Braving the Hell Road

But there was no one outside the door. Bai Ying remained on guard.

Did I see it wrong?

Under the night sky, a woman in black stood silently within the shadows outside. Her face was hidden beneath the shade of her hood, with only her cold eyes glinting beneath the moonlight. Her agile figure gave off an aura unlike that of an ordinary person.

Bai Ying stood inside the door, peering through the crack and watching the uninvited guest warily. He gripped a short sword tightly, ready to deal with any sudden situation.

"Can we talk?" The woman in black spoke in a low, calm voice that carried an unquestionable authority.

Bai Ying frowned slightly as he pondered in silence. He did not know this woman, nor did he understand why she had come looking for him. Yet his instincts told him that she was no ordinary person.

Moonlight spilled across the quiet street like silver. The woman in black slowly removed her hood, revealing an incomparably beautiful yet resolute face. Her eyes shone with determination, as though they could see through the human heart.

Bai Ying stood at the doorway, moonlight illuminating his face and highlighting his deep eyes and tightly pressed lips. He stared at the woman in black, trying to read her true intentions from her gaze.

"What is the King of Slaughter's messenger doing here?" Bai Ying's voice was cold and firm, every word revealing his caution and distrust.

The woman in black smiled faintly, as though her smile concealed some deeper meaning. "I want to use your strength to overthrow the King of Slaughter's rule. We can cooperate." Her voice was calm and confident, as though everything was under her control.

A flicker of surprise crossed Bai Ying's eyes. He had never expected this mysterious woman in black to make such a request. The King of Slaughter was the undisputed ruler of this land, with strength that was nearly unmatched. Overthrowing his rule was simply madness.

The woman in black raised her head slightly. Under the moonlight, her face appeared even more beautiful, yet a sly glimmer flashed in her eyes. Parting her red lips, she spoke in a low but seductive voice. "I know that you are elites of Spirit Hall. You may have heard something about the King of Slaughter's true identity. He is Tang Chen, the founder of the once-mighty Clear Sky Sect."

At this point, she paused briefly and fixed Bai Ying with a blazing gaze, as though she wished to see through his heart. Then she continued, "Tang Chen's enmity with Spirit Hall runs as deep as the sea. Now, we share a common enemy: him. If we join forces, we will surely be able to overthrow him. For Spirit Hall, that would undoubtedly be a tremendous victory."

If the King of Slaughter died, the City of Slaughter would surely fall out of control. The City of Slaughter was filled with vicious criminals. If they escaped, they would certainly pose a fatal threat to the entire continent. That was not something Bai Ying wished to see.

The woman in black said with a smile, "Don't worry. My strength is no weaker than theirs."

"Are you willing to cooperate with me?"

"Fine. I agree to cooperate."

Bai Ying fell silent for a moment, his brows tightly furrowed. He understood the City of Slaughter's complexity and dangers well. Everyone who survived there carried deep malice and cruelty within them. If the King of Slaughter were truly overthrown, the order of the entire City of Slaughter would completely collapse, and those imprisoned evildoers would flood onto the continent like a catastrophic tide, causing unimaginable disaster.

Yet the woman in black's words stirred his heart. Her strength was unfathomable. From her tone and bearing, Bai Ying could sense immense confidence and power. If she truly had the ability to control the situation in the City of Slaughter, then this cooperation might actually succeed.

Bai Ying drew a deep breath and asked in a low voice, "How can you guarantee that after overthrowing the King of Slaughter, you can control the City of Slaughter and prevent those evildoers from escaping?"

The woman in black smiled faintly, a sly glint flashing through her eyes. "You need not worry about that. I have my own methods. You only need to join forces with me against the King of Slaughter. As for everything else, I will handle it properly."

Seeing how confident she was, Bai Ying could not help but waver. He knew this was a decision filled with both risk and opportunity. If they succeeded, they would not only overthrow the King of Slaughter's rule, but also bring immense glory to Spirit Hall. But if they failed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The woman smiled softly, her smile appearing especially mysterious beneath the moonlight. "How about this? What do you want? As long as it is within my power."

Bai Ying's gaze was firm and deep. He clenched his short sword, as though he could feel the icy touch of its blade. Taking a deep breath, he said in a low voice, "There is only one thing I want: Divine Slaughter's Domain. As long as you can ensure that those vicious people do not escape the City of Slaughter, I am willing to help you."

"One more thing. I may not be able to act against him now. You understand, right? My strength is too weak."

The woman in black nodded slightly, a flash of approval appearing in her eyes. She extended a slender finger and lightly traced an arc through the air, as though outlining some unknown force. Her voice was low and powerful. "Fine, then there is no problem. I will help you obtain Divine Slaughter's Domain and ensure that those evildoers cannot escape the City of Slaughter. Together, we will surely usher in a new era."

"Of course, that is only if you have enough strength."

After returning to the room, Hu Liena asked, "Do you believe her?"

"I'm not that foolish, but I have no choice but to believe her. The City of Slaughter possesses the Asura God's inheritance, and that inheritance is now on the King of Slaughter. So if I want to successfully inherit the Asura God's power, I must kill him."

Hu Liena stood beside Bai Ying, moonlight falling across her smooth long hair and giving it a faint silver sheen. She nodded gently, determination shining in her eyes, as though she were cheering Bai Ying's decision.

Feeling Hu Liena's support and trust, warmth rose in Bai Ying's heart. He turned and met her eyes. Their gazes crossed in midair, as though countless unspoken words passed between them.

At that moment, Hu Liena suddenly rose onto her tiptoes and gently kissed his forehead. In that instant, time seemed to freeze, and Bai Ying could clearly feel the warmth of Hu Liena's soft lips against his forehead.

Though the kiss held no verbal confession, it was more affectionate than any words. It conveyed Hu Liena's boundless trust and support for Bai Ying, while also foreshadowing the unknown and challenging journey they were about to undertake together.

When the two of them completed their hundredth match,

The King of Slaughter's appearance was like a raging storm, instantly sweeping through the entire Hell Slaughter Arena. His figure was tall and imposing, radiating an intense killing intent as though he were a demon god who had emerged from hell. His gaze was cold and sharp, as though it could pierce through all falsehood and deceit.

Bai Ying and Hu Liena stood in the arena. Feeling the tidal wave of killing intent rushing toward them, their hearts tightened. The killing intent surrounding them was forced back into their bodies the instant the King of Slaughter appeared, as though restrained by an invisible force.

The King of Slaughter slowly spoke, his voice low and majestic. "Hell Messenger, Light Shadow Sacred Dragon, congratulations on passing one hundred matches. I have decided to make you my honored guests. You may freely enter and leave the City of Slaughter."

Bai Ying and Hu Liena shook their heads at the same time. "We came here to challenge the Hell Road."

A fleeting killing intent appeared in the King of Slaughter's eyes. If he had not feared the people behind these two, he would have killed them long ago.

"Are you two certain you will not reconsider? After all, you only have one life."

The King of Slaughter's voice echoed through the empty Hell Slaughter Arena, carrying an unquestionable authority. He slowly turned around, presenting his back to Bai Ying and Hu Liena, as though giving them one final chance.

Yet Bai Ying and Hu Liena did not retreat. They stood side by side, their eyes fixed resolutely on the King of Slaughter's back. Their hearts were filled with determination and courage, as though they had already prepared themselves to face every challenge.

The King of Slaughter slowly raised his hand, and powerful energy began to gather in his palm. He turned back, his blade-sharp gaze fixed on Bai Ying and Hu Liena.

"Since you insist, then go." The King of Slaughter's voice was icy and resolute. He suddenly swept his hand, and a dazzling beam of light shot from his palm, instantly tearing through the dark sky.

With a wave of the King of Slaughter's hand, the spectators who had been watching suddenly swelled as though controlled by an invisible force. Then, amid a burst of blinding red light, they exploded. Their bodies seemed to transform into thick blood, rapidly merging into the Hell Slaughter Arena, a place steeped in bloodshed and death.

At the same time, the entire Hell Slaughter Arena began to tremble violently. The surrounding walls seemed to come alive, streams of dark red liquid flowing down them. Under the moonlight, that liquid glimmered with an eerie radiance. The air was thick with the stench of blood, making it almost impossible to breathe.

Bai Ying and Hu Liena stood in the arena, but their senses were completely sealed at that moment. Everything around them became blurred, as though they had been thrown into a chaotic world. They could only rely on instinct and each other's aura to determine where the other was.

When Bai Ying's eyes adjusted to the surrounding light again, he discovered that he and Hu Liena were standing on an oval stone platform. The platform floated in the void, surrounded by endless darkness, as though all light had been swallowed away.

The void beneath the platform was bottomless, seemingly concealing countless unknown secrets. A cold wind blew past, bringing a chill that made Bai Ying shudder. He looked around, a powerful sense of unease rising in his heart.

Suddenly, Hu Liena's body began to tremble. Her eyes turned crimson, as though she were being controlled by some force. Her breathing grew rapid, and a cruel smile appeared at the corners of her lips, as though she had become another person.

Bai Ying's heart jolted. He immediately realized that Hu Liena might have been affected by something. He tried to step forward and take her hand, hoping to soothe her, but Hu Liena suddenly tore free and rushed toward the edge of the platform.

Bai Ying reacted quickly. In a single stride, he rushed forward and tightly embraced Hu Liena. He could feel her body trembling violently, as though a powerful force was trying to drag her into the abyss.

Bai Ying took a deep breath, focused his mind, and slowly poured Soul Power into Hu Liena's body. As the Soul Power flowed, Hu Liena's body gradually stopped trembling, and her crimson eyes slowly returned to normal. She looked up at Bai Ying, her eyes filled with gratitude and dependence.

The two continued forward cautiously, every step taken with extreme care. The darkness around them seemed alive, tightly enclosing them and preventing them from seeing the path ahead. A sense of oppression rose in Bai Ying's heart, but he knew he had to remain calm and steadfast.

Suddenly, an idea struck Bai Ying. He took a Lighting Soul Tool from his Storage Soul Tool. With a gentle press of the switch, a bright light instantly illuminated the space around them. Under its glow, the once-blurred path ahead became clear.

Bai Ying lightly pressed the switch of the Flying Soul Tool, and a pair of wings glowing with faint blue light slowly unfolded from his back. The wings flapped softly, carrying him and Hu Liena gradually into the air. Hu Liena curiously stroked the wings, excitement shining in her eyes.

When they flew into midair, a horrifying sight suddenly unfolded before them. Beneath the Hell Road lay a boundless Sea of Blood. The Sea of Blood churned violently, its dark red liquid rolling as though alive and giving off a nauseating stench. Beneath the moonlight, its surface shimmered with an eerie glow, as though countless souls were struggling and wailing within it.

Bai Ying and Hu Liena were stunned by the shocking sight, both drawing sharp breaths. Hu Liena tightly grasped Bai Ying's hand, her eyes filled with fear and unease. Bai Ying stared intently at the Sea of Blood below, a powerful sense of dread rising within him. He knew that this Sea of Blood had to be where the City of Slaughter's Bloody Mary was found, the source of the entire City of Slaughter.

Bai Ying and Hu Liena hovered in midair, with the churning Sea of Blood beneath them and its foul stench rushing into their noses. They felt the temperature rising higher and higher, as though they were inside a massive furnace.

Within the Sea of Blood, the dark red liquid rolled like boiling lava, constantly churning and emitting gurgling sounds. From time to time, one or two mutilated corpses floated to the surface, an especially horrifying sight.

Bai Ying stared ahead, trying to find traces of an exit. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his heart was filled with vigilance. He knew that on this Hell Road filled with danger, any lapse in attention could bring fatal consequences.

Hu Liena clung tightly to Bai Ying's side. Her face was pale, and fine beads of sweat covered her forehead. From time to time, she looked down at the Sea of Blood below, her eyes full of fear and unease.

Bai Ying and Hu Liena hovered in midair as the Sea of Blood's stench intertwined with scorching waves of heat, forming a suffocating pressure. They moved forward slowly, every step feeling especially heavy.

The Sea of Blood below churned even more violently, and something terrifying seemed to lurk beneath its dark red waves. Bai Ying's heart tightened as he silently released Soul Power, forming an invisible barrier around himself and Hu Liena.

Hu Liena's face grew even paler. She bit her lower lip tightly, struggling to overcome the fear in her heart. She felt the temperature continuously rising, as though even the air were burning. She tightly gripped Bai Ying's hand, seeking a trace of comfort.

Suddenly, a piercing roar came from the Sea of Blood, as though something were awakening. Bai Ying's pupils contracted as he looked down warily. At the center of the Sea of Blood, a massive vortex slowly formed. Dark red liquid surged madly into it, as though some terrifying creature were about to be born from within.