Bet

As Shangguan Ye charged into first place on the Sacred Spirit Heavenly Realm rankings, geniuses like Long Yuyin and Jin Yan could no longer sit still. They all rushed over, followed by a huge crowd of spectators.

"Big Sister, why don't you rest properly at home instead?" Gu Bei pushed Gu Lan to the Sacred Spirit Heavenly Realm as well.

"It's fine," Gu Lan said softly. She then looked up at Shangguan Ye at the very top, her face flushing slightly.

"Brother Shangguan is amazing. He shot straight to first place the moment he arrived." Gu Bei looked up, rubbed his eyes after being dazzled by the glaring sunlight.

"Indeed. Those so-called geniuses are utterly dim before him now."

Gu Lan looked at Nie Li and Lu Piao again and sighed.

"The Little Exquisite World truly deserves to be called the most mysterious world. It actually has so many geniuses. Xiao Bei, you're very fortunate to know them."

Gu Lan turned to look at Gu Bei, her eyes full of affection. She knew her younger brother was no less capable than Nie Li and the others. It was just that, born into a family like theirs, he had to learn to endure. A tree that rises above the forest will be destroyed by the wind. If she had understood that sooner, she would not have spent two years as a cripple.

"Oh? Aren't these the Gu Lan and Gu Bei siblings? What brings you two to the Sacred Spirit Heavenly Realm today?" An untimely voice rang out.

Upon hearing that voice, the siblings' expressions darkened slightly.

"Gu Heng, what does it have to do with you whether we come here or not? This isn't your home," Gu Bei said irritably.

"Hey, I'm just concerned about Cousin Gu Lan's health. Since her legs are inconvenient, she should stay home and recuperate more." Gu Heng deliberately stressed the words "legs are inconvenient."

Every word from Gu Heng pierced Gu Bei's heart, but he did not show it. Fortunately, Shangguan Ye had already healed his sister's legs. There was no need for him to be provoked by this guy. Once the time came, he would settle both old and new grudges together!

Compared to Gu Bei, Gu Lan was much calmer.

"Cousin, are you here to watch the show too? Why not join us?" Gu Lan said indifferently. Though her enemy stood right before her, she remained calm. The past two years had taught her many things.

Seeing that he could gain no advantage, Gu Heng led his subordinates off to one side.

While they were speaking, Long Yuyin and the others arrived. Long Yuyin looked at Shangguan Ye at the very top and gritted her teeth, then looked at Nie Li and Lu Piao. She could not understand it. She had been born into a great aristocratic family and was called a genius by others, yet these people from small worlds had neither power nor influence here. What gave them the right to stand on equal footing with her, or even surpass her?

Long Yuyin strode up the steps until she reached Nie Li's side. Crossing her arms, she sneered, "One hundred and twenty-one steps. I never expected you to make it this far. But with your lowly status, this should be your limit."

Nie Li's face darkened at her words, and he stood up.

"With our status? In your eyes, is status so important in cultivation?"

"Without the resources provided by a family, how far can you go? Yes, just as you said, the Dragon Seal Family can turn even trash into a genius. In my opinion, you are that piece of trash. Without your family, you are nothing!" Nie Li pointed at Long Yuyin's nose and cursed her out.

"You... Say that again?" It was the first time Long Yuyin had been cursed at like this, and she could barely process it.

"Didn't you understand? You're trash. You're proud of that Scarlet Dragon Bloodline you were blessed with, aren't you? In my eyes, the Scarlet Dragon Bloodline is garbage. What, don't like hearing that?" Nie Li pressed even harder.

"You dare call me trash?" Veins bulged on Long Yuyin's forehead.

"Why wouldn't I? Others may fear you, but I, Nie Li, do not. You're domineering, tyrannical, and use your power to bully others. A venomous woman like you deserves to have her tongue cut out and be thrown into a vat of boiling oil!"

"You dare humiliate me? I'll wipe out your entire clan!"

"Heh, all you talk about is wiping out someone's entire clan. Just as expected, someone as fierce on the outside and cowardly on the inside as you reveals her true nature as trash the moment she leaves her family. But I'm all alone here. If you want to wipe out my entire clan, go to the Little Exquisite World. Can you even get in?"

"You!"

"Stop boasting that you're a genius! Don't you think it's ridiculous? What's so impressive about tenth place? If you've got the guts, fight me one-on-one. I'll soon let you know that you have no right to mock others!"

"Hmph, you only know how to wag your tongue. You have no idea how vast the gap between us is. A one-on-one fight? How laughable. No one has ever dared speak to me, Long Yuyin, like this. I'll make you admit defeat wholeheartedly. But if you lose, you'll take three lashes from me. Do you dare?"

"Why wouldn't I? I'll return those same words to you. Let today be the deadline. If I climb higher than you, just wait for your lashes."

"Heh, I'll go up and wait for you." Long Yuyin walked upward until she reached the one hundred and twenty-ninth step.

"One hundred and twenty-nine steps is my limit, but after cultivating for a while, I'll be able to reach the one hundred and thirtieth step. It's absolutely impossible for him to surpass me in one day." Long Yuyin sat cross-legged and began cultivating.

Thus, the two began their contest. Before long, Nie Li was the first to stand and climb another step, but when he tried to go higher, he felt as if immense obstacles were blocking him.

"Master was right. The hostility within me is too heavy. Heaven and earth embrace all things, but earning the Heavenly Dao's recognition is far too difficult." As he spoke, Nie Li glanced at Shangguan Ye.

"This guy doesn't count..."

"The Heavenly Dao is clear and manifest. Heaven can cover all things but cannot bear them; earth can bear all things but cannot cover them; the Great Dao can contain all things but cannot distinguish them. Know that all things have what they can do and what they cannot..." Nie Li silently recited the Heart Sutra and entered a state of profound realization. Immediately, an immense orange Heavenly Dao Power erupted from his body. Nie Li climbed upward step by step, and his powerful aura made Long Yuyin tremble.

"How can this be... How can his aura be so powerful? It's even stronger than a Seven-Life Expert's..."

Nie Li walked to Long Yuyin's side.

"Nothing much."

Nie Li continued upward until he reached the one hundred and thirty-fifth step. Long Yuyin's body suddenly shuddered.

"One hundred and thirty-five... I... can't do it."

"Good heavens, he actually surpassed Long Yuyin! Is the Little Exquisite World really this fierce?"

"Are you really new students? You didn't lie about your ages, did you?" A student sitting beside Lu Piao turned and asked.

"What are you talking about?"

On a cliff, Venerable Chi Ling was fishing when his expression suddenly changed slightly.

"Shangguan Ye, Nie Li... Heh, I knew they were extraordinary when they condensed their Soul Fire before. But I've only been their master for a year... They should have caught the attention of every faction by now, shouldn't they?"

Meanwhile, Long Yuyin honored the wager and accepted her loss.

"I lost!" Long Yuyin threw over a long whip.

"However, although I lost, next time I won't rely on my family's strength. I'll defeat you fairly and squarely!"

"Long Yuyin is just an overbearing little girl right now. I should just teach her a lesson and send her packing." Nie Li raised the whip in his hand, about to strike, when Shangguan Ye's voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

"The highest goodness is like water. Water benefits all things without contending. Why bother? Perhaps we will need her strength in the future."

"Ah..." Nie Li tossed the whip back.

"Leave. I've no interest in hitting you anymore. Don't appear before me again."