Chapter 223: The City of Slaughter
Tang San and his father had arrived at a small town. The town was not large, yet it exuded a strange atmosphere. A chilling aura clung to every person they passed.
Tang Hao led his now disfigured son into the town's only tavern. The air inside was thick and murky, and the entire decor was black. Though it was broad daylight outside, stepping into this place felt like entering a world of cold darkness.
Their arrival drew some attention, but most patrons merely glanced at them before looking away. A few were momentarily startled by Tang San's grotesque appearance, but no one cared beyond that.
Tang Hao found a seat in the corner and gestured for his son to sit. A waiter in black clothing, his face expressionless, approached. "What would you like?"
"Two Bloody Marys," Tang Hao said coldly.
The waiter didn't react, simply turned around and left. Moments later, two murky drinks were placed before them. The liquid was a deep, dark red, emitting a thick, iron like scent just like fresh blood.
Tang San frowned slightly, but Tang Hao picked up his glass and downed it in one go. He then looked at his son and said, "Drink it."
Without hesitation, Tang San followed suit, swallowing the drink in one gulp. The liquid was salty with a sharp, metallic tang. A nauseating, bloody taste overwhelmed his senses.
Only after he had swallowed did Tang Hao reveal the truth. "That was human blood."
"What?" Tang San's expression shifted slightly. No wonder it tasted so familiar when his father had shattered his face with a punch, the blood in his mouth had the exact same taste.
Despite realizing what he had just consumed, Tang San did not react with disgust as he once might have. He knew that if Tang Hao had made him drink it, there was a reason. This was likely a test one of the conditions for entering the City of Slaughter.
Seeing his son's indifference to drinking human blood, Tang Hao felt a chill run down his spine. His mind flashed back to the image of Tang San as a monstrous demon in the future video. But he quickly suppressed the unease. He had no choice he would never abandon Tang San. If he wanted revenge, he needed this son of his.
Pushing aside his discomfort, Tang Hao gestured at the other patrons around them and said, "Kill them."
The moment those words left his mouth, every pair of eyes in the tavern turned toward them. Expressions shifted some startled, some amused, others cold and predatory.
"…"
Tang San said nothing. After experiencing disfigurement and becoming the enemy of the world, he no longer cared about maintaining a facade of false kindness.
What did the lives of others matter to him?
But before he could even act, the tavern's patrons moved first, launching themselves at father and son in a frenzy.
Anyone who gathered in this tavern knew about the City of Slaughter's rules. These were all outlaws men and women so drenched in blood that even ten executions wouldn't be enough to atone for their sins.
Hearing someone announce their intent to kill them, hesitation was the last thing on their minds. They attacked immediately.
Unfortunately for them, while they were ruthless, their strength was lacking. Even in his current state, Tang San could deal with them effortlessly.
His spirit rings flared to life, and in an instant, the entire tavern was enveloped in a web of crystalline blue vines. Thick strands of Blue Silver Grass erupted from the floor, forming razor sharp spikes that skewered body after body.
Within moments, every person in the tavern, including the waiter, had been slaughtered. The stench of blood filled the air.
As Tang San withdrew his spirit power, the vines vanished, leaving behind only corpses sprawled across the blood soaked floor.
Tang Hao remained impassive and nodded approvingly. "I underestimated you. Remember this once you enter the City of Slaughter, you can rely on no one but yourself. I won't be there to protect you. There are no friends, no allies, only enemies. Kill anyone who poses a threat to you. Win the annual championship of the Hell Slaughter Arena, and I will come to retrieve you."
Tang San simply nodded. Then he stood, walked to the bar counter, and delivered a heavy kick.
His soul power infused strike shattered the counter into pieces, revealing the ground beneath.
"The entrance to the City of Slaughter should be right here," he muttered.
Summoning his Clear Sky Hammer, he brought it crashing down.
With a loud boom, a massive hole appeared in the floor. A chilling wind blew up from the darkness below.
As he finished, Tang San turned toward where his father had been sitting, only to find that Tang Hao had already disappeared.
Without hesitation, he leaped into the gaping abyss, his body vanishing into the darkness.
After falling for only a few meters, he landed. He did not need light his Purple Demon Eyes allowed him to see clearly even in the pitch black surroundings. A long tunnel stretched before him, sloping downward, its cold, damp air brushing against his skin.
After walking for some time, a chilling voice suddenly echoed from all directions.
"Welcome to the City of Slaughter. This is the capital of Hell, a world of endless killing. Here, you may obtain anything you desire… but the price is your life."
Tang San hesitated briefly before continuing forward.
After winding through several twists and turns, he saw a light up ahead. It came from an open gateway, and beyond it, muffled noise could be heard.
As he stepped out of the tunnel, he was met by a group of knights clad in pitch black armor. The leading knight held a long lance in his hand.
"You have violated the rules."
The knight's voice was chillingly cold, almost unnatural.
Tang San's eyes narrowed as he studied them, his pupils shrinking slightly. He could feel an overwhelming pressure emanating from them, a suffocating sense of danger.
This was bad.
Back when he entered the City of Slaughter in the original timeline, he had been at the level of a Spirit King, nearly a Spirit Emperor. But now, he was only a Spirit Elder two entire ranks lower. And the black armored knight before him, the Terror Knight Scott, was at least a Spirit Emperor!
How was he supposed to fight that?
"Defeat me, and you may enter the City of Slaughter," Scott declared coldly, raising a hand. The other knights immediately stepped aside, leaving a space for the duel.
Then, with a swift motion, Scott urged his warhorse forward, transforming into a streak of black lightning as he charged at Tang San.
Mid charge, he thrust his lance forward, his voice echoing like a death knell.
"Face me!"
The air howled as his attack shot toward Tang San.
There was no escape.
Gritting his teeth, Tang San knew there was only one option left.
He had to fight.
(End of Chapter)
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