As the sun sank, more and more Contestants arrived at the Giant Plaza in the center of the Beast Horn Arena—Wu Yun, Mu Ling Sha, Lin Dong, Lin Hong, Lin Xia...
"Lin Dong, where did you go? Didn't we agree to team up against Lei Li and the others?"
On the plaza, Wu Yun approached Lin Dong and lowered his voice.
"I went to collect identity tokens. Otherwise, how would I get into the final match?"
Lin Dong raised the dozen-odd identity tokens in his hand, looking at the agitated Wu Yun with confusion.
"Ugh, there was a big score, and we couldn't pull it off without your help." Wu Yun slapped his thigh, looking frustrated.
"Oh? A big score? What kind of score...?"
Lei Li and Xie Yingying, on whom the Lei and Xie Families had pinned high hopes, still had not arrived. They seemed to have encountered some inexplicable trouble, leaving Lei Family Head Lei Bao and Xie Family Head Xie Qian grim-faced.
Lin Zhentian and Luo Cheng, Hall Master of the Berserk Blade Martial Hall, optimistically guessed that Lei Li and Xie Yingying had encountered a Heavenly Yuan Realm Demonic Beast from deep in the mountains and met with misfortune.
The Beast Horn Arena held more than Fierce Beasts. It also contained a far more formidable creature: the Demon Beast. Even the weakest Demon Beast could rival a human Martial Artist at the Sixth or Seventh Stage of Body Tempering, while the stronger ones were beyond comparison.
Lei Bao could no longer hold back and was about to send people into the Beast Horn Arena when Lei Li, Xie Yingying, and their companions arrived at last. All of them looked grim.
Passing Contestants eventually roused Lei Li and the others. Fortunately, no Demon Beast passed by while they were unconscious; otherwise, they would all have ended up in a beast's belly.
They had awakened too late. The competition was nearing its end, and every Contestant—whether they had gathered a full set of Identity Tokens or lost theirs—had reached the Giant Plaza in the center of the Beast Horn Arena.
With no other choice, Lei Li and Xie Yingying took Identity Tokens from their clansmen, scraped together ten each, and rushed to the Giant Plaza.
On the plaza, several middle-aged men who appeared to be Referees nodded to Lei Li and Xie Yingying as they hurried in. The gesture told them to enter and prepare for the Final Match, which would decide the Champion.
"Phew, it's good that Li'er and Yingying are safe."
When Lei Li and the others appeared, Lei Bao let out a long breath of relief.
"Even though Li'er and the others are fine, they didn't perform very well. Our Lei and Xie Families will still end up looked down upon by Qingyang Town and the nearby powers. What should we do about this?"
Seated beside Lei Bao, Xie Qian said with a slight frown.
"What's there to rush about? Li'er is an Earthly Yuan Realm Expert, while Wu Yun of the Berserk Blade Martial Hall and Lin Dong of the Lin Clan are merely at the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering. I'll make sure both their families are put to shame in a moment."
Lei Bao glanced at the smiling Lin Zhentian and Luo Cheng in the distance. Let them enjoy themselves for a while; soon, they would have nothing to laugh about.
Ten Contestants had gathered a full set of Identity Tokens, and even the weakest was at the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering. Their matches were high-quality and exciting, drawing repeated cheers from the audience in the stands.
As expected, the Final Match featured Lei Li of the Lei Family and Lin Dong of the Lin Family, the Number One of the Younger Generation from each clan.
"Wait, let me say a few words first."
"Wait. Let me say a few words first." As Lin Dong and Lei Li stepped onto the Combat Arena, Lei Family Head Lei Bao stood up and channeled Yuan Power into his voice so everyone could hear him.
"Hmph, looks like this Lei Bao is about to cause trouble again."
Eldest Master of the Lin Clan Lin Ken snorted.
"He's just looking to use this chance to propose some kind of wager. Once his precious grandson Lei Li wins the match, he'll have gained both honor and profit, that's all."
Lin Zhentian remained composed. Familiar with his old rival's character, he saw through Lei Bao's intentions at once.
But he had no reason to worry. His precious grandson Lin Dong was also an Earthly Yuan Realm Expert. The so-called "Ninth Layer of Body Tempering" was false information he had deliberately spread. He had been waiting for Lei Bao to make his move.
"Lin Zhentian, we set stakes at every Hunting Competition to make the event more exciting. This time, the Final Match pits a disciple from each of our families against the other. Why don't our two families have a Wagered Duel?"
The stands fell silent. Lei Bao nodded in satisfaction and turned toward the Lin Family's seats.
"Heh, I knew this old fossil only had this one trick up his sleeve."
"Heh, I knew this old fossil had only one trick." Lin Zhentian gave his sons a disdainful smile. Without rising, he called out, "Fine. I, Lin Zhentian, accept this wager. What stakes can you offer, Lei Bao?"
"Ill-mannered old fossil, you'll get what's coming to you in a moment..."
Lin Zhentian's flippant attitude caused irritation to flash in Lei Bao's eyes, but Lei Bao laughed heartily. "My Lei Family will put up Ironwood Manor as collateral. If Lin Dong defeats my Li'er, Ironwood Manor will belong to your Lin Family."
"Very well. Our Lin Family will put up Flame Manor as the stake."
Lin Zhentian accepted the wager without the slightest hesitation.
Ironwood Manor produced a special type of Ironwood and was a sizable Lei Family property. Flame Manor was an even larger Lin Family estate with substantial annual yields, making it somewhat more valuable than Ironwood Manor.
"Haha, good, then it's settled. Let the match begin now."
A flash of greed crossed Lei Bao's face when he heard that Lin Zhentian would stake Flame Manor. Unable to contain his eagerness, he declared the wager settled.
"Match, begin!"
On the other side of the plaza, the Referee received the signal and announced the start.
"Hmph, fool. Who'll win and who'll lose is far from certain."
"Hmph, fool. The winner is not decided yet." Lin Zhentian sneered, then fell silent and watched the match closely.
On the Giant Combat Arena, two equally young figures stood facing each other.
"Lin Dong, did you hear that? Your grandfather is staking your Lin Family's Flame Manor. I hear Flame Manor accounts for a good chunk of your Lin Family's income—if I win it from you, won't the Lin Family go bankrupt?"
Clad in tight-fitting battle attire, Lei Li stood tall and imposing. With his fairly handsome features, he could pass for a dashing young hero.
"The Lei Family's Ironwood Manor isn't bad either. I've had my eye on it for quite a while."
An inscrutable smile appeared on Lin Dong's face.
"Hmph, you're only a weakling at the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering. How dare you think you can stand against me, an Earthly Yuan Realm Expert?"
Lei Li clenched his fist, and a dense sheen of Yuan Power shimmered across his body. This was the source of his arrogance and the confidence behind his easy victory over Lin Dong.
"Too much talk!"
Lin Dong's figure blurred, and he vanished from the spot.
Yet Lei Li, confident in his superior strength, stood still. He raised both palms and bent them into a strange curve, while his ten fingers moved like the swaying head of a venomous snake.
He continued muttering, "Naive. This is the Spirit Snake Palm, my Lei Family's Second-grade Martial Art. Its technique is vicious and sinister..."