Chapter 0962: The Bet

“Not bad!” Huang Long nodded.
Ji Wushuang glanced at the Blue Heart Iron in Huang Long’s hands, then looked at him and said calmly, “You’re using Blue Heart Iron to exchange for my Heavenly Soul Stone. It seems you’ve found out I need it. I’m indeed interested in this Blue Heart Iron, but trading it for my Heavenly Soul Stone? No way!” With that, Ji Wushuang shook his head.
No way!
Huang Long sensed the firmness in Ji Wushuang’s tone and felt his heart sink.
But then, lights began to flash around Huang Long’s body, and one rare treasure after another appeared.
“Ten Thousand Layers of Water Essence!”
“Heavenly Sea Divine Mud!”
“Unique Divine Stone!”
Ji Wushuang was astonished upon seeing these fifteen treasures. None of them was less valuable than the Heavenly Soul Stone.
“What do you say? Blue Heart Iron plus these fifteen treasures in exchange for the Heavenly Soul Stone—how about that?” Huang Long asked. “I can even add another top-grade Dao Artifact!” With a wave of his hands, a long sword appeared in midair.
The sword was entirely red, its blade as dazzling as the sun. Its appearance turned the entire hall into a furnace.
“That’s the Red Divine Sword!” Ji Wushuang could no longer maintain his calm expression; excitement appeared on his face.
“Not bad!” Huang Long nodded.
Back then, he had purchased three top-grade Dao Artifacts on the 99th floor of Tianyi Hall in Tianyi Mansion, and the Red Divine Sword was one of them.
“You bought this Red Divine Sword from Tianyi Hall, right?” Ji Wushuang controlled his emotions slightly and asked, “Are you really willing to exchange this Red Divine Sword, Blue Heart Iron, and sixteen more treasures for my Heavenly Soul Stone?”
He was now somewhat tempted!
It was because of the Red Divine Sword!
This sword was forged from 99,999 kinds of innate fire-based divine iron. Although it wasn’t the strongest among top-grade Dao Artifacts, it was suitable for him. He had always wanted to buy it, but Tianyi Hall’s price was too high.
“Yes, I bought this Red Divine Sword from Tianyi Hall!” Huang Long didn’t hide it. “What do you say? If you possess it, your overall strength will increase by 10%. Its value is a thousand times that of the Heavenly Soul Stone!”
Ji Wushuang’s expression changed constantly. Just as he was about to make a decision, a disciple suddenly entered the hall and reported, “Elder, Elder Youyuan has come to see you!”
“Oh, Elder Youyuan has arrived? Invite him in!” Ji Wushuang was taken aback before speaking.
Youyuan? Huang Long frowned.
A moment later, a person entered the hall—it was Youyuan from the You family clan that Huang Long had met before.

Youyuan was also surprised to see Huang Long and blurted out, “It’s you!”
“Elder Youyuan, do you know each other?” Ji Wushuang was puzzled.
“Elder, this kid is a friend of Jiang Chen. He must have been brought here by Jiang Chen to search for the Scarlet Blood Divine Pearl for the Jiang family!” Youyuan said, his expression turning cold as he looked at Huang Long.
So, he also thought Huang Long was here for the Scarlet Blood Divine Pearl.
“Oh, a friend of Jiang Chen!” Ji Wushuang looked at Huang Long again with a different gaze.
Huang Long’s heart sank. He could tell that Ji Wushuang had changed his mind because of Youyuan’s presence.
“The matter of exchanging the Heavenly Soul Stone!” At this point, Ji Wushuang lowered his voice. “I can agree, but I have one condition!”
“A condition?!” Huang Long was surprised, his eyes flickering. “What condition?”
“In a month, the Scarlet Blood Lake will erupt and release the Scarlet Blood Divine Pearl. Then the forbidden area will open, and you can go look for it. If you can find ten thousand pieces before the area closes, I’ll give you the Heavenly Soul Stone!” Ji Wushuang said slowly.
“Ten thousand pieces?!” A glint appeared in Huang Long’s eyes.
Huang Long had inquired with Jiang Chen about the eruptions of the Scarlet Blood Lake and the release of the Scarlet Blood Divine Pearl. Each eruption usually lasted only half a year, and in the past, many powerful beings, including those from the Scarlet Blood Demon Eye Ox tribe, had only managed to find a little over ten thousand pieces.
And now Ji Wushuang wanted him to find ten thousand pieces by himself!
Logically, this was completely impossible!
“That’s right, ten thousand pieces!” Ji Wushuang said calmly. “What do you say?”
“What if I can’t find ten thousand pieces?” Huang Long asked back.
“If you can’t find ten thousand pieces, you won’t get the Heavenly Soul Stone. Moreover, whether you succeed or not, the Scarlet Divine Sword and Blue Heart Iron Will both belong to me!” Ji Wushuang’s eyes shone as he pointed at the sixteen treasures, including the Scarlet Divine Sword and Blue Heart Iron Will.
Hearing this, Huang Long sneered inwardly. For Ji Wushuang, this deal was a sure win with no risks—anyone would do it.
“Okay!” Huang Long said slowly.
Ji Wushuang and Youyuan were stunned, not expecting Huang Long to agree.
“But I also have a condition: all the Scarlet Blood Divine Pearls I get from the Scarlet Blood Lake will be mine, no matter how many I find!” Huang Long said firmly, staring at Ji Wushuang.
“What? Impossible!” Before Ji Wushuang could speak, Youyuan screamed, “Strangers who enter must give half of the Scarlet Blood Divine Pearls they get to us. No one can change this rule!”
“Is that so?” Huang Long remained indifferent, ignoring Youyuan and turning to look at Ji Wushuang.

Ji Wushuang frowned, glanced at the Red Divine Sword, and finally said after some thought, “Alright, I promise you. I’ll discuss this matter with the clan leader. By then, all the Red Blood Divine Beads you obtain will be yours!”
Under normal circumstances, a person could find at most a hundred Red Blood Divine Beads. Compared to treasures like the Red Divine Sword and Blue Heart Iron, a hundred of them were nothing.
In Ji Wushuang’s view, agreeing to this condition for Huang Long wasn’t a big deal.
“Alright, since you are the Grand Elder of the Red Blood Demon Eye Ox Clan, your words should hold weight!” Huang Long clasped his fists and bid farewell before leaving.
“Grand Elder, are we really going to agree to this kid’s request?” Youyuan said, watching Huang Long disappear into the distance.
Ji Wushuang raised his hand. “It doesn’t matter. He can at most find a hundred Red Blood Divine Beads. A hundred of them aren’t much. As for the clan leader, I’ll talk to him.”
Seeing this, Youyuan had no choice but to give up.
After leaving Wushuang Peak, Huang Long returned to the Jiang Clan Mountains.
Upon hearing about Huang Long’s bet with Grand Elder Ji Wushuang, Jiang Chen reproached him, “Brother Huang Long, our Grand Elder’s condition is simply too difficult for you to fulfill. How could you agree to it?!”
Huang Long smiled calmly. “It’s fine. I have my own way!”
Jiang Chen shook his head, not believing at all that Huang Long had a solution.
Since there was still a month left until the opening of the Red Blood Lake, Huang Long rented a cave in the Jiang Clan Mountains and entered the Sacred Cauldron to cultivate, waiting patiently for the day it opened.
A month in the Sacred Cauldron equaled three hundred thousand years.
Over those three hundred thousand years, Huang Long continuously consumed Supreme Divine Pills to improve his strength, while Huang Yi and the others also grew stronger day by day.
After a month passed and Jiang Chen came to summon him, Huang Long finally emerged from the Sacred Cauldron.