Medal Battlefield

Asura!

This is the name of the city lord of No-Return City, but whether it is a name or a title remains unknown.

Within No-Return City, very few have truly laid eyes on Asura. In fact, no one is even certain whether Asura is present in the city at all.

Despite this, no one dares to break Asura's rules in No-Return City, for the consequence of doing so is singular—death!

Asura's identity is shrouded in mystery, and his cultivation is formidable. There are even rumors that his realm has reached the level of a Great Emperor.

But whether this is true or not, no one knows.

"So, if I want the information I seek, I must meet the city lord?"

"How can I arrange an audience with him?" Chen Chang'an asked.

"Isn't it simple? Just storm his gates," the proprietress said with a laugh.

Storm his gates? That certainly is a straightforward solution.

"You jest, proprietress. I don’t possess such strength."

"Besides, I’m only here to gather some information. Are there other methods?"

The proprietress had merely been teasing, hoping to gauge Chen Chang'an's reaction. Unfortunately, his expression revealed nothing.

"City Lord Asura is an enigma and rarely grants audiences to anyone."

"If you wish to meet him within a short time, there’s only one way."

"What way?"

"Become the holder of a Violet Gold Medal."

Violet Gold Medal?

"What is this Violet Gold Medal?"

Since entering No-Return City, Chen Chang'an had noticed something—some people wore medals of varying materials.

But a Violet Gold Medal? He hadn’t seen one yet.

"In No-Return City, medals symbolize strength and status."

"It’s a ranking system established by City Lord Asura."

"There are five tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Violet Gold."

"But the conditions for obtaining a Violet Gold Medal are exceedingly stringent. To this day, no one in No-Return City has claimed one."

"City Lord Asura once declared that whoever becomes the first Violet Gold Medal holder will earn an audience with him."

The conditions are that harsh?

Chen Chang'an grew intrigued. Just how demanding were these requirements that no one could fulfill them?

"What exactly are the conditions?" Chen Chang'an pressed.

"First, the candidate must be a newcomer, someone who has never participated in medal-ranked combat before."

"Second, the time limit is one month."

"Third, their cultivation must not exceed the Divine Transformation Realm."

"In other words, a newcomer below the Divine Transformation Realm must ascend from Bronze to Violet Gold within a single month."

"Additionally, under the ranking system, after obtaining a Bronze Medal, you must defeat a hundred fellow Bronze Medal holders to qualify for promotion."

"The next tier requires challenging a Silver Medal holder and winning to advance."

"The subsequent promotions follow the same logic. But for the Violet Gold Medal, after defeating a hundred Platinum Medal holders, the City Lord’s Manor will dispatch ten peak Divine Transformation Realm experts."

"You must either defeat all ten in battle or endure against them for a full hour."

Hearing these conditions, even Chen Chang'an found them excessively harsh. For someone below the Divine Transformation Realm to accomplish all this within a month seemed nearly impossible.

Especially the final requirement—even a ninth-level Divine Ability Realm cultivator facing so many opponents simultaneously would need to be an absolute prodigy to succeed.

By all appearances, City Lord Asura seemed to be screening for talent. But what was his purpose in doing so?

"Well? Do you think you can manage it in a month?" the proprietress asked with a smirk.

"It shouldn’t be a problem. I’m just not sure if there are enough opponents for me to challenge."

"Hahaha! Of course there are. No-Return City has a population of at least a million—no shortage of challengers!"

"If you’ve made up your mind, you can register at the Medal Arena."

The Medal Arena?

Chen Chang'an nodded with a faint smile but asked no further questions. Instead, he turned and retreated to his room.

Watching his departing figure, the proprietress narrowed her eyes in contemplation. Could this man truly be below the Divine Transformation Realm?

"Da Huang, any luck sensing the aura of No-Return City’s lord, Asura?"

Back in his room, Chen Chang'an turned to Da Huang for answers.

"How would I know? I’ve never met him."

"No-Return City is chaotic. There are a few powerful auras here, but I can’t tell which one belongs to the city lord."

"Honestly, none of them might be him. He might not even be in the city right now."

Da Huang couldn’t say for sure—after all, without knowing Asura’s identity, there was no way to confirm.

"Seems like the only option is to compete in the Medal Arena," Chen Chang'an said calmly.

"Young Master, let me go instead. My cultivation hasn’t reached the Divine Transformation Realm—I qualify," Gu Xian'er offered.

"You lack real combat experience, and this isn’t the place for you to make your debut."

"I’ll handle it."

Chen Chang'an’s cultivation was only at the first level of the Transcendent Realm—a fact beyond dispute.

However, his true combat prowess remained untested. This would be the perfect opportunity to gauge it.

The night passed without incident.

It must be said—the Medal Arena is likely the liveliest place in all of No-Return City.

"Packed" would be an understatement. Not only could spectators watch battles here, but they could also place bets.

Many sought to earn extra spirit stones this way, as staying in No-Return City required daily payments. Fail to pay, and you’d be thrown out.

By the time Chen Chang'an entered the front hall, it was already brimming with people.

"Hey, a newcomer!"

"I heard about this guy yesterday. He’s still alive?"

"Arrived yesterday? Interesting. Is he here to compete in the Medal Arena?"

"Tsk tsk, the kid’s got guts. Let’s see if he walks off that arena alive."

Ignoring the murmurs around him, Chen Chang'an strode straight to the registration desk.

"I’d like to register for the Medal Arena battles."

The registrar glanced up at him. "First, a cultivation test."

"Understood."

"First-level Transcendent Realm?"

"Qualified. You’ll receive a Bronze Medal directly. State your name for registration."

"Chen Chang'an."

"Done. Here’s your Bronze Medal. You may proceed—the second floor is the Bronze Medal combat arena."

Chen Chang'an hadn’t expected registration to be so simple—just a cultivation test and a name.

Clutching his Bronze Medal, he headed straight for the second-floor arena.

The Bronze Medal arena didn’t draw much of a crowd. After all, battles at this level weren’t exactly thrilling to watch.

"Are you here for the duel?"

"Yes. I'd like to ask—are there at least a hundred Bronze Medal holders here right now?" Chen Chang'an inquired.

Huh?

The administrator was momentarily taken aback. What did this kid mean? Was he aiming for a promotion?

"Don’t worry, there are plenty. The question is how long you can last," the administrator replied with a smirk.

"Can you arrange for them to come at me together?"

"I don’t want to waste time."

What?

All at once?