Chapter 166 - 107: Zhong Ming: No Matter How Stupid a Person Is, Can They Really Not Even Achieve Cultivation Technique Initiation?

Zhong Ming was stunned by her words. Of course, he wasn’t worried about losing the bet, but surprised that there was an unexpected bonus to be had.

’Wait, so this "playing the fool to get the upper hand" routine actually works?’

In truth, it wasn’t that his act was so effective, but that Zhong Ming’s disguise of absolute arrogance was just too convincing.

Or perhaps, it wasn’t a disguise at all!

He was genuinely confident he could claim the title of Child of the Morning Star.

For him, achieving Initiation in an ordinary Cultivation Technique was a complete breeze.

At this moment, he was simply being himself.

It was just that for a Cultivator from a minor sect to dare say such things was, in itself, something that defied all logic.

Even if Zhong Ming had said it plainly, no one else would have believed him.

When Zhong Ming spoke now, his tone was utterly flippant and his attitude careless and rude. It gave everyone the impression that he was just bragging.

And that was what had provoked a reaction from Ji Qinglian.

At the same time, only Zhong Ming would think that Ji Qinglian, her judgment clouded by personal gain, had taken the bait.

The conditions she proposed were, in fact, incredibly harsh.

After all, Star Heaven·Divine Monarch was a component of a Celestial Level Cultivation Technique. It contained exceptionally profound mysteries—never mind an ordinary Cultivator...

...even the prodigies of Major Sects would need to spend several days, or even months, just to reach Initiation.

And Ji Qinglian had only given Zhong Ming... half a day. This just went to show how cautious she was being.

The only thing she hadn’t considered was that Zhong Ming was an exception to every rule.

"Zhong Ming, don’t agree..."

Ji Qingyue had also detected the trap in Ji Qinglian’s words and hurriedly tried to warn him.

But when there was money to be made, why would Zhong Ming ever listen?

"I accept."

The words had barely left his mouth when, hoping to earn a bit more, he looked directly at the people behind Ji Qinglian and spoke with supreme arrogance, "And what about you lot? Care to make a bet? Let me be clear, though... even if you’re all fools, I don’t give refunds."

SNAP...

His words made the last thread of their reason snap.

"Of course we do! I’ll put up three thousand Spirit Stones. Do you dare to take that bet?" someone immediately shot back.

Zhong Ming retorted, "Who do you think you’re looking down on? The Sect Leader of my Seven Profound Sect treats me like his own son! Forget three thousand. I could come up with thirty thousand, even a hundred thousand Spirit Stones! I’ll take that bet!"

"I’m in!"

As soon as he said that, someone immediately matched the bet.

With the first person taking the lead, the others quickly followed suit—when there was a chance to earn Spirit Stones, nobody wanted to miss out.

These people weren’t afraid of Zhong Ming welching on the bet. With Ji Qinglian present, the Seven Profound Sect wouldn’t dare refuse to pay up.

The same was true for Zhong Ming; with Ji Qingyue here, the other party couldn’t get out of paying either.

And just like that, in a very short amount of time, Zhong Ming had struck a wager with the people behind Ji Qinglian. The final stakes reached a staggering eighty thousand Spirit Stones.

The reason it didn’t reach one hundred thousand was that some of the people behind Ji Qinglian... had quietly started to get cold feet.

At this point, the way Ji Qinglian looked at Zhong Ming had also changed. She sized him up and down, her gaze unceasing.

’He’s far too confident. It doesn’t seem like an act at all... He couldn’t actually be a genius, could he?’

’But what kind of genius is this flippant, going around shouting that he’s invincible?’

Ji Qinglian had a growing sense of foreboding and felt there was an element of pretense to Zhong Ming’s behavior.

But Zhong Ming’s look of utter disdain seemed too genuine, making her think she was just overthinking things.

The fact that she’d noticed a few cracks in his facade only proved that Zhong Ming wasn’t a professional actor. Besides, the sum of Spirit Stones was so immense that he stood to make a massive profit even if his cover was blown. This allowed a hint of his genuine confidence to leak through.

It wasn’t just Ji Qinglian who sensed something was wrong. After getting swept up in the heat of the moment and betting away thousands of Spirit Stones, the people with her also began to panic. A terrifying thought started to dawn on them.

"Zhong Ming... He isn’t putting on an act, is he?"

"That’s impossible. No one’s act could be that convincing!"

"PHEW... Don’t worry. So what if he’s a genius? Star Heaven·Divine Monarch isn’t that easy to comprehend. Besides, the Princess laid a trap. Star Heaven·Divine Monarch is best comprehended at night, but our bet ends before sunset."

"That’s right! Star Heaven... It’s a Cultivation Technique that requires the power of the countless stars to practice. During the day, he won’t be able to do a thing!"

Truth be told, Zhong Ming’s "playing the fool" act wasn’t a complete success. When Ji Qinglian proposed the bet, she had laid out numerous traps.

In terms of strategy alone, Zhong Ming had already lost this round.

Fortunately for him, Zhong Ming had never been one for strategy.

He had always relied on his own hard work and sweat—and his transcendent Talent.

’Deep Blue, Add Points... Ahem, Heaven Rewards Diligence, let’s go!’

After chanting this silently to himself, Zhong Ming stepped into the Starry Courtyard.

The others exchanged glances and quickly followed.

And with that, the bet began!