Chapter 1007: The Bet

"I am Huo Poyun of the Golden Crow Sect from the Blazing Heaven Realm." Huo Poyun addressed Yun Che courteously. "May I ask for your esteemed name?"

"I am Yun Che, from the lower realms, now a disciple of the Ice Phoenix Divine Hall," Yun Che replied, returning the courtesy, his mind repeatedly pondering Mu Xuanyin's intentions.

"Yun Che?" Huo Rulie suddenly burst out laughing. "So this boy's surname is Yun, and my disciple's name is Poyun—what an apt coincidence, hahahaha."

"Huo Rulie, you laugh so loudly, aren't you afraid of straining your tongue?" Mu Xuanyin's gaze turned cold. "Che'er, begin!"

Yun Che gritted his teeth, shifted his stance, and adopted a posture. His opponent was in the Divine Tribulation Realm! Even if he were ten times stronger, he couldn't possibly be a match. What exactly was Mu Xuanyin's intention? Surely, she wasn't deliberately trying to make him look foolish?

Huo Poyun gave a slight bow, an aura of fire already shimmering around him. "Please enlighten me!" The stance he took clearly indicated he wanted Yun Che to make the first move. As a dignified expert in the mid-Divine Tribulation Realm, how could he possibly initiate an attack against someone who had just entered the Divine Origin Realm?

The arrow was on the string; Yun Che had no retreat. A direct confrontation was out of the question. As for using strategy... with such an immense power disparity, under everyone's watchful eyes, and with Mu Xuanyin's reputation at stake, Yun Che couldn't think of a way to win, even if he racked his brain.

"Sect Master," a voice, cold yet gentle, broke through Yun Che's anxious thoughts. Mu Bingyun stepped forward and calmly said, "This is, after all, the Divine Hall; it's not suitable for a battle. Both sides are carefully selected core disciples, and ice and fire oppose each other. It's very easy for careless moves to cause severe injuries. If that were to happen, it would be an immense and irreparable loss for both sects."

"What? Trying to renege forcibly?" Huo Rulie sneered.

"How could our Sect Master go back on her word after promising something?" Mu Bingyun's crescent eyebrows furrowed. "But this is our sect's Divine Hall, not a combat arena. You want your disciples to determine their superiority, not to fight to the death. Since that's the case, why not use a simpler method?"

"Please, Fairy Bingyun," Yan Wancang quickly replied.

Mu Bingyun looked at Huo Rulie and the two others, calmly stating, "Our sect's core profound art is the Ice Phoenix Code of Conferred God, and the Golden Crow Sect's Golden Crow Burning World Record is known throughout the world. How about we have the two disciples compete using their respective sect's core profound arts? They will stand a hundred zhang apart and each attack the other three times with their sect's core profound art. The one being attacked can only defend. After three attacks each, victory or defeat will be determined. This way, there's no need for a fierce battle, and they can still truly determine superiority in terms of profound arts."

As Mu Bingyun's voice fell, Yan Wancang nodded heavily. "Fairy Bingyun's plan is excellent. It allows for a controlled competition, with no fear of accidental injury, doesn't harm friendly relations, and still allows for a genuine contest of skill. Sect Master Huo... if you insist on a match, then let it be this way."

As he spoke, he continuously gestured with his eyes to Huo Rulie. He couldn't agree more with the rules proposed by Mu Bingyun. After all, this was the Snow Song Realm's territory. Given Mu Xuanyin's temperament, if the two disciples were to truly fight, the consequences, regardless of victory or defeat, would be severe. This much milder approach was clearly infinitely better.

"Good! Very good!" Huo Rulie slowly nodded without hesitation. "This also prevents someone from losing too badly and becoming enraged out of humiliation... However!"

Huo Rulie's tone suddenly changed. "Since this is a contest between disciples, how can there be no wager? Mu Xuanyin, if this unworthy disciple of mine, who isn't even fit to carry your disciple's shoes, happens to win, what will you do?"

"What do you want?" Mu Xuanyin asked, expressionless.

"Hahahaha, it's very simple!" Huo Rulie laughed loudly. "If this unworthy disciple of mine, who isn't even fit to carry your disciple's shoes, happens to win, I want you to publicly admit that you, Mu Xuanyin, are inferior to me, Huo Rulie!"

He repeatedly emphasized the phrase "not even fit to carry his shoes," aiming to constantly remind everyone that Mu Xuanyin herself had said it!

"Huo Rulie, you..." Mu Huanzhi was furious.

"What about me?" Huo Rulie retorted angrily. "Your Sect Master herself said my disciple isn't even fit to carry her disciple's shoes, so how could she be afraid to lose? How could she not dare to accept?"

"You!" Mu Huanzhi's body trembled slightly, and veins bulged on his forehead.

In contrast to Mu Huanzhi's agitation, Mu Xuanyin showed no emotional fluctuation. She said coldly, "And what if my disciple wins?"

"Win?" Huo Rulie's lips tilted, and the corner of his eye curled up. "Whatever you ask me, Huo Rulie, to do, I won't even frown."

"Huo Rulie!" Yan Wancang was greatly alarmed. Just as he called out, he was interrupted by Mu Xuanyin's voice.

"Good! You said it yourself!" A cold glint flashed in Mu Xuanyin's icy eyes.

"My word is my bond; I, Huo Rulie, will never go back on what I've said!" Huo Rulie ignored Yan Wancang and said in a deep, heavy voice, "I'm only afraid you won't dare to accept!"

"You and your disciple aren't worthy!" Mu Xuanyin waved her hand lightly, and the blizzard covering the sky instantly froze. Her voice stretched across the heavens: "If my disciple is defeated by your disciple, Huo Rulie, then I will personally admit here that I am inferior to you! Are you satisfied?"

"Good!" Huo Rulie slowly nodded, his fiery eyes widened to their fullest.

"Sigh." Despite his repeated attempts to stop it, things had finally come to this. Yan Wancang sighed heavily and helplessly transmitted his voice to Huo Rulie: "Mu Xuanyin is absolutely not the kind of person who speaks recklessly for temporary pride, nor would she dig her own grave. You... Sigh."

All the bold claims had been made; it was useless for him to say anything more.

"Hmph! Do you really think that useless disciple she took in can compare to Poyun?" Huo Rulie said in a deep voice.

Yan Wancang was speechless for a moment. As far as he knew, the Ice Phoenix Divine Hall had several genius disciples under sixty years old whose profound energy had reached the Divine Tribulation Realm. Yet, Mu Xuanyin had chosen a person from the lower realms whose profound energy had just entered the Divine Way as her core disciple. It was conceivable that this "Yun Che" must have something extraordinary about him.

Perhaps immense potential, an unusual physique, or extraordinary ice talent.

But regardless, with his current Divine Origin Realm cultivation, there was absolutely no comparison to Huo Poyun in the mid-Divine Tribulation Realm. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't imagine even the slightest possibility of Yun Che winning.

Moreover, the two were competing based on their sect's profound arts. That could only be described as a vast difference. Both the Golden Crow Burning World Record and the Ice Phoenix Code of Conferred God, their power and mastery, were greatly related to the strength of the bloodline possessed by the practitioner.

Huo Poyun was a direct inheritor of the Golden Crow bloodline.

As for the Snow Song Realm's inheritance of the Ice Phoenix bloodline... it was better not to mention it. The Snow Song Realm's overall strength was less than one-tenth of the Blazing Heaven Realm, and its greatly restricted bloodline inheritance was one of the significant reasons.

"I'll remind you again, this is the Snow Song Realm!" Although he believed there was absolutely no possibility of Huo Poyun losing, thinking of Mu Xuanyin's temperament, Yan Wancang still felt not at all at ease. "What if Poyun wins? Do you truly believe Mu Xuanyin will publicly admit she's inferior to you?"

"I hope she breaks her word!" Huo Rulie whispered. "If she dares to go back on her word, unless she has the guts to keep all of us here forever, I will make sure the entire God Realm knows what happened today! I'll let the whole God Realm know that Mu Xuanyin is someone who spouts wild words and goes back on her promises! And it will finally... avenge my son!"

Yan Wancang shook his head, letting out another silent sigh. He just couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Meanwhile, Yun Che suddenly calmed down, but a heavier chill rose in his heart.

What terrifying scheming!

Huo Rulie had been played for a fool the entire time and didn't even know it.

But she had deliberately provoked Huo Rulie, then step by step led the emotionally out-of-control Huo Rulie into her trap... What exactly did she want to gain from him?

However, the elders and palace masters on both sides had all turned pale.

On one side was Yun Che, and on the other, Huo Poyun...

Their inner thoughts were exactly the same as Yun Che's earlier: What the hell was there to fight?

Furthermore, Yun Che had only just completed his apprenticeship ceremony today and had not yet obtained the Ice Phoenix Divine Blood, so he couldn't possibly cultivate the Ice Phoenix Code of Conferred God.

What exactly was the Sect Master doing?!

Could it be that since the words had already been spoken, she had no choice but to agree under Huo Rulie's relentless pressure?!

This must be the only reason.

"Huo Rulie, remember well what you just said." Mu Xuanyin said in a very low voice. "Begin!"

"Please enlighten me." Huo Poyun re-assumed his stance, which was clearly a defensive posture.

"Wait!"

Just then, another untimely voice rang out. Mu Hanyi flashed, creating a beautiful blue afterimage as he lightly and gracefully landed beside Yun Che.

Mu Hanyi bowed deeply to Mu Xuanyin, then turned to Huo Rulie and said, "Sect Master Huo, this junior, Mu Hanyi, a disciple of the Ice Phoenix Divine Hall, has a presumptuous request. I hope Sect Master Huo will grant it."

Mu Xuanyin frowned slightly but remained silent.

"Heh!" Huo Rulie sneered, evidently taking Mu Hanyi for someone Mu Xuanyin had secretly arranged to disrupt the match between the two disciples. "Alright, then I'll listen to what you have to say."

Mu Hanyi said, "This junior once desperately hoped to become the Sect Master's core disciple, but alas, my talent is mediocre. I lost to Senior Brother Yun Che in the competition, and I admit my defeat wholeheartedly. Since Senior Brother Yun Che is the Sect Master's core disciple, naturally, this junior is no match for him. Sect Master Huo's disciple must possess extraordinary talent, which has left this junior rather eager to spar. How about this junior has a match with Brother Poyun first?"

"If even this junior can happen to prevent your esteemed disciple from winning..." Mu Hanyi smiled faintly and said proudly, "Then I'm afraid Sect Master Huo's disciple isn't yet qualified to face our Sect Master's core disciple."

At Mu Hanyi's words, Huo Poyun frowned deeply, a hint of anger appearing on his face.

Meanwhile, the Ice Phoenix Divine Hall members, whose hearts had been clenched, all had eyes glowing with surprise. The elders' faces relaxed, and they secretly nodded in admiration, their expressions instantly easing a great deal.

Mu Hanyi was Mu Hanyi, after all... His stepping forward, along with his clever words, directly reversed what could have been a desperate situation for the Ice Phoenix Divine Hall.

The phrase, "If even this junior can happen to prevent your esteemed disciple from winning... then I'm afraid Sect Master Huo's disciple isn't yet qualified to face our Sect Master's core disciple," forced Huo Rulie to agree, whether he wanted to or not!

Then, if Mu Hanyi could defeat Huo Poyun, this crisis concerning the Sect Master's reputation would also be resolved.

"Hanyi, well done!" Mu Huanzhi breathed a sigh of relief and praised unreservedly.

Before Huo Rulie could speak, Huo Poyun stepped forward and said sternly, "Fine! Then I, Huo Poyun, will first experience Brother Hanyi's prowess!"

"Couldn't be better!" Mu Hanyi's expression became serious, then he nodded slightly to Yun Che. "Senior Brother Yun Che, he's not yet worthy of you making a move. Let me deal with him first."

"...Then be careful." Yun Che silently retreated.

Yun Che had only just taken a few steps back when profound light burst forth simultaneously from Mu Hanyi and Huo Poyun. Two opposing, yet equally astonishing, currents of profound energy were fully unleashed—so powerful that one couldn't believe they originated from two young individuals both under thirty years old.

In terms of profound cultivation, both were at level five of the Divine Tribulation Realm, equally matched, though Mu Hanyi was three years older than Huo Poyun.

In terms of bloodline, Mu Hanyi was certainly inferior to Huo Poyun.

But Mu Hanyi's cold and serene gaze carried certainty and confidence. This was because they were in the Snow Song Realm, and the Divine Hall area was extremely close to the Netherfrost Heavenly Lake. This could be said to be the coldest place in the Snow Song Realm, apart from the Netherfrost Heavenly Lake itself.

The icy aura here would greatly benefit his Ice Phoenix Code of Conferred God, while simultaneously greatly disadvantaging Huo Poyun's Golden Crow Burning World Record.

Therefore, he had sufficient certainty.