Chapter 10: The Betting Arena
His mastery over the Inanimate Sealing Art had reached the 'Understand' stage. Bai Feng picked up a stone from nearby and tossed it into a tree, causing a few leaves to flutter down. Extending his palm, he activated the technique.
"Inanimate Seal!"
Whirr...
The falling leaves in mid-air suddenly slowed down significantly. However, despite the decrease in speed, it wasn't as effective as he had hoped; the descent was still clearly visible to the naked eye. Bai Feng shook his head and smiled.
"I knew it. This isn't enough yet."
He looked at the Enlightenment Ticket in his inventory and gave the command:
"Use Enlightenment Ticket."
[You have used the Enlightenment Ticket. Please select the technique you wish to promote.]
"Promote the Inanimate Sealing Art."
[Congratulations! You have reached the 'Master' stage of the Inanimate Sealing Art.]
[Inanimate Sealing Art - Advanced Grade (Master 0 / 10,000)]
Bai Feng nodded, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He picked up another stone to test the technique once more.
Zip—!
He threw the stone into the tree again. As the leaves began to drift down, he extended his palm.
"Inanimate Seal!"
The moment he activated the art, the falling leaves froze instantly in mid-air, with no sign of movement whatsoever. Bai Feng stepped down from the pavilion and walked toward the frozen leaves, examining them closely. He wondered what exactly held them in place. Even though he was the user, he couldn't feel the force that was suspending them. After a full minute passed...
Flutter—!
The leaves returned to normal and fell to the ground. Bai Feng looked at the leaves on the earth and murmured:
"I see. There's a time limit. Of course, if such a powerful skill had no limit, I could freeze the entire world."
Stretching his limbs, he checked the time. Five hours had already passed inside the game, which meant only two and a half hours had elapsed in the real world. He sat back down in the pavilion, deciding to spend the rest of the day cultivating to raise his rank.
"Well, I still have six hours of game time left. Let's level up."
He swallowed the Low-Grade, Grade-2 Cultivation Pill he had purchased and began practicing his Basic Qi Technique.
[Qi +10]
[Qi +10]
[Qi +10]
Since the Basic Qi Technique was the most rudimentary method, using a Grade-2 pill with it was a massive waste. However, Bai Feng didn't care. Even other basic-level techniques cost five hundred silver coins, and advanced ones started at five thousand. He couldn't afford those yet.
Lost in his cultivation, he lost track of time until a system notification forced his eyes open.
[Congratulations! You have reached the Five Foundations Body Refining Realm - Viscera Refining Stage. Strength +40, Agility +40, Endurance +40, Spirit Power +40]
The effects of a Grade-2 pill lasted for two hours, so he knew he had been practicing for just under that time. He opened his status screen.
[Name: Bai Tianyun]
[Title: Spirit Beast Hunter]
[Cultivation Rank: Viscera Refining Stage (Qi 0 / 150,000)]
• Strength: 81
• Agility: 86
• Endurance: 81
• Spirit Power: 81
[Weapon: Control Brush]
[Skills: Nature Taoist Incantation (Master), Inanimate Sealing Art (Master)]
[Equipment: Mist Taoist Robe (Silver Grade)]
[Inventory: 10 Gold Coins, Storage Ring (Cultivation Guidebook, 1 Grade-1 Cultivation Pill (Low-Grade), 3 Grade-1 Cultivation Pills (High-Grade))]
Bai Feng decided to push further. Once he reached the Origin Internal Strength Realm, he could claim that legendary quest. He swallowed a High-Grade, Grade-1 Cultivation Pill. Since the Grade-2 pill's effect hadn't completely worn off, the new pill's effects would trigger immediately after.
[Qi +10...]
Six hours later, Bai Feng opened his eyes and checked his progress bar with satisfaction.
[Cultivation Rank: Viscera Refining Stage (Qi 82,000 / 150,000)]
With one High-Grade, Grade-1 pill remaining, he was confident he could reach the Skin Refining Stage within the next two days. Ordinary players usually took at least a week to reach that stage. He was now almost certain to hit it in three days. As for the Vessel Refining Stage, it wouldn't be easy even for him to reach it within half a month. In his past life, it had taken him seventeen days, while average players took twenty. Reaching the Origin Internal Strength Realm within a month still seemed like an impossible feat for now.
While he was cultivating, other players had begun taking on basic quests—picking fruit in orchards or carrying water from forest streams to earn money. Their plan was to save up for pills and equipment to eventually fight beasts. That was the mindset of a common player. Professional players, however, were scouting the city for important quests or forming parties to hunt spirit beasts immediately, exchanging carcasses for coins to buy pills and techniques.
Selling a Grade-1 beast carcass fetched five silver coins, which was far more profitable than the tedious labor of fruit picking, which only paid ten copper coins per task. Before logging off, Bai Feng decided to earn some quick cash.
His destination: The Betting Arena.
It was a place he had noticed since entering the city—a hub for battle-hungry maniacs. Not only players but also NPCs (residents of this world) participated in the betting, making it a high-reward yet high-risk location. While players could respawn, every death resulted in a 50% penalty to cultivation speed for twelve hours.
Bai Feng arrived at the arena. It consisted of a central fighting pit surrounded by ten-meter-high circular walls. Seating for spectators lined the walls. Right in the center of the wall was a specialized booth with a roof, clearly the hub for placing bets. Bai Feng headed to the counter and spoke to the old man sitting there.
"I'd like to compete in the arena."
The old man looked at him lazily and replied, "Entry fee is ten silver coins."
"There aren't many rules. Unless it's a deathmatch agreement, you can't kill your opponent. If you are forced out of the ring, you lose. You can place your own bets. If you win, you get double your own bet plus 20% of the total pool wagered on your side. If you agree, pay up."
The old man spoke in a monotonous drone, completely indifferent to Bai Feng's presence. Bai Feng nodded.
"Fine. Here are the ten silver coins."
[To be Continue...]