East Mountain Secret Realm

"This Wang Family is truly ruthless."

Among the crowd, an elderly cultivator sighed softly, stroking his beard. "You know, three years from now is when the East Mountain Secret Realm opens."

As soon as these words were spoken, the younger ones nearby hadn't yet reacted, but those with a bit more experience...

A look of realization dawned on their faces.

The East Mountain Secret Realm was a great opportunity that came only once every fifty years in the East Mountain Islands.

Though perilous within, the secret realm was also overflowing with treasures, especially the legendary "Nascent Soul Fruit" said to aid in Nascent Soul Formation.

It was a divine object dreamed of by countless Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators.

But the secret realm had restrictions...

Only Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators could enter.

If the Zhang Family accepted this high-stakes gamble, win or lose—even if they somehow emerged victorious—those ten Foundation Establishment cultivators would inevitably suffer heavy casualties on the life-and-death arena.

Then what would the Zhang Family have left to explore the secret realm?

Without the secret realm's resources...

How would the Zhang Family nurture a Golden Core True Person or a Nascent Soul Cultivator in the next fifty years?

"This move cuts off the very root. Truly vicious to the extreme."

Someone shook their head inwardly. "The Wang Family isn't just trying to swallow the Zhang Family's mine now—they're cutting off their future path."

All eyes converged on the steps before the Zhang Family's main hall.

They waited, waited for the Zhang Family's response.

Would they swallow their pride, admit inferiority, and let the Wang Family humiliate them?

Or would they grit their teeth and accept this doomed gamble?

Betting the family's future on a sliver of hope?

The Zhang Family's Great Elder, Zhang Yunhai, looked grim to the extreme at this moment.

He turned to glance at the elders behind him, only to find Second Elder Zhang Yunshan and Third Elder Zhang Yunwu also wearing troubled expressions.

"Big Brother, this challenge letter... we can't accept it."

Third Elder lowered his voice, speaking urgently. "You know our family's situation. Excluding those too old to fight, the Foundation Establishment cultivators we can field are barely that many."

"If they all fall on the arena, half the Zhang Family's sky will collapse!"

"But what else can we do if we don't accept?"

Zhang Yunhai had a fiery temper. Though he knew the family's predicament, frustration burned in him. "Under everyone's watch, if we cave in and hand over our ancestral Spiritual Vein, how can we ever raise the Zhang Family's banner again?"

"Those Small Families that rely on us will likely defect to the Wang Family the very next day!"

Caught between a rock and a hard place. This was a blatant scheme.

Wang Teng stood below the stage, arms crossed.

A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He relished this feeling of cornering his opponent.

It was even more satisfying than booking the top courtesan in a brothel.

"What? Family Head Zhang still can't decide?"

Wang Teng taunted loudly. "If you really can't scrape together ten who aren't afraid to die, that's fine too."

"Just hand over the deed to the Spiritual Vein, and this young master might show some leniency and spare you all this bloodshed."

"After all, heaven has a virtue for mercy, hahahaha!"

The Wang Family's pack of lackeys joined in with roaring laughter, the sound grating to the extreme.

Zhang Yunshan trembled with rage and was about to shout back, but Zhang Chen's hand gently pressed on his shoulder.

"Father, there's no need for you to get angry over such a clown."

Zhang Chen slowly walked out from behind the crowd.

He wore a dark brocade robe today, with the jade pendant symbolizing the Young Master's status hanging at his waist. His entire demeanor was calm and composed, without a trace of panic in the face of disaster.

"Chen'er, you..."

Zhang Yunshan was stunned.

Zhang Chen didn't explain. He just gave his father a reassuring look, then walked straight up to Wang Teng.

He didn't even look at Wang Teng, but reached out directly.

Took the gilded challenge letter, filled with provocative words, from Zhang Yunshan's hand.

"This gamble, the Zhang Family accepts."

But when these words fell on the crowd's ears, they struck like a thunderclap.

"Accepted?! That prodigal son actually accepted?!"

"Mad! Jian Shou has gone mad! Does he even know what this means?"

"Tch, mud that can't be plastered on the wall. He'd throw away the substance just to save face."

The surrounding murmurs rose and fell, most of them laced with pity and mockery.

Even Lin Qingxue looked at her husband with some surprise, but she quickly regained her composure.

Since her husband had made his decision, all she needed was for the sword in her hand to be sharp enough.

Wang Teng clearly hadn't expected Zhang Chen to agree so readily.

He was stunned for a moment, then the mockery in his eyes deepened.

"Good! Bold!"

Wang Teng gave a thumbs-up, his tone exaggerated. "As expected of the Young Master of the Zhang Family! In that case, sign and seal it, so there's no backing out."

With that, he gestured for his men to bring the ink and brush.

"Hold on."

Zhang Chen suddenly raised a hand to stop him.

"What? Scared?"

Wang Teng sneered. "It's too late to back out now."

"Scared?"

Zhang Chen let out a light laugh, flicking the Challenge Letter in his hand. "I just think that for a gamble this big, the stakes are far too shabby."

"Shabby?"

Wang Teng's eyes went wide. "A Grade 2 High-grade Spiritual Vein, worth a fortune, and you call that shabby?"

"For families the size of the Zhang and Wang, a single Spiritual Vein—though precious—only breaks bones and tendons. It won't kill anyone."

Zhang Chen's gaze sharpened. He stepped forward, locking eyes with Wang Teng. "Since we're playing, let's play bigger."