Chapter 287: Chapter 206: Today, We Battle at the Peak of Refining Void! The Decisive Battle on the Ascension Platform (Part Eleven)_1
Making money?
Xiao Ruoching looked at her Master with a strange expression. As soon as the event ended, he hurriedly brought his three junior sisters to this gambling establishment.
Ignoring the puzzled looks from his three disciples, Su Bei observed the myriad human behaviors inside the establishment.
From ecstasy to despair, or the opposite, people’s fates were casually abandoned and dropped here. It felt like one could see through everything with just a glance.
The long tables inside were surrounded by an impenetrable crowd. Su Bei’s eyes lit up. This was exactly what he was looking for.
A Multi-Bao Pavilion Disciple, looking like a server, said to the packed crowd with a smile, "What I have in my hands is the first-hand research material on the power assessments of the various sects from Multi-Bao Pavilion!
"It includes detailed records of the strength levels of competing elders from all sects, and many people have already made a fortune with these research materials from Multi-Bao Pavilion!
"This Ascension Platform battle is an opportunity not to be missed!"
"..."
Hearing his claim that this research had been on sale for a while now, Su Bei curiously took a copy. It described various cultivators’ information.
For example: Wuhua Palace, Lin Duo, Half-Step into Dao Integration realm, proficient Cultivation Technique: ’Great Sun Mantra Wu Hua Art’; a hundred years ago, he once fought against the Fourth Elder of Origin Sect, Li Yuanmen...
Dao Sect, Tong Xiu, Half-Step into Dao Integration realm, known as the foremost beneath Dao Integration, proficient Cultivation Technique: ’The Truth of Sanqing’.
...
After just a glance, Su Bei knew this had no real significance. It was probably only capable of deceiving those of lower realms. However, it wasn’t completely fabricated; the information was mostly true.
He casually handed the booklet to Xiao Ruoching and turned his attention to the several betting boards that displayed the wagering conditions for battles in the coming days.
While Su Bei was studying and pondering, he heard Xiao Ruoching chuckle. He turned his head to look at the three and saw that all of them were looking at him, trying unsuccessfully to hold back their laughter.
Even Mo Li’s mouth, unprecedentedly, curved a bit.
Frowning slightly, Su Bei asked in confusion, "What’s wrong? Why so cheerful?"
Xiao Ruoching took a deep breath, looked solemnly at the small booklet in her hand, then raised her head to glance at Su Bei and read aloud, "Fifth Elder of the Sword Sect, Su Bei! Strength unknown! Rumor has it he’s only at Mid Stage Divinity Transformation, but whenever he appears before people, he does so with a brand-new level of power that resets all the major sects’ understandings. The currently public information indicates his realm as Mid Stage Refining Void!"
While speaking, her tone grew increasingly enthusiastic, her eyes full of profound meaning.
Su Bei’s expression immediately turned odd. His palms sweated, and he involuntarily shivered.
"Elder Su cultivates the Sword Scripture, one of the most invincible heart-methods in the world. Due to his unmatched personal charisma, he even became the master of the Treasure of Sword Sect, the Qingping Sword. Decades ago, he was already known as the Poet Immortal. While at Confucian’s Platform, he debated with groups of Confucians, producing more than a dozen poems within a single day that would be passed down for generations..."
"Furthermore, he is gracefully handsome. He himself once said that if all the handsomeness in the world amounted to ten parts, Su Bei alone would possess thirteen, with the world still owing him the extra three. There’s even a group of followers named ’ibe’ that can be found throughout the Twenty-One Provinces..."
Su Bei’s toes clenched tightly inside his shoes. His face darkened as he looked at his glib, troublemaking disciple. He stepped forward, aiming to snatch the booklet. Xiao Ruoching dodged his large hand with a twist and, unable to hold back her laughter any longer, continued reading:
"Tee hee! This time, Elder Su is like a dark horse bursting onto the scene, single-handedly battling twelve Mid Stage Refining Void cultivators. He is kind and magnificent, broad-minded, all-embracing."
"Truly, the beacon of hope for the Twenty-One Provinces! Standing before many minor Sect Disciples in the Sacred Sanctuary, he spoke those words that shocked the world..."
"..."
Su Bei’s hair stood on end. Xiao Ruoching’s voice pierced through his defenses like a demonic whisper, making him feel his Dao heart sustain damage. He scratched his ears and cheeks, his hands fidgeting restlessly. This feeling was just like having one’s embarrassing teenage diary discovered and read aloud in public. His toes curled in acute embarrassment, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Stop!"
Su Bei forced himself to calm down, released his Selfless Realm, and seemed to float like an Immortal. He casually took the small booklet from Xiao Ruoching’s hand and, as if no one else were around, slowly tore it to shreds, his eyes crinkling into a smile. "Good disciple, truly a good disciple of mine. Tonight, your Master will treat you to a goldfish show."
"..."
For some reason, looking at Su Bei’s smiling expression, Xiao Ruoching felt a terrifying chill sweep through her body.
"Master is truly great!"
"So is the disciple!"
"You flatter me, Master."
"And you, Disciple."
"It’s alright, Master. I still have two more booklets in my storage ring."
"..."
The gambling house was still bustling, with cultivators red-faced and fervently analyzing. A plump man, acting like an old friend, slapped Su Bei on the shoulder. He glanced at the masked woman next to Su Bei, who had a bandaged, fist-sized lump on her head.
He then looked at the mask Su Bei was wearing. Although it was a bit strange, he still patted his chest and said, "Brother, do you trust this fat guy? I’ve been studying it for several days. In this battle between the Sword Sect and the Blade Sect, the Blade Sect is definitely going to win!"
"But if you bet directly on the Blade Sect, you won’t make much money. Look, the odds for the Sword Sect have nearly reached one to one hundred and twenty! If you trust this fat guy, you should bet on the Blade Sect winning with four survivors: Blade Demon, Liu Yidao, Wang Chuan, and Shi Zhen!"
"..."
As the plump man prattled on with his analysis, Su Bei suddenly spoke, "Multi-Bao Pavilion has such a big business, they won’t welch on the bet, right...?"
The plump man was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Brother, you’re really something! Would Multi-Bao Pavilion, with its vast enterprise, care about your few spirit stones?"
"..."
Su Bei nodded in deep agreement, patted the plump man on the shoulder as an acknowledgment, and then moved forward to find a Multi-Bao Pavilion waitress. He handed over a storage ring and whispered hoarsely, "For the match between the Sword Sect and the Blade Sect, bet on the Sword Sect to win. There are 500,000 spirit stones in the ring."
"..."
The plump man next to him froze, sweating profusely as he stared at this rich fool.
"You... you have money and you still play like this?"
"Why would the Sword Sect win? Don’t just bet on them because the odds are high! A bet like yours could pull up the whole market’s odds..."
Five hundred thousand spirit stones, just like that? Have I run into an elder from some Great Sect?
As soon as Su Bei finished speaking, the waitress stared blankly, as if her brain had crashed. After swallowing hard and confirming the 500,000 spirit stones with her Divine Sense, her eyes suddenly lit up with the image of copper coins. She then looked at Su Bei seductively and said softly, "Are you sure, sir? This is 500,000 spirit stones..."
Su Bei nodded.
The waitress, pretending to brush against Su Bei, cooed, "Sir, the amount is too large. I can’t make the decision on my own. I need to find a supervisor for you. Please take a seat and wait a moment!"
Xiao Ruoching scoffed lightly and said indifferently, "Then hurry up and go!"
"..."
The fat man just stared at this foolish-looking man with utter confusion. Could he be a shill for Multi-Bao Pavilion?
Seeing Su Bei’s confident expression, then glancing at the remaining 1,000 spirit stones in his own hand, he hesitated for a moment before inexplicably blurting out, "Um... I’ll also bet on the Sword Sect! Eight hundred spirit stones!"
The manager of Multi-Bao Pavilion respectfully escorted Su Bei, this God of Wealth, out of the gambling house, all smiles. He’d never seen such a fool these days!
The odds on the display boards instantly changed. The Sword Sect versus Blade Sect odds plummeted from 1:120 to 1:60!
The gambling house erupted in chaos, filled with all sorts of analytical chatter,
"??? Which God of Wealth just came to donate money?"
"Quick, quick! I’ll bet a house! I’m betting on the Blade Sect to win!"
"I’ll add two more properties to that!"
"Anyone want my shorts?"
Su Bei left the gambling house, holding a Jade Plate engraved with the characters for "Multi-Bao Pavilion" and a jade seal. This was his betting slip.
The bright moon hung high. Su Bei gazed towards the nearby river, murmuring to himself, "Peak Refining Void, huh..."
"It should be doable."
Those 500,000 were bet on himself.
「The next day」
Everything unfolded as expected. Wuhua Palace defeated Multi-Bao Pavilion, with a total of four people advancing. This was within everyone’s calculations.
After all, how could Multi-Bao Pavilion withstand two experts at Half-Step into Dao Integration?
「That night」
Su Bei sat quietly cross-legged on his bed, earnestly absorbing nature’s spiritual energy. The Wilderness Scripture lay beside him.
So tired. They say that cultivating and absorbing nature’s spiritual energy is more exhilarating than anything else, so why don’t I feel it at all?
Su Bei sighed. It seems I’m really not cut out for this.
He casually picked up The Wilderness Scripture. "Guess I’ll look at the Cultivation Technique instead..."A few breaths later, he fell peacefully asleep.
「After an unknown length of time」
Su Bei suddenly opened his eyes. His surroundings were misty and smoky. On the dilapidated walls beside him, thick black smoke billowed. He could faintly make out the man from his dreams at No-Sword Peak, with that all-too-familiar silhouette.
Above in the sky, a deluge of swords rained down, and through it, one could seemingly perceive a phantom thousands of feet tall standing before him!
Merely by observing, the terrifying pressure was enough to make Su Bei’s own heart tremble.
This time, the man turned his head slightly, revealing a handsome face and firmly pursed lips. A familiar smile touched his lips, and his deep, profound eyes also carried a hint of tenderness!
"You’ve come?"
"I’ve come?"
Su Bei’s heart jolted. That figure beneath the sky full of raining swords was actually himself.
Have I come? Or have you come? All this... what exactly is it?
In the next instant, the smoke dissipated, leaving only vast emptiness. The world was void.
Su Bei snapped his eyes open, gasping for breath, still reeling from the terrors of his dream.
Outside the window, it was just dawn; the sky had not yet brightened.
Su Bei’s gaze lingered on The Wilderness Scripture, speechless for a long time.
Twice now. Both dreams were because of this Cultivation Technique.
He took a deep breath, gazing out the window at the willow tree. Birds chirped, a gentle breeze blew. The sun had not yet risen, and the moon had not yet set.
Outside the bamboo window, the sun and moon shone together.
Perhaps it’s trying to remind me of something?
But what exactly was all that in my dream? The past? Or the future?
After tidying his clothes, he placed The Wilderness Scripture on the square huanghuali wood table. Su Bei wiped the Qingping Sword, this Treasure of Sword Sect, then sighed softly and said,
"After the Ascension Platform, I’ll see Brother Ji once more at Dongting Stream. And I must visit the South Wind Ancient Country..."
"It’s funny. Since coming to this world, I still haven’t seen all its famous mountains and great rivers."
"Qingping Sword, ah, among all the sword masters you’ve accompanied, am I the most useless?"
"..."
This was a statement both self-mocking and questioning.
Su Bei carefully fastened it to his waist, then walked over to the square huanghuali wood table. Looking at the wolf-hair brush on it, he suddenly felt inspired and began to write on the white wall,
"Strong liquor fills the heroic gut; though a hundred poems are not yet brewed, a chestful of Sword Qi roars out."
"..."
The Qingping Sword flashed briefly, seeming to hum.
"Today, ah, we fight against Peak Refining Void!"