Chapter 233: Sognar’s Demand

The scorching sun hung high in the sky; even the early autumn sun seemed unbearably intense, bringing with it a stifling heat!
The competition arena, filled with five hundred thousand people and an atmosphere of madness, reached an even hotter level—sitting there alone made one feel drenched in sweat.
“Cough, cough… You know what, kid? You must win today’s match. Otherwise, I’ll never let you off!” As the match was about to begin, Sognar stepped up to Rod and spoke fiercely, with a sense of determination as if he were going on a one-way mission.
Looking at Sognar in confusion, Rod had no idea what had gotten into him today. Especially with Lilith and Ada’s mocking expressions nearby, it made things even more suspicious.
“Ignore him. It’s just that half of his wealth is on you. Is that such a big deal?” Lilith said jokingly, rolling her eyes.
Only then did Rod realize what was going on. He had heard about betting odds before; he never expected this guy to be involved, let alone bet so heavily. Half of his wealth—for a race like the dragons, who valued wealth above everything—was enough to make them hesitate even to part with a small amount. Imagine giving away so much at once. After a thousand years of accumulation, Rod could hardly imagine just how much of Sognar’s wealth that was. It must be enough to drive many crazy.
“Damn it! I’ve risked everything on you, kid. If you lose, I won’t let you go even as a ghost!” Sognar glared fiercely at them, giving up all pretense.
Trying hard to hold back his laughter, Rod felt helpless at Sognar’s actions. What could he say? This guy hadn’t been this crazy in the previous two matches. Could it be that seeing others make big profits had made him go crazy too? Unlikely!
“How about 19 points? If you win, I’ll give you one layer,” Rod said heartlessly, rolling his eyes.
Sognar’s face instantly changed. He rushed up to Rod and snapped, “You’re ruthless! 19 points? Fine! If you win, I’ll give you one layer!” His pained expression made Lilith laugh without restraint, and soon Ada joined in with a hearty laugh. 19 points? How could this guy even think of that? It seemed he truly had money blinded him.
“28!” Seeing no reaction from Rod, Sognar hesitated for a moment before shouting loudly.
Looking at Sognar like a monster, Rod really didn’t know what to say. This guy seemed truly hopeless.

“Sanqi, kid, don’t push people too hard. This is the absolute limit. Will you say yes or no?” With bloodshot eyes and a red face, suppressing his intense anger, Sognar gritted his teeth as he reached his limit.

“Hahaha…” The women were laughing uncontrollably, while Onyx, Heibin, Melon, and Rubio all looked utterly astonished.

The Dragon Clan—everyone knew about them. They were known for being stingy as thieves, so how could they be so generous? It was surprising and amusing at the same time. As the saying goes, those involved are confused while outsiders see clearly. Sognar was exactly that at the moment.

Although he didn’t seem very smart, he wasn’t that foolish either. This was Rod’s own competition—could he just win by saying so? Was it a fake match? Or did Rod have absolute control over the outcome?

Win? Who doesn’t want to win? Especially Rod, as this was a competition for him to secure a spot in the Netherworld—a crucial battle. If he could win, he definitely wouldn’t give up. Even if you offered him triple the reward, it wouldn’t help if he really couldn’t win. It seemed Sognar had truly been blinded by money, obsessed with it.

“Alright, deal!” Rod readily agreed.

It was rare to see Sognar like this, so he wouldn’t give up. He’d treat it as extra income. Winning would bring many benefits—where else could he find such a good deal?

“Good, that’s it. Remember, if you lose, I’ll die with you!” Sognar finally showed a relieved smile after Rod agreed.

“Brother Rod, you’re making a huge profit this time. The odds outside are 1 to 1.1, but Brother Sognar has bet a million Black Coins on you. If you win, you can get over three hundred thousand!” Aida added promptly.

Hearing Aida’s figures, Sognar’s eyes twitched in anger.

“Oh? 1 to 1.1? What about the other side?” Rod asked out of curiosity. He hadn’t really looked into these things before and was surprised by his own odds. It seemed others valued him quite highly.

As for Black Coins, Rod had gradually learned about them over time. They were the second currency of the Source of Darkness, second only to the Magic Beast Core. Yet, under the Dragon Clan’s influence, they had become highly sought after by many, especially newcomers.

The so-called one million Black Coins are equivalent to 100 divine-grade beginner-level magical beast cores! 100—quite a significant number. 10,000 Black Coins equal one divine-grade beginner-level magical beast core, which means that by winning this match, he could obtain 33 such cores! Thinking of this, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but lift as he felt secretly delighted. It was truly a blessing from heaven; if he refused such a fortune, he would surely suffer divine punishment.

“The opponent is one-on-one, similar to you,” Sognar said matter-of-factly in response to Rod’s question.

No wonder he hadn’t been seen these past few days—he must have been busy with this.

At that moment, cheers erupted outside; the match was about to begin. Rod didn’t say anything more and quietly prepared to go outside.

“Be careful—your life is the most important!” Lilith and Aida warned anxiously as Rod prepared to enter the arena.

“Don’t be stubborn. If you can’t do it, give up!” Melon also expressed concern.

Now only four warriors remained, who could be considered the best among the entire Dark Source—true peaks of strength. Rod wasn’t very prominent among them, and it wasn’t shameful to give up when necessary.

“I know!” Taking a deep breath, Rod said solemnly, clenching his fists with determination in his eyes, an expression that raised concerns.

Outside the arena, it was once again packed with spectators—five hundred thousand people cheering loudly. There were two arenas, each larger than the previous ones, once again demonstrating Wuyou City’s grandeur.

Next to each arena, 30 divine-grade magical beast cores provided energy, while ten divine-grade warriors maintained defensive barriers.

Rod’s opponent today was Duan Tianren, a warrior from the Royal City of Water Curtain, part of the pro-war faction. The other match was between Zi Yang from Purple Wing Thunder Eagle and Han Xing from Wuyou City. Of course, the most anticipated match was Rod’s, as he always delivered a stunning performance. Just the dazzling visual impact already made people look forward to him greatly.

The four of them stood neatly in front of the two arenas, divided into two groups, standing proudly as they enjoyed the cheers and noise from all directions.

“That’s Rod! Do you see him?”

“As expected, a heroic young man with a valiant appearance!”

“Who do you think will win today?”

“Obviously Rod! You barbarian, get lost! You’re annoying to look at!”

“Shut up! Who said it was Rod? I want to see! I, Duan Tianren of Water Curtain, am one of the top ten masters there. What’s this Rod anyway?”

“Great Wildman, what did you say?”
Before the match even began, discussions and arguments already arose on the stage. The supporters of both sides clashed verbally, even on the verge of fighting. If not for those who stopped them and the fact that this was a combat arena, there might have already been bloodshed.
For a moment, there was some chaos in the stands. Many who saw Rod for the first time were amazed by his youth. They had only heard about him before, but now that they saw him in person, they couldn’t help but marvel again—truly the best among the younger generation.
Rod had an unattractive face, no—actually quite handsome, with sharp features, a strong build, and an indifferent gaze. With his hands behind his back, his contemptuous attitude had won over countless girls’ hearts.
As the host announced the start of the match, Rod and Duan Tianren slowly stepped onto the arena.
With their entry, ten god-tier warriors around them shouted simultaneously, their energy surging as combat qi ignited. Defensive barriers slowly formed—transparent and dazzling. The blue-colored arena floor complemented them beautifully.
“Rod!” Rod greeted with a fist bow.
“Duan Tianren!” The other party responded politely, but with a hint of arrogance.
Duan Tianren appeared to be around forty years old, but Rod knew it was definitely not the case. Perhaps he was an ancient monster who had lived for a hundred years. After reaching the god tier, a person’s appearance remains fixed and doesn’t change. Just by looking at his face, it was truly difficult to tell his true age.
Yet, Duan Tianren gave Rod a pleasant impression—full of vigor, and at least he seemed righteous, unlike some who gave off the vibe of being villains or those who openly declared themselves evil.
“I’ve long heard of your exploits. You’re the best among the younger generation. Today, I’ll see just how strong you really are. Fighting you would be a pleasure!” In an instant, the two seemed to share a sense of familiarity, as if they had found an old friend they hadn’t seen in years.
It was evident from Duan Tianren’s eyes that he had some admiration for Rod—genuine and sincere, not pretentious.
Ding… With a clear sound, Duan Tianren drew his long sword: “This sword is named Qingxue. It’s three feet three inches long, forged from ten-thousand-year-old black iron from the North Sea and meteorites from outer space. It’s over eight hundred years old and has been stained with countless bloods!”
Admiring his precious sword, Duan Tianren said to Rod.

“This sword is named Dark Dragon. I obtained it by chance, and to this day, it has drunk the blood of three thousand enemies!” Rod introduced it with great care as Dark Dragon was drawn from its sheath. The atmosphere was tense to the extreme, on the verge of explosion.