Inside the tavern.
Faced with Ye Yu's blatant mockery, the group of drunkards in the tavern instantly flushed red with anger, clenching their fists, rage simmering in their hearts.
This brat is asking for death!
Although they could tell Ye Yu wasn't weak, there were so many of them here.
And yet, this brat had the audacity to mock everyone at once?
Emboldened by their numbers, someone stood up and shouted furiously:
"This kid is simply courting death!"
"Let's teach him a lesson—kill him!"
"We must make him realize who the real men are!"
"Everyone, get him!"
In an instant, the tavern erupted.
A dozen or so furious men summoned their Tool-type Martial Souls or Beast-type Martial Souls and charged at Ye Yu with roars of fury.
The bartenders, meanwhile, watched coldly from behind the counter.
After all, this small town was under the domain of Slaughter City.
And as a territory governed by Slaughter City, killing was part of the culture.
Facing the horde of enraged attackers—more than twenty in total—Ye Yu remained calm, gripping his Thunderous Hell Prison Spear.
With a mere thought, he summoned his Blue Silver Jade Tree Martial Soul.
Countless thick roots, like giant blue crystal pythons, sprouted into the air.
Some whipped through the air, lashing and ensnaring the drunkards.
Others transformed into long Blue Silver Spears, piercing through the mob with deadly precision.
Screams rang out.
Some were strangled to death by the entangling roots.
Others were impaled through the heart by the spears made from his Blue Silver Jade Tree.
In mere moments, over twenty corpses littered the tavern floor.
Behind the bar, the bartenders were dumbfounded.
They hadn't expected Ye Yu to end the fight so effortlessly.
And all by himself.
After killing the tavern patrons, Ye Yu withdrew the Thunderous Hell Prison Spear.
Then, using his External Spirit Bone, Demon Willow Fluff, he devoured the remains of all twenty-plus corpses, completely erasing the evidence.
Only then did he walk toward the bar.
"Sir, would you like a glass of Bloody Mary?"
The bartender's smile was stiff, clearly intimidated by Ye Yu's ruthless display.
"No thanks. I don't drink that stuff."
"Open the passage to Slaughter City for me."
Ye Yu spoke coldly.
He already knew that Bloody Mary was made from human blood.
He wasn't some sick pervert—he had zero interest in drinking that.
As a transmigrator, Ye Yu was well aware of what awaited him inside Slaughter City.
He had long since stocked up on clean water and rations inside his Blue Silver Space, including dishes and soul power-infused food made by Food-type Spirit Masters.
So as far as the mysterious food in Slaughter City?
He wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole.
"Sir, I'm afraid… that won't be possible."
"The area beneath the bar is reserved for Slaughter City staff only."
"If you wish to enter Slaughter City, you must first go to Death Canyon and participate in the Life and Death Arena."
"Unauthorized access to Slaughter City… comes with severe consequences."
The bartenders were starting to panic.
But Ye Yu didn't care to listen.
Why waste time going to some Life and Death Arena?
What, that so-called Dread Knight Scott?
I could beat him down with one hand.
"Open it."
"I don't like repeating myself."
"Unless you want to end up like them."
Ye Yu's tone turned icy as he glanced at the corpses strewn across the floor.
Faced with his threat, the bartenders caved.
With a click of a hidden mechanism, a loud rumbling echoed through the bar.
The bar counter split open, revealing a dark passage descending into the unknown.
Ye Yu stepped in and dropped down.
After falling for about ten meters, his feet landed steadily on the ground.
Ahead lay a long, sloping passageway leading deep underground—into the heart of Slaughter City.
Though the surroundings were pitch black, Ye Yu's Purple Demon Eye illuminated everything as if it were broad daylight.
He sped through the tunnel with ease, eventually reaching a depth of several kilometers.
Finally, a wide exit appeared ahead.
Stepping through, the scene before him opened up into a vast underground world.
Outside the tunnel lay a withered forest—every tree was gnarled and barren, their branches twisted like ghostly claws.
In the distance stood a towering black city.
Slaughter City.
Above it, in the "sky" of this underground world, hung a crimson full moon, casting an eerie red glow.
After entering Slaughter City, Ye Yu summoned his Blue Silver Jade Tree Martial Soul.
Two purple, four black, and two red Spirit Rings rose from beneath his feet, circling his body.
But strangely, unlike the bright glow of his Spirit Rings in the outside world, here in Slaughter City, they appeared dull and dim.
Even more, Ye Yu found he couldn't activate his Spirit Abilities.
Only his Blue Silver Space remained usable.
Which meant only Spirit Ring-based abilities were suppressed.
Once he confirmed that everything else still worked, Ye Yu flew through the dried forest toward the gates of Slaughter City.
But as soon as he emerged from the forest into a large clearing, he was blocked.
A knightly order, fully clad in black armor, rode tall horses.
All wore helms and faceplates, obscuring their identities.
One of them stepped forward, pointing a lance at Ye Yu.
"You've broken the rules."
Ye Yu cut him off.
"You're the punishment?"
"So if I beat you, I can enter Slaughter City?"
The lead knight—Dread Knight Scott—was stunned.
His face twisted with anger.
Since becoming commander of Slaughter City's Punishment Knights, no one had ever dared speak to him like that.
"Correct!"
"But only if you defeat me."
Snarling, Scott raised his lance and spurred his horse forward.
"Remember my name—Dread Knight Scott!"
But Ye Yu only chuckled.
"What a joke."
"You want to show off in front of me?"
"Watch me break your act with a single punch!"
In a flash, Ye Yu dashed forward, even faster than the charging warhorse.
Sidestepping to the beast's flank, he threw a punch.
With a sickening crack, both horse and rider were sent flying.
The steed let out a dying cry, and Dread Knight Scott was flung through the air.
Before he could react, Ye Yu leapt into the air and kicked him square in the chest.
His armored breastplate caved in from the impact, and Scott was hurled dozens of meters back, crashing to the ground in a bloody heap.
"Captain!!"
The other knights cried out in panic, but none dared approach.
Ye Yu strolled over.
"So… does that mean I passed?"
Scott, lying in a battered heap, his helm and mask shattered, revealed a face riddled with scars and pain.
Blood trickled from his mouth as he clutched his cracked chestplate.
"Cough… y-yes… you've passed…"
His face was pale with disbelief.
How…?
This youth didn't even summon his Martial Soul…
How could he be faster than a galloping warhorse?
How could he knock me away—with one punch?
Scott couldn't understand it.