The Wager, Betting Dao Partners!

At this moment.

Everyone looked at Ning Fan with pity in their eyes. Being pitted against that Talent Scout of Yin Yang Peak was already a great misfortune for him.

Who could have expected this?

The Zhao family would violently interfere, changing his opponent from the Yin Yang Peak Talent Scout, Zou Yu, to Zhao Qi. Zhao Qi's prestige and might far exceeded Zou Yu's.

"Too difficult."

A sigh rang out, voicing the grim reality of Ning Fan's situation in the eyes of the crowd.

Trial after trial.

It was harder than ascending to the heavens!

"Ning Fan, for daring to kill a disciple of my Zhao family, you have already forged your own path to death."

Zhao Qi stared at Ning Fan.

"..."

Ning Fan opened his mouth to defend himself, but the words caught in his throat. After all, Zhao Qi was not entirely wrong; Zhao Yuanzhe had indeed died by his hand.

But Zhao Qishuang's death truly had nothing to do with him.

Forget it.

If the opportunity arose, he might as well slaughter a few more Zhao family members. That way, he wouldn't be shouldering this blame for nothing.

"Ning Fan, do you dare to increase the wager?"

Zhao Qi suddenly smiled.

"Oh?"

Ning Fan raised an eyebrow, highly interested in this wager Zhao Qi mentioned. If not for his empty pockets, he would have bet every last scrap of his cultivation resources on himself passing all three trials!

Unfortunately, all of his resources had been exhausted during dual cultivation, leaving him with no chance to make a sudden fortune.

But Zhao Qi bringing up a wager now played right into Ning Fan's hands.

"Bet what?"

"I will tell you right now, I don't have many Spirit Stones on hand. If you allow me to owe you, then I'll bet however much you want!"

Ning Fan declared with utter confidence.

Unexpectedly.

Faced with Ning Fan's eager acceptance, Zhao Qi did not immediately reply. Instead, he chuckled softly, a hint of dark amusement flashing in his eyes.

"Junior Brother, using cultivation resources as a wager... isn't that child's play?"

"If we are going to bet."

"We should bet something far greater."

"Greater?"

Ning Fan tilted his head.

"Indeed."

"Let us bet our Dao Partners!!"

Zhao Qi finally revealed his true aim, his voice laced with aggressive malice.

"You and I will wager our Dao Partners. Whoever wins will take the other's Dao Partner as a concubine. How about it?!"

Hearing this, Ning Fan instantly furrowed his brows.

Betting Dao Partners was the most severe wager within the entire Yin Yang Divine Sect. Disciples of the Yin Yang Divine Sect relied on the Yin Yang Profound Scripture as the Base of their cultivation.

That meant dual cultivation.

Dual cultivation required a Dao Partner. If one lost their Dao Partner in a wager, the losing party would effectively forfeit their right to cultivate.

Unless they could find another Dao Partner.

But that was far easier said than done.

Birds of a feather flocked together. A man who lost his Dao Partner would, at best, only be able to pair up with a female disciple who had been cast aside by her own male Dao Partner.

One who wagered and lost his partner, another who had been dumped.

The two of them pairing up.

What a 'promising' path that would be.

More importantly, Ning Fan had absolutely no use for Zhao Qi's Dao Partner!

However, if he won, he could always sell Zhao Qi's Dao Partner. She would likely fetch a high price in Spirit Stones.

"What's wrong? Do you not dare?"

Zhao Qi tipped his chin up, casting a condescending sideways glance at Ning Fan.

"To think the other disciples praised your exceptional talent. Looking at you now, you are nothing but a turtle shrinking into its shell. That little thing on your shoulder suits you perfectly."

A clumsy, blatant provocation.

Yet, Ning Fan did not lose his temper.

"I simply feel that my Dao Partner is not a mere object. Regardless of the circumstances, I have no right to treat her as a wager."

Ning Fan replied evenly.

"Husband..."

Yun Qingyao gazed at Ning Fan, deeply moved, a starry light shimmering in her beautiful eyes. It was the profound feeling of being respected. Generally speaking,

Within a pair of Dao Partners, there was always a disparity in strength. The stronger party would dominate the weaker, which gave rise to wretched practices like betting one's Dao Partner.

But Ning Fan refused to make such a bet.

Yun Qingyao had been paired with him when he was at his most vulnerable. They had walked together to reach this point. Even setting aside the trials they had faced...

There was an undeniable bond forged between them.

"It is alright."

Yun Qingyao spoke up on her own initiative, her gaze filled with absolute trust as she looked at Ning Fan.

"Husband, I believe in you. Besides, if we lose to him, you will be forced to join Yin Yang Peak anyway. That outcome is not much better than losing a Dao Partner."

Hearing Yun Qingyao's words, Ning Fan frowned in deep thought.

She was right.

Yun Qingyao was right. The two of them desperately needed cultivation resources. Once they joined Long Bright Peak, they would face an inevitable, severe scarcity of resources.

If he did not seize this opportunity to secure more cultivation resources, taking even a single step forward in the future would be excruciatingly difficult.

"Very well."

Ning Fan looked at Zhao Qi and nodded his agreement.

"I ask everyone here to bear witness."

"This Junior Brother and I are adding an extra wager! We will bet our respective Dao Partners. Whoever loses the match must surrender his Dao Partner to be taken as a concubine by the victor!"

Zhao Qi declared in a booming voice.

The surrounding disciples exchanged glances in dismay. No one had expected the situation to escalate into betting Dao Partners. This instantly pushed Ning Fan into a corner where losing was not an option.

Originally, in the eyes of the crowd, it wouldn't have mattered if Ning Fan failed the trial. The penalty for losing was merely being forced to join Yin Yang Peak-an outcome countless disciples dreamed of.

But now...

Once he lost his Dao Partner, even if he joined Yin Yang Peak, Ning Fan would have no way to cultivate. Losing a Dao Partner was a crippling blow for anyone!

For Zhao Qi to propose such a ruthless wager clearly showed his bone-deep hatred for Ning Fan.

"Approved."

"We shall bear witness. Whether it is Disciple Zhao Qi or Disciple Ning Fan, the loser's Dao Partner will be automatically forfeited."

"And she shall be taken as a concubine by the victor."

Peak Master Gui Yazi declared aloud.

"The third trial!"

"Begin!"

"Everyone, step back and clear the space for Disciple Zhao Qi and Disciple Ning Fan. This match has no restrictions. Both of you may use your full strength. The battle will only end when one side admits defeat."

"Life and death are your own responsibility!"

Gui Yazi stated coldly.

He lightly tapped the ground with his foot, his body drifting gracefully backward. The other Peak Masters did the same. As for the surrounding disciples, they frantically scurried away.

Leaving the open space in the center exclusively for Ning Fan and Zhao Qi.

"Come."

"Make your move."

Bang—

After the briefest gesture of courtesy, the two men stomped fiercely on the ground. Their bodies shot toward one another like meteors. In mid-air, they each threw a brutal punch.

Meeting head-on without the slightest evasion.

Boom—

A heavy, muffled blast rang out. A visible shockwave of air rippled outward from the point of impact, violently lifting the dirt and dust beneath their feet.

Thud, thud—

Ning Fan was forced back two steps before he could steady his footing. He raised his hand; bright crimson blood was already seeping from the knuckles of his right fist, which had just taken the brunt of the clash.

"Oh?"

Zhao Qi did not press his advantage. Instead, he stood exactly where he landed, sizing Ning Fan up with great interest, as though admiring a beast destined for the slaughter.

"Not bad."

"To be able to match me in pure physical strength for an entire exchange. Junior Brother Ning, you are truly not bad at all."

"Tch."

Hearing Zhao Qi's arrogant, condescending words, Ning Fan couldn't help but softly click his tongue.

How sickeningly unpleasant.

Rather than waste his breath on words, Ning Fan preferred to fight. In the very next moment, he closed the gap, engaging Zhao Qi in deadly melee combat.

The two were extremely close, with barely half a body's width between them.

An inch longer meant an inch stronger; an inch shorter meant an inch more perilous.

A life-and-death struggle at such a close distance...

Was incomparably perilous. A single careless mistake could lead to a severe strike from the opponent, instantly costing the entire match.

"This Ning Fan... he truly dares."

"..."

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