Chapter 286.3. The Other Tournament


    One could bet on the qualifiers. The bet was very simple: the number of people who could pass the qualifiers. One could bet on an absolute number, or whether it would be an odd or even number of people who qualified. The returns were a few multiples, and varied depending on the selections.


    The qualifiers were being held right now. Creating soul tools wasnt as quick as a fight, so the soul engineers were given three days for the first round. The future rounds in the tournament would also be elimination rounds, but the topic for each round would change.


    The three ck markets even specially invited a member of the imperial family, a powerful ss 9 soul engineer, to be the chief referee. Twelve ss 7 and above soul engineers were also chosen to be the refereemittee in this tournament, so as to ensure the fairness of the tournament and betting system.


    The things they had to do were simple. They wanted to draw in the ordinary citizens, nobles, and wealthy individuals who wanted to gamble by exploiting the hype of the Continental Elite Youth Soul Master Tournament. Their aim was to make as much profit as possible.


    So far, they had been very sessful in this aspect. More than a hundred thousand people had bet in their tournament already, and the amount of money involved was undoubtedly very great.


    To draw sufficient numbers of outstanding soul engineers topete, the rewards of the tournament were all rare metals.


    From the first round, those who qualified for the next round would be rewarded. This even applied to the qualifiers. As the rounds progressed, the rewards would increase.


    Soul engineers could ignore money, but they had to have rare metals. They could create soul tools to earn money, but rare metals might not be avable even if one had money. This was especially true in this tournament, since the rare metals were all being used as rewards for thepetitors.


    There was evenpetition between the three ck markets. That was why there were threepeting venues for the tournament. The winners in each venue wouldpete against one another. When that happened, the wager between the three ck markets would also involve rare metals.


    All this was why Na Na couldnt obtain any rare metals even though she was willing to offer a high price.


    After listening to Na Na, Huo Yuhao sank deep into thought. He asked, Na Na, are there any requirements to register for this tournament?


    Na Na shook her head and said, Its very simple. One cannot be above thirty years old, and must be confident inpeting in the qualifiers. Finally, theres a registration fee of a hundred gold soul coins.


    Wang Dongers expression changed, and she said, Yuhao, dont tell me youre thinking ofpeting. No, its too dangerous! This is Radiant City! There are also many powerful soul engineers there.


    Huo Yuhao smiled and said, Wont it be a pity if I dontpete since the rewards are so good? Dont worry, I wont take any risks. Im sure its safe since they dare to organize such a tournament. Thepetitors are all soul engineers, the group of people with the greatest authority in the Sun Moon Empire. If they dare to do anything in the tournament, will the soul engineers tolerate such behavior? Definitely not! Thats why we dont have to worry about the safety aspect. Furthermore, I wontpete using my true identity. Your disguise and my Imitation will make it easy for me to scam everyone, wont it?


    Wang Donger furrowed her brow. But we still have the tournament!


    Huo Yuhao said, The underground tournament is mainly held at night. It wont affect anything. Donger, I mustpete in this tournament for the development of the sect. Gambling is a good opportunity for us, but I wont be assured if Im cing a bet on someone else. Im a soul engineer, and this is a good opportunity to test my abilities. At the same time, I can learn a lot of things from others in the same line. Ill get second senior to follow me.


    He paused for a moment and turned very serious, Donger, the official tournament will help to build the Tang Sects reputation, while the underground tournament will help to build the Tang Sects future. They are both important!


    Wang Donger thought for a moment before saying, You can go if you want, but on two conditions. First, you must seek eldest seniors approval. Second, I must follow you. However, are you really going topete? Hasnt it begun already?


    Huo Yuhao said, Na Na mentioned that theres still one day left in the qualifiers. Its not toote. I agree to your conditions. Lets go and find eldest senior before registering for this tournament!


    At such a time, he was very quick and decisive. Purchasing rare metals was one of his most important goals foring here. It took on a significant meaning for the Tang Sects future development and his own improvement in his soul engineering abilities.


    Huo Yuhao asked Wang Donger to push him to He Caitous room before they went to Bei Beis room.


    ------


    An hourter...


    The sky had already turned dark. Perhaps everyones energy was depleted because of the tournament in the day, but the night seemed very quiet. There were very few people roaming the streets, and most people had already retired to bed.


    At a street corner around three hundred meters from the Ming Yue Hotel, the light seemed to distort at a pitch-ck corner. Following this, four figures surfaced.


    Huo Yuhao was still in his wheelchair, but his wheelchair was covered by a ck cloth, and his appearance had changed greatly. Compared to before, he was much more handsome, and there were many changes to small details. Even if there were familiar faces around him, they wouldnt be able to recognize him unless they could deduce his identity using the wheelchair he was in.


    Wang Donger was still dressed like a man. Her appearance was very cold and tough, and she also looked much more ordinary. On the whole, she seemed like an extremely normal and aloof young man.


    The greatest change in He Caitou was his hair. He was wearing a brown wig that helped to cover his bright and shiny bald head. His wig reached his shoulders, and there was a ck mask on his face. Hisplexion was also paler. Along with a thick, ck robe, he seemed very mysterious.


    Na Nas transformation was the simplest. She put on makeup to look like a maid. Her simple transformation made her look very pitiful. She stood beside Huo Yuhaos wheelchair, her deference towards him didnt need to be faked.


    He Caitou was impressed. Junior, your Imitation is getting stronger and stronger. We werepletely unrecognizable just now as we left the hotel. No one will suspect us.


    Huo Yuhao smiled and said, Second senior, lets refer to ourselves differently from now on. Im in a wheelchair, so Ill have no choice but to take advantage of all of you. We are brothers now, and Ill call you big brother. You can call me second brother. Donger and Na Na are my servants. Theyll call me Master. Ill call the two of them Little Dong and Little Na.


    Wang Donger snapped and said, You are intentionally taking advantage of us!


    Huo Yuhao chortled, No! Isnt that just logical? Call me Master.


    Wang Donger pursed her lips as she saw his sly look. She snorted, and her voice turned very manly as she said softly, Mas Master


    Huo Yuhao chuckled, Be more natural. Come on, one more time.


    You Wang Donger lifted her hands, as if she wanted to do something. However, she couldnt bear toy her hands on him seeing that he was in a wheelchair. She turned her head and ignored him.


    Lets go. It isnt early anymore. Lets follow the n.


    Wang Donger was pushing his wheelchair while Na Na followed to one side, He Caitou walked on the other. The four of them proceeded towards the center of the city as they took advantage of the darkness.


    ------


    There was an underground world everywhere. Whether it was the Heavenly Soul, Dou Ling, Star Luo or Sun Moon Empire, it was all the same. There were many types of underground worlds. The lowest level involved sex, murder, and human trafficking. The higher-ss ones involved arms trafficking, underground political trades, and the sale of rare resources. Whether it was the lowest level underground worlds or the higher-ss ones, they were all controlled by powerful figures. Otherwise, there wouldnt be any way for them to survive.


    In Radiant Citys Underground World, there were three main organizations. They were the Duskwater Alliance, the Common Alliance, and the Alto Chamber of Commerce.


    The Common Alliance controlled the sex industry in Radiant City, and was probably the shallowest underground power. The Alto Chamber of Commerce controlled assassin and thieves associations, as well as some evil powers. They made a living by collecting protection fees andmitting murders and theft, as well as through other illegal means.


    The Duskwater Alliance was more advanced. They sold the most profitable medicines and arms, and trafficked people.


    The Common Alliance and Alto Chamber of Commerce shared a very close rtionship, teaming up together to oppose the Duskwater Alliance. However, they werent as well-backed as the Duskwater Alliance. They werent very interactive either, and only ensured a peaceful working rtionship through agreements between their backers.


    All three underground organizations were involved in the sale of rare metals. After all, it was a very profitable trade. As long as they were given ess to mining channels, they could obtain rare metals at a low cost. However, these rare metals were in very high demand, and helped them make the most profits.


    For example, there was a rare metal called Soulforging Silver. It could fuse with any type of metal and increase its affinity towards a soul masters soul power. At the same time, it increased the tensile strength and hardness of the metals it was fused with. It was used in almost all advanced soul tools.


    It was only produced in the Sun Moon Empire, and was produced in average quantities. Around five hundred gold soul coins were needed to mine one kilo of it, but on the market, it was worth around a hundred gold soul coins per hundred grams. This was a two hundred percent profit if it was sold! How could anyone not go crazy over it? Even with the great exploitation of the mining channels, the profits were still very great.


    The profits that could be reaped from Soulforging Silver were only considered average among rare metals. The prices of rarer metals were even more unbelievable!