Mò Tiānlín was swiftly frozen, his entire body encased in ice. He was sent flying straight backward, struggling desperately to land but utterly unable to move. Finally, he crashed heavily to the ground…
"Out of bounds! Jīn Bǎor is victorious!"
Having won two consecutive matches with overwhelming strength and intelligence, the name of the prodigy cultivator, Jīn Bǎor, spread rapidly. Her exquisitely beautiful face was described with almost mythical reverence!
As the ice melted, Mò Tiānlín shot to his feet and roared at the sky!
"Ah! You slut! I'll kill you!"
The match was over, but the challenge seemed to continue!
Because of their prior agreement, the Law Elder could not intervene. Jīn Bǎor watched the approaching man with icy eyes…
In an instant, she grabbed the man's arm, instantly deflecting all his force. Before Mò Tiānlín could show shock, her other hand struck him hard in the abdomen. The invisible force generated a visually perceptible surge of energy, knocking him unconscious!
She then withdrew her hand, looking down at the unconscious man on the ground, her voice cold and sarcastic.
"You lost! But… I'm not interested in your life!"
Killing someone in broad daylight would inevitably draw the attention of the Dí Yún Sect. After all, those people were notoriously shameless and wouldn't care about rules!
Such an impressive display sent the crowd into a frenzy of cheers. They looked at the slender figure with fervent admiration, their hearts burning with excitement! This was the simple and direct nature of a world where strength reigned supreme!
At the same time, Lóu Yún Immortal Venerable, who had arrived in Zǐyún City without any news of a fourth-grade alchemist, also learned something…
"What did you say?"
Even as powerful as Lóu Yún was, he couldn't help but be surprised, his brows furrowing deeply.
The elder from the Alchemist Guild before him looked distressed. The pressure from a Nascent Soul stage cultivator was not something anyone could withstand.
"What I said is true! That young man claims to be a disciple of Huā Qīngsù from the Piāomiǎo Sect. Even our Guild Master personally verified it."
He didn't know what background that young man had to attract a Nascent Soul stage cultivator to inquire. His old bones felt like they were about to retire.
The cold and aloof man pondered for a moment.
Alchemist? Disciple of Huā Qīngsù? Young man…
Considering these criteria, besides the seemingly younger Lán Yìngqīng and Guān Zǐyún, there was no one else!
Lán Yìngqīng primarily focused on talismans, so his alchemy skills might not be sufficient. That left Guān Zǐyún? Wasn't he only a third-grade alchemist?
"What is the young man's name?"
The Guild Elder was taken aback. Did he not even know the name? Could it be an enemy? As he hesitated, a terrifying pressure descended, instantly making it difficult for him to even breathe. He could only clutch his chest and hastily reply.
"Jīn Bāo Chǎn! His name is Jīn Bāo Chǎn!"
In that instant, the man's pupils contracted! Utter shock filled his eyes!
"Jīn… Bǎor? It's her!"
As the oppressive aura receded, the elder gasped for air, his face ashen white.
"It's Jīn Bāo Chǎn… not Jīn Bǎor."
Lóu Yún Immortal Venerable frowned upon hearing this, realizing it wasn't a mispronunciation. Could it be… an alias? Indeed, Jīn Bǎor had only cultivated for less than a hundred years, spending almost all her time on cultivation. Where would she find the opportunity to practice alchemy!
A girl whose cultivation progressed rapidly, who could simultaneously become a fourth-grade alchemist in a short period, and who cultivated both body and law before the age of sixteen… Ha! It was simply unheard of!
If that were the case, it must be Guān Zǐyún under an alias.
In a flash, he vanished from his spot, leaving the elder utterly frightened.
On the other side, the second match of the grand competition had finally arrived, with Chū Fán of the Qī Yán Sect facing Qiáo Qiānshān of the Bǎi Shòu Sect!
One was at the late Core Formation stage, the other at the mid Core Formation stage. However, Qiáo Qiānshān of the Bǎi Shòu Sect possessed spirit beasts, giving him an advantage once the fight began…
Jīn Bǎor observed the two from below the stage. Initially, Chū Fán showed no fear facing Qiáo Qiānshān, handling himself with ease. It wasn't until Qiáo Qiānshān summoned a giant yellow tiger that the situation instantly reversed!
The man and the tiger coordinated with remarkable synergy, and coupled with their considerable strength, Chū Fán was quickly forced off the stage.
The outcome was almost as everyone expected! The beast tamer clan, relying on the formidable power of their spirit beasts, had the closest relationship with the demon beast race. With proper care and training, they could stand undefeated even against stronger cultivators.
At the nearby betting platform, it was a one-sided affair, with most people betting on Qiáo Qiānshān to win…
"Place your bets! Who will emerge victorious between the Piāomiǎo Sect's newly appointed prodigy cultivator of both body and law, Jīn Bǎor, and the Bǎi Shòu Sect's beast-taming genius, Qiáo Qiānshān! Betting is now open!"
As the announcement rang out, the spectators below surged towards the betting platform. So many people rushed that no one even noticed Jīn Bǎor herself standing nearby.
Clearly, everyone had been astonished by Qiáo Qiānshān's seamless coordination. A majority of people bet on him to win, and the odds quickly reached one to a thousand!
Only a sparse few bet on her…
"Get out of the way… all of you! This young master is betting on Jīn Bǎor! A thousand… no… ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones!"
The ostentatious young man in white robes waved his hand grandly. The next moment, a punch landed directly on his forehead, causing him to yelp in pain! LÍ Bái Luò roared!
"You brat… you dare steal my private stash!"
LÍ Qīngjiǔ, teeth gritted from the pain, suddenly brightened at the words! He instantly straightened his back, a smug look on his face!
"Ah… so you admit it! You really do have private money! If you hit me again, I'll tell Mother you have private money! Wait until you're kneeling on the washboard! You old man, you have your day too!"
Everyone was shocked!
LÍ Bái Luò was stunned. A rare flush appeared on his rugged, heroic face as he awkwardly changed the subject!
"You didn't steal it? Then where did your money come from?"
He saw his son glance at him disdainfully.
"That's none of your business! Anyway, I have more money than you!"
His arrogant demeanor made LÍ Bái Luò laugh with exasperation!
"More money than me? I'll bet double yours!"
With that, he slammed his palm onto the table, shattering the betting platform and frightening everyone else who was about to place a bet…
Seeing this, LÍ Bái Luò was also dumbfounded. He coughed awkwardly.
"My apologies, I didn't control my strength!"
An apology from a Soul Transformation stage grand cultivator, the bookie had no choice but to accept, however unwillingly. But thinking about what he had just said, his face was now filled with smiles.
"You just said… you wanted to bet double for Young Master, right? Alright! Ten thousand placed successfully!"
"Pfft!"
Watching LÍ Bái Luò's face turn a deep shade of regret, LÍ Qīngjiǔ burst into laughter!
"Hahahaha… Old man, you're rich! You're richer than me! Hahahaha! I concede, alright!"
Thus, after the "voluntary bet" by the Soul Transformation stage cultivator, some disciples hesitantly also placed their bets on Jīn Bǎor.
This made the bookie exceedingly happy! With these odds, he was sure to make a fortune!
Jīn Bǎor watched the father and son bicker endlessly, their disputes subtly bolstering her spirit and support. Her expression remained unchanged, but her demeanor gradually relaxed.
Half an hour later…
"The match begins!"