"Young man, you're the banker this round. After the Taiji Array settled the Arcane Law, you personally agreed to let others raise the bet. Now, Young Masters Bai Yuanrui and Jin Jun have jointly raised the stake by five million. If you can't pay up, it counts as cheating. According to the gambling house rules, the consequences won't be mere physical suffering—it'll cost you your life."
Elder Yan, who had been standing beside the gambling table the whole time, spoke with a grave tone. His so-called 'costing a life' didn't necessarily mean directly taking the cheater's life, but it was close enough. If one couldn't pay, a Golden Core cultivator would have their core dug out; those without a core would have their blood drained dry. If that still wasn't enough to repay the debt, one's soul would be extracted—and all these fetched a handsome price on the black market.
"That ruthless? Who set these rules?"
Gu Qingfeng truly hadn't expected such a rule and was rather curious about which bastard had used his name to establish this so-called Crimson-Letter.
"Weren't you talking big just now!" Bai Yuanrui sneered, his eyes venomous like a snake, his tone icy. "Scared now?"
Jin Jun also glared furiously, roaring viciously, "I'm telling you, if you can't pay up, I, Jin Jun, will definitely take your life! Hmph! Daring to compete with us in resources! You really don't know..."
Before Jin Jun could finish his sentence, Gu Qingfeng flipped his palm, revealing five exquisite cards in his hand. These were also Crimson-Letter spirit stone cards, each worth a million. He tossed the cards over and said leisurely, "Just five million. Come on."
Perhaps not expecting Gu Qingfeng to actually have five million, both Bai Yuanrui and Jin Jun were momentarily stunned. However, that was all. The outcome wasn't decided yet, and they weren't afraid. Not only were they unafraid, they were actually quite confident about this round!
"I'm definitely taking your five million!" Jin Jun waved his hand grandly and opened his gambling cup—it revealed nine layers of Profound Mystery.
The Arcane Law settled by the Taiji Array just now was the Six-Harmony Dragon-Spring Profound Mystery. Any gambler knew that deducing this Six-Harmony Dragon-Spring Profound Mystery was extremely difficult. Jin Jun's array position stone was a Four Symbols position. Although it was a Favorable Game, the difficulty was still considerable. Being able to deduce nine layers of Profound Mystery was truly astonishing.
Immediately after, when Bai Yuanrui opened his gambling cup, an even more astonishing scene appeared. His array position stone actually... actually blossomed with thirteen layers of Profound Mystery. This was truly an eye-opener!
"Young Master Bai's array position is Five Phases. Even though it's a Great Favorable Game, being able to deduce thirteen layers of Six-Harmony Dragon-Spring Profound Mystery is truly admirable!"
Everyone present were veteran gamblers who knew well that the Six-Harmony Dragon-Spring Profound Mystery wasn't easy to deduce. Forget a Great Favorable Game; even in a King-Overlord Game, whether one could deduce thirteen layers was an unknown. At least, no one present had that confidence. This thing had nothing to do with cultivation or talent; it relied entirely on deduction.
Amidst the surrounding praise, a proud and smug smile also appeared on Bai Yuanrui's handsome face. He couldn't help but feel a bit giddy. Standing up, he poured himself a cup of fine wine and was just about to say something when suddenly, an uproar swept through the entire hall.
Huh?
Bai Yuanrui's heart skipped a beat in surprise. Ignoring the wine, he looked over—and his face instantly changed drastically. Because the white-robed man opposite had somehow already opened his gambling cup, and the Seven-Star array position stone inside the cup actually... actually blossomed with fourteen layers of Profound Mystery.
"You! How did you..." At this moment, all traces of pride and smugness vanished from Bai Yuanrui's face, replaced only by an ashen complexion, shock, deep shock, unconcealable shock. Pointing at Gu Qingfeng, he looked as if he had seen a ghost, seemingly unable to believe this was real. It wasn't just him who couldn't believe it.
Everyone around, even Elder Yan who had been seasoned in the gambling house for over two hundred years, was currently filled with astonishment.
The Dragon-Spring Profound Mystery was considered one of the more complex mysteries among the Six-Harmony Profound Mysteries. For Bai Yuanrui, positioned in a Great Favorable Game, to deduce thirteen layers was already remarkable. Yet the array position stone in the white-robed man's hand was a Seven-Star position, notoriously a Big Adverse Game requiring reverse deduction. He actually... actually managed to deduce fourteen layers. This person was simply...
If it were just this, it wouldn't be enough to make Elder Yan, who had weathered the gambling house for two hundred years, lose his composure like this. The truth was, he had been secretly observing this white-robed man all along and clearly knew that this white-robed man merely flicked his five fingers lightly on the gambling cup each round, then five Spirit Formulas condensed and manifested.
Yes!
Every single round, without exception. Regardless of whether it was an Adverse Game or Favorable Game, regardless of what Profound Mystery it was or how profound, he always condensed only five Spirit Formulas.
What made Elder Yan even more unbelievable was that the Profound Mystery this white-robed man deduced each round was always one or two layers higher than everyone else's. Every time, without fail. Regardless of Favorable or Adverse Game, regardless of the Profound Mystery, regardless of how many layers others deduced, he was always one or two layers higher. This time was no exception.
Just who was he?
He didn't know.
Elder Yan had never seen this person before, and he was certain this person was definitely not a local of the Gilded Territories, nor even from the surrounding regions. If he were, Elder Yan couldn't possibly have no impression of him.
"My apologies! A small win."
From beginning to end, Gu Qingfeng remained sitting leisurely with his legs crossed. He took a sip of Little Tipple, waved his hand, and collected the Crimson-Letter spirit stone cards worth five million from the gambling table. Glancing at Bai Yuanrui, Jin Jun, and the others opposite, he smiled. "Come on, continue."
Continue?
How could they continue?
This was five million! Lost in just one round!
Even if Bai Yuanrui and Jin Jun were second-generation rich kids from wealthy families, five million was absolutely a significant sum for them.
"What's the matter?" Gu Qingfeng didn't even look at the two of them, taking casual sips of his Little Tipple as he spoke indifferently. "Weren't you all boasting about being this young master and that young master? Can't handle losing five million?"
"You! Don't! Get! Cocky!" Jin Jun stared at Gu Qingfeng with uncontrollable rage, his fists clenched tightly.
Bai Yuanrui took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and said in a heavy voice, "Who among you has money on them? Give it to me."
"Young Master Bai, I think we should just..." The other young masters behind him wanted to persuade him, but Bai Yuanrui suddenly shouted, "I said give it to me! Are you afraid I, Bai Yuanrui, can't pay you back?"
The other young masters looked at each other, then took out all the Crimson-Letter spirit stone cards they had on them. Although they were also considered second-generation rich kids in the Gilded Territories, they couldn't compare to Bai Yuanrui and Jin Jun. More than ten of them only managed to scrape together a little over a million.
"There isn't a single gambling game in this world that I, Bai Yuanrui, can't afford to play!" Bai Yuanrui forcefully suppressed the fury in his heart, sat down slowly with an iron-gray face, and said gravely, "This round, it's my turn to be banker! Elder Yan, activate the Taiji Array."
"What's the hurry."
Gu Qingfeng's voice came through. Bai Yuanrui sneered, "What? Win one round and you want to leave? Let me tell you, today, unless I nod, you can't leave here!"
Gu Qingfeng shook his head with an amused smile, looked at him, and said with a laugh, "This lord hasn't had enough fun yet and has no intention of leaving."
"Then what do you mean!"
"Just adding a bet before the game starts."
"Fine! I'll let you add!"
If one wanted to add bets after positions were assigned and the Arcane Law was determined, they needed the banker's consent.
But adding bets before the game started didn't require the banker's consent.
Having lost so much again, even if Gu Qingfeng didn't add bets, Bai Yuanrui and Jin Jun would have found a way to do so. However, when Gu Qingfeng directly tossed the five million he had just won onto the gambling table, Bai Yuanrui's face immediately darkened—because he only had a little over a million in hand and absolutely cannot afford to pay.
"The gambling game has no upper limit, you said that yourself. I'm adding five million before the game starts. No problem, right?"
Bai Yuanrui stood there dumbfounded, his face ashen, his expression even more enraged.
"What's wrong? Didn't you say there isn't a single gambling game in this world you can't afford to play?"
Bai Yuanrui's breathing grew heavy as he stared intently at Gu Qingfeng, his face growing increasingly pale. Gnashing his teeth, he said, "Elder Yan! Get me five million!"
Elder Yan didn't respond immediately but pondered for a moment. After a while, he summoned a gambling house attendant and had them fetch five million.
"Continue!" Bai Yuanrui slapped the Crimson-Letter spirit stone cards worth five million onto the gambling table and roared angrily, "This round, I'll definitely make you kneel and beg me!"
The Taiji Array activated. Bai Yuanrui was assigned a Five Phases array position again, while Gu Qingfeng was assigned an Eight Trigrams array position.
After positions were assigned, the Taiji Array began its second rotation. When the array eye determined the Arcane Law...
The entire hall erupted in an uproar!
And Bai Yuanrui's originally ashen face instantly became excited, excitedly ferocious. Because the Arcane Law determined by the Taiji Array was none other than the Five Phases Arcane Law. In other words, this round, he was neither in an Adverse Game nor a Favorable Game, but a Great Fortune King-Overlord Game.
Compared to him, the white-robed man's situation was somewhat unfavorable. Not only was it an Adverse Game, it was a Big Adverse Game, even more adverse than the previous round.
"I told you, this round I'll definitely make you kneel and beg me! Hahahaha!"
Bai Yuanrui laughed triumphantly. The other second-generation rich kids beside him also joined in the clamor, especially Jin Jun. Although he wasn't participating this round, he was extremely excited. Pointing at Gu Qingfeng, he sneered, "Weren't you acting so arrogant? Let's see how you keep up the act this round!"