Three days later…
The city appeared on the horizon like a wound in the earth.
Tall black walls.
Red lanterns glowing like eyes.
Smoke rising from countless chimneys.
And above the gate—written in massive iron letters—was a name that made even cultivators swallow nervously:
BLOOD MARKET PAVILION
It wasn't a sect.
It wasn't a kingdom.
It wasn't a righteous city.
It was neutral territory.
A place where good and evil didn't exist.
Only profit.
Only contracts.
Only slaughter with paperwork.
Arjun stood on a hill overlooking it.
His robe was changed again.
Plain gray clothing.
A hood shadowing his face.
The Crimson Eye mask hung at his waist, hidden under cloth.
His black sword was wrapped.
Because walking into this city openly…
was asking for a thousand blades.
But Arjun wasn't afraid.
Fear was useless here.
He needed something else.
Control.
The System flashed quietly.
🔊 [LOCATION DETECTED: Blood Market Pavilion]
📌 Danger Level: EXTREME
✅ Bounty hunters detected: 300+
✅ Cult presence detected: YES
✅ Sect scouts detected: YES
⚠️ Warning: Your Cult Mark is resonating
Arjun touched his chest.
He felt the mark burn faintly like a hidden eye opening.
The cult hadn't forgotten.
They had simply changed tactics.
Instead of forcing him…
they were guiding him deeper.
Arjun smiled slightly.
"Let them guide."
"I'll eat the path."
THE GATE OF BLOOD
At the main gate, two enormous guards stood like statues.
Both wore black armor with red stripes.
Their cultivation was heavy.
Not sect elders…
but strong enough to kill normal inner disciples.
Between them hung a board of rules.
BLOOD MARKET LAWS
No killing inside the main street.
Duels are allowed only in designated arenas.
Anyone may trade anything.
Contracts are sacred.
Break rules = death.
Arjun walked toward the gate calmly.
A guard stepped forward and held out his hand.
"Entry fee."
Arjun tossed a small bag of spirit stones.
The guard opened it.
Counted quickly.
Then frowned.
"You're short."
Arjun looked at him calmly.
"How much?"
The guard smirked.
"Ten more stones."
Arjun stared for two seconds.
Then he placed a single stone in the guard's palm.
The guard laughed.
"That's one."
Arjun nodded.
"Yes."
The guard's smile widened.
"So?"
Arjun leaned slightly closer and whispered:
"That one stone…"
"…is your life."
The guard's smile froze.
He felt it.
A wave of killing intent pressed lightly against his throat like a blade.
Not released fully.
Not enough to break rule #1.
But enough to deliver a message.
The guard swallowed hard.
His hand shook.
He quickly stepped aside.
"Enter."
Arjun walked past without another word.
The second guard watched him carefully, eyes narrowed.
But Arjun didn't even glance at him.
Because he knew something:
The hunters smell fear.But the market smells power.
And Arjun carried power like poison.
A CITY MADE OF GREED
Inside Blood Market Pavilion, the streets were alive.
Not with happiness.
With hunger.
Shops sold pills, weapons, cultivation manuals…
and worse.
Cages were rolled down the road like livestock carts.
Inside them were people:
captured disciples
runaway slaves
criminals
even children
Some were gagged.
Some stared blankly.
Some cried silently.
Nobody cared.
Because in this city, compassion had no value.
Only price.
Arjun's eyes stayed calm.
But inside, something moved.
Not pity.
Recognition.
Because this world was exactly like Iron Mountain Sect…
Just larger.
More organized.
More honest.
Arjun whispered:
"So this is the world."
"Good."
THE BOUNTY HALL
Arjun entered a massive building covered in red banners.
Inside, hundreds of cultivators gathered around glowing boards.
Bounties.
Names.
Rewards.
Blood prices.
Arjun kept his hood low as he walked.
He looked at the main board.
And his eyes stopped.
Because his own face was there.
WANTED: ARJUN — DEVOURER
Reward: 70,000 Spirit Stones
Alive: 120,000 Spirit Stones
Bonus: One forbidden technique scroll
Requested by: Iron Mountain Sect
Under it was an additional mark.
A crimson eye stamp.
Requested by: Unknown
Arjun's lips curved slightly.
"So the cult placed a separate bounty."
Interesting.
That meant:
They didn't want him dead.
They wanted him captured.
Collected.
Owned.
Arjun's eyes sharpened.
"Not happening."
Behind him, whispers started.
"Someone's staring at the Devourer bounty…"
"He's either brave or stupid…"
"Maybe he thinks he can claim it?"
Arjun turned slightly.
A man with a spear and tiger-skin cloak was watching him.
Rank: strong.
Aura: sharp.
Killer eyes.
A real bounty hunter.
The man smirked.
"You look interested, friend."
Arjun nodded calmly.
"I am."
The bounty hunter laughed.
"Then you must be dreaming."
Arjun tilted his head.
"And you must be hungry."
The bounty hunter's smile widened.
"Everyone is hungry."
Arjun nodded.
"Yes."
"And I'm hungrier."
THE INFORMATION DEALER
Arjun left the bounty hall and moved into the back streets.
There, under a red-lit alley, an old man sat behind a stall selling scrolls.
His sign read:
SECRETS BOUGHT.
SECRETS SOLD.
Arjun approached.
The old man didn't look up.
He spoke lazily.
"Information isn't free."
Arjun placed a spirit stone down.
"I want to remove a mark."
The old man paused.
Finally he looked up.
His eyes widened slightly.
"You're marked by something powerful."
Arjun didn't deny it.
"Yes."
The old man's gaze sharpened.
"…Crimson Eye."
Arjun's fingers twitched slightly.
The old man smiled faintly.
"Relax."
"I don't care who you are."
"But removing a Crimson Eye Mark…"
He leaned forward.
"…requires blood."
Arjun asked:
"What kind?"
The old man whispered:
"Blood of a cult priest."
Arjun's smile returned.
"Where do I find one?"
The old man pointed toward the far side of the city.
A tall building shaped like a pagoda made of black stone.
On it was a symbol: a crimson eye.
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"A cult branch… inside the market?"
The old man nodded.
"Blood Market Pavilion is neutral."
"So cults and sects both operate here."
He smiled.
"And they both pretend not to see each other."
Arjun asked one last question:
"How do I get inside?"
The old man chuckled.
"You don't."
"Unless you're invited."
Arjun stared at the pagoda.
Then he whispered:
"Then I'll force an invitation."
THE ARENA ANNOUNCEMENT
Suddenly a loud voice echoed across the streets.
A bell rang.
A proclamation.
📢 "BLOOD ARENA TONIGHT!"
📢 "SPECIAL EVENT: THE DEVOURER'S HUNT!"
📢 "ANYONE WHO BRINGS ARJUN'S HEAD RECEIVES A LIFE-TOKEN REWARD!"
The entire city erupted.
Cheers.
Laughter.
Greedy screams.
"HAAAAA!! FINALLY!"
"I'LL CLAIM IT!"
"120,000 SPIRIT STONES!!"
"WE'LL DRAG HIM LIKE A DOG!"
Arjun stood in the crowd quietly.
Listening.
Then he smiled under his hood.
Because he understood what the market just did.
They didn't want to hunt him quietly.
They wanted to turn his death into entertainment.
A public slaughter.
An auction of his body.
A festival of greed.
Arjun whispered:
"Perfect."
He turned and walked toward the arena.
Because tonight…
Blood Market Pavilion would learn something.
They didn't build an arena to trap Arjun.
They built an arena…
to feed him.