Chapter 270

"The map of the Five Elements Land?"

Fang Yu listened as the True Person of Black Iron revealed the main attraction; his expression remained unchanged, though inner waves stirred.

The Five Elements Land is an absolutely perilous place in the Yellow Great World, for it harbors all manner of Five Elements demonic beasts—such as Zhu Que, Xuan Wu, Teng She, and Bai Hu—that are rarely seen in the outside world, and the Five Elements Land possesses many of them.

This is a place where the Five Elements' power is extraordinarily dense, so dense that it evolved and gave birth to one Five Elements holy beast after another.

Aside from these countless Five Elements holy beasts and demonic beasts, this place also imprisons an ancient demonic sovereign and his four hundred eighty million ancient heavenly demons.

It can be said this place is utterly perilous; without immense fortune, entering here means only one thing—death!

Not only is the Five Elements Land extremely dangerous, but even gaining entry to it is perilous, for one must first reach the Wild Ancient Temple, and throughout history, few who entered the Wild Ancient Temple have returned unscathed.

The terrifying Wild Ancient Temple is filled with dreadful curses; cultivators who step into this cursed realm stand a high chance of perishing.

Throughout history, many cultivators have ventured into the Wild Ancient Temple and retrieved numerous treasures, yet nearly all of them later met unnatural deaths—even leaders of the Longevity Secret Realm—so now almost no one dares to explore the Wild Ancient Temple.

The map the True Person of Black Iron spoke of is the passage leading from the Wild Ancient Temple to the Five Elements Land; the only one who entered the Five Elements Land through this passage and gained benefits was Yuhua Sect's True Disciple Meng Shaobai—he is the exception, having survived and emerged alive from the Five Elements Land.

Meng Shaobai is now only in his teens, yet he has already cultivated to the 6th Stage of Divine Abilities, Return to Oneness Realm, and is hailed as Yuhua Sect's Little Immortal. The True Person of Black Iron obtained this map by offering Meng Shaobai certain favors.

Yet now he is challenging Fang Yu to a wager.

"Well? I wager this map to the Five Elements Land against you—dare you take the bet? Of course, the importance of this map is obvious; your set of mid-grade magic treasure flying swords hardly compares."

After producing the map to the Five Elements Land, the True Person of Black Iron's tone turned icy.

"Oh? A map to the Five Elements Land? I'm not unaware of it. Are you referring to the map that leads through the Wild Ancient Temple? Everyone knows the Wild Ancient Temple is filled with curses—anyone who enters becomes bound by them, making future cultivation agonizingly difficult. Yet you dare use such a thing as a wager? I'd rather you gave me the map to the Taiyuan Immortal Mansion instead; that might fetch a higher price."

Fang Yu's heart stirred, yet his face wore an expression of knowing everything—as if he had long seen through it all.

"What? You know this map leads from the Wild Ancient Temple?"

The True Person of Black Iron was genuinely shocked; his gaze locked onto Fang Yu, only to see a faint, dismissive smile on Fang Yu's lips.

"Could Fang Yu be Meng Shaobai's disciple? Otherwise, how could he advance so rapidly? And how could he know the secret route through the Wild Lands to the Five Elements Land? That secret cost me a rare Black Iron treasure to uncover."

The True Person of Black Iron's heart surged with turmoil; this had been his secret, yet now it had been exposed—his knowledge of the map's mystery had been uncovered by another.

"One question: will you bet? I wager my set of mid-grade magic treasure sword array against one low-grade magic treasure plus this map. Though this map leads to the Wild Ancient Temple, riddled with curses, it may still hold some value—perhaps I can use it to enter the Five Elements Land after all."

A hint of a smile appeared on Fang Yu's face.

"Fine. I'll take the bet."

The True Person of Black Iron's face showed contemplation, then he burst into laughter. "Since Younger Brother Fang wishes to wager this way, Elder Brother naturally accepts. If Younger Brother Fang truly wins and gains great fortune in the Five Elements Land, don't forget Elder Brother's contribution today."

"So that's how it is. True Person Black Iron had this plan all along."

Beside the True Person of Black Iron, Wu Li had been about to stop the wager, but suddenly his eyes lit up—he understood the True Person of Black Iron's scheme.

Even if he lost this map, the True Person of Black Iron would suffer little loss—only one low-grade magic treasure.

And even if Fang Yu truly obtained the map, journeyed to the Wild Ancient Temple, and entered the Five Elements Land, the dangers would be immense; one misstep and he would die instantly.

Perhaps Fang Yu, who now boasts so boldly before them, will never return from the Five Elements Land—and that wouldn't be a bad thing.

Yet if the True Person of Black Iron truly won this wager, he would gain a full set of mid-grade magic treasure sword array, a tremendous prize.

So Wu Li thought briefly and realized this True Person Brother had no chance of losing—thus he praised the True Person of Black Iron's wisdom.

"No wonder he's True Person Black Iron—whether advancing or retreating, he has an 80% chance of gaining benefit. This isn't a losing proposition at all."

"Since True Person Black Iron and Fang Yu have truly agreed to the wager, I shall serve as witness."

Jialan spoke.

She glanced at Fang Yu and the True Person of Black Iron and said:

"Agreed."

"No problem."

Fang Yu and the True Person of Black Iron both nodded in agreement.

"I bet on my Fang family disciple Fang Han to win."

With the wager settled, Fang Yu spoke, his gaze fixed on Fang Han below.

"I bet Ye Nantian wins!"

The True Person of Black Iron spoke, his eyes fixed on another person.

The two True Disciples had initiated their wager above, while below, the voice of the Deputy Elder rang out.

"Table Nineteen: Fang Han, Yin Yin Shihai!"

Fang Han's name was called by the Deputy Elder; immediately, Fang Han leapt onto the arena amid the gaze of many.

Today, Fang Han still concealed his magic power deep within his mind, sealing it with various spirit talismans, concealing all traces of magic power—enough to fool True Disciples of the 6th or 7th Stage of Divine Abilities.

To the True Disciples seated in the audience, Fang Han's cultivation base appeared to be only at the 10th Stage of Physical Body—a level impressive among outer sect disciples, yet commonplace among inner sect disciples.

The lowest-ranked inner sect disciples are at least at the 8th Stage of Physical Body; most are at the 9th or 10th Stage.

"So this is Fang Han? Not much to look at."

"Only 10th Stage of Physical Body? True Person Black Iron has won this for sure!"

Several True Disciples beside the True Person of Black Iron laughed heartily, feeling victory was assured.

"You're Fang Han? From the Fang family of Long Yuan Province? Your cultivation isn't bad, but meeting me means your journey ends here."

On the arena, the inner sect disciple named Yin Yin Shihai appeared; he wore not a Water-Fire Dao robe, but a pale moon-white garment, with swirling waves of magic power emanating from it—though not a spirit artifact, it was a high-quality magic treasure robe.

In his hand, he held a sword, its blade made entirely of jade, not metal, yet radiating sharpness and terrifying aura.

"This sword of mine is called Kunyu. It contains an array within, possessing immense strength. I obtained it during a rare fortune, from the ancient Kunwu Mountain, as a relic of ancient Qi Refining sages. With my will, I can control it—even thirty Xuan Huang fire horses couldn't pull it. You'd better surrender."

Yin Yin Shihai chuckled, speaking slowly and deliberately to reveal the power of his Kunyu Sword, attempting to pressure Fang Han.

This inner sect disciple was clearly an exceptional figure; to have acquired a spirit artifact sword while still an inner sect disciple meant he possessed great fortune.

In this world, countless ancient ruins and immortal relics remain scattered; occasionally, disciples on journeys stumble upon them and gain fortunes—obtaining spirit artifacts, magic treasures, even Dao artifacts—and ascend in a single step.

Yin Yin Shihai had obtained this spirit artifact flying sword, gaining the strength of thirty Xuan Huang fire horses; no disciple outside the Divine Ability Secret Realm, and no disciple without a spirit artifact, could possibly oppose him.

Fang Han was about to speak, when suddenly thick smoke erupted from Yin Yin Shihai's body, engulfing the entire arena in mist, and Yin Yin Shihai vanished—as if he had become invisible.

"This Yin Shihai truly lives up to being an outstanding inner disciple of our Yuhua Sect. Look at his methods—truly impressive. First he struck at his opponent's confidence with words, then deployed the Mist Barrier and Concealment Talisman to hide his form, and finally summoned a magic treasure flying sword. All in one breath, he defeated his opponent in a single stroke. An inner disciple like this is truly outstanding and must be carefully cultivated."

A Grand Elder's gaze also turned toward Arena Nineteen, and after watching Yin Shihai's duel process, he nodded.

"At this rate, forget that so-and-so Fang Han having to face Ye Nantian—I'm afraid Yin Shihai alone could eliminate him."

Wu Li burst out laughing.

But at that moment, on the arena, the clouds and mist dispersed. The Yin Shihai whom a Grand Elder had set his hopes on was blasted straight out of the arena by Fang Han, letting out a piercing shriek. His whole body was swept off the arena like garbage, and he passed out.

And his Kunyu Sword, having lost its command, dropped to the ground.

*Slap slap! *

Fang Han didn't bother to pick up the sword either. He clapped his hands, walked down the arena, and returned to his seat—clean and decisive.

"How did this Fang Han win?"

"Didn't see clearly. The fog just now blocked the view."

"That's too strange. Could he have a magic treasure that can withstand the Kunyu Sword?"

"Maybe. Fang Han—just listen to his name, surname Fang. How could a child of the Fang family not have a magic treasure? Within the Yuhua Sect there are two true-disciple members surnamed Fang."