Chapter 509 - 175: The Second Wager, the Preliminaries Begin

The last Bone Jade Pill had been something he’d obtained by a stroke of luck. It was immensely beneficial for one’s Martial Arts Root Bone, and he still felt a pang of regret whenever he remembered losing it to Bai Bing. He was naturally unwilling to make the same mistake again.

But before he could voice his refusal, Bai Bing, as if she had already anticipated his thoughts, let her smile deepen. She slowly added, "How about this? I’ll wager a Bone Jade Pill and the Frost Treasure Sword."

Upon hearing the words "Bone Jade Pill" and "Frost Sword," the refusal on the tip of Qin Gang’s tongue died. A clear flicker of hesitation crossed his face, and his gaze grew fervent.

The Bone Jade Pill was a treasure he yearned to win back, and the Frost Sword was a blade he had long coveted.

If he won this bet, he wouldn’t just win back the Bone Jade Pill he’d lost; he’d also get the Frost Treasure Sword. It would be an incredible windfall.

On the secondary platform a level below the main dais sat Si Jiawen, the Senior Sister of Lingxi Peak. She was currently listening intently, catching every word of the wager being made between Bai Bing and Qin Gang above.

A flicker of doubt crossed her eyes. Her delicate brows knitted as she mused to herself, ’That’s not right. Master clearly gave that Bone Jade Pill to Yang Jing. I saw him myself after he used it for Body Tempering to improve his root bone. How can she still have a Bone Jade Pill to wager with Peak Master Zhenyue?’

The more she thought, the more confused she became. ’Don’t tell me Master actually has another Bone Jade Pill?’

On the main dais.

Bai Bing noted the hesitation on Qin Gang’s face and parted her lips. "Peak Master Qin, I hear you have a Heart Inquiry Pill. If you’re willing to bet, how about you use that as your stake?"

At her words, the corner of Qin Gang’s mouth twitched, and the hand holding his teacup faltered.

The Heart Inquiry Pill was a top-tier medicinal treasure capable of enhancing a Martial Artist’s understanding of martial arts. If the effects were potent enough, it could elevate one’s perceptiveness to a new level. Past martial arts bottlenecks and mental blocks would vanish as if a fog had been cleaved by a sharp blade, leading to a moment of sudden enlightenment. All obstacles to understanding would be swept away.

Even if the effects were merely average, it could still induce a rare epiphany, allowing one to take a crucial step forward on their cultivation path with substantial gains.

In terms of value, the Heart Inquiry Pill was in no way inferior to the Bone Jade Pill. In fact, to some Cultivators fervent in their pursuit of the Dao, it was even more precious.

The Celestial Derivation Peak Master, Huang Zhen, found this amusing. He grinned and teased, "Brother Qin, take the bet! Listen to me, I guarantee you’ll win this time. It’s the perfect chance to win back the treasures you lost!"

Hearing Huang Zhen’s pot-stirring jokes, Qin Gang shook his head with a wry smile, but a flicker of conflict showed in his eyes.

After losing the Bone Jade Pill, the loss had pained him so much that he’d had several sleepless nights. He had secretly vowed to himself never to get involved in any wagers again, lest he suffer another major loss.

And yet, he had to admit, the terms Bai Bing was offering were incredibly difficult to resist.

The Heart Inquiry Pill was certainly precious, but Bai Bing was offering a Bone Jade Pill *and* the Frost Treasure Sword. Together, their value was considerably higher than the Heart Inquiry Pill alone.

Moreover, the thought of winning—not only getting back his Bone Jade Pill but also claiming Bai Bing’s coveted Frost Sword—sent a thrill of excitement through Qin Gang.

But on second thought, the value of the stakes was far too lopsided. If he agreed just like that, it would be obvious he was taking a massive advantage.

Sect Leader Cao Zhen and the other Peak Masters were watching. Wouldn’t they look down on him for so brazenly taking advantage of her? If word got out, it would damage his reputation as the Peak Master of Zhenyue Peak.

At this thought, Qin Gang took a deep breath to suppress his inner turmoil. He considered for a moment, then looked up at Bai Bing and said in a serious tone, "Peak Master Bai, first tell me what the wager is. If the terms are fair, I will take your bet. Furthermore, I will add a suit of Top-Grade Treasure Armor to my stake."

As Qin Gang finished speaking, Bai Bing raised a delicate eyebrow.

While a suit of Top-Grade Treasure Armor wasn’t as valuable as the Frost Treasure Sword, out in the Jianghu, it was still a treasure that Martial Artists would fight to possess.

This type of armor was typically forged from a mixture of rare ores and demonic beast sinews. In theory, it could withstand a full-force blow from a True Qi Realm expert. Of course, that was just in theory; if one were truly cornered by such an expert, death was still nearly certain.

But even if it couldn’t stop a truly fatal blow, the protection it offered at a critical moment could often be the difference between life and death.

Beside them, Peak Master Yunxi, Zhou Yunyi, frowned. She secretly felt her friend was getting a raw deal.

The Heart Inquiry Pill and the Bone Jade Pill were already of comparable value. While it seemed like Qin Gang was raising the stakes by adding the Top-Grade Treasure Armor, the armor was far less rare than the Frost Treasure Sword. Bai Bing was clearly getting the short end of the stick.

Just then, Bai Bing gently squeezed Zhou Yunyi’s wrist, signaling her not to worry. She then turned back to Qin Gang, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Such magnanimity, Peak Master Qin."

Her words made Qin Gang’s square face flush slightly.

He had only added the armor to save face, but Bai Bing’s public praise made him seem particularly magnanimous.

The other Peak Masters also shook their heads with knowing smiles, their eyes full of amusement as they watched the spectacle unfold.

Bai Bing drew back her gaze and continued in a calm voice, "You set the terms for our last wager, Peak Master Qin. This time, allow me. Let’s bet on whether my young disciple can make it into the top eight of the Fushan Grand Competition."

As her voice faded, a brief silence fell over the dais. The faces of the other Peak Masters all registered surprise.

They all knew, of course, that Bai Bing had recently accepted a disciple of remarkable talent named Yang Jing. To have caught the eye of the notoriously strict Peak Master of Lingxi Peak spoke volumes about his potential.