Kirin

Kirin...

After Flaming Rose triumphed over Hades, she left the Arena. Moments later, Bailu Yi returned to the spectator stands and found Qin Wentian scrutinizing her.

"What are you looking at?" Bailu Yi asked, her eyebrows furrowing at his peculiar expression.

"Flaming Rose," Qin Wentian whispered in her ear, earning himself a fierce glare from Bailu Yi.

"How much does the Arena compensate its Yuanfu combatants per match?"

"It depends on one's battle record and the circumstances at the time. Usually, those with remarkable records earn a substantial payout for each victory, while newcomers receive significantly less. Take Asura, for example; his winnings per victory are astonishingly high," Bailu Yi explained.

"What about you? Your record is outstanding," Qin Wentian inquired with a grin.

"About 100 third-layer Yuan Meteor Stones per victory," Bailu Yi admitted, revealing her identity as Flaming Rose.

"Third-layer Yuan Meteor Stones?" Qin Wentian's expression froze, astonished by the substantial compensation.

"Naturally," Bailu Yi chuckled.

"What a fantastic way to earn money," Qin Wentian remarked, his eyes gleaming. "I'd like to give it a try."

He stood up and headed toward the tunnel. Witnessing this, Leng Ning, who was behind him, called out in a panic, "Where are you going?"

Qin Wentian turned and smiled at her. "To participate in the Hell Arena."

"Are you out of your mind? If you need Yuan Meteor Stones, I can lend you some. Don't be so reckless by going to the Hell Arena. Are you seeking death?" Leng Ning's concerned expression turned stern as she scolded him. "Even if you somehow win a few rounds by luck, the payout for newcomers doesn't justify the risk. Only true experts with exceptional records profit from this."

Qin Wentian smiled as he heard Leng Ning's scolding. Despite the seemingly rude words, he knew she was concerned for him. The genuine worry in her eyes couldn't be hidden.

"How do you know I will lose?" Qin Wentian smiled, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"Teacher Bailu, can you please talk some sense into this guy?" Leng Ning turned to Bailu Yi for support.

"Why bother convincing him?" Bailu Yi responded coldly. How could a third-ranked Divine Inscriptionist perish so easily? Even if he lost, he surely had some means of self-preservation.

"Hmph, go ahead then. If you die, at least it won't be so noisy anymore," Leng Ning muttered angrily.

Qin Wentian remained silent, just offering a smile, and continued on his way to the tunnel. Once inside, he descended into the underground network beneath the Hell Arena. The tunnels led to various destinations, shrouded in an air of mystery.

"Newcomer or veteran?" a person asked when they noticed Qin Wentian.

"Newcomer."

"Follow me." The person guided Qin Wentian through the labyrinthine tunnels to a room filled with masks, capes, and cloaks.

"Choose what you like," the person said. Qin Wentian scanned the assortment and his eyes fell upon a Kirin-style mask, reminiscent of his time in the Dreamsky Forest. With a smile, he selected the mask, along with a battle robe and cape.

"Your cultivation level and code name?" the person inquired.

"Second level of Yuanfu, code name: Kirin," Qin Wentian replied.

"Got it. Follow me, and I'll explain the rules to you." After the explanation, Qin Wentian took his place in the Arena.

Across from him stood another combatant wearing a bronze-colored mask with the code name: Bronze.

"Bronze, second level of Yuanfu, with a record of eighteen victories and two defeats. Kirin, second level of Yuanfu, newcomer," the judge announced, inciting the crowd's excitement. Newcomers' battles were the crowd's favorites because no one knew their true strengths.

"I enjoy tormenting newbies the most," Bronze declared, his eyes glinting with malice as they locked onto Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian didn't respond. To him, the Hell Arena was merely a means to accumulate Yuan Meteor Stones. While he had brought a substantial amount from Chu, his journey had depleted a significant portion. If he didn't replenish them soon, his future cultivation would be affected.

As the incense stick burned down, the battle began after the bets were placed.

Bronze stepped forward, emitting a sonorous resonance from his body. An oppressive pressure enveloped Qin Wentian as a bronze aura encircled Bronze's fist, exuding a powerful energy.

"The Will of a Mandate," Qin Wentian muttered, his expression tightening. This person could be considered a genius, comprehending a Mandate at the second level of Yuanfu.

Bronze boasted an impressive battle record with eighteen victories and only two defeats, while Qin Wentian was a newcomer with no prior victories. Predictably, only a few believed in Qin Wentian's potential to win. For the majority, they could already visualize the scene of Qin Wentian's skull being crushed by Bronze's powerful fist.

In response, Qin Wentian clenched his hand, producing thunderous cracks as demonic Qi surged through him. Divine Energy within his Yuanfu circulated fiercely, enveloping his arms with layers of formidable energy. His figure flickered, becoming a blur as he thrust his fist forward, meeting Bronze's attack head-on.

BOOOOOMMM!

Their fists collided in a fierce battle of strength, a direct and decisive approach. The bone-cracking sounds echoed, and Bronze's arm trembled violently, on the brink of breaking. Groaning in agony, he channeled more energy into his arms, but a deafening roar followed as his body was sent flying through the air, crashing heavily onto the ground and coughing up mouthfuls of blood.

Bronze felt an immense pressure weighing him down like a mountain as he peered up at Qin Wentian, trembling with fear. He quickly conceded defeat, realizing the difference in their strengths. Qin Wentian acknowledged his concession with a nod, his cape billowing in the wind. He didn't deliver a finishing blow.

"Thank you." Bronze picked himself up, extending his gratitude to Qin Wentian. He was fully aware of the brutal nature of the Hell Arena, where many showed no mercy. Luckily, Qin Wentian had spared him.

"The Kirin is the victor. Will you continue to accept challenges?" the judge asked.

"Yes," Qin Wentian affirmed. He had come here to establish a winning record.

"This Kirin is quite formidable. He easily defeated Bronze," the crowd whispered among themselves, acknowledging Qin Wentian's unexpected strength.

Qin Wentian continued to take on challengers, his name reverberating through the arena as the judge announced his victories.

"Kirin, victory."

"Kirin, victory."

"Kirin, ten consecutive victories."

"Kirin, fifteen consecutive victories..."

His winning streak caused a stir, drawing the attention of the entire arena. While it was easy to win a few consecutive battles, the difficulty increased significantly beyond ten. The crowd, whether combatants or spectators, was a passionate and fiery bunch. Within the audience, even some seasoned experts felt the urge to challenge Qin Wentian after witnessing his remarkable streak.

A curious phenomenon unfolded that day in the Hell Arena. Many of Kirin's challengers had no prior battle records but displayed exceptional strength.

Despite this, all of them ended up defeated.

Kirin's battle record now stood at thirty victories, zero defeats.

"Is that really Kirin?" Bailu Yi couldn't be sure. The combatants' identities remained hidden, with their features obscured, making it impossible to identify them.

"He can't be that powerful, can he?" Bailu Yi pondered. After Kirin's 30th consecutive victory, there were no more challengers. Kirin had to step down, leaving many spectators disappointed.

A short while later, Qin Wentian returned to the spectator stands with a wide grin. Thirty consecutive victories had earned him a substantial sum.

"How does it feel to be on the receiving end of a beating?" Leng Ning shot a glare at Qin Wentian before asking, "Which one were you? Ice Sabre? Cold Moon? Ancient Tree?"

She mentioned names that had all suffered defeat at the hands of Kirin.

"I'm Kirin," Qin Wentian admitted with a laugh. While the Hell Arena kept the combatants' identities concealed, it was up to the combatant themselves to reveal it if they chose to.

Leng Ning couldn't help but roll her eyes at Qin Wentian's typical boasting.

"You're really lucky that Kirin's character wasn't ruthless. Otherwise, how would you still be standing here? In the future, don't do this again, okay?" Leng Ning scolded, her brow furrowing.

Thirty consecutive victories – had Kirin's combat skills truly reached the point where he could go toe-to-toe with third-level Yuanfu combatants?

"Okay, let's go back," Bailu Yi suggested. It was late afternoon, and it was time to head back.

As they walked back, Bailu Yi and Qin Wentian continued to lead the way, leaving Leng Ning with a mischievous smile. This guy was truly an expert in the art of pursuing women.

"Are you really Kirin?" Bailu Yi asked Qin Wentian, curiosity gleaming in her beautiful eyes.

"Yeah," Qin Wentian replied, aware of Bailu Yi's more innocent side. Her eyes lit up at his confirmation.

"You're quite mysterious. Come to my White Deer Institute tomorrow. We can study Divine Inscriptions together, and I'll give you a tour of the institute," she suggested.

"Sure," Qin Wentian agreed. Once they reached the academy, Bailu Yi turned to the group of students.

"The one-month timeframe has come to an end. If any of you are interested in furthering your knowledge of Divine Inscriptions, you can apply to join our institute. That's all. Thank you," she announced.

After her speech, Bailu Yi looked at Qin Wentian and discreetly signaled to him. They both entered the White Deer Institute.

"Wait!" A cold voice interrupted them. Yan Kong's face was contorted with anger. How could Bailu Yi choose someone else to study with her, especially after everyone assumed it would be him? Her actions felt like a humiliating rejection.

"Is there something else you need?" Bailu Yi asked, her tone icy.

"Miss Bailu, I thought you were going to choose one of us to study Divine Inscriptions with you," Yan Kong inquired politely.

"I've already made my choice. Do I need to report my actions to you?" Bailu Yi responded with clear annoyance. Her message was obvious: Who did Yan Kong think he was?

"So who did you pick?" Yan Kong glanced at Qin Wentian, struggling to contain his anger. However, his frustration was palpable to the others.

"Get lost," Bailu Yi snapped.

"Tsk tsk. Initially, Miss Bailu said she would choose the one with the highest proficiency in the Dao of Divine Inscriptions to study with her. But in the end, she picked him?" Yan Kong's sneer grew colder.

"Miss Bailu, are you sure your decision isn't clouded by your emotions? Have you become so infatuated with him that you've lost your logic?"

Bailu Yi trembled with anger at Yan Kong's disrespectful words. Qin Wentian nodded at her, signaling that he would handle this situation. His expression grew icy. People like Yan Kong needed to learn a lesson; otherwise, they'd never know when to stop.