Chapter 147: Hell Killing Ground

Soon, the Black-clothed Girl introduced the general situation and rules of the Killing City, and from her words it seemed she greatly admired the Killing King, who is the supreme being in this Killing City.

Yang Xiong heard this, his face suddenly turned a bit serious: "Then have you ever seen the Killing King's true face, or how the Killing King originally cultivated himself."

The Black-clothed Girl was also startled: "I don't know that, but probing for information about the Killing King in the Killing City is a capital crime, and Master Killing King has ruled the Killing City for countless years; no one knows when he first became the Killing King."

Yang Xiong couldn't help laughing: "Now that's interesting. To rule this Killing City, one should be at least a Title Douluo‑level strongman, and just now you said the entire Killing City has no Soul Beast, so where does the Killing King's Soul Ring come from?"

Yang Xiong of course knew the Killing King is Tang Chen, but looking at Tang Chen he couldn't tell how many generations of Killing King that was; could there be no Inheritance? Surely there was a leader before Tang Chen in the Killing City.

The Black-clothed Girl's mouth twitched again; in this Killing City no one dares to mock the Killing King, and she didn't expect this young man to be pondering so much.

Yang Xiong didn't hesitate: "Lead the way, take me to the Hell Killing Ground."

The Black-clothed Girl was startled: "You've only just arrived in the Killing City, haven't even entered Nei Cheng, and you already want to go to the Hell Killing Ground?"

"Know that the Hell Killing Ground only has a 10% chance of survival; the battles are extremely brutal. You're still in the newbie protection period, safe for 24 hours, but if you go to the Hell Killing Ground, that protection ends."

"Moreover, according to Killing City rules, each person only needs to take part in one Hell Arena match per year to reside in the Killing City; you still have plenty of time to adapt to the environment."

Yang Xiong's face showed a fierce hint: "Rules? I recall the biggest rule of the Killing City is that there are no rules; here there is only killing, only the strong are honored."

After some discussion, the Black-clothed Girl led Yang Xiong toward the core of the Killing City.

Yang Xiong put on a silver mask covering half his face; in this Killing City no one uses real names, nor shows real faces, since everyone around is an enemy.

The entire Killing City is divided into Outer City and Nei Cheng; the environment and other aspects differ, and the Hell Killing Ground is a massive Arena.

Looking at each person, those in Outer City are relatively weaker; they don't need to join Hell Killing Ground matches, and a contribution of two Bloody Marys per month lets them survive in the Killing City.

Upon entering Nei Cheng, Yang Xiong clearly felt these people were much stronger, each brimming with killing intent, evidently survivors of Hell Killing Ground matches.

To survive in Nei Cheng, one must take part in one Hell Arena match each year.

The entire wall of Nei Cheng is black; Yang Xiong followed the Black-clothed Girl for a full half hour before reaching the Hell Killing Ground.

Even just walking within Nei Cheng feels as if countless people are watching you, and clearly Xiao Bai is the prey in everyone's eyes.

Especially on the road, it seems many fights erupt around, with no trust among anyone; everyone appears ferocious, and here there are only lone wanderers, no teams.

Upon arriving at the Hell Killing Ground, Yang Xiong felt the air thick with a severe bloody scent, as if a layer of red mist shrouded the atmosphere.

The Hell Killing Ground resembles an ancient Roman coliseum; the surroundings are already packed with people, and the central area is the battlefield. Each match requires ten participants, yet only one can survive.

That means, throughout the Killing City, almost everyone is drenched in blood; the longer one stays, the more they seem to be covered in skeletal remains.

After arriving at the Hell Killing Ground, Yang Xiong signed up without hesitation; the entry fee is one Bloody Mary, which he took straight from the tavern.

Soon Yang Xiong was placed into the Hell Killing Ground, where several people were already present, apparently waiting for the match to begin.

The audience seats of the Hell Killing Ground were filled; everyone kept a certain distance, yet all appeared unusually excited and crazy.

This is not a normal world; it's a world without order or rules, a world full of killing, where everyone is merely prey.

Since entering this Killing City, Yang Xiong felt his blood begin to boil, especially after stepping into the Hell Killing Ground; amid the cheers of countless onlookers, his body and spirit seemed stimulated, like every battle with a Soul Beast, awakening his most primal desire.

At this moment Yang Xiong realized the horror of the Killing City; the air likely exudes chronic Deadly Poison, similar to Bloody Mary.

No wonder in the original work, both Hu Liena and Tang San had absorbed top‑tier Head Soul Bones before entering the Killing City; it seems only the effect of a soul bone can keep them truly clear‑headed.

Yang Xiong had previously considered absorbing a Head Soul Bone before entering the Killing City, but the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect lacked sufficiently top‑grade Head Soul Bones; even the legendary Spirit Illusion Head Soul Bone from the original work seemed too aged.

Of course Yang Xiong also had his own preparations; the growth of his primary martial soul is his true banner. Toxins might cause him to lose himself, but under their stimulus, his martial soul and body should become stronger.

Know that Yi Wan Nian later, the most famous masters of primary martial souls all specialize in poison, indicating the primary martial soul's extreme compatibility with toxins; even Yang Xiong once contemplated absorbing a top‑grade poisonous Soul Ring, but that conflicted with his plan, and several trips to the Soul Beast Forest never yielded a top‑grade poisonous Soul Beast.

People on the Arena gradually increased, each keeping a relatively far distance, as if guarding against one another.

After a full hour, the Arena finally gathered ten people, and none of them seemed weak.

When the participants were ready, the match officially began; there were no judges, only a host, since the Hell Killing Ground has no rules and any means may be used; only after nine people die does it truly end.

At the start, no one acted rashly; in this ten‑to‑one death elimination, striking early reveals one's strength and wastes energy, making it easier for others to profit.

Yang Xiong clearly sensed many eyes on him; his attire and aura differed greatly from the Killing City locals. Having just arrived, he appeared relatively clean, with no visible scars, which is unlike someone who has survived long in the Killing City, especially since he had announced he was in the first match.

At that moment, a burly but reckless middle‑aged man roared: "Our life‑or‑death match isn't for a kid like you; I'll deal with you first."

Since Soul Ring skills couldn't be used, everyone carried multiple weapons—large ones like axes, hammers, greatswords, and small ones like throwing knives and nails; consequently, they used their martial souls even less.

The middle‑aged man brandished a massive axe and charged at Yang Xiong, delivering a full‑force swing; the strength was formidable, indicating at least Soul Ancestor‑level power.

Yang Xiong sneered: "Since you want to die, I'll grant you that."

Yang Xiong stood on the Arena, holding a long sword with both hands, poised at a distance.

Seeing the man charge with the axe, Yang Xiong's mouth curled with cold intent, and he sliced forward with his sword.

Just as the long sword and axe were about to clash, Yang Xiong's speed surged; his sword tip tapped the axe, and although the axe surged fiercely, the tip seemed to pry it open, rendering it uncontrollable.

Only Soul Ancestor‑level strength, far inferior in power and all aspects compared to me.

When the axe was deflected, Yang Xiong suddenly surged and slashed at the middle‑aged man's neck.

The middle‑aged man was shocked; he hadn't expected the kid's attack to be so swift, with exaggerated speed and strength.

But the middle‑aged man, clearly battle‑hardened, used the axe's handle to block Yang Xiong's long sword.

Yang Xiong's blade feigned, his left hand already grasped the axe's handle, and then his right hand, holding the long sword, sliced, directly cutting off the middle‑aged man's hand.

Before he could utter a painful scream, the sword blade turned again, this time cleanly chopping off the middle‑aged man's head.

With the first death on the Arena, the audience roared endless cheers; the Hell Killing Ground seemed to boil, and even Yang Xiong felt his Qi Blood surge, as if instantly invigorated.

Seeing Yang Xiong easily slay one, the others' gazes instantly shifted; three people directly brandished weapons toward Yang Xiong: a middle‑aged man wielding a massive hammer, an elderly man using a sword martial soul, and a middle‑aged woman holding a short blade.

Just as the three were about to close in, the short‑sleeved middle‑aged woman hurled her short blade like a throwing knife, targeting not Yang Xiong but the hammer‑wielding middle‑aged man.

The middle‑aged man couldn't dodge; his back was pierced straight through.

The woman snorted coldly: "How dare you expose your back to me; seems my Zhu Ye Qing reputation still isn't loud enough."

When Yang Xiong's long sword was about to clash with the elderly man's sword martial soul, the old man's sword became extremely swift, even drawing a sword flower, showing his skill with the blade.

Yet among all sword‑wielders in the world, in sword technique or sword Dao, who can surpass Yang Xiong's master, the Sword Douluo?

The elderly man's sword flower looked dazzling, but Yang Xiong's sword cut across, forcefully snapping it apart.

Before the elderly man could react, Yang Xiong's long sword pressed down hard, skewing the old man's sword martial soul; then Yang Xiong's long sword flicked the opponent's sword in a continuous spin, as if employing the Eight Trigrams principle of using leverage, rendering the old man's sword completely uncontrollable.

Before he could react, Yang Xiong had already unleashed a move called Straight‑Through Yellow Dragon, and his long sword was already lodged in his arm.

At the instant the old man felt the pain, Yang Xiong, both hands gripping his sword, swung with full force, cleanly cutting the man at the waist; blood instantly splattered everywhere, and even the entrails were exposed.

On the Arena, the others also began to engage one after another, especially as multiple opponents surrounded Yang Xiong; each attacked their own foe—some striking the unsuspecting like the middle‑aged woman, others dueling weapon‑to‑weapon, and the whole Arena became a massive melee.

(End of chapter)