The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 184: Chapter 184 Workshop Gamble Chapter 184: Chapter 184 Workshop Gamble “Heh, someone’s got guts!” Zhao Dangyuan sneered as he looked at Jing Yan.

But hidden behind his smile was a trace of cold cruelty.

“However, just fighting to the death seems a bit too dull!” Zhao Dangyuan’s eyes shifted slightly, “Since Zhao Zhenyan of the Zhao Family and Jing Yan of the Jing Family are going to clash, why don’t we two families put something exciting on the line as a bet?”

The words that followed from Zhao Dangyuan were directed at the Jing Family Patriarch, Jing Chengye.

“A bet?” Jing Chengye inhaled sharply.

“Yes, how about wagering your Jing Family’s West District Square as the stake for the battle between Jing Yan and Zhao Zhenyan?

Patriarch Jing, since Jing Yan is so confident in his own strength, you couldn’t possibly lack confidence in him, correct?” said Zhao Dangyuan, with a sly grin on his face.

Donglin City has Four Major Markets: East District Square, West District Square, South District Market, and North District Market.

Jing Family has control over the West District Square.

Zhao Dangyuan wanted the Jing Family to stake the West District Square as a bet, of course with his own machinations in mind.

If a prodigy like Jing Yan were to be killed, and the Jing Family were to then lose the West District Square, it would spell the inevitable decline of the Jing Family.

Unless the Jing Family could produce another figure like Jing Tian!

But that was simply out of the question.

The Four Major Markets of Donglin City were controlled by top-tier families without exception.

The importance of a market to a family was something every martial artist in Donglin City knew all too well.

For instance, the West District Square controlled by the Jing Family accounted for at least one-third of the family’s annual revenue.

If they were to lose the West District Square, then within a few years, the Jing Family would fall to a second-rate status.

Zhao Dangyuan’s scheme was undeniably ruthless; his intent was to pull the rug from under the Jing Family’s feet and bring them to utter ruin.

Jing Chengye fell silent.

The market was far too important to the Jing Family, and losing it would lead to hard times ahead.

“Patriarch Jing, you don’t have the guts?

If this lad Jing Yan dares to take a chance against Zhenyan, don’t you have the courage to make a wager?” Zhao Dangyuan continued to needle him.

Jing Chengye glanced over at Jing Yan.

And Jing Yan just slightly nodded at Jing Chengye, a gesture so subtle it would go unnoticed without keen attention.

Jing Chengye’s heart stirred; could it be that Jing Yan was truly confident, at least of not being defeated?

Reflecting on Jing Yan’s ability to kill Suo Wen, a martial artist of the Innate Middle Stage, and how Jing Yan was able to defeat Jing Tianlong with Early Innate Cultivation during his time in the Ninth Layer Heaven of Martial Arts, Jing Chengye’s thoughts began to heat up.

The bet seemed not entirely without hope of victory.

After pondering for a moment, he suddenly realized that Jing Yan was not the type to be rash and impulsive; Jing Yan’s character was stable and substantial, lacking the impetuousness of teenagers.

Why then, had Jing Yan chosen this moment to fight Zhenyan to the death?

“Patriarch Jing, will you give us a firm answer?

What does it mean to stay silent like this?” Cai Yunjian, the Cai Family Patriarch, also spoke up, urging him on with disdain curling at the corner of his mouth.

“What’s the rush?” Jing Chengye cast a glance at Cai Yunjian.

“Patriarch Zhao, if my Jing Family is to wager the West District Square, what will the Zhao Family put up?

Are you suggesting you would bet the East District Square?” Jing Chengye’s eyes narrowed.

The Zhao Family controlled the East District Square, the most prosperous market among all four in Donglin City.

“Oh?” Seeing that Jing Chengye was about to agree to the bet, Zhao Dangyuan was slightly taken aback.

He had assumed that Jing Chengye wouldn’t dare to risk the market as a bet; he had suggested it mainly to insult the Jing Family.

He hadn’t expected Jing Chengye to actually dare to go all in.

If the Jing Family didn’t agree to wager a market, then putting up a large spirit stone mine as a bet was also acceptable.

But to stake the East District Square against the West District Square was obviously inappropriate—the value of the East District Square was much higher.

“Of course, we can’t wager the East District Square, but I am willing to put up the South District Market from the Zhao Family to bet against your Jing Family’s stake,” Zhao Dangyuan said after a pause.

“Patriarch Zhao, you must be joking; the Zhao Family only controls half of the South District Market.

Surely you don’t think wagering half of the South District Market would equal the entire West District Square of my Jing Family?” Jing Chengye scoffed with disdain.

“Of course not half of the South District Market, but the entire one.

Although the Zhao Family controls only half, I believe Cai Family Patriarch would not mind putting up his half of the South District Market in a bet against the Jing Family,” said Zhao Dangyuan with a cheery look toward Cai Yunjian.

When Cai Yunjian heard Zhao Dangyuan’s words, he was instantly stunned.

How did this involve the Cai Family?

Before Zhao Dangyuan spoke, Cai Yunjian had never entertained any thoughts of betting against the Jing Family.

So, he froze for a moment.

The Cai Family only owned half of the South District Market.

If they lost, what would become of the Cai Family?

Cai Yunjian looked at Zhao Dangyuan, stupefied.

“Patriarch Cai, could it be that you have doubts about Zhenyan’s victory?” Zhao Dangyuan’s eyes hardened.

“Of course not…” Cai Yunjian quickly shook his head to deny it.

“Then don’t hesitate!” Zhao Dangyuan snorted lightly, “My Zhao Family won’t let you join for nothing.

After the duel is over, the entire South District Market will be handed over to your Cai Family.

My Zhao Family will only want the East District Square and West District Square.”

Zhao Dangyuan left unsaid that even though the South District Market would be wholly given to the Cai Family, the businesses within the market that belonged to the Zhao Family would still remain theirs.

Cai Yunjian, bursting with joy, a gleam of excitement shot from his eyes.

What he feared most was to take the risk and not gain any benefits.

Now, since there were benefits to be had, of course, he could partake in this gamble.

Thinking of his Cai Family soon gaining control over the entire South District Market, Cai Yunjian could hardly contain his excitement.

The Cai Family was finally going to rise again.

Once the Jing Family was taken down, the Cai Family would become one of the three major families of Donglin City.

The Lin Family and the Jing Family were allies, and the Zhao Family was also an enemy of the Lin Family, so if the Jing Family weakened, could the Lin Family still contend with the Zhao Family and his own Cai Family?

Gradually, perhaps the Cai Family could surpass the Lin Family to become the second-largest family in Donglin City.

The more Cai Yunjian thought about it, the more excited he became.

“Patriarch Zhao, you have the final say,” Cai Yunjian, excited, said to Zhao Dangyuan.

“Very good!” Zhao Dangyuan, also satisfied with Cai Yunjian’s attitude, believed that underlings should obey.

He nodded in approval at Cai Yunjian.

“Jing Clan Patriarch, do you still have any questions?” Zhao Dangyuan then looked towards Jing Chengye.

“None!” Jing Chengye shook his head.

“Then let’s agree on that.

The duel will be between the South District Market and the West District Square.

If Zhen Yan wins, then your Jing Family’s West District Square will belong to my Zhao Family,” Zhao Dangyuan sneered, his lips curling up.

He knew that the West District Square would soon completely change hands.

The Jing Family was going to lose this immense support of the West District Square.

Moreover, this duel was carried out in full view of everyone, even the City Lord himself was present.

The Jing Family couldn’t possibly go back on their word.

If the Jing Family truly went back on their word, then the Zhao Family would also have a reason to use force against the Jing Family, and the City Lord Mansion would have no grounds to intervene.

After all, a city must have rules.

Without rules, what purpose would the City Lord Mansion serve?

“If Jing Yan wins, then the South District Market will belong to my Jing Family,” Jing Chengye responded.

“No need for further talk, Zhen Yan, let’s begin!” Zhao Dangyuan nodded at Zhao Zhenyan and said with a smile, “Make it quick, we still need to go take over the West District Square after this.”

“Yes, Clan Leader!” Zhao Zhenyan’s eyes shone with a sharp glint, and he gave a sinister smile.

In the square, Jing Yan and Zhao Zhenyan faced each other, their fighting spirits soaring and their auras swelling.

“Boom!”

Zhao Zhenyan’s body shook slightly.

A majestic Primordial Energy burst forth, its power immense and sweeping.

“Late Innate?”

“Zhao Zhenyan has actually stepped into the Late Innate Realm?”

“Such formidable power.

I remember a while ago, Zhao Zhenyan was still at the Innate Middle Stage, but now he’s already advanced to Late Innate!

Such a fast rate of progression, truly worthy of being a candidate for the next Patriarch Zhao!”

Many of the strong figures present could instantly sense Zhao Zhenyan’s realm, and they couldn’t help but express their amazement.

“Patriarch Zhao, Zhen Yan, he’s reached the Late Innate Cultivation?” Cai Yunjian was also somewhat surprised, unaware that Zhao Zhenyan had advanced to the Late Innate Realm.

Previously, he had been a bit worried, thinking that although Jing Yan was only in the Early Innate, he wouldn’t be so easy to deal with.

But now, he completely let go of those concerns in his astonishment.

No matter how fierce Jing Yan was, could he possibly defeat a Late Innate Realm martial artist?

That would be a joke.

“That’s right, Zhen Yan has indeed entered the Late Innate Realm,” Zhao Dangyuan nodded with pride.

Zhao Zhenyan was not only a Zhao Family member but also the son of Zhao Dangyuan.

When the son excels, the father also basks in reflected glory.

Seeing the astonished looks around him, Zhao Dangyuan felt immensely satisfied in his heart.

“Ha ha…

then Jing Yan is surely doomed!” Cai Yunjian laughed heartily and looked over at Jing Yan.

However, Jing Chengye had started to worry.

He had always thought that Zhao Zhenyan was at the Innate Middle Stage; his strength might be much stronger than Suo Wen’s, also at the Innate Middle Stage, but Jing Yan still had a chance against Zhao Zhenyan.

But now that Zhao Zhenyan was indeed at the Late Innate, did Jing Yan have any chance at all?

But now that the bet was in place, going back on it was absolutely impossible.

What’s more, what worried Jing Chengye and Jing Tianying even more, was Jing Yan’s life.

Could Jing Yan survive the hands of Zhao Zhenyan?

“This Jing Yan really doesn’t know whether he’s dead or alive!

An Innate Middle Stage actually daring to challenge a Late-stage Innate Expert.

Foolish, utterly foolish!” Cang Long said with a tone of mockery.

For Cang Long, not being able to personally skin Jing Yan was somewhat regrettable.

But seeing Jing Yan being killed would also be satisfactory, far better than him continuing to live.

“Shut up!” City Lord Huo Chunyang frowned and glanced at Cang Long; he was growing more and more disgusted with this man.