The first thing Chen Chang'an did upon returning to Neverreturn City was to have the lead guard at the city gate deliver something to the Joy Tower.
As a holder of the Platinum Medal, Chen Chang'an had the right, according to the city's rules, to order these guards to assist him with certain tasks.
The moment Chen Chang'an stepped into Neverreturn City, he immediately drew the attention of many.
"Chen Chang'an is back!"
"Holy shit, he actually returned?"
"Damn, I thought he'd run away."
"Good, good. This means today's spectacle won’t end anticlimactically."
"What a fool. If he already left, why come back?"
"Maybe... he wants to die in Neverreturn City. Hahaha!"
Ignoring the idle chatter, Chen Chang'an headed straight for the Medal Arena. Meanwhile, news of his arrival spread rapidly.
"Wasn’t Chen Chang'an supposed to be back? Where is he?"
"Right, he should’ve arrived faster than the news."
"Maybe something else delayed him?"
"Not sure, but since he’s back, he’ll show up eventually. Just wait."
The news reached the Medal Arena, yet Chen Chang'an still hadn’t appeared, leaving many puzzled.
No one expected that instead of rushing to the competition, Chen Chang'an would first visit the betting station at the arena.
"Can I still place a bet?" Chen Chang'an asked the attendant.
Without looking up, the attendant pointed to the side and said indifferently, "The odds are all listed here. Pick one, hand over your spirit stones, and you’re done."
Chen Chang'an scanned the options until he found his target.
"Chen Chang'an advancing to the Amethyst Medal—odds at 10,000 to 1?"
"Not bad odds," Chen Chang'an remarked with a faint smile.
"Indeed. Interested? Then place your bet," the attendant replied flatly.
"Alright. I’ll bet on Chen Chang'an’s success—10,000... top-grade spirit stones."
"10,000?"
"Just fill out the form. Honestly, your 10,000—"
The attendant suddenly froze mid-sentence. 10,000 what?
10,000 top-grade spirit stones?
At first, the attendant assumed Chen Chang'an meant 10,000 mid-grade spirit stones—a sizable but not outrageous sum. But the realization left him stunned.
10,000 top-grade spirit stones—what kind of fortune was this? Who in Neverreturn City possessed such wealth?
Moreover, the 10,000-to-1 odds meant the bet was practically a guaranteed loss. Was this sheer recklessness?
"You... you’re really betting 10,000 top-grade spirit stones on Chen Chang'an advancing?" The attendant finally looked up, his face a picture of shock.
"Exactly. 10,000 top-grade spirit stones."
"Here they are. I hope Neverreturn City has enough to pay out," Chen Chang'an said with a smile.
The attendant was utterly dumbfounded as Chen Chang'an produced the spirit stones without hesitation.
Incredible!
Absolutely insane!
This was the first time in his life he’d seen so many top-grade spirit stones, and the excitement made his hands tremble.
"Are you so certain Chen Chang'an will advance?" the attendant asked, still reeling.
"Yes. I believe in him as much as I believe in myself," Chen Chang'an replied calmly.
"Fine. The bet stands."
A guaranteed profit of 10,000 top-grade spirit stones? There was no way he’d refuse.
Only after finalizing the bet did the attendant notice the Platinum Medal gleaming on Chen Chang'an’s chest.
A Platinum Medal holder this young? Then this person was—
"You... you’re Chen Chang'an?"
The attendant finally understood—Chen Chang'an had bet on himself.
No wonder he’d spoken with such conviction.
"Tell your superiors to prepare the payout. I’ll be back to collect."
With a faint smile, Chen Chang'an left the betting station and strode toward the second floor of the Medal Arena.
The moment his figure appeared on the second-floor battlefield, the crowd erupted.
"He’s here! Hahaha! Chen Chang'an has finally arrived!"
"Damn, it took him long enough! How infuriating!"
"So that’s Chen Chang'an? He looks so young. How can someone his age possess such strength?"
"The real show is about to begin. I can’t wait to see if Chen Chang'an can actually advance."
"As much as I find him arrogant, I’d love to witness the birth of an Amethyst Medal holder."
"Same here."
Unlike the spectators, the other Platinum Medal holders regarded Chen Chang'an with far less warmth.
Their gazes bore into him, each filled with distinct emotions—some disdainful, some dismissive, others already treating him like a dead man.
"Yan Xiong, are you really not going to make the first move? If you don’t, you might miss your chance to teach this kid a lesson," Liu Yan asked.
Yan Xiong smirked. "Someone like him isn’t worth my time."
"If you want to fight, go ahead. Just don’t kill him outright. Toying with him would be more entertaining."
"Fine. I’ll have my fun with him."
Liu Yan’s eyes locked onto Chen Chang'an, his battle spirit blazing as he eagerly stepped toward the arena.
Wei Fengtang also rose slowly, casting a calm glance at Chen Chang'an before speaking. "It’s getting late. Let’s begin."
"As you command, Lord Wei."
With a wave of Wei Fengtang’s hand, the arena attendant formed hand seals, dispelling the barrier around the fighting platform.
Seeing the barrier open, Chen Chang'an flashed onto the stage in an instant—just as Liu Yan charged forward with equal fervor.
"Shit! Liu Yan is first? He’s starting right away?"
"Who’s Liu Yan?"
"You don’t know Liu Yan? He’s one of the top Platinum Medal holders, already at the seventh level of the Divine Transformation Realm. His strength is terrifying."
"Damn, starting with a seventh-level Divine Transformation expert? Then Chen Chang'an is doomed!"
"No question. These guys aren’t planning to let Chen Chang'an last long. They want to crush him immediately."
"Then my bet on Chen Chang'an winning ten matches in a row is hopeless?"
"Seriously? You actually bet on him winning ten times? Surviving Liu Yan is a miracle in itself!"
"Oh no... I put all my savings on this!"
Liu Yan’s appearance left many in despair. No one had anticipated such a formidable opponent in the very first match.
No one had high hopes for Chen Chang'an. Although he had defeated a Platinum Badge holder during his own promotion to the Platinum rank, his opponent was merely a first-level Divine Transformation Realm cultivator who had only recently advanced to Platinum.
The gap between the first and seventh levels was vast—could Chen Chang'an really keep laughing his way to victory?
Liu Yan glanced at Chen Chang'an, not sparing him a second thought.
"You’ve come this far and made quite a stir—impressive, I’ll admit."
"But alas, your journey ends here!"
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...
ey change clothes. Li Chuan contributed all his possessions, only to find that things were not as they seemed. Almost a year after joining, he hadn’t managed to get a single Daoist consort. Thinking he had been deceived, he was approached by a stunning senior fellow disciple who asked if he would like to form a spiritual bond. For those who don’t practice cultivation, they might not know what “forming a spiritual bond” is. Let me put it this way: A long-term relationship is called a “Daoist consort,” while a short-term relationship is known as “forming a spiritual bond.” From then on, Li Chuan discovered the true way to interact with the Yin-Yang Sect’s Daoist consorts. As long as he had enough spirit stones, he could form a spiritual bond with anyone, Whether it’s Senior Sisters, aunts, Daoist consorts of aunts, female elders, Daoist consorts of elders, or even the Daoist consort of the sect leader, anyone can form a spiritual bond as long as there are enough spirit stones.” I've already joined the Yin-Yang Sect, and you're telling me to focus on cultivation? Do you even know what the Yin-Yang Sect is all about?
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
