In the Hell Slaughter Arena, several massive purple vines twisted and slithered like serpents. These vines were covered in sharp, translucent purple crystal-like spikes that shimmered like precious gemstones under the light. They didn't look like deadly weapons, but rather perfect works of art.
Yet, these beautiful works of art had their tips pierced through the bodies of various soul masters, hanging them dozens of meters in the air. Strangely, despite the gaping wounds on their bodies, not a single drop of blood spilled out. Instead, dark red lines of blood oozed from the core of the vines, making it obvious that the blood had been absorbed by these beautiful yet sinister plants.
Tang Shan's long blue-purple hair draped loosely behind her as she strolled through the forest formed by the Dark Blue Silver King, step by step approaching the final target hiding in the corner of the Hell Arena.
'What's wrong with me? Why did I get so enraged just because a few ants insulted me?'
Her sweet, clear voice fell like a bell from hell in the ears of the fallen soul master. He didn't understand what this beautiful woman was babbling about—all he knew was that his death was inevitable. Swallowing hard, he tried to muster his courage and shouted "I—", but before the words could leave his throat, a Dark Blue Silver King vine had already pierced it, flinging him into the air.
"A bunch of trash, disturbing my state of mind—you all deserved to die."
Tang Shan narrowed her eyes slightly. After draining the blood from the bodies, she turned around and calmly walked toward the exit.
When she had first entered, the arena stands had been full of thunderous cheers. But as she left, leaving behind nine bloodless corpses at the center of the arena, the crowd had gone deathly silent. No one expected such a beautiful woman to possess such overwhelming power—and such merciless methods. Was she going to become the next Death God?
In the dark corridor behind the arena, Tang Shan slowly closed her eyes.
'Xuan Tian Record, Rule Six: Even if Mount Tai collapses before you, remain calm. Even if the Yellow River bursts overhead, show no fear. A true hidden weapon master must always keep a cool head. I used to be so calm. Why do I lose control so easily now? Has the Wrathful Blue Silver Berserk Skull Bone already started affecting me?'
"What is that smell?" Before she could exit the corridor, Tang Shan wrinkled her nose at the stench of lust in the air. Picking up her pace, she turned the corner and suddenly saw a familiar figure.
In the bustling hallway outside the arena, Ma Hongjun, stark naked, was vigorously riding atop a skinny woman. His mohawk-like red hair bounced with every motion.
'No wonder this fat bastard ended up here. Instead of focusing on cultivation, all he ever thinks about is food and women. This guy is beyond saving.'
A flame of fury suddenly surged within Tang Shan as she glared at Ma Hongjun with bloodshot eyes, murderous intent and a violent aura bursting forth.
"Having fun, are you, Fatty? Or should I wait until you're done?"
Ma Hongjun shuddered violently at her voice, rolling off the woman and hunching over awkwardly.
"Shan… Shan, I was just waiting for you at the door and got a little bored! Come, let's go! I'll show you around the rest of the Slaughter City!"
Tang Shan ignored his babbling and stormed toward the exit without another word.
Ma Hongjun hastily pulled up his pants, left the trembling woman where she lay, and scurried after her.
'That soul bone… it really has made me more ferocious. But I better be careful next time in battle. If I miss a better soul bone, that would be a huge loss.'
Up in the stands of the Slaughter Arena, Hu Liena and Xie Yue sat side by side.
After watching Tang Shan's match, Xie Yue finally exhaled.
"This Tang Shan is terrifying. She can't be more than thirty, and she's already a Soul Emperor with strength like that? Liena, do you think she might be a transformed soul beast?"
"Look at her martial soul—doesn't it look like Ghost Vine? That's a martial soul common among evil soul masters. I think she's absorbing life force to advance so quickly. And her strength… probably comes from soul bones."
Hu Liena's tone remained calm and analytical. As the tactician of the Golden Generation, her intelligence clearly surpassed most native soul masters. Just a few encounters had already allowed her to deduce much of Tang Shan's background.
"Tang Shan's strength could get in our way if we aim for 100 straight wins. Should we find an opportunity to kill her?"
"Your self-created soul skill may be powerful," Hu Liena replied, shaking her head, "but you're not guaranteed to win against her. And don't forget, Ma Hongjun is with her. He won't let us get the drop on her so easily."
"What if I lure Ma Hongjun away and we kill him first?"
Hu Liena frowned. "Even if we killed him, we still couldn't guarantee killing her. And if we provoke her now, we'll have to stay on guard every single day from now on."
"Remember Ma Hongjun's 'Corrupt Flame Incineration' move? He's just a Soul Ancestor, but that ability isn't something a regular self-created skill can produce. I bet he has a fire-type soul bone. Even if it's useless to us, we could give it to Yan after we leave this place."
"Forget it. If we really want to act, we'll wait until we're closer to a hundred wins. There's no need to invite trouble so early."
Just then, a woman in black robes appeared beside them.
"You two, the Slaughter King has summoned you."
"The Slaughter King?" Hu Liena and Xie Yue exchanged a quick glance and silently got up to follow her.
…
"Milord, Numbers 19229 and 19909 have arrived."
"Let them in."
Slaughter City didn't assign numbers based on order of arrival. Instead, a few fixed number ranges were randomly handed out, and when someone died, their number was recycled. After a few years of chaos, the death rate had slowed considerably, so the number count had surpassed 20,000.
Hu Liena and Xie Yue walked into the dark, cavernous hall. The stone walls were etched with bloody murals of slaughter. Past a massive pool of blood and up a flight of stairs sat a towering figure in a massive crystal-encrusted chair.
Though shrouded in shadow, they could make out the imposing silhouette—this had to be the Slaughter King.
"Great Slaughter King, what do you require of us?"
With their heads bowed, they knelt on one knee.
The chamber was suddenly illuminated by flickering flames, dispelling all darkness.
"Hu Liena, Xie Yue. Talents of the Golden Generation. Stand. I don't require your kneeling."
"It's you, Yu Tianming? You're the Slaughter King?"
They recognized the young man instantly. Though they hadn't interacted with him before, his feat of severing Tang Hao's legs in one blow was well known. He had already reached the level of a Title Douluo, comparable to their teachers.
Seeing their surprise, Yu Tianming chuckled softly.
"You seem surprised by my appearance. But no, I am not the Slaughter King."
After a pause, Hu Liena stood up and said, "Even if you aren't, in Slaughter City you might as well be. Since you summoned us, what is it you wish to say?"
Yu Tianming's eyes showed admiration as he sat upright.
'This girl is smart—too bad her heart is blinded by loyalty. She's the spitting image of Bibi Dong's ambition and sharpness.'
"I have no orders. I summoned you simply because you are talented and, even in this place, you haven't lost your morality. I only wanted to give you a reminder."
Hu Liena's eyes narrowed. "What advice, milord?"
"I know you're Bibi Dong's disciple. But not everything she does is righteous. One day, if a new faction rises within Spirit Hall, I hope you will stand on the side of justice."
"Teacher is my benefactor. I will never betray her," Hu Liena replied without hesitation.
Yu Tianming smiled.
"You may overestimate your loyalty. I'm not asking you to betray Spirit Hall. On the contrary, I believe it's the greatest force working for the people of the continent. Unlike clans like the Blue Tyrant or Seven Treasure Glazed Tile, it serves the many, not the few."
"You may not believe me, but Bibi Dong's goals do not align with Spirit Hall's ideals. In fact, she may be the biggest threat to it. I hope, when the time comes, you'll choose the side of justice."
Xie Yue's eyes sparkled. "Do you… know something about her?"
"You'll have to ask her yourself."
Yu Tianming waved them off with a smile.
"You're dismissed."
As they turned to leave, Hu Liena looked back one last time.
"Aren't you afraid we'll tell our teacher and expose the traitor in Spirit Hall?"
"Go ahead," Yu Tianming said, laughing softly. "Who knows? Maybe the traitor is Bibi Dong herself."
After exiting the Slaughter Arena, Hu Liena didn't speak a word, her gaze locked silently on the distant street.
…
Two years later, inside the Hell Slaughter Arena.
A fat man with a blazing red mohawk stood naked as black-red flames roared across his body. His clothing had already burned to ash under the scorching Phoenix Evil Fire, but he laughed wildly in front of thousands of fallen soul masters.
"Hahaha! Who would've thought Fat Lord could reach 100 wins? Come on, you bastards! Let's do this!"
None of the other combatants dared move.
Everyone knew how terrifying this guy was. His bizarre evil flames would incinerate anything on contact, and even if wounded, he healed almost instantly. To make things worse, he had some kind of charge skill—once he locked onto someone, he could leap forward in an instant and smother them with his fiery body.
"Fine! If you cowards won't move, then Fat Lord will come to you!"
With bloodshot eyes, Ma Hongjun charged toward one of the soul masters.
The Corrupt Flame Incineration soul bone, chosen by Yu Tianming from a dragon-type beast, had a simple effect—ignite flames on oneself. But thanks to Ma Hongjun's Phoenix martial soul and the soul bone's powerful nature, the flames massively boosted his regenerative ability. As long as he wasn't killed outright, he could quickly heal.
But the soul bone also carried the dragon's innate greed—lust, gluttony, covetousness. The longer it was used, the more it twisted the user's mind.
(End of Chapter)
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