44: Prelude to the East China Sea Grand Competition

"Aren't the arena matches here all free?"

"Why is there a fee for this one?"

"Ling Xian, maybe I should just forget it. This is too expensive."

Unlike Ling Xian and Xia Mo, Shi Momo didn't belong to a family.

Although her family had a bit of money, spending five thousand on a single ticket was still a luxury.

"It's fine, my treat. When you get back, give my regards to Sister Xia Mo... tell her... I've been doing well these years, and I miss her."

"Then... alright!" Shi Momo replied.

Just as she finished speaking, Brother Song came running over.

"I... I want to go in too."

However, the two burly men in black took one look and, certain that this person wasn't among Donghai's big shots, irritably blocked him:

"No entry!"

"On what grounds? They can all go in, so why can't I?"

Shi Momo looked back at Brother Song, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately said nothing.

Ling Xian saw this and said to the two men, "Let him in. He'll pay for his own ticket."

As Ling Xian spoke, Brother Song looked at him with some gratitude.

"It seems... this young master isn't a bad person after all?"

"Five thousand!" the two men in black said.

Instantly, it felt like a bolt from the blue for Brother Song.

"How much? Five thousand! That's highway robbery!

How much prize money is in this arena match that they dare to charge so much?

Even as a professional Sanda champion, I've never heard of such a thing."

"Pay or don't, but if you don't pay, you aren't getting in." The two men weren't in a good mood; he wasn't a big shot, just a Sanda champion—it was questionable if he could even survive one move from them.

Thinking of Chi Taohua's terrifying strength from earlier, Brother Song gritted his teeth and scanned the payment code.

Only after the two men let him in did he scurry after Ling Xian and the others.

As they walked toward the arena of the Donghai Grand Competition, a wave of hot summer air rolled over them.

Ling Xian looked closely and saw that it was already half full, with about several hundred people.

Besides the local big shots from Donghai, there were also many from other cities.

From the crowd, he immediately spotted Lin Feng standing beside Uncle Su.

It was clear that Lin Feng was competing on behalf of the Su Family.

However, if he didn't intervene today, Uncle Su's status would only fall further behind Lin Feng's in the future.

Lin Feng would seize the opportunity to become the King of Donghai, while Uncle Su would remain just the head of the Su Family.

"He's already reached the Fifth Rank! His recovery ability is not only strong but also fast!

It seems I have to deal with Lin Feng today. If you play around too much with a Child of Destiny like him, there's a chance of being counter-killed," Ling Xian thought to himself.

The matches hadn't started yet, but a minor second-tier singer was already on stage to build up the atmosphere.

There were many scantily clad beauties dressed as bunny girls carrying trays with bags of carefully packaged melon seeds.

At the same time, the trays held Betting slips; you could bet on whichever contestant you favored.

This was where the real money was made; ticket sales were nothing in comparison.

Of course, this wasn't organized by the Yue Family alone; the Su Family and Zhao Family were also involved.

It was just that the Yue Family held the largest share.

Thus, they weren't afraid of any big shot backing out.

If anyone really tried to go back on their word, these three could bankrupt them in minutes.

Ling Xian spent a bit of money on some melon seeds, then held up a Betting slip and spoke to Chi Taohua and the others.

"Want to play a bit?"

Shi Momo immediately shook her head when she saw the minimum bet was ten thousand.

Chi Taohua didn't even look.

Wu Poshan and Ling Wu were even less interested.

"If you're interested, I'll pay. You can just place a small bet," Ling Xian said to Shi Momo.

"No thanks, I can't afford this level of gambling. There's no need."

Sitting behind Shi Momo, Brother Song stood up, took the Betting slip from her hand, glanced at it, and laughed:

"I've never heard of any of these contestants, yet the bets are quite high."

His tone was full of disdain.

Ling Xian, Ling Wu, and the others couldn't help but shake their heads.

"Nonsense. If you knew them, you wouldn't have remained just a provincial Sanda champion," Ling Xian thought to himself.

Soon, the competition began.

Experts hired by some small families traded punches and kicks with formidable power.

Only then did Brother Song realize that there is always a heaven beyond heaven and people beyond people.

Soon, the division of interests among these small families and factions concluded.

All that remained were Donghai's first-rate factions and the Three Great Families.

These were the true experts.

The small families also understood that this was not something they could participate in.

They couldn't take a piece of this massive cake.

They couldn't even hire a Third Rank expert.

Afternoon.

The atmosphere was clearly different from the morning.

A high platform appeared on a vast stretch of level ground.

It was surrounded by tall, fierce-looking bodyguards.

Some even had weapons faintly visible at their waists.

Many small families also chose to leave of their own accord.

Everyone sat there, not daring to make a sound.

"Look, that's the patriarch of the Yue Family, Yue Tiankuo.

It's said that despite his age, his skills are still exceptional.

In his youth, he was undefeated throughout Donghai."

A commotion began to stir in the crowd.

"Damn, why is the Little Demoness here too?"

The "Little Demoness" was, of course, Yue Cailan.

When they saw Yue Cailan, the commotion in the crowd immediately halved.

"That one is the eldest young master of the Zhao Family, Zhao Huai!"

"Cui He from the Black Tiger Gang is here too."

"Su Family Head, Uncle Su."

One by one, the names of the big shots were called out.

Only the two ordinary people Ling Xian had accidentally brought in, Shi Momo and Brother Song, were somewhat dazed.

Given their status, they had no way of knowing about these things.

Every time a big shot took the stage, it sparked a wave of discussion below; many looked on with envy, while others were frustrated by their own lack of power.

Anyone capable of appearing on that stage was a figure in Donghai City who could shake half the city with a stomp of their foot—true movers and shakers.

After these big shots finished their appearances and stepped down, everyone noticed that Donghai's Little Demoness was still standing on the stage.

"What's the situation this year? Why is the Yue Family's young lady still standing there?" a local from Donghai wondered privately.

"Everyone, my Yue Family will not participate in the division of interests this year, so I will be presiding over today's Donghai Martial Arts Grand Competition!"

Dressed in a Tang suit, wearing a translucent green jade bracelet and a golden hairpin, Yue Cailan displayed the beauty of a Jiangnan painting for the first time, her temperament absolutely flawless.

It was as if she were no longer the Little Demoness of Donghai, but a gentle and charming lady from Jiangnan.

Ling Xian could also see that the girl was a bit nervous; it was clearly her first time organizing a martial arts competition of this caliber, and she was still a bit uncomfortable.

As Yue Cailan finished speaking.

The people from various Donghai factions below began to buzz with discussion.

"What does the Yue Family mean by this?

The interests in that land to the east are not small, and there are many high-profit grey industries.

Why are they suddenly giving it up?

Are they just handing it over to the Zhao Family and the Black Tiger Gang?"

"They aren't planning to step down from their title as one of the Three Great Families, are they?"

"Impossible. As long as the old master of the Yue Family is around, who would dare covet their position among the Three Great Families?"

Seeing that his granddaughter was struggling to control the scene, Yue Tiankuo also stepped onto the stage and spoke using his inner strength.

"Brothers and sisters from Donghai.

Today is the final day of the year to determine the division of interests and resolve past grudges through arena combat.

Whatever business tactics or underworld methods were used in the past, they all cease now.

Today, everything is decided by martial arts. Once you leave Qingshui Town, no further disputes may be raised to disturb the rules of Donghai.

Otherwise, not only will the authorities intervene, but I, this old man, will not go easy on you either."