Bet Let the War Begin

"Since this is a gambling match, there must be stakes, right?"

Han Tieyi paused for a moment, then replied, "This junior has already mentioned the stakes. If my Han family wins, we take Han Lie away. If Senior wins, Han Lie is at your disposal, and the Han family will not say another word!"

Lin Yan was amused, looking at him as if he were an idiot. "So the Han family is running a business with zero capital! If you win, you take the person away; if you lose, you lose nothing. What a brilliant calculation."

Han Tieyi's face stiffened. Seeming prepared for this, he added, "If Senior wins, my Han family will take the initiative to gift all the former properties of the Tianjian Sect and the Didao Sect entirely to Senior."

Lin Yan looked at him speechlessly. "You are using my own things to bet against me?"

Han Tieyi's old face flushed red. Biting the bullet, he said, "Senior might not know this, but to establish a sect in Great Qian, one must have the official canonization of the imperial dynasty. Otherwise, it is an illegal sect and could be wiped out by the imperial court at any time."

"My Han family has deep connections within the royal court. We can pull some strings for Senior to make the Tianyan Sect an officially recognized sect in Great Qian."

Lin Yan raised an eyebrow. He genuinely didn't know about this rule.

He always thought establishing a sect just meant putting up a signboard. He hadn't expected it required imperial canonization.

However, he still shook his head. "Not enough."

Han Tieyi's face darkened completely. Gritting his teeth, he raised the stakes.

"If Senior wins, my Han family can help the Tianyan Sect be exempt from ten years of annual tribute."

"Annual tribute?" Lin Yan heard another new term.

Han Tieyi explained, "For a small sect like the Tianjian Sect, they must hand over fifty percent of their annual spirit stone production to the Great Qian Dynasty, and another thirty percent to the Biluo Sect as protection fees."

"Senior can naturally ignore the thirty percent for the Biluo Sect, but if the dynasty's fifty percent is not paid, it is considered treason!"

He paused and looked at Lin Yan.

"My Han family can step forward and pull strings to help your esteemed sect waive the imperial tribute for ten years!"

Lin Yan was stunned. Sects had to pay taxes?

And they had to hand over fifty percent?

Shady, truly shady!

Lin Yan thought about it. Unless absolutely necessary, he really didn't plan on clashing with this Great Qian Dynasty.

It had been less than two months since he transmigrated. Going to war with the ruling dynasty right now would be too unwise.

If he could really secure a ten-year development period...

Right now, he gained eight years of cultivation every day. That was nearly three thousand years in one year, and nearly thirty thousand years in ten years!

And this was the most conservative estimate!

The corners of Lin Yan's mouth curled up slightly.

"Deal!"

Han Tieyi breathed a sigh of relief, a hint of a smile finally appearing on his face.

"In that case, please send out your fighters, Senior!"

"As long as the Qi Condensation realm fighter is under thirty, the Foundation Establishment realm under a hundred, and the Golden Core realm under two hundred, my Han family disciples are ready and waiting!"

He stepped aside, revealing Han Qing, Han Feng, and Han Yue behind him.

The three lined up in a row, backs straight, eyes sharp, and burning with fighting spirit.

Lin Yan pondered over who to send into battle.

Actually, he could have Liu Ruyan and Ye Xiaoqin do it.

Although Liu Ruyan was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, she had already comprehended a divine ability. With Ye Xiaoqin at the ninth level of Qi Condensation and possessing the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body, they definitely wouldn't lose the Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment matches.

But these two were simply too young and lacked any combat experience.

Lin Yan didn't care much about winning or losing, but he couldn't bear the thought of his two precious disciples getting hurt.

Especially the little loli; even if she lost a single strand of hair, his heart would ache to death.

In the end, Lin Yan called out three names.

"Zhao Feng, Li Tianxing, Su Wanqing!"

"Yes, Sect Master!" Three figures responded simultaneously and strode forward.

Zhao Feng stood on the far left. At the early Golden Core stage, his robes fluttered in the wind, and his expression was composed.

Having been an outer sect elder of the Tianjian Sect for thirty years, he had seen his fair share of storms. This little scene wasn't enough to make him nervous.

Li Tianxing stood in the middle. At the middle Foundation Establishment stage, his face was calm, his eyes indifferent.

After three years of being hunted down, there was no situation he hadn't experienced.

Su Wanqing stood on the far right. At the fifth level of Qi Condensation, dressed in a plain white dress, she kept her back perfectly straight.

The three stood shoulder to shoulder. Facing the three top geniuses of the Han family, they showed no trace of fear.

Opposite them, the four members of the Han family were utterly dumbfounded.

Han Qing blanked for a second before he couldn't help but let out a sneer.

The corners of Han Feng's mouth curled into a disdainful arc as he shook his head.

Han Yue rolled his eyes directly, as if he had just witnessed the biggest joke in the world.

Han Tieyi was also stunned, but then he burst into uproarious laughter, bending back and forth. "Senior, you must be joking, right? Fifth level of Qi Condensation? Middle Foundation Establishment? Early Golden Core?"

They knew the Tianyan Sect lacked foundation and couldn't compare to the Han family, but wasn't this a bit too pathetic?

What kind of ragtag bunch was this?

Let's not even mention the Golden Core stage. After all, with the age limit set under two hundred years old, apart from top-tier factions, there were almost no Golden Core cultivators that young.

But for Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment, even if you don't send someone at the great perfection stage, they should at least be at the peak, right?

Yet the result was one at the fifth level and one at the middle stage?

"I thought that no matter how lacking the Tianyan Sect was, they could at least produce a few peak-stage disciples. I never expected... it would actually be this kind of trash?"

Han Tieyi stood with his hands behind his back, a hint of mockery in his tone.

"How about you just admit defeat directly, Senior! Surrender and you only lose half!"

"I will make the call. As long as you concede now, my Han family will still help you secure the imperial canonization. How about it?"

Lin Yan didn't even look at him. He raised his right hand and gave it a gentle wave.

The crushed stones at the foot of the mountain were lifted by an invisible hand, flying into the midair, spinning, merging, and stacking layer upon layer.

Within a few breaths, a ten-foot-tall stone platform rose from the ground.

The surface of the platform was as smooth as a mirror. Stone pillars stood at the four corners, with a stone beast crouching on top of each.

In the exact center of the stone platform, a stone chair rose from the ground. It had a towering backrest and wide armrests, with a stone lion crouching on each side.

A stone throne!

Lin Yan slowly walked over and sat down leisurely. His white robes fluttered, making him look like a descending emperor.

Truth be told, although 'Law Follows the Word' didn't have much offensive power, using it to show off was incredibly satisfying.

The foot of the mountain fell silent for a moment before erupting into an uproar.

"Raising a high platform from flat ground! It's another immortal technique!"

"The stones flew up on their own and formed a chair! What kind of divine ability is this?"

"The Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect... is he a man or an immortal?"

Han Tieyi's laughter came to an abrupt halt. The smile on his face froze, and his eyes instantly became incredibly solemn.

This move... he couldn't do it!

Han Tieyi took a deep breath and cupped his hands. "Since Senior is unwilling to concede, this junior will say no more. However—"

His gaze swept past Su Wanqing, Li Tianxing, and Zhao Feng, and his voice deepened.

"Blades and spears have no eyes! If your sect's disciples are injured, I ask for Senior's forgiveness."

After saying that, he waved his large hand. "Han Qing, you take the first match! Finish it quickly!"

"Yes, Elder!"

Han Qing stepped forward in response, toying with a short sword in his hand, his face full of arrogance.

He glanced sideways at Su Wanqing with a frivolous tone:

"Han Qing of the Han family, Qi Condensation Great Perfection, thirty-seven years old this year. Please advise!"

Su Wanqing glanced at Lin Yan in midair. Seeing him nod slightly, she took a step forward.

"Su Wanqing of the Tianyan Sect, fifth level of Qi Condensation, nineteen years old this year. Please advise!"