Chapter 110: Found Another Treasure—Will I Really Not Be Killed by a Blast?

Shanhe Institute, on the viewing platform.

"I... I won't be killed by a blast, will I?"

Seeing Chen Zheng sitting beside him, Ling Xiao felt as if sitting on a needle mat, and fine cold sweat rose on his forehead.

He was panicking beyond measure!

"Junior brother Ling Xiao." Chen Zheng suddenly turned his head to look.

Ling Xiao was so startled he almost jumped from his seat, stammering, "Wha... what's wrong?"

"Don't be nervous." Chen Zheng reached out to pat Ling Xiao's shoulder and laughed, "This Shanhe Ranking Contest is rather dull; how about we make a bet?"

"A bet?"

Ling Xiao was taken aback by the words, but felt a little relieved.

Chen Zheng just didn't want to be killed by a blast.

He warned, "I wonder what Senior Brother Chen wants to bet with me?"

Chen Zheng smiled, "You and I each select a competing disciple; if the one you choose takes first place, I'll give you an exquisite treasure, and vice versa, you give me an exquisite treasure. If neither of our picks gets first, our past grievances will be erased, okay?"

Ling Xiao exclaimed, "The stakes are that high?"

In previous Shanhe Ranking Contests, many true-line disciples would wager spiritual artifacts or lower-grade treasures to add some fun.

But a gamble like Chen Zheng's, demanding an exquisite treasure right away, had never occurred.

It was downright terrifying.

Sure enough, the Hundred Battles Real Person and other true-line disciples and Thus we have Title: Elder nearby heard the commotion, clicked their tongues, and peeked covertly.

"What, you won't give me face?" Seeing Ling Xiao hesitate, Chen Zheng's expression darkened, looking angry.

"No... Senior Brother Chen, I'll bet, is betting still not okay?" Ling Xiao, on the verge of tears, gritted his teeth and agreed.

His heart bled inside, sighing.

He shouldn't have offended Chen Zheng back then just for Hua Tian.

Now, to play this doomed bet with Chen Zheng, his Azure Wood Divine King Sword, forged for over a hundred years, might not be saved.

But what could he do?

He could only grind his teeth and swallow it.

"Ling Xiao's bet with Senior Brother Chen is a certain loss."

"Later, Senior Brother Chen will surely say he wants to pick first, and choose Long Xuan."

"After all, this woman has taken first place in three consecutive Shanhe Rankings; everyone knows she has two treasures, so no matter whom Ling Xiao picks, against Long Xuan he'll lose."

The Hundred Battles Real Person and others communicated telepathically, their gazes toward Ling Xiao full of pity.

Chen Zheng made it clear he wanted revenge on Ling Xiao, to win the opponent's Azure Wood Divine King Sword.

But what happened next left everyone stunned.

Chen Zheng casually said, "Fine, the bet is set; you pick a disciple first."

Hearing this, Ling Xiao was also taken aback and asked uncertainly, "Senior Brother, you let me pick first?"

Chen Zheng, with an impatient face, replied, "If I let you pick, just pick; why all this nonsense?"

"Alright, then I'll pick Long Xuan. If I win later, I hope Senior Brother Chen won't be angry." Ling Xiao hardened his heart, unceremoniously chose Long Xuan.

Chen Zheng was about to give him an exquisite treasure.

He couldn't refuse.

What could he do?

Chen Zheng nodded, "Don't worry, I won't do anything to you. I'll pick Fang Han."

"Fang Han?"

Ling Xiao's mind raced, but he couldn't recall who Fang Han was, which made him even more delighted.

He could tell with his toes that Fang Han, never having made the Shanhe Ranking and an obscure nobody, could never defeat Long Xuan.

"Who is Fang Han?"

"I don't know either."

The Hundred Battles Real Person and others nearby exchanged puzzled looks, hearing the name for the first time.

At that moment, the presiding Thus we have Title: Elder stood in the center of the Shanhe Institute, scanned everyone, and loudly announced, "The rewards for this Shanhe Ranking Contest are several times richer than before; regardless of whether you make the top ten, as long as you perform outstandingly you'll receive rewards. Begin!"

When the words fell, over ten elders in charge of the matches held lists and announced the competing disciples to step onto the stage.

"Ring 19, Fang Han versus Fang Qingwei!"

"Ring 3, Yang Zhen versus Yin Shihai!"

"Ring 78, Yang Xuan versus Wu Tao..."

One by one, disciples were called by name, rushed onto the ring, fighting with all their might as if injected with adrenaline, battling their opponents fiercely, and occasionally glancing toward Chen Zheng's seated spot, as if trying to catch his attention.

Unfortunately, Chen Zheng only glanced at the ring where Fang Han stood, saw the opponent kick Fang Qingwei's face, swiftly kicked the woman off the ring, and then withdrew his gaze.

He closed his eyes to cultivate, contemplating the three characters for calamity.

Such a level of combat, to him, was no different from children's play; there was no need to waste his mind watching.

And without even watching, he knew Fang Han would take first place.

Long Xuan and the brothers Yang Xuan and Yang Zhen, who had received his rewarded treasure, could not match Fang Han.

As for Xu Yueer, whom he had elevated to Shen Tong Mi Jing, she did not compete, standing with women like Nan Beibei, cheering for Long Xuan.

Ling Xiao, however, focused intently, observing each of Fang Han's matches. It was evident Fang Han was unremarkable; even after several bouts he never summoned any treasure, relying solely on fists and kicks to defeat opponents, and the last doubt in his mind vanished.

Steady.

Victory was firmly in hand!

Once the Shanhe Ranking Contest ends, Chen Zheng will have to give him an exquisite treasure.

Ling Xiao's mouth corner couldn't help but lift slightly.

If Chen Zheng weren't present, he would have burst out laughing on the spot.

Time passed.

Below the arena the atmosphere was blazing, hearts were stirred.

The many battles on the arena were one after another, fierce as fire, with competing disciples some joyful, some sorrowful.

Finally, the competition reached its conclusion.

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The top ten of last year's Mountain River Ranking, including the dark horses Yang Xuan and Yang Zhen, were all defeated.

Only Fang Han and Long Xuan remained standing on the arena, about to vie for first place.

It is worth mentioning that midway Fang Han revealed his hidden cultivation, shocking the entire audience.

Ling Xiao felt a sudden thump in his heart, sensing something ominous.

Fang Qingwei, who had been kicked by Fang Han into a pig's head, was trembling all over, hysterically shouting "How could this be," "How could this dog slave possibly ascend to a divine practitioner," and the like.

Moreover, when she returned to Zidian Peak yesterday, she learned that the maid leader Fang Qiang had received a treasure bestowed by Chen Zheng.

Fang Qiang also told her that all the Fang family servants on Zheng Qi Peak had received a magical artifact from Chen Zheng.

This made Fang Qingwei both jealous and angry, so she hurried down the mountain to go up Zheng Qi Peak to ask Chen Zheng for a treasure.

Chen Zheng can even grant artifacts to servants; as Fang Qingxue's sister, she is sure her request will be granted.

Yet as soon as she arrived at the foot of Zheng Qi Peak, the Golden Stone Platform blocked her, driving her away like a dog chased from a mourning family.

This dealt her a heavy blow.

And now she learned that Fang Han, the former household slave, had actually ascended to become a divine practitioner.

Under the double blow, she was in a frenzy.

How could her fate be so miserable?

Her elder sister stays in seclusion to cultivate all day, never caring for her.

Her prospective brother‑in‑law also ignores her.

Her treatment is even worse than any servant on Zheng Qi Peak.

She is about to collapse.

Yet no one pays attention to her breakdown.

Everyone watches the arena fixedly, observing the final showdown.

Long Xuan's expression turned solemn as she summoned two treasures.

One, called the Cold Chi Sword, was formed from an ice chi dragon in the Sea Eye of the North Sea, its power surpassing the treasures of the brothers Yang Xuan and Yang Zhen.

The other, called the Golden Hoop, when thrown can encircle a person's head, clamp it tightly, shrink it, and squeeze out the brain matter.

Fang Han, however, remained unhurried, directly unleashing powerful mana to crush Long Xuan, causing her to fall quickly.

"Fang Han has secured first place in this year's Mountain River Ranking!"

As the hosting Elder loudly announced the result, tens of thousands of disciples in the arena erupted in a frenzy.

Ling Xiao's complexion turned deathly pale in an instant.

"You lost, hand over the exquisite treasure," Chen Zheng opened his eyes and said to Ling Xiao with a half‑smile.

"Senior Brother Chen, I…"

"You're not trying to dodge payment, are you?"

Ling Xiao opened his mouth to speak, but Chen Zheng's calm voice cut him off.

"No, no, no! Senior Brother Chen, you've misunderstood."

Ling Xiao hurriedly forced a smile, a grin uglier than crying, and drew a teal long sword from his storage artifact.

"Hmm, it should fetch a hundred million Baiyang Pills."

Chen Zheng snatched the sword, examined it, and then, under Ling Xiao's reluctant gaze, sheathed it.

"Ah…"

Ling Xiao roared inside.

He lost the exquisite treasure he had painstakingly forged with all his wealth.

Too painful!

Chen Zheng, however, ignored him, stood up, and prepared to leave the Feather Ascension Gate.

"Senior Brother Chen, wait, I have something to give you," a divine thought transmitted.

Chen Zheng looked, seeing Fang Han, who was receiving the first‑place reward on the lower arena.

"Alright, Junior Brother Fang, I happen to have something for you; later, come to Zheng Qi Peak."

(End of Chapter)