Many people followed the voice and saw a plump elder dressed in the robes of a Bright Moon Sword Sect elder. A servant beside him was doing the hawking.
Someone couldn’t help but ask, “May I ask, Elder, are we betting on the result of this first bout, or the final outcome?”
The plump elder narrowed his eyes, a shrewd glint flashing within them as he stroked his goatee. “Naturally, the result of the first bout.”
“What are the odds?”
“Except for Tang Feng, all five remaining are ten to one.”
“And Tang Feng?”
The plump elder shook his head. “You can’t bet on him.”
“This…” All the surrounding cultivators looked stunned.
Any clear-eyed person knew that Tang Feng, who belonged to the Bright Moon Sword Sect, had the highest chance of winning.
But now they couldn’t bet on him.
It was obvious this plump elder believed Tang Feng was guaranteed to win.
“Forget it, I’m not betting!”
“I’m out too. I heard earlier that Tang Feng is already at Divine Ability Stage Perfection and has grasped Sword Intent. This first bout is practically a sure win for him.”
“Not necessarily. Lei Xuan is also at Divine Ability Stage Perfection. He and Tang Feng clashed once in a Secret Realm, and they were quite evenly matched back then.”
“Of course, we can’t rule out that Tang Feng has hidden strength. Even so, it proves Lei Xuan has a chance to win.”
“Then I’ll bet 1,000 Spirit Stones on Lei Xuan.”
“I’ll bet 500 Spirit Stones on Lei Xuan too.”
“Betting on Lei Xuan…”
After debating for a while, some finally started placing bets after hesitating for a long time.
Of course, they all had a gambling mentality.
At ten-to-one odds, who could say a miracle might not happen?
Seeing this, the plump elder grinned broadly and had his servant carefully collect all the wagered Spirit Stones, giving them the corresponding receipts.
Just then, a tall, graceful, aloof fairy in a light yellow long dress arrived. She tossed out a Cosmos Bag. “I’m betting on the Purple Cloud Sect’s Deng Tianyu. 100,000 Spirit Stones!”
The plump elder asked, “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes!” Li Shishi nodded.
After the servant verified the amount of Spirit Stones in the Cosmos Bag, the plump elder beamed. “Keep this safe. Here’s your receipt!”
Li Shishi took it and turned to leave, a captivating curve forming on her lips.
She knew her senior brother’s strength inside out. How could he possibly lose?
And as for these 100,000 Spirit Stones, naturally they weren’t just hers. Shishu Xu and several elders and junior sisters had also chipped in.
Li Shishi had just left when another woman wearing a veil arrived. Her crimson lips parted gently as she said, “Betting on the Purple Cloud Sect’s Deng Tianyu. 300,000 Spirit Stones!”
Hearing the amount of this wager, quite a few surrounding cultivators were dumbstruck.
Playing so big—wasn’t this just giving Spirit Stones to the Bright Moon Sword Sect?
They could understand the previous person who bet 100,000 Spirit Stones; she was a Purple Cloud Sect disciple, after all.
But who was this veiled woman?
Why was she so convinced that the Purple Cloud Sect disciple would win?
After the servant verified the number of Spirit Stones in the Cosmos Bag and confirmed there was no issue, the plump elder’s plump face broke into an even wider grin. “The amount is correct. Here’s the receipt.”
He hadn’t expected a second fat sheep to come along, and one who wagered 300,000 Spirit Stones all at once.
Qing’er took the receipt and didn’t linger, turning to leave.
At the same time, on the Yang Fire Battle Platform.
A ferocious wisp of Sword Intent shot forth.
Hua Nongying, the Young Sect Leader of the Flower Bloom Sect, barely dodged it but still coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed to his knees on the ground.
He forced himself to stand, clasping his fists in salute. “Thank you, Brother Deng, for showing mercy.”
Then he immediately left the battle platform.
Deng Tianyu smiled and said nothing more.
He wasn’t some bloodthirsty killer. He naturally wouldn’t take someone’s life without reason.
Besides, the relationship between the Flower Bloom Sect and the Purple Cloud Sect was fairly good.
“Yang Fire Battle Platform—Deng Tianyu of the Purple Cloud Sect wins!”
Just then, the Cosmos Sect elder in mid-air announced the result.
“Yang Wood Battle Platform—Lei Xuan of the Cosmos Sect wins!”
“Yin Wood Battle Platform—Tang Feng of the Snow Garment Sect wins!”
Almost simultaneously, results came from the other two battle platforms.
Deng Tianyu looked toward the Yang Wood Battle Platform. Lei Xuan stood as straight as a spear shaft, a black heavy spear slanted across his back, exuding an aura of thick, solid pressure.
“A Divine Ability Stage Perfection Body Cultivator.”
Deng Tianyu withdrew his gaze and murmured to himself.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, he looked toward the Yin Wood Battle Platform.
There stood Tang Feng, his blue robes billowing, a flash of mockery flickering through his eyes.
The Cosmos Sect elder tossed out three beads shimmering with light and declared, “Three of you, continue to draw lots!”
Deng Tianyu used his True Essence to pull one over.
Lei Xuan and Tang Feng did the same.
After the light dissipated, the Cosmos Sect elder saw that only Deng Tianyu’s bead had no engraved points. He announced, “Deng Tianyu of the Purple Cloud Sect gets a bye! Lei Xuan of the Cosmos Sect versus Tang Feng of the Snow Garment Sect!”
“His luck is just off the charts!”
“I know, right? I thought the final showdown would be Lei Xuan versus Tang Feng.”
“I didn’t expect them to meet so soon.”
The spectators on the viewing platforms couldn’t help but chatter.
Deng Tianyu didn’t care. He returned directly to the viewing platform where the Purple Cloud Sect was stationed.
Xu Qing smiled slightly and said, “Martial Nephew Deng, you can rest for a while. Watch these two fight and see if you can spot any weaknesses.”
“Mm.” Deng Tianyu nodded. He was still somewhat curious about Body Cultivators.
Li Shishi leaned closer and whispered, “Senior Brother, Shishu, me, and the other junior sisters all bet on you to win.”
Deng Tianyu was taken aback. He asked reflexively, “How much did you bet?”
Li Shishi thought for a moment, then answered, “Shishu bet 50,000 Spirit Stones, I bet 20,000, and the other junior sisters pooled together 30,000.”
“The odds are 10 to 1, really high!” Hearing this, Deng Tianyu said with a regretful face, “How come no one bet for me when there’s such a good deal?”
Although his coffers were quite full right now, who would ever complain about having too many Spirit Stones?
“Senior Brother, weren’t you up on the battle platform just now?” A sly glint flashed in Li Shishi’s beautiful eyes. “And there’s still my match later. Senior Brother can go bet on me to win then. Remember to bet it all.”
Xu Qing put on the air of a Shishu and glanced at Li Shishi, lecturing, “Small bets for fun, big bets ruin families!”
Li Shishi countered, “Then, Shishu Xu, are you going to bet on me to win later?”
Xu Qing nodded. “I will.”
“How much?”
“The same as you. All in!”
Deng Tianyu’s expression turned strange. He didn’t know what to say.
What happened to “small bets for fun, big bets ruin families”?
As the three chatted idly, the battle between Lei Xuan and Tang Feng on the platform had already begun.
A muffled boom echoed as Lei Xuan, shrouded in an aura of violent energy, threw a punch. It missed, sending ripples of True Essence outward in rings.
Tang Feng, having dodged by turning into an afterimage, drew his sword and slashed.
Lei Xuan neither dodged nor blocked. His entire body’s momentum was as heavy as a mountain. The black heavy spear appeared in his hand, the spear thrusting out like a dragon!
Clang!
Sword tip met spear tip. In that instant, True Essence raged like a storm, sweeping wildly. The battle platform shuddered violently. The pitch-black floorboards, forged from special materials, split open with cracks.
