310: Chapter 310 Bets and Stakes

"Is this a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?" Many youngsters from Qi Refining families looked on with envy and jealousy.

Some of them were raised on the mountain because their parents were Cultivators, while others started as Mortals at the foot of the mountain before becoming the Immortals they revered most at six years old.

But once they began cultivating, they discovered the cultivation world was not as wonderful as they had imagined.

Without sufficient strength, a Cultivator in this cultivation world would always be at the mercy of others.

When they first began cultivating, their original dream was merely to ensure their parents could eat their fill.

Yet whenever they saw these powerful Cultivators possessing the strength to decide everything, they longed intensely to become such Cultivators themselves one day.

Among them were also young Cultivators of the Chen Family. Wherever the young Chen Family Cultivators stood became the center of attention. The young Cultivators from the surrounding Qi Refining families would usually step back out of deference, though some hot-headed ones felt the Chen Family members were no different from them and even competed with the Chen Family Cultivators for sea demons.

Chen Lingzhen was among them as well. At twenty-eight years old, his cultivation was only at the sixth level of Qi Refining, but he was already capable of holding his own.

Just as he was about to finish off a sea demon, a young man nearby stepped in and stole the kill.

Chen Lingzhen chuckled and merely praised, "Brother Zeng, nice move."

"Brother Chen overpraises me. I merely raised my hand a little. It is mainly because my Zeng Family's techniques are reasonably powerful—though, of course, still incomparable to Brother Chen's Chen Family," Zeng Ziyu laughed.

Chen Lingzhen said no more, turning his gaze away with eyes fixed only on a sea demon.

Behind him, contempt flitted across Zeng Ziyu's eyes. He had deliberately provoked him just now, yet this Chen Family Cultivator hadn't dared to strike back. It seemed these Cultivators only appeared noble because their Family possessed Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

If we were outside, I could crush him with the flip of a hand.

Some surrounding Cultivators had noticed this as well. Most of the younger ones were impetuous and strongly supported Zeng Ziyu's actions.

Older Cultivators, however, shook their heads, warning their own clan members while keeping their distance from him.

Chen Lingzhen flicked his wrist and slashed upward with his sword, bisecting a sea demon at the waist. Just as he killed it, three more sea demons targeted him simultaneously.

His eyes narrowed. Taking a few quick steps back, he retreated several zhang while casually executing three sword strikes, forcing back the three sea demons attempting to attack him.

These few moves altered the opinions of several observing Cultivators.

"Flashy tricks," Zeng Ziyu sneered.

His voice was not loud, but it reached Chen Lingzhen's ears nonetheless.

"It seems Brother Zeng is quite dissatisfied with me." Chen Lingzhen narrowed his eyes. He was no longer the naive child of the past, but a Qi Refining Cultivator capable of holding his own for the Chen Family.

"Brother Chen, I would love to compete with you to see who kills more sea demons." Zeng Ziyu remained nonchalant regarding Chen Lingzhen's inquiry, instead proposing a contest he believed he could easily dominate.

"Sure, but a contest without a prize won't do. Without a stake, it would be quite dull, and I've never liked doing meaningless things," Chen Lingzhen smiled.

"Oh? Then I'd love to hear what Brother Chen has in mind," Zeng Ziyu chuckled.

"Since Brother Zeng says so, I will speak bluntly. Within one hour, we will determine the winner based on the number of demons killed," Chen Lingzhen said.

Nearby, many Cultivators had their attention drawn to their discussion, looking over with great interest.

"Mm, I understand. However, what are the stakes Brother Chen speaks of? It wouldn't do if I had to pay a price upon losing while Brother Chen incurs no cost at all, right?" Zeng Ziyu probed.

He feared the other party would use the Chen Family's influence to renege. After all, this was the Chen Family's territory, yet he felt victory was already in his hands.

As long as the opponent stated his stakes in front of so many people who could witness it, if the other party reneged afterward, these spectators could easily ruin the Chen Family's reputation.

The younger generation of Cultivators were waiting for Zeng Ziyu to humiliate his opponent. They had been watching from the side and understood there was a gap between the two, even though the Chen Family member had reached the sixth level of Qi Refining.

But the older generation of Cultivators sighed softly. Many young Cultivators thought they were lamenting for Chen Lingzhen, but they knew in their hearts who they were actually lamenting for.

In a Qi Refining Family, for a Genius to reach the fifth level of Qi Refining in their twenties was no small feat. Yet after today, that Genius would likely wither away.

Are the Cultivators of the Zeng Family really this stubborn? Not a single person stepped forward. Apologizing now might gloss things over, but once the wager begins, there won't be a chance to brush it aside.

"Brother Zeng can rest assured on this. Neither I nor the Chen Family ever break our word. If I lose, I will cut off my own head in public, with every Cultivator here as my witness."

"Furthermore, all my treasures will belong to Fellow Daoist. How about it?" Chen Lingzhen said calmly.

Zeng Ziyu was shocked upon hearing this. He hadn't expected the other party to place such a massive stake.

The younger generation was equally startled. They hadn't expected this member of the Chen Family to make such a big wager. Was he acting recklessly just because his cultivation level was one tier higher?

Or did he feel that as someone from the Chen Family, a Foundation Establishment Family, he had nothing to fear even if he broke his promise?

If so, after today, they would definitely expose the Chen Family's despicable actions, making them a target of public criticism.

The older generation, however, narrowed their eyes. Although they felt the wager was huge, they also deemed it normal. The foolish youth Zeng Ziyu had indeed gone too far earlier.

The older Cultivators all knew Zeng Ziyu was bound to lose, but none were willing to explain. They merely lamented that a Genius from a Qi Refining Family would perish here, which didn't mean they didn't want the Zeng Family's Genius to die.

Because the Zeng Family Cultivator had thoroughly offended the Chen Family. Going up to explain now would clearly be undercutting the Chen Family. If the Chen Family flew into a rage, it was hard to say whether they would be dragged into it.

Besides, some of them also had grudges with the Zeng Family.

"Of course, I will suppress my cultivation to the fifth level of Qi Refining. Everyone here can witness this. If I fail to abide by this condition, I will concede defeat." Seeing Zeng Ziyu's evasive gaze, Chen Lingzhen genuinely feared the man might back down.

"Fine! I accept this wager," Zeng Ziyu gritted his teeth and said.

Since the opponent was willing to suppress his cultivation to the fifth level of Qi Refining—the same Realm as him—he had nothing to fear.

In the same Realm, he had never lost to anyone.

"Brother Zeng, haven't you forgotten one thing? You have yet to state your stakes. Could it be that you're certain you can defeat me?" Chen Lingzhen smiled.

"That is not the case. Since Brother Chen makes such a stake, I shall match it. If I lose, I will end my own life right here, and Brother Chen may take all my treasures." Zeng Ziyu no longer possessed his previous arrogance.

After all, directly putting his life on the line made him afraid, even if he felt he wouldn't lose.