STNS: Chapter 516 (Patreon)

After rising to the ranks of Intermediate fighter in the Colosseum, Yōuměi began winning victory after victory. Some of her battles were difficult, and she almost lost several times, but she always came out on top, using the cunning and wisdom she had gained in the Colosseum to outwit opponents who were stronger than her.

Of course, there were not many opponents stronger than Yōuměi. Most fighters in the Colosseum were, at best, first and second subrealm Deva Realm cultivators.

She had wondered for a time why all the fighters were at the Deva Realm or higher. Hóngyàn Shūshu wouldn’t tell her when she asked. In fact, he was barely speaking to her at all. She knew he was angry because she cut a deal with Zhen Lian, though she thought his anger was unjustified. No matter how grateful she was to him, Yōuměi’s goal was to get stronger so she could gather the ingredients her master needed to restore his legs.

Yōuměi had, for the longest time, watched as her master struggled against the odds. He had fought tooth and nail to get stronger. He had his principles and there were things he wouldn’t do, but he had been willing to get his hands dirty if it meant achieving his goals. She had learned to act from him, from watching him, from traveling alongside him for so long.

Yōuměi respected and admired her master.

Since Hóngyàn Shūshu refused to talk to her right now, Yōuměi went to Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo to satisfy her curiosity.

“Huǐxiāo! I have a question for you!” Yōuměi shouted as she barged into Zhen Lian’s room.

“Mei’er… what have I told you about calling me by that demeaning nickname?” asked Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo with an exasperated sigh.

The woman in question was reclining on her loveseat. Yōuměi still didn’t think she was as pretty as her big sisters, but Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo was really sexy--probably even sexier than Lili Jiějiě. She wore nearly translucent clothing that was see through, and she wasn’t wearing anything that covered her chest, so Yōuměi could see everything. This woman had a very voluptuous body. Several times already, Yōuměi had been tempted to squeeze the woman’s chest just to see if they were real. The only reason she hadn’t was because her big sisters said it was rude.

“But that nickname suits you perfectly?” Yōuměi said, making her statement sound like a question.

Huǐxiāo meant “clever smile.” Yōuměi had decided on this nickname because Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo was very cunning and conniving, but she always seemed to be smiling.

Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo claimed she didn’t like it and tried to make Yōuměi call her something more affectionate like Jiějiě, which meant big sister, but there was no way Yōuměi could do that. The only people she would call big sister were her master’s mates.

“Don’t tilt your head like some cute forest critter when you say that,” Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo pouted at the girl, then sighed and asked, “So? What question did you have for me?”

“Um, I wanted to know why there were only Deva Realm Cultivators and above fighting in this Colosseum?”

“Ah. It does seem unusual, does it not?” Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo nodded like she understood. “This Colosseum has roughly two hundred fighters, and all of them have reached the Deva Realm at least. There are by no means an abundance of Deva Realm Cultivators in this world. It is strange that so many are here at the Colosseum, but the reason for that is simple.”

Yōuměi nodded several times. That was what she found weird. Deva Realm Cultivators were not necessarily rare, but they weren’t common either. Jingshu Jiějiě had once told her that only one of every one thousand cultivators reach this level of strength. Many who attempt to step into the Deva Realm die during the Heavenly Tribulation, and many more are so afraid of dying that they choose to remain in the Human Limit Realm.

Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo continued. “It wasn’t originally like this. I’ve heard that when the Colosseum first began, they accepted cultivators of every level. However, as the Colosseum became more popular, the demand for greater and bigger fights also became more in demand. The higher ups eventually decided to make it a requirement that all fighters be at least at the Deva Realm. The reason they decided on this is because there aren’t that many cultivators who have achieved this level of strength, so not many people get to see battles of this level. The Colosseum offers an experience no other fighting arena does.”

“I see,” Yōuměi said.

“You don’t really understand, do you?” asked Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo with a bemused smile.

“Not really,” Yōuměi confessed. “But I understand it a bit.”

“Well, that’s fine, I guess,” Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo said with a huff. She paused for a moment, then asked, “I’m surprised you didn’t ask Hóngyàn to answer this for you, but I’ve heard that he’s not talking to you.”

“He is not,” Yōuměi admitted. “He also went into isolated cultivation.”

“Ah, yes. I did hear that too. He is preparing for our battle, I suppose,” Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo pressed a finger to her ruby red lips and smiled. “Not that there is any need for him to do that.”

Yōuměi knew what Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo intended to do, but she didn’t think Hóngyàn Shūshu knew that.

“Can’t you just tell him what you want?” she asked.

“Do you think Hóngyàn would believe me if I just came out and said I wanted him to be mine?” asked Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo. She finally sat up, crossing her arms. Yōuměi momentarily eyed the woman’s chest as they shifted against her arms, but she focused once more on Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo’s face when the woman continued talking. “Of course not. He’d think I was scheming something, as he always does. Also, he would likely run away if I confronted him in a regular setting. I need to force him into a situation where he has no choice but to accept my feelings.”

“...”

“...”

Yōuměi stared at the woman for several long, silent seconds.

“Huǐxiāo is a really good nickname for you,” she said at last.

“Hey!”

***

More time passed. Yōuměi continued to win her battles and eventually ascended to the rank of Adept. Skilled fighters who demonstrated significant ability and strategy in the arena ascended to this rank. The requirements were for a fighter to win at least 30 consecutive victories against other Intermade rank fighters, and then fight the weakest fighter at the Adept rank. Should the challenger win, they would take that fighter's place as an Adept rank fighter.

There were quite a few perks to reaching this rank, which included earning twice as many points for each victory and gaining access to rare items and advanced training. Yōuměi did her best to learn what she could. There were not that many shadow techniques available at the Hall of Scrolls, but there were a few, and she learned several techniques that, while not powerful, could be useful if used correctly.

The Hall of Scrolls was, as the name suggested, a massive library filled to the brim with technique scrolls. This hall could only be accessed after reaching the rank of Adept.

It was several stories tall. Each floor contained techniques at the Earth rank, the second through fourth floors contained Spirit ranked techniques. There was a floor above that--the fifth floor--which contained Heaven ranked techniques, but very few cultivators had ever been to that room. It was supposedly an award that only the strongest cultivators could earn. Even Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo had never been there before.

When Yōuměi wasn’t battling in the arena, she spent most of her time there, until the day arrived when Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo and Hóngyàn Shūshu would do battle.

Yōuměi had never watched a match from the stands before, but that day, she arrived in the stands to watch the “battle” between Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo  and Hóngyàn Shūshu. Several people spotted her as she searched for a seat. Her ears twitched several times as she listened to their conversations.

“Hey, hey! Isn’t that Xiǎo Yǐng? What do you think she’s doing here?”

“Are you stupid? She’s obviously here to watch the battle between Zhen Lian and Hóngyàn.”

“Oh, right. I heard she and Hóngyàn were close. I’m kinda surprised. He was never the type to get close to other people, was he?”

“That just goes to show you how special this girl is.”

“I suppose… she is really strong. I’ve never seen anyone rise to the rank of Adept so quickly.”

While Yōuměi still heard the rest of the conversation, she decided to ignore it and the others happening around her as she sat herself in an out of the way seat--and because she didn’t want to be disturbed, she wrapped herself up in shadows to avoid detection. Only a few people would be able to see through it, and most of them were the powerful type who didn’t care enough about her to come up and talk.

Soon, the announcer’s voice echoed around the arena.

“Ladies and gentleman! It is now time for a battle unlike any other! For many years now, we’ve had a distinct lull in battles between high-ranking fighters, but here and now, we will have a fight between two Legend Rank cultivators! Well?! Are you excited?!”

The cheers that met his proclamation were so loud that made Yōuměi flinch. She did not like loud noises, but no one seemed to care for her plight.

“Since you’re so excited, let’s not delay and begin this battle right now! Coming in from the north entrance is a woman who’s beauty has entranced all who behold her! A woman who’s cunning has caused the downfall of numerous cultivators! It’s Yīnyǐng Nǚdì!!!!”

Loud cheering met the announcement of Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo’s arena nickname.

“And coming from the south gate is a man who has been here since the very beginning, one of the founding arena fighters. He started his career as a mere Hunger Realm cultivator and has since ascended to a height few can match! It is the first Legend Rank fighter of the arena! Yěmán Lièyàn!!!!!”

The cheering for Hóngyàn Shūshu was even louder than it had been for Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo.

As their names were announced, the gates opened and two people stepped onto the arena.

Hóngyàn Shūshu was dressed in powerful-looking red armor that had swirling flame patterns painted across the surface. The flames seemed to be… moving? No, not seemed to be. They were moving, just like a real fire. Meanwhile, Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo was dressed in clothing that was in no way designed for combat. She wore a red dress with a single slit running up her left leg, revealing a lot of thigh. Her heeled shoes looked hard to walk in. The dress also revealed a lot of cleavage. Her ample chest seemed to bounce and sway, which distracted a lot of the men in the stands, though Hóngyàn Shūshu completely ignored it.

The pair finally stepped onto the arena and stood on opposite sides. Thick tension hung in the air as the two eyed each other, though their expressions couldn’t be more different. Hóngyàn Shūshu glared at Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo like the woman was his mortal enemy, but the woman he was glaring at just smiled placidly.

“Are both contestants ready?! Bow to the referee, bow to your ancestors, now bow to each other! This arena match will begin on the count of three. Two. One! Fight!”

Those words were like a trigger for Hóngyàn Shūshu, who blasted off the ground so quickly that Yōuměi couldn’t even see him. She had no idea he could move that fast! Despite the sudden move, Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo without a care in the world. The woman produced an item from her storage ring. It was a clear glass case containing something inside--a single flower.

Kneeling on the ground, Zhen Lian Huǐxiāo said, “Hóngyàn! On this day, I profess my love to you! Marry me!”