"So, the important part is coming next," Leng Yue continued. "The two sides in a battle will naturally need to place bets. You have to offer something of comparable value to your opponent, or they won't compete with you. Essentially, it's a form of disguised combat wagering."
Zhou Yan was intrigued by this aspect and felt drawn to such a place. He curiously asked, "I didn't expect Teacher Leng Yue to visit such a place."
"What's so strange about that? It's not some shady establishment. It's a legitimate venue. Both parties in a wager must sign a contract, and the rules are fair, just, and transparent. Why wouldn't I go?" Leng Yue explained.
Zhou Yan then realized that such a place existed and that visiting it, being a legitimate venue, would indeed be fine.
"Where is that place, and when are we going?" Zhou Yan asked.
"Ziwei Academy is so vast, I doubt you've explored it all," Leng Yue said.
"Teacher, the entire Ziwei Academy, while called an academy, is practically like a planet. I'm here every day, so naturally, I wouldn't know about places around the academy's territory," Zhou Yan replied truthfully.
"You are all just introductory disciples. Your first year focuses mainly on theoretical courses. Once you advance to become outer disciples, your learning methods will change. You'll frequently go out for practical experience and visit various secret realms," Leng Yue explained.
Zhou Yan was quite excited to hear this. After all, Ziwei Academy was so large, possessing countless secret realms and dimensions. If he had the opportunity to experience them, it would be truly fascinating.
"Of course, not only can your subordinates' heroes participate in competitions there, but lords can also compete against each other. Lords can even challenge an opponent's hero. Everything is voluntary, and victory or defeat depends entirely on individual strength," Leng Yue added.
Zhou Yan felt this place was quite good and asked, "Teacher Leng Yue must have been there many times, right?"
"Yes, I've been there quite a few times. I've had both wins and losses. After all, there's no such thing as absolute victory in these matters. However, I've mostly won, and rarely lost," Leng Yue replied.
Zhou Yan nodded and asked, "When are we leaving?"
"Should be alright tomorrow. If you have no other plans, then we'll head to the arena tomorrow morning at eight. You should prepare some heroes from your territory to compete," Leng Yue set the time.
"Alright."
After ending his conversation with Leng Yue, Zhou Yan resumed his daily closed-door cultivation. At his current level, advancing even a small realm was not something achievable in a short period.
After his cultivation session concluded, Zhou Yan looked at the heroes in his territory.
The arena, naturally, was for combat. Zhou Yan had quite a few heroes to choose from. His territory had many heroes, but he certainly couldn't send out his most important ones for competitions.
A marshal like Bai Qi was definitely not someone Zhou Yan could send out.
His territory did have a considerable number of heroes, but not many with high cultivation realms.
Especially heroes above the seventy-seventh heaven, there were even fewer. Zhou Yan immediately thought of Nangong Pushi. Not only was she his woman, but her cultivation realm was also in the sixties.
Leng Yue had also mentioned that there would be testing equipment for the combatants' realms at the arena, allowing both sides to decide whether to participate based on the heroes they dispatched.
Zhou Yan was also very curious about the place, so he decided to notify the heroes in his territory.
Zhou Yan hadn't hosted a banquet in a long time. He decided to hold a feast that evening. It would be an opportunity to announce the news of the next day's competition and, at the same time, allow the heroes in his territory to bond more. They were usually busy with their own affairs and rarely gathered together.
He handed over the arrangements to Fang Xuanling of the Ministry of Rites, who would naturally take care of the notifications. Regardless, the territory had plenty of money, so expenditure was not an issue.
Especially recently, after conquering over a dozen territories, the land had gained a large amount of grain and various agricultural buildings, so Fang Xuanling had no worries about the territory's finances or provisions.
With money, things were easy. The territory was not only not lacking money, but it had so much wealth that even Fang Xuanling, the Minister of Rites, didn't know how to calculate it all.
Therefore, all treatments and provisions within the territory were handled at the highest standards.
For instance, in this case, apart from those outside the territory, Fang Xuanling notified everyone within the territory to celebrate together.
This involved nearly a million people. Hosting such a feast would undoubtedly require a considerable amount of money and provisions. However, the territory was simply too wealthy, and Fang Xuanling was not at all concerned.
Everyone in the territory was extremely happy, cheering with joy.
Hosting a feast for nearly a million people was no small undertaking, so Fang Xuanling requested assistance from Guo Jia.
Guo Jia, as the Minister of War, could easily lend a hand by assigning soldiers. Thus, Guo Jia had soldiers from several legions help out.
With more hands, tasks were completed more efficiently. The various chefs brought out their best skills, continuously preparing fragrant dishes in numerous restaurants, inns, and hotels.
And various fine wines were provided in abundance.
This was the benefit of being wealthy; one could eat and drink to their heart's content.
The key figures of the territory were naturally gathered at the [Heavenly Emperor's Imperial Palace]. It was a pity for the [Underworld Ghost Soldiers], as these fellows didn't like cooked food.
In fact, most ghost soldiers had no appetite for food.
Of course, except for the hungry ghosts. These hungry ghosts ate anything, whether it was stones or dirt. When hungry, they would stuff anything into their mouths.
For the [Underworld Ghost Soldiers], there were naturally special arrangements. They were provided with resources of the Yin attribute, which were the best gifts for them.
Zhou Yan also summoned all the women in his harem.
His harem was now quite extensive, and there were still many individuals he hadn't yet… involved with.
Diao Chan, Zhen Mi, Sun Shangxiang, Cai Yan, Nie Xiaoqian, Yin Lihua, Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao, Si Teng, Hua Yuerong, Sasha, Zhao Min, Zhou Zhiruo, Xiao Zhao, Wei Zifu, Nangong Pushi.
These were all women who had become his. The remaining four women, Wang Chudong, Yu Youwei, Xuanyuan Qingfeng, and Chang'e, he had not yet… claimed.
As members of his vast harem, their fate was a matter of time.
However, he was still far from his goal of three thousand beauties in his harem, so he needed to continue his efforts.
This time, even Jin Sanyi's team participated, and they were also within the [Heavenly Emperor's Imperial Palace]. After all, their roles were crucial, earning a continuous stream of spirit coins and collecting various material resources for the territory.
Halfway through the banquet, Zhou Yan informed them about the competition at the arena the next day.