Chapter 138: The First to Appear

Hearing Bai Feiyu frankly state that he remained confident for tomorrow's match against a third-layer Shackle Realm opponent, Qianshuang was momentarily stunned. It felt as though she had seen a ghost; everything Bai Feiyu said seemed utterly surreal.

Yet, seeing his absolute confidence, she could only nod and say, "Tomorrow, I will take one-fourth of the total spiritual stones you’ve won and bet them on you."

She continued, "I don't think anyone else will bet on you tomorrow; the gap in cultivation is simply too large. It will likely just be me, and even if others do, they won't take much of the pot. Since you have this much confidence, I must support you. Don't worry!"

Bai Feiyu nodded heavily, a wave of warmth washing over him. After all, Qianshuang’s gesture was a form of unconditional trust. Anyone else might have found it difficult to believe him, perhaps even dismissing his ambition as whimsical or ignorant of the vastness of the world. Since Qianshuang trusted him so deeply, everything would fall into place; he had absolute confidence in his victory tomorrow. Even though his current cultivation level was slightly weaker, he possessed a method to break through mid-battle. If he could achieve a breakthrough during the fight, his opponent would stand no chance. Even against a fourth-layer Shackle Realm fighter, Bai Feiyu believed he had the strength to contend.

Afterward, Bai Feiyu walked over to the table where other disciples of the Gui Xu Sect were playing mahjong with great fervor. Seeing him approach, they immediately greeted him.

"Hello, Bai Feiyu! Tomorrow's match will likely be your limit, but don't be too sad." Everyone has their limits, they reasoned, and he had already done remarkably well.

Compared to a few days ago, the attitude of the Gui Xu Sect disciples toward him had improved significantly. A few days prior, they had found him an eyesore, constantly playing outside instead of cultivating, showing no signs of urgency despite the approaching tournament. However, now that Bai Feiyu had helped them win so much money, they felt a sense of camaraderie. His final ranking no longer mattered to them. Money truly makes the world go round; even these arrogant geniuses had set aside their pride to curry favor with him.

Bai Feiyu smiled faintly. "Rest assured, I am still confident that I will win tomorrow. However, whether you choose to bet or not is entirely up to you; I won't force anyone. If you don't think I can win, that’s perfectly normal, and I won't be angry."

Truth be told, Bai Feiyu hoped they wouldn't bet on him. That way, the "fertile water" would stay within his own fields. He wanted all the betting proceeds to be his own, as he had many plans for that capital. If these disciples bet, the sheer volume of people who doubted him meant the total stakes would be immense, and he would hate to have to share a portion of that fortune.

"Haha, it's good that you have such confidence! Even if you lose, it doesn't matter; you've already been defying the heavens enough!" Seeing his confidence, the disciples clapped him on the back in support. Bai Feiyu just smiled thinly, saying nothing.

Soon, the next day arrived, and Bai Feiyu returned to his seat. Because there were so few qualified fighters left, the matches had become far more intense, and many were preparing to take a gamble.

"Damn it, I’m betting against that guy Bai Feiyu today," one muttered. "I don't believe his luck can hold out forever."

"Those second-layer Shackle Realm disciples yesterday were absolute trash; they were useless and made me lose so much money."

"Don't mention it, the quality of fighters this time is just poor." Many gritted their teeth at the mention of Bai Feiyu, acting as if he had personally stolen their money—which, in truth, he had. But Bai Feiyu would never admit it.

"Haha, look, Bai Feiyu is the first one out today," someone remarked. "It seems even the Human Emperor and the judges don't believe he can defy the odds again, putting him up first. Is the Emperor taking pity on our heavy losses and giving us an easy win?"

"I wonder if that benefactor of his will bet such a huge sum on him again. Let's hope so; we need to recoup our losses, or we'll be left with nothing."

"Damn it, when I got home yesterday, my wife wouldn't stop nagging me, saying I was blind for not seeing a peerless genius and betting on the wrong person. She's threatening to divorce me!"

Many harbored extreme resentment toward him. He had caused them to lose so much, and the prospect of winning it back now had them buzzing with excitement.

"Heh, I didn't realize my popularity had reached such heights," Bai Feiyu thought, casting a mischievous grin at the crowd. This smile instantly infuriated those preparing to bet against him; they took it as a deliberate provocation.

"Hmph, just wait until you lose. Let's see how you recover this time. I hope your benefactor doesn't abandon you and keeps betting on you."

"Damn, that petty man! If he wins again, I'll be his son from now on!"

Ignoring the jeers, Bai Feiyu walked onto the platform. Because there were so few participants in the third-layer Shackle Realm, the matches were held one after another, focusing the entire arena's attention on him. Many hoped for his defeat, unaware that this was Bai Feiyu’s moment to shine. Previously, the high number of competitors had diluted his fame, but now, he was confident that after today, everyone in the Imperial City would know his name. Perhaps the Human Emperor would even grant him a special commendation. This was the moment he had waited two months for—his chance to become famous throughout the realm.