The Mad Blade King and the Green Snake led the seven people as they stood up and took Oscar and Dugu Yan toward the rows of corpses. As Dugu Yan drew closer, she could not help frowning, for the stench of blood became stronger at close range.
However, their target was clearly not the corpses, but rather a sealed room behind them, covering about a hundred square meters.
When Oscar entered the room, he immediately sensed a special force. What surprised him was that the entire room was filled with free-floating soul power.
This soul power was similar to what remained on the Hell Slaughtering Fields after killing opponents, yet in this room it carried far less hostility, making it seem easier to absorb.
If Oscar did not deliberately restrain himself, it felt as if the soul power would actively drill into his body.
Dugu Yan also sensed this unusual energy, and she couldn't help exchanging a glance with Oscar.
Once all nine of them had entered the sealed room and closed the door, one of the Contras lit the candles inside.
As the burning smell reached him, Oscar frowned, for it was not wax. It was corpse oil.
Behind Oscar's smiling mask, the Mad Blade King could not see his frown. He only explained, "The City of Slaughter has no candles, so we can only use this method for light. War God and Poison Queen, I hope you don't mind."
Oscar clasped Dugu Yan's jade-like hand, nodded calmly, and said, "Understood."
The Green Snake said, "I imagine the two of you have already felt it. This place is a natural Hell Slaughtering Field, yet the free-floating soul power here is not absorbed by the City of Slaughter's unique force but remains preserved within this room."
Oscar replied, "So this is why you all gather here. You use this free soul power to speed up your cultivation."
The Mad Blade King chuckled. "Exactly. When I first came here, I was only at level eighty-one. Yet in just two years, my soul power has risen to level eighty-six."
Hearing this, Oscar and Dugu Yan could not help but raise their brows. Five levels in two years was terrifying.
Everyone knew that the further a soul master advanced, the harder cultivation became. After reaching level fifty, each level usually required tremendous time and effort. To raise two or three levels in a year was already considered the mark of a genius.
But the Mad Blade King was a Contra. There were only a few hundred Contras across the continent. For one of them to gain even a single level in a year was already considered remarkable progress.
Yet the Mad Blade King had risen five levels in just two years. That was frightening, something that even Niu Gao, Yang Wudi, or Bai He could not achieve, even with immortal-grade pills or spirit bones.
But for the Mad Blade King and the Green Snake, such rapid progress seemed as easy as eating or drinking water.
This was not due to their talent but to the unique benefits of this room.
Even more importantly, despite their rapid increase in strength, they had not lost their sanity like other fallen ones. They still lived like normal people.
That was truly terrifying.
The reason Oscar and Dugu Yan could absorb this free soul power was not their own strength, but the devouring abilities granted by their external spirit bones.
This realization was a great discovery for both of them. If they could cultivate here, would not their progress be even faster?
But Oscar did not believe that there would be no side effects. After all, the scarlet glow hidden deep in the eyes of the seven people was not normal.
They might appear normal now, but perhaps the effects had not yet revealed themselves.
Still, Oscar was not too worried. After all, he and Dugu Yan were not directly absorbing the soul power of this room. Their external spirit bones filtered it first. Whatever problems it had, it would not affect them.
If they discovered anything unusual, they could stop at any time without consequence.
After a long silence, Oscar finally said, "This place is truly a treasure."
The Mad Blade King laughed. "War God, does our sincerity meet your expectations?"
Oscar nodded. "Very good. With this place, I will be able to break through to the next realm when I leave."
The Green Snake added, "But War God, do not stay here too long, lest the law enforcers of the City of Slaughter notice something amiss."
At this, Oscar raised his brow. "Only you few know about this place?"
The Mad Blade King nodded. "The others who knew have all been silenced forever. How could we allow such a treasure to be exposed in the City of Slaughter?"
Oscar considered this, for something about it seemed unreasonable. The entire City of Slaughter was under the control of the Slaughter King. Though the Mad Blade King and his fellows were cautious, ordinary enforcers might overlook them, but the Slaughter King surely would not.
Even Oscar had discovered hints through small traces, though he had many avatars to aid him. The Slaughter King was far more powerful than Oscar.
Others might not know, but Oscar was well aware of the Slaughter King's true identity.
He was none other than Tang Chen, the Haotian Douluo, one of the three legends of the Douluo Continent. His soul power had already reached the ultimate limit of level ninety-nine.
Though his mind was influenced by the aura of the City of Slaughter, his strength was absolutely real.
As the ruler of the entire City of Slaughter, wielding power at level ninety-nine, how could anything in the city escape his notice?
But Oscar did not reveal his thoughts. He only said calmly, "Rest assured. Since we are partners, I will naturally act in ways that serve my own interests."
Hearing this, the group only smiled. The Mad Blade King said, "War God, Poison Queen, why not try cultivating here yourselves?"
Oscar and Dugu Yan did not refuse. After learning a few more details, they each chose a spot and sat cross-legged.
Behind Oscar appeared a long bone chain, its barbed tip glowing with a strange light as it began to absorb the soul power.
Behind Dugu Yan appeared eight purple-green vortices, her Eight Spider Lances drawing in the free soul power.
The Mad Blade King and the others paid them little attention, each finding a spot to cultivate, showing no intention of disturbing them.
…
In a vast, dark chamber, the Slaughter King lay on a massive skull throne inlaid with blue and purple crystals, holding a goblet. The crimson liquid within reflected his sinister face.
He sipped his bloody drink, red light flashing briefly in his eyes.
"Heh, no wonder those above favor him. In only a month, he has discovered the inheritance of the Rakshasa God. But how will he deal with seven Contras?"
His hoarse, deep voice echoed softly. Like a spectator at a play, the Slaughter King had no intention of intervening. He only wanted to see how events would unfold.
If others had heard his words, they would have been shocked speechless. The divine inheritances sought by the entire Douluo Continent—there were actually two of them hidden in the City of Slaughter.
Time passed quickly. After a day of cultivation, Oscar and Dugu Yan finished and prepared to return to their residence. Since they had come here openly, they would have to sneak in from now on if they wished to avoid suspicion.
After reaching an agreement, Oscar and Dugu Yan bid farewell to the seven and left as if nothing had happened.
Once they were gone, the seven returned to the sealed chamber.
"Mad Blade, do you think they believed us?" asked one of the women, aside from the Green Snake.
The Mad Blade King's rough expression vanished. The scarred bald head did not hide the gloom in his eyes.
A cold gleam flickered with scarlet light. "The highest lies are half true, half false. Our desire to leave this place is real. That obsession runs too deep for him to see through."
The Green Snake chuckled, the same scarlet glow in her eyes. "It's just a pity about that girl. She's still so young. Such a waste."
Another woman snorted coldly. "Green Snake, restrain yourself. That girl is no simple character."
The Green Snake laughed slyly. "Oh, Little Spider, are you jealous? Don't worry. You are the only one in my heart. No matter how good other girls are, they're just toys to me."
The Spider King shuddered in disgust. This woman had been pursuing her body for years. But she was a normal woman. Why would she want to be with another woman instead of a man?
At that moment, a tall, thin man with a slave mark tattooed on his face finally spoke.
"These two young people are indeed remarkable. From how they absorbed soul power just now, they must have been using abilities of their martial souls. They are well suited for this place. With time, they will gain much."
The Mad Blade King said, "Evil Dragon, have your people investigate those newcomers and ask about the Sword Sect. If their sect has five Titled Douluo, it must be well-known across the continent."
The Evil Dragon King nodded. "Don't worry. But there is no need for concern. Whoever backs them doesn't matter. In here, life and death are beyond their control. Once we deal with them, no one outside can trace it to us."
The seven continued their discussion. Then the Mad Blade King approached one of the corpse-oil candles, twisted its base slightly, and revealed a passage leading to an underground chamber. The seven walked down without haste.
This underground chamber was about the same size as the sealed room. Inside stood a massive statue of the Rakshasa Goddess. A line of blood dripped down from above, gathered from the blood of the fallen outside.
The statue itself stood within a pool of blood, though all the blood was absorbed into it, its final destination unknown.
The seven knelt devoutly before the statue on prayer cushions. "Noble Rakshasa God, we have found suitable sacrifices to begin the inheritance. When we present them to you, we hope you will bestow your trial…"
They prayed with utmost reverence, as though they were the most faithful believers.
If Oscar had seen this, he would have realized it was all part of their scheme.
The blood of the fallen was merely a sacrifice to initiate the Rakshasa God's trial. For some unknown reason, the trial had not yet descended.
But when Oscar and Dugu Yan appeared, scarlet light flashed in their eyes. A thought told them that if they sacrificed these two, the Rakshasa God would descend and grant them the divine trial, making them true believers of the god.
That was why they had deceived Oscar and Dugu Yan earlier.
From the pair's behavior over the past month, they could not tell their exact levels, but they were sure neither had surpassed Contra.
Still, coming from a great sect and daring to train in such a place, they surely had hidden cards. That was why the seven had not struck immediately.
They intended to probe for their secrets first, then strike with overwhelming force. This way they would secure victory without exposing their secret or taking great risks.
With seven Contras working together and full preparation, they did not believe they could fail to capture two young soul masters.
Meanwhile, outside the Slaughter Grounds, Oscar and Dugu Yan's eyes were calm once more, no longer showing the excitement of their recent growth.
Dugu Yan spoke to Oscar through spiritual transmission. "Oscar, did you notice anything?"
Oscar calmly transmitted back. "These seven are not as simple as they appear. Do you remember what I told you before about the Rakshasa God's inheritance?"
Dugu Yan nodded. "You mean this anomaly is connected to it?"
Oscar replied, "I can think of no other possibility. This is the City of Slaughter, where everything is under the Slaughter King's control. Unless it is another god's inheritance, the Slaughter King would never allow such a place to exist."
Dugu Yan frowned thoughtfully. "Then they did not tell the truth. But their desire to live didn't seem false."
Oscar smiled. "The most effective lies are half true and half false. They must have had a purpose for putting on this act today. But don't worry. They are just seven Contras. They cannot stir up much trouble. Let's see what their true goal is."
Dugu Yan said with some concern, "If that place really is the Rakshasa God's inheritance, might they have other methods?"
Oscar held her hand tightly. "Don't worry. I will never let myself fall into danger. Even if they had heaven-shaking powers, I still have ways to protect myself."
Hearing his firm response, Dugu Yan's face relaxed somewhat. "Still, we must not let our guard down. Since we know they harbor ill intentions, we should prepare in advance."
Oscar gently tapped the tip of her nose. "Rest assured, I've already made arrangements."
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