When Gu Shenzhi arrived at the Sword Discussion Arena on Zhan Yun Peak, the seats were already packed to the brim. Besides the disciples of this peak, quite a few idlers from Qingying Peak and Bai Kui Peak had come to watch the excitement.
The gilded carriage drawn by the Six Dragon Colts, the twelve Juling stewards flanking the procession, and a pair of flamboyant, scantily clad dancer sisters—this was indeed the grand display befitting the Blood Blade Saint Son.
Back when he was the Young Master of the Lingjian Sect, Gu Shenzhi used to envy the extravagant style of the Xiezong. Lavish escorts, numerous attendants, and beautiful sisters with slender waists in his arms.
Whereas the Young Master of the Lingjian Sect had only White Garment, Famed Sword, and Spirit Jade Pendant.
Although both were in the same Mu Yunzhou, and both belonged to first-class sects, the treatment between the Zhengdao Young Master and the Xiezong Holy Son was worlds apart.
Gu Shenzhi casually glanced at Mo Renxie on the Sword Discussion Arena and immediately spotted several fatal flaws—blocked meridians, an excessive killing intent, too many true spirits yet lacking cohesion, and so on.
It seemed that over the years, the other party had consumed a great deal of Dan Medicine in order to chase after Rong’er’s footsteps. While it had some effect, this kind of cultivation was nothing but a tree without roots, water without a source—merely superficial.
In an instant, Gu Shenzhi lost most of his interest. This hollow Jade Spirit Realm was unlikely to be a match for his own strength at Jiedan Late Stage. If he truly went all out, once he stepped onto the stage, he could end Mo Renxie’s life with a single sword strike.
“Sigh, is this all he’s got? How boring.”
Gu Shenzhi let out a sigh, about to head over and finish the match, but at that moment, a noisy clamor reached his ears—especially the keywords Ling Stone, odds, win or lose.
At the moment, he happened to be penniless.
Looking toward the direction of the voices, he saw a throng of people bustling between the nearby stands. It turned out someone was acting as bookmaker, opening a gambling pool on the outcome of the match.
“If Gu Shenzhi can last three rounds, I’ll pay two to one; more than five rounds, one to one; if he can last more than ten rounds, I’ll pay four to one; if Gu Shenzhi can achieve a draw, I’ll pay one hundred to one.”
“Wait, if Gu Shenzhi manages to take the Blood Blade Saint Son’s head within six rounds, what are the odds on that?” Standing in the crowd, Gu Shenzhi asked in a clear voice. How could he let pass such an easy chance to pick up free Ling Stones?
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter, and a cheerful atmosphere filled the stands.
In their eyes, Gu Shenzhi was just a swordsman with some talent, his cultivation only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Facing Mo Renxie, who ranked among Mu Yunzhou’s top five young blade users and had already reached Jade Spirit Realm, it was like an egg striking a rock—he didn’t stand a chance.
Setting a “draw” option was just to add a bit of suspense to the betting, and to save some face for the Honglian Saintess. No one would seriously believe that Gu Shenzhi could win, right?
No way, right? No way?
“Senior Brother Gu, you seem quite confident in your own strength?” The Yueying Sect disciple acting as the bookmaker asked with ill intent.
“Not at all, not at all. It’s just that back when I was the Lingjian Sect’s lapdog, I happened to get lucky and killed three Blood Blade Saint Sons in a row. Today, I just want to see if I can make this Mo Renxie the fourth.”
Gu Shenzhi replied blandly, as if discussing something trivial. In his eyes, someone like Mo Renxie wasn’t even worthy of being his enemy.
“But if I recall correctly, back then Senior Brother Gu was still the Young Master of the Lingjian Sect, and your dantian hadn’t yet been shattered by your own master, right?”
The female disciple replied sarcastically, openly mocking his overconfidence, not even bothering to disguise her contempt.
Gu Shenzhi chuckled, unfazed. The great Taiyue would never be angered by the scorn of ants. He straightened up and said, “So, are you betting or not?”
“Betting, of course! If you can really make Mo Holy Son’s blood splash three feet and his corpse lie five steps away within six rounds, I’ll pay… five hundred to one!”
“Excellent.” With that, Gu Shenzhi took out two top-grade Ling Stones from his belt and placed them on the table. “Let’s make a small bet to spice things up!”
In truth, this was all the wealth Gu Shenzhi had. He’d only been at the Yueying Sect for less than four months and was just an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple. His monthly allowance was pitifully small. If not for Su Linghuang providing for his food, clothing, and lodging, he probably wouldn’t even have been able to save up these Ling Stones.
“At five hundred to one, that means you’ll owe me a full thousand Ling Stones if I win, right?” Gu Shenzhi suppressed a smile and asked with mock seriousness.
“No problem! If you really can kill Mo Holy Son, I’ll personally hand over a thousand Ling Stones!” The girl’s cheeks flushed as she deliberately raised her voice.
No problem? That was a huge problem!
If she couldn’t become a True Inheritor Disciple of some Elder, she might never be able to scrape together that many Ling Stones in her lifetime. If that happened, she’d probably have to pay with her body as Star Fury.
Yet even if she offered herself up, Gu Shenzhi might not be interested. At best, this junior sister was passably attractive, but after seeing countless stunning beauties, she failed to stir any primal desire in him.
The reason the girl dared to speak so boldly was because she never once considered the possibility of losing. In her heart, she doubted whether Gu Shenzhi could even leave the Sword Discussion Arena unscathed.
After all, Mo Renxie’s feelings for the Honglian Saintess were known throughout the world. Now that someone else had beaten him to it, if he didn’t hack off all three of Gu Shenzhi’s legs, it would be an insult to his Blood Blade Saint Son status.
Watching his secretly delighted junior sister, Gu Shenzhi paid her no mind. He simply pulled out a brush from his storage pouch, ready to write up the betting slip.
But just then, a faint cough sounded like a stone tossed into the heart of a lake, sending ripples through the crowd.
Before Gu Shenzhi could react, the surrounding disciples hurriedly turned to the girl in the crimson dress behind him, bowing with utmost respect: “Greetings, Honglian Saintess.”
Su Linghuang nodded in acknowledgment, her face expressionless as she walked to Gu Shenzhi’s side and coldly asked, “Are you short on money?”
Though the Sword Discussion Arena was bustling with noise, in the eyes of the Honglian Saintess, there was only one person—the philandering liar who stood before her.
“Your Holiness, please see clearly—this humble one is truly strapped for cash lately. I had no choice but to resort to this, just to get by.”
“So a thousand top-grade Ling Stones is just to get by? Young Master Gu, your appetite is truly enormous.”
Suddenly, Su Linghuang’s tone shifted, implying something else. “But then again, keeping one eye on your bowl while looking at the pot is just your usual way of doing things—especially in certain matters.”
Her calm tone was laced with killing intent, just short of tearing off his last fig leaf.
“You’re absolutely right, Miss Su,” Gu Shenzhi replied with a flattering smile, though he neither admitted nor denied whether he would change.
The Honglian Saintess snorted coldly, placed a top-grade Ling Stone on the table, and said to the bookmaker junior sister, “I bet that Gu Shenzhi will take the Blood Blade Saint Son’s head within six rounds—one top-grade Ling Stone.”
This move took everyone by surprise, including Gu Shenzhi himself. The usually noble and elegant Honglian Saintess was actually joining a bet set up by the Inner Sect, and wagering only a single Ling Stone—on the supposedly “doomed” Gu Shenzhi.
Even Gu Shenzhi, who prided himself on reading people, couldn’t figure out Su Linghuang’s intention. And with the “cold war” still ongoing, he couldn’t exactly ask her.
Noticing the shift in Gu Shenzhi’s expression, Su Linghuang’s eyes flashed with a hint of sly amusement. Her red lips curled slightly.
“Don’t forget, I provide for all your food, clothing, and shelter. I doubt Young Master Gu can keep mooching off a ‘normal friend’ forever. It’s about time you thought of a way to pay back your debt—and now, there’s an excellent opportunity.”
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