"Sir, let's settle this then." The woman in purple flicked her wrist lightly, and two boxes opened. Two enormous eight-eyed wolf spiders crawled out, immediately advancing toward each other with the intent to tear their opponent apart. The woman in purple tapped her index finger, sprinkling some powder over them, and the two spiders instantly calmed down.
The masked man then reached out and opened his own box, revealing a pure white spider lazily resting inside. Compared to the ferocious wolf spiders before it, this white spider appeared delicate and elegant. Even with the box open, it showed no desire to emerge, displaying no fighting spirit whatsoever.
"Come out." The masked man had no choice but to reach in and carefully place it on the table.
"This is..." The stout man frowned slightly. Though he prided himself on his broad knowledge, spider-fighting was an obscure practice, and his understanding of spiders was limited. He couldn't immediately name this white spider before him.
"Go." The woman in purple smiled, thinking how could a spider with no fighting spirit possibly stand a chance against these two battle-hardened wolf spiders? She sprinkled another dose of powder, and the two wolf spiders charged at the white spider like mad. Yet, upon reaching it, they suddenly halted, circling the white spider hesitantly, as if afraid of something.
In an instant, the white spider spat a strand of silk at one of the wolf spiders, ensnaring it completely. The wolf spider collapsed before it could even struggle. The white spider then turned to the other, which immediately tried to flee. But within a few steps, a strand of silk wrapped around one of its legs. The wolf spider decisively severed the trapped leg and kept running, only for the remaining seven legs to be swiftly entangled as well. The white spider yanked the silk backward, tearing off all seven legs at once. The wolf spider was left with only its body, spinning helplessly in place.
Both the woman in purple and the stout man were stunned. The stout man finally exclaimed, "That's a White Ghost Spider! The legendary White Ghost Spider said to take on a hundred foes alone!"
The masked man picked up the white spider, returned it to its box, and tucked it away in his robe. He gazed at the two before him and said softly, "Then, the Peerless Token—should it not be mine?"
"With a peerless sword at your side, dragon's tears in your possession, and rare treasures like the White Ghost Spider at your fingertips, you must be of extraordinary origins. Why would someone of your stature need to come to our World Pavilion for the Peerless Token?" the stout man said gravely.
The masked man tilted his head slightly, silent for a moment before suddenly lunging forward, seizing the stout man by the throat. "I won. Give me the Peerless Token. I followed the World Pavilion's rules—now the World Pavilion must follow its own."
The woman in purple gasped and drew her sword to intervene, but the blade shattered the moment it left the scabbard, fragments scattering across the floor.
The stout man struggled to speak. "I... I'll take you to get it."
The masked man released his grip, his tone returning to its initial indifference. "Thank you."The stout man half-sat on the ground, panting heavily for a few moments before standing up, wiping the cold sweat from his brow, and pushing the door open to enter. The masked man, with one hand resting on his sword hilt, followed him inside. The stout man led the masked man through a pitch-black corridor for a long time before finally pushing open an iron door.
Inside the iron door, the room was brightly lit, filled with countless candles. A pale, slender young man sat within. Upon seeing the two enter, he immediately stood and said, "It's been a long time since anyone could walk into this room."
The masked man glanced around, noting that the walls were made entirely of iron, while the ceiling was hung with all manner of weapons. If there were a hidden mechanism in the room that could release these weapons with a single press, none of the three would escape unscathed. The masked man looked at the young man and said, "I won at the World Pavilion, so the Peerless Token is mine."
"Indeed, the Peerless Token is yours. However, we at the World Pavilion would very much like to get to know an exceptional guest like you," the young man replied with a smile.
The masked man then turned his gaze to the iron wall on the left. "Do the people behind this wall also want to get to know me?"
The young man was startled, then clapped his hands. "As I thought, this guest is truly extraordinary."
Behind the iron wall, a burly middle-aged man pushed a handful of pearls toward his opponent in frustration. "You win, you win."
Opposite him sat a slightly plump young woman, who accepted the pearls with a graceful smile. "I told you this guest would spot us at a glance, but you insisted on betting."
"Then let's bet again," an elderly man seated at the far end spoke up. "Let's bet whether he wants the Peerless Token to challenge Peerless City."
"Challenging Peerless City alone?" The middle-aged man shook his head. "I don't believe it. Besides, what's the point of winning against Peerless City now? Ambitious young people these days all aim for the Heaven Ascension Tower."
The three of them debated fervently, yet not a sound could be heard in the room. The masked man watched the wall for a moment, his hand ready to draw his sword at any moment. Seeing this, the young man finally dared not delay any longer. He took out a golden token from his pocket and placed it on the table. "The Peerless Token is yours."
With a flick of his hand, the masked man caught the token and gave a slight nod. "My thanks."
"Might I ask, what brings you to Peerless City?" the young man inquired.
"That was not part of our wager," the masked man replied bluntly.
"You are a man who follows the rules, and our gambling house admires such guests. But my question is not part of the wager—just a friendly inquiry. The World Pavilion doesn't have many friends," the young man said softly, hinting that answering this question could earn the masked man the friendship of the World Pavilion.
The masked man's response was indifferent. "When were we ever friends? And there's no need for us to be friends. Farewell." With that, he strode out without even asking the stout man to guide him.Watching the masked man walk out, the short and stout man stepped forward and asked the young man, "Honored One, should we inform Peerless City about this man in advance?"
The young man thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No need. The unknown makes the gamble worthwhile. Tell our distinguished guests inside that the greater game has officially begun from this moment!"
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