On the stage, ten Soul Emperors including Zhu Ziyang stood in front of ten metal guard posts on the circular platform, awaiting the signal to begin the battle.
Every one of them had the most dangerous look in their eyes as they sized each other up. They were all Soul Emperors, all held murderous intent, and all wished to kill everyone the moment the fight began.
A deep thud from the war drum rang out. Instantly, a chilling murderous aura swept across the stage — the sign that the match was about to start. Every contestant surged their soul power to its peak, waiting only for the next drumbeat to unleash their martial souls and charge into battle.
Thud! The second war drum rang.
At that moment, everyone released their martial souls and soul rings almost simultaneously. In an instant, the platform was flooded with soul rings of every color — white, yellow, purple, black, and even red.
Red?!
Everyone on the platform and even the spectators in the audience were stunned. Why would a hundred-thousand-year soul ring appear in a Soul Emperor-level match in the unrestricted combat arena? This wasn't a Title Douluo battle! And even then, Title Douluo wouldn't come to participate in a soul arena match!
Everyone froze — except Zhu Ziyang.
Wielding the Stillness Fate Ending Scythe, he instantly activated his fourth soul skill. The Star Radiance Shadow Clone appeared, and flanking his sides, the two figures lunged at the two closest Soul Emperors. The blade of the Stillness Fate Ending Scythe slashed cleanly across their skulls.
Instant kill — two down!
Without hesitation, Zhu Ziyang immediately released his hundred-thousand-year soul skill. The Stillness Fate Ending Scythe shone with blinding golden brilliance. The extreme light roused the seven others from their stunned stupor. Seeing two comrades slain instantly and the radiant aura of the hundred-thousand-year ring, they instantly realized the situation.
Either give up and jump off the stage now, or fight him to the death.
Three made their choice without delay and jumped down.
The remaining four rushed straight at Zhu Ziyang. They were true desperadoes who lived by betting their lives.
But Zhu Ziyang wasn't fazed. He swung the Stillness Fate Ending Scythe, and golden slashes cut through space like divine retribution. Each golden arc was inscribed with soul-harvesting runes that struck terror into the hearts of any who saw them, compelling them from the depths of their spirit to surrender and offer their necks willingly.
This was the Stillness Mind Severing Slash!
Seven dazzling golden slashes lit up the arena. Three struck the thick metal guard rails, instantly slicing through them like paper. The other four landed squarely on the four incoming Soul Emperors. None of them had time to scream before they were erased from the world.
Feeling the response from the Death Flower Mark between his brows, Zhu Ziyang was delighted.
The spectators were still in shock when the arena staff arrived, only to find six decapitated corpses and blood covering the platform.
"Who did this?!" The supervisor of the unrestricted arena roared in fury. "Someone dared wreck the Star Luo Grand Soul Arena? Do they not know this is under the Star Soul Prince's domain?! Investigate! I want this person found immediately!"
Clearly, he thought Zhu Ziyang's actions were some sort of provocation by a rival arena.
"Supervisor, maybe we should let this go..." one of the managers cautiously advised. "That person had a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. He's definitely not someone sent by the other soul arenas. He's more likely a disciple from a top-tier sect. If we really pursue this..."
He didn't finish, but the supervisor immediately understood. The flames of his rage were doused like cold water. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he nodded.
"Alright. I'll report this to the Star Soul Prince. You all go and warn the spectators not to speak a word. As for the three who surrendered, throw them into the Death Matches."
"Understood!" the staff quickly replied and dispersed to carry out the orders.
—
Meanwhile, five hundred meters away from the arena, Zhu Ziyang walked leisurely down the street with Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao.
The moment he unleashed Stillness Mind Severing Slash, he had recalled his martial soul, jumped down from the platform, returned to the resting room, and pulled Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao with him — all before anyone had reacted.
He was confident in his soul skill, and rightfully so. By the time he exited that corridor, he already received feedback from the Death Flower Mark.
Death God's Second Trial — complete. No wonder he was in such a great mood.
"Brother, those Soul Emperors were so weak! Even I could've handled a few easily," Jiang Nannan complained.
"You think all soul masters are like us?" Zhu Ziyang lightly tapped her forehead. "Less than thirty percent of soul masters receive formal academy training. Most are self-taught wanderers. Just look at their soul rings. Among those nine Soul Emperors just now, only three had ten-thousand-year soul rings, and even those were just their sixth ring."
"That's true," Ma Xiaotao nodded. "Cultivating as a soul master requires resources and a team. For many, just being able to awaken a martial soul and become a soul master at all is the greatest fortune of their lives."
"Sigh," Jiang Nannan couldn't help sighing. Some thought had clearly struck her. "Brother... do you think we were wrong to help Yang Zhenzhen and the others awaken their martial souls? What if some of them end up like those desperate Soul Emperors?"
"How could it be wrong?" Zhu Ziyang replied. "We gave them a chance to walk a different path. Without us, their lives would've been limited to serving nobles or stronger soul masters. Besides, with you and me by Yang Zhenzhen's side, there's no way she'll turn into some bloodthirsty mercenary."
"Mm!" Jiang Nannan quickly understood and nodded.
The three of them spent the afternoon strolling through Star Luo City and returned to the Star Imperial Hotel before dinner.
After eating, Zhu Ziyang returned to his room, ready to claim his reward for the Death God's Second Trial and receive the content of the Third Trial.
He sank his consciousness into the divine inheritance realm.
Familiar voice, familiar staircase, familiar pillars and mist. Xiao Bai's voice echoed again:
"Congratulations. Death God's Second Trial complete. Reward being issued."
Zhu Ziyang's body trembled, and the reward appeared in his mind:
"Second Trial Passed. Reward: 10% Death God Affinity, one pair of Divine Locking Pillars."
The reward was identical to the first trial, leaving him somewhat helpless. He still didn't know the use of the Divine Locking Pillars, but his attention quickly shifted to the newly revealed step on the God Ascension Path.
Another ten-step platform. He climbed quickly to the thirtieth step. His eyes turned to the Locking Pillars beside it. The contents of the Death God's Third Trial appeared.
"God Position Affinity: 30%"
"Death God's Third Trial: The Death God is always the most outstanding — in talent and appearance. As the successor to the Death God, you must possess a talent that shocks the world.
And nothing impresses more than soul ring age!"
"Trial Objective: Elevate all your soul rings to ten-thousand-year level."
"Time Limit: No more than five years."
"Trial Reward: Unknown."
"Uh..." Zhu Ziyang clicked his tongue. He honestly didn't know how to react to this. But one thing was clear to him now — the Death God, or more precisely, Xiao Bai the Trial Overseer, was definitely cutting him slack!
With an odd expression, he exited the inheritance space. As his awareness returned to reality, he opened his eyes and saw Electrolux playing with Er Shuang.
Seeing Zhu Ziyang return, both of them quickly came over. Electrolux asked with concern, "Well? What's the content of the Death God's Third Trial?"
"I have to raise all my soul rings to ten-thousand-year age," Zhu Ziyang replied.
Electrolux's expression turned strange too.
"This... I'm not sure what to say," he said. "But it's definitely good news for us. After all, increasing ring age is especially easy for those of us with death-type powers."
"Mm!" Zhu Ziyang nodded. "I was planning to raise my ring ages anyway. I just didn't expect to start so early. My plan was to wait until after I reached nine rings. Looks like that plan has to be adjusted. Sigh, having your schedule messed up really is annoying."
"You're unbelievable," Er Shuang couldn't help but tease. "Acting spoiled even after getting lucky."
(End of Chapter)
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