The day of the match arrived. It was such a large event that the ordinary arena fights were closed simply because no one was bothering to pay any attention to them. Even those who participated in the arena chose to flock to see the match between Fang Yuan and Liu Nan rather than fighting.
The coliseum was packed. The battles stage in the middle was three times as large as a modern football stadium back on Earth.
It had to be, in order to accommodate both Fang Yuan and Liu Nan while fighting. Several powerful Gu Masters surrounded the periphery, ready to use their powers in order to stop the attacks from reaching the crowd. One might have thought that it would be difficult to see two people fighting from such a distance if one was sitting among the bleachers, but most people had gu worms that helped them see. And if they didn't, Shang Xin Ci was willing to sell them one - at a slightly higher price than normal, of course.
Regardless, once Fang Yuan and Liu Nan began using their gu worms, it would not be difficult at all for even those with mortal eyes to see what was going on.
"I remember the last time there was a fight like this," someone commented. "Even then, there wasn't this much of an uproar."
"Well, it can't be helped. The last time there was a fight like this, it was simply a spar between two ordinary Shang Clan members to see who would prevail. This this, there's a lot more history between the two of them."
The rumors of what was going on between Fang Yuan and Liu Nan had worked to hype people for the fight. Betting of all kinds was prevalent. Some people were betting that someone would die, even though the rules specifically said that the two combatants must avoid lethal blows.
"Look over there. Even Shang Yan Fei has appeared."
"Of course he has. He wouldn't want to miss seeing two Rank 5 Gu Masters fight. Rank 5 Gu Masters are the kings of the mortal world. Regardless of who wins, both Fang Yuan and Liu Nan are going to be big players in history moving forward. Without a doubt, this is a way of him keeping an eye on them."
"It's like keeping one's friends close and enemies closer, isn't it?"
Shang Yan Fei was seated within the VIP box, along with several other Shang Clan elders. They had the best view of the fighting that was going on.
"Hmm, Fang Yuan, Liu Nan. Let us see what you can do here," Shang Yan Fei thought to himself. The other Shang Clan elders along with him were also watching the fight closely. Whether Fang Yuan or Liu Nan would be friends or foes of the Shang Clan, their strengths and weaknesses would become evident her and would be useful.
There were several Audio-Visual Gu activated in order to capture the scenes of the fight from various angles. There were people handing out refreshments. All of these small businesses were either directly or indirectly controlled by Shang Xin Ci. Without a doubt, even before the match began, it was clear that she had already made a name for herself in the Young Master competition.
Not that she cared about this. She was currently biting into the edge of her robe nervously as she tapped her foot. Her maid tried in vain to calm her down.
Next to the proper VIP Box, which was meant for the Shang Clan Elders and the clan head, there was the Elite Section for those who had a large number of primeval stones or tokens but were not considered on the level of the Shang Clan Elders themselves. That was where Shang Xin Ci herself was seated.
The other Shang Clan Young Masters were there.
Ju Kai Bei and Yan Tu had also joined. Both of them were Rank Four Initial Stage Gu Masters who were the strongest among the battle arena. However, both of them had to admit that they were nothing when it came to Rank 5 Gu Masters.
"Without a doubt, we're going to see a very good show here today," Yan Tu said.
"Indeed," Ju Kai Bei answered.
The two of them were speaking cordially. Others might be surprised to see this, given the known rivalry between the two of them. However, that was mostly for show during arena fights.
The two of them were actually secret elders of the Shang Clan and were used as a tool by Shang Yan Fei in order to suppress those who made any name among the Battle Arena for themselves, and to see who was really on Wei Yang's level. Those who could reach that point could become external elders; if they could not, then the Shang Clan had no use for them.
"Over there, though. Look at that young lady with such nice, smooth skin," Yan Tu said, pointing towards Bai Ning Bing. "I've heard that she's also Rank 4." The two of them considered the fact that they would have to face her at some point in the future before this point. However, Bai Ning Bing had withdrawn from the battle stage in order to help Fang Yuan with this fight recently.
"Yes, she might be our opponent in the future," Jiao Kai Bei murmured. "But the other girl by her is also quite lovely."
Sitting alongside Bai Ning Bing was Shang Xin Ci. While Bai Ning Bing looked carefree in her snow white robes, Shang Xin Ci looked like she had not slept a wink last night. She couldn't, because she was too afraid of what might happen to Fang Yuan. "Please, teacher. I hope that you emerge from this safely," she said to herself. "Otherwise, I would not be able to live with myself."
Bai Ning Bing glanced at her and shook her head. She almost pitied Shang Xin Ci because she was completely unaware of Fang Yuan's true nature. 'Fang Yuan really managed to sink his malevolent talons deep into her for her to behave this way. Poor girl,' Bai Ning Bing thought to herself.
The commotion around the match had reached such a peak that, unbeknownst to the people watching below, it had even attracted the attention of the Immortal Realm.
Shang Qing Qing was watching the fight from above. She was a Rank 6 Supreme Elder of the Shang Clan.
Fights between mortals did not normally interest her. However, it was not often that one could see a fight like this between two fully fledged Rank 5 Gu Masters.
There was another reason that she was here, of course. In case the fight became too violent and threatened to destroy a large portion of Shang Clan City, she would, without a doubt, have to interject.
"I have heard that this Liu Nan is at Rank five peak stage," she thought to herself. "Could he become a potential Immortal Seed in the future? Could he become an Immortal Shang Clan external elder?" The gap between Rank 5 and Rank 6 was immense - more than even the gap between Rank 1 and Rank 5. But ascending to Rank 6 was not easy either. Immortal Seeds needed to be tested closely before they were chosen not only for ability but also for loyalty to the clan. But even a Rank 5 Peak Stage pawn could be useful when it came to the Shang Clan's interests, especially as Shang Yan Fei was only Rank 5 Middle Stage.
Regarding Fang Yuan, she was not nearly as interested in him as she was in Liu Nan. He was Rank 5 Middle Stage, and while that could be said to be only two minor realms from Rank 5 Peak Stage, that was a massive chasm. 'He will not be ready to become an Immortal for quite some time,' she thought to herself. Shang Yan Fei might still be willing to recruit him, but to her, he was but an ant crawling along the ground. Not even worth thinking about.