I Am Overlord c1-962
Page 174
He was one of the Seven Villains, the Ugly Gambler. The Seven Villains of Bloodsin City were comprised of Suicide Sword Li Juetian, Man-eating Mouth Shi Lie, Myriad Face Consort Yao Jiaojiao, Smiling Monk Yuan Xiao, Ugly Gambler Pang Nanyang, Heaven Rupturing Foot Can Lehen, and Poison Physician Du Wusheng.
The Seven Villains were famous throughout the Bloodsin City. They would not shy from any crime and were exceptionally powerful as well. Because of that, they were greatly feared. This person was one of them, Pang Nanyang the Ugly Gambler.
Generally, people only dared to call him "Gambler" when meeting him. Not many people dared to include the "Ugly" in front of it. Otherwise, they would die before even knowing what was going on.
The Ugly Gambler was a gambling addict. He once tried pestering a top Emperor to have a bet with him where the loser would be required to amputate himself. The Emperor rejected him again and again, but Ugly Gambler pestered him non stop for 64 days in a row. Ultimately, that Emperor was so annoyed he decided to accept the bet. He ended up losing both his legs.
From then on, the Ugly Gambler's name spread far and wide in the Bloodsin City, becoming one of the Seven Villains. Not only was he a gambling addict, but he was also extremely good at gambling. He had never lost a bet yet.
For some reason his bets had always been random. At times, he would only bet as little as one or two low-grade spirit crystals, and sometimes, he would bet up to millions of high-grade spirit crystals. Occasionally, he would even bet his own life. Nobody knew why he loved gambling so much.
When the bookmaker saw the Ugly Gambler, his face twitched before saying, "Lord Gambler, who are you betting on?"
This bookmaker knew about Ugly Gambler as well. Each time he showed himself, there was basically zero possibility for the house to win any money from the bet they were hosting because any bet Ugly Gambler made would be followed by countless people, resulting in great losses for the house. Even more annoying was the fact that despite having the backing of the city hall, they still seemed incapable of doing anything to the Ugly Gambler.
Chapter 410: On the Arena, Fate Decides Life and Death
The bookmaker was not the only person looking at Ugly Gambler nervously. Even Earth Skeleton and Scorching Blood Monarch also looked nervous. Earth Skeleton knew that if Ugly Gambler placed his bet on Blood Candle, it would only signify that Xiang Shaoyun would die on the arena, and by extension, he would die as well. Scorching Blood Monarch was just as nervous because Blood Candle was his own son. He naturally did not wish for his son to lose.
After chugging a mouthful of liquor, Ugly Gambler's turbid eyes lit up. He slammed the low-grade spirit crystal in his hand on Xiang Shaoyun's name and said, "I'm betting on him."
Then, he lay down on the ground and continued drinking, not saying anything else. The bookmaker wore a bitter expression as he stared at the one low-grade spirit crystal on the counter. It was clearly written that the minimum bet was 10,000 low-grade spirit crystals, and yet the Ugly Gambler had clearly broken their rules. However, he couldn't do anything at all.
When Earth Skeleton saw Ugly Gambler betting on Xiang Shaoyun, he exclaimed joyfully, "Great! Excellent!"
As for Scorching Blood Monarch, his face paled.
"L-Lord Gambler...are you sure? Do you want to check again?" asked Scorching Blood Monarch cautiously.
Ugly Gambler did not even spare him a glance, and completely ignored him.
Blood Candle started yelling rashly, "He is only a third-stage Skysoar Realm cultivator. It takes a lot of courage for him to even muster the guts to enter the fourth arena. How can he be a match for a peak fourth-stage Skysoar Realm cultivator like me? I will be the exception to your Gambler's Law!"
He then leaped onto the arena.
"Xiang Shaoyun, come up here and die!" roared Blood Candle.
"Heh, you will be the one to die," Xiang Shaoyun sneered. He took out a jar of liquor and offered it to Ugly Gambler, "Consider this my tribute to your all-seeing mind, lord."
This was a 100-year-old Green Bamboo Liquor he had gotten from Du Xuanhao, an excellent liquor produced at the Green Bamboo Town.
Ugly Gambler opened his eyes and looked at Xiang Shaoyun before flashing a smile that was uglier than a crying face. He accepted the liquor. "Haha, not bad, kid."
He opened the jar and an intoxicating fragrance immediately spread out. He took a sniff, and a praising look appeared on his face as he took a large chug. Xiang Shaoyun then lightly stamped his foot on the ground and drifted through the air onto the arena.
"Fight!" announced the bookmaker. With that announcement, the bet was closed and the combatants could begin the battle.
"A mere third-stage Skysoar Realm cultivator like you dare to step on the fourth arena? Today, I will feast on your blood and use it to gain even more strength!" roared Blood Candle before he dashed forward, leaving a bloody streak in his path.
Bloodstreak Fist!
The bloody fist crashed forth violently as a baleful aura spread out. His attack did look quite powerful. Blood Candle was not holding back at all, planning to kill Xiang Shaoyun with one punch and become the sole exception to all the bets Ugly Gambler had ever made.
Everyone focused on the punch, trying to see if Xiang Shaoyun would be able to block it. Initially, none of them were optimistic about his chances, but with Ugly Gambler's bet, their confidence had risen somewhat. Perhaps the young man was one of those King of Kings capable of punching above his weight?
Xiang Shaoyun could sense that the punch could threaten even fifth-stage Skysoar Realm cultivators, and that realization filled him with a surging battle intent.
Fate decides life and death on the arena, thought Xiang Shaoyun before throwing out a punch of his own. He did not dare to underestimate this opponent.
Lightning Bolt Fist!
The punch shot out like a roaring lightning dragon.
Bang!
The two fists collided and created an explosion of two energies that rippled outward before crashing into the defensive barrier surrounding the arena. One of the two was sent flying. It was none other than Blood Candle. As for Xiang Shaoyun, he remained standing at the same spot. At this point, it was already clear who of the two was stronger.
How is this possible? How can a mere third-stage Skysoar Realm cultivator push my son back with one punch? Is this kid really a King of Kings? Scorching Blood Monarch exclaimed inwardly in shock, an unsightly expression on his face.
Today, Scorching Blood Monarch had accompanied his son here as he tempered himself and entered the fifth-stage Skysoar Realm. However, the kid that he had thought would be an easy opponent had actually turned out to be a thorny opponent who could be the end of his son.
Earth Skeleton was also filled with astonishment. After all, this was the first time he had seen Xiang Shaoyun fight. Pushing a fourth-stage Skysoar Realm cultivator back was enough to earn him the title of King of Kings, a title only given to Kings capable of punching above their weight.
There were numerous Kings in existence, but only one in a thousand Kings would be a King of Kings. Because of that, the appearance of any King of Kings would cause a sensation. On the arena, after pushing Blood Candle back with a punch, Xiang Shaoyun did not press on. He was in no rush to end the battle and was planning to enjoy it more.
Blood Candle had yet to fully unleash everything he had. Therefore, Xiang Shaoyun was giving him some time to fully ramp up his combat prowess to make the battle more enjoyable.
If the others knew what he was thinking, they would probably be cursing him for being a madman. After all, this was the Bloodsin Arena, a place where the combatants would take any chance they had for victory. The smart thing to do would be to kill one's opponent the moment a chance presented itself.
Xiang Shaoyun was not doing that because he was getting arrogant and underestimating his enemy but because he was only trying to temper himself more, and truly bloody battles would be what he required.
Blood Candle's enti
re arm had turned numb from the punch. Only now did he realize that his opponent was actually his match. In fact, his opponent might even be slightly stronger than him. He stopped underestimating his opponent, roused the blood in his body, and took out a bloody halberd before rushing Xiang Shaoyun.
Siegebreaker Bloodwave!
Instantly, the bloody halberd transformed into eight bloody waves, surging forth toward Xiang Shaoyun like a massive tsunami. A dreadful baleful aura was mixed within the bloody waves, one that would only form after countless murders. Traces of the power of flame were also mingled within, further boosting the attack's strength.
With Blood Candle taking out his weapon, it was obvious he no longer dared to underestimate his opponent. After all, it was a battle to the death, not a regular spar.
Everyone thought that Xiang Shaoyun would also take out his own weapon, but that did not happen. A bright golden radiance appeared around his body before forming a golden wall around him. Blood Candle's attack was completely blocked before this golden wall that had suddenly appeared.
Then, Xiang Shaoyun seemed to have turned into a flood dragon as he charged the incoming waves. Lightning energy wrapped around the fist he used to smash apart all obstructions and reach Blood Candle.
Chapter 411: Xiang Shaoyun is Victorious
With the most barbaric method, Xiang Shaoyun punched a way through Blood Candle's attack with his heavy punches, which not many people could withstand. Several fists landed on Blood Candle's body and sent him flying yet again.
Sphhlt!
While coughing blood, Blood Candle crashed heavily on the ground over 10 meters away. He was still alive, though. After all, he was wearing a high-tier king armor. Although Xiang Shaoyun's fist was strong, it still wasn't easy to destroy king armors with his bare hands.
"Is that all you have? You are better off killing yourself. At least you get to keep your corpse intact that way," said Xiang Shaoyun with contempt.
Blood Candle bounced off the ground, a vicious expression on his face. He gathered his blood energy and attacked once again with his halberd. This time Xiang Shaoyun put his gloves on before dashing forward.
With the Six Goldplate Manual protecting him, he did not fear Blood Candle's attacks and was always able to break through the attacks sent his way with force. On the other hand, each punch he threw was able to land, and one of them struck his opponent's unprotected arm, directly crippling it.
Blood Candle wailed miserably as he forced out even more blood energy. Traces of baleful aura could also be sensed coming out of him. It was obvious he was going to finally use his trump card.
"If you continue hiding your trump card, you will only die," said Xiang Shaoyun coldly.
"Very well, I will rip you apart with my own hands!" Blood Candle roared, his eyes turning bloodshot. His blood energy surged to the peak as his body started withering. Both his arms were flooded with an abundant blood energy, emanating enough power to cause one to suffocate.
Baleful Blood Overlapping Technique!
This was a secret technique of the Noxious Blood Gang that only their three monarchs were allowed to cultivate. From how Scorching Blood Monarch was willing to impart this secret technique to Blood Candle, it was obvious how much importance he had attached to his son.
There were five levels to this technique, and each level of mastery would double one's combat prowess. After mastering all five levels, one's combat prowess would double five times over. The ability to double one's combat prowess five times over mid-battle was extremely terrifying. This was most certainly an extremely remarkable battle technique.
However, there was one major disadvantage with using it. The user would only be able to maintain it for one hour. After that, one would lose 70 percent of one's blood. If one failed to replenish one's vitality in time, one's very foundation in cultivation would be adversely affected. There was even a possibility that one would no longer be able to progress further in the path of cultivation.
Because of that, it was a secret technique that would generally only be used during critical moments. Blood Candle now knew how strong Xiang Shaoyun was and had to rely on his secret technique to have a chance of leaving the arena alive.
"Candle has already mastered the second level of the Baleful Blood Overlapping Technique, so he will be able to double his combat prowess two times over. He will definitely be able to defeat this kid," said Scorching Blood Monarch confidently.
The crowd all watched on with excitement, wondering if Xiang Shaoyun would be able to withstand it. He did not take the opportunity to attack while Blood Candle was gathering blood to use his secret technique. Rather, he stood there and waited silently.
Inwardly, he praised, The people of Bloodsin City are really something. There is actually such a blood technique capable of enhancing one's combat prowess? Looks like I really can't look down on anyone here.
"You are very arrogant to not attack me while you have the chance. Now, die!" Blood Candle said, his eyes so red it was as if blood was spilling from them. He roared, and his arms lit up with a raging blood flame. Boundless baleful blood energy gathered on his halberd, and finally, a massive bloody silhouette appeared from his weapon.
Baleful Blood Demon!
The massive blood demon transformed into a massive curtain that attempted to wrap itself around Xiang Shaoyun. The attack's terrifying destructiveness was capable of posing a threat to even peak fifth-stage Kings.
Xiang Shaoyun had a sensation that all his blood was going to flow out of his body, as if the blood demon was going to devour his blood, filling his heart with shock.
"How can some evil being be comparable to my noble overbearingness? Piss off!" Xiang Shaoyun finally had a serious expression on his face. With a roar, he circulated the energy in his lightning bone and first star, instantly flooding his entire body with purple, silver electrical currents. He seemed to have transformed into a lightning bolt himself as he shot straight into the midst of the demon.
Rumble! Rumble!
Instantly, the sky darkened as three lightning bolts formed and shot down with a might that shocked all the onlookers. Although the people present were all ferocious criminals, the might of the heavens were still capable of putting fear in them.
"Summoning lightning to the body? What an overbearing attack. Does this kid have the Innate Lightning Star Physique?"
"Capable of summoning lightning with a cultivation level of third-stage Skysoar Realm. This is quite remarkable. No wonder he has the courage to step onto the fourth arena. I reckon he can survive even the fifth arena."
"Things are getting dangerous for Blood Candle. Even a fifth-stage King will have a hard time against an attack like this."
"Once again, the Gambler's Law is proven to be right."
...
Staring at the arena with a pale face, Scorching Blood Monarch roared, "If something happens to my son, I will exterminate you!"
"Those are big words, Scorching Blood Monarch. Don't forget you have to get through me first," said Earth Skeleton, his face filled with pride.
As for the Ugly Gambler, he merely raised his brow for a bit before he continued drinking. He was completely unsurprised at what was happening.
On the arena, Xiang Shaoyun's lightning attacks completely destroyed the blood demon.
As for Blood Candle himself, his withered body was bombarded repeatedly to the point even his armor crumbled. His entire body seemed to have been burned to crisp. His aura was at its lowest point, and it was apparent he no longer possessed any combat prowess.
As for Xiang Shaoyun, he remained completely undamaged. Standing before Blood Candle, he spoke coldly, "Nothing special at all."
He then raised his foot and stamped Blood Candle's head.
Bang!
The head exploded like a watermelon.
"Xiang Shaoyun is the victor," announced the bookmaker.
Most of the crowd below the arena cursed inwardly, Damn this kid. He really was pretending to be we
ak.
"Haha, nicely done, Young Master Xiang," Earth Skeleton cried out in joy.
Meanwhile, Scorching Blood Monarch was staring at Xiang Shaoyun with a thick murderous intent, looking like he would wish nothing more than to swallow Xiang Shaoyun whole. He was waiting for Xiang Shaoyun to get off the arena. He would attack immediately after that. Alas, what happened next disappointed him.
Instead of getting off the arena, Xiang Shaoyun looked at the bookmaker and asked, "Lord, can I continue?"
The bookmaker looked at him in astonishment before nodding. "If you are capable, you can stay as long as you wish."
"Thank you," Xiang Shaoyun replied. He scanned the crowd and said, "Who else dares to battle me?"
His voice was sonorous and forceful, his bearing overbearing, displaying the grace of an overlord.
Chapter 412: White Tiger Manifestation
Standing there in his white clothing that was swaying along with the wind and completely unstained by blood, Xiang Shaoyun looked like an exalted son of the heavens. Some of the more ignorant ones among the crowd even started wondering if he was the young master from some famous organization.
Several people were silently observing Xiang Shaoyun from different directions. Each of them had some sort of pearl in hand that they had used to record the previous battle. An attentive person would be able to notice that they were all scouts of numerous powerful organizations.
These scouts were not here for information gathering. Rather, their sole task was to observe the Kings and Emperors appearing on the Bloodsin Arenas, discovering and recruiting talented individuals to their respective organizations. For Xiang Shaoyun to have attracted their attention in his first match, one could say that it was a good start.
Scorching Blood Monarch had not expected that Xiang Shaoyun would remain on the arena. A sharp glint appeared on his eyes as he thought, Good. You dare to fight on even after exhausting yourself in the previous battle? I will make sure you can't leave the arena alive!
He then quickly turned and left. He was going to get Xiang Shaoyun an even stronger opponent.