Journey to the Slaughter City Ruins, Blood Treasure: A Man's Gospel, and a Strange Fate

"Hell falls, the Blood Sea descends, sin and blood return to the world. One day, all life shall be plunged into misery..."

Xu Jiujiu read it out word by word, then her gaze fell upon the signature beneath the line.

Sky Wolf Douluo. The signature was dated more than eight thousand years ago.

Below that was a large amount of writing that appeared far clearer.

Naturally, this writing had been left by Blood Bat Douluo.

It roughly described how he had obtained the map left behind by Sky Wolf Douluo through a fortunate coincidence. In pursuit of greater strength, he had chosen to investigate it, eventually discovering a forbidden land in the northern mountain ranges of the Heaven Dou Empire that defied all worldly imagination, where he had reaped enormous gains.

Yet what caught Xu Jiujiu's attention most were the ten words: "Suspected ruins of the ancient Slaughter City."

Slaughter City? Slaughter City?

Xu Jiujiu silently repeated the name to herself, suddenly recalling a record from an ancient tome.

Slaughter City, paradise of the fallen. It had once been a prison where Spirit Hall, the leading force among ancient Soul Masters, imprisoned the most vicious criminals and Soul Masters.

According to even deeper legends, Slaughter City was a domain left behind by a powerful Soul Master after breaking through level one hundred. Within it lay an endless, poisonous Blood Sea and countless terrifying Soul Beasts. Yet at the same time, anyone who successfully passed Slaughter City's trials could obtain a powerful domain known as Divine Slaughter's Domain.

Both the Sea God Tang San and the Rakshasa God Bibi Dong had once possessed this domain.

A moment later, Xu Jiujiu set down the parchment, which had been treated with a special technique that could preserve it for thousands of years, and looked at Qiangu Yunche seated across from her. She said softly,

"Many ancient texts contain records of Slaughter City, but ever since the Age of the Seven Gods, no one has been able to find its exact location."

"Thinking about it now, perhaps Slaughter City was destroyed during the Age of the Seven Gods. That must be why the number of fallen Soul Masters on the continent kept growing afterward. Endless chaos and sin caused later generations to loathe and reject Soul Masters with evil Martial Souls from the bottom of their hearts, until the two sides ultimately became utterly irreconcilable and each embarked upon a road to ruin."

Qiangu Yunche nodded. "Gods may be far less noble and pure than we imagine, but that is not something we can judge now. Still, I believe this suspected Slaughter City ruin is well worth investigating."

Xu Jiujiu frowned slightly. "Yunche, are you sure? If it truly is the ruins of Slaughter City, its danger will be no less than that of any forbidden land in the world..."

"Danger and opportunity coexist. It is said that Slaughter City once retained the power of two gods. There may very well be something there that I need, so I must make this journey."

Qiangu Yunche's resolute tone completely dispelled Xu Jiujiu's intention to continue persuading him.

"Then remember to bring more powerful people with you. If that truly won't do, have Grandpa Qian Jun go with you." Xu Jiujiu fell silent for a moment before finally speaking.

Qian Jun was Qiangu Chengjun's title—Qian Jun Douluo, Qiangu Chengjun.

Hearing this, Qiangu Yunche shook his head and said,

"No. I have my own path to walk. What kind of man would I be if I kept living under my elders' protection?"

Xu Jiujiu was left speechless. In the end, she could only say,

"Then be careful in all things. Also, when are you leaving? I'll prepare a few defensive Soul Tools for you. Consider it another layer of protection..."

Rather than merely thinking about it, he acted. After informing his family and Qiangu Chengjun, Qiangu Yunche spent three days preparing. During that time, Xu Jiujiu gathered numerous high-grade defensive Soul Tools. Her determination to wrap every inch of Qiangu Yunche from head to toe in protection left him both amused and helpless.

Still, to be safe, Qiangu Yunche selected several high-grade Soul Tools and carried them with him.

Before departing, as he looked into Xu Jiujiu's eyes filled with worry and listened to her one warning after another, Qiangu Yunche could not help but feel a ripple stir within his heart.

He had once heard a saying.

No matter how hypocritical or complicated a person's nature might be, they would have two moments of sincerity in their lifetime. One was when they first fell in love, and the other was when they knowingly did what could not be done.

After waving goodbye, Qiangu Yunche bid farewell to Xu Jiujiu and Star Luo City. He spread his Emerald Wings and, in but a few moments, vanished completely into the sea of clouds.

According to the map drawn on the parchment and Blood Bat Douluo's account, Slaughter City was located within a mountain range in the northeastern Heaven Dou Empire. The greatest characteristic of that mountain range was that everything within it was blood-red.

Following that clue, Qiangu Yunche headed north all the way, eventually stopping at a medium-sized city.

After making inquiries in the city's black market, Qiangu Yunche ultimately spent ten Gold Soul Coins to learn the information he wanted from a shifty-looking vendor.

"Oh, my dear young master, I might not know much about other things, but when it comes to the Blood-Colored Forest, I know it like the back of my hand."

"Head roughly five hundred li east from this city, and you'll reach the edge of the Blood-Colored Forest. That forest is filled with dangers, but its specialties are highly favored by wealthy merchants and important figures..."

Qiangu Yunche's interest was piqued. "What specialties?"

The vendor smiled mysteriously, then leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Every plant and animal in the Blood-Colored Forest produces a blood-red fruit. That fruit is good stuff, called Blood Treasure."

"As the saying goes, if a man wants healthy kidneys, he needs Blood Treasure. Eat one, and you're faster than the god of speed, harder than the god of war. One refreshes the mind, two banish fatigue forever, and three grant immortality."

"So, would you like one, young master? I'm running a promotion lately: twenty percent off everything, and buy ten, get one free! I guarantee you'll conquer three thousand women and ascend to heaven in broad daylight!"

Qiangu Yunche: "..."

"What a pity you aren't a spokesperson for Kidney Treasure."

With those words, Qiangu Yunche turned and left, leaving the vendor calling after him.

"Hey, hey! Don't go, young master! If it comes down to it, I'll give you twenty percent off! And if that won't do, I'll lend you my wife so you can test the goods..."

Qiangu Yunche walked even faster upon hearing that.

I really need to visit this black market less in the future. It's too easy to contaminate my ears.

How was this any different from the Netherworld?

Still, he had obtained the information he wanted, so his ears had not suffered for nothing.

After resting for the night and turning down several women on the street who had fallen in love with him at first sight and tried to strike up a conversation, Qiangu Yunche flew straight east of the city early the next morning.

After flying for about an hour, a distant smear of red appeared before him. Even the wind blowing toward him carried a faint stench of blood.

"Tch, what a nauseating smell."

Qiangu Yunche had only just voiced his observation while hovering in the air when he saw a column of smoke abruptly rise straight up several kilometers to his left.

The smoke shot directly into the sky, rising a thousand meters before exploding with a boom. Dense dark green formed the image of an ugly yet oddly cute monster in the air, accompanied by a distinctive fluctuation of Soul Power.

"No way it could be this much of a coincidence, right?"

Qiangu Yunche froze. If one asked which force on the continent had a particular fondness for dark green and monster emblems, the answer hardly needed guessing...