53: Chapter 50 Long Heng 53: Chapter 50 Long Heng When Chu Xisheng and his two companions arrived at the South Street Temple Market, it was a scene of a teeming crowd.
This was undoubtedly the most bustling and prosperous location in the entire Ancient Market.
From the entrance of the God of Wealth Temple along the stone street, over twenty arenas had been set up on either side of the road.
Beneath each arena, large crowds had gathered, and vendors selling fruits and snacks weaved through them, shouting to sell their goods.
“The scale of the competition here is second only to the State City,”
Lu Luan led the way, explaining to the others, “Those who manage to set up an arena here are no ordinary people.
They are known as stage masters with either deep backgrounds, extensive influence, or strong personal martial prowess.
Currently, the whole South Street Temple Market hosts three such stage masters, each occupying several arenas.
They earn a fortune by facilitating wagers on the matches—”
While listening, Chu Xisheng looked around.
He noticed that the arenas were divided into levels.
There were the Ninth Grade Lower Tier, Ninth Grade Upper Tier, Eighth Grade Lower Tier, and Eighth Grade Upper Tier.
“For a Ninth Grade Lower Tier fight, winning typically earns you two taels of Demon Silver, equivalent to a day’s escort pay.
The loser gets nothing, not even the money for medicinal herbs if they’re injured.
The Life and Death Arena offers more; winners not only get twenty taels but also ten percent of the wagered amounts from spectators.
Losers get their medicine or funeral expenses covered.
However, there are no referees on stage, and life or death is disregarded—”
Lu Luan ceased speaking because Chu Xisheng had already stepped towards an arena on the left.
She blinked in surprise.
Was this guy really going to challenge the arena?
Chu Xisheng reached the base of the arena and went directly into a nearby pavilion to register with a clerk.
Before entering the stage, he had to sign a life-and-death agreement, determining that ‘neither life nor death shall be pursued.’
Even for a regular competition, one must sign, as there were referees to intervene and ensure the safety of both parties, but accidents were unavoidable.
Next was a test of True Yuan strength.
A contestant with the cultivation of Ninth Grade Upper couldn’t simply stir trouble in the Ninth Grade Lower; similarly, a Martial Cultivator of the Eighth Grade Lower had no place in the Ninth Grade Upper Tier.
In Chu Xisheng’s view, this was somewhat like the featherweight, lightweight, and heavyweight divisions in modern boxing.
Afterward, Chu Xisheng waited roughly 15 minutes before he was scheduled to enter the stage.
To his disappointment, Chu Xisheng fought two matches in succession, and neither opponent was remarkable.
The moment Chu Xisheng drew his saber, his opponent had already lost.
He didn’t use any movement techniques or sword skills, and he didn’t even draw his saber with full force.
Chu Xisheng knew the principle of ‘using full force to catch even a rabbit,’ but he preferred to use these low-intensity duels to practice his combat skills.
However, even at half his sword-drawing speed, his opponents couldn’t withstand him.
After the two matches, a middle-aged man dressed like a guard approached.
His face was grave as he gave Chu Xisheng a cupped fist salute, “Young man, your sword skill is impressive.
There’s no one here who can match you.
Please, climb to a higher platform, or go to the Life and Death Arena!
You are a mighty dragon; why linger in shallow waters playing with shrimps and minnows?”
‘Climbing to a higher platform,’ meant Chu Xisheng moving to the ‘Ninth Grade Upper’ tier arena.
The spectators below, seasoned in the Jianghu ways, recognized his level as soon as they saw his Draw Sword Style.
In the last match, nearly everyone had bet on Chu Xisheng winning, causing them to lose over thirty taels.
His combat strength clearly exceeded the Ninth Grade Lower tier.
Only a master of Ninth Grade Upper could possibly manage Chu Xisheng.
Or in the Life and Death Arena, where many fighters exceeded their actual cultivation levels.
Chu Xisheng also knew that these ‘Arena Masters’ were there to make money, and he had that intention too.
The key issue was that the money was slight, offering no real training effect, nor did it garner any reputation.
Chu Xisheng graciously responded with a bow, “You flatter me, sir.
I am willing to climb to the higher platform!”
When Chu Xisheng switched arenas, he immediately sparked interest among the surrounding crowd.
The Upper Ninth Grade Martial Cultivators were a common sight on this stage; however, those with Lower Ninth Grade True Yuan Cultivation challenging the Upper Ninth Grade tier were rare, seen perhaps once in three or five days.
Chu Xisheng’s first opponent was a brawny man wearing knuckledusters.
The man was massive, his muscles as solid as granite.
Chu Xisheng didn’t use his ’empty wind’ technique to defeat his opponent.
Instead, he used his movement skills to maintain distance and cautiously assessed the opponent’s level.
Once he understood his opponent’s skills, he let down his guard and exchanged moves carefully.
Chu Yunyun usually sparred with him too, but her skills were too advanced, making the exercise seem like playing with a child throughout.
Her mastery of Martial Arts was exceptionally high, and she couldn’t lower her standards.
Therefore, the effectiveness of the practice partner was not as good as that of the person opposite him.
After exchanging 130 moves, Chu Xisheng felt some discomfort in his lungs and was slightly out of breath, so he used the “Wind and Thunder” move to end the fight.
Because he had previously engraved the “Secret Technique Totem”, Chu Xisheng had practiced this sword technique extra times.
Now, this move “Wind and Thunder”, had become his most proficient technique in the eighteen Chasing Wind Saber styles, second only to “empty wind”.
Chu Xisheng still hadn’t used his full strength, only utilizing seventy percent of his Sword Speed to press the tip of his saber against the man’s throat.
At that moment, there was a loud explosion underneath the arena.
This saber strike is truly beautiful.”
“This young man looks sickly, yet his swordsmanship is so remarkable.”
“Damn your Immortal self.”
Can’t even defeat a Ninth Grade.”
Some of the spectators were thrilled and excited, while others cursed loudly, throwing their betting slips all over the street.
Chu Xisheng was also very pleased, and a small firework exploded in his eyes.
Martial Arts Points increased from 34 to 35.
In addition to that, winning in the upper Ninth Grade arena match got him five taels, which was much easier than running couriers.
This was really both money and fame.
But just as Chu Xisheng was looking forward to the next arena match, his expression subtly changed, and he looked towards the left side under the stage.
There, outside the bustling crowd, stood about thirty burly Great Han.
Half of them were wearing Heavy Armor, each laying their hands on their weapons, looking at him with unfriendly expressions.
The leader, however, was dressed in a white scholar’s robe with wide sleeves and a high-collar, his unbound hair flowing freely, and his demeanor cold and aloof.
This had to be Long Heng, the eldest son of the Long Family from the Inner City.
Chu Xisheng recognized him because he saw Long Sheng at Long Heng’s side.
The two men looked alike.
The second son of the Long Family was also watching him, his eyes filled with mockery and hatred.
Chu Xisheng also saw Chu Yunyun in the crowd clenching her fists, her aura cold, ready to act at any moment.
Lu Luan’s whereabouts were unknown.
However, Chu Xisheng’s peripheral vision noticed a masked heroine hurriedly running out from a nearby alley.
This Heroine Lu hadn’t even had time to change her prominent head ornaments.
Chu Xisheng steadied his mind and silently watched the Long brothers beneath him.
He was actually quite surprised.
Chu Xisheng had originally thought that the Ancient Market was safer than the Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall, which is why he dared to linger here.
Yet he hadn’t expected that the Long brothers would dare cross the Shenxiu River at this time!
Do they think the Iron Banner Gang that rules over the Shenxiu River is just for show?
At this moment, the spectators underneath also sensed that something was amiss and began to make way to either side.
Long Heng then walked leisurely forward with his hands behind his back, stepping up the stairs toward the stage, one step at a time.
His followers spread out behind him, encircling the arena completely.
As he ascended to the arena, Long Heng placed a sword in front of him, “Recognize this sword?
Tell me, who killed my Senior Dou?
Speak his name or draw his face, and I might make your death a little less painful.”
Chu Xisheng glanced at the sword and recognized it as the treasure sword he had sold at the Divine Weapon Hall.
He didn’t care and kept his hand on his saber, taking a deep breath.
Today, his only option was a life-or-death struggle.
With the cover of Lu Luan and while trying not to expose Chu Yunyun, he planned to evacuate from the Ancient Market.
But just as Long Heng finished speaking, a teacup was thrown from afar, striking directly at Long Heng.
Long Heng didn’t even blink an eye, sweeping his sleeve casually to shatter the teacup.
At that moment, a young nobleman wearing a brocade robe and holding a folding fan, accompanied by a large group of burly Great Han, stepped out from the crowd.
The young noble was about twenty, tall and straight as a pine, with long eyebrows like willows and a handsome, refined appearance, appearing quite lazy.
“Long Heng, who gave you the courage to come cause trouble in South Street Temple Market?”