"Lin Tian, take your Demon-Sealing Nail out of here, quickly!" Zhao Zhenjie, now truly panicked, stared at the Fire Cloud Sword, which had turned completely pitch black.
"I... I don't think I can," Lin Tian replied, a hint of embarrassment flashing in his eyes.
"What do you mean you can't?" Zhao Zhenjie froze, his eyes widening with alarm. "Could it be... your Demon-Sealing Nail?"
As the thought struck him, a surge of murderous intent rose within Zhao Zhenjie. The sealing power of the Demon-Sealing Nail stemmed from a rare metal known as Black Meteorite Iron. Typically, blacksmiths controlled the amount of this iron in the nail, ensuring that, when paired with White Xuan Crystal, the Demon-Sealing Nail could be reused.
However, if the Black Meteorite Iron exceeded the amount of White Xuan Crystal, the Demon-Sealing Nail would lose its reusable quality and become a one-time-use item. This meant that if Lin Tian had used too much Black Meteorite Iron, then the Fire Cloud Sword would be utterly ruined. Seeing Lin Tian's calm demeanor, Zhao Zhenjie was at a complete loss for words.
"If I had followed the usual method of crafting the Demon-Sealing Nail, I would have run out of time. So, I had no choice but to increase the use of Black Meteorite Iron to enhance the quality of the nail," Lin Tian said, his tone serene. "My Demon-Sealing Nail is not only refined, but it's also reached the third level of Qi Refining. So, I believe this round's victory is mine."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhenjie trembled uncontrollably. "How dare you say that! You've ruined my Fire Cloud Sword!"
Yet, with so many eyes on them, Zhao Zhenjie had no choice but to forgo any personal bias. Despite his frustration, he was forced to announce Lin Tian's victory in this round.
"I never imagined this kid had such a trick up his sleeve." Elder Nanyin couldn't hide her excitement. Lin Tian's win meant that she had won her bet, and the Eastern Desolate Xuan Crystal that Elder Dongfeng had wagered now belonged to her.
"I really didn't see this coming. That kid really had a surprise for us," Elder Dongfeng grumbled, his mood soured. He had thought the outcome of the bet was a done deal, but now, with the sudden reversal, the Eastern Desolate Xuan Crystal felt like a bitter loss.
"Though his luck might be good, the third round of the competition will not be so simple," Elder Dongfeng added, shaking his head as he looked at Lin Tian.
As a blacksmith, the weapons he forged were like formations—designed to enhance the practitioners who wielded them. The third round required the contestants to craft a spiritual weapon on the spot and use it in battle.
At the moment, Lin Tian's team was in a difficult position. Besides Lin Tian, the other two members would struggle to refine spiritual weapons. In other words, although Lin Tian's team had won this round, only he would participate in the third round of the competition.
The other teams had three members each. What's more, the third round would involve all four teams competing simultaneously. Given Zhao Zhenjie's vengeful nature, he was bound to incite the other three teams to target Lin Tian.
Furthermore, Lin Tian's high-profile performance had earned him plenty of animosity. Even without Zhao Zhenjie's interference, his situation would be far from favorable.
"I have high hopes for this kid," Elder Nanyin remarked with enthusiasm. Lin Tian's victory in the bet had only deepened her interest in him. "Who knows, his spiritual weapon might just be enough to defeat the other three teams."
"Elder Nanyin, you're far too confident in this kid," Elder Dongfeng countered, unable to hold back. "Since you have so much faith in him, why don't we place another bet?"
"Looks like the Eastern Desolate Xuan Crystal isn't enough to hurt you," Elder Nanyin said with a sly smile.
Hearing her words, Elder Dongfeng clenched his teeth. Elder Nanyin had hit a nerve—he had wanted to bet again precisely because he was reluctant to part with the Eastern Desolate Xuan Crystal.
"An Eastern Desolate Xuan Crystal? I don't even blink at it," Elder Dongfeng said with a smile, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "But since we're betting again, let's raise the stakes."
With that, he casually conjured a smooth, round stone into his palm.
"Is that… a Xuan Jade Stone?" Elder Nanyin's eyes widened in shock. While the Eastern Desolate Xuan Crystal was precious, it paled in comparison to the Xuan Jade Stone before her. That small piece of Xuan Jade Stone could easily be worth two Eastern Desolate Xuan Crystals.
"I'll wager this Xuan Jade Stone," Elder Dongfeng declared confidently, "and as for your bet, you can stick with the South Sea Yellow Sand and the Eastern Desolate Xuan Crystal."
"Are you sure?" Elder Nanyin asked, her voice tinged with suspicion. The value of the Xuan Jade Stone was clearly far greater than the combined worth of the two items she had on hand.
"Quite sure," Elder Dongfeng replied with a slight smile, exuding confidence.
"Well, if you're that certain, I suppose I can't be too stubborn about it," Elder Nanyin said, pausing for a moment before agreeing.
As the elders made their bets, Lin Tian remained unaware of the situation. He had already returned to his quarters, swiftly recovering from the immense strain on his spiritual energy. Had it not been for his sheer willpower, he might have collapsed right there on the arena.
After the elders left the hall, Elder Dongfeng hurriedly made his way to the outer sect.
"Elder Dongfeng, what brings you here?" Gao Zhenhao asked excitedly, recognizing the elder he had long admired. Having joined Weapon Peak in hopes of becoming Dongfeng's disciple, Gao couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at meeting his idol.
"I'm here to discuss something with you," Elder Dongfeng said, giving Gao a brief glance. He then held out a black pill in his hand.