The Provocateur

At the entrance to Slaughter City, Lin Yi could already smell the thick stench of blood rising into his nostrils. The feeling was so awful that he almost threw up.

Just as he was deep in thought, a mocking voice rang out.

"Hey, little brother, you've never been here before, have you? If you can't even stand the smell, how are you going to enter Slaughter City's inner arena and fight people?"

Lin Yi's gaze darkened. He knew the man was deliberately looking for trouble.

He had learned some of Slaughter City's rules from Tang San before. So although he was angry, he didn't lose his temper. Instead, he smiled calmly.

"Slaughter City isn't your home. What I do here is none of your damn business. What, do you think running your mouth at other people is more useful than matching them with real ability?"

"You!"

The man's face instantly darkened. He raised a hand toward Lin Yi. "You brat, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. I've won fifteen matches in a row in Slaughter City, and you dare show me disrespect?"

"Fifteen matches?"

Lin Yi burst out laughing and held up his little finger toward the man.

"Come on, you're a real joke. I thought you had some earth-shattering opinion, but it turns out you're just spouting garbage. Sure, this is my first time in Slaughter City, but who says I can't win?"

The provocation left the man even more humiliated. His breathing grew heavy.

"You—you're really damn irritating. If you're so tough, then come inside with me. I want to see how many matches you can last in Slaughter City!"

"No problem!"

Lin Yi nodded and agreed, then followed the man inside.

As they reached the entrance, a woman wearing a lace hat came out, a ghostly smile playing on her lips.

"Welcome to Slaughter City, newcomer. Are you sure you want to go in? Once you do, there'll be no chance to regret it."

"Cut the nonsense."

Lin Yi interrupted her rambling and revealed his Dragon God Martial Soul.

The moment the Martial Soul appeared, the people around them were shocked and hurriedly made way. Even the woman, who was accustomed to seeing all kinds of Soul Masters' Martial Souls, looked visibly shaken.

"Y-you... what is your connection to the Dragon God?"

"I'm the Dragon God's inheritor. I came here to awaken the Divine Slaughter's Domain. What, are you planning to refuse?"

"Of course not."

The woman bowed again. "Honored inheritor, we simply didn't expect you to grace Slaughter City with your presence. Since you're willing to face every battle, I naturally won't stop you. Please, follow me inside."

"Mm."

Lin Yi nodded calmly and followed the woman to the center of the killing arena.

The people in the stands noticed the commotion and suddenly went wild. Several Soul Douluo, whose ranks were just below Titled Douluo, had already rushed in front of Lin Yi.

"How rare! A Dragon God Martial Soul, something you only see once in a century, has appeared. Looks like we've really struck it lucky!"

"Cut the chatter!"

Another man glared at his companion. "Focus on dealing with him. If we can absorb that Martial Soul, our strength might soar in an instant. Get him!"

Lin Yi smiled indifferently, then turned to the woman before him.

"If I fight a thousand people at once, can that count as completing one hundred duels in Slaughter City?"

"Fight a thousand at once?"

The woman drew a sharp breath, looking somewhat panicked.

"Honored guest, you should think carefully about the consequences. If you fail..."

"There's no such word as failure in my dictionary."

As he spoke, Lin Yi turned his head toward the King of Slaughter seated on the throne.

"Honored King of Slaughter, would you agree to let me do this?"

King of Slaughter Tang Chen rose to his feet, a cold glint flickering in his eyes.

"Are you sure you want to do something this crazy? All ten thousand could be experts. Even as a divine inheritor, you might not have the strength to fight one battle after another!"

"If I don't try, how will I know whether I can do it?"

Lin Yi was still smiling. As though he faced no difficulty at all, he spoke lightly.

"If you're worried I'll kill too many people, you can certainly stop me."

"No."

Tang Chen smiled faintly. "You may do it, and I won't stop you. A talent like you is a once-in-ten-thousand-years sight, even to me. Young man, what's your name?"

"Lin Yi."

Hearing the name, Tang Chen couldn't help pondering it for a moment.

"Perhaps you'll break one of this place's records and become its new king. But until then, I'll keep my eye on you. I want to see just how powerful you can become, brat."

"Suit yourself."

Lin Yi nodded, then looked back at the eager crowd, a faint curve at the corner of his lips.

"Didn't you want to take my Martial Soul? Then come and get it."

In an instant, ten thousand contestants appeared in the arena. Every one of them stared fixedly at Lin Yi, and the sharp blades in their hands gave off a faint stench of blood...