When Song Qiuyue questioned Ye Qingxue, Yan Qingxuan also finished listening to the reports from Bai Xiruo and the other two women.
What the three said was more or less the same as Ye Qingxue's account.
The only difference was that they provided one additional piece of information—that Wang Jianqiang possessed a powerful bird.
A bird strong enough to suppress an ordinary mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
However, this information was passed on through secret voice transmission, so the others did not hear it.
"Name your stake."
Hearing Song Qiuyue's provocative tone, Yan Qingxuan's eyes flickered. She hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, as though somewhat reluctant.
Song Qiuyue, seeing this, felt even more confident.
With a flip of her palm, a jade slip appeared in her hand."Inside this jade slip is a soul-defense technique known as the Soul-Forging Art."
"I want to wager it against your Blazing Flame Azure Dragon Spear."
At these words, Qingfeng and Yun Zhongque were both stunned.
Even Jia Wenchang—who had been irritated by the complete annihilation of his disciples—couldn't help clicking his tongue.
This Song Qiuyue is ruthless.
The Blazing Flame Azure Dragon Spear was also one of Yan Qingxuan's signature treasures.
Though it wasn't on par with the Profound Bright Leaving-Fire Ring, it was far stronger than ordinary magical artifacts.
If Yan Qingxuan were to lose both the Fire Ring and the Azure Dragon Spear, the blow would be devastating.
"You've got quite the appetite. Aren't you afraid of choking?" Yan Qingxuan said coldly.
Song Qiuyue sneered."Spare me the nonsense. Soul-defense techniques are among the most precious of all. Using the Soul-Forging Art to trade for your Azure Dragon Spear is more than fair."
Yan Qingxuan's expression wavered with hesitation, then she gritted her teeth fiercely."Fine. I'll wager with you."
"Fairy Yan, Qing would also like to take part in this bet. I wonder if you dare accept another?"
At last, Qingfeng could no longer sit still.
If Song Qiuyue could think of it, so could he.
This wager was practically robbing Yan Qingxuan.
So why shouldn't he join in as well?
With everyone gathered here, it wouldn't do to let Song Qiuyue reap all the profit.
"What do you want to bet?"
Yan Qingxuan glared coldly at Qingfeng.
He smiled faintly and brought out another jade slip."This contains my Myriad Sword Sect's Sword-Nurturing Art. Its value far surpasses that of most magical treasures."
"I won't be greedy—just a little exchange. I'll wager it against your Scarlet Cloud Treasure Dress."
The Scarlet Cloud Dress was a fairly high-grade defensive artifact.
But compared to the Sword-Nurturing Art, it indeed fell slightly short.
Here, Qingfeng wasn't exaggerating.
Yan Qingxuan's face sank. She seemed ready to refuse, but pride got the better of her. Biting down hard, she said icily:"Fine. I'll wager with you!"
"Fairy Yan, straightforward as ever."
Qingfeng burst into laughter, secretly ecstatic.
From the moment Yan Qingxuan had agreed to bet with Song Qiuyue, he'd been itching with envy.
Finally, at the last moment, he managed to slip in as well.
A free treasure—who could resist?
Seeing this, Jia Wenchang could no longer hold back either.
"Fairy Yan, I too want a treas— cough, I mean, I too want to wager with you. Do you dare?"
"What, do you all take me for a fool to fleece?"
Yan Qingxuan's face darkened as she stared at him.
"Hehe, no need to get angry, Fairy. If you don't dare, just say so, and I'll drop the matter."
Yan Qingxuan snorted coldly.
"Don't dare? I, Yan Qingxuan, have never known fear in all my years of cultivation. Speak—what do you want to wager?"
Delighted, Jia Wenchang hurriedly produced a jade slip, as if afraid she would go back on her word."This is my Zhengyang Sect's Explosive Power Technique. I'll wager it against your Purple Spirit Earrings."
"Fine. I'll wager with you!"
Yan Qingxuan nodded.
At this, Jia Wenchang was elated.
The thought of soon acquiring a fine artifact for free instantly lifted the gloom that had weighed on him since his disciples' deaths.
Thus, the four of them raised the stakes again and again, sealing new wagers.
This scene left Bai Xiruo, Wang Yuyao, Mu Lingxi, and Ye Qingxue utterly dumbfounded.
Others might not know what had transpired inside the secret realm.
But they knew perfectly well—Lin Xian'er had long since been captured by Wang Jianqiang!
And here were Song Qiuyue, Qingfeng, and Jia Wenchang eagerly placing bets with Yan Qingxuan—wasn't this just handing her treasures on a silver platter?
Yan Qingxuan's composure was remarkable.
She didn't so much as chuckle at the absurdity of it all.
The four young women exchanged looks, gazing at the three smiling "winners," a faint trace of pity stirring in their hearts.
Would they still be smiling in a few minutes?
As if in answer to their thoughts, spatial ripples suddenly surged at the secret realm's exit.
A moment later, a disheveled figure shot out.
"It's Lin Xian'er!"
At once, Song Qiuyue, Qingfeng, and Jia Wenchang erupted into laughter.
"Yan Qingxuan, you've lost."
"A wager is a wager."
"Hand over the stakes."
They beamed at Yan Qingxuan, full of delight.
But Yan Qingxuan only looked back with a mocking glint in her eyes."My friends, the exit hasn't closed yet. Are you so sure you've already won?"
"Lin Xian'er has come out alive. The storage bags of all those who fell inside must be on her. What do you have left to win with?" Song Qiuyue sneered.
Yan Qingxuan shook her head."Our sect's Wang Jianqiang has yet to appear. Are you so sure those bags are on Lin Xian'er?"
"Still struggling in vain."
Song Qiuyue sneered coldly, turning to Lin Xian'er."Xian'er, tell her—are the storage bags in your posses—"
Her words cut off abruptly as the spatial ripples flared again, interrupting her.
No way… someone else?
She fell silent, exchanging a look with Qingfeng and Jia Wenchang. A bad premonition passed through them all.
The ripples grew stronger, and from the portal emerged a stooped old man.
On his shoulder perched a small blue-feathered bird, lounging lazily.
And no sooner had he stepped out than the secret realm's exit reached its time limit.
In just three breaths, it blurred and vanished completely.
When everyone saw the newcomer, apart from Yan Qingxuan, Bai Xiruo, Wang Yuyao, Mu Lingxi, Lin Xian'er, and Ye Qingxue, they all froze in shock.
Wang Jianqiang—he had survived!
Not only that, but his robes were clean, his bearing calm and unhurried.
Aside from looking a little pale, perhaps from exhaustion, he bore not a single wound.
Compared to Lin Xian'er's bedraggled state, this contrast made the unease in Song Qiuyue and the others grow heavier.
"Lin Xian'er, are the storage bags of the fallen cultivators on you?"
Song Qiuyue asked again.
But this time, her voice carried less certainty, tinged instead with unease.
Lin Xian'er's face twisted bitterly as she shook her head.
"What? Not on you?"
Song Qiuyue's expression changed. Panic edged her voice."You're a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator! Don't tell me you couldn't even take them from a washed-up old man at Qi Refining completion?"
Huh?
Huh??
Her words stunned the Hehuan Sect disciples present.
In their memory, wasn't Wang Jianqiang only at the third layer of Qi Refining?
When had he reached Qi Refining completion?
At the same time, Wang Jianqiang himself was irritated.
This woman's mouth is too foul.
Facing her questioning, Lin Xian'er could only sigh helplessly."His bird is too strong. I…"
She trailed off, shaking her head again.
At this, Song Qiuyue looked toward the little bird on Wang Jianqiang's shoulder.
And in that instant, the world seemed to spin around her.
Her knees nearly buckled.