C12 One-horned Earth Bear.

Liu Guang let out a sly chuckle, "Hold on, I haven't finished yet. If Junior Brother Zhao's haul is at least one-seventh of mine, then I'll consider it a loss, and the wager will be 1000 Tao points. How does that sound? Fair enough, wouldn't you say?"

A buzz of astonishment swept through the crowd. A thousand Tao points was a considerable fortune. Even for inner sect disciples, who could typically earn only about a hundred to two hundred Tao points, this was no small amount.

The disciple who had spoken up earlier fell silent.

Though everyone's monthly gains varied, they were generally in the same ballpark, with the largest discrepancy being a mere threefold.

Zhao Yu, plagued by illness, surely couldn't expect a large yield, but for his earnings to fall short of even one-seventh of Liu Guang's seemed preposterous.

Feigning concern, Zhao Yu responded, "It seems fair, but I don't have a thousand Tao points to my name. If I lose, I wouldn't be able to pay up."

"That's easily resolved," Liu Guang said with a dismissive laugh. "Junior Brother Zhao, you possess a Spirit Weapon. Let's make that the stake."

Inwardly, Zhao Yu scoffed. By now, he was well aware of Liu Guang's true intentions—he was after his Spirit Weapon.

Yet, one had to admit, Liu Guang, for all his greed, was no fool. He had laid out an enticing proposition.

If Zhao Yu's haul could match at least one-seventh of Liu Guang's, he stood to win a thousand Tao points. Theoretically, Zhao Yu's odds of victory were quite favorable.

Zhao Yu appeared to waver in indecision.

Liu Guang watched him patiently, not pressing him. He was confident Zhao Yu would consent.

Sure enough, after a brief struggle, Zhao Yu clenched his jaw and resolved, "Fine, Senior Brother Liu, you're on."

"Bravo, Junior Brother Zhao! Let all our fellow sect members bear witness! Once the bet is made, there's no turning back, win or lose!" Liu Guang's laughter was tinged with triumph as a glint of satisfaction sparkled in his eyes.

"Rest assured, I have no intention of reneging," Zhao Yu declared firmly.

"Excellent," Liu Guang replied with a grin. "Then I eagerly await your results. I hope you'll make my defeat an undeniable one."

Internally, he was already reveling in anticipation.

No one knew the extent of his bounty this time.

In the past, he wouldn't have dared to wager like this, but now things were different. Forget one-seventh; he doubted that Junior Brother Zhao could even match one-tenth of his haul.

The two fell silent and kept their place in line.

"Outer Sect disciple Chai Wenkang submits three Spirit Fox Pelts and a Mercury Flower, totaling thirty-two Tao points."

"Inner Sect disciple Zhao Guoxing submits seventy-two wild ginseng roots and a pair of Purple-eared Fox ears, amassing one hundred and five Tao points."

"Inner Sect disciple Guan Jingfu turns in five kilograms of black iron stones and twelve Flame Rabbit teeth, earning eighty-five Tao points."

In the Merit Hall, an elder tallied the disciples' contributions. After evaluation, he awarded the corresponding Tao points.

The disciples' yields varied, with those from the Inner Sect averaging around one hundred Tao points.

Outer Sect disciples typically earned less, their totals fluctuating between thirty and seventy Tao points.

Another disciple stood by the elder's side, meticulously recording everything.

The Tao points system, a longstanding fixture of the Sky Profound Sect, was well-established. The appraising elder, with his wealth of experience, could assess the value of the prey at a glance, leaving no room for disputes over fairness.

Despite the length of the queue, it moved briskly.

"Based on the Tao points exchange rate, the Black Wind Tiger materials I possess should fetch upwards of eight hundred points. Coupled with the thousand Tao points Senior Brother Liu wagered, I'll have more than enough to select some fine cultivation techniques and martial skills from the Martial Arts Repository," Zhao Yu mused as he waited.

Though the bet was not yet settled, he already considered Liu Guang's thousand Tao points as good as his.

A prize five times rarer than the Black Wind Tiger? Liu Guang, an Inner Sect disciple, would be hard-pressed to achieve such a feat, let alone Sect Master Zhang Daoming himself.

"Inner Sect disciple Fang Hongfu has submitted a complete set of Lightning Leopard sinews, fur, and teeth, along with seven stalks of Purple Ink Grass, totaling 305 Tao points."

Suddenly, an elevated voice echoed from the Elder tasked with the evaluation.

"Lightning Leopards are formidable Demonic Beasts indeed. I'm astounded that Senior Brother Fang managed to slay one. It's quite the feat."

"Indeed, the speed of Lightning Leopards is matched only by the sharpness of their claws and teeth, which can effortlessly rip through stone. To even keep pace with them is a challenge, let alone take one down."

"305 Tao points? That's nearly what I gather in three months!"

The disciples buzzed with excitement, their faces alight with awe.

A tall disciple emerged from the hall, his expression one of sheer triumph.

Yet, upon spotting Zhao Yu in the queue, a sigh escaped him, tinged with regret.

Had he known Liu Guang's intentions sooner, he would have challenged Zhao Yu to a wager himself.

With the spoils from the Lightning Leopard, even a mere seventh would have assured his victory over Zhao Yu.

Alas, Liu Guang had beaten him to the punch.

Liu Guang, standing in line, cast a dismissive look at Fang Hongfu, the Inner Sect disciple.

The queue steadily progressed.

But after Fang Hongfu, the subsequent disciples' yields paled in comparison. Only a handful had amassed over a hundred Tao points.

Soon, it was Liu Guang's moment.

The disciples leaned in with anticipation, their gaze fixed on Liu Guang.

The recent bet between him and Zhao Yu had sparked their curiosity; they were eager to see his haul.

With a confident air, Liu Guang set his pack on the appraisal counter and opened it unhurriedly.

A massive bear head with earthy brown fur and a menacing visage was revealed. Even in death, the bear exuded an intimidating presence.

To everyone's surprise, a five-inch horn protruded between the bear's ears.

"A One-Horned Earth Bear!"

"My goodness! That's the head of a One-Horned Earth Bear!"

Eyes wide, the crowd was visibly stunned.

The One-Horned Earth Bear was a notoriously vicious Demonic Beast. Its immense strength allowed it to harness the earth's power in battle. Even a group of ordinary Qi Refining Layer Four warriors might struggle to best such a creature.

Liu Guang managed to secure the head of a One-Horned Earth Bear, catching everyone by surprise.

"Doesn't this mean Zhao Yu is bound to lose now?" a disciple murmured.

The disciples were taken aback, their minds flashing back to the wager between Liu Guang and Zhao Yu. They cast sympathetic glances at Zhao Yu.

Under normal circumstances, Zhao Yu would have had a strong chance of winning.

But this was a One-Horned Earth Bear! Even a mere seventh of its value far surpassed any ordinary herb you could find on Mount Taibai.

Zhao Yu himself was momentarily stunned. He hadn't anticipated Liu Guang's impressive haul. The guy was certainly lucky.

Perched on the steps before the hall, Liu Guang took in Zhao Yu's reaction. Seeing him look as if he had been struck by lightning, Liu Guang couldn't help but feel smug.

The Appraisal Elder, equally astonished, inquired with curiosity, "Impressive, a One-Horned Earth Bear! Liu Guang, how did you come by it?"

"Elder Qian, I was on a mission with a few warriors when we encountered the One-Horned Earth Bear clashing with other Demonic Beasts over territory. It was badly wounded and fled. We tracked it for three days and nights before finally slaying it. Since I put in the most effort, I ended up with the prized bear head," Liu Guang recounted with pride.

The other disciples looked on with envy, thinking how fortunate Liu Guang was to have such luck.