"No matter how fierce the storm is outside,
I face it with calmness.
The Chaos Palace has given me enough protection, so there are many things I do not understand.”
Xiao Anshan felt a bit disheartened, sighed deeply.
He replied, “I lost, and I accept it wholeheartedly.”
He walked step by step down the stage.
From the time he began his cultivation, among his peers, he had always been invincible.
This was his first crushing defeat.
A disastrously humiliating defeat.
Even if given more time, even if he could try a few more times, he still didn’t have the confidence to win.His heart was a mix of emotions, as if something had been overturned.
Xiao Anshan didn’t know how to describe it, just felt lamenting and sad.
As he stepped off the stage, a middle-aged man stood there waiting for him, unknown since when.
"Hall… Hall Master,” seeing the middle-aged man, Xiao Anshan greeted him in surprise.
He knew the Hall Master of the Chaos Palace.
Always elusive, rarely seen by anyone in the entire Chaos Palace.
Even as his direct disciple, Xiao Anshan had only met him a few times.
Aside from when receiving guidance on cultivation.
"I’ve let you down,” Xiao Anshan said with shame.
The Hall Master smiled, reaching out to pat him on the shoulder.
He then replied, “What is disappointment?
Is losing one match a disappointment?
Neither I nor our Chaos Fire Realm founder, the Ancestor of Fire,
Or the most brilliant existence in the Blazing Flame Realm,
Had never lost in their youth?”
The Hall Master’s words left Xiao Anshan speechless.
"But I have no confidence in defeating my opponent.”
Xiao Anshan looked back at the stage where Xu Zimei stood calmly.
It seemed like defeating himself was just an insignificant matter,
Hardly worth any joy.
He felt like a trivial character, like a clown who thought victory was assured before the match.
"This is a Heart Demon.”
"Child, losing is not terrifying,
What’s terrifying is losing your spirit,” the Hall Master comforted.
"I understand, Hall Master,” Xiao Anshan nodded slightly.
"May I have a moment of silence alone?”
"No problem, but in a while, the Origin Land of the Ancestor of Fire will open.
You three need to go together.
Adjust yourself quickly,” the Hall Master nodded.
……
On the stage, Xu Zimei walked down calmly.
He took first place in the Chaos Fire Realm.
It was expected, nothing to be particularly happy about.
From the moment he entered the competition, it was destined that he would be first.
Among the crowd around, some were happy while others were worried.
After all, some bet on Xu Zimei to win, while others bet on Xiao Anshan.
Xu Zimei didn’t pay attention to these, he was thinking about other matters.
With the competition over, he could give his spot to Fireloathing City.
And then what?
He planned to visit the Lihuo Realm next.
To see the Water Beasts there, and if there was any legacy from the Water God.
"Congratulations,” Shangguan Xian and others said with a smile.
Zhang Hengzhi also smiled and said, “Great Saint, I never imagined I would see a Great Saint in my lifetime.
Young Master Xu really kept us in the dark.
I was worried sick before the match.”
"Worried about what?
That your bet would lose?” Xu Zimei smiled.
"How could that be, but if Young Master Xu hadn’t mentioned it, I nearly forgot,” Zhang Hengzhi laughed.
He had bet his entire fortune on Xu Zimei winning.
At the start of the betting, nobody thought Xu Zimei would win.
Now that he’s taken the crown, the entire gambling house would likely suffer a huge loss.
He remembered that Xu Zimei had also bet on himself to win.
And the things he bet on were unimaginably abundant.
"The casino must be having a hard time now,” Shangguan Xian laughed.
"Haven’t they made enough money every day?
So many people have lost everything betting.”
Liu Huohuo said, “Now let them taste losing everything themselves.”
"Do you think they’ll refuse to pay up?” Zhang Hengzhi suddenly asked. .
"Probably impossible.
They are backed by the Chaos Palace, refusing would ruin the Chaos Palace’s reputation.
Especially given Young Master Xu’s displayed strength now.
Even if they had ten times the courage, I doubt they’d dare not pay,” Shangguan Xian laughed.
"Let’s go, collect the bets,” Xu Zimei waved, saying.
Xu Zimei was about to leave.
Suddenly someone approached him, dressed in a red robe, shrouded completely in it.
"What is it?” Xu Zimei asked.
"Someone wants to meet you,” the person replied.
"Who?”
"You’ll know when you get there.”
"I’m never interested in people who hide their identity,” Xu Zimei refused directly.
"Sir, it’s someone from the Chaos Palace who wants to meet you,” the person said helplessly, finally speaking candidly.
In truth, when had the Chaos Palace ever been so humble?
Usually, when the Chaos Palace wanted to see someone, it was the other’s honor.
Upon hearing this, Xu Zimei sneered.
He said, “Go back and tell your Hall Master, I’m not interested in meeting him.”
"Young Master Xu, you might want to reconsider,” the person said, squinting his eyes slightly.
Xu Zimei turned around, calmly looking at him.
Then he reached out with his right hand, grabbing the person by the neck, lifting him brutally.
"Want me to take your head there?”
The person struggled desperately, yet it was in vain.
In the end, Xu Zimei threw him hard,
Slamming him into the nearby stage.
In an instant, it felt like his internal organs were about to be shattered.
He glanced at Xu Zimei with some fear, finally leaving without a word.
……
At the entrance of the gambling house, unlike the previous bustling crowd, it was now somewhat desolate.
Few people came here anymore.
When Xu Zimei and his companions arrived, an elder personally received him.
Seeing Xu Zimei and the others, the elder’s face was bitter.
He said, “I’ve already learned of your background.
We’ve consulted the higher-ups, and you’ll get what you’re owed.
Rest assured.”
Xu Zimei and the others nodded slightly.
"Are any of you interested in joining our Chaos Palace?” the elder suddenly asked.
"Is this a test from the person behind you?” Xu Zimei asked.
"Each of you is a rare talent, and we at Chaos Palace would naturally be delighted,” the elder said with a smile.
Xu Zimei was naturally uninterested.
He glanced at Zhang Hengzhi and Shangguan Xian, unsure of their intentions.
"I have no such thoughts,” Shangguan Xian shook his head, refusing directly.
"I’m flattered, but I know my limitations.
I suppose Chaos Palace doesn’t lack us from the Heavenly Being Immortal Sect,” Zhang Hengzhi laughed.
He was just tagging along with Xu Zimei for a bit of luck,
The invitation was just polite talk.
……
Leaving the gambling house, all had made a great profit.
Zhang Hengzhi was overjoyed.
With so many resources, their Heavenly Being Immortal Sect could now develop further.
When they returned to the inn, Bian Wenzhou was already waiting.
He first offered his congratulations.
Then looked at Xu Zimei and said, “The Tyrant Blade has been found.”