Ch. 81Opening Hell Road
Key plot points
- Dugu Feng leaves Slaughter City standing, reasoning that it contains dangerous outlaws who might otherwise prey on civilians. He still intends to pursue the Asura God’s godhood, which he thinks will be faster to obtain than the Sea God’s.
- After reaching his hundredth arena victory, Dugu Feng faces nine opponents at once and kills them effortlessly with his wind and Soul Power.
- The King of Slaughter sacrifices everyone in the arena to open Hell Road, then tells Dugu Feng to pass through it and earn the title of Slaughter God.
- Inside Hell Road, Dugu Feng uses the Forging Hammer and its Volcano God power to absorb the fire, poison, and other energy in the magma, treating the deadly environment as a source of strength.
- When the Three-Headed Bat King attacks, Dugu Feng unleashes Volcano’s Fury. The blast devastates Hell Road and shakes Slaughter City. Dugu Feng jumps into the magma to avoid the shock wave, while the King of Slaughter realizes he may be “God-Chosen.”
Character developments and interactions
- Dugu Feng remains calm and pragmatic: he refuses to destroy Slaughter City for the sake of those beyond its walls, but has no intention of showing mercy to its ruler. His confidence grows as he turns Hell Road’s hazards into fuel for his power.
- The King of Slaughter fears Dugu Feng but avoids confronting him directly, judging that a fight could destroy the city and leave him vulnerable. He sacrifices the arena’s contestants to trigger Hell Road, then watches from the shadows as Dugu Feng battles the Bat King.
- Dugu Feng and the contestants have no real contest: his brief invitation to attack together ends with all nine being killed almost instantly.
- Dugu Feng and the Three-Headed Bat King clash when the creature attacks during Dugu Feng’s cultivation; Dugu Feng counters with a devastating divine technique.
Significant themes
- Containment versus destruction: Slaughter City is vile, yet keeping its inhabitants confined may protect ordinary people.
- Power and ambition: Dugu Feng pursues divine power on his own terms, prioritizing speed and strength over patience.
- Turning danger into strength: Rather than merely surviving Hell Road, Dugu Feng absorbs its lethal energies and makes them part of his arsenal.
- Fear and expendability: The King of Slaughter treats everyone in the city as disposable, while fearing the one opponent he cannot control.