In a high-level martial arts game, a wife is given to you at the start.

Chapter 976 Control Yuan Reserve

"Now?"

"Yes, Deacon Mo said that you should go there immediately after the competition. He is waiting for you in the council chamber of the Oversight Council."

Lin Qiye was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Lead the way."

The young deacon, feeling as if granted a pardon, quickly turned around and led the way.

The council chamber of the Overwatch Council was located on the highest floor of the arena, a stark contrast to the low and cramped offices of the stewards. The corridors here were wide and bright, the walls inlaid with crystals that emitted a soft white light, illuminating the entire corridor as if it were daytime. The floor was paved with polished obsidian, and with each step, one could see a blurry reflection of oneself.

The young deacon stopped in front of a dark red door, knocked respectfully, and said in a low voice, "Deacon Mo, Deacon Lin has arrived."

"Come in."

A leisurely voice came from inside the door; it was Mo Yuan.

The young deacon pushed open the door, stepped aside to make way for Lin Qiye, and gestured for him to enter.

Lin Qiye did not hesitate and stepped inside.

The council chamber was larger than he had imagined.

A massive black stone table sat in the center of the hall, upon which lay a holographic map of the arena, marking the locations of the various arenas, the distribution of gladiators, and some runes that Lin Qiye couldn't understand. Several enormous scrolls hung on the walls, depicting ancient behemoths of various forms, their lines bold and powerful.

Mo Yuan was leaning back in a large stone chair, holding a steaming cup of tea, his posture as relaxed as if he had just woken up from a nap. When he saw Lin Qiye walk in, he didn't get up, but simply smiled and raised his hand: "Sit."

Lin Qiye sat down on the chair opposite the stone table, without saying a word, waiting for him to speak.

Mo Yuan took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and looked Lin Qiye up and down, his smile growing wider.

"You really surprised me." He spoke, his voice filled with undisguised admiration. "I originally thought you would at least suffer some pain at Lei Sha's hands, and might even get injured, before finding an opportunity to fight back. But I didn't expect you to break through in the battle and kill him with a single shot."

"Luck," Lin Qiye said calmly.

"Luck?" Mo Yuan shook his head with a smile. "To break through in battle, to kill Lei Sha, a top 20 high-ranking deacon, with a single shot—that's not luck, that's strength. You don't need to be modest; being modest in front of me is useless. I've seen many geniuses, but someone like you is truly rare."

Lin Qiye did not respond.

Mo Yuan didn't mind and continued, "I called you here today not to praise you. I want to ask you something—"

He paused, looked directly at Lin Qiye, and lowered his voice slightly: "Are you willing to join the Oversight Bureau?"

Lin Qiye's brows twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

The Control Yuan.

The true controller of the arena.

He had heard that the Overwatch Council wielded immense power, even capable of bypassing the Executive Office to directly punish any gladiator. He had also heard that the Overwatch Council's deacons held a status far exceeding that of ordinary high-ranking deacons within the entire arena.

For a newcomer, being noticed by the Audit and Inspection Service is undoubtedly a stroke of good luck.

"Why?" Lin Qiye didn't answer directly, but asked instead.

Mo Yuan seemed to have anticipated this question, and his smile deepened: "Because you killed Lei Sha, which is the best proof of your loyalty. Lei Sha has been operating in the arena for tens of thousands of years, and his power is deeply entrenched. The Oversight Council has long wanted to take action against him, but he is meticulous in his actions, and we have never been able to find a suitable reason. But your shot has solved this big problem for us."

He paused, then continued, "Of course, that's only one reason. More importantly, it's your potential. For a newcomer who has only been an ascendant for less than two years to break through in battle and kill Lei Sha with a single shot—such a rate of growth is extremely rare in the entire history of the arena. The Oversight Council needs talent like you."

Lin Qiye remained silent.

Joining the Overwatch Council means he will have a higher status, more resources, and greater power in the arena. It also means he will be drawn into deeper power struggles within the arena. Although Lei Sha is dead, the network of influence he left behind will not collapse immediately; those who were loyal to Lei Sha will see him as their number one enemy. He needs a stronger backer to protect himself and those around him.

"I'll join," Lin Qiye answered decisively.

Mo Yuan's smile widened. He stood up, walked to Lin Qiye, and extended his right hand: "Welcome to the Oversight Council, Seventh Deacon Reserve Officer."

Lin Qiye grasped his hand.

The pressure from his palm was steady, carrying an undeniable firmness.

"Reservists?"

"Yes. You're currently in reserve and need to undergo a probationary period before becoming a full-fledged steward. But don't worry, with your strength and potential, this probationary period won't be too long." Mo Yuan released his grip, turned around, and took out a dark gold jade talisman from the cabinet behind him, handing it to Lin Qiye. "This is your identification document for the Supervisory Council. With it, you can freely move through all areas of the arena. In addition, you can receive a certain amount of cultivation resources from the arena's public resource vault every month."

Lin Qiye took the jade talisman. When his fingertips touched its surface, he could feel a warm source energy seeping into his meridians, as if it were verifying some kind of connection with the source energy within his body. After a moment, a faint dark golden light shone on the surface of the jade talisman, then disappeared.

"It's already bound to your aura," Mo Yuan explained. "From now on, only you can use this jade talisman. If anyone tries to steal or counterfeit it, the talisman will be automatically destroyed."

Lin Qiye put the jade talisman away and nodded.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing." Mo Yuan suddenly lowered his voice, his smile fading slightly. "Although Lei Sha is dead, the forces he left behind won't just disband. They might cause you trouble from the shadows. Be careful."

"I know."

"Of course, you're now with the Overwatch Council, so no one dares to touch you openly. But you'll have to deal with the underhanded tactics yourself." Mo Yuan patted Lin Qiye on the shoulder, his tone returning to its previous relaxed tone. "Do a good job, I have faith in you."

When Lin Qiye left the council hall of the Supervisory Council, it was already dark.

He walked back down the corridor, the sound of his boots echoing on the obsidian floor.

When he returned to his lodgings, the door was ajar. He pushed it open, and the lights were on inside.

Luo Sheng, Shuang'er, and Man Ji were sitting at the table waiting for him.

As Lin Qiye pushed the door open and entered, the three women's eyes simultaneously fell on him.