Chapter 0455 – Arena of Beasts

The will of the people gathered with astonishing speed, forming a tide of willing power. Especially after consolidating the nearby region spanning thousands of miles, most of the villages and settlements had submitted to Xuanhuang City, adopting the Eternal Coin as their currency. Every moment, willing power was being continuously generated.

As soon as the Willpower Orbs formed, they were instantly refined and absorbed into the embryonic form of Xuanhuang City's Supreme Artifact. With this, parts of the city were rapidly taking shape—turning from illusion into substance. Unnoticed, vast portions had already become fully tangible. No one realized how far the process had progressed.

But it wasn't fast enough. If possible, Yi Tianxing wished the city could be completed in the shortest time possible. Only then would Xuanhuang City truly reign supreme over the world.

Watching the patrols of constables along the streets, Yi Tianxing nodded silently.The atmosphere in the city made it clear—everyone had been performing their duties faithfully during this time. United in purpose, the results were remarkable.

"Tianyi Pavilion? I didn't even notice we'd arrived."

Looking up, Yi Tianxing realized he had unknowingly come to the entrance of Tianyi Pavilion.

"Zhao Ji is here."

Now that he and Cai Yan (Zhao Ji) were husband and wife and had shared a room, he had developed a subtle spiritual connection with her. He could easily sense her presence when nearby.

Just as he was about to enter, two figures emerged from the store. A graceful woman followed behind—it was Jiang Yun, the proprietress of Tianyi Pavilion, also known as Madam Yun.

"Husband, you've emerged from seclusion!"

The moment Cai Yan saw him, joy lit up her eyes and a smile bloomed on her face as she quickly walked over.

"That's great, Brother Yi! You're finally out! So many things have changed in the city recently—you have no idea," said Mu Guiying, her face radiant with joy. Her heroic aura had grown even more intense, likely due to her cultivation.

"Ah, if it isn't the City Lord himself! My little shop is honored by your presence. Care to come in and browse? Support a fellow countrywoman's business," said Madam Yun cheerfully. She showed none of the usual reverence others held for Yi Tianxing—only the casual friendliness of an old acquaintance.

"You're as blunt as ever, Madam Yun. Not planning to fleece me like a fat sheep, are you? If so, you'd best be careful."

Yi Tianxing chuckled in response.

"In that case, I suppose I'd better bribe you, mighty City Lord. Don't go making things difficult for a poor woman like me."

Their banter was light and easy. Yi Tianxing had a good impression of her—she was far braver than most and, as a fellow survivor, shared many habits and attitudes with him. Conversation between them flowed naturally.

"Maybe next time, Madam Yun. Sister Guiying had already invited me to watch a match at the Arena of Death. And this time, she's personally entering the arena—I couldn't possibly miss it."

"You're participating in beast combat?" Yi Tianxing looked at Mu Guiying and asked, frowning slightly.

"Yes. A cultivator's growth depends on battle. Out in the wild, we fight ferocious beasts. In the Arena of Death, it's no different—but you face them alone. I've already become a bounty hunter, spent time hunting beasts outside the city. I know them well. Against a beast of equal tier, I should be fine. Fighting in the arena will make me stronger—faster."

Her expression was resolute. From the bloody aura on her body, it was clear she had killed before—many times.

Yi Tianxing silently evaluated her.

This is someone who truly seeks strength.

"What's your cultivation realm now?"

"Sixth level of the Divine Sea Realm."

"What cultivation method and combat technique are you using?"

"I cultivate the Scripture of Forgetting the Self (Zuo Wang Jing). Zhao Ji helped me choose it. My battle technique is the Gale Blade Technique—fast and deadly."

She spoke without hesitation, not trying to hide anything.In truth, Yi Tianxing could easily discover her cultivation methods through the city's Star Network—the techniques selected in the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion were linked to one's Heavenly Record Card, all data recorded.

Given her contributions in uniting her mountain village with Xuanhuang City, and Yi Tianxing personally awarding her father merit points, Mu Guiying had ample qualifications to acquire high-tier techniques.

"Scripture of Forgetting the Self... Gale Blade Technique. If you've cultivated to a certain level, fighting same-tier beasts won't be easy, but it won't be fatal either. Still, the Arena of Death allows no interference. Once inside, it's life or death—no exceptions. Not even I can stop a match once it begins. Are you absolutely sure about this?"

Yi Tianxing's eyes narrowed.The arena was a battlefield with only two outcomes—survive or die.

"I won't regret it. I made this decision myself. Even if I die, I won't regret it."

Her voice was firm, her eyes confident. She clearly had strong faith in her abilities.

Maybe there's more to this than meets the eye, Yi Tianxing thought. She likely has an ace up her sleeve—possibly an awakened Fate Aperture Divine Power. That would explain her confidence.

"Very well. If you've made your decision, I won't stop you. I'll come with you and see the arena for myself."

The Arena of Death was located in the city's western district, near the military garrison—a heavily fortified zone.

Its entrance loomed before them—black gates like a monstrous beast ready to devour life. A shiver of fear crept into the hearts of all who saw it.

"After you entered seclusion, the Hunter Hall became fully operational. Many of its missions involve capturing beasts and sending them to the arena. Over the past month, we've accumulated quite a number. Somehow, they even started reproducing inside."

Cai Yan explained as they walked.

The Arena Beast Space allowed any kind of beast to live and even reproduce. It seemed to possess a mysterious energy that greatly benefited beasts, enabling them to grow and multiply rapidly—creating a thriving self-contained ecosystem.

The arena didn't originally have any beasts. It was the result of hunter missions bringing them in. In just two months, the system was already well-established. It officially opened a month ago.

Its rules were cruel—but irresistible. Life or death.But for those who survived, one-tenth of the beast's power would be granted to them. Additional performance-based rewards could raise that to 15% or more. However, only truly exciting battles would earn such prizes.

Since opening, some bold bounty hunters had entered. One defeated a beast and instantly received a reward—his cultivation broke through on the spot, his power soared.

Word spread quickly, and the arena soon attracted a flood of bounty hunters.

The battles weren't easy—some were killed in brutal scenes that shocked spectators. But that didn't deter true warriors.

The Arena of Death had become a proving ground for the brave—a stage for real strength.Those who stepped onto that stage and survived became instant celebrities, their reputations rising, their status improving.

"Greetings, Lord Yi! Greetings, Madam!"

Outside the arena, guards stood on duty. Their chests bore two-star white military medals—indicating they were Second-Rank Heaven Soldiers. Their bodies radiated iron-blooded killing intent.

"No need for formalities. Carry on."Yi Tianxing nodded and waved them on.

"My lord, madam, your VIP room is ready. No one will disturb you. You'll have a perfect view of everything happening in the arena."A middle-aged merchant greeted them respectfully.

Entry to the arena wasn't free—each person had to pay one Eternal Coin for admission.Only the fighters themselves were exempt from this fee.