At first, those who came for him only wanted easy prey.
But instead of taking advantage, they lost their lives.
Unless there was true profit at stake, no one would be foolish enough to throw themselves at Dugu Feng again.
In the City of Slaughter, spirit abilities were forbidden.
Strength varied, but without spirit skills, even a gap of several levels wasn't insurmountable.
Even the strongest could trip and die in the gutter.
And without knowing how Dugu Feng killed, none dared risk themselves lightly.
To live so long here, no one was an idiot!
This was why Dugu Feng hadn't rushed to the Hell Killing Fields.
The moment he stepped into a match, his Jade Phosphorus Twelve Fingers and poison would be exposed.
But as of now, no one knew how he killed!
All they knew was that whoever entered his room never came out again. No screams, no resistance. The unknown always inspires the greatest fear!
For the first time, his name spread through the City of Slaughter.
By prying information from his victims, Dugu Feng gained a complete understanding of the city.
Darkness and evil suffused every corner.
Behind it all loomed one hand, it was the King of Slaughter.
Beyond the Hell Killing Fields where all must fight, pleasures of every kind could be bought.
Currency? Bloody Mary.
Yet the city's chronic poison left all souls restless, forcing them to drink Bloody Mary for relief.
But the more they drank, the deeper the poison sank, until they lost control and died in madness, in the end feeding the Blood Pool.
As expected of the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King.
It never saw the city's denizens as humans, only fodder to strengthen itself.
Knowing this, Dugu Feng grew calmer. He would not rush.
His eyes flickered with dark light. He sank back into cultivation.
Time slipped by.
Half a year later, one night—
Inside a lavish chamber, a burly man lay naked on the bed. His bulging eyes were wide with terror as blood drained steadily into a bucket.
"You're Mo Li, the Devil Tiger Martial Spirit? Bold of you, sending men to kill me the moment I arrived," Dugu Feng chuckled, patting his head.
"Mercy! Mercy, my lord! I didn't know your strength. Now that I do, I'll never dare offend you again!"
Mo Li had lived long in comfort, indulged in pleasure.
And the longer one wallows in enjoyment, the greater the fear of death.
Now he begged as smoothly as flowing water.
No trace remained of his usual domineering air. Compared to him, even his underlings Wolf Er and Hou San had shown more backbone.
"This time, I'll drain half your blood. Remember! My poison lingers in your veins. If I say you'll die at the third watch, you won't live past the third.
"Tell anyone of me, and… heh."
Dugu Feng sneered, pocketed the Bloody Mary, and left.
Mo Li's face twisted the moment he was gone.
Shakily rising, he staggered, then quickly sat cross-legged, running his soul power desperately.
It took half an hour before his strength returned.
He stepped out of the room and froze.
Over a dozen of his men lay strewn across the floor, all drained dry.
Even Mo Li, ruthless as he was, felt a chill.
He had thought they'd been lazy, allowing Dugu Feng in.
But no! All his men had been poisoned and bled like cattle.
His skin prickled.
Lucky he didn't kill me… The City of Slaughter's gained a monster. Damn it, why did I provoke him?
That night, Dugu Feng walked alone through the City of Slaughter's streets, reviewing his six months of work.
Mo Li was his first target.
Charging in head-on was for fools.
The way of the Poison was in the dark, always silent and unseen.
If not for fear of the King of Slaughter's attention, he'd have wiped them all!
From the start, he knew everyone here carried poison—the city's chronic spirit toxin.
Could I make use of it?
What if he created a poison that spread invisibly through the air, fusing with the city's toxins, so that every soul who breathed it became his pawn?
So was born Phantom Thousand Mechanisms.
Its purpose: to link with the poison already within each soul master.
At Dugu Feng's command, it would erupt—like the prelude to his Poison Explosion Art—detonating hidden toxins from within.
He spent four months developing it, refining poison with soul power until it blended seamlessly with the air.
Now, just a brush of his hand could silently seed it.
Two more months he spent spreading Phantom Thousand Mechanisms throughout the city.
His first test subject—Mo Li.
The longer one lived here, the more poison accumulated in their body.
Soul Masters below Soul Elder could not resist at all, they would collapse instantly.
Even stronger ones, like Soul Kings, could only hold out briefly before succumbing.
If triggered mid-battle, the sudden eruption of poison could decide life or death.
"Not yet… When Phantom Thousand Mechanisms fills every breath of this city, that's when I'll begin. Until then… patience."
He returned to his chamber—
Only to find the veiled girl waiting.
"Number 7603. Half a year has passed, yet you've fought no battles, nor even spectated.
"Know this: if within one year you do not win at least once, you'll be expelled to the Outer City, and fined every Bloody Mary you owe for this time."
Her tone was cold.