Conferring the Variant Appearance

Chen Chuan felt he could accept the terms, though not because of the compensation offered by the Municipal Council. Cultivation resources were important, but there were other places to obtain them.

What mattered more to him was that Long Xiang was willing to fight him.

After returning to its starting point once again, his Second Self needed an opponent to grow again, and an opponent of sufficient caliber was hard to find.

Both Principal Yao's words and what Chen Chuan had learned afterward indicated that Fighters reserved the energy they had accumulated for cultivation and life-or-death struggles. They avoided unnecessary battles whenever possible.

When Fighters came into conflict, even the victor might not truly come out ahead. Unless the disagreement was fundamental, fighting was usually the last resort.

Long Xiang had probably agreed to this match chiefly to give his faction an explanation, and because the Municipal Council was willing to compensate him for the fight.

Chen Chuan looked across at him. "Then let's do that."

A little of the severity left Long Xiang's face when Chen Chuan agreed, but his expression soon turned serious again. "National Avenue isn't suitable for a fight. Let's go a little farther out."

Chen Chuan had no objection. The two left the avenue and walked into the wasteland on one side.

Beyond Checkpoint Avenue lay a broad, open expanse. People often tried to bypass the inspections and enter Central City, so there were ordinarily many patrol vehicles beyond the perimeter.

Today, not one patrol vehicle appeared. Even the Armed Bandits out in the wasteland seemed to have vanished. Several Airships could be seen patrolling high overhead, though they were far from the two men.

One Airship had moved directly above them, hovering two or three kilometers off the ground. This was not yet a