Before coming here,
"If I keep contributing Bloody Marys, won't I just be at everyone's mercy?" Tang San frowned.
The black-veiled girl said, "No. You are currently in the outer city of the City of Slaughter, not the true City of Slaughter. Only the inner city is the place with no rules. Those who scrape by contributing Bloody Marys are confined to the outer city, and killing is not permitted at random here. Only warriors who survive the Hell Slaughter Arena earn the right to live in the inner city. Of course, the comforts available there far exceed those outside, but you also face the constant threat of death."
"In that case, the City of Slaughter is practically another world entirely. So where does the City of Slaughter get its food? In a place like this, farming would be impossible, and nobody would bother trying." As Tang San spoke, his gaze remained fixed on the black-veiled girl. His Purple Extreme Demon Eye was not classified as a martial soul skill, so naturally it was not restricted here. In the short time they had been walking, he had already conducted a simple test. The skills附带 by soul bones were also unaffected by the special domain of this place.
The black-veiled girl's expression shifted slightly. "I'm sorry. I don't know the answer to that. I'm unable to help you."
Tang San said lightly, "Then does Spirit Hall know about this place? If they do, why don't they come to eliminate you — they, who have always proclaimed themselves to be righteous?"
The question was posed with striking bluntness, but there was real depth behind it. Although the City of Slaughter was an isolated underground world, the fact that his father had known about it, and that so many people had still been in the tavern outside when he arrived, proved that the outside world was not entirely unaware of this place.
The black-veiled girl gave a cold laugh. "Even if they know, so what? Spirit Hall would never take action against us. Setting aside whether they could gain anything in this world, destroying the City of Slaughter would bring them absolutely no benefit. Number 9528, sir, don't forget — people who enter the City of Slaughter can virtually never leave. And everyone who makes it here is a human being steeped in depravity and sin. This place has no connection whatsoever to the outside world. The City of Slaughter is like a special prison — one that helps Spirit Hall lock away the most heinous criminals. So tell me, why would Spirit Hall want to destroy it? They would probably be delighted if even more villains came here."
A trace of an icy smile appeared on Tang San's face. Just as he had suspected — the very existence of the City of Slaughter was built on Spirit Hall's tacit approval. No matter how you looked at it, even if martial soul skills could not be used here, this place could never rival Spirit Hall in power, an organization that spanned the entire continent.
As they walked, the people on both sides gradually grew more numerous. Nearly every face bore an unhealthy pallor, and most were gaunt and skeletal.
There was no need to ask — these were people who did not dare enter the Hell Slaughter Arena and instead survived by contributing two cups of Bloody Mary each month.
Tang San still remembered the cup of Bloody Mary he had been forced to drink not long ago with crystal clarity. That single cup had held nearly half a jin, and two cups a month meant a full jin of blood.
One or two months might not matter much, but to sustain this in a place with no sunlight — how could the body possibly endure it?
Tang San thought to himself that perhaps this very City of Slaughter existed under Spirit Hall's covert support. Otherwise, where would a city like this get its food? Where would all its supplies come from?
The outer city of the City of Slaughter had simple black stone houses lining both sides of the streets, with designated eating areas appearing only at long intervals. Countless people queued up there, waiting for food to be distributed. In truth, their condition was barely better than beggars. As for the so-called "paradise of sin," the so-called pleasures of life — there was absolutely nothing of the sort.
The black-veiled girl's explanation was simple enough. Even villains had their hierarchy. Only the truly powerful evildoers could enjoy themselves in this depraved paradise. Useless wastes had no right to such luxuries.
The city was larger than Tang San had imagined. After walking for well over half an hour, when he had gained some understanding of the outer city, the black-veiled girl had already brought him before a massive city wall.
Compared to the outer wall of the City of Slaughter, this wall was not particularly tall — ten meters at its highest point. Beyond this wall, obviously, lay the inner city of the City of Slaughter.
The city gate stood wide open, with not a single guard in sight. The black-veiled girl introduced the scene to Tang San with an indifferent tone: "The inner city does not need guards. Anyone from the outer city with enough courage can enter at any time. Of course, once inside, they must face all the unknowns that world holds. Since you have just arrived at the City of Slaughter, my recommendation is that you spend some time living in the outer city first. Once you have adapted to everything here, then enter the inner city. After we go inside, please do not stray more than five meters from my side — otherwise, I cannot guarantee your safety."
"Just being near you makes me safe?" Tang San said with some amusement.
The black-veiled girl glanced at him, and a flicker of pride passed through the pair of eyes visible beneath her veil — they were not especially beautiful, but that pride was unmistakable. "I am the envoy of the King of Slaughter. In the City of Slaughter, no one dares to offend the King of Slaughter's authority. Within the first twelve hours of your arrival in this world, you are under the newcomer protection period. With me at your side, your life has the best protection it can get. Once that period ends, you will be left entirely to the mercy of fate."