BeiChen Ying's sudden change of style left Yan Yourong and the others stunned; they had no idea why the elderly predecessor had just relied on his powerful cultivation base to forcibly probe their Master's cultivation base, nor did they understand why he would say such a thing.
"Generally speaking, when two peaks engage in a contest, the Hundred Peaks Sect always has betting odds, right?" BeiChen Ying said, his fingers tapping merrily on the stone table in front of him, "You're pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger just for the sake of the betting odds, aren't you? If I reveal your secret, would you still be able to make money?"
Secret? What pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger? Ling Xi glanced around at BeiChen Ying and then at her Master, thinking to herself that her Master wasn't pretending to be a pig… Compared to the people from Starshine Peak, he really was just a pig… Oh no! I've disrespected my Master again!
In an instant! Ling Xi decisively stepped back and knelt on both knees, performing a practiced kowtow.
BeiChen Ying, who had initially thought he had the situation in his grasp, was startled by Ling Xi's reaction and found he couldn't comprehend the thought processes of the people on this peak at all; why had they suddenly kowtowed again?
"You Rong, pull your junior sister up," Cao Zhen sighed helplessly, presuming that his disciple must have criticized him inwardly again, which was why she acted like this…
BeiChen Ying, eyes gleaming with mirth, thought to himself that he had struck gold this time! Not only could he make a fortune from the gambling house, but he had also managed to get a grip on the opposition! Dare to charge for helping with alchemy? I'm not even asking you for money, and you're lucky! Haven't you heard who makes up the Five Evils of the Hundred Peaks?
Feeling BeiChen Ying's satisfied gaze, Cao Zhen didn't have the energy to correct Ling Xi. He just shrugged and said, "Then, Predecessor, go ahead and tell."
What? Go tell? BeiChen Ying realized he couldn't grasp the intentions of the young man before him at all. Wasn't he supposed to be the most afraid of his secret of pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger being exposed? Why wasn't he following the script?
"Since Predecessor doesn't plan to make an unexpected fortune, then go ahead and tell," Cao Zhen gestured at the gate of the courtyard, indicating the exit.
BeiChen Ying found himself unexpectedly at a loss for words facing Cao Zhen's response.
That's right! This kind of pig playing gambit was an extremely rare occurrence in the Hundred Peaks Sect, perhaps once in a hundred years!
BeiChen Ying was already considering heading back to the pawnshop to pawn his underwear to place a bet that Four Treasures Peak's Peak Master Cao Zhen would win the contest!
A threat faced with a counterthreat, the courtyard became unusually quiet for a moment.
"Fine! We'll go our separate ways then!" BeiChen Ying pushed himself up from his knees, readying to leave, "The one who ends up the loser certainly won't be me."
Cao Zhen gestured again towards the exit, and then ignored his guest.
"I'm really leaving, I am actually walking away..." BeiChen Ying looked back three steps at a time, only to find that Cao Zhen had begun pouring the scant amount of tea from the canister into his cup.
"Have you decided who you're betting on to win or lose, Predecessor?" Cao Zhen said, lifting the teacup, "I might bet on myself to lose."
BeiChen Ying finally stopped his steps toward the door. He had indeed been considering that if the other party didn't stop him, he wouldn't tell anyone about Four Treasures Peak's affair and would first go to the gambling house to earn a big sum.
But with Cao Zhen's reminder, BeiChen Ying hesitated! The outcome of the contest was not about how Starshine Peak performed, but rather it was this youngster before him who truly held the power over victory and defeat!
"Your mischief, kid... I like," BeiChen Ying said with a smile, turning around to return to the stone table, snatching the teacup from Cao Zhen, "Ever heard of the Hundred Peaks Sect Five Evils?"
"I haven't," Cao Zhen shook his head decisively, his body's memories holding very little about the personnel within the entire Hundred Peaks Sect; even of this person before him, who must be a big shot of the Sect, there was no substantial information.
Drinking up the tea carelessly, BeiChen Ying continued, "No matter, I just think you could become the sixth one. Now, tell me the real reason you called me back."
"My betting odds are pretty good, but I'm out of money," Cao Zhen shrugged, "I was planning to pawn a few disciples at the pawnshop, but I don't think they'll fetch much. You provide the funds, I'll put in the effort, and we split any winnings fifty-fifty."
BeiChen Ying couldn't help but gasp at Cao Zhen's genius for pawning disciples; could this really be done?
"Your flying sword, if you were to pawn it, would be worth quite a bit of money, right?" Cao Zhen eyed the Sword Shadow that had slipped into BeiChen Ying's sleeve, "Surely it'd earn more than pawning disciples."
BeiChen Ying subconsciously covered his sleeve. As one of the Hundred Peaks Sect's Five Evils, he naturally didn't have much of a bottom line, but this particular flying sword happened to be one of the few he had.
"This sword was a gift from my master when I became a full-fledged disciple."
Cao Zhen, recalling from his memories the importance of an Inheritance Sword to every disciple who completed their apprenticeship, nodded and then asked, "Does Predecessor have any other valuable possessions?"
BeiChen Ying's thick-skinned cheeks showed a rare blush as he said, "I've always had a fondness for alchemy..."
Cao Zhen instantly understood. When it came to alchemy, if you were truly adept at it, you wouldn't necessarily be the richest in the land, but you certainly wouldn't be short of money. If you meddled with it without understanding, however, you'd mostly end up a pauper!
Someone who didn't even know how to make a Dark Fire Frenzied Pill probably had very meager skills in alchemy indeed.
"Since that's the case, Senior..." Cao Zhen pondered for a moment, "We at Four Treasures Peak have some matters to attend to, so we won't be able to keep you for a meal."
Having been seen off twice in a short while, Beichen Ying's old face couldn't quite maintain its composure, and he hastily said, "How many days until your magic duel? I'll go raise some money, and we'll split what I earn. You have to help me refine a batch of Dark Fire Frenzied Pills for free."
"Sure! No problem! There's still about ten days' time," nodded Cao Zhen, "Given Senior's renown over the years, if you were to ask the sect for an advance on your allowance, you should be able to get quite a bit..."
"Where would that be enough?" Beichen Ying shook his head, interrupting Cao Zhen, "How much can an advance on an allowance get me? Wouldn't I make money faster by leaving the mountain and the sect for a trip?"
Leave? How to leave? This sounded like he was planning to rob! Cao Zhen was stunned, what kind of thought process did this old man have? The things one robs, wouldn't they bring other subsequent troubles? I just want to make some money and lead an easygoing immortal cultivation life with my disciples.
"What's with that look?" Beichen Ying said with an unhappy expression, "When I go down the mountain, I eliminate demons and defend the Dao, it's just taking their ill-gotten gains by the way."
Cao Zhen couldn't help but give a thumbs up, as he turned back to Yan Yourong and said, "Xiao Rong, don't you think this Senior's reasoning is quite to your liking?"
Yan Yourong nodded frantically, having several times in the past two months suggested to her master to go down the mountain to vanquish demons and eliminate evil, yet she was always denied the token by her master, preventing her from applying to the sect.
"This Senior has strong fists and a sharp sword, that's why he can act this way," Cao Zhen taught earnestly, "With your cultivation base, you'd just be going to offer your head to others. Until our strength is sufficiently strong, we must cherish peace, understood?"
Although Beichen Ying felt Cao Zhen was right, he couldn't help feeling that there was something... not quite correct about being a master like this!
"Let's set ten days then," Cao Zhen got up and headed towards the kitchen, "Since Senior has arrived at mealtime, how about having dinner before you go?"
Beichen Ying, who had long since not needed food to survive, just wanted to learn more about the Four Treasures Peak's Peak Master, who was completely different from the rumors outside, and to see how far along he was on the Alchemy Dao.
"Alright, I'll have a meal before I go..."
"Ah? Actually, I was just being polite; I didn't really mean to keep you for a meal. We at Four Treasures Peak are quite poor, we can't afford to feed an extra mouth."
"..." After a moment of silence, Beichen Ying said, "Young man, many people consider it an honor to have me over for a meal. Forget it! I'll pay for my own meal!"
"Could we settle the cost of the meal first then? One or two Spirit Stones..."
"..." Beichen Ying began to ponder; this young man's shamelessness seemed quite reminiscent of his own younger days! It seemed that this time, he'd definitely make a fortune!
Billows of cooking smoke soon appeared over Four Treasures Peak, while Starshine Peak was witnessing a different scene.
Bai Mutian lay within a formation, rays of light passing through his body, slowly healing the damage caused by the lightning.
"Cao Zhen injured him? How is that possible?"
"Although Cao Zhen's cultivation base is not as high as Mutian's, it doesn't mean he lacks the Thunder Talismans left to him by the previous Peak Master."
"You're right, that must also be the source of his confidence to challenge us at Starshine Peak to a magic duel, right? How long will it take for Mutian to wake up?"
"His injuries are severe, at the very least half a month, and if it's slow, I'm afraid a month."
"Understood. Once he wakes, punish him by making him face the wall at Repentance Cliff in our peak for a year! Being injured by Cao Zhen is truly a disgrace to our Starshine Peak. This upcoming magic duel is a perfect opportunity to legitimately dispose of Cao Zhen! Let their Four Treasures Peak become the peak that has changed Peak Masters the most frequently in recent years. That would serve as retribution for Bai Mutian."
"The Second Senior Brother is right! A few Thunder Talismans left by the previous Peak Masters should not harm the First Senior Brother..."
"Why wait for the First Senior Brother, who is in retreat? I, Nie Jinlong... Huh? Isn't that the direction where the First Senior Brother is in retreat? Has the First Senior Brother completed the Immortal Bridge?"
Outside the formation where Bai Mutian lay, two discussing disciples of Starshine Peak turned their gaze towards the east side of Starshine Peak. A luminous glow soared high, with the hazy outline of Nine Taoist Platforms slowly condensing in the sky, and an Immortal Bridge gradually taking shape.
The two discussing disciples quickly ran towards the direction of the platforms, excitedly talking to each other.
"First Senior Brother's Immortal Bridge! This time, we're not afraid of any Thunder Talismans left at Four Treasures Peak!"
"Not just that! With the First Senior Brother's Immortal Bridge, we'll be able to claim that Third-Rank Spirit Field! And during the recruitment of new disciples next year, we can also attract better ones!"
"Absolutely! And the Biannual Ranking of Hundred Peaks is coming up soon too! With the Lava Lingzhi grown in the Third-Rank Spirit Field, the master and the First Senior Brother's cultivation bases can advance even further! Maybe we can try to break into the top ninetieth ranking!"