Chapter 276: Black Lotus
Hell Road was filled with the stench of blood and an evil aura, and the intense heat distorted the very air around. Suddenly, a white streak shot across the sky at an incredible speed. As the streak vanished in the distance, the delayed sonic boom finally erupted, sending violent tremors through the rocky walls. The fierce winds that followed sliced through the bloody depths below, leaving a deep ripple in the blood pool beneath. Eventually, the ripples faded, but the ominous disturbance hinted at the intensity of the passing force.
Dai Yao had surrounded himself with a shield of soul power, protecting the unconscious Hu Liena in his arms. He watched as Hell Road, visible ahead as a shrinking, blood-filled path, gradually submerged into the blood pool below. Reflecting on his speed, he felt a surge of satisfaction.
Moments later, as Hell Road sank completely into the depths, an oval of white light appeared at the end of the path.
"Is that the end?"
Dai Yao felt a rare hint of wistfulness as he gazed at the exit. After two and a half years of hiding his identity, it was finally over. He had successfully protected Hu Liena and passed the trials of Hell Road. He had upheld his part of the agreement for the safety of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, and his conscience was clear.
He knew that stepping through the white portal would grant him the Killing God Domain, but he also understood its danger. The Killing God Domain was a rare ability, one that few possessed. If he were to use it, Hu Liena would inevitably suspect his identity, and exposure would bring Bibi Dong's fury crashing down on him.
Looking down, he glanced at Hu Liena in his arms, her unconscious form twisting slightly as if writhing in discomfort. The faint heat radiating from her made Dai Yao clench his teeth.
"What a seductress!" he muttered under his breath, pushing aside his errant thoughts and focusing on his surroundings. Surveying the evil-laden atmosphere of Hell Road, he briefly considered the possibility of using the Snowy Swan Kiss to destroy it entirely. Without Hell Road, Tang San would never gain the Killing God Domain, nor would he inherit the power of the Asura God.
But he dismissed the thought almost immediately.
For one, he still desired Xiao Wu's spirit ring and bones. Without Tang San, the sacrifice scene would never come to pass. Additionally, destroying Hell Road would release the Slaughter King, Tang Chen. Though Spirit Hall might be able to fend off Tang Chen, Dai Yao knew he couldn't stay in Spirit Hall indefinitely. If Tang Chen encountered him elsewhere, the outcome would be deadly.
Doing nothing felt too much like defeat.
Then, as if guided by fate, Dai Yao's hand reached into his spiritual world and retrieved a black lotus.
The Black Lotus.
This lotus had appeared in his spiritual world after he acquired his fifth soul ring. Its dark petals opened and closed in silent motion, shedding faint black flecks into the air, like shadows absorbing light. It exuded a darkness that seemed to draw in and corrupt everything around it, stirring feelings of decay and despair.
"Well, if Tang San can leave his mark in Hell Road, so can I…"
With a faint sigh, Dai Yao released the Black Lotus into the air. It drifted downward, sinking silently into the blood pool below, without a single ripple to mark its descent. For reasons he couldn't explain, he felt as though this was meant to be—as though leaving the lotus here was an inevitable part of his journey.
With a single flap of his wings, he soared through the white portal.
For him, flight made this exit effortless—no need for complex techniques with Blue Silver Grass or Eight Spider Lances like Tang San. The moment he entered the portal, everything around him shifted. All the killing intent and soul power within him felt suppressed, pushed deeper into his core.
Around him, the void gleamed in brilliant white. The chill of the space seeped into his bones, freezing him to the marrow. His entire body went numb, and his sense of self began to fade. In his spiritual world, his Divine White Tiger was slowly enveloped by endless killing energy.
With the freezing aura encasing him, a pure white mark appeared, etched onto his Divine White Tiger.
"So, this is the Killing God Domain?" Dai Yao murmured to himself, devoid of any excitement.
The Killing God Domain was indeed powerful, both a terrifying force and a seed of inheritance for the Asura God. But he knew Bibi Dong would never allow him to reveal the Shura Emperor's identity. His new domain would remain a dormant ability, hidden for the foreseeable future.
Without lingering, he took step after step until he emerged from the cold emptiness. As he walked out of the valley, he knew that his ties to Hu Liena were likely over.
"It's over… the City of Slaughter is finally behind me." His voice, muffled beneath his mask, sounded both relieved and regretful. The past two and a half years had been an experience he'd never forget, especially surviving in a place as perilous as the City of Slaughter.
Even though he couldn't use the Killing God Domain, he hadn't left empty-handed. First, his spirit power had increased by five levels, reaching level fifty-eight. While slower than his usual rate of improvement, the increase was significant. His liquid-like spirit power demanded far more than an average soul master's for advancement, and the constant vigilance and lack of proper training time in the City of Slaughter had made further progress difficult. Still, his hundred victories in the killing fields and absorption of his opponents' energies had helped him reach this level.
His skill with the spear had also reached perfection; when he fought for his life, he could now deliver a few deadly surprises to his enemies. His experience and battle instincts were sharper than ever. If he could incorporate his recent training, he was confident his strength would multiply several times over.
Most importantly, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan was now safe. He'd kept his end of the deal, protecting Hu Liena through Hell Road. The only lingering worry was Bibi Dong's unpredictable nature. Would she honor her promise, or had she proceeded with the soul-hunting plan in his absence?
"If she did, she'll pay for it. During the Rakshasa God trials, she won't be able to resist," he thought coldly. "As for my identity as the Shura Emperor, let it vanish from the world. This sudden genius—no one knew where he came from, and now, no one will know where he's gone…"
Removing his mask for the first time in two and a half years, he cast it aside, replacing it with the mask he'd worn back in the Great Spirit Arena in Heaven Dou City.
As Bibi Dong had wanted, the Shura Emperor would now disappear.
He donned a black robe, pulling the hood low to conceal his face. It wouldn't do to alarm passersby with his now barely-contained killing intent. More critically, there was a chance that Tang Hao was nearby, and caution was paramount.
Reaching a small town, he hired a carriage. After handing the driver a few gold coins, the carriage headed toward Spirit City.
In the shimmering white void, Hu Liena slowly regained consciousness. Her eyes sparkled as she noticed the new white mark etched on her spirit.
The Shura Emperor had truly brought her through Hell Road!
But then, she remembered her earlier offer, her promise to let him have anything he wanted. A blush crept across her face, and she looked around, her heart racing slightly.
But she was alone.
"Shura Emperor… where did you go? Could he still be in Hell Road? Impossible. Since I received the Killing God Domain, he must have as well."
She paused, her mind spinning with unanswered questions. "Did he just… leave? Was my promise really of no interest to him?"
With a bitter smile, she lowered her gaze, still unable to fully understand.
Reflecting on her experiences along Hell Road, Hu Liena felt a sharp pang of frustration. Aside from killing a few small bats, she had hardly contributed. Worse, in the face of the Ten-Headed Fierce Sun Serpent, she had even unwittingly stabbed Shura Emperor in the back. She couldn't understand how he had managed to defeat that monstrous snake under such dire conditions, but she knew it must have been a grueling battle. And yet, despite everything, he still brought her out safely.
The dependency and attraction she had felt along the way lingered, and her heart now ached for the masked man who had shown such resilience and resolve. She had even prepared herself to offer her heart and her body as thanks. But his sudden disappearance left her feeling utterly crushed.
"How could he be so heartless?" she murmured bitterly, her face a portrait of sadness.
Hu Liena, the esteemed prodigy of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, Bibi Dong's cherished protégé with promising potential as a future Holy Maiden, felt shaken. Her beauty had always been a source of pride, attracting admiration from countless suitors. She had believed no man could resist her charms, that marrying her was a ticket to boundless success. Yet, without so much as a parting word, Shura Emperor had abandoned her. The man she had given her heart to showed no attachment whatsoever.
Her beautiful face clouded with sorrow, and her eyes filled with a helpless despair. The allure of power, beauty, wealth—none of it had stirred even a glimmer of attachment in that man. Her first love had left her completely defeated.
Trying to picture his face, she suddenly froze. In two and a half years, she had never once seen him without his mask. She didn't even know his name.
Two tears slipped down her cheeks as she whispered to the empty air, "Shura Emperor, how am I supposed to find you?"
After a long moment, Hu Liena wiped away her tears, composed herself, and stepped out of the white void and down the hillside.
"Girl."
A sharp voice startled her from up ahead.
Looking up, she saw two figures waiting silently for her: Elder Ju Douluo and Elder Gui Douluo. The sight of them sent a wave of joy through her heart.
"Elder Ghost, Elder Chrysanthemum!" she greeted them warmly.
Elder Chrysanthemum smiled and said, "Congratulations, Nana, on your successful return from the City of Slaughter. The Hall of the Supreme Pontiff will have a grand celebration in your honor!"
Elder Ghost's normally detached expression softened, and he patted Hu Liena's head with gentle pride. "Come, the Supreme Pontiff has been waiting eagerly for you. She visited three times in the past two years, each time more anxious than the last. She'll be overjoyed to see you safe."
Hu Liena's heart warmed, and she could hardly wait to fly back to see her teacher. But as she turned to leave, her gaze fell upon a dark object lying near the grass. The sight of it struck her with the force of a thunderclap.
"What's wrong, Nana?" Elder Chrysanthemum asked, puzzled.
Hu Liena didn't respond, her attention fully absorbed by the mask lying on the ground. She hurried to it, her fingers tracing the familiar contours with a mixture of tenderness and determination. Scenes from her time with Shura Emperor flooded her mind, and she couldn't help but smile.
"Think you can slip away from me so easily…" she murmured softly.
Hu Liena's swift movements surprised the two elders. In two years, her skills had clearly grown significantly. But as they watched her cradle the mask with such reverence, the elders exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued.
"Does this mask have a special meaning, Nana?" Elder Chrysanthemum asked, noting her affectionate treatment of the object.
Hu Liena smiled slightly. "It's a memento from an old friend. Let's go, Elder Ghost, Elder Chrysanthemum. My teacher must be waiting eagerly."
The two elders shared a knowing look, choosing not to press further. After all, every young person is entitled to their secrets. They escorted Hu Liena back toward Spirit City.
In the depths of Hell Road's blood pool, the black lotus Dai Yao had left behind gradually sank until it rested against a white-streaked stone at the very bottom. The black lotus seemed to claim Hell Road as its center, drawing endless streams of blood toward it.
As blood continued to surge into the lotus, it expanded, forming a base of petals beneath it. Above the base, the red blood pooled, forming an oval shape like a cocoon, an ominous blood sac radiating dark energy.
The blood cocoon pulsed, and with each beat, the vibrations grew stronger, as though something within were preparing to break free.
At that very moment, the blood-red pupil embedded in the hilt of the Shura Devil Sword clutched by the Slaughter King narrowed abruptly. The pupil darted around, sensing something eerily familiar—a trace of Asura God's presence. Though faint, it was unmistakable.
After a long while, the eye slowly settled, the strange sensation fading back into dormancy. For a brief instant, the Slaughter King's mind cleared, but the clarity was quickly swallowed by a blood-red fog.
No one knew what the black lotus left by Dai Yao would mean for the City of Slaughter, nor the impact it would one day have on the world itself.
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