49: Chapter 49 Gambling Battle

"Who is Lin Bufan?"

"I remember now, he's that top genius who was expelled from the Qixia Sect ten years ago. It's said his meridians were completely crippled back then."

"I heard he made some sort of ten-year pact with Personal Disciple Liu."

The square was abuzz with discussion. The old man on the high platform, who was none other than Liu Qingshan, the master of the Qixia Sect, had a look on his face that was unimaginably ugly.

He had originally wanted to personally capture the newcomers, but upon seeing the attire of the woman at the lead, he retracted his half-raised hand.

The attire of a personal disciple of the Tianxuan Sword Sect—within this Tianxuan Prefecture, who could pretend not to recognize it?

"I wonder what brings the two of you here?"

When Liu Qingshan opened his eyes once more, the anger in the depths of his eyes had already dissipated. His powerful coercion caused the square to fall silent once again.

The weight of a Core Formation cultivator could not be ignored anywhere.

Following Lin Bufan's gaze, you saw a woman with dark hair like a waterfall and eyes like autumn water. Even under the suppression of the late Foundation Establishment demonic beast, she still straightened her back, possessing a certain unyielding character of her own.

It seemed she wasn't just some good-for-nothing who bullied others by relying on power, but rather someone with ambitions higher than the heavens...

You sized her up for a moment, seeing that even while kneeling in such a disheveled state on the ground, she still stared at the two of you with an unyielding gaze, and ultimately gave her the mental evaluation of a "frog at the bottom of a well".

After all, even for a heaven-chosen favorite like yourself, reality still required diligent cultivation and keeping a low profile with your tail tucked between your legs.

Her looks were not bad, but her actions were far too emotional.

Hearing the questioning of the elder above, you flicked out a black token and said in a clear voice:

"This junior is Lin Qingyu, a personal disciple of Doujian Peak of the Tianxuan Sword Sect. My master is True Monarch Qingming."

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingshan's hand as he took the token trembled imperceptibly.

True Monarch Qingming!

The First Elder of Doujian Peak, a being at the peak of Core Formation...

Not someone to be trifled with.

Thinking of this, a benevolent smile appeared on Liu Qingshan's face. A gentle stream of spiritual Qi returned the token along its original path, and then he waved his large hand.

"Haha! Since you are the esteemed disciple of True Monarch Qingming, you are naturally an honored guest of our Qixia Sect. Would you care to take a seat and observe the ceremony together?"

He recognized Lin Bufan, but subconsciously ignored him.

In his view, even if the other party's meridians had already been repaired, it was utterly impossible for him to catch up to Liu Qingyue, whom the Qixia Sect had poured all its resources into nurturing, in a mere ten years.

"No need!"

You revealed your identity precisely to make the match fairer. The gazes of everyone in the square toward you changed; there would never be a shortage of sycophants in this world.

You took a step back, letting Lin Bufan stand in a more forward position.

"This is my junior brother, Lin Bufan. He has come for the ten-year pact."

The smile on Liu Qingshan's face stiffened. Only then did he cast his gaze onto him, and after taking a deep breath, he managed to squeeze out a trace of a smile.

"Bufan, back then—"

"Master!"

The demonic beast's coercion had already receded. The woman in the center of the square abruptly stood up, her gaze fixed directly on the two people above the giant eagle. Within that gaze were complexity, doubt, and anger, but the only thing missing was regret.

Liu Qingyue slowly closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, only pure battle intent remained in the depths of her eyes.

"Lin Bufan, come fight!"

"Wait."

Just as Lin Bufan was about to speak and accept, you chuckled and interrupted.

"Ten years ago, you humiliated my junior brother like that. Could it be that you want to pretend as if nothing ever happened?"

"What do you want?"

Liu Qingyue raised her head, standing straight as an arrow.

"Wager your life."

Your eyes, which had originally held a smile, suddenly turned cold as you lightly spat out those two words.

"No!"

Before she could answer, Liu Qingshan on the high platform could no longer sit still.

Although he had broken through to the Core Formation stage, he had barely succeeded by risking his life on the verge of death. His lifespan was severely damaged, leaving him with at most another hundred years of life.

Liu Qingyue possessed inferior Dual Spiritual Roots and was the future hope of the Qixia Sect.

You hadn't intended to completely anger a Core Formation cultivator anyway, so seeing Liu Qingyue's words choked back, you smoothly spoke up:

"Naturally, Senior Liu's face must be given. Then let us take a step back: how about using the Qixia Sect's seven-heart glazed lamp as the stake?"

Lin Bufan, who had originally wanted to chime in, immediately shut his mouth. He finally understood: Senior Sister was not someone easy to deal with, and today she was bound to bite a chunk of flesh off the Qixia Sect.

Seeing him hesitate, you swept your gaze around meaningfully and spoke casually:

"Could it be that Sect Master Liu feels the proud daughter of heaven nurtured by your entire sect cannot even compare to an ordinary inner sect disciple of my Tianxuan Sword Sect?"

"Master, this disciple accepts!"

There was a plea in Liu Qingyue's eyes.

Seeing this, Liu Qingshan pinched the space between his brows. After giving you a deep look, his tone became much colder.

"I hope the personal disciple Lin keeps her word."

"Of course. If my junior brother loses, we will leave without a second word and guarantee that we won't come looking for trouble over this matter in the future."

The corners of your lips curved up slightly as you gently patted Lin Bufan's shoulder, whispering by his ear:

"Junior brother, if you win, Senior Sister will let you—"

"！！！"

Lin Bufan's tiger-like body trembled, and the battle intent in the depths of his eyes rose to yet another level.

"What is your relationship with him?"

Seeing the two of you in such an intimate posture, the silent Liu Qingyue below suddenly turned her gaze toward you.

"Taoist companions~"

You blinked your eyes, giving Xiao Fanzi plenty of face.

Hearing this, Lin Bufan puffed out his chest and cast a disdainful glance at the woman below.

"Good, very good!"

Liu Qingyue stared directly at you through gritted teeth.

"If Lin Bufan loses, do you dare to fight me?"

"Ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth."

You sneered.

The next moment, Liu Qingyue only felt a gentle breeze brush against her face. When she came to her senses, she discovered that a fair, jade-like palm was resting lightly upon her shoulder.

Liu Qingyue felt as though she had fallen into an ice cellar. She felt that if she made even the slightest unusual movement right now, she would be left without a burial site.

"Heh~"

You smiled and patted her stiff shoulder, walking leisurely toward the high platform.

At this time, the white figure above the giant eagle slowly dissipated...

Until after you took your seat, Liu Qingyue had still not recovered from that helplessness-inducing terror, and a trace of bitterness inevitably welled up in her heart.

Was this what a true genius was?

She could tell that you had yet to break through to Foundation Establishment, yet a Qi Refinement Stage cultivator could easily hold her life and death in their grasp. This sense of powerlessness was even more demoralizing than losing to a powerhouse.

In quite a good mood, you blinked at Lin Bufan above the giant eagle and quietly transmitted your voice:

"Junior brother, Senior Sister has helped you break her state of mind. Hurry up and torment her to your heart's content!"

"..."

Lin Bufan's mouth twitched slightly. Defeating Liu Qingyue fair and square had been his original idea, but now like this... it actually seemed quite satisfying.

"Liu Qingyue, ten years have passed. Let me see who the trash you spoke of that day actually is!"

Lin Bufan leaped down from the giant eagle, his figure plummeting like a falling meteor.

Black light surged violently in his hand, and a massive black sword manifested out of thin air, slashing down head-on toward the still-dazed Liu Qingyue below.

Before the sword's edge even arrived, the bluestone bricks beneath her feet had already shattered inch by inch!