Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Immediately sitting cross-legged, he concentrated on purifying the impurities, nourishing his blood to restore his body. Li Xian’s blood had dried up, his vital energy depleted, greatly worn out. If not for his strong internal organs and robust physique, he would have already fainted on the ground, bleeding to death. At this moment, although there was some recovery through nurturing his blood, the outlook was not optimistic.

About half an hour later, a constable sounded a copper gong, the sound echoing far and wide. Li Xian knew that a death duel had begun. He forced himself to endure the weakness, embedded a jade plaque into the wall, then opened a concealed panel to peer through a peephole, catching sight of the "Doomsday Platform."

The platform was as clean as jade, brilliantly illuminated by sunlight. Due to the angle, he couldn’t see the stands above, but from the sound of voices and cheers, it was clear there were many spectators.

Soon, one person walked out from each side. One wore a scholar’s long robe, scholarly in appearance, but his eyes were bloodshot, his state wild and tiger-like. The other had a bare chest covered in thick hair, very rugged.

The scholar was originally a candidate from Jade City, unsuccessful in examinations for ten years, looked down upon by others. By chance, he learned of "Willing Death Valley" and muddled his way into the valley. By now, he had already experienced several fights. The rugged man was a pork butcher, seeking wealth and prosperity, he changed his identity to participate in Willing Death Valley.

The Willing Death Valley of Jade City was designed to provoke bloodlust and brutality. Normally, they would arrange battles between those of roughly equal strength. Yet this first death duel bore no trace of Martial Arts. The scholar used a long staff, the butcher a short knife.

The two men cautiously tested each other, the long staff stabbing, the short knife slashing. Neither dared to act recklessly, their movements ridiculous and laughable. Yet, for some reason...this sense of ordinary city dwellers stepping onto a path of no return, the urgency and despair, was more captivating than the death duel itself.

The butcher, skilled at slaughtering pigs, was ordinary with a knife. The two clashed staff against knife, testing turned into heated combat. Later, they abandoned their weapons, turning to teeth and hands, grappling with each other.

Suddenly, the scholar gained the advantage, pressing the butcher beneath him, fists and claws pummeling wildly. Then the butcher gained the upper hand, gripping the scholar’s neck, pressing his head firmly against the ground, grinding his face against the ground, blood flowing profusely.

Cheers intensified at this moment. In their eyes, only ruthlessness, beastly nature, killing intent remained...everything followed their true nature. The scholar bit off the butcher’s ear, the butcher smashed the scholar’s teeth.

Absurd and brutal. Ugly yet pitiful. The scholar, by sheer luck, accidentally found the fallen short knife. With one stab, he plunged it into the butcher’s chest. The butcher barely clung to life, but could no longer rise.

The outcome was decided, the scholar’s face covered in blood and grime, gasping for air, lying on the ground to rest. Li Xian originally thought the outcome was set to end. Unexpectedly, after the scholar panted for a moment, he picked up a dagger again, fiercely stabbing the butcher.

The scholar had the momentum of a wild beast, the butcher was dead, yet he continued relentlessly. No one could tell why the scholar was doing this; it wasn’t about venting hatred, but more like wagging a tail in plea. After a few moments, a gold coin dropped onto the death duel platform. The scholar hurriedly picked it up, then proceeded to savage the Hunter once more.

But the spectators in the stands had dispersed.

It turned out the scholar was like this to please the spectators in the stands. His first death duel, he accidentally won. To vent his anger, he kicked the corpse a couple of times. A spectator then rewarded him with three pieces of gold.

Ever since, every time the scholar achieved a major victory, he would try his best to mutilate the defeated, hoping to receive rewards. However, the tastes of the spectators varied, sometimes they liked it, sometimes they didn’t. The rewards received varied.

The scholar knelt and kowtowed, hoping for more rewards.

Li Xian thought: "So...what the constable spoke of about pleasing, is this. That scholar desperately pleases, eradicating his humanity, all for the sake of one gold coin. Ever since I entered this world, what I’ve seen of the world is mostly treacherous. The rich lack kindness, the poor belittle themselves."

Three duels watched in a day, sitting cross-legged calmly, nourishing his blood to restore his body. In a blink, three days had passed, and it was already Li Xian’s turn to enter the arena.

Although Li Xian’s body was depleted, his vision remained sharp. Following the constable’s guidance, he arrived at a Doomsday Platform. The sunlight was blinding, and as he stepped in, waves of noise poured over him.

Li Xian looked up, wearing a mask. His gaze wandered over the stands, quickly catching sight of a lone, aloof figure. Li Xian sneered inwardly: "What Jade Girl, end up the same as the grand masters of Jade City. The Jade of Jade Girl refers to the Jade of Jade City." He felt a deep disdain for this woman in his heart.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Zhao Ranran’s reaction was just the opposite.