The streets were packed like a river of people. Everyone was flowing smoothly past one another like drops of water.

In an area not too far away was a huge but rugged building with several five-colored banner flags lined up in front of it.

The writing on the banners caught Lin Xun’s attention.

“Silver Pheasant Martial Arena! Double the prize money! Unique duel rules! Only true experts can survive the arena here!”

“Friend, the battle of the great age is coming. Are you anxious to rise to the top and become a renowned genius who receives the attention of countless people? Then quickly come here, the Silver Pheasant Martial Arena will provide you with a stage to make your name spread!”

“Breaking news, Cheng Lixue, a young man from a small border town in Fire Spirit Province, has consecutively won thirty-nine battles in the Silver Pheasant Martial Arena and obtained a total of three thousand nine hundred low-grade aeth essences!

“Cheng Lixue’s outstanding performance has already caught the eye of an elder of the Pine Sword Sect! Without accident, Cheng Lixue will soon become a successor of the Pine Sword Sect! Unquestionably, the boy who was previously a nobody is about to rise!”

“My friend, if you’re tempted then why don’t you take action? Whether you are seeking fame or fortune, our Silver Pheasant Martial Arena can satisfy your desires!”

……

The colorful and enticing words on the banners attracted flocks of young men and women to the building called Silver Pheasant Martial Arena. It looked incredibly lively inside.

Lin Xun also dragged Xia Xiaochong there.

The martial arena was a place where cultivators could challenge others in the arena or be challenged.

For cultivators, challenges not only allowed them to hone their martial arts and skills with other cultivators and strengthen their bodies, but they could also receive aeth essences as rewards.

It might even be a stage for one to make a name for themselves!

If one performed outstandingly, one could likely catch the attention of major sects and clans and be accepted as an official disciple.

The arena undoubtedly was irresistible to some youngsters from ordinary backgrounds who were yearning to change their destinies.

After all, not just anyone in this world was qualified to practice in the major sects and clans.

However, Lin Xun only had a very simple purpose for coming here—to curb Xia Xiaochong’s pride and make her realize that she had been too ignorant and that she shouldn’t judge a person by their appearance.

But more importantly, he wanted to make some money!

After realizing that he could barely afford to feed the god-devourer insects, he had to shift his focus of attention to making money.

The martial arena was a pleasant surprise to Lin Xun.

There, not only could he hone his martial arts, but he could also earn money in the meantime. It seemed like a place specially prepared for him!

“Young Master, are you here to watch the battles or duel on the stage?” A young servant enthusiastically greeted him as soon as he approached the entrance of the Silver Pheasant Martial Arena.

The servant boy strutted over with a pointy nose, sunken cheeks, and a gleaming silvery feather tail.

He was a descendant of the Silver Pheasant Clan.

The silver pheasant could be regarded as an ancient species. Its appearance was similar to a big silver rooster, but it had innate business talents despite its mediocre fighting abilities.

“Duel on the stage.” Lin Xun’s casual response made the servant boy’s eyes light up.

He enthusiastically led Lin Xun and Xia Xiaochong into the Silver Pheasant Martial Arena.

It was another world inside the arena. It was a huge space arranged with several tremendous arenas, and each arena was equipped with strong defense rune arrays.

The arenas were enclosed by the audience on all sides.

When Lin Xun and Xia Xiaochong came into the hall, they felt waves of thunderous sounds rushing towards them.

In the martial arts hall, fierce duels were taking place in each of the arenas. Dazzling lights beamed in all directions and secret arts flooded the area, creating gorgeous spectacles.

The audience was filled with a sea of people from a variety of different clans, sects and backgrounds. But everyone was cheering excitedly or shouting. Some were showing their support to the contestant they favored while some were upset that their favorite contestant had been defeated.

Some gloated at other people’s misfortune, and some cursed in rage.

“It’s so lively here!” Xia Xiaochong exclaimed.

“Our Silver Pheasant Martial Arena can accommodate tens of thousands of spectators at once. In terms of scale, it is definitely one of the best in Flame Capital,” stated the servant boy proudly.

As he introduced the arena to Lin Xun and Xia Xiaochong, he brought them to the registration office of the martial arena.

“Young master, there are three types of duel arenas in our Silver Pheasant Martial Arena.”

“The first is a duel with someone of the same cultivation stage. The winner of that will receive double rewards.”

“The second type is a duel against someone of a higher cultivation stage. Among the two contestants, the one with a lower cultivation level will receive four times the reward if they win. If the winner is the one with the higher cultivation level then the reward will not be doubled.”

“The third type is an arena with no rules. There is no restriction on age, cultivation, method, and abilities...In short, it is a life and death battle with no rules.”

“The winner of those duels will receive five times the reward, but a life and death contract has to be signed beforehand. Also, the Silver Pheasant Martial Arena will not take responsibility for any deaths.”

The servant boy suddenly asked, “Then, which type of duel is the young master going to choose?”

“The first one,” Lin Xun replied without thinking.

The second type of duel would be too flashy. He didn’t come to show off, so it was better to keep a low profile.

And the third duel without rules could be too dangerous. If he were to face an old monster who didn’t like to play the usual cards then he would be doomed.

He only came to hone his martial arts and earn some aeth essence. There was no need to take such huge risks.

A tinge of disappointment came to the boy’s face. This was the most conservative type of duel, but it also meant that the Silver Pheasant Martial Arena wouldn’t benefit much from it.

However, the boy still helped Lin Xun register and then presented him with a nameplate.

The nameplate allowed him to collect rewards after the duel.

“Young Master, do you want to go on the stage and fight now?” the boy asked.

Lin Xun nodded.

The servant boy said enthusiastically, “Okay, please pay the fee of one hundred low-grade aeth essence or one mid-grade aeth essence first.”

“Oh, there’s a fee?” Lin Xun was baffled.

The boy almost rolled his eyes. He instantly knew that it was the youngster’s first time participating in a martial arena duel.

Perhaps, it is his first time in Flame Capital!

After all, the rules of arena duels are common sense to everyone and even the little kids in the city know them.

“Young master, this fee acts as a stake. If you lose the battle, the aeth essence will become your opponent’s reward, and our Silver Pheasant Martial Arena will also take ten percent of it as commission. If you don’t understand the rules, you can observe in the audience first before you decide whether to go on stage for a duel or not,” explained the boy with a very disinterested attitude, feeling even more disappointed in his heart. He had a feeling that it was impossible to earn much commission from Lin Xun.

“There’s a commission?” Lin Xun asked.

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The servant boy nodded unenthusiastically. His attitude grew increasingly cold and indifferent.

How would Lin Xun not notice that? But he didn’t bother to contest and just paid the fee. He took out a mid-grade aeth essence that he had just exchanged and handed it to the boy.

Then, he took the nameplate and left with Xia Xiaochong, heading towards the duel area.

But he only took a few steps when he heard the servant boy’s disdainful complaint from behind him. “Hmph, another guy from some remote place. He doesn’t know anything yet he dared to come here. He is going to cry when he’s defeated!”

Lin Xun’s face darkened. The duel hadn’t started, but he was already being looked down upon!

“Haha, Big Brother Lin Xun, that guy is looking down on you.” Xia Xiaochong giggled heartlessly.

“Don’t worry, he will regret it!” he said expressionlessly.

……

On the 19th arena in the same cultivation stage duel area.

Lin Xun was waiting quietly. It would be his turn to fight soon.

The atmosphere on this side of the duel arena seemed very quiet and cold when compared to the other areas that were packed with people and constantly erupting with cheers.

Most of the audience’s gazes were fixed on the duels in other areas.

After all, the audience had paid to watch the battles, and the duels between cultivators of the same cultivation stage were far less exciting than the other two types of duels.

Before long, it was Lin Xun’s turn to fight on stage.

The servant boy came over again. He was the one who welcomed Lin Xun, so, according to the rules, he had to take care of him till the end. But his attitude wasn’t particularly good. He looked very bored as he stood there.

He no longer expected to earn a commission from Lin Xun. He only hoped that Lin Xun would quickly lose so that he could serve other customers.

“Ah!” His eyes widened.

He recognized the opponent who was about to face Lin Xun.

He immediately rejoiced, Haha, the fiery-tempered guy from the Wild Bull Clan is here again. It doesn’t look good for the kid!

“Little Miss, the situation doesn’t look good. The young master’s opponent is from the Wild Bull Clan. His name is Niu Ben. He is a formidable opponent due to his violent and brutal fighting style. The experts who have faced him before have either been seriously injured or are on the verge of dying. It’s not uncommon to see some with missing limbs,”

The servant boy’s eyes gleamed, and he whispered to Xia Xiaochong, “I might be able to help by asking Niu Ben to go easy on the young master. After all, the young master is considered handsome, if his face is ruined or if he’s crippled, that would be bad.”

He was taking the opportunity to ask for benefits.

But although Xia Xiaochong was a bit naive, she was not stupid. Blinking her big clear eyes, she said, “Really? That’s great. Big Brother Lin Xun is too proud, and he said that I’m too ignorant. This can wake him up to reality.”

The servant stared at her blankly for a moment, sympathizing with Lin Xun. It seems that this guy isn’t only poor and ignorant, but also very unpopular with girls.

“Niu Ben, free yourself and have fun with this young master!” the servant boy yelled maliciously.

He didn’t want to waste any more time. He only hoped that Lin Xun would quickly lose and leave.

In the arena, a mighty man standing tall like an iron tower grinned. He studied Lin Xun who was opposite him with a menacing look. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave the arena today if I don’t trample the little pretty boy!”

He was Niu Ben from the Wild Bull Clan. Despite being only at the Heaven Ascension Stage, he possessed supernatural strengths and also a loud voice.

Lin Xun smiled half-heartedly. “Then let’s play for a while.”

“Hahaha, it’s more fun to play with an unyielding and tough character. I hope you will act tough till the end and not ruin the good fun!” Niu Ben laughed like a rumble of thunder.

The corners of Lin Xun’s lips twitched, and his forehead wrinkled. What does he mean by acting tough till the end? What does he mean by ruining the good fun?

Some cultivators burst into mocking and strange laughter.

They’ve misunderstood!

Worst of all, Xia Xiaochong waved her little fist and cried out in a crisp voice, “Big Brother Lin Xun, you must act tough till the end!”

That damn girl, why is she joining in with them?!

Infuriated, Lin Xun cast a hostile look at Niu Ben. He decided to teach the culprit a lesson that he would never forget.

He said unwaveringly, “Let’s fight!”

“Hey, the little pretty boy can’t wait to be trampled. Fine, I’m also itching to fight. I also can’t wait to have a good time!” Niu Ben roared with laughter as he stepped into the arena. With an ear-splitting boom, images of his mighty body appeared as he violently charged at Lin Xun.