It was merely unfortunate that such an elaborate layout was doomed to fail, simply because the Zhan family had run headlong into this imposter, this fake known as Jun Mo Xie! And this imposter possessed energy that seemed utterly inexhaustible...

The brilliant plan meticulously prepared by the Zhan family was like a raging torrent, set to sweep everything away, only to crash headlong into the highest celestial pillar in this world...

A tragedy was inevitable!

This truly bore out the old saying: Man proposes, Heaven disposes! Jun Mo Xie increasingly felt that the words of the ancestors held profound truth; the affairs of this world were truly marvelous and absurd...

"It’s really just a single match? That’s all it takes?" Jun Mo Xie inquired, his expression unreadable.

"Of course, it won't be that simple," Zhan Yucun flashed a smile he thought was charming, saying lightly, "It’s nothing major, then let's go... Since there must be a contest, naturally, there must be stakes! And these stakes are what we truly desire!"

"Stakes? You have conditions just to compete with me??" Jun Mo Xie pressed.

"Naturally, there are conditions. If there's no benefit, would we expend such vast manpower and resources for nothing? Without commensurate stakes, it wouldn't even be worthy of the legendary status of the great genius, Mo!"

Zhan Yushu’s face sobered, adopting a grave and earnest demeanor, he spoke slowly, "The conditions are also very simple. In any area where you lose, you shall be barred for life from touching any resource related to that field! Be it position, or material wealth... and so on..."

"As if to say, if you lost in painting, you would be forbidden from uttering the word 'painting' for the rest of your life. The same applies to other areas!"

Zhan Yuchen gave a slight smirk, "Besides that, you must also agree to three demands of ours! Three conditions that, under any circumstances, you cannot refuse! This includes absolutely anything!"

"If you have no objection, we can immediately draft a contract, complete with our personal signatures, blood seals, and sworn oaths in the real names of our ancestors, pledging never to betray this vow for our entire lives!"

Zhan Yuchen’s face turned chillingly severe: "Of course, if the great genius Mo lacks the courage, you are free to leave, and the contest can be called off. However, I must solemnly reiterate one point: if this contest is completed successfully, regardless of the final result, we will not cause you any trouble! But if you flee in disgrace now, I, Zhan Yuchen, can swear on the honor of the Zhan family that henceforth, within the Misty Illusory Mansion, there will absolutely be no place for Mo Jun Ye!"

"Even if you are the possessor of the Ethereal Body, the result will be the same!" Zhan Yuchen chuckled darkly, "At that time, you will have only two paths. The first: becoming an invalid mysteriously, or dying outright within the Mansion, turning to dust! The second: you return to the outside world to beg for food! Reverting to your original beggar status! You are not a fool; you must have heard of our Zhan family's might, even if you haven't seen it firsthand... You can weigh which path to choose."

"Zhan Yuchen! You are truly despicable!" Miao Xiaomiao was extremely anxious! These terms were not just about ruining Mo Jun Ye? They were essentially chaining him with three shackles that could never be broken! If these conditions were established and Mo Jun Ye lost, he would essentially become a slave to the Zhan family. You absolutely cannot agree to this! These two Zhan brothers are utterly sinister!

Jun Mo Xie, however, secretly chuckled inwardly. He wasn't afraid of them setting conditions; he was afraid they wouldn't! Finally, their true intentions—their fox tails—were showing!

The Zhan family's planning ran deep, truly far-sighted. Not only were they plotting against the Miao family, against Miao Xiaomiao, against the Spirit Herb Garden, and against the position of the Mansion Master; they were plotting against the families of the youths present today, plotting against the poor disciples participating in this contest today... and now they were even plotting against Mo Jun Ye, this future number one master of the Illusory Mansion! Truly remarkable!

As for the conditions about not touching this or that, they were nothing more than a smokescreen for the Zhan family. Because for someone with the Ethereal Body, the primary focus remains on the level of Qi cultivation! Things like calligraphy, chess, painting, poetry, and music hold absolutely no significance for him. Even if permitted to participate, he would have zero interest! That was merely a tactic to win over hearts, something better than nothing!

The real condition lay in those three demands that could not be refused, regardless of when or under what circumstances they were made! That was the true essence of the matter! Furthermore, the Zhan family would absolutely not present these three conditions now; it was a long-term investment. Only when this possessor of the Ethereal Body reached a certain level of cultivation, showing the potential of a peerless master, but before truly reaching the pinnacle, would they bring them up! If brought up too early, they feared his cultivation might not be sufficient to exert the necessary influence; if brought up too late, he would already be a transcendent master beyond everything, capable of utterly ignoring the Zhan family’s existence... At that point, even a blood oath would be useless: he could simply slaughter the Zhan family to silence them and walk away. In this world where might makes right, such things are common! Only at that crucial juncture—neither too high nor too low—would it be the most appropriate time, and easier to control...

Jun Mo Xie placed himself in the Zhan family's position to think it through, and a chill ran down his spine: If he were them, the first condition he would impose on this Ethereal Body, already a peak existence, would be to kill an important figure within the Illusory Mansion, causing turmoil, even panic, within the Mansion. The second step would naturally be to force him to kill the Mansion Master, and the third step would probably be to force him to align with the Zhan family... These three moves were interlocking, each step tighter than the last. Killing an important figure whom one already disliked would ensure smooth cooperation initially. But by doing so, the Zhan family would hold a vital leverage point; once the second step was taken, there would be no turning back. Without aligning with the Zhan family, there would be no place left for him in the entire Misty Illusory Mansion. And after that, even if Mo Jun Ye became invincible in the future, he absolutely could not retaliate against the Zhan family... In this way, the Zhan family would not only gain a future number one expert with immense potential but would also firmly grasp the entire Misty Illusory Mansion for eternal inheritance...

"Despicable? This is merely the associated wager, the conditions of the gamble. The choice rests with Brother Mo; Brother Mo can choose to agree or refuse. The decision isn't mine, so where is the despicable part? A bet not yet lost! Perhaps the exceptionally talented great genius Mo will win? Did you not hear Brother Mo claim he is a legend?!"

Zhan Yushu smiled as if basking in the spring breeze, "Little Sister Xiaomiao, how one conducts oneself isn't truly important; what matters is... the result! Methods considered despicable by the world might achieve righteous ends; conversely, some seemingly upright methods can often be mere veils for nefarious goals... As for the subtleties within, outsiders can never truly guess..."

As he said this, Zhan Qingfeng coughed lightly again, clearly signaling him not to reveal too much, or too explicitly, to Miao Xiaomiao...

"Hmph, you think I don't know your purpose? Zhan Yuchen, by using such methods against an Ethereal Body figure so highly valued by the elders of the entire Mansion, aren't your Zhan family afraid of inciting public outrage? Can your Zhan family bear the wrath of all the elders then?" Miao Xiaomiao looked at Zhan Yuchen, her usually calm eyes rarely filled with such anger!

"Our Zhan family acts solely for the good of the Illusory Mansion. Even the premise for setting up this wager would never involve anything heinous. I can swear to the heavens on this point... Besides, Little Sister Xiaomiao, this contest is just a bet between us juniors. Didn't you also participate in such a bet previously? Do you think the stakes in your wager were any smaller?" Zhan Yuchen snorted, a half-smile playing on his lips.

Miao Xiaomiao was left speechless with anger, about to retort, when she saw Jun Mo Xie raise his head, his expression deep in thought, asking somewhat confusedly: "Second Young Master Zhan, I understand everything you’ve said, but... but your condition seems rather unfair, doesn't it? Throughout this, only if I lose do you get to impose conditions! Why don't you explain what happens if I win... What should be the outcome then? Are you saying only you are allowed to set conditions if you win, and I'm just supposed to waste my time for nothing?"

"A bet must be fair. If Brother Mo is ultimately victorious, he can naturally also set conditions," Zhan Yucun’s tone suggested he was telling a joke. The surrounding crowd also burst into laughter. This Mo Jun Ye was truly too amusing; facing so many top talents from various fields, he actually expected to win everything? He truly had no idea how vast the world was!

"Naturally, I must set conditions!" Jun Mo Xie said with utmost seriousness, "And I have already thought of my conditions. Since your demands are so harsh, my conditions cannot be easily dismissed either, wouldn't you agree?"

"Oh? State whatever conditions you have," Zhan Yushu forced a smile, asking with deep displeasure. This bumpkin simply didn't know his place!

"Brother Mo, you must be careful; it’s not the first time the Zhan brothers have gone back on their word," Miao Xiaomiao, seeing his apparent willingness to agree, panicked, casting aside her composure and not caring about thoroughly offending Zhan Qingfeng and Zhan Yuchen, spoke out loudly.

"Miao Xiaomiao!" Zhan Qingfeng, who hadn't spoken for a long time, called out sternly, "What do you mean by that?"

"What, are you allowed to do things but I’m forbidden from speaking of it?" Miao Xiaomiao showed no weakness, her gaze, like two bolts of cold lightning, shooting directly over! (To be continued, if you wish to know what happens next...)