Battle arena
Three days later, the highly anticipated day arrived—the grand opening of the battle arena.
Jun, fueled by the spirit stones he acquired from selling demon beast cores, transformed his backyard into a compact yet accommodating battle arena for at least 500 people.
Amidst the limited space, Jun remained confident, knowing that expansion could be considered later, once a substantial customer base was established.
"Master, it seems the customers have started arriving," Hua Zhenyi politely informed Jun.
Leisurely seated in a recliner chair, Jun casually issued instructions, "Guide them to the battle arena."
"As you wish," responded Hua Zhenyi with a respectful bow, before promptly carrying out her assigned task.
Observing Hua Zhenyi's departing figure, Jun let out a sigh, "It's finally time to dive into real business."
Rising from the recliner, he strolled out of the shop, reaching the front of the battle arena resembling a modest replica of the ancient Roman Colosseum.
The design was a personal request from Jun, inspired by memories of the Colosseum. To his surprise, the architects' craftsmanship exceeded his expectations in this world.
Approaching the arena, Jun noticed three male disciples of the Sword Nurturing Sect engaged in a dispute with Hua Zhenyi.
"Fellow daoist, I'm already showing respect by offering a single spirit stone for an entry pass. Why insist on a higher price?" one of the disciples expressed with dissatisfaction.
"I'm sorry, but the prices are set by the Shop Owner, and I can't alter them," Hua Zhenyi explained, shaking her head.
The disappointment on the faces of the three disciples was palpable. They had anticipated the opening of a new battle arena on the outskirts of the city, especially one equipped with an [Illusory Space Array].
Immortal Order had long prohibited battle arenas and games risking cultivators' lives, limiting such events to mundane duels.
The prospect of an arena with life on the line was thrilling, but the catch was the affordable entry passes—usually 50 gold coins per person or one spirit stone for two people.
Contrary to the norm, Jun was asking for double the price, demanding one spirit stone per person.
"Is there an issue, fellow daoists?" Jun inquired, prompting the three to scrutinize him with faint frowns.
The idea of a cultivator in the 2nd stage Qi Condensation Realm intervening in matters involving higher and mid-stage cultivators puzzled them.
"Master, these individuals find our entry pass too expensive," Hua Zhenyi reported with a polite bow, a sense of relief evident on her face as Jun stepped in to address the situation.
The trio was momentarily stunned. In the Myriad and Immortal worlds, cultivation status dictated respect.
It seemed unusual for a higher-cultivated woman to refer to a weaker cultivator as her master.
"If you find it costly, how about this? I'll refund your spirit stones if you're dissatisfied after the show," Jun suggested with a polite smile.
The trio exchanged glances before agreeing to Jun's condition and entered the battle arena.
However, Hua Zhenyi voiced a concern, "But, master, what if they lie to us even after being satisfied to get back their spirit stones?"
"Don't worry about that. Just put up a notice at the entrance stating, 'If the customer is dissatisfied with the show, we can refund them their spirit stones, but they will be banned from doing any kind of business with Golden Phoenix Pavilion,'" Jun assured.
Following Jun's instructions, Hua Zhenyi displayed the notice, and as more customers arrived, initial dissatisfaction with the price subsided after reading the notice.
The battle arena gradually filled with cultivators, primarily disciples from visiting sects and a few independent cultivators.
The significant crowd on the first day wasn't surprising, given the use of the [Illusory Space Array] in the battle arena—a feature possessed by only high-tier forces in mortal worlds.
As the audience settled, participants began registering at the counter, managed by Little Wei.
"What do you think of this battle arena?" a spectator inquired of a young man seated nearby.
"I don't find it very impressive, aside from the building. Golden Phoenix Pavilion must have spent a considerable amount of spirit stones on this arena," the young man remarked, frowning.
"Even with the [Illusory Space Array], it seems only early-stage Qi Condensation Realm cultivators would be able to fight here." The spectator voiced his opinion.
While other battle arenas might feature casual duels, they often showcase peak Qi Condensation Realm or even Foundation Establishment Realm experts.
"It's too soon to judge," another spectator interjected, possessing a cold and indifferent demeanor, exuding the aura of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
Following this remark, no one dared to express differing opinions or disagreement—such was the influence of cultivation and status.
"This fellow daoist appears quite patient," an elderly man with a saber chimed in, also a cultivator of Foundation Establishment Realm.
"Patient? I am just..." the other Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator began to explain, but their conversation was cut short as the main gate of the arena opened.
All eyes turned toward the main gate as a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance emerged, accompanied by a beautiful woman. The man was Jun, followed by Hua Zhenyi.
"Thank you for joining us today, fellow daoists and seniors," Jun expressed with respect, cupping his fists.
A collective nod from the audience acknowledged his greeting.
Observing the silent arena, Jun continued, "Since you've all gathered for an exciting spectacle, I won't keep you waiting any longer."
With a wave of his hand, a virtual screen materialized, presenting an expansive green plain devoid of any living beings.
Cultivators unfamiliar with this array were visibly astonished, experiencing such a phenomenon for the first time.
In contrast, disciples from cultivation sects remained calm and composed, as this spectacle was nothing out of the ordinary for them.
The unfolding spectacle sparked discussions among cultivators. "This is my first time witnessing something like this," one remarked. Another spectator reassured, "Don't worry, country bumpkin brother, you're not alone."
Amidst the chatter about the array, some disciples who had previous experience with such arrays sensed a difference. "This array feels a bit different from the original one," a disciple from the Beast Whisper Sect observed, with others around him acknowledging the change.
Suddenly, the screen displayed an image of a young independent cultivator wielding a saber. Before him stood a jaguar-like demon beast, larger in size with formidable, oversized canine teeth and a half moon mark on its forehead.