You'll Be Even More Anxious Later

"Bet? Of course we'll bet."

As soon as Wang Jianqiang finished speaking, the fat man and the lanky one—Bu Yueban and Xiong Zhuang—agreed without hesitation.

Su Yutong had already suppressed Wang Yuyao, who wielded superior magical artifacts, using nothing but low-grade equipment. The gap between them was painfully obvious.

To the two onlookers, this was a sure-win wager.

Who in their right mind would turn down spirit stones?

Only a fool would refuse.

"Good. Words alone mean nothing—let’s put it in writing. Anyone who backs out will face the Judgment Hall’s punishment."

At the mention of the Judgment Hall, the two men instinctively shrank back.

The Judgment Hall was the Joy Union Sect’s disciplinary arm, responsible for dealing with disciples who broke the sect’s rules.

It was a place no disciple wanted to visit—or even speak of.

But it also served as an impartial arbiter.

Once a written agreement was signed, the Judgment Hall would intervene if anyone dared renege.

Still, what did they have to fear?

This was a guaranteed victory.

Signing only made it better—it would stop this old fool from backing out later.

With that in mind, they signed without further hesitation.

"Bu Yueban."

"Xiong Zhuang."

Wang Jianqiang glanced at the names on the contract.

Correct—they matched the ones stored in his mind.

Then he signed his own name.

The wager was now official.

While the three settled their bet, the battle on the stage had grown fiercer.

By now, Wang Yuyao had activated three flawless magical artifacts: the Violet Jade Boots, the Frostglow Cloud Sword, and the Moonlit Water Skirt.

Clad in a flowing dark dress, her figure was ethereal.

Her violet boots shimmered like amethyst, while the azure flying sword above her head radiated razor-sharp sword energy.

Her hair, once loosely tied with a ribbon, had long since been freed by the battle’s turbulence, now dancing wildly in the wind.

On the other side, Su Yutong watched Wang Yuyao coldly.

Her expression had turned grave.

Though Wang Yuyao’s foundation was weak and her personal strength mediocre, the three powerful artifacts made her a force to be reckoned with.

Despite holding a slight advantage, Su Yutong realized she couldn’t finish her off.

A sharp glint flashed in her eyes.

"You’ve lasted this long against me—you should be proud."

"But this fight ends now!"

With those icy words, she tapped her flying sword.

A golden light enveloped the blade, and with a piercing shriek, it shot straight toward Wang Yuyao.

Wang Yuyao’s face tightened as she channeled all her spiritual energy.

The Frostglow Cloud Sword erupted with a misty radiance, clashing with the incoming golden sword in an instant.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion followed.

The frosty mist shattered, and countless golden sword energies—like golden needles—engulfed Wang Yuyao.

Her expression changed. Desperately, she activated the Moonlit Water Skirt.

In an instant, an illusory lake appeared on the dark fabric, its surface reflecting a bright moon.

Cold, silvery moonlight spread like liquid mercury, encasing her in a protective barrier.

Ting!

Ting!

Ting!

The golden sword energies rained down, drowning her in a storm of metallic clangs.

The moonlight barrier trembled violently before finally fracturing.

When the golden light faded, Wang Yuyao reappeared.

The Moonlit Water Skirt’s protection had been utterly destroyed. The once-pristine dress was now torn in several places, stained crimson with blood.

Wang Yuyao’s face was deathly pale, her lips dripping red.

"The gap between us was always insurmountable. Maybe luck blinded you for a moment, but after this, you’ll see the truth."

Su Yutong looked down at her, palms pressed together in a seal. Between her fingers, golden light intensified.

The sword, now back in her grasp, shone even brighter than before.

"This strike will end you."

Before the words fully left her mouth, the sword—wrapped in blinding gold—shot forth.

Its edge was so sharp it distorted and split the very air in its path.

Spectators gasped.

"Incredible!"

"Is this Su Yutong’s full power?"

"She’s just a new disciple—how is she this strong?"

Even the few who remained composed couldn’t hide their shock.

"The Golden Light Seal?"

"To master it to this degree… truly remarkable."

High above, the three inner sect elders had been observing the match.

One couldn’t help but voice his admiration.

"Indeed."

"Top-tier talent and comprehension. It seems the Joy Union Sect has birthed another genius."

Yun Zhonghe gazed at Su Yutong, his eyes brimming with undisguised fondness.

Coincidentally, he’d been planning to take on a female disciple.

Su Yutong was not only stunning but, more importantly, still possessed her primordial yin—a perfect candidate.

"Hahaha! Those spirit stones are ours!"

Meanwhile, Bu Yueban and Xiong Zhuang, seeing Su Yutong’s finishing blow, grinned triumphantly and reached for the stones before Wang Jianqiang.

With a flick of his sleeve, Wang Jianqiang swept the stones back and gave them a cool glance.

"The fight isn’t over yet. Why the rush?"

"Tch. Fine, we’ll wait—let you lose without excuses." The two sneered.

Wang Jianqiang ignored them, turning his attention back to the stage.

The golden sword was now less than three meters from Wang Yuyao.

Even with her speed-enhancing artifact, dodging was impossible.

At this moment, everyone—including the three elders—believed Wang Yuyao was done for.

Only Wang Jianqiang noticed the faint glimmer on her right hand as a sapphire-like ring materialized.

The instant it appeared, an invisible force erupted from it, enveloping the Moonlit Water Skirt.

A sound like rushing water filled the air.

The lake illusion reappeared on the skirt, the moon shining once more.

Holy moonlight burst forth, forming a shield just as the golden sword struck.

BOOM!

The stage trembled violently.

Golden radiance clashed with silver moonlight, each claiming half the arena.

The gold was fierce, an embodiment of countless sword energies.

The moonlight was serene, carrying an almost sacred purity.

They tore into each other, neither yielding.

Finally—

When only a sliver of moonlight remained, the golden light dissipated entirely.

"She blocked it!"

"She had another high-grade artifact?!"

"What kind of monstrous wealth is this?!"

The crowd erupted in murmurs. Even the three elders exchanged glances, speechless.

"That bitch—!"

"Who the hell is backing her? How does she have so many top-tier artifacts?!"

Bu Yueban and Xiong Zhuang’s faces darkened. A sinking feeling crept into their hearts.

Wang Jianqiang smirked at their curses.

"I know you’re impatient, but don’t be."

"You’ll be even more impatient soon."