"It's starting, it's starting! The betting window is closing soon. If you don't place your bets now, you'll miss out!"1

At the foot of the mountain, a betting stand had been set up by a reputable bookmaker[1] from Taotie City, specifically for the cultivators of the immortal sects.0

A hundred wooden paddles were hung on the wall behind him, inscribed with the names of the sects participating in the Competition of the Hundred Sects and the payout rates. The bets were on which teams would make it into the top ten.0

At that moment, a young man with thick eyebrows and an aura filled with exuberant yang qi strolled over, glancing at the payout rates on the wall.0

He exclaimed, "Wow! You've got the payout rates for the Penglai Supreme Sect at 1/30 and Fog-Hidden Mountain of Immortals at 1/10... but Mount Shu Sect is at 3/1? That's crazy! And Earthfire Sect is at 1/1."[2]0

"Heheh, we base our payout rates on past performances and the current disciples' potential. The Mount Shu Sect hasn't made the top ten in four consecutive assemblies, and with so many strong competitors this time, their odds of winning are naturally lower," the bookmaker explained. "But if you believe in the Mount Shu Sect, you're welcome to place a bet for an upset!"0

"Hmph." The young man grinned. "Of course,...0