The Slaughter City.
Endless black mountains loomed under a shroud of darkness.
A crooked mountain path wound upward from the foot of the range, spiraling toward the summit.
Servants climbed in silence, carrying basins of blood-soaked offerings in trembling hands.
At the mountain's peak—
upon a throne built of skulls—
A towering figure, three meters high, reclined in the thick darkness that clung about him like oil.
His face was impossible to discern.
Only the vague outline of his long, unnaturally slender form could be made out.
One trembling servant set the offering upon the stone platform before the throne—
Then crawled backward, prostrating himself.
A pale giant hand slowly reached out from the darkness above.
From below, it seemed vast enough to blot out the heavens.
The hand grasped a lump of fresh organs—
Then withdrew into shadow.
Moments later came a sound that made even the air quiver—
The slow, sickening crunch of flesh being chewed.
The next servant stepped forward.
Again that ghastly hand descended.
This time, terror made the servant's grip falter; the bowl fell, blood splattering across the floor.
The hand did not hesitate.
Its taloned fingers seized the screaming servant whole—
And dragged him into the dark.
A few breaths later, a withered corpse was tossed casually back out.
Below the throne stood a woman in black veil.
Her head was bowed in reverence, her face unreadable—
But the faint tension in her shoulders betrayed the fear she dared not show.
Half an hour passed.
Then, from the darkness atop the throne, came a voice—
Hoarse, deep, scraping like rusted iron:
"Report."
"Great King…"
The black-veiled woman knelt lower, her tone respectful.
"In less than half a year—
The Blood Slaughter Sword has already achieved nearly forty consecutive victories."
"Only that?"
The woman took a slow breath and continued:
"Not only that.
"The Blood Slaughter Sword joined forces with the Angel from the Northern District to set a trap, slaughtering over three thousand people from the Inner City's East District."
"Hmm?!"
For the first time,
a ripple of disturbance passed through the Slaughter King's rasping tone.
On the throne, his massive frame seemed to straighten slightly—
and even that faint motion caused the thick darkness surrounding him to surge like a storm.
"Slaughtered three thousand people?"
"Slaughtered three thousand people?"
"Yes."
"Many among them were experts with over twenty victories."
"Moreover, it is believed that during the slaughter, the Blood Slaughter Sword perfected a new sword technique of terrifying power."
She hesitated briefly, then ventured:
"Great King… should I attempt contact with him?
It has been long since the Slaughter City has seen a true powerhouse."
The Slaughter King remained silent.
The woman pressed on cautiously:
"In terms of skill and power…"
"Even among the Titled Douluo, few could defeat the Blood Slaugther Sword."
Still, there was no change in tone from the throne.
"Then tell me—can he reach a hundred victories and challenge the Hell Road?"
Without hesitation, the woman replied:
"There is no doubt he can reach a hundred victories."
"As for the Hell Road… his chances are high."
The Slaughter King's voice suddenly grew cold:
"Then continue observing. Do not interfere."
"Great King…"
She hesitated, then dared to speak again:
"I do not understand.
Do you not wish the Slaughter City to grow stronger?
Though we have an agreement with the Spirit Hall—
They allow us to take in their fallen.
But if one day, the Spirit Hall tears that pact apart—"
BOOM—!
A surge of darkness, laced with crimson bloodlight, slammed downward.
The woman's face went pale; the crushing pressure forced her to her knees,
bones cracking under the weight.
She bit down hard, blood seeping from the corner of her lips—
but she made no sound.
From the throne, the Slaughter King's rasping voice came again:
"In the days to come, the Slaughter City will be steeped in chaos."
"The two Slaugther Gods of this era
have each sent a successor into this city."
"And now, with the Angel… and the Blood Slaughter Sword…"
"Soon, the number of Slaugther Gods will multiply."
The woman's eyes widened in shock.
"Great King…" she whispered.
"But the rise of new Slaugther Gods brings no benefit to the Slaughter City."
"Since that's the case, why not place them all in the same Slaugther Arena…?"
"Fool!"
BOOM—!
Another blast of crimson energy shot forth from the darkness,
striking the black-veiled woman and hurling her violently down the mountain.
She crashed to the ground below, coughing blood, her body trembling so badly she could barely stand.
"You dare question my decision?"
The woman lay sprawled on the ground, trembling, unable to respond.
"Listen well…"
The Slaughter King slowly withdrew his oppressive aura,
his voice hoarse and edged with danger.
"The Slaughter City has its own rules.
Just as seeds of the same kind must not grow in the same field.
Besides…"
"A Slaughter God can use Spirit Abilities within the Slaughter City.
Though I do not fear those two Slaughter Gods, I have no wish to make enemies of them."
The black-veiled woman staggered to her feet,
bowed deeply, and forced out,
"Your servant understands."
After she departed—
The solitary mountain peak was silent once more.
Only the Slaughter King remained.
He tapped a finger rhythmically against the skull armrest of his throne.
Tap.
Tap.
With each dull sound, the mountain began to tremble.
Then, from its midsection downward, the entire mountainside began to cave inward.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—!
The peak, together with the throne of skulls, sank slowly into the heart of the mountain.
Inside—there was a vast, boundless space.
A boiling sea of blood churned endlessly, the stench of iron thick in the air.
The silhouette of the Slaughter King sank gradually into that crimson tide,
his form swallowed completely by scarlet.
Clouds, like flowing silver, swirled beneath an endless sky.
In the distance, colossal palaces floated among the mist.
A majestic figure stood with hands clasped behind his back,
clad in dark-red armor etched with demonic patterns,
jagged spikes covering his body.
His long purple hair blazed upward like living fire.
On either side of his face,
two additional faces faintly emerged—both with eyes tightly shut.
"Evil…"
His voice rolled across the heavens,
stirring the boundless sea of clouds into violent motion.
"I thank you for finding a successor for me.
I am… very satisfied."
"No need for thanks, Asura."
replied another man, short silver hair gleaming like metal.
He too was armored in divine splendor,
two very different flames of divinity burning upon his shoulders.
"I never intended to give Li Zhexian to you."
"Hm?"
The Asura God turned his head.
In that instant—
All six eyes across his three faces opened at once.
Crimson Asura Power surged wildly over his armor,
flowing like a living tide of blood.
Yet Ji Dong (the silver-haired man) showed no fear,
meeting those murderous eyes with calm indifference.
Then—
A woman appeared silently behind Ji Dong,
her body radiating a sacred light.
Two God Kings now stood side by side.
Their divine auras clashed—
the might of holiness against the oppressive power of Asura
But rather than yielding, the Asura God's pressure grew even heavier.
"Li Zhexian comprehended the Sword Intent of Slaughter amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood,"
"My Asura God Sword is his destined inheritance."
"As long as his mind is clear, he will not abandon the Asura God Position to inherit your Evil God Position."
Ji Dong's gaze deepened, and a faint, cold smile curved his lips.
"Asura, dare you make a wager with me?"
"A wager?"
"From my understanding of Li Zhexian, he will never abandon his own sword for your Asura God Sword!"
The Asura God turned his gaze toward a vast, swirling mirror of cloud before him.
Within that divine mirror
was the reflection of the Slaughter City,
its blood-sea churning endlessly.
After a long silence,
the Asura God's threefold voice echoed once more:
"I know Li Zhexian is a man obsessed with the sword."
"Yet if he desires ultimate power—how could he possibly refuse the Asura God Sword?"
Ji Dong's expression remained unreadable.
"We shall see."