Watching Yang Xiong leave with a face full of determination, Lin Gong couldn't help but shake his head.
He could protect Yang Xiong in any place across the world—except for Slaughter City. Lin Gong was well aware that at his age, he no longer had the strength to brave the dangers of Slaughter City.
Yet Yang Xiong seemed unusually determined to enter it, almost recklessly so. After all, with his current plans, both the Body Sect and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had the potential to become one of the top three sects, with limitless prospects ahead.
After parting ways with Lin Gong, Yang Xiong walked alone through the small town.
The entire town appeared eerily dark and cold, exuding an oppressive atmosphere that made Yang Xiong feel deeply uncomfortable—it seemed saturated with intense darkness attributes.
There wasn't a trace of vitality anywhere; the place felt utterly desolate, devoid of even the faintest hint of life. It carried an inescapable chill that seemed to seep into one's bones.
Yang Xiong paid no heed to these details and headed straight for the only bar at the center of the town—the only place in the town where there seemed to be any signs of life, or at least where living people still gathered.
The bar looked almost deserted, with murky air filling the space. Though there were about ten tables, only seven or eight people sat scattered around.
These individuals appeared fierce and menacing, their rough clothing marking them as anything but virtuous folk.
Yang Xiong casually found a spot near the corner, appearing completely nonchalant.
"Waiter, bring me a Bloody Mary."
The waiter looked puzzled: "Are you sure, sir? A Bloody Mary doesn't come cheap."
Yang Xiong tossed a bag of coins onto the table and glanced at the waiter with a hint of killing intent in his eyes, resembling a wild beast.
The waiter didn't dare say another word and hurriedly retreated into the bar.
Sure enough, not long after, the waiter returned with a glass of murky liquid. The liquid had a crimson hue and emitted a strong scent of blood.
Looking at the Bloody Mary before him, Yang Xiong's face twisted in disgust. This was genuine human blood—a highly toxic substance akin to opium in the Blue Star World. Long-term use could lead to addiction, madness, and eventually turn ordinary people into emotionless monsters.
Seeing Yang Xiong's reaction, many of the surrounding patrons began to jeer.
"Kid, you look like you haven't even grown facial hair yet. Someone like you, a pampered noble, isn't cut out for a place like this."
"What kind of greenhorn is this? This isn't a place you should be. Better run home while you still can."
…
Yang Xiong found the clamor around him unbearably irritating. An aura of killing intent emanated from his body—an aura far beyond what a teenager under twenty should possess.
Seeing Yang Xiong unmoving, seemingly lost in thought while staring at the Bloody Mary, a burly man nearby bellowed: "You little brat, thinking you can enter Slaughter City? Let me send you to hell first!"
The man quickly summoned his martial soul, revealing himself to be a four-ringed Soul Elder. Unfortunately, his soul rings were one white, two yellow, and one purple, and his martial soul was a wild buffalo.
But before he could get close, Yang Xiong's figure blurred, and he swiftly closed the distance. Ignoring the man's desperate resistance, Yang Xiong grabbed his neck with one hand.
Even as the man unleashed his soul skill, Yang Xiong's overwhelming strength broke through the defense of his martial soul. Clutching the man's neck, Yang Xiong twisted with force, and the man collapsed stiffly to the ground—undeniably dead.
The jeering crowd now wore expressions of fear. Even in death, the man's eyes were filled with despair and disbelief—a young man had just killed him in an instant.
Since his goal was to enter Slaughter City, Yang Xiong harbored no mercy. Anyone who sought to enter Slaughter City was someone who deserved to die, scorned by the world.
Yang Xiong moved swiftly, and within moments, everyone around him lay dead. Some had their necks snapped, others had their bodies crushed, their bones shattered. Not a single person survived.
The waiter, looking at the pile of corpses in the shop, trembled violently. Despite being responsible for this small bar, he had never encountered someone as domineering and ruthless as Yang Xiong.
Yang Xiong spoke indifferently: "Now that everyone here is dead, I should qualify to enter Slaughter City, right?"
The waiter hastily replied: "Of course! Since you're the only one heading to Slaughter City this time, the slot naturally belongs to you."
Yang Xiong picked up the Bloody Mary from the table. This substance was a hard currency in Slaughter City and might prove useful later.
"Lead the way. I don't want to waste any more time."
The waiter swallowed nervously and finally led Yang Xiong to the bar.
The two quickly arrived at the counter. After some manipulation by the waiter, the back wall behind the counter began to rotate, revealing a black portal.
Yang Xiong used his mental power to probe the portal, but his mental energy vanished upon entering it, indicating that this was an unknown realm.
Without hesitation, Yang Xiong grabbed the waiter and threw him into the black portal.
The waiter let out a scream: "What are you doing, sir? I don't want to go to Slaughter City!"
Once the waiter entered the black hole, all sound ceased—no screams, no disturbances of any kind.
Yang Xiong leaped forward, his body plunging directly into the black portal.
Inside the portal, there was endless darkness, without even a trace of light. Yang Xiong felt his body falling endlessly, weightless and disoriented.
Soon, Yang Xiong landed on solid ground. With years of training in the Purple Extreme Demon Eye and his powerful mental strength, he managed to make out a winding passage leading downward in the darkness. The waiter had disappeared without a trace.
Yang Xiong carefully scouted the area, confirming no signs of life nearby before proceeding along the descending passage.
After walking nearly a kilometer through the passage over several minutes, a faint glimmer of light gradually appeared—it seemed they were nearing the end of the tunnel.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from all directions: "Welcome to Slaughter City, the capital of hell, a world of carnage. Here, you can obtain everything you desire—money, wealth, beauty—but at the cost of your life."
Yang Xiong focused intently on the voice but could detect no source. It didn't seem to come from an ordinary person, perhaps influenced by the surrounding environment.
However, using his Purple Extreme Demon Eye, Yang Xiong saw that the end of the passage seemed to be an ancient gate.
As Yang Xiong approached the gate, a female voice suddenly rang out: "Congratulations on arriving at Slaughter City. This will be your paradise, but also your hell."
True to her words, when Yang Xiong stepped through the gate, the world seemed vast and empty. Before him stretched a black expanse, with an ancient city in the distance beneath a blood-red moon, creating an eerie scene.
The entire realm was shrouded in darkness, visibility extremely low. Even Yang Xiong's mental power could only detect up to 500 meters, as if trapped in eternal night.
A woman dressed in black appeared before him—clearly the source of the earlier voice.
Behind her stood a group of knights, each mounted on black horses, clad in black armor, their faces obscured.
The black-clad woman exuded an unsettling aura: "Welcome to Slaughter City. I am your guide. You may ask me anything. Over the next 24 hours, I will explain everything about Slaughter City to you. After that, you will become a true member of this place."
After speaking, she took out a token from her body and handed it to Yang Xiong: "This is your proof of identity in Slaughter City. From now on, you will have no name. This token contains all your information."
Yang Xiong accepted the token. On it was an eerie skull, followed by a number: 8868.
Yang Xiong didn't dwell on it, pocketing the token and addressing the black-clad woman: "Let's go. Take me inside Slaughter City. I'm getting excited."
The black-clad woman looked slightly puzzled: "Sir, don't you have any questions?"
Yang Xiong smiled faintly: "Isn't Slaughter City known as the most lawless place in the world? I came here to experience true slaughter and a different world."
Hearing this, the corners of the woman's lips twitched. She had greeted countless newcomers, but none had ever responded like Yang Xiong.
Most people who entered Slaughter City were those who couldn't survive in the Douluo Continent—either wanted criminals, societal outcasts, or those who had offended powerful forces.
Over the past year, Yang Xiong had undergone brutal training under Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, vastly improving his physical condition and combat abilities. His personality had also shifted somewhat.
If he had been relatively cautious before, Yang Xiong now appeared sharper and exuded a heavier killing intent.
The black-clad woman explained: "Mr. 8868, as your guide, I must inform you of the rules—or rather, the lack thereof—in Slaughter City. Here, there are no rules. As a member, you can do whatever you wish."
"Under the leadership of the great Slaughter King, all soul skills vanish for everyone. It's fair for all. Even Title Douluo-level experts cannot use their soul skills here, so you needn't fear anyone."
Yang Xiong was already aware of the rule prohibiting soul skills in Slaughter City. However, when he summoned his soul rings, his body transformed into silver, meaning he could still use his martial soul.
But strangely, all his soul rings had turned gray, their energy completely isolated from him. Even his soul bone skills were unusable.
Yang Xiong realized that Slaughter City was perfectly suited for him. The strongest aspect of his Body Martial Soul was its regenerative ability—his body itself was his martial soul, setting him apart from others.
Surprisingly, though his soul bones' skills were restricted, their inherent energies remained accessible.
For example, his external soul bones. While their skills were unusable, their innate properties still functioned.
Take the Xuanming Armor and Ice-Fire Dragon Claw. Though their soul bone skills couldn't be used, the Xuanming Armor retained its formidable defense, and the Ice-Fire Dragon Claw remained incredibly sharp—these qualities were not suppressed by Slaughter City.
Additionally, his hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg soul bone. Though its skills were unusable, its enhancement to his body remained evident. The soul bone's potent life attribute significantly boosted his recovery ability.
Seeing Yang Xiong lost in thought, the black-clad maiden continued: "Mr. 8868, every newcomer to Slaughter City is granted a 24-hour protection period. During this time, I will stay by your side, but you must not provoke others, or you'll forfeit your protection."
Yang Xiong frowned slightly: "If I recall correctly, entering Slaughter City requires a trial. Weren't those Slaughter Knights supposed to be the test?"
The black-clad maiden chuckled: "Sir, forgive me, but your actions in the Slaughter Bar were recorded. Your ruthlessness and killing intent were convincing. Especially the overwhelming killing aura you exuded—even the Slaughter Knights found it terrifying. Hence, no trial was necessary."
Yang Xiong smirked: "It seems I underestimated Slaughter City. But I like this place."
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