First Arrival in Tianwu City

A few days later.

A towering, colossal city appeared on the horizon.

Tianwu City, the holy land of martial arts in Daganzhou. Its walls stood twenty zhang tall, built entirely of obsidian and etched with the patterns of Defense Formations. They emanated an ancient, grim aura.

Even from several li away, one could feel the oppressive force bearing down.

"So this is Tianwu City..."

Yan Kui stood on the Official Road, gazing up.

By comparison, Black Water City was no more than a rustic mud-walled village.

He straightened his black tunic, hefted the Bone Shattering Hammer onto his shoulder, and strode toward the city gate.

Though he did his best to rein in his aura, his two-meter-thirty frame, the terrifying muscles whose outlines showed clearly beneath his clothes, and the hammer bigger than a man still made him the center of attention.

The pedestrians around him hurriedly gave way, their eyes filled with awe.

"Stop!"

As soon as he reached the gate, two halberds crossed in front of him.

The city guards wore Heavy Armor and eyed Yan Kui warily.

"What are you here for? Where's your travel permit?"

One of the guards, a man with a face full of stubble, demanded.

"Travel permit?"

Yan Kui paused.

He was used to places like Black Water City. How was he supposed to know you needed a permit just to enter a city? The token Zhao Rong had given him belonged to the Zhao Family; outside Black Water City, it was just a piece of scrap metal.

"I don't have one," he answered honestly.

"You don't?"

The stubbled guard's expression darkened. He rested his hand on his sword hilt. "No travel permit, and you look this fierce... You seem like a wanted criminal to me!"

As he spoke, he pulled a crumpled portrait from his robes and unfolded it, comparing it with Yan Kui.

The portrait showed a bearded man with a face full of cruel-looking flesh and a vicious expression. He was the notorious bandit "Iron Head Li," who had been committing crimes throughout Daganzhou.

The soldier looked at the portrait, then at Yan Kui.

The bandit in the portrait was fierce enough, but compared with the black iron tower before him... he looked like a kindhearted old man.

"Uh..."

The soldier faltered.

If the man in the picture tried to outdo this gentleman in ferocity, he'd only bring humiliation upon himself.

"Doesn't look like him?"

Yan Kui leaned over for a look at the portrait and grinned.

For an instant, his slightly protruding tusks—a wild boar trait—showed. Together with his hard, cold face, they unleashed a suffocating Killing Intent.

Clang!

The stubbled soldier flinched so hard that his halberd slipped from his hands and hit the ground.

The surrounding civilians stumbled back in fright. One child even burst into tears.

"No! No, he doesn't!"

The soldier hurriedly waved his hands, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. "Warrior... you're... you're too fierce... I mean, too mighty! The man in this picture isn't fit to shine your shoes!"

What a joke. With an aura like that, if he really were a wanted criminal, the few of them wouldn't even make a mouthful for him.

"Then can I go in?" Yan Kui asked.

"Of course! Absolutely! But by the rules, martial artists without travel permits have to pay ten taels of silver in 'Temporary Security Fee' to enter the city," the soldier said cautiously.

"Ten taels?"

Yan Kui raised an eyebrow.

The entry fee was almost as much as an ordinary household in Black Water City spent in a year.

But he was carrying a fortune now—Zhao Wuji's Storage Bag had plenty of Gold and Silver—so he didn't care about a little money.

He pulled a silver ingot from his robes and tossed it to the soldier.

"Keep the change."

Then he slung the hammer over his shoulder and strode through the gate, swaggering.

Watching him walk away, the guards finally let out a long breath, as if they'd just seen a plague god off.

"Good heavens, where did that brute come from? Tianwu City's in for a lively time."

As soon as he passed through the gate, a roaring tide of noise crashed over him.

The streets were wide enough for eight carriages to travel abreast. The shops on either side were lavishly decorated, and quite a few cultivation-world establishments bore signs like "Treasure Gathering Pavilion" and "Artifact Refining Workshop."

The martial artists walking the streets were generally a realm stronger than those in Yunjiang City. Bone Refining Realm experts were everywhere, and every so often, he could sense the auras of a few Viscera Refining Realm experts.

As expected of the holy land of martial arts.

Yan Kui marveled inwardly.

He found an inn that looked decent enough—the "Yunlai Inn"—rented a first-class room, and ordered a table full of fine food and wine.

As he ate, he habitually pricked up his ears and listened to the other diners chatting.

"Have you heard? There's a major bout at the Asura Arena tomorrow night!"

"Oh? Is that 'Soul Severing Blade' going to fight again?"

"That's right! They say his opponent this time is a Strongman from the Western Regions. He's blessed with Innate Divine Strength and has already won ten matches in a row!"

"Hiss... now that'll be a sight! Nothing beats a head-on clash! Come on, let's go place our bets!"

"The Asura Arena?"

Yan Kui's interest was piqued.

He beckoned the waiter over and tossed a Silver Shard onto the table.

"Waiter, what kind of place is this 'Asura Arena'?"

The waiter swiftly pocketed the silver, his face breaking into a broad smile. "You're from out of town, sir, aren't you? The Asura Arena is the biggest Underground Boxing Ring in Tianwu City!"

"There are no rules there, and no death contracts to sign. The only outcomes are victory or defeat—or... life or death."

The waiter lowered his voice and spoke mysteriously. "Lots of martial artists go there to make a name for themselves or win the hefty prize money. They say even exiles from sects and notorious criminals go there!"

"Oh?"

Yan Kui's eyes lit up.

Money, fame, real combat.

Wasn't it tailor-made for him?

Though he had money now, collecting Hundred Schools Hard Kung Fu would be a bottomless pit. Besides, he needed to test his current strength in actual combat—and, while he was at it... build up some Origin Power.

"How do I sign up?" Yan Kui asked.

"That's easy. It's in the basement of the 'Drunken Life Dream Death Tower' in the south of the city. If you want to go, there's a match on tonight," the waiter said eagerly, pointing him the way.

"Thanks."

Yan Kui polished off the rest of his food in a few quick mouthfuls, then got up and returned to his room.

He needed to rest and get his strength back.

Tonight, a true Supreme Overlord was about to arrive in Tianwu City's underground world.