Outside the City of Slaughter.
In an ancient, foreboding castle, a sinister figure sat on a dark throne in a dimly lit chamber. He was clad in blood-red armor, his back sprouting black, leathery wings, and atop his head, a pair of twisted, crimson horns. This eerie man's face suddenly shifted, as though he had sensed something.
"That aura... which Killing God dares to return to the City of Slaughter?" he muttered to himself before springing from his throne, his figure vanishing into a blur as he darted out of the castle, heading toward a distant point in the darkened landscape.
Meanwhile, back outside the entrance to the City of Slaughter, a hundred black-armored knights on their mighty steeds blocked the way. Leading them was the intimidating figure of the Dread Knight Scott, who had just beaten Tang San into the ground. Tang San lay against a tree, clutching his chest, blood trickling from his lips, barely able to catch his breath.
As Scott prepared to deliver a finishing blow, a figure clad in royal purple robes emerged from the entrance tunnel to the City of Slaughter. Her presence seemed to darken the air, and the chilling pressure of her killing intent spread out like a wave.
She wore a majestic, intricate gown adorned with the symbols of her office, and her head was crowned with the exquisite Nine Curves Purple Gold Crown. Her beauty was as striking as her power, a combination of elegance and terrifying authority. It was none other than Bibi Dong, the Supreme Pontiff of the Spirit Hall.
As Bibi Dong stepped into the bounds of the City of Slaughter, her Killing God Domain activated instinctively, allowing her to use her full range of spirit skills within the domain's eerie influence. The murderous intent that rolled off her made even the Dread Knight Scott shiver, his hair standing on end beneath his black armor.
"Bibi Dong?!"
Yu Xiaogang, hiding in the shadows, felt his heart plummet into a cold pit of dread. Panic surged through him. "This is it... she's come after us. I thought no one from the Spirit Hall would dare enter the City of Slaughter because of its restrictions. How did she make it through?"
But Yu Xiaogang had misunderstood the situation. Tang Hao had not been wrong; the City of Slaughter's unique nature made it a dangerous place, one where even powerful Spirit Hall figures, including Qian Daoliu, would tread cautiously.
Yet there was an exception—Bibi Dong. Like Tang Hao, she possessed the Killing God Domain, having conquered the Hell Road within the City of Slaughter herself. To her, returning to the City of Slaughter was like coming home.
But Tang Hao had never mentioned this to Tang San, believing that his son's hope might crumble if he did. After all, the City of Slaughter was their last refuge, their final shot at escaping.
"You... you're the Spider Empress?" Scott stammered, recognizing her despite the years that had passed. Though Bibi Dong's demeanor had matured since she last walked the bloody halls of the City of Slaughter, her terrifying power was unmistakable.
Scott had witnessed her victory in the Hell Arena and her ascension to the status of a Killing God. Her feats were seared into his memory, as were the stories of her departure from the city. But now, inexplicably, she had returned.
As Scott grappled with his shock, a blood-red flash cut through the dark sky. It halted above the battlefield, illuminated by the eerie glow of the violet moon. There, hovering menacingly, was a man clad in crimson armor, his back adorned with black wings, his hair silver and wild, and blood-red horns protruding from his forehead. It was none other than the King of Slaughter himself.
"Spider Empress..." he muttered, a flicker of wariness flashing across his otherwise sinister expression. Yet he masked his unease with a wicked smile as he descended from the sky.
"I sensed a familiar aura approaching. So it's you, Spider Empress. Tell me, what brings you back to our City of Slaughter?" His tone was laced with feigned cordiality.
Bibi Dong's face remained calm, her regal beauty unperturbed by the sinister aura of the King of Slaughter. She raised her staff, pointing toward the direction where Tang San lay bloodied on the ground, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I'm here for a simple reason—to pursue two fugitives. One of them, I believe, is well known to you. It's Tang San, the boy prophesied to destroy the City of Slaughter in the livestream."
So, it's all out in the open now... Tang San thought bitterly as he lay beneath the tree, blood trickling from his mouth. He had tried so hard to keep his identity hidden during his battle with Scott, avoiding the use of his Blue Silver Grass spirit. He had hoped to pass himself off as an ordinary disciple of the Clear Sky Clan, merely seeking training in the city.
But even with his caution, Bibi Dong had tracked him here, undeterred by the city's grim reputation. He cursed the desperation that had led him to forget—she was a Killing God too, someone who could roam the City of Slaughter without fear. Now, it seemed fate had finally turned against him.
For a moment, he could only laugh bitterly, the sound lost in the darkness.
"What did you say?! Tang San?!"
Hearing Bibi Dong's words, the King of Slaughter's face twisted with fury. His blood-red eyes flashed with murderous intent as he glanced down at the ragged figure of Tang San. "This... this is the boy from the prophecy? Has he already entered the City of Slaughter?"
"If you know him, you'll understand that it is in your interest to see him dealt with before he becomes a threat to your city," Bibi Dong replied smoothly, her tone cold and assured. She leveled her staff at Tang San. "There he is, right in front of you."
The King of Slaughter's eyes widened as he turned his gaze fully on Tang San, scrutinizing the boy's battered appearance. Tang San's disheveled hair, his gaunt face, and the grime from weeks on the run had transformed him from the youthful figure seen in the livestream into something unrecognizable—a starving fugitive, closer to a beggar than a threat. But Bibi Dong's words carried weight, and the King could not afford to dismiss them lightly.
A malicious grin spread across the King of Slaughter's face as he eyed Tang San. This boy, even if he looked pitiful now, could be the same one who would one day threaten his domain.
"Well, Spider Empress," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "It seems you've brought us quite the gift..."
Note: If you are interested, read up to chapter 295 at patreon.com/MythMosaic.