Chapter 168: Return

Chapter 168: Return

Seven days have passed since the beginning of the final competition. Every team brought their strongest groups of geniuses. In fact, a few teams had a spirit sage but none of them were younger than the age of 30. It was clear that even those who have reached the level of Spirit Sage had exerted themselves greatly. Being able to reach rank 70 and higher at this age is categorized as the mark of a supreme talent.

The construction of the final competition was entirely left on the Spirit City and they chose to create a tremendously sturdy and large arena within one of the hunting grounds protected by them. A little north to the Spirit City is the Yellow Heart Province and within this province is a rare habitat under the Spirit City's watch known as the Reverse Waterfall Plains. Although a very scenic location, due to the surrounding towns, almost all of the high-level spirit beasts are extinct already. Still, it did not stop the Spirit Hall to bring this location under their control.

As the name suggests, the Reverse Waterfall Plains have a giant fountain in its center that continuously shoots freshwater as high as 80 meters. The size of the waterfall itself surpasses most of the ponds and only a small thicket could be seen surrounding the giant lake formed due to this marvel of nature, This region also used to be one of the two great sources of the water-type spirit rings but now Spirit Hall strictly forbade anyone from hunting here.

This has already divided aquatic-type martial souls and the other form of martial souls. Presently, most of the aquatic spirit masters can only be seen around coastal territories of the continent.

The grand arena for the final competition was formed inside of the giant fountain.

There were four bridges erected for the various families and civilians to enter the arena. It was not a simple arrangement, to say the least. The only people allowed to stay within the arena itself were the team members participating in the competition. One guardian that the factions sent with their teams and one ambassador who is allowed to move back and forth from the arena and the nearby towns where many individuals of interest stayed. Not only that, for anyone to enter the arena to view the matches needed to pay high prices where the profits will be divided by the three major factions of the continent.

Of course, there were many, many spirit essence tools set in every arena built on the continent for every individual to view the matches. Not to mention the fact that in these seven days, there were already a few fan-favorite teams and this allowed many viewers to be selective on which time to enter the arena. After all, the line-up for matches will be revealed every day in the morning. Of course, one thing was not revealed,

The bet.

This was the main focus of the powerhouses of the various factions and the reason why ambassadors were allocated to the teams in the first place.

For the team presented by the Spirit City, the Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan was presented as the protector of the team and Bibi Dong herself remained as the ambassador. This act simply shot her prestige within the hall through the roof because various elders who require a few things from other factions now have to contact Bib Dong.

Things weren't as simple as they seem, of course. Sixteen matches would occur every day. This meant that every team had potentially sixteen opportunities to gain resources.

For instance, the Spirit City is matched to face the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. This team is nurtured by the Heaven Dou Imperial Clan and is one of the seeded teams. There are many factions who require resources from the heaven dou imperial clan and the spirit hall. By now, Bibi Dong had already received many requests from the varying factions including the Star Luo Imperial Clan to get resources from the opposing teams while presenting an appropriate price but Bibi Dong was also clear on the fact that the Star Luo Imperial Clan would have approached the Heaven Imperial Clan to gain a few resources from the Spirit Hall.

This was the real face of the competition. There were no eternal rivals, only benefits. Even the teams who had already lost to the Spirit Hall would approach them with a calm expression while Bibi Dong herself would send many requests for resources.

Even before the break of dawn, many teams would wake up and start their routine of constantly reviewing various matches and contact their families for directions regarding the many resources needed to bet.

Inside the giant fountain, a beautiful crystal dome surrounded the arena. every civilian felt lucky to enter such an arena and only envied the stronger spirit masters for they can see such beautiful sceneries every day. Little did they know...

"The Sixth Priest wants the Diamond Staff held by the Gengxin City. We are prepared to provide the first level of his staff technique for it. Lana, go and seal this deal with the Nuoding Province's team."

"Yuehua, you will go to the Blazing Academy's region and tell them that we will only ask the Heaven Duo Imperial Academy the copy of their fire-type facilities only if they add their own copy of flame-type blueprint of their training grounds."

As Bibi Dong said so, Yuehua and Hu Lana left the office. Over the week, Bibi Dong used Hu Lana because of her unbridled charm that is known to even attract females and Yuehua who had amazing speaking skills to seal many deals. She herself manned the office.

While Hu Lana and Yuehua were without injuries, within the office, the remaining five members all held some form of surface wounds. Ah Yin could easily heal them but Bibi Dong wanted to continue feigning weakness. Every time they would fight a match, Hu Lana and Yuehua would get down the stage while Bibi Dong made sure to win only after a tiring battle. After all, if they won too easily, no other team would bet resources with them.

The main objective was to win, however. Their team had won all seven matches until now and had gained enough fame for other teams to approach them to provide compensation for the resources they want from the opponent team.

"I'm tired," Jun'er whined.

"Please stay quiet, I'm meditating," Ah Yin remarked. She could be said to be the most easygoing individual since she refused to participate in the money-making fiasco.

"Tch, Little Yin. How did you even land Ka-ul? He is easily the greediest individual..." Jun'er mumbled while Ah Yin shrugged.

"Ahhhhh! Oscar! Stop mumbling!" Erlong growled while Oscar looked at the irritated Erlong and then mumbled again, "Your granddaddy has a stinky tofu!"

Veins popped on Erlong's barely-haired head. She was opposite of Ah Yin and was easily annoyed.

Seeing them, Bibi Dong sighed. She honestly missed Ja Sun and Xie Xan. Despite wielding blades, Xie Xan was the best accountant and could easily help Bibi Dong organize this mess. Meanwhile, Ja Sun was simply devious and crazy enough to help her handle the political side of the mess and even manage to gain more benefits.

"But... it will take them at least a year to return..." Her eyes dimmed for a moment as she recalled the dangers and disgust filled within the Slaughter City.

"Ah! Sister Dong Mmgh~!" Hu Lana's squeak echoed after a few minutes of waiting before she let out a moan. Everybody's expression turned cold as they expected the worst and rushed out of the office.

"Bastard! Let go of Lana!"

Erlong screamed. This corridor was quite peaceful and was only occupied by their team so they instantly felt that someone else was forcing themselves on Hu Lana.

"Who the hell are you calling a bastard?" The familiar voice instantly stunned the group as they stopped in their tracks. Hugging Hu Lana as she blushed happily, was Xie Xan. Of course, he had looked better. His hair had grown out, he was slightly paler than usual and had thinned down, too.

Ah Yin's gaze, meanwhile, landed on Ja Sun. Still tanned and burly but his hair had grown out, too.

"You cannot participate," Bibi Dong cut him off.

"Because I and Xie Xan came out too early?" Ja Sun inquired and Bibi Dong nodded.

In fact, Bibi Dong also did not know that Ja Sun had made an enemy out of Redstar. But Ja Sun still wanted to participate since he can gain many resources by making his mission difficult.

"What if I contribute the method of bypassing the requirement of Slaughter Arena to the Spirit Hall?" Ja Sun smiled.

The benefit of the Slaughter City, at least, the ones known by the Spirit Hall was simply the advantage of getting a Domain. This domain was obtained by the Slaughter Egg which Ja Sun had completely absorbed. Even if the Spirit Hall knows the way to enter the trials, they will only face the Three-headed Bat and the Serpent without any spirit skills for vain so Ja Sun wasn't stingy on this matter.

Hearing her words, Bibi Dong's eyelids jumped in surprise and she looked thoughtful.

"I have to discuss it with Master. In the meantime, you two will familiarize yourself with the various resources at play here. Yuehua, Lana, help them. Once you are familiar, you two will take over the organization of various resources and discussing it with other ambassadors."

Xie Xan and Ja Sun nodded.

Once Bibi Dong left, Ja Sun looked around with a grin before pulling close to Ah Yin, "Alright, everyone. It's time you began to describe everything you gained from the Immortal Herbs. I need to make a list of these benefits and compare it with my own records.

With that, Ja Sun first understood everyone's advantages and then also added that these advantages were on the surface. The most important benefit of an immortal herb is to permanently increase the user's talent and potential so as they continue to cultivate, they would be able to unearth more benefits.

Xie Xan then proceeded to demonstrate his domain but Ja Sun refrained from doing so. Not only would it quicken the depletion of his Spirit Energy but he also wanted to keep his domain hidden momentarily.

As for Bibi Dong and Qian Xunji, Ja Sun wasn't impatient. He didn't want to act hastily and relay the information that Redstar wanted Bibi Dong known without any form of necessity. If he acted irrationally, he may just end up earning Bibi Dong's ire instead.

Once Ja Sun and Xie Xan took an hour to familiarise themselves with the situation, under Ah Yin's constant support as the room was once again filled with blue silver variants, Ja Sun began to optimize a few more requests and resources. After all, he was explained in detail by Redstar regarding various resources that the other factions hold and it is within these resources that the other herb capable of healing his injury laid.

But first, he gazed at the current team that they would face.

The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

Ja Sun didn't even think.

He was extremely interested in one of their Supreme Spirit Essence Tool...

The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

And in return, Ja Sun placed the blueprint of three essence tools that contributed to 15 percent of Spirit Hall's income. Of course, this was a personal need for resources and the blueprint belonged to Ja Sun itself. Should Qian Daoliu be present, he would cough out his centipede soup just in anger and shock.

15% of the Spirit Hall's total income...

The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy accepted it without another thought.

And by the time Bibi Dong was discussing Ja Sun's proposal with her master, the news of this act only made her smile secretly. In reality, she wanted her team to have more members since winning had gotten increasingly difficult without revealing their trump cards. Ja Sun's and Xie Xan's addition would prove extremely helpful.

And with how Bibi Dong vouched for their strength and Qian Xunji's own knowledge of the benefits attained from the Slaughter City, he finally agreed to the deal.

But even when Ja Sun and Xie Xan were a part of the team originally, Qian Xunji had to personally relay the information to various factions about the addition of the two original members so that he could snuff up any dissatisfaction in the bud. Still, the news of Ja Sun's return who knew where he had been caught up shocked many individuals. These individuals included Ning Fengzhi who was present in the Gengxin City when the whole fiasco took place while Redstar's brows violently twitched. Tang Hao and the others of the Clear Sky Clan, especially Tang Peng were more than roused since they innately felt a sense of enmity against Ja Sun who 'kidnapped' Tang Yuehua.

Even in these seven days, Tang Yuehua barely had any contact with her family due to her responsibilities and also her... well, her brother's incidental rejection of her proposal. It was Tang Yuehua herself who felt more awkward around her family at the moment and actively avoided them.

This only made the Clear Sky Clan more dissatisfied with Ja Sun.

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Shout-out to Joseph Bibb!

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