"You've lived in Alpha for two years, you should know about the martial spirit that's celebrated here, especially during the Anti-Ancient Movement era. Martial arts has become the contemporary trend for all ages."

"I did foresee some of it," Feng Yi said, confused. "But what's this got to do with the rules?"

"See, you're an outsider. Alpha's fighting system is different from outside, with a myriad of complex ancient martial arts schools. My grandfather's martial arts hall is one of them and a traditional one at that. Didn't you also spend a few days as a disciple there?"

"That's true."

"That's right, putting the rules aside, most Alpha folks admire the strong. Remember Sheng Qiangwei and Milly trying to find a mentor? That's a form of acknowledgment, buddy, but..."

Francis shifted his tone, recalling that besides these martial arts halls, the rules most prevalent outside are the shooting rules, humorously dubbed as betting. In other words, street fights testing physical prowess.

After all, aside from real experts, no one might know you on the streets, but when you come to the central square here, you'll see arenas crowded with spectators everywhere.

On the surface, civilian arena earnings seem thin, only capable of earning some tips through performances, but is that really the case? Clearly not.

Once someone steps on the stage to bet, the winner is not allowed to take the money and leave but waits for the next challenger to pay double to take them on. With each rise in stakes, the pot multiplies several times. Audience enthusiasm gets quickly ignited, which is the shooting rule.

Yet, that's not the main point. In the end, there's only one winner, so all previous fights could just become a backdrop, becoming the organizer's earnings.

Thus, each seemingly humble stage cannot be underestimated, as it may conceal master-level experts behind it.

It can be said there are only two kinds of people who dare to step on the stage: beginners or true experts. If it's the latter, it's likely a setup.

For them, winning the money in setups is crucial, but so is the promotional role the stage plays.

The bigger the gamble, the higher the heat, the more spectators there are, this is indirect publicity. Suppose a martial arts master wins in the end, its significance is not less than a high amount of gambling money, a win-win situation.

After hearing this, Feng Yi felt a bit overwhelmed... This series of challenges one after another is truly bothersome. Although the bet doubles, the depletion of stamina continues, this needs to be highlighted. It's somewhat unfair, it seems city folks still have deep tricks, the folks aren't that honest either.

Not long after, the two had followed Lasso to a stage.

Lasso frowned for a long time at the stage and said, "Feng Yi, let me see the progress you've made over the years, go up there, remember to restrain your strength, don't hurt anyone."

These people are obviously no match, Lasso knew too. Feng Yi really couldn't figure out what the old man's intention was, so he asked Lasso, "What about the money?"

"Money? What money?"

"It says one Federal Coin, I didn't bring any money."

Lasso was dumbfounded on the spot, you didn't bring money and you expect me to have it? I've been dead for over ten years, my paper's already turned to dust, how did the rules change so much?

He let out a dry cough to Francis!

Yet Francis didn't hear it at all, kept turning his head aside thinking 'Stop coughing, I didn't hear anything, didn't hear anything.'

Lasso maintained a calm heart, with a benevolent smile approached Francis, and began to cough forcefully...

Seeing it couldn't be ignored, Francis then realized and laughed awkwardly, promptly handed over a Federal Coin, "Sorry, sorry, Grandpa Lasso, I suddenly zoned out."

"Zoning out so young is blaming an old man like me," Lasso half-jokingly said.

Several seconds later, Feng Yi slowly walked toward the stage, first handing the money as respect, causing a burst of whistles from below...

"Hey, someone took the shooting challenge."

"Who is it, where, how big is the bet?"

"Seems to be just one Federal Coin."

"Just that little, how boring, probably another fixed match." Hearing it was a minimum, some who intended to come over lost interest.

But at this time, some people started commenting on Feng Yi's skill; most debated about the initial rank martial artist.

Upon listening closely did one roughly understand, each martial artist level is subdivided into nine ranks, like Rank 3, Level 1, to Rank 3, Level 9, it's simply exhausting.

Isn't the trend currently about levels, what's this mess? In Feng Yi's understanding, there are only quasi Rank 3, Rank 3, Rank 2, First-Order, and limit breaking extreme levels, super First-Order warrior, but...

"Does he have the physicality to last, I bet not ten seconds."

"It's risky, but don't judge a book by its cover, I bet a minute."

"What are you betting on, I don't believe it."

"Come, come, place your bets."

They're gambling on stage, meanwhile below is chaotic gambling too, it's all small bets, since one Federal Coin equals a thousand dollars, generally, people take it as a lucky draw.

On stage, the man roughly in his forties noticed the newcomer, a faint smirk like seeing a sucker appeared, casually threw a Federal Coin into the betting pool.

"Let's start, kid, I won't let you lose too badly."

Calling me a kid, although the guy is a bit handsome, you can't just call me a kid. Facing such a person, Feng Yi really didn't want to strike first, "How about you start."

And so, the man came...

Feng Yi quickly sidestepped, slicing a hand blade lightly on the neck, by the time the man got up, it was several seconds later, the fight ended swiftly.

Lasso nodded meaningfully, as if contemplating something...

However, unluckily, this fight happened to be where Feng Yi hit a hard spot, because as the man fell, despite his sharp movements, it didn't deter subsequent challengers. On the contrary, a steady stream of people began to step up.

As time intensified, by now the amount had risen to 32 Federal Coins.

Now, any discerning person could see Feng Yi's strength was unfathomable, challengers uniformly knocked down in one strike. But the more it happened, the more people challenged, they were not resigned to losing.

After multiple battles, Feng Yi was somewhat taken by surprise, because the challengers' styles were mostly different, suggesting these might be real challengers, here to fight.

Yet precisely for this reason, Feng Yi felt it was not worth it for them, friends, don't stubbornly come one by one to throw yourselves at me, you have no chance, even if you're a thousand or ten thousand times stronger, so what?

"Hey, this fight here is quite fascinating."

A crisp female voice, though not loud, sharply pierced through, instantly drawing a small crowd to glance over... Suddenly the arena had exploded into a chaos of discussion...

"Hey, isn't that South Third Lady, there's something to see."

"Eh, eh, eh, South Third Lady? Hasn't she been out of sight for a long time?" another girl said with surprise.

"Who knows, heard something happened at home, just hearsay."

"Shh, lower your voice, I don't want to get beaten up by her."

As the woman stepped toward the edge of the stage, the crowd instantly swarmed around, causing a small commotion…

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