In the martial world, everywhere you went, seniority mattered. Status and standing were everything.
Jiang Chen might be the young master of Peacock Sacred Mountain, a first-rate figure across all of the Upper Eight Realms, but this was precisely the identity he couldn't show in Dan Fire City. The hostility between Dan Fire City and the Glazed Royal City ran deep. As long as Jiang Chen's identity stayed hidden, that was fine — but the moment it was exposed, it would only make things worse.
This was precisely why Jiang Chen claimed to come from Abyssal Sky Island. Abyssal Sky Island was mysterious and unfathomable. Even if others couldn't determine his identity, the mere name "Abyssal Sky Island" would give them pause.
This might smack of borrowing a tiger's ferocity through a fox's prestige, but in a place like Dan Fire City, such a small trick was unavoidable.
As the saying went, even a mighty dragon couldn't suppress a local snake.
Though Jiang Chen was a dragon crossing the river, he knew that in front of so many local snakes in Dan Fire City, he had to gauge carefully when to lay low and when to strike.
Just like his time in the Glazed Royal City — without the Wei family as an intermediary, he couldn't have swept through the city in a blaze of dominance from day one. Without a foundation, without understanding the situation, he'd only end up with a bloody nose — or worse, lose his life.
Back in the Glazed Royal City, without the support of the Panlong Great Clan, how could Jiang Chen's Taishuan Pavilion have opened its doors? It would have been crushed by the Royal Court Great Clan long ago.
Jiang Chen understood these principles well, so he gave every one of these matters thorough consideration.
He had to admit that Lin Yanyu's suggestion was somewhat risky, but it was undoubtedly the most advantageous option available. If he didn't enter this Bounty Arena, he probably wouldn't even qualify for the final auction. Even if the Star Plucking Gang was willing to grant him auction access, without a solid identity to back him up, he'd have little say at the auction.
So, the Bounty Arena really was a golden opportunity.
"Yanyu, when does the Bounty Arena begin?" Jiang Chen asked.
Lin Yanyu had been yearning for Jiang Chen to enter the Bounty Arena. He longed for his master to shake Dan Fire City to its foundations and sweep through it. Seeing Jiang Chen bring it up, he was overjoyed and hurried to reply: "Master, the selection of ring masters for the Bounty Arena has already begun. The actual selection starts in seven days. If Master wishes to register, your disciple can handle it."
"No rush. Tell me more about this Bounty Arena first." Jiang Chen knew nothing about the event and needed to learn more before deciding. "Is this registration for the sub-ring master selection, or the main ring master selection?"
Lin Yanyu chuckled. "Master, the sub-ring masters don't need to be selected. Only the main ring master requires selection."
"Oh? Then how are sub-ring masters chosen?" Jiang Chen blinked.
"Sub-ring masters are entirely appointed by the main ring master, or the main ring master can simply choose not to appoint any. Every main ring can operate without sub-rings." Lin Yanyu grinned. "Throughout history, plenty of selfish souls have gone that route. But most main ring masters do pick sub-ring masters, because those who become main ring masters are usually big shots in Dan Fire City, and they always have fellow sect members and cronies to fill those spots."
Hearing this, Jiang Chen more or less understood.
Put plainly, the sub-rings existed to shoulder part of the main ring master's burden. Being appointed by the main ring master meant they were essentially his underlings.
"So it's hard for rogue cultivators to become sub-ring masters," Jiang Chen sighed.
"Heh, not necessarily." Lin Yanyu laughed. "Many powerful rogue cultivators participate in these Bounty Arenas. Throughout history, quite a few main ring masters have been rogue cultivators. They pick sub-ring masters too — only their choices are based entirely on strength. And when a sub-ring master solves a bounty, they have to give fifty percent of the reward to the main ring master."
It actually worked like that?
Jiang Chen was speechless. This was essentially selling off the sub-ring master positions and splitting the profits — a far more primitive and straightforward arrangement.
"Master, do you think fifty percent is a lot?" Lin Yanyu asked with a grin. "It might look like a lot, but in truth, people are fighting tooth and nail for those sub-ring master positions. After all, it's a zero-capital business. If you can actually solve a good number of bounties, even fifty percent is a considerable sum."
Thinking it over, Jiang Chen had to admit it made sense. If it were him with such an opportunity, he'd probably have chosen to participate too. Even with fifty percent going to the main ring master, he'd still keep the other fifty percent. That was still far better than having no way to participate at all — this was a chance to make money for free. As for the registration fee, that came out of the main ring master's pocket. The main ring master bore the costs, so recouping a bit of profit was perfectly reasonable.
Of course, Jiang Chen had no interest in competing for a sub-ring master position. If he was going to compete, it would be for the main ring master's seat.
"Yanyu, it's settled. Don't register for me — it's not safe for you to be exposed right now. Just give me the details, and I'll go register myself."
Lin Yanyu's identity absolutely could not be exposed; otherwise, his situation would be even more dangerous than Jiang Chen's. If the various powers in Dan Fire City learned that a remnant of the Lin family was lurking within their walls, plotting against them, they would stop at nothing to crush him. That much was beyond doubt.
Lin Yanyu was moved. He knew that this time, he had chosen the right master.