The First Summoner - Chapter 84

Zhu Hezhou was tall and handsome, though his eyes carried a distinctly sinister cast.

At his sister’s aggrieved complaint, he immediately followed her pointing finger and saw Shen Yan’s aloof figure.

Shen Yan was paying the owner. Once the transaction was complete, she put the new clothes into her storage space.

The atmosphere in the shop had grown extraordinarily tense.

Shen Yan seemed not to notice. She was about to leave when Zhu Miaoqing anxiously tugged at her brother’s sleeve.

Zhu Hezhou spoke at once.

“Stop!”

Shen Yan ignored him and continued toward the door.

His expression tightened. He moved to block her, but Shen Yan seemed to have anticipated him. She abruptly raised a leg and kicked toward him.

His pupils contracted. Reacting swiftly, he dodged.

The moment he stepped aside, Shen Yan passed him unhindered and left the shop.

By the time Zhu Hezhou recovered and looked after her, she had vanished. Finding her amid the packed streets would be like searching for a needle in the ocean.

His face darkened.

Zhu Miaoqing hurried to his side and discovered that Shen Yan had disappeared completely. She was even angrier than her brother.

“She got lucky this time. The next time I see her, I absolutely won’t spare her!” Zhu Miaoqing raged.

Zhu Hezhou narrowed his eyes, committing Shen Yan to memory as well.

She had to be here for Western Region Academy’s entrance test.

If he encountered her during the test, he would not let her off.

Meanwhile, Shen Yan found Zhuge Youlin after he finally escaped the crowd of academy heads.

He was panting from exhaustion.

“Those old men and women are relentless! Where did you go just now?” Realizing something, he hurriedly added, “Never mind. Let’s go before they catch up again.”

“All right.” Shen Yan could not help smiling.

Zhuge Youlin was not familiar with Western Region City either, so they asked passersby for directions to the Beast-Martial Arena.

About fifteen minutes later, they arrived.

Statues of a dragon and tiger stood outside, while the three characters on the signboard—*Beast-Martial Arena*—radiated a cold, domineering air that inspired dread.

Even outside, they could smell the dense reek of blood.

Ferocious slaughter clearly took place within.

A dark gleam flashed through Zhuge Youlin’s black eyes, carrying a trace of excitement.

Dangerous shadows surfaced in Shen Yan’s gaze. The heavy scent of blood brought back images of fighting zombies in her former life’s apocalypse.

Zhuge Youlin turned to her.

“Let’s go in.”

Shen Yan nodded.

Before they entered, an attendant handed each of them a blue, fanged mask.

“Welcome to the Beast-Martial Arena. We hope you make it out alive.”

Shen Yan’s reaching hand paused.

She lowered her eyes and put on the monstrous mask. When she raised her gaze again, an unreadable emotion flickered through her dark eyes.

Zhuge Youlin donned his mask as well.

He looked at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Shen Yan, I think you and I are the same kind of person.”

Beneath her mask, Shen Yan’s lips twitched. She did not deny it.

They entered together.

The roars of beasts, sounds of combat, pleas for mercy, angry shouts, cheers, and jeers grew deafening inside.

The Beast-Martial Arena was divided into two sections: the Beast Arena and the Martial Arena.

“Which one do you want to visit?” Shen Yan asked.

“Either.” Zhuge Youlin flashed a toothy grin. “Whichever you choose, I’ll go with you.”

“Then we’ll go to…” Shen Yan said slowly, “the Martial Arena.”

Zhuge Youlin looked surprised. Shen Yan came from a Summoner clan, so beast combat should have been her advantage.

He chuckled. “All right.”

His smile was spirited and dazzling. His red hair made his skin look even fairer, while his narrow, upturned eyes lent him an indescribably bewitching air.

Tall and dressed in black, he was in the full splendor of youth.

He often planted his hands on his hips, apparently out of habit. The pose inadvertently emphasized his lean waist and added to his youthful vitality.

Shen Yan withdrew her gaze and entered the Martial Arena beside him.

It was far larger than either had imagined. Ten stages filled the vast space, each hosting a fierce battle. Countless spectators in blue, fanged masks crowded around them, cheering and roaring, “Get up! Kill him!”

Gambling was evidently a fixture here.

Many people were placing bets.

The rules of the Martial Arena were brutally simple: anyone who wished to fight could enter. Life or death did not matter. The winner received one hundred taels of gold from the arena. The loser owed the arena two hundred.

The ten stages were divided by level, ensuring that each pair of opponents possessed similar cultivation. That made the fights more exciting.

With little difference between their realms, either side had a chance to win.

Not only did the Martial Arena disregard life and death, but if no one claimed a fallen fighter’s body, it was sent directly to the Beast Arena to become food for spirit beasts.

The Beast-Martial Arena was merciless.

Most of the people who entered were dangerous characters.

Shen Yan suddenly stopped.

She seemed to have spotted someone familiar.

On the seventh stage, a masked young woman with two braids was locked in combat with a burly man. Dressed in pale fighting clothes, the girl was agile and looked exceptionally petite beside him.

She wielded a black-and-gold trident. Every attack was swift, vicious, and precise.

The weapon moved like a swimming dragon in her hands, perfectly obedient to her will.

Her legs also appeared extraordinarily powerful. Bracing herself on the trident, she sprang up, hooked both legs around the man’s head, and smashed him down.

Bang!

“Aaaah!” The man screamed.

Gripping the trident in one hand, the girl drove it into his face!

Blood sprayed.

His shrill screams echoed without end.

The spectators erupted in astonishment. They could hardly believe such a petite girl would strike so ruthlessly.

Blood splashed across her clothes, but she paid it no mind. She slowly rose and pulled the trident free.

After putting it away, the girl smiled beneath her mask. She hooked one braid around a finger and toyed with it.