Zi Linling's brows furrowed slightly upon seeing these two individuals appear. She had a feeling they were both after her. Zi Linling secretly noted their auras and continued her divine sense search. Soon, a woman in black, cloaked in black, entered her divine sense range. Not only was the woman's attire peculiar, but she also gave Zi Linling a sense of familiarity, coupled with an aura of darkness, wickedness, and ferocity.
Who could this be? Zi Linling couldn't help but wonder. Just then, a strange gust of wind blew, lifting the cloak and revealing the woman's face in her sight. She was taken aback for a moment, then her brows knitted tightly, and a cold smile curled her lips.
Mo Qingcheng! This person was actually Mo Qingcheng! If not for that strange gust of wind, Zi Linling would never have linked the woman before her with Mo Qingcheng. In the past, Mo Qingcheng had always worn purple, signifying her nobility, and had always carried herself like an arrogant peacock. Although she was a sinister white lotus, she had never possessed such darkness and wickedness.
Furthermore, Mo Qingcheng's cultivation was no longer at the peak of the Spirit Gathering realm, but a solid peak of the Saint King realm. It seemed that in these three months, Mo Qingcheng must have had some fortuitous encounter. Zi Linling finally understood the source of her strange sense of losing control. It was likely that Mo Qingcheng had arrived here long ago, but due to her drastic change and altered aura, no one had recognized her.
Zi Linling smiled faintly, thinking to herself, "Mo Qingcheng, Mo Qingcheng, I underestimated you! I wonder what surprises you will bring me?" Her divine sense extended further. This time, besides Qing Feng and Qing Lei, she sensed no one else of particular note. She had only met Qing Feng and Qing Lei once, but it was enough for her to remember their identities. Since these two were here, Ye Lingyuan should also be nearby. However, Ye Lingyuan's cultivation was far superior to hers; if he truly wished to conceal his whereabouts, she would not be able to detect him.
The smile on Zi Linling's face brightened. Based on her understanding of Ye Lingyuan, he was likely not revealing himself because he was wary of certain individuals. No wonder that gust of wind earlier had been so peculiar; it was probably Ye Lingyuan, hidden in the shadows, assisting her. It was evident that Ye Lingyuan not only recognized Mo Qingcheng but also sensed her arrival.
Well, with Ye Lingyuan present, those petty individuals would likely not be able to stir up much trouble. Zi Linling retracted her divine sense, opened her eyes, looked up at the sky, and a brilliant smile appeared on her face. The sun was high in the sky, and noon was approaching. It was time for her to appear, and she suspected Mo Qingcheng was also waiting for her to show herself. Since that was the case, she couldn't disappoint her, could she?
However, before revealing herself, she had one more thing to do. Zi Linling walked up to the gambling table, tossed a bag of spirit stones onto it, and declared, "Ten million low-grade spirit stones, betting on myself to win!" Her high-profile appearance made it impossible not to be recognized. The dealer who collected the money froze for a moment before quickly regaining his composure. His expression turned grim as he said, "You are that useless... Third Miss Zi?"
Zi Linling smiled charmingly and replied, "What? Do your rules prohibit betting on oneself?" The dealer was momentarily at a loss for words and looked towards a certain direction with a troubled expression. "Allowed!" a voice reached his ears, giving him a sigh of relief. Zi Linling betting on herself either meant she was foolish and wealthy, deliberately building hype, or she genuinely had confidence in her victory. As a dealer, he leaned towards the latter.
He smiled obsequiously and said, "Third Miss Zi, you are naturally welcome to play! However, are you certain you wish to bet ten million?" That was ten million low-grade spirit stones! With odds of three to one, if Zi Linling won, he and the owner behind him would have to pay out thirty million low-grade spirit stones. The bets he had collected so far on Mo Qingcheng amounted to only thirty million low-grade spirit stones. This meant that if Zi Linling won, he and the owner would not only have worked for nothing but would also lose a considerable amount of spirit stones.
This was because some spirit cultivators had also bet on Zi Linling to win, and although the amounts were not large, the low-grade spirit stones to be paid out would amount to over a million. Therefore, he hoped Zi Linling had misspoken the amount. Zi Linling seemed to have seen through his thoughts and smiled faintly, "I'd like to bet twenty million, would you dare to accept?" The low-grade spirit stones in her possession, by her own estimation, amounted to nearly three hundred million, after all, she had looted the entire Flowing Cloud Sect, an elder of the Black Water Hall, and a protector of the Sacred Cult.
The dealer forced a bitter smile. "Third Miss Zi jested! I will prepare your ticket now." With that, a betting slip was issued, detailing the bettor and the amount wagered. Zi Linling took the ticket, stuffed it into her sleeve without looking, and actually placed it into her Nine Spirit Ring. Unbeknownst to her, this action was witnessed by the old man with a white beard and the old woman carrying a flower basket, and a hint of joy flickered in both their eyes. The dealer's face instantly turned as sour as a bitter melon. All their efforts amounted to nothing. Su Dan Fiction Network.
He now desperately hoped Mo Qingcheng would win, so he could still make a small profit. Just then, another bag landed on the gambling table, and a hoarse voice echoed, "Thirty million low-grade spirit stones, betting on Mo Qingcheng to win!" Zi Linling, who was about to leave, displayed a cunning smile. She thought to herself, "Mo Qingcheng, Mo Qingcheng, your temperament hasn't changed at all! Always trying to get one up on me, aren't you afraid of losing your shirt?"
The dealer did not recognize the current Mo Qingcheng but was overjoyed. With this bet, even if Zi Linling won, he and the owner could still make a small profit. However, after a moment's thought, his joy evaporated. If Mo Qingcheng won, he would have to pay out forty-five million low-grade spirit stones, plus the smaller bets, totaling at least fifty million low-grade spirit stones. Therefore, he was once again frozen, looking towards a certain direction. "Allowed!" another voice reached his ears.
Thus, the dealer repeated his previously half-hearted expression as he had when issuing Zi Linling's ticket. The betting slip, with the wagered party and amount just written, was whisked away by a gust of wind to Mo Qingcheng. The dealer looked at the betting slip in the hands of the black-cloaked woman and silently prayed, "Third Miss Zi, you must hold your own!"
At this moment, Zi Linling had reached the edge of the Soul Severing Cliff. By crossing the suspended chains, she could ascend the Nine Absolute Peaks. She glanced back at the direction the dealer had been looking, a brilliant smile gracing her lips. Then, she leaped forward and landed steadily on the chains.