Chapter 162: The Wager

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: The Wager

Xavier had wanted to test himself against a genuine Divine Power Realm expert for quite some time.

He needed to understand the difference between his current strength and that of someone who had crossed that threshold. More importantly, he wanted to find out just how much he could accomplish with his existing abilities.

Mark’s proposal had come at the perfect time.

That was why Xavier hadn’t rejected the challenge outright.

His demand for additional stakes, however, wasn’t simply an attempt to squeeze more treasures out of Mark. He had another concern.

Victoria had previously explained how the combat area worked. Before a match began, the Destiny Space would reveal both participants’ cultivation realms and levels. Furthermore, anyone could watch the battle. There was no restriction preventing other visitors from observing the fight.

In other words, once Xavier entered the arena, everyone would discover that he was only at the third star of the Star Sea Realm.

And if he managed to defeat a Divine Power Realm opponent despite that difference, the news would undoubtedly spread throughout the Destiny Space.

There were advantages and disadvantages to such exposure.

On the negative side, revealing his strength could attract unwanted attention. People with ulterior motives might start investigating him or even attempt to deal with him. His fighting methods would also become public knowledge, giving potential enemies an opportunity to study his abilities and prepare countermeasures.

However, there were benefits too.

Demonstrating overwhelming strength could establish a reputation that would discourage others from targeting him. If people knew how dangerous he was, they would think twice before provoking him.

Besides, there was no reason to reveal everything he possessed.

As long as he kept his strongest techniques hidden, he would still have the advantage of surprise. He could simply avoid using the Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Finger during the match.

Anyone who assumed that his publicly displayed abilities represented his full strength would be in for a terrible surprise if they ever became his enemy.

After weighing the possibilities, Xavier decided that accepting the challenge was worthwhile.

He would get the opportunity to test himself against a Divine Power Realm martial artist while potentially acquiring another valuable treasure.

He just needed to make the wager more attractive.

Mark, however, was confused by his demand.

"Brother, isn’t the space-type runestone already a valuable enough prize?"

He studied Xavier suspiciously.

The newcomer already knew that he was a one-star Divine Power Realm martial artist. Under normal circumstances, someone with such a considerable cultivation disadvantage should have rejected the challenge immediately.

Instead, Xavier was asking him to increase the stakes.

Where did that confidence come from?

Was he deliberately hiding his true strength?

"That’s right. If you want me to fight, you’ll have to offer something more. Otherwise, there’s no reason for me to accept."

Xavier’s answer was firm.

Seeing that Mark still seemed reluctant, he decided to give the man something worth thinking about.

He reached into his spatial ring and retrieved a seventh-grade Ascension Pill.

"Weren’t you interested in obtaining an Ascension Pill earlier? I’m willing to put one up as part of my wager."

He held the pill where Mark could see it.

"If we’re going to gamble, we might as well make it worthwhile. What do you say? Do you have the courage to accept?"

Mark’s eyes widened.

A seventh-grade Ascension Pill!

And that wasn’t all. Xavier was already offering a seventh-grade Spirit Control Pill or Saint Purification Pill, together with four sixth-grade pills.

For most Divine Power Realm martial artists, such a collection was extremely tempting.

Mark stared at the pills, unable to conceal his excitement.

The caution he had initially felt began to fade. The more he considered the potential reward, the harder it became to resist the temptation.

Finally, greed won.

"Alright! We have a deal!"

Mark clenched his teeth and retrieved another treasure from his spatial ring.

It was a fruit covered in a faint purple glow. Its shape resembled an ordinary apple, but the unusual light surrounding it made it clear that it wasn’t an ordinary piece of fruit.

"This is a Regeneration Fruit from the Forbidden Abyss!"

Mark introduced it with considerable pride.

"It’s one of the essential ingredients needed to refine an eighth-grade Undying Pill. Even if you consume it directly, it can greatly enhance someone with a special constitution, although there are certain side effects."

He looked at Xavier expectantly.

"How about this? Is it valuable enough to increase my stake?"

The Regeneration Fruit was something Mark had obtained during a dangerous expedition with a former companion.

That companion was now long dead. In fact, his grave had probably been covered by several metres of weeds.

Mark had betrayed him.

And now, the treasure they had risked their lives to obtain was about to become his bargaining chip.

He was going to considerable lengths to acquire the Ascension Pill.

Of course, Mark wasn’t entirely reckless. He had his own escape plan.

He hadn’t completely committed himself to the wager yet. Once they entered the combat area, he could examine the cultivation information displayed by the Destiny Space.

If Xavier turned out to be stronger than him, Mark could simply withdraw before the battle began.

What did reputation matter compared to his life and valuable possessions?

That was precisely why he had been willing to increase his offer despite his earlier hesitation.

Xavier’s eyes brightened when he saw the Regeneration Fruit.

This was certainly something worth acquiring.

"That will do. Let’s go."

He accepted the additional stake without further negotiation.

Even if he lost, he would only be giving up a few pills. Sixth- and seventh-grade pills were valuable, but his current wealth was more than enough to cover the loss.

Besides, Mark was only a one-star Divine Power Realm martial artist.

Xavier had considerable confidence in his own combat abilities.

...

The combat area wasn’t far from the trading district.

In fact, the entire Destiny Space was relatively small. The area visitors could explore extended only about ten kilometres from the centre.

Unlike the trading district, the combat area had no jade appraisal platforms or stalls. Instead, the open space was divided into ten separate arenas by enormous walls of translucent white light.

Each arena occupied an area roughly equivalent to ten football fields.

When Xavier and the others arrived, two of the ten arenas were already occupied.

A large crowd had gathered around them. At a glance, there appeared to be more than two hundred spectators.

The combat area was clearly much busier than the trading district.

It seemed that most martial artists didn’t come to the Destiny Space primarily to buy and sell resources. Trading was merely an additional benefit.

Their real purpose was to fight, gain experience, and improve their combat abilities.

"We’re here."

Mark stopped in front of an unoccupied arena and pointed toward a special platform beneath its entrance.

"Before entering, both participants have to place their wagers on that energy table. After that, put your palms into those grooves on either side of the energy barrier. The Destiny Space will register the agreement and ask you to confirm whether you want to fight."

The platform was made from a strange platinum-coloured energy material. On both sides were recessed spaces shaped like human palms.

Xavier glanced at the setup before turning toward Golden Retriever, who had followed them from the trading area.

He casually asked him whether Mark’s explanation was accurate.

After receiving confirmation, Xavier nodded.

"Alright."

He took out the agreed-upon pills and placed them on the platform. Then he pressed his palm into one of the grooves.

Mark followed his example, depositing the space-type runestone and the Regeneration Fruit before placing his own hand into the opposite groove.

The moment both men completed the process, the white energy barrier surrounding the arena began to display information.

[Star Sea Realm — Third Star]

[Divine Power Realm — First Star]

[Confirm Battle?]

The information appeared for everyone to see.

The crowd that had gathered behind them immediately erupted into an uproar.

"Third Star of the Star Sea Realm? What?"

"Did I read that correctly? He’s only at the third star?"

"Brother, are you sure about this? Your opponent has already reached the Divine Power Realm. You should withdraw while you still can!"

"Major, don’t be reckless! He’s a one-star Divine Power Realm expert!"

Even Golden Retriever was stunned.

Until that moment, he had assumed that Major must possess strength comparable to Mark’s. After all, why else would he agree to the challenge after learning about his opponent’s cultivation?

But the information displayed by the Destiny Space told a completely different story.

Xavier was only at the third star of the Star Sea Realm.

There was an enormous gap between their cultivation levels. Under ordinary circumstances, a Star Sea Realm martial artist would have little chance against someone who had already entered the Divine Power Realm.

Mark was equally surprised.

But unlike the spectators, he was delighted.

He had originally suspected that Xavier might be concealing a higher cultivation level. Now that the Destiny Space had revealed the truth, his worries disappeared.

A mere third-star Star Sea Realm martial artist had actually dared to challenge him?

Wasn’t this practically a gift?

Nevertheless, Mark suppressed his excitement and deliberately provoked Xavier.

"They’ve already told you that I’m a first-star Divine Power Realm expert. Are you having second thoughts now?"

He gave Xavier a mocking smile.

"Or are you still confident enough to fight me?"

It was an obvious attempt to make Xavier reconsider.

But Xavier had already made his decision.

So what if he was only at the third star of the Star Sea Realm?

Back when he was still at the second star, he had managed to kill the Lindsay Family patriarch, who was at the half-step Divine Power Realm.

Now, his cultivation had advanced further. He had also acquired two formidable martial arts techniques: the ninth-grade Phantom God-Slaying Sword Technique and the low-grade Heavenly-level Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Finger.

With those abilities, he had every reason to believe he could challenge a one-star Divine Power Realm martial artist.

Besides, he hadn’t come here merely to win a wager.

He wanted to experience the strength of a Divine Power Realm expert firsthand.

"Begin!"

With a single thought, Xavier entered the arena.

Mark didn’t hesitate either. Eager to begin the fight, he immediately followed him inside.

However, their arrival in the arena attracted even more attention.

Several people who had been watching the other matches turned toward them after hearing the commotion.

"What’s going on? A third-star Star Sea Realm martial artist is fighting a one-star Divine Power Realm expert?"

"Is that fellow out of his mind?"

"Those two aren’t even in the same league!"

As more people gathered to watch, another figure approached the arena.

His name was Liam Shelby.

He was the youngest member of the Shelby Family of Groundcrest to have reached the Divine Power Realm, and more importantly, he was the elder brother of Sarah Shelby.

Upon hearing that a battle was about to take place between a Star Sea Realm martial artist and a Divine Power Realm expert, Liam had come over to see what was happening.

Liam Shelby was only thirty-six years old. Reaching the First Star of the Divine Power Realm at his age was an impressive achievement. His talent was comparable to Victoria Quill’s, making him one of the most promising young martial artists of his generation.

He had entered the Destiny Space two years ago. Since then, he had either participated in or watched more than five hundred battles. He had seen all kinds of fighting styles and witnessed countless powerful martial artists display their abilities.

Yet, even with that experience, he had never encountered a battle quite like this one.

The difference between the two fighters was simply too ridiculous.

Liam turned his attention to Mark.

Although he had never fought Mark personally, he had watched him battle several times. He knew Mark had comprehended the Law of Fire upon entering the Divine Power Realm. Among the First Star Divine Power Realm experts in the Destiny Space, Mark’s strength could be considered above average.