Chapter 42: The Gamble_i

Translator: 549690339 |

The four pavilion masters turned as the voice emerged, finding the speaker was Shen Yuan.

The Masters looked puzzled for a moment, then burst into wild, raucous laughter. The entire Ghost Market seemed to become an underworld at their mirth, with the undead walking the streets and the creatures being sold at the stalls all adding to the delirious laughter.

Treasure House Master, rotund as a mountain, shook with every laughter, his layers of fat rippling like waves, as he asked Shen Yuan:

“Do you know what defines the Ghost Market?”

“In the previous era of Spirit Energy Tidal Surge, countless people rushed into the Ghost Market, hoping to find their destinies.

Some succeeded, eventually reaching the Void Refining Stage to become renowned as True Monarchs. However, many more suffered catastrophic losses, even becoming servants of the Ghost Market itself.

The Ghost Market’s essence is rooted in ‘ghost’ and ‘market’.”

“Since you’ve guessed that ‘market’ manifests in the transactions of the Ghost Market, can you tell what constitutes the ‘ghost’?”

The voice of the Magical Artifacts House Master was soft, malevolent, and lingering, infusing every word with a sinister undertone.

The ‘ghost’ encompasses everything within the Ghost Market! Our existence is eternal, deathless, and undying!

Even during the dreaded era of Spirit Energy depletion that countless powerhouses fear, the Ghost Market just lies dormant. Once the Spirit Energy Tidal Surge returns, the Ghost Market will descend upon the world again, witnessing the changing world.”

The elderly Master of Suan Pavilion laughed quietly:

“Everything within the Ghost Market is a part of the ‘ghost’. Once the Ghost Market appears before you, your fate has been set.

Your only options are to either become a permanent resident of the Ghost Market, or to trade something we desire with us. Good fortune might yield high returns; these are your only choices.”

The Gambling House Master added, her demeanor coquettishly playfully:

“The Ghost Market never coerces or harasses its customers.

But, dear customer, if you enter the Ghost Market without engaging in a trade, it may well provoke the market’s ire!

You must trade something we desire. If you refuse to complete a trade over an extended period, the Ghost Market will consume you utterly.”

Shen Yuan stared at the four masters before him, his gaze calm and detached.

It became clear that the four masters were merely components of the Ghost Market and didn’t truly control it.

Yet their lofty statures over thousands of years allowed them to exploit a loophole in the Ghost Market’s rules of trade.

All who enter the Ghost Market must complete a transaction, or else they will be assimilated by the market. Likewise, those who trade their lifetime, organs, and other personal items will also be converted into part of the ‘ghost.’ By controlling the Ghost Market, the four masters manipulated these rules, ensuring that anyone stepping into the market needed to trade an item they coveted. If the masters declined the trade, they would be assimilated into the Ghost Market, a fate tantamount to death.

In their transactions ruled by greed, they occasionally picked lucky winners and rewarded them. However, most of the time, they emerged as the victors of these transactions.

Now, they had all set their sights on Shen Yuan, the first person to set foot in the Four Pavilions after the return of Spirit Energy Tidal Surge, and were eager to unearth the secrets he held.

In their eyes, Shen Yuan was lambs to the slaughter, devoid of any threat.

Feeling their greedy gazes trained on him, a faint smile appeared on the corners of Shen Yuan’s lips.

“So this is the so-called Ghost Market?”

“A place plagued by devils and monsters. It is just that.”

Unfazed by Shen Yuan’s comment, Treasure House Master laughed heartily, patting his massive belly:

“You’re neither the first nor the last to make such a claim.”

“In the previous era of Spirit Energy, those who made a similar claim either ended up becoming dust or turning into one among the Ghost Market.

I wonder which fate awaits you?”

Shen Yuan made no response to the gluttonous gazes around him and walked towards an ominous building within the Ghost Market.

The Gambling Pavilion.

The Maine Coon, leading Bai Xue, followed closely behind Shen Yuan.

“I was told that the Gambling Pavilion of the Ghost Market can bet on everything in the world. I am eager to see what kind of gambling they have.” The four masters faltered before unanimously shifting their gaze to the Gambling House Master.

She responded with a charming smile.

Of course, gambling can be part of transactions, but you’ll have to offer something that we’ll be pleased to accept in a trade.”

Shen Yuan’s expression didn’t alter.

“I understand perfectly well what you desire. I can fulfill all your conditions.”

“If that’s the case, it couldn’t be better.”

The Gambling House Master was all set to guide Shen Yuan when she saw his gaze fall upon the other three house masters.

“The opponent in this gamble is not only the Gambling House Master but all the four house masters present here.”

As these words fell, everyone turned, looking at Shen Yuan as though they were watching a lunatic.

“You’re setting a gambling game against the four of us?” The Treasure House Master questioned him.

“Interesting, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen such an audacious young man,” the Master Suan Pavilion said, a smile plastered over his face. The look in his eye suggested that he’d already deemed Bai Xue as his property.

The Magical Artifacts House Master, grim smile on his face, commented, “An intriguing concept.”

The next moment, the Gambling Pavilion began to expand, swallowing everyone present like a dreadful ghost.

In the resplendent hall, Shen Yuan, sat at a massive circular table with the other four masters distributed around him.

In front of the Gambling House Master, at the head of the table, myriad markers materialized, each etched with the words life, fate, longevity, wealth, soul… On the dense cluster of markers, there seemed to be faces in an eternal struggle.

“Since our esteemed guest has already placed his bet, please specify the type of gambling game you wish to play,” said the Gambling House Master nonchalantly, a smoking pipe in her hand. She hadn’t even mentioned the rewards were Shen Yuan to win.

In their eyes, there was no need to consider the possibility of Shen Yuan winning; this was a guaranteed loss for him.

“This is rather dull.”

Shen Yuan replied evenly.

“The so-called gambling skills are nothing more than pursuits for ordinary people. I would like to see something more fascinating.

Since each of the House Masters has their respective strengths, why don’t we compete in those fields?”

Treasure House Master’s face showed interest.

“What are you suggesting we compete in?”

Shen Yuan tapped the table lightly with his forefinger, nonchalantly saying:

Upon entering the Ghost Market, Zhi mentioned that the Treasure House holds all kinds of precious oddities from the previous era of Spirit Energy Tidal Surge. In that case, how about I compete with the Treasure House Master to see who possesses the more precious treasure?”

The Treasure House Master looked dumbstruck for a moment. But before he could respond, Shen Yuan moved his gaze to the Magical Artifacts House Master.

“It is said that the Magical Artifacts House encompasses Divine Arts from all over the world. I would like to compare these Divine Arts with the Magical Artifacts House Master, do you dare to accept?”

Finally, Shen Yuan turned his attention to the Master of Suan Pavilion, an elderly man shrouded beneath a reed hat, his figure as skinny as a stick.

“The Master of Suan Pavilion is renowned for his grasp on the Laws of Fate. I hear that if a sufficient price is paid, you can decipher everything. Can you calculate my origin?”