A Furnace of Incense Smoke Unlocks Creation, Half a Stick of Heartlight Refines Past and Present! (Please Follow)

Li Xiuwen realized that the Nine Dragons Grand Arena had lasted so long because, as an important source of revenue for Ever Joy, every loophole that could be exploited had long since been sealed.

After watching around twenty bouts, they had seen the basic fighting approaches of various martial arts schools—Six Harmonies Style, Buddha Salute Style, White Ape Style, Bear Mountain Style, and more.

Huang Sihai said, "Now that you've seen the basic methods used by experts from all walks of life, it's time for some of you to get practical experience.

"What I just showed you was a 'betting arena,' where arena fighters of roughly equal strength are randomly paired up to make betting on fights convenient.

"These betting arenas are for everyone's entertainment. Small wagers are good for the spirit, and Ever Joy makes quite a bit from them too.

"The Nine Dragons Grand Arena has another format: the 'challenge arena.' The Everjoy Society arranges martial artists of fixed strength to defend the arena, with the difficulty increasing level by level.

"The so-called three grand arenas are challenge arenas. If you can clear the first grand arena, you'll be famous throughout the stronghold.

"If you clear the second grand arena, you'll qualify to open a martial arts hall, or become a hall leader or red pole under Ever Joy. You'll rise to prominence!

"A man's reputation is like a tree's shadow!

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

"But if you want to avoid minor trouble, you need to make a small name for yourself.

"The Nine Dragons Grand Arena lies at the heart of the walled city, where all sorts of people gather and crowds flow endlessly.

"If you can clear the first grand arena here, ordinary thugs and street punks will steer clear the moment they hear your name. They won't dare set their sights on you.

"Of course, besides making a name, you can also earn some modest bonuses.

"Quite a few experts in the stronghold rely on signing with the Grand Arena Committee and earning bonuses to support their training."

Bonuses were the fighters' income. Some received fixed appearance fees, some took a share of the betting pool, and some earned money by winning.

After Huang Sihai finished, everyone's blood boiled. They could hardly wait to get onstage and show what they could do.

Huang Sihai said, "The three grand arenas of the Nine Dragons Grand Arena are the New Blood Arena, Muddy Arena, and Bone-Breaking Arena.

"With your cultivation, you can naturally only compete in the New Blood Arena. At the Purple Membrane level, you should be able to reach the fourth platform without issue.

"If you can't, it means your skills are lacking. As a proper school, Sea Sand Style can't afford that embarrassment.

"The first grand arena has nine smaller platforms, corresponding to the three stages of Azure Membrane, Purple Membrane, and Black Membrane. It's best suited for testing one's strength."

Liu Chun smiled. "Master, I'm confident I can reach the seventh platform... but I'm worried Longlegs Seven will learn my background and gain an advantage when he comes to challenge our hall."

Huang Sihai considered it, then said, "That's true. As the ace of my martial arts hall, don't challenge the grand arena for now. Keep something in reserve.

"Do you three have any interest? I'm in a good mood today, so I'll pay for the challenge letters! Awen, don't fight me over this one!"

Li Xiuwen asked, "Master, how much does it cost to issue a challenge for the first grand arena? And how much is the bonus for winning?"

Huang Sihai said, "A challenge letter costs a hundred. Clear one platform and you get a base bonus of five hundred. If you keep clearing platforms, you get an additional hundred for every platform afterward."

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

Huang Sihai smiled. "That's right, but only for your first attempt. There's nothing for repeat challenges. Consider it Mr. Ming's blessing for the impoverished martial artists of the stronghold."

"Then we'll give it a try." A Zhen and Silly Qiang rubbed their hands eagerly.

Huang Sihai looked at Li Xiuwen. "You won't try?"

Li Xiuwen smiled. "With my little bit of ability, I'm afraid I'd only embarrass you, Master."

Huang Sihai said, "Without real combat, even a decent fighting method is just fancy footwork. How are you supposed to fight Night Heron Martial Arts Hall? What, are you planning to keep something in reserve too?"

Li Xiuwen answered honestly, "Yes. I want to hold something back too, so the Night Heron people don't learn my fighting methods. After all, we don't have much chance of winning against Night Heron Martial Arts Hall to begin with."

Li Xiuwen wanted to make some quick money too, but with his current strength, he could not clear many platforms in a row and would not earn much.

Compared to the grand arena's bonuses, he needed more 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 should not reveal his strength for now.

Liu Chun found it amusing. Who does he think he is, copying me and keeping something in reserve?

"That makes sense... then just watch."

Huang Sihai had never expected Awen to win in the hall challenge anyway, so it made little difference whether he held anything back.

With some luck, Liu Chun could win one match, and Silly Qiang could win one with his inborn strength. A draw with Night Heron Martial Arts Hall would be enough.

A Zhen could not wait to get onstage and show her skills.

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

A Zhen defeated them with three punches and two kicks.

The second and third platforms were still Azure Membrane opponents.

Relying on her cultivation advantage, A Zhen narrowly won.

On the fourth platform, her opponent was at the Purple Membrane level and had achieved minor mastery in their fighting method.

The difference was immediately obvious. After barely ten exchanges, A Zhen was knocked off the platform with a single palm strike. She ran back, her face red.

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

"Keep your voice down when you mention my Sea Sand Style in the future... embarrassing." Huang Sihai spoke flatly.

"I'll give it a try." Silly Qiang stepped onto the platform.

His natural strength was displayed in full.

On the first three platforms, he fought with broad, powerful movements. His opponents fell at the slightest touch. There was no suspense at all.

Starting from the fourth platform, the pace slowed, but he remained composed.

On the fifth platform, he narrowly won. His opponent's fighting method had grown increasingly refined.

On the sixth platform, Silly Qiang's stamina had been drained too heavily, while his opponent was already at the peak of Purple Membrane and possessed even stronger technique.

In the end, he was defeated and stepped down from the platform.

Even Iron Shirt could not save him. It could only let him remain standing a little longer.

The guests below the platform discussed the match enthusiastically, rising to applaud.

Huang Sihai's attitude softened somewhat as he smiled. "Not bad."

Having great strength really is nice, Li Xiuwen thought. If it were me, I'd probably stop at the sixth platform too.

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

Since it was Mr. Ming's gift, the Grand Arena Committee under Ever Joy did not take a cut. Every bit went into his own pocket.

After watching the arena matches, the five master and disciples left the Sliver-of-Sky Teahouse. Li Xiuwen looked back.

The Nine Dragons Grand Arena lay dormant atop the giant beast of the walled city. Countless strong fighters had made their names here.

Toward evening, at Night Heron Martial Arts Hall,

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

Master Ye smiled. "Heh heh, I really caught them... Even Silly Qiang could only clear five platforms?

"What a pity Liu Chun didn't step up. No matter. From what I can see, among those crooked melons and cracked dates on the first floor of Four Seas Martial Arts Hall, only Liu Chun has any chance of winning.

"That is, provided... Liu Chun doesn't face Longlegs Seven. Otherwise, Old Huang will lose a great deal of face."

That night,

At Chen's Rice Noodle Factory,

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

This time, Li Xiuwen had bought materials for high-quality Blood-Transforming Paste. One dose cost a hundred dollars.

After a night of training, the proficiency of his Binding Armor Skill had actually risen by 2%, far surpassing the effects of the cheap medicinal paste from before.

He also clearly felt that the burden on his body had lessened. When he woke the next morning, his body did not hurt at all.

Unlike before, when he had constantly been squeezing out his martial potential until his bones and muscles ached unbearably.

Within his skin membrane, streaks of mysterious violet-gold patterns emerged once more.

When he circulated his skill and casually threw a punch, it carried even greater force than yesterday.

His defense had visibly improved.

You really get what you pay for. At this rate, if I can achieve minor mastery before the second-floor tournament, getting to the second floor will be a sure thing!

Over the following days,

Li Xiuwen trained steadily as usual.

To prepare for the fight against Night Heron Martial Arts Hall, Li Xiuwen ate another fish ball. His progress increased by around 6%, reaching [Purple Membrane (40%)].

His physical fitness and resistance to blows had improved by a great margin compared to when he had first entered the Purple Membrane level.

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

That day, late at night,

Night Heron Martial Arts Hall would come to challenge the hall tomorrow.

Li Xiuwen closed the Miscellany from the Martial Tomb, repeatedly pondering and digesting its knowledge.

Much of it corroborated what Huang Sihai had taught him.

A sense of sudden clarity rose in his heart.

He looked toward the [Incense Burner].

The incense belonging to [Basic Martial Arts Knowledge] had burned out and been reborn, thicker and longer than before.

A stream of golden smoke lingered in the air, sketching out lines of gilded words in the void.

This was something that had never happened when his training methods or fighting methods had broken through before.

Li Xiuwen's heart leaped into his throat as he waited in anticipation.

[A furnace of incense smoke unlocks creation; half a stick of heartlight refines past and present!]

[Vast and boundless, the Realm of Great Void Illusion!]