Free Web NovelChapter 118: Chapter 117: D Class
The Jinmen Martial Arts Association was vastly different from the Guangdong Martial Arts Conference.
The Guangdong Martial Arts Conference, while nominally encompassing the numerous Martial Arts Halls under the Giant Spirit Army’s jurisdiction, was in reality just a tool. It was actually controlled by the Four Great Sects and used to suppress the power of the civilian Martial Arts Realm. Before its recent reforms, it had been nothing more than a loose organization, existing in name only.
The Jinmen Martial Arts Association, however, was different. The major martial arts powers, business magnates, and even political figures within Jinmen all converged within the Association, holding various positions such as council directors. Many irreconcilable disputes and conflicts would be resolved in Martial Arts Arenas under the Association’s witness.
Thus, although Jinmen was technically administered by the Shangjing region’s Beidou Army, factions from all over the country gathered there, and the political waters ran deep. In some respects, the word of the Jinmen Martial Arts Association sometimes carried more weight than that of the local Beidou Army.
The Jinmen Martial Arts Association operated four large arenas throughout Jinmen, holding Martial Arts Arena bouts for four classes: A, B, C, and D.
Any Martial Artist who came to Jinmen and possessed a Secret Transmission could, with the Association’s approval, participate in the Martial Arts Arena duels.
Regardless of status or reputation, anyone entering the Martial Arts Arena duels had to start from the lowest D-Class Arena and work their way up. This was the origin of the saying that the people of Jinmen only trust combat records, not reputations.
Of course, if it were merely for fame, the Martial Arts Arena wouldn’t be that appealing, as fighting in the arena carried significant risks. Therefore, tickets were sold to the public for every class of arena, with higher classes commanding higher ticket prices.
Furthermore, the Martial Arts Association opened betting for every match. The winner of a duel would receive a corresponding cut from the betting pool, and the higher the arena’s class, the larger the cut.
This created a virtuous cycle. The citizens of Jinmen enjoyed watching the arena fights, while the Martial Artists who took the stage could gain both fame and fortune, attracting even more fighters to flock to the city.
Even dignitaries from the surrounding Dao Mansions, or the high and mighty from Shangjing itself, might come to watch the arena fights when they had free time.
「Around 8 p.m. the next evening.」
Hongda Street, Nanda District, Jinmen.
The Jinmen Martial Arts Association’s D-Class Martial Arts Arena was located on this street.
Zhao Xuanqi now stood before a massive building. A giant plaque marked with a "D" hung over its entrance.
A crowd thronged the main entrance. Some spectators waiting to enter the arena even had to line up to have their tickets checked, creating a bustling scene.
The attire of most of these spectators was far from luxurious; they appeared to be ordinary citizens. After all, this was merely the lowest-level D-Class arena. This sight gave Zhao Xuanqi a deeper appreciation for the strong martial arts culture in Jinmen.
"It’s not usually this busy."
Just then, a stout, robed man of medium height walking beside Zhao Xuanqi spoke up.
His name was Ge Chuanming, and he was the Boxer Yan Shuntao had arranged for Zhao Xuanqi.
The so-called Boxer was, in reality, a role akin to a ring agent. They helped Martial Artists new to Jinmen and unfamiliar with the rules by handling procedures, liaising with Association staff, and arranging arena matches. In return, they collected a fee from the Martial Artist’s share of the prize money.
Ge Chuanming had been a Boxer in the Jinmen Martial Arts Arena for nearly ten years, making him a veteran who knew all the ins and outs. Though Zhao Xuanqi looked very young, and Ge Chuanming was unaware of his true background or strength, his tone remained exceedingly polite. He showed none of the arrogance he might typically display toward an ordinary Martial Artist. After all, this was someone personally arranged by Boss Yan; it didn’t take a genius to realize he was far from simple.
"Normally, the D-Class Arena’s skill level is just so-so. The average citizen wouldn’t waste money on a ticket unless they wanted to place a couple of bets. But things have been different recently. Ever since the unrest in the Northern Territory began, factions from all over have been pouring into Jinmen these past few months, bringing a steady stream of Martial Artists."
"The fastest way to make a name for yourself in Jinmen is undoubtedly the Martial Arts Arena. But according to the Association’s rules, they don’t care about your background or reputation, only your combat record. Even the strongest fighters have to start in the D-Class Arena. As a result, you can often see some very high-level fights even here. That’s why so many Jinmen citizens have come flocking over—after all, a situation like this is rare."
"So, Mr. Zhao, it’s best to be careful when you go on stage. The waters in the D-Class Arena are quite deep these days."
Ge Chuanming explained as he led Zhao Xuanqi toward the Martial Artist’s passage.
Zhao Xuanqi nodded, showing he understood.
Ge Chuanming presented the necessary credentials and led Zhao Xuanqi through the passage into the backstage area of the arena. He then went to get Zhao Xuanqi’s fight schedule.
According to the rules, Martial Artists had to submit their fight applications to the appropriate arena before noon. The arena would then assign opponents using methods such as drawing lots, taking into account the fighters’ win records. The Jinmen Martial Arts Arena had perfected this system, making it relatively fair.
"Promotion in the Martial Arts Arena is based on victory points. To get promoted from the D-Class Arena, you need ten points. A win earns you two points, and a loss deducts one. This means that even for the fastest promotion, you need to fight at least five matches. Moreover, the way opponents are assigned means that fighters on a winning streak are usually matched against each other. This prevents anyone from getting promoted through sheer luck by continuously facing weak opponents."
"The D-Class Arena is full of experts right now, so the competition is stiff. If you want to reach the A-Class Arena within a month and a half, the schedule is very tight. A serious injury would make that very difficult. So, my advice is, if you run into an opponent you’re not confident you can beat, you can just concede. Preserve your strength and avoid injury. It’s the safer approach. You don’t need to excessively chase win streaks or a rapid promotion."
Ge Chuanming advised Zhao Xuanqi.
"Mm, I’ll consider it. Under normal circumstances, how many matches can one fight in a single night?"
Zhao Xuanqi asked, his expression calm.
"On a normal day, fighting five or six matches would be standard. But with so many more Martial Artists in the D-Class Arena now, I estimate you’ll only be scheduled for three matches at most in an evening, ending around eleven."
Ge Chuanming replied.
Zhao Xuanqi nodded. The two rested backstage for a while, and after getting the fight schedule, Ge Chuanming led him out of the backstage area and into the main arena. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
An immense roar swept over them.
The arena was a cacophony of sound, incredibly noisy. A sea of heads moved restlessly, and the shouts, boos, and cheers were deafening. freewebnoveℓ.com
Within the vast arena grounds, a quick glance revealed nearly twenty fighting platforms. Each platform was surrounded by a crowd of spectators. The D-Class arena drew a motley crowd, and with cheap tickets, there were no seats at all. Everyone stood to watch the fights.
Each platform was staffed by a single referee. In front of it were two long tables—one for recording victory points, the other for spectators to place bets. Beside the tables stood a notice board displaying the names, win counts, and victory points of the fighters in the upcoming match. A fifteen-minute betting period was announced before each fight began.
Soon, Zhao Xuanqi spotted the notice board bearing his name.
