The Wager Battle

"Ironwood Manor?" Upon hearing this, even Xie Qian was stunned. That Ironwood Manor produced a highly special and valuable type of ironwood, making it no small asset even for the Lei Family. This Lei Bao actually dared to stake an entire manor as a bet!

Of course, Xie Qian only froze for a moment before snapping back to reality. In his view, the Lei Family's chances of winning this duel were far too high.

"Father, let's just forget it. There's no need to take the risk." Behind Lin Zhentian, Lin Ken, Lin Xiao, and Lin Mang all showed hesitation. After struggling for a while, it was Lin Ken who gritted his teeth and tried to dissuade him. If they lost the Fire Python Tiger Cubs over this bet, it would be a terrible trade-off.

"What you say makes sense, but I choose to accept!" Under the shocked gazes of Lin Ken and the others, Lin Zhentian agreed with the confidence of someone who had already planned it out. "One of my favorite things to do is say 'yes' to people who think they've already won."

The sudden turn of events silenced the entire Beast Horn Arena for a moment, and then countless doubtful and unsettled eyes turned toward Lin Zhentian.

"Father, you can't act on impulse!" Lin Xiao was startled by Lin Zhentian's decision, and Lin Mang and the others furrowed their brows, unable to understand how their usually steady father could fall for such a provocation so easily.

"Trust me, and trust Dong'er and Changqiang." Facing all the questioning looks, Lin Zhentian stroked his beard with a calm smile.

"Heh heh, Lin Zhentian, I didn't expect you to still have some of that old fire in you. Truly admirable~" Seeing Lin Zhentian agree so readily, Lei Bao felt a twinge of unease, but as the head of the Lei Family, his words were like water spilled—impossible to take back. Wouldn't that make him a laughingstock? "My Lei Family will send Lei Li out. Have your Lin Family decided who to send?"

"I'll go." Lin Changqiang walked slowly into the arena, a bright, sunny smile on his face. The curve of his lips, though not half as sharp as the Nike logo, still left Lei Li across from him unsettled and wary.

The other contestants on the stone platform voluntarily backed away, clearing a sizable area in the center. One of the referees who had been checking the Identity Tokens stepped into the arena to officiate this duel.

Lei Li cracked his knuckles, staring at Lin Changqiang with a vicious glare, his eyes full of disdain. "Has the Lin Family run out of people, sending a Ninth Layer of Body Tempering to fight? I'll make you lose even more thoroughly!"

Facing Lei Li's threats, Lin Changqiang silently switched his equipment slots to two Thunderclap Battle Blades (increasing Yuan Power and fist-and-foot power by six percent) and nodded indifferently. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever you say."

"Begin!"

The moment the command was given, Lei Li snorted coldly, and a rich luster began to flicker across his skin. The intensity of the Yuan Power fluctuations was clearly beyond what the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering could achieve.

"So he really is at the Earthly Yuan Stage!" Seeing the Yuan Power glow on Lei Li, exclamations rang out across the Beast Horn Arena, and Lei Bao's face broke into a smug grin.

But in an instant, his smile froze solid, because he saw Lin Changqiang's body also begin to glow with a rich luster—even brighter than Lei Li's!

"Mid Earthly Yuan Stage? How is that possible?!"

As Yuan Power surged around Lin Changqiang, the entire Beast Horn Arena erupted into chaos. Almost everyone's eyes were wide with shock!

Lei Li being at the Earthly Yuan Stage was surprising but not unbelievable—after all, he had been at the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering half a year ago, so breaking through to the Earthly Yuan Stage was only natural.

But no one expected that Lin Changqiang, who had only first made a name for himself half a year ago, had also reached the Earthly Yuan Stage—and even surpassed Lei Li!

In the Lin Family's spectator section, Lin Xiao and the others were stunned speechless. Even Lin Zhentian, who had been prepared, froze on the spot. "These two kids... weren't they only at the Earthly Yuan Stage a dozen days ago?"

"These two? You mean Lin Dong also broke through to the Earthly Yuan Stage?" Lin Ken and Lin Mang swallowed hard and turned in unison to look at Lin Xiao behind them.

"This... I don't know either!" Facing their stares, Lin Xiao looked just as bewildered.

Nearby, Lin Hong and the other younger members of the Lin Family had their mouths wide open, a fervent gleam lighting up their eyes.

Not far away, Lei Bao sat down with a dark expression, killing intent surging in his eyes. Lin Changqiang's cultivation speed filled him with a deep, instinctive dread.

If this man isn't eliminated, the consequences will be endless!

"This can't be!" Lei Li's face twisted in fury as he suddenly lunged forward, charging at Lin Changqiang. His palms curved into a strange angle, like a snake's head swaying, and with the boost of Yuan Power, they cut through the air with a series of sharp whistles.

"Second-grade martial art, Spirit Snake Palm?" Lin Changqiang raised an eyebrow and let out a light laugh. "Too bad. I'm not Lin Dong—I've no interest in playing that 'start easy, go hard' game with you."

"Flame Vortex!" Lin Changqiang formed a hand seal and, following local custom, shouted out his technique's name.

Lei Li, who had just charged close to Lin Changqiang, suddenly saw a vortex of flames rise from beneath his feet. An instant later, a searing, piercing pain made him grimace and grit his teeth.

"Ah!"

He let out a scream and hastily retreated, but when he looked back at Lin Changqiang, he saw the latter raising his right hand!

"This move has a wide range, but it's slow and inaccurate—I can dodge it!" A gleam of insight flashed in Lei Li's eyes as he focused intently on what was ahead.

"Bam bam bam bam bam!"

Five impacts rang out in an instant. Before Lei Li could even react, he was blasted backward like a kite with a snapped string, crashing heavily onto the ground.

A mouthful of bright red blood sprayed out, and Lei Li lay there dazed, completely stunned. Only when he saw Lin Changqiang walking toward him did he struggle to push himself up, but in the end, he couldn't manage it. He could only watch helplessly as Lin Changqiang stopped in front of him.

Lei Li looked up at Lin Changqiang in despair, but perhaps because of his severe injuries, he couldn't see clearly. Finally, he heard the other man mutter something like, "Good thing I pulled my punch in time," before his vision went dark and he slipped into unconsciousness.

With Lei Li's swift defeat, the entire arena fell silent in an instant. The members of the Lei and Xie Families looked as if they had lost a loved one. Countless eyes, filled with intense shock, fixed on the battered Lei Li.

This outcome caught everyone off guard. No one had expected that Lei Li, hailed as the number one junior in Qingyang Town, would fall so easily to Lin Changqiang.

"That's it? He won?"

Even Lin Dong and Lin Zhentian, who had been prepared, were taken aback. Lin Dong had thought Lin Changqiang would need to fight hard to win, and Lin Zhentian had expected a grueling battle.

"With talent like this, he's no ordinary fish stuck in a pond..." Lin Zhentian quickly took a sip of tea to moisten his dry throat.

Lin Ken and the others nodded in agreement. Even Lin Mang, who had once looked down on Lin Changqiang, had nothing to say. He knew that Lin Hong would never catch up to him now.

Compared to the Lin Family's mix of surprise and joy, the Lei and Xie Families were shrouded in gloom. Lei Bao's face was dark as pitch, and Xie Qian could only force a bitter smile, secretly glad he hadn't joined the bet.

This time, the Lei Family had not only lost Ironwood Manor but also taken a resounding slap in the face from the Lin Family—a complete loss of face!