Chapter 57: The Ten-Day War

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Ten-Day War

The conspiracy Yi Xiaoyao had uncovered was, of course, related to Shi Tong. But instead of exposing it directly, he chose to concede and play along with the scheme.

Hearing Yi Xiaoyao concede, Shi Tong grinned. "Good, you know your place. Since you’ve surrendered, hand over the ten thousand Star Points."

’Heh,’ Yi Xiaoyao scoffed inwardly. ’I already have a plan for this.’

"Three Treasures, Xuan Mo, didn’t you two just win ten thousand Star Points? Can you spot me for now?" Yi Xiaoyao asked, looking at Jin Sanbao and Xuan Mo.

He had thought that even if Jin Sanbao and Xuan Mo were willing to lend him the points, they would hesitate. To his surprise, they agreed the moment they heard his words, without a second thought.

"No problem!"

Both Jin Sanbao and Xuan Mo unhesitatingly took out their Star Points and handed them to Shi Tong.

Yi Xiaoyao was once again deeply moved by the two of them. ’To have friends like these... I’m truly fortunate.’

But just then, Shi Tong’s expression suddenly changed. This outcome was apparently not what he had expected, nor what he wanted.

"Yi Xiaoyao, do you dare fight me again?" Shi Tong challenged, his eyes glinting.

Instantly, it wasn’t just Jin Sanbao; even the onlookers who hadn’t supported Yi Xiaoyao at first couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

"Shi Tong, have you no shame? You used tricks in a gambling match against a newcomer and only managed a draw, and now you want to be shameless again?"

"Exactly! You’re a disgrace to us senior disciples in front of the newcomers."

Hearing this, Shi Tong sneered. "You say I used tricks? Fine, I admit it. In that case, how about this: in this next match, I’ll only use five moves. If I can’t defeat Yi Xiaoyao within those five moves, I lose. How about it?"

The crowd was stunned, their faces filled with confusion.

"Five moves? Even after Shi Tong revealed he was at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, Yi Xiaoyao fought him for at least fifty moves and it was still a draw. And he thinks he can defeat Yi Xiaoyao in just five moves?"

"Yi Xiaoyao is so strong, Shi Tong might not be able to beat him in five hundred moves, let alone five. It’s impossible!"

"Could it be that Shi Tong had a change of heart and wants to give the Star Points back to Yi Xiaoyao?"

Everyone was utterly baffled by Shi Tong’s words. They were sure Yi Xiaoyao wouldn’t miss this opportunity to take advantage of Shi Tong’s apparent recklessness and accept the match.

But Yi Xiaoyao had already anticipated that Shi Tong would challenge him to another gambling match. This was all within his expectations and part of his design.

Moreover, Shi Tong’s claim that he could defeat Yi Xiaoyao in five moves only served to confirm Yi Xiaoyao’s suspicions.

"If I accept, are you thinking of betting another ten thousand Star Points?" Yi Xiaoyao asked with a faint smile.

"Naturally," Shi Tong did not deny it.

Yi Xiaoyao nodded and said, "I refuse."

At the same time, Yi Xiaoyao thought, ’Shi Tong will definitely get anxious. Then I can raise the stakes.’

Just as he predicted, Shi Tong’s expression tensed. "Why?"

The crowd was also puzzled. "Yeah, why refuse? With Yi Xiaoyao’s strength, shouldn’t withstanding five of Shi Tong’s moves be simple? Is he afraid of losing?"

Shi Tong immediately added, "I can give you time. You can accept the challenge anytime within the next ten days."

Yi Xiaoyao laughed to himself. ’You big fish, you wanted to swallow me whole, but you never expected to be the one getting hooked.’

"Alright. In ten days, then. And you don’t need to limit yourself to five moves. We’ll have a fair fight," Yi Xiaoyao said.

Shi Tong’s eyes lit up. "Do you mean it?"

"Of course. But I have a condition. If I lose, I’ll give you ten thousand Star Points. But if you lose, you have to give me twenty thousand!"

Yi Xiaoyao stated calmly. Though the stakes were highly unfair, he was certain Shi Tong would agree.

"I accept your terms. It’s a deal!"

Just as expected, Shi Tong agreed without a second thought and turned to leave.

The crowd had been completely lost from start to finish. A moment ago, they were wondering if Shi Tong had lost his mind; now they were starting to question if Yi Xiaoyao was a fool as well.

"A fair fight with Shi Tong in ten days? Yi Xiaoyao may have held his own against Shi Tong, but he’s still a long way from actually defeating him, isn’t he?"

"Exactly. Even if their strength is comparable, in a battle of attrition draining their Spiritual Power, there’s no way Yi Xiaoyao could outlast Shi Tong."

"Does Yi Xiaoyao really think his Cultivation can skyrocket in just ten short days?"

No one could understand it. After all, ten days was far too short a time to accomplish anything.

Yi Xiaoyao paid no mind to the crowd’s chatter. Seeing Shi Tong leave, he left the martial arts arena with Jin Sanbao and Xuan Mo as well.

On the way back, Jin Sanbao couldn’t help but ask, "Carefree, why did you concede just now?"

Yi Xiaoyao gave a meaningful smile. "Because I happened to see Cultivator Duan."

Then, Yi Xiaoyao explained the conspiracy he had uncovered, piece by piece.

...

「Meanwhile, in a shadowy corner of the martial arts arena」

Shi Tong stood before a middle-aged man. It was none other than the Cultivator Duan whom Yi Xiaoyao had seen.

"Master, I followed your instructions, but I haven’t completed the task you gave me," Shi Tong said to Cultivator Duan, his head lowered.

Cultivator Duan frowned. "What happened?"

"Yi Xiaoyao conceded, but he had someone else cover the ten thousand Star Points for him. He still has ten thousand Star Points on him," Shi Tong explained.

"Didn’t I tell you to win all the Star Points he had?" Cultivator Duan grunted heavily.

Shi Tong chuckled. "Don’t worry, Master. Yi Xiaoyao has already agreed to another gambling match with me in ten days. I’ll win all of his Star Points then."

Only then did Cultivator Duan nod in satisfaction. "As long as you make it impossible for that Yi Xiaoyao to complete his ten-thousand-Star-Point task within ten days, I will reward you handsomely."

"Rest assured, Master. I used a Secret Technique to hide my Cultivation. Although Yi Xiaoyao forced my hand and made me reveal my fourth-level Foundation Establishment Cultivation, he doesn’t know that my true Cultivation is at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. Even if I give him ten days, his defeat is certain."

As he spoke, Shi Tong and Cultivator Duan exchanged a smile.

...

「Back with Yi Xiaoyao」

Jin Sanbao and Xuan Mo had finished listening to Yi Xiaoyao’s explanation, and everything suddenly clicked into place.

"So, Carefree, you’d already figured out that Shi Tong was sent by Cultivator Duan! That’s why you had us cover the bet for you. Shi Tong’s goal was to win all of your Star Points, so when he saw you still had ten thousand left, he was bound to challenge you to another match."

Yi Xiaoyao nodded. "Exactly. And I also suspect that Shi Tong’s Cultivation is higher than the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. I’m guessing his true Cultivation is at the fifth level, which is why he was so confident he could beat me in five moves."

Jin Sanbao was shocked. "Then by postponing the match for ten days, do you think you can defeat a fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator like Shi Tong?"

"Don’t worry. If I dared to make the offer, I’m confident I can pull it off. Not only will I defeat him, but I’ll also give the twenty thousand Star Points he promised to you and Xuan Mo," Yi Xiaoyao said with a slight smile.

From the moment Jin Sanbao and Xuan Mo had offered up their Star Points for him without the slightest hesitation, Yi Xiaoyao had already begun to see them as true brothers.

Since these two good brothers had trusted him enough to lend him so many Star Points, Yi Xiaoyao was determined to pay them back double.

...