Dugu Yan was a decisive and straightforward person. After spending half a month with Oscar, she set out alone for the City of Slaughter.
Oscar originally intended to accompany her, but Dugu Yan felt that if he went along, it would take away too much of the tempering she needed.
To become truly strong, one had to face real trials, not rely on someone else's protection in the name of training.
Oscar was worried for her safety. Others might not know, but he did.
The City of Slaughter was not only ruled by the Slaughter King, a peerless Douluo, but also home to the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King, a creature over a hundred thousand years old. The Slaughter King's very mind had already been eroded by that creature.
For beings like them, a super genius such as Dugu Yan was the finest tonic.
Still, she was right , if she truly wished to grow stronger, these dangers were ones she had to face herself.
So Oscar gave her a portion of all his sausage spirit abilities for emergencies.
He even created several duplicate sausages using his own blood. Apart from not accompanying her himself, he did everything he could to ensure her safety.
On her journey to the City of Slaughter, Dugu Yan encountered no trouble. With the effect of the Swift Wind and Rain Swallow Sausage, she reached the city in just one day.
After Oscar's Supreme Sausage Martial Spirit reached the level where all his spirit rings were of the hundred-thousand-year grade, the power of each sausage had increased many times over.
A single Swift Wind and Rain Swallow Sausage could now grant the user incredible speed for fifteen hours instead of fifteen minutes.
Just one of those sausages was enough for Dugu Yan to reach the City of Slaughter.
Upon arrival, she went straight into the inner city. Because of her Killing God Domain, her spirit rings were not sealed. The terrifying aura of her two yellow, one purple, three black, and two red rings immediately drew the attention of the city's enforcers.
Under the purple moon above the inner city, her eight spirit rings gleamed brilliantly. A phantom of an azure dragon loomed behind her, its pressure and killing intent bursting forth as her Killing God Domain expanded. Countless fallen souls fled in panic, like rats before a predator.
Opposite her stood three tall figures wreathed in black mist, each bearing three purple, five black, and one red ring , nine in total.
Seeing them, Dugu Yan's eyebrows lifted slightly. Other than herself and Oscar, it was her first time meeting soul masters with such terrifying spirit ring configurations.
Their auras were also strange, not human at all , more like demons crawling out of hell.
Remembering that this was the domain of the God of Shura, Dugu Yan exhaled slowly. Gods were omnipotent beings in this world.
As the guardians of this divine inheritance ground, these three Titled Douluo being so unusual was understandable.
Each of the three wore a different mask , the Demon Tiger, the Blood Bat, and the Poison Scorpion.
Behind them shimmered projections of their spirit beasts, black and blood-red energy swirling ominously as they stared coldly at Dugu Yan.
These three were the strongest beings in the City of Slaughter aside from the Slaughter King himself, responsible for maintaining order , the highest authorities below the King.
The man in the Demon Tiger mask spoke in a hoarse voice. "Honored Killing God, though you have the right to enter and leave the City of Slaughter freely, that does not mean you may act without restraint here."
As his words fell, his nine spirit rings flared strangely, unleashing a terrifyingly evil aura.
Dugu Yan's Killing God Domain blocked the pressure. She smiled faintly. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm here to find some."
The three were momentarily stunned. "Not here to cause trouble… but to find some?"
The azure dragon phantom behind Dugu Yan slowly faded. Her eight spirit rings sank back into her body, and her killing aura receded.
The mark of the Killing God on her forehead glowed faintly as her domain shrank to within ten meters of herself.
She said calmly, "From today on, I will be taking over the Hell Killing Field."
The three exchanged glances. "You intend to join the City of Slaughter?"
Dugu Yan looked toward the city's depths, then slowly said, "Not exactly. I came because the higher powers willed it. If you have questions, take them to the Slaughter King."
With that, she turned and walked toward the Hell Killing Field.
The three looked at one another in confusion. Higher powers? Aside from their King, who could that refer to?
Watching her leisurely departing figure, they hesitated, then made their way to the depths of the city.
In a dark chamber, the Slaughter King reclined upon a massive black-and-red skull throne. The blood-red liquid in his crystal goblet reflected his sinister face.
A hoarse voice echoed through the shadows. "So, the heir of the honored one appears again… after all these years. I was so close to my goal. Why did I endure all this, only to let someone else take the prize?"
"If it's kill or be killed, then so be it. Someday, I will ascend that staircase and become the true King of Slaughter , the true God of Killing!"
He vanished from the shadows and appeared within a grand, bloodstained hall, sitting upright upon his throne. "Demon Tiger, Blood Bat, Poison Scorpion."
The three knelt before him respectfully. "We are here."
The Slaughter King gazed at the purple moonlight shining through the ceiling. "If she wishes to go, let her. You have another task for me."
"Yes, my King," they said.
"I need a great quantity of blood essence. I don't care how you obtain it. Within one year, you must gather ten Blood God Pearls , or else…"
At the mention of Blood God Pearls, the three widened their eyes.
Each Blood God Pearl was condensed from endless blood, the purest of blood food. One could raise a cultivator's level by one rank.
But to refine even one required the blood of at least a million ordinary humans, or thousands of strong soul masters.
Ten pearls , an unimaginably terrifying number.
The three bowed low, trembling. The Demon Tiger stammered, "But, my King, we cannot leave the City of Slaughter. How can we gather so much blood in so little time?"
The Slaughter King smiled wickedly. "You can leave now. The restriction is gone."
They looked up in shock. Ever since becoming his vassals and cultivating by his dark methods, they had been bound to the city. If they left, they would die within three days.
Now the King said they were free to go?
He met their eyes, the crimson in his gaze flashing briefly. The blood bat mark on each of their brows lit up, then faded away.
He waved a hand casually and vanished from the hall.
His hoarse voice lingered. "Go. No matter what it takes, bring me at least one Blood God Pearl every month. Fail, and do not return."
The three looked up at the purple moon. Their trembling eased, and excitement crept over their faces.
They had thought they would spend their lives as puppets in the City of Slaughter. Who would have guessed they'd be free again?
Once, they were outcasts of the soul master world. After decades of survival in the City of Slaughter, the King had granted them new life.
Now, finally, freedom.
Ten Blood God Pearls were nothing , there were countless humans on the continent. How hard could it be?
And with their current power, few on the continent could match them.
They exchanged smiles, transformed into three streaks of dark light, and shot toward the purple moon.
As they disappeared, an eerie voice echoed beneath the moon. "My King, wait for our good news. In half a year, not a year, the ten Blood God Pearls will be ready."
In the Hell Killing Field below, Dugu Yan glanced up at the same purple moon. It was as sinister as ever.
Lowering her gaze, she looked at the trembling fallen ones before her and spoke in a cold, emotionless voice. "From today on, the Hell Killing Field will be under my control. Matches will continue as usual, but the rule of surviving a month by offering a cup of Bloody Mary… will now change to half a month."
...
Half a month passed quickly, and much had changed.
Dai Mubai ascended as Crown Prince, took charge of the Eastern Palace, and began assisting in state affairs.
Ma Hongjun and the others rose in rank alongside him, each taking official positions.
Major powers began to emerge. Blazing Academy and Godwind Academy renamed themselves the Divine Fire Sect and Wind God Valley, while still maintaining their academies to recruit soul masters of similar attributes.
The Xuanming Sect and Star Crown Sect also appeared. The latter became the national guardian sect of the Star Luo Empire, while Xuanming Sect aligned with the Heaven Dou Empire alongside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
On the surface, everything seemed prosperous, yet hidden currents of tension flowed beneath.
...
Spirit Hall, Pope's Palace.
Qian Daoliu sat solemnly upon the golden throne as an attendant rushed in.
"Reporting to Your Holiness, the cities of Notode, Zabiya, and Luoshan in the Tindal Province of the Heaven Dou Empire's Victor Kingdom were all suddenly attacked by powerful soul masters. Nearly a million people and soul masters were slaughtered with no survivors."
"All victims died horribly. Only bones remained , all flesh gone, the cities turned into literal hells. The culprits were not only strong but monstrously cruel."
Qian Daoliu's pupils contracted. Nearly a million dead in one night, all reduced to skeletons ,
Such cruelty could only come from the darkest arts.
He suddenly recalled an ancient record in the Angelic Codex and whispered coldly, "Evil soul masters… have returned."
His gaze turned icy. Long ago, the Angel God had exterminated all evil soul masters and brought light to the continent, achieving godhood through divine reverence.
Now, just as he returned to power, these long-extinct abominations had resurfaced?
He waved his hand. "You may leave."
Then his sharp eyes turned toward the direction of the City of Slaughter. "So you dare break the pact… then don't blame me for razing the City of Slaughter to the ground."
He needed no investigation to know where this power came from. Nowhere but that cursed city.
To kill a million in a night required at least Titled Douluo-level strength, and such wicked methods existed only there.
Wait… besides the City of Slaughter, there was one more person who could do this.
"Dong'er… do not bring ruin upon yourself. Do not make me cut you down with my own hands."
He raised his hand slightly. Golden Crocodile Douluo, Blue Luan Douluo, and Lion Douluo appeared.
His cold voice echoed. "Elder Second, spread the word. Spirit Hall now places a continent-wide bounty on those who committed these atrocities in Notode, Zabiya, and Luoshan. You three will lead the elders and enforcement squads personally. Such evil must be purged , leave none alive."
The three bowed. "As you command."
After they departed, Qian Daoliu turned into a streak of golden light and flew straight toward the City of Slaughter.
...
In a grand city, inside its most luxurious inn, three black-robed figures reveled in drunken pleasure.
The Demon Tiger, Blood Bat, and Poison Scorpion had removed their masks, revealing sinister, youthful faces , two men and one woman, none appearing older than thirty.
Surrounded by beauty and indulgence, they hadn't enjoyed themselves like this in countless years.
After their bloody work the previous night, they fled to the Star Luo Empire. No matter how hard Spirit Hall searched, by the time any clues were found, they would have already struck again.
They were evil, not stupid. Ten Blood God Pearls meant nearly ten million deaths. For the continent, that was nothing , but they would still proceed cautiously.
After all, Spirit Hall had suppressed them for ages. Though confident in their power, they did not wish to provoke that behemoth directly.
The Demon Tiger smiled. "The first Blood God Pearl is complete. After a few days of rest, we'll begin the next hunt."
The Blood Bat's eyes gleamed red as he recalled the sight of the three sacrificed cities.
In the darkness, countless bats swarmed through the air, screeching as they sensed powerful auras.
He smirked. "Spirit Hall moves fast. They've already sent at least three Titled Douluo. We'll need to be even more careful from now on."
The Poison Scorpion licked her lips. "Titled Douluo… now that's the finest blood food of all."
The Demon Tiger glared at her. "Forget that dangerous thought. If we draw Spirit Hall's attention, failing the mission will be the least of our problems , we might not even live."
"The Angel's suppression is too great, and the current Angel Douluo is one of the Three Peerless Ones. Now that he leads Spirit Hall again, we must act in the shadows."
The Poison Scorpion raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
They had studied the continent's situation carefully before emerging. Even the three cities they destroyed were chosen with care , proving they were far from mindless killers.
Follow me on my patreon for 60 Advanced chapters and 3 chapter daily updates pat*eon.com/GodofTranslation889