Scattered Across the Mountain Ridges...

Dressed in white, with long hair flowing wildly in the gentle breeze and a tall, slender figure, he held a long sword forged from translucent ice and snow in a reverse grip.

Jiang Lin raised his head at a 45-degree angle and let out a soft sigh, an air of loneliness and aloof nobility following in its wake.

The scene fell silent for a while, and quite a few female cultivators' eyes lit up.

Why...

Why was a man who combined such handsomeness and charm of all things a Flower-Picking Thief? Couldn't I occupy his heart instead...?

With his back to the Six Major Sects, his head tilted upward, and his neck slightly sore, Jiang Lin spoke in a deep voice: "Who... was saying I'm handsome..."

At that moment, the sect fairies covered their mouths.

That line was clearly so embarrassingly childish and non-mainstream, but why was this man still able to throw their Dao hearts into disarray?

However... the instant Jiang Lin finished speaking—

Just as he had been handsome for two seconds—

"Holy crap, Jiang Lin, you brat, you finally showed up! Fight well!"

Diao Da stepped forward and patted Jiang Lin's shoulder with his claw.

"Brother Jiang! I've even bet my wife's dowry! No matter what, you have to win three matches!"

"Brother Jiang, don't listen to him. What's money compared to your life? Let's just admit defeat. Today, Brother Wang will take you to Spring Breeze Pavilion to watch Miss Wu Die dance."

"Jiang Lin, here, have a bun and fight well. Don't worry, I guarantee there's no poison in it."

"Get lost! I just saw you sprinkling Spring Breeze Leaves No Trace on the buns!" A fellow shoved him aside. "Come on, Jiang Lin, let me rub your shoulders. You've got to fight well later."

For a time, the Demon Sect cultivators standing beside Jiang Lin all crowded around him. Some brought him water, others brought him breakfast, some rubbed his shoulders and pounded his legs, and there were even people combing his hair.

Jiang Lin simply sat atop the Flying Sword, enjoying treatment fit for an emperor...

Just then, Fang Chaoqun shoved aside a fellow who was pounding Jiang Lin's shoulders and said softly, "Everything's ready!"

The corners of Jiang Lin's lips lifted slightly. "What are the odds?"

"One to one hundred!"

"Hm? Why does that feel lower than I imagined?"

"Well, aside from the few of us who bet on Brother Jiang winning every match, Madam Chen also placed a bet, and Elder Fang Ruo from the Mission Hall bet quite a lot too. Especially Miss Wu Die from Spring Breeze Pavilion—she seems to have bet her entire fortune."

Jiang Lin shook his head. "Sister Fang Ruo simply has money with nowhere to spend it. She's over a hundred years old, yet she doesn't even know to save up a dowry. Madam Chen probably bet on me to show some support for the sake of her daughter... her son. But what's the deal with Miss Wu Die? Am I even familiar with her?"

"Who cares? The current odds are excellent regardless. Brother Jiang, you've got to fight well! My wife's dowry and my sister's dowry are both in there. If we lose, I'm going to explode!"

"Don't worry, Brother Fang! Once this fight is over, we'll go to Spring Breeze Pavilion and become men! From then on, we'll set foot upon the ladder of adulthood!"

"Quit dragging your feet, Jiang the lecherous thief! Come out and face me! Today, Zhao Hao will take your dog life!"

"Jiang Lin! Hurry up and fight me!"

"No! Senior Brother! Please let me go first!"

"I've endured him for so long!"

"I'm about to go berserk!"

On the other side, the young elites of the Six Major Sects truly couldn't stand watching any longer.

This bastard was putting on far too much of a show! Damn it! We were all showing off—why could he be so handsome?!

Over on the Sun Moon Sect's side, Jiang Lin's whole body suddenly trembled. He slowly rose and walked through the air, each step carrying him forward, like First Snow, forged from ice and snow, radiating white Chilling Qi in the midst of summer.

"System, are there any quests? I'm about to start showing off."

Jiang Lin communicated with the system in his mind. A moment later, several ripples appeared in his consciousness, accompanied by the crackling sound of a black-and-white television with no signal.

Ding...

A crisp sound echoed through Jiang Lin's heart.

[Since the host has finally attained enlightenment and taken the initiative to embark on the villain's journey (courting death), the quest has been triggered.]

[Quest: One of the essences of a villain is to Manifest a grand display of prowess before others. Fighting the Six Major Sects is the starting point of the host's rise as a great villain, and an even greater opportunity to make a name for himself. During this competition, please trample the opponent's dignity and make them fall into profound despair...]

[Quest Reward: One High Imitation Mask (undetectable by anyone below the Immortal Realm)]

When the system's voice faded, Jiang Lin tossed back his long hair, narrowed his eyes, slightly tilted his head to one side, and raised his sword before him. "I, Jiang Lin, am right here. Which of you will be the first to come and die?!"

"Oh heavens! That's so cool!"

"Why does this man look so wicked, yet so handsome?!"

"Senior Sister, it's not that Junior Sister is being unfair, but Junior Sister will go first!"

"No, Junior Sister! Let Senior Sister go first!"

"That won't do, Senior Sister. Wipe your drool first."

"Unbearable! How dare you challenge all of us alone! What an arrogant tone! I, Te Langpu of Xuejia Sect, refuse to accept this!"

Te Langpu, a Military School cultivator from Xuejia Sect, stepped forward with an imposing aura.

"Brother Te, good luck!"

"Brother Te, you're the fattest!"

"Senior Brother Te, don't hit him in the face!"

"If you dare hit Young Master Jiang in the face, I'll never forgive you!"

"Brother Jiang, hurry up and admit defeat!"

"Don't listen to him. Finish this round before admitting defeat."

"What the hell? Brother Jiang has to fight Zhao RiTian and Ye Liangchen before admitting defeat."

"Jiang Lin, die a little slower."

When the two faced off, shouts rose and fell from both sides, one after another, just like the gamblers at the World Cup (the author referring to himself) staring fixedly at the match score in front of their televisions!

This time, nearly two-thirds of the Sun Moon Sect had participated in the betting pool Jiang Lin had set up in one way or another. Most had bet on how many matches Jiang Lin would win, while others had bet on whether Jiang Lin would make it back alive.

But none of that was the most important thing! The most important question was: "Would Jiang Lin win every match?"

And aside from Jiang Lin and a tiny handful of people, practically no one had bet on it! Naturally, it also had the highest odds!

As if! Would he have nothing better to do than pick a fight with this bunch of old men instead of spending more time accompanying Little Niannian?

Today, I, Jiang Lin, would make them understand exactly what it meant to be a gambling sage with both Resurrection Coins and strength!

"Hehehe, Little Niannian, when Papa gets back from making money, I'll buy you some candy." Jiang Lin wiped the drool from his mouth, his eyes full of comic mischief, then said solemnly, "You can fight me, but as we agreed earlier, it has to be at least ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"Hmph! Mere ten spirit stones!"

Following the agreed-upon rules, Te Langpu suppressed his cultivation to the Sea Gazing Realm.

He then pulled ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag and tossed them to Jiang Lin. Just as Jiang Lin's eyes lit up and he accepted the spirit stones with a beaming smile, his opponent shamelessly sent a sword flying straight at him.

"Holy crap! Shameless!"

"You brat, you actually launched a sneak attack!"

"Why do you look so damn much like someone from the Demon Sect?!"

The fellows on the Sun Moon Sect's side exploded into an uproar.

Just as the sword was about to slice through Jiang Lin's throat, a sudden scream rang across the sky.

"Ah..."

What no one knew was that First Snow had already left Jiang Lin's hand and was lodged in his opponent's chrysanthemum...

Scattered across the mountain ridges...