Fighting Himself

"You really are different."

Tang Chen looked straight at Lin Yi and smiled knowingly.

"I've never seen anyone come to Slaughter City and still want to keep his head clear. Since you have that resolve, I'll help you. Anyone who makes it out of Hell Road has endured a tremendous amount of slaughter. If you want to keep an ordinary state of mind, you'll have to fight without using the Power of the Killing God."

"Fight without using the Power of the Killing God?"

Lin Yi was a little confused.

"Once you enter Slaughter City, even someone as powerful as Tang San can hardly avoid taking on the power of slaughter. How are you supposed to fight without it?"

"That's for you to figure out."

Tang Chen smiled faintly and stroked his beard.

"All I can do is point you toward a direction. Whether it's the right one depends on whether you can realize it for yourself. If you succeed, you'll completely conquer Slaughter City's Divine Slaughter's Domain. Then people from all corners of the world will bow to you."

"I'm not interested."

Lin Yi waved a hand, frowning.

"From what you're saying, not using the power of slaughter means you can't harbor murderous intent, right?"

"Yes, but not exactly."

Tang Chen continued walking, a profound look in his eyes.

"To survive in Slaughter City, you need not only great strength, but also the power of slaughter. What you have to do is keep hatred and thoughts of slaughter from filling your heart. If you don't want to kill someone, but end up doing so in self-defense, then that doesn't count as going against what I said."

That sounded a bit like he was splitting hairs.

Lin Yi frowned deeply, knowing that once he entered Hell Road, the dangers awaiting him would be almost impossible to avoid.

"Well? Have you still decided to challenge yourself to wield the power of slaughter without a trace of killing intent?"

Tang Chen watched the young man with interest, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

He knew Lin Yi's temperament well enough to know that he wouldn't pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He would surely strive to do things as perfectly as possible.

But whether that plan had any chance of succeeding was something even Tang Chen himself couldn't be sure of.

Tang Chen took a deep breath. After thinking it over again and again, he still couldn't help speaking up.

"Listen, you really don't have to take such a huge risk. As long as you can use the Divine Slaughter's Domain unleashed by the power of slaughter, why worry about anything else?"

"But I need to do things as perfectly as possible."

Lin Yi's gaze remained firm. He smiled calmly.

"I've never believed I couldn't surpass the so-called limits others set. So this time, I'll make my mark, too. Now, please open Hell Road."

"All right!"

Tang Chen nodded at Lin Yi.

"You've got spirit. Since that's your decision, I won't stop you. I know someone as strong-willed as you would never submit to some imagined future. So now, whether to go or stay—that choice is yours!"

As he spoke, Tang Chen used the Power of the Killing God to open Hell Road.

As Hell Road opened, Lin Yi saw those without the strength to survive become its sacrifices. Their blood instantly stained the road red.

Though he was a little sick of this place steeped in the stench of blood, Lin Yi knew there was no turning back.

He took a deep breath, leaped onto the narrow path of Hell Road, and set off alone into the unknown.

"Do you think he'll be all right?"

Huang Ruolin and Zhao Zhiying, who were in the Divine Realm, were both terribly worried. Their eyes stayed fixed on the Sea of Consciousness that Huo Yuhao had opened.

"Don't worry."

Huo Yuhao smiled calmly. "Lin Yi can be a little troublesome, but I wouldn't call this blind confidence. I'm actually quite at ease with him walking Hell Road."

"At ease?"

Both women turned to look at him. "You've told us how terrifying Hell Road is. Even with our limited strength, we can sense how dangerous it is. How can we possibly stay calm?"

"Would panicking do any good?"

Bibi Dong snorted from beside them, her gaze darkening.

"I'm not trying to criticize you, but rushing around in a panic will only make things harder for us. You have to understand: the path Lin Yi chose is one whose outcome nobody but him can know."

Her words struck home.

Zhao Zhiying pondered for a long while, then patted Huang Ruolin on the shoulder.

"We chose Lin Yi to be our husband, so we have to accept whatever comes, good or bad. If we keep fretting like this, we'll only make everyone here feel pressured. Lin Yi will be fine!"

"Sister!"

Huang Ruolin looked seriously at Zhao Zhiying, pressing her lips together.

"You're right, but I can't help feeling upset. I..."

"Trust me."

Zhao Zhiying smiled at her again.

"Lin Yi is walking Hell Road because he wants to go farther. As the people who love him, we shouldn't hold him back. Otherwise, how would that be any different from tying him down? Would he be happy?"