Chapter 244: Return to the City of Slaughter
The Snowy Night Emperor, having ruled the Heaven Dou Empire for years, showed his deep-rooted influence by immediately summoning Marshal Ge Long and the three members of the board from the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy—among the most skilled individuals in the empire.
He also issued a decree passing the throne to Princess Xue Ke, with Marshal Ge Long and Prince Xue Xing appointed as her advisors. Most of the board members and staff from the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy moved into the palace to assist Princess Xue Ke.
Through this, the political stability of the Heaven Dou Empire was somewhat restored. The empire then sought alliances with the Clear Sky Sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, bestowing the title of Blue Vast King upon Tang San, who would also assist Princess Xue Ke.
Perhaps out of concern about potential interference from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in royal affairs, no title was conferred upon Ning Fengzhi. Instead, both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Clear Sky Sect were named as guardian sects of the kingdom, to stand together with the royal family.
At the same time, the Snowy Night Emperor sent a letter to Dugu Bo, a guest elder of the Heaven Dou Empire, asking him to come to Heaven Dou City to assist in overseeing the situation. Unfortunately, the letter seemed to vanish into thin air; Dugu Bo offered no response.
Despite these efforts to stabilize the empire, the Snowy Night Emperor himself had already reached the end of his strength, passing away quietly.
With support from various factions, Princess Xue Ke officially ascended the throne, becoming the first empress in the history of the Heaven Dou Empire.
However, the empire remained troubled by internal and external threats. Internally, the positions of several kingdoms and duchies were ambiguous, including the Balak Kingdom, Haagen-Dazs Kingdom, Silvis Kingdom, and the Gore Kingdom, among other smaller duchies. Although they outwardly supported Princess Xue Ke's claim to the throne, they made no actual commitments.
Together, these kingdoms and duchies comprised four provinces of the Heaven Dou Empire, situated near the Wuhun Hall and the Star Luo Empire. While their population and land area were not as significant as those of central Heaven Dou, they still represented a loss of about thirty percent of the empire's territory.
In this state of affairs, the empire couldn't afford to dispatch forces for a campaign, as the real enemy remained the Wuhun Hall.
After this coup, Tang San and his companions felt an even stronger desire to increase their strength. Thus, the group of seven prepared to journey to Hanhai City, aiming to set sail and train on Sea God Island—Tang San had become obsessed with enhancing his power.
Yang Potian had no interest in dealing with these trivial matters. He had been making ample preparations for his return to the City of Slaughter.
Regarding the King of Slaughter, Yang Potian still held a sense of caution. Purely in terms of power, he estimated that he now surpassed Tang Chen. However, Tang Chen had undergone the Asura God's Eight Trials, allowing him to wield some Asura divine power, making him, in a way, a demigod.
Especially notable was Tang Chen's possession of the Asura Demonic Sword, an ultimate divine artifact that granted unimaginable power.
In the original story, Tang San only narrowly defeated Bibi Dong upon reaching the level of Titled Douluo, using the Seagod Trident, a divine artifact that was less powerful than the Asura Demonic Sword.
When Yang Potian entered the City of Slaughter, chaos broke out immediately. After all, he'd only left the city less than a decade ago, and many still remembered the nightmare he had brought upon them.
Upon Yang Potian's arrival, even the Slaughter Knights trembled in fear, for he was the Slaughter God—a soul master capable of releasing soul skills in the City of Slaughter, his power forged from endless bloodshed.
Inside the city's inner walls, a young woman in a black veil greeted Yang Potian. "Honorable Slaughter God, welcome back to the City of Slaughter. What brings you here this time?"
Yang Potian's face remained icy, expressionless. "Take me to see the King of Slaughter. I have matters to discuss with him."
The veiled woman hesitated, visibly uneasy. "Lord Slaughter God, this might be challenging. We usually only meet the King of Slaughter when he summons us. It's rare for anyone to disturb him."
Yang Potian cast her a sidelong glance. "Are you afraid of the King of Slaughter but not of me?"
With that, a surge of murderous intent erupted from him, turning the surrounding space blood-red. Both the veiled woman and the hidden Slaughter Knights shuddered; one knight even fainted outright.
The veiled woman coughed up blood and stammered, "Lord Slaughter God, please have mercy. I'll take you to his residence right away."
Yang Potian nodded slightly, retracting his killing intent. In the City of Slaughter, strength was paramount, and there was no room for mercy.
Guided by the veiled woman, Yang Potian reached a peculiar stone door. Unlike an ordinary door, it resembled a mechanism.
The veiled woman called out, "Great King of Slaughter, the Slaughter God requests an audience."
A furious voice erupted from within. "Didn't I say not to let anyone disturb me? Not even the Slaughter God!"
The veiled woman's face grew terrified. "My lord, if you don't receive the Slaughter God, many lives in the City of Slaughter may be lost."
Suddenly, the door opened, and a beam of red light shot out, instantly decapitating the veiled woman. The King of Slaughter's voice echoed, "Are you afraid of the Slaughter God but not of me? I am the true ruler of the City of Slaughter!"
Yang Potian gazed coldly at the veiled woman's corpse. "King of Slaughter, I have matters to discuss. Surely, you wouldn't deny me?"
The King of Slaughter's tone grew colder. "Slaughter God, you are the greatest Slaughter God of my city. I wouldn't deny you. Come in."
Without hesitation, Yang Potian stepped inside. As he did, the massive stone door closed behind him, sealing the room entirely.
Yang Potian examined the dark, sealed room, noting an unsettling gloom, with even the surrounding flames casting a sinister light. Strange markings covered the ceiling, unlike anything human-made.
Reflecting on the peculiarities of the room, Yang Potian mused that, despite their power, even soul beasts couldn't escape their animal nature. Bat-like creatures, for instance, required long sleep periods and usually remained active only two to four hours daily.
From these clues, he deduced that this room was the private resting place of the Scarlet Nine-Headed Bat King, who likely needed extended rest.
Before Yang Potian could think further, the King of Slaughter, sipping a Bloody Mary, spoke coldly. "Slaughter God, you've been away from the City of Slaughter for so long. What brings you here today?"
Yang Potian replied with a faint smile. "I recently collected several spirit rings in the Star Dou Great Forest but still need a hundred-thousand-year mental-type spirit ring. I thought there might be one in the City of Slaughter, and it would also rid you of a threat."
The King of Slaughter's already pale face grew even whiter, and his gaze turned sharp. "Slaughter God, there are no soul beasts in my city."
Yang Potian shook his head. "Yet, I encountered the Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Snake and the Dark Gold Three-Headed Bat King on the Hell Road. They were powerful. How is it that they left no spirit rings upon death?"
The King of Slaughter laughed nervously. "Slaughter God, have you forgotten? This is the domain of the mighty Asura God; thus, there are no soul beasts here."
Yang Potian casually produced a living Soft Bone Rabbit he'd caught before entering the city. Although it trembled in fear, it remained alive.
He struck the rabbit dead, and a white ten-year spirit ring instantly appeared.
Yang Potian narrowed his eyes. "King of Slaughter, does the Asura God truly exist?"
The King of Slaughter's expression darkened. "Of course he does. Your Slaughter Domain is a gift from him."
Noticing the King of Slaughter's tense reaction, Yang Potian suspected that the bat king might indeed have encountered the Asura God—or perhaps even the Rakshasa God. But whose side was the bat king on?
Yang Potian continued, "Over the past century, only I, Tang Hao, and Bibi Dong have obtained the Slaughter Domain?"
The King of Slaughter's expression tightened. "Why ask that? Yes, only you three possess it."
Yang Potian shook his head. "I recall that the former Clear Sky Sect leader Tang Chen also obtained the Slaughter Domain about fifty years ago. Since each Slaughter Domain must be granted by you, you should know of him."
The King of Slaughter's face grew colder. "I have no knowledge of any Tang Chen, much less of him obtaining the Slaughter Domain."
Noting the King of Slaughter's increasingly erratic behavior, Yang Potian realized that the soul beast was no match for a human in terms of intelligence.
"I want to see Tang Chen. Can you arrange that, King of Slaughter?" Yang Potian asked, watching the King of Slaughter carefully, ready to act at any moment.
(End of Chapter)
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