Pay to Cultivate Immortality? My Sect is Completely Free - Chapter 161

Chapter 161 Venerable Xuan Ba: Barely Managing a Draw with the Old Man

“This is… Zhenyang Venerable’s broadsword!”

The moment Venerable Xuan Ba saw the broadsword, he was completely dumbfounded.

As a fellow Elder of the Immortal Alliance, he had a close relationship with Zhenyang Venerable and knew well that his weapon was a broadsword.

Not long ago, news swept through the entire Immortal Alliance that Zhenyang Venerable had perished in a secret chamber at the core of the Alliance.

Zhenyang Venerable, an Elder of the Heavenly Palace and a peak Void Refinement Venerable, had been instantly slain by a mysterious existence!

People speculated that Zhenyang Venerable had offended some unimaginable Big Shot and was struck down by them.

Judging by the method, it had to be an Old Monster at least on the level of a Heavenly Venerable!

As for who this Big Shot was, opinions varied widely.

Some said it might be a powerful Heavenly Venerable who wanders the mortal world, someone who interrupted Zhenyang’s cultivation.

Others believed it was a former enemy of the Heavenly Palace who had now resurfaced, collecting overdue interest.

Some even said…

But no matter the speculation, not a single person guessed it had anything to do with the Southern Ridge!

Even though both of Xuan Ba’s disciples died in the Southern Ridge!

Because a Heavenly Venerable could never be a nobody—such a figure would surely have been renowned historically.

Not to mention that neither Southern Ridge nor Southern Xuan Prefecture’s histories recorded anyone of that stature!

Yet now, Zhenyang Venerable’s weapon was in Su Bai’s hands!

How could Venerable Xuan Ba not feel uneasy?

Even if Su Bai was not that mysterious Heavenly Venerable himself, his own strength was beyond what Xuan Ba could contend with!

“Do you choose to erase your mark from the weapon, or to lose your head?”

The faint voice sounded in his ear, sending chills down his spine and making every hair stand on end.

Venerable Xuan Ba was momentarily frozen, and the thought of self-destructing the weapon vanished.

Among the choices Su Bai offered, self-destruction of the weapon was not one of them…

“You… you’re a Fusion Grand Venerable??” He stared intensely at Su Bai, desperate for an explanation.

To be able to disregard his ultimate attack so completely and easily place a blade at his throat—that level of power was impossible for someone in the Void Refinement Realm!

Only a Fusion Grand Venerable could achieve this!

And in the entire Southern Xuan Prefecture, there was only one Fusion Grand Venerable!

In his Eastern Xuan Prefecture, there was only the Old Ancestor of the Dominating Heaven Sect.

If the Venerable realm forces could rank within the top hundred powers on the continent, then the Grand Venerable realm forces could compete among the top thirty-two, holding a seat as an Elder of the Immortal Alliance!

Securing a seat among the Immortal Alliance Elders meant entering the true core of the entire Alliance!

A Fusion Grand Venerable was essentially the pinnacle existence of the continent!

Because those ancient Heavenly Venerables beyond were all in seclusion preparing to undergo tribulations and rarely appeared in the world.

Yet the Su Bai before him was very likely this Fusion Grand Venerable!

How could he not be terrified?

Not to mention that behind him might be a mysterious Heavenly Venerable!

Su Bai smiled slightly and said, “You guess.”

Although he was only at the Second Layer of the Void Refinement Realm, his true strength had long surpassed that level.

Disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect were all capable of fighting beyond their rank, and as the Sect Master, he was naturally even stronger!

“Ugh—”

At these words, Venerable Xuan Ba suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

At this moment, his mood was unbearably heavy, mingled with a faint trace of despair.

In front of a peak expert who was very likely a Fusion Grand Venerable, he no longer had any chance of turning the tides!

“I will erase the mark!” he ground out through clenched teeth, overwhelmed by humiliation.

“Pfft!”

The mark of his life-bound weapon was deeply fused into him. Now that it was severed, the backlash was especially fierce—he spat out a mouthful of blood, his aura weakening significantly.

Su Bai retracted the Disc and nodded slightly, saying, “You’re wise.”

Venerable Xuan Ba breathed a sigh of relief deep inside, grateful to have at least saved his life.

But then Su Bai reached out and took the Storage Ring from his finger.

Venerable Xuan Ba bit back his anger and unwillingness, but did not dare reveal even a hint of it.

Inside that Storage Ring were not only the vast quantity of Spirit Stones Su Bai had wagered but also his own years-long collection!

In other words, with both his weapon and Storage Ring taken, he was now completely penniless!

Losing his weapon also meant his strength would be greatly diminished, dealing a heavy blow to him.

However, compared to losing his life, he had at least managed to keep it.

“Now… may I leave?” Venerable Xuan Ba asked in a trembling voice.

Su Bai looked at him with a faint, almost mocking smile.

Venerable Xuan Ba’s heart suddenly skipped a beat, sensing something. He quickly said, “Rest assured, sir, the remaining approximately 1.5 million High Grade Spirit Stones—I of the Dominating Heaven Sect will do my best to gather them quickly.”

“1.5 million? Wasn’t it 3 million?” Su Bai smiled slyly at him.

“3 million?” Venerable Xuan Ba abruptly looked up, his pupils sharply contracting, his expression wavering.

“Senior, the total Spirit Stones you wagered amounted to 300,000 High Grade Spirit Stones. Even with a tenfold payout, that’s only 3 million High Grade Spirit Stones.”

“But you just took my Storage Ring. Aside from the Spirit Stones you personally staked, my other resources add up to tens of thousands of High Grade Spirit Stones.”

“Not to mention my weapon, which even by its manufacturing cost is worth tens of thousands of High Grade Spirit Stones. Altogether, that’s at least 1.5 million High Grade Spirit Stones, right?”

Venerable Xuan Ba was slightly angry but held back his temper as he replied.

Su Bai remained calm and composed. “Before the fight started, these things could be considered compensation.”

“After the fight began, however, these things can only be regarded as spoils of war.”

Hearing this, Venerable Xuan Ba nearly spat blood in fury.

Spoils of war!

In other words, not only had he lost 3 million High Grade Spirit Stones, but he had also suffered an additional loss of more than 1 million!

“Senior…”

Before he could finish speaking, Su Bai waved his hand, stopping him.

“If you can’t produce 3 million High Grade Spirit Stones, or equivalent value goods, within three days, I will personally go to the Dominating Heaven Sect to collect!”

Having said that, Su Bai took a step forward and returned to hovering above Sacred Ruins City.

Behind him, Venerable Xuan Ba’s expression flickered several times, but in the end, he bowed to the reality of his opponent’s strength.

Just as he was about to follow, he suddenly stopped and glanced down at his own condition.

Taking a deep breath, he changed into a fresh set of robes, then conjured a Storage Ring identical to the one Su Bai had taken from him on his finger.

Only after preparing himself did he stride out with his head held high and chest puffed out.

At that moment, everyone in Sacred Ruins City was staring up at the sky, waiting for the outcome of the battle between Su Bai and Venerable Xuan Ba.

The two emerged one after the other, eyes sweeping across them both, but no one could tell who had won because neither showed any visible injury!

Or was it a draw?

Su Bai smiled faintly and rejoined the ranks of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

This time, it was a great haul indeed!

The Storage Rings of two Grand Venerables!

“What are you staring at? The assembly continues!”

Venerable Xuan Ba snorted coldly and swept his sleeve, signaling for the Immortal Alliance Assembly to proceed.

He then flew up to High Heaven to stand alongside the other five Grand Venerables.

“Elder Xuan Ba, which one of you was stronger, you or the Venerable from the Heavenly Dao Sect?”

“Brother Xuan Ba, did you win?”

Several of the Grand Venerables from Southern Xuan Prefecture impatiently pressed for the results, asking one after another.

“He…”

Venerable Xuan Ba was about to answer, but suddenly fell silent again.

No, he couldn’t let himself end up at a disadvantage!

His eyes flickered slightly, then he suddenly burst out laughing and said, “Let’s just settle for a draw with this old man!”