CHAPTER 1597: CHAPTER 1597: A BET

"Laugh as you will! Laugh to your heart’s content! I’m thick-skinned and mentally strong; I fear nothing! Someday, my strength will surpass yours! And then, I’ll trample all of you beneath my feet!"

As mocking glances shot from all directions, Wu De’s chubby face formed a smile, and his fist clenched secretly.

Wherever he went, whether in the Secular World or in the Three Thousand Minor Worlds, Wu De had always been a cut above, greeted by endless praise. Yet here, he found himself at the bottom, facing humiliation he had never endured.

"Bear with it. Once you emerge from the Nine-layer Linglong Tower, you’ll definitely leave people in awe!"

Fang Bai patted Wu De’s shoulder, smiling as he spoke.

Wu De sniffed, grinning as he replied, "No problem, just a minor grievance, I can handle it! As they say: ’Today you ignore me; tomorrow you can’t reach me!’ I believe my tomorrow will be filled with utmost honor! Utmost glory!"

Hu Wei said simply, "Wu bro, you don’t need to worry about others’ opinions. It’s enough that we value you!"

Hu Zhuang nodded vigorously, "Brother’s right! Present weakness doesn’t mean future weakness! We all believe in your extraordinary future accomplishments, Wu bro!"

Wind Roc added, "I agree with the two Tiger brothers!"

Wu De patted the shoulders of Hu Wei, Hu Zhuang, and Wind Roc, appearing grateful and touched, and said, "Just for these words, you three will be my best friends, just like Brother Fang!"

The four ignored the strange, mocking glances from others, walking arm in arm to an ancient towering tree near the Nine-layer Linglong Tower, and sat cross-legged, quietly waiting for the day the tower would open.

Tens of thousands of Nascent Soul Realm and Soul Severing Realm experts gathered around the ancient tower, their Martial Artist Auras intertwining magnificently. Thus, the day of the ten-year opening of the Nine-layer Linglong Tower is hailed as the grandest event of the Heaven’s Net Realm.

"Haha... Hu Wei, Hu Zhuang, are you two idiots back again?"

Not long after Fang Bai and the others sat down, four burly men in yellow clothing laughed wantonly, approaching them, their eyes falling on Hu Wei and Hu Zhuang, their smiles filled with scornful ridicule.

"Hmph!"

Facing these four, the Tiger brothers’ expressions turned grim, releasing a cold snort filled with anger.

"Lion Clan strongmen?"

Though the four burly men had taken human form, Fang Bai recognized them immediately, transmitting, "Do your Tiger Clan and the Lion Clan have a grudge?"

Hu Wei replied, "Tiger and Lion Clans don’t have deep grudges, but these four are very annoying!"

Pausing, he continued, "We’re sons of the Tiger Clan’s leader, while those four are sons of the Lion Clan’s leader. In our respective races, we’re the favored ones, with high expectations, challenging each other. But..."

Hu Wei sighed silently and continued, "Ten years ago, our cultivation was equal, but their experience in the Nine-layer Linglong Tower granted them great fortune, quickly surpassing us. Now, they ridicule us every time we meet, truly detestable!"

"Are Lion Clan strongmen truly so uncouth? Get lost!"

After finishing with Fang Bai, Hu Wei turned his cold gaze on the four Lion Clan strongmen.

The four Lion Clan strongmen were not angered, laughing together before the leader spoke, "Hu Wei, how about another wager this time?"

"A wager it is! What if you lose?"

Hu Wei stood abruptly, glaring as he spoke.

Last time, the Tiger brothers wagered against the four Lion brothers on who would gain better fortune and faster strength in the Nine-layer Linglong Tower. The Tiger brothers lost, handing over many Cultivation Resources as a result.

The Tiger brothers held onto their bitterness, dreaming of reclaiming victory, so they accepted the Lion’s provocation immediately.

The leading Lion strongman, named Huang Paoxiao, the eldest son of the current Lion leader, fixed his gaze on Hu Wei, chuckling, "Did you always want my Split-Mountain Fork? If we lose, I’ll give it to you. How about that?"

"Deal!"

Hu Wei’s eyes shone brightly, exclaiming in excitement.

The Split-Mountain Fork is one of the Lion Clan’s treasures, Huang Paoxiao’s Spiritual Artifact, of King Grade medium rank, said to pierce mountains and shatter rocks with tremendous power.

Hu Wei hasn’t had a suitable Spiritual Artifact, and ten years ago coveted Huang Paoxiao’s Split-Mountain Fork, impulsively betting against him, losing substantial Cultivation Resources, leaving him aggrieved.

Now Huang Paoxiao offered the fork as the wager, pleasing Hu Wei immensely.

What if he loses... Hu Wei hasn’t even considered.

"But... what if you brothers lose?"

Huang Paoxiao asked with a smile.

Hu Wei stared, clenched fists, and said, "This time, we brothers will definitely win!"

Huang Paoxiao laughed, "Anything that worries about what might happen isn’t afraid of ten thousand, but of a single chance. What if you do lose? What’s your stake?"

Hu Wei thought for a moment and said, "I’ll wager my Soul-Compelling Staff against you!"

The Soul-Compelling Staff is Hu Wei’s current Spiritual Artifact, slightly inferior to Huang Paoxiao’s Split-Mountain Fork, but notable nonetheless.

Huang Paoxiao shook his head firmly, "No! Your Soul-Compelling Staff doesn’t interest me! It can’t compare to my Split-Mountain Fork!"

"What about with my Profound Iron Seal?"

Hu Zhuang interjected.

Huang Paoxiao still shook his head.

Hu Wei snapped, "Then tell us, what do you want?"

Huang Paoxiao chuckled slyly, whispering, "I want your Tiger Clan’s treasured Sky-Tearing Claw!"

Hu Wei inhaled sharply in shock, "No way! Absolutely not!"

The Sky-Tearing Claw is the Tiger Clan’s most fearsome sacred artifact, King Grade superior rank, usually sealed, only wielded by the strongest Supreme Elder during existential threats.

"What, you don’t dare wager?"

Huang Paoxiao sneered, contemptuous as he taunted the Tiger brothers, "I knew it, you don’t have the guts..."

"How about I wager this blade with you, how’s that?"

Suddenly, Fang Bai interjected, revealing his Blood-Drinking Mad Blade.

Huang Paoxiao’s gaze fell on the Blood-Drinking Mad Blade, inspecting it intensively, unable to discern its grade, hesitating.

"Young brother, I’m willing to trade a bottle of Royal Grade Spirit Pill for your Blood Blade, are you interested?"

At this moment, a slender man in green robes approached briskly, his eyes filled with admiration for Fang Bai’s Blood-Drinking Mad Blade.