"S-Stop right there!" Scott shouted, his voice carrying a desperate bravado that belied his fear.
Tang San looked at him coldly. By now, Scott's helmet had fallen away, revealing the gaunt face of a middle-aged man, twisted and ugly. The look in his eyes as he stared at Tang San had taken on a new quality — terror. Clearly, he could not understand why this young man's strength was so terrifying. Wasn't he just a Soul Master?
"If you get in my way again, I won't hesitate to kill every last one of you," Tang San said, his voice flat and cold.
"No, no — I'm not trying to stop you. You've passed my test. You have the right to enter the City of Slaughter," the Terror Knight said, his voice strained and hoarse. What baffled him most was that ordinary Soul Masters who came here would invariably be stunned to discover their Soul Skills were useless, yet this young man in front of him seemed completely unaffected.
A black token was held out before Tang San. He took it without ceremony. A skull was carved into its surface, and beneath it a number — 9528.
"This is your proof of identity within the City of Slaughter. Please enter the city. Someone will meet you at the gate."
Gripping the token, Tang San strode forward without sparing the Terror Knight another glance.
Watching Tang San's receding figure, Scott reached behind him, drew the sword from his waist, and brought it down in a savage arc, severing his own right arm — an arm already completely shattered beyond repair. Scarlet blood sprayed across the black earth. The stench of blood rose thick into the air.
The city gates were pitch-black, radiating an oppressive, suffocating presence. Above the massive doors, four enormous characters hung high — City of Slaughter.
Before the gate, two rows of black-armored warriors stood in silent vigil. Before Tang San even had a chance to present his identity token, a woman with a black veil over her face stepped out from within.
"Welcome to the City of Slaughter," the woman said. Her voice was pleasant, melodic. She stepped aside before Tang San and made a gracious gesture with her hand, inviting him in.
Though this underground city had already surprised Tang San profoundly — especially with the restriction on Soul Skills — he had adopted the philosophy of accepting things as they came. He followed the woman through the gates. Perhaps because of the identity token in his hand, no one tried to stop him.
Once inside, Tang San found himself in a world bathed in blue and purple. The lanterns hanging along both sides of the streets emitted only these two colors of light. What surprised him somewhat was that there were quite a few people here, and none of them paid any attention to him as an outsider. Everything was shrouded in gloom, but at a glance, the place did not look much different from an ordinary city.
"I will be your guide," the woman said. "If there is anything you do not understand, you may ask me. For the next twelve hours, I will answer any questions you have. After those twelve hours, this becomes the place where you live. You will formally become a member of the City of Slaughter."
Tang San nodded. "What kind of place is the City of Slaughter?"
The veiled girl answered, "A paradise. A playground for the fallen."
Tang San's brow furrowed slightly. "Just that simple?"
The veiled girl nodded in affirmation.
"Then how did the City of Slaughter come into being?"
This time, the answer she gave satisfied Tang San considerably more. "The City of Slaughter has existed for a thousand years. Legend has it that it was once the domain of a powerful Soul Master who broke through to the hundredth rank. Within this city, no Soul Skills can be employed. People must survive on instinct and their own physical strength alone. Soul Power can still serve as a source of raw power."
Tang San looked at the veiled girl. "Then what are the rules here?"
The veiled girl spoke calmly. "The rules here are that there are no rules. As a member of the City of Slaughter, you may do anything you wish within these walls. Even a Titled Douluo from the outside world would be weakened here by the loss of their Soul Skills. And under the rule of the King of Slaughter, we have no need to fear them at all. In the City of Slaughter, so long as you possess sufficient ability, you can do anything you desire. However, I must warn you. Precisely because there are no rules here, you may face mortal danger at any time. In a sense, this is a playground for evil."
"A playground for evil?"
"Yes. Many people who come here do so because they can no longer survive in the outside world. They have no choice but to enter. Once they arrive, they no longer need to worry about being hunted. Every member of the City of Slaughter is afforded its protection."
Tang San had no interest whatsoever in this talk of protection. If he had been able to reach this place through brute force, then any powerful fighter could do the same. Without Soul Skills, there was still Soul Power — and Titled Douluo remained among the strongest of the strong even here. Were the criminals who hid within truly safe?
"Number 9528. I know what you're thinking," the veiled girl said suddenly.
Tang San paused. "You know what I'm thinking?"
"You must be wondering how the City of Slaughter protects its citizens, aren't you?"