Han Mingguan looked at Xu Changxing's strange expression and laughed.
"Brother Xu, don't take that earlier wager seriously. I was only joking.
Let's have a good, satisfying fight today!"
Xu Changxing's expression was a little stiff. "Personally, I think a duel without stakes is rather dull.
Since we can't bet on the draw anymore, let's bet on the outcome of our duel instead."
Han Mingguan's eyes lit up again.
"Excellent idea! How much would you like to wager, Brother Xu?"
Xu Changxing thought for a moment. "A thousand low-grade spirit stones is a little too little. Let's make it three thousand!"
Han Mingguan gave Xu Changxing a couple of surprised looks.
"You certainly wager generously, Brother Xu. Flying Stream Peak really is dripping with wealth.
I accept!"
Once Han Mingguan agreed to the wager, Xu Changxing said nothing more. He walked aside and quietly began preparing.
He had raised the stakes to three thousand partly because he was annoyed with this fellow who had rigged things behind the scenes, and partly because he wanted to take the opportunity to earn some spirit stones.
He had just checked: the cost of running another simulation had risen from the original one thousand points to two thousand.
And he only had a little over three thousand low-grade spirit stones on hand.
That was why his first proposed wager had been only a thousand low-grade spirit stones.
As for whether he could win this time, Xu Changxing was fairly confident.
Although he had lost to Han Mingguan in the previous simulation, he had not condensed Sword Intent then.
Besides, his mindset back then had been to lie low whenever he could.
To avoid revealing that he had established his foundation with nine Cloud Patterns, he had also held back the full strength of his formidable foundation.
But after watching his own simulated life from a first-person perspective, his outlook had changed again.
What did a lifetime of carefree freedom amount to? In the end, I was still just dry bones in a cave.
If I couldn't attain immortality, what difference was there between two hundred and eighty years and eight?
Xu Changxing's mindset had now shifted from lying low whenever possible to pursuing immortality with steady steps.
Under these circumstances, there was no harm in revealing a little of his talent.
After all, he had displayed considerable talent in several earlier simulations, and no one in the sect had acted against him.
While he quietly regulated his breathing, the Core Formation elders arrived and took their places one after another.
Among them was Xu Changxing's master, Liu Chenyu.
A middle-aged elder approached him to offer a greeting. "Senior Brother Liu, what brings you here too?
Is your second disciple, Zhou Lechi, competing again?
He must be close to Core Formation by now. Entering a tournament meant to let new disciples shine would make his victory rather unfair!"
Before Liu Chenyu could answer, another Core Formation elder spoke up.
"I heard Old Liu took on a third disciple two months ago.
Old Liu, are you planning to have that third disciple compete?"
"Surely not. Wasn't that new disciple of yours only in the Qi Refining realm?
How did he reach Foundation Establishment in just two months?"
"Foundation Establishment in two months? Doesn't that mean he had no time to condense any Cloud Patterns?
Old Liu, why would you send a disciple like that out here?
Even if you wanted him to compete, you should have let him cultivate for another two years.
If someone blasts him off the stage with a single Spell Arts technique, you'll really lose face."
"Ahem!"
Liu Chenyu cleared his throat, cutting off their discussion.
In truth, he had anticipated this scene before coming.
He had been wavering over whether to let Xu Changxing participate in the Sect Grand Competition at all.
Had Li Changge not assured him that his youngest junior brother had a solid foundation, Liu Chenyu might well have refused to let him come out and make a spectacle of himself.
Liu Chenyu shook his head. "The one competing this time is indeed my third disciple, that good-for-nothing.
I thought he had decent talent and originally wanted him to cultivate a few more Cloud Patterns.
Instead, he somehow reached Foundation Establishment without even using a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Since things have already turned out this way, I decided to let him come and have a look, lest he grow ignorant of how high the heavens are and how deep the earth is."
"Good heavens! He reached Foundation Establishment without even using a Foundation Establishment Pill? His talent really is exceptional.
What a pity. What a pity..."
"Old Li, if you can't say anything sensible, keep quiet. What do you mean, 'what a pity'?
He merely failed to condense Cloud Patterns.
Since Old Liu dares to let his disciple compete, I reckon the boy must have something up his sleeve."
"Hmm, that's fair enough.
Still, it's a pity he didn't condense any Cloud Patterns.
At least in the Foundation Establishment Realm, his true essence will be a notch less refined than everyone else's."
Liu Chenyu was displeased by this. "So what if his true essence is a notch below everyone else's?
My third disciple cultivates swordsmanship. With enough talent, he can kill enemies through Sword Intent even without true essence.
Besides, his foundation is extremely solid. He's certainly no worse than his peers who condensed four or five Cloud Patterns."
Hearing this, the tactless Elder Li burst out laughing.
"Old Liu, you're still just as protective of your brood as ever.
I can understand it with your first two disciples. Li Changge is exceptionally gifted and surpassed you, his master, years ago.
Your second disciple, Zhou Lechi, is quite good too, so protecting him is fair enough.
But now you're even protecting this third disciple who never had time to condense Cloud Patterns. That mindset hardly befits an immortal cultivator."
"Old Li, you'd better say less. Watch out, or Old Liu will have his disciple beat you up.
His eldest disciple, Li Changge, is famous these days. They say he can even survive an encounter with a Nascent Soul Ancestor.
If you make him angry and he pounds your face into a riot of peach blossoms, don't expect us to intervene."
"Uh..."
Elder Li was left speechless, yet he was reluctant to give up this chance to tease Liu Chenyu.
Liu Chenyu had often used his two disciples as grounds to mock his ability to choose apprentices.
After a moment's thought, his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Old Liu, since you think your third disciple has such a good foundation, how about we make a wager?"
Liu Chenyu frowned. "What wager?"
The corners of Elder Li's mouth lifted slightly. "We'll bet on whether your third disciple can make it through five rounds!
If your disciple gets through five rounds, I'll give you a piece of Heaven Crystal Sand to refine his flying sword.
If you lose, how about giving me that Spirit-Nourishing Fruit plant in your medicinal garden?"
Liu Chenyu's frown deepened at those words.
Before he could speak, several elders beside him began laughing and scolding.
"Old Li, aren't you looting a burning house?
You know perfectly well that Old Liu's third disciple hasn't condensed any Cloud Patterns, yet you propose a wager like that. How is that any different from outright robbery?"
"Exactly. Never mind five rounds-even three would be unfair, if you ask me.
Old Li, that's going too far."
Despite their repeated reproaches, Elder Li remained unruffled.
"What's wrong with five rounds? This tournament uses double elimination.
Do you really think Old Liu's third disciple will lose twice in the first five rounds?
You're not belittling me by saying that. You're belittling Old Liu!"
At that, the others swallowed the words on their tongues.
Their gazes turned toward Liu Chenyu in unison.
The corner of Liu Chenyu's eye twitched. "Fine, I'll take the wager. It's only a Spirit-Nourishing Fruit. Do you really think I can't afford to play?
You're the one who'd better not fail to produce that Heaven Crystal Sand when the time comes."
Before you continue