The many disciples cheered at Qi Yan’s departure.
Meanwhile, riding the Cyan Feathered Eagle, Xiao Chen and Qi Yan quickly left the Cyan Cloud Mountain Range.
It had been over two years since Xiao Chen joined the East Sword Pavilion, and this was his first time venturing out for training.
He should have been thrilled, but one look at Qi Yan sitting cross-legged in front of him made him feel like his future was utterly bleak.
Xiao Chen had always yearned to go out and experience the vast, magnificent Dongyang Domain for himself.
But now, with Qi Yan in the picture, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on that fire of longing, extinguishing it completely.
The Cyan Feathered Eagle was fast, but Qi Yan barely spoke a word the entire way, not even telling Xiao Chen their destination.
All Xiao Chen could do was sit cross-legged on the eagle’s back, seething with frustration.
‘This damn woman must be plotting something nasty…’ Xiao Chen thought, glancing at Qi Yan’s back.
They flew without stopping for three whole days before the Cyan Feathered Eagle finally landed.
At Qi Yan’s command, it flew off toward a mountain range, evidently told to wait for them there.
After dismissing the Cyan Feathered Eagle, Qi Yan led Xiao Chen into a city named Peach Blossom Spring.
‘What a strange name.
What kind of city calls itself Peach Blossom Spring?’ Furthermore, every person who entered had to pay ten low-grade Spirit Stones.
The entry fee was ridiculously high.
After all, an Outer Disciple of the East Sword Pavilion only earned ten low-grade Spirit Stones a month.
After paying a total of twenty low-grade Spirit Stones, they entered the city.
Xiao Chen was instantly captivated by the scene before him.
Bustling.
This was the definition of bustling.
Peach Blossom Spring charged such a steep entry fee, yet a never-ending stream of people flowed into the city.
The streets were lined with shops, and crowds of people milled about.
Xiao Chen had never seen a city so lively; not even the Imperial Capital of Lingfeng Country could compare.
Seeing Xiao Chen’s dumbfounded expression, Qi Yan sneered, “What a country bumpkin.
Peach Blossom Spring is the most famous city in the entire Dongyang Domain.
The City Lord’s Mansion here, known as Leshan Prefecture, is a major power in its own right—no weaker than our East Sword Pavilion.
And because Leshan Prefecture presides over it, the people of the Dongyang Domain call this place the Immortal City, a city fit for the gods.
As long as you have Spirit Stones, you can find any pleasure in the world here.
It’s a place that makes you never want to leave.”
Qi Yan explained all this as they walked deeper into the city.
She found a restaurant, ordered a table full of dishes and a pot of fine wine, and then gestured for Xiao Chen to eat.
Xiao Chen was completely baffled by her actions.
‘What is this woman up to now?
What happened to the training we were promised?
Why did she bring me to Peach Blossom Spring?
And why is she being so nice to me?
Not only has she not hit me, she’s treating me to a feast…’
When something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Xiao Chen knew Qi Yan’s behavior was abnormal, but he couldn’t guess what she was plotting.
Throughout the meal, Qi Yan doted on Xiao Chen to the point that he himself was becoming unnerved and apprehensive.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Qi Yan smiled sweetly at Xiao Chen.
“Well, little brother, we’ve eaten and we’ve drunk.
Now, it’s time for your training to begin.”
‘Here it comes.’ Hearing her words, Xiao Chen was instantly on high alert, bracing himself for whatever trick she had up her sleeve.
He remained on guard, but after leaving the restaurant, Qi Yan showed no sign of leaving Peach Blossom Spring.
Instead, she led Xiao Chen to a massive, circular palace.
That’s right, a palace.
It was built entirely of diamond, occupied a vast area, and was completely sealed at the top, with only a single stone gate for entry and exit.
Outside the palace, Qi Yan told Xiao Chen to wait aside while she went to chat with the two guards.
Xiao Chen had no idea what they were talking about, but he felt the guards’ eyes repeatedly landing on him as they spoke.
As the two men sized him up, Xiao Chen did the same to them.
He probed their strength, and while he couldn’t determine their exact cultivation level, he was certain they were at least in the Xuanyuan Realm.
‘Using two Xuanyuan Realm Martial Artists as mere guards?
Who owns this palace?
What incredible extravagance.’
He didn’t have to wait long.
After about a hundred breaths, Qi Yan called out to him, and they entered the palace together.
They walked to a stone room, where Qi Yan again told Xiao Chen to wait outside.
She entered the room alone.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she came back out, then walked straight past Xiao Chen as if she didn’t know him.
“Senior Sister…” Seeing Qi Yan completely ignore him, Xiao Chen called out and started to follow her, but he was stopped before he could take more than a few steps.
“What are you…?” he asked, looking at the two burly men who had blocked his path.
They were also at the Xuanyuan Realm.
As he spoke, a middle-aged man emerged from the stone room.
The man had only one eye; a hideous scar ran over the other.
He was tall and powerfully built.
Looking at Xiao Chen, the man spoke calmly.
“That woman was your senior sister, wasn’t she?
A moment ago, she sold you to us for five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones.
You must stay here for half a year before you can leave.”
The middle-aged man’s tone was placid, but his words left Xiao Chen stunned.
‘Sold?’ He couldn’t process it at first.
Only after the man’s explanation did Xiao Chen finally understand the whole story.
This place was called the Death Arena, a venue for life-or-death battles.
Some Martial Artists sold themselves to the Arena for a set period of time.
Within that time, they were forced to fight—their opponents could be human or beast.
These brutal spectacles attracted spectators who would bet on the outcomes, allowing the Death Arena to profit.
To put it simply, Xiao Chen had been sold by Qi Yan for half a year.
For the next six months, he would have to fight for the Death Arena.
If he was still alive after that time, he would be free to leave.
If he died before then…
well, there would be no ‘after then’.
He finally understood what the Death Arena was.
It was a place where life and death didn’t matter.
To put it bluntly, he was now a slave to the Death Arena.
He had to fight whoever they told him to fight.
Once the reality of his situation sunk in, a roar of fury that seemed to shake the very heavens erupted from within the Death Arena.
“Qi Yan, you bitch!
I swear I’m not done with you!”
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