#67 - The capital is boiling
The capital city of the Great Zhou Dynasty was exceptionally noisy today.
On the main street, inner disciples of the Great River Sword Sect were creating a commotion, alarming everyone along the way, who came out to watch.
"Tomorrow at noon, at the foot of Mount Zongwang, our sect's elite senior brothers Sima Yuan, Xiang Ziyun, and Chu Yixuan will have a life-and-death duel with Jun Wuxie of Zongwang Academy!"
"Everyone is welcome to come and watch how our sect's elite senior brothers will slay Jun Wuxie with their swords and instantly kill the disciples of Zongwang Academy! Don't miss the exciting scenes!"
… …
The crowd in the capital city was in an uproar.
What's going on?
Isn't the life-and-death duel between the Great River Sword Sect and Zongwang Academy supposed to be next year?
"Sima Yuan, Xiang Ziyun, and Chu Yixuan are the top three figures among the elites of the Great River Sword Sect, ranking on the Southern Region's Prodigy List! Although Jun Wuxie has stepped into the Grandmaster realm of swordsmanship, his cultivation level is too low and he is definitely no match for them!"
Inside the Hunter Guild of the capital city, Qin Keqing also heard the news, and Old Yun beside her commented like this.
"Old Yun, you always seem to underestimate him, and the results are always far from what you imagine," Qin Keqing said with a faint smile. "I think he will win tomorrow."
Old Yun shook his head and said, "He could always win in the past because the opponents he encountered were not strong enough, but Sima Yuan and the others are not the people he has encountered before. The geniuses on the Prodigy List are far from comparable to Jun Wuxie, who was born into a small family in a small city!"
… …
"Young Master Jun... is going to have a life-and-death duel with Sima Yuan and the others?"
At Juba斋, Su Lan frowned slightly, feeling a little worried.
She knew that Jun Wuxie's potential was terrifying, but his cultivation time was too short, and his realm was still low, while Sima Yuan and the others were all mid-stage Cave Heaven Realm cultivators. The gap in their realms was too large!
The residence of the Muyang Family.
Listening to the news reported by her maid, Muyang Qingya's alluring face gradually showed a smile.
"Princess, that ignorant bumpkin is going to become a human-head lantern tomorrow. Does the princess plan to go and watch?"
"Yes, of course," Muyang Qingya smiled charmingly and said, "Presumably, Ji Yinlan also knows about it. She will definitely go tomorrow. I wonder what her expression will be when she sees the person she values being beheaded?"
The Third Prince's residence.
Looking at the goldfish snatching food in the pond, the Third Prince couldn't help but reveal a cheerful smile, saying, "Seventh Sister, you wanted to win over that sword cultivator to serve in your army, but unfortunately, your wishful thinking is about to fail. He will undoubtedly die tomorrow. This brother wants to see how miserably he will die."
… …
Everywhere in the capital city, people were discussing the life-and-death duel between the disciples of the Great River Sword Sect and Zongwang Academy tomorrow.
"Jun Wuxie, a useless body that my Great River Sword Sect disdains! What dual cultivation of body and sword? It's just because his dantian is shattered and he can't cultivate true qi. A small ant-like thing. Tomorrow, being able to die under my Sima Yuan's sword, Jun Wuxie can glorify his ancestors. He can boast about it for a lifetime in the Yellow Springs, hahaha!"
At the top of the tallest tower in the center of the capital city, Sima Yuan stood proudly, his clothes and black hair dancing in the wind.
He held a rune amplified sound stone, and his powerful words resounded throughout the entire city, reaching every corner.
"Tomorrow's life-and-death duel, one sword to decide life and death. If I, Sima Yuan, use two swords, I lose! Zongwang Academy will forever be trampled under the feet of my Great River Sword Sect; all disciples of Zongwang Academy will be reduced to human-head lanterns!"
"How can my Great River Sword Sect become the strongest sect within the Great Zhou Dynasty? It is through killing with strength! In this Great Zhou, any sect must kneel, lie down, and prostrate before my Great River Sword Sect!"
Sima Yuan was high-spirited, giving pointers on the country and flying high.
He had absolute confidence in himself.
He was ranked forty-seventh on the Prodigy List, a sixth-level Cave Heaven Realm cultivator. How could he not be able to kill an opponent in the Acquired Realm with one move? That would be too absurd!
"Hahaha, Young Hero Sima Yuan of the Great River Sword Sect is indeed sharp and imposing, worthy of being a prodigy on the Prodigy List!"
The Third Prince came out, accompanied by a sharp-eyed old man.
They also came to the highest tower in the city. Under the gaze of countless people, the Third Prince smiled elegantly and said, "The life-and-death duel between the Great River Sword Sect and Zongwang Academy only happens once a year, and each time it attracts the attention of the capital city. Today, this prince has decided to add a little fun to tomorrow's duel by opening a life-and-death duel gambling game, with this prince as the bookmaker!"
For a time, the onlookers were in a frenzy.
In previous years, there was no such gambling game because the outcome of the duel was already determined. The Great River Sword Sect was sure to win.
Under such predictable circumstances, anyone who opened a gambling game as the bookmaker would definitely lose money.
Today, the Third Prince actually wants to be the bookmaker?
"Third Prince, what is the win/loss payout ratio?"
Someone in the crowd shouted.
"Betting on the Great River Sword Sect to win, one to one; betting on Zongwang Academy to win, one to ten!"
Immediately, there was a chorus of boos.
People instantly lost interest.
The Great River Sword Sect will definitely win. Betting on the Great River Sword Sect is just returning the bet, without earning a single point, and as for Zongwang Academy, only a fool would bet on them.
"Third Prince, this is not sincere," Qin Keqing said with a faint smile, standing on the pavilion. "Since you want to add some fun, how can you disappoint everyone?"
The Third Prince said with a smile, "I wonder what Miss Qin's opinion is?"
"I, Qin Keqing, naturally cannot say much about what the Third Prince does," she said, looking at the crowd on the street, and said loudly, "For this life-and-death duel between the Great River Sword Sect and Zongwang Academy, my Hunter Guild is willing to be the bookmaker and open a gambling game for everyone to enjoy."
"Miss!"
Old Yun's face changed slightly. The capital city has a large population. Once they lose, it will not be a small amount.
"Miss Qin, you won't also have a one-to-one payout, will you?"
People were not interested. With the Third Prince in front, and the Hunter Guild was not stupid, the odds of buying the Great River Sword Sect to win could not exceed the principal, otherwise, wouldn't it be destined to lose money?
"That's right, we also have a one-to-one payout, but it's not for the Great River Sword Sect, but for buying Zongwang Academy to win, one to one. Buying the Great River Sword Sect to win, one to three!"
"Miss Qin, is this true?"
The noisy sound instantly quieted down, and only a few people came back to their senses and asked in an uncertain tone.
"The Hunter Guild never makes fun of everyone. Everyone can go to the Hunter Guild to line up now. I will immediately order people to arrange the betting matters, or you can bet at the foot of Mount Zongwang tomorrow morning."
"What are you all waiting for?" Someone shouted excitedly: "Miss Qin of the Hunter Guild is scattering money this time. Everyone, hurry up and line up to bet!"
Immediately, the streets were crowded with people, all rushing towards the Hunter Guild, in a chaos and uproar.
"Miss Qin is really throwing money around."
The muscles on the Third Prince's face twitched a few times. He originally just wanted to humiliate Jun Wuxie, who had lost face at Juxianzhuang, but he didn't expect Qin Keqing to stand up and open such a gambling game.
How much financial resources would it take to dare to do this?
"Third Prince is humble," Su Lan said, coming from Juba斋, looking at the Third Prince on the top of the tower. "If we talk about throwing money around, Miss Keqing is far less than your Third Prince."
After he finished speaking, he casually threw a gold coin card to the Third Prince, saying, "There are 100 million gold coins inside. I bet on Zongwang Academy to win!"
"Steward Su, are you so confident that Zongwang Academy can win?"
The Third Prince's face changed slightly. The chief steward of Juba斋 has bet!
"Someone has to bet on the side you don't favor, otherwise, wouldn't this gambling game be very boring?"
Su Lan said lightly, then nodded to Qin Keqing and turned to leave.
The Third Prince stood on the top of the tower for a while, his face uncertain, and finally left.
The originally lively streets were almost empty at the moment, and everyone had flocked to the Hunter Guild.
"Miss, do you know how much huge amount of gold coins we have to pay if we lose this time? There are hundreds of millions of people in this capital city!"
"With him, we won't lose!"
Qin Keqing was very confident. She herself couldn't explain why she believed in him so much.
However, subconsciously, she just believed that he could not die in the life-and-death duel, and the one who survived in the end must be him!
She tried to contact Jun Wuxie using the communication jade talisman, but she didn't get a response after several attempts.
"Why can't I get in touch?"
Qin Keqing frowned slightly. Isn't he short of money? This time, he could just go to the Third Prince to bet. It's a full ten times the payout. What a great opportunity.
