Chapter 139: Moon Exquisite
Once Bai Feiyu stepped onto the arena, the betting frenzy ignited instantly. This time, Qian Shuang wandered far away to a secluded spot to place her bets on him. The amount she was wagering was so staggering that if anyone were to see it, Bai Feiyu’s secret benefactor would be exposed. Exposure itself wasn't the main issue, but once revealed, the origin of such vast sums would inevitably come into question. Where did the capital come from? Although her father was the Sect Master of the Guixu Sect, she knew this would surely spark intense controversy. The money might even be confiscated, leaving Bai Feiyu with only a pittance—an outcome she was desperate to avoid. While her father was the Sect Master, she was not guaranteed to be his successor. The Guixu Sect was not her family’s private property, which was why Qian Shuang had to be so cautious.
When the crowd saw the overwhelming volume of bets pouring in for Bai Feiyu, they were electrified. Many were moved to tears; the mysterious tycoon behind him had finally stepped in again, and this time, they were certain to turn the tables. They would win back everything they had lost and finally have an answer for their wives at home. This time, they absolutely could not afford to lose.
In the distance, the Fourth Princess watched the scene and muttered to herself. "This is a battle among those at the third level of the Shackles Realm. No matter how monstrous Bai Feiyu is, I fear it will be difficult for him to win this time. Even though we are on good terms, and I am not short on money, betting on him now feels like an insult. It’s as if I’m putting unnecessary pressure on him." After weighing her options, the Fourth Princess decided not to place a bet. Though Bai Feiyu was surely destined to lose, what he had achieved thus far was already heaven-defying. Growth happens one step at a time; one cannot become a giant in a single leap. She did not realize how much she would have profited had she bet on him, having already suffered significant losses by shunning him previously.
From afar, the Human Emperor watched the proceedings and gave a subtle nod. After all, if Bai Feiyu didn't lose some money this time, it would be difficult to manage the situation; others would soon run out of funds to wager. While the impact was minor, as the Human Emperor, he found it difficult to justify the continuous losses his subjects had suffered recently. Of course, even if Bai Feiyu were to win, it would not affect him; it would merely mean the Zhao Kingdom had gained another peerless prodigy.
After the torrent of bets subsided, Bai Feiyu knew it was time. He appeared on the combat stage. His opponent was a woman from the Golden Light Sect named Yue Linglong, their senior sister. Yue Linglong was already burning with fighting spirit, and knowing her opponent was Bai Feiyu only fueled the fire. Her sect leader had explicitly ordered that should anyone encounter Bai Feiyu, they were not to underestimate him, but to exhaust every means to defeat him, end his glory, and make him pay for offending the Golden Light Sect. That she had encountered him now was a stroke of fate. A triumphant smile curled on her lips; she was thrilled. In her eyes, Bai Feiyu had reached his limit and stood no chance against her. This was the perfect opportunity to humiliate him on the stage and make him realize the price of his arrogance.
The disciples of the Golden Light Sect erupted in cheers when they realized their senior sister was facing Bai Feiyu. They had lost almost everything because of him, and even the elders were feeling the pinch in their purses. Driven by accumulated hatred, many disciples sent telepathic messages to Yue Linglong, urging her to be swift and ruthless, to deny him the chance to forfeit, and to settle their scores once and for all. Yue Linglong acknowledged their wishes internally.
"Ha! I didn't expect to face someone from the Golden Light Sect," Bai Feiyu said, his expression mocking. "I know what you're thinking, but don't worry. Since I've stepped onto this stage, I have no intention of surrendering. I have decided that everyone from the Golden Light Sect will be trampled under my feet, so you are in danger today. I don't know if you were ranked in the top five before, but I know that since you met me, you will be the first to fall at the third level of the Shackles Realm."
Bai Feiyu’s grin was incredibly provocative. Hearing his arrogance, the disciples flew into a rage, shouting, "Senior Sister, crush him! Let him feel the might of the Golden Light Sect!" "How detestable! Even now, he dares to provoke us—he clearly holds our sect in contempt!" "Hmph, I refuse to believe he can win this time!"
Seeing Bai Feiyu’s unbothered demeanor, Yue Linglong paused, then laughed. "I never expected you to have such backbone. I’m truly surprised. However, while I admire your spirit, I cannot let you off. It is fated that I will trample you under my feet. Rest assured, as your opponent, I will... absolutely not make this easy for you!"
With that, Yue Linglong’s cultivation erupted, and she lunged at Bai Feiyu with her long sword.
"Heh!" Bai Feiyu scoffed. He swung his God of War Spear, engaging her with fierce techniques. He chose not to breakthrough immediately, wanting to test if his current ninth-level Hao Qi Realm cultivation could hold its own against this girl. Although he had experimented during the battles in the Imperial City, those had not been true third-level Shackles Realm opponents. He needed to find his true limits.
As they clashed, Bai Feiyu’s disadvantage became clear. His cultivation level lagged behind hers, and within a few exchanges, he was forced onto the back foot. At this rate, he wouldn't last an hour. Seeing this, the Golden Light Sect disciples cheered, while the members of the Guixu Sect grew anxious.