Chapter 288 : Opening the Bets

Chapter 288: Opening the Bets

Inside the grand hall, when everyone saw Chu Yinyin’s figure, they all spoke in unison to congratulate her.

“Congratulations, Junior Sister, on breaking through and emerging from seclusion!”

The old girl sat on the large chair, slightly raising her small chin with a smug expression.

At this moment, she truly had reason to be proud.

Because this time, she had broken through several realms in one go, her cultivation directly reaching the Fourth Heaven of the Seventh Realm.

Having deliberately suppressed her realm for many years, it was indeed as she had always said—she could break through whenever she wished.

In the past, whenever you all held meetings, you would always say that those below the Seventh Realm were not qualified to know!

Try saying that again now!

However, the flaw in her cultivation method was far too obvious—judging from her appearance, Chu Yinyin had become two or three years younger.

If she used a breath-concealing technique, ordinary people would only think she was a delicately carved little girl. No one would believe she was a major cultivator of the Seventh Realm!

Xiang Yan and the others had even discussed this before:

“If Junior Sister keeps cultivating to the Ninth Realm, will she end up looking like a three-year-old child?”

The possibility was extremely high!

At this moment, because the chair in the hall was so large, her already short legs could not touch the ground at all, now dangling even more noticeably in the air.

She glanced around at everyone and said, “I’ll accompany my disciple to the competition. I assume none of you have any objections?”

As the Sect Master, Xiang Yan wore a smile and gently shook his head, indicating that he had no objections.

But in reality, his head was pounding!

The most unreliable Junior Sister and the second most unreliable Little Martial Uncle leading the team together?

Wouldn’t they turn Moon Country upside down!

What if it caused some kind of diplomatic incident?

Thus, he immediately made a decision.

“Then let Little Martial Uncle, Ninth Junior Sister, and Junior Sister lead the team together.”

They could add Chu Yinyin—but absolutely could not replace Nangong Yue!

For such a grand event involving the entire Xuanhuang Realm, the Dao Gate at least needed one respectable representative!

After discussing a bit more, Li Chunsong began rubbing his hands together like a fly.

The dead gambler spoke up:

“Since the Third Realm Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition is about to begin, why don’t we place a bet—whether Chu Huaixu can win the championship again this year?”

Everyone looked at him as if he were an idiot.

“Sixth Junior Brother, not to be rude, but what’s there to bet on?” Zhao Shuqin said irritably.

Chu Huaixu was already absurdly strong, completely on a different level from ordinary Third Realm cultivators.

“That Heir of Prince Rui is likely no threat either.”

“His only real opponent has always been Xu Ziqing.”

Zhao Shuqin added, “Xu Ziqing holding the Dao Ancestor’s Sword.”

The reason Jiang Zhi needed to personally go down the mountain this time was partly due to recent disturbances, and partly because, for a thousand years, the Dao Ancestor’s Sword had never left the Dao Gate.

This time, Xu Ziqing would carry the sword case and bring it to Moon Country.

This alone could not be taken lightly.

The Dao Ancestor was no longer alive—this evil sword could not be allowed to go wrong.

In the current Xuanhuang Realm, no one could suppress it anymore!

Overall, the Dao Gate was not placing all its bets solely on Chu Huaixu.

In the end, it would still depend on whose overall combat strength was greater.

After all, each layer of restriction removed from the Bronze Sword released power that increased geometrically—extremely terrifying.

Li Chunsong looked at everyone and continued rubbing his hands.

“But you have to fight to know for sure!”

Zhao Shuqin still looked at him like an idiot.

“But Sixth Junior Brother, hasn’t Chu Huaixu already created enough miracles?”

“Since he came up the mountain, you’ve won every bet.”

“And every time you win, it’s because you bet on him.”

“But right now, I suspect everyone here would choose to bet on Chu Huaixu to win.”

“So how can this bet even exist?”

Li Chunsong was stunned.

He looked around, and everyone nodded slightly under his gaze.

Even Jiang Zhi, who had once been the least optimistic about Chu Huaixu, raised no objections now.

He had dropped his “pearls of wisdom” too many times.

They were already shattered beyond repair.

This immediately made the dead gambler anxious.

But he couldn’t not bet on Chu Huaixu.

I was the one who brought him up the mountain—why wouldn’t I bet on him!

Soon, however, inspiration struck him.

“Right! Recently, for some reason, that kid’s breakthrough speed has slowed. He’s been stuck at the Seventh Heaven of the Third Realm.”

He began laying the groundwork.

Even the Dao Gate members were puzzled by this.

They always felt that Chu Huaixu’s breakthroughs depended entirely on his mood.

When he wanted to break through, he could do so suddenly.

When he didn’t, he could keep suppressing it indefinitely.

In fact, for major realms, due to bottlenecks, deliberately not breaking through was relatively easy.

But for minor realms, suppression was the hardest!

No one knew how he managed it.

Little did they know—it was simply because Chu Huaixu was running low on Experience Points.

Li Chunsong continued:

“Isn’t he going to enter the 【Imperial Pool】?”

“As someone from Mirror Country of the Eastern Continent, his gains will definitely be limited.”

“Let’s bet on how many realms he’ll break through after entering the 【Imperial Pool】, and what he’ll gain!”

Second Senior Brother Tai Tingbai thought for a moment and said:

“Logically speaking, since he’s not from Moon Country, at most he’ll break through one heaven.”

“But Chu Huaixu can’t be judged by logic…”

“I think he’ll at least reach complete perfection of the Third Realm.”

“As for obtaining the Emperor-level Divine Sense—that’s absolutely impossible.”

Everyone agreed with Tai Tingbai.

The dead gambler panicked.

“No one’s betting that he’ll only break through one heaven?”

Everyone once again looked at him like an idiot.

Li Chunsong gritted his teeth—his gambling addiction flared up again.

“Then I’ll bet he can obtain the Emperor-level Divine Sense!”

Chu Yinyin, listening nearby, immediately said:

“Li Chunsong, are you crazy!”

“He’s not from Moon Country—how could he possibly obtain the Emperor-level Divine Sense?”

Li Chunsong looked at her with an indifferent expression.

“What do you know? Great fortune comes from taking risks!”

Chu Yinyin ignored him.

After settling the bet, everyone’s gaze fell upon the empty chair.

They all very consciously began paying the fines for privately setting up a gambling pool according to sect rules.

Two days later, Dao Gate, Medicine Mountain.

Mo Qingmei arrived outside Niu Yuanshan’s courtyard.

Before entering, she adjusted her clothes and tidied her wind-tousled hair, ensuring she appeared dignified and elegant.

Only then did she step inside.

Seeing Junior Sister Mo visiting, Old Niu immediately stood up to greet her.

“Junior Sister Mo, what brings you here?” A slight smile appeared on his square-jawed face.

“I came to see you, so naturally there’s business. Do you think I came just to see you?” Mo Qingmei replied coldly, as she never gave him a pleasant attitude.

“What is it? Please speak, Junior Sister Mo.” Old Niu was already used to it.

Mo Qingmei looked at him and said directly:

“For this Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition, the Sect Master has chosen you and me from among the Outer Sect Stewards to accompany the team and handle various affairs.”

Niu Yuanshan froze on the spot.

He didn’t hear a single word of what she said after that.

“Steward Niu,” Mo Qingmei called.

Seeing no response, she frowned and called again, “Steward Niu, are you listening?”

Old Niu finally came back to his senses and quickly forced a smile.

“I’m listening, I’m listening. Please trouble Junior Sister Mo to repeat the details.”

As he spoke, he tried his best to suppress the slight tremble in his voice.

At this moment, Mu Bingjiu felt somewhat dazed.

“I’m… going home?” he thought.