179 The Heaven and Earth Arena 1 (1/2)
”What happened!?”
The spectators simultaneously arose from their seats, their minds abuzz with the sudden resolution of the fight. Their minds struggled to comprehend to unexpected scene glaring into their eyes, their fingers groping for stability in the empty atmosphere.
Finally, a quivering voice broke the silence, doused in disbelief and wonder.
”Since when was Yan Xiao that powerful? Isn't he supposed to be in the first pillar of the Body Tempering Realm, and Meng Peng in the third?”
”That's right,” another argued, the dam having been shattered.
”How could Yan Xiao beat such an opponent? Unless… he has a heaven-defying martial arts technique!?”
”Impossible! All of us cultivating youths learned the same set of martial arts techniques, and the Yan Clan isn't spectacular enough to own a technique on that scale! Hell, not even the Xiao Clan possesses such a treasure!”
”That treasure is wasted on Yan Xiao! He's only a scrawny youth without much strength, lets see how he can evade our questioning!”
The sea of people roared with a tsunami of overwhelmed emotions, the majority seeking a proper explanation from the victor of the first duel, Yan Xiao.
An Fei could distinctly feel the jaws of greed and malice part to chomp on its prey, thankful that she was not on the side facing the gateway to an unfortunate end.
”The victor of the first duel is Yan Xiao!”
The elderly man of the Heaven and Earth Arena stood at the side of the basin of sand, his powerful voice quelling the boiling and fervent ardor of the spectators.
With a silent nod, the scrawny youth staggered towards the opened pathway leading out of the arena, not sparing a glance for the fallen Meng Peng.
The bulky youth lay on the ground with his eyes outstretched with shock and fear, his mouth opened to release a heartrending shriek.
Alas, the fallen Meng Peng could only be carried away by the cultivators charged with handling the disposal following a battle, dragged by his feet to stain the sand with a wave of scarlet.
As they awaited the second duel to finish its preparations, the spectators returned to their engaged conversations regarding the surprise card utilized by Yan Xiao, many plotting to steal it from the scrawny youth without any moral barriers or impediments.
”Young lass, what did you think of that fight, ah?”
The elderly man besides An Fei asked with a twitch of his lips, the pair of beady eyes observing each and every change on the young girl's countenance.
”…nothing much,” the young girl replied after a few breaths of silence as she continued to stare at the floor of the arena.
”I thought it would be more intricate and engaging, but it resulted in a brawl between brutalized people.”
”All contests between cultivators below the Spirit Building Realm are brutal and strife with violence and blood,” the elder released a heavy sigh.
”Only then will the fights become more refined and colorful – it's a pity that our Bone Spirit Town will never experience the opportunity to observe such a battle. We can only satisfy ourselves with primal bouts of strength and cunning, as though we are watching two dogs bite the other to death.”
The young girl slowly nodded, the pair of scarlet irises deadpan and devoid of emotion. An Fei lowered her gaze towards her delicate hands, her mind reeking with scathing disgust.
To her, the Heaven and Earth Arena was nothing more than a farce.
A playpen of human lives where two were delicately selected to dance on a manicured stage, to display the dying embers of their destiny in an attempt to produce a brilliant spark that could perhaps dazzle the eye of a blind peddler.
She had no qualms or considerate sentiment towards those who elected to throw their lives into the drain, only disdaining the promotion of brutalized tournaments.
It… reminded her of her harrowing experiences in attempting to escape detection from the military of the world, having to suffer as she waded through the horrifying and gruesome black market trades to stay undercover.
Caw!
The little raven shrieked to break the young girl from her gloomy thoughts, its beak pointing towards the center of the arena.
An Fei raised her head, only to discover two youths dressed in the complementary combat uniform provided by the Heaven and Earth Arena march towards the center of the basin of sand.
”That's Tang Shiqi! He truly has iron courage, daring to contest against the Young Master Fang in combat!”
”Tang Shiqi! Hey, Tang Shiqi!” another jeered, eliciting a sweeping wave of fierce boos and insults to rain onto the youth's head.
”The second duel of today shall be between the Tang Shiqi of Bone Spirit Town and Fang Man of Du Zhou Providence!”