Dugu Bo's tone was clearly gloating.
After he finished speaking, he promptly got up and left, afraid he'd be forced to drink the blood wine.
Long Xingyu's cheek twitched slightly as he watched the retreating figure, a fierce glint in his eyes.
That old bastard was definitely getting back at him for beating up his captive not long ago, deliberately trying to disgust him!
So be it. There'd be plenty of chances to settle the score later. His Majesty's mission was unavoidable. Long Xingyu thought this with a muffled grunt, then raised his hand and downed the blood wine.
"You're lucky. There aren't any other guests today."
The server's words carried an implication. She gave him a long look.
She raised her hand and signaled to a companion beside the bar to open the entrance hidden underground.
As though a seal had been broken, thick, bloody qi surged up in an instant, flooding out from the depths of the void.
Even Long Xingyu couldn't help frowning. Recalling the intelligence he'd gathered in Heaven Dou City, he had to admit this place truly deserved to be called the City of Slaughter.
This savage, bloodthirsty aura really did suit the Divine Throne of Apocalypse and Slaughter. No wonder His Majesty had once said he was the best person for this mission!
"The one who's lucky is someone else."
Long Xingyu got to his feet and glanced casually at the server.
According to the City of Slaughter's rules, if several people entered at once, they had to fight each other first.
That was what the server had been teasing him about, though she didn't know the man before her was strong enough to cut his way through the entire Hell.
Without further delay, Long Xingyu leaped into the darkness.
He fell several meters, then landed steadily on the solid floor.
He had been releasing spiritual power the entire time, silently covering the surface of his body to guard against ambushes and traps.
Soon, his vision cleared. A long passage stretched before him, opening into a vast space at its end.
A huge drawbridge hung over the abyss. Beyond it stood the Gate of Hell, with countless black-armored knights patrolling back and forth, weapons in hand.
"Not bad. They've really gone to some effort..."
Long Xingyu strolled forward, quietly taking in his surroundings.
Compared with the Heaven Dou Empire army he'd seen on the way here, this force could be considered elite.
But that was all. Compared with the army of the Holy Demon Federation, they were no better than raw recruits.
After all, to invade the Douluo Continent, Lin Feng had planned for hundreds of years, constantly selecting and drilling his troops. Every soldier who had survived to this day was an elite.
That was why Long Xingyu's attitude remained casual after looking them over.
The black knights nearby noticed his nonchalant manner.
Their captain was clearly displeased. He gave a cold snort and stepped forward, blocking Long Xingyu's way.
"You haven't passed the trial. You aren't qualified to enter the City of Slaughter."
He planted his weapon in front of him and pointed it at Long Xingyu as he approached.
"You mean killing your competitors? In that case, I don't see why killing you wouldn't count."
Long Xingyu didn't take him seriously. He quietly stirred the spiritual power in his body and felt no resistance at all.
Normally, once someone entered the City of Slaughter, Soul Skills from the Douluo World stopped working, leaving them with only their basic strength.
But Long Xingyu came from the neighboring Holy Demon Continent. He wasn't a native, so the local "rules" couldn't touch him. They had no effect on him whatsoever.
Seal Soul Skills? Even block the flow of Soul Power?
What did that have to do with him? He'd never had any of that stuff in the first place!
He took the Holy Sword from his storage space, gripped it, and rushed to meet his opponent, its light blazing.
With a sharp clang, the black knight spat blood and flew backward. His aura instantly faded, and he died.
"Well? Can I enter now?"
Long Xingyu wasn't bloodthirsty, but he wasn't a saint, either.
Before coming here, he'd already learned about the City of Slaughter from Dugu Bo.
From prisoners to guards, there wasn't a single innocent person. Kill, or be killed—the principle was cruel but simple.
Inside him, the Divine Throne of Apocalypse and Slaughter stirred faintly. The intense fighting spirit was unlike anything he'd ever felt before.
It looked like he'd really come to the right place!
So my father-in-law wants to test me along the way!
After all, the Divine Throne of Apocalypse and Slaughter had been forged during the era of the war between humans and demons. Its nature was obvious from the name alone.
But on the Holy Demon Continent today, Lin Feng had already unified everything before Long Xingyu was born. There'd been no chance for him to kill to his heart's content.
And even after coming to the Douluo Continent, he couldn't go on a killing spree at will, not if he was thinking about the long-term interests. He could only fight when necessary.
The City of Slaughter was the one exception.
Here, he had no qualms and could act without restraint.
By the time he earned a hundred victories, his compatibility with the Divine Throne would probably be maxed out.
"You killed him, so you've earned the right to enter the City of Slaughter. Welcome to death and hell."
Another black knight stepped out. He looked like a captain too, and his voice was cold and flat. His comrade's death hadn't moved him.
He casually tossed over a token, the City of Slaughter's "identification card." Long Xingyu had already learned about it, so he took it without surprise.
Then, under the gaze of countless black knights, he calmly walked through the towering gate. A woman wearing a black veil had been waiting for him. She welcomed him with a smile.
"Did that man cheat?"
A moment later, a burly black knight appeared.
Several men in black robes followed beside him, their bodies faintly radiating strange energy.
At his question, one of them shook his head and answered the Black Knight Commander in a tone of astonished confusion.
"My lord, we didn't detect any Soul Skill fluctuations."
"He didn't even activate the Soul Power in his body."
"It's very strange. From the way he fought, he clearly used some kind of energy. But why couldn't we detect it?"
The Black Knight Commander frowned as he stared at Long Xingyu's retreating figure. After a pause, he chose not to investigate further. The limits of the rules here were flexible.
"If he didn't use a Soul Skill, then he didn't break the rules."
"A win is a win. The City of Slaughter doesn't care about the details!"
"Throw out that good-for-nothing's corpse. Also, send a few men to keep a close eye on that one from now on."
The Black Knight Commander issued his orders, then turned and left.
Long Xingyu, who was already far away, knew nothing about this little incident.
Or rather, even if he did know, it wouldn't matter. He was here to complete his mission.
As long as he steadily fulfilled everything His Majesty Lin Feng had entrusted to him, the rest of the trouble was nothing.
"Welcome to the City of Slaughter. I'm your guide."
"For the next twelve hours, I'll answer all your questions."
"After that, you'll officially become one of us and enjoy a life of depravity and slaughter."
The woman guiding him spoke in a bewitching voice, explaining the things he wanted to know and filling in the gaps in his understanding.
What he found most useful was the information about the Enforcement Squad. Those people could use Soul Power?
And their captain was a Titled Douluo, with the King of Slaughter above him. Those two would pose the greatest threat to completing his mission safely!
"You've only just arrived in the City of Slaughter. I suggest you spend some time adjusting in the outer city."
"Even if you have a few special tricks, the inner city is cruel. Strength alone won't keep you safe."
The Guide offered a quiet reminder. Long Xingyu agreed completely; he already had a plan in mind.
For the Holy Demon Federation's army to arrive on the Douluo Continent in waves, he would need a stable, large-scale teleportation array.
Even if he only sent an elite force, setting everything up would be complicated. Inscribing the array patterns throughout the outer city should make things much easier.
"All right. I don't need a beginner's protection period."
"Leave. I want to look around on my own..."
Before you continue