Chapter 2: City of Slaughter
Just as Qian Xunji's killing blow, charged with the divine and oppressive power of a Seraphim, was about to strike Qin Xuan, an abrupt voice suddenly rang out.
The pressure in the hall was immense, threatening to crush him. Qian Xunji's aura, that of a peak Titled Douluo, was a tangible, chilling force. Qin Xuan's every instinct screamed at him to run, to beg, but he knew neither would work.
This is the only way, he thought, his mind racing faster than it ever had. He fears the Elder Palace. He fears his father, Qian Daoliu. He needs an excuse to let me live, one that doesn't make him look weak or compromised.
"Supreme Pontiff, I know I'm not worthy of the Holy Maiden! But I have perseverance! I have decided to go to the City of Slaughter to obtain the Slaughter God Domain. I will not return until I succeed!"
Qin Xuan struggled to lift his head, feeling Qian Xunji's undisguised, suffocating killing intent press down on him like a mountain. He gritted his teeth, his jaw aching from the strain, and forced himself to look directly into the golden eyes of the man who held his life in his hands. He declared his vow firmly, his attitude one of unwavering, almost fanatical, resolve.
He knew the truth. With his current strength, he definitely couldn't clear the City of Slaughter.
The City of Slaughter was a meat grinder, a place where all Spirit Abilities were sealed. Going in as a mere Spirit King, without the monstrous protections and resources of the story's main characters, was tantamount to suicide.
Qin Xuan was not Tang San or Hu Liena. He didn't have two future Slaughter Gods secretly protecting him, nor did he possess a head Spirit Bone, an external Spirit Bone, or the formidable unique skills of the Tang Sect.
Entering at only the Spirit King rank would surely mean certain death.
His original plan had been to find an excuse to leave Spirit Hall, hide for a few years, and use his knowledge of the plot to systematically steal the opportunities he knew were coming. Being forced into the City of Slaughter by Qian Xunji was a violent deviation, but it still achieved the primary goal: getting away.
At worst, it would just let him live a few more years, wouldn't it?
It's better to live poorly than to die well.
This desperate gamble was infinitely better than being constantly targeted by a viper like Qian Xunji, a hypocritical tyrant who held absolute power over him.
Unless he hid in the Elder Palace like a dog and never came out, he would eventually be cornered and finished.
Qian Xunji was visibly stunned. Go to the City of Slaughter?
The name of that place carried a heavy weight, even for a Titled Douluo.
He reacted almost instantly, the crushing spirit power pressure covering Qin Xuan vanishing as if it had never been. A bright, calculating light flashed in his golden pupils.
"Are you serious?" His majestic and calm voice echoed in the deliberation hall, his deep tone probing Qin Xuan for any sign of deception.
It was naturally best not to offend the two Priests, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo. Even if he killed Qin Xuan, those two wouldn't dare to openly challenge him, the Supreme Pontiff. But it would inevitably create a rift, and it would be difficult to explain to his father, Qian Daoliu.
This was not conducive to his absolute rule over Spirit Hall.
But letting Qin Xuan go to the City of Slaughter? It solved everything. As for whether Qin Xuan could actually emerge from that hellhole?
That was not a concern for him.
Because even he, a Titled Douluo, was not entirely confident he would survive that place. To put it bluntly, he had been in a high position for too long. He was afraid of death. The City of Slaughter stripped away the Spirit Abilities that Titled Douluo relied on, leaving only pure, brutal combat and killing intent. It was a place for desperate madmen, not for a ruler.
Only Tang Hao, hailed as the Clear Sky Sect's greatest genius in a hundred years, had managed to obtain the Slaughter God Domain a few years prior.
Although this Qin Xuan was exceptionally talented, there was still a considerable gap between him and Tang Hao, who possessed the 'Number One Tool Spirit in the World.' Not to mention, his spirit power was far lower than Tang Hao's was when he entered.
Sending a Level 54 Spirit King there was no different from throwing a rabbit to a pack of wolves.
Upon hearing the shift in Qian Xunji's tone, Qin Xuan knew he had won his bet. He had correctly gambled on Qian Xunji's fear of the Elder Palace and his overwhelming arrogance.
He immediately leaned into the performance, his face twisting into a mask of fervent devotion. He nodded heavily, his voice thick with emotion, and stated firmly, "Yes, Supreme Pontiff! I am willing to offer my heart for the Holy Maiden, for Spirit Hall, and for you, Your Eminence!"
As Qin Xuan spoke, he forced his trembling body to stand up, straightening his back like a spear. He clenched his right fist and lightly pounded it against his heart in a standard Spirit Hall salute. In that moment, he projected the aura of a peerless sword being unsheathed, standing alone and apart from the world, ready to die for his cause.
What a disgusting bootlicker I've become, he thought, bile rising in his throat. But if it keeps me alive, I'll kiss his feet.
Qian Xunji looked down on this display, a faint, almost invisible smirk playing on his lips. Fool. To die for a woman. He is not worthy of my Dong'er.
"Good. Since you have this intention, I will fulfill you." Qian Xunji waved his hand grandly, his voice booming with false magnanimity. "If you can truly obtain the Slaughter God Domain, what's wrong with marrying Dong'er to you?"
He knew it was a promise he would never have to keep.
"Thank you, Supreme Pontiff!" Qin Xuan feigned an explosion of excitement, cupping his hands in thanks. His voice cracked with "joy," and his eyes shone with "unshed tears of gratitude." He then departed respectfully, bowing deeply before turning and walking away, his steps measured, not too fast, not too slow.
There was no other way. Before he had enough strength, self-preservation was the top priority. He couldn't guarantee what this pervert, who could even violate his own disciple, might do if he stayed. The killing intent moments ago had been all too real.
After Qin Xuan left, his footsteps echoing in the vast, empty hall, the room returned to its silent, oppressive atmosphere.
"Your Eminence, this boy's talent is not weak, and you just showed him killing intent. He must have noticed it," one of the Supreme Pontiff's personal guard Titled Douluo stepped forward, his voice a low rasp. He made a subtle throat-slitting gesture. "Why not... nip it in the bud?"
"That's right, Your Eminence," another personal guard Douluo echoed, his armor clinking as he shifted. "This boy actually dared to covet the Holy Maiden. He must not be let go. Such disrespect is a capital offense."
As personal guard Douluo, the Supreme Pontiff's absolute confidants, how could they not know about Qian Xunji's dirty little secret regarding Bibi Dong?
In their opinion, this boy, Qin Xuan, relying on a bit of talent and the backing of two Priests, actually dared to propose marriage to the Holy Maiden. This was simply courting death. He had touched the Supreme Pontiff's reverse scale.
"Do you think he can walk out of the City of Slaughter?"
Qian Xunji walked to the ornate, floor-to-ceiling window, his hands clasped behind his back. His figure was tall and straight, his face sinister and indifferent as he gazed out over the sprawling Spirit City below.
A chilling aura, completely different from his angelic appearance, lingered around him, refusing to dissipate, untouched by the direct sunlight streaming into the hall.
The two personal guard Douluo were stunned, looking at each other. They both shook their heads.
Like Qian Xunji, they also didn't believe Qin Xuan could emerge from the City of Slaughter.
Because that place did not allow the use of any Spirit Ability. Let alone a mere Spirit King like Qin Xuan; even Spirit Douluo and most Titled Douluo would find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to leave that place alive.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be the case that only a mere seven people had succeeded in a thousand years.
The two personal guard Douluo grinned, their expressions sycophantic. They knelt on one knee and flattered, "Your Eminence is wise. This way, the boy dies, and even those two Priests will have nothing to say."
Qian Xunji clearly enjoyed his subordinates' flattery, his lips curving slightly. But he still snorted lightly, a sound of pure disdain.
"Hmph. The Priests are only loyal to my father, loyal to my Angel lineage. That boy was also cultivated by my Spirit Hall. Even if I killed him directly, what could they do to me?"
The two personal guard Douluo heard this, smiled bitterly, and lowered their heads, not daring to refute. Even though they spoke of killing Qin Xuan, that was all based on Qian Xunji's orders.
If they truly dared to openly attack Qin Xuan, given the two Priests' (Qian Jun and Jiang Mo) clear appreciation of him, they would likely face dire consequences. One must know that there was a significant gap even among Titled Douluo, and those old men in the Elder Palace were not to be trifled with.
Sensing the change in their emotions, as the Supreme Pontiff, Qian Xunji was not foolish and naturally knew their concerns. He knew his words were mostly bravado; he was the Supreme Pontiff, but his father was still the true ceiling of Spirit Hall.
After a moment of contemplation, he continued, his voice cold, "However, to avoid any... complications... have Yue Guan and Gui Mei personally escort that boy to the City of Slaughter tomorrow morning."
He wanted to ensure Qin Xuan didn't just flee. He wanted to be certain the boy was delivered to his grave.
Supreme Pontiff Mountain was a majestic peak, like a giant sword forged by heaven and earth, steep and grand, soaring into the clouds. The Supreme Pontiff Palace stood atop it, a symbol of ultimate power.
Only the Supreme Pontiff, the Supreme Pontiff's disciples, personal guard Douluo, and the direct Cardinals under his command were qualified to reside there.
Ordinarily, Spirit Hall disciples were scattered throughout Spirit City. Only Elders, or those summoned by the Supreme Pontiff and announced, could enter this sacred mountain.
Qin Xuan's residence was in the neighborhood near Supreme Pontiff Mountain. Because he had been exceptionally accepted as a disciple by the two Priests, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, he usually spent most of his time cultivating in the Elder Palace.
Only after moving far away from the Supreme Pontiff Palace, his back drenched in cold sweat, did Qin Xuan dare to stop. He ducked into an alley, leaning against the cold stone, and let out a long, shuddering sigh.
"Damn it, you scared the hell out of me."
Qin Xuan looked back up at the 'Supreme Pontiff Palace', its name written in the script of the Douluo Continent, shimmering with golden light on the plaque far above. A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes amidst his relief. How did my life as a transmigrator end up in a death-or-death gamble just days in?
But it was not yet time to give up on himself. He had survived.
The most urgent task.
To protect himself, he first had to regain all his spirit power, Spirit Abilities, and combat skills. This body was talented, a genius even, but he, the soul within, was not yet its master. His combat instincts were from his past life, not synced with this body's power.
Otherwise, he would just be an empty shell without cultivation to rely on. Forget about slaying Tang San, abusing Yu Xiaogang, destroying the Clear Sky Sect, marrying a rich and beautiful woman, and reaching the pinnacle of life in the future.
He wouldn't even need the protagonist to act; any random Spirit King could kill him!
Walking to the halfway point of Supreme Pontiff Mountain, Qin Xuan entered the depths of the forest alone. He moved silently, using his half-remembered skills to mask his presence. After confirming with his shaky spiritual power that no one was around, he summoned his Spirit.
Red light surged in his right hand, coalescing from particles of light. A strangely shaped, entirely crimson, ancient longsword appeared in his grasp. It was covered in densely packed, intricate demonic patterns. Flickering arcs of blood-red lightning, like intertwined flames, wrapped around the blade.
[Inorin's Note: This sword, likely the 'Changming Sword' from the reference file, is the protagonist's unique Spirit in this fanfiction, and appears to be related to a Vermillion Bird.]
At the same time, five spirit rings, representing his Spirit King cultivation, rose from beneath his feet. Qin Xuan possessed innate full spirit power and was a disciple of Spirit Hall's two great Priests, so his spirit rings naturally had the optimal configuration: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black.
The moment the sword fully materialized, a scorching sword qi, imbued with terrifying lightning, instantly filled the space between heaven and earth. The surrounding temperature rose slightly, and the leaves on the nearby trees began to curl and dry.
Faintly, a high-pitched cry resounded through the sky. A phoenix cry. The sword qi attached to the sword actually transformed into the ethereal image of a Vermillion Bird, soaring with outstretched wings in the sky above him before diving back into the blade.
Qin Xuan stared at the magnificent weapon, a small, grim smile touching his lips. "Okay," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "At least the starting tools are good."
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