Chapter 366 - Making Money Is a Good Thing

Ling Chuxi smiled at Ling Yichen – he really knew her well. How could she let go of such a good opportunity to make money?

“Gambling is not good,” Baili Han said seriously and looked at Ling Chuxi and Ling Yichen sternly. After a pause, he added solemnly, “But making money is a good thing. We should get going.”

“Cheh!” Ling Chuxi and Ling Yichen scoffed in disdain. Baili Han looked forward steadily, completely ignoring them. That was what was called good mentality. To be honest, he should really be called thick-skinned instead.

“I heard that the Deity Temple will be sending people this time too,” Baili Han said.

“That’s for sure. If the Deity Temple did not poke their noses into such a huge occasion, it would be odd,” Ling Yichen said, frowning slightly. He, too, did not have a good impression of the Deity Temple.

Ling Chuxi was a bit surprised. The people from the Deity Temple would be coming? Would Huangfu Qingjue be coming too? Would he appear at the competition this time? Would she see him again? Ling Chuxi did not realize that deep in her heart, she was looking forward to seeing Huangfu Qingjue again.

They went out and called a carriage, then rushed to the city’s largest gambling den.

On the way, they could only see endless streams of carriages with luxurious decorations. From the designs on the carriages, they were most likely owned by rich and noble families from neighboring countries.

Only then did Ling Chuxi realize how important the assessment competition was to all the respective countries. This not only affected a country’s prestige, but it was also related to the tribute for the next few years. It would directly affect each country’s economy and the people’s livelihood. No wonder the emperor placed such importance on this matter.

Soon, they reached the gambling den. There were shouts coming from inside. On the main wall facing the door were the names of countries: Shang Yuan Country, Wan Chuan Country, Feng Ze Country, Dong Xin Country, and Nan Xia Country. The corresponding counters below were accepting bets. The competition this time was between countries, so the betting objects were no longer individuals.

At that moment, the counters below Shang Yuan Country and Wan Chuan Country were overcrowded. The assistants handling the bets were tired and sweating profusely. However, there were significantly lesser people at the counters of Feng Ze Country and Dong Xin Country. As for the counter of Nan Xia Country… it could only be described as catching sparrows on the doorsteps of a house – not even a single person was placing their bets there. There was only an assistant who was crossing his arms and yawning, looking as if he was going to fall asleep.

Ling Chuxi studied the shockingly high payout rates below the names of the countries, and stared till her eyeballs almost popped out. ‘No way! Are we so weak in the eyes of others? They even had to place such a high payout rate!’

However, Ling Chuxi was not the least bit disappointed and her self-esteem did not suffer. Honor was won by ability, not by payout rates. The more outrageously high the payout rate was, the more money she could make. She would not even have the time to be happy.

If the emperor had told Ling Chuxi earlier about the payout rate of this assessment competition, she reckoned that he would not have needed to say much – Ling Chuxi would snatch and fight for the participating quota. Ling Chuxi had always been confident in herself. If one did not have confidence in oneself, then how could one face more challenges? How would one face the thorns and brambles along life’s journey?

Ling Chuxi and the others headed to the Nan Xia Country counter. The surrounding crowd stared at them strangely, looking at them as if they were idiots.

Didn’t they know that the ranking order of the few countries on the wall directly reflected the abilities of the countries?

Shang Yuan Country was traditionally a strong vassal country of Ding Lin Country’s five vassal countries. They were even the champion of the last assessment competition. The second-ranked Wan Chuan Country’s abilities was second only to Shang Yuan Country. Rumor had it that there would be an emerging martial arts prodigy this time, which could possibly pull Shang Yuan Country off their high horse.