Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“As you probably know, besides the shops in the cities, our prefecture also has black markets operating in the dark. In these black markets, you can buy the goods you may or may not find in the stores in the cities. However, the prices listed in the black markets are very hefty…

“The biggest specialty of the black market is the life-or-death battle stage!”

“The life-or-death battle stage is open to everyone. However, once you enter the ring, the fight won’t end until someone dies. Either your opponent dies or you!

“Every time a fighter defeats an opponent, they can obtain an equivalent reward. The rewards include points, pills, herbs, money, and so on… Anyway, the more you win, the better your rewards become!

“Since I have a low cultivation, I only dare to participate in one fight. The rewards I get won’t be so good either. At least, they won’t be enough to buy spiritual herbs. Hence, I have no choice but to pay a stalk of Xanthophyllum as a deposit and challenge people with more points than me. If I win, the life-and-death battle stage organizers will return me my stalk of Xanthophyllum, and reward me with another. Of course, if I lose, death is the only outcome for me.”

“Indeed, you put your life on the line.” Lou Qianxue nodded. “This stalk of Xanthophyllum is yours. However, how can I go to the life-or-death battle stage?”

“Ma’am, are you really planning to go?”

Lou Qianxue indifferently nodded. “Yeah. I’ve never seen it before, so I’d like to check it out.”

“Well… I’ll bring you there, then. However, a place like that isn’t fun at all. You might regret it after going there.”

“Let’s go.”

Both of them walked toward the life-or-death battle stage.

On the way, they saw a gathering of people. It looked like they were watching something and discussing it.

“A lot of people have come to Lingxi Prefecture to participate in the Alchemy Competition. Many of them have grudges against each other. However, it’s really rare to see someone like them, who places their lives at stake.”

“Yeah! I wonder if that guy called Ye Zhuixun will accept the other party’s challenge.”

“They’re betting their lives away again.” When Lou Qianxue and the middle-aged man passed by and heard the discussion, they could not help but shake their heads. In the Xuantian Continent, where only the strong people reigned on top, people’s lives were as insignificant as an ant’s.

However…

“What? Ye Zhuixun? Is it someone with the same name? Or is he really my disciple?”

Lou Qianxue slowed down her footsteps a little.

“Ye Zhuixun, what’s up with you? You don’t dare to bet with me? What a coward! But that’s not unexpected either. No matter what, you’re just Miss Su’s dog, and you’ll always be a dog! How can you behave like a human? You can never dare to have an alchemy battle with me!”

“You!” A furious and slightly trembling voice rang out.

“… It’s really him! Is someone bullying my disciple?” Narrowing her eyes, Lou Qianxue walked toward the crowd.

“How dare a dog dream to join the Alchemy Competition? How hilarious! Do you think that you deserve to join, Ye Zhuixun? Hmph! I don’t know how you seduced Miss Su in the past. Today, I’m going to teach you a good lesson on behalf of Miss Su, who you have deceived!”

Lou Qianxue walked into the crowd. She saw the pale and trembling Ye Zhuixun. He was clenching his fists, and opposite him was an oily-faced fatty clad in luxurious clothes.

This fatty. Judging from Ye Zhuixun’s cultivation, he can defeat this fatty with a single finger! So why is he enduring the humiliation and refusing to attack?

When the middle-aged man saw that Lou Qianxue had taken an interest in this matter, he quickly explained, “Ma’am, in Lingxi Prefecture, the capital of medicine, we don’t have martial arts battles, except for the life-or-death battle stage. We have alchemy battles instead.

“In an alchemy battle, you refine pills on the stage. The person who refines a pill with the higher purity level wins. The one who refines a pill with the lower purity level loses. An alchemy battle is the same as one on a life-or-death battle stage. The battle won’t end until someone dies. In this case, it’s the loser.”

“I see.” Lou Qianxue nodded and her gaze fell on Ye Zhuixun’s body. “Looks like I have to stay in Lingxi Prefecture for a few more days.”

She was unaware that the situation of the Lou Family in the Royal City had undergone a change two days ago.