The Wager

"What if you lose, Young Master?"

Faced with Ling Qingzhu's question, Cang Wu's expression grew a little more serious. He looked at her and replied earnestly.

"I never bet on losing. Because I've never lost!"

Seeing how solemn Cang Wu looked, Ling Qingzhu had felt a little anticipation. Who could have guessed he would tease her with such a straight face?

A flicker of annoyance rose in Ling Qingzhu's eyes. She was about to say something when Cang Wu suddenly raised his hand.

In the next instant, Ling Qingzhu's beautiful eyes widened. A black vortex had enveloped the entire Green Lotus.

Before Ling Qingzhu could react, the Ancient Azure Sky Lotus beneath her feet shot toward the seal below.

Then, under countless astonished gazes, the lotus platform—now completely transformed into a deep, profound black—slammed into the seal barrier, yet not a ripple of energy emerged.

The black lotus platform landed on the barrier and, like a black lotus rising from the water, passed straight through it.

"This..."

Lin Langtian, Wang Yan, and the others looked at one another, clearly not expecting Cang Wu to have such a trick up his sleeve.

Inside the barrier, Ling Qingzhu looked back at the unharmed seal. Her eyes widened, sparkling with surprise, and she turned to the man beside her.

Cang Wu casually waved his hand and said with an air of complete nonchalance, "It's just a paltry trick, nothing worth mentioning."

Even Ling Qingzhu, usually cool and composed, couldn't help rolling her eyes at him.

If that counted as a paltry trick, then what did that make her, the greatest talent of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace? The greatest mediocrity of all?

Cang Wu had no intention of waiting for the others. He didn't want any complications.

Once they passed through the barrier, Cang Wu urged the Ancient Azure Sky Lotus onward, flying rapidly toward the depths of the Ancient Tomb Mansion. In the blink of an eye, they vanished from everyone's sight.

Turning to Ling Qingzhu, Cang Wu chuckled. "Don't believe me, Junior Sister?"

"Qingzhu hasn't lost yet. Isn't it a little too soon to change how you address me, Young Master?"

Ling Qingzhu rolled her eyes again. She felt she had rolled them more today than she had in her entire life.

Besides, she'd discovered that this seemingly mysterious and unfathomable fellow was a little shameless. He had none of the bearing of a powerful expert, nor a hint of a genius's pride.

"Besides, Qingzhu hasn't even agreed to that wager."

"If I lose, I'll give you a treasure comparable to this Ancient Azure Sky Lotus. How about it?"

Cang Wu couldn't have cared less. He kept calling her Junior Sister, making Ling Qingzhu glare at him twice. With a touch of indignation, she said, "Fine. Then let Qingzhu see what kind of means you have, Senior Brother, to be so confident you can beat me!"

"You'll find out soon enough, Junior Sister!"

After replying, Cang Wu urged the Ancient Azure Sky Lotus beneath their feet onward at full speed, heading for the main hall at the deepest part of the Ancient Tomb Mansion.

Along the way, Cang Wu didn't so much as glance at anything else. He didn't care about it at all, and Ling Qingzhu was the same.

For the two of them, the only thing in the entire Ancient Tomb Mansion that could tempt them was the Nirvana Heart.

Cang Wu especially had no time to gather Nirvana Pills and slowly increase his strength. The Nirvana Heart was the fastest way.

Above the camp outside the Ancient Tomb Mansion, Lin Langtian watched the two disappear and quickly came to his senses.

But as soon as he did, his expression turned terribly grim.

He had come here to fight for the Nirvana Heart. Yet he had already fallen behind others before even entering the Ancient Tomb Mansion. He would likely be a step behind them again when it came to the Nirvana Heart.

Once he realized this, Lin Langtian grew frantic and hurriedly called out, "Let's join forces and break the seal as quickly as possible!"

Wang Yan and Qin Shi also came to their senses. Without the slightest hesitation, they gathered their Primal Energy, ready to force their way through the seal.

Lin Dong, however, was still marveling at Cang Wu's methods. Unlike the others, Lin Dong could tell that Cang Wu had used pure Devouring Power.

Though they both wielded Devouring Power, Lin Dong struggled even to devour an opponent's Primal Energy. In Cang Wu's hands, however, even something like a seal could have its energy devoured, allowing him to pass right through. It was truly uncanny.

Just then, Lin Langtian remembered Lin Dong was standing nearby and said coldly, "You lowly branch-family brat, are you still not going to help?"

As he spoke, Lin Langtian struck with a raised hand. Together with Wang Yan and Qin Shi, he attacked the barrier.

Snapped out of his reverie, Lin Dong's expression darkened. He fixed Lin Langtian with a frigid gaze and sneered, "Aren't you the lofty genius of the main family? Since when do you need a lowly branch-family brat like me to help you break a seal? Aren't you afraid it'll disgrace you, the main family's greatest genius?"

Before, Lin Dong had been deeply wary of Lin Langtian. After all, he truly wasn't his match in terms of strength, and Little Marten's demonic spirit hadn't recovered yet. Unless it came to a critical moment, Lin Dong didn't dare ask Little Marten to risk his life.

But now, with the legacy Master Mu had left to the two brothers, Lin Dong wasn't the least bit afraid of Lin Langtian. At worst, he could just spend some of that inheritance.

A man lived not for the steamed buns, but for his pride. As long as he could stand up for himself, he didn't care if those things were gone.

No matter what happened today, Lin Dong would not put up with even the slightest insult from Lin Langtian.

"You!"

Lin Langtian was instantly furious. What angered him even more was that the three of them had joined forces, and though the barrier before them had wavered, it showed no sign of breaking.

After all, this seal had been left by a Nirvana Realm expert—and not just any expert, but one in the late stages of the Nirvana Realm, on the verge of breaking through to the Life Profound Realm.

Though the seal had weakened after countless years, two Form Creation Realm experts and one Qi Creation Realm expert still couldn't break it easily—not yet, at least.

Especially without Ling Qingzhu, a Creation Realm expert, to help them. The three of them would likely need several more rounds of attacks.

The thought that he might miss out on the Nirvana Heart entirely if they took too long made Lin Langtian anxious. He didn't care about saving face anymore and said coldly, "Fine. I apologize. I was wrong. Can you help now?"

As he spoke, Lin Langtian's eyes were bloodshot. He swore that once they were done exploring the Ancient Tomb Mansion, he would avenge this grudge.

Lin Dong smiled and nodded. "That's more like it!"

Though he said that, Lin Dong was just as murderous inside. He decided that when it was time to leave, he would deal with this guy for good.