Xu Yang didn't glance at those around him but instead took in the sights of Slaughter City. The entire city was built from the same black stone as the passageway, and a pale purple moon hung low in the sky, casting a faint light that made the city feel stifling, cold, and filled with an eerie chill.
"I am the Dread Knight, Scott. This is your proof of entry into Slaughter City."
As he spoke, the only mounted figure flicked a token from his hand, which flew directly to Xu Yang.
Xu Yang caught it casually. The black iron token bore the image of a skull, and beneath it was an engraved number—9416.
"Thanks."
Xu Yang nodded politely and strode toward the gates of Slaughter City.
The closer he got to the gates, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Above the massive gate, written in characters stained with blood, were the words: Slaughter City.
Before he even reached the entrance, a woman dressed scantily, her face hidden behind a black veil, stepped forward.
"Welcome to Slaughter City," she said in a cold, enticing voice. She stepped aside, making a gesture for Xu Yang to proceed.
Xu Yang was already familiar with the setup of Slaughter City and said nothing further, walking straight through the gates into the city. The interior of Slaughter City was bathed in a bluish-purple light, dark and somber, though it resembled an ordinary city on the surface.
However, Xu Yang could feel it. In the shadows of alleys, countless soul masters hid, each with an unfriendly gaze directed his way.
"I am a Slaughter Envoy and your guide. For the next twelve hours, I will answer any questions you have. After that, this place will become your home, and you will officially become a part of Slaughter City."
Xu Yang nodded. "How are battles in the Hell Slaughter Arena arranged?"
The Slaughter Envoy looked at him in surprise. "It seems you're quite familiar with Slaughter City. For those entering, the Hell Slaughter Arena doesn't impose mandatory participation except for one compulsory match each year. Beyond that, it's entirely voluntary. You could fight a hundred battles a year or just one or two—it's entirely up to you."
"In the Hell Slaughter Arena, there are virtually no rules. Poison, feigned death—any method you can think of is allowed. The only rule is that no fighting is permitted while waiting for your match. Each group that enters the arena consists of ten people, and only one can walk out alive. If more than one survives, the battle continues until only one remains."
…
After listening to the Slaughter Envoy's explanation, Xu Yang understood. No wonder the Evil Soul Masters of the Douluo Continent weren't as terrifying or sophisticated as the future Holy Spirit Cult. With such an environment and a brutal elimination rate, merely surviving was already an achievement—where would they find the energy to refine cultivation methods?
Before he realized it, he and the Slaughter Envoy had reached the inner city. At the very center stood an elliptical building—the Hell Slaughter Arena.
At that moment, many Evil Soul Masters were already carrying their Bloody Marys and entering the arena. Each looked fierce and dangerous. Xu Yang's gaze fell on a thin, middle-aged man at the back. This man radiated a sinister aura, with arms covered in interwoven tattoos, their designs too tangled to discern clearly.
Eyeing the Bloody Mary in the man's hand, a cold light flashed in Xu Yang's eyes. He activated his perfected Cloud Treading Step (梯云纵), his feet making no sound as he surged forward like a streak of crimson gold lightning. In an instant, he appeared behind the man.
In the brief moment of terror in the man's eyes, Xu Yang's blade flashed, severing his head. He calmly reached out with his left hand and caught the Bloody Mary, not spilling a single drop.
The surrounding Evil Soul Masters quickly backed away, summoning their martial spirits and raising their weapons. Their expressions were filled with vigilance. If Xu Yang made a move, they would not hesitate to gang up on him.
"Number 9416, if you initiate a challenge, the newcomer protection won't apply," the Slaughter Envoy reminded him.
The surrounding Evil Soul Masters eyed Xu Yang hungrily. To them, this newcomer, likely lacking experience in real combat, wouldn't understand the depths of human malice. Especially since he couldn't use his soul skills, his combat effectiveness was likely reduced by at least 80%. This was the perfect prey for them to secure their Bloody Marys.
Xu Yang appeared oblivious to their stares and smiled. "I understand, but I'd like to watch the matches in the Hell Slaughter Arena first."
The black-veiled woman hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the dead Evil Soul Master. She had been shocked by Xu Yang's swift action; that sinister man was no pushover. She remembered his record—eight consecutive wins in the Hell Slaughter Arena. His strength was notable even within Slaughter City.
The Hell Slaughter Arena looked even cruder than its exterior suggested. There were no barriers between the stands and the arena; the surging soul power from the fights below was palpable. After stepping onto the stands, Xu Yang casually poured the Bloody Mary into a container, then stood silently watching the fight below.
On the arena floor, four fighters had already perished. The remaining six fought desperately to survive. Two of them were already missing limbs but still gripped their weapons, their eyes blazing with murderous intent.
Even though he had spent two years under Sword Douluo Chen Xin's rigorous training and slaughter drills, Xu Yang still found the scene unsettling. These Evil Soul Masters were utterly mad, willing to exchange injuries for victory—a basic tactic here.
The spectators in the stands were equally crazed, constantly shouting, "Kill! Kill him!" Many of them were missing limbs or wore prosthetics. From these details, it was clear that the residents of this city were not only ruthless to their enemies but also to themselves.
Unlike Tang San's approach in the original story, Xu Yang did not rush into battle upon arrival. Instead, during his twelve-hour protection period, he chose to stay in the Hell Slaughter Arena to observe the battles, studying the techniques of the Evil Soul Masters.
In the face of life-and-death struggles, these Evil Soul Masters would reveal all their trump cards and secret techniques without hesitation.
This broadened Xu Yang's perspective. He witnessed not just the use of concealed weapons and crossbows or the simple tactic of surrounding an opponent, but also shocking extremes—such as one Evil Soul Master tearing off his own arm to blind his opponent with blood before jamming his arm bone into his opponent's throat.
Bloodthirsty and brutal—this was the signature of Slaughter City.