Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

The view from the high platform was scorching, with a continuous buzz of discussions like waves.

Su Tiexin shook his head and laughed, saying, "It seems there’s a good show coming up. I wonder how long it will last." Zhao Ranran said, "Oh?" Su Tiexin continued, "Speaking of it, the Willing Death Valley has been established for a long time. Over the long years, there have been a few rebels. They don’t follow the norm, unwilling to engage in killing. They disdain the rewards from the high lords."

Su Susu said, "People like them usually end up defeated and dead in the first few matches. It’s hard for them to survive long. If they do manage to hang on, their fights become highly sought after, and spectators fill the venue."

Zhao Ranran asked, "Why is that?"

Su Tiexin explained, "It’s natural curiosity about how he will end up, seeing how long he can last. You must know... a person’s energy is ultimately limited. Within the Willing Death Valley, martial arts are suppressed. Even if the opponent is slightly weaker in strength, martial arts, or stamina, survival is unpredictable in a life-and-death battle. As time goes on, everyone eventually makes a careless mistake and loses."

Su Susu added, "Or they might gradually become assimilated, wagging their tails for rewards. When they compromise, it all becomes dull. After all, the high lords mostly seek entertainment. They don’t care whether these people live or die."

...

Li Xian exhaled a turbid breath and returned to his cell. Having won two bouts, he had earned six hundred taels of silver. After resting for a moment, the constable in charge of guarding brought the silver.

He weighed it lightly, finding it quite substantial. Li Xian, a Second Realm Martial Artist, wouldn’t find it difficult to earn money outside through banditry or trading. Six hundred taels wasn’t a lot, but being trapped in Jade City, he had to fight for his life. He picked up a few silver pieces, sighed deeply, and murmured, "Silver, oh silver, how many people fight to the death and bend their backs to you. Although Jade City is prosperous, earning money is truly hard."

The constable respectfully brought some food and introduced himself, asking Li Xian to call him "Xiaowu." Willing Death Valley respected the strong. Although Li Xian had only fought two matches, his demeanor had secretly impressed many constables, who treated him with courtesy.

Li Xian thanked him briefly, then wolfed down the food, devouring rice, meat, and vegetables. Xiaowu asked, "Brother Ashamed Sword, do you want more food?" Li Xian replied, "Oh? Is there such a service?"

Xiaowu smiled sheepishly, "Actually, getting more food isn’t hard, just an extra trip." Li Xian said, "Thanks, I’d appreciate it if you could get some more."

Xiaowu went back and forth, bringing more pieces of pork, with finely made rice exuding a delicate fragrance and steaming hot. Li Xian ate three bowls, feeling only slightly full, then rested and contemplated alone.

The effectiveness of the Jade City’s Eighteen Strikes was still there. Li Xian flicked a piece of silver towards the wall. The silver bounced back and forth, finally landing in his palm. He casually played with it, sharpening his "Finger-Flashing Golden Light."

[Skill Level +1]

[Skill Level +1]

Li Xian pondered, "Though the Willing Death Valley is perilous, the money comes really fast. If I hadn’t come here, I could’ve dug in Jade City for over a month, and only earn four hundred taels of silver. And all of it would’ve gone to pay off debts, leaving almost nothing. Coming to the Valley... in just two days, I’ve already earned six hundred taels."

"However, this is not a good place to settle down. I still need to watch for opportunities, constantly discover and seize them!"

Noon had just passed. Li Xian heard a summons; two more matches awaited. The challengers were no pushovers, quite formidable. After ascending the Doomsday Platform, he noticed the spectators were even more numerous, their voices growing more intense.

He easily won the next two matches, thanks to his terrifying brute strength and precise timing, securing victory with a single strike. His punches were extremely powerful; even a glancing blow was enough to shatter the bones and flesh of an opponent, rendering them unable to rise and resist.

Successfully earning another six hundred taels of silver, totaling one thousand two hundred taels. Li Xian approached each match with ease and left with calm indifference. Naturally, this behavior incited dissatisfaction among many bloodthirsty and violent spectators, who wanted nothing more than to kill him.

Yet his disregard for others and unique style gradually spread, sparking curiosity among many. The "ticket" to the Willing Death Valley was a dark red jade pendant, allowing regular entry and exit, typically bearing familial or factional backgrounds.

With this back and forth, Li Xian surprisingly made a name for himself. The "Ashamed Sword" nickname began to circulate. In a short span of four more days, Li Xian won three matches per day, a total of sixteen consecutive victories, showing great momentum.

Every time he fought, Zhao Ranran and Su Susu would invariably come to watch. They observed how, despite Li Xian’s brute strength, his fighting style was graceful, and though he wore a mask, his posture was elegant and extraordinary. The fights were highly entertaining and savage, yet neither cruel nor drawn-out, perfectly aligning with their preferences.

He became immensely popular for a time.

Meanwhile, Taisu Chunfeng, wearing a mask and hiding his identity, also won without killing. His mysterious and superior skills effortlessly defeated opponents, sparking discussions no less intense than those surrounding Li Xian.

However, the spectators on the high platform, though unaware of his identity, knew of his deep connections with the Su family from Jade City. They dared not mock him verbally, offering much praise instead. If anyone uninformed dared to speak derogatorily, they were quickly corrected and began to praise him.

Zhao Ranran took it all in. Although she also found Taisu Chunfeng admirable, she felt inexplicably saddened and deeply affected, thinking, "This world’s myriad scenarios are precisely condensed here, aren’t they? Both Ashamed Sword and Ji Yuan win without killing. Why is their treatment so drastically different? When Ashamed Sword appears, he’s met with jeers, mostly out of hostility and disparagement. But when Ji Yuan appears, the praises are endless. Ultimately, it boils down to the differences in their backgrounds."

"It turns out... for those from ordinary backgrounds, the obstacles and challenges they must overcome to rise are far greater than those we face."

It was precisely this "fierce aura surrounded by danger" that made Li Xian’s death match more alluring. Seeking no reward for victory, facing death upon defeat, yet pressing forward relentlessly. Advancing with difficulty, advancing step by step.