One day later, at the 190th-floor arena.
Yungu's opponent was a jujitsu practitioner skilled in joint locks, and the two grappled for several minutes.
In the end, Yungu landed a precise palm strike to his opponent's jaw, ending the match.
The referee raised his hand, announcing that he had qualified for promotion to the 200th floor.
Applause broke out in the stands, though it wasn't particularly enthusiastic—Yungu's fighting style was steady but lacked flash, not the type that could set the whole arena on fire.
He bowed slightly, stepped off the arena, and entered the fighter's corridor.
The corridor was dimly lit, and the air was filled with the mixed scent of sweat and disinfectant.
Yungu pushed up his glasses while pondering the registration matters for the 200th floor.
His train of thought was interrupted by a voice: "Hello, my name is Leo."
Yungu stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the source of the voice.
At the corner of the corridor, a young man dressed in white clothes and black pants stood there with a friendly smile on his face.
Yungu recognized him—that newcomer who had killed Tu Ba with a single punch and caused quite a stir on the 200th floor.
He pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, a flash of wariness in his eyes.
"I know you; you are very strong."
Leo spread his hands to indicate he had no hostility.
"Thanks for the compliment. There's no need to be so guarded against me; I'm not looking to fight you in a match."
He paused.
"However, I have a presumptuous request and would like to get your consent."
Yungu frowned.
He had encountered many such people in the arena—some wanted to recruit him, some wanted to test him, and some were just looking for trouble. He didn't want to get involved in any trouble.
"I'm sorry."
Yungu's tone was calm but firm.
"I don't intend to agree to any of your requests."
Having said that, he stepped forward, intending to walk past Leo.
Leo awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Are these orthodox Nen Users all so guarded?
Satz was like this, Micael Istom was like this, and now Yungu was the same.
Dealing with Gorenou was much simpler by comparison.
But the opportunity was right in front of him, and he couldn't give up easily.
"Wait!"
Leo called out to stop Yungu, who was about to leave.
"I mean no harm. I know your Master is Biscuit; she is very powerful. As for how I know... that's not convenient for me to disclose."
Yungu's steps halted.
He turned around, his eyes behind his glasses becoming sharp.
"You investigated me?"
"It's not an investigation."
Leo shook his head.
"It's just... I know some things. I want to commission Ms. Biscuit for a task; it's not a dangerous one. As for the specific details, I would like to discuss them with her privately."
He pulled a small velvet bag from his bosom, untied the string, and poured out a gemstone.
It was a pigeon-egg-sized red gemstone that still refracted a brilliant light in the dim light of the corridor.
Inside the gem, it seemed as if flames were flowing; as the light shifted, one could faintly see fine, storm-like textures rotating within it.
"I know Ms. Biscuit loves collecting gemstones."
Leo held the gemstone in his palm.
"The payment for the commission is this 'red storm'."
Yungu's gaze was drawn to the gemstone.
Although he wasn't a gemstone expert, having been by Biscuit's side for so long, he could tell the gemstone was extraordinary—the color, clarity, and cut were impeccable; even a layman like him could feel its value.
He was suddenly in a dilemma.
Should he refuse? His Master was indeed obsessed with collecting all kinds of gemstones.
If he refused, and she found out later that someone had offered such a precious gemstone as payment for a commission, and he had turned it down without even asking...
Yungu could almost imagine Biscuit with her hands on her hips, furiously scolding him.
"You foolish apprentice! That's a 'red storm'! It's worth so many jenny! And you just turned it down like that?!"
He scratched his hair and sighed.
Leo noticed his hesitation and proactively offered a way out.
"You can contact your Master first and ask her. If she refuses, I will never pester you again."
This proposal was reasonable.
Yungu thought for a few seconds and took his phone out of his pocket.
He walked a bit further down the corridor and dialed the number.
The phone rang three times before connecting.
"Yungu?"
Biscuit's voice came through; the background was a bit noisy, as if she were at some market.
"Didn't I tell you to properly Cultivate at the Heavens Arena? What, are you slacking off again and wanting to complain to me?"
"No, Master." Yungu lowered his voice.
"I met someone at the arena named Leo. He... knows your identity and says he wants to commission you for a task; the payment is a gemstone called 'red storm'."
There was silence on the other end of the line for two seconds.
"Leo? I haven't heard that name."
Biscuit's voice became serious.
"How does he know about me?"
"He said it's not convenient to disclose." Yungu relayed truthfully.
"But he seems to have no malice; he just wants to make a commission. He said he wants to discuss the details of the commission with you privately."
"red storm..." Biscuit muttered.
"I remember there are fewer than ten of those gemstones in existence, and every one of them is recorded. What's the quality of the one in his hand?"
Yungu looked at the gemstone in Leo's hand and described it.
"Pigeon-egg-sized, with flowing flame textures inside, and you can see storm-like patterns under the light... it's very beautiful."
"Tsk." Biscuit smacked her lips.
"Sounds like the real deal. Fine, I happen to be nearby handling some things, and I can reach the Heavens Arena in a week."
"It'll be on the way to check your Cultivate results from this period—if you've been slacking off, prepare to get beaten!"
Yungu shrank his neck.
"I, I will Cultivate seriously."
"That's it then. Tell him, see you in a week. Let him pick the location."
The call ended, and Yungu walked back to Leo with a complex expression.
"Master agreed; she'll be here in a week. She said she'll check my Cultivate while she's at it... I haven't been slacking off lately."
The last sentence was like talking to himself, with a bit of a guilty conscience.
Leo smiled and put away the gemstone.
"No problem. Then I'll await Ms. Biscuit's good news at lounge 2079 on the 200th floor."
Yungu sighed, looking helpless.
He was originally free and easy alone at the Heavens Arena, but now that his Master was coming to inspect, he would have to Cultivate desperately for the next week, or he would definitely be taught a lesson.
Leo saw his thoughts and suggested.
"If you need it, I can be your sparring partner. An opponent of equal strength is most effective for Cultivate growth."
Upon hearing this, Yungu's eyes behind his glasses lit up.
He indeed needed real combat—especially sparring with an opponent who was also an Enhancer.
After watching Leo's match, he could feel that this young man's strength was unfathomable; if they could spar...
"Alright." Yungu nodded.
"I'll go register on the 200th floor first, then we can spar. But let's agree first, it's just sparring, stop at the limit."
"Of course." Leo smiled.
The two walked toward the elevator together.
Yungu completed the registration procedures for the 200th floor and got his room number—2115, on the same floor as Leo's 2079.
They arrived at Yungu's exclusive lounge.
The room layout was similar to Leo's, only the training area equipment was more complete, and there were several open martial arts books piled in the corner.
Walking into the training room, the two stood facing each other.
The floor was covered with special cushioning mats, and the surrounding walls were reinforced with sound-absorbing Materials.
Yungu pushed up his glasses.
"How do you want to do this?"
Leo shrugged, "I'll follow your lead."
"You're an Enhancer, right?" Yungu confirmed.
Leo nodded.
"Then let's keep it simple." Yungu took off his jacket, revealing a toned upper body.
"Let's just spar a little without using Nen. I want to see your fundamentals."
"No problem."
Leo also took off his training jacket and loosened his shoulders.
The two stood still in the center of the training room, five meters apart.
The air went quiet, with only the low hum of the air conditioning System.