Heavenly Asura Path(Percy Jackson)

Chapter 18: City of Slaughter – The Asura God Trials Begin!

As time passed and the seasons changed again and again, three full years passed. Percy's shop was now much larger, having as many as three floors, but he always stayed on the first floor, leaning back in his chair as he watched each customer intently, sometimes curiously, and sometimes coldly.

Whether it was the Heaven Dou Empire and its affiliated kingdoms or the Star Luo Empire, which sent some discreet people, the spiritual tool and alchemy shop was more famous than ever. The spiritual hall was extremely respectful towards Percy, for some reason that he was completely unaware of.

Spiritual tools had also become extremely popular, to the point that many people came asking to be Percy's disciples to learn, but they were all rejected.

Liu Erlong had also been a constant presence in Percy's life. Since two years ago, she had started bringing lunches every day. At first, he always rejected every advance she made, but in the end the relationship between the two grew closer little by little until Percy decided to accept the lunches.

At this point, he had remembered the kindness of people, something he had completely forgotten. And he also couldn't help but continue to see the look of sadness or reluctance that Liu Erlong seemed to hide every time he rejected her. In the moments when he saw her leave and saw her lonely back, he couldn't help but remember how he himself had been rejected and betrayed by the gods, including his own father.

Even having gone through hell and his heart seemed dead, after all, there was still a living part deep inside. And she had managed to revitalize his crushed and pain-filled heart.

At this moment, the people who worked in the big store were removing all the customers. They were already used to it, even if they wanted to continue buying or looking at the products, they knew that it was better to leave and wait until after three, when lunch time was over.

 Percy stood up from his chair as he closed a book. His eyebrows raised slightly and a ghost smile bloomed on his usually cold face. This was just when Liu Erlong appeared in the shop and walked up to him, handing over a small box of lunch.

"Thank you…" Percy took the box and opened it as he took his chopsticks and tasted the food with his eyes closed.

"It's delicious," he said as he tried a piece of lean meat. Liu Erlong smiled as she sat down on a chair behind the reception desk, next to Percy. She also took out a box of lunch from a bracelet and ate quietly beside him.

Generally, they didn't need to say much. Both of them seemed to enjoy the quiet and peaceful silence of the empty shop.

"Erlong, I need to ask you for a favor."

"Huh?" Liu Erlong was surprised by Percy's words. He would never ask for a favor, she had already known him for three years, so she knew that Percy would do things by himself for not relying on other people. Now, however, he was asking her for a favor. She couldn't help but feel proud of herself, and happy at the same time.

 "What thing?"

"I need you to run the shop for a while while I'm away."

Liu Erlong almost dropped his chopsticks before looking at Percy in shock.

"You're leaving? Why? Where are you going? Can I go?" Question after question came out of Erlong's mouth as he looked at Percy with six points of worry, three points of sadness, and one point of annoyance.

"I have to do this alone, and no, you can't accompany me," Percy said seriously. In these three years he had already reached level 69, and had become a spiritual emperor, so he had to go there as soon as possible.

"But…"

"I'm sorry, Erlong," Percy let out a sigh. "But I really do have to go alone or there would be no point."

"Fine, but you have to promise me something."

"What?" Percy asked looking at Liu Erlong.

She looked at him seriously, "Go back. You have to come back safely."

Percy's eyes widened a little more than normal before he nodded with a full smile.

"Fine, I'll come back safely, I promise."

She nodded before going back to eating, but she couldn't help but feel worried. Within the three years, she had figured out a few things, mostly thanks to her father when he admitted to having been watching her from afar. And for a man of rich experience, he had recognized Percy's expression and his eyes.

He knew that the young man had suffered some sort of betrayal.

Liu Erlong couldn't help but feel worried and think that Percy might be out for revenge.

And she wasn't entirely wrong.

. . .

Erlong walked home looking at the two lunch boxes in his hands. While these three years have been better than he expected, and time has helped heal his heart slowly, he still couldn't help but feel weak. Despite being someone at level 79 as a spiritual saint, he felt that he was still weak; That with her power she couldn't help Percy.

And in this world... No, in any world, the feeling of weakness and helplessness, was one of the worst. Liu Erlong gritted her teeth before entering her house, but frowned as she felt a presence inside. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the dining table. But, the moment she saw the person who had entered, her eyes showed disbelief before her face lost any feeling.

"What are you doing here?" Liu Erlong asked coldly as her soul power condensed around her and the fire dragon like martial spirit began to manifest behind her.

The invading person looked at her with a bit of interest, her right hand slowly descending with a cup of tea before placing it on the table. One of her legs crossed over the other before a small smile formed on her features.

"Do you want me to help you gain more power?"

 "Why would you help me? You, of all people," Liu Erlong was alert. She knew that the person in front of her would not help her, even if he was the last person in the world.

"Believe me, you will need it in the future. Besides, if I want to get close to him, I need you to trust me too. I know him better than you do."

Liu Erlong frowned before she opened her mouth to reply.

While Liu Erlong was talking to the other party, Percy walked into a dark tavern miles away from the Imperial capital. In this place, the windows even if they seemed to be with the curtains open, the light that came in was minimal. The floor was made of dark wood and a bit dirty, the tables were almost full of men with dark and murderous gazes.

Percy stood in front of the bar, where a man was serving and looking around, as if he was about to be attacked at any moment. Percy looked into his eyes before speaking clearly and slowly.

 "A Bloody Mary"

The man froze for a second, as did all the men sitting at the tables. Percy could feel the predatory and even mocking gazes of all of them.

"Uh... Are you sure?" the man asked nervously.

Percy glared at him, as if he was looking at an idiot and daring him to ask one more time before killing him. Seeing this, the man gulped and pulled out a larger than normal cup; it contained a red liquid that seemed to boil with some bubbles slowly bursting all over the surface.

Percy only looked at this for three seconds before taking the cup and starting to drink. For a few seconds, the only thing that could be heard in the tavern was the sound of Percy's throat as the red liquid ran down it.

Everyone was silent; some however, slowly moved their hands to their waists, where they held their weapons. Despite being spiritual masters, they knew that in this place they should not underestimate anyone. Of course, if Percy had faltered even a little, they would mock him to death. But, right now, when Percy drank that liquid, they knew what it could mean.

Thump!

With a loud slam on the bar, Percy put down the cup as his eyes condensed into a red color as he looked at everyone inside the tavern.

"If you want to kill someone, learn to hide your murderous intentions," Percy released his martial spirit and slashed forward, eviscerating more than ten men in one go. Intestines and other organs accompanied by a large amount of blood were expelled, staining the floor and walls of the tavern.

And at that moment, the rest stopped, staring at the spirit rings now ascending from Percy's feet: yellow, purple, black, black, black, black. Six spirit rings manifested, proving his rank as a spirit emperor.

 "Sixth Spirit Skill: Saber Truth," Percy muttered before swinging Anaklusmos, releasing a large amount of Saber Intent in the form of bright red slashes. The men were barely able to say anything, their bodies were cut, torn apart, and mutilated from all directions, causing the entire tavern to be painted blood red.

At that moment, he didn't stop and looked at the bartender with his eyes condensed with killing intent.

"You should already know my purpose in this place, open the entrance."

The man just ran and pushed the bar, revealing an entrance on the ground below it. Percy just nodded and jumped in, not at all afraid. The depth wasn't too high, and the darkness wasn't a problem when using his Spirit Power to sense his surroundings. He walked forward, passing through the dark path that descended further and further with time.

When he reached the exit, a middle-aged man with a vicious appearance was waiting. He is covered in black armor and carries a spear circling on his warhorse.

"You have ignored the rules of the city of slaughter!" the man shouted in a hoarse and powerful voice, "If you want to enter, you must defeat me!"

Percy looked at him coldly, holding his sword. He knew that in this place, spiritual abilities did not work, you could only use the power of your body and the martial spirit in its base form.

"Since when does the city of slaughter have rules? You are supposed to do whatever you want in this place," Percy spoke coldly as he took a step and slashed forward with all his strength. In the city of slaughter, he had no idea of ​​holding back in battles; he knew that one wrong step could be his death.

The scary knight growled as he saw how dangerous the slash condensed with saber intent was, so he charged with his spear at full speed. But, to his utter surprise, his spear was split in half before he came to a complete standstill.

Percy snorted reluctantly before walking forward, passing by the scary knight. When he moved his hand up, a token with the number 9,000 jumped out at him, at the same time the scary knight split into two.

Percy ignored this and looked ahead, where a dark, walled city was visible. The walls were really large and the scent of blood could be smelled from where he stood. Terrifying screams echoed throughout the place as a purple moon hung over the city at a seemingly low height.

Closing his eyes, Percy heard an emotionless voice ringing in his ears.

 "Nine trials of the Asura God; first trial: Kill a thousand people in the city of slaughter. Time limit of one year. Reward: Age of all spirit rings increases by 500 years."

Percy seemed to ignore the voice, but he was actually hanging on every word. When he heard his first task, he looked out at the city with determination.

"Now my path truly begins..."

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