Super Zoo

The tourists around Wang Hao knew he wasn't injured at all, given the way he carried on. After all, everyone would want to get injured if they could bounce back so energetically afterward.

Upon hearing Wang Hao's suggestion, some excitable young people even showed an eager look, clenching their fists in anticipation as they watched Suming, seemingly itching to give it a try.

Fighting a wild animal was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience! And what's more, in a situation where absolute safety could be guaranteed?

As Wang Hao mentioned, if the zoo really did add this entertainment venture, it would definitely be a hit; people would pay any amount to have a go. There's no shortage of rich folks in Huaxia who have money to burn and are looking for a thrill.

However, Suming shook his head. Real fights with wild beasts...well, let's just not, he thought. Suming's imagination had not reached that extent. The reason Wang Hao left his fight with the little black bear unscathed was partly thanks to the protective gear, but mainly because Suming was overseeing from the sidelines, having already instructed the little black bear to go easy on him.

One shouldn't be deceived by a panda's bulk; its ability to withstand hits far outstripped Wang Hao's. A full-force slap from the little black bear would merely make Yingying a bit confused at worst. But if it were to land on Wang Hao's head, even with protective gear, he might lose a few teeth.

Mr. Su couldn't always be next to the animal enclosures to supervise every rough battle. An accident could easily happen, leading either to a person's misfortune or an animal's injury. There was no need for that.

Besides, if they started this project just to make money, it would be just like the online critics alleged; the Martial Arts Tournament would lose its essence, becoming a venture that abuses animals for profit.

Seeing Mr. Su veto the 'Panda Grandpa's' proposition, the onlooking tourists showed visible disappointment.

"Dong... dong dong... dong..."

From the distance within Xiongshan, a series of rhythmic and invigorating drumbeats echoed---given its vast size and underground setting, surrounded by high vantage points ideal for spectators, Xiongshan resembled an ancient Roman arena. This made it the chosen location for the land battles of the Martial Arts Tournament.

The drumbeats hastened, symbolic of an imminent battle, announcing that the first match was officially starting!

"The fight's starting..."

"Off to watch the rumble..."

The tourists who had been surrounding the cameras dispersed in a flash, crowding around the nearby Xiongshan.

"Alright, dear audience, let's follow the camera and join Mr. Su at the site of the first match," the broadcaster said.

Only a brief promotion on television had been done before the opening battle, so not many tourists had shown up at first. But over the past few days, the video of the first match had spread widely, with countless unsolicited promotions. The number of tourists coming to watch the second match was on an entirely different scale.

The area around Xiongshan was swarming with people—Suming couldn't pinpoint the exact number. However, judging just from this morning's ticket sales, the revenue was on par with the total from an average of three days! The zoo's decision to offer free Martial Arts Tournament admission and give away watermelons wasn't without reason; they could make a killing from ticket sales alone.

Fortunately, the zoo was prepared, having erected makeshift stands around Xiongshan. The stands were designed like those of a grand coliseum, with each successive row rising higher than the one in front.

Even so, many tourists preferred to get a clearer view, eschewing the stands in favor of squeezing along the fencing of Xiongshan early in the morning.

Security guards cleared the way at the front, and it took some effort to carve a path through the dense crowd. They slipped through the packed area and entered the VIP platform inside Xiongshan via the service entrance at the back.

The style of the VIP stand had visibly changed compared to the last event.

Previously, the stand was backed by a row of flags featuring various family crests flapping in the wind, and the platform itself was made of sturdy raw timber, going for a rugged look as if it belonged to a medieval knights' tournament.

Today, however, the stand was adorned with light blue on white and dotted with heaps of cotton that one couldn't figure the use for...

From a distance, the platform appeared as a giant cloud floating midair, with the male commentator dressed in a Taoist robe and crown, like a hermit from the heavens.

"You can tell that today's martial grounds have taken on an Eastern mythological theme," the host Li Jingjing's voice seemed to float.

She, too, was a young girl standing above the clouds, the center of everyone's attention, naturally feeling like a little fairy sprouting within her, her heart fluttering in such a magical environment.

After all, as a professional host, Li Jingjing managed to stay focused, cleared her thoughts, and passed the microphone to Suming, "Mr. Su, was the theme of today's martial arts stage designed to complement the two contestants?"

"Hehe, from now on, I am just a spectator like you. Let's have our host today answer that," Suming said with a laugh, stepping aside. A leader like himself shouldn't always steal the spotlight from his subordinates.

The male host dressed as a celestial official didn't directly answer the question but left the camera with a handsome profile and a slight smile.

"Deng deng deng deng... deng deng deng deng..." suddenly, a tune all too familiar to everyone started blasting from the speakers!

The classic soundtrack of Journey to the West, Causing Havoc in Heaven!

Upon hearing this music, the entire audience fell into a brief silence!

What had been the noisy, boisterous stands fell silent in an instant. All the spectators, young and old, male and female, stopped their conversations and forgot what they were doing at the moment the music started, their thoughts instantly transported back to their own memories.

It was Huaxia's first grand mythical costume drama!

It was the verdant times spent in front of the TV every summer holiday!

It signified the invincible, the unyielding warrior, the first time in life understanding that no matter how many hardships and dangers one faced, justice would always prevail over evil, the good would always defeat the bad. Even as we grew up and stopped believing this, it had taken root in our hearts as an indelible hope, a longing for the light!

How many times did we cry as the foolish monk sent away the loyal Great Monkey?

How many times did we laugh out loud at the antics of that lecherous, silly pig?

And how many times, upon seeing those seven sisters with belly-exposing thin veils bathing in the water, did we blush yet couldn't help wanting to take another peek?

How many times did we feel pity for the lovesick queen of Women's Country, lamenting the impossibility of total fulfillment, 'not failing the Merciful One, not failing thee,' as though it eternally lingers over the sky of Women's Country of that year?

For an instant, everyone present seemed to return to a cool summer night of the past!

In our ears, the defiant cry echoed: "Eat my stick, old Sun!"

A child's immature voice suddenly rang out from somewhere in the stands, breaking the silence of the crowd.

"Sun Wukong! Mommy, the Great Sage is coming!"

One stone stirred up a thousand ripples, and the next second, the park's visitors erupted.

"Great Saint!" Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

"Great Saint! Great Saint!"

"Great Saint! Great Saint! Great Saint!"

One voice, ten voices, a hundred voices from spectators of different ages and genders blended together without any disharmony, reverberating through the skies above the Martial Arts Tournament.

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Speaking of which, my two favorite episodes are the ones with the spider spirit and the rat spirit, oh my, they're so pretty~~