Chapter 478

Regarding Xiao Ran and Ling Yan's arrival, Yan Buji didn't know what was going on.

He had been sitting in meditation inside the Martial Dao Society these days, adjusting his condition to face the death match in the arena.

Soon, Longzhou and Wu Qian found Yan Buji:

"Daoist Xu, the arena sent word that we will fight tomorrow!"

"No problem."

"But Daoist Xu, while having confidence is good, this time your opponent is a Nascent Soul mid-stage demonic cultivator, his methods are ruthless, and at least five Nascent Soul cultivators have died by his hand. Are you confident?"

"You'll know after we fight." Yan Buji's eyes lit up, his fighting spirit blazing.

Martial cultivators indeed need to face strong opponents to become stronger!

Wu Qian and Longzhou nodded, since this is Yan Buji's debut match, they won't arrange any advertisements or events for him; if he gets killed in his first fight, that would be a huge loss, wouldn't it?

"This is part of that demonic cultivator's information, though it seems he hasn't used his full strength yet, so Daoist, you'd better be careful when you go on stage."

Yan Buji nodded and carefully examined the information.

This person is named Han Lin, a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator who specializes in the water Dao, yet the beast-armor he possesses is a kind of earth-system spell amplification, a mountain-beast armor renowned for its defensive power.

Since there is no description of such mountain beasts on the market, it is guessed that he himself refined this beast-armor, without referencing the abilities of demonic or spiritual beasts.

Of course, this also makes it hard to discern his intentions.

Moreover, he is also skilled in divine abilities, having cultivated a water-system divine ability called "Torrent Havoc Water," whose destructive power in group attacks or single combat is astonishing, and he even knows some puppet techniques.

After careful analysis, Yan Buji knew what he needed to pay attention to.

"This person probably hides an extraordinary puppet, which may be his doppelganger, capable of simultaneously activating divine abilities and such."

Yan Buji had a guess: Han Lin had won five death matches in a row, revealing many methods; although messy, each match had dedicated personnel conduct detailed analysis, and the data Yan Buji holds is the opponent's detailed combat data.

Of course, such data can be falsified; Yan Buji is not foolish enough to truly believe the information provided in a document.

Who would know that besides Martial Dao, Yan Buji also knows spell techniques?

In the arena's death matches, no matter what method you use, there is only one purpose.

Kill the enemy before you!

Pleasure the spectators present!

Win earth-shaking cheers!

Enjoy the fruits of victory!

Seeing Yan Buji like that, the two said no more.

For the Martial Dao Society, a small organization lacking Nascent Soul cultivators, Yan Buji's joining, though a fortunate coincidence, also amounts to giving the Society an opportunity to make a name for itself!

As long as Yan Buji wins his debut match, the Society's future development will improve greatly, and naturally the initial investment will be returned manifold!

Longzhou and Wu Qian still have the courage to invest in Yan Buji.

Not only is Yan Buji's displayed strength impressive, but also his unprecedented audacity to break taboos and blaze a new path for Martial Dao makes them feel it's worth a gamble!

One day passed.

Yan Buji wore a black robe, his face covered, following the two all the way to the arena's back gate, which is the passage for fighters.

"Yo, aren't you Longzhou and Wu Qian? Where is your martial immortal?" A Nascent Soul cultivator leading a group of fighters approached, smiling at them.

Wu Qian laughed, clasped his hands, and said: "Heh, Daoist Ma Hua, this is the new member who joined my Martial Dao Society, Daoist Xu Long, who blazes a new path for Martial Dao."

Yan Buji returned the fist salute and said: "Xu Long."

"Daoist Xu, I am Ma Hua, you...."

Longzhou waved his hand: "Alright, let's talk later, Daoist Ma; we'll go in first to prepare for the debut match."

Ma Hua watched the three enter, gave a cold chuckle: "Just don't quit right after your debut."

"Daoist Ma, in a death match there's no such thing as retirement; you can only die inside the arena."

"Hahaha."

Yan Buji didn't care about others' opinions; like everyone else, he thought his debut match must be won, otherwise dying in the arena would matter to no one.

Only by displaying one's strength can one gain benefits.

Compared to the forces within the Five Regions, under the Heavenly Spirit Realm's commercial background things are actually more direct.

Soon, the two brought Yan Buji to a room and said: "Daoist Xu, please go in first."

"No problem."

Upon entering the room, there were also many fighters waiting for their matches to begin.

Upon seeing the three arrive, the surrounding cultivators kept glancing sideways; the recent buzz in the city about the protagonist's arrival—how could it not attract attention?

But they also understood that their own interests might clash with those of Wu Qian and Longzhou, so they wisely refrained from approaching to chat.

As a small organization, they receive no special treatment in the arena; they don't even have a preparation room of their own, so they can only gather together.

Talking too much inevitably leaks information, so naturally everyone appears restrained.

Yan Buji sat down waiting for his match, while Longzhou and Wu Qian were also at the side negotiating with the arena's management.

Soon, the two came over and said: "Daoist Xu, your debut match has been scheduled as the final bout of the death-match segment, likely around afternoon."

"Mm, we had previously submitted an application, and you also passed the arena's examination, proving your strength, so procedurally there will be no issues."

"Then that's good."

The more mature the industry, the stricter its institutional oversight.

Even though the Martial Dao Society has some cooperation with the arena, the extent of cooperation is not great; the required procedures must still be followed, especially checking and evaluating the strength of recommended fighters, which is also to ensure that each match won't be dull due to a large disparity in strength between the combatants, which would affect the arena's business.

However, the arena industry is filled with savagery, bloodshed, and violence; no matter how it is packaged, strength remains the best means to earn respect and profit.

And in the arena, such conditions are infinitely magnified!

In short, only those with no other recourse would choose violence to gain profit; of course, people like Yan Buji are not excluded, so the arena's commercialization has let him sniff out some operable profit opportunities.

However, there are many shrewd people here; he still needs to inquire widely to see whether these two partners of his are qualified to take a bite of the meat alongside him and feast heartily.

Afterwards, the arena gate opened, and a massive audience, upon hearing that the famed martial immortal was about to fight, also came to watch without sparing effort.

And among them, naturally were Xiao Ran, Ling Yan, and the three of them.