The Referee gave Zhang Hao a peculiar look, but still announced, "This round, Zhang Hao wins."
After Zhang Hao defeated Hou Zhibai, many Outer Sect Disciples immediately beat their chests and stomped their feet. This was because many people had bet on Zhang Hao losing. Unexpectedly, Zhang Hao caused an upset and defeated Hou Zhibai. This shattered the glasses of countless people. Of course, if they had glasses.
However, this was good news for the bookmaker. After all, only a minority had bet on Zhang Hao. Although they took Liu Jie's bet, they could still make a profit.
Zhang Hao stepped down from the stage, and Liu Jie and others came forward, smiling, and said, "Zhang Hao, you've struck it rich this time."
"Of course, I was originally very confident about winning," Zhang Hao boasted without reservation.
"Zhang Hao, let's go claim the crystal stones."
Liu Jie seemed particularly worried that the bookmaker wouldn't honor the bet. However, Zhang Hao wasn't too concerned. This kind of gambling market usually has major powers backing it. No matter how much they lose, even if they have to kneel, they must pay up. After all, this gambling relies on reputation for support; once it faces a crisis of trust, the gambling market will be unable to continue.
Indeed, as soon as the bookmaker saw Liu Jie arrive, he readily handed over a storage bag. Inside were 10,000 high-grade crystal stones.
Zhang Hao was prepared to give Mo Qing, Liu Jie, Chu Wei, Fu Qingchen, and others one hundred high-grade crystal stones each, but Mo Qing and the others were absolutely unwilling to accept them. This made Zhang Hao quite depressed.
"Zhang Hao, you are currently in a period of rapid advancement, and you may enter the Inner Sect very soon. At that time, you will need crystal stones in more places. Don't waste these crystal stones on us now," Liu Jie said to Zhang Hao seriously.
"Yes, Zhang Hao, that's what we think too."
Mo Qing and the others also chimed in.
Zhang Hao gave a bitter smile, knowing he couldn't persuade them, and had to give up. He decided to find a way to help them later when he entered the Inner Sect. Zhang Hao could tell that Liu Jie and the others were clearly not having an easy time. After all, they were just Registered Disciples, and in many cases, Registered Disciples weren't much better off than servant disciples.
"By the way, Zhang Hao, there's something I've always wanted to ask you," Liu Jie said to Zhang Hao seriously.
"What is it?" Zhang Hao glanced at Liu Jie.
After a brief thought, Zhang Hao knew what Liu Jie wanted to ask.
"Some time ago, I accidentally heard people discussing that the Huo Family of Qingye City was wiped out. Is this related to you?" Liu Jie looked at Zhang Hao.
When Liu Jie asked this question, Shi Lei, Chu Wei, Mo Qing, and others were also looking at Zhang Hao.
Actually, they originally didn't dare to suspect Zhang Hao. After all, several Elders of the Huo Family were Martial Grandmasters, while Zhang Hao was only a Martial King. But some time ago, Zhang Hao went out on a mission. He happened to be out during that period. Although Liu Jie and the others didn't know where Zhang Hao went, the entire Huo Family was wiped out during that same period. The timing was astonishingly consistent. However, because several Elders of the Huo Family were Martial Grandmasters, Liu Jie and the others only suspected Zhang Hao.
Zhang Hao pondered for a moment and felt that there was no harm in telling them about this matter. He nodded and said, "That's right, I did it."
"What?"
Liu Jie and the others were now utterly shocked. Originally, they only suspected, but overall, they felt the possibility wasn't very high and were just seeking verification face-to-face. After all, Zhang Hao was only in the Martial King Realm. The gap between him and the opponents was too large.
"Hehe, I was just defending myself."
Saying that, Zhang Hao told Liu Jie and the others about what happened that day.
After hearing what happened, Liu Jie and the others were all very indignant.
Mo Qing righteously said, "This Elder Huo Zun is too despicable, actually chasing after you while you were out on a mission."
"Hmm, it's just that Huo Zun didn't expect that this was just digging his own grave. Instead, he pointlessly buried the entire Huo Family," Zhang Hao smiled cruelly.
Liu Jie and the others exchanged glances, finding it somewhat hard to believe, but they had to believe it. After all, the facts were there.
They just really couldn't figure out how Zhang Hao, a Martial King, managed to kill the Martial Grandmasters of the Huo Family. If the several Elders of the Huo Family could challenge those of a higher realm, the Supreme Elder of the Huo Family was a mid-stage Martial Grandmaster!
"Zhang Hao, how exactly did you kill the Supreme Elder of the Huo Family?"
Although Liu Jie knew that this involved someone's secret, he was really too curious about it at this moment and couldn't help but ask.
Zhang Hao smiled and said, "I couldn't do it alone, but I invited a great master. He helped me kill several Elders of the Huo Family, including the Supreme Elder."
Zhang Hao's words were half true and half false. He had killed almost all of the Elders by himself. Of course, he didn't lie either. Wu Ming, the Martial Arts Myth, wasn't he a great master?
Liu Jie and the others suddenly understood. If someone helped, it would be in line with common sense; otherwise, if Zhang Hao did it alone, it would be too Heaven-Defying.
Next, Zhang Hao had to draw lots again. This time, his opponent was Yu Zongbao. Gun Hou Yu Zongbao was, as Qian Xiao said, one of the strongest individuals in the fifth group.
Yu Zongbao was a top-tier existence in the fifth group, someone not easily contended with by ordinary people.
Liu Jie said to Zhang Hao with a bitter smile, "Zhang Hao, I originally thought you wouldn't encounter Yu Zongbao so early, but I didn't expect you two to meet ahead of time."
Zhang Hao frowned and said, "Don't worry, my ultimate goal isn't him. Gun Hou Yu Zongbao won't be my opponent."
Upon hearing this, Liu Jie, Shi Lei, and the others were slightly taken aback. They didn't expect Zhang Hao's confidence to be so strong. However, they all shook their heads with bitter smiles. At this moment, they found Zhang Hao increasingly inscrutable, but thinking that Zhang Hao could wipe out the Huo Family just like that, taking down a Gun Hou Yu Zongbao was indeed nothing.
Watching Zhang Hao and the others leave, Wen Tailai said coldly, "Zhang Hao, tomorrow is your death day. Those who offend me, Wen Tailai, never get anything good."
The next day
The Fifth Battle Stage was once again crowded with people.
Zhang Hao's match was the tenth one.
It would still be some time before it was his turn, so taking advantage of this gap, Zhang Hao went to other battle stages to watch others fight. On the First Battle Stage, Liu Mengyao was currently fighting against a youth who also used a sword.
Naturally, Zhang Hao was very interested in this. Although he had fought Liu Mengyao before, he always felt that Liu Mengyao had held back that day.
On the battle stage, sword energy crisscrossed. Although the youth wielding the sword attacked fiercely, it had no effect on Liu Mengyao. Liu Mengyao merely stood there casually responding, while the youth was scrambling to keep up.
Finally, after the youth unleashed his tenth move, Liu Mengyao said indifferently, "Be careful, I'm going to attack now."