Nine Dragons Grand Arena (Please Keep Reading)

Noon.

Four Seas Martial Arts Hall, kitchen.

Li Xiuwen ordered a plate of beef, a roasted goose leg, a dish of white-cut chicken, a bowl of rice, a plate of stir-fried greens, and a bowl of medicinal soup...

For the people at the bottom of the stronghold, this was a meal they might not get even during the holidays.

"Awen, eating this well? Where'd you strike it rich? Take me with you!" A Zhen looked at the food on her own plate and lost her appetite.

"The factory's been doing pretty well lately. My uncle gave me more," Li Xiuwen said with a smile.

He had already coordinated their story with his uncle some time ago. If anyone asked in the future, they would say the factory's business had improved.

That way, the increase in his spending could be explained.

Martial arts training was thirty percent practice and seventy percent eating. Cutting corners on food would only be counterproductive.

A Zhen asked, "Do you still want to join Hesheng Tu? With your current talent, I think I could ask Sister Buddha for you."

"Let me train a little more first. My natural foundation isn't good enough. They wouldn't want me," Li Xiuwen declined politely.

It was not because he was holding a grudge. Now that he had money, there was no immediate need. He should focus on improving his strength first.

With organizations like this, voluntarily seeking their protection and being invited in by them came with entirely different treatment.

After eating, Li Xiuwen went to the study and found Huang Sihai.

"Master, I'd like to buy some Fish Ball."

"Buying again? Did you take what I said as wind past your ears?"

"I won't eat them every day. Just one or two a week. I'll still mainly rely on my own training."

"That's still quite a lot... Fine. As long as you know what you're doing. I've already explained the pros and cons. As your master, I've done my duty... How many do you want?"

"Two will do." Li Xiuwen did not dare buy too many at once. It would be too conspicuous, especially since the matter with the Thirteen Guardians had only happened recently.

Huang Sihai took out two, wrapped them in oil paper, and handed them to Li Xiuwen. "Planning to make a push for the second floor?"

Li Xiuwen nodded. "I heard the second floor waives the monthly fee. I could save quite a bit of money by getting in."

Huang Sihai sighed. "All right, but there are only two months left for the second floor. Liu Chun has already reached the Black Membrane.

I'll be honest with you, Awen. Don't take it the wrong way... You don't have much hope this year.

Even if you eat Fish Ball every week, going from the Purple Membrane to the Black Membrane is harder than going from an ordinary person to the Purple Membrane.

I'm not trying to discourage you. I just want you mentally prepared. The greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment."

Li Xiuwen smiled. "I know. Do what I can and leave the rest to fate... If I can't get in this year, then there's always next year."

Central District of the stronghold, Ever Joy Street.

In recent years, security in the stronghold had been chaotic. Only the Central District, where Ever Joy's headquarters was located, could barely be called peaceful.

Five figures walked side by side along the street.

Huang Sihai led the way while Li Xiuwen and the others curiously took in the shops around them.

A Zhen said, "It's the same stronghold, but Ever Joy Street is completely different from our Dragon-Tail Alley. Our side is full of Dragon-Chasing Duke's people."

Liu Chun smiled. "This is the Central District, where experts gather like clouds. Even masters at the Flood-Dragon Muscle Gate wouldn't dare act recklessly here."

Li Xiuwen asked, "Master, how much would a small house here cost?"

Huang Sihai smiled. "You want to live here? There are too many monks and too little porridge. To buy a place in the Central District's core area, you need to be Ever Joy's backbone. Money alone isn't enough."

Silly Qiang was surprised. "Huh? These houses are much more rundown than the new tenement blocks at the edge of the stronghold and those apartment buildings outside. You can't even buy them?"

Huang Sihai sneered. "The Central District is home to martial artists. They don't care how good the living conditions are. They just want to be closer to the Learning Society and Mr. Ming, understand?

And these aren't even the best homes. The truly good houses are over by the Learning Society. The stronghold has fought countless battles, large and small, over the years, but that area has remained standing."

A Zhen asked curiously, "Just how strong is Mr. Ming, Master? So many powerful people follow him and flock to him."

Huang Sihai shook his head. "How would I know? Mr. Ming hasn't made a move in ten years... Ten years ago, he was already the strongest person in the stronghold.

With his peerless talent, he must have long reached the peak of Everlasting Solidity, with his vitality undefeated. The older he gets, the more monstrous he becomes. There's no such thing as fists fearing the young with him.

Don't get ahead of yourselves. Forget anything else—if you can clear the Three Gates and achieve what the Three Elites have, you'll already be dragons and phoenixes among men in this stronghold."

The Learning Society's houses? Li Xiuwen murmured inwardly.

In this stronghold, safety was the most precious thing.

Li Xiuwen also wanted his aunt and uncle to move into a Learning Society house, so they could shelter beneath Mr. Ming's great tree.

"Up ahead is the Nine Dragons Grand Arena."

Huang Sihai pointed at a sprawling cluster of red buildings in the center of Ever Joy Street. It wound and coiled like a long dragon.

The Grand Arena was not a single arena. This complex was filled with fighting platforms.

Some were in teahouses, some in bars, some in restaurants and shops.

In short, every inch of space had been developed to maximize its value.

"The first arena is at the Sliver-of-Sky Teahouse. Let's go." Huang Sihai's eyes grew distant as memories surged into his mind.

With his hands behind his back, he looked up at the sky and said calmly, "That year, your master was seventeen. My Black Membrane was fully developed. At Sliver-of-Sky, I defeated nine platforms in a row, and the tea in the guests' cups below was still hot."

Li Xiuwen gave him a thumbs-up. "Master, awesome!"

That brag deserved a toast!

Sliver-of-Sky Teahouse.

Narrow handshake buildings stood on either side. Looking up, one could see only a sliver of sky, hence the name.

The five master and disciples took their seats. Huang Sihai grandly ordered a pot of tea and talked on and on about treating them, only to slowly pull out his wallet.

Li Xiuwen was quick-eyed and quicker-handed. He paid first, then poured Huang Sihai a cup of tea.

That made Huang Sihai regard Li Xiuwen more highly. Blowing on his tea, he cleared his throat. "Awen, watch the others fight first. Ask me if there's anything you don't understand."

"Got it, Master." Li Xiuwen stood to one side and watched the platform.

Liu Chun found the sight amusing. No talent, relying entirely on scheming. His martial path isn't pure. He'll never amount to much.

On the platform, a black, wiry man was exchanging blows with a pale, fat man.

Huang Sihai said, "That skinny fellow practices Black Tiger Style, which also excels in fierce, powerful attacks.

The fat one uses White Crane Style. If you can defeat a White Crane Style master of the same level, then Night Heron Style won't be much of a challenge either.

When you have time, come watch the Grand Arena. Watch more, remember more! Get a rough grasp of these schools' methods, so you'll know how to deal with them when you encounter them later.

Just watch. The fat man will win this match."

A while later, the fat man used White Crane Delivers the Child and sent the skinny man flying off the platform. The crowd below immediately erupted in applause.

"Master, amazing!"

"Incredible!"

The disciples started praising him.

Huang Sihai truly deserved to be called an expert. He only needed to watch a few moves to predict the winner.

The next several matches went the same way.

Old Huang loved money, but he had genuine skill.

Li Xiuwen asked, "Master, you're so accurate. Why didn't you place a bet just now?"

Huang Sihai sneered. "In these rookie arena matches, anyone with a little foundation can see who'll win. There's no profit in betting, not enough to cover the handling fee.

To make money, you need an upset. But on the first arena's platforms, that's basically impossible—unless someone deliberately hides their cultivation level and martial arts.

Not just anyone can step onto platforms where boxing can be wagered on. Everyone is registered, and their background is known.

If you want to compete, you have to declare your martial art and school first. You can't conceal anything. Otherwise, you'd be breaking the rules of the underworld, and the person in charge of this arena will come looking for you."