Chapter 135

"In this strange and cold world, only the little money earned from shearing wool can bring me the warmth of home……"

"Now, someone is actually competing with me for wealth?"

"This I can tolerate; who cannot tolerate it!"

Fengxi is very angry.

With great difficulty, I finally set up the stall, making the welfare opportunity business in Kunlun Mountain thrive and prosper.

But there are always some troublemakers who reach into his pocket and steal his wealth.

Making a bit of money, is it easy for him?

This world…… is too hard!

Fengxi barely suppressed the violent fluctuations in his expression, gave a slight nod to the demon that had come to promote, and joy began to show on his face.

"Really? Such a good thing?"

"Hurry up and tell me where it is!"

"Let this gambling god go there and show off his skills!"

Without scolding or cursing, he was instead portraying the image of a gambler.

Upon hearing that, the demon's face lit up with joy.

"From this direction, go straight ten li, turn right at the intersection, then go forward about seven li, you'll see an alley…… turn in, and the first shop there is the one!"

The little demon was articulate, detailing the specific location.

"Good…… very good!"

Fengxi took a deep breath, patted the little demon on the shoulder, and said, "If I strike it rich, I will definitely not forget you, and give you a big red envelope!"

Having said that, he swaggered forward, following the route just described.

He wanted to inspect the site.

Let's see which fearless fool is messing with this business.

"Over the past few hundred years, it's not that there haven't been demons envious of the Wu Clan's welfare opportunity betting business, secretly holding similar forms of luck gambling…… but, what happened in the end?"

"Which one lasted more than a month?"

Fengxi's gaze was deep and mysterious.

"In the Honghuang world, this line of work…… has the highest entry barrier!"

There was once a time when some powerful clans and divine dynasties in Kunlun Mountain, salivating over this business like a treasure trove that could earn money even while lying down, eagerly threw themselves into it.

Bankering, attracting customers, dividing the market.

Unfortunately, in the end, each and every one of them suffered heavy losses, their fortunes completely drained.

Because, this is Honghuang.

Cultivation is supreme.

If there is no strong person who can hold down the scene, what use are all the game rules set forth?

The participants simply do not follow the rules at all.

You set up a target for others to shoot at…… but when facing those werewolves who shoot first, then dismantle the target and surround the arrows, you can only sigh in helplessness.

Fengxi is one of those werewolves.

During that period, he once manifested as millions, launching a massive strike operation.

His cultivation level may not be exceptionally high, but he possesses bug-like battle prowess, and with an innate spiritual treasure in hand, it guarantees that as long as he doesn't encounter a Daluo, he can act with impunity.

When encountering those bankers who more or less follow the rules, he employs the Zhouguang secret technique, ensuring a certain win, letting them close shop with great profit.

And when encountering those who do not follow the rules, he is even happier—directly invading, altering the results, leaving the bankers stunned, and making them pay dearly.

What?

Is there also an operation of going out to rob and kill?

Then Fengxi could only wipe away his tears, carry out heavenly justice, shatter the forces behind them, and reasonably empty their treasuries.

It is precisely because of his tireless efforts to purify the market, making it a one-for-one loss, that the myriad clans of Kunlun Mountain have learned their lesson; the bloody experience teaches them that without a background like the Wu Clan's, possessing numerous overseers who are the pinnacle existences throughout Honghuang, past, present, and future—Daluo— they should still not jump into this pit.

This is the line of work with the highest entry barrier.

After countless predecessors fell to their deaths in the pit, later generations drew lessons from it, and thereafter Kunlun Mountain enjoyed peace.

Thereafter, over two hundred years, the welfare business progressed steadily, and everyone happily enjoyed their own gains.

Only today has another demon come to challenge, seeking a share of the profits.

"Let me see, which little crafty ghost is jumping like this?"

……

The road described by that little demon was not long.

Soon, Fengxi arrived at the destination.

In there, demons run rampant; some are desperately rushing in, while others are holding tickets and pushing out…… very lively and chaotic.

The core depicted and outlined in the whole picture is just one word——greed!

Greed makes people frenzied.

Every demon here is dreaming of striking it rich.

——Without having to toil at work, gathering, or planting to obtain what is needed for cultivation, as long as luck arrives, one can receive windfall gains from the sky and acquire countless resources…… why not participate?

Little do they know, often it is exactly this way of thinking that puts oneself on a dead-end road, ultimately falling into an endless abyss.

Worthy of vigilance.

Fengxi coldly surveyed the frenzied demon crowd, then turned his gaze to the operators of this place.

Those responsible for maintaining order were shouting loudly, "Don't push, don't push, come one by one……"

Those in charge of specific operations were busy inputting specific numbers according to customers' demands; with so many customers, they didn't even have time to wipe their sweat.

——Operating at maximum load.

But even so, the demon horde piled up here did not decrease; instead, it grew ever larger.

Too frenzied!

Fengxi casually read the thoughts and ideas of the nearby demon horde, and thus roughly understood.

It's simply because the probability of success is too high.

With ten thousand selectable targets, once you pick the single correct bet, you win nine thousand times the principal!

What kind of concept is this?

It means that with ten thousand targets, if you guess nine thousand different ones at random, as long as you hit, you break even.

Too tempting.

Think about it—who would think their luck is that bad, picking nine thousand out of ten thousand? That's like drawing nine out of ten, and still not even having a safety net.

Just how bad would that luck have to be?

So it's no wonder this place is bustling to this extent.

Everyone is confident that their luck isn't bad at all; on the contrary, they think it's quite good.

Fengxi had a premonition… no, need not even premonition—just think a moment and you know—once development goes on long enough, this model surpassing the Wu Clan's jurisdiction over welfare-machine betting business is inevitable.

Of course, this all rests on the premise that all participants abide by the game rules.

Is that possible?

There will always be someone trying to find a loophole.

For example, Fengxi, and also, for example, Fengxi…

"Even the best idea is useless if one's strength can't hold it—what good is it then?" He stroked his chin, a troublemaking heart itching to act.

"Let me first feel out the basics."

"If your strength isn't enough…… then I'm sorry."

"After today, you'll have to go bankrupt."

Fengxi, standing from the Wu Clan's standpoint, unconditionally suppresses all competitors.

He wielded the divine abilities mastered from the Secret Canon of the Candle Nine Yin Ancestral Witch Universe Light, and the qi fortune and merit system's innate ability to sense qi and discern fortune—one after another, these means allowed him to trace the shop's hidden secrets behind.

Where does it come from?

What kind of backing does it have?

Is its backer strong or not?

If it's not strong, we'll just beat it to death!

After examining with all sorts of means, Fengxi let out a long sigh.

He gained nothing.

The origin of universe light was thrown into chaos, the scrying of heavenly secrets severed… even with an innate spiritual treasure's aid, still nothing could be seen.

Yet this result silently indicates a great terror.

Fengxi silently withdrew the thought of going in to scoop up a profit.

Those feet felt as if nailed to the ground, unable to step forward at all.

A bitter taste filled his mouth; he sensed the situation was dire, and perhaps the good days were coming to an end.

"Big trouble…… the opponent I least want to meet." Fengxi rubbed his brow, "There's a shadow of a Great Luo behind him."

"Moreover, it's very likely a Great Luo representing the will of the Demon Race's high echelons."

Would an ordinary Great Luo dare to cause trouble and set up a fighting arena in Kunlun Mountain, a place quickly being thoroughly infiltrated by the Wu Clan?

Just to earn some resources that are of little use to someone at that level?

After thinking it over, Fengxi could only suspect one target.

"If that's the case…… no wonder they dare set such a high win rate." His head felt a bit big, "I'm afraid they weren't here for profit at all, purely to block the Wu Clan's development."

"They've gone and created a vicious competition scenario, harming others without benefiting themselves!"

"Originally I take from the Demon Race and use for the Demon Race; every bit of resource earned by the welfare-machine betting industry would be given to the charitable foundation, eventually converting into harm to the Demon Race in the future great war."

"Now they directly choke our vital lifeline…… it's practically stabbing a knife into the main artery!"

Fengxi sees through the malicious intent hidden behind this behavior.

Achieving success is not easy, but if one wants to do harm, there are far too many methods.

A similar model, with a high probability of breaking even, instantly dealt a heavy blow to Fengxi's undertakings, suppressing them silently.

"What should I do?"

"Likewise raise the win rate?"

Fengxi furrowed his brows, looking at the shop that swallowed vast amounts of demon spirits, "Really doing this, the high-ups of the Demon Race would also laugh… after all, they achieved their goal."

When the probability is raised, the amount of resources that can ultimately be earned will likewise decrease.

As long as Fengxi earns little, the Demon Race will be satisfied—the space for the Wu Clan to cause trouble is squeezed down to a tiny extent.

Unlike now, the foundation is so active, having bought off the rat tribe, and still pondering reaching out to the next target.

"Raising it won't do…… the Demon Race's high-ups could earn no profit at all, just to add obstacles, but I can't." Fengxi let out a long sigh, "Ah, truly difficult."

"Those corrupt high-ups of the Demon Race always add obstacles on my path forward."

Set up a training platform, and they spread rumors messing with gender relations.

Start a welfare undertaking, and they attack with the same type.

This tit-for-tat behavior makes Fengxi feel an urge to vomit blood.

Can't we just let him develop his lewdness for a while?

With a tangled heart, Fengxi finally glanced at that shop, then slipped away silently.

By himself he cannot deal with the mastermind behind this; he needs to find some helpers and advisors and seek help from the Ancestor Witch.

……

"This situation arises because the opponent has changed."

Houtu provided the most accurate information to Fengxi, who had gone to inquire.

This Ancestor Witch has a spy in the top decision-making circle of the Demon Race, but lacks the ability to interfere with grand strategic planning—this requires sufficient IQ and a low enough bottom line.

However, eavesdropping is not a problem.

At this moment, Houtu Ancestor Witch said to the humbly standing Fengxi's image: "The person in charge of the Demon Race's high-level attention and handling of Kunlun Mountain intelligence work has already been changed."

"Before this, the person in charge of this was the Báizé Yao Marshal."

"Recently, you've been slandered and had dirt thrown at you... all of it was planned by his subordinates."

"However."

"Because he hasn't achieved anything, and still let my Wu Clan open up the situation, this Yao Marshal feels he has let everyone down, so... he proposed replacing a high-level leader to take charge and suppress my Wu Clan."

Houtu Ancestor Witch said, his face gradually turning gloomy: "The handover of work is now; Xihuang is making his move—just two days ago."

"Fuxi the Great Sage?!"

Fengxi exclaimed aloud; at that moment he felt his scalp go numb, a chill ran from head to foot.

If it weren't to restrain one or two, lest the Houtu Ancestor Witch learn that he was secretly building a firewall for reincarnation, he would probably have muttered "the lingering yin spirit" already.

"Is this world too small?"

At the same time, he began to reflect.

"Why do I keep running into this venerable one?"

"It's happened several times already!"

First time, at Phoenix Perch Mountain.

Second time, Trumpet met Trumpet... that poor 999, I don't know if he's cooled off now.

Probably he's cooled off—after all, running amok on someone else's Trumpet turf, it's hard not to die.

And now, moreover, Xihuang personally takes the field with the Tuba, cleaning up the mess caused by Fengxi's Tuba for the Demon Race.

Three times!

Fengxi even began to doubt.

Between him and Xihuang, do they have some special fate?

Or perhaps it's the most special relationship.

This reflection gave Fengxi a sudden feeling of chill despite not being cold.

"Think about it carefully."

"My Qi Luck Merit System cheat seems to have been given by Fuxi the Great Sage?"

"Precisely because I have this cheat, I can enable communication between the Tuba and the Trumpet, and learn about the poor 999's capsizing..."

"Likewise, it's because of the Trumpet's tragic life that I decided to go out to relax, and then shortly learned that Xihuang had entered the scene."

"Is it a coincidence?"

"Coincidence, my ass!"

"This damn is an arrangement!"

Fengxi deeply suspects that he was arranged by Fuxi the Great Sage.

From the moment the cheat was initially given, everything scripted uses coincidence to play out, manipulating Fengxi's fate.

"Heaven's will... heaven's will..." Fengxi's eyes rolled, "I have a lurking dark plot behind me, the Yandi who is more decisive than anyone when it's time to let go—that's fine, now Xihuang also sticks his hand in... next time maybe the Yellow Emperor will pop out, I wouldn't be surprised at all."

"Once I entrusted the Yandi's schemes, and now I'm being used as a pawn by Xihuang..."

"I'm just a poor little worker for the Houtu Ancestor Witch—what merit do I have to be valued so much?"

"Let me estimate my only worth... it seems to be merely being slightly valued by Houtu, and increasingly so."

"If that's the case, considering from the sole place of worth..."

"Uh..."

Fengxi dared not think further.

The more he thought, the more panicked he became.

The more he thought, the more afraid he became.

"Yandi, Xihuang... perhaps they both have some designs on Houtu?"

"No... I can't scare myself like that."

"Coincidence... right! It must all be coincidence!"

"Exactly! It must be like this!"

"Almost forgot."

"I can contact the Trumpet, thanks to the Qi Luck Merit System cheat, and also the Innate Spiritual Treasure's blessing!"

"Without the Innate Spiritual Treasure, I can't even cross the threshold."

"It couldn't be that even the Di Jiang Zu Wu is harboring ill intent, colluding with Xihuang to secretly set a trap, waiting for the Houtu Ancestor Witch to fall headfirst, could it?"

"Not possible."

"Not realistic."

"The twelve Ancestor Witches are united, all formed from Pangu the Great God's essence blood; they are like brothers and sisters—how could they secretly harm each other?"

"It's not like they're dividing inheritance or competing for family head... there's no throne for them to inherit!"

Thinking this, Fengxi calmed down and quietly let out a breath.

Scaring oneself, one can literally scare oneself to death.

Fengxi reflected on himself, "I must not indulge in such wild imagination again."

Do not chase shadows; be down-to-earth, start from reality...

He admonished himself, and the doubtful words that had risen to his throat were swallowed back; he no longer spoke them to Houtu, the Ancestral Witch.

Spouting nonsense without basis means you have to take responsibility!

If you guess right, that's fine.

What if you guess wrong?

Fengxi thought he could guess Houtu's disapproving criticism: "I say, how can your little brain make such connections?"

Besides, are you that narcissistic?

Where does your confidence come from? With your pitiful cultivation, a betrayal could hardly harm me.

Even ten thousand of you together, one slap from me and you're all gone!

How clueless must Xihuang and his cohorts be to pick you to scheme against me?

……

So let's just pretend nothing happened……

Three times bumping into Xihuang's hands were all accidents…… truly accidents!

Fengxi calmed his inner turmoil, focused his attention, and quietly listened to Houtu, the Ancestral Witch, recount some inside information about the high-ranking demons.

……Xihuang will take over; you must prepare yourself mentally." Houtu's face showed an unusual hint of worry: "This Demon Emperor is truly terrifying."

"Please advise, Ancestral Witch." Fengxi's expression shifted slightly.

The demons…… never mind, I won't speak of them." Houtu weighed his words: "This faction exists, but it's merely a pawn, a tool to gather qi and fortune."

The innately divine—those born before Pangu completed the creation of Honghuang, the supreme beings—are the most terrifying faction.

Within such a faction, Xihuang's schemes are second only to the top!" the Ancestral Witch said solemnly: "So, if Báizé the Yao Marshal can't handle it, replacing him with this one… well, who knows what will happen."

He is a being capable of creating miracles, versed in both yin and yang schemes, adept at overturning the superior, profiting from chaos—the more chaotic, the more ruthless he becomes!" Houtu seemed to admire and lament, speaking of Xihuang: "In Kunlun, be careful, don't let him find your weakness…… well, telling you this is useless."

She shook her head: "Xihuang's ability to create calamity out of nothing is extraordinary; mere caution cannot truly block it."

Fengxi felt embarrassed.

Houtu's words sounded like a death sentence being pronounced on him.

No one expected him to withstand Xihuang's strategic assault this time.

Alright.

Fengxi indeed had no good solution.

He plays people's hearts for profit, and Xihuang counters with the same tactic, a knockoff driving the genuine to extinction.

After deep thought, Fengxi exhaled and said, "With such a formidable Xihuang, is he still only second to the top?"

Then who is the supreme deity who ranks first?

Houtu smiled without speaking.

Fengxi understood.

I'll make up for yesterday's debt tomorrow…… sorry.

(End of chapter)