Chapter 64: Invitation to the Arena

“These major powers really have a knack for making money—just sitting there, and the profits roll in.”

Turning around, Zhou Ming glanced at the shop behind him and the other customers inside who, like him, had come to buy potions.

A faint envy surfaced in his heart.

However, he also knew that, for now, envy was all he could afford.

Unless he became a Professional Rank Beast Tamer someday, he might just keep envying others for the rest of his life.

After taking a few more looks, Zhou Ming turned his gaze back, slung the backpack the shop had gifted him over his shoulder, and left that “heartbreaking” place.

“Ding, ding…”

Not long after returning to his residence, Zhou Ming’s newly bought phone chimed crisply.

“Wang Yan?”

A new phone truly had its perks—at least now, he could see who was calling.

“Could that guy be asking me out to eat? Doesn’t seem like he’s been that free lately.”

Back when Zhou Ming returned to Qinshan Base, he had already spoken with Wang Yan over the phone. At that time, Wang Yan was slowly taking over his father’s business—and had done plenty of complaining about it to Zhou Ming.

Shaking his head with a smile, Zhou Ming didn’t think much of it and pressed the answer key.

“Hey, how come you have time to call me?”

“Zhou Ming, I…”

Unlike usual, Wang Yan’s voice on the other end carried hesitation—it didn’t sound like him at all.

Zhou Ming could immediately tell something was off.

With Wang Yan’s personality, he wouldn’t sound this heavy unless something serious had happened.

“What is it? Don’t tell me your surgery went well, and now you’ve turned into a girl.”

Zhou Ming didn’t press for details and instead joked casually.

“I swear, Zhou Ming, if I ever turned into a woman, the first thing I’d do is sleep with you.”

A truly brotherly response—the first thought was still how to repay his brother.

Thanks to Zhou Ming’s quip, the atmosphere lightened, and Zhou Ming chuckled as he continued.

“If you insist, I could probably accept that. But come on, tell me what’s up. From the sound of your voice earlier, it didn’t sound like you lost just a piece of meat.”

“Alright, fine. Actually… I wanted to ask if you could help me in a ring battle.”

“A ring battle? Explain what’s going on.”

As soon as Wang Yan mentioned a ring battle, Zhou Ming’s expression turned serious.

In this world, a “ring battle” wasn’t the same as the boxing or martial arts matches from Zhou Ming’s previous life.

It usually meant a life-and-death confrontation between Beast Tamers through their beasts.

Even if the Beast Tamer survived, their spirit could suffer severe trauma.

This form of combat existed to prevent larger conflicts—it was a mutually agreed-upon means of resolving disputes.

Wang Yan didn’t hide anything. He immediately explained the entire situation.

Wang Yan’s father had originally been a renovation worker.

A few years back, to support Wang Yan’s path as a Beast Tamer, he had gritted his teeth and used his meager savings to hire a few workers, becoming a small-time contractor.

At first, they only handled small jobs, slowly building up their business. However, lacking any background, they couldn’t grow much.

But at Xiao Yun’s birthday banquet last time, Wang Yan had met some people and expanded his network.

With Xiao Yun’s support, he managed to secure several sizable projects.

Yet Qinshan Base wasn’t large—counting the nearby smaller bases, there wasn’t much room for everyone.

The construction industry was a small cake: every bite Wang Yan took meant someone else went hungry. Naturally, conflicts of interest arose.

Because Wang Yan had obtained his share thanks to Xiao Yun’s connections, the matter touched upon the pride of certain upper-level figures in Qinshan Base.

Thus, the opposing side didn’t take any extreme measures.

Instead, they openly issued a challenge—a ring battle.

If the opposing side won, they wouldn’t seize Wang Yan’s projects outright, but most of the profits would have to be handed over, leaving only a small share for Wang Yan’s family.

If Wang Yan’s side won, it would prove their capability to “earn their slice of the cake,” and they would no longer be harassed.

In other words, the opposing side had given Wang Yan’s family the right to choose and, for the sake of appearances, hadn’t forced them into a corner.

They had shown enough respect—no one could accuse them of being unfair.

“Zhou Ming, it’s a best-of-three format. I came to you because I can’t find suitable people. If it’s too much trouble for you, I’ll…”

“What, don’t you have any confidence in me? As long as it’s not a Professional Rank Beast Tamer, I can handle it.”

Before Wang Yan could finish, Zhou Ming cut him off, agreeing right away.

Not only because Wang Yan was a friend—but also because Zhou Ming wanted to repay the favor he owed to Wang Yan’s father.

A favor was a favor, big or small—it had to be returned.

For Zhou Ming, a favor was a kind of bond.

The sooner he could clear it, the lighter his heart would feel.

“Alright, tell me the time and place of the ring battle.”

“Three days from now, 8 p.m., underground level two of the Yuelai Hotel in the west of the city.”

Since Zhou Ming had already agreed, Wang Yan didn’t hold back any longer.

“Got it. I’ll arrive early. Try to gather some intel over the next few days.”

“No problem.”

Once the air cleared between them, the conversation flowed naturally. The two chatted idly for a while before hanging up.

“Looks like Wang Yan’s family really has no other options… otherwise, they wouldn’t have come to me.”

It made sense—Wang Yan’s family came from ordinary civilians, and most of their money had gone into Wang Yan’s Beast Tamer career.

Zhou Ming figured that even if they tried to hire fighters for the arena, they might not scrape together three people.

“Seems like I’ll have to give Inkband some serious training these next three days.”

Hearing Zhou Ming call its name, Inkband slithered out from his clothes, unaware of what awaited it.

The snake obediently rubbed its head against Zhou Ming’s cheek.

“You little guy—don’t disappoint me in three days.”

Unlike hunting Ferocious Beasts in the wilderness, this time Zhou Ming could only use Inkband in battle.

As for Vermilion Jade and the Ironthread Snake swarm, he couldn’t risk exposing them, or it would only bring unnecessary trouble.

Zhou Ming decided to temporarily set aside his practice of the White Bone Contemplation Meditation Method and focus entirely on training Inkband’s frontal combat ability.

He already had a training plan in mind—he just hadn’t put it into practice before. Now was the perfect chance.

“Hissss.”

As Zhou Ming teased Inkband, Vermilion Jade also emerged from his clothes, hissing softly to announce her presence.

So even beasts could get jealous.

“Alright, alright, I haven’t forgotten you. Hope you two little ones don’t end up hating me for this.”

Zhou Ming stroked Vermilion Jade and Inkband with both hands, a mischievous smile curving his lips.

With only three days left until the arena battle, Zhou Ming noticed the sky was still bright and decided not to waste any time. After soothing his beasts, he took Inkband and Vermilion Jade and left the residence.

Before heading out, he carefully stored the potions he had purchased, taking with him two low-grade Nutrient Potions and one bottle of Spirit Nurturing Pills.

When training beasts, logistics had to keep up—otherwise, it wasn’t training, but tormenting his own beasts.