Gamblers from Every Side

Four days later.

East City, Lei Chi Zhai.

This ancient vegetarian hall, abandoned for a century and covering dozens of acres, is built on a low hill in the city covered with pines and cypresses. Although dilapidated, it offers a wide view. Lu Cangsheng bought it for a large sum of money after arriving in Qiuzhou.

The water of the Thunder Sea was used to irrigate the three-acre pond in the study.

Centered on Thunder Pool, a nine-story array tower was set up as the base for the young martial artists of the Lei Xiao Sect in the eastern city.

All factions entrusted all matters concerning the Qianlong Lantern Festival to the younger generation of leaders, leaving them free to refrain from interfering in arrangements for alliances or partnerships.

The Du'e Temple Calamities is searching for a hidden dragon capable of bringing peace and order to the world.

The older generation of figures from various factions were also eager to see just how good their newly cultivated prodigies really were.

As a prodigy of the Lei Xiao Sect, appearing only once every thousand years, Lu Cangsheng deeply understood a principle: In everything one does, one must first plan for escape; before advancing, one must have the ability to protect oneself; only with thorough preparation can one remain invincible.

Lei Chi Zhai was the place he built for self-protection in preparation for the Qianlong Lantern Festival.

"Let me in, you dare stop me..."

Lu Wensheng's cold, deep voice came from outside, as he argued with the Lei Xiao Sect disciples guarding the Thunder Pool.

Lu Cangsheng, who was meditating on the surface of Leichi Lake, was restless. He opened his eyes and sighed, "Let him in!"

Lu Wensheng arrived at the edge of Leichi Pond and watched Lu Cangsheng walk step by step towards the shore. After composing himself, he said as calmly as possible, "Cangsheng, lend me another 200,000 Spring Coin. This time, I will definitely win them all back!"

Lu Cangsheng's patience had been completely exhausted over the past few days. "Still want to fight? We've already lost three matches, and we still haven't figured it out. The other team's strength is far superior to yours; they've been toying with you the whole time."

"No! After three encounters, no one knows his combat strength better than me. He is indeed very strong, and I am no match for him, but I no longer have the mindset of defeating him! I am very clear-headed, and I know my own limitations..." Lu Wensheng said.

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Cangsheng scolded, "Brother, you can't see the mountain from within. You lost your Magic Tool Battle Robe, the Heavenly Thunder Blade, and all your cultivation resources in these three matches. You even borrowed 200,000 Spring Coin from Thousand Mile Mountain, right? You can't go to the arena anymore; you can't win."

These past few days, Lu Wensheng had become very sensitive. He trembled with anger at Lu Cangsheng's words and roared, "I never intended to win! Five moves! I only need to withstand five of his moves to win back everything I lost before. I possess the Nine Springs Pure Immortal Body, with eighteen Lightning Strike Array protecting me. Can someone of the same cultivation level not even withstand five of his moves?"

There are always people more capable than you. You can't win!

Lu Cangsheng continued with certainty, "I've watched a few matches. Although Li Weiyi's cultivation level is still low, his martial arts skills far surpass yours. He's been hiding his true abilities, never revealing his full strength. Even at the same cultivation level, I might not be his match. As for the 260,000 Spring Coin you borrowed from me, I'll consider it as money spent on your cultivation; you don't need to repay them. I can also help you repay the ones you borrowed from Thousand Mile Mountain, but you must promise me you won't participate in any more arenas..."

"I don't need your pity!"

Lu Wensheng seemed to have been greatly provoked. "I know, you look down on me at all, just like everyone else in the sect. You're a genius, and I'm just a piece of trash! But I'm a genius too, I'm just not as good as you. Yes, I can't withstand ten moves, but I can definitely withstand five."

"Cang Sheng... Brother... Senior Disciple Brother, please lend me your Spring Coin, I beg you, let me fight one last time, I promise, this is absolutely the last time, I swear on the spirits of our parents in heaven."

"If I don't win back what I've lost, I'll die. How can I face living in this world? Everyone in the sect is laughing at me behind my back. I have to prove myself, otherwise... I'll have no choice but to die!"

In the end, Lu Wensheng gradually lowered his body, about to kneel before Lu Cangsheng.

Lu Cangsheng could be ruthless to anyone, but he showed the utmost tolerance towards this older brother. He took a deep breath, a flash of coldness crossing his eyes, which quickly turned into a smile as he helped Lu Wensheng up, "The last time?"

Lu Wensheng smiled through his tears, moved, and said, "My parents died young, and my brothers and I have depended on each other for survival. Cang Sheng, I knew you wouldn't abandon me! This is the last time, I will definitely win back five times the amount of Spring Coin."

Lu Cangsheng took out a rectangular medicine box from his bag and handed it over. "This 1,600-year-old Black Dragon Grass was picked from the bottom of the East Sea. It's worth about 200,000 Spring Coin."

"Cang Sheng, you're amazing! Don't worry, I'll definitely win this time!"

Lu Wensheng, beaming with joy, quickly left, clutching the medicine box.

Qin Qian walked in from outside the door, watched Lu Wensheng leave, and then looked at Lu Cangsheng's gloomy face and murderous intent by the Thunder Pool.

She said, "Brother Lu was never in this manic and sensitive state before. He was an extremely calm and restrained person. It's all Li Weiyi's fault. I'm going to kill him!"

She possessed Pure Immortal Body cultivated to the Sixth Sea, naturally giving her the confidence to kill Li Weiyi.

Lu Cangsheng stared at Lei Chi: "Just a chess piece! What we should really be thinking about is, why did Zuoqiu Ting put this chess piece out?"

Qin Qian said, "There are rumors that Li Weiyi is Cangli's brother-in-law."

"Cangli's brother-in-law? Wasn't he supposed to be the son-in-law of Zuoqiu Courtyard?" Lu Cangsheng frowned.

Qin Qian said, "There are even rumors that he has the strength to defeat Yang ZhiYong Sui Sect. All sorts of rumors are flying around, some true and some false, making them extremely deceptive."

Lu Cangsheng pondered for a moment, "The Zuoqiu Courtyard and the Jiu Li Tribe have avoided war for ten years, recuperating and building up their strength, watching as heroes from all over the world and the Imperial Court fight each other, exhausting each other and causing rivers of blood to flow. Meanwhile, they have a deep foundation, having stockpiled countless provisions, resources, elixirs, magical artifacts, battle formations, and exotic beasts. Now, taking advantage of the Du'e Temple and the Qianlong Lantern Festival, they intend to formally enter the game and reap the benefits."

"The Imperial Court will definitely regard them as its primary target and teach the Du'e Temple and Zuoqiu Courtyard a lesson in the first place."

"The clash between the younger generation at the Qianlong Lantern Festival will inevitably follow this pattern."

"Therefore, there is no need for the Lei Xiao Sect to make a move against a mere martial artist at the Fourth Realm of the Five Seas at this time, thus restraining themselves from charging into battle."

"Here's what we'll do: go tell the Dragon Hall that if the Dragon Gate can kill Li Weiyi, our two families' cooperation can continue."

"Dragon Gate really willing to charge into battle?" Qin Qian asked.

Lu Cangsheng said, "During the turmoil in Lizhou, the Dragon Gate had already offended the Jiu Li Tribe, and there will definitely be a contest at the Qianlong Lantern Festival. Moreover, the Dragon Gate must have suffered considerable losses from this deadly gambling match."

"Countless shrewd martial arts practitioners have been lured into this trap step by step, turning into gamblers who have lost their minds."

"Fortunately, Li Weiyi is only at the Fourth Realm of the Five Seas. If he were three realms higher, he would have single-handedly ruined the Qianlong Lantern Festival, and it would have to be renamed the Hidden Dragon Gambling Festival. This person cannot be allowed to live."

The challenge reward is 500 Spring Coin on the first day.

The price rose to one thousand the next day.

On the third day, the rules were changed: there was no upper limit to the challenge prize, and the payout was tenfold for every loss.

On the fourth day, the area around the arena was deserted; many people watched, but very few dared to step onto the stage.

However, with the hanging of the second banner proclaiming "Defeat All Enemies Within Five Moves," the top martial artists of the Fourth Realm of the Five Seas, who had been terrified by their defeats in the previous four days, immediately rallied and began to scatter and collect Spring Coin.

Passion was reignited, and everyone was confident they could withstand the five challenges.

"This time, it's not about paying a challenge fee. The rules say it's a chance for us to win back our losses; they're going to return all the money they won from us."

"One to five. As long as we withstand five of his moves, no matter how many Spring Coin we spend, he will pay us five times the amount."

"But he told us to exercise restraint, act within our means, and absolutely not to invest excessive amounts of money."

"Restraint? He's afraid he won't be able to afford the losses."

"No one can be certain of defeating all martial artists of the same realm within five moves, so he naturally has to be cautious."

"I can't withstand ten moves! If I can't even withstand five moves at the same level, what's the point of martial arts training?"

In the central Vermilion Tower of the Qiuzhou Attendant Hall, Jiang Ning, dressed in Provincial Governor's Official Robe from a thousand years ago, sat at the center of a circular array, cultivating the Dragon Awakening Art.

The Dragon Awakening Art is the only way to obtain the Dragon Soul Power within the official robes.

Of the three hundred Provincial Governor's Official Robe from a thousand years ago, half were kept in the imperial palace. The other half were lost among the common people and in secluded places.

Hearing the commotion and heated discussion below the tower, she stopped her cultivation and asked Zhuang Yue, "What happened now?"

Zhuang Yue's eyes had transformed into a pair of alluring crimson piercings, her pupils like jade. Her usually cold demeanor now possessed a captivating charm. Her expression was strange. "It's all because of Qin Changfeng, Lin Yi, and the Fifth Young Master. They're preparing to fight in the arena again, scrambling to raise money, claiming they're going to make a big score."

Jiang Ning, her eyes covered by a white dragon-patterned veil, with three misty dragon souls flowing around her, asked in a clear, serene tone, "Was Fifth Brother also taken in by them?"

"The Fifth Young Master has lost three matches in a row, even losing his magical artifacts and getting injured. That guy shows absolutely no mercy." Zhuang Yue snorted.

Jiang Ning said, "You've already lost so badly, and you still want to fight?"

"Zuoqiu Ting wrote him another calligraphy piece, which read, 'Defeat All Enemies Within Five Moves.' Five moves is all it takes; how could Qin Changfeng and the Fifth Young Master not take the bait?"

Zhuang Yue added, "Zuoqiu Ting is clearly using him. If he continues to win like this, he will surely incur public wrath and it will be very dangerous."