Many people were paying attention to this arena match.
Cui Yu, a meticulous artist from Qiantang; Xu Zhiping and Xu Qian, night watchmen; the storyteller Yin Tang and his female disciple Huang Ying.
Li Chongxi, a tomb keeper from Chang'an.
Besides the disciples of folk sects, reputable sects also showed considerable interest.
Yu Luming, though currently in Wudang Mountain, was also keeping an eye on the arena match. However, he had never pondered whether Yan Shouyi could win.
How could Yan Shouyi, a son blessed by destiny who had nearly claimed the position of Heavenly Master, possibly lose to a mere Chihua Association?
Yu Luming had absolute confidence in Yan Shouyi. Yuan Jianxin shared the same confidence.
Nun Guan Yun and Ling Xiaoxiao from Emei Mountain, along with Yan Nanfei and Changshan, who were accompanying Ling Xiaoxiao back to Emei, were already guarding the live stream page. Although the stream had not yet begun, they found joy in scrolling through the comments.
When Ling Xiaoxiao saw comments criticizing Yan Shouyi's strength, claiming he relied on his wife, her mouth twisted in anger.
She rolled up her sleeves, transforming into a super keyboard warrior, and unleashed a torrent of abuse in the comments section.
Seeing her like this, Yan Nanfei couldn't help but chuckle, "Junior Sister Xiaoxiao, you are still too young, your state of mind is not strong enough. Those comments are all empty talk, you shouldn't take them to heart."
Ling Xiaoxiao pointed to one of the comments and said, "They say Senior Brother Yan only knows some superficial skills, and that the Zhuge family is superior in Qimen Dunjia."
"Hmm?" Yan Nanfei was taken aback, then immediately became defensive, "What the hell is the Zhuge family? If their Zhuge family is great, then what am I, from the Yan family of Kunlun Mountain?"
With that, Yan Nanfei also rolled up his sleeves and transformed into an even more formidable "Evil Keyboard Immortal," unleashing hundreds of angry comments.
By now, the atmosphere on the platform had changed from its initial state.
The netizens posting comments were divided into four factions.
Those who believed the Research Association and Yan Shouyi would win.
Those who believed the Chihua Association and Wu Tianfeng would win.
Those who remained neutral and were just watching the spectacle.
And then there were those like Ling Xiaoxiao and Yan Nanfei, who were arguing fiercely in the comments, getting into heated disputes with others.
Interestingly, no one was discussing Yan Shouyi's wife, Lin Zitong, anymore, as those who had mentioned her had been banished to the "black room."
Nun Guan Yun sighed faintly and said regretfully, "The sacred fruit of Emei Mountain is about to ripen. We cannot be distracted. Otherwise, I should personally go to Rongcheng and reunite with my senior sister."
Hearing this, Ling Xiaoxiao and Yan Nanfei exchanged glances.
Ever since they learned of the Twelve Earthly Branches' conspiracy, the two had returned to Emei Mountain together. Although the Yan family of Kunlun Mountain also had significant events about to occur, the ripening of the Emei Mountain sacred fruit was a more immediate concern.
That was why they both returned to Emei Mountain. However, they had not announced the news about the Twelve Earthly Branches, fearing it might alert their enemies, and were instead investigating in secret.
...
Xiangdong, north of a small mountain village, lay a valley that never saw sunlight.
Within the valley was a bat cave, rumored to be inhabited by countless giant bats that preyed on living humans, their smallest specimens as large as wild beasts. It was said that no living person who entered would ever emerge.
Villagers gave the bat cave a wide berth, refraining from approaching the valley even when herding sheep, let alone the bat cave itself.
One day, a bat flew into the bat cave, carrying a kraft paper letter in its mouth.
Familiar with the surroundings, it navigated effortlessly in the darkness, weaving through the complex cave system.
Upon reaching the depths, it suddenly landed behind a stone door and emitted a sound inaudible to humans.
With a rumble, the stone door slowly opened, and a beam of candlelight spilled out.
The bat spread its wings, but like a human, walked on its hind legs, its gait somewhat peculiar, swaying from side to side as if struggling, much like a penguin.
After passing through the stone door, it was revealed that in the flickering candlelight, a figure in a black robe sat facing the wall, their entire being hidden within the robe, which seemed to devour light, utterly impervious to the candle's glow.
The bat regurgitated the kraft paper letter and respectfully prostrated itself on the ground, like a loyal servant.
The robed figure extended a gloved hand, picked up the letter, and read it for a while before tossing it into a corner.
In the corner where the kraft paper letter landed, lay countless white bones.
There were bones of cattle and sheep, but the most numerous were human bones!
These stark white bones had piled up into a small mountain. Some had been there for an unknown duration, dry and brittle, while others were more recent, with traces of flesh and blood still clinging to them.
"Yan Chou's son is going to have an arena match in Rongcheng with the Chihua Association..."
The robed figure's voice was hoarse, perhaps from disuse or an inability to speak properly, as his accent and tone were incredibly strange and unpleasant.
"The actor has suffered losses at Yan Chou's hands multiple times. This time, he has invited me out of seclusion to cause some trouble for the Yan family..."
"The target is not Yan Shouyi in the arena, but Lin Zitong, who is beneath the stage... Interesting. Killing Yan Chou's grandson is far more interesting than killing him..."
"After so many years, it's time to settle this feud."
The robed figure muttered to himself.
At this moment, another bat flew in.
This bat was significantly larger, comparable in size to a small donkey.
In its grasp, it held a boy of about ten years old, who was covered in wounds and had fallen unconscious.
After flying in, the bat dropped the boy before the robed figure, then obediently retreated to the side. However, its dark pupils couldn't help but fixate on the boy's neck, its gaze covetous.
The robed figure let out a cold snort, and the bat was instantly terrified, prostrating itself on the ground, daring not to look further.
Only then did the robed figure reveal a satisfied smile, which also exposed two fangs as green as jade.
He dragged the boy towards him, first admiring him, then bending down to sniff the boy.
Hmm...
The scent of the living... the scent of fresh blood... a sweet fragrance...
The robed figure's stomach twitched violently, a reaction seemingly caused by extreme hunger.
He could no longer resist and bit down on the boy's neck!
The boy's body convulsed violently from the intense pain, his expression contorting, and sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.
However, it wasn't long before the boy's body lost all its color. Soon, he became a withered corpse, a sight difficult to bear.
The robed figure raised his head, blood trickling down his pale green neck.
The two bats suddenly became agitated, pacing restlessly from side to side, their wings occasionally flapping open and closed.
"Take it and enjoy!"
The robed figure contentedly tossed the desiccated corpse away. The two bats eagerly pounced, grabbing the corpse with their claws.
Neither yielded to the other. As they vied for possession, they emitted sharp, warning cries.
Finally, through their struggle, the corpse split at the waist, dividing into two. Each bat received half and contentedly dragged it to a corner to feast.
"Rongcheng... the Yan family... I am coming..."
The robed figure said coldly.