For Li Boyang, if he could get his hands on the Four-star Enhancement Card that Zhang Yi held, he could upgrade his own Four-star Divine Domain Card to Five-Stars. Then, using the Five-Star "Bloodline Evolution Pool" on his Green-skinned Lizardman Clan would surely awaken the trace of Dragon Blood within them, allowing them to evolve into Dragon-blooded Lizardmen!
Once awakened, the Dragon-blooded Lizardmen would absolutely help him make a name for himself in next month's assessment, placing him at the top and getting him into an advanced class! If he missed this chance, there wouldn't be another. His family didn't have many top-tier resources to give him. Getting another Four-star Divine Domain Card was already pushing their limits. Even his grandfather only had a few Five-star Divine Domain Cards.
But what can I do to get that Four-star Enhancement Card from Zhang Yi?
Just as Li Boyang's mind was racing, Hong Tianyi, who had placed second in the placement test, waited until the homeroom teacher had distributed the rewards and left the classroom. Then he blocked Zhang Yi, who was about to leave, and said, "I really want that Four-star Enhancement Card you have! Give me the card you got as a reward. Tell me what kind of Divine Domain Card you want, and I can get you a Five-star Divine Domain Card for it!"
The other students in the class had been getting ready to leave after the teacher finished handing out the rewards, but now, seeing this scene unfold—the drama of the class's number two confronting the class's number one—they immediately stopped in their tracks, deciding to stick around and watch the show. When they heard the terms of Hong Tianyi's proposed exchange, they were stunned.
"I've heard rumors that Hong Tianyi's family has a True God in their background, and not just an ordinary one either."
"Looks like it might be true!" some students in the class whispered to each other.
"Yeah, yeah!"
"You know, a Five-star Divine Domain Card usually sells for tens of millions of Faith Value. The amount of Divinity you could exchange that for is enough to cultivate a High Transformationed Demigod!"
"For Hong Tianyi to be able to make such an offer, his family's elders must really dote on him!"
Zhang Yi looked at Hong Tianyi blocking his path. He hadn't expected this. Hong Tianyi was usually a loner in class, always by himself. For him to actually stop him and speak to him today was completely out of character. However, after hearing what Hong Tianyi had to say, Zhang Yi didn't bother with pleasantries.
"Sorry, but I plan on using this Four-star Enhancement Card myself. No need for you to trouble yourself."
With that, Zhang Yi prepared to leave the classroom with Sima Yuan.
Hong Tianyi didn't try to stop him further. He simply stood by a desk and continued speaking to the departing Zhang Yi, "As long as you're willing to trade, my offer stands until the assessment at the end of next month. No matter what kind of Five-star Divine Domain Card you want, as long as it's a common one on the market, I can get it for you!"
Zhang Yi didn't have any particularly good or bad feelings about Hong Tianyi's actions. The guy just wanted to trade for his card, that's all. And the price he offered wasn't a lowball. On the contrary, it was very reasonable. In fact, some might even say that to use a Four-star Enhancement Card, you first need a suitable Four-star Divine Domain Card. If you don't have one, trading a Four-star Enhancement Card for a common Five-star Divine Domain Card is a deal many would gladly take. So, based on this point alone—a fair trade—Zhang Yi had no ill will toward Hong Tianyi. Besides, Hong Tianyi wasn't trying to take it by force; his actions were open and straightforward. So Zhang Yi didn't pay it much mind.
Just as Zhang Yi and Sima Yuan reached the classroom door, another voice came from behind them.
"Wait, Zhang Yi! I challenge you to a divine battle!"
Hearing this demand, the students inside the classroom erupted in another chorus of gasps! One wave hadn't even subsided before another rose!
For Zhang Yi, all he wanted to do today was leave the classroom.
Why is that so difficult?
Zhang Yi turned around and saw it was Li Boyang from their class who had challenged him to a divine battle. Before Zhang Yi could speak, Sima Yuan, standing beside him, spoke up first, "Li Boyang, are you annoying or what?! Talking trash about people behind their backs is one thing, but what kind of trouble are you trying to stir up today?!"
"I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to Zhang Yi!" Li Boyang ignored Sima Yuan, his eyes fixed intently on Zhang Yi. "Zhang Yi, did you hear what I said?"
Zhang Yi turned and said to Li Boyang with a strange expression, "If I have to fight a divine battle just because you say so, wouldn't I lose face?"
"Then what do you propose?"
Zhang Yi himself hadn't expected that a single Four-star Enhancement Card could cause him so much trouble. He had thought he had completely integrated into this world, but Li Boyang's words instantly reminded him of the Divine Being-type novels he had read in his past life. The dueling-for-stakes segment was a classic trope in those Divine Being stories. It appeared in basically every novel—an essential part of the experience, you could say!
Zhang Yi had originally thought that his classmates, whom he'd known for several years, were all normal people. He figured he wouldn't run into a dueling-for-stakes situation until he got to university, at the earliest. But to his surprise, a classic novel villain had popped up right here in his classroom today. And the person standing opposite the villain... wasn't that the protagonist?
Am I the protagonist?!
But then Zhang Yi had another thought. Both his parents were alive and well, and so were his grandparents on both sides. He didn't have the "orphanage start," so he definitely couldn't be the protagonist.
Yep, definitely not me.
Zhang Yi found the thought amusing and shook his head slightly. Then, seeing the hostile glare Li Boyang was giving him, his eyes lit up as if he'd thought of something. He said, "If that's the case, then you'd better put up a stake to match! As long as I'm satisfied with the stake, I'll accept your challenge!"
"Fine! What stake do you want?" At this point, with blood rushing to his head, the hot-headed Li Boyang agreed to Zhang Yi's demand without hesitation.
"The effect of this Four-star Enhancement Card is to upgrade a Four-star Divine Domain Card into a Five-star Divine Domain Card. In other words, its value is equivalent to a Five-star Divine Domain Card! So, all you need to do is put up a Five-star Divine Domain Card as the stake!"
Hearing Zhang Yi's demand, Li Boyang's face instantly turned beet red. He opened his mouth several times but couldn't get a word out.
Seeing Li Boyang's strange reaction, Zhang Yi couldn't help but say, "Don't tell me you don't even have a single Five-star Divine Domain Card?"
Zhang Yi's genuine question was, for Li Boyang, a critical hit straight to the soul! He was the one who had challenged Zhang Yi to a divine battle. But now, he couldn't even produce the spoils for that battle. Didn't that make him a complete clown?