Bai Ying was too lazy to pay attention to this hypocritical performance and turned to leave.

Duan Xiuyuan suddenly stepped forward and lowered his voice, saying, "Qingdai, it's not too late for you to regret it now."

He deliberately softened his voice, but a calculating glint flashed in his eyes. "If you're willing to admit your mistake, I might consider letting you into the Duan family... I have a younger brother. You can..."

He deliberately spoke ambiguously, both to maintain a respectable image in front of Xia Yuwei and to conceal his wicked intentions.

That so-called "younger brother" is actually an idiot. Once Xia Qingdai enters the Duan family, won't she be at his mercy?

The more Duan Xiuyuan thought about it, the more brilliant the idea seemed, and a sinister smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

Ironically, he used to ignore Xia Qingdai, but now that he sees her being fawned over by everyone, he has become possessive of her.

Seeing how she now dresses so elegantly and gracefully, exuding an indescribable charm in every gesture, only fueled his desire.

She was once an abandoned girl whom he could choose at will, and she even agreed to marry him.

However, Duan Xiuyuan was unaware that Xia Qingdai had agreed to marry him because she desperately wanted to escape the Xia family, and because Duan Xiuyuan had treated her fairly well. If she were still alive and could see through Duan Xiuyuan's true colors, she would never have wanted to marry him again.

Bai Ying paused slightly, then slowly turned around. Duan Xiuyuan was secretly pleased, thinking she had wavered. But instead, he saw a mocking smile curl at the corner of her lips. "Is your Duan family worthy?"

These words were like a resounding slap, shattering Duan Xiuyuan's hypocritical mask completely.

His handsome face instantly contorted, veins bulging on his forehead, as he forced out through clenched teeth, "I'd like to see how long you can keep up this arrogance!"

Xia Yuwei stepped forward at the opportune moment, gently tugged at Duan Xiuyuan's sleeve, and said in a coquettish voice, "Brother Xiuyuan, don't be angry." She turned to look at Bai Ying, her eyes flashing with malicious pleasure, "When the competition begins, she'll have her moment to cry." As her red lips parted slightly, she had already sketched in her mind the miserable appearance of Xia Qingdai being beaten and bruised all over on the stage.

Xia Mingde snorted coldly, flicking his wide sleeves sharply: "You ignorant fool!"

He turned and left with a gloomy face, already plotting how to curry favor with the victorious immortal master after the competition. As for that arrogant daughter? Let her fend for herself on the stage; it would be a good way to rid the Xia family of a potential threat.

Bai Ying watched the three figures leave, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

In the distance, Duan Xiuyuan was still cursing through gritted teeth, Xia Yuwei pretended to comfort him but actually added fuel to the fire, while Xia Mingde had already begun to look around, looking for someone he could possibly curry favor with.

A glint of light flashed in Xia Yuwei's eyes as she keenly spotted the Fourth Prince and his entourage in the distance. Unlike the powerful Third Prince, the Fourth Prince's group was noticeably colder towards Bai Ying. This was precisely the "ally" she was looking for.

"Your Highness, Fourth Prince!" Xia Yuwei lifted her skirt and ran over, her face showing just the right amount of surprise and worry. "Have you heard? My sister... she actually signed up for this competition!"

The Fourth Prince frowned upon hearing this, and looking in the direction Xia Yuwei was pointing, he indeed saw Bai Ying's back as she stood near the registration area. He sneered, "I thought the person who could cure Third Brother was something special, but it turns out she's just an arrogant fool."

The two attendants beside him immediately understood, one of them flatteringly saying, "Your Highness, why don't you let me go and meet her? It would be a good way to relieve your boredom."

After receiving permission, the two quickly walked towards Bai Ying, their faces full of fake smiles: "Miss Qingdai, what a coincidence! There's a gambling game going on over there, would you like to go and take a look?" Before Bai Ying could respond, the two "enthusiastically" supported her on either side and walked towards the gambling table.

The gambling area was bustling with activity. A towering sandalwood signboard, over ten feet tall, stood majestically, its inscription in gold paint displaying the names of the participating cultivators. Below each name lay piles of various chips—some gleaming spirit stones, others fragrant medicinal herbs, and still others rare treasures radiating dazzling light. Several nobles in fine robes were directing their servants to place boxes of spirit stones under the name of a particular Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Oh dear!" another attendant suddenly raised his voice, pointing exaggeratedly to the very bottom of the list, "Isn't that Princess Qingping's name?"

The shout was like a thunderclap, instantly drawing everyone's attention. The previously noisy gambling game immediately quieted down, and everyone's eyes were focused on that solitary name—"Xia Qingdai" stood out conspicuously among the many cultivators' names.

"This... Princess Qingping is actually going to participate in the cultivator competition?"

"Is she crazy?"

"A mere mortal dares to challenge a cultivator?"

"They've probably gotten too cocky just because they cured the Third Prince..."

A wave of doubt swept through the casino, and the powerful and wealthy whispered among themselves, their faces filled with disbelief.

In their eyes, the contest between cultivators was a sacred realm that mortals could never reach, and being able to watch from afar was already a great blessing.

How dare a princess who can't even explain how to cure the Third Prince get involved? This is utterly absurd!

Bai Ying coldly swept her gaze around, taking in the faces that were either mocking or shocked. A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Huh? Why is Miss Xia Qingdai's bet completely empty?" a shrill voice suddenly rang out. "I remember in previous years, even the most insignificant contestant always had a few supporters. Isn't this a bit too meager?"

The dealer behind the gambling table wiped the cold sweat from his brow and awkwardly cleared his throat: "This... Miss Xia, there haven't been any bets placed yet..."

"Then I'll bet myself." Bai Ying suddenly spoke, flipping her hand to reveal a vibrant green spiritual herb in her palm. The herb's leaves were as translucent as jade, and its stem was wreathed in a faint spiritual light.

Upon seeing this, the onlookers burst into laughter.

"That's it? You dare to gamble with a mere weed?"

"Are they out of their minds? The bookmakers are definitely going to kick them out!"

To everyone's surprise, the farmer accepted the spirit herb with trembling hands, his voice trembling: "Alright...alright! I'll make a note of it for you!"

Those present found Bai Ying's performance utterly ridiculous.

Seeing this scene, Xia Yuwei couldn't help but walk over.

"Oh dear, sister, is there no one else to escort you besides yourself?" She covered her mouth and chuckled. "That's really...so embarrassing!"

The onlookers burst into laughter, finding the scene utterly ridiculous.

Even though a few people who wanted to curry favor with the Third Prince spoke up for Xia Qingdai, none of them stepped forward to place bets under her name.

After all, the stakes here are settled with precious spirit stones, not their mortal currency. Who would waste such precious spirit stones on a game they are sure to lose?

Just as the laughter reached its peak, a clear, cold voice suddenly pierced through the clamor:

"Who said no one is betting on Princess Qingping?"