Demon Cultivator with Celestial Book-Chapter 77 - 60: The Opportunity Has Arrived, and It Is Rightfully Mine
Jiang Yi initially had no desire to get entangled with Lu Xuan. Dealing with a gambling addict was like being stuck to a pile of shit—disgusting and a hassle.
But then his thoughts took a turn. He remembered the opportunity involving the Zhao You Sect Elder.
’What the Celestial Book shows sometimes requires my own judgment. If I add the "No Aftermath" condition every time, the divination time doubles.’
’Using this fool, Young Master Lu, as a stone to test the waters isn’t a bad idea.’
Jiang Yi looked at Lu Xuan with a gentle expression, not yet having made a final decision.
The latter, however, was already growing impatient. He dropped his feigned politeness, his face darkening as he said:
"My Grandpa is the Grand Steward of Sanhe District! If I borrow some talisman-money from you, do you think I won’t pay you back? Why are you dawdling?!"
Jiang Yi kept his hands tucked in his sleeves, a slight smile playing on his lips as he raised an eyebrow and replied:
"Young Master Lu, you misunderstand. I was just thinking that if I could ride on your good Luck and win a few tens of thousands of talisman-money, where I should go to enjoy myself."
"After all, I’m new to Sanhe District and don’t know many of the recreational spots."
Lu Xuan was taken aback for a moment, then he puffed out his chest with pride.
’So, this lowborn commoner knows to suck up to the Village Clan Direct Lineage. At least he knows his place!’
"You’ve asked the right person! Some people who pretend to be in the know, the self-proclaimed experts, will only point you toward the Red Light Street."
Lu Xuan’s spirits instantly lifted, and words began to pour out of him like a torrent:
"To be honest, that place is a cesspool. It’s full of swindlers who use the cover of night and caked-on makeup to cheat you out of your money."
"I know a much better place. It’s run by a few ’sisters’ who’ve retired from the Joyful Union Sect. They’ve rented out an entire pavilion, and it isn’t open to the public—you need a regular to get you in."
"They’ve set up multiple rooms, and each one is a world of its own. Some are like imperial bedchambers, some are like private boudoirs, and some are even rustic grass huts. They have every theme you can imagine!"
Jiang Yi couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. ’The Demon Dao’s creed of "everyone putting their talents to use" is certainly true.’
’Anyone with a particular skill can find a way to apply it.’
’If I’m considered an Innate Dao Material because of my deep aptitude and exceptional speed in Refining Techniques...’
’...then Lu Xuan could be called an "Innate Lewd Material"!’
"Young Master Lu, your words have truly been an eye-opener."
Jiang Yi played along, which only fueled Lu Xuan’s enthusiasm further. He said with a serious expression:
"Don’t you look down on the Joyful Union Sect and think it’s just a brothel. They have a legitimate Cultivation Technique."
"You’ll know once you try it. The difference between them and ordinary mortal women is like the difference between the clouds and the mud."
"They cultivate the Ten-Color Treasure Bottle Ruyi Technique... It’s simply indescribable!"
"I’ve heard the Inner Peak of the Joyful Union Sect is even more incredible. They can create thousands of illusions that stir your Divine Thought, making even a High Cultivator feel an ecstasy beyond life and death."
’So the Joyful Union Sect is Cultivating Kui Water. No wonder they’re located at the very edge of Beimang Ridge, likely to avoid the Sun Radiance Appearance Form.’
Deliberately ignoring Lu Xuan’s lurid descriptions, Jiang Yi mused to himself:
’The Qianji Sect cultivates Ding Fire, the Joyful Union Sect cultivates Kui Water... I wonder what the Yin Puppet Sect cultivates. Why are they all Yin in nature?’
Pushing aside these stray thoughts, he walked into the Doufa Pavilion with Lu Xuan. This time, no one blocked their way.
"Young Master Lu, go ahead and place your bets. We’ll split the winnings fifty-fifty, and I’ll cover any losses."
Jiang Yi said with a smile.
He had already given up on the idea of earning talisman-money through a ten-win streak at the Doufa Pavilion, but Lu Xuan had just delivered himself to his doorstep, making the perfect shield.
"Straight to the point! I most admire a decisive character like yours!"
Lu Xuan was overjoyed to hear this, and a new thought sparked in his mind:
’This commoner Jiang is surprisingly loaded? If I drag him down with me, first by gambling in the Doufa Pavilion and then indulging ourselves at the Phoenix Pavilion...’
’...within a few days, I’ll definitely get this naive kid so hooked that he’ll forget everything and neglect his Cultivation.’
And so, Lu Xuan said with a sly grin:
"Wise Brother Jiang, what’s the fun in me betting alone? Why don’t we both join in?"
’Using vice to corrupt one’s Dao heart and drag them down... such a timeless trick.’
Lu Xuan was a fool to begin with, and his feeble attempts at cunning were laughably transparent.
Besides, Jiang Yi had faced such tests countless times in his previous life; he was all too familiar with them.
"Excellent."
Jiang Yi lowered his gaze and chuckled, replying amicably:
"How about this: I’ll choose who to bet on, and Young Master Lu can place the bets. What do you say?"
Lu Xuan laughed to himself. ’Let Jiang Yi lose a few rounds, and he’ll learn just how deep the intricacies of Magical Combat betting are. It’s not as simple as rolling dice and guessing high or low.’
However.
「Half an hour later.」
Lu Xuan was dumbfounded, staring blankly as attendants brought tray after tray of bright red talisman-money.
Following Jiang Yi’s selections, he had placed four consecutive bets and won every single one. His initial stake of thirty thousand talisman-money had multiplied several times over in the blink of an eye.
"Wise Brother Jiang, you have a unique eye..."
Lu Xuan couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. Having to give half of so much talisman-money to Jiang Yi made his heart ache.
’It’s his first time in the Doufa Pavilion, and he’s winning even with his eyes closed. It’s got to be mostly blind luck.’
"I told you, I’m just riding on your coattails, Young Master Lu. Your luck is flourishing, which is why my hand is so hot."
Jiang Yi’s tone was flat. He wasn’t even watching the matches on the stage, merely keeping his eyes half-closed as if resting.
"Should we bet again?"
Lu Xuan’s mouth was dry.
’If this keeps up, I could win several hundred thousand talisman-money today and walk away rich.’
’Even for someone from the Village Clan Direct Lineage, this is a huge sum! It’s enough for many days of debauchery at the Phoenix Pavilion!’
"I see you’re in high spirits, Young Master Lu. Why not play a few more rounds?"
Jiang Yi thought silently, ’The opportunity with the Zhao You Sect Elder, as shown by the Celestial Book, is: [Win ten consecutive bets to catch their eye and be granted an assessment].’
’Later, when I used "I beg the Celestial Book" to ask about the assessment’s content, the answer I received was—"Loss of a loved one."’
’What kind of loved one?’
Curious, Jiang Yi had Lu Xuan place two more bets.
Several hours passed in a flash.
Lu Xuan’s streak of consecutive wins alarmed the entire Doufa Pavilion, drawing countless probing gazes.
One of these gazes came from the fifth floor.
"What’s with all the commotion?"
The speaker was dressed in an Immortal Crane Cloud Pattern Daoist Robe, wore a yellow crown, and had Cloud Shoes on his feet. His aura was as ethereal as an Immortal’s.
The Daoist Child standing in attendance nearby hurriedly reported:
"The Magical Combat matches started today, and someone has won ten bets in a row. They started with just thirty thousand talisman-money and have snowballed it into several hundred thousand, drawing cheers from everyone."
The Yellow Crown Daoist’s expression flickered. He asked:
"Oh? What is this person’s name?"
The Daoist Child went to inquire and returned a moment later to report:
"His name is Lu Xuan. He’s young, a member of the Dongping Lu Clan’s Direct Lineage, and his Cultivation is around the Qi Cultivation Third Layer."
A sharp glint flashed in the Yellow Crown Daoist’s eyes. He said in a faint tone:
"To win ten bets in a row at the Doufa Pavilion shows he is a promising talent with remarkable Luck."
"Summon him. Ask if he is willing to enter my tutelage as a Registered Disciple."
...
...
Lu Xuan’s face was flushed, his spirits soaring. He felt an exhilaration like he had just drunk fine wine.
He had lost seventy or eighty thousand talisman-money at the Doufa Pavilion earlier today and was worrying about how to explain it to his Grandpa.
Who would have thought that, thanks to Jiang Yi, he’d turn the tables completely? Not only did he not lose anything, but he had made a huge profit.
"Wise Brother Jiang, later I’ll personally take you to the Phoenix Ascending Tower and pick out a ’Twin Lotus’ for you."
"I’ve heard that of the two sisters, one cultivates the Ten-Color Treasure Bottle Ruyi Technique, and the other cultivates the Charming Maiden’s Red Body Jade Body Technique..."
Lu Xuan spoke as he walked out, eager to cash in his winnings, but he ran right into a Daoist Child.
The Daoist Child stood his ground and, in a slow, drawn-out tone like an imperial announcer, said:
"Are you perhaps Young Master Lu Xuan, the one who won ten bets in a row? A person of great importance upstairs wishes to see you."
After speaking, he flicked his Duster, paused briefly, and announced the origin of his Dharma Lineage.
’A Branch Sect Dharma Lineage?’
Lu Xuan’s heart skipped a beat. How could he not know that two Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer Elders from a Branch Sect had recently arrived in Sanhe District?
’My great Opportunity has arrived!’
’Such a heaven-sent fortune is rightfully mine!’
Lu Xuan immediately accepted, completely forgetting that the ten winning bets were Jiang Yi’s doing and taking all the credit for himself.
He turned and instructed a Doufa Pavilion attendant to give the five hundred and ninety thousand talisman-money he’d won to Jiang Yi.
He also added:
"Relay a message to my Wise Brother Jiang for me. Tell him I have a family emergency and must leave first. He can hold onto the talisman-money for now..."
With that, afraid of keeping the Daoist Child waiting, Lu Xuan hurried up the stairs with a CLATTER.
Reaching the top floor, he indeed saw a High Cultivator with a transcendent bearing seated there.
Lu Xuan was not an ignorant man. He knew that those at the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer gathered and refined Spiritual Energy, combining it into Innate Qi to gestate the Supreme Profound Light!
The Yellow Crown Daoist in the Immortal Crane Cloud Pattern Daoist Robe radiated a soft glow, and above his head, gold and red light intertwined like a brilliant, colorful mist.
’He really is a High Cultivator! Judging by his aura, he must be an Elder from the Zhao You Sect!’
Unable to contain his excitement, the moment Lu Xuan crossed the threshold, his knees buckled, and he slid forward into a kneeling position.
By the time he reached the Yellow Crown Daoist, he was fully prostrated on the ground. He kowtowed and said:
"This junior, Lu Xuan, pays his respects to the High Cultivator of the Zhao You Sect!"
