“Young Master, let’s settle this then.” The woman in purple robes gave a slight wave of her hand, and two boxes opened to reveal a pair of massive wolf spiders, each with eight eyes. As soon as they emerged, they scuttled toward the opposite side, appearing ready to tear apart anything in their path. The purple-robed woman flicked her fingers, sprinkling some powder over them, and the wolf spiders immediately became docile.

The masked man then reached out and opened his box, revealing a pure white spider lounging inside. Compared to the aggressive wolf spiders before it, this white spider appeared delicate and beautiful. Even with its box open, it showed no inclination to emerge, displaying no fighting spirit whatsoever.

“Come out now.” The masked man had to reach in and carefully place it on the table himself.

“This is…” The short, stout man furrowed his brow. Though he prided himself on his broad knowledge, spider fighting was an exceedingly niche pursuit, and his understanding of spiders was limited. He couldn’t immediately identify this white spider’s species.

“Go.” The purple-robed woman smiled, thinking how this spiritless spider could never be a match for her two battle-hardened wolf spiders. She scattered her powder, and the two wolf spiders charged madly toward the white spider. However, when they reached it, they suddenly stopped. The two wolf spiders began circling the white spider, hesitating to advance as if held back by fear.

Suddenly, the white spider shot out a strand of white silk at one of the wolf spiders, instantly entangling it. Before the wolf spider could struggle, it collapsed. The white spider then turned toward the other wolf spider, which immediately tried to flee. It hadn’t gotten far before a strand of silk caught one of its legs. The wolf spider, showing its mettle, severed its leg to continue running, but soon its remaining seven legs were also ensnared by white silk. The white spider then yanked back its threads, ripping off all seven legs, leaving the wolf spider’s body helplessly spinning in place.

The purple-robed woman and the short, stout man watched in astonishment. The stout man finally realized, “That’s a Ghost White Spider! The legendary Ghost White Spider that can fight a hundred opponents at once!”

The masked man picked up the white spider and returned it to its box, tucking it away. He looked at the pair before him and said softly, “Then, should the Peerless Token be mine now?”

“Our guest carries an extraordinary sword, possesses a Dragon’s Tear, and casually produces a rare treasure like the Ghost White Spider. You must come from no ordinary background. With your status, why would you come to our Tianxia House seeking a Peerless Token?” the stout man asked gravely.

The masked man tilted his head slightly, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly lunged forward, seizing the stout man’s throat. “I won, give me the Peerless Token. I followed Tianxia House’s rules, so Tianxia House should follow its rules as well.”

The purple-robed woman was startled and moved to draw her sword, but as soon as she pulled it out, only the hilt remained – the blade had shattered into pieces scattered across the floor.

“I… I’ll take you to get it,” the stout man managed to say with difficulty.

The masked man released his grip, his tone returning to its initial detachment: “Thank you.”

The stout man sat half-sprawled on the ground, taking several heavy breaths before standing up and wiping the cold sweat from his brow. He turned and opened a door, leading the way inside. The masked man followed, one hand resting on his sword hilt. They walked for a long time through a pitch-black passage where one couldn’t see their fingers before finally pushing open an iron door.

The room beyond the iron door was brilliantly lit with candles everywhere. A pale, thin young man sat inside, and upon seeing the two enter, he immediately stood up. “It’s been a long time since anyone has managed to enter this room.”

The masked man surveyed his surroundings. All four walls were made of iron, and various weapons hung from the ceiling. If there were a mechanism that could drop all these weapons at once, none of the three people present would escape alive. The masked man looked at the young man and said, “I won at Tianxia House, so I should receive the Peerless Token.”

“Yes, the Peerless Token is now yours. However, for such an exceptional guest as yourself, we at Tianxia House would like to become better acquainted,” the young man said with a smile.

The masked man turned to look at the iron wall on the left: “Do the people behind that wall also wish to become acquainted with me?”

The young man startled then clapped his hands. “I truly wasn’t wrong about you – you are no ordinary guest.”

Behind the iron wall, a burly middle-aged man frustratedly pushed a handful of pearls toward the person opposite him. “You win, you win.”

Across from him sat a slightly plump young woman, who accepted the pearls with a graceful smile. “I told you this guest would spot us immediately, yet you still insisted on betting.”

“Then let’s place another bet,” spoke an elderly man sitting in the innermost position. “Let’s wager on whether he wants the Peerless Token to challenge Wushuang City?”

“Challenge Wushuang City alone?” The middle-aged man shook his head. “I don’t believe it. Besides, what’s the point of conquering Wushuang City now? Young people seeking fame all go to challenge Dengtian Tower these days.”

While the three discussed animatedly behind the wall, not a sound of their conversation could be heard in the room. The masked man watched the wall for a moment, his hand ready on his sword hilt. Seeing this, the young man finally dared not delay any longer. He took out a golden token from his robes and placed it on the table. “The Peerless Token is now yours, guest.”

The masked man waved his hand, and the Peerless Token flew into his grasp. He slightly bowed his head. “Thank you.”

“May I ask, guest, what is your purpose in going to Wushuang City?” the young man inquired.

“That wasn’t part of our wager,” the masked man replied directly.

“Our guest follows rules, exactly the kind of guest we at the gambling house most appreciate. However, my question isn’t part of the wager – it’s merely a friendly inquiry. Tianxia House doesn’t have many friends,” the young man said softly, implying that if the masked man answered this question, he could become friends with Tianxia House.

The masked man answered carelessly, “When did we become friends? We do not need to be friends. Farewell.” With that, the masked man walked straight out, not even requiring the stout man to guide him.

Watching the masked man leave, the stout man approached the young man and asked, “Honored One, should we inform Wushuang City about this person in advance?”

The young man thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No need. The unknown is what makes it worth betting on. Tell our esteemed guests inside – the bigger gamble begins now!”