"Take three punches head-on!"
As Luo Cheng's words left his mouth, the previously noisy gambling house suddenly fell silent.
"Has Luo Cheng lost his mind?"
After regaining their composure, everyone looked at Luo Cheng with peculiar gazes, filled with disbelief.
Although the top talents from the Lin and Qi Families weren't present, there were still experts aplenty here.
To say nothing of others, Lin Xiao had already advanced to the Body Tempering Seventh Layer, awakening a Four-Star Martial Soul!
A useless individual with a Wasted Martial Soul—how could he have the audacity to boast so arrogantly?
"A wager?"
Lin Xiao was momentarily stunned by Luo Cheng's words.
Luo Cheng nodded, scanning the younger generation from the Lin and Qi Families present, and said with a smile, "Surely you haven't forgotten what happened at the Drunken Cloud Pavilion? Don't you want revenge?"
"So arrogant!"
"Lin Xiao, teach him a lesson!"
"Let me do it! I'll break all four of his limbs!"
Luo Cheng's words were like a spark tossed into a barrel of oil, instantly igniting fury. The Lin and Qi Family members stood up one after another.
Lin Xiao waved his hand to calm the crowd down, then stared at Luo Cheng with disdain and said:
"Why should I agree to you? Besides, do you even have 380,000 taels?"
"You will agree."
On his way there, Luo Cheng had already plotted a strategy—a reason so compelling that Lin Xiao couldn't refuse.
Luo Cheng reached into his chest and retrieved two elixir pills refined from Vermilion Crystal Fruits. He announced:
"These are Vermilion Crystal Pills, top-grade Two-Star Body Tempering Spirit Pills. They can greatly enhance the physique of a Body Tempering Realm martial artist in a short period!"
"Top-grade Two-Star Body Tempering Spirit Pills!"
As soon as Luo Cheng finished speaking, the atmosphere was filled with the sound of people sucking in their breath. Numerous scorching gazes locked onto the two fiery red pills.
Most of those present had never even seen a Two-Star Body Tempering Spirit Pill, let alone one of top-grade quality!
Lin Xiao, however, sneered coldly and said:
"What a so-called top-grade Two-Star Body Tempering Spirit Pill! To my knowledge, Two-Star Spirit Pills should have two streaks of starlight on their surface. These pills of yours, while they look decent, don't even have a single streak—they're not even One-Star Spirit Pills!"
"Luo Cheng, is this how your Luo Family operates? Deceiving and swindling like lowlifes?"
Top-grade Two-Star Body Tempering Spirit Pills were incredibly valuable. Even as the second young master of the Lin Family, Lin Xiao had no privilege to consume them!
Lin Xiao simply refused to believe that Luo Cheng could casually produce two of them.
"May I have a look?"
An elder's voice rang out as a man stepped in.
"It's Steward Xu from Lingyun Pavilion!" Someone in the crowd recognized the elder's identity.
Steward Xu approached Luo Cheng and politely asked, "Would you allow this old man to examine the pills?"
"Certainly." Luo Cheng handed the Vermilion Crystal Pills to him.
Steward Xu studied the pills carefully. His gray eyebrows twitched, and he let out soft noises of surprise, as though he'd encountered something incredible.
After a moment, Steward Xu composed himself, glanced at Luo Cheng, and said, "These are indeed not Two-Star Spirit Pills, and to be precise, they aren't even considered Spirit Pills…"
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao snorted mockingly, looking smugly at Luo Cheng. "Trying to trick me with garbage, are you…"
Before he could finish, Steward Xu continued, "However, these are a form of Spiritual Medicine Essence of exceptional quality. In terms of efficacy alone, they rival top-grade Two-Star Spirit Pills! Moreover, they contain traces of Fire Essence Energy. For Body Tempering Realm martial artists, their refining effect is even comparable to Three-Star Body Tempering Spirit Pills!"
"Comparable to Three-Star Body Tempering Spirit Pills!"
Gasps filled the air as many stared greedily at the pills, their eyes turning red with envy.
Lingyun Pavilion's reputation carried weight, and if Steward Xu said so, there could be no mistake!
Three-Star Spirit Pills—the worth of just one was at least over 200,000 taels!
Lin Xiao's mouth hung open, frozen as though he'd been slapped hard in the face. He inhaled deeply, greedily eyeing the pills, then turned to Luo Cheng and said:
"Alright! I'll agree to your terms. As long as you can take three punches from me without falling, the debt owed by Luo Qi is wiped clean! If you fail, then these two pills are mine!"
If he could obtain these two Three-Star Body Tempering Spirit Pills, he could break through to the Body Tempering Eighth Layer in no time!
Pills delivered to his doorstep—how could he refuse?
"Young Master Luo Cheng!"
Steward Qin anxiously spoke up as Luo Cheng seemed poised to agree. "Young Master, I think it would be wise to deliberate further…"
The value of two Three-Star Spirit Pills was enough to clear Luo Qi's gambling debts!
Though Steward Qin knew that Luo Cheng had recently progressed rapidly, he didn't believe Luo Cheng could withstand three punches from Lin Xiao. There simply was no need to risk it!
Lin Xiao, fearing that Luo Cheng might reconsider, quickly cleared an open space and provocatively said: "Luo Cheng, are you too afraid?"
"Heh, there's no need to bait me. I stand by my words."
Luo Cheng stepped forward resolutely.
The crowd couldn't help feeling speechless.
To accept a wager where losing was a certainty—wasn't this sheer idiocy?
Some even looked enviously at Lin Xiao, wishing they could trade places with him.
"Lin Xiao, give him a good beating!"
No one was more thrilled than Qi Dong, who already envisioned Luo Cheng being pummeled into submission by Lin Xiao's three punches.
Lin Xiao stepped into the center of the open ground, smirking at Luo Cheng. "It's too late to regret now!"
Luo Cheng glanced at him with indifference and said calmly, "Why would I regret?"
Luo Cheng's indifferent tone stirred an anger in Lin Xiao's chest. His fury burned as he sneered coldly:
"I honestly don't get it—how a useless man whose Martial Soul is abandoned finds the audacity to act this bold. Do you really think you can survive three punches from me?"
Luo Cheng's expression remained composed, and he took his stance. "We won't know unless we try. Make your move."
"Hmph! Against you, I only need one punch! Fall!"
Lin Xiao, unable to suppress his rage, growled and launched a punch directly at Luo Cheng's face.
As a Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer martial artist, even a casual punch from Lin Xiao contained over 300 pounds of force. The roaring fist power caused the air to explode with muffled thunder.
Seeing this, the crowd tightened their hearts and held their breath, certain that Luo Cheng would be torn to shreds by this punch!
But the scene they had anticipated did not occur.
Bang!
Luo Cheng crossed his arms and blocked Lin Xiao's punch directly. Like a boulder, he stood unmoving!
"He blocked it!"
"Am I seeing things?"
All the gazes turned into shock as everyone struggled to believe their eyes.
How could Luo Cheng so easily block Lin Xiao's punch!
Not even a single step backward!
"Impossible!"
Lin Xiao's own eyes widened in disbelief, unable to accept the reality before him.
"One strike down."
Luo Cheng brushed off his clothes nonchalantly.
"Come again!"
Failing to knock down Luo Cheng with one strike left Lin Xiao humiliated. His face contorted with rage as he let out a furious roar.
Buzz!
A massive bird, over two meters long, appeared behind Lin Xiao—it was his Martial Soul, the Four-Star Martial Soul Giant Feathered Eagle!
Summoning his Martial Soul, Lin Xiao's aura peaked, and he charged at Luo Cheng again, unleashing a wild punch with storm-like momentum.
"Die! Splitting Rock!!"
This time, Lin Xiao employed his martial arts technique, executing his strongest punch!