"Langya Academy? I'm sorry, due to distinguished guests visiting the manor, we are short on guest rooms and have not arranged any accommodation for you."
At the Tang family's main gate, a Tang family steward met the group from Langya Academy with an extremely arrogant attitude.
"What do you mean? According to the rules, when my Langya Academy participates in the Hegemony Competition, the Tang family should have arranged food and lodging. Even if your Tang family is short on guest rooms, can't you arrange for an inn to host us?"
Song Wei Qian questioned. This was clearly unfair treatment, and the steward's attitude greatly angered her.
"Can't you just find an inn to stay in yourselves? Anyway, your Langya Academy has always been eliminated in the first round, so you won't be staying for many days and won't spend much money."
The Tang family steward said with utter disdain, "If you don't even have money for accommodation, then I can kindly bestow some upon you."
As he spoke, he took out a piece of silver and threw it on the ground like he was dismissing a beggar, then slammed the Tang family's main gate shut with a clang.
Song Wei Qian's chest heaved violently with anger, her proud bosom almost bursting through her clothes, ready to spill out.
Wang Wen Jian, his temper flaring, drew his willow leaf saber on the spot. "Sir, the Tang family is looking down on us like this. Why don't I tear down their gate right now?"
Ji Mo calmly picked up the silver from the ground, held it in his hand, and said lightly, "There's no need to get angry. Since they look down on us, we must stand even higher, so high that these people can only look up to us."
"Yes, sir, please rest assured. The three of us will strive to succeed. In this competition, we will aim for first place and will never shame you." Lin Meng Meng clenched her delicate fists, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.
This girl was always a doer; once she set her mind on something, she would go all out to achieve it.
Xuan Yang cursed the Tang family a few times and snorted, "Today the Tang family looks down on us, but tomorrow we will make them unable to reach us. In the future, we will ensure the Tang family doesn't even have the qualification to lick our toes."
A fire burned in the hearts of the three, and their eyes blazed with fighting spirit.
Song Wei Qian couldn't help but marvel at Ji Mo's skill in igniting the fighting spirit of Lin Meng Meng and the other two. With this momentum, they were bound to be invincible.
She was filled with anticipation, waiting to see the three achieve excellent results and bring glory to Langya Academy.
As for first place, Song Wei Qian dared not even dream of it.
Although Lin Meng Meng and the other two were monstrously talented, their cultivation time was relatively short, and they still lacked some experience. Moreover, with only three of them, it was a significant disadvantage in a five-person competition.
The group left the Tang family and searched for accommodation within the city.
They passed by a gambling house and discovered that it had set up odds for the academy ranking hegemony competition.
"Tang Family Gambling House? Could this be a Tang family property?"
Ji Mo asked, looking at the gambling house's signboard.
Song Wei Qian nodded and explained.
As the local power in Chizhang City, the Tang family had been operating for many years, with countless industries. They had many gambling houses, alchemy rooms, forging pavilions, and pet halls.
Since the Tang family was responsible for organizing the academy ranking hegemony competition, they took advantage of their proximity and set up gambling on the outcomes of the matches to profit.
Ji Mo tossed the silver in his hand, a wicked smile appearing on his lips.
You look down on my Langya, do you? Then I will use this silver to win until your Tang family has nothing left but their underpants.
"What are the odds for Langya Academy?"
Ji Mo walked into the Tang family gambling house and inquired.
The staff at the Tang family gambling house did not respond, but a gambler nearby chimed in, "Are you new here, brother? Langya Academy hasn't opened any betting lines at all. Academies that are sure to lose have no betting value, so how could the gambling house open lines for us to make money for free?"
Ji Mo explained, "I'm not looking to bet on Langya Academy to lose, but to win."
As soon as he said this, the people around looked at Ji Mo as if he were an idiot, thinking this young man was definitely out of his mind.
"Are you really going to bet on Langya Academy to win?"
A shrewd old man asked. He was the owner of this Tang family gambling house, Tang San Qin.
As a gambling house, if someone foolishly sent money their way, there was no reason not to accept it.
"Of course."
Ji Mo nodded.
Tang San Qin's eyes rolled as he said, "In the preliminary round, Langya Academy will face Yi Fan Academy, which is ranked sixty-third. Their chances of winning are not high. Are you sure you want to place a bet?"
There were ninety-nine academies in the Southern Region, and Langya was ranked last. The gap between them and Yi Fan Academy was indeed vast.
It wasn't just that their chances of winning were not high; they had no chance at all.
Song Wei Qian was somewhat surprised because she had not inquired about the competition schedule after being treated coldly by the Tang family. Now, knowing that they would face Yi Fan Academy in the first match, she felt inexplicably happy.
The fact that the Yi Fan Academy team had been crippled by Langya Academy was not known to outsiders yet, as Yi Fan Academy would not leak such a disgraceful matter.
At this moment, the Tang family did not yet know that Yi Fan Academy would not be able to participate.
Ji Mo blinked his eyes and asked, "What if Yi Fan Academy does not participate, then how will it be counted?"
"Not participating counts as a voluntary forfeit, so of course Langya wins."
Tang San Qin replied, not believing that Yi Fan Academy would not participate.
This was because Yi Fan Academy enjoyed bullying weaker opponents to gain attention and would not miss such a great opportunity.
"You said it yourself, don't go back on your word then." Ji Mo was immediately relieved.
"Heh, my Tang family gambling house is honest with everyone, our reputation has stood for ten thousand years, and we will never go back on our word."
Being looked down upon by a youth who hadn't even grown a full beard, Tang San Qin was somewhat annoyed and said coldly, "Betting on Langya Academy to win, the odds are one to ten thousand. I will accept any bet you place."
He deliberately stated an incredibly exaggerated odds to attract gamblers.
As expected, upon hearing these odds, the crowd let out a gasp, but quickly calmed down.
After all, if they were sure to lose, no matter how high the odds, it was meaningless.
"All of it."
Ji Mo threw the silver in his hand over.
"Ten taels?"
Tang San Qin's face was full of disdain, but also confusion, as he noticed that this was new silver minted by the Tang family, which should not have circulated in the market yet.
As if sensing his confusion, Ji Mo said, "This is the silver that a steward from your Tang family just bestowed upon me. I feel this piece of silver is extraordinary and can bring me ten million times the profit."
Tang San Qin realized Ji Mo was there to cause trouble, but he didn't pay it any mind. The Tang family had offended plenty of people; who was this person to them?
He quickly had someone issue a receipt for Ji Mo.
"We'll also place a heavy bet and make a killing."
Song Wei Qian was incredibly excited. With odds of one to ten thousand, a single bet could multiply her dowry tens of thousands of times.
Ji Mo shook his head and whispered, "The Tang family isn't stupid. It won't be long before they figure out that Yi Fan Academy forfeited, and they'll know we were behind it. For the sake of their reputation, they'll honor the ten tael bet, but if it's more, they'll definitely renege."
Song Wei Qian pondered it and realized he had a point. She grudgingly hummed, "Fine, there are still many matches to go. We'll let them off for now."
The group continued to search for accommodation, but all the good inns were fully booked. Finally, after much effort, they found an inconspicuous small inn in a secluded street.
Fulai Inn!
This was a very down-to-earth inn, and the innkeeper was even more down-to-earth – a beautiful young widow.
Upon seeing Ji Mo and his group, the innkeeper's face bloomed with affection, and she said something astonishing.
"Young man, do you want a wife?"