BXBX NOVEL Chapter 24
Gamblers, enthusiasts, and spectators flocked to the competition, turning it into the most appealing and lucrative event.
Pang Yan was an orphan raised by the Tang Philanthropic Hall. Despite its charitable name, it primarily served as a training ground for servants and warriors for the Tang Clan.
Given that it was a place for training servants, the living standards were naturally not superior. Let alone food and clothing, they wouldn’t even subsidize a fighter at the peak of the Mortal Realm like him. A new set of clothes and shoes at New Year was the extent of their welfare.
Trainees at the Martial Hall were allowed one leave every three months to see the colorful world of Xiling, but unfortunately, these penniless youngsters had limited options on where they could go.
Fortunately, having gained extraordinary strength from their martial arts training, they could earn a small sum by taking on manual labor jobs during their leaves. Although they weren’t able to live lavishly, they were at least able to afford decent clothing.
After all, finding work in the vast array of Tang family businesses scattered across Xiling was relatively easy for Martial Hall trainees.
But some outstanding fighters, like Pang Yan who was at the peak of the Mortal Realm, were not content with just earning minor wages from menial jobs.
Becoming the chosen one of the Tang branches was a nailed-on certainty for them. But as a man with grand ambitions, Pang Yan knew all too well that even the peak of the Mortal Realm was still cannon fodder.
If he ran into a headstrong and reckless leader or was sent on a dangerous mission, he would not live long enough to reach the next realm – debilitating injury or disability was inevitable.
A strong sense of crisis compelled him to buy armor for protection. To that end, he decided to participate in some small-scale ring fighting tournaments to make some money.
For two years, Pang Yan would spend each of his leaves participating in various minor martial art competitions in Xiling.
At first, when his martial prowess was still lacking, he lost more than he won. But as he reached the peak of the Mortal Realm, he suddenly saw a massive opportunity for wealth.
“Why toil and fight till death for just a few gold coins? Can’t I just lose the fights?” Pang Yan seemed to have had a sudden epiphany.
In these fighting competitions, dozens of fighters of the same level would be cherry-picked and groomed. They would be assigned various odds, as the more varied the offerings and the bigger the stakes, the higher the profits for the fight club.
As an exceptional fighter in the Mortal Realm, the odds for Pang Yan were generally low. However, if he could pull off an upset, things would be different.
Pang Yan saw an opportunity and discussed his money-making scheme with his childhood friend, Du Ze. Their target was the upcoming small-scale martial arts tournament at the Lunjiang Martial Arts Arena.
This martial arts tournament was for those in the Mortal Realm. Anyone could sign up, but participants were selected by the fight club. The full tournament took place over two days.
Forty-eight participants in total were selected, twelve in each group were paired off to fight. Amongst the standout Mortal Realm fighters, eight were favored to win, having the lowest odds of winning the championship. Pang Yan was among them.
This was the target Pang Yan had set his sights on. He and Du Ze had bet all their money on Pang Yan being eliminated in the round of twelve, a bet which had odds of 1:3.
Pang Yan handed over his entire savings of a hundred gold coins to Du Ze to bet on him not making it past the round of twelve.
Pang Yan’s opponent in the round of twelve was a very ordinary Mortal Realm fighter, and from most enthusiasts’ point of view, Pang Yan had no chance of losing.
However, in the ring, his opponent seemed unstoppable. After an intense battle, Pang Yan was struck on the chest by his opponent and slid off the stage.
The crowd erupted in disbelief! The favored Pang Yan had been eliminated in the second round.
Everything was going according to plan.
Pang Yan reasoned that even if the Lunjiang Martial Arts Arena’s management suspected that he had thrown the match, what did it matter? After all, the gambling house, not him, was the one making the most money from his early elimination.
Du Ze claimed his prize of three hundred gold coins, a bagful so heavy that it caused his hands to tremble.
He left the martial arts arena to meet up with Pang Yan. Earning money this easily had left them eager to try their luck again.
After wandering around the city for half a day, Du Ze finally met up with Pang Yan in a small alley to split the spoils.
No sooner had they met than they were ambushed by two beings at the pit of the celestial realm, who sent them tumbling to the ground.
Amidst the struggle, the pair recognized their assailants – they were from the Lunjiang Martial Arts Hall!
They were doomed. As mere Mortal Realm fighters, they were helpless, easily captured, and dragged back to the Lunjiang Martial Arts Arena.
The head of the Lunjiang Martial Arts Arena, Ding Gaolang, was a highly skilled 39-year-old at the pinnacle of the celestial realm. When he saw that these two lowly Mortal Realm scoundrels had the audacity to rig a match, he wanted to mince them and feed them to the dogs.
Fearing death, Du Ze revealed his identity, rationalizing that it was better to face punishment from the Martial Hall than to be beaten to death…
“You can’t kill us, we belong to the Tang Clan of Xiling. We are clan warriors of the Tang Clan.” Du Ze never knew he could shout so loud, his piercing cry like a sharp knife to the eardrum.
Ding Gaolang sneered in disdain, yet waved his hand and halted his men. He told Du Ze to have someone from the Tang Clan come to collect them. This was what led to Du Ze’s frantic return.