10: Blood Cage Thunder

The two of them got into a luxury car, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from city to suburb.

They finally stopped in front of an abandoned factory.

Vines covered the rusty iron gate, as if no one had been there for a long time.

"Is this it?" Su Lei raised an eyebrow.

Qin Ming smiled mysteriously and pressed a few buttons on his phone.

With a whirring of machinery, the iron gate slowly opened, revealing a downward slope.

After passing through a dark corridor and three security gates, Qin Ming pushed open an iron door.

What greeted them was a huge circular hall.

The venue was shrouded in darkness, with only a few warning lights on the walls flickering a faint red.

"Welcome to the Underground Fighting Arena."

"To your left is the training room. Your lounge is at the very end of the corridor. Your ID badge and contract are in the locker. This is your key."

"Tonight's schedule is also out. You're set for the first match."

Qin Ming handed over a form with a photo of a man with no eyebrows and a grim face printed on it.

The record column clearly read: 28 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws.

"Good luck," Qin Ming patted Su Lei's shoulder, his palm lingering for an extra second before he turned and disappeared into the end of the dark corridor.

Su Lei looked around.

Although it was only 8 AM, a dozen powerful boxers were already in the nearby training ground.

They were silently hitting the strength testing machine.

No one came up to talk, nor did anyone even cast a glance of attention.

New faces often appeared here, but most of them never left a name.

Su Lei walked to the end of the corridor, took out his key, and opened the iron door to the lounge.

A musty smell assaulted him.

The cheap bedsheets still bore the sweat and bloodstains of previous occupants.

Su Lei frowned, opened the iron cabinet in the corner, took out the contract, and read it carefully several times.

The codename Qin Ming gave him was 'Startled Thunder,' probably from their brief sparring session yesterday.

Rules—

There were no restrictions except for not using weapons.

No surrender was allowed until one party fell or died.

The winner would receive a generous prize of 300,000, with an additional 200,000 for killing the opponent.

The organizers were not responsible for any injuries or deaths of the contestants.

Anyone daring to participate in such an event was undoubtedly a ruthless individual who disregarded life and death.

Those who could thrive here for a long time and secure a place were even more extraordinary.

And his opponent was undoubtedly the top expert among them.

Su Lei checked the time; there were still twelve hours until the match began.

He simply sat cross-legged on the hard bed and began to try out the Meditation Technique's essentials.

Every bit of increased strength meant an extra bit of hope for survival in the upcoming battle.

Under the dim light, his breathing gradually became long and deep, his chest rising and falling rhythmically.

Slowly, everything external seemed to fade away from him.

A subtle aura also enveloped him, and the dust in the air slowly swirled around him.

...

After an unknown amount of time, a rapid knocking on the door woke him.

"Number eighteen! It's your turn!"

Su Lei, who had been feigning sleep, suddenly opened his eyes.

His sharp gaze, like lightning, flashed and disappeared in the dim lounge.

The world seemed to become clearer, even the dust floating in the air was visible.

The whispers from the distant stands, and even the heavy breathing from the opponent's lounge, sounded as if they were right next to him.

The knocking outside became more frantic.

Su Lei slowly rose, pushed open the iron door, and stepped into the dark corridor.

Deafening waves of sound surged in like a tide, mixed with whistles, screams, and vulgar curses.

The air was filled with the smell of burning hemp leaves.

Several dark figures excitedly tore off their clothes and engaged in indecent acts in their seats.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" The announcer's passionate voice echoed through the venue.

"Please welcome our first contestant, making his debut in the ring, Startled~~~ Thunder!"

"Can this poor newcomer survive the night? Or... will he make the ring a little redder?"

Amidst a chorus of boos and jeers, Su Lei slowly walked towards the octagonal cage, and the steel-forged iron door slammed shut behind him.

Dark red stains remained on the iron cage, some having seeped into the metal crevices, forming difficult-to-remove grime.

The bloodstains on the ring canvas had turned black, emitting the scent of disinfectant.

"Next, please welcome our king! Twenty-eight wins! Zero losses! Returning after two months..." The announcer's voice suddenly rose, "The Troll!"

Countless lights focused on the end of the corridor.

A bald man slowly walked towards the ring.

He wore no clothes, and his two-meter-tall body was covered in hideous scars.

"Tear him apart!"

"Break his bones!"

"I want to see brains!"

...

The atmosphere instantly boiled over, and the shouts from the stands rose higher and higher.

In the VIP boxes on the second floor, several men in suits leisurely sipped red wine.

"Qin Ming, is this the person you recommended?" A middle-aged man with a slicked-back hairstyle swirled his wine glass, asking casually.

"Yes, Mr. Chen," Qin Ming respectfully bowed his head, offering a pre-cut cigar with both hands.

The man took the cigar and gently shook his head.

"To be able to injure you, this person's strength is indeed good. Although his and The Troll's combat power values are similar, unfortunately, the outcome is already determined."

A suited elder looked down at the octagonal cage below, saying in a flat tone,

"The Troll was once severely wounded on the battlefield and survived by eating the flesh and blood of exotic beasts."

"Although he saved his life, he completely lost his humanity."

"In the last final, he fought to the fifth round, and even with his limbs torn off, he was still able to bite his opponent to death with his teeth."

"By the end of the match, half of his opponent's head had been gnawed away."

"Instead of calling him a Martial Artist, he's more like an exotic beast."

Qin Ming respectfully lowered his head, "While wisdom and skill are important, pure bloodlust and violence are what the audience likes to see."

"Not bad," Mr. Chen nodded approvingly, "This year, your comrade has provided many exciting matches for the clients, and you deserve credit for it."

Qin Ming said expressionlessly, "Rather than dying on the battlefield, it's better to utilize the remaining value here."

"However, this Su Lei is a pity," Mr. Chen lit his cigar and took a deep puff.

"If he's well-trained, he might become a star. As his recommender, you could also make a large sum."

"Qin Ming, why did you specifically arrange him for the first match?"

"If it can please the esteemed sirs, then everything is worth it."

"Besides..."

Through the one-way glass, Qin Ming stared intently at Su Lei in the ring, a savage grin curling his lips.

"This person dared to cut off my source of wealth; dying in the ring will perfectly quench the hatred in my heart."

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