Chapter Nine: Eating Flatbread

  Bai Jin smiled and pointed at the big power ghost, saying to Lei Huang: "Lei Huang, there's something you need to know. This big power ghost is not suitable for you to use now. Normally, you should use a special artifact called 'Lianhun Tower' to nurture spiritual ghosts. If it's exposed outside, it will constantly consume your mental and physical strength, which will be very harmful to your body over time."

  Lei Hao hastily bowed his head and saluted, "I beg of Second Master to enlighten me, I am unworthy and will not forget."

  Bai nodded slightly and said, "Now you have two choices. One is to sell this Great Power Ghost to the Gambling Ghost Building right now, at a market price of at least 50 Soul Stones. Are you willing?"

  With a loud crash, the disciples let out a cry of surprise. 50 pieces of spiritual stone was an astronomical figure, equivalent to four years' worth of monthly spiritual stone for an ordinary disciple. This was truly an overnight fortune!

  Shi Dong's heart skipped a beat as he watched coldly, thinking it was a trap set by Bai Jin and Hao Ren, but when he heard that the ghost could earn 47 spirit stones with just one move, his eyes grew hot and his heart began to pound.

  Lei Hao paused for a moment and said: "Second Master Brother, I want to hear the second option again before making a decision."

  Bai's eyes flashed with a hint of light, and he said in a deep voice: "The second option requires buying a 'Soul Refining Tower', the cheapest lower-grade Soul Refining Tower costs 5 spirit stones, where did you get them from?"

  Lei Huan's face showed a difficult expression, biting his lip for a moment before suddenly puffing out his chest and proudly saying to Bai Jin: "Second Brother, when Master chose me, he said I had top-notch qualifications and an exceptionally strong Heart Wheel, making me suitable for practicing the Power Path. I think this Big Power Ghost's strength is fierce and should be just right for my Power Path practice. So, I was thinking... of asking Second Brother..."

  "Haha, really? You actually want to borrow spirit stones from me to buy a Soul Refining Tower?" Bai Jin burst out laughing.

  "It's... it's... if Second Brother thinks it's not suitable, then I'll have to give up." Lei Huan's pale face turned red, and sweat dripped down his forehead.

  "Alright, why not?!" Unexpectedly, Bai Jin easily took out five pieces of Ling Stone and handed them to Lei Huang, saying: "Younger brother has a request, older brother can't not help! Moreover, you're the top pick of Master this year, so older brother must lend you a helping hand! Hehe... I believe these five pieces of Ling Stone will be returned to me soon as your cultivation improves."

  Lei Hao was overjoyed and thanked Bai Jin repeatedly, his humble demeanor almost making him kneel down and kowtow. Shi Dong watched with a frown, sensing that things were not as simple as they seemed.

  It can be determined that Lei Huan has a firm will, is good at grasping opportunities, and has the courage to take risks. He also has high qualifications, and with time, he will surely soar to great heights. Bai Jin is trying to win him over and control him, making Lei Huan feel grateful and indebted to him.

  Shi Dongzhuo understood the relationship between them and couldn't help but secretly pay attention to Bai Jin, Hao Ren, and Lei Huang. He thought that the water in Yunwu Peak seemed very deep, and these three people must not be offended from now on.

  Next, Lei Huan bought a low-grade Soul Refining Tower from Hao Ren and, under his guidance, captured the powerful ghost inside. He then carefully placed the tower into his storage waistband, finally letting out a sigh of relief with a joyful expression.

  This made all the disciples jealous, and they took out their only three spiritual stones to ask for a gamble. Hao Ren was not refused, leading them to open one ghost fetus after another, but good luck did not come, and more than a dozen ghost fetuses were opened, only to puff out a burst of turbid air, without any spirit ghost appearing.

  Shi Dong's eyes were cold as he watched from the side, understanding in his heart that this was all a trap set by Hao Ren and Bai Jin working together, luring many disciples into their trap and cheating them out of their spiritual stones.

  Shi Dong couldn't understand why the two of them had to do this, even if all thirty or so disciples were to put their spirit stones here, it would only amount to nearly a hundred pieces, and he believed that with their cultivation level, they wouldn't care about such a small amount of spirit stones.

  Just as they were pondering, Bai Jin suddenly laughed and said: "Alright, you kids really have no self-control, losing all the spiritual stones will affect your cultivation. Here, I'll lend you three spiritual stones for now, so that your cultivation won't be delayed, or Master will blame me."

  Those young men who had lost their spiritual stones were filled with regret, but after receiving three more spiritual stones, they couldn't help but feel overjoyed. They all bowed to Bai Jing in gratitude, their expressions so fervent that it seemed as if they wanted to treat him like a savior.

  Shi Dong suddenly realized that Bai Jin's goal was to win over the new disciples with kindness, but he didn't know what deeper motives lay behind his efforts.

  Unlike the other disciples who were eager to move forward, Shi Dong instead took a step back, his eyes flashing with a hint of thought.

  The remaining young men who had not yet participated in the lottery cheered and jumped for joy, one after another using golden hammers to crack open the ghostly shells.

  Suddenly, good fortune struck again, and a black big man named Mao Feifei actually opened up another Linggui, causing the disciples to exclaim in surprise.

  Only saw this spirit's head was not big, only reaching the height of Mao Fei's waist, its whole body was light white in color, far from being as majestic as Lei Huan's powerful spirit.

  Mao Feifei was slightly disappointed, but Hao Ren smiled and said that this was a "Light Spirit", although not as valuable as the Great Strength Spirit, its innate divine ability was the Lightness Technique, which could be bestowed upon its master or itself, assisting cultivators in battle, and it was worth 30 spirit stones.

  After the blood oath, a demonstration was performed on the spot. The ghostly figure came and went like the wind, as if it were a ghost.

  Mao Feifei was overjoyed, grinning from ear to ear, and then he followed Lei Huan's example, borrowing 5 spirit stones from Bai Jin, purchasing a low-grade Soul Refining Tower, and carefully collecting the Lingering Ghost.

  Just as another Ling Gui was about to emerge, the remaining disciples who had not yet participated in the gamble rushed forward and placed their bets. Unfortunately, no one else had such good luck, and everyone lost their Ling stones, only to borrow three Ling stones from Bai Jin as compensation.

  "Shi Dong, it's just you left, want to come and try your luck?" Bai Jin suddenly rushed to Shi Dong.

  Shi Dong was startled, looked around and only then realized that everyone's expectant gaze had turned to him, and he had become the last person. He glanced at Bai Jin again, whose mouth corners were still curled up in that smile, which made Shi Dong's heart skip a beat. He knew that Bai Jin was up to no good again, probably taking advantage of the situation to get revenge for his previous disrespect.

  What to do? Gamble or not gamble?

  Racing thoughts in his mind, the current situation was a gamble. If he gambled with the three spirit stones, they would be gone forever, and he would have to borrow another three from Bai, putting himself at the mercy of this person. If he didn't gamble, he would inevitably anger this person, and definitely wouldn't end up with a good outcome.

  But will obeying him save himself?

  "Shi Dong, what are you dawdling about? Hurry up!" Bai Jin suddenly scowled and shouted.

  Shi Dong made a quick decision, thinking to himself: "I'll pretend to be pitiful and make him happy, then he'll forget his grudge against me." So he put on a frightened expression and stuttered: "Second Brother, I... I'm afraid of losing..."

  "What's there to be afraid of? If I lose, I'll lend you the Ling Stone. Everyone has tried it and gotten a good result, except for you, that is." Bai Jin smiled at him with a hint of mischief.

  "Damn your turtle-like face, you stinky turtle with a tumor on your forehead and poisonous water in your belly! This is clearly asking me to jump into the trap!" But on the surface, he showed extreme respect, bowing his head and saying: "Yes, I'll follow Second Master's orders."

  Knowing that these three spirit stones are gone forever, but if he doesn't participate in the gamble, it would be equivalent to openly disobeying Bai Jin's order. Shi Dong gritted his teeth and handed over the spirit stone to Hao Ren, took the golden drumstick and closed his eyes for a strike.

  A faint puff sounded, a faint wisp of gray smoke drifted out, and nothing spiritual appeared at all.

  Shi Dong knew this would happen early on, pouted his mouth and said with a sad face: "Second Master Brother, I...I lost!"

  "Hehe, don't cry, don't cry." Bai Jin smiled and put three spirit stones into his hand, patted his head, and comforted him: "Gamblers have wins and losses, how can there be only wins and no losses? This is not like the big cow in your village, eating enough fodder to work, eating three catties of fodder, can plow two mu of land, not a single grain more or less. Gamblers are originally betting on luck and brains, if luck and brains are not enough, even if 100 spirit stones are bet, it's possible to get nothing."

  "Haha, this is also a lesson for people like you, never dream of turning the tables overnight. Otherwise, who knows how they'll die!" Bai Jin patted Shi Dong's head and smiled at the group of young men.

  Shi Dong Ting felt the sarcasm in his words and sensed the icy palm on his head, although he was resentful, he didn't dare show it on his face. Fearing him, he decided to play along and burst into tears, sobbing: "Second Brother, I...I was wrong, from now on I won't...won't dare disobey you again."

  Bai Jin raised his head and laughed loudly: "That's right." He waved his hand, "Alright, we've lingered in this Gambler's Alley for long enough. Next, I'll take you to the new disciples' cave mansion, get you settled in, and then you can start your cultivation."

  Bidding farewell to Hao Ren, Bai Jin led the crowd of younger disciples to walk away.

  When others passed by, not a few people cast contemptuous glances at him, especially Lei Huan, who had a mocking smile on his face, as if saying: "Tea house servant boy, it's really humiliating to be with you!"

  Shi Dong lowered his head, but he saw the expressions of everyone in his heart, secretly resentful, thinking that one day he would raise his eyebrows and spit out his anger, letting you look down on me!

  Only Mao Feifei gave him a silly smile, as if to encourage him, which made Shi Dong's heart slightly warm.

  After everyone had passed by, Shi Dong followed behind, and he felt a chill run down his spine. Just now, facing Bai Jin's pressure, fortunately, he reacted quickly and pretended to cry and act foolishly, which resolved the resentment in Bai Jin's heart.

  Otherwise, if he continues to provoke Bai Jin and makes him unhappy, who knows when he will get himself killed!

  "Damn it, this green turtle has a small heart, still remembering that big cow thing! Intentionally making me lose face in front of everyone. Hmph, evil will be repaid, sooner or later, one day you'll die with your four legs in the air!" Shi Dong cursed in his heart, quietly turning his head to take a glance.

  In the midst of the misty fog, the Taoist priests gathered vaguely in the Gambling Ghost Temple, betting on their own luck for the future.

  "Hey! Gambler, gambler, isn't it just like playing with stones? If you grasp the tricks, it's a good way to get rich. Shi Dong recalled the tricks of playing with stones, such as observing the stone's appearance to know its quality, tasting it to know its texture, and various cheating methods."

  His heart suddenly felt a wave of heat, and he couldn't help but want to try it out, but he quickly suppressed it, knowing that the waters were deep for both gamblers and those who bet on them. If you didn't understand it clearly before rushing in, losing everything was very common. Don't look at how easily Lei Huan and Mao Feifei won their bets, the actual odds must not be so high, probably low enough to make one's hair stand on end.

  Shi Dong's heart was racing as he calculated his next move, following the team along the winding path, moving forward.

  Without knowing how far he had walked, suddenly his eyes lit up and he came to a wide and spacious corridor. On both sides were rows of caves, one next to the other, stretching out in a line, with over a hundred of them.

  The entrance to the cave is not very wide, only allowing three adults to enter side by side, but the door surface is a layer of wavy mist, which seems to be some kind of special restriction.

  "Lei Huang, you'll be staying in this room."

  "You live in this room."

  "You live in this room."

  Bai Jin pointed casually, and the new disciple, under his indication, used the jade pendant on their person to make a stroke on the seal. With a flash of light, they walked through the door and entered their own cave.

  Shi Dong looked at it with a puzzled expression, noticing that the allocation of this cave was based on everyone's qualifications. The better the qualifications, the further out the allocated cave was, and as one went deeper, the aura inside became heavier, the light grew dimmer, and it seemed that the environment inside was not as good as the outside.

  "Mao Feifei, you live in this room." When there were still three tenths of the young people left, Bai Jin pointed to a dimly lit cave.

  Mao Feifei stepped forward and drew a stroke with his jade pendant. Suddenly, a brilliant light burst forth, and a powerful force sent him flying backward.

  "What kind of person dares to intrude into the cave mansion? Get out!" A hoarse voice thundered from within the cave.