At the center of the altar stood a massive throne, upon which sat a black-clad woman. Her face was obscured, but she exuded an overwhelming and terrifying aura.
This was a fragment of the divine consciousness of the Rakshasa God—one of the most malevolent divine presences in existence and a sworn enemy of both the Asura God and the Angel God.
The Rakshasa God chuckled faintly: "Fate works in mysterious ways. I never expected a mere child to arrive here. Your potential is commendable—Asura's judgment is still as sharp as ever."
Yang Xiong frowned slightly: "Rakshasa God, I find this strange. Isn't Slaughter City under the domain of the Asura God? Why are you here?"
The Rakshasa God sneered: "Asura? The two of us share the same origin—we are both gods of slaughter. There is no distinction between good and evil; it's just that Asura is stronger, so he represents righteousness, while I represent malevolence."
"However, you reaching the second trial of the Asura Nine Trials and arriving here shows how much Asura values you. Your predecessor only arrived here during his eighth trial, but due to his arrogance and obsession with achieving godhood at Level 100, he ultimately became my servant."
Yang Xiong was startled. He had known that Tang Chen fell during the eighth trial, but now he realized that Tang Chen's eighth trial was identical to his own. The difficulty of his own trials, set by the Asura God, was far greater than he had imagined.
Yang Xiong couldn't help but laugh: "Honored Rakshasa God, I'm curious. Tang Chen was unmatched in both talent and strength, arguably the most brilliant genius of the past millennium. Why could he not inherit the legacy of either Asura or Rakshasa?"
The Rakshasa God let out a strange laugh: "You're surprisingly clever for your age. Very well, I'll tell you. Whether Asura or Rakshasa, there is no absolute duality in this world. Slaughter aligned with justice becomes Asura; slaughter aligned with chaos becomes Rakshasa. To inherit Asura's legacy, one must also pass Rakshasa's tests. Otherwise, why would Asura allow me to interfere with his chosen successor?"
Hearing this, Yang Xiong fell silent. A question that had long puzzled him seemed to finally have an answer.
With the combined strength of the five great god kings of the Asura realm, subduing a single Rakshasa God—even the Evil God King—shouldn't be impossible. Moreover, if Asura truly wished to pass on his divine seat to Tang Chen, breaking free from Rakshasa's control should have been effortless.
In the original story, after Rakshasa passed on her divine seat, Asura immediately followed suit. Clearly, the relationship between these two gods was far more complex than their outward opposition suggested.
As for claims that divine rules prevented Asura from acting against Rakshasa, such notions were baseless.
Asura was one of the enforcers of divine law. Even Tang San, as a later inheritor of Asura who knowingly broke laws, faced no repercussions from the gods.
Yang Xiong thought carefully: "Rakshasa God, if I recall correctly, even Rakshasa has a successor. If you already have an heir, why did you continue controlling Tang Chen?"
"Moreover, though this place is eerie, it isn't the legendary Rakshasa Secret Realm. In other words, this isn't your true form but merely a fragment of your divine consciousness. And because of this fragment, you've poisoned Slaughter City with an evil toxin that no one can escape."
The Rakshasa God laughed heartily: "Asura has found quite the unusual successor—you're surprisingly knowledgeable. Have you ever considered that Slaughter City doesn't belong solely to Asura? It's simply a testing ground where both Asura and I screen our successors. To inherit the divine seats of either Asura or Rakshasa, one must pass through the trials of Slaughter City."
Yang Xiong nodded: "I understand now. No wonder the overseer of Slaughter City is the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King. The toxins emanating from Slaughter City likely contain both Asura's power and Rakshasa's influence. It's no wonder my friend studied it for so long yet couldn't devise an antidote. This poison must be akin to a spirit poison, far more advanced than ordinary soul master toxins—it originates from the divine realm, from your divine souls."
The Rakshasa God smirked: "There are indeed clever individuals in this world. But how dare someone like you, who hasn't even reached the level of a Title Douluo, return to the Blood River of Slaughter City? Even Tang Chen fell under my control, yet you dare to come here—it's practically suicidal."
As the Rakshasa God finished speaking, Yang Xiong felt a wave of dizziness. His mind and martial soul began to spiral out of control.
His martial soul, which had transformed into a golden hue covered in demonic patterns, now emitted a blood-red glow—an evolved Slaughter Domain imbued with immense killing intent.
However, hidden deep within his martial soul were traces of black energy. These black tendrils spread along the demonic patterns across his body, clashing with the shadows of the Slaughter Domain.
Yang Xiong clenched his teeth and glared at the Rakshasa God: "You've been plotting against me all along?"
The Rakshasa God reclined lazily on her throne.
"It wasn't my scheme, child—you walked straight into the trap. When you tempered your body in the Blood River of Slaughter City, it contained not only Asura's power but also Rakshasa's essence and the potent toxin of Bloody Mary. Though your body is strangely resistant to poisons, nothing can withstand the purity of the toxins in the Blood River—they originate from the divine realm. The poison coursing through you is infinitely stronger than what afflicted Tang Chen."
"Moreover, you've always been overly arrogant. Despite knowing that Tang Chen was possessed by the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King, you still dared to keep it with you."
Yang Xiong felt another wave of dizziness. Even gripping the sword sheath made of meteoric copper, his strength faltered, and he collapsed onto the ground.
Yang Xiong stared fiercely at the Rakshasa God: "You knew I'd return?"
The Rakshasa God laughed: "There are only four individuals in this world with the Killing God Domain. Tang Chen is already ruined, Tang Hao's despondent state makes him unworthy of Asura's attention, and Bibi Dong is already under my control."
"That leaves you, a young man with ambition, strategy, and courage. Your martial soul has even undergone transformation. Do you think you'd abandon the inheritance of the Asura God? Would Asura abandon a successor like you?"
"You may as well take charge of Slaughter City. Perhaps, with your ambition, its slaughter and evil will one day engulf the entire Douluo Continent."
Yang Xiong gritted his teeth: "Rakshasa God, do you think I'll let you manipulate me like you did Tang Chen? Even in death, I won't follow in his footsteps."
The Rakshasa God erupted in wild laughter, her voice filled with madness.
"Do you really think you have a choice? Your greatest reliance is that Asura Demon Sword in your hand. Do you honestly believe you can wield it with your current strength?"
A faint smile appeared on Yang Xiong's lips. The unstable soul power that had surged through his body moments ago suddenly stabilized. The black energy vanished instantly, replaced by a pure golden silhouette of his martial soul—the demonic patterns completely erased.
Yang Xiong rose to his feet, his eyes filled with disdain, utterly fearless even in the presence of the Rakshasa God.
The Rakshasa God's expression shifted in shock: "How is this possible? There's no trace of poison in your body—not even the remnants of Bloody Mary's toxin!"
Yang Xiong shook his head: "Rakshasa God—or rather, a mere fragment of your divine consciousness—you've trapped yourself in Slaughter City and remain ignorant of the outside world."
"When I tempered myself in the Blood River, my body grew stronger under the influence of its toxins. But afterward, I went to the Sea God Island. Under the radiance of the Sea God's light and the relentless tides, even the deepest poisons were purged."
"Moreover, the person I was then and the person I am now are entirely different. My martial soul has broken through its limits once again. What you saw earlier was merely an act—an elaborate performance. You, with your limited intellect, fell for it perfectly. Now I have the answers I sought."
Enraged, the Rakshasa God lashed out at Yang Xiong, her hand transforming into a towering black giant. The surrounding altar seemed enveloped entirely by her power.
Yang Xiong's eyes gleamed with disdain. Grasping the hilt of the Asura Demon Sword, he swiftly drew it and unleashed a single strike against the shadowy figure.
Though the strike appeared simple, it carried an endless torrent of killing intent—a manifestation of Asura's wrath.
This was a technique Yang Xiong had mastered through the boundless killing qi of the Asura Demon Sword and the Killing God Domain. Only these two forces could unlock it. Its name: Asura Judgment.
Under this technique, the very heavens and earth were split apart by the sword qi. No matter how powerful the Rakshasa divine consciousness was, it was instantly reduced to ashes by the force of judgment.
The fragment of the Rakshasa God's consciousness seemed unwilling to accept its fate: "How can this be? How could I, a divine being, be slain by a mere mortal? Wait and see—my true form will tear you apart!"
Yang Xiong watched the fading defiance of the Rakshasa God and shook his head.
"No wonder Asura is a god king, while Rakshasa remains a 1st Class God. Rakshasa embodies pure slaughter and malevolence, which easily leads mortals astray. But Asura represents order and judgment, transcending mere slaughter."
With the destruction of the Rakshasa divine consciousness, Slaughter City underwent a profound transformation. The previous malevolent aura vanished without a trace, replaced by an overwhelming and pure killing intent.
At the same time, a voice echoed in Yang Xiong's mind:
"Yang Xiong, the second trial of the Asura Nine Trials—rebuilding Slaughter City and purging its malevolent influences—is complete. Reward: 10% increase in Asura affinity. Total affinity: 25%."
Yang Xiong finally exhaled in relief. This trial had been exceedingly perilous—it was his first true encounter with a divine being.
However, the Rakshasa God was but a fragment of divine consciousness, devoid of divine artifacts and completely suppressed by Asura's power. This was why Yang Xiong emerged victorious with relative ease.
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