Chapter Thirty-Three: The Great Celestial Cauldron of the Nine Heavens

After a long silence, Autumn Wind spoke with a resounding determination, “Fine! I’ll raise the stakes!”

Boss Li burst into hearty laughter. “Brother Autumn, you truly are decisive! Now, what will you wager?”

All eyes shifted to Autumn Wind upon hearing Li Chengzhu’s laughter. What could possibly match the value of the Blood Jade Ring, worthy enough to be offered as a bet?

Xiao Ying glanced nervously from Boss Li to Autumn Wind, swallowing hard in apprehension.

The atmosphere grew subtly tense, the silence hanging heavy.

Then, when a small object resembling an alchemical cauldron appeared in Autumn Wind’s hand, those who recognized its worth gasped collectively, as if slurping noodles, their necks craned as if gripped by invisible hands, staring intently at the treasure. Greed flickered in their eyes.

Boss Li, though not particularly knowledgeable, could tell from the crowd’s reaction that this artifact was extraordinary. He also sensed the powerful spiritual pressure radiating from it, hinting at its formidable offensive capabilities.

So this guy truly has something valuable, Boss Li thought, smirking inwardly.

Autumn Wind introduced the “cauldron” in a clear, ringing voice. “The Nine Heavens Da Luo Cauldron, a second-grade immortal artifact. It carries a built-in Nine Heavens Da Luo attack array, harnesses the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, conjures eight hundred flying swords to assault enemies within a thirty-meter radius, and also exerts a mild disturbance on the mind.”

Good heavens, an immortal artifact—and a second-grade one at that! Boss Li hadn’t expected this.

He knew the fellow had treasures, which was why he had first provoked him verbally and then tempted him with the Blood Jade Ring, all to coax him into a gamble. But the prize he fished out turned out to be an immortal artifact.

Boss Li was delighted.

Seeing that familiar smile, Xiao Ying shivered inexplicably. She remembered how her own wager with this stingy boss had led to a loss of half her refining profits; though the hateful man hadn’t actually taken them in the end, she always felt a lingering annoyance.

Sneaking a glance at Autumn Wind, Xiao Ying’s lips curled in a mischievous grin. That fool still thought himself certain of victory. Did he not realize, given Boss Li’s character, that he would never gamble without absolute confidence?

Li Chengzhu was inwardly cursing Autumn Wind for living centuries in vain.

He waited until Autumn Wind had revealed all his spoils before suggesting the raise—never expecting that Autumn Wind would fall for it. Catching the flicker in Autumn Wind’s gaze toward his own back, Boss Li suddenly understood.

Ah, the allure of a beautiful woman!

Everyone wants to prove themselves before their beloved; who could blame him?

With a sigh, not waiting for Autumn Wind’s urging, Boss Li began tossing divine crystals onto the ground one by one. Xiao Ying cooperated by counting them aloud, mouth agape.

As the pile of divine crystals grew, Autumn Wind’s composure began to falter.

The secret of the treasure-seeking mouse was known only to Xiao Ying; even Gu Linglong likely had no idea. During their first ambush, Boss Li had cleverly stayed at the rear to discreetly collect the divine crystals from the angels slain by Gu Linglong. By the end of that battle, Boss Li had amassed more than twenty crystals. With this latest hunt, he had at least seventy or eighty more. Autumn Wind was formidable, but he was destined to lose.

“Fifty-three!” Xiao Ying shouted excitedly, then looked to Boss Li with eager anticipation.

The other cultivators blushed deeply, their faces as red as monkey’s bottoms.

Why? Losing to Autumn Wind, who had an immortal artifact, they could accept—but why was a mere rookie at the Out-of-Body stage outdoing them all in kills? The experts in the Transcendence stage fumed; was this not a deliberate humiliation?

Boss Li, calm as ever, eyed Autumn Wind’s now pale face. “Brother Autumn, if I throw out one more crystal, you’ll lose.”

Autumn Wind’s complexion shifted wildly, as if he’d been tossed into a dye vat, reminding Boss Li of the face-changing act in Sichuan opera.

“I concede!” Autumn Wind finally declared, waving his hand graciously. “Even with just fifty-three, I lose. Your cultivation is far beneath mine, yet you managed to match my kill count. I admit defeat.”

Boss Li sneered inwardly. Matched? The truth was, he had far surpassed Autumn Wind. And this grand display of magnanimity—who was it for, exactly? He spared a glance at Gu Linglong, who remained unmoved, meditating and uninterested in the proceedings. “All this grandstanding is wasted,” Boss Li thought gleefully.

“This is yours!” Autumn Wind, as if cutting off a pound of his own flesh, tossed the Nine Heavens Da Luo Cauldron over.

The little creature leapt from Boss Li’s shoulder, grabbed the cauldron tightly, spun in midair, and landed neatly back on Li Chengzhu’s shoulder, presenting the artifact to him as though seeking praise.

“Good boy!” Li Chengzhu patted the creature’s head and pulled out a high-grade stone from his ring, handing it over.

“Let me see, let me see!” Xiao Ying ignored everyone’s expressions, excitedly grabbing the cauldron and inspecting it from every angle.

Boss Li had won—so had she! Xiao Ying felt an immense sense of pride.

Autumn Wind was now wracked with regret. He had always known Boss Li to be cunning beyond measure; how could he have fallen for his ploy? But regret was useless now. Words spoken, water spilled, gifts given, and flatulence released—none could be taken back. He could only leave, frustrated, to get some air.

Once Autumn Wind departed, Boss Li cheerfully swept all the crystals into the Blood Jade Ring, then snatched the Nine Heavens Da Luo Cauldron from Xiao Ying’s hands. “I haven’t even looked at it yet.”

Xiao Ying made a “V” sign with her delicate fingers and pinched Boss Li’s waist fiercely. “Cheapskate!” she pouted, then went to sit beside Gu Linglong.

Holding the jade-green cauldron, Boss Li grew increasingly fond of it.

Autumn Wind had said it could unleash eight hundred flying swords—within a thirty-meter radius, that would be nothing but swords. Who could possibly dodge such a dense barrage?

This was true dominance.

It wasn’t enough to be powerful; real dominance meant striking the enemy first, then unleashing eight hundred flying swords to cut them down. That was the way.

Boss Li grinned wickedly.

One of the Transcendent cultivators awkwardly interrupted Boss Li’s daydream. “Friend, may I ask—how did you manage it? How did you kill so many angels alone?”

Boss Li, moving at a leisurely pace, placed the Nine Heavens Da Luo Cauldron into the Blood Jade Ring, straightening his clothes and adopting a profound expression. “Strength isn’t everything. Your mind determines how far you can go.”

With that, he ignored everyone and strolled out of the tent.

Let these fools puzzle over it! Boss Li laughed heartily to himself.