With Gong Yuankui's breakthrough, those who had bet on the Tianyuan Sect felt their hearts turn to ash.
Even after that deliberate concession, they never expected the Tianyuan Sect would still fail to win. Now that his opponent had broken through into the bargain, what was even the point of fighting? They were bankrupt-completely and utterly bankrupt.
Qin Xiao knew he had taken a massive bath on this venture. Not only had he lost a hundred million Spirit Stones, but he also had to cough up another hundred million to settle with Ling Ruoxue. Two hundred million down the drain, and on top of that, he had accidentally helped his rival make a breakthrough. His losses were astronomical.
"Brother Qin, thank you."
Gong Yuankui adjusted his state and offered a formal bow to Qin Xiao.
"Brother Kui is too polite. I never imagined you would actually break through. Truly a joyous occasion."
Though Qin Xiao congratulated him with his lips, his face was utterly devoid of joy.
"Haha, this is all thanks to Brother Qin. I had lingered at the late Nascent Soul stage for quite some time and spent ages in Secluded Cultivation, yet I was always missing that one final spark of enlightenment. Who would have thought a single battle with Brother Qin would provide it?"
Qin Xiao was miserable, but Gong Yuankui was in high spirits.
"I wonder if Brother Qin still wishes to continue?"
Gong Yuankui asked with a faint smile.
"Fight? Of course we fight. Come on."
Truth be told, Qin Xiao wanted nothing more than to concede right then and there. But the moment he thought of all those desperate gamblers who had staked everything on his victory, he knew that if he threw in the towel now, they would curse him straight to the grave.
He had no choice but to see it through. Once he took a thorough beating, those ungrateful wretches would at least realize he had given it his all and spare him their abuse.
"Qin Xiao, go for it! I put my entire net worth on your Tianyuan Sect!"
"That's right, you have to win! If you lose, we're finished!"
"As long as you win, I'll be your beast of burden for the rest of my life!"
Hearing that Qin Xiao intended to keep fighting, the frantic crowd of red-eyed gamblers screamed at the top of their lungs.
Qin Xiao could only shake his head in inner speechlessness. These gamblers were drowning in their own greed and now expected him to carry their burdens. Small bets were harmless fun, but these fools were acting like desperate gambling addicts. Losing their shirts was nothing more than what they deserved.
Yet, upon second thought, he realized he wasn't much better off, having wagered heavily himself. What he thought was a guaranteed win had turned into a total disaster. Arrogance truly was a flaw-there was always someone stronger.
"Since Brother Qin still has the spirit for it, I shall lay aside my armor and unpin my crown. Let us have a genuine, physical contest, which shall serve as repayment for the favor of helping me break through."
Gong Yuankui could see that Qin Xiao desperately needed this victory and wished to grant him the favor while clearing his own karmic debt.
Besides, defeat was not the end of the world. Even if he lost, the sect would still secure its spots; it was merely the difference between first and second place, and the allotment of entry slots only varied by five.
"Kui'er, do not be rash."
Hearing that Gong Yuankui intended to discard his protective gear, Han Mingyuan hastily called out to stop him.
"Second Elder, this disciple will bear the consequences alone."
Gong Yuankui's tone brooked no argument. His respect for Qin Xiao had grown immensely.
"In that case, I thank Brother Kui for his generosity."
Qin Xiao certainly didn't stand on ceremony. If victory was within reach, who would willingly surrender it?
Once Gong Yuankui shed his heavy gear and unbound his hair, the two men closed in for another exchange.
Even without his equipment, Gong Yuankui's newly elevated realm granted him a slight upper hand.
Qin Xiao naturally gave it everything he had, frantically sifting through his memories for any martial techniques that might give him an edge.
The two traded blows rapidly, their movements growing increasingly proficient until they resembled ordinary martial arts masters. While lacking the dazzling brilliance of standard spellcasting, the intricate dance of offense and defense possessed a distinct charm of its own.
Fortunately, Qin Xiao's physical defense was terrifyingly resilient. Though he took the brunt of the punishment, he absorbed every blow. Gong Yuankui, on the other hand, suffered a heavy injury every single time Qin Xiao's fists connected.
As the duel dragged on, Qin Xiao-initially suppressed into a disadvantage-began to seize the initiative. His body refinement allowed him an almost bottomless reservoir of stamina, whereas Gong Yuankui's physical endurance began to flag.
After another hundred passes, Gong Yuankui stepped back and lowered his hands.
"Brother Qin is extraordinary indeed. I concede."
It wasn't that Gong Yuankui was truly incapable of continuing; rather, he sensed that his initial advantage had evaporated while Qin Xiao remained as solid as ever. Pushing the matter further served no purpose, so he chose to yield gracefully.
"My thanks to Brother Kui for conceding the match."
Qin Xiao knew full well he hadn't won through sheer dominance; his opponent had simply discarded too many advantages to let him take the victory.
Gong Yuankui was equally straightforward, leaping down from the competition platform the moment he conceded.
The outcome shocked the majority of the spectators. After all, the desperate gamblers were a mere handful; most had placed their hopes on the Pure Yang Sect.
None found the result harder to swallow than City Lord Yu Chengfeng. As the operator of the betting pool, he had initially celebrated when someone wagered two hundred million on the Tianyuan Sect, assuming free wealth had dropped into his lap. Now, cold sweat soaked his back as he faced payouts exceeding one billion Spirit Stones.
Where some wept, others rejoiced. The fortunate gamblers screamed Qin Xiao's name with fanatical devotion.
"Qin Xiao!"
"Qin Xiao!"
"Qin Xiao!"
The roar of the minority drowned out even the accusations of a fixed match.
Ignoring the commotion, Qin Xiao quietly stepped down from the arena.
He had previously believed that reaching the Fourth Layer of Body Refinement would render him virtually untouchable against any Nascent Soul practitioner. It was only after clashing with Gong Yuankui that he truly understood what defined a supreme prodigy and the profound heritage of a major sect.
Back at the preparation seats, Gong Yuankui offered an apologetic nod to Han Mingyuan, declaring that he would accept any punishment the sect saw fit to impose.
In the subsequent Challenge Round, Tianyi City defeated the Mysterious Yin Sect to secure fourth place. The Mysterious Yin Sect declined further challenges, and the Immortal Dao Merchant Association followed suit. Because of Gong Yuankui's earlier forfeiture, the Pure Yang Sect made no further moves either.
The final standings placed the Tianyuan Sect first, the Pure Yang Sect second, the Immortal Dao Merchant Association third, Tianyi City fourth, and the Mysterious Yin Sect fifth, while Pure Yang City lost its standing entirely, ending up at the bottom.
The one hundred entry spots were duly distributed: thirty for the Tianyuan Sect, twenty-five for the Pure Yang Sect, twenty for the Immortal Dao Merchant Association, fifteen for Tianyi City, and ten for the Mysterious Yin Sect.
The spot competition had finally drawn to a close.
Factions that failed to secure quotas departed in succession, while the victors remained behind to discuss the upcoming expedition to the Spirit Medicine Valley secret realm twenty days hence.
Qin Xiao skipped the evening banquet once again, retiring to his quarters to meditate on the day's combat. By integrating the martial forms of his past life with his preternatural speed, he believed he could unlock terrifying combat power.
Yun Man also skipped the festivities, choosing instead to hone the second move of her sword manual-Earth Rending. Though she could execute it, her mastery was not yet proficient.
Once the banquet concluded, Ling Ruoxue sought out Qin Xiao, carrying the spoils of their wager.
"You nearly screwed me over completely. It's a miracle he let you win in the end. And here you claimed you had it in the bag-a guaranteed win, no less."
Ling Ruoxue tossed a Storage Bag onto the table with an expression of mild exasperation.
"Now, Miss Ling, unforeseen variables simply arose. How could I have known he possessed such a Dharma Treasure? A minor miscalculation, nothing more."
Without standing on ceremony, Qin Xiao swept the Storage Bag into his personal space and inspected the contents.
True to form, the number of Spirit Stones had increased by six hundred and fifty-five million, with Ling Ruoxue having already deducted the two hundred million she advanced.
"Since you've turned a profit, let's call off this absurd bet. The Mysterious Yin Sect only managed fifth place this time, and they are none too pleased. If you persist in forcing them to take you as master, aren't you afraid their Grand Elder will target you?"
Ling Ruoxue had essentially come as a mediator, having been approached by Su Lin and Cang Xing in hopes of persuading Qin Xiao to drop the wager.
"That's out of the question. Business is business. Besides, why are you sticking your nose into this? It's not like you're the one being asked to kowtow as a disciple. If you possessed a Heavenly Spirit Root, I might consider an exception, but you don't."
Upon hearing her words, Qin Xiao immediately realized she was acting on behalf of the others. He flatly refused. A Heavenly Spirit Root was an opportunity of a lifetime; why would he let anyone derail his plans to secure new supplies?
"Not a shred of room for negotiation?"
Ling Ruoxue was taken aback by his stubbornness.
"None whatsoever. Go back and tell those three that no matter how reluctant they are, they had better report here tomorrow morning to kowtow properly."
Qin Xiao cared little for offending people. Heavenly Spirit Roots were too rare to pass up; letting them slip through his fingers would be unforgivable.
"Fine, have it your way. Get some rest."
Realizing there was no moving him, Ling Ruoxue shook her head in resignation and took her leave.
Stepping out into the corridor, she cast a helpless glance toward the five figures waiting outside-with Gong Yuankui absent, only the remaining candidates were present.