"What do you mean by this?" Tang San's brows knitted tightly.
"Asura King, you must understand—this world has never been fair." The Slaughter King lifted his glass of Bloody Mary, the crimson liquid swirling lazily. His voice was low and cold, laced with mockery. "The Hell Messenger can walk the Hell Road because there's a Death God standing behind her. But you... the Death God behind you is already dead."
Tang San's expression darkened instantly, a heavy shadow spreading across his face.
"You should be grateful. Even though you've revealed your Clear Sky Hammer for so long, I've never told Spirit Hall, never told that other Death God. That, is my gift to you." The Slaughter King's lips curled into a cruel smile. "And gifts, require payment."
Tang San clenched his fists, knuckles whitening. His eyes locked onto the Slaughter King's. "What do you want from me?"
The Slaughter King leaned forward, his voice like poison, "Asura King, I can grant you the title of Death God ahead of time. I can allow you to walk freely in and out of the City of Slaughter, to hunt for spirit rings as you please. I can even honor you as the City's Guest Elder, with status second only to me. But the price—" His smile widened. "—is loyalty."
In the blink of an eye, his figure flashed and appeared directly before Tang San. A massive hand shot out, fingers like iron clamps seizing Tang San's head. His oppressive power instantly froze Tang San's body in place.
"Ahhh!"
Tang San let out a scream as countless threads of scarlet energy surged into his brow, drilling deep inside. At last, they condensed into a blood-red brand that seared itself onto his forehead.
"Hmph. If not for your usefulness, would I ever tolerate such insolence?"
Far above, in the God Realm, the Rakshasa God let out a cold snort of disdain.
When the glow faded, Tang San collapsed to one knee, panting, drenched in sweat.
"Good. From this day forward, Asura King, you are the second King of the City of Slaughter." The Slaughter King's lips curved in satisfaction. He turned, his figure flickering back to the throne. "From now on, you may leave the city at will. And if you wish to continue fighting in the Hell Arena upon your return, I will not stop you. Even if you reach one hundred victories and attempt the Hell Road."
His gaze lingered on Tang San, his expression calm. 'This boy's malice runs deeper than I expected... He will make a fine host for my parasitic seed. Perhaps, through the Hell Road, he can gain the Asura Domain. That may not be a bad thing…'
Perhaps, when the Asura God descends to grant him divine inheritance, he would strike first and take Tang San's body for himself.
As he thought this, he flicked a blood-colored token across the hall.
Tang San caught it swiftly, his face blank. Without another word, he rose, gave the Slaughter King a cold look, then turned and strode out of the hall.
"Anger, hatred... In the end, they are nothing more than nourishment for me." The Slaughter King's voice echoed faintly as Tang San's back disappeared into the shadows.
Outside the palace, Tang San pressed two fingers to his forehead. His expression was dark and grim. Inside, he could feel it clearly—something was lodged within his spirit bone, clinging like a parasite, eerily similar to the poisonous gu worms he had once read about in his sect's records.
'This is his leash on me…'
His jaw tightened. 'Power. I need power! Only power can crush every obstacle in my path.'
His eyes flicked back toward the palace, cold light glinting within. 'Slaughter King... you are already courting death. Wait and see.'
Without hesitation, he strode toward the city gates.
That night, beneath a silent sky, Tang San left the passageway of the Slaughter City, stepping once more into the outside world. He wasted no time and quickly headed toward the Sunset Forest.
Days later, deep within the Sunset Forest.
"A Crypt Spider Emperor, just past 50,000 years... with my body's current strength, I can withstand it. Perfect for the Clear Sky Hammer's first spirit ring."
His gaze sharpened. Retrieving a pouch of poisoned hidden weapons from his soul tool, he began his hunt. Using terrain and precision, he struck from a distance, never giving the beast a chance to close in.
With the wisdom skull's Poison Transformation skill, paired with the deadly venom of his Eight Spider Lances and his honed hidden weapons, Tang San methodically weakened it. Blades flicked, needles whistled.
Bang!
After two hours, the Crypt Spider Emperor let out a final shriek and collapsed.
Tang San walked up slowly, sat cross-legged, and began to draw the spirit ring.
The process went smoother than he expected. Hours later, the black spirit ring fused into his Clear Sky Hammer.
"Finally... rank 70."
He exhaled slowly, but before relief could settle, his forehead suddenly ignited with a purple sigil.
Cold, violent malice surged into his mind. The world before his eyes warped and melted away, replaced by a vast emerald-green void.
In the center, a woman clad in armor stood veiled in green mist, her figure alluring, her aura terrifying.
"Tang San..."
A voice rang out from every direction at once, chilling, seductive. "Do you want power?"
Tang San stiffened, heart clenching. "Who are you!?"
The woman's lips curved faintly beneath the mist.
"I am the Rakshasa God."
Her voice slithered into his ears, tugging at the depths of his soul. "I'll ask you once more. Tang San, do you desire power? The power of vengeance. The power to overturn this world. The power to crush the Slaughter King like an insect beneath your feet."
'A god?' Tang San's eyes narrowed. He had heard the legends—at rank 100, one could ascend to godhood. The Slaughter King himself was said to be the remnant legacy of one such deity.
And now, a true god stood before him.
The parasite's pressure vanished. The brand at his brow faded into nothing. Tang San's breathing quickened.
'Such power... this is the strength I need!'
'Yes... power. I need it. I need the power to destroy all my enemies!'
"I'm willing!" The words slipped out like instinct, his voice trembling with desire.
"Good." The Rakshasa God's voice grew colder. "To inherit my godhood, you must first pass the nine Rakshasa Trials. The first trial: clear the Hell Road within one year."
Her words echoed like a tolling bell.
The vision shattered. The forest returned.
Tang San blinked hard, his hands trembling. "An illusion...?"
But no—the brand from the Slaughter King remained. The parasite still lingered in his spirit bone.
'It wasn't fake…'
He clenched his fists. 'No matter what, I must try. To break free from the Slaughter King's leash... I have no other choice.'
His gaze flicked back to the corpse of the Crypt Spider Emperor.
"Shame it didn't drop a spirit bone..." he muttered, unfolding the Eight Spider Lances behind him.
With a thrust, the lances pierced the carcass, greedily drawing out its remains.
Moments later, Tang San moved again, heading deeper into the forest.
Hours passed. From a perch in the trees, his eyes locked on a writhing tangle of vines.
"A Ghost Vine, just short of 60,000 years. Perfect for the Blue Silver Grass's seventh ring."
His figure flashed, diving forward.
An hour later, after a long, grinding battle, the Ghost Vine finally fell still.
Tang San landed before its massive roots, crossed his legs, and drew the black spirit ring into his body.
Agony exploded. His meridians swelled, blood streaked across his skin, his martial soul trembled as if about to shatter.
"How... how can this be!?"
Teeth clenched until his jaw bled, Tang San forced the Mysterious Heaven Technique to circulate faster, desperately holding on.
'Is it because I forcibly shattered my martial soul's limit?' His mind raced. 'Even Grandmaster couldn't break it after decades... how could I succeed so easily?'
'And my body—already at its limit. I only have two spirit bones. A skull and an external bone. No torso, no limbs…'
He cursed under his breath. 'Damn it! I killed two beasts over 50,000 years and not a single bone dropped. If I had one, I wouldn't be like this!'
"Useless!"
Far above, in the God Realm, the Rakshasa God's voice was cold with contempt.
If not for her urgency to pass on her Godhood, she would never choose someone so lacking. Yet... his bloodline was strange. The Blue Silver Emperor's blood in him was faint—too faint. As the child of a human and a Blue Silver Emperor, it should've been half his blood.
Her thoughts flickered, and she remembered Yang Yunhai.
Her eyes narrowed.
'This boy's bloodline... something's not right. Could it be tied to him?'
Her jaw tightened. Just thinking of Bibi Dong reignited her rage.
Exhaling sharply, she steadied her mind and stretched her divine sense into Tang San's body. Her gaze gleamed coldly.
"This cultivation method... it seems to fuse bloodlines. His veins are already a muddle. Very well... let the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline be the core."
Her finger extended. A wisp of divine power fell.
The black spirit ring quivered violently.
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Members on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.