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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 3: [Qiu Prefecture Lantern Festival]
Chapter 53 (197): [Gamblers from All Sides]
(53rd of Volume 3)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Four days later.
Eastern City, Thunder Pool Hall.
This ancient hall, abandoned for a century and spanning dozens of acres, was built on a low hill covered with pines and cypresses.
Though dilapidated, it offered a panoramic view. Lu Cangsheng had purchased it after arriving in Qiu Prefecture City.
He filled the three-acre pond within the hall with water from the Thunder Sea.
Centered around the Thunder Pool, he erected a nine-story Formation Tower to serve as the Thundercloud Sect's base for its young Martial-Mystic Cultivators in East City.
Each faction had entrusted all matters related to the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival to the leadership of their younger generation, refusing to interfere in their arrangements or alliances.
The Du'e (Calamity Crossing Temp) sought Hidden Dragons to restore order to the world.
Meanwhile, the elders of each faction were eager to see the true mettle of the young Heavenly Prides they had cultivated.
As the once-in-a-millennium prodigy of the Thundercloud Sect, Lu Cangsheng deeply understood a fundamental truth: in all endeavors, one must first secure a retreat.
Before advancing, one must ensure self-preservation.
Only with thorough preparation can one achieve invincibility.
The Thunder Pool Hall was his safeguard, established in preparation for the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival.
"Let me in! How dare you block me..."
Lu Wensheng's cold, stern voice echoed from outside, arguing with the Thundercloud Sect disciples guarding the Thunder Pool.
Lu Cangsheng, who had been meditating on the surface of the Thunder Pool, found his mind restless.
He opened his eyes with a long sigh: "Let him in!"
Lu Wensheng approached the edge of the Thunder Pool, watching Lu Cangsheng step by step walk across the water toward the shore.
After composing himself, he spoke as calmly as he could: "Cangsheng, lend me another 200,000 Yongquan Coins. This time, I'm certain I can win it all back!"
Lu Cangsheng's patience had been completely exhausted over the past few days: "You still want to fight? You've lost three matches already. Haven't you realized yet that your opponent's strength far surpasses yours? He's been toying with you all along."
"No! After three encounters, no one understands his true level better than I do. He is indeed formidable, and I'm no match for him. But I'm no longer aiming to defeat him! I'm clear-headed, I know my limits..." Lu Wensheng began.
Before he could finish, Lu Cangsheng interrupted sharply: "Brother, when you're in the mountains, you can't see the mountains. In these three matches, you've lost your spiritual artifact battle armor, your Heavenly Thunder Blade, and mortgaged all your cultivation resources. You even borrowed 200,000 Yongquan Coins from Qianli (Thousand Mile) Mountain, didn't you? You can't go back to the arena. You can't win."
These past few days, Lu Wensheng had become extremely sensitive. Lu Cangsheng's words had sent him trembling with rage.
He roared, "I never intended to win! Five moves - I only need to withstand five moves from him to recoup everything I've lost. I possess the Nine Springs Pure Immortal Physique, fortified by the Eighteen Thunder Annihilation Formation. At the same cultivation level, how could he possibly withstand even five moves from me?"
"There's always someone better. You can't win!" Lu Cangsheng spoke with certainty, "I've watched a few of his matches. Li Weiyi's cultivation may be lower, but his mastery of Martial-Mystic Techniques far surpasses yours. He's been holding back, never revealing his true strength. Even at the same cultivation level, I'm not sure I could defeat him. As for the 260,000 Yongquan Coins you borrowed from me, consider them spent on cultivation. You don't need to repay them. I can also help you settle your debt at Qianli (Thousand Mile) Mountain, but you must promise me you won't fight in the arena again..."
"I don't need your pity!" Lu Wensheng seemed to have suffered a profound blow, "I know you look down on me, just like everyone else in the sect. You're a genius, and I'm just a waste, right? But I'm a genius too! I'm just not as good as you. Yes, I might not withstand ten moves, but I can definitely withstand five!"
"Cangsheng... brother... Senior Brother, please lend me some Yongquan Coins. Please, just one last time. I swear, it'll definitely be the last. I swear on the souls of our parents in heaven."
"If I don't win back what I've lost, I'll die. How can I face the world? Everyone in the Sect is secretly laughing at me. I have to prove myself, or else... I'll have no choice but to die!"
As he spoke, Lu Wensheng gradually sank to his knees, about to prostrate himself before Lu Cangsheng.
Lu Cangsheng could be ruthless to anyone, but he had the utmost tolerance for his brother.
He took a deep breath, a cold glint flashing in his eyes before quickly softening into a smile.
He raised Lu Wensheng with both hands.
"One last time?"
Lu Wensheng burst into tears of joy, deeply moved: "Our parents died young, leaving us brothers to rely on each other. Cangsheng, I knew you wouldn't abandon me! This last time, I'll definitely win back five times the Yongquan Coins."
Lu Cangsheng retrieved a rectangular medicine chest from his Boundary Pouch and handed it over: "This Black Dragon Grass, harvested from the depths of the East Sea, is sixteen hundred years old and worth about two hundred Yongquan Coins."
"Cangsheng, you're too kind! Don't worry, this time I'll definitely win!"
Lu Wensheng, clutching his medicine chest, hurried away with a joyful expression.
Qin Qian entered from outside, watching Lu Wensheng's departure before turning to Lu Cangsheng, whose face was dark with fury and whose eyes burned with killing intent beside the Thunder Pool.
"Brother Lu was never like this before," she said, "He was always calm and restrained. It's all that Li Weiyi's fault. I'll kill him!"
As a cultivator of the Sixth Sea with a Pure Immortal Physique, she naturally had the confidence to kill Li Weiyi.
Lu Cangsheng stared at the Thunder Pool, "He's just a pawn! What we should be considering is why Zuoqiu Ting pushed this pawn forward."
Qin Qian said, "Rumors say Li Weiyi is Cang Li's brother-in-law."
"Cang Li's brother-in-law? I thought he was Zuoqiu Clan's son-in-law?" Lu Cangsheng frowned.
Qin Qian continued, "Some even claim he possesses the strength to defeat Yang Zhiyong of the Sui Sect. All sorts of rumors are flying around, true and false, making it hard to tell what's real."
Lu Cangsheng pondered for a moment: "For ten years, the Zuoqiu Clan and the Jiu Li Tribe have avoided open conflict, quietly building their strength. They've watched as heroes from across the land and the imperial court have engaged in a bloody war, exhausting each other. Now, taking advantage of the Du'e (Calamity Crossing) Temple and the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, they're ready to officially enter the fray and reap the benefits of the chaos."
"The court has designated them as top targets for suppression, aiming to teach the Calamity Crossing Temple and the Zuoqiu Clan a harsh lesson."
"The clash between the younger generations at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival will undoubtedly follow the same pattern."
"Therefore, there's no need for the Thundercloud Sect to act now against a mere Fourth Stage Martial-Mystic Cultivator of the Five Seas Realm. We must restrain ourselves from rushing into the fray."
"Here's what we'll do: You go tell the Dragon Hall. If Dragon Sect can kill Li Weiyi, our cooperation can continue."
"Dragon Sect is willing to charge headfirst?" Qin Qian asked.
Lu Cangsheng replied, "Dragon Sect has already offended the Jiu Li Tribe during the Li Prefecture unrest. A confrontation at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival is inevitable. Moreover, Dragon Sect likely suffered significant losses in that treacherous arena gambling scheme."
"Countless cunning Martial-Mystic Cultivators were lured step by step into the trap, all reduced to gambling addicts driven mad by greed."
"Fortunately, Li Weiyi is only at the Fourth Stage of the Five Seas Realm. If he were three realms higher, he'd completely ruin the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, forcing us to rename it the Hidden Dragon Gambling Festival. This man cannot be allowed to live."
....
The challenge fee for challenging was 500 Yongquan Coins on the first day.
On the second day, it rose to 1,000.
On the third day, the rules were completely changed: there was no limit to the challenge fee, and they would pay out tenfold for every loss.
By the fourth day, the arena was deserted.
Spectators gathered in large numbers, but hardly anyone dared to step onto the stage.
However, when the second cloth banner, "Five Moves to Defeat All Foes Under Heaven," was hung, the top Martial-Mystic Cultivators of the Fourth Stage of the Five Seas Realm, who had been thoroughly defeated in the previous four days, were suddenly reinvigorated.
They scattered in all directions, scrambling to gather Yongquan Coins.
Their enthusiasm was rekindled, and everyone was confident they could withstand five moves.
"This time, it's not a challenge fee. The rules clearly state it's a chance to recoup our losses. He's prepared to return all the money he won from us."
"One to five odds. If we can withstand his five moves, he'll pay us five times whatever we put up."
"But he warned us to be restrained and bet within our means, not to wager too much."
"Restrained? He's just afraid of losing and not being able to pay up."
"No one can be certain of defeating all Martial-Mystic Cultivators of the same realm within five moves. Of course he needs to be cautious."
"I can't withstand ten moves! If I can't even withstand five moves against someone of the same realm, what's the point of cultivating the Martial-Mystic Path?"
In the Qiu Prefecture Attendant Hall's central vermilion tower, on the top floor, Jiang Ning, wearing a Governor's Official Robe from a thousand years ago, sat at the center of a circular array, cultivating the Dragon Awakening Technique.
The Dragon Awakening Technique is the only way to harness the Dragon Soul Power within the Governor's Official Robe.
A thousand years ago, three hundred Governor's Official Robes were crafted. Half were kept within the Imperial Palace, while the other half were scattered among the common people and the Nether Realm.
Hearing the commotion and heated discussions rising from below the tower, Jiang Ning stopped her cultivation and asked Zhuang Yue, "What's happening now?"
Zhuang Yue had changed into a pair of crimson demon eyes, her pupils like jade.
Her usually cold expression now held a hint of bewitching charm.
She wore a strange expression: "It's Qin Changfeng, Lin Yi, and Fifth Young Master again. They're planning to enter the arena. They're running around trying to raise funds, claiming they'll make a big score this time."
Jiang Ning, her eyes veiled by a white dragon-patterned gauze, already had three wispy streams of Dragon Soul Power swirling around her.
Her voice was ethereal as she asked, "Has Fifth Brother been dragged into this too?"
"Fifth Young Master has already lost three matches in a row and gambled away all his Spiritual Artifacts. That guy shows absolutely no mercy," Zhuang Yue huffed.
Jiang Ning said, "After losing so badly, why would he still want to fight?"
"Zuoqiu Ting wrote him another calligraphy piece, this time with the words 'Five Moves to Defeat All Foes Under Heaven.' It's just five moves. Qin Changfeng and Fifth Young Master couldn't resist taking the bait."
Zhuang Yue continued, "Zuoqiu Ting is clearly using him. If he keeps winning like this, he'll incur the wrath of many and be in grave danger."
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END OF CHAPTER
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