Nonsense! How could my adopted son be a villain?

The two alchemists speaking looked to be in their early twenties, with a red mole between their eyebrows and wearing the same style of dark green disciple robes, suggesting they belonged to the same sect.

At that moment, they were completely unaware that the main character of the incident was right behind them, talking animatedly with great enthusiasm.

The man holding a short flute stroked his chin and said, "Although Gongyang Songfeng isn't very smart, he wouldn't be fooled by a fake and lose his ten-thousand-year-old stone milk."

"Is that Sun Furnace real?"

The person sitting opposite him looked slightly smaller, with a round, chubby face that showed an innocent longing: "That's the alchemy furnace used by the Pill Emperor. I wonder if we'll ever have a chance to see it."

“That Gongyang Songfeng is lucky; he must have already seen it.”

"It's hard to say whether it's good or bad luck."

The man with the piccolo crossed his arms and clicked his tongue: "Although that alchemist's cultivation level isn't high, he's neither from a noble family nor a disciple of any sect, yet he can casually use the Sun Furnace as a wager. He might have some kind of background..."

As he spoke, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he slammed his hand on the table, saying, "They've opened a betting pool, let's go check it out, maybe we can make some money."

After saying that, he couldn't wait to get up, grab the chubby-faced disciple, and run away into the crowd.

Xu Lingguang twitched his lips and turned to ask Huaiqing, "Were those two disciples of the Miaoyin Sect just now?"

When he had nothing to do, he made a point of learning about the major and minor sects on the Shangyang Continent. Since Wuyao was an elder of the Miaoyin Sect, he subconsciously paid more attention to the Miaoyin Sect when he saw it.

If I remember correctly, the Miaoyin Sect is marked by the Endless Summer. The sect's practitioners often use musical instruments as weapons. Due to the special nature of their cultivation methods, a red mole will also appear between their eyebrows.

The two alchemists just now had a blooming endless summer embroidered on the chest of their clothes, and they were holding a short flute in their hands. They also had red moles between their eyebrows, so they were most likely from the Wonderful Sound Sect.

As expected, Huaiqing nodded and said, "But this year is strange, the Miaoyin Sect has also come."

Xu Lingguang found it strange: "The Miaoyin Sect practices medicine and has many alchemists, so why haven't any disciples come to challenge the Hundred Refinement Tower in previous years?"

Huaiqing said, "About a hundred years ago, the Miaoyin Sect and the Gongyang family began to covet each other for some reason, and then they cut off all contact. The disciples of the Miaoyin Sect never enter Junan City, and the people of the Gongyang family also detour when passing through Sishui City."

Sishui City is the city where Miaoyin Gate is located.

"Then why did you come this year?"

Huai Qing shook his head: "I don't know either. I'll send someone to find out later. There might be some explanation behind this."

Hearing this, Xu Lingguang didn't ask any more questions and took his seat.

He arrived a little late, and the second floor of the Taoist temple was already bustling with activity.

Amidst the blossoms, groups of alchemists could be seen everywhere, some discussing and exchanging alchemical techniques, but the vast majority were enthusiastically discussing the bet between Gongyang Songfeng and Xu Lingguang.

Of course, eleven out of ten people thought Xu Lingguang was going to lose.

This even led to the establishment of gambling dens.

Xu Lingguang himself was engrossed in listening to the gossip, oblivious to Huai Qing glancing at him repeatedly, and even You Yu's brows furrowing slightly.

"Let's place a bet too."

Youyu held back for a long time, but finally couldn't help but speak up.

Although he tried to convince himself not to bother with those ignorant people, he couldn't help but get angry when he heard these irrelevant people belittling Xu Lingguang.

Still young and impetuous, he frowned and took out a Qiankun bag, handing it to Huaiqing: "I bet Second Brother will win!"

Seeing this, the cubs also took out their treasured possessions and stuffed them into Huaiqing's hands.

Huaiqing also felt that this was not right, and was about to place a bet with the spirit stones when Xu Lingguang stopped her: "Wait a minute."

"How can someone so young be gambling like others?"

Actually, he didn't care about such a small matter. He didn't know those people at all, so let them say what they wanted; it wouldn't hurt him.

I never expected the little rascals to have such a temper.

Normally, Yu and the little ones would obediently listen to Xu Lingguang as soon as he spoke, but today he was holding back his anger and naturally unwilling to give up easily.

Youyu pursed her lips and looked at Lanjian beside her, trying to seek support: "Those people are talking nonsense. They are not only insulting Second Brother, but also trampling on the reputation of Wenxianju. How can we let them smear us any longer?"

His words were met with enthusiastic agreement from the children.

Xu Lingguang was both amused and exasperated, and looked at Lan Jian: "There's no need to argue with them over a moment's pride. If I win, those people will naturally shut up."

If they lose, then what those people said isn't wrong, and they can't just shut people up, can they?

Xu Lingguang originally thought Lan Jian would stand on his side, but after glancing at him, Lan Jian turned her head and nodded to You Yu.

Xu Lingguang: ? ? ?

No, how come you, a celestial being from ancient times, have such a bad temper?

With his brother's support, Youyu's eyes lit up. He exchanged a glance with Lanjian, then took out a Qiankun bag from his waist and tossed it to Huaiqing, urging, "Quickly place your bets, using my brother's name!"

Having received the order, Huaiqing left with a smile, clutching his Qiankun bag.

Xu Lingguang craned his neck to look at his back, and only after he could no longer see him did he mutter to himself, "It would be a huge loss if we lost."

Lan Jian turned to look at him upon hearing this, her ears twitching: "You won't lose."

Yu and the cubs chimed in, "That's right, we'll definitely win!"

Xu Lingguang was both amused and exasperated, while Huai Qing, with his sleeves tucked in, adopted the demeanor of a manager at Wenxianju and leisurely walked to the center of the crowd—the betting area.

The bookmaker in question is none other than Hu Lie, the young master of the Daoist Temple.

The Hu family also held a prominent position in Junan City and frequently interacted with the Gongyang family and Wenxianju. Hu Lie naturally recognized Huai Qing at a glance.

"Steward Huai is a very busy man. It's rare to see him at Wenxian Residence on weekdays. What brings you here today?"

Hu Lie, a carefree and unconventional person, smiled and tossed the chips in his hand: "Perhaps you'd like to place a bet and have a go?"

He laid out the chips in a row and pointed to the name of Gongyang Songfeng on the left: "But today's bet is not very interesting. Everyone is betting on Gongyang Songfeng to win. It's quite boring."

Huai Qing took out two Qiankun bags and placed them on the right side of the bag representing Xu Lingguang, saying casually, "My second young master made a bet with Gongyang Songfeng, so we can't miss this excitement."

"My master specifically ordered me to place the bet, betting on the second young master to win."