Chapter 56

"Thank you, but we are already very satisfied with this result and do not need to continue the competition," the Daoist nun with the surname Zhong suddenly said.

"Indeed, Congtian's victory in this round was just a stroke of luck. If he were to face Jinyu, his chances of winning would be extremely low," Zhu Chi also suddenly realized and directly refused.

They were gambling on the stakes. If they couldn't win, it would still be an empty basket.

"Since that's the case, how about I add another hundred pounds of iron essence to my side?" Da Zhi frowned and then suddenly increased the stakes.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chi was truly stunned, and the expression of the Daoist nun with the surname Zhong also froze.

"Did I hear that right? The two Daoist friends are willing to add another hundred pounds of iron essence for the remaining one-third of the spirit fruit? The value of a hundred pounds of iron essence is probably no less than all the spirit fruits here," Zhu Chi, after regaining his composure, said in disbelief.

"Without hiding anything from Daoist Zhu and Daoist Zhong, we are determined to obtain these Heavenly Qi fruits, either all or nothing. As for the reason, we cannot disclose it. However, the two Daoist friends can rest assured that even if our disciple loses the competition, we are willing to leave the hundred pounds of iron essence as compensation," the white-haired old man replied solemnly.

Zhu Chi and the Daoist nun with the surname Zhong exchanged glances and saw a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.

"Please wait a moment. My junior sister and I need to discuss this before making a decision," Zhu Chi replied.

"Of course, the two Daoist friends can take your time. We can wait," the white-haired old man readily agreed.

"Congtian, take a rest now. You might have to compete again soon," the Daoist nun with the surname Zhong, without opposing, turned her head and said to Liu Ming with unusual gravity.

"Yes, I understand."

Liu Ming agreed and sat cross-legged on the spot, beginning to silently cultivate to restore his magical power. However, he was equally astonished in his heart, wondering what the two spirit masters from Jiuzhao Mountain were planning.

Zhu Chi and the Daoist nun with the surname Zhong had already moved to the side, their lips moving silently without any sound, using the extremely mysterious sound transmission technique.

This technique can only be learned after reaching the late stage of the Spirit Apprentice realm, so Liu Ming, seeing this for the first time, felt greatly curious.

Yu Cheng and Xiao Feng, since Liu Ming's unexpected victory, had become extremely complex in their expressions, especially Xiao Feng, who felt extremely embarrassed.

He, a disciple with nine spirit veins, couldn't win a single match, yet Liu Ming, a disciple with only three spirit veins, had won a round and might even have to compete again. The frustration in his heart was unimaginable.

His gaze towards Liu Ming was tinged with a hint of jealousy.

After a full teacup of time, Zhu Chi and the Daoist nun with the surname Zhong finished their discussion and walked back.

Da Zhi and Da Shang, seeing this, were invigorated and showed a prepared and attentive expression.

"Since the two Daoist friends are willing to gift a hundred pounds of iron essence regardless of the outcome, we naturally cannot refuse. However, we have one more condition!" Zhu Chi said expressionlessly.

"Whatever the condition, the two Daoist friends can just say it," Da Zhi and Da Shang exchanged glances, and the white-haired old man slowly replied.

"If our disciple loses this match, we will leave immediately with the iron essence, and all the spirit fruits will belong to the two Daoist friends. But if we win, the two Daoist friends must truthfully tell us the real reason for valuing these Heavenly Qi fruits," Zhu Chi said without hesitation.

"Tell us the reason? Fine, if we lose the spirit fruits, I have no reason to keep this information secret," Da Zhi's face changed slightly, but after a moment's thought, he agreed.

"Good, then it's settled." Zhu Chi raised an eyebrow and extended a palm.

"Clap" "Clap" "Clap" After three claps, the white-haired old man and Zhu Chi each struck a palm, and then the four spirit masters walked out of the circle.

"Congtian, I don't know if you have any other means, but in the next match, you can use all your abilities. As long as you can defeat this Jinyu, the two of us will give you one-tenth of the benefits from the competition," Zhu Chi, passing by Liu Ming, suddenly turned his head and said solemnly.

"That's right, as long as you win the match, I can guarantee this promise," the Daoist nun with the surname Zhong also added solemnly.

"I understand, I will do my best," hearing that he could get one-tenth of the benefits, Liu Ming's heart leaped, and he hurriedly bowed his head in response.

At this moment, Da Zhi and Da Shang also solemnly instructed the sullen youth before letting him leave.

Jinyu, expressionless, walked into the circle, and with a flick of his sleeve, a green ball rolled out and transformed into a green light mantis puppet.

"Junior sister, what do you think are Congtian's chances of winning?" Zhu Chi, standing outside the circle, suddenly asked the Daoist nun with the surname Zhong.

"If it were before the last match, I would say only fifty-fifty. But since he has already achieved a minor success with the Fireball Spell and won the last match so easily, he must have other means he hasn't used yet. Even so, his chances of winning are probably only about thirty percent. After all, Jinyu's talent for multitasking and the green light mantis puppet are extremely formidable," the Daoist nun with the surname Zhong replied after a moment of silence.

"Thirty percent. That's enough for us to take a gamble. From the looks of Da Zhi and Da Shang, they probably won't let us leave easily if we don't have this final match," Zhu Chi replied with a cold laugh.

"Yes, I'm more curious about why they value these Heavenly Qi fruits so much," the Daoist nun said slowly.

"Heh heh, if Congtian can win, we will naturally find out. If not, taking a hundred pounds of iron essence back is still a great return," Zhu Chi replied with a chuckle.

"Indeed, all we can do now is wait for the result," the Daoist nun nodded slightly.

At this moment, Liu Ming had already stood up, and black mist began to surge from his body. With a hand seal, the copper ring on his wrist glowed, and a spell was quickly cast into his body.

At the same time, the copper ring hummed, and a round light shield appeared on his arm.

"Is this your talisman weapon? It doesn't look impressive at all!" Jinyu glanced at the copper ring on Liu Ming's hand and said coldly.

"Whether it's powerful or not, why don't you try it yourself?" Liu Ming gazed at him and said calmly.

"Is that so? Then I'll give it a try." Liu Ming's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he pointed a finger at his forehead.

The green light mantis puppet immediately clashed its front legs and then spread its wings, rushing straight at Liu Ming in a series of blurs.

Seeing this, Liu Ming quickly recited a spell, brought his hands together in front of his chest, and a series of green light flashed, forming thin green blades. With a flick of his wrist,

"Whoosh" "Whoosh" "Whoosh" Three wind blades shot out almost in a straight line, much faster than the Fireball Spell he had used before, and almost as fast as the green light mantis puppet.

The sullen youth was slightly startled and hurriedly urged the puppet.

"Clang" "Clang" "Clang" The mantis's front legs quickly deflected the three wind blades, but it was forced to retreat several steps.

Jinyu's face darkened, and he quickly cast a spell with his free hand, pointing at the mantis.

The puppet immediately charged again, and at the same time, its wings vibrated, transforming into four indistinct shadows, making it impossible to distinguish the real one as they rushed at Liu Ming.

Liu Ming's pupils contracted, but he recited the spell more urgently and raised his hands again.

A loud whistling sound filled the air.

Four more wind blades shot out and instantly flashed, cutting down three of the mantis shadows. Only the last one deflected the wind blade with its front legs and was forced to fly backward in mid-air.

At this moment, Liu Ming suddenly raised his sleeve, and a black shadow flashed, a black rope coiled out like a venomous snake, heading straight for the mantis puppet.

"Thud."

Just as the mantis was about to be caught off guard by the black rope, the puppet suddenly flapped its wings and shot to the side.

The black rope missed its target.

However, taking advantage of Jinyu's momentary distraction, Liu Ming raised his hands again, and another whistling sound filled the air. Two more wind blades shot out, but this time their target was not the mantis puppet but the sullen youth, who appeared in front of him like a ghost.

Liu Ming had clearly not used his full strength in his previous attack.

With his refined magical power and the advanced Wind Blade Spell, his full attack was even faster, about three to four times faster than before.

Despite Jinyu's usually wild nature, he was greatly startled by this and had no time to dodge.

"Bang" "Bang" The wind blades struck the sullen youth's chest, but a yellow light flashed, and a dull sound like dry wood echoed.

"Mechanical armor. Da Zhi and Da Shang, you two actually gave him this treasure. This match doesn't count!" Zhu Chi, who was about to jump up in joy, was immediately shocked and angrily shouted at the two white-haired old men.

The Daoist nun with the surname Zhong also looked extremely displeased.

"Hmph, look carefully. The mechanical device Jinyu used is not the armor we gave him last time, but a mechanical mirror he made himself," the white-haired old man replied with a forced smile, his face pale, clearly startled by the scene.

"Mirror?"

Zhu Chi was slightly taken aback.

At this moment, Jinyu coldly snorted, tore off his clothes, and revealed another set of white clothes underneath. On the front and back of the clothes were two round wooden pieces, like mirrors, tightly protecting his chest and back.