Soon, under Tang Hao's guidance, Tang San and he ventured into the Great Star Dou Forest to acquire a soul ring.
However, they only reached the mixed zone. After some searching, they finally found a fifteen-thousand-year-old Jade Phosphorous Serpent King—a top-tier snake-type soul beast.
According to Yu Xiaogang and Tang Hao's plan for Tang San, his Blue Silver Grass would focus on control and poison attributes. The Jade Phosphorous Serpent King was an exceptional snake-type soul beast, especially renowned for its potent poison attribute, which could also enhance the control capabilities of Blue Silver Grass.
Originally, Tang San had intended to visit Xiao Wu, but at this stage, he was only a Soul King, far from meeting Tang Hao's expectations. Ultimately, under Tang Hao's arrangement, Tang San returned to the waterfall to continue his training.
Tang San's subsequent cultivation involved using the Hao Tian Hammer beneath the waterfall, preventing the water from landing near the pool.
After receiving Tang Hao's guidance, Tang San began his training with renewed confidence.
…
Time flew by, and another year quickly passed.
During this year, Yang Xiong participated in a Hell Slaughter Arena match roughly every ten days. The rest of his time was spent comprehending the killing intent, particularly focusing on controlling the changes in his body and martial soul.
As his victories in the Hell Slaughter Arena accumulated, the killing intent within Yang Xiong grew heavier. Especially after reaching ninety victories, his personality became extremely irritable, and he began to view human life as insignificant as that of ants.
This was still due to the significant increase in his mental strength and the uniqueness of his Body Martial Soul—otherwise, he might have already completely lost control.
Even though Yang Xiong hadn't focused much on cultivation this year, under the influence of Slaughter City's overwhelming killing intent, his soul power increased by two levels.
Now at level 57, Yang Xiong had only advanced four levels since entering Slaughter City. However, his overall strength had greatly improved. His killing intent, sword skills, and martial soul were gradually merging, making him resemble a wild beast or an exceptionally ferocious, peerless demonic sword.
Especially during his ninety-ninth match, his killing intent seemed to have reached its peak. As the killing intent seeped into his body, his mind began to be affected, as if he were on the verge of being controlled by the killing intent at any moment.
At times like these, the Tai Chi Meditation Method proved highly effective. Tai Chi, based on the principles of yin and yang, represented the simplest yet profound truth of the universe.
His spiritual sea underwent tremendous changes. The originally silver giant now appeared eerily strange, with blood-red eyes, and the entire spiritual sea resembled a sea of blood.
In a certain room within Slaughter City, the King of Slaughter appeared unusually solemn, with the black-clad maiden standing beside him.
The black-clad maiden seemed somewhat tense: "Your Majesty, should we deal with the competitor Overlord? He has already achieved ninety-nine victories, and only one more is needed to open the Hell Road."
"Once the Hell Road opens, it will be the greatest loss Slaughter City has faced in recent years."
The King of Slaughter countered: "Do you think Overlord can survive the Hell Road?"
The black-clad maiden thought carefully before replying: "It's hard to say. This Overlord competitor has demonstrated formidable strength and is extremely cold and ruthless. Despite participating in ninety-nine matches, he hasn't lost control like ordinary people, which suggests he has some advantage or extraordinary qualities. After all, ordinary people typically lose control after just fifty matches."
The King of Slaughter said: "Enough. If we cannot recruit him, let him open the Hell Road."
The black-clad maiden was puzzled: "Are we just going to ignore the loss to Slaughter City? Every emergence of a God of Slaughter is akin to a calamity, and Slaughter City cannot withstand such losses."
The King of Slaughter sneered: "Don't forget our position. Slaughter City does not allow anyone to interfere with a fallen one who has achieved over fifty victories, or we will face punishment. After all, this world is not ruled by me—we are merely overseers appointed by that elder."
…
This time, it took nearly a month for Yang Xiong to fully control the killing intent within him. The killing intent showed signs of evolution, and his body was covered in strange patterns, as if on the verge of transformation.
In the Hell Slaughter Arena, everyone cheered endlessly.
Yang Xiong appeared unusually calm and cruel, eliminating opponents like a god of slaughter. When all nine enemies fell, the scene erupted like a boiling ocean.
All the fallen ones cheered wildly, as if witnessing a great moment.
"Hundred victories, hundred victories!"
At this moment, a strange voice rang out: "Congratulations young competitor, Overlord."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiong's face showed surprise. The killing intent within him seemed uncontrollable for a moment, even showing signs of backlash.
Yang Xiong quickly employed the Tai Chi Meditation Method, maximizing his mental strength to suppress the rebellious killing intent.
A bizarre figure appeared in the sky. The person was incredibly tall, draped in a scarlet cloak, with a pair of massive bat wings behind him.
His face was deathly pale, with blood-red eyes that regarded everyone as mere insects. Upon closer inspection, his face and hands were covered in demonic patterns.
Yang Xiong understood that this person must be the King of Slaughter—the former head of the Hao Tian Sect, Tang Chen, who had been lost in Slaughter City.
All the fallen ones in the arena cheered: "King of Slaughter, King of Slaughter!"
The King of Slaughter looked at Yang Xiong: "My subjects, I am delighted today. All of us have witnessed the birth of a hundred victories in the Hell Slaughter Arena. Overlord, with your immense strength and terrifying killing intent, you have made everyone tremble."
"Overlord, you have once again stirred my excitement. To reward your achievements, I will exceptionally bestow upon you the title of God of Slaughter. From now on, you may freely enter and leave Slaughter City and be honored as a guest under me."
Yang Xiong's expression remained remarkably calm: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I still hope to earn the title of God of Slaughter through my own strength without breaking the rules of Slaughter City. Please help me open the Hell Road."
The King of Slaughter's expression faltered: "Overlord, do you understand the dangers of the Hell Road? Its terror far exceeds your imagination."
Yang Xiong replied: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My decision is final."
The King of Slaughter's voice turned icy: "Very well. Since you are determined to walk the Hell Road, I will grant your wish."
The King of Slaughter emitted a red mist, filled with evil energy. Even Yang Xiong felt a chill run down his spine.
Yang Xiong swiftly avoided the red mist, but it was clear the mist wasn't targeting him. In the blink of an eye, it spread throughout the arena.
The fallen ones in the audience were ecstatic, especially as the red mist enveloped their bodies. It was as if they were stimulated, their movements growing sluggish.
As the red mist thickened, all spectators in the Hell Slaughter Arena descended into madness. They seemed to have completely lost their sanity, resembling beasts.
As time slowly passed, the crowd in the Hell Slaughter Arena roared hoarsely, attacking those around them. Even severe injuries seemed to go unnoticed.
The Hell Slaughter Arena became like hell itself, drenched in blood. Particularly in the center of the arena, it seemed all the blood had converged around the platform.
As the blood flowed in, strange patterns began to appear on the once-smooth platform. The blood followed the patterns, eventually forming a massive blood-red symbol.
It was a gigantic bat, appearing both eerie and grotesque.
Yang Xiong sensed that the entire Hell Slaughter Arena now resembled a terrifying beast, not only devouring everyone's blood but also their souls.
When the red bat symbol was fully formed, its eyes emitted a piercing glow. Yang Xiong felt as if his head was splitting apart, his mental strength on the verge of being crushed.
Suddenly, the surrounding space began to collapse piece by piece. Yang Xiong experienced weightlessness. If not for his immense killing intent, he might have been reduced to ashes in an instant. However, the overwhelming energy caused him to fall unconscious.
When Yang Xiong opened his eyes again, his surroundings had changed. He was no longer in the Hell Slaughter Arena. Everything appeared blood-red, and beneath his feet was a five-meter-wide platform that resembled an altar.
Beyond this platform lay a bottomless abyss, except for a narrow path about half a foot wide. It seemed capable of accommodating only his feet, while the rest of the space was shrouded in darkness.
Using his Purple Extreme Demon Eye, Yang Xiong carefully examined below. The area beneath was filled with blood-red liquid, similar to the Bloody Mary used as currency in Slaughter City.
After some thought, Yang Xiong realized this place was like Slaughter City—soul rings and soul bone skills were unusable here. However, he didn't dwell on it or pay attention to the river of blood below. Instead, he began walking along the narrow path.
This was the only route out of the Hell Road; there were no other exits. However, Yang Xiong vaguely felt that the river of blood held some inexplicable attraction, particularly toward his martial soul.
The path was extremely narrow, known as the legendary Hell Road.
However, after creating the Bagua Steps, Yang Xiong's body had become extraordinarily stable, moving with precision and without unnecessary actions.
After walking along the Hell Road for a while, the surrounding temperature began to rise, and the river of blood seemed to be drawing closer.
Especially the aura emanating from the river of blood—it was easy to make one lose their way.
However, neither the rising temperature nor the toxins in the air posed any challenge to Yang Xiong, whose body had been tempered by ice and fire.
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