Chapter Forty-Four: A Rigged Match! Refund! Refund!

"Te! Fellow Daoist Te!"
"Senior Brother Te!"
"Brother Te!"
The long swords in their hands slowly fell from Te Langpu's grip.

"Ah..."
Another anguished scream tore through the sky as First Snow was withdrawn from Te Langpu’s rear, sending a fountain of bright blood spraying high into the air...

Clutching his wounded behind, Te Langpu’s body went limp and plummeted straight down. Even as he fell, blood gushed forth like a fountain from his injury.

"Langpu!"
A male cultivator darted through the air and caught Te Langpu mid-fall. The two men spun around and around in the air, completing who knows how many revolutions before finally coming to a stop.

"Senior Brother, I’m sorry. I fear I won’t be able to practice the Eastern Purple Qi with you for some time..."

"No! Langpu, don’t say such foolish things. You’ll be fine, you must be fine..."

Te Langpu shook his head. "Senior Brother, between me and Jiang Lin... who is more handsome?"

"Is there even a question? Of course, Jiang Lin is a bit more handsome."

"Ugh..."

"Langpu! What’s wrong? Langpu! Langpu!"

The man’s anguished cries echoed once more through the sky. He gently laid his junior face-down on the ground, then, with a furious roar, charged straight at Jiang Lin.
"Jiang Lin! You’ve hurt my junior, now I’ll make you sacrifice your own behind!"

He produced a small iron ball. With a surge of spiritual power, the ball instantly enveloped him, transforming into a suit of gleaming silver armor.

Weapons of the Martial School were usually armor-pills—resembling martial warriors, they fought up close with their bodies, yet still cultivated spiritual power.

Now transformed into a little Ironclad Hero, the man unleashed left hooks, right hooks, uppercuts and kicks, weaving up and down, left and right—each blow and kick laced with a violet aura.

Jiang Lin braced himself, enduring each punch. They were both at the Sea-Gazing Realm, yet the opponent’s cultivation felt far more solid than his own. And unless Jiang Lin was mistaken, this man had reached the fourth stage of the Martial Path as well.

Boom!

The Ironclad Hero landed a heavy kick, sending Jiang Lin flying dozens of meters. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to his feet in the air, wiping it away.

...

Diao Da: "Hey, Wu Ke, what do you think Jiang Lin is doing? He’s a martial artist, right? Why is he taking all those hits head-on?"

Wu Ke: "I have no idea. You think Jiang Lin is trying to set us up on purpose?"

Fang Chaoqun: "Shh, quiet. How could we ever hope to fathom Brother Jiang’s every move?"

...

"Jiang Lin! Prepare your behind!"

Suddenly, the Ironclad Hero roared. Radiant light burst from the seams of his armor as he raised his hands above his head, transforming into a Venomous Dragon Drill and charging straight for Jiang Lin.

"I, Jiang Lin, even if I use my last breath, will not fall here!"

Jiang Lin, too, raised his sword.

"O Sun! Lend me your strength!"

A blazing sun shone high above, golden rays pouring into Jiang Lin’s blade.

"Salted Fish Thrust!"

Jiang Lin released a deep, thunderous fart, jet-propelling himself like a fighter plane straight toward the Venomous Dragon Drill!

"Ahhhhhhhhh!"

"Ahhhhhhhhh!"

Their roars echoed, each strike fueled by sheer force of will. Spiritual power clashed and erupted at the point where drill and sword met.

"Jiang Lin!"

"Ji Taimei!"

The passion of battle gripped every heart. Instinctively, both sides shouted their names.

Bang!

A resounding explosion, and as the spiritual power dispersed, Ji Taimei tumbled from the sky, crashing into the ground. Amidst the dispersing dust, Jiang Lin, his long hair billowing and blood at his lips enhancing his transcendental air, caught the wine jug Fang Chaoqun tossed him. After a bold swig, he said with casual indifference:

"Who else?"

...

"Wow... so handsome!"

"Jiang Lin, you’re so manly."

"What does ‘manly’ mean?"

"I don’t know, but it feels right to shout it!"

"Jiang Lin! You’re so manly!"

In that instant, the Sun and Moon Sect erupted in excitement, especially those who had just won a fortune—they were as jubilant as if they’d stolen another’s beloved companion.

...

"Jiang Lin, you shameless scoundrel! Don’t get cocky!"

"Don’t forget to pay up."

"Hmph!"

A cultivator flung ten middle-grade spirit stones into the air like scattering coins, which Jiang Lin swept into his storage pouch in a flash.

Immediately, another clash erupted in midair, sparks and lightning flying.

Though Jiang Lin appeared clearly wounded, he still fought his opponent to a standstill. In the end, they unleashed their ultimate moves against each other. Jiang Lin spat another mouthful of blood but remained standing in the sky.

"I am already wounded, yet I will never back down. I, Jiang Lin, said I would challenge you all one-on-one, and I will keep my word. However, from now on, each challenger must pay an additional ten spirit stones, or I will not accept the fight!"

Pale-faced, clutching his chest, Jiang Lin declared weakly.

Only now did Diao Da, Wu Ke, and the others realize why Jiang Lin had so often missed clear openings or taken his opponent’s ultimate moves head-on—he was fishing for more bets!

And hadn’t Jiang Lin mentioned wanting to spar with pure martial artists before? Was he using this as an opportunity to temper his own body?

But was this really training? He was on the verge of death!

Four more challengers came and went, yet Jiang Lin still stood, though he was running on fumes.

Bang...

"Jiang Lin!"

"Brother Jiang!"

"Young Master Jiang, don’t!"

Another thunderous crash—Jiang Lin’s opponent sent him hurtling from the sky to the ground. In that final collision, when everyone thought Jiang Lin was sure to perish, they heard a crisp "ding," like a copper coin landing on marble.

As the dust cleared, Jiang Lin stood, sword planted before him, clutching his chest, spitting out a mouthful of thick... tomato juice...

"This youth is terrifying!"

For a moment, all the elders guarding the battlefield drew sharp breaths, and even some from the various sects felt a pang of compassion, tempted to recruit Jiang Lin for themselves.

Such resolve! Such endurance! To remain so steadfast, so persistent!

These are the very qualities required for the path of cultivation!

"Is there no one here who can fight?"

Sword in hand, Jiang Lin’s eyes gleamed with the symbol of a giant dollar sign.

His voice pierced the hearts of his foes like a dagger—and stabbed at his own teammates as well...

Unwittingly, Jiang Lin had won eight matches in a row! Did anyone bet on him winning eight straight? No? That meant they’d all lost.

Several members of the Sun and Moon Sect were already kneeling, wailing, snot and tears streaming as they cursed at their opponents:

"What’s wrong with you from the Six Great Sects? I’ve lost all my wife’s savings—can’t you win just once?"

"Rigged matches! Refund! Refund!"

"Jiang Lin, you’re shameless! You must be in cahoots with them!"

"Brother Jiang, do you need someone to warm your bed? Lend me some spirit stones to take home, otherwise I’ll be sleeping on a washboard..."

The Sun and Moon Sect’s cries grew louder and louder, as they cursed the Six Great Sects through their tears and snot.

At the same time, watching Jiang Lin standing tall, sword in hand, the Six Great Sects were also weeping silently in their hearts...