Chapter 60: Chapter 58: A High-Stakes Gamble

Lui Xun’s words drew looks of approval from the others.

Although Jiang Chen had saved their lives, they conveniently forgot this debt of gratitude the moment their personal interests were at stake.

Such is human nature!

Lui Yifa’s eyes widened in fury as he roared, "Lui Xun, do you have any idea what you’re saying? Father taught us since we were children to repay kindness with gratitude! Our benefactor saved our lives. Isn’t that worth more than a single spot in the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm?"

"Hmph, you’re the Clan Leader’s son, a chosen prodigy already selected by the Saint Martial Sword Sect. One of the Lui Family’s spots is already guaranteed for you. Of course it’s easy for you to talk!"

Lui Xun sneered and said indifferently, "Besides, the only reason he killed those experts from the Qinghuo Gang was because *you* were begging him for help, not us. Strictly speaking, he’s your lifesaver, Lui Yifa, not ours!"

"Lui Xun is right!"

"Lui Yifa, you can’t sacrifice our interests just to repay your debt!"

In an instant, Lui Yifa became the target of everyone’s criticism.

Lui Yifa trembled with rage, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Lui Xun. "Lui Xun, how did I never realize you were so shameless? If it weren’t for our benefactor, you would’ve all been killed by the Qinghuo Gang long ago! How can you claim he’s not your lifesaver?"

"You’re the shameless one! A proud descendant of the Lui Family, begging an outsider for help just to survive! If word of this gets out, how could any of us hold our heads high?" Lui Xun retorted. "Lui Yifa, I advise you to remember who you are. You have the blood of the Lui Family in your veins, not the Jiangs... Don’t side with an outsider against your own kin!"

"You... you..."

Lui Yifa was so furious he ground his teeth. The True Qi in his body surged like a dragon in a raging sea, and the Tiger Fang Club in his hand began to hum.

This was rage at its absolute peak!

Lui Xun’s expression faltered. His cultivation was only at the Eighth Stage of Martial Arts; he was no match for Lui Yifa whatsoever.

A glint appeared in his eye as he shouted to the others, "All of you, open your eyes and look! Lui Yifa is about to attack his own kin for an outsider! Because I’m opposing him now, he’s turning on me. Later, if any of you dare to defy him, he certainly won’t show you any mercy either!"

"Lui Xun’s right! We have to stick together!"

"Lui Yifa, you’ve disappointed us greatly!"

The short-haired girl, Lui Tiantian, widened her phoenix eyes and glared at Lui Yifa.

Lui Xun watched with cold detachment, a smug smile curving his lips. With just a few words, he had turned Lui Yifa into their common enemy.

He narrowed his eyes at the pale-faced Lui Yifa and thought, ’Lui Yifa, Lui Yifa... you’ve been better than me at everything since we were kids. This time, we both got into the Saint Martial Sword Sect, yet the special envoy from the Sword Sect showers you with favor while treating me with cold indifference. But it doesn’t matter. As long as I can get into the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm and find a treasure, I’ll soar to new heights, surpass you, and become the number one genius of the Lui Family!’

At this thought.

Lui Xun took a step forward, raising a hand to quiet the clamor. With a look of deep anguish, he said, "Cousin, we’re brothers. Are you really going to attack us for an outsider?"

"You’re right. You are all my brothers, and we share the same blood. But..."

Lui Yifa took a deep breath, the anger slowly fading from his face. When he looked up, his eyes were filled with resolve. He spoke, each word ringing with conviction, "Our benefactor saved my life. I, Lui Yifa, will never do anything to betray that debt."

"Fine. Since your mind is made up, we won’t force you. From now on, you go your way, and we’ll go ours!" Lui Xun finished, then put on a show of regret. He sighed and added, "Cousin, if you change your mind, you can always come back. We’ll let bygones be bygones." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

With a wave of his hand, Lui Xun gestured for his followers to walk toward the carcass of the Black-striped Golden Bull.

However...

Just as they were about to lift the Black-striped Golden Bull, a brilliant flash of sword light pierced the air. WHOOSH! It plunged into the ground right in front of the carcass.

BOOM!

The Sword Qi was incredibly sharp. As it swept out, it carved a half-meter-wide trench in the ground between the Black-striped Golden Bull and Lui Xun’s group.

"Gasp..."

Lui Xun and the others all sucked in a sharp breath. The trench was barely a finger’s width away from them. If they had taken even one more small step, the attack would have struck them.

A chill ran down their spines.

Lui Xun’s face turned ashen. He whirled around to face Jiang Chen and roared, "Jiang Chen, what is the meaning of this?"

"It means nothing."

Jiang Chen blew on his fingertip. A wisp of Sword Qi pulsed and shot out, slicing clean through a nearby pine tree as thick as a man’s thigh with a soft *thwip*. He said coolly, "You may deny that I saved you from the Qinghuo Gang, but it’s an undeniable fact that if it weren’t for me, the carcass of this Black-striped Golden Bull would have already been taken by them. Therefore, this should be my prize."

"I, Jiang Chen, do not steal from others without reason. However, if anyone dares to lay a finger on what is mine, I will kill them!"

Before his words had even faded,

Jiang Chen abruptly looked up. An intensely cold light erupted from his eyes, sweeping across Lui Xun and his followers.

At that moment, Jiang Chen was like a tiger descending from the mountains, surveying a flock of lambs.

Lui Xun cast a fearful glance at Jiang Chen before roaring at Lui Yifa, "Did you see that, Lui Yifa? Is this your so-called benefactor? He wants to steal our prize!"

Lui Yifa shot him a look. "Our benefactor is right. He saved us, so the Black-striped Golden Bull is his prize!"

"You... you... You’re infuriating me! Do you two really think that just by getting one Black-striped Golden Bull, you can enter the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm? That’s a pipe dream! Even our Lui Family, using all its resources, can only secure one or two spots each time it opens. And you, just the two of you, want to compete for those precious spots?" Lui Xun’s face alternated between pale and livid as he raged.

"This..." Lui Yifa’s expression faltered, and a bitter smile touched his lips.

Just as Lui Xun had said, the competition for spots in the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm was incredibly fierce. A first-class family in Yulan Mansion, even with all its might, could only secure one or two spots.

For the two of them alone to hunt enough Demon Beasts to qualify... it truly was a pipe dream.

In the face of Lui Xun’s mockery, Jiang Chen simply smiled. "We’re not just going to compete for spots. I’ll tell you this loud and clear: by the time the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm opens, we will have obtained at least two spots, enough for both of us to enter. Believe it or not."

"The two of you think you can get two spots? HAHAHA! What a joke! You truly don’t know your own limits!" Lui Xun burst into furious, unrestrained laughter.

Jiang Chen replied, "Whether it’s a pipe dream or reality, we’ll find out when the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm opens."

"Hmph. We don’t have to wait until then. I’d bet my life that you can’t possibly do it," Lui Xun said.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "And what if we do?"

"If the two of you, by yourselves, can secure two or more spots... no, even if you manage to secure just *one* spot, I, Lui Xun, will publicly get on my knees and kowtow in apology!" Lui Xun declared with absolute confidence.

’Secure a spot to enter the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm with just two people?’

’Top-tier prodigies like Zhao Qiankun or Yulan Tianpeng might be able to pull it off, but you two? Absolutely impossible!’

Lui Xun was filled with confidence.

Jiang Chen thought for a moment. "The stakes are too low."

"Then what do you want?" Lui Xun glared.

Jiang Chen gave a mocking smile. "Never mind... I’m afraid you don’t have the guts to make this bet."

"Why wouldn’t I dare!" Lui Xun ground his teeth, his eyes locked on Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen sneered. "If I’ve obtained two spots by the time the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm opens, I win. And you will cripple your own cultivation. How about it? Do you dare?"

"Cripple my cultivation? Such big talk! Fine, I’ll take that bet!" Lui Xun nodded fiercely, a venomous look on his face. "But if *you* lose, not only will I cripple your cultivation, I’ll also make you one of my dogs! From now on, whenever you see me, you must call me Master and bark like a dog! Do you dare?"

"Why wouldn’t I dare!"

"A gentleman’s word..."

"...cannot be taken back!"

Lui Xun sneered at Jiang Chen, enunciating every word. "Jiang Chen, you are doomed to lose. I’m looking forward to seeing you groveling and barely clinging to life. It’s going to be glorious, hahaha..."

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, smiling without a word...

’Groveling and barely clinging to life? I just hope you’ll obediently fulfill your promise when the time comes. If I have to take matters into my own hands, it won’t be as simple as just crippling your cultivation.’