Chapter 685 679: Underground Boxing Market

Feeling the icy aura coming from the black-robed man, the figure below couldn't help but take a few steps back, his brow furrowed. He then said coldly, "King, does this mean you refuse our Clan Leader's terms?"

"There's nothing to negotiate. I can send the others over to you, but Shen Haoran's life must be mine. Perhaps if I'm in a good mood, I'll send his corpse to Bai Zhennan!" the black-robed man hovering above the great hall sneered.

Hearing the black-robed man's words, the figure below understood that there was definitely a grudge between this King and Shen Haoran—a grudge that could only end in death.

"You have a feud with Shen Haoran?" the figure below asked, puzzled. It was surprising. How could the King of the City of Sin, master of the Ten Thousand Snakes Cave, have a feud with a mere boy from the Human Race? And it wasn't an ordinary one, either. Judging by the killing intent emanating from the black-robed man, it was a hatred as deep as if his own wife had been murdered and his son stolen.

"Just do your job. Don't ask what you're not supposed to ask," the black-robed man said flatly, having perfectly concealed the killing intent in his heart.

"Hmph, then it's settled. We can forgo taking Shen Haoran's life, but his corpse and the others must be delivered to Central City. Otherwise, our Clan Leader will not be able to fulfill his side of the bargain!" the figure said in a low voice.

"Fine. Here's to our pleasant cooperation," the black-robed man no longer objected and agreed on the spot. Bai Zhennan's offer was very tempting to him. If it hadn't been for Shen Haoran, the black-robed man would have agreed long ago.

"A word of warning: Shen Haoran is not easy to deal with. There's a young woman with him, the Little Princess of the Hidden Clan, the Ji Family. You'd best consider your actions carefully," the figure below warned.

However, the black-robed man was dismissive of the figure's warning, saying arrogantly, "I know far, far more about Shen Haoran than you do. I know exactly what kind of person he is. As for that Princess from the Hidden Clan, hmph. In the City of Sin, I am the King. Whether it's a Hidden Clan or a Hidden Sect, they all have to listen to me here. Otherwise... heh heh..."

"It had better be so. The Clan Leader and I will be waiting for your good news in Central City." Hearing the black-robed man's arrogant words, the figure below nodded, and with a flash, his form vanished on the spot.

After the figure disappeared, the black-robed man sat there silently. A moment later, he suddenly burst into wild laughter, his body beginning to tremble slightly with excitement.

"Shen Haoran, I thought I'd never get the chance to meet you again in this lifetime, never get my revenge. I never expected you to deliver yourself right to my doorstep! This time, I'll let you have a taste of what it's like to be despised and cast out by everyone!" the black-robed man cackled sinisterly, revealing an extremely pale face. If Shen Haoran were here, he would have definitely recognized this face, because this was Shen Cheng, the one Shen Haoran had expelled from the Shen Family!

Black mist surged around Shen Cheng, and a human figure slowly coalesced, hovering silently before him.

"Go and gather information on Shen Haoran within the City of Sin. Remember, don't alert him yet. I want to... have some fun with him," Shen Cheng said, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

Upon hearing Shen Cheng's command, the black figure vanished eerily. All that remained in the great hall was Shen Cheng's intermittent, sinister laughter.

Meanwhile, Shen Haoran and his group had arrived at the Underground Boxing Market. This was the most popular place in the City of Sin, and also its most bloody and brutal. It was a place that truly embodied the principles of might makes right and the law of the jungle.

Shen Haoran and his three companions followed the crowd into the Underground Boxing Market. The interior resembled an Ancient Roman Beast Fighting Arena, with a Martial Arts Arena at its center surrounded by spectator stands. The stands were packed, every spectator red-faced and craning their neck as they screamed wildly. Wave after wave of sound crashed through the arena, making the very air tremble. Down on the Martial Arts Arena, two figures were locked in combat, their exchange of blows kicking up powerful gusts of wind that made onlookers flinch.

By the time Shen Haoran looked over, the match on the Martial Arts Arena had been decided. A burly Martial Artist had crushed his opponent's head, splattering crimson blood and white brain matter all over his own body in an act of extreme violence.

Far from being repulsed by such a gory scene, the crowd in the stands roared with excitement. They looked as if they were dying to get on the stage themselves for a bloody baptism.

"Beast King! Beast King! Beast King!" The chants rose from the crowd, prompting the burly Martial Artist still on the Martial Arts Arena to let out a roar and pound his chest with his fists.

Now, all eyes were on the victorious Beast King. As for the Martial Artist whose head he had crushed, he was unceremoniously tossed off the Martial Arts Arena to be torn apart by the ferocious Spirit Beasts below.

Seeing this, Long Aotian couldn't help but gulp. He turned to Shen Haoran and said, "Brother Shen, are you sure you want to participate in this Underground Boxing Market? This is too brutal! Why don't the two of us just go do some Alchemy? A couple of Seventh Grade Elixirs would be enough to trade for a huge amount of Elemental Stones. There's no need to take this risk!"

Hearing Long Aotian's words, Shen Haoran chuckled softly and replied, "Brother Long, Alchemy is your thing. I'm not joining the Underground Boxing Market just for the money, but as a form of training. So, you don't need to persuade me."

"Alright then." Hearing Shen Haoran's decision, Long Aotian could only sigh. However, he relaxed a little when he remembered Shen Haoran's strength. Shen Haoran could even kill a Tier Seven Spirit Emperor Level Martial Artist. As long as no experts at the Spirit Emperor Tier appeared, Shen Haoran shouldn't be in much danger.

Shen Haoran led his three companions over to the staff member in charge of registration and said, "I want to compete."

The registration staffer looked up, glanced at Shen Haoran, and said coldly, "The Underground Boxing Market is no playground. Once you enter, you can't back out. Also, there are no power-based matchups here; draws are pure luck. Even if you draw a Spirit Emperor Tier expert, you can't forfeit. Are you sure you want to participate?"

"I'm sure," Shen Haoran said without a moment's hesitation.

Hearing Shen Haoran's unhesitating reply, the staffer was slightly stunned for a moment. He quickly processed Shen Haoran's registration and tossed him a bronze-colored Token.

"This is your rank in the market: Bronze Level, the lowest there is. Above Bronze, you have Silver, Gold, and the ultimate rank: King! The higher your rank, the better the treatment you'll receive in the City of Sin. The only person at the King rank in this entire city is its master, the head of the Ten Thousand Snakes Cave—the current King!" the staffer explained to Shen Haoran.

"Oh?" Hearing this, Shen Haoran toyed with the bronze Token in his hand. 'So the Underground Boxing Market has ranks, huh? This just got interesting…'