Chapter Fifty: Ninety-Nine Point Nine Nine Percent

Jiangnan Pavilion, three people sat together.

“Qin Ming, at first you were hesitant, anxious, even afraid, and you pretended to be arrogant and boastful. But once the wager was set, you acted as if it was nothing!” Zhao Ruo was baffled. “What exactly are you thinking? That’s fifty billion—fifty billion, Junior Brother Qin!”

“A wager of fifty billion?” Shi Jiang grinned, “Junior Brother Qin, your courage is truly extraordinary! I know William—among all the trainees, he’s considered upper-middle-tier, not someone to be underestimated!”

“Not to be underestimated? His combat amplitude has already reached the intermediate level!” Zhao Ruo was frantic. “I’m sure William has already submitted the application and spread the word. If you don’t accept the challenge, your reputation will be ruined. If you do, but… but what chance do you have of winning?”

Combat amplitude refers to force level multiplied by trial tower level.

Most trainees just entering the training camp have a combat amplitude between one and two—this is elementary. An amplitude between two and four is intermediate; generally, it takes at least half a year of training to reach this level. An amplitude between four and eight is advanced—this is the standard for elite training camp members.

Eight to sixteen is considered excellent—even among those about to graduate, few reach this level.

Anything above sixteen is top-tier—exceptionally rare, the pride of the camp.

Qin Ming had already reached 12.25. He wasn’t afraid, but he didn’t care to explain either. He only smiled and said, “Don’t worry. Since I’ve agreed, I’m not afraid of him!”

“Are you confident?” Shi Jiang saw through a bit of his facade.

“I’m just short on pocket money!” Qin Ming laughed.

“Incredible!” Shi Jiang was astonished. “I’ll be watching. If you win, you’ll become famous worldwide!”

“Impossible, isn’t it?” Zhao Ruo looked Qin Ming up and down, filled with disbelief.

At that moment, Shi Jiang and Zhao Ruo’s smartwatches both chimed. After checking the message, they were both at a loss for words.

“William has already submitted the application, and the news is spreading everywhere—a fifty-billion wager among newcomers has drawn everyone’s attention!” Shi Jiang said. “William must’ve leaked the news himself, afraid you’d back out!”

“Then I’ll go accept it!” Qin Ming stood up and walked toward his lodge.

Before he even reached his room, Liu He called. Upon answering, a voice came through: “You really know how to stir things up!”

“Teacher, I didn’t mean to. The other party insisted on a wager, so I figured, why not make it big and scare him off? Who knew William would think I was new and agree without hesitation!” Qin Ming explained. “Teacher, you’re not mad at me, are you?”

“Why would I be mad? This is a wager you can’t lose!” Liu He chuckled. “But this is a one-time thing. By the way, you don’t have that much money, do you?”

“Teacher, maybe you could lend me some? Lend me fifty billion, I’ll pay you back sixty!”

“Fifty billion is pocket change to me, but I can’t lend it to you. I’m an inspector—if this got out, it wouldn’t look good! Don’t worry, though. Yang Hui should have enough. With your potential and my name, if you just ask, he’ll lend it to you without question!”

“Thank you, Teacher!”

“Just don’t trip up in the gutter!”

“Rest assured!” Qin Ming ended the call with a smile, but couldn’t help shaking his head. Now that was a real tycoon—fifty billion, pocket change?

Only someone beyond the level of a War God could have such confidence.

He quickly called Yang Hui.

“I was just about to call you!” Yang Hui spoke first. “It’s only your first day, and you’ve already made such a splash. Do you really have confidence?”

“Did you forget whose disciple I am?”

“That’s true. Without a terrifying combat amplitude, how could you have attracted the Inspector’s attention?” Yang Hui realized. “You’re calling me now because you’re short on money, right? I bet your teacher refused, didn’t he?”

“Your wisdom is unmatched!”

“He’s an inspector—his position is sensitive. He can’t possibly lend you money for a wager. Isn’t that obvious?” Yang Hui laughed. “You must be anxious!”

“Isn’t that why I’m coming to you? Lend me fifty, I’ll pay you back sixty. How about it?”

“Call me Uncle and I couldn’t let you pay extra! Send me your account number!”

“Will do!”

Qin Ming sent the account details and finally relaxed.

Back in his room, he opened the intranet—an email popped up. It was the challenge application. After agreeing, he had to transfer the money to a public account for the challenge to be officially established.

“I accept!” Qin Ming clicked confirm without hesitation.

On the other side—

“He agreed—he actually agreed?” William, who had been glued to his computer, exhaled in relief but grew tense again.

“That kid isn’t stupid. Why would he agree so easily?” Candice looked hesitant.

“If you’re not joining, at least lend me the money!” William gritted his teeth.

At this point, the arrow was already nocked and had to be released.

Besides, even though he felt uneasy, he was sure their victory was ninety-nine percent assured.

“Did you really investigate thoroughly?” Candice pressed again.

“In two months, he went from quasi-warrior to high-level warlord in terms of physical strength. Candice, tell me—when did he have time to study secret techniques?” William said. “In the challenge space, our physical stats are equal. It’s all about combat amplitude and secret techniques. Tell me, does he have any chance against me?”

“That’s true!” Candice nodded. “But this is my treasured savings—it’s also my advance for several years!”

“Your family is the richest in Europe. You’re the primary heir of the Polainas family. Why care about this money?”

“I’m only the heir. There are still a few others eyeing the position!”

“After this victory, your status will be even more secure!”

“I hope so!”

The two transferred their money to the account.

But then, they both froze.

Beep…!

An email popped up—application approved, both wagers received, the match scheduled for 10:30 tomorrow morning!

“This…” The two exchanged glances, a sense of foreboding growing.

They’d thought Qin Ming would need days to gather the money, but how long had it been since he applied? They’d only just sent their funds!

“Could we have been tricked by that kid?”

“Our intel can’t be wrong!”

“Then how did he get the money so quickly?”

“People from Huaxia care a lot about face—it must be borrowed from someone. Chu Qiang seems friendly with him; maybe he lent it?”

“You think Chu Qiang is an idiot?”

They both fell silent.

William had always liked challenging newcomers and making a quick profit. When he heard about the specially recruited Qin Ming, he’d been investigating, looking for a chance, and used his silver tongue to persuade him.

It had worked perfectly.

Now, though, he was uneasy.

“No matter what, our chance of winning is still ninety-nine point nine-nine percent!”

They stopped worrying.

Back at Jiangnan Pavilion—

After Qin Ming accepted the challenge and transferred Yang Hui’s funds to the public account, he checked the challenge time and ignored the matter.

He went to the basement to continue his training.

The night passed.

He finished the thirty-fourth diagram of the Xuan Dao Chart.

Two more to perfection—he was close to the peak of warlord level.

The next day, just before 10:30, Qin Ming arrived outside the challenge room. A large crowd had already gathered—even Chu Qiang was present.

He simply nodded.

At this point, persuasion was futile.

Qin Ming ignored the murmurs around him and walked straight in. Inside, William was already waiting.

“I didn’t expect you’d really accept,” William said. “I’ve investigated everything about you—your physical abilities are extraordinary, you’re a rare genius. But challenges are about combat amplitude and secret techniques. You haven’t had time to train—where does your confidence come from?”

“Try me and find out,” Qin Ming replied, putting on the sensory helmet.

William gritted his teeth and did the same.

They entered the challenge space at the same time—a vast expanse, silver alloy ground beneath their feet, and a single arena.

The arena was huge, enough for any technique.

On either side stood two pillars.

Lights flashed, and the two appeared—Qin Ming and William.

“Same body, same strength. Qin Ming, how can you possibly beat me? Today, I’ll show you that this is the elite training camp, not your little Yangzhou City. Maybe you’re a king there, but here, you’re nothing but bronze!” William’s tone was lofty, fighting spirit ablaze. But then, a glance at the pillar beside him made his throat constrict, his body tremble, and he stammered, “How—how is this possible? Your—your combat amplitude is… excellent?”

Each pillar displayed information for one contestant.

Name: Qin Ming.
Gender: Male.
Status: Official trainee at the elite training camp.
Combat amplitude: Excellent!

Excellent—above eight!

While William’s was only intermediate, at most four!

“I thought you already knew,” Qin Ming smiled.

“You set me up!” William finally realized, face flushing red with rage, as if he could devour Qin Ming whole.

“You approached me first, didn’t you?”

“Me—I approached you first?”

“What do you think? When you take others for fools, you’re the real fool. Fifty billion—who would risk that without confidence? The lure blinded your reason, you big idiot!”

At that moment, an electronic voice sounded: “Please select your weapons and combat suit.”

William fell silent and began to choose.

Once selections were made, it was time to choose the battlefield. This time, William actively chose a mountain forest, dense with trees and rocky ravines.

The world shifted in an instant.

“Trying to leverage the environment?” Qin Ming grinned, showing his teeth.

William shivered.

“Battle, begin!” The electronic voice rang out again.

Swish—

William instantly retreated, attempting to hide, but realized that Qin Ming had vanished without a trace.

“Not good!”

Sensing movement behind him, William’s face changed dramatically.

Thud—

A head rolled to the ground.

“What a pity, the system revealed my combat amplitude—otherwise, I could have fleeced you for more! William, you didn’t need to die so quickly. Ah, such is life, full of helplessness.”

Qin Ming murmured softly.