City of Slaughter, Rakshasa Tang San?

The excruciating pain caused by Xiao Wu's sacrifice did not lessen with the passage of time; instead, it gnawed at Tang San's soul day and night like a malignant tumor. After burying Xiao Wu's body in a beautiful, secluded place, he left, but he didn't know where to go.

The world was vast, and it seemed there was nowhere left for him. Shrek Academy? He was ashamed to return, and feared bringing disaster to his teachers and companions. The Tuoba Family was unfamiliar and distant to him, especially given his current state...

He wandered aimlessly, like a walking corpse. When thirsty, he drank from mountain springs and streams; when hungry, he picked wild fruits or hunted the lowest-ranking Soul Beast to fill his stomach; when tired, he would find a tree hollow or rock crevice to curl up for the night.

His eyes were vacant, his clothes were tattered, and the extraordinary aura brought by his two Martial Soul, the Crimson Gold Dragon and the Man Faced Demon Spider, had long been covered by deep sorrow and numbness. Most of the time, his mind was blank, and he just moved his feet instinctively.

Occasionally, during moments of lucidity, the scene of Xiao Wu's sacrifice would replay with unparalleled clarity, causing him excruciating pain that would convulse his entire body. He could only barely suppress the almost unbearable despair by frantically pounding on trees and rocks until his hands were a bloody mess.

Unbeknownst to him, a cold and obscure Divine Sense, like an invisible hand, was subtly guiding his direction within his muddled subconscious. Whenever he stood at a crossroads, an inexplicable pull would always lead him to choose the path that led to a more desolate and darker place.

This was a contingency plan left by the Asura God. As early as the day Tang San was born, that Divine Sense containing the Golden Dragon Bloodline and the seed of killing intent had already quietly lain dormant, waiting only for the right moment to guide this carefully chosen pawn to the pre-set trial ground— the City of Slaughter.

It was a paradise for the Fallen One and a purgatory for the strong. Only there could Tang San's killing intent and potential be fully unleashed, adding a crucial stroke to the Asura God's scheme.

A month later, Tang San unknowingly entered a mountain range shrouded in gray mist year-round. The air was damp and cold, filled with a faint smell of Sulfur and decay.

The vegetation was sparse and strange, with an unhealthy purplish-black hue. Instinctively, he walked towards the source of the densest deathly silence and bloody smell deep in the mountains.

Finally, at the end of a desolate valley, he saw a strange castle made entirely of dark, massive stones.

The castle stood there all alone, without any flags or signs, except for a huge, strangely patterned metal gate that was tightly shut. Standing before the gate was a knight completely covered in black armor, his face hidden under a helmet.

The knight wielded a massive Knight Lance, its tip a dark red, as if congealed with countless drops of blood. Beneath him rode a Skeleton Warhorse with eyes blazing with ghostly flames. There was no Life Aura, only the pure will of death and slaughter permeating the air—this was the entrance to the City of Slaughter and its guardian: the Death Knight.

Tang San walked numbly toward the gate. The Death Knight moved; the Skeleton Warhorse let out a silent neigh, and the Knight Lance, with a piercing shriek that tore through the air, stabbed straight for Tang San's heart! The speed and power of this thrust far surpassed that of an ordinary Soul Sage!

If Tang San were in a conscious state, he might have dodged or blocked. But now, with his heart ashen, he neither dodged nor blocked, but simply raised his Crimson Gold Dragon Claw to meet the spear tip.

"Clang--!"

The deafening clang of metal echoed through the valley. Tang San was jolted back several steps, his arm numb, but the Death Knight's spear thrust also faltered. Two crimson lights flickered beneath the knight's helmet, seemingly surprised by the prey's strength.

"To enter the City of Slaughter, you must pass a test." A cold, stiff voice came from beneath the helmet. "Defeat me, or drink this cup."

The knight raised his other hand, and a rough ceramic cup appeared in his hand, filled with a viscous, dark red liquid that smelled strongly of rust— Bloody Mary.

Tang San stared at the liquid in the glass, the lingering smell of blood causing a jolt of pain in his numb nerves. He frowned in disgust, but without hesitation, he charged at the Death Knight once more.

He needs pain, he needs to fight, he needs something to fill the void in his heart!

Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track became even more unpredictable and elusive than ever before. The Death Knight's attacks were powerful and heavy, but his technique was relatively rigid.

Relying on instinct, Tang San used both his Crimson Gold Dragon Claw and Eight Spider Lances (which had been restored after Xiao Wu's sacrifice) to avoid direct attacks, focusing instead on his joints and gaps in his armor. His Combat Method was characterized by a reckless madness, a style of fighting that traded injury for injury.

In the end, Tang San risked having his left shoulder pierced by the Knight Lance, his Crimson Gold Dragon Claw claw tearing open the seam of the Death Knight's neck armor! No blood spurted out, only a wisp of black mist dissipated.

The Death Knight's movements came to an abrupt halt, and then he and his horse vanished into thin air, leaving only a black token lying on the ground with a hideous skull engraved on it.

"Crack, crack, crack..." The heavy metal door slowly opened inward, revealing a deep, dark passage behind it, and an even stronger stench of blood and depravity rushed out.

Tang San picked up the token, clutching his bleeding shoulder, and stepped into the passage expressionlessly. Darkness swallowed his figure, and the door slowly closed behind him.

The passage was long and sloping downwards, with stones embedded in the walls on both sides emitting a faint green light, barely providing illumination. After walking for about fifteen minutes, the view suddenly opened up before him, but the sight made his lifeless heart twitch slightly.

This is a vast underground city. The sky (if it can be called a sky) is dark red, like congealed blood. There is no Sun, Moon, and Stars, only an eternal red light providing dim illumination.

The city's buildings are mostly dilapidated and bizarre in style, resembling a haphazard pile of remnants from various eras.

The air was thick with a nauseating mixture of smells: the heavy stench of blood, the putrid stench of rotting corpses, cheap alcohol, and an indescribable, sour odor belonging to desperate souls.

The streets were filthy, littered with dark brown stains and scattered bones. Some emaciated figures with numb, empty eyes huddled in corners, like corpses waiting to rot. This was the Outer City of the City of Slaughter.

Based on the information he received from his guide upon entering the sect and the short "protection period" for newcomers, Tang San learned that private duels were prohibited in the Outer City, and order was maintained by the Enforcement Squad of the King of Slaughter. However, one had to pay two cups of "Bloody Mary" every month to qualify for survival.

The Inner City, however, is a true lawless place where only the strong can survive, but each year they must participate in at least one life-or-death battle in the Hell Slaughter Arena.

Although Tang San was disheartened upon arriving in this place, the moral values he had developed over the years in the normal world had not been completely eradicated. This caused him great harm.

Once, while searching for food (food was extremely scarce here and had to be exchanged for Bloody Mary or Slaughter Value), he saw a thin, shivering little girl huddled in a corner, looking at him pitifully, which reminded him of Xiao Wu. Tang San's heart softened, and he threw her a piece of black bread.

The girl gratefully accepted the food and wolfed it down. Just as Tang San turned to leave, a fierce glint appeared in the girl's eyes, and a poisoned dagger silently slid from her hand, stabbing towards Tang San's back with lightning speed! Her movements were ruthless and cunning, far beyond what one would expect from an ordinary child!

Fortunately, Tang San's Purple Demon Eye remained alert, and he dodged to the side at the last second. The dagger sliced through Tang San's sleeve, leaving a trail of blood. Tang San was both shocked and furious, and with a backhand slap, he sent Tang San flying.

The girl slammed into the wall, coughing up blood as she collapsed. A twisted smile played on her lips as she hoarsely roared, "Heh heh... the newbie... soft-hearted... is just asking for death... here... only the strong survive... Goodness... is the most useless thing..."

Looking at the girl's twisted face and crazed eyes, Tang San felt a chill in his heart. Everyone here was a fallen beast, and compassion was the most deadly poison.

Although the ambush was not fatal, the poison and injuries forced him to hide for half a month. He barely recovered by devouring a few low-level Vampire Bat he happened to encounter with his Eight Spider Lances.

During this time, he was repeatedly robbed of his already meager resources by the Fallen One took advantage of his vulnerability, making it the most difficult period since he entered the City of Slaughter. He almost died in the Outer City due to severe injuries and hunger.

With his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone Skill and the environment of the City of Slaughter suppressed Soul Skill, Tang San narrowly escaped crises time and time again. During this time, he endured the excruciating pain of poison corrosion and thirst, and truly experienced the cruel laws of the City of Slaughter: there is no Goodness, no trust, only naked greed and betrayal.

This lesson, like the last straw, triggered his survival instinct, snapping me out of my daze and sharpening my gaze, making it as cold and piercing as a poisoned dagger.

Once he regained his senses, the flames of revenge burned fiercely within him—for his mother, for Xiao Wu, and for everything the world had inflicted upon him!

"Power... I need power!" Tang San clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, drawing blood, but he was oblivious. His eyes flashed with a crazed light. "No matter the cost, no matter how ruthless I become, I must become stronger! Only with enough power can I take revenge, protect, and stand at the pinnacle, making all my enemies pay the price!"

He knew that the only way to leave this place was through the Hell Road, and he could also obtain the Divine Slaughter's Domain. This was perfectly compatible with the nascent Killing Intent Domain of his own, and would undoubtedly be a powerful aid on his path of revenge.

But he also knew that with his current strength, winning a hundred consecutive matches in the Hell Slaughter Arena was nothing short of a pipe dream. He needed to become stronger faster, by any means necessary!

From then on, Tang San appeared more often in the Inner City. He never participated in the killing arena easily, only completing the minimum participation once a year to maintain his qualification for the Inner City (the Inner City did not require paying Bloody Mary, but it was more dangerous). After all, it was here that he could obtain more "nourishment" to quickly improve his strength.

He spent the vast majority of his time hunting "the Fallen One".

His External Soul Bone, the Eight Spider Lances and the Man Faced Demon Spider Martial Soul, both possess the ability to devour, allowing him to enhance himself by consuming flesh and Soul Power.

However, when he was outside, Dean Flender had repeatedly warned him that this method of devouring the Soul Power and flesh of others was the method of Fallen Soul Master, which was not allowed by the rules of the Douluo Continent. Once discovered, he would be severely punished and executed without mercy.

Therefore, even with such powerful abilities, Tang San has never used them in the outside world, always adhering to his bottom line. But now, in this hellish City of Slaughter, for revenge and for survival, he no longer cares about so-called bottom lines and rules.

At first, he had some psychological barriers, but when he first used the Eight Spider Lances to pierce a Soul Ancestor who was trying to ambush him, and felt the power increase brought about by the devouring of the opponent's flesh and Soul Power, a twisted pleasure replaced the discomfort, and he no longer cared, and convinced himself with "the Fallen One are not human".

The Eight Spider Lances and the Devouring Ability of the Man Faced Demon Spider were practically tailor-made cheat codes for him in the City of Slaughter, a place brimming with "nutrients".

He became increasingly skilled and ruthless. From initially being forced to fight back, he later began to actively hunt. He was like a venomous spider lurking in the shadows, carefully selecting his prey.

His methods became increasingly cruel, no longer aiming for a fatal blow. Sometimes he would deliberately torture his opponents, enjoying their fear and pain before death, as if only in this way could his numb heart feel a trace of life.

Over four years, Tang San, like a venomous spider lurking in the darkness, devoured thousands of Fallen One. With the combined effects of their flesh and Soul Power, his Soul Power Level increased rapidly. In those four years, he never left the City of Slaughter, yet his hands were stained with the blood of thousands of dead. His Cultivation Level soared, breaking through the level 60 bottleneck.

As for the Fifth Soul Ring, two years ago, a 30,000-year-old Death Demon Spider "accidentally" entered the outer area of City of Slaughter and "coincidentally" encountered Tang San, who was in dire need of his Fifth Soul Ring at the time.

After a fierce battle, Tang San successfully hunted it down and obtained the Fifth Soul Ring of the Man Faced Demon Spider Martial Soul. Everything went so smoothly as if it had been arranged, but Tang San, blinded by rage, had no time to think things through.

After reaching level 60, his Soul Power growth stagnated due to the lack of a suitable Sixth Soul Ring. Tang San's prolonged killing and devouring had completely distorted his psyche.

He became irritable and easily angered, viewing everything with deep malice. He hated those who could still feel joy and envied all the beautiful things in the world.

Xiao Wu's smile is clearer in his memory, but in contrast, other people and things in his memory are made to appear incredibly ugly.

Flender's teachings became shackles binding him; the camaraderie among his Shrek friends became tools in his hands; even his mother's dying wish became an excuse for his revenge.

He no longer sought power for revenge; killing and devouring themselves seemed to have become the sole meaning of his existence. The Asura Divine Power flowed quietly within him, constantly amplifying the dark side of his heart and pushing him into an even deeper abyss.

"It's time to end this." Tang San looked towards the Hell Slaughter Arena, where frenzied cheers and roars were coming from. He decided to begin his quest for a hundred consecutive victories.

Having received the signal from the Asura Divine Sense, the King of Slaughter did not make things too difficult for Tang San's participation in the competition, and even secretly instructed the Enforcement Squad to make things easier for him. This meant that Tang San's winning streak, although still full of bloodshed, was less troublesome due to issues outside the rules.

A year later, in the center of the Hell Slaughter Arena, when Tang San used his Eight Spider Lances to pin the head of his last opponent to the ground, the entire arena fell into a deathly silence, followed by an even more frenzied roar. One hundred consecutive wins! A new record was born!

On the high throne, the King of Slaughter, shrouded in black robes, announced in a hoarse voice that Tang San had earned the right to challenge the Hell Road. No one saw that his eyes, beneath the black robes, were filled with awe and obedience to a higher will.

The trials of Hell Road were filled with illusions, Ferocious Beast, and deadly killing intent. But for Tang San, whose mind was already twisted, whose hands were stained with blood, and who possessed the rudimentary form of Killing Intent Domain and the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone Skill, these trials, though fraught with danger, were ultimately overcome by him.

As he stepped out of the end of the Hell Road and breathed in the relatively "fresh" air of the outside world, a powerful killing intent descended from the sky, completely merging and sublimating with the nascent Killing Intent Domain within him!

A dark red domain unfolded around him, filled with chilling killing intent, capable of suppressing an opponent's strength and will to a great extent—this was the complete Divine Slaughter's Domain!

However, just as the Divine Slaughter's Domain was taking shape, another dark purple halo suddenly spread out from Tang San's center, filled with an aura of depravity, evil, and curse! It polluted the pure killing and judgment Divine Slaughter's Domain, thus becoming the Rakshasa Domain, which was infused with resentment, curses, and evil!

At the same time, a deep, seductive, and wicked voice echoed deep within Tang San's mind:

"With slaughter as the catalyst, hatred as the fuel, and a fallen body to inherit my divine God Position... The Rakshasa Spirit Trial begins!"

A complex, dark purple rune was quietly imprinted on the back of Tang San's right hand, radiating an ominous light.

In the distance, in the secret chamber of the Purple Blazing Dragon City, Yu Yuanchen, who had been keeping a wisp of Divine Sense focused on Tang San, slowly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in them.

"The Rakshasa Spirit Trial?" He frowned slightly, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the jade armrest, producing a crisp sound. "That's somewhat unexpected."

"Under normal circumstances, given Tang San's current world-weary, violent, and resentful state, inheriting the Rakshasa God's Rakshasa God Position would be reasonable. After all, in the original story, although Tang San's actions were controversial and his thinking was problematic, he ultimately inherited both the Asura God and the Sea God's Dual Godhood, having the last laugh, and his mental state was excellent."

"But Tang San now, having suffered the blow of Xiao Wu's sacrifice and spent five years in the City of Slaughter, his hands stained with blood, his mind has been completely twisted, he is a complete madman dominated by hatred and killing. Such a person truly fits the corrupt, evil, and power-driven God Position of the Rakshasa God."

"However, a mere successor to the First-level God Rakshasa God is definitely not enough to warrant the Asura God's personal intervention, leaving behind a backup plan to guide him step by step into the City of Slaughter. The Asura God definitely has an extremely important plan regarding Tang San."

Yu Yuanchen's fingers paused slightly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, as if he had thought of a key point, "But since the Asura God hasn't intervened yet, it means Tang San's development hasn't fallen short of his expectations..."

"Unless—" he frowned, his eyes growing even deeper, "the Asura God doesn't care whether Tang San ultimately inherits the Asura God Position or the Rakshasa God Position!"

Becoming the Asura God would naturally be the best outcome, aligning with his initial plan; however, with my presence in the Douluo Continent now, he will undoubtedly be wary, fearing that overt interference would be noticed by me, thus disrupting his plans. Therefore, Tang San becoming the Rakshasa God is sufficient to fulfill his minimum objective."

Whether it is the Asura God or the Rakshasa God, they are essentially God Position whose core is killing. They share the same origin but diverge in their development, and their power is essentially similar.

As long as Tang San can become a god, regardless of which God Position, he can become an important part of the Asura God's scheme. Perhaps this is the Asura God's true calculation.

Yu Yuanchen's gaze turned back towards the Douluo Continent, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if they could penetrate the barriers of space and see the young man who bore the Rakshasa Spirit Trial and exuded an aura of slaughter and evil.

From the moment the Rakshasa Spirit Trial began, Tang San's destiny trajectory completely deviated from its original path, turning from the original path of two gods standing side by side into an unknown and dark abyss.

All of this seems to be part of a God King's meticulous calculations, from which no one can escape.

Tang San stood at the end of Hell Road, feeling the evil power emanating from the runes on the back of his hand, and the dual power within his body that was both filled with a murderous will and mixed with an evil curse. There was no confusion in his eyes, only an even more fervent flame of revenge.

Whether it's the Asura God or the Rakshasa God, as long as he can be given enough power to take revenge, he doesn't care whose God Position he inherits or what abyss he falls into.