Manager Qiu looked at Wu Tianmo who was frozen, his once carefree demeanor was gone.
Manager Qiu followed his gaze to a Silver Tier slave chained in the back and smiled widely. He had seen this look before, this look brought desperation and profit,
"It seems the young master is acquainted with that chained slave. Shall I arrange for a private room? We will bathe them first"
Wu Tianmo disregarded the manager and spoke directly to the slave who was chained by the wrists and ankles in the back of the cell.
The torchlight illuminated their face and revealed bright green eyes and long white hair.
"Where the sword points"
Wu Tianmo paused expectingly.
The slave, who once looked lifeless and defeated showed a hint of longing. As if his prayers had been heard,
The slave licked his cracked lips, yet his tongue was equally dry. He coughed and only dry air escaped his lungs.
Yet he was determined, determined to speak the words,
"H-- *cough cough* Hea-- *Cough Cough*"
Blood spattered onto the floor,
The slave lifted his chin looking at Wu Tianmo and froze, each moment he lifted his head was a struggle. His chin shook, and his once lifeless body started to tremble,
A raspy voice said,
"Heaven Bows."
His body gave and he once again passed out.
Wu Tianmo took a step back unconsciously,
Manager Qiu barely held in his excitement, he knew this would be a profitable day.
Not only did he sell 20 mortals to the lustful young master of the Flying Carp Merchant Group earlier.
He was about to sell a cultivator.
He could almost taste the silver, he yearned for it, it drove his every move.
Manager Qiu opened the cell and instructed the other slaves to move aside, a red light ignited around their necks and they quickly followed his orders.
This was the mark, the slave mark that allowed the Master it was bound to, control all of the slave's movements. Even if they ordered the slave to take their own life, they wouldn't hesitate.
While cultivators could somewhat resist, in the end, all submitted.
Manager Qiu looked at Wu Tianmo and asked,
"Do you wish to purchase this slave? Give the word and we can make him a Eunuch like you were..."
Wu Tianmo grasped the hilt of his weapon and a tangible killing intent was directed at Manager Qiu.
Manager Qiu's eyes focused on Wu Tianmo,
"What is your intention Young Master?"
Wu Tianmo quickly reeled in his emotions and said,
"I would like to buy this slave but I have no money. How about I win a few rounds and you give him to me?"
Manager Qiu spat on the ground,
"You come into the Black Tower with no silver? Are you courting death? You think by killing a few mortals or low-stage cultivators can buy you a 5th Stage Body Reforging slave like that? Not only that... They're quite handsome, many noble women of the larger cities would kill for them."
Manager Qiu pondered for a moment,
"They're quite expensive at least 1000 taels of silver."
Wu Tianmo felt the air turn eerie and a few guards approached from behind,
"I assure you, I can pay for this slave, the winner of the match gets all the possessions of the loser right? Or they can sell it to the tower?"
Manager Qiu did some mental calculations and raised his hands to stop the approaching guards,
"It isn't impossible, however one match wouldn't be enough. Are you willing to make a bet with me?"
Wu Tianmo sighed,
"What is the bet?"
Manager Qiu took out a scroll from within his robe and unraveled it for Wu Tianmo,
"In one month, what's known as the Chain Slaughter Festival begins. The winner gets three silver tier slaves and 10 mortals."
Wu Tianmo looked back at the chained slave behind him then back to Manager Qiu,
"What is the Chain Slaughter Festival?"
Manager Qiu motioned for them all to leave the cells, it was obvious no business was going to be done yet.
Wu Tianmo hesitated but in the end he walked away.
"I'll be back for you, do not lose hope."
The young master from the Flying Carp Merchant Group started to laugh seeing Wu Tianmo leave emptyhanded. He even threw a handful of silver taels towards Wu Tianmo's feet.
"There you go peasant, stay out of the Black Tower from now on. If I see you again I'll have you bound to the mast of my---"
A tael of silver flew past his head covered in red aura causing his whole body to stiffen.
Wu Tianmo tossed the other two taels lightly in the air above his hand,
"Whoops! My mistake, take better care of yourself young master of the Flying Fish Merchant Group, your green robe is bleeding yellow."
It was then that a foul smell filled the room and the young master flared with anger. Hurling threat after threat as they walked away.
Manager Qiu brought Wu Tianmo back into the lobby of the Black Tower where many robed servants were taking bets.
He then stood below the signboard and explained,
"The Chain Slaughter Festival is one of the most dangerous spectacle hosted at our Black Tower. Unlike the ordinary gladiator matches, the Chain Slaughter Festival only has one rule. Only one contestant can walk away free. Each contestant enters the arena wearing a slave chain around their wrists or neck marking them as property of the tower until the festival ends.."
Manager Qiu took out a second scroll and showed the images of many tier 1 beasts,
"The festival is separated into three rounds in which two different groups compete. The first round is the beast hunt, contestants fight against all kinds of tier-1 spirit beasts released into the arena. Not just native beasts, but those from surrounding counties as well."
He then grabbed a separate Blackwood board that had many names on it,
"The second round is the blood duel between men, where the loser isn't killed but dragged away by the chains they entered with."
Wu Tianmo's expression darkened as he thought,
I have to enter as a slave and win my freedom...
Manager Qiu pointed to the pit on the large painting of the arena,
"The remaining fighters are thrown into the arena together along with more beasts, we call this the Chaos pit. Once only one is left standing, the victor from the first group fights the victor from the second group. The final winner takes it all. The losers that survive are all enslaved."
He started to laugh mischievously and jingled a chain that was around his forearm.
Wu Tianmo didn't want to stake his freedom, but he had no choice.
"I'll do it."