Chapter 57: A Small Wager

Previously, the contest between Qingxu and the Yousin clan had drawn all the Yoqiong tribe members from the main valley of the Wild Mountain. Now, the Taeyi clan and others could easily capture them all at once. The Yoqiong tribe had many people, but the valley’s limited space meant they were scattered throughout different areas.

“This Wild Mountain is vast, yet with the Yoqiong tribe numbering over a hundred thousand, and after many years of cultivation, it has become a fortress, with defenses as tight as a drum. The only weakness lies in the path we just took to arrive here. It’s understandable, though; with no obstacles along the way and two clan chiefs overseeing the route, there’s no need for concern. But this gave us the chance to strike at the root. As the saying goes, capture the king first to subdue the thieves. Seize Yoqiong and Yousin, and the task is done!” In his leisure, Qingxu listened to Taeyi recount tales of the Yoqiong tribe, gaining much insight.

As he pondered, he noticed Taeyi’s anxiousness, understanding it stemmed from Yoqiong himself. According to Taeyi, Yoqiong’s cultivation surpassed Yousin’s.

“You need not worry. With me here, should Yoqiong defy the heavens, calamity will surely befall him.”

“Indeed, indeed. With the immortal present, Yoqiong is but an easy catch.” Taeyi bowed repeatedly, half his anxiety dispelled.

“You, Daoist! If you kill us, don’t think you can threaten our chief!”

“That’s right! Do what you will—kill or torture—if you think I’ll even frown…”

...

The Yoqiong tribesmen displayed remarkable backbone. Though captured by Taeyi and his allies, their lives hanging by a thread, they did not fear death. Many cursed loudly and unceasingly.

As the insults grew more vile, aimed directly at Qingxu, Taeyi was both shocked and infuriated. He was about to order punishment for the offenders when Qingxu waved him off.

“Such minor matters need not provoke conflict. Focus on what’s important.” It wasn’t out of kindness; rather, Qingxu sensed from deep within the valley a terrifying aura, akin to Yousin’s but far stronger.

“Mid-stage Earth Immortal? I hadn’t expected Yoqiong’s cultivation to reach such heights, rivaling my own! And his mastery of the tribal shamanic arts likely surpasses Yousin’s. If we clash, even with my innate spiritual treasure, victory is uncertain!” What truly shocked Qingxu was the matter of time. The human race had existed only a hundred years or so. Even if Yoqiong began cultivating from birth, he couldn’t match Qingxu’s years, yet under such conditions, his cultivation was not inferior—perhaps even greater. What did that mean?

Qingxu was the chief disciple of Primal Supreme Lord, the Pangu Jade Pure Saint, learning orthodox Daoist methods, guided by the Saint himself. He possessed remarkable talent, a memory of his past life, and access to ancient scriptures and Daoist texts. Yoqiong had none of these heaven-defying advantages!

“Just through a shamanic method, could a human—without shaman blood—reach mid-stage Earth Immortal in a century? Is that possible? What kind of heaven-defying technique is this?” Curiosity surged within him. Yousin’s cultivation could barely be explained, but Yoqiong’s was truly extraordinary, arousing Qingxu’s interest in his methods.

Boom! Boom! Boom!...

The earth trembled, a heavy atmosphere pressed in, affecting none but Qingxu.

“Hmph! Trying to intimidate me with your aura? How arrogant. Never mind possessing a split body at the early stage of Taiyi True Immortal; even without it, my mind would never falter!” Qingxu sneered, instantly channeling his split body’s cultivation to counter the pressure.

Hmm!

A faint sound, like the buzz of a mosquito, reached Qingxu’s ears. He knew Yoqiong, still unseen, had suffered a severe mental blow. In truth, Qingxu had held back; otherwise, with the power of a Taiyi True Immortal, erasing an Earth Immortal’s mind would be effortless.

There was simply no comparison! The gap between Taiyi True Immortal and Earth Immortal was not merely a chasm—it was thousands, tens of thousands of chasms. For a Taiyi True Immortal, slaying an Earth Immortal required no effort at all; a mere thought would suffice.

Within moments, Yoqiong and Yousin arrived, one after the other. Yoqiong’s features were rugged, his hair and beard bristling, muscles knotted across his towering frame—far more imposing than Yousin. Most astonishing was his stature, nearly twenty feet tall, a true giant. Yet this giant’s face was far from pleasant, his eyes fixed intensely upon Qingxu.

“Brother Daoist, your cultivation is unfathomably profound. I, Yoqiong, am impressed. Hearing my brother’s words, I doubted you were a disciple of the Saint, but now I see it is true.” Yoqiong’s heart was filled with wonder; Qingxu’s cultivation was so deep he could not gauge it at all. Outwardly, they both appeared as mid-stage Earth Immortals, but beneath that facade, Qingxu was as boundless as the universe, as unfathomable as the deep sea.

“Friend, your own cultivation is admirable, yet I must advise you: shamanic arts are powerful, but they carry hidden dangers. Delve too deeply, and disaster awaits. Be cautious.”

Yoqiong offered a perfunctory thanks to Qingxu’s warning, then moved on to the main matter, clearly dismissing the advice. Qingxu could only sigh inwardly.

“Brother Daoist, you are of pure virtue—why must you meddle in my tribe’s affairs?”

“Though you have mastered shamanic arts, you walk an outside path, unaware of the mysteries of Heaven’s Dao and its workings. Humanity was created by the Saint Nuwa and should honor her. Female authority is rightful, not merely celestial law but human ethics. If you insist on defying this, calamity will surely follow.” Qingxu bowed deeply, already preparing to act. A mere mid-stage Earth Immortal was no threat; even if Yoqiong and Yousin attacked together, he could destroy them with a wave.

“You…!” Hearing Qingxu’s words, Yousin—who had always revered Yoqiong—flushed with anger. Had his cultivation been sufficient, he would have attacked the impudent Daoist then and there.

Before Yousin’s fury could subside, Yoqiong pondered briefly and then spoke shocking words.

“Brother Daoist’s cultivation is a hundred, a thousand times greater than mine. You could win by force, but if you wish for my genuine respect, you must first wager with me!”

A hundred, a thousand times? Apart from Qingxu, everyone present wondered if they had misheard. Yoqiong admitted defeat and claimed such a vast gap—this…?

“Conquering by force is inferior. Tell me the terms of your wager.” Qingxu decided if it was too difficult, he’d forgo it; if not, he wouldn’t begrudge the effort.

“The wager is simple enough, though it carries some danger—even death may come instantly. Brother Daoist, consider carefully!” A gleam flashed in Yoqiong’s eyes as he sought to provoke Qingxu.

“Speak plainly; I am all ears.”