C98 Xuanyuan Arena

Lin Qingshan spread her hands in resignation. "This is also my first visit to Xuanyuan City. Since the Xuanling Auction House isn't open yet, let's secure accommodations for now. But tell me, how are you on the verge of another breakthrough?"

Lin Qingshan was at a loss for words, feeling a mix of pride and jealousy.

Throughout their journey, Han Feng had resumed cultivating the Human Origin Fruit. Over the course of a few days, he had been relentlessly honing his True Qi cultivation, and now he stood at the pinnacle of the Three-star Human Rank.

One more step, and he would ascend to the Mid-Period of the Human Rank.

Just a month prior, Han Feng was still lingering in the Late Period of the Mortal Rank.

Han Feng just scratched his head, wearing a goofy grin.

Not even he had anticipated such rapid advancement in his strength.

"Clearly, leaving the family to cultivate was the right choice. If I had stayed, I might have reached the Three-star Human Rank, but I wouldn't have achieved this level of mastery in martial skills and the four major Inherited Martial Skills. My overall combat strength must be considered upper-grade within the Han family by now."

The Han family had few martial cultivators at the Late Period of the Human Rank; they were the elite of the clan.

Those at the Five or Six-star Human Rank were already considered upper-grade among the Han family's martial cultivators.

Though Han Feng's cultivation foundation was just at the Three-star Human Rank peak, his actual overall combat strength had already surpassed that of a Six-star Human Rank.

The pair casually chose an inn and ordered some food. Han Feng asked the server nonchalantly, "My friend, we're new to Xuanyuan City and not familiar with the local attractions. Could you recommend some entertaining spots?"

With that, Han Feng handed over a generous sum of silver.

In a Human-level city, silver held more sway than Spirit Stones.

But in a Profound grade city, the value of silver paled in comparison to Spirit Stones, so it was important not to skimp.

In an Earth-level city, transactions were almost exclusively in Spirit Stones, even among common folk. Offering mere silver there could get you unceremoniously shown the door.

The server's eyes lit up at the sight of the ample silver, and his smile turned genuine. "Esteemed guest, you're clearly a Martial Cultivator. If that's the case, missing out on the Xuanyuan Arena would be a real shame."

"Xuanyuan Arena?" Han Feng inquired with curiosity.

"Yes, the Xuanyuan Arena caters specifically to independent cultivators, minor clans, and visitors like yourself," the server explained.

"At the Xuanyuan Arena, every martial cultivator is welcome to compete. Matches are arranged by rank: Early Human Rank against Early Human Rank, Mid Human Rank against Mid Human Rank, and Late Human Rank against Late Human Rank."

"Victory in the arena earns you a substantial number of Spirit Stones, and a streak of ten consecutive wins even garners a Pill."

"The Lau, Pang, and Lee families—Xuanyuan City's most influential clans—jointly oversee the Xuanyuan Arena. Rumor has it that the City Lord has a hand in it as well."

"Their aim is to scout for talent within the arena."

"For the independent cultivators and warriors from smaller families, the chance to earn Spirit Stones and Pills is enticing, but the real prize is the potential to be scouted by one of the three great families."

"Even if the top three families don't show interest, representatives from other prominent families in Xuanyuan City often attend the matches. Gaining their recognition is also quite an achievement."

"I suggest you give it a shot. As an outsider, if you're not looking to align with any of Xuanyuan City's families, you could still benefit from the Spirit Stones and Pills, not to mention the combat experience you'll gain."

The waiter had clearly done his share of promoting the Xuanyuan Arena before.

Han Feng's eyes sparkled at the mention of Spirit Stones and Pills, much to Lin Qingshan's amusement.

After pondering for a moment, Han Feng asked, "Waiter, why aren't there any battles between Peak Human Rank warriors?"

Lin Qingshan perked up at the question.

The waiter clapped his hands and chuckled, "My dear sir, you jest. The Peak Human Rank martial cultivators are of a different caliber. While Mystic Rank may represent the pinnacle in Xuanyuan City, those at the Peak of Human Rank are highly valued. With a clean family background, they're immediately courted by the clans upon revealing their cultivation foundation. The experts capable of unbeatable combat at their level, or even defeating higher-ranked opponents, are irresistible prospects for powerful families like the Lau, Pang, and Lee. They have no need for the Xuanyuan Arena."

"Sir, I must caution you that the battles at Xuanyuan Arena are far from child's play. Injuries and even fatalities are common occurrences. Why would a Martial Cultivator at the Peak of Human Rank take such a risk?"

Lin Qingshan's lips twisted in frustration. She was low on Spirit Stones and had planned to earn some at the Xuanyuan Arena, but now it seemed a wasted effort.

Han Feng handed the waiter a few silver taels. "Good advice. Now, could you give me the details?"

"How many Spirit Stones do I earn for each victory, for instance?"

The waiter, his mood lifted by the generous tip, replied with vigor, "Martial Cultivator, the Xuanyuan Arena is structured across three tiers."

"The First Layer hosts battles for those in the Early Period of Human Rank. The Second Layer is for the Middle Period, and the Third Layer is for the Late Period."

"There are also dedicated rest rooms for Martial Cultivators at each level. The more victories you claim, the better the accommodations."

"On the First Layer, a single victory earns you one Medium-grade Lower-grade Spirit Stone. Two consecutive wins yield two stones, and three consecutive wins grant you four. Four consecutive wins will net you eight Medium-grade Lower-grade Spirit Stones. Continue this streak to ten, and you'll amass a total of 512 Medium-grade Lower-grade Spirit Stones."

"However, if you lose at any point, you must start your tally anew."

"The Second Layer offers the same quantity of Spirit Stones, but they are Upper-grade Lower-grade. The Third Layer also follows this pattern, but the stones are of the Top-grade Lower-grade."

At this point, Han Feng was visibly elated.

Then, a question struck him. "If I achieve ten consecutive victories on the First Layer, am I allowed to continue?"

The waiter shook his head, "No, there's a record for everyone at Xuanyuan Arena. After ten consecutive victories, you must either leave or advance to the next tier. Even if an Early Period Martial Cultivator has the strength to defeat someone in the Middle Period, they must wait until they've officially reached the Middle Period to progress to the Second Layer and take on new challenges."

Han Feng nodded in comprehension. If a Martial Cultivator were to keep racking up wins on the first level, the three major families would end up spending a considerable amount of Spirit Stones.

The server added, "Certainly, if you manage to secure ten consecutive victories without a breakthrough in your cultivation foundation, you still get one opportunity to challenge the next level. You'd face a Martial Cultivator from the level above. Win, and you'll be awarded a Pill. But remember, each person gets only one shot at this challenge per level."

"Martial Cultivators are highly esteemed by the various clans."

"Really? Go on," urged Han Feng, his interest piqued at the mention of Pills. After all, the origin fluid derived from Pills could boost one's strength much more quickly than Spirit Stones could.