When the tea-drinking old man saw the five-color crystal ore in Old Monster Jin's hand, his eyes immediately went wide. "Is that the five-color crystal ore you snatched in the Peach Blossom Secret Realm?"
"That's the one."
"Just how many colored crystal ores came out of that Peach Blossom Secret Realm?"
"Hard to say for sure. From what I know, maybe ten or twenty. I only managed to grab this one five-color piece. I had a chance at a seven-color one, but damn, those two old fogies from the Blackwind Twin Fiends got there first."
"Bai Yue."
Old Monster Jin placed the five-color crystal ore on the table and grinned. "So, you've always wanted a colored crystal ore to forge a flying sword, right? Win this round against me, and you can have it. But, the catch is you gotta bet that treasure cauldron of yours."
"Pah! You wish! That five-color crystal ore of yours is, at best, a mid-grade Mystic Grade resource. My treasure cauldron is an upper Mystic Grade! And yours is just a resource, while mine is a magic artifact!"
Spirit treasure resources are ranked Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow. Magic artifacts follow the same classification.
As Bai Yue said, a resource is just a resource. Even if both are Mystic Grade, they are not comparable. For the same upper Mystic Grade rank, the value of a spirit treasure magic artifact far exceeds that of a spirit treasure resource. By market rates, one magic artifact can typically be exchanged for eighty-one resources of the same grade.
"Don't get your panties in a twist. I never said I'd only bet with one five-color crystal ore. That treasure cauldron of yours is just an upper Mystic Grade, right? Look!"
Old Monster Jin pulled out another flying sword. This flying sword contained the profound mysteries of the Five Elements of nature. At a glance, it was clearly a Mystic Grade flying sword. Bai Yue, being a man of discernment, recognized it instantly as an upper Mystic Grade flying sword.
"Add this upper Mystic Grade flying sword to the pot. How about it now?"
Clearly, the old man called Bai Yue was tempted. But only tempted. More than that, he was hesitant.
He truly had always wanted a colored crystal ore to forge a flying sword. At the same time, he knew Old Monster Jin's chess skills were superb. While chess did involve an element of fortune, he had little confidence in his own luck. After much deliberation, he ultimately decided to decline.
"Better not. You're too crafty. If I lose to you, my treasure cauldron is gone. I'll keep it for my precious disciple."
"Look at you, no backbone!" Old Monster Jin sneered. "Your disciple has decent talent and decent fortune, but he's way too arrogant. Last time I saw him, he even dared to talk back to you. And you're giving him such good stuff? I bet you anything, the day his cultivation level surpasses yours, he'll be walking all over you."
"Cut that out. Even if you talk until the heavens fall today, I won't gamble with you. You tricked me once last time. You think you can pull the same stunt on me today?"
"Bai Yue, oh Bai Yue, that's all you've got. Hopeless."
Old Monster Jin drained his cup of wine and was about to put away the five-color crystal ore and the upper Mystic Grade flying sword when Gu Qingfeng walked over and said, "How about we play a round?"
"Oh?"
Gu Qingfeng's words made both Old Monster Jin and old man Bai Yue pause. They had noticed Gu Qingfeng watching the game earlier, but hadn't paid him much mind. With the Five-Color Flower about to bloom, the garden was full of youngsters. They just hadn't expected this one to step forward and say such a thing.
The two merely glanced at him. A mere Golden Core cultivation level, not a trace of fortune aura about him. People like this were a dime a dozen in the Great Northwest Frontier.
"Kid, do you even know what game we're playing before you ask to join?"
"Isn't it just black-and-white chess? What's there to know or not know?"
"Well! Kid, not very old, but quite the big talker!"
Black-and-white chess wasn't hard to learn. In fact, it had almost no barrier to entry. Any cultivator who understood the transformations of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements could pretty much play. However, if you only knew the basics, you'd probably lose in just a few moves against a true master.
"Just average," Gu Qingfeng replied.
"Heh, give you an inch and you take a mile. I don't have time to play with a little brat like you. Go cool off somewhere else."
Beside them, Bai Yue chuckled. "Old Monster Jin, don't look down on people. Maybe he's a chess master of exceptional skill. This young man may only have Golden Core cultivation, but his bearing is rather unique. No youthful arrogance or pretentiousness. He seems very calm and steady. He watched for so long just now. If he didn't have some real skill, would he dare play with you?"
Hearing Bai Yue's words, Old Monster Jin thought it over and it seemed reasonable. Rubbing his chin, sipping his wine, he scrutinized Gu Qingfeng. "Fine. Since I'm idle anyway, I'll play a couple of rounds with you today."
"Come on, little brother, don't just stand there."
Bai Yue stood up and offered his seat. Gu Qingfeng didn't stand on ceremony either. He walked over and sat down.
"Kid, how big do you want to play? Let's be clear: if it's Yellow Grade trash, don't even bother. I don't have time for that."
Bai Yue couldn't stand it anymore. "I say, Old Monster Jin, stop acting all high and mighty because you're old, alright? We were all young once. When you were his age, forget Yellow Grade spirit treasures, you probably hadn't even seen a spirit stone, right? Winning my Mystic Grade spirit treasure is one thing, but what, you want to win a Mystic Grade spirit treasure from a young man too? It's good enough he's willing to play chess with you."
"Alright, alright, alright. Then no betting. Let's just play a couple of friendly games."
"How can that do?" Gu Qingfeng said with a faint smile. "Playing chess without a bet is no fun at all. Let's have a wager. Watching you play earlier made my fingers itch. It's been a long time since I played a game of chess for stakes."
"Hey!" Old Monster Jin was taken aback. He blinked, looked at Bai Yue. Bai Yue also seemed surprised Gu Qingfeng would say this. "Little brother, you really want to play a game of chess for stakes with Old Monster Jin?"
Seeing Gu Qingfeng nod, both Bai Yue and Old Monster Jin found it incredible. They were old-timers who had cultivated for many years, with vast experience and a good eye for people. In their view, this kid had only Golden Core cultivation, no fortune, not even a decent spirit treasure accessory on him, not even wearing basic treasure robes. Cultivators like this usually lived very frugally, often being low-level disciples from minor, insignificant sects.
"Kid, how big do you want to play?" Old Monster Jin asked curiously.
"Let's bet that five-color crystal ore and that upper Mystic Grade flying sword you just had."
Upon hearing this, Bai Yue and Old Monster Jin were even more incredulous. "Kid, are you sure? The rule for betting in chess is that both sides' stakes must be of equal value."
"I'm not as poor as I look."
Without any visible movement from Gu Qingfeng, he raised his hand, and in his palm suddenly appeared two worn-looking flying swords.