tkworld Chapter 135 Gambling
Chapter 135 Gambling
Chapter 135: Gambling
Star Domain, Míng Hè Star Cluster.
The territorial division in the Extreme Void Starry Sky is as follows: below the Immortal Realm is the Star Domain, and below the Star Domain is the star cluster.
Each star cluster has varying sizes of jurisdiction, usually covering a vast range of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of void land masses. Míng Hè Star Cluster is such a place, with a moderate size.
In the deep and dark void, land masses of various sizes float silently, with varying distances from each other. Among them, ninety-five percent of the land masses are lifeless and useless territories, without the sun's illumination or a stable atmosphere, making them forbidden zones for life.
The remaining half or so of the land masses generally have relatively stable atmospheres and complete ecosystems. They have rivers, lakes, and seas on their surfaces and orbit near a certain sun, meeting the needs for the survival and reproduction of a large number of mortals.
Only in such places can nations and cities be born, civilizations developed, and abundant basic resources provided for the cultivation world.
During the peak period of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, the Míng Hè Star Cluster was also within its sphere of influence, albeit in a relatively peripheral area. Now, it has become the edge zone of the Bright Moon Sword Sect's sphere of influence, occupied by numerous vassal forces.
While these vassal forces collectively submit to this behemoth, their relationships with each other are intertwined with complex grievances and conflicts, occasionally erupting into bloodshed.
The days of these vassal forces are usually not easy. They are constantly exploited and squeezed by their overlords, unless they cling to the thighs of a high-ranking member of the Bright Moon Sword Sect, in which case they may live relatively comfortably.
Of course, even worse off than the vassal forces are the countless Independent Cultivators. They are the lowest level of the cultivation world, only slightly higher in status than mortals.
In the eyes of the high-ranking bosses, the countless mortals are nothing more than livestock and vegetables raised on their own territories. No matter how many there are, they will not threaten their own status and interests.
However, Independent Cultivators theoretically have the potential to rise up and pose a deadly threat to them, as long as they obtain the right opportunity, although this possibility is extremely slim.
Therefore, Independent Cultivators are often the most exploited group. Because of their cultivation level, they can perform many tasks that mortals cannot handle, providing more basic resources to the upper echelons.
For example, mining spiritual ores, cultivating spirit medicines and herbs, raising spiritual pets and battle beasts, and processing and refining certain materials. These tasks are arduous and tiring, and orthodox cultivators with privileged backgrounds and excellent aptitude and opportunities are unwilling to do them.
Therefore, these tasks naturally fall on the heads of the Independent Cultivator group. Those large forces that have developed to a certain level openly or secretly recruit a large number of Independent Cultivators as menial disciples, using meager rewards to compel them to do these miscellaneous tasks. It can be considered the cultivation world's sweatshop.
And even the sweatshop is considered good. What's more terrifying is the market for slave cultivators. Those Independent Cultivators who have become slaves due to various reasons have completely lost their freedom and can only work under strict surveillance for years, unable to escape until death.
Because the souls of cultivators are much stronger than ordinary people, they are very useful for refining certain evil Law Weapons and practicing demonic Divine Abilities. In the Extreme Void Starry Sky, there are no shortage of evil forces specializing in this kind of business.
Once a soul is controlled by someone, it is impossible to escape even in death. There is no hope of reincarnation, and one will never be able to find liberation for eternity.
"...It seems that as long as one is in the lower class, there is no hope of living a comfortable life, no matter which time and space world it is!"
Qin Muling looked through the jade slip recording the local customs and couldn't help but sigh. In his previous life, at least the lower class could have enough to eat, but in this vast and grand new time and space, the degree of exploitation and oppression of the lower class was much more exaggerated and cruel.
After finishing reading the scroll, Qin Muling put down the jade slip. He lightly tapped the delicate jade clock on the table with his spiritual consciousness, and the pleasant sound echoed in the quiet room, lingering in the air.
With the sound of slow footsteps, the room door opened, and a beautiful and lovely maid with bright eyes and white teeth walked in. In her hands, there were two pots of spirit wine and several exquisite side dishes on a large purple-gold tray.
"Please enjoy, young master. If you have any orders, just summon me."
The maid placed the wine and dishes down and spoke softly after bowing.
Qin Muling nodded and took out an Essence Nurturing Pill as a reward for her. It instantly surprised her inexplicably. Although this spirit pill was relatively low-level, it was a rare generous gift for a maid like her, equivalent to a month's income.
After she left, Qin Muling activated the shielding formation in the room and began to enjoy his meal.
"Although the place is a bit small, the taste of the food and wine is still good."
Qin Muling pondered to himself. He was currently in the highest standard inn in the area, which usually catered to Independent Cultivators with some wealth and status. Therefore, they provided good spirit wine and ingredients, although they were not cheap.
The city where the inn was located, as well as the surrounding area of three thousand miles, belonged to the Yang family. All the valuable industries on the land were controlled by this cultivator family.
In this land of tens of thousands of miles, there were also five or six small sects or families similar to the Yang family, sharing all the benefits on the land.
In fact, the history of the Yang family was not long, only a few thousand years, and the ancestors of the Yang family were just three pairs of Independent Cultivator couples. It was rumored that even now, their cultivation was only at the seventh or eighth level of the Perfected Being Realm. But in this relatively remote and barren region, they could still be considered a powerful force.
This situation was common. In order to protect themselves, many Independent Cultivators chose to join forces, establish their own families or sects, or join existing organizations.
Although these small sects and families were not doing well, they were still better off than individual Independent Cultivators. And these small forces were attached to medium-sized forces, which were in turn attached to large forces, and finally, there was the existence of the Bright Moon Sword Sect, a giant-level force.
Qin Muling had been traveling for over a month, covering the surrounding area of the Cloud Dream Immortal Domain. After careful consideration, he finally decided to choose this place as his temporary residence.
"After we eat and drink our fill, let's go out for a walk and see if there's any fun to be had."
Qin Muling made up his mind. Since arriving in this time and space, he hadn't had a chance to go out and play properly, after all, his strength didn't allow it. Now that he had reached the Perfected Being Realm, at least he could walk around freely here.
After a moment, there was a handsome young man dressed in a blue Daoist robe with eyes like lacquer walking leisurely on the street, with a sword hanging from his waist. His slender and handsome figure attracted the attention of many young girls and women in the shops along the street. There were female cultivators and mortals among them.
Looking up, a sun with an orange-red color hung in the sky, serving as the source of vitality for several floating land masses in the surrounding area.
The floating land beneath his feet had developed over countless years, going through numerous dynasties and kingdoms in the mortal realm. Now it was thriving and had everything it needed. Billions of mortals lived here in peace and prosperity, and the conflicts between cultivators, in general, wouldn't affect them.
Qin Muling strolled leisurely and, after turning a corner, saw a luxurious gambling house with two rows of muscular and serious martial artists standing on the steps, as well as a group of charming and smiling hostesses.
After a slight hesitation, Qin Muling stepped onto the steps.
The appearance and figures of these hostesses were quite good. Qin Muling casually sensed their cultivation levels and found that they all had a foundation in the Qi Refining Realm. In this place, they were already considered women of status, but they were used to entertain guests. This showed that the gambling house had considerable backing, most likely belonging to the Yang family.
When the girls saw Qin Muling approaching, they discreetly sized him up. After seeing his attire and his handsome face like a sculpture, a warm and charming smile appeared on their faces. They came over, bowed, and greeted him with gentle words.
An Independent Cultivator who seemed to have the strength of the Core Condensation Realm? His wealth must be considerable. In their eyes, he was certainly a distinguished guest worth treating well.
Soon, Qin Muling was welcomed into the VIP area, where there were already more than ten Independent Cultivators happily playing at the large gambling tables.
Each cultivator was accompanied by one or two beautiful and bold women. The spiritual wine, tea, and food provided here were the best available locally, but the prices were very high. After all, it was the guests who would be paying, so they could afford it.
"Well, help me exchange ten thousand High Grade spirit stones for chips!" Qin Muling said to one of the hostesses beside him, taking out a prepared storage pouch and handing it to her.
As for precious resources like spirit crystals, they couldn't be taken out in such a small gathering. Otherwise, those old folks from the Yang family might consider turning hostile and robbing him.
"Alright, please wait a moment, sir. I'll take care of it right away!" The hostess responded with a respectful attitude.
In the blink of an eye, a thousand exquisitely small and delicate bright yellow jade chips were placed in front of Qin Muling, attracting the attention of the independent cultivators. For them, this was undoubtedly a huge sum of money.
The chips in front of them, when combined, were mostly worth only a few hundred pieces of High Grade Spirit Stones, with the most being only one or two thousand High Grade Spirit Stones.
Has a big fat sheep arrived?
This thought emerged in the minds of the independent cultivators present, and they exchanged subtle glances with each other, seemingly planning to join forces later.
At the gambling table, six cultivators dressed in identical black robes stood upright with the strength of the Profound Comprehension Realm and Core Condensation Realm. Their experienced and shrewd gazes occasionally swept over the cultivators.
At this moment, several independent cultivators had already sat around the gambling table. There were five men and three women, with cultivation levels ranging from the Profound Comprehension Realm to the Infant Formation Realm. They all seemed to have some wealth, otherwise they wouldn't have come to this place for entertainment.
"Can we begin?"
A tall and thin middle-aged male cultivator spoke indifferently, "I'll bet fifty pieces of High Grade Spirit Stones. Feel free to join if you're willing."
He threw out a chip and scanned the crowd with a flickering gaze. With Qin Muling's keen perception, it was not difficult to discern that his true target was himself.
At the same time, five or six pairs of malicious gazes swept over Qin Muling. After all, he appeared to be the richest among them.
The living conditions for independent cultivators were generally harsh, with many desperados among them. There were also plenty of cunning and sinister individuals. Given the right opportunity, they could easily transform into greedy and bloodthirsty wolves. Qin Muling was well aware of this and quietly prepared himself for a confrontation.
"Same here, fifty pieces of High Grade Spirit Stones."
Qin Muling said as he threw out five jade chips, calmly sipping his tea and ignoring the beautiful maid who had been sent over to him.
"Well then, we'll bet one hundred pieces of High Grade Spirit Stones."
A pair of seemingly sister-like female cultivators exchanged glances and threw out their chips. The other men and women followed suit, with the amounts ranging from thirty to two hundred.
The dice used by the cultivators on the gambling table were naturally different from those in the mortal world. They were a type of Law Weapon specially refined, and of high quality. Even experienced gamblers would not have the opportunity to cheat.
Not long after, the results of the first round were settled.
(End of this chapter)