The mornings in the Slaughter City are forever shrouded in an impenetrable blood mist.
In the open space of the courtyard, the Clear Sky Hammer crashed down with a low whistling sound, its dark red blade sweeping across the ground and carving a half-foot-deep furrow in the hard black stone.
Tang San put away his hammer and stood up, a thin layer of sweat beading on his forehead. The murderous aura around him slowly receded into his body through his pores. His movements were fluid and without the slightest hesitation.
This was his daily morning routine, which he had maintained without fail for two years. He would get up at the crack of dawn every day to hone his techniques and condense his inner essence, until he had completely drained all the Soul Power in his body before he would stop.
As Xiao Wu walked over carrying a bowl of water, she just saw the last wisp of dark red on the hammer tip dissipate.
She handed him the water pouch and said softly, "Take a break. You just broke through recently, don't rush your training."
Tang San took the water pouch, tilted his head back and drank two mouthfuls. His Adam's apple bobbed, and the lines of his profile were as hard as if they had been carved with a knife.
"It's alright, this level of intensity is nothing."
He put down the water pouch, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the patterns on the hammer handle, his eyes still holding a sharp edge.
When he was practicing the thirty-sixth move, Bibi Dong's condescending gaze flashed through his mind, as did the layers of restrictions Tranquil Mind Hall. A surge of anger welled up in his heart, and he almost lost control of his hammering power.
Fortunately, it was eventually brought under control.
He didn't tell Xiao Wu, taking it as just a normal emotional fluctuation.
"Please don't go out today, okay?" Xiao Wu squatted down, her fingertips gently brushing away the bloodstains on his trouser leg.
"Just meditate in the courtyard, and I'll tell you about my time at Shrek."
Tang San paused, looking down at her.
There was a cautious, tentative look in her eyes, as if she were afraid of something.
His heart softened, and he reached out to ruffle her hair, his voice lowering, "Okay, we won't go out today."
He knew she was worried.
But some things can't be solved by hiding in the yard.
Bibi Dong's Rakshasa power grows stronger every day, and her great-grandfather's curse grows heavier every day. If he doesn't seize the time to become stronger, he won't even have the confidence to protect her next time they face each other.
After resting for less than half an incense stick's time, he picked up the hammer again.
"Let's do one last set, and I'll talk to you afterward."
Xiao Wu pursed her lips, didn't try to persuade her anymore, and stepped back to the corner of the courtyard to stand quietly and watch.
The hammer whirlwind resumed, initially steady, each strike landing precisely on its intended target.
As Tang San practiced more deeply, his killing intent gradually overflowed uncontrollably, and dark red mist clung to the hammer, becoming several degrees denser than before.
The stench of blood in the air grew heavier, making one's chest feel heavy and suffocated.
Suddenly, he flicked his wrist and swung the hammer diagonally out.
The hammer blow veered off course, carrying a chilling killing intent as it hurtled straight toward the corner of the courtyard. There stood Xiao Wu.
" Tang San!"
Xiao Wu gasped in surprise, instinctively raising her hand to protect her head, her pink Soul Power instinctively forming a barrier in front of her.
"Bang--"
The hammer grazed her side and slammed into the courtyard wall, instantly cracking the thick black stone wall and creating a gap half a person's width, sending rubble flying.
As the dust settled, Tang San stood there, his hand gripping the hammer slightly tighter. The dark red in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by a trace of bewilderment and lingering fear.
He almost hurt her just now.
" Xiao Wu!"
He immediately dropped the hammer and rushed over, reaching out to touch her, but fearing his murderous aura would startle her, his hand froze in mid-air, his voice trembling:
"How are you? Are you hurt?"
Xiao Wu lowered her hand, her face a little pale, but she still shook her head.
"I'm fine, it just grazed the edge."
She looked up at him, her worry no longer concealed.
" Third Brother, what you just did... do you even realize it?"
Tang San's Adam's apple bobbed, and he looked away.
"I know. I just lost my composure for a moment. I won't do it again next time."
"Next time?" Xiao Wu's voice trembled slightly.
"Will there be a next time? You can't even control it when you're cultivating, what will you do in the future?"
"I told you I could control it."
His tone suddenly turned cold, and only after the words left his mouth did he realize they were too harsh, so he softened his voice again.
"I was just lost in thought about the Spirit Hall. It won't happen again, don't worry."
Xiao Wu looked at him, her lips moved, but she ultimately didn't say anything more.
She knew he was strong-willed, and she knew he refused to admit that he was affected by the Asura Power.
But the coldness and violence in his eyes just now couldn't be faked.
That wasn't the Tang San she knew.
The atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly became heavy.
Gravel was scattered all over the ground, and blood mist seeped in through the gap in the wall, creating a hazy, indistinct barrier, as if separated by an unbridgeable divide.
Tang San bent down and picked up the Clear Sky Hammer, applying slight pressure with his fingertips.
He wasn't unaware of the danger, nor was he unaware that the source was turning against him.
But he had no other choice. Taking a step back meant utter ruin; he could only move forward, even if it meant turning the blade inward and being covered in blood.
Meanwhile, in the inheritance space of Spirit City.
Qian Renxue stood on the 130th step, her steps heavy as if filled with lead.
Golden divine lightning crackled all around her, striking her soul again and again, causing her meridians to throb with pain.
She's been stuck at this level for three days, unable to make any progress.
The aura of the Slaughter City outside surged, like a turbid giant wave, violently impacting the foundation of the Angel Inheritance across space.
Light and darkness are inherently in a state of flux, and the stronger the killing intent, the more difficult her path of inheritance becomes.
The divine rebuke had already echoed countless times within his soul.
[Your personal feelings have clouded your judgment, and your mind has been distracted, causing the transmission of knowledge to be hindered. Do you know your crime?]
[A chaotic era of slaughter has begun, Asura Power has surged. Only by heading to the Slaughter City, approaching Tang San, and using the Asura's obsession to temper one's character can this stalemate be broken.]
[This is a predetermined test of the Angel Inheritance, and you cannot refuse it again.]
Qian Renxue gritted her teeth, her back ramrod straight, enduring the divine lightning strikes without retreating an inch.
"Now that I have accepted the inheritance, I will rely on my own abilities to complete it. What kind of angelic test is it to try to break through by getting close to others?"
As soon as she finished speaking, an even thicker bolt of golden divine lightning struck down. She groaned, a trace of golden blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. She swayed, but still managed to stand firm.
She refused.
She refused to believe that she couldn't complete the path of inheritance without Tang San.
But reality was crueler than she imagined.
Over the next half day, she tried to take a step three times, and each time she was struck back by divine lightning.
The aura of slaughter continues to rise, and the obstacles to inheritance grow stronger every day.
If this continues, forget about advancing; we won't even be able to maintain our current level.
As dusk fell, Qian Daoliu's divine soul projection appeared at the end of the stairs.
The white-haired old man looked at his granddaughter, who was covered in injuries but remained stubbornly defiant on the steps, and sighed.
" Xue'er, don't try to tough it out." His voice was filled with the weariness of age.
"The test of God is never about following your heart. The Angel Godhood has been passed down for thousands of years, and every successor must pass this test."
It's not that God wants you to be moved by emotions, but that He wants you to guard your moral compass between emotions and the Way.
"Grandpa," Qian Renxue looked up, her voice a little hoarse, "What if I insist on not taking this path?"
"If we don't leave, the legacy will be broken." Qian Daoliu looked at her, his eyes heavy.
" The Spirit Hall cannot wait, nor can the continent. The Rakshasa God is about to be born. If the Angel Godhood remains vacant, the entire continent will be reduced to a dark inferno. What do your personal intentions mean before the common people?"
common people.
These two words felt like two mountains, pressing down on her shoulders.
From the moment she was born, she carried the mission of the Angel Clan and the future of the Spirit Hall.
Her life was never truly her own.
She used to accept it, but after meeting Chen Jieqi, for the first time she had the thought, "I want to choose for myself."
But now, Grandpa is presenting her with the harsh reality.
She chose her heart, and now she has to sacrifice the lives of the entire continent.
Qian Renxue clenched the feather in her palm, her fingertips turning white from the force.
The burn marks on the edges of the feathers clung to the skin, slightly warm, like the person's calm gaze.
She remembered what he had said, "Whether you choose or not, you are still you."
Is it really possible?
If she acts recklessly and causes the lineage to be severed, and lets Rakshasa wreak havoc on the world, can she still be herself?
Qian Daoliu's projection gradually faded, leaving only one last sentence:
"If you still cannot break this deadlock in three days, the inheritance will dissipate on its own. Think it through."
The golden light faded, leaving her alone on the steps.
The divine thunder continued to fall, the killing intent continued to surge, and the golden light around her flickered, mirroring her wavering heart.
She looked down at the feather in her palm for a very long time.
Finally, she slowly closed her eyes.
Ashen Territory, the backyard of the lord's manor.
The holy light at Chen Jieqi's fingertips trembled slightly, and the purification barrier in front of him lit up with fine ripples.
The aura of the Slaughter City surged again, nearly 30% stronger than three days ago, like the rising tide, spreading westward wave after wave.
If he hadn't set up three layers of barriers beforehand, the killing intent would have already seeped into the territory.
He raised his hand, and a platinum-gold light pattern entered the core of the barrier, thickening it by another layer.
After doing all this, the Heart of the Naaru between his brows stirred slightly.
From the direction of Spirit City, the golden angelic aura trembled violently for a moment, then weakened slightly, as if it had suffered a severe blow.
Chen Jieqi's fingertips paused slightly.
Things aren't going well for her.
The surge in murderous intent will first and foremost affect the Angel Inheritance. The Divine Trial will inevitably use this as an opportunity to exert pressure and force her to follow the script.
He lowered his eyes, looking at the silvery-white feather in his palm.
He sent a reminder three days ago, but it went unanswered.
He knew her pride, knew she wouldn't compromise easily, and knew she wouldn't ask others for help.
So he did nothing. He didn't forcibly transfer power, nor did he interfere with the divine test. He simply silently reinforced the Western Territory's barrier, protecting the human world behind her.
This is the only thing he can do, and it's the boundary he should guard.
"Sir, a message has arrived from the western settlement that several families of refugees have recently experienced mild hallucinations, saying they can hear sounds of fighting at night."
The steward strode in and bowed to report.
Chen Jieqi withdrew his hand, his expression calm.
"Understood. I'll go there later to conduct a mass purification. Have someone activate another layer of the protective array at the resettlement site."
"Yes."
After the steward left, the courtyard returned to silence.
Chen Jieqi looked up in the direction of the Slaughter City, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
The murderous aura is rising so quickly; it's not normal.
It doesn't seem like natural growth; it's more like someone is secretly pushing things along.
There would be no one else but Bibi Dong.
She intends to use Tang San to stir up trouble across the entire continent, so she can reap the benefits and complete the Rakshasa God Trial.
Chen Jieqi slowly withdrew his gaze.
He could defend Ashen Territory and the Western Territory, but he couldn't defend the entire continent.
The floodgates of chaos have been opened a crack.
Things will only get more chaotic from now on.
Deep within the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong slowly finished her practice.
The purplish-black Rakshasa aura receded into her body, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips.
very good.
The stronger the killing intent in the Slaughter City, the faster her Rakshasa essence grew. The more Tang San became obsessed with power, the more he was paving the way for her.
She merely made a few subtle moves, sending a few more streams of demonic energy along the earth's veins into the Slaughter City, which caused the Asura's essence within to surge by thirty percent.
Once he is completely consumed by the carnage and loses his mind, that will be the time for her to close the net.
As for Qian Renxue...
Bibi Dong gave a cold laugh.
That proud and arrogant girl won't last much longer. With her inheritance blocked, the divine decree exerting pressure, and Qian Daoliu's insistence on upholding righteousness, she will eventually obey and head to the Slaughter City.
When the Asura clash with the angels, the situation will only become more chaotic.
And she sat at the highest point, watching the pieces fight each other, waiting to reap the final reward.
"Pass on my order: secretly send another batch of Fallen Soul Master into the Slaughter City," she commanded coldly. "Remember, do it cleanly, don't let anyone notice."
"Yes."
The subordinates in the shadows vanished in response, and the hall returned to deathly silence.
Bibi Dong stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the blood-red setting sun.
The game has begun.
Next, we'll have to watch the pieces gradually move towards their inevitable end.
Night fell again.
In the courtyard of the Slaughter City, Tang San had simply plugged up the gap in the wall with stones.
Xiao Wu was sleeping in the inner room, her breathing steady.
Tang San sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, holding the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand, his murderous aura flickering.
He repeatedly circulated his inner energy, trying to suppress the restless source of his inner turmoil, but the more he suppressed it, the stronger the rebound became.
The image of almost hurting Xiao Wu during the day kept replaying in his mind, refusing to leave.
He gripped the hammer handle tightly, his knuckles turning white.
No, it won't.
He will definitely be able to control it.
He would never allow himself to become a mindless monster.
Absolutely not.
In the distant central square, Tang Chen slowly opened his eyes, looked towards the courtyard, and sighed heavily.
What's meant to come will come.
How long can this great-grandson overcome the hurdle he couldn't overcome back then?
Blood mist filled the air, and the long night was sleepless.
Murderous intent grows wildly in the shadows, while divine pronouncements weigh heavily overhead.
Everyone was being pushed forward, and no one knew where the road beneath their feet would ultimately lead.