The Salted Fish Dao Ancestor Deals

Inside the Azure Palace, the atmosphere was incredibly strange.

On one side, projected onto a crystal screen, was a scene of intense killing intent on the shores of the East Sea, where hundreds of millions of immortals and demons faced off, a life-or-death battle on the verge of erupting.

On the other side, within the Purple Heaven Palace, a certain Salted Fish Dao Ancestor sat with his legs crossed, munching on melon seeds and drinking a happy beverage, critiquing the screen and even setting up odds!

"Place your bets, place your bets! How many minutes will it take Eastern Emperor Taiyi to deal with East King Duke? One minute or less, 1.1 to 1; three minutes, 3 to 1; ten minutes, 10 to 1! Last longer than ten minutes, 100 to 1! Bets are closed! We accept Spiritual Treasures, Merit, and even installment payments for labor!" Xiao Kuang shouted with great enthusiasm, completely unaware that he was turning a Calamity-level conflict into the Primordial Era's first public gamble.

The Queen Mother of the West was utterly speechless. She looked at the enthusiastic Xiao Kuang, then at the screen where Di Jun Tai Yi's face was ashen and he was about to attack, and East King Duke, who was putting on a brave front despite his fear. She felt a wave of dizziness. Seek help from the Dao Ancestor? She wished she had never come to Purple Heaven Palace!

Wangshu crushed a second pair of glow sticks. The cold air around her was so thick it was about to drip. She began to seriously consider whether she should return to the Taiyin Star core and continue her slumber, even if it meant being disturbed by that "hey hey" sound, it would be better than staying here and watching the Heavenly Dao's proxy push the Primordial Era into an even more unpredictable abyss.

However, Xiao Kuang's gamble unexpectedly attracted some "customers."

"Dao Ancestor! I bet Eastern Emperor Taiyi will finish the fight within three minutes! I'll wager my Houtian Spiritual Treasure-grade Flying Sword!" a voice rang out. It was Sect Master Tongtian! He had returned, seemingly drawn by the "excitement" here. Seeing a gamble, he was immediately interested.

"Good! I bet one minute! This is a bottle of Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir!" Laozi actually got involved, placing a jade bottle on the table with a blank expression.

"Hmph, I bet ten minutes! Although East King Duke is trash, the Penglai formation might hold for a while!" Primordial Lord of Heaven also placed a bet with a cold face, seemingly to prove his judgment.

"I bet it lasts longer than ten minutes! 100 to 1! I'll wager these prayer beads!" Jieyin Daoist's eyes lit up, seeing this as a golden opportunity for the Western Teachings to escape poverty. Zhunti quickly chimed in, "Senior Brother has a brilliant idea! I also bet it lasts longer than ten minutes!"

Empress Nuwa covered her face with her hand, unable to bear watching, but still secretly tossed out a piece of Spirit Embroidery, betting on Taiyi to finish the fight in five minutes.

Even Old Ancestor Minghe, who was being forced to dance in the backyard, struggled to shout, "Dao Ancestor! I bet Taiyi finishes in one minute! I'll pay with wages from cleaning toilets!"

For a time, the Purple Firmament Palace seemed to have transformed into the Primordial Era's largest casino, with a group of Quasi-Saints and powerful beings gathered around the crystal screen, placing bets, arguing about odds and winning moves, temporarily forgetting that outside was a life-and-death battle that could trigger a Calamity.

Queen Mother of the West watched these top powers of the Primordial Era, like common gamblers, placing bets around Xiao Kuang, and felt that the extent to which the Primordial Era was doomed had deepened by another 108,000 layers.

"Alright, alright! The betting is closed, the betting is closed! Those who bet a lot, support with money; those who bet little, support with your presence! Action! Fight, fight!" Xiao Kuang slapped the table, excitedly pointing at the screen.

As if hearing his command, the battle above the East Sea finally erupted on the screen!

Eastern Emperor Taiyi struck first. The Chaos Bell let out a deafening roar that shook all time and space. The brilliant bell sound, carrying the power to shatter everything, directly blasted towards the protective formation of Penglai Immortal Island!

East King Duke's face changed drastically. He fully activated the Pure Yang Law and the Penglai formation to resist. Brilliant light surged, but under the sound of the Chaos Bell, it shook violently, clearly at a disadvantage!

"Good! A winning bet! Taiyi is awesome!" Xiao Kuang cheered, as if watching a soccer match where the first goal had been scored.

At the same time, Di Jun unleashed the River Diagram and Luo Script. The power of the Myriad Stars was stirred, transforming into endless beams of starlight that rained down on the Immortal Court's formation! Hundreds of millions of demon gods roared and charged!

The loose immortals of the Immortal Court also displayed their divine abilities. The light of magical treasures and divine spells illuminated the East Sea, clashing fiercely with the demon race army!

In an instant, above the East Sea, laws shattered, space collapsed, and blood flowed like a river! The fierce killing aura, even through the crystal screen, made everyone in Purple Heaven Palace feel a tremor.

However, led by Xiao Kuang, the focus of these unscrupulous powerful beings was completely skewed.

"One second! Two seconds! Three seconds! The bell is still ringing! The formation hasn't broken! Tongtian, your bet of three minutes is in jeopardy!" Xiao Kuang used a sand timer he had found from somewhere to time it.

"Tsk, East King Duke's shell is quite hard!" Sect Master Tongtian pouted. "Senior Brother, don't worry, it's only the first minute!" Primordial Lord of Heaven was calm. "Hold on! Hold on! For my 100 to 1 bet!" Jieyin and Zhunti secretly encouraged East King Duke (though East King Duke couldn't hear them).

Queen Mother of the West watched as loose immortals were continuously blasted to death by the starlight beams on the screen, and demon gods were torn apart by immortal techniques. Screams and explosions were incessant. She closed her eyes in pain. Were these living beings merely chips in a gamble for these powerful beings and the Dao Ancestor?

Wangshu also frowned, a hint of intolerance flashing in her clear, cold eyes. Although indifferent, she could not bear to witness such meaningless slaughter.

"Wow! Look! East King Duke is spitting blood! The formation is cracking! Taiyi is amazing! It's not even the second minute yet!" Xiao Kuang watched with even greater excitement.

As expected, on the screen, Eastern Emperor Taiyi let out a cold snort. The Chaos Bell vibrated again, its power even greater! The protective formation of Penglai Immortal Island finally could not bear the strain, let out a mournful cry, and shattered with a bang!

East King Duke was hit hard, spitting out a mouthful of golden blood, his aura instantly weakening.

"It's over! East King Duke is finished! Those who bet on one minute and three minutes, get ready to collect your money! Those who bet on ten minutes or more will lose their underpants!" Xiao Kuang announced loudly.

A cold light flashed in Di Jun's eyes. The River Diagram and Luo Script locked onto East King Duke, about to completely kill him! Taiyi's Chaos Bell was also raised again!

Queen Mother of the West's eyes snapped open, unable to bear watching any longer.

At this critical moment—

"Wait!" Xiao Kuang suddenly shouted, slapping his thigh. "I almost forgot! The house hasn't taken its cut yet!"

He fiercely mobilized his Heavenly Dao Authority and transmitted his voice across the entire East Sea battlefield, drowning out all the shouts and explosions:

"Ahem! That... everyone fighting, please pause for a moment! I, the Chief Executive Officer of Primordial Gambling Company Limited and Dao Ancestor of Purple Heaven Palace, now declare that the betting is temporarily frozen! All participating personnel, immediately lay down your weapons and rest in place for ten minutes! Await my calculation of bets and commission deduction! Those who disobey will be deemed to have provoked the house, and the consequences will be borne by you!"

Boom!

The entire East Sea battlefield, whether it was the murderous demon army, the desperately struggling loose immortals of the Immortal Court, or even Di Jun and Tai Yi who were about to strike the killing blow, and East King Duke who was waiting to die with his eyes closed, all froze in place as if under a spell!

Di Jun: "???" Tai Yi: "???" East King Duke: "???" Hundreds of millions of immortals and demons: "???"

Everyone... was stunned!

In the midst of a life-and-death struggle, at a critical moment when a Calamity was imminent... they were called for a timeout? The reason was... the house wanted to take its cut?!

Since the creation of the Primordial Era, such an absurd event had never occurred!

Di Jun trembled with rage. The Solar True Fire escaped uncontrollably, distorting the surrounding space with its heat. Tai Yi held the Chaos Bell, his hands trembling, unsure whether to continue striking or obey the order.

East King Duke, having narrowly escaped death, was completely bewildered, unable to comprehend the situation.

Inside the Purple Firmament Palace, the Queen Mother of the West and Wangshu were also completely petrified.

Could it... operate like this?

Only Xiao Kuang, looking with satisfaction at the instantly "frozen" battlefield, nodded, then took out a small abacus (also a Spiritual Treasure) and began to calculate with a clatter:

"Hmm, how much was bet on one minute, how much on three minutes, how much on ten minutes... The house takes a 5% cut... Tsk, doesn't seem like much profit. Should I raise the commission rate a bit? Or add a 'bloody spectacle surcharge'?"

Heavenly Dao (convulsions intensifying in sleep): ...Detected Proxy utilizing Calamity to set odds...and forcibly interrupting Calamity's progression to 'rake in the dough'...Morality value has fallen below critical point...Logic modules are continuously burning...Attempting reboot...Reboot failed...Recommendation...Format...all...hard drives...zzzz...

Above the East Sea, the wind howled, the sea roared, and billions of immortals and demons fell silent.

Only the crisp sound of Xiao Kuang working an abacus, transmitted clearly through Heavenly Dao Authority, reached the ears of every bewildered being.

Clack, clack.

As if calculating just how absurd this Primordial Era could still get.

(There have been quite a few requests for updates today, so here's an extra chapter.)