"Dad, I'm going out tomorrow."
Tang Jie thought of this and looked up at Tang Tianhao.
Tang Tianhao was somewhat surprised. Usually, he was the one who went out every month. This was the first time Tang Jie had said he wanted to leave the house.
Tang Tianhao smiled. "Mm. You practice martial arts at home every day. It's good for young people to go out and take a walk."
Tang Tianhao was very pleased by how hard Tang Jie worked at practicing martial arts, but he was also worried that his son might be interested in nothing but martial arts. Now that Tang Jie had said he wanted to go out, Tang Tianhao was naturally happy.
Early the next morning, Tang Jie took a carriage to Lingyue City.
At dusk, following the address Cheng Yuan had left him the last time they met, Tang Jie found Cheng Yuan's house in the DC District of Lingyue City.
"Master, a man named Tang Jie is looking for you."
Inside the residence where Cheng Yuan lived, an old servant spoke to Cheng Yuan, who was practicing martial arts in the room.
When Cheng Yuan heard this, his eyes lit up. "That young man! Hurry and let him in!"
Cheng Yuan had been left with a deep impression of Tang Jie. His strength was unfathomable! That was Cheng Yuan's evaluation of Tang Jie.
One had to know that Cheng Wu himself was an expert who had cultivated inner force. He might not have been a first-rate expert, but he was at least at the peak of the second rate. Yet when facing Tang Jie, Tang Jie had crippled one of his arms with nothing but his powerful inner force. Such internal cultivation was simply not something a young man should possess!
"Brother Tang, you've come to see me. Come, have a seat inside."
Tang Jie met Cheng Yuan under the old servant's guidance, and Cheng Yuan greeted him warmly.
Tang Jie and Cheng Yuan sat down on chairs inside the room. After the old servant poured them two cups of tea, he respectfully bowed and withdrew.
Tang Jie looked at Cheng Yuan and got straight to the point. "You said last time that you had a way to make money. I'd like to hear about it."
Last time, Cheng Yuan had deliberately tested Tang Jie's skills and claimed to have a way to make a fortune. Tang Jie now needed money to buy pills for his cultivation. Even cultivating the third layer of Boyhood Art required a massive supply of pills, let alone when his cultivation advanced further. The resources he consumed each day would become astronomical. He had to possess enough gold and silver to support his rapid cultivation!
Seeing that Tang Jie was interested, Cheng Yuan's face brightened as well. He immediately said, "The way I mentioned to make money is actually very simple: fight other people in martial combat! You get paid if you win!"
"Fight other people in martial combat?"
Tang Jie's eyes lit up. If it involved robbing homes, looting, murder, or arson—things that went against his principles—he naturally would not agree. But if it was merely martial combat, allowing him to fight others and hone his practical skills while also earning money, then he could not have wished for anything better.
Seeing Tang Jie's expression, Cheng Yuan struck while the iron was hot. "Brother Tang, this martial arts tournament is held once every month. As it happens, tonight is when this month's tournament begins. I'll take you to have a look. If you're interested, you can sign up too."
"Then... all right. I'll go take a look first."
Cheng Yuan's suggestion made Tang Jie nod in agreement without much hesitation.
Tang Jie was very interested in this so-called martial arts tournament. Whether he participated or not, it would be good to see the event in person and broaden his horizons.
Tang Jie and Cheng Yuan immediately took a carriage to the central street of Lingyue City, stopping outside a huge building.
"This Lingwu Pavilion appears to be a marketplace on the surface, selling weapons, pills, and things like that, but it actually has another venue as well."
The huge building was called Lingwu Pavilion, Cheng Yuan explained.
Cheng Yuan then led Tang Jie into Lingwu Pavilion. They continued forward until they reached the end of the pavilion, where a spiral staircase appeared before Tang Jie. Several men dressed in black martial outfits stood guard at the entrance.
Cheng Yuan took out a token, and the men in black martial outfits immediately said respectfully, "Welcome to the Lingwu Martial Arts Arena."
It seemed that without a token, there was no way to enter the martial arts tournament.
Tang Jie and Cheng Yuan descended the staircase together.
When they reached the bottom, Tang Jie was immediately shaken. A huge underground plaza appeared before him. It was brightly lit and packed with people, and a noisy wave of heat surged toward them.
The enormous underground plaza resembled the Bird's Nest on Earth in his previous life. Seats were connected one to another in a spiral formation, while in the very center stood an arena about the size of a basketball court.
Clearly, this was the Lingwu Martial Arts Arena. It was located underground and extremely well hidden!
"I didn't expect Lingyue City to have a place like this..."
Tang Jie sighed. The sight before him was indeed shocking to anyone seeing it for the first time.
"Come, let's sit over here."
Cheng Yuan invited Tang Jie to find an empty spot and sit down.
Tang Jie looked around. The surrounding seats were practically full, with nearly ten thousand people present!
Most of these people were dressed in luxurious clothing. They were either rich or noble, not ordinary citizens.
Cheng Yuan said to Tang Jie, "Anyone qualified to come to the Lingwu Martial Arts Arena is no ordinary person. When the martial combat begins, they're both spectators and sponsors. Watching the fights and placing bets is the pleasure of Lingyue City's wealthy men."
Tang Jie nodded in understanding. This was somewhat similar to the ball games of his previous life. Spectators would pay for tickets to watch, but watching martial artists fight was far more thrilling than any ball game.
That was why Lingyue City's wealthy merchants and powerful nobles were so enthusiastic about the martial arts tournament held once a month. They almost always made time to attend. The arena also had money-making methods similar to gambling: people bet on which martial artist would win, and they never seemed to tire of it.
As a result, the martial artists who participated in the fights received extremely generous pay!
"No one controls an event like this?" Tang Jie asked in confusion. This was similar to underground boxing. By rights, the authorities of Lingyue City should have intervened.
"Because... there are powerful figures behind the Lingwu Martial Arts Arena." Cheng Yuan smiled faintly.
To establish the Lingwu Martial Arts Arena in Lingyue City and invite wealthy merchants to attend, it was obvious that the arena involved enormous profits. The person behind it was certainly one of Lingyue City's top powers. Otherwise, they would never have been able to keep such an operation afloat!
"It's starting—the first martial combat of the day." Cheng Yuan hurriedly spoke at that moment.
Tang Jie focused his attention as well. In the center of the arena, a middle-aged man dressed in ornate clothing and resembling a host walked out. In a resonant voice, he said, "Welcome, everyone, to this martial arts tournament. As usual, ten martial combats will be held today. A total of twenty elite martial artists will offer you an exciting, blood-pumping performance. Please wait and see!"
"Clap, clap, clap!"
Thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue. Excitement and fervor filled everyone's faces. The martial arts tournament was held only once a month, and they had been eagerly anticipating it for a long time!
"Haha, I bet on Tiger Head Saber to win this time. That fellow defeated his opponent with a single saber strike last time!"
"I think Soul Hook Rope is incredibly strong. In the blood fight that closed out the last tournament, he twisted his opponent's head right off!"
Tang Jie heard two plump men in ornate clothing discussing this beside him.
Tang Jie asked Cheng Yuan in surprise, "Are the martial combats life-threatening?"
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