The next day.

In an elegant courtyard at Mysterious Extremes Peak.

Wei Wen was leisurely sipping tea in the courtyard, his expression completely calm. The intense killing intent emanating from him had turned the pond water a faint red. A bloodthirsty crimson carp swam in the pond, absorbing the killing aura.

"Senior Brother!" A female voice called from outside the courtyard.

Wei Wen turned his head, and the gate automatically opened to admit a young woman.

"What is it?"

"Senior Brother Wei, someone in our peak has opened betting odds for the Inner Sect Competition. I find this rather suspicious and came to report it to you."

"Oh? Who set this up?" Wei Wen asked curiously.

"An inner disciple named Su Yuan, but I suspect he's just a front. Many people in our peak have been mobilized, including several inner disciples. Yet this Su Yuan is completely unknown - I have no impression of him at all," the woman replied.

"Oh? Interesting. What are the betting options?"

The woman glanced at Wei Wen before answering: "There are many categories. The first is for the top ranking, with three predicted candidates: you, Yang Mengting, and Sun Hong. Your odds are 1:1.3, Yang Mengting's are 1:1.2, and Sun Hong's are 1:1.1. You can also bet on other disciples at fixed 1:2 odds."

Wei Wen narrowed his eyes: "Interesting that my odds are worse than theirs? What fool arranged this? Since they dare to take bets, place one for me. Here are thirty thousand spirit stones - all on me winning first place!"

The woman hesitated.

"What's wrong?" Wei Wen frowned.

"I've heard rumors that Sun Hong recently entered a Golden Core cave dwelling. His current strength is unknown."

"Golden Core cave dwelling?" Wei Wen's expression froze momentarily before turning thoughtful. "I did hear he entered a cave dwelling, but he claimed it was only a Foundation Establishment level one. Could it really have been Golden Core?"

"What about Yang Mengting?" Wei Wen asked.

"Reportedly she entered Divine Wind Valley and obtained a lower-grade Profound-tier spiritual wind which she successfully refined! She's now at Half-Step Foundation Establishment level!"

"How could you possibly know such information?" Wei Wen questioned.

"I heard it from an inner sect senior sister at Divine Extremes Peak! This news surfaced before the betting started!" the woman explained.

Hearing this, Wei Wen fell into deep thought.

"Should I still place the bet?"

"Place it! Why not? Hmm... place half for now." Wei Wen decided. "What other betting options are there?"

"There are bets for top ten and top twenty rankings. Also one particularly unusual option." The woman paused. "A bet on which peak will have the most disciples in top ten! Betting on our peak gives 1:3 odds, while other peaks only pay 1:1.3!"

Wei Wen frowned: "This setup? Seems rather cunning!"

As an inner disciple of Mysterious Extremes Peak also competing for peak leadership, not betting would be one thing, but if he did bet, he'd naturally support his own peak. Yet as far as he knew, apart from himself, Mysterious Extremes Peak didn't have many strong contenders.

"Never mind this for now!" Wei Wen shook his head.

The woman nodded and left.

After some time.

She arrived at the betting location - the intersection point connecting all seven peaks.

What had been empty ground now hosted a platform surrounded by dense crowds of disciples. Su Yuan presided at the center, managing operations across ten betting windows where many disciples debated but few actually placed bets yet.

As Wei Wen's subordinate, the woman went straight to the first window and declared: "I'm betting fifteen thousand spirit stones on Wei Wen taking first place!"

Hearing this, Su Yuan immediately perked up and personally approached, smiling: "Senior Sister, you're confirming fifteen thousand spirit stones on Wei Wen for first place?"

"Confirmed!" The woman nodded.

She produced fifteen thousand low-grade spirit stones on the spot, astonishing many watching disciples.

"Who's that? Such extravagance!"

"She actually bet that much on Senior Brother Wei for first place!"

"Oh, I know her - she's Senior Brother Wei's attendant disciple!"

"So Senior Brother Wei is betting on himself! That makes sense!"

Hearing these comments, Su Yuan's eyes gleamed as he announced: "Current standings - Technique Extremes Peak leads window ten with thirty thousand spirit stones bet, while Mysterious Extremes Peak trails with only two thousand!"

His words immediately soured the expressions of Mysterious Extremes Peak disciples present.

"Hey junior brother, don't you have faith in our peak? Only two thousand spirit stones bet so far is disgraceful!" someone in the crowd shouted.

"Damn it! This is too embarrassing for Mysterious Extremes Peak! I'd rather lose my bet than see our peak lag behind others! Here's all twenty spirit stones I have - all on Mysterious Extremes Peak having most top ten finishers!"

One attendant disciple, clearly provoked, stepped forward and slapped down a hundred spirit stones on Mysterious Extremes Peak.

Su Yuan gave the disciple an approving "well done" look.

The disciple calmly nodded before turning away with an air of righteous determination.

"Impressive junior brother!"

"Lose the battle but not the dignity - I'm betting too!"

"Count me in!"

"Tsk, Senior Brother Wei has so many spirit stones to bet on himself, why won't he bet on our peak?"

"Can't blame Senior Brother Wei - he's being rational. Nobody's spirit stones grow on trees, right?"

"But still..."

"Shh! That senior sister might hear you!"

"So what if she does?"

Wei Wen's subordinate twitched her mouth and hurriedly left the scene, returning to the peak.

Soon she reported back to Wei Wen.

Frowning briefly before relaxing, Wei Wen said: "I understand. I'll go personally this time!"

Mounting his sword, he quickly descended near the platform.

Mysterious Extremes Peak disciples immediately gathered around.

"Senior Brother Wei!"

"Senior Brother Wei!"

Wei Wen nodded, a slight smile appearing on his handsome, cold face: "Junior brothers and sisters, I've heard about the betting situation. I will place my bet on Mysterious Extremes Peak!"

"Senior Brother Wei is awesome!"

"Senior Brother Wei rules!"

He strode up to Su Yuan, gave him a once-over, and tossed over a storage pouch.

"Twenty thousand spirit stones on Mysterious Extremes Peak!"

Su Yuan's eyes brightened as he recorded the bet and issued Wei Wen a betting slip.

Then he loudly announced: "Mysterious Extremes Peak total bets now reach thirty thousand, ranking third! Divine Extremes Peak trails last with only nine thousand!"

Another stir spread through the crowd, and news quickly reached Divine Extremes Peak.

Soon Yang Mengting arrived by sword flight. Frowning at the betting setup and gathering crowds, she realized she couldn't back down now.

After giving Su Yuan a penetrating look, she landed and tossed out a storage pouch.

"Thirty thousand spirit stones on Divine Extremes Peak winning."

"Right away!" Su Yuan quickly counted before announcing: "Divine Extremes Peak total bets now forty thousand, currently leading! Pill Extremes Peak trails last with twelve thousand bet so far!"

Surprised murmurs spread through the crowd.

"Pill Extremes Peak last? Alchemists are among the wealthiest!"

"Not necessarily. I hear alchemists earn quickly but spend even faster! Medicinal herbs, materials, spiritual flames - everything costs money. Many alchemists are dirt poor!"

"No way!"

Amidst the discussion, some watching Pill Extremes Peak disciples could no longer remain idle and stepped forward to place bets!

Pill Extremes Peak's total quickly climbed!

Su Yuan periodically announced updated betting totals.

Gradually, disciples began looking at Su Yuan with strange expressions.

Was this guy trying to stir up chaos?

Though clearly fanning the flames, disciples felt compelled to bet anyway. This unprecedented betting event involved each peak's reputation, disciple unity, financial resources - no one wanted to finish last and face prolonged ridicule.

Wei Wen frowned at the scene, sensing something amiss. He looked toward each peak's direction - remarkably, no law enforcement teams or elders had come to stop Su Yuan. Was the sect really allowing this disciple to violate rules?

Rules?

Wait...

Wei Wen carefully reviewed sect regulations and was stunned to realize no rule actually prohibited this - what wasn't forbidden was permitted!

Had this kid found a loophole?

Still, Wei Wen felt certain Su Yuan wasn't the mastermind behind this - any disciple daring such a scheme would at least be a core disciple!

Seeing bets growing ever larger, Wei Wen immediately contacted veteran inner disciples - those over ten years in service who didn't compete but could still bet!

As betting sums skyrocketed.

Su Yuan's initial excitement gradually turned to nervousness.

Before anyone realized, each peak's total bets had reached over five hundred thousand!

Combined total approached four million spirit stones!

This didn't even include other betting categories - bets on first place alone exceeded one million!

Su Yuan began feeling slightly panicked - things were getting out of hand!

"Damn, just how many disciples did Senior Brother Gu mobilize to spread rumors? Feels like the whole sect knows now!"

When a Foundation Establishment core disciple curiously arrived and bet one thousand mid-grade spirit stones, things escalated further!

His appearance immediately drew other peaks' core disciples to place bets.

Total bets soon surpassed ten million!

Su Yuan thought that might be the peak.

But when a Golden Core elder arrived, the crowd fell silent, expecting punishment for Su Yuan and others.

To everyone's shock, the elder calmly placed a bet.

"One hundred top-grade spirit stones on Technique Extremes Peak winning!"

A million-spirit-stone bet left Su Yuan completely dumbfounded.

He gaped as dozens of Golden Core elders descended to place bets like seasoned gamblers.

"Wei Wen, Yuan Qing, Li Ping'an - come to my cave dwelling!" called a Mysterious Extremes Peak Golden Core elder.

The three top-ten hopeful inner disciples present were startled then overjoyed.

Clearly being taken for special training!

Other peaks quickly followed suit.

Su Yuan was completely overwhelmed!

Events had spiraled beyond his control.

Yet no one seemed to care about the minor figure at the betting center - he'd been reduced to a mere tool.

Su Yuan suddenly brightened - this perfectly fulfilled his original plan!

Gaining fame while remaining obscure, earning reputation points and massive spirit stones while staying uninvolved - this was what you called a perfect spiral takeoff!