Chapter 161: The Entrance Examination (Part-7)
Fang Qingyang shook his head. "No. I really don't know anything."
"Nothing at all?" Murong Liu pressed.
"Can't I place a bet without you?" Fang Qingyang retorted lightly, then added, "Alright, stop asking. You've already placed your bet. There's no point worrying now. I chose what I believe will win. That's all."
"You…" Murong Liu snorted softly. "Fine. Keep your secrets."
But inside, Murong Liu was anything but calm.
His own bet was worth six drops of Holy Liquid, a staggering amount of wealth. How could he possibly ignore this?
If everything were normal, he would have accepted the outcome, win or lose. But now, with Fang Qingyang's abnormal confidence and the North District's strange behavior, Murong Liu sensed something was off.
And knowing that, how could he remain at ease?
After a long internal struggle, Murong Liu finally gritted his teeth and made a decision.
He walked toward Gong Liansheng and said with a strained smile, "Special Envoy Gong… about the bet, may I change it?"
The words themselves felt humiliating to say.
Changing a bet after placing it was undeniably shameless.
But compared to cultivation resources, pride meant very little.
Knowing you might lose and still watching your fortune slip away was far worse.
"Oh?" Gong Liansheng looked surprised. "How do you wish to change it, Palace Master Murong?"
"I would like to move my bet from the Eastern District… to the Northern District," Murong Liu said stiffly.
"To the North District?" Gong Liansheng was momentarily taken aback. "The entrance exam has only just begun, so a change is still allowed. But are you certain? The Eastern District has the highest chance of winning. The North District is not favored by anyone. Are you sure you want to change?"
Murong Liu clenched his fists slightly.
"Yes," he said firmly. "I'm sure."
"I'm certain. I want to switch my bet to the North District."
Murong Liu spoke firmly, his gaze briefly sweeping past Fang Qingyang in the distance before returning to Gong Liansheng. His expression was calm, and he did not even blink as he lied with a straight face.
"I misjudged earlier when I chose the Eastern District. Thinking it over carefully, the North District has a better chance this time."
Gong Liansheng looked at him for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Very well. I'll allow the change. This will be the only exception."
As he spoke, Gong Liansheng raised his hand and flicked it lightly. A streak of light shot out and struck the blank white paper suspended in the air. Instantly, the red circle bearing Murong Liu's name vanished from the Eastern District section. In the next breath, a new red circle appeared in the North District area.
The change was complete.
"Thank you, Special Envoy."
Murong Liu clasped his hands and bowed, then turned and walked back.
When he reached Fang Qingyang's side, he lowered his voice and muttered, "Old friend, don't drag me into a pit this time."
Fang Qingyang raised an eyebrow and immediately waved his hands. "Don't blame me. This was your own decision. Win or lose has nothing to do with me."
In truth, Fang Qingyang himself was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Murong Liu to actually change his bet because of him. Aside from a flicker of emotion, he was also puzzled by Murong Liu's decisiveness.
Murong Liu could only spread his hands helplessly. Since Fang Qingyang refused to say more, there was nothing left to do but hope his intuition had not betrayed him and that the North District candidates would truly deliver a surprise.
Around them, however, mockery quickly followed.
"Tsk, no wonder Qian Palace is declining year by year. Look at their elders and palace masters. One more absurd than the other."
"Exactly. Their strength might still be passable, but their judgment? Terrible."
"It's not just bad judgment. There's clearly something wrong with their heads."
"If their brains worked properly, they wouldn't manage Qian Palace like this, let alone bet on a district with no hope at all."
The ridicule flowed freely. Murong Liu's decision only deepened the other palace masters' and elders' contempt for Qian Palace.
Even among the people of Qian Palace themselves, faces flushed with embarrassment and helpless sighs followed one after another. Yet this had been Murong Liu's and Fang Qingyang's personal choice. No matter how dissatisfied others felt, there was no ground to interfere.
Seeing that no further changes were made, Gong Liansheng spoke again.
"Very well. The first round of betting is concluded. If no one else wishes to alter their choice, then this is final."
He swept his gaze across the crowd. Seeing no objections, he extended his hand and withdrew the blank paper filled with wagers. With a faint shimmer, it vanished from sight.
"At this point, no further bets or changes will be accepted," Gong Liansheng continued. "The second round of betting will take place on the third day of the entrance examination. Now, let us continue watching."
Everyone shifted their attention back to the massive light curtain in the sky.
By now, Ryan's figure was no longer displayed. The scene had switched to other candidates scattered throughout the Holy Land.
*
"You monster! Why are you chasing us? Our common enemy should be the North District candidates!"
"Run!"
"Damn it!"
"What's wrong with this lunatic? Why isn't he completing the mission instead of hunting us down?"
"I don't want to die! Don't kill me!"
Deep within the Holy Land, chaos erupted.
A Western District candidate with a large mole on his neck was relentlessly pursuing five or six Southern District candidates. His face was twisted with cruelty, while the fleeing Southern District candidates were pale with terror.
These candidates were elites in their own regions, yet even together they were no match for the man behind them.
Earlier, more than a dozen Southern District candidates had banded together. Half of them had already died by this man's blade, without even having the chance to crush their SOS Stones. Their deaths had been swift and merciless.
To the fleeing candidates, this Western District man was nothing short of a demon.
He showed no interest in conversation. The moment he appeared, killing followed. Anyone caught by him met a single fate: death.
Now, as he closed the distance again, despair filled their eyes. Even if they wanted to give up and crush the SOS Stone, they had no chance. His speed was terrifying. In the time it took to reach for it, they would already be dead.
Escape was impossible. Survival tools were useless. Only despair remained.
"Unlucky for you," the man sneered coldly as he chased them down. "You just happened to run into me during this entrance exam."
His blade flashed.
Cries were cut short. Heads tumbled to the ground one after another. Several Southern District candidates had already touched their SOS Stones, yet never managed to crush them.
When the slaughter ended, the man stood amidst the corpses, breathing steadily, not even winded.
"A bunch of useless trash," he muttered disdainfully. "This is what Western Mansion recruits?"
He turned, preparing to leave.
At that moment, a figure rushed toward him at high speed.
"Who's there?" the man barked, lifting his blade.
The newcomer, dressed in the same Western District candidate attire, quickly bowed. "Leader He, it's me."
"Oh, Xiaofu," the man saidering his weapon. "What's the situation?"
The man with the mole was named He Anmin, the leader of the group secretly colluding with a palace master. Xiaofu, the person before him, was one of his subordinates, responsible for reconnaissance and liaison.
Earlier, while He Anmin slaughtered the Southern District candidates, Xiaofu had been lurking nearby, unseen. Without Xiaofu's scouting, He Anmin would not have found his targets so efficiently.
Not only was Xiaofu adept at concealment, but his own strength was far from ordinary. Otherwise, he would never have been chosen for such a dangerous mission.
"Everyone has been scattered across the Holy Land," Xiaofu reported respectfully. "I've already contacted several of our people through the special communication method. We can regroup at any time."
"Good." He Anmin nodded slightly. Then his eyes sharpened. "Have they all put on the Lingling Cloaks?"
"I've already informed them. Once they receive the message, they'll put them on immediately."
"Excellent."
He Anmin's tone became serious.
"Tell everyone to be extremely careful. Inside the Holy Land, many of our movements can be observed by certain Xifu methods. Only by wearing the Lingling Cloaks can we remain hidden. Otherwise, they might see us… and even discover what we're doing."
His voice dropped colder.
"Before we find the Blood of the Holy Spirit, nothing we do must be exposed."
"Yes." Xiaofu bowed. "I'll remind everyone to stay cautious."
He Anmin paused, then suddenly remembered something.
"One more thing. If you discover the candidate numbered 59416, inform me immediately. I will deal with him personally."
His eyes flickered with killing intent.
"That person must not interfere with our mission."
"Yes, understood," Xiaofu replied promptly.
The two exchanged a few more brief instructions before splitting apart. Soon their figures vanished into the forest, heading in different directions like shadows melting into the jungle.
***