The Third Trial's Content, Clearing Slaughter City?

The room was silent for a few moments.

Luo Shang walked over, crouched down, and looked Luo Yun in the eye. He placed his hands on Luo Yun's shoulders with a firm but gentle pressure.

"Xiao Yun, listen to me." Luo Shang's voice was serious, lacking its usual laziness. "The Law of Destruction is powerful, and the Moon Eclipse Sword is equally so. But you are only six years old; your body and spirit have not yet matured. It is perfectly normal that you cannot control that power."

He paused, his gaze darkening.

"I have seen too many people destroy themselves because they obtained power they weren't ready for."

Luo Yun pressed his lips together.

"So, until you can fully control it—until you reach level thirty—try not to use the Moon Eclipse Sword. And do not, under any circumstances, invoke the Law of Destruction."

Luo Yun was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"I understand."

Luo Shang looked into his eyes, confirming he wasn't just brushing him off, before letting go and standing up.

"Go to sleep."

"Afterward, I will teach you real swordsmanship."

"Real swordsmanship? Does what we did before not count?"

"That was just me playing with you."

Luo Yun: "..."

Douluo God Realm.

Tree of Life.

God of Destruction sat on a branch, legs crossed, one hand propping up his chin. His violet-red eyes peered through the sea of clouds, fixed on that azure planet.

His expression was sour.

"Not allowed to use it?" He let out a cold snort. "This Luo Shang really doesn't know what's good for him."

Goddess of Life, sitting beside him, couldn't help but laugh at his words.

"Isn't it normal for a father to be concerned for his son? Your power of destruction is so overwhelming; if a six-year-old child can't control it and something goes wrong, what then?"

"Something goes wrong?" God of Destruction's voice rose slightly. "With My divine sense attached to him, what could possibly go wrong?"

"You cannot stay attached to him forever."

Goddess of Life shook her head. "Besides, possession like that is a burden on the child's body."

God of Destruction opened his mouth, then closed it again.

He had to admit that Little Green made sense.

But he would never admit it out loud.

"Xiao Zi." Goddess of Life looked at him, a helpless smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Can you stop being so... overprotective? The boy's father has his own plans; you don't need to interfere."

"This Seat is not being overprotective." God of Destruction turned his face away, his violet-red eyes narrowing slightly.

"This Seat simply feels that the brat was born to wield the power of destruction. Look at him when he holds the Moon Eclipse Sword—that look in his eyes, that stance—it is clearly..."

"Just like you when you were young?" Goddess of Life finished for him.

God of Destruction was silent for a moment.

"...Something like that."

Goddess of Life smiled and shook her head, saying nothing more.

She understood Xiao Zi.

He never yielded in words, but he knew better than anyone what was right.

So, he was only complaining; he had no real intention of forcibly interfering.

God of Destruction propped up his chin, his gaze falling back onto Douluo Continent, and suddenly, the corners of his mouth curled upward.

"Come to think of it, I recall a place that would be perfect for the brat to practice the power of destruction."

Goddess of Life's fingers paused.

"What place?"

"Slaughter City."

"Isn't that the inheritance ground of Asura God?"

"It won't be for long."

Goddess of Life's brows furrowed slightly, but they quickly smoothed out. She looked at the smug expression on God of Destruction's face and sighed helplessly.

Xiao Zi was still as mischievous as ever.

Douluo Continent.

Rose Hotel, late at night.

Luo Yun lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

The destructive power of the Moon Eclipse sword, the laws of life within the Sun Corona Sword, the fierce beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest... these things swirled around in his mind.

Just as he was finally drifting off into a hazy slumber, two voices suddenly rang out in his head.

One was deep and cold:

"Destruction Nine Trials, Third Trial: Clear Slaughter City. Time limit: five years. Reward: one God-bestowed soul ring, soul power increased by three levels. Failure penalty: erasure."

The other was gentle and clear:

"Life Nine Trials, Third Trial: Complete the Third Trial of the Destruction Nine Trials. Time limit: five years. Reward: one God-bestowed soul ring, soul power increased by three levels. Failure penalty: erasure."

Luo Yun snapped his eyes open.

Slaughter City.

What kind of place was that?

Before he could figure it out, his body acted faster than his brain.

Springing up from the bed, he rushed to the door of the room across the hall in a few strides and pounded on it.

"Dad! Dad!"

Luo Shang had only just fallen asleep.

He had been much more exhausted than Luo Yun throughout their journey.

He was the one who did the fighting, led the way, and kept watch; Luo Yun only had to follow along.

Being woken up by the knocking, his first reaction was annoyance.

Only upon hearing Luo Yun's voice did he roll out of bed and pull the door open. His hair was a mess and his eyes were bloodshot, but his mind was already sharp.

"What is it?"

"The third trial is here."

Luo Shang's brows knitted together instantly, his sleepiness swept away. He pulled Luo Yun into the room, shut the door, and pressed him down to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Speak."

Luo Yun took a deep breath, enunciating each word: "Slaughter City. Clear it. Time limit: five years. Reward: a God-bestowed soul ring and three levels of soul power. Failure... erasure."

Luo Shang fell silent.

His hand slid off Luo Yun's shoulder and hung by his side, his fingers tightening slightly. He said nothing.

"Dad?" Luo Yun called out tentatively.

Luo Shang did not answer.

He walked to the window and pushed it open. The night wind poured in, carrying the unique clamor of the Soto City night.

In the distance, people were singing, others were arguing, and the sound of carriage wheels rumbled past.

These sounds mingled together, completely out of tune with his current mood.

Slaughter City.

That place...

A forbidden zone for soul masters, a hotbed of sin.

There were no laws there, no rules, only the law of the jungle where the weak were prey to the strong.

Those who entered Slaughter City were forbidden from using soul power, forced to rely on the most primitive methods.

Flesh, weapons, and instinct to slaughter.

Out of a hundred people who went in, fewer than one came out alive.

And his son, at six years old, to enter that place...

Luo Shang closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

In his heart, he had already cursed the guy who issued these divine trials countless times.

Bullshit divine trials.

Over and over again.

First, they sent a six-year-old child to the core circle of the Star Dou Great Forest, and now they were sending the same child to Slaughter City.

Was this a test or a death sentence?

But after he finished cursing, he calmed down.

Anger was useless.

Cursing wouldn't change the facts.

"Is this place very dangerous?" Luo Yun's voice came from behind him, tinged with uncertainty.

Luo Shang turned around and looked at his son.

He thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth.

"It is very dangerous," Luo Shang said. "Slaughter City will prohibit you from using soul power; there, you can only fight using your martial soul and your physical body. And the people inside are all desperate outlaws who lick blood off the edge of a blade."