Bai Jin's Rules

The gates of the South Mountain Mine had been built on a bed of human bones.

At the end of the mine tunnel, the ground opened up. The abandoned quarry had collapsed into a vast pit. Iron cages hung from its walls, holding ordinary townspeople and Rogue Soul Masters lured there by the gray mist. A round stone platform stood in the center, its edges carved with blood-red patterns. Rain fell on them and quickly turned dark red.

Dai Mubai stopped at the edge of the pit, his face grim.

He had seen a Soul Fighting Arena before.

But however brutal a Soul Fighting Arena could be, it at least had rules and spectators. Here, there was no applause, no dignity in victory or defeat—only the malice of driving people, step by step, into becoming livestock.

A man clad in bone armor stood at the center of the platform.

Six Soul Rings lit up around him, the outermost so deep in color it was nearly black. He held a Bone Axe, and two children knelt at his feet. Their mouths were gagged, their eyes wide.

"Bai Jin." The man raised his head, his voice like stone grinding against iron. "You came sooner than I expected."

Bai Jin glanced at the cages. "You're filthier than I expected."

The man laughed. "The rules are simple. Hand over the Blue Silver Emperor's blood and the Entry Token, and I'll release half of them. Make a move, and every cage in this mine drops."

Sharpened stone stakes waited beneath the cages.

Ma Hongjun swore.

Tang San's gaze darkened. Blue Silver Grass was already slipping silently into the cracks, searching for the mechanism. Ning Rongrong raised the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, her knuckles white, but held back its boosts. Zhu Zhuqing crouched low, watching