Cao Wei said, "Obviously it's going to be a bet on our disciples."
The group of Immortal Soul stage cultivators around them began to show interest as their attention became concentrated on Lin Feng and Cao Wei. The Blue Pavilion Holy Man gently arched his eyebrows as Prince Xian of the Left of the Northern Tribes said derisively, "Cao Wei, to think that you are a master of a sect, don't you possess any sense of shame despite being an Immortal Soul stage cultivator?"
Despite the Celestial Sect of Wonders becoming increasingly well-known recently, the Immortal Soul stage elders did not believe what they hear. They required eye-witness proof too.
They had all seen Yang Qing's current state. All of them knew that Cao Wei was taking advantage of the situation.
In response to Prince Xian of the Left, Cao Wei did not even respond to that. He said detachedly, "Of course, you could choose to not take up the bet."
Upon hearing that a bet was taking place, the most excited person was Zhuge Guang, the Gambling Holy Man. However, at that moment, he took frowned. If Lin Feng were to refuse the bet, it would mean that he did not respect Yang Qing.
Once someone had reached Lin Feng's or Cao Wei's position, there was no need to prove anything. Hence, there wasn't a matter of face or pride. However, if Lin Feng were to tacitly accept defeat, it would affect his team's esprit de corps and crush Yang Qing's already-frail confidence.
A dam of a thousand li could be destroyed with a single ant's nest. A small mistake could completely undermine the rise of the Celestial Sect of Wonders.
Shi Zongyue looked excitedly at Lin Feng as he tried to guess how would he respond.
Lin Feng was silent for a while before responding, "How is betting on our disciples any different from betting on cockfights or dog fights?"
Cao Wei responded without a second thought, "The collateral of our bets shall go completely to our disciples."
Upon hearing this, Lin Feng had no choice but to accept. He raised his head to look at Cao Wei and said, "According to you then, one of your disciples desires something of mine?"
"Correct," Cao Wei nodded his head without even bordering to hide the true intentions. He said in a straightforward manner, "I heard that you have a special kind of fruit on your hand called the Fire and Ice Fruit. If Fang Zhong were to win, then this shall be his prize. How about that?"
Lin Feng's expression did not change but his eyes narrowed. His heart was filled with suspicion as he thought, "How did this b*stard knew that I have the Fire and Ice Fruit?"
The Fire and Ice Fruit was something that Lin Feng had gotten earlier on through the system when he formed his Aurous Core. It was a special kind of fruit that gave off a deep freeze despite only being able to be grown on burning-hot soil.
This fruit possessed the properties of both Ice and Fire. Upon coming into contact with extreme cold it would render the chill into warmth. The colder it was the hotter it would burn. On the other hand, when it came into contact with extreme heat it would have the opposite effect. It would turn the blaze into a freeze. The hotter the blaze, the colder the freeze.
Upon landing into Lin Feng's hands, the item had only be used once, which was when he was searching for the Swelling Earth. He used it when he was infiltrating the Hundred Herbs Sect, on top of the Changchun Peak when he needed to sneak into the Hundred Herbs Grandmaster's Secret Elixir Chamber.
Other than that, Lin Feng had never used this strange treasure.
"Upon using the Ice and Fire Fruit, there could be some remnant spiritual energy left at the site. However, it should have dissipated not long after I used it," pondered Lin Feng. "Furthermore, after I beat the Gengjin Tiger King, together with Kang Nanhua and the Hundred Herbs Grandmaster, we totally trashed that place."
"Cao Wei could be in the Immortal Soul stage and his mana could be godly. Perhaps he discovered a strand of spiritual energy from the ruins, but it could not have been long for it would have long dissipated."
In other words, after Lin Feng had left the Changchun Peak, Cao Wei reached there.
The question was, the Changchun Peak was located at the southernmost point of the Hengduan Mountains, which itself was in the southern regions of the Divine Lands. Cao Wei, as the master of the Heaven Lake Sect which was located in the northern polar regions, would have to cross the entire Divine Lands to reach the Changchun Peak.
However, for such a rare object like the Fire and Ice Fruit, it would surely be hard to the cultivators of the Heaven Lake Sect, who cultivated both Fire-type and Ice-type spells, to obtain.
Many thoughts floated in Lin Feng's mind, but they all happened in a flash. He looked at Cao Wei and flipped his palms. A fruit, half-blue and half-red, appeared in his palm. It was the Fire and Ice Fruit.
"Since you explicitly stated that you want the Fire and Ice Fruit, then I shall determine what your collateral shall be," Lin Feng said slowly as if he had given much thought to the matter.
Cao Wei nodded his head, "Naturally."
Lin Feng said, "I heard that the Heaven Lake Sect has a spiritual fountain known as the Deep Freeze Dew. I wished to ask for that on behalf of my disciple."
As Cao Wei was about to say anything, Lin Feng cut him off and said, "I want 100 drops!"
Shi Zongyue's mouth twitched as everyone shook their heads gently. The Blue Pavilion Holy Man and Prince Xian smiled.
Everyone was shocked that Lin Feng had actually dared to ask for that.
The Deep Freeze Dew was famous under heaven as the top treasure of the Heaven Lake Sect. Only a few people within the Heaven Lake Sect could use it and its quantity was extremely few. In a year, it would produce only about 10 drops. Lin Feng had asked for 10 years' worth of Deep Freeze Dew in one go.
While the Heaven Lake Sect accumulated the Deep Freeze Dew, its number would deplete through daily usage. Its reserve quantity too was extremely limited. By asking for 100 drops, Lin Feng would have emptied out the Heaven Lake Sect's reserves in one go.
Cao Wei frowned, "The collaterals of both sides are not equal. Are you trying to worm yourself out of this bet?"
Lin Feng's face was expressionless as he said nothing. It was if he agreed to Cao Wei's statement.
"Fine, I'll bet with you!" Cao Wei was silent for a moment before he suddenly announced that. With that, he waved his hands and a cluster of Deep Freeze Dew appeared in the sky. As it hovered, one could not see its actual shape. It was like a mirage, but it was one of the magic treasures that Cao Wei carried along with him.
In that icy mist, one could see many tiny water droplets floating about, like tiny ice crystals. Those were the Deep Freeze Dew that Lin Feng has asked for.
"Now, would you wager?" Cao Wei looked at Lin Feng. Lin Feng sighed, did not say anything, as he hurled the Fire and Ice Fruit. It flew into the middle of the sky and hovered there.
Everyone thought that Lin Feng was out of tricks and that he had been forced into a corner by Cao Wei. No one knew that Lin Feng was actually laughing coldly in his heart right now.
"Betting against me? I'll make you lose your knickers."
He projected his voice to Yang Qing. "Silly, don't hesitate anymore. You don't need to use the new technique that I'd taught you now. With your mastery right now, defeating your opponent should not be hard."
"Remember, you are strong, stronger than you could possibly imagine."
Upon hearing Lin Feng's words, Yang Qing shivered. He turned his head to Lin Feng and nodded as he appeared to have calmed down.
The other Immortal Soul stage elders noticed this transformation. All of them muttered in awe, "Is this what they mean by people become more courageous with incentives? With the prospect of winning 100 drops of Deep Freeze Dew, this person manages to regain his fighting spirit?"
"Nope, that can't be it. This young man evidently slackened. It does not appear that he had become more determined. Could it be that the master of the Celestial Sect told them that losing is OK?"
Only Cao Wei's gaze shifted between Lin Feng and Yang Qing. He became uneasy.
Fang Zhong did not have this awareness. Looking at the Fire and Ice Fruit floating in the sky, his gaze blazed. "This item, it seems that it had been given to me for free!"
He looked at the Wang Lin and Yue Hongyan on the side of the Celestial Sect, laughed coldly and leapt into the Hidden Dragon Gorge.
Yang Qing took a deep breath and leapt into the Hidden Dragon Gorge too.
Within the gorge, it was a separate world. It was a world of mountains and river and truly a sight to behold.
Fang Zhong landed in a cluster of mountains. As he looked at Yang Qing, who was approaching, he smiled coldly before casting a spell. Around him, a blast of cold air began to rise as it slowly crept over the streams in the mountains, freezing them into ice cubes.
Outside, Xiao Budian looked at the projected image of the scene within the Gorge as he plucked his eyebrows. "Is it useful? Could Five Senior's Grand Moon Primordial Water not only possess mastery over water but ice too?"
Fang Zhong looked at Yang Qing and smiled, "I knew that you had fought in Shazhou. So how could I not know that you possess the Grand Moon Primordial Water? The problem is, while you could control ice and water, could you control fire?"
His spell changed and the ice changed into flickering, white-hot flames. However, this fire did not appear to possess any heat. Instead, it emitted a deep freeze.
This was the signature move of the Heaven Lake Sect, Icy Blaze.
With Fang Zhong's manipulation, the Icy Blaze turned into a freezing sea of white fire, surrounding Yang Qing.
The powerful force attracted the attention of everyone outside. All participating Foundation Establishment stage cultivators' faces were solemn. While Fang Zhong had a big mouth, his power could not be denied.
He may appear wild and arrogant, but in actual fact, he had made an effort to understand each and every one of his opponents. He truly knew his enemies like himself.
Huo Chen, looking at this, mumbled, "For this Conference, Shi Shaoqian posed the greatest threat to me, then it's Yue Hongyan from the Celestial Sect of Wonders and finally, Fang Zhong..."
The few Immortal Soul stage cultivators, who were spectating the battle, too gave their comments with respect to Fang Zhong's prowess despite it being nothing compared to what they had achieved.
"For a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, this is quite remarkable," said the Vivant Joy Holy Man as he stroked his chins. He looked at Cao Wei and said, "Congratulations Master Cao for obtaining such an exceptional talent."
Prince Xian's face did not change but he nodded in tacit agreement. As long as his old nemesis continued to attract talents, their feud could continue for a longer period.
"You are too kind, Vivant Joy Holy Man," Cao Wei looked at Lin Feng and said lightly, "Some stuff cannot be avoided."
Lin Feng, who was expressionless up till this moment, smiled. It was like seeing the sun through the clouds. "I have the same sentiment."
Just as he said that, Yang Qing slammed his palms together in response to the sea of Icy Blaze that was surging towards him.
A ray of sparkling emerald-green water suddenly flew out from his side. It went straight for the sea of Icy Blaze.
The emerald-colored water disappeared, but the sea of Icy Blaze appeared to burn brighter and more ferociously as if it had devored the emerald-colored water for nourishment.
However, Fang Zhong's expression changed. His face lost its color as if he had just seen a ghost.
In the next instant, the Icy Blaze began to run amok. It vibrated furiously before falling apart to nothing.
It was as if Fang Zhong had lost.
Everyone watching the battle was shocked as they could not understand what had happened. The sea of Icy Blaze, which blazed fiercely and strongly at the beginning, turned into a complete joke in the end.
No one else could understand the logic behind this, except for the few Immortal Soul stage cultivators. Cao Wei's face was dark like the night sky.
From his side, Lin Feng's clear voice echoed, "I thank you on behalf of my disciple for the 100 drops of Deep Freeze Dew."