Chapter 1154 - Brilliant Performance
When the two rusty blades descended from the sky, the burly prisoner lunged forward and seized the one before him. He swung it with a sharp, menacing whoosh that sliced through the air.
Liu Wuxie stepped up to the other blade and gripped its handle firmly. It carried no trace of spiritual energy, merely an ordinary weapon. The edge was dull, able to wound but not kill in a single strike. That was deliberate, as a swift death would ruin the entertainment.
When his eyes met the burly man's, a wave of fighting spirit rippled between them. From the stands, the slaves rose to their feet, cheering and roaring.
The arena opened only once a month, and the spectacle was one of the few entertainments on Anlu Star. Beyond the mines, astral beasts roamed freely, making such moments precious.
After taking over from his predecessor, Yu Wentai built this arena for precisely that purpose, granting the slaves one day off each month to watch bloodsport and ease the strain of endless underground labor.
The burly man advanced and slashed at Liu Wuxie's right arm. His swing carried brutal strength, the blade tearing through the air with a hiss. Yu Wentai had bought prisoners like him elsewhere; some were caught stealing astral stones, and he threw them all into the underground prison.
Combat in the Astral Domain proved fiercer than Liu Wuxie had anticipated, favoring offense over defense. With a quick sidestep, he evaded the attack, letting the blade bite into the ground. Stone shattered, scattering fragments toward him.
The man was no novice—he had fought in the arena before. Spotting the chain on Liu Wuxie's left leg, he targeted the unshackled side, tightening the noose on Liu Wuxie's movement. This was a deathmatch. Only one would walk away.
Strike after strike fell, cutting off every escape route. A single lapse could mean death.
"Strongman's Whirlwind Eighteen Slashes is more formidable than before. Can that brat survive all eighteen strikes?" Yu Wentai asked idly, accepting fresh fruit from the maids beside him.
"Unlikely," Liu An replied.
The burly man bore the nickname "Strongman" for his prodigious strength. His self-created Whirlwind Eighteen Slashes had claimed over a dozen lives. He had defeated every opponent he faced.