The moment Gavin Summers proposed this so-called 'challenge game,' Ian knew he was up to no good. Sure enough, Gavin's true intentions showed through, just as Ian expected. Ian stood up from his cross-legged seat, smiling. "It's not that I lack courage, Gavin, but you're way too stingy. The reward's too small—it's not worth my time!"
Hearing this,
Gavin Summers narrowed his eyes, a cold light flashing. "Too little, huh? Easy fix. If you can beat my old servant, I'll give you a thousand god-crystals!"
A thousand god-crystals— even the Two-Star God-Demons nearby were tempted.
But Ian just shook his head. "Still too little. Not worth my effort."
Gavin couldn't help getting annoyed, thinking Ian was just scared to challenge his old servant and making excuses. He sneered, "Why don't you name your price then?"
"How about ten thousand god-crystals? If you dare, Gavin, I'll take the challenge!"
Ian grinned as he spoke.
Gavin was even more annoyed at Ian's outrageous demand. He mocked, "You think you're worth ten thousand god-crystals?"
Ian replied, "Then let's change the rules. If I lose to your old servant, I'll pay you five thousand god-crystals. If I win, you pay me ten thousand. How about it?"
Gavin stared at Ian, full of doubt. "You? A freshly ascended nobody? You really think you can come up with five thousand god-crystals?"
"Hold up!"
Ian waved him off, then turned to the other God-Demons. "Everyone, here's a chance to make some god-crystals! Lend me a few, and when I win, I'll pay you back double!"
Gavin couldn't help bursting into loud laughter. "Ha! So you can't even scrape together five thousand god-crystals! A broke loser dares to act big in front of me!"
Ian ignored him and kept pitching to the crowd. "Don't miss out! Lend me a hundred god-crystals and you'll get two hundred back in no time. This kind of opportunity doesn't come twice!"
But still, no one moved.
Gavin sneered again, "Looks like nobody has any faith in you!"
"Who says no one does? Ian, I've got two thousand god-crystals right here—take them!" Jade Shaw handed over a storage God-ring.
Ian laughed, "Don't worry, Jade—your two thousand god-crystals will be four thousand in no time!"
Then Ian called out to everyone again, "Anyone else want to invest? This is your shot!"
Still, nobody said a word.
"Hey, folks!" Ian shook his head. "I gave you all a chance to make some god-crystals, but you just don't appreciate it. Talon, you interested in investing a few crystals?"
Talon was caught off guard, then broke into an amused smile and tossed Ian a storage God-ring. "Here, I'll lend you two thousand god-crystals too. Just pay me back two thousand if you win!"
"Thanks, Talon! Since you're backing me, I can't let you down, right?"
With that, Ian pulled out all the god-crystals from Jade's and Talon's rings, then added a thousand from his own to make up five thousand. He looked at Gavin Summers and said, "Young Master Gavin, five thousand god-crystals—are you willing to bet?"
Gavin looked surprised—Ian actually managed to scrape together five thousand god-crystals. But he was confident in his old servant; after all, the guy was late-stage Mid-Rank God, while Ian was only early-stage.
So, with a casual wave, Gavin dumped out a pile of god-crystals—exactly ten thousand.
Ian grinned in satisfaction and said to Gavin, "Young Master Gavin, you sure you won't regret it? Losing ten thousand god-crystals might sting a little!"
"Hmph! Ten thousand god-crystals is nothing!" Gavin snapped. "But you—if you lose five thousand, how will you pay up?"
"I'm not going to lose!"
Ian said confidently, then strode out to face the old servant. "Senior, you go first?"
"Arrogant brat, let me teach you a lesson!"
A cold glint flashed in the old servant's eyes as he stepped forward and threw a heavy punch, divine patterns rippling as he attacked Ian.
"Bring it on!"
Ian also stepped forward and threw a punch of his own.
Bang!
Their fists collided in midair. The old servant staggered back several steps before he could steady himself, but Ian pressed the attack, unleashing a flurry of heavy punches.
Bang, bang, bang, bang!
The old servant furiously swung his fists to meet Ian's blows, but was still forced back again and again.
The other God-Demons stared wide-eyed, utterly shocked and unable to believe what they were seeing.
An early-stage Mid-Rank God was actually forcing a late-stage Mid-Rank God to retreat again and again.
"Interesting!"
Talon watched, his gaze toward Ian growing more interested by the second.
"Old man, beat him! No holding back!"
Gavin was starting to panic, shouting angrily.
But the old servant was miserable—while Ian's divine power wasn't as strong, his physical body was ridiculously tough. Even going all out, he couldn't withstand Ian's barrage.
After being forced back a few more steps, the old servant finally pulled out his weapon—a crimson long spear.
"Kill!"
He lunged like lightning, spear aura razor-sharp.
Seeing this, Ian produced a longsword of his own.
Sword light flashed like lightning as Ian stabbed forward.
Clang, clang, clang!
The repeated impacts left the old servant's hands numb.
"Time to finish this!"
Suddenly, Ian called out, then unleashed a full-force sword strike. A crimson sword beam exploded from the blade.
The old servant's eyes filled with terror—he could feel the threat of death in that sword beam. He desperately swung his spear, weakening much of the sword energy, but the remainder still smashed into him.
Bang!
The old servant was blasted over a hundred meters away. He struggled to his feet, only to spit out a mouthful of blood.
"Useless! You're absolutely useless! A late-stage Mid-Rank God losing to an early-stage? Pathetic!"
Gavin Summers was so angry he started cursing out loud.
Ian just strolled up, grinning, and scooped up the ten thousand god-crystals. "Ha, Gavin, I'll gladly accept your ten thousand god-crystals. You're a good guy—right when I was short, you sent over so many!"
Hearing that, Gavin's face turned so dark it looked like water might drip off it.
Ian divided the ten thousand god-crystals into three portions. He handed Jade Shaw a storage God-ring with four thousand crystals. "Miss Jade, was this business worth it?"
Jade giggled. "Worth it! Totally worth it!"
"Then you should thank Young Master Gavin. He's the one who gave us the chance to earn!" Ian added.
"Absolutely!"
Jade nodded sincerely and even thanked Gavin, making his face turn iron-blue with rage.
Then Ian handed another storage God-ring with four thousand crystals to Talon. "Thanks for believing in me, Talon!"
"Nicely done. You didn't embarrass the God-Demon Corps!"
Talon patted Ian's shoulder as he spoke.
As for the other God-Demons, they were dying of regret—if they'd loaned Ian some god-crystals earlier, they could've doubled their money now.