In the Martial Arena

Gaiqi, a warrior, with a domain at the fifth-tier.

Hakesi, a mental-force controller, with a domain at the fourth-tier.

To reach the fourth-tier and fifth-tier domains respectively at Universe Level 6, both of them are considered geniuses! Most importantly, their combat talent is exceptionally high; many geniuses at the same fourth, fifth, or even sixth-tier domains have fallen by their hands. 691 victories, 821 victories... these two are definitely seasoned powerhouses in the Giant Axe Martial Arena!

“These two,” Luo Feng sighed inwardly.

Looking at their records, Gaiqi fights for his home world and clan. Hakesi, on the other hand, is a slave exploited by slave traders.

Yet, one of them is destined to die!

“I definitely have to watch this battle.” Luo Feng carefully read the description on the screen. “One hour?”

A spaceship, traveling through cosmic hyperspace, would take approximately eight hours to fly from Bailan Star to Earth.

Luo Feng immediately pulled Hong and Lei Shen to watch the battle together.

The Giant Axe Martial Arena, one of the five colossal powers of the cosmic human race. Within the Virtual Universe Network, a dedicated dimensional space has been carved out. This space features an incredibly wide river that spans its entire length, with astonishing buoyancy. Along this boundless river, countless floating islands serve as individual martial arenas.

Island No. 08921.

This is a snow-covered island, and its most magnificent structure is the colossal martial arena. The center of the arena is a vast, empty space, surrounded by densely packed seating. The second, third, and fourth floors of the arena are dedicated to private boxes.

The private boxes are exclusive to members.

Ordinary spectators can only watch from the crowded general seating.

“I’m betting on Gaiqi. His blade techniques are truly formidable. Every time I see them, I feel like I’m falling into a dream... filled with a vibrant life force. He’s definitely going to win.”

“Betting on Gaiqi? Gaiqi’s odds are quite low.”

“What’s wrong with low odds? Gaiqi’s odds are 1:1.31, while Hakesi’s are 1:2.68. From the official odds provided by the Giant Axe Martial Arena, it’s clear they also favor Gaiqi. Low odds don’t matter as long as you can make a profit. I’ve already won a lot betting on Gaiqi, and I’m betting on him again this time!”

“I’m betting on Hakesi; maybe I’ll turn my luck around. I’m putting down 600,000 cosmic coins!”

“Only 600,000 cosmic coins? I’m betting 2 million cosmic coins on Gaiqi to win!”

“I’m betting 1 million cosmic coins, just for fun.”

Three beastmen with green horns, dressed in luxurious attire, sat in the audience, discussing with smiles. Suddenly, in the adjacent corridor, a handsome silver-haired man carrying a child walked towards the nearby stairs, ascending quickly.

“Going upstairs?”

“A bank account, at least Three-Star Tier. Who is that silver-haired person?”

“Don’t know. The three of us only recognize people from our own star sector. In a place like this, many visitors aren’t even from the same Cosmic Nation as us. Who would know?” The three green-horned beastmen discussed among themselves.

A moment later, five more people went upstairs together. As the live broadcast of the decisive battle was about to begin, the martial arena grew increasingly crowded. More than half of the densely packed seats on the first floor were already occupied, with at least a hundred thousand people, and many more had gone upstairs! Those who could access the private boxes upstairs were at least Three-Star Tier bank clients, or even higher.

“Look at those three youngsters, with their curious eyes and demeanor. They clearly look like bumpkins from some backwater, never having seen the world.”

“I agree with Big Brother. From my experience dealing with people all day, these three clearly lack presence; they’re not important figures.”

“I agree too.”

The three green-horned beastmen watched the three young men walking side-by-side in the nearby corridor. The three youths chatted and laughed, occasionally looking curiously at the arena’s structure, then *thump! thump! thump!* they went upstairs.

The three green-horned beastmen’s eyes immediately widened. They had misjudged them!

“Three-Star Tier clients?”

“What the hell! I actually misjudged them!”

Luo Feng, Hong, and Lei Shen quickly went upstairs and entered one of the private boxes according to its number. As members, they were entitled to a private box.

Members could bring their family, friends, and servants to watch the battle.

As for how many people they could bring, it was entirely up to the member.

However, the box was only so big; the more people brought, the more crowded it would become.

“Third Brother, this Giant Axe Martial Arena is truly generous. I checked before, and tickets for this kind of live broadcast are very expensive! Yet, members can watch for free.” Lei Shen exclaimed in admiration. “And just now, walking into the arena, with all those people, listening to their discussions, it seems everyone is betting hundreds of thousands, even millions of cosmic coins. They’re really rich.”

Hong chuckled, “Those who can come here, even just to the first-floor audience seats, mostly own many planetary territories.”

“Hmm.”

Luo Feng nodded with a smile, “Right, one trillion Heilong coins is equivalent to 300,000 cosmic coins. So, those people are casually betting the equivalent of several, even dozens of planets. In their respective star sectors, they are definitely influential figures.”

No matter how influential, they still weren’t members. The minimum threshold for a Giant Axe Martial Arena membership is a Three-Star Tier bank client! Generally, only Sector Lords possess such status... For example, in the Heilong Mountain Star Sector, even the ancestors of the sixteen great families, though all are Sector Lords, might not necessarily all be Three-Star Tier clients.

“Ladies and gentlemen from various Cosmic Nations.”

“This life-and-death battle is about to begin. Please hurry and place your bets; time is running out.”

“Gaiqi to win, odds are 1:1.31.”

“Hakesi to win, odds are 1:2.68. If both perish, the odds are 1:81—yes, 81 times the payout. In battles between equally matched powerhouses like this, a mutual destruction is quite possible.” A loud voice, in standard cosmic common language, echoed in the ears of all spectators. “Betting closes in the final five minutes, please hurry.”

Inside the private box.

“First time here, we should place a bet,” Lei Shen said with a laugh. “Big Brother, Sanzi, who are you going to bet on?”

“I’m betting on Hakesi,” Hong said in a low voice. “Seeing him, I’m reminded of my own childhood, being trained as an assassin... Hakesi’s suffering is a thousand, ten thousand times worse than mine back then. The hellish exploitation by slave traders—I believe he should win. I’m betting on him... 100 million cosmic coins.”

“100 million?” Luo Feng looked at Hong in surprise.

Luo Feng was well aware of Hong’s wealth. He had previously transferred 4 billion cosmic coins to Hong, and with the distribution of cosmic crystals, Hong also had over 1 billion cosmic crystals. In terms of assets, Hong’s total was just over 5 billion cosmic coins. To suddenly throw 100 million into a bet showed a genuine resonance.

“I choose Gaiqi, 100 million cosmic coins. I feel his chances of winning are higher,” Lei Shen said. “Sanzi, what about you?”

“Me?”

Luo Feng looked through the private box window at the detailed profiles of the two life-and-death combatants displayed on the massive floating screen in the center of the martial arena. Hakesi... was utterly cold, as if he had emerged from hell. Gaiqi, on the other hand, had firm eyes, a faint glimmer of hope, and often a slight smile on his face.

“I choose him, Gaiqi!” Luo Feng declared. “100 million cosmic coins for me too.”

For some reason, looking at Gaiqi, and thinking of this powerhouse fighting for his home world and race, striving to restore freedom to his home planet Luxiu and free his people from slavery, even choosing to sell himself to the Giant Axe Martial Arena to have them intervene when he couldn’t face the enemy alone...

Luo Feng felt a sense of resonance. He himself was also under immense pressure, with the threat of the Nuolanshan family still unresolved. However, unlike ‘Gaiqi,’ he had more trump cards.

“I hope you succeed and survive 1,000 battles,” Luo Feng silently wished.

In the Virtual Universe, Martial Arena No. 08921.

“Betting closed!”

“Ladies and gentlemen, this life-and-death battle is about to begin.”

“The combatants in this life-and-death battle are the warrior ‘Gaiqi’ and the mental-force controller ‘Hakesi.’ Both are at Universe Level 6!”

“The location of this life-and-death battle is an ordinary desolate planet in the Red Bird Star Sector of the Arid Peak Cosmic Nation.”

“Now, we will switch to the live broadcast of the decisive battle.”

As the host’s voice faded, the martial arena plunged into darkness. Simultaneously, a snow-white planet began to appear in the center of the arena, steadily enlarging. On its surface, fierce winds howled, and sand mixed with white ice shards swirled wildly. Faintly, amidst the dancing sand, two figures could be seen.

One was a stern young man in deep blue battle robes, wearing combat boots, with a battle blade and a round shield on his back. He was Gaiqi!

Across from him, in the distance, was a young man in black battle attire, with flowing long hair and a scar on his face. Two curved blades hung at his waist, and a snow-white long dragon circled and danced around his body. He was Hakesi!

A life-and-death battle, set on a desolate planet. Only one of them would leave this planet alive!

“Begin!”

A deep, resonant voice echoed from the starry sky, reaching the ears of the two powerhouses on the surface.

Within the incredibly thin atmosphere of the planet, a bald, burly man in golden battle armor and combat boots looked down. He, a Sector Lord powerhouse, was the ‘supervisor’ of this life-and-death battle. If either combatant dared to attempt escape before a victor was decided, he would personally strike down the fleeing party!

Universe Level battles are supervised by Sector Lords.

Sector Lord battles are supervised by Realm Lords.

Realm Lord battles are supervised by Immortals!

These are the rules of the Giant Axe Martial Arena. Once a contract is signed and one agrees to fight, there is no turning back.

“Luxiu,” the blue-robed youth murmured softly to himself, then his eyes lit up like two beams of light, gazing at the black-clad man in the distance.

“822, victory!” The black-clad man, Hakesi, had an incredibly dense killing intent in his eyes, like a demon returned from hell.

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

The wildly swirling storm suddenly exploded, and the Giant Axe Martial Arena’s recording equipment swiftly and clearly captured the battle scene, transmitting it to the Virtual Universe Network and projecting it into Martial Arena No. 08921. This allowed all spectators in the arena to clearly witness the combat.