After Gong Liansheng summoned the strange sheet of White Paper, and before anyone else had moved, Elder Lu, the head of the North District, was the first to step forward. "Since no one is willing to be the first to place a bet, I’ll start," he announced. "I’m betting that our North District candidates will achieve the best scores!"
Upon hearing this, everyone shot Elder Lu a look of utter contempt.
’Damn it,’ they thought. ’It’s not that no one wanted to be the first to bet, it’s that you jumped the gun before anyone else could even react! Was there any need to be in such a hurry?’
However, Elder Lu paid no mind to their stares. After speaking, he flipped his hand, and a scattered assortment of items appeared.
There was Earth Tier Weapon Equipment, all sorts of wondrous Pills, and several manuals for Earth Tier Martial Arts Techniques and Methods.
After taking out these items, Elder Lu tossed them toward the White Paper in mid-air without batting an eye.
Instantly, all of Elder Lu’s items flew into the section of the White Paper marked with the character for "North" and miraculously merged into the paper itself.
A moment later, a red circle appeared in the "North" section. Inside the circle was Elder Lu’s true name: Lu Qiming.
Surrounding the name were several small images. A closer look revealed that these images were of the very items Elder Lu had just tossed in, only shrunk down into icons.
The appearance of the red circle with Elder Lu’s name on the White Paper signified that his bet had been successfully placed.
All the items he had thrown into the White Paper had become his wager, and the bet was locked in. There was no going back.
Seeing Elder Lu wager so much at once, everyone was dumbfounded.
’Damn, did he just bet his entire fortune?’
’What’s with all this confidence?’
"Elder Lu Qiming seems quite confident in the North District’s candidates to wager so many treasures. If I’m not mistaken, Elder Lu, you bet one Earth Tier Middle Grade Longsword, three pieces of Earth Tier Lower Grade Weapon Equipment, two Earth Tier Martial Techniques, one Earth Tier Technique, three bottles of Extraction Pills, one bottle of Spirit Ascension Pills, and one bottle of Clear Heart Pills, correct? What a grand stake!"
The head of the East District said with surprise after glancing at the White Paper in mid-air.
"Heh, Elder Yane Bohou has such keen Eye Power. With just a single glance, you saw my entire fortune clearly, and even knew the grades. It seems I’ll have to be on my guard around you from now on, Elder Yane Bohou. Otherwise, what if I obtain some treasure one day and you see it? You’d covet it day and night and come looking for trouble with me," Elder Lu said with a cold laugh.
There had always been animosity between the East and North Districts. As a result, Elder Lu and the head of the East District, Elder Yane Bohou, never saw eye to eye and couldn’t stand the sight of each other.
Whenever they met, they would trade sarcastic barbs and insults. This was a common sight.
However, Elder Lu had always been on the losing end. After all, the North District’s candidates had finished last year after year, leaving him unable to hold his head high.
Normally, Elder Lu wouldn’t have actively provoked anyone. What if he made a bold claim only to be proven embarrassingly wrong later? Wouldn’t that be even more humiliating? Wouldn’t he become an even bigger laughingstock?
But this year was different. This year, they had Tang Yi. The North District’s victory was assured!
If he didn’t vent his long-suppressed frustration now, when would he?
That was why Elder Lu wasn’t holding back against Yane Bohou at all.
This was also why Elder Lu had asked Tang Yi to help the North District’s candidates enter the West Mansion, but also why he didn’t want Tang Yi’s true strength to be exposed.
Besides wanting Tang Yi to help the North District candidates, Elder Lu also wanted to pull a fast one on Yane Bohou and get revenge for years of ridicule and humiliation.
Elder Lu eagerly anticipated the look on Yane Bohou’s face when Tang Yi finally unleashed his Divine Power and single-handedly defeated all the East District candidates Yane Bohou was so proud of.
"Well, well, look at you. Elder Lu Qiming seems so high-spirited and full of confidence this year," Yane Bohou sneered. "However, I think all your treasures are about to go down the drain. Betting on anyone would’ve been better, but you bet on your North District to get first place? Are you getting senile in your old age? If I recall correctly, hasn’t the North District been in last place for several years in a row? Heh, and you’re still betting on first? You’d be lucky not to finish last again."
"Hey, I don’t agree with that," Elder Lu said firmly. "Past years are past years, and this year is this year. The North District’s candidates may have finished last in the past, but how do you know they’ll finish last again this year? In any case, I have faith in our North District candidates this time around."
"Betting on a district with absolutely no hope of winning... how is that any different from just giving away gifts? I’m afraid those items you wagered are just presents for all of us, aren’t they? Heh heh, in that case, allow me to thank you on everyone’s behalf for your generosity, Elder Lu." Yane Bohou laughed as he cupped his hands in a mock gesture of thanks.
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
At his words, everyone except for Elder Lu and the North District’s Chief Examiners burst out laughing.
"Elder Lu, we all know you’re loyal. You’re the head of the North District, so it’s understandable that you’d bet on your candidates to get the best results. But did you really need to wager so much? This... this must be your entire life’s savings. What will you do if you lose it all at once? If you run into a powerful enemy in the future and have no defensive Techniques left, what if you die at their hands? The West Mansion can’t afford such a great loss!"
The Elder in charge of the South District chimed in, a wide smile on his face.
He wasn’t actually trying to persuade Elder Lu, of course; he just wanted to mock and belittle him.
And his words triggered another round of uproarious laughter.
However, Elder Lu merely sneered and ignored the Elder from the South District.
’In my eyes, the Elder from the South District is nothing but a buffoon,’ Elder Lu thought. ’After the results of the House Entrance Examination are out, I’ll pay him back properly. Then he’ll know what it feels like to have his face ache from being slapped.’
"Elder Lu Qiming, if I remember correctly, you’ve never wagered this much in previous years. Why this time...?" Special Envoy Gong also looked at Elder Lu hesitantly, wondering if this was an impulsive act.
Special Envoy Gong didn’t want to win someone’s entire fortune over a casual game.
"Special Envoy Gong, rest assured. Since I dared to place the bet, I won’t go back on it. Besides, this time, I truly believe the North District candidates can achieve the best results," Elder Lu said earnestly.
"Since Elder Lu insists on betting, I won’t say any more. How about I value all your items at a total of thirteen drops of Holy Liquid?" said Gong Liansheng.
"Deal." Elder Lu nodded, very satisfied.
Having his items valued at thirteen drops of Holy Liquid wasn’t a loss for him; in fact, he even came out slightly ahead.
Seeing Elder Lu nod, Gong Liansheng waved his hand. A stream of light shot into the White Paper. Instantly, inside the red circle, all the icons of the items Elder Lu had thrown in vanished, replaced by a blood-red number: thirteen.

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