Hell Slaughter Arena, First Encounter of Fate

Hell Slaughter Arena, First Encounter of Fate

Hell Slaughter Arena.

It was not a building, but more like the ruins of an ancient coliseum piled from countless enormous Dark Red bones. Its massive arched entrance resembled the savage maw of some colossal beast, constantly swallowing and spitting out figures. Above it, two twisted characters that seemed to drip blood had been traced in some solidified Dark Red substance—Hell!

The stench of blood and the mad clamor in the air reached their peak here! Deafening roars, wild laughter, curses, the clang of colliding weapons, dying wails... all kinds of sounds mingled into a tidal wave of noise capable of driving the weak-willed insane in an instant.

Ling Feng stood at the entrance, his gaze calm beneath his hood. After paying a cup of thick, bloodlike Bloody Mary, which gave off a strange sweet and fishy scent, as the entrance fee, he followed the crowd into this bloody arena.

The interior was far larger than it appeared from outside. At its center stood a vast circular arena made of Dark Red rock, over a hundred meters in diameter. The platform was covered in layers of old and fresh dark brown bloodstains, some places even crusted with thick scabs of blood. At that moment, a brutal melee was underway. Ten Soul Masters tore into one another like crazed beasts, their Soul Skill flashes, spraying blood, severed limbs, and shattered remains forming the most primal and cruel image of life being ground to pieces.

Around the arena were ring-shaped stands rising upward in tiers. They were densely packed with all kinds of people. Most wore tattered or bloodstained clothes, their faces twisted and their eyes filled with numbness, madness, bloodlust, and naked greed. Whenever someone was brutally killed on the arena floor, the stands erupted into frenzied cheers and howls like a crashing sea, as though it were a feast for the demons of hell.

Ling Feng's arrival caused little stir. Countless new faces entered here every day, and countless lives were crushed into fresh bloodstains on the arena floor. He found a relatively secluded seat near a corner of the stands. His gray cloak separated him from the noisy, feverish surroundings, like a calm observer.

His gaze did not linger on the crude brawl below, which was nothing more than beasts tearing at each other. His golden pupils, like the most precise scanners, silently swept over the entire Slaughter Arena.

He was searching.

Searching for Hu Liena's presence. According to the original trajectory, she should have already entered Slaughter City.

And searching even more for... one of the most important targets of this journey—Tang San!

The power of the Eye of Destiny was quietly activated. His Spiritual Power spread cautiously like invisible tendrils, sensing the countless mixed and chaotic auras within the arena. Violent Soul Power fluctuations, dense killing intent, despairing resentment, greedy desires... all were woven together into a chaotic mire.

Suddenly!

Amid the turbulent flood of perceptions, an exceedingly concealed Life Aura, carrying a unique coldness and resilience, caught Ling Feng's attention like a hidden blade in the darkness!

That aura... cold as black jade, tough as blue silver grass. Though it had been carefully restrained, it still could not fully conceal the unyielding will deep within its core! More importantly, a faint residue of an alien energy Ling Feng found exceptionally "familiar," with chaotic, corrosive, and metallic properties, lingered within it!

Tang San!

Ling Feng's gaze locked onto him in an instant, like a hawk locking onto prey!

In a similarly secluded corner diagonally across from him, a figure sat quietly in the shadows. He wore fitted black clothes, his hood pulled low enough to conceal most of his face. His frame was somewhat thin, his aura restrained, and his hands seemed to be held unnaturally within his sleeves. But the Eye of Destiny told Ling Feng clearly—it was him!

That aura, the Dark Gold patterns lingering on those hands... there could be no mistake!

At the very instant Ling Feng locked onto Tang San!

As if drawn by fate, the figure seated in the shadows seemed to sense something as well. He suddenly raised his head. Beneath his hood, a pair of eyes as deep as cold pools, now burning with suppressed fury and bone-deep hatred, pierced through the noisy crowd and pervasive blood stench with unerring precision! They collided fiercely with Ling Feng's calm golden pupils, cold as ten-thousand-year ice, beneath the dim light of the Slaughter Arena!

Boom—!

There was no sound, no spark. But the moment their gazes collided, the entire roaring Hell Slaughter Arena seemed to fall silent within Ling Feng and Tang San's minds! The frenzied crowd, the savage slaughter on the arena floor, the deafening howls... all became a blurred backdrop!

Cold judgment!

Bone-deep hatred!

The aura of mortal enemies exploded soundlessly in the air!

Tang San's body tensed instantly, like a leopard whose tail had been stepped on! Those eyes! Those calm golden eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything, carrying the will of judgment and destruction! Even through the cloak and hood, even though he had seen them only once—a fleeting glimpse at the Heaven Dou Auction House—he would never forget them! It was him! The one who had stolen the Crystal Gold from him at the Heaven Dou Auction House, haunted him like a nightmare in the Star Dou Forest, taken away his chance at a Spirit Ring, and left him grievously injured by that strange power—Ling Feng!

A fury and killing intent that nearly burst through the dam of reason surged wildly through Tang San's chest like magma! The wounds beneath the bandages around his hands seemed to be torn open by an invisible force. The excruciating pain, accompanied by hatred that sank into his bones, nearly made him rush over at once and smash the other man into pulp with the Clear Sky Hammer!

Yet beneath his hood, the corners of Ling Feng's lips slowly curved into a cold, indifferent smile. Found him. Good. He clearly received the killing intent and hatred in Tang San's eyes, and that made the cold flame in his heart burn even more fiercely. The prey had already entered the cage, and it was... full of "vitality."

At that moment, the last blood-soaked Soul Master on the arena slit his opponent's throat with a broken bone blade and let out a beastlike roar of victory. The stands erupted into wild cheers once more.

"Next match! Ten-man melee! Contestants, enter the arena!" A cold, emotionless voice rang throughout the venue through an amplification device, drowning out the uproar.

Ling Feng withdrew his gaze and no longer looked at Tang San. He slowly rose to his feet, his gray cloak stirring without wind. Amid the astonished, baffled, and even mocking looks of the surrounding crowd—a newcomer daring to enter the very first match?—he began walking, one steady and resolute step at a time, down the stairs along the edge of the stands toward the entrance leading to the hellish arena.

His goal had never been to confront Tang San from across the stands. What he wanted was to personally crush this so-called "protagonist," along with all his pride and reliance, beneath the gaze of the entire Slaughter Arena and amid the baptism of blood and fire! To proclaim the arrival of judgment in the cruelest manner possible!

Tang San stared fixedly at Ling Feng's retreating figure as he headed toward the arena entrance. His clenched fists trembled faintly from the force, his nails digging deep into his palms. He took a sharp breath, forcibly suppressing the churning killing intent and urge to charge forward. His gaze became cold and sharp again, like a poisoned dagger.

Ling Feng... Hell Slaughter Arena... good! Here, I'll wash away my humiliation with your blood! A soundless roar erupted in his heart as he slowly stood as well. He would enter the arena too! On that stage, he would personally put an end to this bone-deep hatred!

However, just as Tang San prepared to take a step, a cold, withered hand containing terrifying strength silently settled onto his shoulder!

"Don't be hasty, little one." A hoarse voice, like sandpaper scraping together, sounded beside his ear with unquestionable authority. "Your injuries have not fully healed. First, watch... just how capable this 'Judge' truly is."

Tang San's body stiffened, and he abruptly turned his head. Beside him stood a figure he had no idea had appeared, completely shrouded in a wide black robe and wearing a ghastly white ghost-face mask. The eyes exposed beneath the mask were as deep as ancient wells, yet seemed to burn with the fires of hell. It was the ruler of Slaughter City—the King of Slaughter!

A bone-piercing chill shot from Tang San's tailbone to the top of his head! The King of Slaughter! He had actually appeared in person? And... his target seemed to be Ling Feng?!

The King of Slaughter's gaze crossed the clamorous crowd like an invisible probe and locked firmly onto Ling Feng, who was stepping onto the arena. Beneath his mask, he seemed to let out an extremely faint snort, carrying a trace of amusement and scrutiny.

"The aura of a Judgment Angel... and a trace of... Rakshasa? Interesting... this is becoming more and more interesting..."

On the arena floor.

Ling Feng stood amid nine opponents of different appearances, all radiating dense malice and killing intent. Like hyenas surrounding their prey, the nine of them looked at this "newcomer" with cruelty and greed, clearly regarding him as the weakest target.

Ling Feng raised his head slightly. His golden pupils swept over the nine men doomed to die, like a god looking down upon ants. He slowly lifted his right hand and spread his five fingers.

Buzz—!

An invisible, suffocatingly terrifying pressure descended without warning! Golden radiance mixed with deep black light of destruction burst forth around him like a blooming flower of death!

Domain of Judgment!

Holy radiance carrying the aura of purifying all things instantly dispersed the bloodiness and filth on the arena! Deep black lines of destruction slithered through the domain like living creatures, exuding a chill capable of freezing souls!

"A domain?! A... Ten-Thousand Year Spirit Ring?!"

"What... what kind of Martial Soul is that?!"

"Monster! He's a monster!"

The cruelty and greed on the nine criminals' faces were instantly replaced by boundless shock and terror! The moment the Domain of Judgment descended, they felt as though they had fallen into a thick golden bog while countless cold serpents of destruction wrapped around them! Their Soul Power became sluggish, the light of their Martial Souls dimmed, and the fear rising from the depths of their souls weakened their legs until even breathing became incomparably difficult!

"Domain... activate!" Ling Feng's cold voice was like a final judgment.

The Domain of Judgment abruptly expanded, then contracted! Within the domain, the holy golden light suddenly became blinding while the black lines of destruction instantly went berserk!

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Nine muffled bursts rang out almost simultaneously!

The nine criminals could not even let out a scream. Their bodies seemed to be violently compressed and torn apart from within by an invisible force! Amid the dazzling golden light and raging destructive energy, they instantly turned into nine exploding clouds of blood mist and chunks of flesh! The dense bloody stench instantly filled the entire arena, only to be swiftly purified and dispersed by the holy golden radiance!

Just one breath!

Ling Feng alone remained standing on the arena floor. His gray cloak was spotless, while the golden domain slowly drew inward and circled around him like a god's halo. Beneath his feet lay nine pools of blood rapidly vaporized by the high heat, leaving behind only dark brown traces.

Silence!

Absolute silence!

The Hell Slaughter Arena, which had been roaring moments ago, was now quiet enough for a pin to drop! The madness, bloodlust, and greed on the faces of tens of thousands of spectators had all frozen, turning into utter blankness and unbelievable fear! It was as though everyone had been collectively gripped by the throat, able only to make ragged gasps!

An instant kill! Another instant kill! And this time... a crushing victory through a domain! In a single breath, nine criminals at least at the rank of Soul Elder had been reduced to ashes!

"J-Judge!" someone cried out, their trembling voice filled with endless terror.

The next moment!

"Judge! Judge! Judge!"

A wave of feverish howls erupted like a long-suppressed volcano, resounding throughout the entire Hell Slaughter Arena! The cries no longer contained bloodlust alone, but also fear, trembling, and... morbid worship of absolute power!

In a corner of the stands.

Tang San's face became exceptionally ugly, as though he had swallowed a fly. Looking at the figure surrounded by golden radiance on the arena and feeling that terrifying pressure woven from judgment and destruction, the wariness and killing intent in his heart reached their peak! This Ling Feng... was even more terrifying than he had imagined!

Light flashed sharply in the eyes behind the King of Slaughter's mask as he stared fixedly at Ling Feng, seemingly intending to see through him completely. He slowly stroked the cold bone carving on the armrest of his seat, his hoarse voice carrying suppressed excitement and deeper gravity.

"Judgment Angel... the origin of adjudication... and that deeply hidden power of devouring malice that even I cannot be fooled by... little one, just how many secrets are you hiding? Bibi Dong... is this chess piece you sent meant to overturn my board?"

On the arena floor, Ling Feng ignored the wild, crashing howls from the stands. He slowly raised his head. His golden pupils pierced through the noisy crowd and once again landed precisely upon the figure concealed in the shadows in the corner of the stands—Tang San.

His gaze was calm and cold, carrying the indifference of one looking down upon an ant, along with undisguised mockery like a hunter watching prey caught in a trap.

That gaze seemed to say: Do you see? Your hell is ruled by me. Your life will be judged by me.

Tang San's body tensed abruptly as though struck by an invisible arrow. An icy chill instantly swept through him, followed by even more violent fury and killing intent that nearly broke through reason! He clenched his fists so hard that his nails pierced his palms, the blood seeping out bearing a strange Dark Gold gleam.

Ling Feng...! A soundless roar exploded in his heart.