Chapter 123: Treasure Vault of Slaughter

Seeing the purple thunder walnut tree growing wildly and bearing fruit, Li Xuan nodded with satisfaction.

After a while, the purple thunder walnut tree finished growing; Li Xuan took the silver thunder walnut and green thunder walnut, placed them into his Kongming Crystal, and then began cultivating by the hot spring.

Half a month ago, Li Xuan's soul power had already broken through to level 27; now his soul power level is close to level 28, and the Spiritual Energy in the Palm Heaven Bottle space has become purer, so Li Xuan's cultivation speed is much faster than outside.

As for the energy in the Lotus Platform, Li Xuan can replenish it daily; there's no need to waste his cultivation time on the platform.

Sitting on a patterned mat beside the hot spring, Li Xuan quickly entered cultivation mode, slowly absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Energy to raise his cultivation.

……

Two hours later, Li Xuan slowly opened his eyes; today's cultivation was over. The only regret was that his soul power level had not risen to 28, but Li Xuan felt he was not far from breaking through to 28 and should be able to do so within the next couple of days.

Exiting cultivation mode, Li Xuan tidied the plants in the space briefly and then left the Palm Heaven Bottle space.

Li Xuan sat in the courtyard, sipping tea while pondering what business the Slaughter King had with him, but after thinking for a long time, Li Xuan had no clue; he simply lacked enough information.

Li Xuan lingered a moment longer, then took a three-thousand-year-old blood dragon ginseng from his Kongming Crystal and placed it into the Jade Box.

Since he was going to meet the Slaughter King, Li Xuan naturally prepared a gift; after all, giving gifts isn't blameworthy, and perhaps the Slaughter King would be pleased and reveal some secrets.

There was still some time before he could go find the Slaughter King, so Li Xuan yawned and returned to his room to rest.

……

After sleeping a few hours, Li Xuan felt the time was about right, so he washed up, changed into fresh clothes, and left his small courtyard carrying the Jade Box.

The Slaughter King's residence is on the east side of the Inner City of the City of Slaughter; it covers a massive area, and the huge fortress walls are entirely blood‑red, though the color has darkened with age.

And this is where the Slaughter King lives.

At the palace gate stood two rows of black‑armored heavy guards, each wielding a blood‑red heavy sword, looking exceptionally fierce and majestic.

As Li Xuan approached the palace, two black‑armored heavy guards with long swords blocked his way.

"Stop, traveler!"

A booming voice came from the "iron can".

"Excuse me, could you two report that I, 6013, have been invited here by the Slaughter King's envoy for a discussion," Li Xuan quickly stepped back, bowed slightly, and said.

"His Majesty the Slaughter King commands that 6013 may enter the palace on his own! Please," the black‑armored heavy guard shouted at Li Xuan, then turned back to his post.

Watching the obedient black‑armored heavy guard, Li Xuan recalled the black‑armored knight he had met when first entering the City of Slaughter.

Compared with the guards before him, that knight seemed much more fleshy; could the City of Slaughter have a related household?

Li Xuan stopped his wild speculation, cradling the Jade Box, and walked toward the palace under the gaze of the black‑armored heavy guards on either side.

As Li Xuan drew nearer, the palace doors opened automatically.

A wave of blood‑stained stench rushed out from inside, nearly making Li Xuan gag.

It wasn't a normal blood scent but a concentrated, extremely foul stench! Li Xuan steadied himself and continued into the palace.

Compared with the outside, the palace interior was even darker, with no light at all; the pitch‑black space resembled the gaping maw of a colossal beast, eager to devour everything.

The moment Li Xuan fully entered the palace, the doors slowly closed automatically.

"Puff!" "Puff!"

……

A series of crackling fire sounds erupted from both sides of the passage.

The formerly pitch‑black palace instantly brightened.

Li Xuan saw the road ahead clearly; it was a deep, dim passage, and the earlier flames were the sound of oil lamps on the walls igniting on their own.

"Kid, since you're here, come find me quickly," a sharp, hoarse voice called from somewhere.

Li Xuan was startled for a moment, but since he was already here, he couldn't stop and forced himself to continue deeper into the passage.

Not to mention, the blood‑red walls truly gave an oppressive and terrifying feeling.

Li Xuan walked for over ten minutes before finally seeing the end of the passage: a three‑meter‑tall bronze gate.

Li Xuan frowned, glanced back, and saw that the passage was not flat but sloped gently downward; however, because it was so long and surrounded by oppressive red, one could not feel the descent. Only Li Xuan's strong soul power and keen senses allowed him to notice.

In other words, this is an underground space.

"Creak…"

The bronze gate opened slowly, revealing darkness inside.

Li Xuan thought for a moment, then, without hesitation, stepped into the bronze gate.

"Kid, you're very bold," the sharp, hoarse voice said again.

The gate closed, plunging the surroundings into darkness, but Li Xuan noticed two blood‑red light spheres the size of dragon's eyes floating in the air nearby.

Li Xuan examined them closely.

"Whoa, these are eyes! No, I've seen the Slaughter King, sir!" Li Xuan was stunned, then quickly bowed to the Slaughter King.

"Your gaze is impressive, kid," the Slaughter King sneered at Li Xuan.

"Before entering the City of Slaughter, I happened upon a treasure and present it to the Slaughter King!" Li Xuan raised the Jade Box and bowed again.

"You've got spirit, kid," the Slaughter King said contentedly.

Then a scantily‑clad, death‑pale beauty emerged from the darkness and took the Jade Box from Li Xuan's hands.

"Kid, I know you weren't corrupted by the toxic fumes of the City of Slaughter, so I want you to do something for me," the Slaughter King said calmly to Li Xuan.

After hearing the Slaughter King's words, Li Xuan was stunned; the fact that he wasn't poisoned was easy to notice, but the Slaughter King, being just shy of a max‑level account, might have something that requires his help? Li Xuan's mind filled with question marks.

"Below the City of Slaughter lies a treasure vault containing the riches accumulated over the years, including a sword said to have been left by the first Slaughter King. I want you to retrieve that sword for me," the Slaughter King said in the same calm tone, showing no emotion.

"I see, so the toxins down there must be even more potent than those in the Inner City of the City of Slaughter; otherwise you wouldn't have chosen me," Li Xuan said, pursing his lips and nodding.

"Indeed, in decades only you have been able to resist the toxic fumes, and only you can retrieve the sword from that place," the Slaughter King's tone remained unchanged, leading Li Xuan to suspect the fellow had lost all emotion.

"Since the Slaughter King wishes it, I'll go fetch the sword for you," Li Xuan quickly bowed again to the Slaughter King.

At this point, Li Xuan had no chance to refuse, and he was also very interested in the City of Slaughter's treasure vault, since everyone there could attract the attention of the Spirit Hall; none were ordinary people!

(End of Chapter)