Stepping into the prison, where winners live and losers die.
Here, it is indeed as cruel as the battlefield.
In the Nine Heavens Continent, everyone values martial prowess. The fact that a prison combat arena can attract so many people, even enticing them to enter the dangerous fray, demonstrates how strong the human desire for martial arts truly is.
"What are the rules of the prison fights?" Lin Feng inquired.
"The overseer of the prison arena will announce the strength and record of the slave martial cultivators and demonic beasts in the prison. The spectators can then choose which prison cell to enter based on this information, whether to fight against people or beasts. However, only those whose strength is equivalent to or lower than that of the slave martial cultivators or demonic beasts can enter the prison and have the right to fight. Otherwise, it would be meaningless," Ao Xue explained to Lin Feng.
Lin Feng nodded slightly, realizing that if someone's strength far surpassed that of the slave martial cultivators and demonic beasts in the prison, then the battle would be meaningless. The owner of the prison arena would not do such a foolish thing.
"Furthermore, for those who enter the prison fights, if they lose, the cost is death. But if they win, they can earn quite a few elemental stones. Many people, for the sake of elemental stones, sometimes enter the prison arena to fight. For example, people from our Astral Series, through these fights, temper their courage and tenacity, constantly pushing their limits. After gaining elemental stones, they go to cultivate in the tower. This way, they can greatly enhance their strength, but it is also extremely dangerous."
"Crisis and opportunity coexist. Which strong person has not stepped on piles of corpses, struggling countless times on the brink of death, before finally rising to the top?"
Ao Xue's voice carried a solemn tone, making Lin Feng pause. It seemed that this man, more beautiful than a woman, often entered the prison. At first glance, one would never imagine it.
As they spoke, the group continued down the stairs, and Lin Feng could now clearly see the entire prison arena.
It was a field the size of a football field, with a huge iron cage directly covering this vast area, as if it had descended from the sky.
The iron cage was about ten meters high and divided into two large areas. In one area, a demonic beast was fighting against a person, while in the other area, two people were engaged in a life-and-death battle.
The two areas of the prison arena each housed demonic beasts and slave martial cultivators. The people in the stands could freely choose whether to fight against the beasts or the slave martial cultivators.
At this moment, a figure blocked the path in front of Lin Feng and the others, sweeping a indifferent gaze over them.
Ao Xue seemed to have anticipated this, took out six middle-grade elemental stones from her body, handed them to the figure, who immediately stepped aside, allowing Lin Feng and the others to pass.
"The front ten rows near the prison arena have the best view and also have the right to fight first. However, to enter the front ten rows, each person needs to pay one middle-grade elemental stone."
As they walked, Ao Xue explained, causing Lin Feng to frown. "One middle-grade elemental stone, isn't that too much?"
It's worth noting that one middle-grade elemental stone is enough to cultivate in any one of the fourth to tenth floor practice rooms of the cultivation tower for a month, which is not a small amount.
"Not much, not at all." To Lin Feng's surprise, Ao Xue shook her head directly. "Think about it. What kind of people sit in the front?"
"People who want to fight in the prison arena and those who are not lacking in elemental stones," Lin Feng pondered, responding.
"You're right. For those who want to fight in the prison, as long as they win, they can get at least ten middle-grade elemental stones, so the investment is naturally worthwhile. If they lose, it means death, and the elemental stones they carry are meaningless. As for the latter, as you said, they are not lacking in elemental stones, so they naturally don't care."
Ao Xue pointed to a row of seats in the third row and said, "Let's sit there."
"Okay." Lin Feng nodded. There aren't many people in the front ten rows, so they are much more spacious than the back. After all, those who want to fight in the prison arena and those who don't care about elemental stones are in the minority.
Just as Lin Feng was about to sit down, a fight in the prison arena ended, in the area where the slave martial cultivators were.
The slave martial cultivator, still wearing shackles on his feet, inserted his hand into the heart of his opponent in the prison fight, blood splattering everywhere, a very cruel scene.
But the crowd here seemed to be accustomed to it, screaming wildly one by one, very exciting, their blood boiling.
Liu Fei and Jing Yun frowned, feeling uncomfortable watching such a scene. Lin Feng, although slightly moved in his heart, remained calm on the surface. Having been in this world for so long, he had long been accustomed to the law of the jungle, where the lives of the weak were worthless.
"If you're not absolutely sure, why bother to fight in the prison?" Lin Feng shook his head slightly. The person killed was the one he chose. There was no one else to blame for the grudges in life and death.
"Lin Feng, if you were at the same level, would you prefer to fight against demonic beasts or slave martial cultivators?" Upon hearing Lin Feng's low voice, Ao Xue asked curiously.
"Demonic beasts." Lin Feng answered without hesitation.
Ao Xue was stunned when she heard Lin Feng's answer, then smiled and said, "Your choice is correct. Many people believe that at the same level, demonic beasts are generally stronger than humans. But here, it's different. Slave martial cultivators, from the moment they become slaves, face the danger of death at any moment. They don't know when they will die. Being alive is their only belief. Their desire to survive is stronger than anyone else's. For the sake of survival, they can do anything, be it madness, cruelty, or bloodthirstiness, just to fully unleash all their potential, they are more terrifying than demonic beasts."
"Perhaps, sometimes you think you are stronger than them, and indeed you are. But when you fight in the prison, you will find that the last person alive may not be you."
The dream of survival, how humble it is.
Lin Feng sighed inwardly, but shook his head, saying, "You are right, but I say I would choose to fight against demonic beasts not for that reason."
"Not?" Ao Xue was somewhat surprised, looking at Lin Feng.
"No." Lin Feng nodded and said, "Although slave martial cultivators are slaves without rights, they are still human beings."
Ao Xue heard Lin Feng's solemn tone and his eyes flickered with a hint of surprise.
"Just as you said, their only belief is to stay alive. They kill those in the prison fights because the other party wants their life, while they just want to live. This humble dream cannot be blamed for their cruelty. For me to kill someone for some elemental stones, for my own benefit, I cannot do it
. I would feel guilty."
Lin Feng didn't consider himself a good person, nor did he think he was a savior. But at least, while pursuing martial arts, there were still some things he held firm to in his heart, at least enough to justify his conscience. In this way, he would not have any fetters on his path in martial arts.
Ao Xue, upon hearing Lin Feng's calm words, for the first time, felt a slight fluctuation in his heart when he looked at the familiar prison arena.
Although slave martial cultivators are slaves, they are still human beings!
Yes, they are human beings, but in this cruel world, many people never see slaves as human beings. People like Lin Feng are too few.
The vast majority of people are trying to become stronger constantly. For the sake of becoming stronger and achieving their goals, they can do anything, including killing. It's too normal.
"Perhaps you are right. I have decided, from now on, I will only fight against demonic beasts in the prison arena."
Ao Xue smiled and said, but at this moment, a sarcastic voice came from not far behind them.
"People from the Astral Series have also learned to sympathize with others. It's ridiculous."
Lin Feng and Ao Xue turned their eyes to the side, only to see a group of young people in luxurious clothes sitting there, with a somewhat proud attitude, looking down on Lin Feng and the others.
"Noble series people!"
Lin Feng raised his eyebrows. Among the group of young people in luxurious clothes, he recognized one of them, Bai Ze, the young man who slapped him on the day he entered Tianyi Academy.