The Slaughter King directly bestowed upon Li Zhexian and the other three the title of Slaughter God.
It was a shortcut—bypassing the trial of the Hell Road.
At its root…
He simply did not wish to see the Killing God Domain appear again.
Because once one possessed the Killing God Domain, one could freely use Spirit Abilities within the Slaughter City.
That, without question, would threaten his rule.
Li Zhexian and the others fell silent.
Qian Renxue had just opened her mouth when Li Zhexian spoke first:
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty the Slaughter King."
"But I came here to walk the Hell Road."
The blood rain paused for an instant—
Then came crashing down again.
It seemed like an illusion.
But Li Zhexian clearly felt it—
Every drop of blood that fell upon him was as sharp as icy needles, drilling into his very bones.
Qian Renxue, her fingers intertwined with his, sensed the change immediately.
Light flared in her slender palm.
Holy Spirit Power flowed into Li Zhexian's body, driving out the bone-piercing chill.
"I'll walk the Hell Road together with the Blood Slaughter Sword!"
Qian Renxue's eyes shone like lightning, unflinching as she met the scarlet gaze hidden within the black clouds.
"I will also walk the Hell Road." ×2
Hu Liena and Tang San gritted their teeth and spoke in turn.
They had come this far—
Their purpose in coming to the Slaughter City was to become stronger.
If they gave up now,
Then their journey to the Slaughter City would be meaningless.
Within the thick black clouds,
That pair of blood-red eyes glowed with frigid menace.
If not for the restrictions of the City's rules,
He would have slain all four of them where they stood.
"In that case…"
"You will enter the Hell Road in pairs."
"What you seek—I already know."
"But know this: each time a Killing God Domain is formed, it drains the power of my City."
"Enter in pairs. The team that completes the trial last—will not receive the Domain."
As his words fell,
The torrential blood rain suddenly turned bone-freezing cold.
It was as though countless icicles were crashing down from the heavens.
The chill pierced into their marrow.
And what made the four of them feel true horror was—
The fallen ones who had drunk the blood rain began howling in ecstasy.
Gouts of blood burst from their noses and mouths.
Yet they seemed oblivious,
Still writhing and dancing madly in the blood pool.
Such a grotesque and vile scene—
Anyone retaining even a shred of humanity would feel sickened.
Hua, hua—
Hua, hua—
Streams of blood flowed together.
They gathered and surged toward the central arena.
The blood didn't spread at random—
Somehow, channels had appeared across the arena floor.
Thick, viscous blood poured into them, outlining a sinister crimson sigil—
A great bat, wings unfurled.
"Two teams shall enter! The last to pass will forfeit the Domain!"
Tang San barked hoarsely at Hu Liena:
"Charming Fox, if we want the Domain, we must join forces, otherwise—"
Zheng!
Before he could finish,
a crimson sword light split the air and shot straight for his face.
Tang San's pupils shrank.
The Clear Sky Hammer flashed into his grasp,
its sheer weight sending ripples through the bloody ground.
With a roar, he swung it upward against the descending sword light.
Boom—!
Blood exploded; mist filled the air.
The tremendous force sent Tang San hurtling backward, sliding across the blood-slick ground until he crashed against the edge of the stage, barely stopping himself.
His hammer hand trembled uncontrollably.
A line of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
"Blood Slaughter Sword!"
"What are you doing?!"
"The Slaughter King is right here—how dare you attack?!"
Li Zhexian held the Qinglian Sword angled toward the ground.
Behind the stray locks of hair on his forehead, his eyes glimmered with blood light.
"Although…"
"There's no chance you'll finish the Hell Road before I do,"
"But if I kill you here, isn't that even easier?"
As for Tang San's protest,
Li Zhexian didn't even bother replying.
Would the Slaughter King ever forbid killing?
"How interesting."
From deep within the clouds,
The Slaughter King's hoarse voice carried a hint of amusement.
Of these four seeds,
It was this black-clad youth with a sword who most embodied the nature of the Slaughter City.
Compared to the other two,
He was far more like the true heir of the Slaughter God.
Splash—
Li Zhexian shattered the blood pool beneath his feet, his figure flashing like a ghost toward Tang San.
Qian Renxue became a streak of holy radiance, striking straight for Hu Liena.
Li Zhexian's speed utterly eclipsed Tang San's.
The crimson sword light came crashing down—inescapable.
"Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique!"
Tang San hastily swung his hammer to block.
Boom!
Another dull explosion rang out.
Tang San was blasted backward once more, blood spraying from his mouth, the web of his thumb splitting open.
The Disorder Splitting Wind HammerTechnique relied on building power, one strike flowing into the next, ninety-nine converging into one.
But Li Zhexian's sword was too sharp—too fast!
He would never live to reach the ninety-ninth strike!
Buzz—
Buzz—
The blood pool began to boil.
Dozens of blood-forged blades shot into the air, whistling toward Tang San's vitals.
His face changed drastically; his body spun rapidly.
Nine cold glints flashed from his sleeves—
Tang Sect Hidden Weapon, the Phoenix Guides Nine Chicks!
Yet—
With a shrill metallic crack,
The nine paper-thin blades were shredded to dust by the raging blood blades.
The sword light did not cease!
The Qinglian Sword, shrouded in crimson sword intent, came cleaving down like a mountain-splitting stroke.
Clang—!
The impact struck like a tidal wave.
Tang San's face flushed purple; his knees buckled—
And he dropped heavily into the blood pool.
Another mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips.
"Hm?"
From within the dark clouds,
The Slaughter King—whose senses were most attuned to blood—uttered a faint, puzzled sound.
Tang San's veins bulged as he strained to hold up the Clear Sky Hammer, barely resisting the sword's edge.
Staring into the near-black eyes before him, he rasped out painfully:
"Blood Slaughter Sword…"
"Are you… Li Zhexian?!"
A cold arc curved across Li Zhexian's lips.
The sword eased slightly—
Then his waist twisted, his body spinning.
His leg snapped out like a steel whip,
Cracking hard against Tang San's temple.
Thud—!
Tang San tumbled more than ten meters, the world spinning, head ringing, body sprawled in the blood pool, unable to rise.
Li Zhexian flicked his wrist.
The Qinglian Sword swept again.
Blood surged upward in twin waves, recoiling to either side.
The tip of the blade pointed unerringly at Tang San's throat.
Just then—
The grooves on the ground, filled with blood,
Suddenly blazed with scarlet light.
The radiance enveloped Tang San, Hu Liena—who had just been struck back and was coughing blood—as well as Li Zhexian and Qian Renxue.
Light warped.
In an instant, all four vanished from the arena.
And as they disappeared,
The Slaughter King's hoarse voice echoed in Li Zhexian's ears—
"The Hell Road… has opened."
...
The four were gone.
The clouds above churned.
A massive pale hand slowly extended from within.
Several still-warm drops of blood hovered above its palm.
The Slaughter King gazed at them,
His raspy tone carrying a trace of confusion—
and memory.
"This scent…"
"Why does it feel so familiar to me?"
——
"So this is the Hell Road?"
Li Zhexian exhaled a long breath.
Before him—
A swaying suspension bridge, its planks rotted and broken, vanished into endless darkness.
The bridge groaned, creaking as though it would collapse at any moment.
Below, a torrential river of blood raged and roared.
And beyond the bridge—
in the mist-shrouded distance—
blooms of eerie red spider lilies stretched endlessly,
their crimson petals merging with the dim sky.
A slightly cool, slender hand slipped into Li Zhexian's palm. Qian Renxue whispered:
"The Bridge of Forgetfulness…"
"The Red Spider Lilies…"
"This Hell Road truly lives up to its name."