She Dominates the Immortal Realm with Her HP Bar-Chapter 102

◎One hundred and twenty catties of finely minced lean meat, not a single trace of fat left on it.◎

The arena champion, a swordsman who went by the alias "Ten Steps, One Kill," had lost his entire fortune multiple times, yet his skill was undeniable.

Had he not encountered Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang in succession, a swordsman of his caliber would never have fallen to such straits.

Thus, facing the same onslaught of demonic beasts, the previous blade-wielding cultivator had fought desperately, drenched in blood until his last breath.

Meanwhile, the champion "Ten Steps, One Kill" handled the battle with effortless grace, his movements fluid and precise.

The swordsman did not seem to be in a demonic beast coliseum but rather carrying out a routine harvest.

His swordplay cascaded like a summer night’s storm, each "raindrop" felling a demonic beast where it stood.

By the end, his eyes blazed with an intimidating brilliance, his sword thrusting forth like a soaring dragon—

A desolate and mournful sword intent instantly permeated the entire arena.

The cold glint of his blade not only pierced the demonic beast’s throat but seemed to stab straight into the hearts of every spectator.

Seated lazily atop the high platform, Dui Choumian raised an eyebrow.

If he recalled correctly, this swordsman had not yet awakened his sword intent when he and Yan Luoyue had challenged "Ten Steps, One Kill."

In other words, the swordsman’s newfound desolate and tragic sword intent must have been realized only in the past few days.

From what Wu Manshuang knew, the awakening of a swordsman’s intent often required a catalyst—a moment of sudden enlightenment triggered by a significant event.

Considering the swordsman’s recent misfortunes and the sorrowful nature of his sword intent…

Wu Manshuang blinked slowly.

—Surely, this swordsman’s awakening couldn’t have been spurred by repeatedly losing all his possessions, could it?

In any case, "Ten Steps, One Kill" won the match with ease.

Demonic beasts lay defeated at his feet as he sheathed his sword, standing alone in the center of the arena, his gaze sweeping proudly across the crowd.

Soon, an attendant led the swordsman backstage.

A short while later, "Ten Steps, One Kill" collected his reward and departed—now clad head to toe in fresh new robes.

Thus, the world may never know whether the swordsman had gone commando that day…

Though Wu Manshuang had no desire to learn such details.

Before leaving, "Ten Steps, One Kill" clearly spotted Dui Choumian in the stands.

From afar, he cast a challenging glance at Dui Choumian, his eyes burning with the eagerness for another duel.

Wu Manshuang: "…"

Even he couldn’t bear the thought of this poor man losing his entire fortune—and his newly won outfit—for the third time.

Dui Choumian shifted his posture, reclining slightly as if treating the viewing platform as his personal lounging couch.

Beneath his aloof and unrestrained demeanor, Wu Manshuang was privately nursing a headache.

—He strongly suspected that this straightforward swordsman would jump at any chance to earn money, completely unaware that he had just participated in an illegal underground fight.

Tapping his pipe rhythmically, Dui Choumian mused aloud with a faint smile, "Who is he?"

The attendant at his side, who had been waiting in silent attendance, promptly replied, "That is Bu Ye, the fifth disciple of the Slaying Clouds Sword Village."

Hearing this, Wu Manshuang couldn’t help but close his eyes.

—Slaying Clouds, Sword Village.

The name sounded jarringly mismatched, like an ethereal immortal gnawing on two giant scallions in each hand.

But such was the naming convention of the Northern Snow Region—simple, practical, and vividly evocative.

To Wu Manshuang’s knowledge, aside from Slaying Clouds Sword Village, the Snow Region also boasted factions like the Great Roe Deer Cave Sect, the Li Family Village School, the Staring Eyes Palace, and the Three Bald Peaks Academy.

By comparison, Chu Tiankuo’s Hanson Sect sounded almost poetic in this context.

However, a mere "Sword Village" wasn’t what gave Wu Manshuang pause.

What truly complicated his feelings was the fact that Slaying Clouds Sword Village was one of the Snow Region’s most prestigious sects, on par with Hanson Sect—and a purely sword-based sect at that.

Generally, pure sword sects were never poor, as they could collect protection fees.

The problem was… the Snow Region was a harsh, frigid land where poverty was the norm.

Moreover, the extreme cold and unforgiving environment tempered one’s resolve, making sword cultivators the dominant force—seven or eight out of every ten cultivators in the Snow Region wielded a blade.

In such a place, competition was fierce.

No wonder Bu Ye had come to Tianyuan City to earn money in the arena—his situation was akin to the village’s brightest hope sneaking off to the big city for odd jobs.

What unsettled Wu Manshuang even more was this: even a lowly attendant in the Silver Light Arena could casually disclose Bu Ye’s identity to curry favor with Dui Choumian.

This might reflect Bu Ye’s carelessness in keeping his identity secret, but it also revealed a chilling truth.

—Though both had fought demonic beasts in the arena, Dui Choumian and Bu Ye were treated very differently.

At this moment, Dui Choumian lounged as an honored guest on the high platform.

Bu Ye, on the other hand, was merely a hired gladiator, bought for five hundred low-grade spirit stones.

The question was… now that Bu Ye had glimpsed the dark underbelly of the Silver Light Arena, did he have the power to walk away?

…If he did, his identity wouldn’t have been so easily revealed to Wu Manshuang without consequence.

Dui Choumian chuckled meaningfully. "A swordsman who’s awakened his sword intent—you don’t even treat him as a person?"

"Perish the thought," the attendant replied obsequiously. "A swordsman of his caliber is exactly what we need."

Their exchange was light and casual, almost playful.

But beneath the nonchalant tone, Wu Manshuang sensed the icy ruthlessness hidden in their words.

After two consecutive matches, no new challengers stepped forward.

Instead, uniformed arena staff silently dragged away the demonic beast carcasses and scrubbed the battleground clean.

Glancing around, Wu Manshuang noticed that despite the lack of further fights, not a single spectator left their seat. Instead, their faces brimmed with anticipation.

…What were they waiting for?

The answer came half a quarter-hour later.

Hidden doors around the arena slid open, and attendants filed out in orderly rows, each carrying trays laden with tiny cups.

Many spectators’ breathing grew heavy at the sight, their desire naked and unrestrained.

An attendant approached Wu Manshuang, presenting him with a cup in both hands.

"Please enjoy, honored guest."

Wu Manshuang focused her gaze and saw that the liquid in the cup was a deep, blood-like crimson, exuding an unmistakable demonic aura.

"……"

The scent of this blood wine was so potent—just how many demonic creatures had been used as ingredients?

Recalling how the attendant had earlier suggested, with polite insistence, that Dui Choumian refrain from poisoning the demons he defeated, Wu Manshuang suddenly understood.

—Could it be that this blood wine was brewed from the freshly slaughtered corpses of demonic creatures?

Dui Choumian was in no hurry to drink. Instead, he cradled the cup in his hand, surveying his surroundings with keen interest.

His thin lips pressed lightly against the cool silver rim as his eyes, weathered by life’s vicissitudes and veiled behind a wisp of smoke, observed the reactions of those around him as if watching a spectacle.

The cup was shallow, holding only enough for a single sip.

After drinking, nearly everyone in the hall had reddened eyes and an exhilarated expression, with faint white steam even rising from the tops of their heads.

……For some reason, Wu Manshuang found their reactions eerily familiar.

The attendant standing nearby appeared deferential, but his gaze never left Dui Choumian’s pale hands—or the small cup nestled within them.

Though the attendant dared not voice his impatience, the atmosphere, his tense stare, and the unfinished trial all silently urged Dui Choumian to drink.

With a mocking lift of his brow, Dui Choumian tilted his head back and downed the contents in one go.

As the spicy, cloyingly sweet liquid slid down his throat, Wu Manshuang’s heart flooded with icy fury the moment she recognized its nature.

—When it came to the art of poisons, few in the world could rival Wu Manshuang.

Born with venom in her veins, she was immune to all toxins, common or obscure.

Moreover, a single taste was usually enough for her to discern a poison’s composition.

And so, with just one sip, she knew—this blood wine was highly addictive.

She could have synthesized a similar toxin herself, if she’d wanted.

But almost immediately after inventing something comparable, Wu Manshuang had deemed it too unethical and banned its use.

A later conversation with Yan Luoyue had only reinforced her stance.

Yet here was the Silver Light Arena, serving this very concoction…

Even if it had no effect on her, how many others had it already harmed?

—Ah, yes. This wine also boosted cultivation.

As the blood wine settled in his stomach, it burned like a fiery trail down Dui Choumian’s throat.

Turbulent spiritual energy surged into his dantian.

The rush of power had the crowd buzzing with excitement.

But Dui Choumian merely tapped his long pipe, expelling the invasive energy in wisps of smoke.

His beautiful, fox-like features still wore a smile, but the cold fury in his eyes was unmistakable—like a serpent locking onto its prey.

—Now Wu Manshuang remembered why the drinkers’ reactions had seemed so familiar.

Back in the Lu family’s secret chamber, after the half-demon birthed its spawn and the young master of the Lu clan refined it into a pill, Lu Jindu had worn that same intoxicated, feverish expression.

The wine was gone, but its metallic sweetness lingered on the tongue—sharp as a forged blade, ominous as the prelude to vengeance.

Dui Choumian smiled silently, his grin razor-edged and dangerous.

What a coincidence.

After all this time, it turned out to be fate.

……

Around the same time, Yan Luoyue was discussing the matter with Yin Wangyou.

After reviewing the sequence of events in her mind, Yan Luoyue suddenly realized a critical point.

"Wangyou," she called, frowning, "aside from me and Jing Xuan, who else have you told about your latest discovery?"

Yin Wangyou listed a few names.

Apart from her elder brother, the rest were friends Yan Luoyue didn’t recognize.

Yan Luoyue narrowed it down further. "Among these friends, is there anyone you met at the Silver Light Arena?"

Yin Wangyou gave her a puzzled look, as if surprised by the question.

"Of course."

After all, the two of them had first met at the Silver Light Arena.

Naturally, Yin Wangyou had connections there.

"Wei ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍Qingsi," she offered.

"Qingsi is a close friend I met at the arena. She’s always been very interested in my research."

Yin Wangyou didn’t have many friends, but those who remained were like-minded cultivators she could confide in.

Even though Wei Qingsi knew nothing of medicine or demonic creatures and couldn’t contribute to her studies, Yin Wangyou still enjoyed sharing her progress.

Hearing this, Yan Luoyue’s eyes darkened, and she nearly sighed on Yin Wangyou’s behalf.

But she held back, keeping her voice steady as she posed another question:

"Then is it possible that your paper crane wasn’t intercepted… but handed over willingly?"

"……"

Yin Wangyou fell silent for a long moment.

She wasn’t foolish—just single-minded, pouring most of her energy into her passions.

Now, with Yan Luoyue’s guidance, the truth unraveled before her.

Past oversights flowed through her mind like a stream, each detail suddenly clear.

In that instant, the illusion was torn away, revealing the ugly, bloody reality beneath.

She didn’t need Yan Luoyue to say more. Realization, shock, disbelief, and the bitter sting of betrayal flashed across her face in quick succession.

Unable to bear it, Yan Luoyue averted her gaze and added softly,

"To be honest, before receiving your letter, I was already investigating the Silver Light Arena…"

Yin Wangyou nodded stiffly.

Yan Luoyue pressed gently, "Speaking of the arena—is there anything else you’d like to share, Wangyou?"

"There is." Yin Wangyou murmured, "Whole demon corpses are black-market goods, extremely hard to come by."

"So… the later specimens, like the Thousand-Faced Demon’s remains and the left-spiral silk, I acquired through the arena’s connections."

It wasn’t entirely her fault for being unsuspecting.

After all, as an establishment that frequently rewarded its champions, the Silver Light Arena having access to demon parts wasn’t unusual.

It was like a bank stocking up on rice and oil to give away as customer perks.

After a pause, Yan Luoyue’s expression turned graver than ever.

She asked one final question, and Yin Wangyou’s face paled instantly.

"Wangyou," Yan Luoyue enunciated slowly, "where is your brother now?"

"——Does that Wei Qingsi know where your brother is staying?"

Yin Wangyou: "!!!"

The question struck like a thunderbolt, instantly piercing through Yin Wangyou's deepest fear.

Over the years, she and her brother had relied on each other for survival—he was the only family she had left.

Though she was anxious about being pursued, she wasn’t afraid.

But if there was one thing that truly weighed on her heart, it was the thought of her brother being dragged into danger…

The problem was, Wei Qingsi really did know where Yin Baishen lived!

Biting her lower lip, Yin Wangyou spoke word by word, "My brother knows she’s my friend. If she tries to lure him away…"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than another crisis erupted.

Before Yin Wangyou could finish speaking, a streak of spell-light shot into the cave entrance, kicking up a cloud of dust—the pursuers had arrived again!

Before Yan Luoyue could react, Shen Jingxuan had already sprung into action.

The violent little nun had somehow already slipped on her spiked gauntlets.

The dark, needle-covered fists made her hands look like two enormous black sea urchins.

Yan Luoyue: "..."

A few punches from those, and the victim would probably spend their next life trying to piece their corpse back together.

With a sigh of pity, Yan Luoyue rummaged through her storage pouch and pulled out a large, oddly shaped object with a built-in stand. Without even looking, she fired it off in a streak of light.

The thing was bizarre—sleek and streamlined, with a sharp, conical tip.

Even in her distress, Yin Wangyou couldn’t help but ask, "Luoyue, what is that?"

Yan Luoyue replied casually, "Kill You 6.0."

No sooner had she spoken than the projectile curved midair, locked onto its target, and exploded with a deafening roar in the distant forest.

In that instant, smoke billowed, trees toppled, and the ground beneath their feet trembled.

Yin Wangyou: "..."

Shen Jingxuan: "..."

Under the stunned gazes of her two friends, Yan Luoyue dusted off her sleeves nonchalantly.

"Let’s go pick them up. If we’re too late, they might die, and then we won’t be able to get any information out of them."

She then sighed appreciatively. "Wangyou, teaming up with an alchemist like you is great. Even if the enemy’s on their last breath, you can still drag them back with a pill."

Yin Wangyou: "..."

She hesitated. "No… usually, no one uses my pills like this…"

Her pills were meant to save her teammates, not the enemy!

Besides, when she and Jingxuan had sought out Yan Luoyue, hadn’t they just wanted to borrow the Guiyuan Sect’s connections?

Since when were artifact refiners this terrifying in combat? Just what kind of battle-turtle school had she come from?!

Shooting Yan Luoyue another complicated look, Yin Wangyou muttered a quiet thanks before hurrying toward the blast site under Shen Jingxuan’s protection.

At the landing zone of Kill You 6.0, the trio found several corpses and two survivors.

But that wasn’t all—they also made an unexpected discovery.

The moment they stepped out of the cave, Yin Wangyou received a paper crane.

The timing was suspicious. As soon as she unfolded it, her expression darkened.

"..."

Yan Luoyue leaned over to glance at the letter. Seeing no objection, she skimmed the contents.

Sure enough, it was from Wei Qingsi.

The sheer audacity of this woman—after betraying Yin Wangyou, she now had the nerve to write as if she were still a concerned friend, anxiously warning her:

What should we do, Wangyou? Your brother’s been captured! What’s the plan now? Do you have a next step?

No wonder Yin Wangyou’s lips were pressed into a thin line, her face livid with rage.

Through gritted teeth, she spat out a furious curse:

"Wei Qingsi… Does she really think I’m such a fool that she can play me like this?"

Logically, the pursuers had arrived so quickly because Wei Qingsi’s paper crane had led them here.

Just as Yin Wangyou was about to sever the connection to prevent further tracking, Yan Luoyue stopped her.

"Wait, no rush."

She spoke calmly. "First, let’s interrogate these captives and see if they know anything about your brother. If not, we can try to fish for information from Wei Qingsi."

Thus, the trio sprang into action. They stabilized the two barely-alive survivors—Yan Luoyue handled the attacks, Yin Wangyou kept them breathing, and Shen Jingxuan took charge of the interrogation.

Or rather…

"Interrogation? What’s that?" The little nun asked blankly.

As she spoke, she hoisted one of the captives and slammed a fist into his gut.

"..."

The man’s face twisted into a grotesque shade, as if he were about to cough up his lungs.

Shen Jingxuan said impatiently, "This humble nun doesn’t know what ‘interrogation’ means—but usually, after I beat someone up, they’re willing to say anything."

Yan Luoyue: "..."

Well, obviously! She hadn’t even taken off those sea-urchin gauntlets!

After a few punches from those, anyone who wasn’t as tanky as Yan Luoyue would be spilling their guts.

Sure enough, the two captives wailed and begged after Shen Jingxuan’s "questioning."

"We don’t know, we really don’t!"

They coughed blood as they pleaded. "We were just ordered to capture the alchemist—or kill her if we couldn’t. We’ve never heard of any Yin Baishen or Yin Hongshen!"

Shen Jingxuan’s expression darkened, her aura suddenly resembling that of the legendary monk Lu Zhishen.

She truly looked ready to treat these two like the Butcher Zheng—pummeling them into mincemeat.

"You…"

Though the little nun stood only five-foot-two, her presence loomed at six-foot-two.

Yan Luoyue couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, "You scoundrels! Are you mocking this humble monk?"

Shen Jingxuan: "..."

She turned to Yan Luoyue, baffled.

"Ahem… What I mean is," Yan Luoyue rubbed her nose, "Jingxuan, stop for now. If you keep hitting them, they’ll turn into 120 pounds of fine-ground meat—lean, without a speck of fat."

Yan Luoyue took over the questioning, pressing the captives for details.

With Shen Jingxuan looming nearby, bloody gauntlets at the ready, the two cooperated fully, answering every question obediently.

After some negotiation, Yan Luoyue could confirm that these men truly had no knowledge of Yin Wangyou’s brother’s whereabouts.

For one, they were merely low-level thugs, usually only assigned dirty work.

Secondly, those responsible for assassinations and those handling intelligence belonged to entirely separate divisions.

In other words, each group had its own duties, each striving for their own KPIs, and their working relationships were far from harmonious—neither side meddled in the other’s affairs.

However, the two men did truthfully admit that they were indeed from the nearby Silverlight Arena.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Yan Luoyue decided to bluff them outright.

"Your Silverlight Arena dares to secretly raise demonic creatures—such audacity!"

Upon hearing this, one of the pursuers looked utterly bewildered, while the other trembled violently.

Yan Luoyue lifted the latter by the collar and smirked. "You know about this?"

"I… I’ve only heard whispers of it," the man pleaded softly. "One of the attendants who tends to the demonic creatures is my lover. She told me in secret, so I knew a little…"

He hastily added, "I’ll tell you whatever you want to know—just please don’t let that Sea Urchin Abbess interrogate us again!"

Yan Luoyue: "…"

Shen Jingxuan, now elevated to the title of Sea Urchin Abbess: "…"

Since these two pursuers were merely low-ranking lackeys, Yan Luoyue soon extracted all the information they had.

After obtaining the relevant intelligence, Yan Luoyue couldn’t help but reflect that, while both were connected to demonic creatures, the Silverlight Arena’s secrecy was far tighter than that of the Hongtong Palace.

The Hongtong Palace had grown so brazen that demonic creatures roamed freely within its domain, and every disciple knew of it—though none dared speak of it.

Yet the Silverlight Arena’s practice of raising demonic creatures was so covert that even some of their own members were unaware.

However, such caution also indicated that this region wasn’t the Silverlight Arena’s stronghold.

They hadn’t yet had the chance to collude with the local authorities.

At this thought, Yan Luoyue exhaled softly, feeling slightly relieved.

After dismissing the two pursuers, Yan Luoyue turned to Yin Wangyou.

"Wangyou, regarding your brother… first, seek help from that woman named Wei Qingsi. Ask her to provide you with a ‘safe haven.’"

Without hesitation, Yin Wangyou deduced, "She’ll set a trap for me."

After a pause, she immediately grasped Yan Luoyue’s meaning. "You’re saying I should walk into her trap on purpose?"

"Exactly." Yan Luoyue nodded approvingly with a smile. "Your brother isn’t a particularly valuable hostage. If they capture you, they won’t care as much about him."

"Once Wei Qingsi reveals your brother’s whereabouts—or if he’s released—we’ll strike like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

And if Wei Qingsi refused to talk, they could always extract the information by force.

Yin Wangyou met Yan Luoyue’s gaze calmly. "So you and Jing Xuan are the oriole?"

"No, Jing Xuan and I will go with you." Yan Luoyue grinned. "As for the oriole… that would be our Guiyuan Sect."

"Eh?"

Just then, another paper crane fluttered gracefully toward them.

Yin Wangyou had nearly developed PTSD from paper cranes by now, instinctively tensing at the sight.

Yan Luoyue chuckled, extending her hand to let the crane perch on her fingers before unfolding the message and showing it to Yin Wangyou.

With a playful smile, she said, "I am, after all, the local turtle of Yunning Great Marsh."

"Look—reinforcements have arrived!"

After skimming the letter’s contents, Yin Wangyou inhaled softly.

"How… how is this so quick?"

The letter Yan Luoyue received stated that the Guiyuan Sect took the intelligence she provided extremely seriously.

The sect had mobilized immediately, and now all nearby city outposts were on high alert.

A swordsman named Yuan Feiyu was in the vicinity, and the sect had already summoned him to rendezvous with Yan Luoyue. Additionally, they had dispatched people to assist Wu Manshuang.

Yan Luoyue giggled. "Because our sect is just better, and my senior brother is especially reliable."

Though she said this lightly, Yin Wangyou couldn’t help but give her another glance.

—For a piece of intelligence to be taken so seriously upon submission spoke not only to the sect’s openness but also to Yan Luoyue’s standing within the Guiyuan Sect.

Unbeknownst to Yin Wangyou, this old friend of hers—who had always maintained their lively, warm correspondence—had grown into someone remarkable since they last met.

They didn’t have to wait long before a streak of light flashed across the sky.

A flying sword came to a steady halt before the three of them, and a proud, spirited young man—radiant as a newly sprouted jade tree—leaped down.

Yan Luoyue’s eyes curved in delight. "Senior Brother Yuan, you’re so fast!"

"Junior Sister Yan." Yuan Feiyu nodded solemnly at first, but by the end of his sentence, he couldn’t suppress a grin.

"Don’t call me ‘Little Yuan’—call me ‘Great Yuan Senior Brother.’"

...

Wu Manshuang returned to his room, holding a golden beast-head ring between his fingers.

If any spectators from the Silverlight Arena were present, they’d be stunned to see Dui Choumian—the dazzling, eerily beautiful fighter who dominated the arena—now exuding an air of solemn dignity.

After staring at the ring for a long time, Wu Manshuang finally frowned, pinching it between two fingers and setting it aside on the table before nudging it farther away with a fingertip.

It was bitterly ironic. After Dui Choumian’s battle with the demonic creature, the Silverlight Arena had even formally registered his arena points.

This was a blatant hint.

The mastermind behind the scenes was watching Dui Choumian, signaling that once the ring’s rank rose from gold to crystal, the rewards he sought would also escalate.

So, Dui Choumian needed to be patient.

Exhaling deeply, Wu Manshuang began analyzing the Silverlight Arena’s true motives.

First, the blood wine could enhance cultivation.

Though some rare treasures also aided cultivation, most had level restrictions.

Yet this blood wine had worked on Wu Manshuang, a Golden Core cultivator—meaning it would likely benefit Foundation Establishment cultivators as well. If he dared speculate further, it might even work on Nascent Soul cultivators.

No wonder the underground arena’s audience clamored for it.

They simply didn’t realize that what they drank wasn’t just wine—it was a slow-acting poison, addictive and insidious.

Second…

Wu Manshuang’s expression darkened further.

He pondered: From the Silverlight Arena’s perspective, what did they believe Dui Choumian needed?

When he first infiltrated the arena under the alias Dui Choumian, Wu Manshuang had relied on seventy percent improvisation and thirty percent deliberate mystique.

Unexpectedly, the arena had taken his "mystique" at face value.

Normally, inducting a new identity into an organization required thorough background checks.

Otherwise, why would a swordsman like Bu Ye—who had comprehended sword intent—be discarded as expendable fodder in the arena?

How could Dui Choumian, who had always been evasive and never spoke plainly, manage to secure a seat in the viewing stands?

By all logic, before Wu Manshuang entered the arena, someone should have approached him to confirm who had referred him.

Yet they didn’t even ask—wait, what?

Wu Manshuang abruptly froze, then sat up straight.

At that moment, his expression became indescribably strange.

—Was it possible that the Silver Light Arena, upon seeing Dui Choumian’s attire, had simply assumed his background? Or rather, had they taken it for granted that Dui Choumian’s knowledge of the Silver Light Arena’s affairs was perfectly normal?

The Southern Border’s demon heir… the South…

To the south lay the territory of the Hongtong Palace.

Just as Wu Manshuang was lost in thought, a faint rustling sound came from the windowsill.

Instinctively, he raised his head, fingers tensing slightly in readiness—only to see…

Well… how should he put this…

On the windowsill lay a familiar tentacle.

It belonged to Senior Brother Kang Bashui.

Wu Manshuang: “…Senior Brother Bashui?”

His voice was thick with disbelief.

Around the tentacle’s… neck—no, around its tip—hung a small square pendant, from which Kang Bashui’s voice emerged.

“Junior Brother Wu,” Kang Bashui greeted him warmly.

“Considering you’re in disguise right now, I thought it best not to show my face. So I’m using this method to communicate with you!”

Wu Manshuang: “……”

Wu Manshuang chose his words carefully. “Senior Brother, how did your tentacle…”

“Hahahaha!” Kang Bashui laughed heartily.

“This is a secret technique unique to our octopus clan. After detaching a tentacle, we can manipulate it to perform certain actions and even sense what’s happening around it.”

Wu Manshuang replied cautiously, “I’ve heard of similar abilities among earthworms and geckos…”

“Ah, but the principle is different from theirs.”

Kang Bashui answered with cheerful candor:

“The main thing is, each of our tentacles has its own brain. So right now, I can perceive everything around you, Junior Brother Wu…”

Wu Manshuang: “!!!”

Kang Bashui continued casually, “Haha, it’s just a minor detail. No need to dwell on it, Junior Brother.”

Wu Manshuang: “……”

At that moment, Wu Manshuang was utterly shaken.

His pupils trembled violently, and he desperately wished he could take Yan Luoyue’s place and scream a few choice words at Senior Brother Kang.

—How can you downplay something so incredible, Senior Brother Bashui?!

—You have NINE BRAINS!

—And you managed to hide the fact that you have NINE BRAINS all this time!

—Do you know some people in the Talisman Peak think you only have one-ninth of a brain, Senior Brother Bashui?!