Chapter 2046: I Want to Make Money

At Lingyun Sword Pavilion, after challenging and defeating inner and core disciples, he earned a significant amount of Sword Pavilion coins. However, when it was time to leave, he felt the coins were of little use. He used most of them to buy immortal essence pills, which he gave to Shan Xiaotian and Bai Ruanqing. Whatever little was left was stored in the Sword Pavilion's Transcendent God Jade Token and could not be withdrawn. One could say that at this moment, he was completely broke, practically starting from scratch again.

However, since money could buy a ride on a Seven Star Pavilion flying immortal beast, the rest was simple. He wasn't leaving until tomorrow anyway, so at worst, he'd find a way to earn some. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look over and ask, "What's the approximate price?"

"This is a mount only the Seven Star Pavilion Master is qualified to ride, and it's flying all the way to the Sea of Falling Stars. It will cost at least... twenty thousand Transcendent God Coins!" the elder calculated and replied.

"Twenty thousand?" Zhang Xuan frowned. A True Immortal realm Transcendent God Jade Token only cost two hundred coins each. Twenty thousand Transcendent God Coins could buy a True Immortal realm weapon. It was an undeniably high price.

"Indeed!" The elder smiled. "To be frank, I'll take ten thousand, and they only need ten thousand. But without my introduction, even if you had twenty thousand Transcendent God Coins, you might not be able to connect with the Seven Star Pavilion!" Zhang Xuan nodded. As an outsider, he knew no one in the Seven Star Pavilion. Without the elder's help, he wouldn't even know about this option, let alone make connections.

"Alright, I'll go prepare now, earn some money, and come find you in a bit!" He replied, then turned and walked towards a quiet room. Safety came first. Spending some money was nothing as long as the God Temple didn't discover him. As for how to earn money, as long as there was a Transcendent God Temple, there would be open competitions. With his unrivaled ability at his level, wouldn't earning money be easy? As long as he didn't reveal his God Sword Intent, the God Temple might not be able to trace him.

He set up an isolation array in the quiet room, and with a thought, entered it. The virtual Transcendent God Temple was almost identical in layout to the outside world. He went directly to the open competition area. Bi-Yuan City was a top-tier city on the continent, teeming with experts. True Immortal realm cultivators, who were considered top-tier in places like Wu-Hai City, were numerous here. Consequently, the open competitions were always packed. After signing up, Zhang Xuan waited less than ten minutes before arriving at the competition stage.

"Elder, is the Seven Star Pavilion really sending someone to the Sea of Falling Stars?" After Zhang Xuan left, the attendant curiously looked at the elder nearby. The Palace of Falling Stars and the other six major sects didn't have a great relationship. Why would they send someone there?

"This is internal information, don't spread it! It's said that the Pavilion Master intends to go personally, seemingly to discuss some major matter..." the elder said. He was in charge of the Transcendent God Temple in Bi-Yuan City, and his cultivation had long reached the peak of Immortal Monarch, giving him a respected status. However, there were still many internal Seven Star Pavilion matters he was unaware of.

"Oh..." Hearing it was a secret, the attendant didn't dare ask more. He smiled and changed the subject: "I wonder if that fellow earlier can actually come up with twenty thousand Transcendent God Coins?"

"Heh!" The elder scoffed, "Unless they've reached the Immortal Monarch realm, it's impossible for anyone to have that much!"

"Then..." The attendant blinked.

"It's just to make him retreat when he realizes the difficulty! Riding an ordinary immortal beast only takes about a month and costs no more than two hundred. But this costs twenty thousand. No one would waste a hundred times the price just to save twenty-odd days, right?" The elder shook his head. For cultivators at their level, a casual seclusion could last several months. To save twenty days, wasting nearly twenty thousand Transcendent God Coins — was he crazy?

"That's true..." The attendant nodded. "And from his tone, it sounded like he didn't have enough money and asked you to wait here while he figured out how to earn some!"

The elder scoffed, "The most profitable method in the Transcendent God Temple is the open competition, where bets of five Transcendent God Coins double! Even winning five consecutive matches won't earn much, will it? Moreover, even the core disciples of the Seven Star Pavilion often come here to compete, and not many can win four consecutive matches." The Bi-Yuan City Transcendent God Temple was integrated with the Seven Star Pavilion, so its disciples frequently participated in the open competitions. With them participating, few could win even four consecutive matches, let alone five.

"Betting 5 Transcendent God Coins per match, winning five consecutive matches with doubling only gets you 80 Transcendent God Coins. That's still a long way from twenty thousand!" The attendant chuckled. The challenge fee for open competitions in this Transcendent God Temple wasn't exorbitant, only five Transcendent God Coins. This way, it attracted more participants. Winning a match doubled the stake, and the next challenger would have to pay a higher price.

The elder smiled faintly, "Alright, I'm going to rest. Call me if anything comes up..." Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked into his room. After a few steps, another attendant rushed up to him. "Elder..."

"What's wrong?" Seeing his panic, the elder frowned.

"Someone just challenged in the Transcendent God Temple and won... ten consecutive matches!" the attendant hurriedly reported.

"Ten matches?" The elder was startled. "It's been a long time since anyone won so many consecutively. Is it a Seven Star Pavilion disciple?" In Bi-Yuan City, those who could win ten consecutive matches were usually core disciples of the Seven Star Pavilion. Normally, these powerful individuals, though they appeared, rarely engaged in consecutive challenges. After all, it wasn't very fair to other cultivators, like a professional beating up amateurs; winning wouldn't be glorious. Had the rules changed?

"No, it's not a Seven Star Pavilion disciple. This is... what Zhao Meng personally said..." the attendant replied. Zhao Meng was a core disciple of the Seven Star Pavilion, and quite highly ranked.

"This... Let's go see!" After a moment of surprise, the elder hurried back to his room, took out a jade token, and with a mental command, entered the virtual world.

He took a few steps to the open competition arena and looked up. He immediately saw two figures fighting. On the left was a person in grey-blue clothes, their palm attacks wide and powerful. The young man on the right did not counterattack, but instead swayed his body, constantly dodging.

"Is that Meng Han, the top-ranked core disciple of the Seven Star Pavilion?"

"Yes, I didn't expect him to come in person!"

"That guy has won twelve consecutive challenges easily, and three of his opponents were Seven Star Pavilion disciples. The top-ranked one certainly couldn't sit still..."

As he arrived at the front of the stage, he heard whispers from the crowd.

"This is already the thirteenth match?" The elder was stunned. Hadn't the attendant just told him someone had won ten consecutive matches? How had it become twelve?

"Just as I went to find the elder, he won two more matches..." The attendant realized then, his face also filled with disbelief. "From when I left to when I came back, it was less than a minute..."

The corner of the elder's mouth twitched. In less than a minute, he defeated two core disciples of the Seven Star Pavilion consecutively?

"Look!" Just as he was in disbelief, he saw the young man on stage, who had been constantly dodging, suddenly extend his fist. Meng Han, the top-ranked core disciple of the Seven Star Pavilion, immediately collapsed to the ground, twitching uncontrollably, his head completely caved in.

"He lost just like that?" The elder was dumbfounded. Meng Han had been at the top of the Transcendent God Temple's open competition rankings for at least three years. He never dreamed that he would be defeated with a single punch by this opponent as soon as he stepped onto the stage. It was too easy! Not only was he shocked, but everyone below the stage was dumbfounded. Defeated in one move... So thoroughly that no one believed it was real.

Inside the Seven Star Pavilion, in the Elders' Hall.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Two middle-aged men were battling, their auras clashing. The surrounding arrays whistled, occasionally flashing with patterns and light, as surging power boiled. Both appeared to be in their forties or fifties, yet their cultivation had reached the peak of Immortal Monarch, each movement imbued with a natural order. The elder in green robes pointed a finger above the grey-robed elder's throat, less than a finger's width away.

"I lost..." The latter nodded.

"You concede!" The green-robed elder sighed in relief and looked around. "Is there anyone else who wishes to spar with me?" Silence fell.

"In this competition, Elder Hong Wu ranked first. This time, he will accompany me to the Sea of Falling Stars!" An old man stepped forward. It was Kui Xiao, the Pavilion Master of the Seven Star Pavilion!

"Yes, Pavilion Master!" Everyone clasped their fists. An hour earlier, the Pavilion Master had gathered all elders who had reached the peak of Immortal Monarch and were under a hundred years old for a martial arts competition. Ultimately, Elder Hong Wu took first place. Therefore, everyone was convinced of his strength, with no objections.

"I have something to discuss privately with Elder Hong Wu. Everyone else may withdraw..." Pavilion Master Kui Xiao waved his hand. The crowd nodded and retreated.

Before they even reached the door, an elder rushed up. "Pavilion Master... something has happened!"

"Oh?" Pavilion Master Kui Xiao frowned. This elder was the Grand Elder of the Seven Star Pavilion. Although his cultivation was not as high as the Pavilion Master's, he had reached the absolute peak of Immortal Monarch, unmatched by anyone else. With such power, his temperament was usually as steady as iron, yet he was hurrying over now, indicating something very important had occurred.

"In the Bi-Yuan City Transcendent God Temple, a master has appeared. He's been challenging continuously, and no one in the True Immortal realm can withstand him. He's already won thirteen consecutive matches, and even the core disciple Meng Han was defeated by a single punch..." the elder whispered.

"Meng Han was no match?" Pavilion Master Kui Xiao was stunned. Meng Han was not only the top core disciple of the Seven Star Pavilion but also his own disciple. Without any unexpected turns, he was very likely to become a Grand Elder, or even inherit his position! With such strength, practically invincible in the True Immortal realm, he was defeated by a single punch... Was this real?

"Let's go see..." Unable to restrain himself, Pavilion Master Kui Xiao said.

"Alright!" The Grand Elder had already prepared a Transcendent God Jade Token and immediately took it out. He took the jade token, and just as he was about to enter, he remembered something and looked at Elder Hong Wu, who was not far away. "You come along too!" After saying that, he tossed one over.

"Yes, Pavilion Master!" Elder Hong Wu took the jade token and nodded in agreement. This sudden newcomer could even defeat Meng Han, who was at the same level. He also wanted to see how strong he truly was.

"What is the name of this person who defeated Meng Han?" Biting his finger and drawing a drop of blood, Pavilion Master Kui Xiao asked as he prepared to enter the Transcendent God Temple.

"His name is..." The Grand Elder paused, thought for a moment, and said, "Liu Yang!"