I run a casino in the immortal realm.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Given Su Wanqing's status and position, her betting caused a subtle wavering in the minds of some who had firmly believed that Zhao Kuang would win.

However, most people still believe that this was just Miss Su spending money to save face for her fiancé.

Seeing how popular the betting odds were, Wang, the outer sect leader in charge of today's competition, had a sudden idea.

Instead of urging the competition to begin, he channeled his spiritual energy and loudly announced, "Today is the first match of the Qi Refining Ninth Level Grand Competition. To allow the two disciples ample time to adjust their breathing, and to allow everyone to participate to their heart's content, I, the steward, have decided to extend the preparation time by half an hour! Please place your bets in an orderly manner!"

Steward Wang sneered inwardly.

He took money from the Hu family with the intention of killing Zheng Yifei on the ring.

Now that the sect leader's daughter has opened a betting pool, the more people bet on Zhao Kuang, the bigger the sensation will be when Zheng Yifei is killed by Zhao Kuang with one punch, and the more ridiculous Zheng Yifei's death will seem!

In addition, he is a member of the Hu family camp, which is opposed to the sect leader's lineage. If Zheng Yifei loses, the sect leader's daughter will have to pay a huge amount of spirit stones, which will be a small blow to the sect leader's lineage.

With the butler's indulgence, the atmosphere in the square was completely ignited.

"Quick! I'm raising the stakes! I'll pawn my flying sword and bet everything on Zhao Kuang!"

"Lend me ten spirit stones, I'll return eleven tomorrow! I need to pawn Zhao Kuang!"

Xu Muyao had only brought two maids to help, but they were far from enough. She was sweating profusely with anxiety, so she quickly grabbed more than a dozen of her close fellow disciples from among the onlookers to help with accepting bets.

A dozen or so people lined up, quickly registering with jade slips in their hands, the crisp sound of spirit stones colliding echoing throughout the square.

Even so, they were still exhausted. There were just too many people betting; tens of thousands participated in this high-stakes gamble.

The bets ranged from one low-grade spirit stone to ten thousand spirit stones, forming an extremely large torrent of wealth.

At this moment, on the highest and most luxurious white jade platform directly in front of the square.

Xu Tianyang, the sect leader of Qingyun Sect, sat upright on the Nine Dragon Purple Gold Chair, his deep gaze quietly overlooking the bustling square below.

On either side of him, the elders of the nine major families took their seats in turn.

"Nonsense! This is a grand sect competition, a sacred and solemn place, and yet you're openly running a gambling den! What kind of behavior is this?!"

Fourth Elder Hu Lie looked at the bustling betting market below, his face turning ashen, and couldn't help but let out a cold snort.

Seventh Elder Li Zhan picked up his teacup, gently flicked the tea leaves, and said with a half-smile, "Fourth Elder, you are mistaken. This is a betting operation set up by my niece Mu Yao. It's just a little girl being playful. Besides, getting so many lower-level disciples involved has certainly livened up the sect's atmosphere."

Li Zhan has now invested in the logistics company, and his attitude has completely changed. He not only doesn't want Zheng Yifei to die, but he's also looking forward to the kid creating another miracle.

Xu Tianyang ignored the elders' undercurrents of conflict.

He knew his daughter too well. Although Xu Muyao was spoiled and willful, she had no business acumen or courage to open such a large betting pool in the competition.

Without a doubt, this was Zheng Yifei's idea again.

Using a grand competition to set up a gambling game is a heretical practice that is unprecedented in the thousands of years of history of the Qingyun Sect.

"This kid is getting bolder and bolder."

Xu Tianyang's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, but his eyes revealed a deep sense of doubt.

He wasn't surprised that Zheng Yifei could come up with such a shady way to make money; what puzzled him was where Zheng Yifei got his confidence from.

Xu Tianyang's divine sense swept across the crowd below and locked onto Zhao Kuang, who was resting with his eyes closed.

Zhao Kuang's blood and qi flowed like a dragon, his muscles were bulging, and the explosive power contained within his body would make even ordinary early Foundation Establishment cultivators retreat.

On the other hand, although Zheng Yifei possessed abundant spiritual power, he was only a five-elemental root, and there was no record of him having any powerful combat methods.

"Does he really intend to admit defeat in the ring?"

No, if he concedes, this bet will undoubtedly be a loss, and given his personality, he would never make a losing deal. What killer move is he hiding?

Xu Tianyang tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, a rare sense of anticipation rising in his heart.

The Fifth Elder felt the same way. Although he supported Zheng Yifei, he didn't think highly of him. He wondered where Zheng Yifei got the confidence to set up such a big bet. What would happen if he lost?

As for Zheng Yifei's safety, he had already made arrangements. If Zhao Kuang showed any signs of wanting to kill Zheng Yifei, Su Qingwan, who was present at the scene, would immediately take action and save him, even if it meant breaking the rules.

The half-hour preparation time passed in the blink of an eye.

"Time's up! Stop betting!"

Deacon Wang leaped into the air, his booming voice echoing throughout the arena: "Qi Refining Ninth Level, First Match: Zheng Yifei vs. Zhao Kuang! Both shall step onto the stage!"

"boom!"

A loud bang, like a thunderclap rising from the ground.

A giant man, nearly nine feet tall and as thick as an iron tower, shot up from the crowd like a cannonball and crashed heavily into the center of the arena, leaving two spiderweb-like cracks on the hard bluestone arena.

Zhao Kuang was shirtless, his muscles bulging like granite, covered with crisscrossing scars.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his whole body exuded a nauseating aura of violence and bloodlust, like a prehistoric beast just released from its cage.

"Tear him apart! Zhao Kuang! Tear that pretty boy apart!"

"I'll punch him to pieces! Let him know that the cultivation world isn't a place where you can get by just by writing!"

The tens of thousands of disciples who had bet on Zhao Kuangying roared wildly, their voices shaking the heavens and the earth.

Amidst a deafening clamor, Zheng Yifei, dressed in a short, blue inner disciple's outfit, calmly walked out from the crowd.

Instead of flaunting his martial prowess like Zhao Kuang, he climbed the steps along the edge of the arena, one by one.

His steps were steady, and his expression was as calm as a still pond, without fear, tension, or even the slightest ripple.

Zheng Yifei stopped three zhang away from Zhao Kuang and slightly raised his head. Looking at the roaring beast before him, a cold and dangerous smile slowly appeared on Zheng Yifei's lips.

In my past life, how did those muscle men who thought they were incredibly strong die in the underground boxing arena?

"The match begins!"

With a command from Deacon Wang, a cruel glint of pleasure flashed in his eyes.

The defensive formations around the arena instantly rose up, transforming into a semi-transparent light curtain that completely locked the two of them inside.

A life-or-death battle that everyone was watching suddenly erupted.