After waiting for nearly half an hour, the explosive music in the previously lively bar had stopped, and the dancing crowd gradually quieted down.
Zhang Fan and his companions watched as people in the vast hall on the first floor below spread out, leaving a clear area over twenty meters in length and width.
The customers gathered around waited in tacit understanding. Suddenly, the sound of gears grinding mechanically echoed from beneath the hall. Then, everyone saw a square iron platform, approximately fifteen meters in length and width, slowly rise from underground, forming a massive cast-iron arena.
Around the arena were railings made of steel ropes as thick as an arm. With Zhang Fan's eyesight, he could tell that these steel rope railings were likely made of a special alloy, making them extremely difficult to damage even for a Xiantian Grandmaster.
"This is rather interesting," Zhang Fan remarked, a hint of interest piqued by the sight. The destruction caused by a battle between Xiantian Grandmasters was already terrifying, and ordinary arenas simply couldn't withstand such intense clashes.
Clearly, this bar was well-prepared.
Although the cast-iron platform bore various marks, it was still relatively intact and fully functional.
If a normal arena were used for a fight between Xiantian Grandmasters, it would likely need to be replaced after just one match.
Furthermore, the arena's area exceeded two hundred square meters. While large, it was still barely enough for powerful figures like Xiantian Grandmasters to maneuver without being overly restricted, allowing them to freely display their skills.
"The Mafia spared no expense in constructing this arena. For every match, they even arrange four Transcendent beings skilled in defense around the arena to shield the audience from the battle's aftermath, allowing them to watch up close," Ailebella said with a smile.
"Such generosity. No wonder the audience is so frenzied," Yifei Cheng couldn't help but exclaim. The combined strength of their Black Tiger Gang didn't even amount to four Xiantian Grandmasters, yet the Mafia could assign four Transcendent beings to assist in a gladiatorial match. The disparity was indeed significant.
With the appearance of the cast-iron arena, the subdued atmosphere in the venue reignited with passion. The crowd cheered hysterically, anticipating the start of the gladiatorial matches.
Above the arena hung a large crystal screen. Since the arena's emergence, the numbers on the screen had been climbing rapidly, starting from zero and reaching tens of millions within minutes.
At the end of the numbers was a dollar sign.
"This is the prize pool, entirely contributed by the audience and awarded to the ultimate victor of tonight's arena matches," Ailebella explained to everyone, looking at the crystal screen.
"This is insane?" Yifei Cheng was somewhat shocked.
According to Ailebella, the tens of millions of dollars in prize money displayed on the crystal screen was collectively raised by the audience below. They contributed without any expectation of return, yet in just a few minutes, the total had surpassed the ten million mark.
"There are quite a few people who are willing to spend lavishly to witness such a battle."
"To make those Transcendent beings fighting in the arena go all out, they won't do it without benefits. Otherwise, do you think all the participants are Mafia members?"
Ailebella shook her head. "These participants are lured by the prize pool and recruited by the Mafia specifically for the arena. Otherwise, even with the Mafia's deep resources, they wouldn't have so many Transcendent beings to expend."
"Are tens of millions of dollars really worth Transcendent beings risking their lives for?" Hong Binglan also expressed some confusion. The strength of Transcendent beings was on par with Xiantian Grandmasters in China. To risk their lives for tens of millions of dollars seemed to devalue their lives.
After all, in China, Xiantian Grandmasters generally held high status. If they were asked to fight to the death, they would carefully consider whether they could even enjoy such wealth, even if offered a billion RMB.
"This is why the number of Transcendent beings in the West far exceeds that of Xiantian Grandmasters in China," Ailebella said, stroking her jade-like fingers and smiling lightly. "While the prize money is a factor in attracting Transcendent beings to fight, more importantly, they themselves crave combat."
"Refinement through life-and-death struggles allows them to gain more insights and ignite the potential hidden within their bodies."
"Although most of them fall on the arena, with only a few surviving, this still doesn't deter their desire for battle. It's in their bones; no one can change it."
Hong Binglan couldn't fully comprehend it, but Yifei Cheng and Lin Haotian nodded repeatedly. They belonged to the type of combat enthusiasts. If given the chance, they would willingly participate even without prize money.
"It's no wonder that the overall quality of powerful individuals in the West is considerably higher than in China," Poyang, Hong Binglan's senior brother, also sighed with emotion.
Most Xiantian Grandmasters in China cherished their lives immensely and would not risk them for such trivial wealth, as they believed their lives were more valuable.
However, in the West, the lives of Transcendent beings were not valued as highly, and tens of millions of dollars were enough to incite deadly combat among them.
Zhang Fan also nodded in understanding. Strength couldn't be solely achieved through secluded cultivation; it required extensive combat. It was in the crucible of life and death that people could grasp mysteries imperceptible during ordinary times.
Even he harbored an intense desire for battle. The path he had walked in this life, leading him to his current standing, was paved with countless life-and-death struggles.
In his previous life, in the myriad starry sky, he was known as the Battle Emperor, having challenged Immortal Emperors of a hundred races. He understood the benefits of combat for cultivation even better.
Given the long-standing environment of the Western cultivation world, it was not surprising that the number of Transcendent beings far surpassed that of Chinese Xiantian Grandmasters.
As Zhang Fan and the others conversed, a white figure suddenly flashed from the second floor, eventually landing on the cast-iron arena. It was a man in a white suit, with gleaming hair and an air of gentlemanly charm. After stepping onto the stage, he smiled faintly at the audience below and raised his hand in a gesture. The audience quickly quieted down, ceasing their shouts.
Next, the man in white spoke in accented English, delivering a lengthy speech to boost morale and excite the crowd.
"Tonight, for the first arena match, we have the Russian Bear, Wu Long, versus the Golden Monkey of Santiago, Ka Rui."
"As per the old rules, the winner can take half of the prize pool and leave, or choose to continue fighting!"
With that, the man in white leaped back up to the second floor, leaving the stage to the two combatants who were about to enter.
The first to enter was an extremely lean black man, less than 1.7 meters tall. Such a physique was rare among black men. His eyes sparkled like pearls, and his golden hair was braided into strands that occasionally glinted, looking extremely striking.
Opposite the lean black man stood a powerfully built Russian brute, over two meters tall. The lean black man appeared like a toddler in front of him.
His muscles were coiled like dragons extending across his body, and his fists were like massive hammers. One could imagine the destructive power they would unleash when striking a person.
...
ps: replenishment.