NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: After Despair, Do the Gambling Dogs Find Hope Again?
Zhang Meng hadn’t yet drawn the long sword from his back.
His body crouched low, leg muscles coiled like steel cables, veins bulging on his forehead and neck. His qi and blood surged through his body like a fierce beast from the wilderness.
When his right foot struck the arena floor, the stone slabs cracked inch by inch.
BOOM!
He launched forward like a cannonball, creating waves of sonic booms in his wake.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared at Chu Xiu’s left side.
A lightning-fast whip kick struck toward his head, making the very air wail!
Chu Xiu tilted his body, avoiding Zhang Meng’s lightning strike by a hair’s breadth.
Activating his Shadow Retention movement technique, he concentrated his yuan qi in his legs. His speed explosively increased fivefold, becoming so fast that he left three afterimages as he instantly pulled back to a distance of thirty meters from Zhang Meng.
“Hehe, you’re not bad at all!” Zhang Meng sneered.
“Then how about this!”
A dark gleam flashed from his left hand as he flicked his fingers.
CLANG!
A black flying needle pierced through the air, creating ripples as it shot directly toward Chu Xiu’s brow point.
Chu Xiu again activated his Profound-grade Shadow Retention technique, rapidly dodging to the side.
“Holy crap, Zhang Meng’s going for the kill with every strike!”
“Chu Xiu’s movement technique is impressive though—he always manages to dodge at the crucial moment.”
“Heh, you can’t defend forever. No matter how fast your movement technique, if you can’t defeat your opponent, you’re bound to lose in the end.”
“Chu Xiu is definitely going to lose.”
“This fight’s outcome is already clear.”
Tao Yao watched with worried beautiful eyes.
She thought to herself, Senior Brother, are you really just acting? This seems a bit too realistic…
Meanwhile, the gambling dogs were ecstatic.
It’s in the bag! It’s in the bag!!!!
On the arena platform.
The situation did appear one-sided.
Zhang Meng was chasing Chu Xiu around.
After about seven or eight minutes…
Zhang Meng finally lost his patience—this Chu Xiu was like a slippery loach, impossible to grab.
SHING!
He drew his red sword.
Waves of yuan force sword energy formed a net, slashing toward Chu Xiu from all directions.
Completely sealing off any escape route.
Chu Xiu’s long, deep eyes narrowed slightly.
Left hand gripping the scabbard, right hand on the bone-white sword handle.
He held the Bloodcry Sword vertically before him.
Slowly drawing the sword.
The blood-colored blade reflected his deep, indifferent eyes like a mirror.
Drawing Sword Style.
HUMM~
A blood-colored sword light, several meters long and half a meter wide, thunderously slashed out.
It cut a gap in Zhang Meng’s sword net.
Activating his Shadow Retention technique, he slipped through the opening.
An opening!
A killing intent flashed through Zhang Meng’s pupils.
His lips curled into a vicious smile.
His speed suddenly surged by more than double, instantly appearing before Chu Xiu.
Left foot rising, whipping toward his temple.
“Die, trash!”
Chu Xiu’s expression remained indifferent.
Those who had fought him before knew that when he showed this expression, they needed to be careful.
Because he was about to go for the kill.
He raised his arm to guard his face.
As an Ancient Saint Body cultivator, though not yet fully matured, he was nearly invincible in close combat against those of the same realm.
His earlier exchanges with Zhang Meng were merely a show for the gambling dogs.
If he had been serious from the start, with his rich combat experience and current cultivation foundation, he could have finished his opponent in three moves maximum, without even using sword intent.
BOOM!
The kick struck his left arm, producing a thunderous sound.
Chu Xiu pretended to stagger backward while simultaneously turning the Bloodcry Sword into a blur.
Zhang Meng only saw a beautiful arc of blood-colored light flash past.
Such a fast… sword.
The next moment.
Bloodcry Sword glided across Zhang Meng’s neck like autumn water.
A fine line of blood gradually appeared.
Zhang Meng’s eyes widened as he tried to cover the wound.
SPLURT!
Blood sprayed.
His head rolled to the ground, tumbling several times.
The headless corpse fountained blood several meters high.
The blood loss was extreme, expected of a peak Sea of Qi realm cultivator with abundant qi and blood…
PUFF!
Chu Xiu forcefully shook his internal organs, spat out a mouthful of blood, and leaned on Bloodcry Sword, half-kneeling with a pale face, panting heavily… appearing seriously injured.
The observation platform fell dead silent.
Shock.
Disbelief.
How was this possible? Zhang Meng actually lost?
Just twenty days ago, Zhang Meng had easily defeated Chu Xiu!
Today he actually lost? Even killed on the spot?
“Ten days ago, I remember Chu Xiu said he would kill Zhang Meng in a death match. He actually did it.”
“I can’t believe a Sea of Qi Fourth Layer actually killed someone at the peak of the Sea of Qi realm.”
WHOOSH!
An uproar broke out.
“Am I seeing things?”
“Mother of heaven, I lost 3,000 high-grade yuan stones!!!”
“I lost 4,000.”
“I lost a Profound-grade weapon.”
“Is Zhang Meng garbage? Getting killed by someone at Sea of Qi Fourth Layer?”
“How did it go so wrong?”
“Waaah…”
“I’m so angry, I’ll never gamble again!”
The outcome was decided.
After the referee made the announcement.
The arena barrier disappeared.
Tao Yao instantly appeared on the platform, supporting Chu Xiu.
A delicate fragrance entered his nose as Chu Xiu wiped the blood from his lips: “Junior Sister, help me to the Core Disciple seats.”
“Of course, Senior Brother~”
Tao Yao held Chu Xiu’s arm as they flew to the Core Disciple section.
He went straight for the pile of bets.
Under the envious and resentful gazes of all the gambling dogs, his right hand waved, and Profound-grade weapons, pills, precious materials, and yuan stones flew into his storage bag one after another.
Soon everything was collected.
Chu Xiu patted his storage bag with satisfaction, revealing a content smile.
Another large sum of breakthrough points had arrived.
Holding the bottle of “bait”—the Heavenly Profound Pill—his face beamed with joy.
Jian Lingyun narrowed his eyes at Chu Xiu and said coldly, “You were hiding your strength…” In this gambling match, he had lost the most—not only did his subordinate die, but he also lost a huge sum of yuan stones, estimated at about 600,000 high-grade stones, which would take him several years to save up.
Xu Tianzhen’s beautiful eyes also grew strange.
Chu Xiu’s victory was far beyond her expectations.
Obviously, anyone who could become a Core Disciple wasn’t a fool.
Although Chu Xiu’s acting was very convincing, it still couldn’t fool those who were paying close attention.
Chu Xiu shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.
“Do you dare to bet again?” Jian Lingyun smiled. “The Senior Brother of Yunxia Peak wouldn’t be afraid to gamble, would he?”
Chu Xiu smiled and raised an eyebrow. “How do you want to bet?”
“I’ll send out a Divine Bridge First Layer cultivator to fight you, with the same stakes as before.”
“Jian Lingyun, are you seeking death?” Tao Yao’s voice turned ice-cold, killing intent boiling, her black hair floating without wind.
Seeing this, the several elders of Tianxing Peak’s expressions changed simultaneously, immediately becoming alert in case this woman suddenly attacked.
Jian Lingyun frowned and stepped back to distance himself from Tao Yao, then looked at Chu Xiu again without speaking further.
Chu Xiu stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, then frowned, “It’s not impossible, but you’ll need to add more money.”
“The stakes need to increase by at least 30%, considering I’m only at Sea of Qi Fourth Layer. Fighting against a Divine Bridge First Layer is very risky.”
As he spoke, a flash of greed flickered through his eyes.
The Tianxing Peak elders shook their heads secretly, seeing this.
Jian Lingyun laughed coldly in his heart.
Indeed, greed without strength is the original sin. You’re seeking your own death. Don’t blame me.
“Chen Linfei~”
“Present~”
A disciple wearing a blue sword training uniform stepped forward and respectfully answered.
“You’re up for the next match.”
“Yes~”
Seeing this, Xu Tianzhen couldn’t help but frown, speechless in her heart—this Chu Xiu, doesn’t he know when to quit while he’s ahead?
The gap between Divine Bridge and Sea of Qi realm isn’t small.
Just because he killed Zhang Meng, does he really think he’s strong enough to face someone at Divine Bridge realm?
Tao Yao also secretly transmitted a message, trying to persuade him.
However, Chu Xiu’s mind was made up.
Today, he had to bring home the goods. As he said, not even an Emperor could stop him!!
His Ancient Saint Body was still crying out for nourishment at home.
Learning that a second round of betting was starting.
And that Chu Xiu would be fighting someone at Divine Bridge realm?
The gambling dogs who had lost in the first round immediately felt their restless hearts stirring again.
The gambler’s mindset—the next bet will definitely win, they can recover their losses…
The betting began.
Even though the stakes were 30% higher than before, they didn’t care.
In their view, Chu Xiu at Sea of Qi Fourth Layer couldn’t possibly be a match for Chen Linfei at Divine Bridge First Layer.
There was a fundamental difference between them.
The gap was like that between heaven and earth!!
Chu Xiu must be crazy to agree to this match.
Next, all they needed to do was bet on Chu Xiu losing, and they could wait to collect their money.
It became frenzied.
Streams of light cut through the air, flying toward Tianxing Peak.
After hearing the news, even the Core and True Disciples from other peaks were rushing over.
They all wanted a piece of this pie.
—
[TL Notes]:
zhang (丈): Traditional Chinese unit of length, approximately 3.3 meters
“Throwing” (gaming slang): Losing in an avoidable manner.
“Gambling dogs”: Modern slang for gambling addicts.