Slaughter City

Just as Qian Xunji was about to ruthlessly kill Qin Xuan, an abrupt voice suddenly rang out:

"Your Holiness the Pope, I know I am not worthy of Her Highness the Saintess, but I have perseverance. Therefore, I have decided to head to Slaughter City and obtain Divine Slaughter's Domain. If I do not succeed, I will never return."

Qin Xuan struggled to raise his head. Feeling Qian Xunji's undisguised killing intent, he gritted his teeth and stared straight at him, his tone resolute and unwavering.

With his current strength, there was no way he could make it through Slaughter City.

Qin Xuan was not like Tang San and Hu Liena, who had two Slaughter Gods secretly escorting them, along with a Head Soul Bone, an External Soul Bone, and Tang Sect secret arts.

Entering at level fifty-something would undoubtedly mean certain death.

He had already made plans. He would first leave Spirit Hall and hide for a few years, while also plotting for the opportunities he knew of. Even in the worst case, if Qian Xunji forced him into Slaughter City, he could still live a few more years, couldn't he?

A miserable life was better than a good death.

It was still better than being watched by that venomous snake Qian Xunji every day.

Unless he hid in Elder Hall like a dog and never came out, sooner or later, he would be finished.

Qian Xunji froze. Enter Slaughter City?

He immediately understood and dispersed the Soul Power pressure enveloping Qin Xuan. A glint flashed through his golden pupils.

"Are you serious?" His majestic yet calm voice echoed through the council hall as he asked in a low voice.

It would naturally be best if he did not have to offend the two Worships.

Although those two would not do anything to him even if he killed Qin Xuan, it would still create a rift, and it would be difficult to explain to his father, Qian Daoliu.

That would not benefit his control over Spirit Hall.

As for whether Qin Xuan could make it out of Slaughter City—

That was not something he needed to concern himself with.

Even he, a Titled Douluo, was not completely confident he could do it.

To put it bluntly, he had stayed in a high position for too long.

He feared death.

Only Tang Hao, hailed as Clear Sky Sect's greatest genius in a hundred years, had obtained Divine Slaughter's Domain a few years ago.

Though Qin Xuan was extraordinarily talented, he still fell far short of Tang Hao, who possessed the Number One Tool Martial Soul. Not to mention that his Soul Power was far lower than Tang Hao's.

The moment Qin Xuan heard this, he knew there was a chance.

He immediately put on an act, nodding heavily as he declared with determination, "Yes, Your Holiness the Pope. For Her Highness the Saintess, for Spirit Hall, and for the Pope, I am willing to offer up my heart."

As he spoke, Qin Xuan rose to his feet, straightened his back, clenched his right fist, and lightly struck his chest. He was like an unparalleled treasured sword drawn from its sheath, standing alone beyond the world.

"Good. Since you possess such resolve, I shall grant your wish. If you can obtain Divine Slaughter's Domain, what harm is there in giving Dong'er to you in marriage?"

With a wave of his hand, Qian Xunji made this grand declaration.

"Thank you, Your Holiness the Pope. Qin Xuan takes his leave." Qin Xuan cupped his hands in feigned excitement and gratitude, then departed with an appearance of trepidation.

He had no choice. Before gaining sufficient strength, survival was the priority. He could not guarantee what a pervert who could even violate his own disciple might do.

After Qin Xuan left,

The hall returned to its deathly silence.

"Your Holiness, that brat's talent is not weak. You revealed killing intent toward him just now, so he must have sensed it. Why not..." One of the Pope's personal guardian Douluos made a throat-slitting gesture.

Cut the weeds and pull out the roots.

"That's right, Your Holiness. That brat actually dared to covet the Saintess. We absolutely cannot let him go."

The other personal guardian Douluo echoed him.

As the Pope's personal guardian Douluos and absolute confidants, how could they not know about Qian Xunji's little secret?

In their view,

Qin Xuan was merely relying on a bit of talent, yet he dared ask to marry the Saintess. He was simply courting death.

"Do you think he can leave Slaughter City alive?"

Qian Xunji walked to the window, clasping his hands behind his back. His tall, upright frame and handsome yet cold face exuded an air of evil.

A chilling aura wholly at odds with his appearance lingered around him for a long time, impossible to dispel even under direct sunlight.

The two personal guardian Douluos froze, exchanged glances, and shook their heads.

Like Qian Xunji, they did not believe Qin Xuan could leave Slaughter City alive.

Soul skills could not be used in that place. Forget a mere Soul King like Qin Xuan—even Soul Douluos and Titled Douluos would find it incredibly difficult to leave Slaughter City.

Otherwise, only seven people would not have succeeded in a thousand years.

The two personal guardian Douluos grinned, dropped to one knee, and flattered him, "Your Holiness is wise. This way, even those two will have nothing to say."

Qian Xunji clearly enjoyed his subordinates' flattery, and the corners of his lips curved faintly.

Yet he still snorted coldly.

"Hmph. The Worships are loyal only to my father and to my Angel Lineage. That brat was also raised by Spirit Hall. Even if I killed him directly, what could they do to me?"

Upon hearing this, the two personal guardian Douluos lowered their heads with bitter smiles, not daring to refute him.

Though they spoke of killing Qin Xuan,

That was all contingent upon Qian Xunji giving the order.

If they truly dared attack Qin Xuan openly, given how highly those two Worships valued Qin Xuan, they would likely suffer for it.

One had to know that the gap between Titled Douluos could also be enormous.

Sensing the change in their emotions, Qian Xunji was no fool. As the Pope, he naturally understood their concerns.

After pondering for a moment, he continued, "But to prevent unforeseen complications, have Yue Guan and Gui Mei personally escort that brat to Slaughter City tomorrow morning."

Pope Mountain was a towering peak, like a gigantic sword forged by heaven and earth. It was steep and magnificent, piercing straight into the clouds.

Papal Hall stood atop it.

Only the Pope, the Pope's disciples, personal guardian Douluos, and the Red-Robed Cardinals directly under his command were qualified to reside there.

Spirit Hall disciples usually lived separately within Spirit City. Only elders, or those summoned by the Pope and granted permission after notification, could enter.

Qin Xuan's residence was in the streets near Pope Mountain. Because Qian Jun and Jiang Mo had exceptionally accepted him as their disciple, he spent most of his time cultivating in Elder Hall.

Only after he had gone far away from Papal Hall did Qin Xuan dare stop and let out a long breath.

"Damn, that scared the hell out of me."

Qin Xuan looked back at the plaque bearing the words "Papal Hall" in the script of Douluo Continent. Amid his sigh, a trace of confusion flashed through his eyes.

But it was not yet time to give up on himself.

His immediate priority—

Was self-preservation. First, he had to recover all that Soul Power, those soul skills, and his combat techniques.

Otherwise, he would be nothing but an empty shell. Without cultivation to protect him, forget killing Tang San in the future, humiliating Yu Xiaogang, destroying Clear Sky Sect, marrying a beautiful rich woman, and reaching the peak of life.

There would be no need for the protagonist to act. Any random Soul King could kill him!

Upon reaching the mountainside of Pope Mountain, Qin Xuan entered the depths of the forest alone. Only after confirming that no one was around did he summon his Martial Soul.

Red light surged from his right hand, and an oddly shaped ancient longsword appeared. Its entire body was crimson, its surface covered in sealed demonic patterns, blood-red arcs of lightning flickering across it like interwoven flames.

At the same time, five Soul Rings representing the cultivation of a Soul King appeared. Qin Xuan possessed Innate Full Soul Power and was the disciple of Spirit Hall's two great Worships, so his Soul Rings naturally had the best configuration: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black.

Blazing sword qi containing terrifying lightning instantly filled heaven and earth, raising the surrounding temperature slightly.

Faintly,

A phoenix cry resounded through the heavens. The sword qi clinging to the blade actually transformed into a Vermilion Bird, spreading its wings as it soared through the sky.