A Year Later, Entering the Inner City

Having made this discovery, Ming Lunyu immediately woke Ma Hongjun and had her prioritize absorbing the black Soul Power for cultivation.

Ninety percent of the black Soul Power would be used to strengthen the body, with only ten percent going toward raising their level, but that was precisely what they needed.

After all, Martial Souls could not be used in combat within the City of Slaughter. Whether one was a Soul Saint or a Soul Douluo was completely meaningless.

The only things that could determine victory were physical strength and combat skills.

And physical strength was the foundation of everything.

As long as the body was strong enough, one could overcome ten opponents with sheer force. Without powerful physical attributes, skill alone could not achieve anything.

Ma Hongjun obeyed without hesitation.

And so, the two kept a low profile. Other than handing over blood and exchanging it for food each month, they stayed cooped up in their room cultivating.

Thanks to the ceaseless supply of black energy, their physical attributes continuously increased, and their blood-producing ability became exceptionally strong. Drawing a cup of blood every month placed no burden on them at all.

Later on, Ming Lunyu even handled all the bloodletting himself, giving two cups at a time.

His exact words were, "How could I let my adorable Sister suffer such a grievance? Leave it to me."

It moved Ma Hongjun to tears.

Honestly, with his current blood regeneration ability, Ming Lunyu felt that he could survive here for a lifetime at the very least.

Their residence was not fixed either. They moved every few days to avoid attracting unnecessary trouble.

Another thing that left them both laughing and crying was the growth of their minds.

Could it even be called growth? Ming Lunyu himself had doubts.

The two had already seemed mature for their age, but after arriving in the City of Slaughter, they realized that they truly were still children.

Every time they went outside, they saw things that left them utterly dumbfounded.

Whether it was schemes and deception or sordid, petty dealings, such things played out endlessly in this world.

Yet what struck their young hearts the hardest was what a man and a woman were doing in broad daylight on the street... with a whole crowd gathered around to watch.

I was forced to grow up... That was Ming Lunyu's only thought after witnessing it firsthand.

Even more terrifyingly, ever since then, Ming Lunyu had felt that the way Ma Hongjun looked at him was somewhat strange.

Although all kinds of little incidents kept occurring, overall, their situation was steadily improving.

The rapid increase in their physical attributes also accelerated their bodily development.

One year later.

Ming Lunyu was only seven this year, yet he was already approaching 1.6 meters in height. His figure was proportionate and slender, while his features had become increasingly handsome.

Ma Hongjun had also reached a full 1.5 meters. She had grown ever more delicate and graceful, with long, snow-white legs that were firm and powerful, and skin that was fair with a rosy glow. Most importantly, her flat chest had actually begun developing into small slopes.

Compared to a year ago, they had each grown over forty centimeters! It was more outrageous than taking hormones.

The might of the black energy truly was terrifying!

"Hey!"

In an open space, Ming Lunyu grabbed a two-hundred-jin stone lock with one hand, tossed it high into the air, and caught it again.

"Big brother, catch!"

A crisp, lively voice drifted over. Then, from ten meters away, an even heavier stone lock came flying toward him.

Ming Lunyu smiled faintly and leaped into the air. He steadily caught the stone lock midair, spun around, and landed handsomely.

If not for the terrifyingly heavy stone lock in his hand and the tattered black robe on his body, Ming Lunyu would have looked like a refined young gentleman.

A year had passed, and with the increase in their strength, the two had lowered their guard around their surroundings considerably.

The difference in strength was simply too obvious. The people around them all looked malnourished, and none seemed remotely threatening.

Normally, they only needed to remain somewhat vigilant and make sure no one caught them off guard.

On the other hand, no one in the Outer City now dared provoke them.

After being nourished by the black Soul Power for so long, both of them had acquired an indescribable sharpness. Even they themselves had not noticed it.

"Big brother!"

A graceful figure threw herself at him.

Ming Lunyu tossed aside the stone lock, steadily caught Ma Hongjun, and gently rubbed the top of her fluffy head.

Ma Hongjun's hair had grown rapidly. The ear-length short hair she had when she first transformed a year ago had now grown all the way down to her waist.

"Big brother, it's been a year."

"Yes, it's been a year."

Ming Lunyu clenched his fist.

Over the past year, their Soul Master ranks had not increased much. Ming Lunyu was level nineteen, while Ma Hongjun was level eighteen. Yet their freakish strength allowed them to throw a punch with over three hundred jin of force.

That was already a terrifying figure. Without the support of Soul Power, many Soul Kings and Soul Emperors were no stronger than that.

After all, a Soul Master's strength mainly came from powerful soul skills. Once deprived of Soul Power and soul skills, many Soul Masters actually had rather frail bodies.

Take Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Even though his Soul Power was as high as level seventy-nine, his physical attributes were only barely comparable to a four-ring Battle Soul Sect member.

Ming Lunyu looked toward the Inner City.

"Perhaps it's time."

Ma Hongjun stood shoulder to shoulder with Ming Lunyu, fighting spirit blazing in her fiery red eyes.

Perhaps the Inner City was filled with countless dangers and challenges, but neither of them was willing to waste away in the Outer City any longer.

Constantly shrinking back would only lead to gradual stagnation.

Over the past year, they had seen too many people living in the Outer City, drawing blood just to cling to life until they faded away. They had also seen countless people flee from the Inner City, going from swearing that they would kill their way back in to becoming the first kind of person.

The dangerous environment had not frightened them, but the fate of the Outer City's inhabitants filled them with dread.

They were truly afraid—afraid that they would keep using biding their time as an excuse to remain in the Outer City, only to have their spirit worn away and spend the rest of their lives in this place.

Therefore, no matter how dangerous or cruel the Inner City was, they had to face it bravely.

If there was danger, they would find a way to overcome it. If it was cruel, they would adapt to that cruelty with all their strength!

After returning to their temporary residence, the two made simple preparations.

Ma Hongjun rubbed dust all over herself, making herself look dirtier and more disheveled.

With her current appearance, she would undoubtedly attract the lustful attention of scum.

Any unnecessary trouble that could be avoided should be avoided, lest something unexpected happen.

The art of keeping a low profile to survive was a precious lesson she had learned through her difficult struggle over the past year.

Wrapping herself in a black robe and using the hood to conceal her face, Ma Hongjun cleared her throat and made her voice sound rougher. Finally, she picked up a Gray Iron Steel Blade, and her preparations were complete.

Ming Lunyu beside her was dressed much the same, the only difference being that he carried no weapon.

Unlike Ma Hongjun's Beast Martial Soul, Ming Lunyu's first Martial Soul was a Weapon Martial Soul: a Folding Fan.

This Folding Fan Martial Soul, which had initially looked utterly ordinary, had also undergone an evolution after he formed a contract with Ma Hongjun.

It was still largely black-boned with a white fan surface, but the fan ribs now bore traces of Jade Color, while wisps of Golden Pattern had crept across the fan surface.

Most importantly, the fan had become as hard as iron, its durability no less than that of ordinary steel.

Perhaps because it had absorbed so much of the aggressive black energy, sharp blades had emerged at the tips of the fan ribs, glinting with a chilling cold light.

This Folding Fan had already shed its status as an ornament and become a deadly weapon.

They continued traveling inconspicuously. After half an hour, the two arrived before a magnificent Dark Red Pass.

The city gate was completely empty, with no one guarding it.

The occasional Fallen entered and exited. Those going in were full of ambition, while those coming out were battered and miserable.

"Can one enter and leave the Inner and Outer Cities freely?" Ming Lunyu took a deep breath, his gaze firm as he stepped inside first.

After passing through a long, dark tunnel, their view suddenly opened up.

A world filled with disorder, madness, cruelty, and bloodshed abruptly appeared before them.

People came and went here, the streets and markets were bustling, and luxury and debauchery abounded. Yet countless absurd acts that challenged the limits of human morality unfolded every moment.

Groups of people fought and killed one another all over the streets. Men and women, even men with men, openly engaged in such acts in public...

Ming Lunyu watched as a man had barely shuddered when a blade extending from beneath the woman pierced straight through him. Even more revolting, another man pushed aside the first man's corpse and continued what he had been doing...

Ma Hongjun's grip tightened.

The two had already become accustomed to many filthy things in the Outer City, yet on their first day in the Inner City, they were taught a brutal lesson.

"!"

Ming Lunyu's pupils contracted. Instinctively, he kicked backward.

"Ah!" The sharp-faced man was sent flying five meters away.

"It truly is chaos at its extreme, City of Slaughter!" Ming Lunyu was still shaken.

Had they only just entered the Inner City, only to be randomly hunted by a stranger?

Feeling the malicious gazes directed at them from both open and hidden places, Ming Lunyu hardened his heart.

Holding Ma Hongjun's hand, he strode forward. With a flick of his hand, he summoned the Folding Fan, then viciously drove it into the sharp-faced man's neck.

In an instant, blood spurted like a fountain, splashing all over Ming Lunyu.

Yet Ming Lunyu had no time to process the discomfort of killing for the first time. Instead, his heart was inexplicably filled with a trembling exhilaration.

It was as though all the constant vigilance and fear of the past year had been vented through that strike.

"Ha... ha..."

With one foot on the man's corpse, Ming Lunyu's chest heaved violently as hot blood surged through him.

"The true journey through the City of Slaughter begins here! Fallen, let the end of your lives serve as the bell announcing my arrival."