Chapter 294 - 276: Gladiatorial Arena

Chapter 294: Chapter 276: Gladiatorial Arena

In the days after returning to Liang Fan’s residence, Jiang Xu remained vigilant. He used the time to make meticulous preparations and observations.

For one, he would periodically sneak near the middle-aged man’s base to watch for any sign of a move against him, staying ready to respond to a potential crisis at a moment’s notice.

He also began to secretly search for Sun Zixuan’s whereabouts.

But despite infiltrating various areas of the Sun Clan’s third branch, he couldn’t find any trace of Sun Zixuan. It was as if she had suddenly vanished from Sun’s Immortal City.

Left with no choice, Jiang Xu could only wait for an opportunity in Liang Fan’s house.

And so, he waited as time trickled by.

Four days passed in the blink of an eye.

A full week had now passed since Jiang Xu first set foot on the island.

He only had a total of one month to stay on the island.

A quarter of that time was already gone, and Jiang Xu had accomplished nothing.

The lack of progress left Jiang Xu feeling utterly helpless.

In fact, during these four days, he had also checked out the Sun Family’s Martial Arts Hall and Scripture Pavilion.

Rumor had it they contained several superior Techniques and Cultivation Methods.

But the status of Liang Fan, his current disguise, was too low, and his Cultivation was not high enough. He had no way to access any decent Techniques and Cultivation Methods.

All Jiang Xu could do was sigh, staring at a treasure trove he couldn’t touch.

He had considered impersonating a higher-ranking member of the Sun Clan to get into the Scripture Pavilion and search for a Cultivation Technique.

But the risk was simply too high.

The Cultivators guarding a place like the Scripture Pavilion were all in high Realms, and the security was incredibly tight.

The slightest misstep would likely expose him.

So, Jiang Xu had no choice but to keep waiting for the right opportunity.

Fortunately.

Jiang Xu didn’t have to wait long.

...

A Sound Transmission Talisman flew straight through the fence and, upon reaching the house, began to broadcast its message.

"Regarding the recent dispute between the Sun Clan and the Huang Clan over the ownership of a small-scale Spirit Vein Mine, the Seven Stars Association has intervened to mediate impartially. We now formally announce the following resolution."

"To effectively resolve the conflict and promote harmony, it has been decided to divide the rights to this medium-sized Spirit Vein Mine as follows:"

"The Sun Clan and the Huang Clan shall each legally possess thirty percent ownership and mining rights."

"As the arbiter of this mediation, the Seven Stars Association will hold a twenty percent share."

"As for the remaining twenty percent, in the spirit of fair competition and the principle that might makes right, ownership will be decided via the Seven Stars Association’s traditional Greed Wolf Gladiatorial Tournament."

"The victorious party will be awarded the final twenty percent ownership of the Spirit Vein Mine."

"This resolution is effective immediately upon announcement."

Jiang Xu was somewhat taken aback as he listened to the voice of the Sound Transmission Talisman outside his door.

But the Sound Transmission Talisman didn’t stop there; it continued its message.

Only after listening to the entire message did Jiang Xu truly understand the situation.

’Heh, so this is what you were waiting for!’

Jiang Xu sneered, finally understanding the middle-aged man’s scheme.

On Greed Wolf Island, the core of all power was the renowned Seven Stars Association.

With its supreme status and immense power, the Seven Stars Association was the guiding star of the island, controlling its laws and maintaining peace and stability on Greed Wolf Island.

Numerous Cultivation Clans of varying sizes operated under the Seven Stars Association, the Sun Clan being one of them.

The Sun Clan was a prime example of the island’s many self-governing and independent families.

These clans all had deep roots and were self-contained systems. Not only were they self-sufficient, but they also possessed unique Cultivation Methods and legacies, making them akin to small, independent kingdoms.

But these clans did not coexist peacefully; grudges and conflicts of interest were common.

Without the powerful constraints and governance of the Seven Stars Association, these conflicts would likely escalate into all-out war.

Greed Wolf Island would then likely descend into the same kind of endless, chaotic warfare seen in Dinghai State, turning it into a perpetual battlefield.

As Jiang Xu gained a deeper understanding of Greed Wolf Island, he grew increasingly puzzled by the complex and delicate relationships among the local Cultivation Clans.

He recalled the Cultivation Clan ecosystem in Dinghai State. While competition existed there, the clans were generally harmonious.

Open hostility toward outsiders was rare, and the clans all enjoyed healthy growth.

Some of the top clans had even produced High-Level Cultivators, such as Golden Core Cultivators, demonstrating a thriving and prosperous environment.

On Greed Wolf Island, however, there were clearly many man-made barriers and antagonisms among the Cultivation Clans. This made it difficult for them to unite; instead, they were often locked in tense standoffs.

Jiang Xu keenly sensed that there were likely deep-seated political machinations behind this phenomenon.

He speculated that it all stemmed from the manipulations and strategies of the Seven Stars Association.

To maintain its absolute dominion over Greed Wolf Island, the Seven Stars Association deliberately used a series of policies and regulations to foster mutual suspicion and hostility among the clans.

This prevented them from forming alliances that might threaten the Association’s own dominance.

As the animosity between these clans intensified, the island saw an endless stream of conflicts and battles.

Minor frictions, festering and fueled by accumulated hatred, gradually escalated into violent, clan-wide conflicts—some even culminating in all-out wars of extermination.