Chapter 200: Brothers, I Believe in You!

"Yes!"

……

Each received a card.

Whether left exposed on the wasteland or buried underground.

Chen Mu collected cards from all deaths within the past three days.

Centered on "Wudicheng," Chen Mu traversed mountains and forests, leaped across wastelands, and ran a half-circle extending thirty li outward.

In total, he collected fifty-four Qi cards, nine True Qi cards, six cultivation cards, eleven skill cards, eight power cards, and three memory cards.

Even in a ravine fifty li from "Wudicheng," he retrieved a single True Origin card!

It contained one year and one month of True Origin.

This haul, Chen Mu hit the jackpot.

Next time won't be so lucky.

The "Dragon-Tiger Storm Gathering" is about to begin; the Xuanwu Guards of "Wudicheng" have expanded their patrol zones.

Few dare to clash or kill at this time.

Chen Mu prepared accordingly.

……

The sun set behind the mountains; twilight painted the sky.

Chen Mu returned to Wudicheng and entered his inn.

No sooner had he opened his room than a round, plump figure squeezed in before he could close the door.

"Brother Chen, you're back!"

The round figure speaking was Huang Yuanhe, another martial artist attending the "Dragon-Tiger Storm Gathering," staying next door to Chen Mu.

This fatty hailed from a martial family in Shanyin Prefecture, Hanbei Dao; he was eighteen, had just broken through to the Innate Realm, and possessed excellent talent.

Extremely outgoing, ever since learning Chen Mu's name at registration and discovering they shared a wall, he had eagerly approached to befriend him, even declaring himself Chen Mu's "eyes and ears" in Wudicheng.

"Brother Chen, I've found everything out!"

Huang Yuanhe wiped nonexistent sweat from his brow, his plump face glowing with excitement as he lowered his voice, "About the other Dragon-Tiger contenders besides you!"

"Tell me in detail." Chen Mu poured him a cup of water and gestured for him to sit.

He was genuinely curious about this intelligence.

Huang Yuanhe gulped down a large mouthful, counting off on his fingers like reciting family treasures, "First, the one from 'Tianxia Hui'! Cao Shaozu, exactly twenty, already the youngest Altar Master of the Twelfth Month Altar in Tianxia Hui, ranked forty-ninth on the Dragon-Tiger List. Rumor says his 'Thousand Blade Art' is ferociously devastating—he's one of the top favorites to win!"

"Tianxia Hui…" Chen Mu's gaze flickered.

He hadn't expected to encounter someone from Tianxia Hui so far away.

Tianxia Hui's influence primarily spans Handan Dao, Xiangnan Dao, and Xitian Dao.

Geographically, it dominates the southwest of the Zhou Empire.

Cao Shaozu, at merely twenty, holds an altar leadership—his strength is certainly not to be underestimated.

At least, ordinary Earth Altar Realm Bridge cultivators are no match for him.

"He's already an Altar Master—why enter this martial gathering?" Chen Mu asked curiously.

"Who knows what that Cao fellow is thinking?"

Huang Yuanhe shrugged, "Maybe he's here for the Earth Origin Pill. Tianxia Hui has existed for over a century, but only rose to prominence in the last twenty years—so many members, their internal cultivation resources must be scarce."

"Possible." Chen Mu nodded.

"Forget him. Second: Ma Jiantong!"

Huang Yuanhe continued, "This man is mysterious—rumored to be a lone cultivator, no sect, no clan, yet fought his way up alone to make the Dragon-Tiger List at nineteen, ranked fifty-sixth."

"He wields a lightning-fast sword, known as the 'Traceless Blade'—few know his exact style, but to make the list as a lone cultivator? He's a ruthless one!"

Chen Mu nodded. A lone cultivator achieving such status must possess talent and perseverance far beyond ordinary people.

"Finally, heh heh, a little fairy!"

Huang Yuanhe's face broke into a mischievous grin, "Xue Xue Ranran of Yaoyuewu Sect—only sixteen, sweet and charming. She just entered the New Issue/Phase Dragon-Tiger List, ranked one hundred and fifth, the youngest Dragon-Tiger prodigy at this gathering!"

"Xue Xue Ranran?"

Chen Mu's eyes paused slightly at the name, "Is she Shen Ge's junior sister?"

"Yes yes yes! Shen Ge, the 'Flying Rainbow Young Master's' junior sister!" Huang Yuanhe nodded vigorously, "Brother Chen knows Great Hero Shen Ge?"

"We've met a few times." Chen Mu spoke calmly, but his mind took note.

Shen Ge was an old acquaintance; since Xue Xue Ranran was his junior sister, he might as well pay her some attention.

After introducing the Dragon-Tiger contenders, Huang Yuanhe shifted tone, his face alight with thrilling excitement, "Brother Chen, one more thing! The 'Four Seas Gambling House,' 'Changsheng Gambling House,' and other major gambling dens have opened betting odds on your final rankings in this gathering!"

"Currently, bets on Cao Shaozu winning first place have the lowest payout and highest odds—everyone favors him. Ma Jiantong comes second. You… are currently ranked third."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mu's expression remained unchanged, as if the subject were not himself.

He had no interest in such empty fame or gambling; his reasons for coming to Wudicheng were twofold: to witness the world's martial talents, and to secure a ranking.

Yet Huang Yuanhe's next words made Chen Mu's lips twitch slightly.

The fatty suddenly grabbed Chen Mu's arm, his face twisted in a tragic, "I've entrusted my entire life to you" expression, whispering almost in a wail, "Brother Chen! My dear Brother Chen! I've bet all my savings—fifty thousand taels of silver—on you winning first place!"

"You must deliver! Crush that Cao Shaozu, take the top spot! My entire lifetime's happiness rests on you!"

Chen Mu, "…"

He stared at the fatty who had staked everything on him, momentarily speechless.

Was this man here to attend the martial gathering—or to gamble?

With a helpless shake of his head, Chen Mu pulled his arm free from Huang Yuanhe's "claws" and said calmly, "Too early to bet. We've only made the Dragon-Tiger List and gained fame. Those who remain unseen are surely top-tier experts."

Huang Yuanhe ignored all that, still gazing at Chen Mu with desperate hope, as if Chen Mu were his only salvation, "I know, I know! Brother Chen, just go all out! Brother I believe in you! Dragon-Tiger Seventy-Seven, smash Forty-Nine—no problem!"

"Alright, alright, I'll try my best."

Chen Mu fell silent, pushed Huang Yuanhe out of the room, closed the door, and shook his head with a wry smile.

The reputation of the Dragon-Tiger Storm Gathering was indeed formidable.

Even young experts like Cao Shaozu, who already had great renown and no lack of status or strength, came to participate.

How many others, who had never revealed their skills in secret, hoped to seize this chance to become famous overnight?

The following days.

Chen Mu mostly stayed in the inn, using all his Inner Power Cards, True Qi Cards, and True Origin Cards, converting them into his own True Qi to elevate his cultivation, and ultimately succeeded in reaching Eighth Stage Innate peak!

Ten days later, the gathering officially began.

The first round was the preliminary match!

The rules were quite interesting.