The envoy stepped into the grand hall first, "You just asked about the champion of the Slaughter Arena. Conveniently, I will give you a firsthand account of the new rules for the Hell Slaughter Arena."
"New rules?" Tang San was slightly taken aback.
The envoy smiled slightly, "Yes. These were redrafted by our examiners last year."
Led by the envoy, Tang San saw a special structure.
The building was circular, but not a perfect circle. It was widest at the bottom and narrowed as it went upwards, resembling the interior of a vase.
This Hell Slaughter Arena occupied a considerable area, comparable in scale to the Suo Tuo Great Soul Arena that Tang San had visited before. However, it was smaller than the Great Soul Arena in Tian Dou City.
The black architecture exuded an oppressive atmosphere. The envoy informed Tang San that this Hell Slaughter Arena was located at the very center of the entire Slaughter City.
"You mentioned the examiners redrafted new rules. Are they related to combat methods?" Tang San inquired.
The envoy nodded, "Yes. However, only one aspect has been changed; the rest are quite simple. If you wish to participate, you can register with your own identity token and then await the start of the match."
"Of course, you are not allowed to engage in combat while waiting. Each group entering the arena consists of ten people. The original rule was that you only needed to survive, no matter the method. But now it's different. While methods and means are not restricted, it is required that everyone in a group leaves alive."
"Simply put, there is still only one victor, but the other losers must simply remain alive. This is the new rule set by the examiner."
Tang San's eyes flickered, and a trace of curiosity about this examiner arose in his heart. "What happens to those who fail?"
The envoy raised an eyebrow, "Failures must offer two cups of Yellow Springs Dew; otherwise, even if they have violated the rules, they will be directly executed by the enforcement team."
Yellow Springs Dew was human blood.
The envoy had already informed Tang San of this on the way.
Compared to losing one's life, two cups of blood was indeed a light price.
This examiner... what kind of person could he be?
Tang San became even more curious.
"Then, how does one become the so-called champion?"
The envoy looked at Tang San with some surprise, "As long as you participate in one hundred matches, you are the champion. However, the person currently ranked first in the Hell Slaughter Arena has only participated in sixty-seven matches. Each match you participate in adds another victory to your identity token. This allows you to live in the inner city for another year, enjoying all sorts of pleasures. Of course, you must ensure you can survive after enjoying yourself."
Tang San understood and then asked, "Can I enter the spectator area of the combat platform to watch? I'd like to see it."
The envoy shook his head, "The qualification for spectating is one cup of Yellow Springs Dew. This cup of Yellow Springs Dew can be your own or someone else's. As long as you don't feel tired, you can watch as long as you wish once you enter. The matches are continuous. As long as someone registers and ten people gather, a match can begin."
Yellow Springs Dew again?
Tang San frowned, finding it difficult to understand why this Slaughter City placed such importance on blood.
As the envoy had said, the Hell Slaughter Arena was in continuous operation.
While they were talking, several more people entered the Slaughter Arena from outside.
They all appeared to be veterans, as they were holding a cup of scarlet blood in their hands.
Hesitation lasted only a moment, but Tang San quickly made a decision.
Even the envoy couldn't see how Tang San moved, only sensing a blur of shadow. Tang San blocked the path of a bald, burly man and extended his right hand towards him.
"Give me your Yellow Springs Dew."
The bald man was stunned, clearly having never encountered prey that offered itself up.
He first glanced at the envoy behind Tang San, a blood-red light flashing in his eyes, his voice laced with eagerness, "Newcomer? You want to snatch Yellow Springs Dew from me?"
Hearing the bald man's words, the envoy snapped back to attention and said somewhat urgently, "Mr. Nine-Five-Two-Eight, if you deliberately provoke him, the newcomer protection will not apply."
Tang San did not back down, and the bald man didn't give Tang San a chance to regret, conjuring a large sawtooth blade in his hand.
A powerful soul force fluctuation emanated from it, clearly his martial soul.
A viscous malice surged in the bald man's eyes. His four companions immediately leaped away to the open space the moment he moved, their actions fluid and their crisis awareness sharp.
At least level fifty.
This was Tang San's assessment of his opponent.
As the sawtooth blade descended towards him, Tang San flipped his right palm upwards, forming a gesture of supporting the heavens. From his palm, a strong suction pulled the force of the incoming saber sideways.
Simultaneously, his left foot swiftly stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and the bald man.
The Tang Sect's ultimate skill, Control Crane Capturing Dragon, combined with Jade Profound Hand, and in the blink of an eye, the cup of Yellow Springs Dew in the bald man's hand fell into Tang San's grasp.
"You lost. Begone."
Tang San held the Yellow Springs Dew, not a drop spilled, his expression cold.
The bald man froze. In the next second, he gripped the Eye of the God at his waist and, under the strange gazes of others, suddenly raised the dull, exquisite stone carving in his hand, pointing it at Tang San, and snarled, "You dare steal my belongings! The gods will not forgive you!"
Tang San, new to this, was taken aback. His companions, upon seeing his action, did not collude with him but instead frowned, staring at the bald man.
The envoy's eyelid twitched, and he looked at the bald man with a subtle expression.
Others in the Hell Slaughter Arena hall, upon hearing the bald man's words, also turned to stare.
In an instant, all eyes were focused on him, filled with malice and disgust.
What was going on?
Noticing the killing intent in the eyes of others, Tang San's heart stirred.
But the bald man, oblivious to the fact that the malice and disgust were directed at him, looked at Tang San triumphantly, his smile filled with eager malice, "The gods bless all believers. As one of the gods' believers, boy, you will be punished!"
"..."
The atmosphere in the Hell Slaughter Arena hall instantly became stagnant, and the one who broke the silence was another clear, youthful voice—
"No, you are mistaken."
"My god does not bless idiots."
—Author's note—
Working overtime today to finalize accounts. I need to report to the boss tomorrow, so just one update for now.