Chapter 208: Winner

“Look!”“What is this?”“I can’t believe it!”

A pile of spiritual herbs suddenly appeared on the ground, causing several sharp-eyed individuals to exclaim in surprise! These exclamations immediately drew the attention of others, including Grandmaster Li and Daoist Fu Yun.

However, when both men clearly saw the spiritual herbs at Han Li's feet, Daoist Fu Yun's beaming expression instantly froze. Grandmaster Li, after a brief moment of stunned silence, burst into joyful laughter, delighted by this unexpected windfall.

Once Grandmaster Li realized his impropriety and stopped laughing, he meticulously scrutinized Han Li with a smiling gaze, finding him increasingly pleasing to the eye. Meanwhile, Daoist Fu Yun's face turned ashen; he still couldn't believe he had lost so easily, and his gaze towards Han Li was naturally quite hostile.

Seeing Daoist Fu Yun's expression, Grandmaster Li snorted, “Daoist Brother, what are you doing? Are you going to trouble a junior?” He then quickly stepped in front of Han Li, his face stern.

Now that Han Li had just performed a great service for him, he naturally couldn't allow this junior to be intimidated by Fu Yunzi in front of so many people. Otherwise, he would lose all face.

Upon hearing Grandmaster Li's words, Daoist Fu Yun realized that it was highly inappropriate for someone of his status to stare at a Qi Condensation disciple in such a manner, as it might be mistaken for personal retaliation against a junior. He quickly averted his gaze, turning to Grandmaster Li with a forced smile.

“You misunderstand, Fellow Daoist Li,” he said with effort. “This humble Daoist simply finds it incredible that such a young benefactor, with his cultivation, could gather so many spiritual herbs. I was merely taking a second look!”

The Daoist tried his best to appear nonchalant, but the thought of the Bloodline Serpent's Inner Core made his heart ache, and his complexion refused to return to normal.

Grandmaster Li chuckled coldly twice, offering no comment and not pursuing the matter further. After all, he had won the bet handsomely and didn't wish to provoke his opponent with further words.

However, Grandmaster Li was also secretly puzzled by how Han Li had managed to acquire so many spiritual herbs. But in front of so many representatives from other sects, he was unwilling to question Han Li further, choosing instead to ignore the matter. Moreover, his heart was currently afire with excitement. If he could also defeat the Disguised Moon Sect, his trip to the forbidden area would be truly fruitful, and he naturally wouldn't bother with such trivial matters. As long as he won the wager, he didn't care how Han Li had come by the spiritual herbs, whether by fair means or foul.

Seeing Grandmaster Li's expression, the Daoist naturally understood his thoughts. Annoyed and heartbroken, he could only resign himself to being out of the game and watch to see whether Grandmaster Li or Old Monster Qiong would win.

However, Old Monster Qiong's expression was no better than the Daoist's. The spiritual herbs submitted by the first few Disguised Moon Sect disciples were all quite ordinary, giving him no reason to smile.

Just as Grandmaster Li was feeling triumphant, the situation suddenly took an unexpected turn. The spiritual herbs submitted by the last few Disguised Moon Sect disciples unexpectedly numbered over ten stalks each, totaling five or six more than the combined sum of those from the Clear Void Sect and the Yellow Maple Valley. They had won the final wager.

This sudden turn of events instantly stunned Grandmaster Li, while Old Monster Qiong let out a long sigh of relief and chuckled strangely.

“Hand it over, hand it over! Give me that Bloodline Serpent's Inner Core!” Old Monster Qiong demanded bluntly from Fu Yunzi on the spot. “I was just planning to refine some good medicine, and this inner core would make an excellent primary ingredient!”

Hearing this, Daoist Fu Yun forced a smile and opened his mouth, as if to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

Seeing this, Old Monster Qiong's eyes widened, and he looked displeased. “What, is the renowned Fu Yunzi of the Clear Void Sect trying to renege on a bet?”

“Renege? Would I dare renege on *your* bet, Old Monster Qiong?”

Fu Yunzi, of course, wasn't actually trying to back out or default on the inner core. It was simply such a precious item that he felt immense pain at parting with it, a subconscious reluctance. But now, with Old Monster Qiong's remark, his face flushed then paled. After stomping his foot heavily, he threw a whitish spherical object to the other party, then turned his head away, his face etched with agony. That spherical object was precisely the Bloodline Serpent's Inner Core.

Old Monster Qiong caught the inner core with a raised hand. After carefully examining it, he beamed with delight, though he still grumbled: “The quality doesn't seem very good. The spiritual energy isn't very abundant either. It looks like I'll just have to make do with it!”

Upon hearing this, the Daoist opposite flushed crimson, almost spitting blood and dying on the spot. Infuriated, he quickly moved far away from that position, lest his Dao Heart be completely lost from frustration!

“Fellow Daoist Li, you—”

“I will arrange for two pieces of refined iron to be sent to you within twenty years!” Grandmaster Li interrupted before Old Monster Qiong could finish, voluntarily accepting his part of the bet.

“Heh heh! Fellow Daoist Li is indeed straightforward! Then I have nothing more to say!” Old Monster Qiong nodded with satisfaction, then swaggered back to the Disguised Moon Sect's side.

The twists and turns of this wager truly astonished those from the other sects observing. In the end, everyone secretly reveled in Grandmaster Li and Daoist Fu Yun's outcome: trying to gain a small advantage but ending up with a big loss. Who told them to bet against that old monster!

In any case, this trip to the forbidden area had now concluded.

The leaders of each sect, after collecting their disciples' spiritual herbs and having them inspected by the Spirit-Sniffing Beasts, all took their leave and began leading their teams away one after another.

The Disguised Moon Sect members were the first to depart. As they exchanged greetings with members of other sects and boarded the Heaven-Moon Divine Ship, Han Li couldn't help but gaze at Nangong Wan among them. However, from the moment she boarded until her final departure, she never once looked his way, leaving Han Li feeling quite disheartened.

Nevertheless, Han Li was a person of strong will; he quickly recovered and continued to watch the departure of the other sects.

As Han Yunzhi departed with the Spirit Beast Mountain cultivators, she glanced at Han Li and offered a kind smile, which brought a touch of warmth to his heart.

As semi-hosts, the Yellow Maple Valley naturally had to be the last to leave. So, after the other seven sects had departed, only the Yellow Maple Valley cultivators remained, isolated outside the forbidden area.

However, Grandmaster Li did not immediately lead his team away. Instead, he stood silently, gazing towards the forbidden area. Everyone else knew that the Grandmaster had just lost a bet and was surely not in a good mood. Thus, no one was foolish enough to urge him, so they simply waited behind him.

Half a day later, Grandmaster Li seemed to be in a slightly better mood. Although he still hadn't turned around, he finally spoke, and his first words were directed at Han Li.

“What is the name of the disciple who submitted the most spiritual herbs, and how many years has he been in the valley?”

Upon hearing this, the others couldn't help but show envy, knowing that being recognized by name by this Grandmaster would surely bring great benefits in the future. Han Li, slightly startled, immediately replied respectfully without hesitation:

“Your disciple, Han Li, has been in the valley for nearly three years!”

“Han Li?”

Grandmaster Li slowly repeated Han Li's name, seemingly deep in thought and not immediately responding, which caused the people behind him to exchange puzzled glances, wondering what the Grandmaster meant. However, Grandmaster Li's next sentence sent a shiver down Han Li's spine, making him focus intently.

“Han Li, tell me how you acquired these herbs. I'd like to hear the process!” Grandmaster Li asked, seemingly casually.

Although Han Li felt a pang of vigilance, he had long prepared for others to question him about this matter, so he remained unperturbed and spoke with composure:

“Yes, Grandmaster!”

“It was quite a fortunate turn of events! Although your disciple entered the Ring Mountain that day, I am ashamed to say I had no success for a long time. However, on the fourth afternoon, in a very remote valley, your disciple discovered two individuals fighting over several stalks of Jade Marrow Ganoderma. One was a barefoot disciple from the Giant Sword Sect who wielded a silver sword, and the other was a scarred man from the Heavenly Fortress. Your disciple then secretly hid himself...”

And so, Han Li vividly recounted a story of 'the snipe and the clam contending, the fisherman gains,' greatly exaggerating his own stroke of luck. Upon hearing it, the Chen siblings and other disciples were filled with intense envy and unconcealed admiration.

After listening to Han Li's account, Grandmaster Li secretly nodded, finding it plausible. Otherwise, how could a disciple with Han Li's low cultivation acquire so many spiritual herbs? It seemed the youth truly had great fortune, and it was merely a coincidence.

Convinced that he understood the full story, Grandmaster Li no longer wished to bother with further inquiries. However, after a moment of contemplation, he suddenly spoke to Han Li with a solemn expression:

“Han Li, you have performed a significant service for our sect this time! Although I did not win the wager, I still intend to reward you handsomely. I plan to take you under my wing as a registered disciple. Are you willing?”

Upon hearing this, Han Li was stunned, unsure how to respond!

The other Yellow Maple Valley cultivators were first greatly astonished upon hearing these words, but then they stared intently at Han Li, their faces revealing expressions of disbelief! This was unbelievable! Had they heard correctly? This Grandmaster was actually so casually taking this person as a disciple? This individual's cultivation and aptitude were both utterly ordinary; there was truly nothing outstanding about him that could catch the Grandmaster's eye.