A censer of incense unlocked creation; half a stick of inner light refined past and present! (Please keep reading)

Li Xiuwen understood now. The Nine Dragons Grand Arena had survived for so long and served as such an important source of revenue for Ever Joy that every exploitable loophole had been plugged.

After watching some twenty bouts, they had all seen a variety of martial arts schools in action: Six Harmonies Style, Buddha Salute Style, White Ape Style, Bear Mountain Style...

Huang Sihai said, "Now that you've seen the basic fighting approaches of experts from different schools, it's time for you to get some combat practice.

"What I just showed you was the 'betting arena,' where fighters of roughly the same level are randomly paired up to make Fist Betting easier.

"Those rings are there for everyone's entertainment. A little wagering adds to the fun, and the Betting Arena makes a tidy profit too.

"The Nine Dragons Grand Arena also offers another format, the 'arena challenge.' The Everjoy Society assigns martial artists of fixed strength to defend the rings, with each successive ring harder than the last.

"The so-called Three Grand Arenas are arena challenges. If you can clear the First Grand Arena, you'll make a name for yourself in The Enclave.

"Clear the Second Grand Arena, and you're qualified to open a martial arts hall, or become a Dragon Head or Red Pole in one of Ever Joy's subordinate Halls. That's how you get ahead!

"A man's reputation casts a shadow, just as a tree does!

"In the martial world, you need to keep a low profile to avoid major trouble.

"But to avoid petty trouble, you need a little reputation.

"The Nine Dragons Grand Arena stands at the heart of the Walled City. People from every walk of life gather here, with crowds constantly coming and going.

"If you can clear the First Grand Arena here, ordinary villains and street thugs will steer clear as soon as they hear your name. They won't dare target you.

"Of course, aside from making a name for yourself, you can earn some prize money. Better than nothing.

"Plenty of experts in The Enclave fund their training by signing contracts with the Grand Arena Committee and earning prize money."

Prize money was a fighter's income. Some received fixed appearance fees, some a share of the betting pool, and some winnings from bets.

By the time Huang Sihai finished, everyone was fired up and itching to get into the ring and show what they could do.

Huang Sihai said, "The Three Grand Arenas here at the Nine Dragons Grand Arena are the New Blood Arena, the Muddy Arena, and the Bone-Breaking Arena.

"With your cultivation, you can only compete in the New Blood Arena, naturally. At Purple Membrane, reaching the Fourth Platform should be no problem.

"If you can't, your skills aren't good enough. My Sea Sand Style is an orthodox school, and we can't afford that disgrace.

"The First Grand Arena has nine smaller platforms, corresponding to the Azure Membrane, Purple Membrane, and Black Membrane stages. It's ideal for testing your strength."

Liu Chun smiled. "Master, I'm confident I can reach the seventh platform... but I'm afraid Longlegs Seven will learn what I'm capable of and gain an advantage in the Hall Challenge."

Huang Sihai thought for a moment. "True. You're our hall's ace, so don't take the Grand Arena Challenge for now. Keep something in reserve.

"What about you three? I'm in a good mood today, so I'll pay the challenge fees! Don't fight me over it this time, A Wen!"

Li Xiuwen asked, "Master, how much does it cost to issue a challenge on the First Grand Arena's platforms? And how much prize money do we get for winning?"

Huang Sihai said, "A challenge costs a hundred. Clear one platform, and you get a base Prize Money of five hundred. If you clear consecutive platforms, each subsequent one pays another hundred on top."

Li Xiuwen nodded slightly. "So if I clear three platforms in a row, I get eighteen hundred?"

Huang Sihai smiled. "Yes, but only the first time. You get nothing for repeating them. I suppose it's Mr. Ming's gift to impoverished martial arts practitioners in The Enclave."

"Then let's give it a try." A Zhen and Big Silly Qiang rubbed their hands eagerly.

Huang Sihai looked at Li Xiuwen. "You're not going to try?"

Li Xiuwen smiled. "With my meager strength, I'm afraid I'd embarrass you."

Huang Sihai said, "Without actual fighting experience, even minor mastery of your combat method is just empty show. How will you fight the Night Heron Martial Arts Hall? What, you want to hold something back too?"

Li Xiuwen answered honestly, "Yes, I want to keep something in reserve too, so Night Heron's people don't learn how I fight. Our chances against the Night Heron Martial Arts Hall aren't good to begin with."

Li Xiuwen also wanted to make some quick money, but with his current strength, he couldn't clear many platforms in a row or earn much.

More than the Grand Arena's prize money, he needed to win the upcoming Hall Challenge and learn that crucial movement technique.

That was something he could only learn after reaching the Second Floor!

To be safe, he would keep his strength hidden for now.

Beside him, Liu Chun was inwardly amused. Who do you think you are, copying me and keeping something in reserve?

"Fair enough... then just watch."

Huang Sihai hadn't really expected A Wen to win in the Hall Challenge, so whether he held something back made little difference.

With luck, Liu Chun would win one match, and Big Silly Qiang would win another through his innate strength. A draw against the Night Heron Martial Arts Hall would be enough.

A Zhen couldn't wait to get into the ring and show her skills.

On the first platform, her opponent was at Azure Membrane.

A Zhen defeated them with a few punches and kicks.

On the second and third platforms, her opponents were still at Azure Membrane.

Relying on her advantage in cultivation, A Zhen scraped through.

On the Fourth Platform, her opponent was at Purple Membrane, with minor mastery of their combat method.

The difference was immediately obvious. Barely ten exchanges in, A Zhen was knocked off the platform by a palm strike and ran back, red-faced.

"Master..." A Zhen lowered her head.

"Keep your voice down when you announce our Sea Sand Style's name from now on... embarrassing," Huang Sihai said flatly.

"I'll give it a try." Big Silly Qiang stepped into the ring.

His advantage in innate strength was on full display.

On the first three platforms, he used broad, sweeping attacks. His opponents fell at his touch, leaving no suspense.

Starting on the Fourth Platform, his pace slowed, but he remained composed.

On the fifth platform, he won narrowly against an opponent whose combat method was increasingly polished.

On the sixth platform, Big Silly Qiang had exhausted too much of his stamina, and his opponent was already at peak Purple Membrane with an even stronger combat method.

In the end, he was outmatched and defeated.

Even his Iron Cloth Shirt couldn't save him. It only let him stay on his feet a little longer.

The spectators below discussed the fight excitedly and rose to applaud.

"Not bad," Huang Sihai said with a smile, his manner softening somewhat.

Great strength really is an advantage, Li Xiuwen thought. I'd probably do about the same and stop at the sixth platform.

In the end, Big Silly Qiang cleared five platforms in a row and earned 3,500.

Since this was Mr. Ming's gift, the Grand Arena Committee under Ever Joy took no cut. Every bit went into his own pocket.

After watching the matches, the master and his four disciples left the "Thread of Sky Teahouse." Li Xiuwen looked back.

The Nine Dragons Grand Arena lay nestled within the great beast of the Walled City. How many mighty fighters had made their names here?

Toward evening, at the Night Heron Martial Arts Hall,

A figure entered the hall and whispered something to Master Night.

Master Night chuckled. "Heh, I really did catch them... even Big Silly Qiang could only clear five platforms?

"Too bad Liu Chun didn't enter the ring, but it doesn't matter. From what we've seen so far, of those sorry excuses on the Sihai Martial Arts Hall's first floor, only Chun Liu has any chance of winning."

"Provided Chun Liu doesn't face Longlegs Seven... otherwise, Old Huang will make a complete fool of himself."

That night,

At Chen's Rice Noodle Factory,

"Come on, Uncle-in-law. Help me train."

This time, Li Xiuwen had bought high-quality ingredients for Blood-Transforming Paste. A single dose cost a hundred.

After one night of training, his proficiency in Binding Armor Skill had actually increased by 2%, a far better result than with the cheap paste he had used before.

He also clearly felt less strain on his body. When he woke the next morning, he didn't ache at all.

It was nothing like before, when he had constantly squeezed his martial potential dry, leaving his muscles and bones painfully sore.

More purple-gold mysterious markings emerged within his skin membrane.

When he activated the skill and casually threw a punch, it carried more force than it had during the day.

His defensive strength had visibly improved.

You really do get what you pay for. At this rate, if I reach minor mastery before the Second Floor martial contest, getting onto the Second Floor will be a sure thing!

Over the next few days,

Li Xiuwen continued his training methodically.

To prepare for the Night Heron Martial Arts Hall, Li Xiuwen ate another fish ball, raising his progress by around 6% and bringing him to [Purple Membrane (40%)].

His physical fitness and ability to withstand blows had improved greatly compared with when he had first entered Early Purple Membrane.

But just as Old Huang had said, the gap between Purple Membrane and Black Membrane was greater than the gap between an ordinary person and Purple Membrane.

One day, late at night,

The Night Heron Martial Arts Hall would come for the Hall Challenge tomorrow.

Li Xiuwen closed Miscellany of the Martial Tomb, repeatedly chewing over and reflecting on the knowledge within.

Much of it corroborated what Huang Sihai had taught him.

He suddenly felt as though everything had fallen into place.

He looked toward the [Incense Burner].

The incense belonging to [Basic Martial Way Knowledge] burned away and formed anew, thicker and longer.

A wisp of golden smoke lingered in the air, tracing out lines of gilded text.

This had never happened during his previous breakthroughs in training methods or combat methods.

Li Xiuwen's heart rose into his throat as he waited expectantly.

[A censer of incense unlocked creation; half a stick of inner light refined past and present!]

[Boundless and misty, the Illusory Realm of the Great Void!]