A group of people immediately felt annoyed.
"You ten are the top ten in soul power chips for this round."
"Each of you has the right to enter the Heavenly Talent Library once and purchase one talent."
"Next, we'll start the real God of Gamblers competition."
As Zhao Chen finished speaking, a golden box fell from the sky.
"Now, let's invite our number one participant, Mr. Mu Rufeng, to draw the gameplay for this God of Gamblers event."
Zhao Chen looked at Mu Rufeng, signaling him to come forward and draw.
Mu Rufeng nodded, then approached the box, which had two holes the size of fists, allowing someone to reach in and draw.
"Mr. Mu, just reach in and select a strip of paper," said Zhao Chen.
"Okay." Mu Rufeng nodded again, reached into the box, and quickly took out a strip of paper.
Upon opening the strip of paper, Mu Rufeng's mouth twitched slightly.
"Mr. Mu, what did you draw?" Zhao Chen asked with a smile.
"This... I think it's better for the City Lord to announce it," Mu Rufeng said as he handed the strip to Zhao Chen.
Taking a look at it, Zhao Chen's previously beaming face also twitched slightly.
The expressions of the two men aroused the interest of the Ghost Emperors below, and the Ghost Emperors on stage seemed to have a bad premonition.
"Cough, cough, the gameplay this time is quite ordinary; it's 'Texas Hold'em'," Zhao Chen coughed twice before saying.
"So it's Texas Hold'em."
"Not bad, not bad, I studied up on it after I went back last time."
"Yes, Texas Hold'em is simple in rules, with many hand rankings and only three cards; you can't rely on calculations, only luck and courage."
"It's all a matter of following blindly; it tests one's nerve, wealth, and luck."
The crowd below whispered among themselves.
"However, the rule of using the soul power you win as the betting chip will change a bit this time."
Zhao Chen paused and then continued, "This time, the bets will not be placed with soul power, but with your very own lifespan as the chips."
As Zhao Chen's words fell, the room was in an uproar.
Were they really playing this big this time?
The Golden City festival had been held for many editions, but never had they bet on lifespans as chips.
Mostly, they bet with the soul power they won.
"Please take note, there's something else to be aware of: the soul power chips you win can be exchanged for lifespan, which is also a little benefit for you."
"This has never happened before. As for the exchange rate, one hundred thousand soul power can be exchanged for one year," Zhao Chen said.
As these words were spoken, there was another stir in the crowd.
Oh boy, this was a big deal indeed.
Never mind Mu Rufeng, the top winner—consider Dan Yifeng, ranked tenth, with nineteen million two hundred thousand chips.
At a hundred thousand to one exchange rate, he could exchange for 192 years of life.
The third-place Niu Ben, the boss, with seventy-nine million, could exchange for 790 years.
The second-place Crimson Preferred Xu He, with one hundred and twenty-six million nine hundred thousand, could exchange for 1269 years.
And Mu Rufeng? With two hundred and fifty million chips, he could directly exchange for two thousand five hundred years.
His own lifespan was only 931 years.
This round, he had hit the jackpot.
"Let me clarify further: if you run out of chips, you can use your own lifespan as the betting chip."
"Regardless of how much lifespan you have in the end, that will become your own lifespan," Zhao Chen spoke.
The Ghost Emperors below were once again shocked; soul power exchanged for lifespan? This was making a killing.
After all, even as Level 9 Ghost Emperors, it was incredibly difficult to obtain lifespan.
Golden City was indeed a good place; you could bet with your lifespan, but you know, gambling with lifespan is dangerous, and a moment of inattention could leave you crying without a place to cry.
Don't think of Golden City as a land of kindness; Golden City is a place that devours you without spitting out the bones.
The reason Mu Rufeng had managed to win over nine hundred years of life last time was all because he exchanged soul power for one hundred trillion soul banknotes.
Add to that, Mu Rufeng also possessed an inexhaustible supply of soul power from the entire Human World, making him the biggest client of Golden City.
Much bigger than any super client like those Level 9 Ghost Emperors or even the Sect Leaders of well-established Level 9 Group Forces.
Such super clients naturally need to be well-maintained, hence why Mu Rufeng won a considerable amount of lifespan.
As for other Mysterious beings wanting to win lifespan? Heh, it depends on the beholder.
Even for a Level 9 Ghost Emperor with a nearing lifespan, winning extra years would come at a horrific price.
Ever since Mu Rufeng became the deputy director of the relevant department, he also made an effort to understand the lifespan issues of the Mysterious World's beings.
These beings seem like they are immortal, but in fact, they do have a lifespan.
Or rather, the flesh doesn't die, but the soul will.
So, strictly speaking, the lifespan of these beings is the lifespan of their soul.
For Level 1 Stranges, the soul's lifespan is roughly similar to that of ordinary humans.
The average lifespan might be around 80-90 years.
For Level 2 Stranges, about 100 years.
For third-level Mysterious beings, around 150 years.
For Level 4 Mysterious beings, around 200 years.
For Level 5 Abnormalities, around 300 years.
For sixth-level Mysterious beings, around 400 years.
For Level 7 Mysterious beings, around 500 years.
Starting from Level 8, the lifespan begins to skyrocket.
For Level 8 Abnormalities, the lifespan is about 1,000 years.
For Level 9 Mysterious beings, the lifespan is around 2,000 years.
And this is just the most basic lifespan.
Each Mysterious being's strength is different, each with its own fortunes.
Be it Spiritual Objects that increase lifespan, or items that do the same, these can all prolong lifespan.
If one continues to refine and strengthen with Soul Power, it will likely lead to a further increase in lifespan.
As for the ratio and limit, Mu Rufeng didn't know, and only after Level 9 Ghost Emperors had refined their lifespan would it increase.