*In Sword Cloud Tower Wine Shop, *
The good wine on the shelves fills the air with a strong aroma.
"Junior Brother Yun, you choose." Senior Sister Zhao stands off to the side, her beautiful eyes watching Yun Xiao.
"Shopkeeper, we'll have some 'Daughter Red,'" Yun Xiao requests.
Suddenly, he feels a tap on his forehead and, surprised, looks up. Senior Sister Zhao stands beneath a jade lantern, lightly biting her red lip, her graceful face slightly flushed.
"Yun Xiao, that wine isn't for sale," the shopkeeper laughs, his burly chest and open robe giving him an air of ruggedness.
"Don't listen to him," Senior Sister Zhao says, directing the shopkeeper with a smirk. "Bring us thirty jars of 'Monkey Wine.'"
"Certainly!"
Despite the shop being crowded with guests, the shopkeeper personally attends to Senior Sister Zhao, indicating she's a familiar patron. Her small cosmic bag, embroidered with flowers, has ample space inside; it swallows the thirty jars of wine without issue.
"Take care now." Just as they turn to leave, the shopkeeper stops them, looking a bit regretful as he speaks to Senior Sister Zhao.
"Ye Tiance has scaled the Ten Thousand Swords Sea and is lording over the Blue Soul Sect. Even your revered Aunt can't hold him back; I'm truly sorry."
"That's fine," Senior Sister Zhao replies. "Your concern is appreciated."
The shopkeeper nods, then glances at Yun Xiao with a look of admiration. "It's a blessing for Sword Pavilion to have a young talent like you. With such strength to protect us, at least for six years, the Pavilion doesn't need to worry about being overshadowed."
With that, he gives Yun Xiao a thumbs-up. "Young hero, truly impressive! Even the disciples of Second Sword Peak admire you!"
"Thank you." Yun Xiao smiles back.
The shopkeeper then hands over twenty Longquan Pills and a millennium-aged monster bone, clearly impressed. "With these, you'll really be able to soar!"
This exchange shows that not everyone in Blue Soul Sect is willing to submit to Ye Tiance's force. The so-called "Alliance of the Seven Great Sword Peaks" is more about following his lead rather than actual allegiance.
At that moment, the Lingbao Pavilion draws the crowd's attention with a loud call.
The grand hall of Sword Cloud Tower fills with excitement as disciples rush over, eager to participate.
"Place your bets, everyone!" shouts a portly man in flashy clothes and a small, pointed beard, who grins while managing the crowd. He's the cashier from Lingbao Pavilion, known for handling the betting pool.
"Betting?" Yun Xiao asks in confusion. "Do cultivators really gamble?"
"Yes," Senior Sister Zhao explains, looking displeased. "The Lingbao Pavilion has various betting schemes, but the simplest one is betting on outcomes. For instance, with the first round of battles, you can place bets on who will win: Sword Pavilion or First Sword Peak. All wagers go into two separate pools, and at the end, the winning pool is divided among those who backed the victor."
However, Senior Sister Zhao's displeasure is evident, especially when she notices over a hundred cultivators betting their spirit stones and treasures in favor of First Sword Peak. Hardly anyone is supporting Sword Pavilion.
"How does this even work?" Yun Xiao wonders. "If no one bets on our Sword Pavilion, how can they split the winnings?"
Senior Sister Zhao chuckles bitterly. "Lingbao Pavilion always places an initial bet in each pool to make things more enticing."
Sure enough, Yun Xiao notices a good number of spirit crystals in the Sword Pavilion pool. "But we aren't even participating in this round, so doesn't that mean they're just giving money away?"
"Not quite," Senior Sister Zhao replies, shaking her head. "Lingbao Pavilion has a complex system to ensure they don't lose, regardless of the outcome."
Yun Xiao thinks it over, frowning. "This setup definitely draws attention. Lingbao Pavilion makes it seem like they're betting sincerely, which makes others eager to join in."
All the excitement has clearly swayed the crowd, as the pool for First Sword Peak quickly surpasses a hundred thousand spirit crystals, and the Lingbao Pavilion registrars are overwhelmed with bets.
Yun Xiao, feeling an idea forming, checks his pockets but finds only a small amount of spirit stones remaining after the earlier incident with his small, black beast.
"Junior Brother Yun, let's head back," Senior Sister Zhao says softly, looking a bit downcast by all the betting in favor of First Sword Peak.
But as they prepare to leave, an arrogant voice calls out from behind, "Zhao Xuanran, remember the 'Sword Seal' from a year ago?"
Turning around, Yun Xiao and Senior Sister Zhao see a group of haughty, battle-ready young men and women, led by a sinister-looking young man with an eagle-like nose. He's Ye Tiance's son, Ye Tianyuan, flanked by four of Ye Tiance's disciples.
The five disciples of First Sword Peak are all famed young sword cultivators, set to be the main force in tomorrow's battle.
They are here, clearly intending to provoke Yun Xiao and Zhao Xuanran. Senior Sister Zhao is utterly uninterested and remains silent.
"Zhao Xuanran!" Ye Tianyuan taunts, "Do you even remember the sword match from a year ago?"
But before he can finish, a fierce black Sword Soul suddenly materializes in front of his lips, the icy blade stopping just short of his mouth. The killing intent radiates out, freezing him in place. He's too terrified to move.
If not for the blade halting, he might be dead already!
Terrified, Ye Tianyuan stares at the sword, rendered speechless by the near-death experience.
"Reckless!" A middle-aged man in a black robe steps in, pulling Ye Tianyuan and the others back. He glares at Zhao Xuanran. "Zhao Xuanran, do you dare harm the disciples of First Sword Peak on the eve of the battle?"
"Ye Tianzhao?" Senior Sister Zhao mutters, recognizing him as one of Ye Tiance's close relatives.
"Watch your words!" Ye Tianzhao shouts, trying to draw a crowd. But in an instant, Zhao Xuanran's black Sword Soul pierces his mouth, instantly silencing him. He falls to the ground, lifeless, shocking everyone.
"Tch, pathetic," Zhao Xuanran sneers, catching her Sword Soul and gazing at the corpse before her.
The crowd erupts into whispers. "Did you see that? Zhao Xuanran is now at Divine Sea Fixed Realm!"
People are in awe of her progress. "At only 22 years old! She's surpassed the older generation."
"If she were competing tomorrow, First Sword Peak wouldn't stand a chance."
The remaining disciples from First Sword Peak feel the weight of the crowd's judgment and shrink back, unwilling to provoke her further.
Ye Tianyuan, though clearly unsettled, manages to shout, "My father will hear of this!"
"Then let him come," Zhao Xuanran replies coldly, her gaze dismissive.
Ye Tianyuan, defeated and ashamed, quickly gathers his group and retreats, while the crowd laughs at their cowardice.
"Let's go home," Senior Sister Zhao says softly to Yun Xiao, her usual indifference softened.
"Senior Sister Zhao," Yun Xiao asks, "What is a 'Sword Seal Array'?"
With a painful look, she explains, "It's a battlefield where interference isn't allowed. Last year, I fought all 120 of First Sword Peak's disciples alone in that array… and lost."
"To gang up on you, then use it to shame you… utterly disgraceful," Yun Xiao mutters, angered.
She nods. "In the path of cultivation, defeat can mean death. You either live or you lose."
With that, she sighs and continues to walk.
Just then, Yun Xiao looks back at the betting pool and asks, "Senior Sister Zhao, do you have any spirit crystals?"
She hands him her cosmic bag, saying, "I've got about 6,666 left."
He chuckles. "Perfect number! May I borrow it?"
Without waiting, he dashes to the Sword Pavilion betting pool and deposits all her spirit crystals, loudly declaring, "This is Senior Sister Zhao's bet on Sword Pavilion."
"Yun Xiao!" Senior Sister Zhao shouts, horrified. "That was my last savings!"
Yun Xiao dashes out of the shop, grinning, "Consider it an investment!"
A murmur rises in the crowd. "Everyone, let's add to Senior Sister Zhao's pool!"
Hundreds rush forward, eager to follow Yun Xiao's lead, showing that, in the end, loyalty to Sword Pavilion still shines bright.