Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi

Zhang Ming's strength is indeed not weak. With cultivation at the Supreme Realm Fifth Layer, he is definitely a qualified fighter!

Zhang Ming quickly nodded, fearing that Xiao Yi might not trust him. Raising a hand to the heavens, he shouted loudly, "I, Zhang Ming, swear upon the Heart Demon of Martial Tao to follow Lord Xiao to the death, never betraying him. Should I break this oath, let the Heart Demon devour my soul and heavenly punishment obliterate my body, never to reincarnate for all eternity…"

Buzz!

A wave of solemn energy rippled across heaven and earth.

This was Martial Tao accepting his oath.

Should he betray Xiao Yi, he would undoubtedly face death and the obliteration of his Tao.

One side, He Ju was left dumbstruck.

He never in his wildest dreams thought that Xiao Yi was this formidable, nor that Zhang Ming would be this decisive—swearing an unbreakable Heart Demon oath just to save his life.

He Ju looked at Xiao Yi enviously and said, "Congratulations, Xiao, on gaining the loyalty of such a skilled expert like Zhang Ming!"

Xiao Yi let out a bitter laugh. Even he hadn't expected Zhang Ming to be so resolute, leaving him with no easy way to strike him down now.

"Master…"

Zhang Ming looked at Xiao Yi apprehensively.

"…"

Xiao Yi's lips twitched violently. Damn it, hearing Zhang Ming call him "Master" sent shivers down his spine. Turning to He Ju, he said, "Manager He, I indeed have urgent matters to discuss with the Warden. I've heard before that if one participates in the Asura Battlefield and achieves one hundred consecutive victories, one can meet the Warden. Is this true?"

"You want to challenge the title of Asura War God?" He Ju couldn't hide his astonishment.

On the side, Zhang Ming was equally stunned. He said, "Master, you mustn't act recklessly! Achieving one hundred consecutive victories in the Asura Battlefield is far from simple. There's a high chance you'll lose your life—it's not worth it! It's better to wait; I believe the Warden of the Asura Prison will come out of seclusion in three to five years at most…"

He Ju nodded and said, "Zhang Ming is correct, although it's true that obtaining one hundred consecutive victories in the Asura Battlefield allows one to sound the Asura War Drums and summon the Warden to confer the War God title. But completing one hundred victories is extremely difficult. In all the years of the South Prison Realm, only one person has ever succeeded."

"Master, please reconsider!" Zhang Ming urged.

Facing their attempts to dissuade him, Xiao Yi merely shook his head and said, "My decision is made. Do not try to persuade me further; just tell me how to reach the Asura Battlefield!"

"This…"

He Ju and Zhang Ming exchanged glances.

The two of them could see Xiao Yi's determination, knowing that persuasion was futile.

He Ju sighed deeply and said, "Fine. Since you're set on this path, I won't say more. Zhang Ming knows the way to the Asura Battlefield, let him take you there. I can only wish you the best of luck!"

"Thank you!"

Xiao Yi cupped his hands toward He Ju in gratitude and proceeded to head toward the Asura Battlefield under Zhang Ming's guidance.

Watching his retreating back.

He Ju let out a long sigh, gazing toward the direction of the Warden's residence and murmuring to himself, "The Asura Battlefield… one hundred battles to achieve godhood… it's nowhere near that easy!"

...

The Asura Battlefield.

This ancient battleground was constructed to the south of the Asura Realm City, occupying a vast area.

The entire Asura Battlefield was oval in shape.

It was surrounded by eighty-one giant sky-piercing pillars, connected by stone walls exuding an aura of antiquity and desolation.

Zhang Ming led the way in front while still trying to dissuade his master. "Master, ascending to godhood in the Asura Battlefield is truly not that easy. Just as Manager He mentioned earlier, since the battlefield's inception, only one person has achieved one hundred consecutive victories and been conferred godhood—that is the current Warden of the Asura Prison!"

"The Asura Warden?"

Xiao Yi paused, surprised that the only Asura War God turned out to be the Warden of the South Prison Realm.

Zhang Ming, with his fiery personality, was now under the influence of his oath. He truly regarded himself as Xiao Yi's lackey and spared no effort in explaining everything he knew. "That's right. In fact, the other three major prison realms also have similar battlefields—there's the Huangquan Battlefield in the north, the Abi Battlefield in the west, and the Jialuo Battlefield in the east. Each of these battlefields has only ever produced one War God, who is now the Warden of their respective realms!"

Xiao Yi's body trembled sharply.

A terrifying hypothesis took shape in his mind.

Xiao Yi asked in a low voice, "Do you know the strength of the Four Wardens? Are they Sacred Venerates?"

"Sacred Venerates?"

Zhang Ming was taken aback, nodding then shaking his head. Seeing Xiao Yi's puzzled expression, he gave a bitter smile and said, "The Four Wardens are not at the Sacred Venerate Realm, but their combat strength is comparable to Sacred Venerates."

If the Wardens were Sacred Venerate level experts, there was no way he could've escaped the North Prison Realm after killing the disciple of the Huangquan Warden.

Xiao Yi pressed further, "What about the strongest under the Four Wardens? Have they attempted to challenge the titles of the Four Battlefields' War Gods?"

"The strongest under the Four Wardens are generally high-layer Supreme Realm experts. The strongest, like Sikong Tian under the Huangquan Warden—he was once my equal in strength—is now likely at the Peak of the Supreme Realm and has taken over thirty steps on the Path of Dao…" Zhang Ming explained, looking at Xiao Yi with curiosity.

He couldn't shake the feeling that his master was unfathomable, as though he had pieced together some important revelation.

Xiao Yi's face grew thoughtful as he muttered inwardly, "If my guess is correct, escaping the Endless Ice Prison will be even harder than I imagined." Pausing, he raised his head to look at the looming Asura Battlefield. "Regardless, securing the title of Asura War God comes first!"

With that thought.

Xiao Yi inhaled deeply and stepped into the Asura Battlefield.

Zhang Ming followed reluctantly, unable to do much more.

At the battlefield's entrance.

The entrance had two gates—one large and one smaller—guarded by four Nirvana Realm Peak experts. Upon seeing Xiao Yi and Zhang Ming approach, their expressions grew solemn.

Especially upon seeing Zhang Ming, they became visibly tense.

"Master, this is called the Gate of Life and Death. The Life Gate is for spectators to enter and exit; they just need a ticket. The Death Gate is for warriors entering the battlefield. Once you step inside, it's a life-and-death struggle, hence the name 'Death Gate…'" Zhang Ming explained.

Xiao Yi nodded, about to step through, when a sorrowful wail came from behind, "Don't go, my husband!"

"Let go!"

A burly man with a sweeping chest and a staunch build pried off the hands of his wife, who clung desperately to his legs. Gripping her shoulders firmly, he said heavily, "Dear, our daughter has that illness. If I don't take this chance, we can only watch her die…"

"But—but the Asura Battlefield is a living hell! Once you go in, it's nine deaths for every one life. If you die, what will we do…" His wife held a frail, nearly lifeless little girl in her arms, her face full of despair.

Hoo!

The man gently stroked the little girl's face, his rough, calloused hand trembling. His voice, though thick, was impossibly tender in that moment. "As long as I win five matches, the Asura Battlefield will provide for your life until its end. If I win ten matches, I'll have enough money to treat our daughter. Even if it costs my life, I have to try…"

With a swing of his arm, the man strode into the Asura Battlefield with heavy steps.

"Husband…"

Behind him, his wife wailed despairingly, her cries tearing at the heart.

Zhang Ming sighed and said, "Life… Master, you really won't… Uh?"

When Zhang Ming turned around, he noticed that Xiao Yi's figure was already disappearing into the Death Gate. He hurriedly called out, "Master, wait for me…"

"You stay in the spectators' stands and wait."

Xiao Yi waved him off without turning back and strode into the depths of the Asura Battlefield, his head held high.

This time, his goal wasn't merely to participate in the Asura Battlefield; it was to achieve one hundred consecutive victories and ascend to godhood!