# Chapter 139: Slave Martial Artists
Stepping into the prison cage, the victor lives, the loser dies.
Here, it is indeed as brutal as a battlefield.
On the Nine Heavens Continent, everyone revered martial arts—this was no empty saying. A prison fighting arena could attract so many people, even causing them to personally step into danger to fight, showing just how strong the human will to pursue the martial path truly was.
"What are the rules of the prison fights?" Lin Feng asked.
"The person in charge of the prison arena will announce the strength and battle records of the slave martial artists and demonic beasts in the cages. Based on that, the spectators can choose which cage to enter—whether to fight a human or a demonic beast. Of course, only those whose strength is equal to or lower than the slave martial artist or demonic beast can step into the cage and have the right to fight. Otherwise, it would be meaningless."
Wen Aoxue explained to Lin Feng.
Lin Feng nodded slightly. Indeed, if the person entering the cage was far stronger than the slave martial artist or demonic beast, the fight would lose its meaning. The owner of the prison arena wouldn't do something so foolish.
"Also, those who enter the prison fight—if they lose, the price is death. But if they win, they can obtain a considerable amount of Origin Stones. Many people, for the sake of Origin Stones, will sometimes enter the cages to fight. For example, the people from our General Star System—some use prison battles to temper their courage and iron will, constantly breaking through their limits. After obtaining Origin Stones, they go to the cultivation towers to train. This allows their strength to improve rapidly, but of course, it's also extremely dangerous."
"Crisis and opportunity coexist. Which strong practitioner hasn't stepped on piles of bones, struggling on the brink of death countless times, before finally soaring above the Nine Heavens?"
There was a hint of solemnity in Wen Aoxue's voice, which startled Lin Feng. It seemed that this man, who was even more beautiful than a woman, often stepped into the cages. If one saw him for the first time, they would never dare imagine such a thing.
As they spoke, the group continued descending the stairs. Lin Feng could now clearly see the full view of the prison arena.
It was a space as large as a football field. An enormous iron cage directly covered this vast area, as if it had descended from the sky.
The iron cage was about ten meters high and divided into two large sections. In one section, a demonic beast was fighting a person. In the other section, two people were engaged in a life-and-death battle.
The two sections of the prison arena respectively held demonic beasts and enslaved martial artists. The spectators could freely choose whether to fight a demonic beast or a slave martial artist.
Just then, a figure blocked Lin Feng and the others, glancing at them indifferently.
Wen Aoxue seemed to have anticipated this. He took out six Mid-Grade Origin Stones from his body and handed them to the other party. The person immediately stepped aside, allowing Lin Feng and the others to pass.
"The first ten rows near the prison arena have the best view and priority rights to engage in prison fights. However, to sit in the first ten rows, each person must pay one Mid-Grade Origin Stone."
Wen Aoxue said as they walked, causing Lin Feng's gaze to freeze. He said, "One Mid-Grade Origin Stone—isn't that too much?"
After all, one Mid-Grade Origin Stone was enough to cultivate in any cultivation room from the fourth to the tenth floor of the cultivation tower for an entire month. This was no small amount.
"Not much. Not much at all." To Lin Feng's surprise, Wen Aoxue directly shook his head and said, "Think about it—what kind of people come to sit in the front rows?"
"People who want to engage in prison fights, and people who don't lack Origin Stones." Lin Feng pondered for a moment before responding.
"You're right. For those who want to fight, as long as they win, they can obtain at least ten Mid-Grade Origin Stones. So paying one is naturally worth it. If they lose, it means death, so keeping Origin Stones on them is meaningless. As for the latter type—as you said, they simply don't lack Origin Stones, so naturally, they don't care."
Wen Aoxue said, pointing to a row of seats in the third row. "Let's sit there."
"Alright." Lin Feng nodded. There weren't many people in the first ten rows. Compared to the back, the seats were much more spacious. After all, those who wanted to fight and those who didn't care about Origin Stones were still in the minority.
Just as Lin Feng sat down, a battle in the prison arena ended—it was in the area where the slave martial artists were.
A slave martial artist, still wearing shackles on his feet, had thrust his hand into the heart of his opponent. Blood dripped everywhere—the scene was extremely brutal.
But the crowd here was clearly accustomed to it. They all began to shout wildly, feeling thrilled, their blood boiling.
Liu Fei and Jing Yun frowned deeply, feeling uncomfortable seeing such a scene. As for Lin Feng, although he felt some ripples in his heart, he remained calm on the surface. Having been in this world for so long, he had long grown accustomed to the law of the jungle. The lives of the weak were worthless in this world.
"Without absolute certainty, why bother engaging in prison fights?" Lin Feng shook his head slightly. The person who was killed had chosen this himself—life and death could not be blamed on others.
"Lin Feng, if you were at the same cultivation level, would you rather fight a demonic beast or a slave martial artist?"
Hearing Lin Feng's muttering, Wen Aoxue asked him curiously.
"Demonic beast." Lin Feng answered without any hesitation.
Wen Aoxue was startled by Lin Feng's answer, then smiled and said, "Your choice is correct. Many people think that at the same level, demonic beasts are generally stronger than humans. But here, it's different. Slave martial artists—from the moment they become slaves, they face the danger of death at any time. They don't know when they will die. Living is their only belief. Their will to survive is stronger than anyone else's. To live, they can do anything—becoming crazy, cruel, bloodthirsty. They only seek to survive. All their potential is unleashed, making them more terrifying than demonic beasts."
"Perhaps sometimes you think you are stronger than them, and indeed you are. But when you engage in a prison fight, you'll find that the one who ends up alive may not be you."
To live—what a humble dream.
Lin Feng sighed inwardly but shook his head. "You're right. But I said I would choose to fight a demonic beast, not for that reason."
"No?" Wen Aoxue was slightly surprised, looking at Lin Feng.
"No." Lin Feng nodded. "Slave martial artists—although they are slaves without rights—they are, after all, human."
Wen Aoxue's gaze froze at Lin Feng's somewhat solemn words. A strange look flashed in his eyes.
"Just as you said, their only belief is to live. They kill those who fight them because those people want their lives, while they want to live. Such a humble dream—no one can blame them for their cruelty. For me to kill someone I have no enmity with, just for some Origin Stones or for my own benefit—I cannot do that. I would have a guilty conscience."
Lin Feng didn't consider himself a good person, nor did he think he was a savior. But at least, while pursuing the martial path, he still had some things he held onto in his heart—things that allowed him to face his own conscience. That way, on the path of martial arts, he wouldn't have any burdens hindering his progress.
Hearing Lin Feng's calm words, for the first time, Wen Aoxue looked at the familiar prison arena and felt a slight stir in his heart.
Those slave martial artists—though they were slaves—they were human!
That's right, they were human. But in this cruel world, many people never treated slaves as human beings. People like Lin Feng were too rare.
The vast majority constantly sought to grow stronger. To pursue strength, to achieve their goals, they would stop at nothing. Killing was far too normal.
"Perhaps you're right. I've decided—from now on, I'll only fight demonic beasts."
Wen Aoxue smiled and said. But at that moment, a mocking voice came from not far behind them.
"Since when did the people of the General Star System learn to be compassionate? How ridiculous."
Lin Feng and Wen Aoxue turned their heads, looking toward the side behind them. A group of young men in luxurious clothes sat there, their mouths carrying a hint of arrogance as they looked down at Lin Feng and the others from above.
"People from the Aristocratic Faction!"
Lin Feng's brow furrowed. Among this group of richly dressed youths, there was one Lin Feng recognized—it was Bai Ze, the young man whose face he had slapped on the day he entered the Heavenly One Academy.