The Wager

"Liu Family Head, Brother Chengfeng, congratulations! After this battle, the Liu will have two disciples in the Myriad Phenomena Hall!"

Several men in splendid robes approached Liu Fangzhi and Liu Chengfeng where the Liu had gathered.

"Indeed, Liu Family Head. Before long, the Liu will be the only family that matters in Tianshui City!"

"Congratulations! Brother Chengfeng, I hear your son Liu Kuang is still unmarried. I happen to have a daughter. What do you say we join them in marriage?"

The others smiled. They were leaders of major factions outside Tianshui City, and they understood the situation well.

As they saw it, there was no comparing Liu Kuang and Qin Hao. Qin Hao was bound to lose!

That would leave only Chen Yuntian, Liu Xiao, and Liu Kuang. Whatever place Liu Kuang took, he was certain to enter the Myriad Phenomena Hall.

The Liu's rise to power was a foregone conclusion. If they did not make friends with the family now, they might never get another chance!

"Hahaha! Thank you, everyone! Please, sit!" Liu Fangzhi laughed heartily, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

Liu Chengfeng merely smiled. "Let's set marriage aside for now. Kuang is devoted to cultivation and has no thoughts of starting a family."

"Of course, of course. Brother Chengfeng, Liu Kuang works so hard. He truly is an outstanding young talent."

"Gentlemen, how about a wager? I bet Liu Kuang can defeat that good-for-nothing Qin Hao within ten breaths. If he does, I'll hand over my ten shops by Tianshui City's south gate to Brother Chengfeng!"

"That suits me perfectly. I wager five breaths! My five shops by the north gate will go to the Liu Family Head and Brother Chengfeng!"

The men chimed in one after another, their faces full of flattery.

Liu Fangzhi and Liu Chengfeng were speechless. This was hardly a wager; the men were plainly trying to hand them money. But when someone offered a pillow just as they were getting sleepy, why refuse?

They exchanged smiles and said nothing.

"Qin Hao's finally finished! That good-for-nothing actually thought he could oppose the Liu!"

Elsewhere, Liu Ruojie was flushed with excitement. "Sis, that good-for-nothing Qin Hao can't possibly withstand Liu Kuang's strike. I can't wait! Once Liu Kuang cripples him and starts tormenting him, I want to give him a couple of cuts myself!"

"Only then will the hatred in my heart ease!"

Liu Ruojie ground his teeth, barely able to contain his excitement.

Liu Ruoxue nodded faintly and said with disdain, "He's just a good-for-nothing. Torment him however you like."

"As long as I'm here, even if Qin Family Head Qin Yuntian turns on us, he won't be able to stir up a wave!"

"Liu Kuang's blade work has improved considerably, though. Judging by that strike, he should have cultivated the Frenzied Blade Art to the mastery stage. With that strength, entering the Myriad Phenomena Hall won't be a problem."

"I've already secured my footing in the Myriad Phenomena Hall. If Liu Kuang enters it today, given time, the Liu will flourish and become the undisputed rulers of Tianshui City!"

Discussion swept through the Martial Arts Arena.

Everyone believed that once Liu Kuang's blade fell, the fight would be over!

But...

At that very moment!

"Seven-Star Step!"

Qin Hao stepped along the Seven Stars. His body shifted half a step to the left with startling suddenness, and the blade came down so close it almost brushed him before striking the ground with a heavy bang.

Sparks flew everywhere!

"What? He dodged it?" Liu Kuang's face filled with disbelief.

"Am I seeing things? Qin Hao actually got out of the way?"

"Is... is that really Qin Hao?"

The crowd erupted. None of them could believe it.

"That good-for-nothing's movement technique is actually this good!"

Liu Ruoxue's pupils contracted slightly. Her expression soon returned to normal, and she gave a cold snort.

"Good-for-nothing! Even if you cultivate your movement technique to a higher stage, you still can't change the outcome of this fight!"

"Trash is trash. It can never become strong!"

Elsewhere, beside Liu Fangzhi, the faction leaders were taken aback. One of them said, "That good-for-nothing will lose within ten breaths! Qin Hao's movement technique may be decent, but he can't withstand Liu Kuang's attacks forever!"

Liu Kuang did not believe Qin Hao could withstand him either. Still, having his strike dodged sent him into a rage. "Good-for-nothing, let's see how many more strikes you can dodge!"

Whoosh!

Liu Kuang brought his blade down again.

"Dodge?" Qin Hao sneered. "Then let me show you my swordsmanship!"

"Sword-Drawing Art!"

This time, Qin Hao stepped along the Seven Stars and advanced instead of retreating. At the same time, he whipped out the hand gripping the Iron Sword.

Swish!

A rush of sword wind rang out. Sword light flashed, and in the next instant—

Clang!

The Iron Sword met the blade with a piercing clash of metal.

Liu Kuang's expression changed. His grip went numb, and he stumbled several steps backward.

Qin Hao remained calm. He took only one step back.

At the sight, everyone froze.

Even Liu Ruoxue looked surprised.

She had a faint sense that Qin Hao, that good-for-nothing, was not as simple as he appeared.

"Impossible! How could you withstand my attack?"

Liu Kuang's fury burned hotter.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! ...

Liu Kuang struck again and again.

Each strike was faster than the last, coming from above, below, left, and right in an all-out assault.

"Sword-Drawing Art!"

Qin Hao's expression did not change. He unleashed the Sword-Drawing Art once more.

Bang! Bang! Bang! ...

In an instant, the two were trading furious blows across the arena. Both fought without restraint, putting tremendous force behind every move and holding nothing back.

Yet the longer they fought, the more alarmed Liu Kuang became.

He and Qin Hao had already exchanged dozens of moves. Even at the Early Seventh Layer of the Body Tempering Realm, Liu Kuang felt himself flagging under attacks of this intensity.

What was more, every exchange sent tremendous force through his weapon, numbing his grip.

"Th-this... that good-for-nothing Qin Hao has actually lasted this long against Liu Kuang!"

"My eyes must be playing tricks on me! He has a First-Grade Martial Soul. How did a good-for-nothing like him grow so much stronger in just three months?"

Everyone found it unbelievable.

"Hm? He's mastered the Sword-Drawing Art! And not barely mastered it, either. It would take at least a dozen years of hard practice to wield swordsmanship like that!"

Among the Liu, the faction leaders beside Liu Fangzhi were stunned. They naturally knew the Sword-Drawing Art, a Qin Family Yellow-Tier Mid-Level Martial Art.

But they had never seen anyone cultivate the Sword-Drawing Art to this level!

The speaker suddenly realized what he had said. Turning, he saw Liu Chengfeng's face dark as water and hurriedly added, "Brother Chengfeng, there's no need to worry. Even with the Sword-Drawing Art mastered, that good-for-nothing can't be a match for Liu Kuang. Besides, the Myriad Phenomena Hall would never recruit a good-for-nothing with a First-Grade Martial Soul!"

Ten breaths had long since passed. The men's faces twitched, and by unspoken agreement, none mentioned the wager again.

"Sis!"

Liu Ruojie asked anxiously, "What's going on? Why hasn't Liu Kuang crippled that trash Qin Hao yet?"

Surprise flickered through Liu Ruoxue's eyes before her expression settled. "Qin Hao has mastered not only his movement technique, but the Sword-Drawing Art as well."

"What? He's mastered his movement technique and his sword art?" Liu Ruojie stared at her in shock. "How could he have mastered both? Sis, you must have seen wrong! Yes, you definitely saw wrong!"