Chapter 251: The True Expert, Baili Han
“Huh?” Ling Chuxi raised her head to look at Fu Chengyu. “How did you inquire about it?”
“Feng Yan Union,” said Fu Chengyu with a smile. “E Shulan’s weapon was given to her not too long ago by the Deity Temple. It is a mother and son sword pair. It is known to be a good weapon that is peerless. The small sword the both of you saw was the son sword of the pair and it can be hidden within the mother sword’s hilt, making it hard to guard against. If you meet her in competition, you must be extremely careful.”
“Seeing as to how you were both so tangled up over this problem, Senior Brother sought out Feng Yan Union to buy some information,” said Ling Yichen with a smile. “There’s more. This is supposedly the most accurate information there is. This is a book being sold outside. It contains all the information on the experts who will be participating in this time’s competition. There is also a wager,” explained Ling Yichen as he waved the book in his hand around. He had actually bought one to bring back.
“A wager?!” exclaimed Ling Chuxi as her eyes brightened. She snatched the book from Ling Yichen’s hand to flip through it. Fifty people were listed in the book. Ling Chuxi’s name was on the eighth page. Besides her name, the book also included basic information about her. For example, details of where she was from, her original academy, her current academy—Wind Cloud Academy, her estimated cultivation level and success rate.
“How much is this book?” asked Ling Chuxi casually in passing as she looked at the information of all the people listed within the book’s pages.
“One silver tael,” replied Ling Yichen succinctly.
“Feng Yan Union really knows how to do business,” harrumphed Ling Chuxi. One silver tael could not really be considered a lot, but it could not be considered little either. An ordinary family would spend about twenty taels a year. However, to families with good socioeconomic statuses, one silver tael was not much. When one thought about the fighting ring competition being held at a national level this time and saw how so many people were coming and going on the streets these days, one could tell just how many people had entered the capital just for this event alone. So many people had come from afar just to watch the competition, spending their time and money to do so. Naturally, they would not be bothered about spending a single silver tael to procure more information on the competition’s participants. One could easily guess that this book would be bought by many. Feng Yan Union, oh, Feng Yan Union. They must be so rich till they dripped with oil. It really made one admire, be jealous and hate them all at once.
“Who is this person? I’ve never heard of him,” said Ling Chuxi as she pointed at the name listed on the first page as she asked.
“Baili Han. A student from Wind Cloud Academy. Since he’s a student exchange participant, he has gone off to another academy. That’s why you have not seen him around before,” explained Fu Chengyu from the side.
“Isn’t Shao Nansong known as Wind Cloud Academy’s number one expert? Would Baili Han be Shao Nansong’s match? Why is he on the first page instead?” Xia Zhuoyi had long known about the matter where Chu Jianyi had challenged and defeated Shao Nansong before being beaten by Ling Chuxi. Therefore, he asked such a question in doubt now.
“Shao Nansong was known as the number one expert in Wind Cloud Academy because people here have witnessed his cultivation before. However, nobody has ever witnessed Baili Han’s true abilities. Shao Nansong had also never challenged him before,” said Fu Chengyu seriously. “Some people have said that Baili Han has already experienced Heavenly Lightning Striking The Body.”
“What?! Heavenly Lightning Striking The Body?” exclaimed Lan Xinyu and the rest in surprise, their eyes full of disbelief.
One needed to know that Heavenly Lightning Striking The Body was the legendary sign that would only appear when one had broken through to Battle Qi Level 9. It was also a huge watershed moment that cultivators faced in the process. Only through experiencing the Ninth Heavens’ lightning strike could one’s meridians and bones be restructured, and only then could a cultivator truly breakthrough to surpass the limits of their body to become a real pinnacle cultivator, entering into the true comprehension cultivation state. However, many cultivators had also succumbed to this watershed moment by being struck to dust under the might of this heavenly lightning.
Ling Chuxi was only at Battle Qi Level 8 and had yet to reach Level 9. As for the rest, there was no need to further discuss the matter as they were even further away.
Chapter 252: The Great Plan to Earn A Large Sum
Ling Chuxi was also a little shocked. Baili Han had actually achieved this level of cultivation already? Heavenly Lightning Striking The Body! Ling Chuxi thought back to when she had first met such mighty, shocking lightning. What she experienced back then wasn’t Heavenly Lightning Striking The Body, but it had already been terrifying enough. If one was struck by lightning from the Ninth Heavens, how strong would that be? When the time comes, could she withstand it?
So, to say, Baili Han was a true expert! An expert who stood with a huge gap between him and themselves!
Ling Chuxi was worried about this. She did not know that many people who could even successfully breakthrough to Battle Qi Level 9. To rephrase it, many other people did not even have the qualifications to worry about such a matter.
“Big Brother Fu, this, is this really possible? It is written here that he is only nineteen,” shouted Xia Zhuoyi in disbelief as he looked at the book in Ling Chuxi’s hand.
“Of course, it is all merely hearsay,” said Fu Chengyu seriously before he hesitatingly continued, “However, since Feng Yan Union had made such a ranking, there should be some basis to it.”
“Hmph, when Chuxi breaks through, she’ll definitely be younger than him. He’s already nineteen. Hey, Ling Chuxi, you also should quickly experience Heavenly Lightning Striking The Body. It’s best that you go through it this year, then you’ll be famous. Ha! Experiencing Heavenly Lightning Striking The Body at only sixteen years old! Sixteen years old! Imagine that!” exclaimed Lan Xinyu as she got more and more excited the more she talked about the matter, to the point where she had even started formulating a plan. She looked even more excited about this than she was talking about her own undergoing of Heavenly Lightning Striking The Body one day.
“Since Feng Yan Union arranged it like this, then it should be true,” said Ling Chuxi as she frowned slightly and bit the bottom of her lip as she thought about it. “So, Feng Yan Union thinks that he is the person who is most likely to win first place,” surmised Ling Chuxi as she continued to flip through the book. She did not recognize the few people who were listed before her as she had never met them. The information in the book clearly stated who they were—Other students from other academies and talented newbies from certain family clans.
Ling Yichen was ranked twenty-seventh. Lan Xinyu was also ranked in the book at thirty-ninth. Xia Zhuoyi was not ranked in the book. As for E Shulan, she was ranked ninth, only one place behind Ling Chuxi.
After Fu Chengyu saw Ling Chuxi looking at E Shulan’s information, he worriedly said, “The people from Feng Yan Union told me that this ranking was done before E Shulan obtained her current weapon. However, after obtaining such a good and peerless weapon, she should be ranked in front of you. But since the books were already printed, they were not able to make any changes to it.”
“Because Senior Brother had spent money to buy the information regarding E Shulan’s weapon, Feng Yan Union included this piece of information for free,” added on Ling Yichen from the side.
Ling Chuxi lowered her head and no longer spoke. Her eyes were dim, and it was unknown what she was thinking. Ling Yichen and the rest thought that Ling Chuxi was worrying about how to deal with E Shulan’s weapon when she met E Shulan, so they spoke up to comfort her.
“Chuxi, why don’t I try to procure a good weapon for you as soon as possible?” asked Fu Chengyu.
“If the situation is not right, just admit defeat. It is not shameful to do so. Just don’t injure yourself…” pipped up Ling Yichen as well. In conclusion, he’d rather that he himself be injured than be willing for Ling Chuxi to receive even the slightest bit of harm.
Xia Zhuoyi and Lan Xinyu hesitated for a moment and were just about to speak words of advice when Ling Chuxi suddenly raised her head and stared at Fu Chengyu.
“Big Brother Fu, how do we place a bet for this wager?” asked Ling Chuxi with scorching eyes.
“Ah?” Fu Chengyu was stunned. He totally did not think that this would be Ling Chuxi’s question. After being stunned for a while, he regained his senses and said, “There are two ways to bet. The first is to place a bet before the competition starts on who will obtain the first three places at the end. The pay-out rate differs. The second way to go about it is to place a bet before every round of the competition.”
Chapter 253: I’ll Bet That You Win!
This time, Ling Chuxi understood what this book was for, saw the estimated odds behind her name and sneered. Then she raised her head and decisively asked Fu Chengyu. “Do you have money? Lend me some.”
“What do you want to do with it?” interrupted Lan Xinyu who could not help but ask. What was going on with the bad premonition that suddenly arose in her heart?
“I’m going to place a bet. I can earn a huge sum from it this time,” replied Ling Chuxi as she raised her brows and smiled. Then she turned her head to ruthlessly say to Lan Xinyu, “I’ll bet that you’ll win. So, if you lose and cause me to lose money, I’ll beat you to death! Of course, if you meet me or someone like E Shulan, I’ll let it be if you lose. After all, when such a time comes, I will not bet that you’ll win.”
Lan Xinyu, Fu Chengyu, Ling Yichen and Xia Zhuoyi were all left completely speechless.
“As for you two, Yichen and Zhuoyi, I’m also going to bet that you guys will win. If either of you cause me to lose any money, you’re dead!” barked Ling Chuxi as she glared at Ling Yichen and Xia Zhuoyi. “Of course, this excludes the times when you are competing against someone very strong. For those times, you are allowed to lose.”
Fu Chengyu finally laughed out loud. Without knowing why, his mood was really good. Seeing Ling Chuxi glaring around at everyone, he felt his heart skip a beat. Why did he find Ling Chuxi too cute at this moment?
“All right, then. I’ll lend you the money. I’ll lend you however much you want. Of course, I can’t lend you everything I have. I also need to learn from you and make bets of my own to earn big money.” The corners of Fu Chengyu’s lips had a smiling intent. Saying all this was so pedantic, but he still gave off a gentle and elegant vibe despite it.
Ling Chuxi took a look at her own odds and her gaze turned slightly cold. So, her odds were actually as such. Following the estimations of these odds, she could see that the people who set them felt that she could not even enter into the top five places in the competition.
“I’ll bet my entire family savings on you obtaining first place. Therefore, Ling Chuxi, if you lose, I’ll fight you to the very end!” proclaimed Lan Xinyu suddenly from the side.
“Don’t worry, I will not let you lose anything,” said Ling Chuxi as the corner of her lips curled up into a smirk and her clear gaze brimmed full of self-confidence. This time, she would definitely make it big! She needed to let the bosses of those gambling stalls lose till they didn’t even have their underwears left!
…
Although Ling Chuxi said all those things as such, she understood in her heart that it was not so easy if she wished to obtain first place this time. Even if she left Baili Han out of things, the expert who had experienced Heavenly Lightning Striking The Body, the other people who were ranked above her in that book were no idlers. Although Feng Yan Union’s charges made Ling Chuxi’s teeth ache, she could not deny that the information they provided was indeed worth the price.
The competition was just around the corner. Ling Chuxi understood that this meant she needed to raise her own cultivation level within a short period of time.
This competition would be viewed by tens of thousands of people. A lot of people would use this opportunity to rise to fame. However, Ling Chuxi did not wish for fame. She simply wanted to become stronger. Strong enough to protect herself and find out the truth behind her origins. The duels with experts throughout this competition would be the best opportunity for her to train herself.
The next day, Ling Yichen and the rest woke up to find that Ling Chuxi was missing. All that was left behind was a thin piece of paper with a short message written on it: I will definitely return before the competition.
At present, Ling Chuxi had already left the city and went to the Silver Ancient Mountain Range outside the capital. This mountain range started from the west and stretched towards the east continuously. The whole range ran across a few different countries and that’s why it was known as the ten-thousand-mile mountain range. This mountain range was heaven for adventurers, and at the same time, it was also hell. There were countless treasures on the range as well as many more dangers that were even more difficult to prevent.
Ling Chuxi went to this mountain range alone to gain experience here, hoping to be able to raise her own cultivation level within a short period of time. She knew very well that one could not stop moving forward and that danger could bring out the explosive potential within a person to make them grow!
Chapter 254: What are You Fighting For
The forest along Silver Ancient Mountain Range was as deep as the range was long. Ling Chuxi only had with her a bag and the Luo Chen Sword as she went forward into the mountain range alone. Ling Chuxi did not actually finish going through the Thundercloud Battle Qi of the Thundercloud Ninth Heavens. This broad and profound cultivation method was not one that could be fully understood so instantly. That was why she was here right now, looking for the most favorable terrain.
Within the long mountain range, there were many peaks and ridges consisting of many ups and downs. She noticed a nearby peak protruding extraordinarily, giving off a sense of suppression from a distance. Ling Chuxi displayed her Battle Qi and followed the slant of the cliff as she climbed up the steep rocks. She reached the top of the mountain shortly.
Standing atop the majestic peak and looking at the undulating sea of forests and mountains below, Ling Chuxi did not feel any excitement in her heart, but instead a sense of loss.
Although this mountain seemed majestic and dangerous, it left her feeling as though something was missing.
“That’s right, there isn’t as much domineering qi here. This mountain lacks a bit of a domineering deterrence,” concluded Ling Chuxi after pondering for a bit and tuning in to her senses carefully.
If she were practicing her previous level of cultivation, then depending on this mountain’s terrain would provide an effect that was not bad. However, since she was here to break through the bottleneck she was facing and raise her cultivation level within a short period of time, this mountain’s terrain was definitely not going to make such a thing possible.
Such a mountain terrain would not be suitable for the shocking might of the Thundercloud Ninth Heaven’s thunder and qi that rushed towards the clouds.
Without a choice, Ling Chuxi could only descend the peak and moved towards another majestic peak.
After continuously climbing a few mountain peaks that appeared majestic from afar, she still could not find a suitable terrain to aid her breakthrough. Yet, Ling Chuxi also did not lose heart. Now that she was not at some entry-stage and was at Battle Qi Level 8, how would it be an easy thing to find a terrain that could aid her in such a high-level breakthrough?
Suddenly, the howls of two angry beasts traversed over to Ling Chuxi’s ears from afar. The mountain range where the beasts were moving about in a lively manner and birds sang suddenly became silent.
Monster beasts. Furthermore, they were definitely not low-level monster beasts. There was only a need to feel the changes happening within the mountain range for Ling Chuxi to make this guess without too much difficulty. And in making this guess, Ling Chuxi felt a lightbulb go off in her heart. Usually, the higher level the monster beast, the more unusual their place of dwelling.
Following this thought, a few beastly roars came travelling over once more and with a tip of her toes, Ling Chuxi quickly rushed towards the direction the beasts’ roars were coming from.
Before she knew it, two monster beasts appeared in front of her. They were emitting angry roars and attacking each other with full strength.
‘Wind Owl Beasts!’ thought Ling Chuxi as her heart yelped in surprise. The monster beasts before Ling Chuxi were not foreign to her. If it were not for Huangfu Qingjue taking action the last time, she could barely withstand the attacks of one, much less two. At present, both of the Wind Owl Beasts before her were far fiercer, more ruthless and even stronger than the last one she encountered.
Although Ling Chuxi had already reached Battle Qi Level 8, she still did not dare to be careless in this situation. She quietly hid herself to the side to watch the ongoing battle. She did not know why these two Wind Owl Beasts were fighting one another so desperately. Was it for territorial purposes or was it for some kind of treasure? Either way, a fight between the snipe eel and clam would definitely profit the fisherman as the saying goes. There was nothing wrong with waiting out this situation.
The two Wind Owl Beasts were already tearing at and biting into one another by now. Their sharp claws and fangs kept gashing forward, attacking each other. Blood flowed freely from the wounds on their bodies to the ground, staining the area red. However, neither beast took even half a step back. Both kept roaring angrily and pouncing towards one another again and again.
Between the bared fangs and dancing claws, the surrounding rocks were all swept away by the blows, sending sparks flying in all directions. Ling Chuxi secretly bit her tongue. Fortunately, she didn’t act rashly. Otherwise, if she had to face the siege of these two almost crazy Wind Owl Beasts, there was a high chance she would have had to flee even with her cultivation at Battle Qi Level 8.
Ling Chuxi carefully concealed her figure and kept watching for a little while. Gradually, she could tell that the two Wind Owl Beasts seemed to be trying to pounce in one particular direction and desperately trying to prevent the other party from doing so as well at the same time.
Chapter 255: Fisherman Gaining Benefits
‘What exactly is over there?’ wondered Ling Chuxi as she looked over in the direction the Wind Owl Beasts were fighting to get to curiously. The area was surrounded by a few mountain rocks and one odd rock stood out majestically. However, there was no vegetation around the entire area.
After taking a few close looks, Ling Chuxi could not see any odd grass or flowers. Seeing such a barren terrain, it was not considered to be anything majestic or special. Besides looking a little odd due to the lashings it had clearly taken from the strong winds and rain, there was truly nothing out of the ordinary about it. What exactly was it that those two Wind Owl Beasts were fighting each other for so badly?
Her heart was doubtful when she saw one of the Wind Owl Beast’s sharp claws ruthlessly pierce into its opponent’s abdomen. Taking advantage of its opponent falling to the ground and wailing, the triumphant Wind Owl Beast flashed past its opponent and rushed towards the huge stone with all its strength. Its roar seemed to be full of excitement and joy.
Seeing this situation, Ling Chuxi appeared without hesitation and leaped over swiftly to snatch the huge rock up first. Although she did not find anything out of the ordinary about it, Ling Chuxi believed that two Wind Owl Beasts would definitely not have fought so desperately for no reason. This odd rock definitely hid some kind of secret.
With a sway of her figure, Ling Chuxi was already standing atop that odd rock. At the same time, the victorious Wind Owl Beast had also leapt up high and saw that Ling Chuxi was a step faster than it. It let out an astonishing roar of anger as it swept its claw over towards Ling Chuxi in an attack.
Ling Chuxi’s Luo Chen Sword appeared in no time and her Level 8 Battle Qi vigorously exploded out of her in a burst of light as she slashed against the Wind Owl Beast’s claw. The Wind Owl Beast had already suffered quite a few injuries from the battle it had earlier and so it was hastily sent flying back by the blow of Ling Chuxi’s explosive attack.
Ling Chuxi stood on the atop the odd rock and with a quick glance, she still did not see how it was extraordinary. Her heart felt more doubtful than ever.
That Wind Owl Beast landed on the ground and rolled over once. Its eyes emitted a red angry light as it flew over once again.
The other Wind Owl Beast which had fallen to the ground earlier also let out a crazed howl and without caring for its wounds, stood up with great difficulty and approached Ling Chuxi, leaving behind a shocking trail of blood on the ground as it went.
Very quickly the two Wind Owl Beasts arrived beneath the odd stone and bowed very slightly as they let out low and muffled roars and were just about to deliver fatal blows to Ling Chuxi.
Ling Chuxi gripped the Luo Chen Sword and waited for her moment to strike with full focus. A heavily wounded, angry monster beast was more terrifying than usual.
Suddenly, terror could be seen in the eyes of the two Wind Owl Beasts. With a shudder, they actually crawled onto the ground and slowly retreated with their bodies trembling. The angry and low roars in their mouths became wails of fear.
What was going on? Ling Chuxi was inexplicably baffled.
At this moment, the odd stone beneath her moved a little. There was an inexplicable throbbing in Ling Chuxi’s heart, and a peculiar qi suddenly appeared, pouring into her body from the odd stone.
Ling Chuxi couldn’t help but shudder coldly. The qi was so gloomy and cold that it was as if her whole body had fallen into an ice cellar instantly. A few brilliant rays of light flashed in front of her and a piece of ice crystal appeared on her eyelashes.
Ling Chuxi felt a jolt of surprise in her heart and was just thinking of jumping off the odd stone. However, it was as if her legs were nailed to it as they did not obey her wishes. Following that, a gust of even colder and gloomier qi entered her body. She could feel that even the blood flowing within her seemed to have frozen under this extremely low temperature.
‘This is the thing that those two Wind Owl Beasts were desperately fighting over?’ thought Ling Chuxi, finally understanding that this odd stone indeed hid a huge secret. However, she was not the least bit pleasantly surprised and only desired to swear, ‘Did those two idiotic monster beasts even know what exactly this was? They had actually fought so hard over it, but now it was causing her to almost be frozen into a popsicle.
The only thing that made Ling Chuxi slightly relieved was that that the two Wind Owl Beasts were still crouching on the ground as fearful cries came from their mouths, not daring to take a step forward towards her.