Qin Siyang had always been good at reading people's expressions.
Especially when he had accidentally revealed that he knew information about god-hunting tools that others did not, he became even more cautious.
He noticed that Rong Xin's expression was no longer as calm as when they first met.
Not only was his confidence gone, there was even a hint of fear.
Qin Siyang had just casually made up a lie. To him, it was like letting out a fart, something he would never put any thought into.
Of course, he never expected that the flashlight tool he made up out of thin air would directly make Rong Xin feel the breath of death.
In Qin Siyang's mind, although the students of South Glory University were young, none of them were fools.
Faced with an opponent like himself, whose experience and strength were on a completely different level, plus the domineering aura he carried, the moment they locked eyes on the battle arena, Rong Xin should already have realized that he was going to lose.
So Qin Siyang thought Rong Xin was afraid of losing.
Thus he said to Rong Xin, "Senior Rong, you haven't even stepped into the battle arena yet and you're already three parts scared. How are you supposed to fight me like that?"
"We're just sparring. If you're planning to go all out and kill, then I won't enter the battle arena with you."
Qin Siyang let out a scoff, "Senior Rong, what you just said really makes no sense to me. You went to all this trouble to bring me here to compete, just to play some stop-at-the-point kiddie game?"
"Anyway, there can't be a life-and-death fight! If you're going to fight with your life on the line, then I won't fight!"
"What Senior Rong means is, if I say I'll fight with full strength, you'll directly withdraw and admit defeat?"
Rong Xin's Adam's apple bobbed a few times. In the end, he still decided to put down his pride. Staying alive was more important.
"Yes, I'll withdraw."
He knew that Qin Siyang could sit and talk philosophy with Zhao Longfei and joke and laugh with Li Tianming, but deep down he believed they were only superficial friends with Qin Siyang.
After all, how could an eighteen-year-old boy, a poor orphan who hadn't seen much of the world, really chat on the same level as forty-something old veterans?
That was, until Qin Siyang casually mentioned the "flashlight."
He had also heard rumors before that Qin Siyang had once nearly died inside the safe zone.
Everyone knew that Qin Siyang always wore high-tier armor when going outside the safe zone to hunt gods.
Rong Xin had wondered back then what kind of sequence skill could bypass Tier 4 armor and take Qin Siyang's life.
Today, Qin Siyang gave him the answer.
A Tier 4 flashlight.
In a life-and-death battle, since Qin Siyang had survived, then the enemy who used the flashlight was, in all likelihood, killed by Qin Siyang.
That strange Tier 4 tool had probably fallen into Qin Siyang's hands as well.
Rong Xin knew that as long as Qin Siyang revealed that tool on the battle arena, he would die on the spot.
Nothing was more important than staying alive.
Rong Xin admitted it outright, without any cover-ups, and did not say any slippery nonsense like "I'm withdrawing, but that doesn't mean I admit defeat."
The surrounding students all showed looks of disdain at Rong Xin's behavior of admitting his own cowardice.
"If you didn't dare to compete, why did you come looking for Qin Siyang in the first place?"
"Rong Xin, you're at least top fifty in our grade. Don't you have any backbone at all?"
"You were the first to step forward. I thought you were some kind of hero, and now you're backing out at the last moment?"
After hearing this, Qin Siyang instead smiled and gave Rong Xin a thumbs-up, "I thought Senior Rong would say some insincere words to cover things up. I didn't expect you to be so straightforward."
"Greedy for life and afraid of death, that's just human nature. But regardless of success or failure, daring to take responsibility for your actions, Senior Rong is an open and upright person."
"Don't worry. Before I came, more than one person already told me not to engage in life-and-death combat. We'll just spar and compete on points."
Hearing Qin Siyang openly praise Rong Xin's behavior, the surrounding students were all stunned for a moment.
But after a short while, they completely understood Qin Siyang's words.
Daring to face one's own cowardice, although lacking in bravery, was still true to one's heart.
The mocking voices aimed at Rong Xin thus disappeared.
Even Rong Xin couldn't help but look at Qin Siyang with gratitude in his eyes.
Among the crowd, Shi Tao muttered, "Praising Rong Xin for being open and upright? Qin Siyang is kind of interesting."
The staff member took out two sets of armor from behind and said, "South Glory University's battle arena has excellent protection. You don't need to worry about damaging the arena while fighting inside. Since both of you plan to wear armor and compete by points, put them on first."
Qin Siyang took the armor and found that it was actually quite soft, which felt somewhat novel.
While Qin Siyang and Rong Xin were putting on the armor, the staff member tapped a few times on a tablet, "There are two ways to compete by points. One is whoever reaches the set number of points first wins. The other is whoever has the higher score within a set time wins. Which one do you choose?"
After putting on the armor, Qin Siyang moved around to get used to it and asked, "How are points calculated?"
"The armor is covered with force sensors. Scores are calculated as if there were no armor. Delivering a fatal strike gives 10 points, seriously injuring the opponent gives 7 points, disabling the opponent gives 3 points, and a light injury gives 1 point."
"Thanks for the explanation," Qin Siyang nodded and looked at Rong Xin, "Then how about whoever gets 30 points first wins? Treat 10 points as one life. It's basically best of five, which is fairly safe."
Rong Xin agreed, "Alright."
The staff member continued, "Before entering the battle arena, you must sign a confidentiality agreement. What happens on the battle arena cannot be told to any third party. You must keep each other's information confidential, otherwise there will be severe punishment according to school rules."
Qin Siyang asked, "There are no cameras in the battle arena?"
"Of course not. Every student's sequence skills are their greatest secrets. Principal Zhao does not allow important student information to be leaked in any form."
Qin Siyang smacked his tongue, "Zhao Longfei really is reliable when he does things."
However, no one responded to Qin Siyang's remark. Even the staff member lowered his head and looked at his toes, pretending not to have heard anything.
After all, no one dared to call the principal by his full name in public.
Instead, quite a few people whispered among themselves.
"Qin Siyang is really bold. Isn't he afraid Principal Zhao will come after him?"
"Yeah, that's way too lawless."
Xie Hongbo, who was watching from the crowd, smiled slightly, "What do you know? Qin Siyang is someone who wears the same pants as Principal Zhao!"
"They wear the same pants? Then if Qin Siyang came out wearing pants today, Principal Zhao can only stay home naked, right?"
"How did you get into South Glory with that intelligence?"
"There isn't an intelligence test in the South Glory special recruitment exam."
The staff member said, "If you want to surrender, just lightly tap your wrist guard three times. If there are no other questions, the two of you may enter the battle arena now."
"Alright."
Qin Siyang and Rong Xin walked together into the pitch-black doors of the battle arena.
A few seconds later, the doors closed, the lights turned on, and shone down on the two people standing opposite each other.
"Qin Siyang, let's start."
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