"A ferocious magical artifact crafted over thirty-six years, incredibly sharp and multifunctional..."

"This thousand-year-old plant contains three rare medicinal herbs that can be used to refine elixirs, strengthen the body, and serve as a medicinal guide..."

"A juvenile demon beast unlike any I've ever heard of or seen before, capable of recognizing a master and being commanded, eliminating the risks of hunting—this is an opportunity not to be missed..."

It really is a place where cultivators gather, with all kinds of supplies and pills. I just don't know what to use to buy them. Could it be that there is a currency in the cultivation world?

"arrive!"

Leng Rushuang gazed at a large courtyard at the end of the road, her pace gradually slowing down. She spoke to Li Sisui beside her, who silently nodded and walked in alone.

"Hey, another new cultivator has arrived! Everyone come and see!"

"This... how come he's only at the third level of the Divine Illumination Realm? Am I seeing things?"

"This is going to be interesting!"

...

"Make way, everyone! Our boss is coming! Get out of my way!"

A series of gruff shouts caused the group of cultivators who were crowding at the door to scatter and make way. Then, a group of casually dressed cultivators surged out of the crowd and came straight to Li Sisui. The leader was a burly man with thick eyebrows who made a deep impression at first glance.

"New guy, don't you know the rules here? Hurry up and bring out your belongings, so the brothers don't have to do it themselves!"

Wherever there are people, there is a world of intrigue. Even if everyone is a powerful cultivator, they still retain various human vices. Such an incident of the many bullying the few is perfectly normal. Many cultivators who have just entered the city usually don't really care in order to avoid trouble. They will usually just throw a few things at the other person to get rid of the matter...

Furthermore, the city of Zheji forbids fighting, and those who violate this rule are to be killed without exception. This inadvertently encourages such behavior. Newcomers who have been treated this way in the past will use the same methods to deal with newcomers who enter later, in order to make up for the previous losses. Newcomers replace oldcomers, and the cycle continues!

"No! This location is great, I'll stay here from now on. It even has partitions, so it's quite quiet..."

Li Sisui didn't even look up, completely ignoring the group of people. He stepped into the courtyard, glanced around, and chose the corner spot. It was not only spacious but also had its own doors and windows, making it completely different from the surrounding communal sleeping area. It was more like a private room!

"Good lad, that's our boss's territory. Looks like you're planning to make a move, huh?"

Although fighting is not allowed within Broken Halberd City, not all disputes must be ignored. Broken Halberd City has designated dueling arenas. Once you step into the arena, life and death are irrelevant. Whether the two parties negotiate amicably or engage in a fierce battle, they can only leave the dueling arena when the dispute is completely resolved.

Leng Rushuang had long ago read about the treatment of newly promoted cultivators in Zheji City from ancient books. She was originally a little curious about it, but she didn't expect it to come in handy now. So as soon as she arrived, Leng Rushuang stopped in her tracks, and naturally left the rest to Li Sisui to handle.

"Stop talking nonsense, either give up the room or go to the dueling arena!"

Li Sisui remained expressionless, coldly observing the group of cultivators before him. His earlier aggressive demeanor left them speechless and almost choked. After a long while, the leader, a man with thick eyebrows, flashed a sinister look across his face, gave a wink to the cultivator beside him, and sneered:

"I never thought that after all these years in Broken Halberd City, I'd still run into a troublemaker. Looks like you're quite familiar with Broken Halberd City, even knowing about the dueling arena. Alright, let's go. The dueling arena is all set up for you. I want to see what gives you such confidence!"

The previously peaceful surroundings were suddenly broken by a rough voice overhead:

"Duel Arena No. 38 has received a duel application. It is open for all-around duels!"

The sound, booming like thunder, echoed above everyone's heads, repeating three times before finally disappearing. Immediately afterward, the surrounding cultivators all turned red-faced, with some muttering amongst themselves:

"This guy is really arrogant. Since he knows about the duel arena, why didn't he choose a duel level? He actually chose 'no difference' instead. Hurry up and place your bets. Even though the outcome is predetermined, at least you can earn some tea money, right?"

The crowd nodded and dispersed. Thick-browed Brother glanced at Li Sisui with a smug look, then turned and left surrounded by a group of cultivators. The jade talisman he had received from the city gate suddenly vibrated, and then a piece of text appeared on its surface, providing the detailed location of Duel Arena Number Thirty-Eight and requiring the participants to go there immediately.

Those who respond passively or avoid fighting will be judged as losers. Not only will they lose the dispute, but they will also be recorded in the records of the City of Defeated Swords. In future settlement negotiations, they will be subject to stricter scrutiny and restrictions. Therefore, the two parties who initiate a duel will generally go to the duel site no matter what. If they are not confident, who would initiate a duel?

For cultivators temporarily residing in Broken Halberd City, all their actions within the city are under surveillance. Duels are based on the principle of mutual consent, with no one coercing the other. Only when the surveillance clearly indicates that both parties genuinely intend to resolve the issue through a duel will the duel request be responded to!

Leng Rushuang and Diao Bao sat in the courtyard, watching Li Sisui leave. As the group of cultivators passed by Leng Rushuang, their eyes darted around her with unbridled glare. If it weren't for the fact that fighting was prohibited here, Leng Rushuang would probably have already started a massacre...

"Take a look! The duel between the newly arrived cultivator and the Thick-browed Taoist is open to betting on who wins and who loses. Once the bet is placed, it's done. It only costs a few jade talismans. You won't lose out or be cheated. Take a gamble, and you might become a demon! Bet on it, and you'll settle down here for a short time!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!