Zing Ghe was interested in the rewards that were motivating the two clans to go to such an extent, including many other people. It was impossible that these two clans would fight for honor or something like this by betting on a few mere disciples. Their rules of the competition were also strange, already attracting attention.
These reasons were exactly what stopped the Ma clan from betting further, even though they wanted to pull Yang Zhai on their side. As for the Bai clan, they were extremely unhappy. Zihao De wanted to shout at Yang Zhai but stopped when he saw Yang Zhai signaling with his eyes and fingers.
What is he thinking? Does he have a plan or something?: Zihao De thought. He decided to wait and see.
"Fine, we agree, what do you want in return?" Ma clan elder Jun Nie asked. He knew nothing was free in this world.
"Uh, nothing but Kroy City's emblem and the nomination spot," Yang Zhai said with an awkward smile.
"Do you know what you are asking for? Do you even know its value?" Jun Nie narrowed his eyes. It was fine to give these two away as long as Yang Zhai came to their side, but he did not.
"I don't, but the moment you placed it as a bet that could even outmatch essence stones as a reward, I knew its value. I have an instinctive feeling that it will be beneficial to me. I am about to tell you my secrets, I don't think anything less would do, right?"
"Fine"
After thinking, Jun Nie agreed after discussing it with the clan leader. To them, the inheritance definitely had more value. They did not want to take any chance and wanted to make sure they had as much chance as possible at winning.
"Here,"
He gave it to Yang Zhai after taking it from the Ma clan leader. Yang Zhai stored it in his storage bracelet.
Yang Zhai looked at Zihao De, and after that, he started to reveal his trump cards in front of everyone. Including his rank 2 and rank 1 kas, except for his important Kas. Why would he reveal them? To make them believe he told them everything and correctly, he only had to avoid using the methods he was hiding.
He also spoke about Earth Burial Ka, and the Blood Demon Ka, shocking everyone. But he made sure to tell everyone that the Blood Demon Ka was given to him by the Ma clan. He also said that his body strength could match the rank 2 peak stage and was nearing rank 3. Not just that, he also revealed something shocking and that was the Golden Shield Ire.
As for the corpse collector, it was hanging around his waist; however, nobody recognized it, not even Ma Wan Liu. They all believed that Yang Zhai was just wearing it to look nice.
It was fine with Blood Demon ka as it was out of Yang Zhai's power to use, but Golden Shield Ire was another matter. To the others, it was truly a trump card that Jun Haru could not rival with his strength, no matter what.
With this, Yang Zhai only had to activate the ire and then push Jun Haru out of the fighting arena with his body strength, a truly marvelous combination. After revealing his so-called trump cards, Yang Zhai gave the Ma clan one minute to prepare against Yang Zhai.
"The Bai clan really came prepared this time"
"Right, Yang Zhai did mention that his body strength is at the peak of rank 2. Whereas, Jun Haru is not a body cultivator. Even though Jun Haru has two ires, he also has to fight with his other cultivation methods, but Yang Zhai doesn't have to use his essence water for any other methods."
"I think the Ma clan was rational to bribe Yang Zhai and did not take a chance by betting everything on Jun Haru."
"Even though Yang Zhai gave them one minute to prepare against his trump cards, I don't think they can do anything in this short amount of time. Unless, someone has something extraordinary by chance, which, I don't think is the case."
A commotion broke out in the crowd. They were right here. The Ma clan was really in a dilemma.
"What should we do? I don't have anything that can help Jun Haru in this situation." The Ma clan leader spoke with uncertainty.
"Neither do I. Golden Shield is a rank 2 ire and also doesn't use much essence water even after combining. So, we also can't hope for Yang Zhai's essence water to run out." Jun Nie analyzed the situation carefully and continued,
"Come to think of it, even if we were given more time, I don't think we could come up with an optimal solution right now. Against a body cultivator, a person can only hope to attack them from afar and hope to win before running out of essence water, but when a body cultivator becomes impervious to damage from long-range attacks, their opponent can only run or fight close combat. But, Jun Haru is not a body cultivator who can go against Yang Zhai from toe to toe. We are really in a bad situation here. What to do? Only if we had a powerful method useful against the golden shield despite being a second-rank method."
The Ma clan was in a difficult spot right now. This was a really bad situation for them. They were struck down before the battle even started.
"Impressive, truly impressive, this is brilliant," Zihao De muttered with a smile.
"What is it? Second Elder." Elder Eun Woo asked him, confused.
"Look at Ma clan elders." Zihao De replied.
Eun Woo looked at the Ma clan elders and saw that most of them were anxious, including Jun Nie.
She could not get Zihao De's point at first, but then a thought suddenly struck her.
"They are all anxious before the battle even started, which would surely make Jun Haru anxious as well, reducing his thinking capacity during battle, resulting in him making mistakes, am I right, second elder? " Eun Woo said with surprise.
"Yes, you are exactly right. It would surely affect Jun Haru. He might have a chance to win against Yang Zhai if he fought with his full capacity, however, after thinking that the Golden Shield is impenetrable for a second-rank cultivator, he would not even try it and would also make mistakes. I don't know if Yang Zhai had this in mind or not, but it is surely a brilliant move." Bai clan leader Tai Qi replied this time around.
"I have a suggestion," Yang Zhai spoke again, drawing everyone's attention.
"Why don't we make it so that the ires are not to be used during the battle?" Yang Zhai said.
"No, that's not possible." Jun Nie rejected it right away.
However, Jun Haru spoke, cutting Jun Nie's speech in the middle.
"I accept."
"Very well, I won't use Golden Shield during the battle, I hope you keep your word as well." Yang Zhai said with a smile.
"Brother Yang, I promise, I won't use any ires of mine as well. Elders, don't worry, I can surely handle it." Jun Haru said with confidence.
However, Tai Qi, Ma Wan Liu, Zihao De, Jun Nie, and other elders were left flabbergasted. This situation happened suddenly, not giving others the time to even think.
Jun Nie shook his head. He wanted to stop Jun Haru, but the minute given by Yang Zhai had passed and Zing Ghe was about to start the battle. And on top of that, Jun Haru even promised in front of everyone. No way, he would go back on his words now. This Yang Zhai was really clever.
"This is bad, Jun Haru doesn't understand what he has done. Yang Zhai is a body cultivator, but Haru is not. Even though Yang Zhai should be at a disadvantage fighting a long-range cultivator, I don't think that would be the case from seeing his last two rounds of battles."
Zihao De was about to get angry again, but then he remembered something.
Oh, shit!!!!! It was me who asked him to make sure that Jun Haru does not use any ires. But he took it completely wrong: These were Zihao De's thoughts. It was he who had asked Yang Zhai to make sure that Jun Haru didn't use any ires. After all, killing Jun Haru would be impossible with his ires protecting him even if Yang Zhai managed to defeat him.
Even though he managed to stop Jun Haru from using ires, he was also left with no defense, in everyone's eyes though.
…..
Author's note: From now on, I will be using Ire instead of treasure (ire as a name). Thanks.