Chapter 25: A Year of Hardship
In the past year, Qin Xuan had become the most dazzling figure in the City of Slaughter. He appeared to be immune to injury, never tired, and never lost himself to the murderous aura. In just one year, he achieved 99 consecutive victories in the Hell Killing Fields. This terrifying winning streak completely shattered all previous records.
If he won his 100th game and passed the Road to Hell, he would break a record that had stood for nearly a thousand years. He would become the person to attain the title of God of Killing in the shortest time in the history of the City of Slaughter.
Compared to when he first arrived, Qin Xuan no longer had the youthful ambitions of defeating Qian Xunji, surpassing the Clear Sky Sect, or marrying a beautiful, wealthy woman. The cruel reality of survival had given him a new understanding of the Douluo Continent.
There was a hint of coldness in his expression, and his black pupils were tinged with a blood-red layer. Even his body emitted a faint smell of blood. The cold aura of killing quietly permeated the air, embodying almost all the evil in the world: bloodlust, brutality, and more.
This was not a pretense; it was the result of the murderous aura's influence after he had killed thousands of people in the City of Slaughter. Although the [Phoenix Fire] could shield his body from most of the aura, his Martial Soul could not avoid it and continued to affect him even when retracted. While this wasn't a major issue now, if the killing continued, he would eventually lose his mind to the bloodlust and become a degenerate.
Fortunately, it was all over. He was about to secure his 100th consecutive victory.
In one year, his strength had improved significantly. As early as the third month after entering the City of Slaughter, his Soul power broke through to the 60th level. Although he couldn't continue improving without a Soul Ring, he estimated that his Soul power had increased by at least 2 or 3 levels.
In about nine months, his Soul power had increased by nearly 3 levels on the foundation of a Soul Emperor. This was an unimaginable speed. Even the protagonist in the original novel could not have reached this level without the cheats on Sea God Island and the sacrifice of Soul Beasts. This was all before he obtained a Soul Ring. His cultivation speed would be even faster if he had one.
Soul power was only secondary. What truly benefited Qin Xuan were the Vertical and Horizontal Sword Technique and the Ghost Valley Breathing Technique. He used the year of life-and-death trials to integrate the Vertical and Horizontal Sword Technique. He could now perform both the Hundred-Step Flying Sword and the Eight Directions Joint Attack simultaneously, although it consumed most of his Soul power.
He also utilized the Ghost Valley Breathing Technique, a superior internal energy technique, supplemented by the immortal herb, the Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. This helped him open up the Eight Extraordinary Meridians in his body, cultivating a protective qi that even Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang in the Qin's Moon world did not possess.
It was no exaggeration to say that among people of the same level, he had almost achieved the indestructible body that Tang San in the original novel claimed to have cultivated by taking the Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. It was nearly impossible for someone with the same Soul power level to break his protective qi.
The moment he walked out of the Hell Killing Fields, the Fallen, who were originally very passionate in the stands, suddenly quieted down. Some near him, afraid of offending this God of Killing and losing their heads, dispersed and created a huge passage for him. Qin Xuan, having no interest in dealing with these people lost to killing, strode away.
The Hell Killing Fields no longer posed any threat to him. He had slaughtered most of the masters long before his 80th consecutive victory, including many Soul Douluo and Soul Sage level masters. They all perished under his Flying Sword, which could travel in all directions or across a hundred steps.
His most urgent task was to adjust his spirit, energy, and physical state to their peak condition. Another priority was to use the lottery to see if he could win something beneficial for the Road to Hell.
In the tallest building at the center of the City of Slaughter, a dark and spacious room. The King of Slaughter leaned calmly on a huge dark-red skull chair made of crystal. His chin was supported by his right hand, while his left hand held a bottle of blood-colored liquid, shaking it gently as he rested with his eyes closed.
"How's that guy?" He suddenly opened his eyes, with scarlet blood flashing within.
"Great King, the Black Dragon has just won another victory. He has now achieved 99 consecutive victories." A cold but beautiful female voice echoed. A charming woman in her twenties, wearing a black veil, slowly walked out of the darkness, holding a container of Bloody Mary. It was the Killing Messenger who had received Qin Xuan.
"Heh," the King of Slaughter sneered. "As expected. Do you think that kid can get out of the City of Slaughter?"
The veiled woman thought for a moment and said, "Winning 100 games in a row shouldn't be difficult, but I'm afraid he doesn't have the ability to break through the Road to Hell. Although fighting skills are important in the Hell Killing Fields, it's different on the Road to Hell. His Soul power is still too low. If he were a Soul Saint, there would be a possibility."
"Really? Why do I remember you saying the same thing about that disciple from the Clear Sky Sect last time?" The King of Slaughter narrowed his eyes, and a fierce light flashed in his scarlet pupils.
Bang! The vessel fell to the ground, and Bloody Mary scattered. The veiled woman, frightened and breaking into a cold sweat, quickly knelt and begged for mercy. "Please forgive me, great king. I know my crime and will never dare to speak out of turn again."
"Since you know your crime, I will give you a chance to atone for it. Raise your head." The King of Slaughter raised the corner of his mouth slightly.
Has this day finally arrived? The Hell Messenger bit her red lips tightly and raised her head.
"From a human perspective, you are indeed quite beautiful." The King of Slaughter pinched her chin through the veil. Then, he seemed to think of something, and a faint ray of blood light floated from his eyes, forming two long, blood-red fire snakes. He said something that baffled the veiled woman. "Don't worry, I am not interested in the bodies of human women at the moment. I want you to do something for me."
Even if he were interested, he couldn't do anything. This body belonged to Tang Chen. The Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King had only been parasitizing him for a dozen years. The degree of erosion was far less than when Tang San would enter the City of Slaughter. It still couldn't fully control him. If Tang Chen's body were used for that purpose, given Tang Chen's obsession with Sea God, the same thing that happened to Tang Hao last time would likely occur again.
The veiled woman was startled. "Please give your orders, great king!"
"Every time the Road to Hell opens, it brings great disaster to the City of Slaughter. This king does not want something like last time to happen again." The veiled woman was relieved when she heard this. "Great King, I will contact the Black Dragon right away."
As she spoke, she picked up the utensils from the ground and was about to walk out of the dark room. The King of Slaughter called after her, "Wait."
The veiled woman was startled and stopped. Then she heard the King of Slaughter say, "If necessary, you may offer your body."
"Great King, what if he doesn't agree?" The veiled woman looked gloomy, struggled internally, and asked hesitantly.