A Wager of Lives

The rolling smoke slowly dissipated, and countless eyes converged on the Purple Light Prison Array. Everyone awaited Nan Meng's emergence.

At last, a figure stumbled out of the smoke—but it was not Nan Meng. It was Zhen Hun, drenched in blood.

Whoosh—

The entire crowd erupted, their uproar shaking the heavens.

"How is that possible?! How could General Nan lose?"

"Damn it! That was a sneak attack!"

"How shameless! He actually resorted to underhanded tricks! Isn't he afraid of being laughed at?"

"This round doesn't count!"

"Did we lose again?"

The citizens could not accept this outcome and began cursing furiously. If not for the Purple Light Prison Array's barrier, Zhen Hun would probably have been drowned in spit.

Qin Jun, standing amid the crowd, wore an equally grim expression. He had not expected this outcome either.

"He's not dead yet." Guan Yu opened his phoenix eyes and said calmly, making Qin Jun's eyes light up.

Boom!

The smoke on the Vermilion Bird Stage was suddenly swept into the air by a violent gale, creating a spectacular sight. Zhen Hun, who had just emerged, lost his footing and was blown to the ground. The billowing smoke rose from the stage and coiled through the air like a black dragon.

"Hmph! I, Nan Meng, will not be defeated!"

A roar like that of an enraged lion rang out from the Vermilion Bird Stage. It was Nan Meng.

Everyone looked closely and saw Nan Meng slowly rise, supporting himself with one hand on his broadsword. His armor had been blasted into tatters, and his face was covered in blood, yet his eyes still blazed with killing intent.

"Now that's some damn impressive swagger!"

Qin Jun exclaimed in delight. If Nan Meng had lost, he would not have had a chance to make his entrance, so he rather appreciated Nan Meng's flair.

Daji shook her head and smiled. "Right now, all he can do is stand up and roar."

Qin Jun froze. At that moment, Shen Yan carefully stepped between the two men and loudly announced, "The second match goes to the Gan Yue Kingdom!"

Anyone with eyes could see that Zhen Hun had already lost consciousness. When the gale blew him down just now, it had scattered the last of his strength.

The moment those words were spoken, the entire venue erupted.

Everyone shouted Nan Meng's name. Even the officers in the pavilion could not help clapping in delight, while Nan Yu Xin jumped excitedly in place, her eyes brimming with tears.

"As expected of my beloved minister!"

A smile finally appeared on the Dry Emperor's face. Behind him, Qin Yu also let out a sigh of relief. If even Nan Meng had lost, the Gan Yue Kingdom would have been utterly humiliated.

Gazing at Nan Meng, Zhu Yishi could not help sighing sincerely. "What a fierce general."

Xiao Beilong beside him snorted disdainfully, but did not refute him.

After the Purple Light Prison Array was lifted, Nan Meng walked down from the Vermilion Bird Stage one step at a time. No one supported him. He did not walk quickly, but every step struck the hearts of the crowd like a heavy hammer.

Only after watching Nan Meng leave the stage did Shen Yan wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and call out, "The third match begins now. Each side, send out one representative!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Beilong appeared on the Vermilion Bird Stage. His build was no less imposing than Nan Meng's.

The aura of the Mortal Transformation Realm suddenly erupted, sweeping across the entire venue and bringing the clamor to an abrupt halt.

"Who dares fight me?!"

Xiao Beilong shouted coldly, his words dripping with contempt. Nan Meng had already lost his ability to fight. On the Gan Yue Kingdom's side, no one could match him now.

Hearing his arrogant words, the Dry Emperor's face darkened at once.

The soldiers behind him remained silent. No one dared step forward at a time like this.

Even Nan Meng might not have been able to defeat Xiao Beilong, much less them.

If they lost, they would face the accusations of tens of millions throughout the kingdom. Any hope of climbing higher in the future would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Going down there now would be nothing but digging their own graves.

"What, no one dares come up?" Xiao Beilong laughed wildly, as though he had just seen the funniest comedy in the world.

The Dry Emperor's eyes nearly spat fire. Although he had anticipated this situation from the beginning, he still found it difficult to suppress his fury when it truly happened.

Qin Yu and the other princes were also enraged. He could not help recalling Guan Yu's terrifyingly imposing figure. If Guan Yu could come, how wonderful that would be.

"In the royal capital of my Gan Yue Kingdom, a pathetic clown like you dares to yap? Be careful, or you may not leave the Vermilion Bird Stage alive!"

A voice filled with disdain broke the strange silence. Immediately afterward, three black-robed figures leaped out from the sea of people and landed on the Vermilion Bird Stage.

All eyes turned toward them in unison, while the representatives of both kingdoms in the pavilion frowned.

Who were these three mysterious people?

"Who are you? This is a duel between two kingdoms. What right do you have to interfere?" Xiao Beilong asked coldly, his tone brimming with murderous intent that sent chills down everyone's spine.

At those words, Qin Jun lifted his hood, revealing his handsome face. With a teasing smile, he said, "I am the Third Prince of the Gan Yue Kingdom. Why would I not have the right? If I have no right, then your Crown Prince should get the hell down from there!"

His intensely provocative words threw the entire venue into an uproar.

All the Gan Yue Kingdom officers in the pavilion underwent a drastic change in expression, including the Dry Emperor. Qin Yu abruptly shot to his feet and cried out, "Why is he here?"

The Third Prince's banishment was known throughout the city. How had he returned?

"Holy shit! Why is it the Third Prince?"

"Wasn't he banished?"

"He's the Third Prince? Isn't he Young Master Jun?"

"What? The Third Prince is Young Master Jun, the man who's been causing such a stir across the city lately?"

"How could that be fake? I've had drinks with him!"

The citizens and cultivators discussed the matter in shock. Setting Qin Jun's identity aside, his words just now had felt incredibly satisfying to hear.

He dared confront Xiao Beilong and even mock the Crown Prince of the Cang Lan Kingdom. His audacity was simply heaven-defying!

Although they believed Qin Jun was courting death, he had said exactly what they wanted to say but did not dare to.

"What nerve." The smile Zhu Yishi had worn all along finally vanished. Qin Jun was already a dead man in his eyes. In public, Qin Jun was the first person who had dared tell him to get lost.

"Father, since no one dares to participate, why not let my people take the field?"

Qin Jun turned toward the Dry Emperor in the pavilion and spoke loudly. At the sixth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, his voice easily carried across the entire venue.

The Dry Emperor frowned deeply, seemingly lost in thought. Then he broke into a smile. "Of course!"

Holy shit!

He agreed that readily?

Qin Jun was somewhat stunned, but he did not dwell on it. Instead, he said to Xiao Beilong, "You're pretty arrogant. Do you dare wager your life?"

Wager their lives?

The entire venue fell silent, and everyone stared at him curiously.

Qin Jun raised his head and puffed out his chest. At such a perfect moment to show off, he absolutely had to seize the opportunity!

Keep his head high!

Look at people through his nostrils!

The more smug his expression, the better!

Maximize the swagger!

"How do we wager our lives?" Xiao Beilong asked teasingly. He had seen through Qin Jun's cultivation at a glance. Qin Jun was undoubtedly among the most exceptional geniuses. If he could eliminate Qin Jun openly and fairly, that would be perfect.

The Dry Emperor stared at Qin Jun with a strange expression. This son of his seemed to have become an entirely different person.

As Qin Yu watched Qin Jun, the focus of all eyes, his gaze nearly burst into flames.

How did this bastard come back?!

He roared furiously in his heart.

Third update. There were a lot of rewards today, so here's an extra chapter!!