The Clear Sky Sect had claimed to the outside world that they had sealed their gates and withdrawn from worldly affairs.
But in truth, there was Tang Cheng here in the City of Slaughter… and Tang Yuehua in Heaven Dou City.
So…were there others as well?
Ten years from now, wouldn't the Clear Sky Sect suddenly produce five new Title Douluo?
And so many young geniuses among the next generation?
Where had all those resources come from?
How had they absorbed so many spirit rings without ever being discovered?
Dugu Feng knew he needed to dig deeper.
With Jade Phosphorus Crimson Venom in hand, no matter how strong a man's will was, he could break him.
Dugu Feng was confident about this.
Moments later, the toxin spread through the blade-wielder's mind, leaving his spirit shaken and confused.
Now, when Dugu Feng asked questions, he answered without hesitation
"Tang Hao killed the former Pope. The Sect Master judged that without giving Spirit Hall an explanation, the Clear Sky Sect would be annihilated.
The only way to calm Spirit Hall's fury… was for himself to die.
Haha… but do you really think our Sect Master died? He's a Title Douluo, still in his prime—how could he just die of rage?
The one who 'died' was only a clansman with a similar face!
From that moment, the Sect Master swore to endure humiliation, to hide and cultivate in secret.
Once the Elders advanced to Title Douluo, once the Sect Master broke through further…
What then? Spirit Hall? Hah! Spirit Hall would be nothing!"
The knife-wielder's eyes had gone mad, words spilling out in a manic flood, every secret pouring from his lips.
When he finished, Dugu Feng silently drove a blade into his heart, ending him.
"Shocking news…"
Dugu Feng's face darkened.
Tang Hao's father—Tang Bo—hadn't died?!?
According to this man, the old Sect Master hadn't disapproved of Tang Hao killing Qian Xunji.
On the contrary, Tang Bo had clapped in joy.
But he had feared Spirit Hall's overwhelming strength. At that time, even the Clear Sky Sect couldn't withstand it.
The biggest reason? Tang Chen wasn't around.
So to protect the sect, Tang Bo had staged his death. And in the shadows, they began searching for Tang Chen.
Tang Cheng… had been one of those sent out.
Dugu Feng frowned. He doubted what he had heard, but under Crimson Venom's erosion, it was impossible for that man to lie.
And yet, in the story he knew, Tang Bo had never appeared
Not when Tang Hao fell into despair, not when Tang San was hunted, not even in the final war that shook the continent.
Tang Bo had never once stepped onto the stage.
Could it be… that he was killed halfway?
The more Dugu Feng thought about it, the stranger it seemed. A Title Douluo in his prime, declared dead from "illness"?
Even Spirit Hall had been shown the corpse.
Who would doubt it?
But think about it—under seventy, a Title Douluo… suddenly dead?
It didn't add up.
Dugu Feng's expression hardened. No matter the truth, this world is real. The "plot" I know can only be taken so far.
He could no longer act with blind reliance on the story in his head.
From now on, he would move based on his clan's intelligence—and his own strength.
Dugu Feng stepped into the street.
The ground beneath his boots was sticky.
Looking down, he saw a carpet of blood.
The stench of iron filled his nostrils.
"Poison Demon King!"
"Poison Demon King!"
The cries exploded from every direction, tearing through the night sky.
Murderous intent surged, bloodlust filling the streets.
Soul masters parted on either side, forming a path, chanting his name.
Tonight's events would be carved into the history of the City of Slaughter.
Here, life was cheap, men died like ants.
But today, all these lives had come together to do something unforgettable!
Dugu Feng strode forward, coming to the center.
What remained of Tang Cheng was only a pile of meat.
If not for the faint trace of spiritual poison clinging to it, Dugu Feng might not even have recognized him.
Tang Cheng was gone.
Completely gone.
Satisfied, Dugu Feng raised his gaze.
At the mouth of a side alley stood a towering figure.
Over two meters tall, black fur covering his frame, shoulders broad, waist thick—more beast than man.
When Dugu Feng's eyes locked on him, the entire crowd followed his gaze.
That was Xiong Ba.
The other strongest fighter of the City of Slaughter.
Xiong Ba swallowed hard and instinctively took a step back.
Even Tang Cheng… had died like this!
Around him, the soul masters showed no awe, only restless bloodlust.
If anything, they looked ready to lunge at him.
Xiong Ba's eyes flickered. Then, suddenly, he shouted:
"Great King of Slaughter! I will join the City of Slaughter!
I will join the City of Slaughter!
I will join the City of Slaughter!"
Breathing out, he looked at Dugu Feng with pride. I've joined the King. You can't kill me now, can you?
Dugu Feng blinked. For a brute like this, he hadn't expected such quick wits at the crucial moment.
"Poison Demon King! Poison Demon King!"
The crowd roared louder.
Dugu Feng's pressure had forced Xiong Ba to withdraw from the Killing Fields entirely.
One glance and he had surrendered to the King.
Xiong Ba's heart trembled. They're mad. Completely mad. How did he unite them? Why do they follow him?
But it no longer mattered. As long as he joined the City of Slaughter, he would be safe.
Then came the sound of hooves.\
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Neat, heavy, disciplined.
Ranks of black-armored cavalry appeared, surrounding the streets in a steel tide.
Cold washed over the crowd.
These were the King of Slaughter's knights.
"Poison Demon King, the King summons you!"
A woman in a crimson veil stepped from the riders, her gaze cold and sharp.
The King had ordered Poison Demon King and Tang Cheng to meet.
But Poison Demon King had staged this instead—
killing one, forcing the other to surrender.
An open slap to the King's face!
Both of the City's strongest were gone in one night.
All because of him.
The veiled woman's eyes narrowed. So this is the Poison Demon King… everyone underestimated him.
The armored knights loomed, weapons gleaming with cold light, filling the streets with suffocating pressure.
The frenzy cooled instantly.
"Blood flows for miles, corpses pile into mountains. Heroes shed no tears—only kill!"
Dugu Feng's voice boomed like thunder.
He clasped his hands in salute to the soul masters around him.
Then he stepped forward to face the veiled woman.
"Lead the way."
The roar of voices erupted again.
"Poison Demon King! Poison Demon King!"
This night would be burned forever into the hearts of the City of Slaughter.