Chapter 197: Various Gamblers

Four days later, in East City, stood the Thunder Pond Study.

This ancient study, abandoned for a hundred years and covering dozens of mu, was built on a low hill in the city, densely planted with pines and cypresses. Although dilapidated, it offered a vast view. Lu Cangsheng purchased it for a considerable sum after arriving in Qiuzhou City. He filled the three-mu pond within the study with water from the Thunder Sea. Using the Thunder Pond as its core, he arranged a nine-story formation tower to serve as the foundation for the young cultivators of the Thundercloud Sect in the East City.

All major forces had fully entrusted the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival's affairs to their young generation's leaders, refraining from interfering with their strategies or alliances. The Everlasting View was searching for the Hidden Dragon who would restore order to the world. And why wouldn't the older generations of these forces want to see the true caliber of the young prodigies they had nurtured? As a once-in-a-millennium prodigy of the Thundercloud Sect, Lu Cangsheng deeply understood one principle: before undertaking any endeavor, one must first plan a retreat. Before advancing, one must possess the power to protect oneself. Only with thorough preparation can one act strategically and remain invincible. The Thunder Pond Study was the sanctuary he established for self-preservation in anticipation of the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival.

"Let me in! How dare you stop me..." Lu Wensheng's cold, heavy voice came from outside, as he argued with the Thundercloud Sect disciples guarding the Thunder Pond. Lu Cangsheng, who was meditating on the surface of the Thunder Pond, felt restless. He opened his eyes and sighed deeply, "Let him in."

Lu Wensheng approached the Thunder Pond, watching Lu Cangsheng step by step out of the water towards the shore. After composing himself, he said as calmly as possible, "Cangsheng, lend me another two hundred thousand Yongquan coins. This time, I can definitely win it all back!"

Lu Cangsheng's patience had been completely exhausted over the past few days. "Still want to fight? You've already lost three matches. Haven't you realized that his combat power is far superior to yours, and he's just toying with you all?"

"No! After three encounters, no one knows his combat level better than I do. He is indeed very strong, and I'm not his match. But I no longer have the mindset of defeating him! I'm completely clear-headed, and I know my limits..." Lu Wensheng replied.

Before he could finish, Lu Cangsheng sharply retorted, "Brother, you're in the mountains, but you can't see the mountain itself. In these three matches, you lost your magical artifact armor, your Sky Thunder Blade, and all your cultivation resources are mortgaged. You even borrowed two hundred thousand Yongquan coins from Qianli Mountain, didn't you? You can't go back to the arena. You can't win."

Over the past few days, Lu Wensheng had become highly sensitive. Trembling with anger at Lu Cangsheng's words, he roared, "I never thought of winning! Five moves, I only need to withstand five of his moves, and I can win back everything I lost before. I possess the Nine Springs Pure Immortal Physique, reinforced by eighteen Thunder Strike Formations. In the same realm, can't I even withstand five of his moves?"

"There's always someone better, beyond even the greatest. You can't win!" Lu Cangsheng continued with certainty, "I've watched several of his matches. Although Li Weiyi's cultivation level is still low, his martial arts mastery surpasses yours by countless times. He's been hiding his true strength and hasn't revealed his full abilities. In the same realm, I might not even be his match. The two hundred sixty thousand Yongquan coins you borrowed from me, consider them spent on your cultivation; you don't need to repay them. I can also help you repay what you borrowed from Qianli Mountain, but you must promise me not to fight in the arena again..."

"I don't need your pity!" Lu Wensheng seemed greatly provoked. "I know, you look down on me, just like everyone else in the sect. You're a genius, and I'm just a good-for-nothing! But I'm also a genius, I'm just not as good as you. You're right, I can't withstand ten moves, but I can definitely withstand five."

"Cangsheng... brother... Senior Brother, please, lend me the Yongquan coins. Just let me fight one last time, I promise, absolutely the last time. I swear on the spirits of our parents in heaven."

"If I don't win back what I've lost, I'll die. How can I live in this world with such shame? Everyone in the sect is secretly laughing at me. I must prove myself, otherwise... I'll just have to die!" By the end, Lu Wensheng's body sagged, and he was about to kneel before Lu Cangsheng.

Lu Cangsheng could be ruthless towards anyone, but he held the utmost tolerance for his elder brother. He took a deep breath, a chill flashing in his eyes before quickly turning into a smile. He helped Lu Wensheng up with both hands. "Last time?"

Lu Wensheng burst into tears of joy and said emotionally, "Our parents died young, and we brothers have depended on each other. Cangsheng, I knew you wouldn't abandon me! This last time, I will definitely win back five times the Yongquan coins."

Lu Cangsheng took out a rectangular medicine box from his interdimensional pouch and handed it over. "This 1,600-year-old Black Dragon Herb, which I harvested from the bottom of the East Sea, is worth approximately two hundred thousand Yongquan coins."

"Cangsheng, you're too kind! Don't worry, I'll definitely win this time!" Lu Wensheng quickly departed, smiling brightly as he clutched the medicine box.

Qin Qian walked in from outside, watched Lu Wensheng leave, then looked at Lu Cangsheng's gloomy face and murderous eyes by the Thunder Pond. She said, "Big Brother Lu was never this manic and sensitive before. He used to be an extremely calm and restrained person. It's all Li Weiyi's fault. I'll go kill him!" As a Pure Immortal Body cultivator of the Sixth Sea, she naturally had the confidence to kill Li Weiyi.

Lu Cangsheng gazed at the Thunder Pond. "He's just a pawn! What we truly need to consider is why Zuoqiu Ting put this pawn forward."

Qin Qian said, "There's news that Li Weiyi is Cang Li's brother-in-law."

"Cang Li's brother-in-law? Wasn't it said he was Zuoqiu Family's son-in-law?" Lu Cangsheng frowned.

Qin Qian said, "There are even rumors that he possesses astonishing power, capable of defeating virtually anyone. All sorts of news are flying around, a mix of truth and falsehood, highly misleading."

Lu Cangsheng pondered for a moment. "The Zuoqiu Family and the Jiuli Tribe have avoided conflict for ten years, conserving their strength and watching as the world's heroes and the imperial court engaged in chaotic warfare, mutually exhausting each other and causing rivers of blood. Meanwhile, they, with their deep foundations, have accumulated unknown quantities of provisions, resources, elixirs, magical artifacts, battle formations, and exotic beasts. Now, leveraging the momentum of the Everlasting View and the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, they intend to formally enter the fray and reap the benefits of a third party. The imperial court will certainly view them as primary targets, aiming to teach the Everlasting View and the Zuoqiu Family a stern lesson. The clashes among the young generation at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival will undoubtedly follow this pattern. Therefore, for a mere Fifth Sea Realm, Fourth Stage cultivator, there's no need for the Thundercloud Sect to act now and put ourselves on the front lines. We must exercise restraint. Here's what we'll do: go tell Dragon Palace. If Dragon Gate can kill Li Weiyi, our cooperation can continue."

"And Dragon Gate will be willing to rush into battle?" Qin Qian asked.

Lu Cangsheng said, "During the Lishou turmoil, Dragon Gate already offended the Jiuli Tribe, so a confrontation at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival is inevitable. Moreover, Dragon Gate must have suffered significant losses in this ruinous arena betting game. So many astute cultivators were gradually drawn into this scheme, all of them turning into frenzied gamblers. Fortunately, Li Weiyi is only at the Fourth Stage of the Fifth Sea Realm. If he were three realms higher, the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival would be ruined by him alone, and it would have to be renamed the Hidden Dragon Gambling Festival. This person cannot be allowed to remain."

The challenge fee was five hundred Yongquan coins on the first day. It rose to one thousand on the second day. On the third day, the rules were changed directly: the challenge fee had no upper limit, and a loss meant a ten-fold payout. By the fourth day, the arena side was nearly deserted of challengers, though many spectators watched. Very few dared to step onto the stage.

But with the second banner, proclaiming "Defeat All Foes in Five Moves," hung up, the top Fifth Sea Realm, Fourth Stage cultivators who had been terrified by their losses over the past four days immediately regained their morale and rushed about, raising Yongquan coins. Their enthusiasm was reignited, and everyone felt confident they could withstand five moves.

"This time, it's not a challenge fee. The rules state it's a chance for us to recover our losses; they're prepared to return all the money they won from us."

"It's a one-to-five ratio. As long as we withstand five of his moves, no matter how many Yongquan coins we put up, he'll pay out five times that amount."

"But he told us to exercise restraint, to act within our means, and not to put up excessively large sums."

"Restraint? He's just afraid he won't be able to pay if he loses."

"No one can guarantee defeating all cultivators of the same realm within five moves, so it's natural for him to be cautious."

"I can't withstand ten moves! But in the same realm, if I can't even withstand five moves, what's the point of cultivating martial arts?"

At the Qiuzhou Attendant Hall's yamen, in the topmost floor of the central vermilion tower, Jiang Ning, clad in a millennia-old governor's official robe, sat in the center of a circular formation diagram, cultivating the Dragon Awakening Art. The Dragon Awakening Art was the only way to draw upon the power of the dragon soul within the official robe. Of the three hundred governor's official robes from a millennium ago, half were stored in the imperial palace. The other half were scattered among the common people and in hidden realms.

Hearing the clamor and heated discussions from below the tower, she stopped cultivating and asked Zhuang Yue, "What's happening now?"

Zhuang Yue had changed into a pair of crimson demonic eyes, her pupils like jade. Her usually cold face now carried a seductive allure. Her expression was odd. "It's just Qin Changfeng, Lin Yi, Young Master Wu, and the others. They're preparing to fight in the arena again, scrambling to raise money, claiming they'll make a huge profit this time."

Jiang Ning's eyes were veiled by white dragon-patterned silken gauze, and three misty dragon souls flowed around her. Her tone was serene as she asked, "Has Fifth Brother also been drawn in by them?"

"Young Master Wu has already lost three matches in a row, losing his magical artifacts and getting injured. That fellow shows absolutely no mercy," Zhuang Yue snorted delicately.

Jiang Ning said, "They've lost so much, and they still want to fight?"

"Zuoqiu Ting wrote him another calligraphy piece, which says 'Defeat All Foes in Five Moves.' It's just about withstanding five moves; how could Qin Changfeng and Young Master Wu not take the bait?" Zhuang Yue added, "Zuoqiu Ting is clearly using him. Winning like this will certainly provoke public anger and become extremely dangerous."