Douluo: Soul-Breaking spear

Chapter 272: Journey to the Slaughter City

After a few days of rest in Spirit City, Yang Potian received a message from Bibi Dong notifying him that Qian Renxue was ready to set out.

When Yang Potian arrived at the Douluo Hall, Qian Renxue's expression had turned noticeably cold. "Yang Potian, what exactly is your other request? What do you need the Angelic Holy Sword for?"

Glancing between Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue, Yang Potian finally answered, "Our destination is the Slaughter City. I'd like to use the Angelic Holy Sword to purge the evil aura from within it, which I believe will be beneficial for everyone involved."

Bibi Dong's expression changed sharply. "Yang Potian, do you understand what you're saying? The Slaughter City is extraordinarily dangerous, and no spirit abilities can be used there. If Qian Renxue goes, she'll face countless dangers—especially from the King of Slaughter. Even I would not underestimate him."

Yang Potian replied calmly, "If I invited her to the Slaughter City, it's because I'm certain I can keep her safe and help her return unscathed. Besides, the King of Slaughter is already dead—I am now the master of the Slaughter City. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have bothered modifying the place. And for Qian Renxue, it's an opportunity to see the true darkness in this world."

Bibi Dong considered his words, reflecting that if she'd had the chance to understand the darkness in the world earlier, she might have avoided her own tragic fate.

After thinking it over, Bibi Dong hesitated. "Yang Potian, why not let me accompany you? I'm familiar with the Slaughter City and can come and go as I please."

Yang Potian shook his head. "That won't work, Bibi Dong. As the successor of the God of Rakshasa, the Slaughter City's dark and evil aura originates from that god. Your presence there would only complicate matters."

Qian Renxue, after a moment of reflection, spoke up, "Fine. I'll go with you to the Slaughter City, but I expect you to keep your promises. If you don't, I won't be merciful."

After further discussion, Yang Potian and Qian Renxue departed from Spirit City, heading toward the Slaughter City.

The Slaughter City lay a considerable distance away, so it took the two of them half a day of flight to reach its entrance. Once inside, Qian Renxue's expression grew increasingly grim, almost chillingly cold.

As they wandered through the city, Qian Renxue was struck by the scenes of carnage and debauchery before her—murder and evil lurked everywhere, and some scenes were utterly depraved.

Her face hardened. "I can't believe such evil exists in this world. If it were up to me, I'd destroy this entire Slaughter City, so none of these people could ever threaten the spirit world."

The Slaughter City's aura pressed heavily on Qian Renxue, her Six-Winged Angel spirit feeling an oppressive darkness that seemed to sap its power.

The Angelic Holy Sword, however, glowed with a holy light, warding off the slaughter and evil energies surrounding them.

Yang Potian shook his head slightly. "I don't favor the Slaughter City either. But the people here are trapped, confined within this place as if in a prison with no hope of escape."

"If we destroyed the Slaughter City, these lost souls—many of whom are spirit masters, even high-level ones—would spread across the continent, harming innocents. For the common people, they'd be a calamity."

After a long pause, Qian Renxue spoke, "That may be true. But why not simply exterminate them all and rid the world of this evil?"

Yang Potian sighed. "You're right, in a way. But most of these inhabitants were once regular spirit masters or dark spirit masters, now condemned to this place. Extermination might cause them to lash out, hurting countless innocents in the process."

"These are people who turned to bloodthirsty practices, often needing to consume other spirit masters or civilians to gain power. Both the Spirit Hall and the two empires agreed to confine them here as the greatest punishment."

Qian Renxue closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. "Does the Spirit Hall know about this place? And how long has the Slaughter City existed?"

Yang Potian shook his head. "No one really knows how long the Slaughter City has been here. Spirit Hall is certainly aware of it, though—they even collaborate with the city to supply it with necessary resources."

Qian Renxue's eyes widened. "That's impossible. Why has my grandfather never mentioned it?"

"Qian Daoliu likely knows, but the Slaughter City is the inheritance ground of the God of Shura, one of the five God Kings of the Divine Realm, ranked above even the Angelic God. Not even the Angelic God could destroy it."

"What does it have to do with the God of Rakshasa? Are the two gods in alliance?"

"I'm not sure. Normally, the Slaughter City's aura would only carry the presence of Shura, yet somehow Rakshasa's malevolence lingers here too."

Yang Potian handed her a glass of Bloody Mary. "Everyone here drinks this. It's the currency for survival, whether to stay in the inner city or compete in the Hell Arena. Take a moment to sense it."

Qian Renxue accepted the Bloody Mary and channeled her spiritual power to examine it. She sensed a strong aura of slaughter and malevolence within it—and strangely, it felt disturbingly alluring.

"There's something off about this Bloody Mary. It's no ordinary liquid. What is it made of?"

Yang Potian sighed. "Human blood. But it contains other mysterious elements unique to this place."

Qian Renxue turned pale. "If it's just repugnant blood, why do I feel such a strong attraction to it? With my Six-Winged Angel spirit, I should be repulsed."

Yang Potian shook his head again. "Nothing is absolutely pure, and nothing is wholly dark. Light and darkness are polar opposites, and your Six-Winged Angel may be among the holiest of spirits, but no one is completely pure. Even you carry a shadow."

She scowled, pointing the Angelic Holy Sword at him. "Nonsense! My family is the most sacred, and you're trying to undermine my faith so I can't ascend!"

Yang Potian chuckled coldly. "Lady Renxue, that's naïve. If Spirit City is so holy, then why does the Rakshasa's realm lie at its base? And what about you? In Heaven Dou City, you were ruthless and ambitious—are these not dark impulses?"

Qian Renxue's face turned ashen, but she still protested. "What about Bibi Dong? As Rakshasa's successor, where does her darkness come from? How could it be so intense, to the point of trying to kill me?"

Yang Potian chuckled. "You'd have to ask your grandfather. He alone knows the truth."

"I did ask, but he refused to tell me."

"Then I can't help you. But maybe try to consider things from Bibi Dong's perspective. What could drive a mother to hate her child? Try imagining yourself in her place."

Qian Renxue was left in stunned silence, whispering, "What could make a mother hate her daughter?"

After a moment, Yang Potian interrupted her thoughts. "Enough of this family drama. I brought you here to accomplish something, not to discuss personal issues."

Qian Renxue regained her composure. "Fine. Tell me what you want with the Angelic Holy Sword."

Yang Potian's expression turned serious. "There's more than just Shura's aura here—there's Rakshasa's influence too. My powers can't pinpoint or purge this source of corruption, but your Six-Winged Angel spirit and the Angelic Holy Sword are the bane of all evil. I want you to purify this place."

She looked around the vast Slaughter City. "I've only just become a Titled Douluo. With my current power, I couldn't purify this place even with the sword."

"I know you can't cleanse everything. But I believe you can at least locate and eliminate the core of Rakshasa's corruption here. Let's start there."

"Do you know where it is?"

"Come, I'll take you to the darkest, most violent place in existence. That's where it all began."

With that, Yang Potian led Qian Renxue toward the Hell Arena.

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