Chương 68: The Grand Prize of the Battle.net Champion

net Champion The room was lavishly decorated and dimly lit.

Across from him, Tang Qian exuded an imposing aura, with fine black lightning crackling around him. On the other side, Tang Hao, his face deathly pale, leaned weakly against the table.

Everything is as the vision of the future reveals.

The floor undulated like waves, and the velvet curtains around it twisted and drew closer, like women in long dresses dancing gracefully.

The main gate is like a maze, impossible to get close to.

This is the power of the Thunder Apostle, the Thunder Shadow, who can create illusions in the eyes of others.

He had experienced this ability before when he fought Tang Hao, but compared to Tang Qian's illusion, Tang Hao's was far too immature and shallow.

To make a concrete comparison, it's like comparing a vlog shot by a third-rate photography enthusiast with a dusty, secondhand phone to a top-notch film polished by a master.

Lin Shuxuan did not rush to use the Dragon Fist Heart Sutra to fight back.

The previous bet gave him new ideas on how to break this ability.

Close your eyes.

Sure enough, the distorted illusion vanished instantly.

The Tang family's path to enlightenment relies on illusionary abilities that work on the opponent's eyes. By simply closing one's eyes, one can largely counter the opponent's methods.

Even with twenty years of martial arts training, he might not be able to defeat his opponent while keeping their eyes closed.

When she opened her eyes again and faced Tang Qian, the illusion enveloped her once more.

"That's enough, Tang Qian. We didn't come here to watch you throw a tantrum. Now that you've lost all your chips, let's call it a day."

Luo Jiuli stood up, frowning as she reprimanded him.

Tang Qian's imposing manner did not diminish in the slightest.

Luo Jiuge also stood up: "Hey Tang, didn't you hear my sister talking to you?!"

Although he really didn't want to stand up for Lin Shuxuan, he had no choice but to do so because it concerned his younger sister's reputation.

The bright yellow light suddenly felt as heavy as a mountain, and even the air in the room seemed to freeze.

Tang Qian then explained:

"As you all may not know, Lin Shuxuan, that despicable villain, used an ecological toxin to pierce Tang Hao's heart."

"This toxin is extremely potent; it could even damage Tang Hao's very foundation!"

"As Tang Hao's older brother, it is my right to seek revenge for this debt!"

Luo Jiuli's momentum faltered. She had heard of this kind of poison before. It was extremely insidious and domineering, and its price was extremely high. It could be said to be extremely harmful to others and oneself!

Lin Shuxuan is so unscrupulous!?

I was so angry I almost laughed... Lin Shuxuan scoffed and mocked:

"Tang Qian, can you use your brain before you speak? I stole that poison from Tang Hao's team!"

The clumsy slander was exposed, but Tang Qian showed no shame whatsoever, her smile remaining unchanged:

"Is that so? You can save those words for our Tang family elders and see if they'll listen to you."

"I'm giving you only one choice: give up your winnings and get out!"

Lin Shuxuan also stepped forward, a sinister smile playing on his lips:

"I have a better option: I'll beat you up first, then walk out."

Tang Qian is very strong, as can be seen from the number of hearts he can hold; it's at least equivalent to three Tang Hao's.

More importantly, that faint martial will, though from the same source as Tang Hao's, was a hundred times more refined and concentrated. Its fearless madness was almost tangible, and it was quite similar to Zhou Tianyuan's Dragon Fist intent.

Although Lin Shuxuan had twenty years of martial arts cultivation and had mastered the fist and footwork techniques of Dragon Fist to an extremely high degree, compared to these prodigies, he lacked his own martial will.

In layman's terms, he's skilled enough, but lacks versatility.

But he also had a premonition that one day he would break through his inner demons and, with the incredibly solid foundation he had built over the past twenty years, his Dragon Fist realm would truly soar to new heights.

Tang Qian is a formidable opponent. His chest cavity contains the hearts of three strange beasts, and while he has entered the extraordinary realm, his life energy level is definitely not low.

In addition, there is his martial arts background, which is currently unknown.

This should be the upper limit of his current strength.

They might even be slightly inferior.

After all, there was no path to encompass the deep cave yet... Lin Shuxuan weighed the strengths of both sides and pondered in his heart.

Challenging someone of a higher level certainly increases the difficulty, but fortunately, after tonight, plus the tens of thousands of credits won from Tang Hao...

He will be able to save enough money soon.

Tang Qian's verbal threats seemed serious, but even if he lost this sparring match, it wouldn't matter. With the military academy rules protecting him, no one could take the money from his pocket.

Conversely, it would allow Lin Shuxuan to familiarize himself with the opponent's style and moves in advance.

The real battle will begin when the Deathmatch Base opens.

At that time, he will secretly conceal the deep cave passage and launch a surprise attack.

As he pondered, a clear and melodious dragon's roar echoed throughout the room.

Lin Shuxuan was slightly taken aback; this was not his action.

Zhou Tianyuan, who had been sitting in a high-backed chair with his eyes closed, got up from the side.

"That's enough, Tang Qian. The bet is over. You lost. I won't team up with you in the Deathmatch Base."

Lin Shuxuan looked at the handsome young man who had spoken, and for a moment he had forgotten that this person was still in the room.

"There's already been enough drama tonight, please don't cause any more trouble."

Tang Hao, who was always arrogant and reckless, was unusually respectful in front of this young man who had not even been accepted into the Dao Path:

"Indeed. Tang Hao! Apologize to Lin Shuxuan immediately! How dare you bring eco-toxins into the arena! You have truly disgraced the Tang family's reputation!"

Tang Hao's already pale face, due to his injuries and emotional turmoil, became even more ashen.

His lips trembled.

Although he was instructed by Tang Qian to carry the ecological toxins to deplete Lin Shuxuan's funds, he is now seriously injured and has had tens of thousands of credits taken away from him.

Losing such a large sum of money on the eve of the Deathmatch Base, coupled with the power armor he lost to Lin Shuxuan earlier, his debt is terrifying!

If he were to lose Tang Qian's support, his military academy career and future prospects would likely be ruined.

"I'm sorry, Lin Shuxuan, I apologize for my... despicable and base actions."

Looking at Tang Hao's almost miserable face, Lin Shuxuan knew that Tang Hao would have no will to fight from now on.

He turned and left the room.

Luo Jiuli wanted to catch up and ask him why he was able to make a royal flush, but Luo Jiuge grabbed her wrist.

He shook his head:

"Let's give the Tang family a little face and talk about it later."

......

Agate glass edge.

The Tang brothers, Tang Qian and Tang Hao, watched Lin Shuxuan's departing figure.

The other nine generations of descendants were talking in another room. The Tang family had lost their chips, and the two of them had no desire to continue the game.

"Are we just going to let him go like that?"

Tang Hao was unwilling to accept this.

"If you hadn't revealed your skills at the poker table, we would have already taken all his chips, but it doesn't matter."

Tang Qian's pupils moved in layers:

"Since tonight is a banquet hosted by our Tang family, there will naturally be family elders participating. He will make Lin Shuxuan vomit what he needs to vomit."

......

Lin Shuxuan left the villa in the woods.

The banquet had ended, and all the food and snacks had been eaten up, leaving him with nothing to eat.

This must be Hai Lanlan's doing... She packed everything up... Lin Shuxuan, who was starving, was very unhappy.

He decided to act angry in front of Hai Lanlan and make her guess what he was doing.

This game is anything but easy, and the vision for the future offers far too limited a perspective.

The process was thrilling and exciting, far more mentally taxing than a battle, as he didn't know how fate would unfold.

While it may seem glamorous to bet everything on the gambling table, the thought that all the credits you've painstakingly accumulated might end up being used to enrich someone else fills you with uncontrollable panic.

"I'll never gamble again..." Lin Shuxuan thought to himself, but fortunately, he still won the chips in the end.

With this sum of money, he had almost accumulated enough credits to buy materials.

One more game is all it takes.

What special abilities will the right arm of the Iron Armor grant?

According to Gong Yuan, the path through the deep cave seems to be related to space.

"Can I put other people in a dark room and steal their attributes?" Lin Shuxuan wondered.

Just as he was envisioning a bright future, a shadow loomed over him.

The newcomer was dressed in a tailcoat and wearing a top hat.

His eyes had double pupils, which shone even in the night.

He has a reserved and gentle temperament, quite different from Tang Hao and Tang Qian.

Lin Shuxuan recognized the other party as someone from the Tang family at a glance; the double pupils were too obvious a feature.

What surprised him was the man's demeanor.

Does the path the Tang family has embarked on seem to affect their emotions? Both Tang Hao and Tang Qian's fist techniques possess a will to sacrifice their lives.

Tang Qian, in particular, seemed to have gone completely mad.

It can directly accommodate three alien beast hearts at once; you should know that ordinary martial artists would face serious risks if they absorbed even one, and would only dare to try it after their life energy level reached level 30.

Judging from Tang Qian's chaotic double pupils, his bloodline was probably on the verge of going out of control.

Then the mental state of the person who came in front of us is very suspicious.

As the saying goes, barking dogs don't bite.

The other person took off their hat and politely introduced themselves:

"Hello student, I'm a discipline instructor at the military academy. We received a report that someone is gambling here. Would you be willing to cooperate with the investigation?"

How utterly despicable and shameless... Lin Shuxuan was speechless with shock. He never expected that Tang Qian would have such a backup plan.

He thought about it.

"Military academies shouldn't restrict this kind of behavior, right? This is a card game organized by Tang Qian."

Military academies have strict control over the circulation of credits, but card games among members of the Nine Clans seem to be an exception, since he can bet all his credits.

Following this line of reasoning, the military academy would acknowledge this income.

Not receiving a reply, his thoughts suddenly became hazy.

When I came to my senses, I found myself in a desert where yellow sand was flying everywhere.

Where am I... I should be at the military academy... Lin Shuxuan's thoughts became increasingly blurry, as if interrupted.

He forgot where he was, forgot his martial arts cultivation, and forgot his name.

I forgot everything.

He wandered aimlessly through the desert, feeling as if his legs were treading on clouds.

One hour, two hours.

One day, two days.

He trekked through the desert for a whole month without a drop of water.

He should have died in this state, but for some reason, he remained alive and kept moving forward, forward...

His thoughts suddenly returned, and when he opened his eyes again, he was back inside the military academy.

The dark green plants swayed gently, just as they had been before he left.

In the real world, only a moment has passed.

It's an illusion... Lin Shuxuan was horrified. He had previously been amazed by Tang Qian's skills, but compared to the person in front of him, he was just showing off his limited abilities.

Unbeknownst to him, he fell into the other party's illusion and perceived a month passing in the desert.

It's like a long dream; when you come back to reality, only a second has passed.

"Student, my patience is limited, please don't make me repeat myself."

The gap in strength was too great... Lin Shuxuan sighed inwardly. He had no choice but to return the credits he had painstakingly earned.

This is clearly not a power that a transcendent expert would possess.

The opponent might be a powerful figure of the same level as Guan Yunyang, Gong Yuan, and others.

He is now isolated and helpless, with no means to restrain the other party, and can only wait for Gong Yuan to get revenge for him in the future.

But the thought of Gong Yuan made him furious.

The Tang family's banquet was clearly a trap; without a vision for the future, he would have lost at least 1000 credits.

That's quite a price.

Gong Yuan, I'm going to hold you accountable for this... Lin Shuxuan prepared to retaliate fiercely after he had already taken over the Deep Cave Path.

He counted the chips he had won, totaling 426, of which 310 were credits he already possessed.

I entered 12600 credits and was about to click confirm when I was stopped by the other party.

"Too few."

"?"

Before Lin Shuxuan could retort, he heard the other party say:

"You did something wrong, so you should be punished. You'll have to pay an extra 10, 000 points."

How is this any different from robbery... Having said that, Lin Shuxuan no longer intended to compromise.

"Then sir, why don't you give it a try and see how long this illusion can keep me trapped?"

He quietly activated the Dragon Fist Heart Sutra, preparing to counter the incoming illusion.

If we use the Star Orbit Society's abilities to counter this attack, it should have some kind of miraculous effect.

But Lin Shuxuan dared not use it. He was falsely accused and fined 10, 000 credits simply for participating in the Tang family's card game.

If the Star Orbit Society's capabilities are exposed, they will likely be killed on the spot.

The polite man simply smiled.

"Shall we give it a try?"

Just as he was about to act, a surging wave of air suddenly descended from the sky.

Then came the deafening roar of engines.

A humanoid mecha over fifty meters tall landed behind Lin Shuxuan.

The surging air blew the surrounding green plants and trees flat and bent them over.

Li Rufeng's clear and melodious voice came through the mecha's loudspeaker:

"Finally found you, Lin Shuxuan. Do you remember the mysterious grand prize for first place on Battle. net?"

"Test drive a space-age mech! How about it, isn't it cool?"

Lin Shuxuan turned around to take a look; he had only glimpsed the mecha's appearance through the battle network before.

But only when it actually appeared before them did they realize just how magnificent the Federation had created it.

The fuselage, crafted from silver-white alloy, boasts sharp, razor-sharp lines, while the wings that unfold behind it gleam with a pale blue light.

The overwhelming sense of oppression was like a mountain of steel.

It's a pity there's no reference point, otherwise we could have witnessed its power.

"Who is this stray dog in front of you, dressed like a human? He looks like a spy for some terrorist organization."

"It just so happens that I'm piloting this mech, so I can rid the Federation of this menace."

The Tang family member who came overheard Li Rufeng's words but was not annoyed. He held his hat to his chest and smiled broadly.

"I'm just passing by, everyone."