The Invincible Supreme Medical God
Chapter 426 - 289: Huge Risk

Chapter 426: Chapter 289: Huge Risk

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When Yan Xiaobao saw the dwindling beast cores remaining, he heaved a deep sigh, but it was exactly as he had expected. Using beast cores or Demon Coins would quickly deplete their wealth. However, looking at these weapons, Yan Xiaobao felt that every core spent had been worth it.

Deng Wu, Sha Yun, and Wang Julong were not the only ones excited; the man selling the items had never made such a large sale before and greatly appreciated the sudden wealth he had just acquired. As for why they purchased crimson gear, he had no clue.

Once they acquired their new weapons, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but smile, feeling as though death had been pushed further away than ever before. Yet, Xu Biao’s words were engraved deeply within Yan Xiaobao’s heart. He was fully aware that every day could be the last for him and his friends.

However, immense risk brought immense opportunity, and a life lived securely would never allow Yan Xiaobao and his friends to continue traversing the sacred dungeon.

With his thoughts solidified on winning the competition and then planning to slay the residential Demon Beast afterward, Yan Xiaobao raised his head and led his five-member team toward the arena.

Though it was still early, and the finals wouldn’t begin until the sun rose to its zenith in the sky, Yan Xiaobao wanted to enter the arena nonetheless, so his friends could practice with the new weapons they’d purchased.

Walking through the arena, amidst semifinalists vying for spots in the lower ranks of the finals, Yan Xiaobao could already smell the blood in the air. The semifinals would begin as soon as the preliminary rankings were complete.

The battles were bloody and chaotic, but they had drawn in numerous spectators. Every outdoor stage was packed with people standing on their tiptoes for a glimpse of the action unfolding upon the platforms.

While Yan Xiaobao could understand the sport by observing expert matches, he struggled to comprehend how blood-soaked life-or-death battles could be viewed as a form of entertainment.

In years without tournaments, various teams would still fight each other based on wagers, but it was never quite this frequent or intense. After discussing with Xu Biao, Yan Xiaobao learned that one of the primary reasons for the bloody battles was to combat overpopulation, and similar events occurred annually in most dungeons.

Although experts were highly sought after, it was either the high-ranking ones or those possessing exceptional skills. The rest were left to fight lower-grade demons or die for public amusement, all while ensuring resources remained sufficient.

Thinking back on all these complexities, Yan Xiaobao sighed deeply and finally understood why something as precious as beast cores was used as common currency. While they were useful for some cultivators and experts, what truly mattered when demons were slain was bringing back the meat and anything edible.

With that in mind, Yan Xiaobao felt relieved that Deng Wu hadn’t traded food for reference information upon their arrival in this new city. Yan Xiaobao wasn’t a cold-hearted person unwilling to help others, but if someone brought forth an abundance of food and started using it to barter information, it would likely cause a stir in the town’s begging districts.

Wu Yue sighed deeply, no longer focusing on the ways of this world but instead flashing his golden badge at the arena guards, gaining direct access to the only part of the town not visible to ordinary citizens.

Hui Yue entered first and immediately frowned at what he saw. Yan Xiaobao and his team weren’t the first to arrive at the arena, despite the early hour.

On the stage stood Zhou Long, accompanied by a masked mercenary group. The group appeared to be conversing amicably amongst themselves, causing the hair on Yan Xiaobao’s neck to stand on end. There was definitely something about Zhou Long that wasn’t as it appeared.

Thinking this over, Yan Xiaobao was also aware that if Zhou Long truly wanted him dead, then the white-haired boy might already have lost his life. Zhou Long was at least a King-level expert, though Yan Xiaobao’s impression was that his rank might be even higher—he was actually an Emperor-level expert.

Zhou Long’s rank was not the most critical concern, but rather the familiarity displayed between the masked mercenary group and Zhou Long that set Yan Xiaobao on edge. Once again, he reconsidered his earlier decision to collaborate with the competition host.

Zhou Long’s cultivation level was formidable, and the moment Yan Xiaobao entered the arena, Zhou Long immediately noticed them, despite standing with his back turned. He pivoted around in an instant.

At first, his expression was briefly evident, but within less than a second, it was entirely hidden beneath a gentle, cordial smile.

"Ah, I thought you would appear sooner! Are you hoping to practice like the other participants?" he asked in a friendly tone, gesturing toward the masked group.

"Oh, new weapons!" he continued, as if nothing was out of the ordinary. "I figure you’d want to test them? Please, don’t mind us—carry on!"

As Zhou Long disappeared at the arena gates and the masked group settled into the front row, all eyes turned toward Yan Xiaobao and his friends, watching as his team prepared to begin practice. Everyone seemed eager to observe Yan Xiaobao and his friends’ performance.

Knowing full well that practicing in front of another team would reveal too much information, Yan Xiaobao sighed deeply, and all five members of his team seated themselves at the edge of the stage, facing the masked group.

They sat there for hours—mask facing shadowy figures, cloaked silhouettes gazing back at masks. In the end, neither side managed to learn anything further. No one could decipher what had truly transpired between the two groups, leaving all parties none the wiser.

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