Zhang Daoling was rendered speechless by Ying Chen’s shock, his face a ghastly pale.
After a long while, he asked for the third time, "Who exactly are you?"
Ying Chen did not answer, merely pointing at the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal and asking, "Bet or not?"
Zhang Daoling's pupils contracted sharply, as if he had suffered a grave insult.
It was one thing for Ying Chen to snatch his Purple Mansion Celestial Master Sword, but now he was coveting his lifeblood treasure!
The Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal was Zhang Daoling's ultimate secret weapon!
Zhang Daoling would rather destroy it than let Ying Chen have it!
However, since Ying Chen wished to bet, Zhang Daoling saw no reason to refuse.
For in Zhang Daoling's eyes, the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal, as the foremost artifact of the current era, had no possibility of losing!
The moment Ying Chen proposed the bet, his defeat was already sealed!
Zhang Daoling's gaze flickered, and he said, "It is good for a young man to dare to gamble, but to be addicted to gambling is not a good thing!"
"Since you like it so much, I shall indulge you!"
"If you win, I, this master, shall gift you the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal! If you lose, you will obediently return my flying sword and golden core! As for whether you drain your own blood and extract its medicinal properties, or whether I do it myself, that is up to you."
Ying Chen smiled faintly.
Zhang Daoling's first sentence was not entirely wrong.
Young men should possess the courage to "dare to gamble," but not the bad habit of being "addicted to gambling."
However, it was difficult to say who among the two was the truly young man.
"As expected of Patriarch Zhang. Then let us decide the victor with one strike! If within ten breaths, you can suppress me using the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal, even just making me unable to move, it will count as your victory!"
"If not, then I apologize, I will have to reluctantly accept another magic artifact from Patriarch Zhang."
Ying Chen stated.
Hearing the condition Ying Chen proposed, a look of mockery instantly flared in Zhang Daoling's eyes.
Ying Chen was truly arrogant!
Did he think that because he could withstand the Purple Mansion Celestial Master Sword, he could withstand the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal?
Little did he know, the two artifacts were completely different in nature!
Moreover, their power differed by more than tenfold!
In the final analysis, the Purple Mansion Celestial Master Sword was initially crafted to be used as a sundial gnomon.
Even though it was also Zhang Daoling's lifeblood artifact, it had never truly been used in battle, like a treasured sword without an edge; even a fine sword had limited destructive power.
However, the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal was an artifact that had followed Zhang Daoling throughout his life of battles!
During Zhang Daoling's countless campaigns, the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal was always present, seasoned by fierce combat and saturated with blood!
The Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal was like a veteran soldier retiring from the battlefield, a world apart from a raw recruit who had never seen combat!
Ying Chen's confidence in facing such a formidable weapon of war was baffling.
"Nuò!" Zhang Daoling said with a sneer, waving his hand.
In the Han Dynasty, Nuò represented "consent" or "agreement."
It was also used like "Wéi," expressing the same meaning.
However, Nuò was used by a superior to a subordinate, such as when a minister requested something from the emperor, and the emperor agreed, he would use "Nuò."
While Wéi was used by a subordinate to a superior, indicating a difference in status.
Zhang Daoling's use of "Nuò" towards Ying Chen was a deliberate act of treating Ying Chen as a subordinate, as someone beneath him!
"Petty and narrow-minded, not befitting a patriarch." Wang Zizai, deeply versed in Han Dynasty culture, heard the implication behind Zhang Daoling's word and could not help but express his disdain.
Zhang Daoling's expression instantly changed, and killing intent blazed in his eyes.
"As we Xuan Shi discuss the Dao, what right do you have to interject?"
"You are simply courting death!"
With that, Zhang Daoling suddenly activated the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal and hurled it towards Wang Zizai.
The Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal flew like a meteor, swift and direct.
In the blink of an eye, it reached above Wang Zizai's head.
A terrifying force erupted instantly. Not to mention Wang Zizai, even an elephant or a small mountain could have been smashed into pieces!
Wang Zizai's face paled in alarm.
At this moment, a voice reached everyone's ears: "Doesn't your action precisely confirm his words?"
"Since you have already made your move, it means our bet has officially begun."
It was Ying Chen!
Then, a figure flashed before Wang Zizai.
This figure did not appear to be taller or sturdier than Wang Zizai, yet with a casual raise of his hand, he stopped the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal!
No matter how hard the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal pushed, it could not make his arm bend even slightly!
"Ten."
Ying Chen uttered the number unhurriedly.
The ten-breath bet had officially begun!
Zhang Daoling snorted coldly and pointed a finger at the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal.
The Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal instantly flew back.
Zhang Daoling drew and wrote around the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal, and then the artifact erupted with resplendent light.
A surging power, as immense as the sea and mountains, burst forth from within the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal.
The entire underground palace seemed unable to withstand this terrifying force, emitting uneasy fluctuations and shaking.
Large amounts of dust and rubble rained down from the ceiling, and even Zhang Daoling's coffin on the high platform began to sway.
The only one standing firm was Ying Chen.
"Nine."
Ying Chen continued to count, unfazed.
"Eight!" Zhang Daoling proactively counted a number for Ying Chen.
The next moment, the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal plummeted down!
As it descended, the seal, which was originally palm-sized, suddenly became vast and covered the entire hall, engulfing it!
The hall, already shaking, began to tremble violently, as if it might collapse at any moment!
Ying Chen, however, remained still.
He merely shifted from supporting it with one hand to both hands, a slight gesture of respect for this foremost artifact of the era.
Concurrently, the ethereal mist-like colors flowing around Ying Chen vanished, as did the spectral peach blossoms. In their place, a restrained and profound golden glow emerged.
This golden light seemed not to emanate from Ying Chen's surface, but from within his body.
Ying Chen appeared like a divine being holding up the heavens and earth, using his supreme power to cleave the heavens and earth and save all living beings!
"Seven!"
Zhang Daoling narrowed his eyes, looking at Ying Chen, and counted another number for him.
As his voice faded, the decorative knob on top of the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal suddenly came to life.
Originally, the knob was a coiled golden dragon, lifelike but lifeless, immobile.
Now, it was imbued with sudden vitality, its five ferocious claws firmly planted on the artifact.
Rumble!
The force exerted by the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal doubled.
The immense pressure even caused the ground of the hall to sink!
This sight filled Dong Lao and the other two with dread and terror.
They finally understood what it felt like to experience the legendary "sky collapsing and earth sinking"!
Yet, Ying Chen remained unmoving, steadfastly holding the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal aloft, like Pangu, the primordial god, holding up the heavens and earth to prevent them from closing!
"Six."
"Five."
"Four."
Ying Chen calmly counted out three more numbers.
This caused Zhang Daoling's face to turn cold, and a sharp glint slowly ignited in his eyes.
"Rotate the Seal!"
Zhang Daoling roared.
Buzz!
The Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal vibrated, and then all the inscribed characters at the bottom of the artifact began to flow.
The red inscriptions transformed into a sky-filling array of talismans, descending to suppress Ying Chen.
Ying Chen was treated as an evil spirit or demon, directly being suppressed beneath the artifact!
In an instant, Ying Chen was enveloped by the myriad talismans, resembling a silkworm cocoon, his form completely obscured.