Chapter 327: Strongman Vs Warrior Monk
Luckily tonight, there is a ‘Cage Fighting’ match. Does this Mr. Yuan have confidence in his Goblins? If so, we can arrange for your ‘Fighters’ to make their debut performance today and make a name for themselves. If not, I see that these Orcs have good potential and can just take the stage for a fight.
Yuan Zhu answered without any hesitation: “Both groups go up?”
Osen was slightly surprised by his response: “Oh? Mr. Yuan is very confident in these Goblins. Let me be clear upfront: the fighting matches here have a stellar reputation with everyone, no faking or rigging at all—it’s all about real strength. Once on stage, no holding back until one side loses combat ability. So accidents, severe injuries, disabilities, even death are not uncommon. You’ve trained such agile Goblins, which must have cost a lot. It would be a pity if they get beaten up or killed. Actually, I suggest taking them to join a circus for acrobatic performances—you can make just as much money.”
Faced with the earnest advice, Yuan Zhu was unappreciative: “Actually, it doesn’t matter if one or two get killed. Doesn’t that even more prove that our cultivated ‘Goblin Fighters’ have real skills? They may be a bit lacking in strength, but their fearless, fierce combat spirit is no less than any martial artist. On the contrary, it will make a name for ‘Goblin Fighters’—fiercely battling while skilled in performance, bringing the audience the most authentic and exciting visual enjoyment. That’s exactly our competitive edge.”
Osen still had little confidence or interest in the [Pure Goblin Fighting Theater] mentioned by Yuan Zhu and A Miao, but Yuan Zhu’s willingness to send Goblins into formal underground fights was instead an interesting gimmick.
Seeing too many evenly matched fights, occasionally watching a beatdown can change things up and bring some freshness to the audience. In his organized boxing matches, there have been fights between wild beasts and ability users challenging demonized animals, but never ‘beating Goblins’—it sounds trendy and fun.
So Osen asked: “Which level of combat do you plan to arrange for them?”
Yuan Zhu: “What levels are there? Can you introduce them?”
Osen pointed to the Goblins behind Yuan Zhu, each wearing a mask, some with arms crossed and bodies leaning back, others striking various flashy JOJO poses.
He suddenly stuttered, mouth slightly agape, mind captivated by those flashy moves, unable to speak for a while: “Uh…”
Yuan Zhu probed: “Is there something unspeakable?”
Osen shook his head vigorously, suppressing the extremely awkward feeling in his heart, trying not to look at those flashy things: “No, just suddenly feel that your Goblins do have something special.”
A Miao had seen this group of flashy things wearing headgear and posing long ago, and burst out laughing.
She had long noticed the extraordinary quality of these Goblins, unrelated to strength—it was purely an innate, never-before-seen mysterious charm and top-tier abstract torment. Indiscriminately tormenting every audience member’s vision and spirit, making them resist yet unable to look away, suffering continuous damage.
Yuan Zhu: “Thank you for the recognition. I also think they are no ordinary things and will surely make a name in Running.”
Osen didn’t want to dwell on the topic and said directly: “Based on the strength levels of your Goblins, I can arrange three tiers of opponents. First tier: slightly stronger than them, even match in the early stage, giving them ample chance to show their strength, but defeated later. Second tier: far stronger, and all famous Fighters. The fight won’t last long, but the overwhelming beatdown of Goblins can excite the audience and leave a deep impression. If they perform well, more famous fighters might even request your Goblins specifically.”
“Third tier, also the midnight slot, true no-holds-barred bloody battle. Your Goblins can choose armed or unarmed combat, no rules, no holding back, allowing the most brutal and despicable ways to execute the loser. Your Goblins are unlikely to walk off the arena alive, but if their death is spectacularly gorgeous or tragic, they can still make a name on the arena. If the match is popular with the audience, we’ll invite you for long-term participation.”
Hearing this introduction, Yuan Zhu decisively passed on option 1 and asked: “What’s the difference between the second and third? Is one reusable for beatings and the other one-time scrap? Where’s my revenue in that?”
“Good, you’re a smart one. The second is basically meat targets. Those somewhat famous Fighters need all kinds of gimmicks to maintain their fame—unilaterally thrashing Polluted Goblins skilled in martial arts is a great gimmick. If they truly excel in performance and fearless slaughter as you say, they might get noticed by opponents for long-term employment. The other deathmatch has extremely high risk of death or scrapping, so you provide the ‘people,’ and I share a portion of the gambling on boxing revenue with you.”
Yuan Zhu immediately understood; both were acceptable, but these Goblins were his beloved companions into which he had poured heart and soul—how could he bear to watch them die like that? So, more money!
“In the third deathmatch, they’re bound to die—can you still bet on win/loss?”
Osen patiently explained: “You can bet on how many rounds they last before failing, whether they die or get crippled, even their manner of death… so many options! Young man.”
But Yuan Zhu looked reluctant, fingertip faintly releasing holy light pressed to his brow in prayer, hypocritically saying: “Oh! That’s just too cruel—gotta add money!”
Osen smiled faintly: “If Mr. Yuan is interested, you can join one tonight to see the effect. If choosing the third, I can give you 5% of net profit as their appearance fee. Not much time to consider—I need to adjust the match schedule ahead and find willing opponents.”
Yuan Zhu decisively responded: “Deal! I’ll send two ‘Goblin Fighters’ for second and third tier matches respectively. Then two Orcs for second tier.”
“A bit too many—most of tonight’s matches are pre-set. Just two Goblins and one Orc for three matches to test the waters.”
With that, Osen pushed the door and called in several Martial Arts Hall coaches, gave low instructions, then looked at Yuan Zhu: “Pick three favorites to go with this coach.”
Yuan Zhu unhesitatingly picked the strongest Big Brother among the Half-blood Orcs. As for the twelve zodiac warriors, with no level difference, he randomly pointed at ‘Chicken Brother’ and ‘Bull Warrior.’
Then, the two Goblins did best of three rock-paper-scissors to decide life and death.
Ultimately, Bull Warrior narrowly beat Chicken Brother to enter [Second Tier Fight]. Chicken Brother was fated for this ordeal, set up by his good brother (Bull Warrior) to fall into the deathmatch.
And since not skilled with weapons, Yuan Zhu chose ‘Unarmed Deathmatch Mode’ for it.
…
Though only 3 subordinates were picked for tonight’s matches, with 14 idling by his side, Hall Master Osen, for A Miao’s sake, still arranged a luxury box to watch the matches.
Unlike the ‘Abandoned Warehouse Fights’ from his past life, [Thunderbird Martial Arts Hall] had a huge two-story fitness and cultivation space, and on one side of the main building, a circular ‘Fighting Arena’ built fully to professional standards.
According to A Miao, besides frequent fighting matches, other Cat Street teams also rented the venue for other performances, including the circus acrobatics Osen suggested.
Before the matches began, A Miao puzzled: “That guy was right earlier—your batch of Goblins have exceptional talent, why not send them to a circus to make money instead of boxing? Famous circuses even have ‘Goblin Tamers’ jobs, and Goblin acrobatics is a classic crowd-pleaser. Perform well and make big money. I could even get you a shopfront on Cat Street for professional Goblin street performances.”
But Yuan Zhu said: “I don’t want circus performances mainly due to positioning. These ‘Goblin Fighters’ are my products to promote [Body Tempering Fluid] externally. I need their fearless slaughter in fights to prove the product’s quality. Even package the ‘Goblin Fighters’ themselves as loyal and intelligent ‘fierce dogs,’ fearless of death, feeling no pain, willing to give their lives as guard pets. Home protection, street fighting cannon fodder, flying eaves self-destruct bombs.”
“Once they do acrobatics, even if excellently, it equates my Goblins with circus and clown acts. Instant loss of cool factor—how to promote Frog-Type potions later? Mention Goblins and people think clowns; the whole brand shamed. I’d rather they die spectacularly on the arena to show ferocity. If they fight beautifully and get recognized, even better.”
A Miao beside him listened thoughtfully, especially after Yuan Zhu mentioned ‘fearless of death, willing to self-destruct’ advantages, she suddenly said: “A Zhu, if I incorporate your cultivated ‘Goblins’ into my [Private Legion] as [Military Dogs], serving as supply porters + high-explosive attachments, any future in that? I’m not interested in recruiting teammates to dilute my control over the [Legion]; but mass-recruiting simply trained [Military Dogs] could expand [Warehouse] volume via increased ‘Plugin’ proficiency, right? At key moments, send them to die, scout, cover retreats, block pursuers!”
A Miao at this moment seemed to be asking Yuan Zhu, but was fully immersed in self-Q&A. She recalled once in the [Misty Mountains], outwitting Investigators in tracking and counter-tracking, clashing with local gangs on Taixi’s coastline, getting ambushed by Demonic Creatures while leading people through the mountains…
If raising a batch of ‘intelligent self-destruct Goblins’ nearby, many troubles instantly solved. Thinking carefully, quite appealing.
“But… mass-recruiting [Military Dogs], won’t my [Legion] get reverse-polluted by Goblins? Are your private homemade [Frog-type Goblins] clean and hygienic?”
Yuan Zhu: “How are they not clean?”
A Miao turned to look at the Goblins silently munching fruit platter in the corner, scanned the four Half-blood Orc brothers, muttered: “It’s [Shadow]—then I’m relieved!”
Yuan Zhu dissatisfied: “Hey! How much do you look down on [Shadow]?”
“No looking down at all—I think your eye is extremely sharp! [Shadow System] is recognized as the ‘Pollution System’ least likely to provoke hostility from supernatural beings—safety, reliability, stability, universality all acknowledged. I see big potential in your ‘Goblin business.’ So, to show sincerity, I’ll preorder 7. Whenever you train them, send over—no haggling on price.”
……
Amid their bickering, tonight’s matches in the venue officially began, with two Human martial artists taking the stage first.
Unlike the amateur underground matches from his past life, though the two in the arena center weren’t supernatural beings, both had decent supernatural reactions in their bodies, strength similar to Yuan Zhu when he had the [Holy Mark] imprinted but not yet the [Holy Seal].
Besides physical reinforcement from supernatural power, both had professional martial arts training, rich and professional combat experience. Spectacle and skill far exceeded barbaric, unregulated underground matches.
While watching, Yuan Zhu asked nearby: “Are these two ability users?”
“No! They must have undergone ‘Supernatural Pollution’ modification in daily training, but haven’t mastered a systematic [Power System]—ordinary people directionally guided to erosion, purposefully pollution-reinforced. Like special baths infused with ‘Demonic Creatures blood’; receiving blessings from certain ‘Supernatural Rituals’; secretly worshiping illegal Demon Gods; using or injecting special magic potions…”
Yuan Zhu: “Sounds like they’re already doing Supernatural Cultivation.”
A Miao: “For Mortals, systematic and complete orthodox [Supernatural Inheritance] has a high entry threshold—they can’t access it. Some of these martial artists lack connections, others unwilling to commit to unknown dangerous ‘Gods and Demons.’ Bodies eroded and twisted, but not deeply, souls not yet polluted, hoping to gain fame on the arena, get noticed, seize a chance to Change Fate. Like your Holy Light System physicians often charging high for patients’ ‘Holy Light Blessing.’ Can’t mean constant Holy Light exposure equals [Holy Light] pollution, right?”
During their chat, matches ended fast or slow, audience reactions varied. Until Yuan Zhu’s ‘Half-blood Orc No.1’ took the stage, matched against a monk with a third bronze-skinned right arm growing from his chest.
A strong black-skinned tusked Orc vs a bronze-skinned three-armed kesa Warrior Monk—audience instantly heated up.
Yuan Zhu: “[Buddhism]? Body cultivation?”
A Miao nodded: “[Flesh Branch Buddha] lineage, novice Warrior Monk, very typical ‘Buddha Hand Monk.'”
“Buddha Hand Monk?”
Seeing Yuan Zhu puzzled, A Miao casually explained: “Buddhism has two branches: [Flesh Branch Buddha] cultivating physical body to Vajra indestructibility; and [Buddha Cocoon] cultivating spirit and soul for reincarnation immortality, building Spirit Mountain on the spiritual platform. Flesh Branch entry besides [Buddha Cocoon Flesh Reception] also gets a [Flesh Limb Blessing] from the master, Buddhist Dharma empowerment to enlighten the inner [Buddha Cocoon]. Usually ‘Organs’ or ‘limbs,’ somewhat like your [Holy Church]’s Holy Seal.”
Seeing this, Yuan Zhu recalled the eggplant-headed monks of Vajra Temple in [Little Xihong Realm], bodies stuck with various limbs, mostly arms. Also conjoined-side Buddha cultivators.
“Are there many such Buddhism ability users?”
A Miao: “Heard there used to be plenty. Buddhism like Taoism was squeezed out by [Red Dragon Dynasty], crossed sea to West Coast together. Later rejected by the Federation, pushed south. But deep in [Misty Mountains] there are lots of ‘Buddhist Dharma Pollution’ traces, so monks always sneak in for cultivation materials—not surprising to encounter one or two.”
After fight started, that [Flesh Branch] Warrior Monk easily defeated Yuan Zhu’s Orc No.1 in two rounds. Despite the Orc’s frantic resistance and berserk attacks, all effortlessly resolved by the opponent’s two palms.
The third bronze arm growing from the chest always held a Buddha meditation pose, never used once. Yuan Zhu shook his head repeatedly, extremely disappointed. The Orc’s debut was a failure, performance too mediocre, fitting stereotypes, no highlight moments.
Luckily the opponent Warrior Monk wasn’t bloodthirsty, stopping precisely, leaving the Orc without even light injuries, drawing boos from the audience.
