Translator: CinderTL
On the arena, the burly woman and the gaunt old man stood facing each other.
At Elder Ran's signal, "Begin the match!" both fighters lunged forward simultaneously.
The woman's fists roared like a tiger descending from the mountains.
The old man's withered hands clawed with sinister precision, each strike aimed at a vital point.
As they clashed, flesh tore and blood splattered. Every exchange left gruesome wounds on their bodies.
Below the arena, the young masters watched with feverish excitement, their eyes gleaming with madness. For them, this brutal spectacle was the ultimate entertainment.
Hui Zhen stared intently at the arena, his hands clenching involuntarily. Though he was the son of Supervising Monk Du'e, his cultivation remained at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Both the Dry Zen Temple and his father provided him with only limited spirit stones and resources each month.
To him, a thousand high-grade spirit stones was no small sum. If he lost, he truly wouldn't be able to repay the debt.
Of course, he had no intention of repaying it anyway. Losing the spirit stones wasn't his real concern. What truly worried him was losing face in front of everyone by being defeated by his arch-rival, Gao Cang.
Hui Zhen's eyelid twitched violently, a flicker of rage flashing in his eyes.
On the arena stage, the gaunt old man's razor-sharp claws slashed across the burly woman's abdomen.
A wide swath of flesh tore open, and blood and viscera gushed forth.
The burly woman staggered, her eyes filled with pain and defiance.
Though gravely wounded, she refused to yield, lunging fearlessly at the old man.
Even in her prime, she had been no match for him. Now, mortally wounded and fighting for her life, her desperate attack posed no threat, easily evaded by the old man.
With her do-or-die strike failing, the burly woman's momentum collapsed, and she slumped to the ground in defeat.
She gazed down at the gaping wound in her abdomen, her eyes filled with sorrow as she pleaded with the old man.
"Grant me a swift end!"
The old man had won, yet his face showed no joy, only a mournful pity, like a rabbit mourning the death of a fox.
He nodded slightly, then his frail frame darted forward like a phantom.
His razor-sharp claws pierced the burly woman's skull.
Her head exploded instantly, shattering her soul along with it.
After glancing at the woman's fallen remains, the old man shook his head slightly, then clasped his hands in a bow and bowed deeply toward Gao Cang below the arena.
"Young Master Gao Cang, I have fulfilled my mission."
"Excellent, excellent... well done! From this moment on, you are free," Gao Cang roared with arrogant laughter.
He turned to Hui Zhen, his eyes brimming with smugness and provocation.
"Hui Zhen, you've lost! Hand over the spirit stones, ha ha ha..."
Hui Zhen's expression darkened to a sinister gloom. With a swift movement, he leaped onto the arena.
The formation barrier that had protected the arena during the battle had vanished the moment the fight ended.
Staring at the trembling figure of the burly woman, Hui Zhen's face twisted with loathing.
"Worthless! Useless trash..."
As he spat curses, Hui Zhen stomped repeatedly on the woman's mangled body.
The corpse shattered into fragments of flesh and blood, splattering in all directions.
Watching the gore rain down from the sky, the young masters and ladies in the crowd showed no fear or disgust. Instead, they erupted into wild laughter.
They threw their arms wide, tilted their heads back, and opened their mouths as if receiving a sacred baptism of immortal dew.
"More! Give us more..."
"Again! Again..."
"Ha ha ha..."
The crowd howled in frenzied ecstasy.
"Enough!" Gao Cang suddenly barked, his mocking gaze fixed on Hui Zhen. "Hui Zhen, this young master doesn't have time for your madness. Hand over the spirit stones now."
Hui Zhen snorted coldly. With a flick of his wrist, he flung a thousand high-grade spirit stones toward Gao Cang.
Gao Cang caught the stones, his posture radiating arrogance.
"Hui Zhen, I'll give you a chance to win back your losses. How about another wager?"
Hui Zhen instinctively glanced at Song Wen before shaking his head. "No bet! I'm out of spirit stones."
He figured Song Wen couldn't possibly produce another thousand high-grade spirit stones. Though he desperately wanted to turn the tables, without the stakes, he had no choice but to concede.
Gao Cang countered, "As I understand it, you possess a Life-Preserving Jade Buddha, crafted by Great Master Du'e at the cost of his own cultivation. If you wager the Buddha, I'll stake two thousand high-grade spirit stones against you."
Hui Zhen glared fiercely. "Gao Cang, you know too much. But don't get your hopes up. No matter how many spirit stones you offer, I'll never wager the Jade Buddha against you."
With that, he leaped off the arena stage, shoved through the crowd, and stormed out of the pavilion.
Song Wen and Mingcheng hurried after him.
The trio exited the estate and headed south through the city.
"That bastard Gao Cang! He wins my spirit stones and now wants my Life-Preserving Jade Buddha? What a delusional daydreamer..." Hui Zhen cursed as he walked.
Song Wen cautiously approached Hui Zhen. "Hui Zhen... Great Master, about my spirit stone..."
Hui Zhen's face twisted with impatience. "Relax, I'm not the type to welch on debts. I'll return it to you in a couple of days."
"Thank you," Song Wen said gratefully.
Then, his tone shifted. "Young Master Gao Cang seemed to be cheating earlier."
Hui Zhen froze mid-air, turning to face Song Wen. "When did you see him cheating?"
"When we were selecting martial slaves in the underground hall," Song Wen explained. "I saw him secretly sprinkle a white powder on the old man. Later, during the arena battle, the old man sustained severe injuries but showed no signs of discomfort. I suspect that white powder was some kind of Spirit Herb that enhances physical potential, greatly amplifying the old man's strength."
He spoke softly and deliberately. By the time he finished, the three of them had already left the courtyard.
Hui Zhen's displeasure was evident. "Why didn't you say something sooner?"
Song Wen said, "I wasn't certain at the time. It's only after careful reflection that I find it increasingly suspicious. Besides, Young Master Gao Cang is guarded by Divine Transformation Stage cultivators. How could I dare expose him to his face?"
Hui Zhen turned and flew back toward the courtyard.
"I'm going to confront Gao Cang and demand an explanation."
Song Wen hurriedly stopped Hui Zhen. "We have no evidence. Why would he admit anything?"
Hui Zhen was frustrated. "Then what should we do?"
"Perhaps... we could gamble with him again?" Song Wen suggested hesitantly.
Hui Zhen asked, "Do you still have a thousand high-grade spirit stones?"
Song Wen replied, "I'm just a rogue cultivator. How could I possibly afford a thousand high-grade spirit stones?"
"Then what would we wager?" Hui Zhen snapped irritably.
Song Wen said, "Didn't Gao Cang mention that Great Master still possesses a Protective Jade Buddha? Why not use that as our wager?"
Hui Zhen retorted, "The Jade Buddha was a gift from my father! How could I use it as gambling money? If I lost it, he'd skin me alive!"
"Oh? Such a mystical artifact!" Song Wen's eyes gleamed with interest. "Would you mind showing it to me?"
(End of the Chapter)
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