The Hell Hall, with its dim red light, had an empty Bat Throne.
In the Earth's crust magma layer, located at the very bottom of the Hell Hall, Tang Chen, sensing a familiar presence approaching, stared silently at the steep, scorching rock face.
The Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Snake, submerged in the searing magma, flicked its tail listlessly. "The little cub is back, isn't she? She went to see that human boy you mentioned again?"
Tang Chen replied with a low hum.
The Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Snake, observing Tang Chen's unreadable expression, impatiently slapped the surface of the magma with its tail.
The magma, which could easily melt bones, splashed onto the special rock path. It only produced hot, black smoke; the path itself remained unscorched.
"Can't you just kill those outsiders?"
The Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Snake was also in a foul mood.
It was rare to encounter a third demon on this foreign continent, and it was a cub with terrifying potential. It truly didn't want to hand the cub over.
And to a mere human, no less!
The thought made the Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Snake bare its fangs.
Tang Chen was also unhappy, but his emotions were more restrained.
Even though he longed to kill those who were destroying everything, he had to consider...
"If I kill that human boy, the little one will be unhappy."
His sigh echoed in the underground space, filled only with bubbling magma and the giant serpent, carrying a trace of inexplicable melancholy.
...
After that day, the relationship between Tang San, Tang Sui, Tang Chen, and the Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Snake seemed to undergo a subtle shift.
Tang Chen became even more reserved than before.
He was like an elder who had seen the vicissitudes of the world and had entered retirement, entrusting most of his authority to the little cub.
Tang Sui did not tell Tang Chen about her conversation with Tang San that day. Even though their relationship seemed to be in a cold war, with a certain subtle tension, Tang Sui still fulfilled all her duties.
Except for one thing.
She had resumed her cultivation of soul power.
Tang Chen, who noticed this, scowled but said nothing.
Time passed in waiting and cultivation.
Tang San, sitting cross-legged in a simple hut, was enveloped in an aura of killing intent. He had been in the Slaughter City for nearly two years.
With only one match left before he became the champion of the final slaughter, Tang San was far from feeling good.
The constant battles and cultivation over these two years had brought him more than just an increase in killing intent.
These killing intents could even negatively affect his state of mind.
Completing one hundred battles seemed easy but was fraught with peril.
It wasn't due to a lack of strength, but rather because he needed more time than before to quell the impact of the killing intent on him, lest he become a monster that only knew how to kill.
In a way, it was similar to demons.
According to Tang Chen, the Slaughter City was a Feng Shui treasure land beneficial to demons, but a subtle disaster for humans.
This was one of the reasons Tang San had spent two years in the Slaughter City and only completed ninety-nine matches.
The second reason was, of course, Tang Sui.
After that day, Tang Sui had not spoken much to Tang San, but when Tang San meditated, he would occasionally sense another presence deliberately revealing itself near his room.
At first, Tang San would be vigilant, even instinctively preparing to strike when he sensed others' presences.
However, upon realizing it was Tang Sui, he managed to suppress his bloodlust.
Although the siblings had little communication, sometimes silent support and actions were more powerful than words.
Tang San did not know why Tang Sui behaved this way, or perhaps it was because her memory had not yet recovered, and she still harbored uncertainty towards him. Nevertheless, she honestly extended goodwill and a willingness to try and accept him.
With memories of two lives and the various trials he had endured, his disposition and will were firmer and more stable than those of ordinary people. Moreover, with the help of some rare local herbs that Tang Sui had secretly provided him, which were difficult to obtain, he had concocted an antidote for the slow-acting poison in the Slaughter City's air, preventing him from degenerating into a fallen monster thus far.
"Knock, knock, knock."
The door of the hut was knocked upon. Tang San, who was sitting on the simple wooden bed, suddenly opened his eyes. The uncontrollable killing intent instantly lowered the temperature in the room by more than several degrees.
"Nine-Five-Two-Eight, are you there? I need to talk to you about something."
A familiar and long-lost voice came from outside.
Tang San suppressed the spreading killing intent, a flicker of doubt in his eyes, and said in a low, deep voice, "Come in."
As he spoke, he placed the Butterfly Wing mask by his bedside over his face.
With a creak, Hu Liena opened the room door, leaning against the doorframe with a cup of Yellow Springs Dew in hand, sipping it leisurely. Her face, even paler than when she first arrived, showed a clear trace of fatigue.
Tang San glanced at the Yellow Springs Dew in Hu Liena's hand before lowering his gaze.
This Yellow Springs Dew contained a slow-acting poison that would gradually make those who drank it unable to do without it. Judging by her appearance, she had likely consumed a considerable amount since entering the Slaughter City.
Fortunately, Sui Sui had never drunk it.
"Is something wrong?"
Tang San remained seated by the bed, asking her calmly.
Hu Liena swayed the cup in her hand, indicating she had no intention of entering the room.
After all, in this Slaughter City, everyone's guard was extremely high, and she did not wish to cause any misunderstandings.
"I'm here because I want to join forces with you."
Hu Liena stated her purpose directly.
A faint light flashed in Tang San's eyes.