Chapter 13: Gambling with Fate

## Chapter 13: A Gamble with Life

“What? That newly arrived probationary disciple, a mere first level Condensing Qi realm cultivator, dares to challenge Zhao Long?”

“That kid has guts! And plenty of them!”

The news of Ye Chen challenging Zhao Long of Earth Yang Peak spread like wildfire, instantly stirring up a massive commotion within the outer sect of Heng Yue Sect. Even those disciples who had ventured out early to absorb the essence of the sun and moon rushed towards a single location.

From a distance, a battle platform could be seen, encircled by a throng of disciples.

This platform, known as the Wind and Cloud Arena, was specifically designated by the Heng Yue Sect for disciples to spar and settle personal grievances. In the annals of the sect's history, the number of disciples who had lost limbs or suffered severe injuries on the Wind and Cloud Arena was not in the thousands, but certainly in the hundreds.

At this moment, Ye Chen, carrying the Heaven Quelling Blade, stood imposingly on the Wind and Cloud Arena. His figure was straight and tall, unmoved by the shifting winds and clouds, like an unshakable monument.

“Is that Ye Chen? The newly entered probationary disciple of our Heng Yue Sect?”

Below the Wind and Cloud Arena, discussions erupted in a chorus of voices, mostly directed at Ye Chen. However, as they spoke of his age and cultivation level, their gazes were tinged with disdain.

“I heard that the heads of the three major main peaks of the outer sect were unwilling to accept him as a disciple, which is why he ended up as a probationary disciple.”

“Could it be that he hopes to attract the attention of the three major main peaks by challenging Zhao Long, thus securing a master?”

“It's likely an attempt.”

Ye Chen remained oblivious to the surrounding chatter, his fists clenched within his sleeves until his knuckles turned white. The surging killing intent he could no longer suppress caused his body to tremble uncontrollably.

“Zhao Long has arrived.” A voice transmitted through the crowd, and he suddenly turned, looking towards the edge of the assembled disciples.

There, more than ten disciples from Earth Yang Peak, clad in opulent Daoist robes, were surrounding Zhao Long as they approached. Each one exuded an air of arrogance and dominance, so much so that the disciples present dared not provoke them, making way for their passage.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Zhao Long.”

“We pay our respects to Senior Brother Zhao Long.”

Along the way, disciples from both sides cupped their hands and bowed, their words laced with unspoken flattery.

"Hmm!"

Zhao Long, adopting the demeanor of a senior brother, clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed forward, his expression indifferent. Those unfamiliar with him might truly believe this fellow to be a cultivator of profound attainment.

Under the gaze of thousands, Zhao Long arrived below the Wind and Cloud Arena. He cast a disdainful glance at Ye Chen, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Ye Chen, I wasn't going to seek you out, but you came to find me instead. Have you grown tired of living?”

“Get on the stage.” In response to Zhao Long's disdain and mockery, Ye Chen's lips parted, uttering only these two words.

“What are you, to dare speak to Senior Brother Zhao like that?” Before Zhao Long could reply, a disciple from Earth Yang Peak who had come to offer support already reprimanded Ye Chen. “Do you truly believe Senior Brother Zhao needs to personally deal with the likes of you?”

Saying this, that disciple was about to leap onto the battle platform but was stopped by Zhao Long.

“Since Junior Brother Ye has challenged me, what harm is there in exchanging a few blows? Our Earth Yang Peak has always been fair, and we cannot disregard the rules of the Wind and Cloud Arena, can we?”

His voice echoed faintly, and Zhao Long had already flung his robe, his toes touching the ground. Like a gust of wind, he gracefully descended onto the battle platform above. His elegant and unrestrained movements elicited screams from the female disciples below.

Hearing the sound, Zhao Long once again clasped his hands behind his back.

He seemed to greatly enjoy the flattery and awe from below, making him feel as though he could ascend to the heavens.

*Buzz!*

Across from him, Ye Chen had already drawn out the Heaven Quelling Blade. The immense weight of the sword cut through the air, emitting a buzzing sound.

“Come!” His voice resonated with the force of a strike, and Ye Chen was already prepared for the grand battle.

“No hurry.” Zhao Long playfully glanced at Ye Chen, a mocking smile curving his lips. “Wind and Cloud Arena spars from ancient times have always involved stakes. Does Junior Brother Ye not wish to wager something with me?”

Frowning slightly, Ye Chen instantly grasped the meaning behind Zhao Long's words. This was an attempt to extract something from him!

On the Wind and Cloud Arena, the two dueling parties could establish a gambling agreement and set stakes. The winning side could claim all the stakes. These stakes could be spirit stones, spirit elixirs, pills, or even cultivation methods and profound arts. As long as both sides agreed, anything imaginable could be gambled.

During his time in Zheng Yang Sect, Ye Chen had also spent time on the Wind and Cloud Arena and was well aware of its rules.

“What do you wish to wager?” Ye Chen's voice was flat, devoid of any emotion.

“Whoever loses shall serve the other as a lifelong servant.” Zhao Long's smile was faint, a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes.

“This stake is too...!” Instantly, a ripple of uproar spread below. “A lifelong servant! That's no different from a contract of indenture. Ye Chen might have bitten off more than he can chew this time.”

“Junior Brother Ye, does that suit you?” Zhao Long looked at Ye Chen with interest, his chin raised high, filled with provocative intent.

Under the gaze of thousands, a touch of coldness flashed across Ye Chen's lips. “Senior Brother Zhao wishes to gamble. We might as well make it a little bigger.”

“Oh?”

Zhao Long's eyebrows rose slightly, a mocking smile on his face. “But I wonder what Junior Brother Ye intends to wager.”

“Our lives.”

*Hiss!*

Hearing this, all below gasped, drawing in cold air.

How deep must the enmity be for this! This was a battle to the death!

Seeing blood on the Wind and Cloud Arena was commonplace, but wagering one's life had never happened before.

Perhaps no one had expected Ye Chen to propose this. A probationary disciple at the first level of Condensing Qi, challenging a disciple at the sixth level of Condensing Qi to a battle of life and death. Was he insane or had he lost his mind?

Across from him, Zhao Long's eyes had narrowed slightly.

He thought the stake he had set was already substantial enough. He never imagined Ye Chen would be even more audacious. As a servant, one still had a life, but this life wager was no jest. One wrong move, and one's small life would be gone!

“Boy, do you know what you're saying?” Zhao Long's voice was cold, his eyes filled with sinister intent. Just by uttering these stakes, he, Zhao Long, had already lost a chip in terms of momentum to Ye Chen.

“What? Are you a coward?”

“Coward?” Upon hearing this, Zhao Long burst into laughter. As he laughed, his laughter abruptly ceased, his eyes filled with sinister and ferocious intent as he looked at Ye Chen. He laughed coldly, “I'll wager. You wish to die so badly? Then you cannot blame me.”

Before his words finished, Zhao Long's foot struck the battle platform, and like a cannonball, he shot towards Ye Chen. True Qi surged from his Dantian, flowing between his palms and fingers. With a mighty force, he struck a palm towards Ye Chen's crown.

*Buzz!*

Ye Chen's arm swept out, the heavy Heaven Quelling Blade swinging out to block.

*Pound!*

Zhao Long's palm struck the Heaven Quelling Blade, emitting a metallic clash. It caused the Heaven Quelling Blade to tremble with a buzzing sound, but he too was forced back with a grunt by the force contained within the Heaven Quelling Blade, both his hands feeling numb.

“I truly underestimated you.” Forced back in a single move, Zhao Long's voice was cold.

“Underestimate me, and you will die a miserable death.” Ye Chen's ice-cold voice carried a chilling killing intent, and he had already swung the giant Quelling Blade towards Zhao Long.

*Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!*

Soon, the sound of wind being broken was incessant. The heavy Heaven Quelling Blade, impacting the air with a buzzing motion, caused those below the platform to swallow their saliva. This Heaven Quelling Blade was incredibly heavy. If it were to strike someone, the consequences would likely be severe.

“Where did this kid get such strength?”

“The amount of true qi at the first level of Condensing Qi is inherently sparse. He still has to divert true qi to control the Heaven Quelling Blade. This not only consumes true qi but also slows down his speed due to the weight of the Heaven Quelling Blade. Ye Chen choosing the Heaven Quelling Blade was truly unwise.” Discerning disciples mused, shaking their heads lightly at Ye Chen's approach.

“But a first-level Condensing Qi cultivator can withstand three moves against Zhao Long. This Ye Chen also possesses some skill.”

*Clang!*

A crisp sound interrupted the discussions below. Before five moves had passed, the Heaven Quelling Blade in Ye Chen's hand was sent flying by Zhao Long.

Seeing this, many people sighed, and many others began to leave the arena. This battle, devoid of suspense, offered no highlights save for the terrifying stakes.

“Let's see what you can rely on now.” Zhao Long roared coldly, taking a step forward, and with a wave of his hand, flung out three sword blades. He then followed closely behind the sword blades, his momentum surging, clearly intending to defeat Ye Chen in one fell swoop.

Ye Chen let out a cold laugh. Without the restraint of the Heaven Quelling Blade's weight, his entire body felt significantly lighter. The suppressed blood flow instantly accelerated, boiling as if it were about to ignite. Even the muscles and bones within his body emitted a cracking sound.

“Fight!”

Suddenly, a loud shout erupted. Ye Chen's back foot slammed into the ground, and he shot out like a cannonball. Just as the three sword blades were about to pierce his body, he suddenly leaped up, like an ape, dodging the three sword blades.

This was the ape leap of the Heart of the Fierce Beast technique.

Ye Chen easily dodged the three sword blades, causing Zhao Long's heart to leap. He had followed closely behind the three sword blades, and Ye Chen was already above his head. At such a close distance, with his body leaning forward, it was extremely difficult for him to change his posture.

This all happened in a flash of lightning.

“Get down here!”

Only Ye Chen's cold shout was heard. The entirety of his strength and true qi gathered on his right leg, and he solidly kicked Zhao Long in the face.

(To be continued...)