Lian jumped to his feet and shouted, "Go, brother Lee, go! Knock him out! I believe in you! I could bet anything I have on your victory!"