Placing a bet
Standing in the elevator, watching the floor numbers constantly change as it descended to the eighteenth basement level, Gu Yue couldn't help but ask, "What level is a fourth-level boxer?"
She had just heard the waiter speak so respectfully, it sounded like he was of high status.
Bai Yushan thought for a moment and casually explained, "It's similar to the levels of Soul Master. Underground boxing rings have their own rating systems, from level one to level five. A level four boxer is roughly equivalent to Soul King level of strength."
"In the entire Eastsea City, there are only two or three people who can be rated as Level Four. There are a few more in Skysea City, about ten or so."
"Then... wouldn't the highest level five boxer be even more powerful than Soul King?" she asked again.
"A level 5 boxer corresponds to Soul Emperor, right?" Bai Yushan shrugged. "Anyway, I've never seen one. After all, a Soul Emperor wouldn't come to participate in these shady underground boxing matches. Even if there were, they'd probably be in Shrek City or Mingdu, those two megacities."
He spoke of it casually, as if these high and mighty figures were nothing special.
Gu Yue her eyes at him.
They're putting on an act again.
As they were talking, the elevator paused slightly.
"Bite--"
The elevator doors slowly opened to both sides.
The noise, cheers, clinking of chips, and women's giggles all rushed in at once, mixed with the smells of strong liquor, perfume, blood, and metal, assaulting our senses.
What greets the eye is a scene of resplendent gold and jade.
The enormous underground space was as large as two football fields, with a ceiling tens of meters high and huge soul-guided chandeliers hanging overhead, as bright as day. In the center was a huge black iron arena, twice the size of the Eastsea City. The edges of the arena were inlaid with dark gold metal, covered with marks of swords and blades, each one exuding ferocity.
Around the arena, tiered stands extend upwards all the way to the ceiling.
The regular seats were packed with people, shoulder to shoulder; above were rows of private boxes with glass walls, where richly dressed dignitaries sat, their arms around beautiful waiters, and the tables were laden with fine wines and delicacies.
Waiters dressed as bunny girls moved between the crowd and the private rooms, their black bodysuits outlining their curves. Carrying drinks and chips, they swayed as they walked, occasionally being stopped and teased, but they didn't get angry, just smiled and apologized.
Extravagant, wild, and decadent.
This is the underground boxing ring in Skysea City.
Even if it's more formal than Eastsea City, and even if it has a naval background, it's still fundamentally a place to vent desires.
Money, power, blood, excitement.
All primal desires are amplified infinitely deep underground.
Gu Yue stood at the elevator entrance, stunned for several seconds.
The noise around her made her eardrums vibrate, and the mixed smells in the air made her frown slightly.
Let's go.
Bai Yushan's voice rang out from the side as he walked familiarly toward the stands, "Let's find a seat first. After the previous matches are over, it'll be my turn."
Gu Yue quickly followed.
The two walked along the corridor, and many people around them looked at them.
After all, two people wearing masks with such outstanding figures and demeanors are quite eye-catching.
Many of the dignitaries in the private rooms peeked out, their eyes filled with scrutiny.
Bai Yushan acted as if he hadn't seen them, and went straight to a row of empty seats at the front, where he sat down.
Gu Yue sat next to him, looking around through the mask.
Those in the front row were very close to the ring, able to clearly see the patterns on it, and even smell a faint scent of blood.
On the stage, two burly men with bare upper bodies were locked in combat. Both were at the level of Three-Ring Soul Elder, and their punches landed squarely, sending sparks flying everywhere.
One of the burly men punched his opponent in the face, sending him flying backward and crashing into the edge of the ring, spitting out two bloody teeth.
"Good!!"
A deafening roar of cheers erupted from the audience, and chips rained down on the sidelines.
Some people were screaming at the top of their lungs, while others were pounding on the railings frantically; everyone's face was flushed, and they were extremely excited.
Gu Yue looked at the two people on the stage and raised an eyebrow slightly.
That's fine then.
She muttered something under her breath.
In her opinion, the two men's moves were too crude, full of flaws, and slow. They were only strong, nothing special.
"This is just the beginning, just a warm-up."
Bai Yushan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and said lazily, "After the Black Iron Rank matches, it'll be the Bronze Rank, and it gets stronger as you go on. There are also Silver Rank and Gold Rank matches later on, and the Soul Ancestor level fighters are all in there."
"I'm playing an Black Iron Rank challenge today; if I win, I'll be promoted to Bronze."
Gu Yue turned to look at him. "You're only at the Black Iron Rank?"
She thought he was a high-ranking fighter; the waiter had just called him a fourth-level boxer.
"Ratings are ratings, and playing a match is playing a match."
Bai Yushan explained, "I just came to Skysea City to fight, starting from the lowest rank. The more consecutive wins I have, the faster I can advance in rank. If I can win ten consecutive matches, I might even jump directly to the Gold Rank."
As he spoke, he pointed to a display screen on the side of the ring.
The boxer's record and odds scroll across the screen.
Bai Yushan's name was on it; the waiter had just entered his ID card. The words "Sea Tiger" were clearly displayed on it, with a record of zero wins and zero losses, and odds of 1 to 5.
Clearly, nobody had high hopes for this newcomer.
"One to five?" Gu Yue laughed. "They really underestimate you."
"It's good that you look down on them," Bai Yushan scoffed. "They'll make a lot more if they win."
As he spoke, he pulled a bag of chips from his Storage Soul Tool and tossed it to Gu Yue, "Go, bet on me to win. Go all in."
Gu Yue took the money bag; it was heavy and cold to the touch, filled with Federation Coins.
She weighed it in her hand, then rolled her eyes at Bai Yushan: "Are you so sure you can win?"
"Nonsense." Bai Yushan's tone was full of self-righteousness. "How could I possibly lose to a Black Iron Rank opponent?"
"If you lose, your money will be gone."
"If you lose, it's on me." Bai Yushan waved his hand. "Go quickly."
Gu Yue stood up, took his money bag, and walked towards the betting point.
As she walked down the corridor, all eyes were on her. Many men stared intently at her, their gazes filled with undisguised aggression.
Gu Yue frowned, and a chill unconsciously emanated from her body.
The temperature seemed to drop a few degrees, and those stares immediately became much less intense.
She walked quickly to the betting station and put her money bag on the counter.
"Bet on the Sea Tiger to win, go all in."
The manager of the betting station paused for a moment, looked at her, and then at the stacks of Federation Coins in the purse. Just by looking at them, one could tell that there were at least three million dollars.
"You... go all in?" the manager couldn't help but confirm. "Sea Tiger is a newcomer; the odds are high, but the risk is also great..."
"Stop talking nonsense." Gu Yue said coldly, "I bought it."
"Okay, sure!" The manager nodded quickly, registered the form, and gave her a receipt.
Gu Yue took the receipt and turned to walk back.
She had only taken two steps when a hand suddenly reached out from a nearby private room and blocked her way.
"Little beauty, are you all alone?"
Inside the private room, a fat man with a face full of scars leaned forward, laughing drunkenly, his greasy eyes sweeping over her. "Have a drink with your brother. If you lose, it's on me; if you win, it's all yours. How about it?"
The henchmen nearby immediately burst into laughter.
Gu Yue stopped in her tracks, a cold glint flashing in her purple eyes.
court death.
Just as she was about to make a move, a lazy voice came from behind her.
"What are you doing?"