Read Novel Full Chapter 227: Cloud Empire (47)
Chapter 227: Cloud Empire (47)
In a hidden room on the tenth floor of the Coliseum of the Clouds, five middle-aged men were seated around a round table of polished obsidian.
The room was small, windowless, and illuminated only by five floating crystals that emitted cold and constant light.
The walls were reinforced with sound and vision containment formations, no one from outside could hear or see what was happening there.
Each man wore dark gray robes with the official emblem of the Coliseum embroidered on the chest, a cloud pierced by a vertical sword.
They were the main sponsors of the Coliseum, the five who controlled the bets, the internal rules, the prizes, and the flow of spirit stones that circulated in the place. They were the Coliseum.
At the center of the table, a translucent crystal the size of a human head pulsed softly. It projected floating holograms into the air. Names, cultivations, betting odds, and accumulated values. The information arrived in real time, updated by formations directly connected to the Coliseum’s system.
When the next challenge appeared, the five leaned forward.
Rank 00 — Kyrian (Blood Court) vs. Rank 92 — Wang Dahai
Kyrian’s cultivation: 6° stage of Qi Liberation.
The man on the left, bald, with a thin scar crossing his left eyebrow, let out a dry laugh.
"Hmm? One of the challengers is only at the 6° stage of Qi Liberation? Isn’t he literally paying to die? Wang Dahai is at the peak of Qi Liberation. This kid is going to be massacred."
The man beside him, with a sparse beard and small, calculating eyes, frowned as he read the name of the force.
"Not necessarily. He’s from the Blood Court. Maybe a direct disciple of Dong Zhen."
The bald man snorted, crossing his arms.
"So what if he’s a disciple of that tyrant? That doesn’t change the fact that he’ll have to face experienced Coliseum warriors."
"But out of respect for the Court, I’d say odds of 3 to 1 in favor of Wang Dahai are fair. Maybe even 4 to 1."
The third man, tall, with gray hair tied in a bun, tilted his head.
"I heard a rumor. He fought Yun Hao from the Cloud Academy on equal footing at Tao’s party. Maybe he has the strength to surprise."
The bald man laughed again.
"I highly doubt that. Yun Hao must have been playing with him. I bet this Kyrian dies in the first match."
The fourth man, short, with a round face and neutral expression, merely observed the crystal in silence, offering no opinion. The fifth, the oldest, with a long beard and piercing eyes, finally spoke.
"Let the bets run. The Coliseum always profits, regardless of who wins."
Meanwhile, in the common stands, the bets exploded.
Upon seeing Kyrian’s cultivation projected in the sky, most people completely ignored where he came from and judged him as one of the first to die today. Laughter and mocking comments filled the air.
"6° stage of Qi Liberation? Against peak Qi Liberation? That’s paid suicide."
"Must be some arrogant young brat from the Blood Court thinking his master’s name scares anyone here."
"I’m betting everything on Wang Dahai. Guaranteed return for sure!"
But in one of the intermediate stands, Yao was leaning against a column, hood covering half his face. When he saw Kyrian’s odds, he smiled crookedly. Somehow, he was absolutely certain that Kyrian would win.
It might be strange, but that boy’s crimson eyes gave him chills. Someone accustomed to many people. A coldness he had only seen in monsters in disguise.
He had saved a good amount of stones for today. He decided to bet three thousand spirit stones on Kyrian.
In the sky, everyone saw the number below Kyrian’s name suddenly rise to three thousand five hundred. Some lunatics, or those with inside information, bet a little more on him. But the bets on Wang Dahai had already reached twenty thousand. The crowd judged this fight as the most obvious result of the day.
Kyrian, in the stand reserved for challengers, saw the number rise and gave an imperceptible smile.
He imagined it must have been Yao. He looked at his opponent, Wang Dahai, Rank 92, peak Qi Liberation, according to Yao’s information, he was a specialist in heavy hammers and brute force. The bets on Wang Dahai kept growing.
Bai Zhu, beside him, gave him a light slap on the shoulder.
"Heh, Leader. Everyone is underestimating you. A lot of people are going to lose money today."
Kyrian merely nodded.
He began walking toward a counter on the left, one of the betting stations reserved for challengers. Nan Feng Yu and the others were already there, betting high amounts on themselves.
Kyrian thought for a moment.
He was completely confident in his strength. And he knew that after this first fight, his odds would drop drastically once everyone saw what he was capable of.
He was not someone who liked to hold back much. Better to take advantage of this first fight to earn as much as possible.
It was his turn.
The young man managing the counter, a Coliseum attendant in official uniform, looked at him.
"Amount and side?"
Kyrian spoke without hesitation.
"I will bet twenty thousand spirit stones on myself."
The attendant blinked, surprised, but quickly took the stones Kyrian removed from his spatial ring. The bet seal was registered.
In the sky, everyone saw the number below Kyrian rise to twenty-five thousand. Some whispered in surprise. Even so, the majority continued betting against the now already famous suicidal boy.
Kyrian returned to his seat beside Bai Zhu. The big man chuckled quietly.
"Twenty thousand? You’re really confident, huh?"
Time passed.
The reserved stand was filled with silent tension. All the challengers knew that noon was approaching. The Coliseum was already practically full, countless thousands of spectators filling the lower, middle, and upper tiers. Flags waved, shouts of support echoed, and bets continued being placed en masse.
Kyrian sat in silence, looking at the center of the empty arena.
The Coliseum was about to begin.