Chapter 996, Adding Stakes

Translator: Silavin

 

Even with Xu Yuzhu’s composure, he took several deep breaths before managing to suppress the surge of anger in his chest, preventing an immediate outburst. But despite this restraint, he could feel his blood roiling with agitation, clearly provoked by Xuan Mingge’s single remark.

 

[What do you mean, ‘challenge you?!’]

 

If not for Ying Xinghui’s involvement, combined with a sliver of interest in the person who had successfully appraised a Mutated Spirit Seed, why would he demean himself with such a face-losing affair?

 

Competing with a Junior in the Dao of Crystal Appraisal should be considered that Junior’s honour! Yet that Junior dared to use the word ‘challenge him’!?

 

“Since you’re here, let’s not waste everyone’s time. Just quickly begin.” Ying Xinghui drew a slow breath before speaking calmly.

 

He had no desire to prolong this further. Originally, he had intended to leverage this situation to utterly destroy Qin Yichen. If these idle gossips disrupted his plan, the loss would far outweigh any gain.

 

“Very well. Since Master Xu wishes to challenge me, how could I refuse? So, tell me. How do you propose we compete?” Xuan Mingge waved his hand with great magnanimity.

 

Witnessing Xuan Mingge’s demeanour, Qin Yichen could not help but nod inwardly. He had told Xuan Mingge on the way to be ostentatious, but he had not expected the man’s high-profile act to be this formidable. He was truly completely devoid of any pretence.

 

Still, this worked well enough.

 

Indeed, at least this insufferable appearance had drawn considerable hostility away from him. Surely Ying Xinghui would pay closer attention to Xuan Mingge now?

 

“Since Sacred Master Candidate Xuan is so impatient, let’s each select Shooting Star Spirit Crystals worth up to ten thousand drops of Spirit Liquid. We’ll compete based on the final value extracted.” Xu Yuzhu’s eyes flashed with keen light as he spoke solemnly.

 

“Ten thousand drops of Spirit Liquid?”

 

Xuan Mingge’s brow furrowed slightly. In the Shooting Star Spirit Crystal markets within their Sacred Land, this amount would allow him plenty of random selections. However, here in Ancient Jade Pavilion’s Spirit Crystal Area, ten thousand drops of Spirit Liquid probably would not even secure ten Shooting Star Spirit Crystals.

 

[Ten pieces…] Based on his usual luck, he might end up with absolutely nothing.

 

“What? Is Sacred Master Candidate Xuan afraid of losing?” Seeing Xuan Mingge’s hesitation, Ying Xinghui sneered coldly.

 

“Hehe, competing against an old man? How could Brother Xuan possibly be afraid? I imagine Brother Xuan simply finds this wager rather… tedious.” The moment Ying Xinghui finished speaking, Qin Yichen suddenly interjected with a smile.

 

This remark immediately caused Xu Yuzhu’s aged face to darken once more, while Ying Xinghui’s eyes narrowed slightly.

 

“Oh? What does Sacred Master Candidate Qin suggest instead?” Rather than growing angry, Ying Xinghui asked with apparent interest.

 

“Since we’re wagering on Crystal Appraisal skills, we naturally need to add some stakes.” Qin Yichen raised an eyebrow at Xuan Mingge, smiling.

 

“Stakes?” Xuan Mingge blinked, confusion and incomprehension flickering in his eyes.

 

While he had accepted Xu Yuzhu’s challenge, adding stakes here would simply be handing things to that bastard Ying Xinghui on a silver platter, wouldn’t it?

 

“Stakes? Interesting. Sacred Master Candidate Qin, what sort of stakes do you think would be appropriate?” A vicious expression crossed Ying Xinghui’s face as he spoke mockingly.

 

“Mmm… let’s make the stakes twenty thousand drops of Spirit Liquid.” Qin Yichen spoke lightly, the corners of his mouth curving in an arc that suggested a successful conspiracy.

 

“*Siii…* twenty thousand drops of Spirit Liquid?!”

 

“Who is Sacred Master Candidate Qin?”

 

“He’s certainly wealthy, but isn’t twenty thousand drops of Spirit Liquid the same as giving it away?”

 

“Could this fellow be deliberately trying to curry favour with Sacred Master Candidate Ying?”

 

The moment Qin Yichen’s words fell, whispered conversations erupted throughout the Spirit Crystal Area. Astonished gazes filled with curiosity and amazement turned towards him.

 

Twenty thousand drops of Spirit Liquid was no small sum. Even for Qin Yichen, he had only barely managed to scrape together this amount after Zhou Dasha and his companion had delivered ten thousand drops of Spirit Liquid, combined with several thousand more he had obtained from Mu Yanfeng and Lin Fengying.

 

But to others, this truly appeared no different from simply gifting the Spirit Liquid to Ying Xinghui.

 

After all, while a few had spoken up supporting Xuan Mingge earlier, no one was foolish enough to believe that a Martial Artist could compete in the Dao of Crystal Appraisal against a renowned Heaven Grade Divine Appraiser.

 

They had come to watch the spectacle primarily to see whether this Heaven Grade Divine Appraiser might extract something as Heaven Defying as the Five-Coloured Profound Stone.

 

Who would have imagined this obviously one-sided competition would have stakes attached?

 

“Twenty thousand drops of Spirit Liquid? *Hmph!* You are just asking to suffer. Just wait until you vomit up all the Spirit Liquid you took from us!”

 

Not far away, hidden within the crowd and too ashamed to show themselves, both Zhou Dasha and Zhou Xiaosha wore cold smiles.

 

Regarding Xuan Mingge, whom they had mocked countless times, no one understood his Crystal Appraisal capabilities better than they did!

 

In their view, that previous instance had simply been Xuan Mingge’s luck reaching Heaven Defying heights for that one instant, which was the only reason he had extracted a Mutated Spirit Seed! They absolutely didn’t believe such dog-shit luck would descend upon Xuan Mingge again!

 

“Twenty thousand drops of Spirit Liquid? Interesting.”

 

A trace of surprise flickered across Ying Xinghui’s face, clearly somewhat unexpected that Qin Yichen would make such a money-gifting decision. However, since someone was voluntarily delivering funds, he naturally would not refuse.

 

Moreover, with this sort of wager added, he could probably destroy Qin Yichen more swiftly and thoroughly.

 

When that moment came, perhaps the possessor of the Phoenix Martial Soul would become an object in his grasp!

 

“Agreed. I accept.” Immediately after, Ying Xinghui answered with a face full of smiles.

 

Twenty thousand drops of Spirit Liquid, while not a small sum, was still within his means. Most importantly, he did not believe Xuan Mingge could remotely compare with Master Xu.

 

Seeing Ying Xinghui in agreement, gasps of astonishment rippled through the Spirit Crystal Area.

 

“Then, let’s begin. Shooting Star Spirit Crystals worth up to ten thousand drops of Spirit Liquid. Whoever extracts the highest value wins, correct?” Qin Yichen smiled as he spoke.

 

Seeing his demeanour, Ying Xinghui frowned. He suddenly felt that this absurdly arrogant fellow had become somewhat inscrutable.

 

Moreover, there seemed to be an undertone in his voice that made Ying Xinghui uncomfortable. There was a certain playful quality to it, as if he were being mocked?

 

“Brother Qin, what’s the meaning of this? Why are we adding stakes?” At this moment, Xuan Mingge’s somewhat confused voice transmitted as a thin thread into Qin Yichen’s ear. This immediately transformed his previously playful attitude into considerable pressure.

 

“Brother Xuan, I believe in your luck.” Qin Yichen transmitted back with a smile.

 

Who in this place could surpass him in the Dao of Crystal Appraisal?

 

Although many of these Shooting Star Spirit Crystals differed from those in his memories, even with his eyes closed, a Heaven Grade Divine Appraiser could not compare to him!

 

If not for his current lack of sufficient Spirit Liquid, he truly wanted to raise the wager even higher.

 

Twenty thousand drops of Spirit Liquid would not satisfy him!

 

At minimum, it should be… one hundred thousand drops of Spirit Liquid.