"Caw! Caw! Caw!"
Crows perched on withered trees let out mournful cries—but the moment they spotted two figures stepping into the desolate town, they flapped their wings in panic and fled into the sky.
"Is this our destination?"
Gu Tianchen pulled back his hood and surveyed the surroundings.
Ever since leaving Great Star Dou Forest, Chen Junting and Gu Tianchen had spent another three months traveling across most of Tian Hun Empire—finally reaching this bleak, northern frontier town.
The place felt abandoned by time itself—lonely and desolate. Buildings stood dilapidated, and the streets were nearly empty, every inch whispering tales of decay and neglect.
"We need to find a tavern."
"Hmm…"
Gu Tianchen crossed his arms, then gestured with one hand.
"Are we drinking… or gathering intel?"
"That's the coldest joke I've ever heard."
Chen Junting shook his head, barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "Neither. That tavern is the entrance to Slaughter City."
"Slaughter City…"
Gu Tianchen knew they were heading somewhere tied to a god—but this was the first time he'd heard the name spoken aloud.
Still… Slaughter City?
Why did that sound so familiar?
Rummaging through memories of ancient texts he'd read back at Shrek Academy and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Gu Tianchen began searching his mind for any mention of this place.
Then it hit him.
"Wait—wasn't Slaughter City destroyed ten thousand years ago by Tang San? I remember the records: the Sea God, seeing the city overflowing with sin, took pity like Guanyin (Buddha) witnessing suffering—and used the Snow Swan's Kiss to wipe it out, eradicating its wickedness."
He turned to Chen Junting.
"If it's already been obliterated like that… are we really still going in?"
"Do you even know how Snow Swan's Kiss works?"
Chen Junting's tone was matter-of-fact—but it was a question nonetheless. Before Gu Tianchen could answer, he continued, "The blood within Slaughter City was laced with a toxin—harmless under normal circumstances. But Snow Swan's Kiss amplified its potency a thousandfold, turning it into a death sentence that turned the entire city into a wasteland. But tell me… do you think that poison could affect a god?"
Of course not.
Gu Tianchen's mind supplied the answer instantly.
Recalling the ancient records…
All the people died—but the land itself remained.
"So once we're inside, what do we do?"
As if expecting this, Chen Junting pulled two pouch-like array-patterned soul tools from his storage device and tossed one to Gu Tianchen.
"These are array-pattern soul tools I crafted after studying the Qiluo's Heart. They neutralize any toxin."
He spoke with a slight twist of the truth.
It was fact—but not the whole story.
Yes, he had observed Qiluo's Heart—but crafting such intricate array tools was beyond his skill. In the end, Electrolux had temporarily possessed Chen Junting's body to complete the devices.
"That effective?"
"Tested and verified by the Dugu family's secret lineage—guaranteed for young and old alike."
The two then began searching the ghost town for the tavern. Fortunately, it was the only one in the settlement—so they quickly located it at the town center.
But the moment they pushed the door open and stepped inside, they were nearly choked by the stale, dust-choked air.
Instantly, their soul power erupted outward like an autumn gale—sweeping away the filth in one clean sweep!
Only then could they see clearly: every surface in the tavern was stained black—not from grime, but from blood. Undoubtedly, it was blood spilled ten thousand years ago, preserved by time.
"Old Gu, follow me."
Chen Junting wasted no time. He led Gu Tianchen straight to the bar counter—then slammed his palm down.
In an instant, the long-rotted counter crumbled into dust, revealing a hollow beneath the floor.
A chilling draft rose from the opening, carrying an eerie coldness.
Chen Junting turned to Gu Tianchen.
"Remember—inside Slaughter City, no soul skills are allowed. You can only rely on raw soul power, your own abilities, and soul bone skills. Since neither of our soul bones have offensive abilities, be ready with combat-type soul tools."
"No wonder you made me practice with blades," Gu Tianchen muttered—and suddenly understood.
He also realized something crucial:
Soul tools could totally bypass this restriction!
All he could think was:
Asura God… the times have changed!
Without hesitation, Chen Junting leapt into the hole. Gu Tianchen followed instantly—their bodies swallowed by darkness.
Immediately, they felt their soul skills suppressed.
After falling only a few meters, their feet hit solid ground. At that moment, the anti-toxin pouches at their waists glowed faintly purple, encasing them in a protective aura.
They walked down a sloping tunnel, the cold, toxin-laced air brushing against their skin. Soon, a massive black city loomed into view, its gates bearing the four ominous characters: "Slaughter City." Above it hung a violet moon, casting an unnatural glow.
"We're going in."
With no living beings to bar their way, they stepped through the gates unimpeded. What struck them most was the world itself—bathed in blue-violet haze, thick with visible poison.
As for corpses…
Well, they were everywhere—soaked in toxin, frozen in death.
"Which way now?"
"The inner city—Hell Slaughter Arena."
Since the city was utterly devoid of life, they advanced without resistance—and soon reached the dueling platform of the arena.
Gu Tianchen scanned the area but saw nothing remarkable.
But when he turned back—his eyes widened in shock.
Chen Junting was setting something up on the platform.
And what he was placing down was a fixed-charge soul-engineered artillery shell.
Emblazoned on its side was a glaring, horrifying "⑨"—the mark of a Ninth-Rank shell.
"Holy sh—!"
For the first time, Gu Tianchen swore out loud.
"You brought a ninth-rank fixed-charge soul-engineered artillery shell!?"
"It's one of our sect's emergency measures," Chen Junting said calmly, not even looking up as he secured the shell in place. Then he began inscribing an explosive array beneath it.
Once finished, he stood slowly.
"I only know one way into where we need to go—but it's sealed tight. So… we blow it open."
"You're a genius!" Gu Tianchen gave him a thumbs-up, utterly impressed.
"Save the praise," Chen Junting waved him off. "Let's get to a safe distance first. This ninth-rank shell won't hesitate to erase us along with the target."
"Got it."
Using flight-type soul tools, they shot backward at top speed.
And then—
BOOOOOOM—!
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