I'm in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have one equipment slot!

"Could it be that the Mulan people have finally lost their patience and are about to launch a final battle?"

"Are they crazy?"

"Do you really think you can take over Tiannan? You dare to fight to the death at this time?"

"Hmph, in terms of the strength that Tiannan has gathered now, the number of Nascent Soul cultivators, and the magic weapons and supernatural abilities, how are we inferior to them?"

Unless the people of Mulan have lost their minds, they would never dare to choose this moment for a decisive battle!

Inside the main hall, after a brief silence, a low murmur of discussion and speculation arose as the Old Demon of the Joyful Union finished speaking of "achieving victory in one battle".

Many Nascent Soul cultivators looked surprised and doubtful, feeling that the Mulan people's decision to engage in a decisive battle at this moment was not a wise move.

The Tiannan Allied Army is now strong and well-equipped, with high morale and the Tiancheng Grand Formation as its support. By all accounts, this is not a good opportunity for a decisive battle. The actions of the Mulan people are somewhat strange.

"Please be at ease, everyone."

Master Zhiyang stepped forward, raised his hand in a gesture of apology, and spoke in a gentle yet clear voice that drowned out the discussion, "The Mulan people are not directly challenging us to a decisive battle this time. This is the letter of challenge they sent with their envoy. You will all understand the details once you read it."

With that, he flicked his sleeve, and a jade slip shimmering with a faint white light flew out of thin air and hovered in the center of the hall, allowing everyone to examine it with their divine sense.

The cultivators in the hall all probed the jade slip with their divine senses.

After a moment, most people showed expressions of surprise, solemnity, or confusion.

"A betting contest? Ten matches? All happening simultaneously?"

"Each side will send ten Nascent Soul cultivators to fight in pairs, and all ten matches must be held simultaneously. No one may leave the dueling space until a victor emerges?"

"What are the people of Mulan up to? Why do they insist on holding ten matches simultaneously? And why do they specifically emphasize that it won't end until a life-or-death situation is decided?"

"The outcome of ten duels to decide the course of the war? What happens if you win, and what happens if you lose? The jade slip is vague, only mentioning a face-to-face meeting... Strange, extremely strange!"

Discussions arose again, but this time they were filled with doubt and wariness.

Betting among cultivators is not uncommon in the cultivation world, but "group betting" with a limited number of participants, requiring simultaneous participation, and having strict rules is extremely rare.

The sudden proposal of this form of duel by the Mulan people, combined with their previous willingness to invade the south at any cost, makes it hard not to suspect that there might be a conspiracy involved.

In the arena, only Zhou Yuan remained calm, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

He knew perfectly well that this so-called "gambling match" was a trap carefully planned by the Mulan people and the Yinluo Sect!

Its purpose was not to fairly determine the outcome of the war, but to cripple a considerable portion of the top-tier mid-stage Nascent Soul warriors in the Tiannan Allied Army in one fell swoop!

According to the original plot, the "Nascent Soul cultivators" sent by the Mulan people were actually ten Core Formation stage assassins carefully trained by the Yinluo Sect!

These assassins had taken a powerful pill similar to the demonic "Returning Soul Pill" beforehand, which could forcibly raise their aura to the level of the Nascent Soul stage in a short period of time. With the help of Master Mulan's powerful divine sense to conceal and disguise themselves, they were able to deceive everyone before the duel began.

Once the duel begins, both sides enter a pre-arranged, isolated formation, and these assassins will immediately and without hesitation self-destruct!

The power generated by the self-destruction may not be enough to kill a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, but the special evil technique "Blood Net" formed after the self-destruction can trap the opponent inside, making it difficult to escape for a short time.

The Mulan people were certain that Tiannan would send out the best of the mid-Nascent Soul cultivators to win the duel.

Once these ten top-tier mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators are trapped in the "Blood Luo Cover" for most of the day, a huge gap will instantly appear in the high-end combat power of the Tiannan Allied Army.

At that time, the Mulan people will launch a full-scale offensive, led by four late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, and concentrate their superior forces to attack one point. The Tiannan defense line may be defeated in one fell swoop!

What a brilliant move to undermine our foundation! It's incredibly ruthless!

However, Zhou Yuan did not immediately point it out.

Firstly, this matter is too far-fetched. He has no evidence and it is difficult to gain the trust of the public by relying solely on "precognition." On the contrary, it may expose his own secrets.

Secondly, even if he did tell them, the three great cultivators might not believe him completely, and it might even alert the Mulan people, causing them to change their plans and creating more variables.

"The Mulan people suddenly proposed such a strange bet; there must be something fishy about it! They've probably set some kind of trap, waiting for us to fall into it!" A mid-stage Nascent Soul elder from the Righteous Path Alliance said in a deep voice, expressing the thoughts of many.

"Excellent! We don't need to pay any attention to them! Let them gamble, we'll defend! Relying on Tiancheng and our existing defenses, we'll advance step by step, wearing them down!"

Another cultivator from the Nine Kingdoms Alliance chimed in.

"Yes! Refuse to gamble! Let's see what they can do to me!"

Many Nascent Soul cultivators expressed their agreement, believing that it was not advisable to risk accepting the challenge.

However, Venerable Zhiyang slowly shook his head, a hint of helplessness and solemnity on his face: "How could I not know what you all have said? It's just... the Mulan people aren't just making empty promises this time. They... have detained over five hundred of our captured cultivators, including over four hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators and a dozen or so Core Formation cultivators. They declared that if we don't agree to this duel, they will... sacrifice all five hundred cultivators to the flag in front of the battle lines, using their blood to rouse the drums and boost morale!"

"What?!"

"Five hundred prisoners?!"

"You bastards! How dare you, you barbarians of Mulan?!"

The hall erupted in chaos! Many Nascent Soul cultivators' expressions changed drastically, especially those from small and medium-sized sects, or whose disciples had been captured or imprisoned; they were both shocked and furious.

Five hundred cultivators, while not a crippling blow to the entire Tiannan Allied Army!

However, these prisoners came from various sects in Tiannan, and many of them had intricate connections with the Nascent Soul cultivators present, whether as disciples, nephews, or close friends from the same sect.

If the Tiannan leadership knew they had been captured but ignored their lives in order to avoid a potentially fraudulent gambling match... Once this news spread, morale would inevitably waver, and the morale of the troops would be shattered, resulting in a devastating blow to their fighting spirit.

At that time, even without the Mulan people attacking, problems may arise within the allied forces themselves.

"We've also captured over three hundred of their mages! We can use them to exchange for them!" a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Heavenly Dao Alliance exclaimed urgently.

"The Mulan people refused the exchange," Wei Wuyai said in a deep voice, his face grim. "They made it clear that they are determined to fight this duel. If we don't comply, all prisoners will be slaughtered, and they will immediately launch a full-scale attack, fighting to the death. They... are willing to sacrifice their own prisoners, clearly trying to force us to submit!"

Silence fell once more in the hall. The Mulan people's actions clearly demonstrated a desperate, ruthless, and unscrupulous attitude.

By threatening the lives of five hundred prisoners and the impending decisive battle, they forced Tiannan to accept this "gamble."

This put the Tiannan Allied Army in a very difficult position – if they didn't accept the challenge, they would be morally dishonest, their morale would be damaged, and they might immediately face a bloody battle.

If you accept the offer, you risk falling into a trap.

The three cultivators exchanged glances, and Wei Wuyai finally spoke slowly:

"After discussion between the three of us and Fellow Daoist Long Han, for the sake of the greater good and the lives of our five hundred comrades, we... accept this battle!"

Although they had expected it, many cultivators in the hall still felt a chill in their hearts when they heard Wei Wuyai say it himself.

"Accepting the bet doesn't mean we're going to be at their mercy."

The Old Demon of Hehuan snorted coldly, his voice like muffled thunder, "Next, we will select the participants. This battle is of paramount importance. In order to ensure victory, we must also guard against the enemy's schemes. The participants must be the best among mid-Nascent Soul cultivators, with rich combat experience and excellent survival skills!"

"Rest assured, everyone selected to participate in the battle, regardless of victory or defeat, will receive a generous reward from the alliance afterward! Pills, magic weapons, materials, cultivation techniques... all are negotiable!"

Wei Wuyai added that he first presented the benefits to reassure people.

Subsequently, the three great cultivators communicated with Long Han through their divine senses and quickly drafted a preliminary list.

There are not many mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators in Tiannan who are considered worthy of their attention and deemed qualified to participate in such a crucial duel.

The list has been released.

"The former number one rogue cultivator in Tiannan, the Old Monster of Heavenly Hatred!"

"The Hehuan Sect, the Old Demon Yunlu!"

"Yu Ling Sect, East Gate Map!"

"Ghost Spirit Sect, Soul Shattering True Man!"

……

"Han Li, a rogue cultivator!"

The ten candidates were read out one by one.

Among them are established veterans who have been famous for many years, such as Tianhen, Yunlu, and Dongmentu, as well as rising stars in recent years.

Han Li's selection was somewhat surprising, given that he had only recently advanced to the Nascent Soul stage. However, his strength and uncanny magical abilities demonstrated in his actions at the border had clearly earned him recognition from the higher-ups.

It is worth noting that Zhou Yuan is not on this list.

Given his current strength and status, the three great cultivators already regard him as a strategic force on par with themselves, and naturally they will not allow him to easily take risks and participate in such a gamble that may obviously be fraudulent.

He is more like a stabilizing force, needing to sit in the center and deal with more complex situations.

The ten people whose names were called had different expressions.

Tianhen Old Monster remained expressionless, Yunlu Old Demon had a faint, eerie smile on his lips, Dongmen Tu was still smiling, Shattered Soul True Man's eyes were sinister, and Han Li frowned slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

"The ten selected fellow Daoists, please stay here for now. The rest of you may return to your defense zones and strengthen your vigilance in case the Mulan people try anything else," Wei Wuyai said to the crowd.

The Nascent Soul cultivators who were not chosen bowed and left. However, as they left, many looked at the ten who remained, their gazes filled with complex emotions, including sympathy, admiration, and relief.

Soon only the three great cultivators, Long Han, Zhou Yuan, and the ten chosen people remained in the main hall.

Fellow Daoists,

Master Zhiyang looked at the ten people who remained, his tone sincere, "This duel is fraught with danger and unpredictability. The Mulan people will surely have cunning schemes, so you must all be extremely careful. Once you enter the dueling space, remember to prioritize your own safety. If things become unbearable, your priority should be escaping. Victory or defeat... is secondary. The rewards promised by the alliance will not be reduced in the slightest because of the outcome!"

Wei Wuyai also said, "The duel is scheduled for seven days from now, at the 'Life and Death Platform' in the center of 'Luohun Plain'."

Over the next three days, you are free to draw upon the alliance's treasury for any necessary elixirs, talismans, and one-time-use items, in preparation for unforeseen circumstances. Please feel free to contact Wei directly with any requests.

He then went on to explain in detail the arrangements for the duel, such as how both sides would supervise each other, who would set up the restrictions on the fighting space, and how to contact each other in case of an emergency.

The ten people listened silently, each making their own calculations.

These seven days will be their final preparation period.

……

Zhou Yuan did not participate in the subsequent detailed discussions and took his leave to return to his temporary secret room.

He sat quietly on the futon, his eyes slightly closed, his mind calm. He knew perfectly well the outcome of the "bet" that would take place seven days later.

But he didn't intend to do anything in advance. Firstly, there was no suitable opportunity or reason to intervene.

Secondly, while this matter is indeed a crisis for Tiannan, if handled properly, it may also become an opportunity to turn the tide of the war.

The seven days passed quickly in a tense atmosphere, as if a storm was brewing.

On the morning of the seventh day, before dawn.

"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!..."

In Tiancheng, the familiar, heavy war drums that symbolize expeditions and decisive battles were sounded once again!

This time, the drumbeats were more intense and more passionate, as if to shatter the silence of dawn and ignite the fighting spirit in the hearts of every cultivator!

With the sound of drums, the four gates of Tiancheng City swung open!

The tens of thousands of cultivators from Tiannan, who had already assembled, surged forth like a flood, led by their respective Nascent Soul and Core Formation cultivators. They transformed into countless streaks of light of various colors, soaring into the sky and converging into a massive army formation that blotted out the sun. They swept southward toward the "Fallen Soul Plains" in a mighty and unstoppable manner!

The sound of something breaking through the air was like thunder, and the light flashed like an inverted galaxy.

At the same time, dozens of miles to the south, in the camp of the Mulan army, a desolate yet powerful horn sounded!

The massive army of Mulan mages, riding various flying magical artifacts and spirit beasts, surged upstream like an endless black tide, heading towards the Tiannan army!

The two torrents, representing the highest combat power of Tiannan and Mulan, roared and charged towards each other like two enraged prehistoric beasts!

However, when they were about ten miles apart, the two armies seemed to have hit an invisible dam and stopped simultaneously, facing each other from a distance.

On one side was the Mulan Holy Clan, fighting with their backs to the wall, knowing that retreat meant the extinction of their clan. Every one of them had a burning determination and madness in their eyes, their killing intent solidified as if it could freeze the sky in front of them.

On one side were the Tiannan cultivators, who were determined to defend their homeland and not yield an inch of land. They were all united in their hatred of the enemy, their morale was high, and their fierce fighting spirit soared to the sky, clashing fiercely with the enemy's killing intent.

Although they had not yet clashed, the suffocatingly terrifying killing intent and fighting spirit that permeated the heavens and earth were already fiercely clashing in the void between the two armies, stirring up an invisible hurricane that caused the wild grass below to lie flat and sand and stones to fly.

Zhou Yuan hovered at the forefront of the Tiannan army, standing shoulder to shoulder with Wei Wuyai, Zhiyang Shangren, and Hehuan Laomo.

This was the first time he had ever witnessed such a large army of monks facing off.

As far as the eye could see, the combined number of cultivators from both sides was probably no less than 70,000!

The low-level cultivators were densely packed, like an ant colony; the escape lights of the mid- and high-level cultivators were like stars; and the aura of the Nascent Soul cultivators was like a stabilizing force, spreading everywhere.

The sky and earth, stretching for dozens of miles, were almost entirely occupied by cultivators and spiritual light. The grandeur of the scene and the magnificence of the momentum far surpassed the battles of a million-strong army in mortal kingdoms, leaving people in awe.

This is the war in the world of cultivation! The ultimate clash between individual power and collective will!

A moment later, from within the Mulan army formation, three figures exuding a terrifying aura as imposing as mountains and peaks emerged from the crowd and flew toward the open space between the two armies.

These are none other than the three great masters of Mulan—Zhong, Zhu, and Bi!

Wei Wuyai nodded slightly to Zhiyang, Hehuan, and Zhou Yuan beside him, and the four of them transformed into four streaks of light and went to meet them.

Eight figures faced each other from a distance, about a thousand feet above the ground, between the two armies.

The three divine masters of Mulan swept their gazes over the four people from Tiannan. When they saw Zhou Yuan, a fierce glint flashed in the eyes of the divine master Zhong, who made no attempt to conceal his deep-seated hatred and killing intent.

If it weren't for this kid, they wouldn't have been delayed until now, suffering heavy losses and even losing the Yuanming Lantern! But at this moment, he suppressed his anger and focused his attention back on Wei Wuyai.

"Wei Wuyai, Zhiyang, Hehuan, and... Zhou Yuan."

Master Zhong's voice was icy cold and penetrating, clearly echoing throughout both armies: "Today's situation is the result of your Tiannan's ignorance of the times. If you are willing to cede half of the territory of the nine-nation alliance, including Yu, Fengyuan, and Xi, to my Holy Clan for recuperation, this war can be averted, and countless lives can be spared. Otherwise, today will be the day when the blood of your Tiannan cultivators flows like rivers!"

"Hahaha!" Wei Wuyai laughed instead of getting angry upon hearing this, his voice filled with mockery. "Old ghost Zhong, you're about to die, yet you still dare to speak so arrogantly! Your Mulan clan has been beaten like stray dogs by the Tuwu people, with nowhere to go, so you've come to my Tiannan to wreak havoc. If you lose this battle, your Mulan Holy Clan will truly become history! You still want half of my Tiannan territory? Wishful thinking!"

"Hmph! They don't know what's good for them!"

Master Zhong's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with even more ferocity. Knowing that verbal threats were useless, he cut to the chase, "Since you insist on fighting, then as agreed, we'll begin with ten duels! The winner can name their terms! The loser must pay the price!"

"A bet is acceptable."

Master Zhiyang said calmly, "But we must first release our captured cultivators."

"After the bet, regardless of victory or defeat, the goods will be returned."

Master Zhong stood his ground, "What, you cultivators from Tiannan, don't you even have this much guts? Or do you have absolutely no confidence in those ten duels?"

"you……"

The Old Demon of Hehuan glared angrily, about to unleash his fury, but was stopped by Wei Wuyai's gaze.

"Very well! As you wish!" Wei Wuyai said in a deep voice, "After the duel, if you dare to go back on your word, we, the cultivators of Tiannan, will fight you to the death!"

"Further discussion is pointless!"

A cold glint of triumph flashed in Master Zhong's eyes. He said no more, turning to point to a vast stone platform below, already prepared and shrouded in layers of restrictions. "The arena of life and death is ready, and the ten dueling spaces have been divided. Participating cultivators, please enter!"