Chapter 53: First Arrival at the City of Slaughter
Behind the bar, a black-clothed attendant with an indifferent face raised his head.
At a glance, his expression changed.
Before him stood a youth of about fifteen or sixteen, young in age, yet radiating an incredibly dense killing intent.
Killing intent wasn't something one gained simply by killing large numbers of people. If that were the case, would a soul master slaughtering civilians accumulate enough killing intent to meet the standard?
True killing intent was born through brutal life-and-death battles—especially fights between soul masters of similar strength.
The killing aura surrounding this youth far exceeded the norm.
He could practically walk straight into the City of Slaughter.
The attendant's attitude warmed slightly.
Dugu Feng gave a faint smile. He knew his killing intent was sufficient. Though he had stayed outside the slaughter town for only a few months, he had killed at least a thousand.
And those he killed weren't weak—most were soul masters equal to or stronger than himself.
At first, there had been a psychological burden. But gradually, Dugu Feng's heart had hardened; killing no longer unsettled him.
His killing intent had become part of his aura.
The black-clothed attendant reached under the bar and set down a cup of murky liquid. It was dark red, exuding a pungent metallic smell.
This was the source of energy within the City of Slaughter—blood.
But it wasn't pure blood.
The stench, while reminiscent of fresh blood, carried a subtle toxin—one Dugu Feng immediately recognized.
From the very moment one entered the City of Slaughter, the poisoning began. A slow-working venom that stimulated murderous thoughts and insanity, until the soul master finally succumbed, becoming part of the city's nutrients—part of the Blood Pool.
Dugu Feng smiled slightly and downed the cup in one gulp.
The taste was nauseating, the raw, foul flavor overwhelming both tongue and nose, and it struck at his mind with a faint shock.
The poison clearly targeted one's spirit—that much Dugu Feng understood at once.
The attendant's eyes brightened. An ideal citizen for the City of Slaughter had appeared.
He turned to the others in the tavern. "Your timing is perfect. There are nine of you who meet the requirements—but only one of you may enter!"
"Oh?"
"Finally, some fresh blood! Hahaha, kid, I'll make sure you live one second longer than the others!"
"Kill!"
As the attendant's words fell, chaos erupted.
Having drunk the Bloody Mary, these people's minds were already unstable, overwhelmed by violent impulses.
Given permission to fight, none could hold back.
Dugu Feng turned, eyes as cold as ice, scanning them one by one.
In an instant, only five were left standing.
"Since you're all going to die anyway—die early!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
He extended his hands, and several streaks of violet light shot forward with precision, striking vital points.
Two of the beams collided midair and exploded, releasing faint toxic mist that enveloped the survivors.
Dugu Feng turned back toward the bar, glancing at the attendant.
Behind him came a series of dull thuds—the remaining five collapsed simultaneously.
The attendant stood frozen. He had welcomed countless soul masters seeking the City of Slaughter, but never had he seen anyone kill with such cold efficiency.
"You passed. Go ahead."
He tapped a mechanism under the bar, and a square black pit opened, releasing a chilling wind.
Dugu Feng's heart gave a slight tremor, but he leapt down without hesitation.
The passage was utterly dark; even stretching out a hand, he couldn't see his fingers. The very air was saturated with the madness of slaughter.
He continued forward through the tunnel until a faint light appeared ahead. Then he jumped again—and found himself before a vast, black city.
Its towering walls loomed high and wide, and above the city hung a purple moon, illuminating everything below.
This was the City of Slaughter.
Hoofbeats echoed.
A warrior clad in black armor rode swiftly toward him on a tall warhorse.
"This is your proof of entry. Ahead lies the living district of all citizens of the City of Slaughter. You'll be received at the gates," said the rider tonelessly, tossing him a black token.
Since Dugu Feng had entered through the proper procedure, he wouldn't be judged by the law enforcement squad.
He caught the token. Engraved on it was a hollow-eyed skull with a number beneath it—7603.
When he lifted his gaze again, the black-armored rider was already gone.
He immediately examined his soul power. When he tried to activate a soul ring, he realized the ability was completely suppressed.
Soul skills were unusable here.
So this was how the City of Slaughter restricted soul masters—by sealing their rings.
He extended his right hand, letting soul power flow through his fingers. A violet flash burst forth and shot into the darkness.
A smile appeared on his face. The family technique, Jade Phosphor Twelve Fingers, didn't rely on martial souls or soul rings; it wasn't restricted.
Exactly as he'd predicted.
This was why he dared to enter the City of Slaughter at only two rings.
While others were limited, he retained his trump card.
He flexed his shoulders, and the faint shimmer of the external soul bone told him that too remained unaffected.
Smiling calmly, Dugu Feng drew his Serpent Belly Blade from his storage soul guide and strode toward the city gate.
"Welcome to the City of Slaughter. I am your guide. I can answer any questions you have. In twelve hours, you will officially become a citizen," came a soft female voice.
A young woman veiled in black gauze led him through the gates.
Dugu Feng kept a low profile, following quietly as she showed him the horrors of the city.
In the outer city, killing was forbidden. Residents survived by offering two cups of Bloody Mary each month—barely clinging to life.
What Dugu Feng saw there were withered husks more dead than alive—mere vessels sustaining the Blood Pool at the city's core.
They lingered until every drop of vitality was drained, dying soon after.
The inner city, however, was true hell—an abyss of slaughter.
Even after months outside the town, having seen countless atrocities, Dugu Feng was still shaken by the unrestrained evil here.
Just as he had been warned upon entering, this place truly was the capital of hell—a world of unending slaughter, a realm where one could gain everything, but also lose everything.
Dugu Feng licked his lips. In such a naked, power-driven world, climbing to the top step by step would be thrilling indeed.
The hostility within him deepened, his killing aura swirling around his body.
He could hardly wait to step into the Arena of Slaughter.
(END CHAPTER)
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