Chapter 12

The sixth day.

Today is the duel between Luo Yao and Zhao Lili.

Although the Xuanyuan Sect forbids internal fighting, it has set up a ring so that disciples with conflicts can resolve them through dueling.

There are two types of dueling.

One is an ordinary duel, ending only when one side loses.

The other is a Life and Death Duel, ending only when one side lives and the other dies.

Let us get back to the matter at hand.

Each level is further divided into four grades: lower, middle, upper, and supreme.

Zhao Lili is not yet ten years old, while that young man looks nearly twenty.

"Are you alone?" Fang Qingyan asked with concern, "Are you not injured!"

Fang Qingyan walked over and spoke loudly; she had also heard everyone doubting Luo Yao, so she was deeply angry in her heart, but unlike Zhao Lili and those lackeys, she did not expose Luo Yao's strength. Instead, she thought silently in her heart: Just wait, when Little Yao reveals her strength, see if you still dare to look down on her.

Fang Qingyan had arrived very early; seeing Luo Yao appear, still at Qi Refining First Layer, she was momentarily stunned.

Indeed, upon seeing Luo Yao's cultivation, many people supported opening the betting.

If this were to be lost, both face and money would be gone, would it not be even more unbearable?

And the odds for betting on Luo Yao to win were 1:5.

Afterwards, she found an opportunity to separate from them; when she encountered the Xuanyuan Sect, Luo Yao approached again, calling out "Senior Brother, Senior Sister," and produced clothes and a Token.

Every duel has an opportunity to open betting.

This resulted in almost no one buying Luo Yao to win.

Because the betting requirement is a minimum of one Spirit Stone.

Early in the morning, Luo Yao got up.

Seeing Luo Yao nod, Fang Qingyan finally breathed a sigh of relief, accepted the Jin Huo Mang meat, and praised, "Little Yao is becoming more and more powerful!"

Fang Qingyan explained everything according to Luo Yao's account; only then did the crowd realize, and two Spirit Stones were not particularly surprising.

Like the swords issued to every disciple by the Xuanyuan Sect, they are actually Mid-grade Mortal Tools.

However, she knew Yan Jie's character; giving her a few Spirit Stones, she absolutely would not accept them.

Fang Qingyan took out four Spirit Stones, which shocked the crowd.

So Luo Yao specifically kept ten jin, because keeping too much, Yan Jie definitely would not accept.

And she produced the Ziguang Sect's Token and clothes; the Ziguang Sect disciples then agreed.

Just like that, she was able to return safely to the Sect.

Besides, if it is not enough, she can go hunt again.

"Little Yao, take these Weapons; I heard Zhao Lili obtained a Superior Mortal Artifact. Although mine are not Superior Mortal Artifacts, they can still be of some help..."

The two walked and talked, quickly arriving beside the Xuanyuan Sect's ring.

Soon someone recognized Luo Yao; seeing Luo Yao's apparent cultivation, they shook their heads, "Thought there would be something to watch, but it seems it was just a gambling duel decided in a moment of heated impulse."

Clearly, the bookmakers also believed Zhao Lili had a greater chance of winning; many people still bought Zhao Lili to win, though there were those with no lack of money who wanted to take a gamble and buy Luo Yao to win.

At this moment, the crowd saw on the other side Zhao Lili walking arm-in-arm with a young man.

"Indeed Qi Refining First Layer!"

Luo Yao shushed Fang Qingyan; the latter's eyes immediately lit up, thinking of Zhao Lili's expression when she saw Luo Yao's strength while being smug, and immediately smiled.

If lucky, one can make a huge profit; this is the safest and fastest way for these Outer Sect cultivators to earn Spirit Stones.

Thinking of this, she almost forgot she still owed Yan Jie one Spirit Stone; now that she has earned so much money, ultimately, it is all thanks to Yan Jie lending her that one Spirit Stone.

Thinking that Luo Yao actually had the confidence to bet on herself to win, the crowd could not help but feel sympathy.

Luo Yao also knew this, and helplessly revealed her Qi Refining Second Layer cultivation.

Therefore, many cultivators sell everything they own just to gather one Spirit Stone to bet.

But after leaving the Market, she still encountered many people blocking her way on the road; seeing the Ziguang Sect disciples, Luo Yao shamelessly approached, claiming to team up with them.

Soon, the odds were released.

So, she could only give two Spirit Stones first, and then compensate Yan Jie with other things.

They gathered together, and it was enough.

"I am fine."

Yesterday, she made a fortune in the Market; when returning, she was full of anxiety. For this, she circled the Market a full ten times, using disguise, makeup, changing clothes, and all sorts of methods, only then shaking off her followers.

"But is this not good?" someone beside her laughed, "A duel with no suspense, is it not a good opportunity for us to make money?"

Unfortunately, this time it seems no betting was set up.

The result was that because of their loose lips, many people also learned Zhao Lili had broken through to Qi Refining Fourth Layer; so those who originally bought Luo Yao to win took their money back and bought Zhao Lili to win.

"What of it? Cultivators would not care about such things."

"Here they come, Zhao Lili and the others are here!"

"That must be Zhao Lili's backer; the age difference between the two is too large!"

The odds for betting on Zhao Lili to win were 1:1.5.

But for the current Luo Yao, a Superior Mortal Artifact is also an unreachable existence.

Cultivator Weapons are divided into five grades: Mortal Artifacts, Dharma Artifacts, Treasure Artifacts, Spirit Artifacts, and Dharma Treasures.

And the duel between Luo Yao and the other belongs to the first type.

But many recognized her, knowing she is Luo Yao's best friend; the two are inseparable, so these four Spirit Stones must have been gathered by selling everything she owns.

"Little Yao, you..."

A Superior Mortal Artifact — it sounds impressive with the word "superior" tacked on, but in reality it's still within the range of mortal artifacts.

Today was her duel with Zhao Lili; over two years of grievances could finally be settled.

"I'll bet on Luo Yao to win!"

And Zhao Lili's lackeys also came over to bet on Zhao Lili, because they knew she had long since broken through to Qi Refining Layer 4.

Qi Refining Second Layer, if one added a Dharma Treasure or other means, was enough to make up the gap of one cultivation layer.

The Jin Huo Mang, being a Beast — eating its meat could increase Spirit Power by some amount, so it was still useful to Fang Qingyan.

Over a hundred people had already gathered here; even Inner Sect Disciples had come. With a show like this on, who'd be stupid enough to hide away and cultivate?

Although it was only Qi Refining First Layer challenging Qi Refining Layer 3 — an almost certain defeat, a duel with nothing much to see — but watching a show didn't care whether it was big or small.

Seeing Fang Qingyan once again take out the Weapon her parents had left her, she was still deeply moved.

"They're here, they're here!"

Within the Qi Refining stage it sounded impressive, but once one reached Foundation Establishment Stage, it would be scrap metal.

"These two Spirit Stones are mine, these two are Xiao Yao's."

After that, Luo Yao took out another ten jin of Jin Huo Mang snake meat and gave it to Fang Qingyan. "Yan Jie, you can't keep pushing this meat away!"

Sure enough, Fang Qingyan didn't accept the Spirit Stones Luo Yao offered; only after Luo Yao urged her repeatedly, finally saying to go place a bet on herself to win, did she reluctantly accept.

"Yan Jie, really, you don't have to!"

"This is something I worked hard to hunt and kill — Yan Jie can't let my efforts go to waste…"

Once the crowd inquired, they found out Zhao Lili was at Qi Refining Layer 3 and Luo Yao was at Qi Refining First Layer — the outcome was already obvious. One side was a hundred percent winner, the other a hundred percent loser; there was simply no way to open a betting pool.

"Say, that guy over there is Inner Sect Disciple Zhao Yang, right!"

"Must be. Qi Refining Layer 9 cultivation — even within the Inner Sect he's among the very best. This Zhao Lili sure got lucky, latching onto such a powerful backer."

(End of Chapter)