After failing to gather any information about Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, Lin Yu and Liu Erlong continued their journey through Slaughter City, guided by the veiled woman. Even though a purple moon hung in the sky over the subterranean city, it was far from natural. Its dim light did little to brighten the densely packed streets of Slaughter City, leaving the city shrouded in darkness despite the soul-powered lamps along the way.
As they ventured deeper into the city, the faint purple moonlight and the occasional lamps illuminated the haunting sight of the city's inhabitants. Along the walls and corners of buildings sat rows of ragged, emaciated souls—former soul masters now reduced to mere skeletons of their former selves. These were the fallen soul masters, barely clinging to life in this nightmarish city. Their daily existence was bleak: barely any food and the cruel demand that they offer up one or two pounds of their blood each month. The toll this took on their bodies left them gaunt, fragile, and hauntingly skeletal.
Seeing these once proud soul masters reduced to such a pitiful state, Liu Erlong's mature, beautiful face was filled with sorrow. Xiaogang… I hope you're safe in such a dangerous place. How are you holding up here? she thought to herself, sighing quietly.
Although the previous broadcasts had shown glimpses of Slaughter City, they had only provided fragmented details. So, as the veiled woman led them toward the inner parts of the city, she took it upon herself to offer a more thorough explanation of Slaughter City's layout and its workings.
Lin Yu, naturally, was indifferent to the suffering around him. He activated his Dual-Pupils Martial Soul, curiously observing the surroundings while half-listening to the veiled woman's explanations. Meanwhile, Liu Erlong anxiously scanned her surroundings, hoping to catch sight of either Yu Xiaogang or Tang San.
But they were nowhere to be found. Both Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were currently hiding in the outermost parts of the city, far from the main thoroughfares. Liu Erlong's search yielded nothing.
As they walked, the group eventually arrived at the gates to the inner district.
"So, this is the entrance to the inner city?" Lin Yu asked with interest.
"Indeed, this is the gateway to Slaughter City's inner district. While Slaughter City is a lawless place, there are still some rules in the outer district—such as the prohibition against murder. Anyone who breaks that rule is swiftly executed by the law enforcement teams," the veiled woman explained. "But in the inner district, there are no rules. It's a place of absolute chaos where anything goes. Here, anyone can kill, steal, or do as they please. If someone dies, it only proves they weren't strong enough. No one is punished for it."
"Of course, both of you are newcomers to Slaughter City, and as such, you're currently under the protection of the newcomer's rule. For the next twelve hours, as long as you're with me, no one will dare harm you," she added with a reassuring smile.
"Great. Why don't you show us around inside? I remember from the broadcasts that there's a Hell Arena in the inner district, right? If someone manages to win 100 consecutive matches in the arena, they earn the right to challenge the Road to Hell. And if they pass that trial, they become a Killing God, able to freely enter and exit Slaughter City and use soul skills even within the city," Lin Yu mused, stroking his chin.
The veiled woman blinked in surprise at Lin Yu's casual confidence regarding the Hell Arena, a place of death and carnage. This kid is way too calm for a newcomer. He's either clueless or completely fearless.
Still, it wasn't her place to question him. With a polite nod, she said, "Very well. Follow me."
With a poised demeanor, the veiled woman led Lin Yu and Liu Erlong into the inner district of Slaughter City.
The moment they stepped inside, it was clear that this place lived up to its reputation as a lawless zone. In a nearby alley, two groups of fallen soul masters were engaged in a brutal fight, their roars and screams echoing through the streets. Blood and severed limbs flew through the air, painting the scene in a grotesque tableau of violence.
Nearby, women dressed provocatively prowled the streets, seeking to lure unwitting soul masters into secluded corners. In one such instance, after leading her victim into the shadows, a woman slit the throat of a fallen soul master with a hidden blade, blood spurting from his neck. As the man collapsed, she produced a large cup and began to greedily collect his blood, while others rushed over to scavenge what was left.
Everywhere Lin Yu and Liu Erlong looked, they saw scenes of cruelty and carnage. Slaughter City was truly a living nightmare.
After witnessing countless acts of brutality, the pair finally reached their destination—the Hell Arena.
"We've arrived," the veiled woman announced.
Lin Yu looked up at the massive structure before them. The Hell Arena bore a striking resemblance to the ancient Roman Colosseum from his past life, though its walls were made of dark stone. Through the entrance, he could see the dimly lit interior, resembling a typical arena but with an unmistakable air of decay. In the main hall, there were two counters where fallen soul masters could register for fights or spectate.
Beyond that, in the corners of the hall, two small, shadowy rooms caught Lin Yu's attention. They were unguarded, their entrances obscured by thick black curtains. Dim yellow light flickered from within, and now and then, pale-faced soul masters emerged from these rooms, nursing their wounds and clutching cups of freshly harvested "Bloody Mary" drinks.
Lin Yu immediately understood what these rooms were for—they were where participants gave their blood offerings to pay for the right to watch the Hell Arena battles.
After the veiled woman explained the rules of the Hell Arena, Lin Yu, Liu Erlong, and their guide left the arena. However, Liu Erlong, with her mind fixated on Yu Xiaogang, became more anxious after seeing the inner district's dangers firsthand. She was desperate to find him.
Despite her desire to search immediately, she knew better after the veiled woman's earlier reminder. Tang San was an enemy of Slaughter City, and if they were to find Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, they would have to be discreet to avoid detection.
So, for now, they continued to explore the city, biding their time.
After several hours of wandering, Liu Erlong finally claimed she was too tired to continue. In Slaughter City, there was no shortage of places to rest, especially in the inner district, where many well-furnished, albeit sinister-looking, houses lined the streets.
Of course, staying in the inner district meant accepting the risk that anything could happen—there were no laws to protect anyone here.
But for someone like Liu Erlong, a Soul Sage, and Lin Yu, these dangers were trivial.
Once they settled on a place to rest, they dismissed the veiled woman, assuring her that they no longer needed a guide.
As the veiled woman disappeared into the shadows, Liu Erlong quickly grabbed Lin Yu's hand, pulling him away from their chosen lodging. She was ready to begin her true mission—finding Yu Xiaogang and Tang San.