Before long, a blue-robed youth with an icy expression, a white-bearded Daoist elder, and a stunningly beautiful woman in green robes walked out one after another. With an unspoken understanding, they each chose different routes and slipped into the forest ahead.
Han Li waited for nearly a quarter of an hour more. When no one else appeared, he made a final check of the items on his body, then followed the example of those before him—picked a direction no one had entered yet and quietly snuck in.
Han Li had no idea that shortly after he vanished, the ugly man Zhong Wu, whom he had met just the day before, appeared at the entrance to the passage. Staring up the dark mountain path, he let out a few cold "heh heh" chuckles before releasing a dozen or so yellow specks of light from his body. They shot into the forest, and only then did he leisurely follow after them.
At this moment, outside the forbidden grounds, at the entrance, the remaining members of the Seven Sects were gazing anxiously toward the restricted area. Among them was none other than Li Shizu, Han Li's master.
Whether he was worried about how his disciples were faring or more anxious about his own bet—well, that was anyone's guess!
And the situation of a Jindan-stage Daoist from the Clear Void Valley was hardly any better! Truth be told, ever since the old monster Qiong from the Azure Moon Sect had muscled in on the bet, all his initial confidence had evaporated, leaving him in a state of agonizing uncertainty.
Can you blame him? That Blood-Line Flood Dragon inner core had not come easily. It had cost him virtually his entire fortune to obtain it. If he were to lose it just like that, no matter how refined his mental fortitude, he would probably lie awake for years, clutching his chest in pain!
The Daoist sneaked a glance at the one person in the crowd who seemed completely at ease—the beautiful woman leading the Azure Moon Sect's contingent, the Fairy Nishang.
Of all seven Jindan-stage experts, she was the only woman. Ever since the Seven Sects' disciples had entered the forbidden grounds, she had not shown the slightest trace of worry. She chatted and laughed with those around her as if her Azure Moon Sect's disciples had it completely in hand, requiring none of her concern or effort.
The more the Daoist looked at her smiling face, the more his worry deepened. And when he recalled old monster Qiong's expression of supreme confidence during the bet, he felt as though his Blood-Line Flood Dragon inner core had already flown out of his pocket and into someone else's purse!
The more he dwelled on it, the heavier the worry settled on his face. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was agonizing over his own sect's disciples trapped inside the forbidden grounds!
After a while longer, the Daoist could bear it no longer. When no one was looking, he sidled up to Li Shizu, who was standing some distance away, and asked with a deeply worried expression: "Benefactor Li, the disciples your Yellow Maple Valley sent in this time—their skills shouldn't be lacking, right? If our two sects end up losing to that old monster Qiong, that would be terrible! I still have some confidence in the Clear Void Gate disciples who entered the forbidden grounds, though!"
"What do you mean? Are you looking down on our Yellow Maple Valley, Daoist Brother?" Li Shizu's face darkened at once.
"Ha ha! Of course not! I'm just a bit suspicious about the disciples the Azure Moon Sect sent this time. I really can't rest easy!" The Daoist forced a laugh and explained sheepishly.
"Indeed! I've noticed something odd too. In past years, the Azure Moon Sect has never sent disciples who were all this young—and pairs of men and women at that! Do they think the forbidden grounds trip is some children's game?" Li Shizu said grimly. Clearly, he too had been unable to put his mind at ease about the bet.
The Daoist nodded repeatedly at Li Shizu's words, showing wholehearted agreement.
"However, rest assured, Daoist Brother. Since I dared to place this bet, I naturally have considerable confidence in our sect's disciples. Their strength will not be inferior to yours." Li Shizu gave the Daoist a meaningful look as he spoke slowly, his voice carrying a note of bold assurance.
"He he! With those words, Benefactor, I feel much relieved! Then I won't trouble you any longer." The Daoist got the answer he had been fishing for, and his expression instantly relaxed. He said his farewells with a grin and returned to his original spot, where he settled into meditation to wait peacefully for the results in a few days.
Li Shizu watched the Daoist leave, then let out a soft snort. In a voice only he could hear, he murmured to himself: "Floating Cloud Zi, you old Daoist—don't think I don't know what you're scheming. You're just hoping our two sects can team up to beat the Azure Moon Sect, and then your Clear Void Gate can push us Yellow Maple Valley down a notch. Heh heh! I don't know what impressive disciples the Clear Void Gate sent into the forbidden grounds, but this time our valley has sent out every single one of our top disciples—those ranked among the top three in Foundation Establishment stage. Otherwise, do you really think I'd have made this bet with you?"
As Li Shizu spoke, a crafty gleam crept onto his face, and every trace of his earlier worry had vanished entirely. He was, without question, another old fox who kept his cards well hidden.