Chapter 132: The Frustrated Golden Light Sect

When Bai Feiyu stepped onto the arena, many who had been losing money began to cheer. This time, they bet against him; after all, how could a disciple at the ninth level of the Haoqi Realm possibly defeat one at the Shackled Realm? It was an absolute impossibility. Many hoped this match would be the turning point to adjust their luck and stop the bleeding. Some, driven to madness by their losses, went all-in on what they perceived as a sure-fire bet, hoping to restore their confidence.

The disciples of the Guixu Sect watched this scene with strange expressions. These gamblers were about to shoot themselves in the foot; they were going to make a fortune off these fools. The Guixu Sect members knew full well how formidable Bai Feiyu was. They understood that no matter how strong the opponent, Bai Feiyu would win because he was simply a monster.

Before walking onto the stage, Bai Feiyu looked at the jeering crowd and felt a sudden wave of pity. These were pathetic people. It was hard to earn money in this world, and the heavens were rarely kind to the poor. With a sigh, he strode forward without hesitation.

Once on the platform, Bai Feiyu was full of vigor. Within a few exchanges, he sent the Golden Light Sect’s Shackled Realm disciple flying. A deathly silence fell over the audience. Many suspected that their heavy losses had finally caused them to hallucinate. How could this be? An Haoqi Realm disciple defeating one in the Shackled Realm was simply impossible. They clung to the delusion that it must be a mistake, that the Golden Light Sect disciple must have won.

When the referee officially announced the result, many hearts bled. Those who had bet on the Golden Light Sect disciple had lost everything; they would have no face to return home to their wives. Or rather, their wives would likely have already left them. Overwhelmed by despair, they began to hurl insults at the defeated Golden Light Sect disciple.

"Damn it! What kind of trash sect is this Golden Light Sect? What kind of disciple did they raise?"
"What a complete idiot! Is this supposed to be a Shackled Realm expert? He’s clearly wasted all his cultivation!"
"It’s rigged! There must be an inside job; there's no way a Shackled Realm disciple could lose!"
"Damn those useless fools from the Golden Light Sect!"

The crowd became so agitated that they began to disparage the entire Golden Light Sect. The disciples of the Golden Light Sect looked on with dark expressions; they were being labeled as a useless sect. The name Bai Feiyu already carried infamy within their ranks, especially after he had scammed them during the Toba Ruins incident. They had been hoping their disciple would turn the tide and teach him a lesson, but instead, they were being humiliated alongside him. They were furious, itching to jump onto the stage and beat him themselves.

In reality, the Golden Light Sect disciples wished the match had been rigged—they wished someone strong enough to beat Bai Feiyu into the dirt had been chosen. But there were no "ifs" in this world, and it would be difficult for Bai Feiyu to encounter another one of their disciples soon.

Back in the stands, many were convinced that the fix was in. Bai Feiyu’s cultivation clearly shouldn't have been enough to win, yet the betting pool on his side was surprisingly large. They questioned the fairness of the fight. In truth, the vast majority of those funds had been placed by Qianshuang using Bai Feiyu’s own spirit stones. The rest was a mix of the Guixu Sect disciples' love for their peer and a secret wager placed by the Fourth Princess. The Princess was generous to her friends and, knowing Bai Feiyu’s true capabilities, had easily profited from the bet. She found the experience of winning money surprisingly fun.

Because Qianshuang had placed a massive bet early on, it had drawn attention, leading others to mimic the trend, hoping to ride the wave of luck. This had become the largest betting pool since the tournament began, and Bai Feiyu had become an accidental celebrity.

Behind the scenes, Qianshuang watched the betting totals with manic joy. The winnings were nearly equal to her original stake. Since the victory was a foregone conclusion in her mind, she had bet everything. She felt as though she could wander the world for the rest of her life without ever needing to take another mission or worry about resources.

Given the massive outcry, the referee was forced to announce that the match was entirely legitimate, void of any rigging. He explained that it was purely a matter of Bai Feiyu’s monstrous combat prowess, and that a mysterious wealthy benefactor who knew his strength had placed the large wagers. Upon hearing this, many who had lost their fortunes fainted on the spot, creating a scene of widespread collapse.

It didn't matter. The tournament continued. No matter how unpopular or detested Bai Feiyu was, he had undeniably won with his Shackled Realm combat power.

"Damn it! I'm betting against Bai Feiyu again next round," some Golden Light Sect disciples hissed, grinding their teeth as they watched Bai Feiyu’s triumphant figure on stage. "I refuse to believe this guy can keep winning!"