Chapter 2548 You are But a Stake

Over three hundred people!

Surviving the Great Emptiness Immortal Realm was already not something an ordinary cultivator could achieve, regardless of their records in there.

In fact, Lin Xun had already noticed that among the people present, apart from the big organizations like the Gu and Yun Clans who relied on their powerful lineup to reach the Challenge the Throne level, the others were all tried-and-true experts who had gone through heavy screening by paving their way through bloodshed.

Cang Fusheng and Blade Bearer were among them, and without a doubt, Qi Lingyun and Lin Feng were even more dangerous!

What Lin Xun found most surprising was that amongst those present, there was no shortage of characters like Qi Lingyun and Lin Feng!

“Are you Lin Xun?” suddenly asked a young man clad in a fiery feathered coat who was squatting on the ground with a green leaf in his mouth.

Lin Xun looked over, “You need something?”

The feathered coat youth donned a harmless smile, “Let’s get to know one another. My name is Zhongli Xiao, and I’d like to spar with you if the chance arises. Of course, it’s the kind that bears no malice, purely a dao duel. If you agree, I will be happy to be your guide and take you to the Eighth Heaven Domain regardless of the outcome.”

Zhongli Xiao!

Even for those who didn't know him, just hearing this surname shook them to the core as it belonged to one of the immortal giants in the Eighth Heaven Domain!

“Let's talk about it when we have the chance,” said Lin Xun perfunctorily.

Zhongli Xiao laughed and said no more. He closed his eyes for light repose, leisure and carefree.

However, someone suddenly clapped their hands with a loud laugh, “Interesting. To think that you, Zhongli Xiao, would also be rejected one day. This is rare.”

The speaker wore formal, official attire while carrying a sword case. He looked handsome, elegant, and powerful. Every time he blinked, a pair of silver ‘乂’ symbols gleamed in his pupils, sharp and intimidating.

The crowd became restless again.

The feather-clad Zhongli Xiao was undoubtedly from an immortal giant in the Eighth Heaven Domain, so how could the identity of the person who dared to poke fun at him be simple?

Soon, this person was revealed to be Mu Yi, a member of the Mu Clan that was also one of the immortal giants in the Eighth Heaven Domain!

Zhongli Xiao curled his lips with disdain, “Then there are still many things in this world you haven’t seen, making a fuss like this.”

Mu Yi's eyes billowed with an intimidating aura as he suggested, “How about we spar, you and I?”

Zhongli Xiao said, “Fine, as long as you dare to place your Crimson Thorn as a bet, I'll play with you.”

Crimson Thorn!

This was a supreme weapon of the Mu Clan. Known by the saying ‘Under Crimson, immortality is eternal,’ it was extremely famous in the Eighth Heaven Domain.

At this point, everyone could see that Zhongli Xiao and Mu Yi didn’t get along.

“If you two are serious, then let me hop in on your sparring match as well,” suddenly said a man who had messy hair, cold and sword-like eyes, and was shrouded in a dark light. Standing there, he resembled a dark sword god, sending shivers down people’s spines even when his cultivation was being suppressed.

Zhongli Xiao and Mu Yi both sneered and did not respond to him, but if one observed closely, one could see the apprehension they had toward this unkempt man.

The spectators looked at each other without making a noise, fearing that they would be caught up in this conflict between the immortal giants of the Eighth Heaven Domain.

In truth, they all viewed Zhongli Xiao, Mu Yi, and the unkempt man as existences that could not be offended.

Even the top forces of the Seventh Heaven Domain such as the Gu Clan and the Yun Clan were inferior to these nobles!

“Alright, it’s not like you can really fight in a place like this. Let’s not make a joke of yourselves in front of everyone again, or else people will think that each and every one of us from the Eighth Heaven Domain is a big talker,” Qi Lingyun's voice rang from afar, gentle and graceful as an orchid.

She then looked at the man with messy hair and smiled, “Chi Pojun, since you are so bored, why don't we make a bet on who can ascend this Heaven's Chosen Path and arrive at the Central Immortal Court?”

Chi Pojun!

Hearing this unique surname, the crowd’s faces all changed as they finally knew who the unkempt man was.

The Eighth Heaven Domain was under the control of the ten great immortal giants, each of which possessed monstrous influence that struck fear into all beings in the Eternal True Realm.

Among them, the Qi Clan and Chi Clan were firmly among the top four, but as for who ranked in the third and who in the fourth, it was a constantly debated topic.

In short, in the Eighth Heaven Domain, some people considered the number three giant to be the Qi Clan, while some thought it should be the Chi Clan. This argument had started a long time ago but still hadn’t gotten a clear answer until now.

Knowing all this, everyone also understood that like the Zhongli Clan and Mu Clan who didn’t get along, the Qi Clan and Chi Clan were also rivals.

“What’s the stake?” Chi Pojun agreed without hesitation, his eyes fierce.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Qi Lingyun, dressed in a long skirt and holding a scroll in her hand, smiled faintly. Her gaze turned to Lin Xun, who had been staying out of it, as she said, “If I win, I want you to persuade Fellow Daoist Lin Xun to obediently bow and submit to me.”

The crowd revealed varied expressions in shock. It was unexpected that Qi Lingyun would drag Lin Xun into the bet!

Lin Xun’s eyes darkened, and a cold gleam quickly flashed through them. He didn’t say a thing, but annoyance and killing intent had already crept into his heart. Secretly, he already gave this woman who seemed to be elegant, gentle, and always standing aloof from worldly affairs the death sentence.

Bow and submit?

Once the opportunity presented itself, he would like to see who would bow to whom!

Chi Pojun glanced at Lin Xun, and although a bit puzzled, he said without much thought, “What if you lose?”

Qi Lingyun said, “Then you can have the piece of Immortal Essence Metal in my possession, how about that?”

At that instant, many Emperor Ancestors stopped breathing for a second.

Immortal Essence Metal!

That was a legendary treasure in the immortal grade. Even a thumb-sized piece could make immortal characters go mad fighting over it!

Chi Pojun raised a brow, “Very well!”

“Hey, so you’re certain that the Chosen One to enter the Central Immortal Court will be decided between the two of you?” said Zhongli Xiao with a displeased face.

“You can also join our bet,” Qi Lingyun smiled warmly. “My condition is the same: if you lose, you’ll help me persuade Fellow Daoist Lin Xun, while if you win, I'll give you a piece of Immortal Essence Metal.”

Up to this moment, if the audience still hadn’t realized that Qi Lingyun's move was aimed at Lin Xun, then they would have lived so long for nothing.

Their gazes toward Lin Xun instantly took on pity.

How did Menace Lin who’s been wreaking havoc in the Great Emptiness Immortal Realm offend a noble from the Eighth Heaven Domain?

“Alright,” agreed Zhongli Xiao without any regard for Lin Xun's feelings.

As a matter of fact, neither he nor Chi Pojun cared about it when they agreed to the bet.

Coming from the Eighth Heaven Domain, the environment they were brought up in as well as what they had seen and heard during their cultivation made it such that they naturally peered down at anyone who came from a weaker place.

This was not arrogance, but rather a disposition imprinted in their bones.

In their eyes, those who didn’t belong to the Eighth Heaven Domain weren’t in the same world as them. They did not have to be hypocritical and cover this up. They were capable of acting modest and humble, but that depended on who the other party was.

As hurtful as it sounded, no matter how dazzling Lin Xun's previous record was or how heaven-defying he was, they merely saw him as a person who piqued their interest, someone they wanted to recruit to serve them.

Just like Lin Feng next to Qi Lingyun. As a supreme Emperor Ancestor, wasn’t he dazzling and mighty?

Despite that, he was now a devout servant of the Qi Clan, a personal guard of Qi Lingyun.

In the Eternal True Realm, Lin Feng was admittedly an extraordinary talent, but to the Ten Immortal Giants in the Eighth Heaven Domain, he was no more than an important subordinate to be developed.

In comparison, Lin Xun's weight in the judgment of these noble figures from the Eighth Heaven Domain was roughly the same.

This certainly made people uncomfortable, but to those present, especially the ones from the Gu, Yun, and other big clans, it was taken for granted.

‘Taken for granted’ already said everything about how monumental the status of the ten giants was in the Eternal True Realm. Over countless years, this kind of influence had been deeply rooted in cultivators’ hearts.

“In that case, I'm also happy to be a part of the bet,” Mu Yi also spoke up, tempted by the Immortal Essence Metal Qi Lingyun had promised.

Qi Lingyun nodded with a calm, faint smile, “Alright.”

Then, she looked at Lin Xun and said, “Lin Xun, do you understand how much I value you now? My condition hasn’t changed: as long as you agree to serve me before the Ruins of the Gods close, I don’t mind competing over any cultivation resources that you want for yourself.”

The field went into an uproar.

To many people, this was definitely something to be jealous of. All it needed was a nod to enter the Eighth Heaven Domain to cultivate and thus completely change one’s destiny.

However, Lin Xun was only further annoyed. Glancing at Qi Lingyun, he said, “Why don't we make a bet as well? If I lose, you can take my life, but if you lose, I won’t take yours, so long as you slap yourself and scold yourself for thinking you can drag me into your stupid bet?”

The area immediately sank into silence. The crowd could not stop gasping.

Has this Lin Xun fellow...lost his mind?!

Even characters like Zhongli Xiao, Mu Yi, and Chi Pojun were stunned for a good moment, seemingly wondering from where Lin Xun got the courage to provoke and humiliate Qi Lingyun to her face.

Does he have a death wish?

Gu Banzhuang, Yun Luohong, and the others also had bizarre looks on their faces.

So it’s just not us that this fellow isn’t scared of. He doesn’t take even the Qi Clan of the Eighth Heaven Domain seriously!

The crowd was quiet as all gazes fell upon Qi Lingyun.

This refined woman with a scroll in her hand showed no emotions at this moment, appearing as composed as ever.

When she looked at Lin Xun, however, the latter keenly sensed a touch of killing intent!

He didn’t care though and merely said, “What’s wrong, you don’t dare to take this bet?”

His voice was filled with undisguised sarcasm.

Qi Lingyun suddenly laughed, gazed at Lin Xun, and softly said, “Lin Xun, do you think that you are qualified to take part in this bet? Wake up. You...are but a stake.”