Chapter 191: Chapter 189: Within Easy Reach

"How is that possible? How could Nalan Qiantian have reached the nineteenth floor?"

Li Ke and Wu Haorui exclaimed in shock almost simultaneously.

Their expressions were incredibly grim.

Wu Haorui, in particular, felt it most keenly. He had already experienced the trial of the Earth Martial Hall and knew that passing its challenges was not simply a matter of combat strength!

The most important thing was one’s comprehension and insight into the Martial Dao.

Wu Haorui’s cultivation had reached the True Martial Realm Ninth Stage. In terms of pure combat strength, he already stood at the pinnacle of True Martial Realm Martial Artists. Yet, he still couldn’t break through to the twenty-seventh floor of the Earth Martial Hall, precisely because his comprehension of the Martial Dao wasn’t high enough.

He had thought that no matter how talented Nalan Qiantian was, he would be on par with him at best.

But now, it seemed that while Nalan Qiantian’s cultivation was indeed inferior to his, his comprehension of the Martial Dao had already surpassed him.

WHOOSH—

The light on the nineteenth floor quickly dimmed.

Nalan Qiantian walked out of the Earth Martial Hall, his face flushed with excitement. He wore a smug expression. Reaching the nineteenth floor and becoming a Core Disciple on his first attempt left him extremely satisfied. He stared at the ashen-faced Wu Haorui. "What? You see your new boss and you’re not going to kneel and kowtow?"

"You... Don’t get cocky!" Wu Haorui said, his gaze dark.

Nalan Qiantian’s expression darkened, and he boomed, "Is the great genius of the prestigious Wu Family actually a coward who won’t own up to his actions and reneges on his losses?"

"I..."

Wu Haorui opened his mouth, but no words came out. He noticed the strange looks everyone was giving him. His face was ashen. He bent his knees, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed heavily to Nalan Qiantian. He spoke, enunciating each word, "Wu Haorui greets the boss."

"Hahaha, that’s more like it!" Nalan Qiantian laughed heartily. "Don’t worry. Stick with me, and you won’t lose out!"

As he spoke, he even reached out and patted Wu Haorui on the head.

Wu Haorui’s eye twitched as he fought back the urge to kill. "..."

...

"Li Ke, you’ve lost. Give me the Spirit Crystals," Jiang Chen said, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked at Li Ke.

Li Ke’s expression was stormy and incredibly ugly. His eyes flashed with a cold light. Though reluctant, he didn’t dare renege on the bet in front of so many people. With a dark face, he handed one hundred Spirit Crystals to Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen casually tossed the Spirit Crystals to the Black Emperor. "Little Black, take this stuff as spending money. Go share it with Little White when you get back!"

"Mm, this should be enough for a while," the Black Emperor said in a deadpan voice.

Li Ke’s mouth twitched. "..."

Lin Feifei’s eyes showed her astonishment. "..."

The crowd was dumbfounded. "..."

That was a hundred Lower-Grade Spirit Crystals, equivalent to ten billion silver taels!

’He just tossed it to his subordinate Demon Beast as spending money?’

Li Ke’s face was twisted to the extreme, his features practically bunched together. His eyes glinted with venomous hatred and a chilling light as he stared fixedly at Jiang Chen. He snarled, "Jiang Chen, do you have the guts to make another bet with me?"

"Bet on what?" Jiang Chen asked.

"Another one hundred Lower-Grade Spirit Crystals," Li Ke said.

Jiang Chen shook his head. "Not interested."

Li Ke’s face darkened. "How much, then?"

"I don’t think you have that much money, so let’s just make a casual bet of five hundred Lower-Grade Spirit Crystals. How about it?" Jiang Chen said. Seeing Li Ke’s expression sink, he added nonchalantly, "Of course, if you can’t afford it, we can just forget about it."

Provoked like this, how could Li Ke possibly refuse?

He strained his neck, his face beet red, and all but roared, "Fine, a bet it is! I, Li Ke, have never been afraid of anyone!"

"Excellent!"

Jiang Chen grinned. "We’ll bet on who climbs higher in the Earth Martial Hall!"

"This round is my win for sure!"

Li Ke said confidently.

Another two groups went, and then it was finally Li Ke’s turn.

With a look of determination in his eyes, Li Ke charged into the Earth Martial Hall.

1st Floor...

2nd Floor...

Li Ke’s speed was incredible. In the blink of an eye, he had already charged to the eighteenth floor.

Inside the eighteenth floor.

Li Ke’s face was a little pale. ’As expected of the Saint Martial Sword Sect’s Earth Martial Hall. I didn’t think just reaching the eighteenth floor would force me to use almost all my trump cards. Every nine floors in the Earth Martial Hall is a major checkpoint. To break through the eighteenth floor, I’m afraid I’ll need to comprehend a Tier One Martial Dao True Intent. Luckily, my big brother told me about the situation in the Earth Martial Hall long ago, and I came prepared...’

An emerald-green pearl materialized in his palm.

Gazing at the pearl in his hand, a crazed look appeared in Li Ke’s eyes. ’Jiang Chen, oh, Jiang Chen, you would never have guessed that I have a True Intent Source Pearl! Heheheh, this bet is as good as mine!’

A True Intent Source Pearl!

This was a special type of Profound Weapon created by experts who had grasped a Tier Two or higher Martial Dao True Intent. Using a Secret Technique, they would infuse their own Power of Martial Dao True Intent into a True Intent Source Pearl to be stored!

The True Intent Source Pearl in his hand was of Yellow Tier High Level quality.

It could store the power of a Tier One Advanced Martial Dao True Intent. Once used, Li Ke would be able to wield the power of a Tier One Advanced Martial Dao True Intent for a short time!

However, each use came at a great cost!

It consumed an enormous amount of spiritual energy!

Li Ke hadn’t wanted to use it, but to win the bet against Jiang Chen, he had no choice!

BOOM...

The True Intent Source Pearl transformed into a surging wave of Martial Dao True Intent and merged into Li Ke’s body. His Martial Soul materialized behind him—a golden Sword Martial Soul. The surging Sword Intent gathered from the True Intent Source Pearl and fused into his Martial Soul, allowing Li Ke to master a Tier One High Level Sword Intent for a short period!

"Hahaha, Jiang Chen, you’ve definitely lost!"

Li Ke let out a cry as he flicked his sword. The longsword shot through the air, and the puppet in front of him was shattered to pieces.

Immediately after, Li Ke ascended to the nineteenth floor!

After about half an incense stick’s worth of time, Li Ke finally climbed another level, stepping onto the twentieth floor of the Earth Martial Hall. But this was his limit. He could no longer hold on and retreated from the Earth Martial Hall.

The moment he stepped out of the Earth Martial Hall, Li Ke was met with a roar of cheers like a tidal wave.

"Li Ke’s out! The twentieth floor! That’s insane!"

"It’s unbelievable! He actually reached the twentieth floor! We have another Core Disciple!"

"That’s so damn impressive. This result is enough to make all other geniuses despair. Jiang Chen has definitely lost this bet!"

"Five hundred Lower-Grade Spirit Crystals... Jiang Chen is going to lose big this time!"

A smug smile spread across Li Ke’s face. He looked at Jiang Chen and said mockingly, "Jiang Chen, you’ve lost!"

"Lost? I haven’t even started yet, and you’re already sure I’ll lose?" Jiang Chen asked with a strange look.

Li Ke said confidently, "Even I had to stop at the twentieth floor. There’s no way you can surpass it!"

Jiang Chen grinned. "Just because you couldn’t do it, you can only blame your own incompetence. It doesn’t mean I’m as mediocre as you. Open your eyes and watch carefully. The twentieth floor that stopped you is, in my eyes, easily within reach!"

Before his words had even faded, Jiang Chen had already entered the Earth Martial Hall with the last group of challengers...