txolops Chapter 35 The Bet! The Pure Maiden's Reincarnation Technique!
Chapter 35 The Bet! The Pure Maiden's Reincarnation Technique!
Chapter 35 The Bet! The Pure Maiden's Reincarnation Technique!
"If you, an old Taoist priest, can come here, why can't I?"
Li Huayuan slightly raised his eyelids, glanced at Fuyunzi, and snorted coldly, his tone anything but polite.
"Haha, Benefactor Li, you are mistaken!"
"You and I are the last two to advance to the Core Formation stage in our respective sects. If we don't do this kind of hard work leading the team and running errands, how can we expect those senior brothers and sisters to condescend to do it?" Fu Yunzi was not offended. Instead, he stroked his beard and laughed, looking relaxed.
After laughing, his eyes darted around slightly, a mischievous look appearing on his face. He took a half-step closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Benefactor Li, it's a rare encounter, how about we—"
"No gambling! I'm absolutely not gambling this time!"
Before Fuyunzi could finish speaking, Li Huayuan interrupted him decisively, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He shook his head vigorously, and there was even a trace of lingering fear on his face.
Clearly, his bet with Fuyunzi last time had cost him a considerable amount of money.
I still feel resentful about it.
"Alas, why must Benefactor Li be so resolute?"
Fu Yunzi shook his head, but his smile deepened as he slowly took out a jade box from his wide robe sleeves.
He carefully opened the box, and immediately, an aura carrying a faint, sweet and pungent smell, yet containing immense and pure demonic power, wafted out.
Inside the box was a velvet lining, and in the center lay a round ball, pure white as jade, its surface covered with countless blood-red threads that seemed to wriggle slowly like a living creature.
"The inner core of the Bloodline Dragon?"
Li Huayuan's pupils suddenly contracted, and for the first time, his usually calm face revealed an undisguised surprise and excitement.
The Bloodline Flood Dragon is a rare and exotic demonic beast that possesses a trace of true dragon bloodline. Its inner core is an unparalleled tonic for snake and python-type demonic beasts!
If the silver-armored horned python at our feet could consume it, it would not only be highly likely to break through its bottleneck and advance to a level four demon beast, but it might even be possible for it to reach level five (equivalent to the human Core Formation) in the future!
Having a level-five demonic beast as a spirit pet—that kind of strength and power is enough to greatly enhance his status among the Core Formation elders of Yellow Maple Valley!
Faced with such a huge temptation, Li Huayuan's previous vow of "absolutely not gambling" was instantly forgotten.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he forced himself to remain calm as he asked, "So, what do you want to bet on this time?"
Although his tone was still somewhat stiff, the resistance he had shown had completely vanished.
Fu Yunzi chuckled inwardly, but kept a straight face: "Let's stick to the old rules and bet on which sect's disciples will bring back more spiritual herbs during this trip to the Crimson Forbidden Land."
"As for the stakes—"
Fu Yunzi looked at Li Huayuan and said slowly, "If Benefactor Li loses, you will need to refine two pieces of 'Iron Essence' of the same size as last time within the next twenty years."
"Iron essence!"
Li Huayuan's eye twitched slightly.
This is the essence of five metals, which can only be obtained by Core Formation cultivators through repeated tempering and purification of massive amounts of refined iron using their own alchemical fire. It is an indispensable top-level auxiliary material for refining magical treasures.
It is extremely time-consuming and requires a lot of alchemical fire.
The piece he lost last time required him to spend several years in seclusion refining it. Two more pieces would require another twenty years of hard work—a considerable price to pay.
But looking at the Bloodline Dragon's inner core in Fuyunzi's hand, and then at the Silver-Armored Horned Python whose gaze seemed to be drawn to the inner core and had become somewhat restless—Li Huayuan steeled his heart.
"Alright! Let's make the bet!" He stretched out his palm, ready to shake hands with Fuyunzi as a pledge.
Fu Yunzi's smile widened, and he also extended his palm.
Just as the two palms were about to clap together, "Smack!"
A crisp clapping sound rang out.
however.
Fu Yunzi's smile froze instantly, turning into an expression even more unsightly than crying.
Because what he struck was not Li Huayuan's palm, but another palm that suddenly appeared out of nowhere between the two of them!
This hand was dirty and greasy, with black grime under its nails.
It hasn't been cleaned in who knows how many years.
The disciples from both sects, who had been watching the conversation between their respective masters, were stunned by this eerie and bizarre scene. Many of them even subconsciously took a half-step back.
Both Li Huayuan and Fuyunzi's faces turned ashen instantly, their eyes filled with horror and fear.
"Senior Qiong!" the two called out in unison, with a mixture of helplessness and respect.
"What senior? I dare not accept such a title! I am at the same Core Formation stage as you, only I reached it a few years earlier!" A lazy, slightly mocking voice rang out beside the dirty hand.
Then, the space blurred and swayed, and a strangely dressed figure, like a reflection in water, gradually solidified between the two.
The man appeared to be middle-aged, wearing a tattered blue shirt with several patches, and had very short hair, only about an inch long. He carried a faded blue cloth bag at his waist, its original color almost unrecognizable.
This outfit should have made him look clean and neat, but his face was covered with a thick layer of something that looked like mud or something else, making it dark, greasy, and difficult to discern his true appearance.
Only a pair of eyes were visible, seemingly cloudy but occasionally flashing with a sharp light.
"A few years? It should be hundreds of years!"
After seeing the newcomer's "appearance" clearly, Li Huayuan and Fuyunzi both felt a bitter smile and secretly cursed in their hearts.
Upon recognizing the person, the two men's initial displeasure at being disrupted vanished instantly, replaced by deep apprehension, and they dared not show the slightest disrespect on their faces.
This strange man's surname is Qiong, and he is known as "Old Monster Qiong".
Not only is he frighteningly old, but it is said that he has already stepped into the Nascent Soul stage. What is even more terrifying is that his unique "Invisible Escape Technique" is elusive and famous throughout the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom. He is rarely matched among cultivators of the same level and is an extremely difficult character to deal with.
"Old Monster Qiong—it seems the development from here on out will be exactly the same as the original story."
Standing in the line of disciples, Lin Chuan saw this scene and understood immediately, becoming secretly wary. This person was a true master of causing trouble.
Sure enough, Old Monster Qiong picked at his ear and said lazily, "You two set up a gambling den in this desolate wilderness without even inviting this old man. Do you look down on my Hidden Moon Sect?"
Li Huayuan and Fuyunzi quickly smiled apologetically, "Not at all, not at all, seniors are too kind."
"snort!"
Old Monster Qiong snorted, "Since I've stumbled upon this, I'll join the betting frenzy!"
Upon hearing this, both Li Huayuan and Fuyunzi looked rather bitter.
The Hidden Moon Sect is recognized as the strongest of the seven sects in the Yue Kingdom.
Each time the Crimson Forbidden Land sends out disciples, their overall cultivation level and equipment are often superior to those of the other six sects.
Are we going to gamble this with the Hidden Moon Sect?
The chances of winning are slim.
"Senior, this—"
Li Huayuan tried to politely decline.
"What? You look down on my old man's stake?" Old Monster Qiong glared, and although he didn't release any pressure, it made the two of them tense up.
He reached into the dirty blue cloth bag and rummaged around, pulling out three dark-colored, almost transparent sheets of cloth.
The thin talisman is almost imperceptible unless you look closely.
"These three are 'Invisible Needle Talismans' that I refined using my natal magic weapon, the Invisible Needle! Are they good enough to be a wager?"
Invisible Needle Talisman Treasure!
Li Huayuan and Fuyunzi exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock and greed in each other's eyes.
Old Monster Qiong's Invisible Needle magic weapon is known for its unpredictability and ability to break through protective spiritual light. The talisman treasures he refines are absolutely excellent weapons for saving lives and killing enemies. The value of three talisman treasures is definitely no less than that of a Blood Thread Dragon's inner core!
"How does Senior intend to gamble?" Fu Yunzi took a deep breath and asked.
"Simple!"
Old Monster Qiong grinned, revealing two rows of yellow teeth, "I bet that the spiritual herbs my Hidden Moon Sect has gathered surpass the combined total of your Yellow Maple Valley and Qingxu Sect!"
"If you win, you two can split these three talismans. If you lose—hehe, Li boy's piece of iron essence, and that dragon core in your hand, Ox-nose, will belong to this old man!"
One faction against two!
Li Huayuan and Fuyunzi exchanged glances again, their eyes communicating quickly.
They were indeed apprehensive when facing the Hidden Moon Sect alone.
However, if the spiritual herbs gathered by the disciples of Huangfeng Valley and Qingxu Sect are combined, they still cannot compare to those gathered by Yanyue Sect.
This seems to greatly increase our chances of winning!
After all, the two factions together had fifty disciples, while the Hidden Moon Sect only had twenty-five.
The immense temptation (three Invisible Needle Talisman Treasures) and the seemingly considerable chance of winning caused the scales in their hearts to tip rapidly.
"Let's gamble!" Li Huayuan said in a deep voice.
"Alright! We'll do as you say, senior!" Fuyunzi made up his mind.
"Hehe, that's more like it!" Old Monster Qiong nodded in satisfaction, waved his dirty hand, and the three almost transparent talismans floated in the air. "Words are no proof, let's make a vow with a high five!"
The three men extended their palms, and with three crisp "slap slap slap" sounds, the bet was officially established.
Seeing the three Core Formation cultivators reach an agreement, Li Huayuan and Fuyunzi showed confident smiles, while Qiong Laoguai looked calm and composed, as if victory was assured.
Lin Chuan watched all of this unfold from below, but inwardly shook his head.
"Grandmaster Li and Daoist Fuyunzi are probably going to suffer."
As a transmigrator, he naturally knew that the true trump card of the Hidden Moon Sect in this Blood Forbidden Land trip was the Core Formation cultivator—Nangong Wan!
This woman is a Core Formation stage elder of the Hidden Moon Sect, with profound cultivation.
However, the cultivation method she practiced was extremely special, and it was called "Su Nu Lun Hui Gong".
This exercise has one unique feature:
Every few decades, one's cultivation level will drop from the Core Formation stage to the Qi Refining stage, just like the cycle of the four seasons, and then it will recover.
Recently, her cultivation technique has been undergoing a cycle of reincarnation, and her cultivation level has temporarily dropped to the thirteenth level of Qi Refining!
The Bloodstained Forbidden Land's restrictions only allow Qi Refining stage cultivators to enter. Any Foundation Establishment or higher cultivator who forcibly enters will suffer a backlash attack from the restrictions. Therefore, Nangong Wan, at the peak of the thirteenth level of Qi Refining, perfectly meets the entry requirements!
Even though her cultivation level has temporarily declined, the combat experience, spiritual strength, understanding of spells, and especially—she can use her natal magic weapon! The power of a magic weapon far surpasses that of a magic artifact!
With such a "bug-level" existence leading the team into the Crimson Forbidden Land, it's incredibly difficult for the Hidden Moon Sect to win!
"The Pure Maiden's Reincarnation Technique — Nangong Wan —"
Lin Chuan silently recited in his heart.
There was a mixture of caution and anticipation for the upcoming trip to the Crimson Forbidden Land.