A Bet

After Chi Ji finished speaking, she didn't forget to provide examples to support her claims.

She said that although no one had mastered the secret art since the Demon Lord, and the so-called nether fire only existed in rumors, almost like a myth, that long table was very much a physical reality.

Either a massive shadow soul stone had once drifted up from the river, or the rumors were all true.

However, history was too distant. Looking back from the present, two Great Eras separated them from the time when the Demon Lord existed.

Spanning more than a hundred thousand years, Chi Ji didn't dare speak with absolute certainty.

Xu Xian asked, "So, do you think you can get that Nether Fire Secret Art out for me?"

Chi Ji’s eyes flickered with uncertainty as she looked Xu Xian over several times. "You really want to practice it?"

Xu Xian shrugged. "Why not?"

Chi Ji clicked her tongue. "Tsk, tsk. The techniques stored in the Demon Dao Tower are primal demon arts left behind by the ancestral demons from the ancient era. Those secret arts can't be researched by anyone but the heavenly demon race. You're just a mortal-demon, what are you even thinking?"

Xu Xian narrowed his eyes slightly.

Chi Ji continued, "Besides, even if I really got it for you, you wouldn't be able to learn it. Even the successive generations of demon sovereigns couldn't condense that nether fire. You're just a sixth-rank demon general; you're dreaming a bit too big."

Xu Xian was displeased upon hearing this. What kind of talk was that?

He simply refused to believe it was impossible.

The Green Lotus Sword Song was the top sword manual in Fanzhou. When he was practicing it, others had told him the same thing.

They said no one could learn it except for the Sword Ancestor, yet he had learned it all the same.

Could this nether fire really be harder than that?

"Want to make a bet?"

Chi Ji tilted her head. "Another bet?"

"Are you in or not?"

Chi Ji asked despite already knowing the answer, "What are we betting?"

Xu Xian smiled and said, "We’ll bet on whether you can get this Nether Fire Secret Art. If you can't, you'll go to your father and get back the money he owes me."

Chi Ji asked him, "And what if I do get it?"

Xu Xian thought for a moment. "Then I'll admit you're impressive."

Chi Ji arched an eyebrow and spat out two words, "You idiot!"

Xu Xian frowned. "Why are you resorting to insults?"

Chi Ji had finally figured it out. This Bai Mang was really trying to coax her like she was a three-year-old. Who did that?

She said coldly, "I don't want to talk to you anymore."

Xu Xian rubbed the bridge of his nose. He had indeed been a bit out of line, so he quickly corrected himself, "Fine, let's bet on something else."

Chi Ji shifted her seat and turned away like a petulant young girl. "Don't talk to me!"

Xu Xian pursued the topic. "This time, let's bet on whether I can master this Nether Fire Secret Art."

Chi Ji glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and chuckled.

Master it?

Xu Xian knit his brows and held up a finger. "One year. Let's bet on whether I can master it within a year."

Chi Ji shot him a look, her laughter growing more vibrant.

One year?

A fool's dream. Arrogant nonsense.

Inside the Demon Dao Tower, there were many demon arts left by the ancestral demons.

Every heavenly demon was allowed to enter and read them, but from ancient times to the present, how many people had actually learned what was inside?

Setting aside how profound and mysterious those demon arts were, the text itself was written in ancestral demon script, which was impossible to understand.

Even if one was lucky enough to gain insight into one of the books, most were fragmented scrolls. Given the current bloodline strength of the demon race, they were simply insufficient to complete or repair them.

Even a heavenly demon with the purest bloodline like her couldn't do it.

Xu Xian had the blood of the third-class demon race in his veins. What could he possibly use to practice it?

Furthermore, leaking a primordial demon art of the level of the Nether Fire Secret Art was no small matter.

If things went wrong, she really might be struck from the family register and exiled from the city.

Even her father might not be able to protect her.

It wasn't that she was being stingy or unwilling to help; rather, in her view, the whole thing was meaningless. It was pure nonsense, and there was no need to take such a risk.

To put it simply, it wasn't worth it.

Xu Xian really wanted to slap her. He suppressed his impatience and said, "What are you hesitating for? Are we betting or not?"

Chi Ji said haughtily, "No!"

"Uh..."

Chi Ji said playfully, "Unless you beg me?"

Xu Xian was stunned. The tables had turned. A curse word slipped out, "Beg your ass."

In his entire life, it had always been others begging him. When had he ever begged anyone else?

Did she think he had no pride?

Chi Ji didn't get angry. She said sincerely, "My mother died a long time ago. Begging her won't help."

Xu Xian was stunned again. Fine, fine, fine.

He couldn't be bothered to argue and brought up old grievances instead. "I'm not going to bicker with you. Give me my money back."

Chi Ji acted like a rogue. "I told you already. Go ask my father for it."

Xu Xian crossed his fingers, propped up his chin, and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Do you really think I wouldn't dare?"

Being stared at like that by the youth, Chi Ji instinctively looked away.

Xu Xian's gaze grew increasingly sharp as he spoke slowly, "How about a bet? Do you want to see if I dare go ask your father for the money?"

Chi Ji pouted. "You're just bragging."

Xu Xian said calmly, "Shall we test it?"

Chi Ji lost her nerve, so she compromised. Of course, it wasn't because she was truly afraid Bai Mang would go to her father.

She just didn't want Bai Mang to die. Also, she was willing to help him out of some private girlish sentiment.

"Fine, I give up. I'll go get it for you. But it's a deal: once I give you the Nether Fire Secret Art, whether you can learn it or not has nothing to do with me. We'll consider ourselves even, and you're never allowed to mention those million shadow soul stones to me again."

Xu Xian's eyebrows shot up, and he immediately began to flatter her happily. "See, wouldn't it have been better if you'd just done that from the start? You had to throw a little tantrum and make things so unpleasant. Don't forget, we're friends."

He even took the initiative to pour a cup of water for Chi Ji, his tone exceptionally gentle. "You must be thirsty. Here, have some water."

Chi Ji was completely exasperated. How could anyone be so pragmatic? However...

She still felt quite good inside.

Putting on airs, she said, "Hmph, who says I'm your friend?"

While her words were tough, her hands were honest as she picked up the teacup and took a nice sip, smacking her lips.

Surprisingly, even though it was just plain water, the water someone else poured for you really did taste different from what you poured yourself.

She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Xu Xian was still staring at her. She rolled her eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Xu Xian didn't hold back, praising her warmly, "You're a truly good person!"

The sound reached her ears and the look met her eyes. Chi Ji felt her ears burn slightly, and her heart felt like a deer racing wildly, an inexplicable chaos erupting within her.

She hurried to look away, no longer meeting Xu Xian's gaze, though her tongue remained sharp. "Nonsense. I don't need you to tell me I'm good. I've always been good."

"Yes, yes, yes. Her Highness the Goddess is both kind-hearted and beautiful. Haha!"

"Smooth talker!" Chi Ji chided. Then she stood up, readjusted her veiled hat, and instructed, "Don't go wandering off. Wait for me here. I'll come find you then."

Xu Xian stood up to see her off, cupping his hands in a polite greeting. "Then I shall thank Her Highness the Goddess. I, Bai, await your good news."

Chi Ji gave Xu Xian a strange look. This kind of hand-cupping etiquette was truly rare to see.

But she didn't think much of it. Bai Mang was special to begin with, and he had spent time making a living at the Blazing Fortress.

Without replying, she walked out of the room, down the stairs, and into the long street.

Standing below the building, she couldn't help but look up again, saying insincerely, "So strange. He's really annoying."

Always showing off, greedy for money, shameless, brazen, pushing his luck, and he loved to gamble—he was full of bad habits.

Xu Xian stood by the window, looking down through the gap. He smiled knowingly, thinking the opposite of her, "Busty but brainless. Interesting."

She was naive, silly, and a bit thick... All in all, she was quite easy to trick.