Chapter 58 - 57: Underground Fighting

Chapter 58: Chapter 57: Underground Fighting

Three green entries had combined into a new orange entry.

This was definitely not a losing trade.

Lu Jing’an turned his gaze to the description of the new entry:

[Precise Throwing] (Orange)

[Description]: Equip this entry, and you will gain an Insight that surpasses that of a Lamp Cultivator or a Falcon.

Your eyes will be like mirrors, capturing the faintest traces of all things.

Your arm will feel as if it has an invisible extension, allowing you to throw any Item in your hand to a much farther shore.

Any target you can lock onto within your power can be hit with one hundred percent accuracy.

Using this entry will continuously consume Spiritual Power. Please use it only when your Spirit is full and your energy is abundant.

Indeed, it was just as Lu Jing’an had previously speculated.

It had perfectly fused all the strengths of the three green entries.

Lu Jing’an casually took a Silver Coin from his clothes and held it between his fingers.

His gaze shifted to the ginkgo tree outside the window, its leaves yellowing.

Then it swept over the narrow gap in the window lattice, barely wide enough for a Silver Coin to pass through on its edge.

With a flick of his wrist,

"WHOOSH!"

The Silver Coin shot out horizontally, like a thin silver thread.

It passed through the window gap with perfect accuracy, then disappeared into the dense layers of ginkgo leaves.

There was a faint "TAP," and a single withered leaf silently drifted down.

Yet the surrounding branches and leaves remained perfectly still, as if the leaf had merely been dislodged by a random autumn breeze.

Lu Jing’an nodded slightly.

’Such precision is beyond the reach of ordinary mortals.’

’If used for assassination, this is an absolutely divine skill.’

Having obtained another orange entry, Lu Jing’an went to sleep, completely satisfied.

「The next day, at dawn.」

Several apothecaries in Yin Mountain County posted notices to buy crows.

Dead or alive, one crow for one-tenth of a silver coin.

While Lu Jing’an was eating, a servant reported the purchase price.

Upon hearing the price, Lu Jing’an quickly understood his second uncle’s intentions.

The average person’s income in Yin Mountain County was only about two-tenths of a silver coin per day.

Two crows were worth almost a full day’s wages for a commoner.

This price was just right.

If it were set too high, people might start capturing crows from other regions to sell here.

That would defeat Lu Jing’an’s original purpose of capturing the crows from Old Crow Forest.

But if it were set too low, it wouldn’t be enough to motivate people to catch them.

’Let the professionals handle professional matters.’

Just as Lu Jing’an finished his breakfast, Chen Xuan returned from outside and found him.

"Master, have you had breakfast?" Lu Jing’an rose to greet him.

But Chen Xuan didn’t respond to the question, only saying grimly, "Young Master, change into some practical clothes. I’m taking you somewhere today."

Lu Jing’an’s eyes lit up when he heard Chen Xuan’s words.

He knew Chen Xuan had found a place to help him temper his Martial Arts.

"Please wait a moment, Master."

He quickly changed into a set of indigo martial wear, tied his cuffs and trouser legs tightly, and left with Chen Xuan.

They brought no servants this time, just the two of them, master and disciple.

Each rode a horse as they galloped out of the county seat.

This was Lu Jing’an’s first time riding a horse.

But he had, after all, already broken through the Blood-Breaking Barrier.

As a Martial Cultivator, his control over his body was far beyond that of an ordinary person.

After observing Chen Xuan’s movements for about the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, he was already able to control the reins and ride at a slow pace.

By the halfway point of their journey, he dared to urge his horse into a trot.

This was the power of a [Martial Cultivator].

Their mastery over their bodies far surpassed that of an average Cultivator.

Two men, two horses.

They soon left the county seat of Yin Mountain County.

They rode for about an hour.

They arrived at a small village about forty to fifty kilometers from Yin Mountain County.

Lu Jing’an didn’t know much about the areas surrounding Yin Mountain County.

Let alone a village as remote as this.

Although the location was remote, it was unexpectedly bustling.

The village entrance was crowded with horses and carriages, and one could even see two or three black cars driving past, kicking up dust.

The people coming and going were dressed in various styles. Some wore Martial Attire and carried blades.

Others wore long gowns and formal hats, their eyes holding a hint of vigilance when they met another’s gaze.

"Master, where is this? It’s even more boisterous than the county seat," Lu Jing’an asked, reining in his horse.

Chen Xuan led his horse forward at a slow walk and explained,

"This place is called Jinshan Village. It’s roughly equidistant from the three counties of Yin Mountain, Xiao Mountain, and Lou Mountain.

"It’s a borderland where the jurisdiction of the three counties is murky.

"Because of this unique situation, many shady businesses and characters gather here to make a living and conduct their dealings."

He paused, his voice growing deeper. "I brought you here today, Young Master, for the underground fights."

A flicker of light crossed Lu Jing’an’s eyes. "What kind of people fight in the ring here?"

"All sorts of people, from every walk of life."

Chen Xuan’s gaze swept over several fierce-looking men squatting at the base of a wall.

"There are those from proper martial arts schools looking to make a name for themselves.

"There are those who’ve hit a bottleneck in their Cultivation and desperately need money to buy medicine to break through.

"There are fugitives with blood on their hands, earning money to fund their escape.

"And there are desperados who make a living by licking blood off their blades in this line of work."

"Can you earn a lot in these underground fights?" Lu Jing’an asked curiously.

Chen Xuan nodded. "A lot."

"Just for signing up and fighting a match, you get fifty silver coins."

"If you win, you also get a ten-percent cut from the losing bettors’ stakes."

After a pause, Chen Xuan added gravely, "There are no rules in these fights. Once you step into the ring, life and death are not guaranteed. Quite a few Martial Artists die here every day."

After hearing this, Lu Jing’an understood that his master was indirectly warning him.

"Don’t worry, Master. I won’t be careless."

Chen Xuan said no more and led him to a rammed-earth square in the center of the village.

The place looked like it was once a threshing ground, but now a stone platform, ten meters square, had been erected.

The surface of the platform was dark and stained with what looked like faint, deep-brown splotches.

All kinds of people surrounded the platform, their shouts and bets filling the air.

The smells of sweat, smoke, and dust mingled together.

The two of them found the registration desk by the side of the ring.

It was just a square table, with a middle-aged man in a skullcap sitting behind it, using an abacus.

The man glanced up at Lu Jing’an, then at the composed and formidable Chen Xuan behind him, and said lazily, "The nameplates are on the table. If you want to bet on someone, pay up and take a ticket."

Lu Jing’an looked at the wooden plates on the table. The names were a motley collection.

"Pangolin," "One-Eyed Wolf," "Iron-Armed Arhat," and even "Land God."

"I’m not here to bet."

Lu Jing’an took a step forward.

"I’m here to fight."

Only then did the organizer give him a serious look, pulling a sheet of coarse paper from under the table and tossing it over.

"Have your man fill in a name, put down a Hand Seal, and sign this death waiver. Then wait for your name to be called."

Lu Jing’an took it and, with a flourish of the brush,

wrote the two words "Jade Emperor," then dipped his thumb in red ink and pressed it down.

The organizer took the waiver, stared at the arrogant moniker, and grinned.

"Young sir, are you sure you want to get in the ring?

"Fists and feet have no eyes. We don’t care which young master you are here."

"I’m sure," Lu Jing’an said, his expression calm.

"Alright."

The organizer rubbed two fingers together.

"A new face, young master, has to pay a deposit of one hundred silver coins.

"If you get cold feet before the fight, you don’t get the money back."

"Does everyone have to pay?"

"Not exactly."

The organizer gave a half-smile.

"This rule is specifically for rich kids like you who come looking for a thrill.

"If everyone who got scared just ran off, our Zhuang Family would lose its pants."

Lu Jing’an said no more, taking a silver note from his robes and handing it over.

The organizer checked the amount on the note, his attitude softening slightly. "Once you’re in the ring, you’ll get the money back, win or lose."

At that moment, two men were grappling on the platform, each punch landing with a solid, dull thud.

Lu Jing’an watched for a few moments, then suddenly asked, "If I wanted to bet on myself, how would that work?"

The organizer raised an eyebrow. "The rule is, you can only bet on yourself to win, not to lose.

"As for the odds... it’s a fixed 1 to 1.5 payout for a newcomer.

"The maximum bet is one thousand silver coins per person, per match, and your winnings can’t exceed the total amount bet on your opponent.

"The Zhuang Family takes a one-percent cut."

He tapped the wooden plates on the table, his smile tinged with amusement. "So, Jade Emperor, want to place a bet?"

Lu Jing’an took out several more silver notes from his robes and gently placed them on the table.

"One thousand. To win."