"What a spectacular group of challengers! It seems like every challenger in the entire Alliance has set their sights on Gao Neng. How will he handle a situation like this?"

"Over eighty challengers... just thinking about it is terrifying... Wow, look! More challengers are here! They’re getting out of their cars. One, two, three, four... seven! Seven more just arrived!"

"The number of people wanting to challenge Gao Neng has now reached a staggering ninety. And it looks like more challengers are still flocking in from all directions..."

"..."

Xiao Keke passionately narrated for the livestream.

Meanwhile, the ninety-plus challengers weren’t just standing around. Upholding the fine tradition of challengers, they started cursing him out right away, skipping all pleasantries.

"Gao Neng, you piece of trash, get out here!"

"Get the hell out here!"

"We’re here to challenge you! If you’ve got any guts, don’t be a coward and hide in your shell! See if I don’t smash your head in!"

"A mere Tier Four like you thinks you deserve to be in the top 300 of the Dragon List? Get out here and accept our challenges!"

"..."

All sorts of curses filled the air at the entrance of the Eastern Capital Military Academy.

Gui Zian and the other teachers stood at the gate, trying to maintain order with speechless expressions. This scene was far more outrageous than the group that had challenged Lin Ying two days ago.

Over ninety challengers.

’How long is this going to take?’

"Feng Qingqing, where’s Gao Neng? Is he still sleeping in his dorm?" Gui Zian asked, his face cold.

"He should be awake, right? Fang Tangtang said she was going to get him. I think he should be out soon." Feng Qingqing was also at a loss for words. The entrance was completely jam-packed.

"Mm," Gui Zian grunted, not asking any more questions.

Someone in the top 300 of the Dragon List would definitely be challenged.

But there was no official rule stating that you had to accept every challenge. If someone really wanted to just hide, the challengers couldn’t do anything about it.

Of course, that rarely happened.

The reason... was pride!

Anyone ranked in the top 300 of the Dragon List had some dignity to consider. They couldn’t just let people block their gate and curse them to their face without showing up to fight.

Time passed quickly.

The challengers started cursing at 8:00 AM and continued until 9:00 AM, but Gao Neng still hadn’t appeared.

They didn’t give up.

They kept cursing!

Then, they cursed for another hour.

「Time: 10:00 AM sharp.」

Two hours had passed, and Gao Neng still hadn’t shown his face.

Meanwhile, the number of challengers at the gate of the Eastern Capital Military Academy had continued to grow, reaching a new record of 120. The number of reporters had also increased by a quarter.

The various media outlets combined now numbered over a thousand.

"The gates of the Eastern Capital Military Academy have been blocked by over a hundred challengers for two hours, but the newly ranked number 300 on the Dragon List, Gao Neng, has yet to appear! This is your reporter, Li Xiaona, reporting live from the scene!"

"..."

The reporters were all incredibly dedicated.

Not a single one left. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The challengers were equally resolute; not one of them had walked away.

’This kid Gao Neng really knows how to play the game!’ Gui Zian was finally starting to lose it. He’d been standing at the gate for over two hours, and Gao Neng still hadn’t made an appearance.

You can be shameless.

But the Eastern Capital Military Academy’s reputation couldn’t take this hit!

These guys had cursed out the Eastern Capital Military Academy tens of thousands of times...

And they showed no signs of leaving.

Gui Zian felt it was necessary to go find out what the hell Gao Neng was up to.

Just as he turned to enter the academy, a series of shouts came from not far away. Then, he saw a young man and a young woman slowly walking through the crowd.

’The guy finally came out.’

The challengers’ eyes lit up, and their voices boomed once more.

"Gao Neng, I challenge you!"

"Gao Neng, you piece of trash!"

"You’re just a Tier Four Mid Stage piece of trash! What makes you think you can occupy the 300th spot on the Dragon List?"

The challengers continued to hurl insults.

But just then, Gao Neng changed direction, strolling over to a small pavilion just inside the academy gates. He then sat down with a leisurely expression and casually placed a pile of sunflower seeds and snacks on the stone table in front of him.

CRUNCH, CRUNCH. Gao Neng ate happily.

"..." The challengers were all stunned.

Then, they exploded with rage.

They started cursing their heads off again.

Meanwhile, the reporters were all snapping photos and recording video...

At that moment, a young girl appeared before all the reporters. Resting on her shoulder was a super-sized, Golden Scythe of Death.

"Hello everyone, I’m Fang Tangtang, and I’m Gao Neng’s spokesperson!"

"Spokesperson?"

"What does that mean?!"

The challengers and reporters were all completely baffled.

"It means I get to decide all of Gao Neng’s actions from now on. For example, whose challenge he accepts, and... who gets to have exclusive on-site reporting rights!" Fang Tangtang declared, tilting her head up with a proud look.

"Whose challenge he accepts?"

"Exclusive reporting rights?"

The challengers seemed to understand.

But the reporters were still a bit confused.

"Alright, let’s get straight to the rules. Gao Neng can’t possibly accept challenges from everyone here in a single day. I’m sure everyone agrees on that, right?" Fang Tangtang didn’t bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"..." The challengers fell silent. This was indeed a problem, as there were simply too many people who wanted to challenge Gao Neng.

Over a hundred.

There was no way to fight them all.

Even if he fought from morning till night, he probably couldn’t finish.

Besides, that was impossible.

"So, we need a selection process," Fang Tangtang continued.

"How are you going to choose?"

"Yeah, you can’t possibly expect the hundred-plus of us to fight an elimination round first, can you?"

"Wouldn’t that give Gao Neng a huge advantage? We’re not stupid!"

The challengers were all elites. Their IQs weren’t so low that they’d be stupid enough to have a massive brawl at the gate just so the last one standing could challenge Gao Neng.

"Don’t misunderstand. The rules for the challenge are very simple, just like with our Eastern Capital Military Academy’s combat rankings. To challenge Gao Neng, you just need to show a little sincerity. To put it simply... the highest bidder wins!" Fang Tangtang said with a light smile.

"The highest bidder wins? Are we setting up a wager?"

"That’s right, we’re setting up a wager. Whoever places the highest bet gets priority to challenge Gao Neng. For today, there are a total of... two slots!" Fang Tangtang announced loudly.

"Two?!" The challengers were all shocked.

"That’s right. One for the morning session and one for the afternoon. You can start bidding now."

"Wait, I have a question. Setting a wager is fine, but what if Gao Neng loses? What happens to the bet then?" one of the challengers asked.

"Naturally, he’ll pay up. If the challenger wins, a bet of one hundred million will be matched with a payout of one hundred million! If you lose, then I’m very sorry... Any other questions?"

"..." The challengers were silent.

Finally, most of the hundred-plus people nodded.

If you lose, your money is gone. If you win, not only do you get into the top 300 of the Dragon List, but you also make money.

It was actually very fair!

"Okay, we agree! I bid... two hundred thousand!"

"Two hundred fifty thousand!"

"Hold on, do you think you’re buying groceries? The starting bid is five million Alliance Coins! And each raise must be no less than one million!" Fang Tangtang interrupted with a disdainful look as she heard their bids.

"Five million?!" The group of challengers was shocked again.

"If you don’t have the money, then get lost!" Fang Tangtang said bluntly.

"..."

"Five million it is! I’m willing to pay! If I win, I get on the Dragon List. If I lose, it’s a fair loss!" a Fatty stepped forward, his face full of smug satisfaction.

"Six million!"

"Seven million!"

"..."

"I bid ten million!" Finally, the price settled at ten million, won by the Fatty who had first stepped forward. No one else tried to outbid him.

Watching from the side, Gui Zian was completely exasperated.

’These two really know how to play the game!’

’Openly using the Dragon List to gamble for Alliance Coins?!’

’And, if I’m not mistaken...’

Gui Zian was almost certain that this Fatty was no match for Gao Neng. So, Gao Neng was just going to smoothly earn ten million Alliance Coins just like that?

’Son of a... damn it all!’

’Ten million... was it really that easy to make money?’

Just as he was thinking this, Gui Zian heard Fang Tangtang speak again.

"Alright, the challenger slot has been decided! It goes to this Fatty. Next, we’ll start the bidding for the exclusive on-site media reporting rights!"

"..." Gui Zian.

’What exclusive reporting rights?!’

Fang Tangtang quickly explained. She would select three media outlets from all those present to follow them onto the training grounds of the Eastern Capital Military Academy and broadcast live.

These three outlets would be: one for online livestreaming, one for print newspapers, and one for television...

And again, the highest bidders would win.

As soon as this explanation was given...

...the reporters on the scene went crazy.

"This is robbery!"

"This is straight-up daylight robbery!"

"This is too crooked! Every media outlet here has the right to report! What you’re doing is... unethical!"

The reporters protested collectively.

But Fang Tangtang had clearly planned for this.

As the granddaughter of the Celestial King Group’s chairman, how could she not be familiar with television reporters? So, with a simple glance from her, a TV reporter immediately stepped forward.

"I think exclusive reporting rights are acceptable! We at Eastern District TV Station are willing to bid eight million for today’s exclusive rights!"

"Eight million for one day?!" The other reporters were stunned.

Eight million wasn’t a huge amount.

But for just one day, it was no small sum.

"Is there anyone with a higher bid than Eastern District TV Station?" Fang Tangtang shouted at the top of her lungs.

"..." The reporters all fell silent.

"Alright, the exclusive television reporting rights are sold to Eastern District TV Station! One day, eight million!" Fang Tangtang shot a look at the reporter from Eastern District TV Station.

The reporter from Eastern District TV Station immediately cheered with joy.

"This is great! With one day of exclusive rights, our station’s ratings will go through the roof! Eight million is a total bargain..." After shouting this, the Eastern District TV Station reporter jubilantly pushed through the crowd and entered the Eastern Capital Military Academy with a few camera operators.

"..." Gui Zian.

’They made another eight million?!’

’And this time, it’s pure, risk-free profit?’

’Money these days...’

’Is it really this easy to make?!’

As he was thinking, Fang Tangtang’s voice rang out again.

"Alright, we will now begin the bidding for the exclusive reporting rights for newspaper media and the exclusive video rights for online media! Feel free to bid enthusiastically!"

"..." Gui Zian.