Yao closed his fingers around the mid-grade spiritual stone as soon as Kyrian placed it on the table. The smile on his face spread from ear to ear, sincere, almost childlike.
"Ah… now this is a serious conversation."
He slipped the stone into the inner pocket of his robe with a fluid motion, like someone accustomed to making quick exchanges, and then leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"Right. I'll explain from the beginning, without embellishments. The Cloud Coliseum is not just a place to fight. It is one of the institutions of the Empire."
Kyrian remained silent, attentive.
"Under normal circumstances, the Coliseum operates as a closed circuit. Only those who are already part of it can fight inside." Yao continued.
"There is an initial registration. Cultivators who enter through the common path go through tests, evaluations, and a series of preliminary fights. After that, they receive an identification plaque from the Coliseum."
