Free Web NovelChapter 1229: Chapter 947: Visiting Qihan Mountain (Part 2)
"I’m here!" Leng Yutang, slightly tipsy, was about to reveal his original form to show off his beautiful fur of the Furious Fire Bear Race, and at the same time, ask Miss Hu Jiu for tips on better maintenance. Hearing the summons, he quickly got up and asked, "Sir, what are your orders?"
"The magical treasure tools you refined last time were very successful. Starting today, refine them in batches. When the disciples of the Cloud Concealment Sect move here, make sure they have enough tools to work with."
"Oh, alright!" He was momentarily puzzled but quickly delighted and agreed, "I forgot to tell you last time, I took the refined magical treasures to East Lake Port and let the ordinary people try them too.
Although they can’t use Spiritual Power to drive them, the magical treasures have enough Spiritual Power to be somewhat effective, allowing ordinary people to work more efficiently. In the future, when we no longer need these forged magical treasures, we can allocate them for the use of the residents of East Lake Port. What do you think?"
Without waiting for a reply, Leng Yutang rubbed his face to sober up, adding, "I’ll try to improve the tool-type magical treasures by then. Maybe ordinary people can use Spells to control them, which would be even more convenient."
Jiang Yuan hadn’t expected that a genius refiner would become an ambassador for agriculture step by step. However, using Magic to benefit ordinary people was indeed meaningful, so he wholeheartedly supported this and even gave verbal encouragement.
Already a bit tipsy from drinking, Leng Yutang was even more excited by the commendation, neglecting the issue of maintaining his fur, and hurried back to his small courtyard to continue researching new types of magical treasures.
"Master, let’s tear through the space directly!" Ling Di, excited to learn that the Cloud Concealment Sect would soon be moving in, wagged his tail like a propeller, panting eagerly.
He wanted to quickly lead the way back to the sect for assistance, kicking the kids’ behinds to urge them to hurry up, lest dreaming too long brings disaster!
Traveling through the spatial rift was much faster, taking just a few minutes. When the two emerged from the spatial gap, they saw the towering mountain ahead.
"Last time we came, you guided us smoothly, so we didn’t meet the Mountain Master of Qihan Mountain." Old Dog explained quietly as they walked, "I only heard the boatman say that the Mountain Master of Qihan Mountain is the Underworld Gambling God, Lord Mist Dragon. Whether it’s true or not, we didn’t explore further; we captured the person and left.
However, I noticed from a cold glance that it seemed like no one was managing inside. It was dim and gloomy, and some places were quite dilapidated and chaotic. Apparently, the battle Array restrictions are quite famous, attracting a lot of trouble-making folks who urgently need a place to hide."
As they moved closer, Jiang Yuan looked at the popped-up detailed analysis and nodded, "It seems that the Mountain Master of Qihan Mountain is indeed Mist Dragon reincarnated.
It’s unclear where things went wrong, but this Gambling God was reborn as a Demon Cultivator with memories of his past life. Unable to return to his position as Gambling God, he resigned to hide in Qihan Mountain for a living."
Ling Di listened in bewilderment, thinking Jiang Yuan had sensed something, and asked, "Master, do you know him?"
"No, but the Gambling God Mist Dragon has many believers and was a major force in the Underworld." According to the detailed analysis, he explained, "He contributed significantly to resisting the Outer Heaven Demon, otherwise he wouldn’t have been seriously injured, leading to reincarnation. Mist Dragon entered the path through gambling; he’s quite an interesting character."
"Can gambling really lead to the path? Never heard of it; could it be that his combat relies entirely on gambling? Does this mean that as long as you don’t gamble, you won’t lose to him?"
Jiang Yuan replied, "The abilities of the Gambling God Mist Dragon are more like a law-powered hard control method. Whether it’s his physical or attack capabilities, anyone entering his vicinity triggers a gamble. Only by winning against Mist Dragon in the gamble can one injure him."
Ling Di’s eyes widened in disbelief, "He’s the Gambling God; how can he possibly lose? Wouldn’t that make him invincible?"
"No, every gamble carries the risk of losing, and the Gambling God is no exception." Ahead lay the entrance to Qihan Mountain, and Jiang Yuan gestured, "Alright, go back to help with the Cloud Concealment Sect’s relocation. I’ll enter on my own."
"Woof woof! Master, call me anytime you need!" Old Dog shook the snow off his long hair, tore open the space, and vanished.
The cold wind blew snowflakes into his face, and the whistle-like wind sound echoed through the mountain, adding to the desolate atmosphere.
To be cautious, Jiang Yuan put on the bronze mask he hadn’t used in a long time, concealing both his appearance and aura.
After taking just a few steps forward, he saw a flash and two cultivators were transported in, sneaked into the cave opening. They only briefly met eyes for several seconds, yet Jiang Yuan keenly noticed one of them had a popped-up detail with the ominous red words "Evil Cultivator."
This was a jackpot!
Jiang Yuan hurriedly followed, and by the time he entered the entrance, the two familiar cultivators were already setting off into the dark lake on a boat.
Dozens of small boats were moored by the lakeside, and he boarded the one closest.
The boatman squatting at the bow, wearing a straw hat, twisted his neck with a cracking sound, his movements rigid as he turned his head 180°, slightly lifting his head to reveal a skull, asking in a sharp voice, "Where to, sir?"
[Boatman Who Lost the Gamble: Willing to accept the consequences of their losses, cultivators voluntarily gambled with the mountain master Mist Dragon at Qihan Mountain, losing three hundred years of time, trapped here to ferry. Mist Dragon intended for irredeemable gamblers to reform through "imprisonment," but few gamblers change their ways. Most boatmen who lose the gamble return to the gambling den on Qihan Mountain to continue gambling, until it’s beyond redemption.]
Seeing the similar details of many boatmen, Jiang Yuan couldn’t help but be secretly amazed. No matter the world, gamblers are indeed crazy. Spending three hundred years just sitting at the boat head, such a monotonous life still couldn’t dissipate their gambling thoughts. The addiction is indeed strong.
"Where were the two Taoist friends heading just now for some fun?"
"Hehe!" The boatman chuckled in a sharp eunuch-like voice, "Here in Qihan Mountain, one must naturally visit the largest gambling den — Yongle Square to broaden their horizons.
However, that’s a place for affluent cultivators to seek entertainment, as ordinary cultivators cannot afford the entrance fee of fifty thousand Spirit Stones just to exchange for tokens. Does the gentleman wish to take a look?"
Wow! A fifty-thousand Spirit Stone capital verification, it seems that evil cultivator ahead must be quite wealthy.
Jiang Yuan was very pleased with the first target he had set his sights on and nodded, "Then I’ll also visit Yongle Square to expand my knowledge."
The boatman gently pushed the oar, and the small boat drifted leisurely through the tranquil lake.
It was very quiet all around, except for the sound of oar-water interaction. As they ventured deeper into the mountain, more rugged rocks and interlaced caves appeared, gradually lit by eerie candlelight, and the noise began to rise. However, it wasn’t a lively atmosphere filled with human vitality but rather seemed filled with sinister Yin Energy.
"Yongle Square is such a wonderful place." The boatman’s voice carried a strong sense of nostalgia, "Back in the day, I too used to dominate at Yongle Square, winning every single gamble! Unfortunately, I became arrogant after winning so much, believing I could win against the Mountain Master, and thus ended up in this predicament."
He sighed and advised, "Remember, friend: no matter how good the luck may be, never gamble with the Mountain Master; every boatman here has lost to him!"
Jiang Yuan chuckled upon hearing this, "So you mean, you were incredibly lucky and kept winning, amassing wealth. Then the Mountain Master came out to gamble with you, and when you lost, you became a boatman. Essentially, you either lose and leave disappointed or win but can’t take away the money. The Mountain Master truly knows how to play his cards right."
The boatman shook his head while rowing, "The Mountain Master never forces anyone to gamble with him. Even if selected, one can choose not to gamble. At the time, I was simply carried away by greed and ambition."
He paused, lowering his voice, "If you lose, everything belongs to the Mountain Master, and you serve for hundreds of years. But if you win, you immediately inherit Qihan Mountain. Given the choice, would you feel tempted to gamble with the Mountain Master?
Haha, in any case, I was too greedy back then, wishing to bring the entire Qihan Mountain under my reign, and from then on, never want for anything, endlessly indulging in the joy of gambling, because the conditions offered by the Mountain Master were far too tempting!"
Jiang Yuan was surprised by how high the stakes were with Mountain Master Mist Dragon, curiously asking, "If given another chance, with the same conditions on the table, would you still gamble against the Mountain Master?"
The other remained silent for a long while until the boat approached a very large and spacious stone platform, and the boatman finally replied in a muffled tone, "Although I advise you not to gamble, if I met the Mountain Master again, I would still choose to gamble. What if I’m lucky and win against him? Then I’d have everything for the rest of my life!"
Jiang Yuan silently shook his head, thinking that the gambler’s mindset truly had no hope of redemption.
