Inner Court Gambling

Morning light filtered through the parasol tree leaves in the small courtyard, spilling over the martial skill scroll Ye Feng had spread open.

His fingertip traced the fist manual of Vajra Fist as he reviewed in his mind the differences brought by yesterday's system modification.

Both had undergone a hundred years of modification. Vajra Fist had leapt from Human-grade High-tier to Profound-grade Low-tier and even allowed him to comprehend one-tenth of Fist Intent; yet Shadow Step had only reached Human-grade Top-tier, stuck just outside the gates of the Profound grade; Gale Sword had not changed in grade at all, but it had touched upon the threshold of "Sword Technique Micro-Realm."

"So the system's modifications aren't a one-size-fits-all cut." Ye Feng murmured softly, tapping the edge of the scroll with a finger. "First, it depends on one's foundation—I'm not as familiar with Fist Technique as I am with Sword Technique, but I'd at least practiced it for a few days before the modification, so I had a foundation. Only then could a hundred years of insight support a breakthrough in grade. As for Movement Technique, I barely studied it even during the Body Refining stage. My talent can't keep up; no matter how long the insights last, it's hard to cross a grade."

He picked up the sword manual for Gale Sword again, recalling the mystery from yesterday, when the currents of air had automatically parted around his sword swings. "There's also the upper limit of the martial skill itself. Gale Sword was already among the very best of Human-grade High-tier techniques. Its framework only goes this far, so it's difficult to elevate it to the Profound grade no matter how much it's modified. But polishing its details down to the Micro-Realm can also count as another kind of perfection."

Thinking of Intent, Ye Feng pressed a hand against the wooden sword at his waist.

Only after breaking through to the Qi Gathering Realm had he discovered that the system could directly modify Sword Intent and Fist Intent. Yesterday, he had not modified his Sword Intent first, thus missing the ten-year privilege from before his breakthrough. Though he could now modify it by a hundred years, he was in no hurry to act.

"If my foundation isn't enough, modifying it would only be a waste." Ye Feng shook his head. "How could a hundred years of Sword Intent insight from an ordinary cultivator compare to my first studying a few more sword manuals, practicing a few more sets of Sword Techniques, and building up my foundation in the sword path before modifying it? When that time comes, the improvement will surely be far greater than it would be now."

Ye Feng forcefully suppressed the urge to invoke the system immediately, rose to his feet, and stretched his limbs.

He now possessed the Profound-grade Low-tier cultivation art Azure Origin Art, two Profound-grade Low-tier martial skills, a Human-grade Top-tier Movement Technique, as well as two-tenths of Sword Intent and one-tenth of Fist Intent. Among those at the Qi Gathering Realm First Layer, he was absolutely in a league of his own. Even in the Inner Court, his foundation could be considered noteworthy.

But cultivation could not rely on the system alone. He touched his storage pouch; only a scant few Low-grade Spirit Stones remained within. If he wanted to improve further, he had no resources to support it.

"Cultivation needs the right balance between tension and relaxation. I'll take a stroll through the Inner Court first and look for a way to earn Spirit Stones while I'm at it."

Ye Feng left the small courtyard. The Inner Court's streets were broader and cleaner than those of the Outer Court. The disciples on the road were either carrying swords as they hurried toward the training grounds, or gathered around the mission boards selecting assignments to leave the mountain. Very few wandered about as idly as he did.

The air was thick with spiritual energy. Even the fluctuations of True Qi from the disciples were several times stronger than those in the Outer Court, and everywhere exuded the word "packed."

After wandering for roughly half an hour, cheers suddenly rang out ahead.

Following the sound, Ye Feng found a domed building built from black stone, its entrance crowded with people. Three large characters were engraved above the doors: "Gambling Arena." The stone stele beside it listed the rules: private fighting was forbidden in the Inner Court; those with grievances could settle them inside, both sides would place wagers, and the victor would claim the stakes.

"It can settle grudges and earn Spirit Stones?" Ye Feng's eyes lit up. He had no grudges to settle, but he was sorely lacking Spirit Stones right now. This Gambling Arena seemed tailor-made for him.

Entering the Gambling Arena, he saw that its interior was enormous, with five bluestone fighting platforms arranged in a fan shape.

Disciples were fighting atop the first four platforms. The clashes of True Qi from Qi Gathering Realm Second and Third Layer cultivators rang out without end. Their attacks were ruthless, leaving the disciples below boiling with excitement. Only the fifth platform stood empty, with a wooden board beside it for writing the conditions of a wagered duel.

Ye Feng walked to the fifth platform, picked up a brush, and wrote on the board: "Restricted to below Qi Gathering Realm Fourth Level. Wager: 5 Low-grade Spirit Stones."

Having finished, he leaped onto the platform and stood with his hands behind his back, waiting for challengers.

The watching disciples below immediately erupted into an uproar.

Among the crowd, Ding Qian had been standing with folded arms, watching the fight on the platform ahead. Catching sight of the figure on the fifth platform from the corner of his eye, he abruptly turned his head, his eyes widening round.

Wasn't that Ye Feng? He had still been at the Body Refining Tenth Level just days ago, and now he actually dared to challenge anyone below Qi Gathering Realm Fourth Level?

"This Ye Feng must have a death wish!" Ding Qian cursed under his breath. He had lost to Ye Feng during the Inner Court Selection and had already been holding in his resentment. Seeing Ye Feng acting so arrogantly now, he only felt that the man had gotten carried away the moment he entered the Inner Court.

"Where did this newcomer come from? Did a door squeeze his brain?"

"Below Qi Gathering Realm Fourth Level? Who does he think he is? Even old Inner Court disciples don't dare be this arrogant!"

"Still... five Low-grade Spirit Stones. If you can really win, it's not a bad deal."

Amid the mockery, some disciples were tempted by the wager and went to the wooden board to confirm the rules. "Brother, are these rules for real? You'll really hand over five Low-grade Spirit Stones if you lose?"

Ye Feng nodded. "Naturally. Anyone below Qi Gathering Realm Fourth Level may take the stage."

The moment he finished speaking, a figure vaulted onto the platform. It was a rugged-looking young man whose True Qi fluctuations were unmistakably at the Qi Gathering Realm Third Layer. He looked Ye Feng up and down, an arrogant curl rising at the corner of his mouth.

"A newcomer is a newcomer—doesn't know the rules. Today, I'll teach you how to respect your seniors!"

Before his words had even faded, the young man explosively unleashed his True Qi. His right hand formed a palm, sweeping toward Ye Feng's shoulder on a fierce gust of wind.

Though the palm strike looked casual, it concealed a clever force. If it landed, the pain would last at least half a day.

A gleam flashed through Ye Feng's eyes, but his face deliberately showed surprise. His body sluggishly shifted aside, narrowly avoiding the palm wind.

Before the young man could react, he swiftly threw a punch at the other man's abdomen.

As his fist swung out, he deliberately held back ninety percent of his strength, leaving only a thread of True Qi clinging to its surface. It looked soft and powerless.

The young man sneered, not taking the punch seriously at all, and simply let it strike his abdomen.

With a muffled puff, he felt only a faint numbness in his stomach. He had withstood it without even needing to circulate his True Qi.

"That's all the strength you've got?" The young man laughed loudly. "Looks like I picked up an easy bargain today!"

The disciples beneath the platform immediately regretted it. "I should've gone up there if I'd known! This Ye Feng has no strength at all—he's just here to hand out Spirit Stones!"

"It's over, it's over! Those five Spirit Stones are going to that brute. If I'd known, I wouldn't have hesitated!"

Listening to the chatter below, Ye Feng showed an "anxious" expression, as though he had truly been driven into a desperate corner.

He began circling around the young man. Every dodge appeared "extremely difficult," while his counterattacks were weak and limp. It looked as though sheer luck alone kept him from being struck.

The young man fought with growing enthusiasm. He felt that Ye Feng was nothing but a soft persimmon to be squeezed, and the longer he fought, the more relaxed he became.

Until, during one pursuit, his footing suddenly slipped.

This was the result of Ye Feng deliberately using his True Qi to disturb the ground moments earlier.

Ye Feng seized the opportunity and threw what appeared to be a "hasty" punch at the young man's chest. He still controlled his strength, but the point of impact was precisely aimed at the snag in the other man's circulation of True Qi.

"Urgh!" The young man grunted. His True Qi instantly fell into disorder, and his body toppled backward beyond his control. With a THUD, he fell off the platform.

The Gambling Arena fell silent in an instant, before erupting into a wave of shocked clamor.

Ye Feng stood on the platform, panting heavily as though he had just been through a fierce battle. He stepped down and accepted 5 Low-grade Spirit Stones from the young man, a "relieved" smile appearing on his face. "A lucky win, a lucky win."

Only Ye Feng himself knew that this victory had been part of his plan all along.

Showing weakness would not only let him win the gambling matches easily, but also make subsequent challengers lower their guard.

Only then could he continue earning Spirit Stones in the Gambling Arena, laying the foundation for building up his reserves and increasing his strength later on.

He put the Spirit Stones into his storage pouch and turned his gaze back to the gambling platform, a glint of calculation flashing through his eyes. Who would be next?