Underground Soul Fighting Arena, Scar King

Although Ji Wuming had never visited the Black Market before, he had heard bits and pieces about it through rumors. Most people in the Black Market were either wanted criminals of the two great empires or people who had offended major powers on the continent.

The goods sold in the Black Market were even more plentiful than those in Vast Sea City above ground. Even the slave trade, explicitly banned by the two great empires, existed here and was extremely thriving.

Of course, goods in the Black Market also cost two to three times more than they did outside.

"Sir, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first time visiting the Vast Sea City Black Market? How about I introduce you to the various matters within the Black Market?"

A bald man with a hunched back and a clown-like mask, clearly perceptive, approached Ji Wuming and spoke.

Ji Wuming deliberately lowered his voice, his right hand already gripping the dagger hidden at his waist beneath his clothes. He said coldly, "No need. Just tell me how to get to the Underground Soul Fighting Arena."

"It's three hundred meters ahead. That tall round building is it."

The hunchbacked man dropped his previous fawning manner and casually pointed out the direction of the Soul Fighting Arena.

"This Silver Soul Coin is yours."

Ji Wuming casually tossed a Silver Soul Coin into the air, then hurried toward the Underground Soul Fighting Arena.

Before long, a round black building came into view. Unlike the Great Soul Arena in Vast Sea City, which was entirely blue and gave off a friendly, somewhat warm feeling, this place was filled with a savage, violent, terrifying atmosphere thick with killing intent.

Ji Wuming entered and walked up to the registration counter on the first floor. After glancing at the rules posted on the wall to his left, he handed the registrar twenty Gold Soul Coins.

"I want to register for a soul fight!"

The registrar looked at Ji Wuming, who wore a mask. Having worked this position for four or five years, she had encountered all kinds of Soul Masters. Even when they wore masks, their voices remained recognizable.

But the person before her, wearing a ferocious black-and-white mask, was clearly a newcomer. The registrar said disdainfully, "Judging by you, you must be new here. I advise you to watch the soul fights from the stands first, lest you lose your life. The only soul fights here are life-and-death matches, not the competitive soul fights outside."

"Register my name as Emperor Slayer White Demon. Martial Soul—"

Ji Wuming cut himself off. The Blood Thunder Battle Spear appeared in his right hand, while two yellow Soul Rings rose beneath his feet.

"A life-and-death match in the Soul Grandmaster division!"

It was the registrar's first time seeing such a cold and fearless newcomer to soul fighting. Since he wanted to die, there was no need for her to keep advising him. She tapped on the registration device and entered Ji Wuming's basic information. As for his Martial Soul, she casually entered the name of some spear-type Martial Soul.

"Your information has been registered. Please proceed to Competition Zone Five and prepare. Your match will begin in approximately half an hour."

Ji Wuming accepted a Bronze Soul Fighting Token containing his registration information and slowly headed toward Competition Zone Five.

The reason Ji Wuming was willing to participate in soul fights at the Underground Black Market Soul Fighting Arena was initially to conceal his strength more effectively. After all, the Black Market had the best-informed intelligence network, but it was also the most expensive and secretive.

Since he was participating in soul fights, some of his secrets would naturally be exposed before everyone. But within the Black Market, it would be far harder for others to investigate him than at an ordinary Soul Fighting Arena outside. It might even prove quite difficult.

After becoming familiar with the Underground Soul Fighting Arena's rules, Ji Wuming was even more satisfied with it.

The Soul Fighting Badge ranks earned here were also recognized by the Soul Fighting Arenas above ground. The Underground Soul Fighting Arena's life-and-death matches were divided into same-rank and higher-rank fights. In same-rank matches, even a level twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster fighting a level twenty-one Soul Grandmaster was permitted. There were also team soul fights, though they were quite rare.

Of course, the most important reason was that when registering, a Soul Master only needed to reveal their Soul Rings; revealing their Martial Soul was optional.

Soon, Ji Wuming arrived at Competition Zone Five and heard the intense sounds of betting ahead.

"Hurry up and register it! Four hundred Gold Soul Coins on Sunflower Illusion Demon to win!"

"I'll put three hundred Gold Soul Coins on Scale Horn Great King to win."

"Don't compete with me! There's a new face in the next match, and the odds have already opened at one to nine. I'm betting one thousand Gold Soul Coins on Emperor Slayer White Demon to win."

A fat, well-dressed merchant directly took out one thousand Gold Soul Coins and threw them onto the registration counter, repeatedly urging the registrar to record his wager.

The other bettors all scoffed at this and even mocked the merchant. Every time a newcomer arrived at the Soul Fighting Arena, he would bet one thousand Gold Soul Coins on the newcomer winning.

Wasn't he simply a fool giving money away to the Soul Fighting Arena and everyone else? After all, when newcomers entered underground life-and-death matches, the chance of injury was zero percent, while the chance of death was one hundred percent.

Yet the very next moment, Ji Wuming, clad in a black robe, handed a Gold Card to the registrar.

"Twenty thousand Gold Soul Coins. I'm betting on Emperor Slayer White Demon to win."

It had to be said that soul fighting not only allowed Ji Wuming to experience the thrill of battle, but also brought in money.

"Twenty thousand Gold Soul Coins? Did I hear that right? He actually bet it all on a newcomer."

The man who was still staring in shock at Ji Wuming finally realized that the person before him was Emperor Slayer White Demon, displayed on the large screen. Yet he still mocked him, "This is the first time I've seen a newcomer place such a huge fortune on himself. If you lose, both you and the money will be gone. Hahaha—"

Then he continued, "Do you know who you're fighting? That's Scar King, ranked second among Soul Grand Masters in our Underground Soul Fighting Arena, with fifteen consecutive victories in life-and-death matches."

After hearing the man's words, the others all turned toward Ji Wuming and laughed contemptuously before placing heavy bets on Scar King to win.

As time passed, Sunflower Illusion Demon won the match below. Then an announcement suddenly rang out.

"Emperor Slayer White Demon and Scar King, please proceed to the arena in the Fifth Competition Zone and prepare. The match will begin shortly."

Ji Wuming did not care about their mockery. Only strength could truly shut their mouths. After retrieving his Gold Card from the registrar, he headed toward the Soul Arena Stage's preparation room.

At that moment, the merchant also pulled out a Gold Card and said anxiously, "Add another ten thousand gold coins for me, quickly."

A few minutes later, both sides slowly emerged from their preparation rooms and stepped onto the Soul Arena Stage. However, this was not a Soul Arena Stage for Sea Soul Masters, but one specifically designed for Land Soul Masters.

Upon hearing the announcement, spectators from the other competition zones flocked to Competition Zone Five, wanting to witness Scar King defeat another newcomer Soul Grandmaster and claim his sixteenth consecutive victory.

Amid the clamorous crowd, a Host dressed in black stepped into the arena and shouted, "Another newcomer has arrived at our Soul Fighting Arena today. Will he be able to defeat Scar King, who has achieved fifteen consecutive victories in life-and-death matches?"