Chapter 146 – A Brazen Bet

  Zhao Wuxian’s laughter thundered across the plaza as Han Lian accepted the terms of their wager. It abruptly stopped as his eyes narrowed and his expression suddenly turned fierce.

  His Qi surged, boiling outward in waves that shimmered in the air. A fiery aura of red and orange light quickly formed around him, and even the stone beneath his feet began to blacken and char from the heat.

  Roar!

  A spectral figure formed behind him, a towering and broad-shouldered beast whose hide glimmered in the light. Its fur blazed like fire, and every breath it took sent sparks into the air. The Iron-Backed Flame Ape loomed behind Zhao Wuxian, its spirit merging with his to provide increased strength and unmatched vitality.

  Gasps spread through the onlookers, and even a few of the Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators exchanged startled glances at the Bloodline Spirit Beast.

  “A Bloodline manifestation, at his age?” One of them whispered.

  “The Zhao Clan’s Iron-Backed Flame Ape is so domineering! No wonder he is so confident.”

  Jun De shielded his eyes slightly as the fiery aura around Zhao Wuxian flared brighter. The young man’s muscular physique expanded, and he grew nearly a foot taller while his bronze skin darkened even further, and his arms and chest were covered in a faint layer of reddish-orange fur.

  Zhao Wuxian grinned, and the spirit of the Flame Ape behind him matched his expression.

  “Sister Han Lian, I will even give you a moment to prepare yourself! It wouldn’t be a fair wager if I were to win too easily.”

  Han Lian stood her ground, her hair swaying in the wind that rippled across the plaza. Her own Qi began to steadily surge in response. It was filled with Earth and Metal Essences that seemed to rise from the ground beneath her feet.

  “I agree, it would be too easy if I were to win so easily. I am glad you appear to be able to put up a half-decent challenge.” Han Lian replied arrogantly.

  Jun De chuckled softly, while Bai Xuelian’s eyebrow rose in surprise at her statement.

  “I never thought Zhao Wuxian would meet his equal. She’s just as overconfident as he is.” Jun De muttered to her.

  “The Ironvein Quarry Sect is full of surprises.” Bai Xuelian replied.

  Han Lian brought her palms together in front of her chest, and her fingers formed a complex seal. Immediately, the ground beneath her feet began to tremble. The Metal Essence in the air grew thicker as she gained her own Aura to match Zhao Wuxian's.

  The surrounding Qi thickened, and a yellow haze surrounded Han Lian as her own energy surged abruptly to match Zhao Wuxian.

  One of the Ironvein Quarry Sect Disciples suddenly pointed and began to shout.

  “She’s using the Thousand Element Augmentation Technique!”

  Jun De looked at Bai Xuelian for an explanation, but she shook her head softly to indicate that she had never heard of it either.

  The Qi around her was different than anything Jun De had seen before. It was incredibly dense and heavy, filled with metallic elements, and it seemed to resonate with the landscape around them.

  “I wish I could practice it as well, but it requires vast resources to cultivate. As expected of the Personal Disciple of the Sect Master!” Someone said wistfully, and the crowd began to murmur.

  “It seems to be a body refining method that uses rare resources to cultivate.” Bai Xuelian whispered.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Similar to what Zhao Wuxian does as well?” Jun De replied as he thought about the elixirs and medicines that Zhao Wuxian covered his body in every day. Bai Xuelian frowned as she studied Han Lian, before shaking her head.

  “No. I believe this method uses rare ores and metals in its cultivation. The Ironvein Quarry Sect is built on top of rich veins of metal and earth essence that form rare resources. It is the perfect place to cultivate this method.”

  “It sounds expensive. No wonder I haven’t seen anyone else using it before.” Jun De commented. Such a method would need a wealthy backer or connections in order to obtain the rare resources required to cultivate.

  Han Lian raised one foot, then brought it down onto the stone ground of the plaza in a single, sharp strike. The air rang like a struck bell, and the earth shook from the force of the impact, while cracks spiderwebbed out from her in every direction.

  Zhao Wuxian’s grin widened after seeing Han Lian’s display of strength.

  “Good. Great. Wonderful!”

  Flames erupted from around Zhao Wuxian as the Iron-Backed Flame Ape roared, and Han Lian’s own yellowish aura of Qi flared in answer. They were two opposing forces that collided with enough force that the entire plaza around them seemed to hum in anticipation of the coming conflict.

  Han Lian’s voice sounded out as she took a ready stance in preparation for her next attack.

  “One final strike each, Zhao Wuxian. If you manage to win, I will spend the entire day with you. But when you lose, you will work in the mines for an entire week.” Han Lian made it clear that she believed beyond a doubt that she would be the victor.

  Zhao Wuxian’s laughter boomed out.

  “I look forward to our day together, Han Lian!”

  The ground trembled beneath them as they both unleashed their power. Qi laced with Fire and Metal essences roiled and pushed against each other as they both readied for the collision that would no doubt leave the Sect talking for months.

  Bia Xuelian watched the pair carefully, and when she spoke, her voice was so quiet that only Jun De could hear her.

  “Zhao Wuxian may be the stronger of the two, but this environment is suited to Han Lian.”

  Jun De nodded faintly, not offering his own commentary. He had no idea who would win, and he was thankful that, for once, he wasn’t at the center of things. He was more than happy to watch someone else face off, or draw the ire of an entire Sect.

  The impact occurs so quickly that Jun De almost missed it. The ground shattered beneath their feet as the two forces collided, and a shockwave rippled outward that filled the air with dust and heat, obscuring the pair for a moment.

  When the haze cleared, both Zhao Wuxian and Han Lian came into view, each standing unsteadily. The Flame Ape faded away, while the yellow aura surrounding Han Lian disappeared just as quickly. Blood trickled from the corner of Zhao Wuxian’s lips, but it was Han Lian who coughed harshly.

  They stood for a moment before they both fell at the same time.

  Gasps echoed throughout the plaza as they saw Han Lian drop to one knee, while Zhao Wuxian had fallen backwards to sit on the ground.

  “It’s a tie?” Someone murmured.

  Han Lian laughed breathlessly as she finally managed to stand again.

  “Brother Zhao, it seems that we have both won and both lost.”

  Zhao Wuxian clapped his hands together before regaining his feet and nodding.

  “Then I suppose it is only fair that we both get what we wanted. I will spend a week working in your mines, Sister Han, if you agree to spend an entire day with me!” Zhao Wuxian replied as his grin grew even wider.

  The crowd burst into murmurs and laughter at his brazenness, but Zhao Wuxian wasn’t finished yet. He tilted his head to the side, and his eyes gleamed with mischief.

  “And perhaps the night as well, if fate is kind.”

  A stunned silence followed, and the Disciples of the Ironvein Quarry Sect stared at him.

  Jun De winced and rubbed his temple.

  “He needs to learn when to stop talking.”

  Bai Xuelian nodded slightly in agreement.

  But to everyone’s surprise, Han Lian didn’t slap Zhao Wuxian or storm away. Instead, she smiled at him.

  “Very well, but only if you can keep up your end of the deal. I expect to see you in the mines tomorrow.”

  “You will see me there, Sister Han. I never renege on a bet!”

  From the rear of the crowd, a pair of cold eyes watched the scene unfold. Luo Feng’s jaw tightened as he watched Bai Xuelian whispering softly to Jun De, smiling at him while her hand rested on his arm intimately.

  Luo Feng’s knuckles cracked as he squeezed his hands into fists.

  He turned away before the crowd could disperse, slinking back to his residence before anyone saw him.

  When the heavy door closed and he was sealed off from the world, he made the jet black stone tablet appear on a table in front of him with a swipe of his sleeve.

  The Onyx Exchange Slate. It shimmered faintly as he laid his hand over it, caressing it gently.

  It had worked miracles before. It had given him everything he currently had, and he had no doubt that it would give him what he desired.

  “I need him out of the way. Once she’s alone, she’ll see how much better I am than that bastard. I can give her everything she could ever want with this Slate. What does he have besides a handsome face and a half-decent talent?”

  Luo Feng stared at the Slate for a long time as he thought of a plan. He needed to gather resources from the mines to exchange with the Slate. Eventually, it would give him something he could use against Jun De.

  If that didn’t work, he could always use his gains from the Slate to convince someone in the Sect to act on his behalf.

  “Bai Xuelian will be mine.”