The Arena's First Match!

Wang Lie immediately lifted his head, his eyes sweeping across West Zhou as his Golden Core Great Perfection spiritual sense erupted without restraint.

He sought to locate the "expert" who had struck from the shadows.

In his estimation, someone who could silently and severely wound a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator's soul.

Was at least a Late Golden Core Stage cultivator, possibly even an Old Monster of the Nascent Soul realm!

The entire venue fell into deathly stillness, everyone craning their necks to look around.

Terrified that the mysterious expert's next target might be them.

Yet, Wang Lie's spiritual sense swept round after round, finding nothing but a group of scattered cultivators trembling in fear.

There wasn't a single trace of any abnormal aura.

As for Zhang Chen?

In Wang Lie's perception, he was merely a rookie barely at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

His spiritual sense was pitifully weak, and Wang Lie directly glossed over him.

"Family Head Wang, what's happened to your son?"

Zhang Chen stepped forward two paces with a look of "surprise," asking with concern: "Could it be that he's done too many bad deeds and incurred heavenly retribution? Or is this sea breeze too harsh, blowing his delicate brains to mush?"

"You little beast, you dare curse my son?!"

Though Wang Lie's heart was churning with doubt and unease, seeing Zhang Chen's gloating expression.

He wished he could slap him to death on the spot.

"Whether it's a curse or not, you know in your own heart."

Zhang Chen's smile vanished, his gaze turning abruptly icy: "This is an arena, not your Wang Family's back garden."

"If you want to fight, then fight. If you're scared, kowtow and admit defeat now, take your waste of a son and crawl back—you might just keep your dog's life."

"Good! Very good!"

Wang Lie fed Wang Teng a Mind-Calming Pill, and seeing that his son had stopped screaming.

Though his eyes were still somewhat vacant, he had someone carry him away.

He slowly rose to his feet, killing intent radiating from his body: "Since you Zhang family are in such a hurry to be reincarnated, I'll grant your wish!"

He waved his hand sharply, and a storage ring flew toward the arbitration platform at the center of the arena.

"Three million spirit stones, plus the deed to one of my Wang Family's mine veins, are all here!"

Zhang Yunshan didn't waste words either, tossing out a storage ring of his own.

The two rings collided above the arbitration platform.

A flash of light, and the restrictions opened.

Clatter—

Countless spirit stones poured out like a waterfall, refracting dazzling, mesmerizing light under the sun.

In an instant, they piled into a small mountain on the arbitration platform.

The dense, almost tangible spiritual energy made everyone present breathe heavily.

It was utterly shocking!

This was a gamble of a full six million spirit stones!

Enough to buy up the entire assets of several small sects!

Atop this small mountain of spirit stones, two ancient-looking sheepskin scrolls floated silently.

They were the foundations of both families' footholds in the East Mountain Islands—the Spiritual Vein contracts.

"The contract is sealed, life and death are of no concern!"

The arbiter was a Golden Core Steward from the Outer Sea Merchant Alliance. He gave both Family Heads a deep look.

Then struck the massive bronze gong.

Dong—!

"First match, who steps up?"

Wang Lie's face darkened as he turned to look at the team behind him.

A burly, brutish man with a face full of scars stepped forward, carrying a door-sized Xuanhua Giant Axe.

This man was named Li Mang, a Guest Official recruited by the Wang Family at great cost. Born with divine strength and at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

He was infamous throughout the area, with countless souls lost to his axe.

"Family Head, rest assured. Your subordinate will be back in a moment!"

Li Mang let out a sinister laugh, pushed off the ground with force, and shot toward the arena like a cannonball, crashing onto the platform with a "boom" that shook the ground.

He planted his giant axe on the floor and pointed at the Zhang family crowd, bellowing: "Who's coming to die?!"

On the Zhang family's side.

Zhang Chen's gaze swept past the blustering Li Mang.

His Spiritual Sense scanned the remaining nine people.

When it brushed over the two black-robed figures standing in the shadows behind Wang Lie, his brow lifted slightly.

On the surface, these two appeared ordinary, their auras restrained.

But under the perception of his Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment-level Spiritual Sense, deep within their bodies, a nauseating black energy churned.

It wasn't spiritual power—it was pure Demonic Sha Qi!

"Demon Cultivators?"

A cold smile curled in Zhang Chen's heart. "The Wang family really has jumped the wall in desperation, daring to bring even such rats into their home."

"Uncle Tieshan."

Zhang Chen called out calmly, without turning his head.

"Here!"

Zhang Tieshan, who had long been itching for battle, stepped forward, the cold gleam of his Purple Armor shining.

"For this first bout, victory is mandatory, defeat is not an option."

Zhang Chen looked at him, his tone steady. "That big fool has strength, but he's weak in the head. Don't clash head-on with him. Use the method I taught you—wear him down."

"Rest assured, Young Master. If I lose, you won't need to lift a finger—I'll twist my own head off and kick it around like a ball!"

Zhang Tieshan grinned, flashing a row of white teeth.

Then, with a leap, he landed steadily on the Arena.

Compared to Li Mang's thunderous landing, Zhang Tieshan's descent was remarkably light.

"Hey, here comes another one looking to die."

Li Mang sized up Zhang Tieshan, contempt plain in his eyes. "Dressed up all fancy, but I wonder if that turtle shell of yours can stop your grandpa's axe!"

"Enough with the chatter. Whether it can stop it or not, why don't you try and find out?"

Zhang Tieshan drew the Mother Child Chain Blades from his waist, twirling the long and short curved blades in his hands with a flourish.