Demon Cultivator in Abyssal Era

And just as he was pondering, the twenty-fourth round began.

As soon as the cards were dealt, Lin Ji eagerly picked up his hand, almost bursting into laughter.

Another big hand, two Js!

"Raise!"

He boldly tossed in ten chips. Song Lichuan and Bian Guanyue exchanged a glance and folded, while the Baron chose to call.

After all, there are five community cards, and before they are revealed, the information from one's hand is very limited. Many players will wait to see the community cards before folding even if their hand is weak.

Under the gaze of everyone, the Notary dealt three community cards: a 4, a 10, and a Q, of mixed suits. These cards held no value for Lin Ji, leaving him a bit disappointed.

But his eyes darted quickly, and he pushed his chips forward, shouting: "Raise! Fifty chips!"

In previous rounds, when the Baron saw him so confident, he would usually choose to fold, but Lin Ji was no longer content with ordinary game strategy and started employing bluffs and psychological warfare.

This time, however, the Baron did not fold and calmly chose to call.

This made Lin Ji's heart tighten.

However, when the fourth card was dealt, all his worries vanished.

The fourth card was another J!

This meant he now had three Js! Moreover, with the community cards, the fifth card, no matter what it was, nor the Baron's hand, couldn't possibly form a flush or four of a kind.

In other words, he was almost certain to win this time!

"One hundred chips!"

Lin Ji laughed as he pushed his chips forward, suddenly grateful that the Baron hadn't been bluffed earlier.

Yet the Baron, after giving him a half-smile glance, continued to call, seemingly unperturbed.

Soon, the fifth card was revealed, a 3 of clubs.

This let Lin Ji completely relax.

Now, a full house was impossible; only a straight could beat him.

The Baron would need a perfect combination of 89, 9K, or KA to win.

But... the odds of drawing these three types of hands combined is less than five percent!

"Two hundred chips!"

Lin Ji directly bet almost all of his remaining assets.

The Baron simply smiled and said, "Call."

"Alright!" Lin Ji shouted excitedly, "Let's show our cards!"

"Wait."

At this moment, the Baron interrupted him again.

"I want to raise."

"Raise again?" Lin Ji was taken aback, suddenly realizing this scene was reminiscent of a previous high-stakes gamble.

At this moment, the Baron's voice, tinged with a smile, echoed.

"That's right, I want to raise."

"I will raise—"

"One thousand chips!"

With the Baron's words, the table fell silent enough to hear a pin drop, leaving everyone in shock.

Lin Ji stood up in disbelief: "One thousand chips??? I don't have that many chips!"

"If you don't have enough chips, you can exchange other things."

"Or, if you're confident enough—"

The Baron gave a knowing glance towards Song Lichuan and Bian Guanyue.

"You could borrow from your companions."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ji's face darkened instantly.

A thousand chips, even if adding all of Song Lichuan's and Bian Guanyue's chips wouldn't be enough, even swapping their Legendary Equipment wouldn't suffice!

"Are you using this method to force me to fold?" Lin Ji sneered, "But don't forget that in Texas Hold'em, there is an All-in rule."

All-in means betting all of one's chips, and even if you don't have enough chips, you can still proceed to the showdown. However, the chips won this way are calculated using a special set of rules.

Indeed, considering Song Lichuan's thoroughness, he had confirmed in advance that this rule was valid before proceeding with the game.

Otherwise, the Baron could just bet a thousand chips every hand, pressuring everyone to fold without any real betting.

"So, do you want to go All-in?"

Lin Ji's words didn't make the Baron flinch, but he calmly inquired.

Now Lin Ji hesitated.

This was his entire stack of chips! Even with over a 90% chance of winning, how many people would have the courage to bet their entire fortune?

If he lost, it would mean all his efforts would go to waste. Worse, since he had retrieved his forty chips designated for clearing the round, even completing it would be uncertain.

But if he folded now, it would mean all his prior investments would be lost, nearly four hundred chips! Losing would almost be starting all over again.

Moreover, if he won, his assets would double! Enough to secure that Legendary Quality Equipment!

"Lin Ji, just let it go," Song Lichuan whispered, "I feel something's off, I can't pinpoint it, but my gut tells me the Baron is definitely plotting something."

"You're the third son of the Lin Family, there's no need to risk it all for a piece of Legendary Equipment. If you can safely pass the round, avoid unnecessary troubles."

Song Lichuan was right. As the third son of the Lin Family, although his talent wasn't as prized as his siblings', and not the primary heir, the resources available to him were unimaginable to ordinary people.

A piece of Legendary Equipment was indeed precious, but not worth risking everything for.

Yet...

For reasons unknown, Lin Ji felt possessed, knowing this truth clearly but unable to utter the words "fold." Whenever he was about to speak, it was as if hundreds of hands were clawing at his heart, making him uncomfortable. Voices were chaotically urging: "What if the Baron is bluffing?", "Your hand is so strong, you're sure to win!", "The Baron is bluffing you!", "If you give up now, you'll regret it forever!".

The cacophony of voices intertwined, leaving him parched, his eyes fixated on the table, bulging, his heart racing as if it would burst out of his chest!

The voices in his head grew louder, more unified.

The Baron is bluffing, the Baron is bluffing, you will win, you will win!

"Bang!"

Lin Ji's palm slammed heavily on the table.

Under the complex gazes of Song Lichuan and Bian Guanyue, he pushed forward all his chips.

"All-in."

His eyes were red, his voice slow but resolute as he spoke.