A Wager

For a moment, the entire venue erupted in commotion, everyone staring at this low-grade Spirit Artifact and showering it with praise.

Fu Boren beamed with joy, his gaze sweeping quickly across the crowd. When it landed on the Tianyin Peak disciples' position, he paused slightly and couldn't help asking.

"Elder Xu, Peak Master Shen didn't come today?"

Right in front of the Tianyin Peak disciples, a graceful Palace Garb Woman smiled. "The Peak Master was deducing formations a few days ago and exhausted too much mental energy. She's currently in seclusion on the peak recovering."

"Exhausted too much mental energy? Peak Master Shen has truly worked hard. Here, I have a bottle of Spirit Nurturing Fluid; please trouble Elder Xu to pass it on to Peak Master Shen!" Fu Boren immediately put on a worried expression and hastily spoke with concern.

As he said this, he pulled a finger-length jade bottle from his bosom and, with a concerned look, tossed it to the Palace Garb Woman.

"Then on behalf of the Peak Master, I thank Martial Brother Fu!" the Palace Garb Woman said with a smile.

Seeing this, the other peak masters and elders also took out various items and handed them to the Palace Garb Woman with concern.

Tianyin Peak wasn't the strongest in strength, but its Peak Master was skilled in formations and was the number one beauty of the Yun Ge Sect.

She was deeply favored by all the elders and peak masters!

Facing everyone's goodwill, the Palace Garb Woman kept a smile on her face and accepted everything without refusal.

At that moment, from the Yuntai Peak position, an old man with a thick beard laughed and called out, "Martial Brother Fu, you've really been hiding your talents! Quietly, you've gone and made a low-grade Spirit Artifact."

Fu Boren chuckled and said, "Martial Brother Chen flatters me. This is just my little trick. Your mastery of alchemy is the truly impressive skill. If not for you holding things up, where would we get so many miraculous pills to take?"

"Besides, being able to forge this Purple Lightning Sword is all thanks to Elder Chaoyang of Chaoyang Peak. I just didn't expect Elder Chaoyang didn't personally lead the team here today either."

As he spoke, Fu Boren turned his head to glance toward the Chaoyang Peak disciples' direction. Among the crowd, only one elder was leading the team. Facing Fu Boren's gaze, that elder gave a faint smile but didn't speak.

"Hmph! You

old bastard, still showing off. You could forge this low-grade Spirit Artifact only because you used my Purple Lightning Stone. Give me back my Purple Lightning Stone!" At this, Lu Mingshi rolled his eyes and said irritably to Fu Boren.

Fu Boren smiled and shook his head. "The Purple Lightning Stone is gone! But Martial Brother, are you interested in another bet? I'll stake this Purple Lightning Sword. How about it?"

Lu Mingshi was about to flare up, but hearing this, his eyes went wide in disbelief. "Another bet? Using this low-grade Spirit Artifact?! You old bastard, what do you want to bet?"

"Simple! We bet on which of our two peaks collects more and better materials in this trial. If we lose, the Purple Lightning Sword is yours. If you lose, you hand over that complete piece of Hundred Year Cold Jade you have. Deal?" Fu Boren pursed his lips, displeased with the nickname, but he didn't get angry. Instead, he squinted and spoke with a smile.

Lu Mingshi waved his hand grandly and said indignantly, "Pah! Dream on. Our Luofu Peak has few people to begin with. No matter how many materials we collect, we can't match your numbers!"

"If you want the Hundred Year Cold Jade in my hand, just say it. But I'm telling you, don't even think about it."

Fu Boren wasn't angry; instead, he smiled and said, "Martial Brother, there's no need to be so upset. I wouldn't do something so unfair."

"In this trial, as long as the materials Luofu Peak collects can exceed one-tenth of what Tianhua Peak gathers, you win."

"Though your Luofu Peak has few people, I think, Martial Brother, you shouldn't lack that much confidence, right?!"

Lu Mingshi frowned slightly, quickly glanced back, and then looked at the position of the Tianhua Peak crowd.

If it were a total quantity comparison, he felt there was no chance of winning.

But if it was just one-tenth, it wasn't

impossible. Besides, for this trial, he had specifically instructed the Transmission Elder to secretly train a batch of people.

Thinking of this, his heart couldn't help but stir. The Purple Lightning Sword, a low-grade Spirit Artifact!

The Hundred Year Cold Jade was also a good item, but compared to such a treasure, it fell a bit short.

"Are you sure?" Taking a deep breath, he looked up and stared at Fu Boren.

"Of course. With the other martial siblings as witnesses, are you afraid I'll go back on my word?" Fu Boren said with a loud laugh.

Turning his head and quickly sweeping his gaze over the various peak masters and elders, Fu Boren continued, "Several martial brothers and sisters, would you be interested in acting as witnesses for Martial Brother Lu and me?"

The others exchanged smiles and nodded in agreement one after another.

They might not have the inclination to join such a bet, but they were certainly in the mood to watch the excitement.

Still, in everyone's hearts, they felt Luofu Peak had little hope of winning.

Tianhua Peak had the most people and the strongest strength—that had been the case in the Yun Ge Sect for quite some time.

"Martial Brother Lu, you see? Want to bet?" Fu Boren said with a smile, looking at Lu Mingshi again.

"Hmph! As if I'm afraid of you, you old bastard. Fine, I'll take this bet!" Lu Mingshi raised an eyebrow and snorted coldly.

After saying this, he shot Fu Boren a glare and turned to look at the crowd on the flying boat.

"You all heard the bet with Tianhua Peak just now."

"Losing a few things is a small matter, but our Luofu Peak... can't be looked down upon."

"In this trial, all of you give it your best. Whether or not we surpass Tianhua Peak, the top five in material collection, besides becoming formal disciples, I'll give each of them an extra chance to enter the Treasure Pavilion and select a treasure."

After quickly laying out these words, Lu Mingshi turned his gaze back to Han Yu and

Xiao Yue.

In his heart, of course, he had the highest hopes for these two personal disciples.

But the others still needed encouragement—after all, even if each person found one more material, it would add up significantly.

The crowd on the flying boat surged with excitement once more because of Lu Mingshi's words.

Each peak had a Treasure Pavilion, and the treasures that could enter it were at the very least High-grade Magical Artifacts. Among them, there were also some advanced techniques and secret arts.

In the past, such an opportunity would never have fallen to servant disciples like them.

Even Su Shi'er couldn't help but feel anticipation. For a cultivator, an extra good treasure or a superior technique was equivalent to half a life.

Taking in everyone's reactions from the corner of his eye, Lu Mingshi continued to guide the flying boat down.

The crowd quickly disembarked and, like the disciples from other peaks, began to wait patiently.

It wasn't long before six streaks of light flashed across the sky. Then, six flying swords carrying over thirty people descended from the heavens, landing in the center of the valley.

Among these six flying swords, only one bore a single old man.

He was clad in robes as white as snow, with Dark-patterned Cloud Sleeves, his hair coiled in a Daoist Topknot. His face was lined with wrinkles, and he sported a foot-long white beard. His gaze was deep and profound, exuding an air of immortal grace.

On the other five flying swords stood seven young disciples each, all at Qi Refining Stage Six. With their cultivation, they were far from capable of riding flying swords.

Yet here they were, unmistakably doing so. This sight struck the onlookers as quite wondrous.

These people were the elder and disciples of Tianshu Peak, the main peak of the Yun Ge Seven Peaks.

If one were to speak of numbers among the Yun Ge Seven Peaks, the smallest was not Luofu Peak, but the main peak, Tianshu Peak.

But when it came to strength, Tianshu Peak was by no means lacking. To enter Tianshu Peak, one had to possess at least a High-grade Single Spirit Root.