"This… this is your proof of entry into the Slaughter City."
"The Slaughter City is just ahead. Once you reach the city gates, someone will meet and guide you."
Defeated and bloodied, the Dread Knight Scott coughed up blood as he struggled to pull a token from his robes and handed it over to Ye Yu.
Upon receiving the token, Ye Yu's expression turned strange.
Because engraved on the token was a number—4396?
Wait a second!
He had entered Slaughter City around the same time as Tang San did in the original story. But Tang San's token number was 9528, wasn't it?
Why was his 4396?
But thinking deeper, Ye Yu wasn't surprised.
After all, the mortality rate in Slaughter City was extremely high. Given its long history, there was no way only around 9,000 people had ever entered.
So, it was very likely that Slaughter City recycled its tokens, issuing them anew once the original bearer died.
In the original novel, the Dread Knight named Scott must have happened to carry a token numbered 9528 when he intercepted Tang San, and after being defeated, passed it on to him.
Now, this Scott fellow simply had token 4396 when he came for Ye Yu.
Still, to get a number like 4396 among so many possible combinations...
That was too much of a coincidence.
The number stirred something in Ye Yu, reminding him of an esports game he used to play in his previous life during college...
Could it be that, here in Douluo Continent, apart from the saying "Heaven's will has Yin," there also existed the mysterious power of… '7' will?
After receiving the token, Ye Yu stepped over the wounded Dread Knight Scott and walked straight toward the gates of Slaughter City.
Soon, he arrived before the towering black walls of the city.
Two rows of warriors clad in black armor guarded the gate, and several women in black veils stood near the entrance.
One of them stepped forward upon spotting Ye Yu.
"Welcome to Slaughter City."
The veiled woman's crimson lips parted with a clear, crisp voice.
As she approached, she made a graceful gesture: "Please, follow me."
The moment Ye Yu's token was seen hanging from his waist, the black-armored guards at the gate moved aside, clearing the path.
Following the veiled woman, Ye Yu officially entered Slaughter City.
Slaughter City was an underground world shrouded in gloom.
Despite being underground, the "sky" of this hidden realm had a massive crimson moon suspended overhead—its eerie blood-red glow dimly illuminated the city.
Compared to the outer area, however, the inner city felt much darker, as tall, oppressive buildings blocked most of the moonlight.
Thankfully, the roads were lined with flickering bluish-purple lamps, barely keeping the darkness at bay.
Of course, this darkness meant little to Ye Yu.
Having taken the immortal herb Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, cultivated the Purple Demon Eye, and possessing both the Blue Silver Domain and powerful Spiritual Power, Ye Yu's ability to perceive his surroundings remained unaffected.
As he followed the veiled guide deeper into the city, she began explaining:
"Our Slaughter City has existed for over a thousand years.
It was founded by a Spirit Master who surpassed Rank 100.
Inside, all Spirit Abilities are sealed—only your instincts and raw power matter."
Ye Yu, however, barely paid attention. He simply scanned the surroundings with a calm gaze.
He knew full well—the staff of Slaughter City didn't truly understand the city's origins.
It had existed far longer than just a millennium.
And inside Slaughter City, only Spirit Ring-based abilities were restricted—other techniques and abilities remained usable.
In the outer district, Ye Yu observed countless Spirit Masters—thin, pale, hollow-eyed—slumped against the walls or huddled in dark alleyways. Their robes were tattered, their spirits utterly broken.
According to the veiled woman, Slaughter City was divided into inner and outer districts.
In the outer district, killing was restricted by rules.
In the inner district, killing and depravity were unrestricted—a true hell for the fallen.
Cowardly and weak Spirit Masters often remained in the outer district, unwilling to risk their lives in the Hell Slaughter Arena, the deadly equivalent of a Spirit Arena.
Yet by the city's rules, all Spirit Masters who entered Slaughter City must either:
Participate annually in a 10-person deathmatch in the Hell Slaughter Arena—only one survives,
Or donate two cups of Bloody Mary (their own blood) every month.
Of course, true warriors sought the arena—not passive bloodletting.
Those who chose to donate their blood usually met slow, pitiful deaths.
"We've arrived."
The veiled woman stopped before a massive city gate.
Ye Yu saw that the inner district was completely surrounded by walls ten meters high, with gates at each of the four cardinal directions.
"The inner city lies ahead," she said.
"The Hell Slaughter Arena is located inside. Only by achieving a streak of 100 consecutive victories there can one qualify to challenge the Hell Road."
"And if you succeed... you become a Slaughter God."
"A Slaughter God can enter and leave Slaughter City freely—an unchallenged king."
"But the last one to become a Slaughter God was over twenty years ago."
Her eyes were filled with fanaticism as she spoke.
Then, she led Ye Yu through the inner city gate.
As soon as they entered, Ye Yu heard it—
Laughter, the clashing of weapons, cries of pain, and the moans of women echoed from the shadows.
In the streets, he saw men assaulting a woman in broad daylight.
Elsewhere, savage Spirit Masters devoured fresh corpses, still warm from battle.
The entire scene was brutal and horrific.
Ye Yu frowned deeply.
Soon, they arrived before a massive coliseum-like building, reminiscent of ancient Roman architecture.
Above the entrance hung a plaque with three bold words:
Hell Slaughter Arena
"Come in," said the veiled woman.
"I'll show you around and explain how to participate in—or watch—the death matches."
As soon as they entered the lobby, Ye Yu spotted a familiar figure.
From one of the side corridors—likely an entrance for participants—a young woman walked out.
She wore a form-fitting golden dress, her figure tall, curvaceous, and elegant. She had flowing golden hair, fair skin, and a fox-like pair of enchanting eyes full of seductive charm.
Ye Yu instantly recognized her.
She was none other than Hu Liena, one of the three prodigies of Spirit Hall, whom he had once faced during the Continental Spirit Master Elite Tournament.
Due to his Blue Silver Emperor bloodline awakening, Ye Yu's appearance had changed significantly—his hair and eyes were no longer the same.
Hu Liena clearly didn't recognize him.
But Ye Yu's otherworldly appearance stood out even more in the filth of Slaughter City—a lotus blooming in the mire, pure and radiant.
She paused, her gaze lingering on Ye Yu for quite a while as she passed him.
Then, she turned and exited the arena without a word.
Back inside the lobby, the veiled woman continued her explanation.
To participate in the death matches of the Hell Slaughter Arena, one simply needed to register with a cup of Bloody Mary.
Just then, Ye Yu saw a burly man, thick with muscle and ferocity, walk out of a nearby dark room holding a cup of blood.
Ye Yu turned to the veiled woman beside him.
"Can I begin… now?" he asked calmly.