On the battle stage, Xu Mu retracted his shadow and said with a smile, "Not at all, I was open and honest, you just didn't see it."
Below the stage, Jia Lan Yan Liang struggled to sit up, blood gushing from his mouth, his chest caved in. He stared at Xu Mu with a dejected expression.
Just as Xu Mu had said, he would lose, and he would lose at Xu Mu's hands, being kicked off the stage.
"Yan Liang!" Jia Lan Lou and others exclaimed, rushing over, fearing something might happen to him.
"I'm fine." Jia Lan Yan Liang refused their support, staggered to his feet, coughed, and said hoarsely, "I lost."
Jia Lan Lou's expression was grim, and the onlookers, including Xiao Yao Feng, were all silent. Only the two guardians from the Zhong Tian Mo family, one old and one young, let out sounds of admiration.
"Based on the strength he's shown so far, he's even stronger than Jue," the Yun Xiao guardian sighed, nodding. Jue was also a young guardian of the Mo family, ranking over ten places higher than him.
"He hasn't used his full strength yet, and Jue probably wouldn't be his match. He'd need to be even higher ranked," the middle-aged guardian, Shu, said, looking at Xu Mu.
The Yun Xiao guardian was a little surprised and asked, "Could it be... he can contend with Nian?"
"Nian?" The middle-aged man smiled and shook his head at the name. "How is that possible? Nian is the strongest of our Mo family's current generation, destined to compete for a top ten spot at the Ten Thousand Races Assembly. He's a supreme prodigy."
"Although this person's physique is very strong, there's definitely still a gap in strength compared to Nian. After all, a genius of that level wouldn't appear here."
The Yun Xiao guardian nodded thoughtfully but didn't underestimate Xu Mu, as Nian, Jue, and Jia Lan Yan Liang were all far stronger than him.
"Excuse me, everyone, can this prove that I determined the outcome based on my eyesight?" Xu Mu dissipated his bloody aura and asked everyone with a smile.
"Yes, there's no need for further words. Since we had an agreement beforehand, we naturally must abide by it," Guardian Shu said.
Hearing this, the others who wanted to argue had no more thoughts of doing so. They could only turn their gazes towards where the Jia Lan family was, their expressions complex.
According to the agreement, Xu Mu won, and the suspicion of match-fixing was cleared. However, if this was the case, Jia Lan Lou would bear the stigma of match-fixing.
Money was a minor issue, but for a prestigious family among a hundred races, the loss of reputation was the most fatal.
"I acknowledge the result of this match, but I do not acknowledge match-fixing." Jia Lan Lou said, throwing his spatial pouch from his waist to the gambling house. His face darkened as he continued, "Those who lost money betting through us earlier, go to the gambling house yourself and get your money back. I, Jia Lan Lou, will compensate you!"
"Let me repeat, paying this money does not mean I admit to match-fixing. It simply means my Jia Lan clansmen are true to their word. I hope everyone is aware of this!"
Jia Lan Lou's action was something no one had expected, not even Xu Mu on the stage, who had to admire his courage and quick thinking internally.
Tens of millions of taels of gold, and he produced it just like that, all to salvage his reputation. However, this was currently the best way to handle the situation.
Jia Lan Lou was indeed quite clever.
"Let's go." Jia Lan Lou glared at Xu Mu, then turned as if to leave. But at this moment, Xu Mu snapped back to attention and quickly called out, "Wait!"
Jia Lan Lou and his entourage stopped, turned back with dark expressions, and met Xu Mu's gaze.
Xu Mu rubbed his hands together, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face, and said, "Young Master Jia Lan Lou, did you forget something before you leave?"
"Before I stepped onto the stage, I bet three million and five hundred thousand at three times the odds with the gambling house. I won. Just now, I bet seventeen million and five hundred thousand, also at three times the odds, but against you. Shouldn't you, perhaps, settle this money with me?"
Hearing these terrifying numbers, especially the latter, the crowd gasped in unison. Jia Lan Lou's face instantly turned pale.
The over ten million taels of gold in that spatial pouch were already the maximum he could deliver. Now Xu Mu was making an outrageous demand. Where would he get so much money?
Seeing Jia Lan Lou's silence, Xu Mu continued with a smile, "Young Master Jia Lan, you wouldn't possibly... renege on the debt, would you?"
"If you truly don't have it, you can give me an IOU in the name of the Jia Lan family. I don't mind."
"How dare you!" Jia Lan Lou's face contorted with anger. Gritting his teeth, he pointed at Xu Mu and shouted, "My Jia Lan family is a great clan of the Hundred Alliances, how can we give an IOU to a nobody like you!"
Xu Mu spread his hands helplessly and said, "Then why don't you give me the money?"
"You!" Jia Lan Lou pointed at Xu Mu, his face ashen. Seventeen million multiplied by three would be enough to sell him and still not be worth that much.
"I do have it, but are you sure you want it?" Old Ghost said at this moment, his eyes fixed on Xu Mu with a peculiar gaze.
"Yes, why wouldn't I? It's what I deserve," Xu Mu replied with a smile, meeting his gaze.
"Are you sure you want it?" Old Ghost's eyes narrowed slightly, his sharp gaze seeming to want to devour and kill Xu Mu on the spot.
"Absolutely and affirmatively. You don't need to ask a third time," Xu Mu replied with a smile.
"Fine. I hope you live to spend it," Old Ghost snorted and casually tossed out a spatial pouch. He then asked again, "Do you dare tell me your name and which family you belong to?"
Xu Mu licked his lips and said, "I can't tell you my name, but I can tell you that I'm from the Demon Extermination Division."
"Demon Extermination Division?" Old Ghost's expression faltered, and then his mood soured. "Do you think I'm senile? Why would someone from the Demon Extermination Division be here!"
"If you don't believe me, then it's not true," Xu Mu said with a shrug, his demeanor quite infuriating.
Old Ghost knew he had been tricked. He gave Xu Mu one last deep look before leading his group to slowly disappear into a black mist.
Xu Mu smiled and saw them off, then stood on the battle stage and opened the spatial pouch Old Ghost had thrown him.
Upon seeing the silver within, his face lit up with joy, and he stored it in his spatial ring.
Meanwhile, the behind-the-scenes boss of the gambling house also emerged. He patted his bulging belly and nervously brought Xu Mu the gambling winnings he was owed.
"Young man, I was unaware of all this. Please don't involve us in your feud with the Jia Lan family."
Xu Mu looked at the boss and nodded with a smile, "Don't worry, we'll handle it ourselves. You don't owe me anything, so of course, you won't be involved."
As he spoke, he glanced at the young gambling house attendant who had colluded with Xiao Yao Feng. The latter instantly turned pale.
Although Jia Lan Lou didn't admit to match-fixing, anyone with eyes could see what had happened. The boss would not let this young man off the hook.
"You ungrateful son, have you forgotten the taboos I told you about running a gambling house? Today, I'm going to teach you a good lesson!"
The gambling house boss said, then dragged the young man into the courtyard and slammed the door shut with a bang. A 'Closed' sign was hung on the door.
Seeing this, Xu Mu turned to leave. The onlookers all made way for him, their gazes filled with admiration and amazement.
"Young man, the Jia Lan family might not have left. Be careful, they are vengeful and not good people," the middle-aged guardian from the Zhong Tian Mo family transmitted to Xu Mu.
"Thank you for the reminder, elder. I will be careful," Xu Mu said with a smile after a moment's pause.
"My name is Yun, also a guardian of the Zhong Tian Mo family. Although you don't know me, I still want to thank you for teaching them a lesson," the Yun Xiao guardian said to Xu Mu with a smile.
"It was nothing," Xu Mu chuckled and said, "If there's nothing else, I should be going now."
Both nodded: "Safe travels."
Xu Mu walked to the street corner and met Qiong Qi, who had been waiting for him. They exchanged a glance, scanned their surroundings to ensure no one was watching, and stepped into space.
The next second, they should have appeared in the Hidden Dragon Inn, but they inexplicably found themselves in a secluded alley.
"Where is this?" Xu Mu looked around in surprise, then at Qiong Qi. "Weren't we going back to the inn? Why did you bring me here?"
"It wasn't me who brought you here." Qiong Qi stared warily at their surroundings, reaching out a claw to take Xu Mu and traverse space, only to discover that this space was somehow sealed by something and could not be teleported.
"You think you can escape from under my nose a second time? Do you think I, Jia Lan Chi Gui, am just a spectator!"
Just as Xu Mu and Qiong Qi were in doubt, the space suddenly turned dark, and then Jia Lan Lou and Old Ghost appeared at the end of the alley.
In Old Ghost's hand was an unknown magical artifact, shaped like an ancient pagoda lotus lantern, emanating an energy that made it difficult to breathe.
"The space has been sealed. It will be difficult for me to break through with my abilities," Qiong Qi said, his voice grave.
"What is going on? How did we end up here?" Xu Mu asked solemnly, at the same time drawing out his Goblin Bow, ready to fight desperately.
"Kid, I told you long ago, whether you have the life to take my money or not is another matter," Old Ghost said with a chuckle, while Jia Lan Lou sneered coldly, "You've made an enemy of our Jia Lan family. Do you regret it now?"
Xu Mu crouched, frowning, and said, "This is the Holy City. If you move against me, aren't you afraid that the Xuanyuan family will hold you accountable if things are revealed?"
Old Ghost's expression was contemptuous. "I've meticulously planned to intercept you here. If the Xuanyuan family were to find out, I wouldn't deserve to be called a Domain Lord."
Xu Mu and Qiong Qi exchanged a look, then spoke in unison: "You run first."
"Don't argue!" Xu Mu gritted his teeth, gripping the Goblin Bow. "I have two holy relics and weapons made by Charles. If I resist with all my might, I can at least create some commotion. Then you can seize the opportunity to break through the seal and attract the Xuanyuan family here!"
"Neither of you will leave!" Old Ghost roared, unleashing his domain. A massive ghost hand, hundreds of feet long and wide, slammed down towards Xu Mu!