Chapter 404: Take a Gamble

Chu Feng led Su Miaoke to the seats reserved for the Martial Arts Venerables, while Jiang Tao went over to where the Chu Family was seated.

The seats for the Martial Arts Venerables were much larger than the regular ones, almost like dragon thrones. Each could easily seat several people.

Even with Chu Feng and Su Miaoke sitting together, the seat still seemed spacious enough for one more person.

No one dared to comment on this, as the other Martial Arts Venerables had also brought a guest to sit with them.

The Seven Kills Sword Master, meanwhile, was seated in the very center.

"Sword Master, when does the competition begin?" someone asked.

"It will start shortly. This time, we will split into two groups for the matches. From each group of forty, twenty will advance. Let us begin," the Seven Kills Sword Master announced.

As soon as he finished speaking, drums began to thunder across the arena.

The contestants were divided into two groups, Group One and Group Two, positioned on the left and right sides of the arena.

The first match was between Ling Yun’er from the Southern Region and He Kong from the Western Region.

When the referee announced their names, the two contestants emerged from the crowd and made their way onto the stage.

Upon hearing the name He Kong, many in the crowd assumed the contestant was a man, so they were surprised to see a woman step forward.

Whispers soon broke out among the audience.

"That He Kong is a disciple of the Misty Sect from an Overseas Immortal Mountain. She’s incredibly strong—the number one from the Western Region!" someone whispered.

Chu Feng couldn’t help but remark at the sight.

"How come I get the feeling that the women who qualified for this tournament are generally stronger than the men? It’s a bit of a female-dominated field, isn’t it?" Chu Feng grumbled.

"Are you being sexist? Are you saying women can’t be strong?" Su Miaoke shot back.

"Miaoke’s right. Are you being sexist?" Bai Han chimed in from the side.

"Whoa... I didn’t mean it like that. I just think the women these days are incredibly impressive. The top contestants from two different regions are both women," Chu Feng said hastily, not wanting to get on their bad side.

"Tch. Then you should’ve said so more clearly," Su Miaoke said, rolling her eyes at Chu Feng. "Anyway, who do you think will win?"

"It has to be He Kong. Never mind her background—that Ling Yun’er from Spirit Sword Valley looks impressive, but she’s all show and no substance. She was lucky to even make it this far," Chu Feng said.

"Ignorance! You’re just a young punk, yet you dare run your mouth here?" Venerable Xue Feng suddenly sneered, glaring coldly at Chu Feng. "Do you have any idea how powerful Spirit Sword Valley is? A frog at the bottom of a well like you could never possibly imagine it."

"Oh, really? Then how about we make a bet on it? Let’s say, one Martial Cultivation Spirit Stone," Chu Feng said with a smile.

"Bring it on! I’m not afraid of you. But do you even have a Martial Cultivation Spirit Stone? I doubt you can afford the stake," Venerable Xue Feng sneered, his eyes filled with disdain and ridicule.

"You needn’t worry about that, Venerable Xue Feng," Bai Han interjected. "Even if my junior brother doesn’t have one, I do. Besides, we’re from the Celestial Sword Sect. The entire sect is his backing. Is that something you really need to worry about?"

"Since you want to bet, let’s each put up a Martial Cultivation Spirit Stone and ask the Seven Kills Sword Master to act as our witness. Just make sure you can actually put one up yourself," Chu Feng said.

"Hmph. Then we’ll trouble the Seven Kills Sword Master to witness our bet," Venerable Xue Feng snorted, then tossed a Martial Cultivation Spirit Stone to the Sword Master.

Just then, however, Chu Feng suddenly grinned.

"Hold on. I’m suddenly thinking that one Martial Cultivation Spirit Stone is a bit... stingy. Why don’t we raise the stakes? How about five each? What do you say? You in, or are you scared?" Chu Feng said, grinning at Venerable Xue Feng.

Hearing this, Venerable Xue Feng was furious, his face flushing with suppressed rage.

"You think a brat like you can produce five Martial Cultivation Spirit Stones? Don’t get ahead of yourself!" Venerable Xue Feng never imagined Chu Feng would be so audacious, demanding five Martial Cultivation Spirit Stones just like that.

As he spoke, Chu Feng produced five Martial Cultivation Spirit Stones and casually tossed them in his hand. "Don’t tell me you’re the one who can’t afford it?" he said. "You’re a Martial Arts Venerable, for crying out loud. The Snow Mountain Sect must be pretty pathetic if you can’t even front five Martial Cultivation Spirit Stones. Tsk, tsk..."

Chu Feng’s voice was filled with disdain and contempt. Combined with the look in his eyes, it was enough to make Venerable Xue Feng’s blood boil. He wanted nothing more than to smash Chu Feng’s face in with a single punch.

He was now caught between a rock and a hard place. If he backed down, Chu Feng would surely mock him for not being able to afford the wager.

But if he took the bet, he was afraid he might actually lose to Chu Feng.

So, the Venerable finally said, "Fine, a bet’s a bet. If you’re so intent on handing me free Martial Cultivation Spirit Stones, how could I possibly refuse?"

With that, he handed another four Martial Cultivation Spirit Stones to the Seven Kills Sword Master.

"Then we’ll have to trouble you to be our witness, Sword Master," Chu Feng said to the Seven Kills Sword Master.

The Seven Kills Sword Master nodded.

At that moment, the fight on the stage was about to begin. All eyes turned to the platform.

On the fighting stage, Ling Yun’er from Spirit Sword Valley made the first move. With her dress fluttering and her graceful figure swaying, she utterly captivated the young men in the audience, leaving them completely mesmerized.