The Unparalleled Sword Emperor Chapter 2697 - 2672: Ban Ye Strikes It Rich!

For a full ten days, Lin Bai remained secluded in his residence, dedicating himself to the cultivation of the "Black Water Divine Thunder Skill" and the associated martial techniques and divine powers. Upon the completion of these ten days, he had achieved discernible progress.

On this particular day, Lin Bai emerged from his secret chamber, seeking to refresh himself with the outside air. Coincidentally, he found Ban Ye and Uncle Fatty already in his modest courtyard, engaged in drinking wine. Upon observing Lin Bai's exit from seclusion, they joyfully called out, "Brother Lin Bai, join us for a drink!"

Lin Bai approached with a smile, his gaze falling upon the table laden with delectable dishes. He remarked with amusement, "My, these dishes appear to be the finest offerings from the Celestial Immortal Tower!"

Uncle Fatty took a draught of wine and enthusiastically stated, "Indeed, this entire spread cost over a thousand merits! I've no clue where Ban Ye procured such wealth, but he's certainly indulging himself!"

"Brother Lin Bai, allow me to share a secret. Ban Ye was once so frugal, he wouldn't even purchase new clothes for himself and still couldn't find a wife."

Uncle Fatty let out a hearty laugh.

Ban Ye, hearing Fatty recount his past frugal ways, blushed and offered a wry smile. He softly replied, "I haven't come into wealth; it's simply that on the day the Sword Demon confronted the Beast, I placed a wager."

Lin Bai and Uncle Fatty alike turned to Ban Ye with surprise.

Uncle Fatty exclaimed in astonishment, "Heavens, why did you keep this from me? Seeing you splurge now, did you bet on the Sword Demon? How much did you stake?"

A hint of curiosity also flickered in Lin Bai's eyes as he looked at Ban Ye.

Ban Ye offered a modest smile, replying, "Not a substantial amount, not a significant sum, just 35,000 merits!"

Fatty's eyes widened in disbelief. "Goodness gracious, 35,000 merits! That must represent your entire savings accumulated over the years, wouldn't you say? You possess remarkable boldness to wager everything on the Sword Demon, a contender few favored!"

However, after a moment of consideration, Fatty added, "Ban Ye, this action is out of character for you. You typically hesitate to spend on even decent attire, yet you dared to risk your entire fortune on the Sword Demon, whom everyone overlooked!"

"Speak! Did you possess insider knowledge?"

"Blast it, you had inside information and didn't clue me in, leading me to foolishly bet 10,000 merits on the Beast!"

"You wagered 35,000 merits on the Sword Demon; allow me to calculate your winnings!"

Fatty diligently performed the calculation, exclaiming in shock, "Given the odds then, your 35,000 merits should have multiplied tenfold!"

"You've won a staggering 350,000 merits!"

"No wonder you could afford to treat us to such a lavish meal at the Celestial Immortal Tower!"

"Had I realized you possessed such vast wealth, I wouldn't have held back; there are still so many dishes I wished to sample, but I feared bankrupting you!"

Fatty continued his enthusiastic monologue.

The more Fatty spoke, the more animated he became.

Fatty and Ban Ye had been close companions for over a decade. They had journeyed to Black Water together seeking their fortunes and subsequently joined the Tang Family as guest officials, forging a bond as close as brothers, inseparable.

Upon discovering Ban Ye's substantial gain in merits, Fatty felt genuine happiness for his friend, devoid of any envy.

This was because Fatty understood that Ban Ye had, in fact, been diligently saving for the "Black Water Divine Thunder Skill" over many years.

Lin Bai also smiled and commented, "Congratulations, Uncle Ban Ye. If only I had known, I might have placed a small bet on the Sword Demon myself. But truly, who could have ever predicted the Sword Demon would triumph over the Beast!"

Ban Ye offered a slight smile.

Fatty's eyes sparkled as he proposed, "Ban Ye, did you happen to have some inside scoop? Confide in your brother here. Let's amass fortunes together!"

Ban Ye chuckled, responding, "I possessed no insider information; it was merely an intuition that the Sword Demon possessed the capacity to win!"

"Frugal scrooge..." Fatty pouted and declared, "Next time you place a bet, be sure to inform me. Whomever you back, I shall follow suit!"

Ban Ye's brow furrowed as he inquired, "Have you squandered your funds once more? Do you even have any merits remaining?"

Fatty's demeanor shifted instantly, and he spoke with feigned gravity, "Keep your voice down; are you not concerned your sister-in-law might overhear?"

"Hahaha!" Witnessing Fatty's reaction, both Lin Bai and Ban Ye burst into hearty laughter!

Just as the trio were engrossed in their conversation within the courtyard, the sound transmission token nestled within Lin Bai's storage bag emitted a signal.

Lin Bai excused himself, moving to a secluded spot, and retrieved the sound transmission token from his storage bag. Madam Yang's voice emanated from within.

Madam Yang announced, "Sword Demon, your next opponent for the competition has been selected!"

"The match is scheduled for five days from now!"

"Your adversary is none other than the Tang Family's Great General, known as Moon God!"

"You must exercise caution; while this Great General may not boast numerous victories in the Fighting Arena, her formidable strength is undeniable. Seldom has any warrior she faced managed to endure for a hundred moves against her!"

Madam Yang concluded her transmission.

Lin Bai inclined his head, remarking, "Very well! Schedule the next martial arts tournament as swiftly as possible. My stay in Black Water City cannot be extended much longer."

Madam Yang chuckled, responding, "There's no need to hurry; biting into hot tofu too quickly can lead to a burnt mouth!"

Lin Bai gave a slight nod and pocketed the sound transmission token.

Emerging from the shadows and making his way back to Ban Ye's courtyard, Lin Bai found both Ban Ye and Fatty looking quite animated.

Ban Ye, in particular, fixed his gaze upon Lin Bai the moment he reappeared.

"What's the occasion?" Lin Bai inquired, curiosity piqued.

Fatty excitedly exclaimed, "Brother Lin Bai, we've just received word from the Fighting Arena! In five days' time, there will be a match between the Sword Demon and the Tang Family's formidable Great General, Moon God!"

Ban Ye observed Lin Bai with a look of astonishment, a subtle trace of concern clouding his eyes.

Lin Bai chuckled, asking, "Moon God? Is she quite skilled?"

Fatty's eyes widened as he elaborated, "Skilled? Brother Lin Bai, let me tell you, Moon God is renowned as one of the Tang Family's most potent Great Generals. In the Fighting Arena, she's only participated in a dozen or so bouts, yet these few victories have already earned her the prestigious title of Great General!"

Ban Ye quickly added, with precise detail, "To be exact, Moon God has competed in a total of fifteen matches!"

Lin Bai expressed his amazement, "Fifteen contests, and she ascended to the rank of Great General. This individual's prowess is truly extraordinary!"

Ban Ye stated solemnly to Lin Bai, "The most formidable aspect is... no warrior who has faced Moon God has managed to withstand her sword techniques for more than a hundred moves!"

Lin Bai reacted with surprise, "A Sword Cultivator?"

Fatty laughed heartily, adding, "Not just any Sword Cultivator, mind you, but a woman at that! Judging by her physique, she must be quite a ravishing beauty too!"

Ban Ye chimed in, "She is indeed a Great General of the Tang Family. However, each Great General holds a hidden identity, so the true name of the Tang Family's Great General remains unknown to us!"

"Furthermore, it is rumored that Moon God herself initiated this challenge against the Sword Demon!"

Lin Bai found this peculiar and questioned, "Moon God voluntarily sought a challenge against the Sword Demon? For what reason?"

Ban Ye offered his conjecture, "It might be connected to the Black Water Divine Thunder Skill. It appears Moon God also practices the Black Water Divine Thunder Skill!"

"The display of the Black Water Divine Thunder Skill by the Sword Demon that day in the Martial Arts Competition Arena was witnessed by all. Every warrior present could discern that his mastery of the Black Water Divine Thunder Skill surpassed anyone else's!"

"Perhaps this is precisely why Moon God desires to confront the Sword Demon!"

Upon hearing Ban Ye's explanation, a subtle glint flickered within Lin Bai's eyes.