"Soul power has reached level sixty-eight." Ye Hao secretly rejoiced, though he still felt lingering fear. The desperate counterattack of the Sky Azure Bull Python had been truly terrifying—next time, he would definitely be more cautious.
The hundred-thousand-year Sky Azure Bull Python's external soul bone had boosted his soul power by three levels. Now, he was only two levels away from reaching seventy.
The leap from level sixty to seventy was a significant threshold—the Martial Soul True Body was crucial for any soul master.
As for that rabbit, there was no doubt it would be the perfect source for his soul ring.
If it were just an ordinary soul ring, like for his eighth or ninth, Ye Hao wouldn't have even considered the rabbit.
After all, it only provided two skills—Invincible Golden Body and Blink.
While these were undeniably useful in battle, for someone like Ye Hao, who possessed the Death God's Heart, they seemed almost wasteful.
As for the rabbit's soul bone? Ye Hao had no need for it.
He already had a rough plan for his future soul bone arrangements.
Everything was under control.
After absorbing the soul bone, Ye Hao returned to the Spirit Hall with Bibi Dong.
His first order of business was to humbly seek Bibi Dong's guidance on controlling his killing intent.
Because Ye Hao really wanted to hold his daughter.
There was no helping it—after leaving Slaughter City, his killing intent had become far too overwhelming.
He had nearly frightened his daughter earlier, and Ye Hao refused to be a bad father.
"To control killing intent, the most important thing is to calm your heart."
"Calm... my heart?" Ye Hao didn't quite understand. He felt calmer now than ever before.
Bibi Dong looked at his puzzled expression and smiled. "During your time in Slaughter City, you were fighting almost nonstop. I was the same back then—the hundred-win streak in Hell's Arena was just the tip of the iceberg.
"The real torment came from the fallen ones lurking in the darkness—they were the true enemies."
She paused, then spoke earnestly, "Son, you need to take some time to settle. From absorbing the God-Bestowed Soul Ring until now, your soul power has risen by eight levels.
"And this killing intent of yours must be properly controlled—for my granddaughter's sake, and for your daughter's. Over the next while, you must focus on mastering it.
"By the way, did you meet Nana in Slaughter City?"
Ye Hao nodded. "I did. Nana has already achieved thirty-four consecutive wins in Hell's Arena. At this rate, she'll probably take another year or so to get out.
"However, just before I left... Tang San suddenly appeared there."
"Tang San!" Bibi Dong's brows furrowed, her eyes flashing coldly.
"That bastard actually went to Slaughter City—he must be after the Slaughter Domain.
"This is bad. Nana is in danger!" Bibi Dong's expression darkened.
Given Tang San's nature, Hu Liena would be in grave peril in Slaughter City.
Especially since the Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Clan were mortal enemies.
If Tang San discovered Hu Liena's identity, the consequences would be disastrous.
But Ye Hao had already taken precautions.
"Before I left Slaughter City, I used the Death God's Heart to conceal Nana's aura. Ordinary people wouldn't be able to detect it.
"Not only that, but I also warned her to be careful, avoid direct confrontation with Tang San, and never enter the same battle as him."
This was the greatest advantage of being a transmigrator—Ye Hao already knew Tang San's future actions.
Hu Liena's presence in Slaughter City was a major risk, but with these measures in place, the danger to her was greatly reduced.
Hearing this, Bibi Dong finally relaxed.
Meanwhile, under Bibi Dong's guidance, Ye Hao began learning how to control his killing intent.
For the sake of holding his daughter sooner, Ye Hao gave it his all.
Hah, a true daughter-con.
Meanwhile, back in Slaughter City...
After Ye Hao's departure, the oppressive atmosphere in Slaughter City had lightened considerably.
The fallen ones, who had previously hidden in the shadows, slowly began to emerge.
On this day, Hu Liena walked down the streets wearing the mask Ye Hao had given her.
Her body was stained with blood, and she held a bloodied dagger in her hand. Having just finished a battle in Hell's Arena, she was now returning to her residence.
In the time since Ye Hao left, Hu Liena had initially struggled to adjust, but she had gradually adapted to the environment, truly becoming a part of Slaughter City.
Currently, Hu Liena had achieved fifty-five consecutive wins and earned the title "Hell's Messenger."
No one dared to provoke her. The fallen ones along the streets scattered at the sight of her, avoiding any interaction.
She walked alone, her figure exuding loneliness.
"When can I finally leave this damned place?" Hu Liena sighed, looking up at the blood-red sky.
It had been nearly half a year since she had last seen the sun.
This lightless place was enough to drive anyone to despair.
But she was Bibi Dong's disciple.
She possessed a head soul bone from the previous Grand Soul Tournament, as well as a Blue Silver King left leg bone—originally given by Ye Hao to Bibi Dong, who then passed it to Hu Liena.
With two soul bones enhancing her strength, completing the hundred-win streak in Hell's Arena was only a matter of time.
As she walked, she suddenly stopped.
Her gaze fell upon a bustling corner, where she spotted Tang San.
At this moment, Tang San was swinging his Clear Sky Hammer wildly, slaughtering without restraint.
In Slaughter City, he could no longer suppress his emotions.
Only blood could quell the fury in his heart.
"I HATE THIS!" Tang San roared, smashing his hammer into a man's chest, causing blood to gush from his mouth as his ribs caved in.
"Die! Ye Hao!" Tang San bellowed, his eyes bloodshot as he glared ahead.
In his eyes, every fallen one before him was Ye Hao.
And so, the slaughter continued...
Hu Liena watched for a moment, then turned and walked away without a second glance.
Tang San had been like this ever since arriving in Slaughter City. Hu Liena had no interest in dealing with him.
Besides, her only goal now was to leave this place as soon as possible. Being around someone like him only made her skin crawl.
Even if Tang San tried to cause trouble for her, it would be futile.
A man with no soul bones versus a woman with two?
There was no comparison.
On top of that, as the Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, Hu Liena had plenty of hidden cards up her sleeve.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, things were different.
Ye Hao had finally managed to suppress his killing intent, and the scent of blood on him had completely vanished.
Under Bibi Dong's guidance, he had mastered the Slaughter Domain.
Within the Slaughter Domain, an enemy's strength would be reduced by ten percent, while the user could unleash one hundred and ten percent of their power.
As Ye Hao grew stronger, the Slaughter Domain would evolve further.
Now, with no more worries, his killing intent restrained and the stench of blood gone, it was time to focus on what truly mattered.
"My precious daughter, Daddy's coming!"
Ye Hao laughed heartily before sprinting toward Qian Renxue's bedroom.
Ten days.
Do you have any idea how Ye Hao had suffered these past ten days?
He could only stare at his daughter, helplessly yearning.
In his past life, he had been a lonely bachelor.
Now, he had a family—and a daughter, no less.
Ye Hao felt a deep sense of fulfillment.
He had worked tirelessly these past days to suppress his killing intent, all for the sake of holding his daughter sooner.
As he walked, his palms grew sweaty with nervousness.
His heart pounded wildly, and his breathing became slightly ragged.
Finally, Ye Hao arrived at the door of Qian Renxue's bedroom.
With trembling hands, he gently pushed the door open and was greeted by a heartwarming scene.
Qian Renxue was carefully placing their daughter into the small crib, the child seemingly having just fallen asleep.
Ye Hao tiptoed inside, quietly closing the door behind him, careful not to make a single sound.
"Asleep?" Ye Hao whispered, his heart melting as he gazed at the adorable, rosy-cheeked child lying in the crib.
"Mm, just now," Qian Renxue nodded, her eyes filled with tenderness.
After that, the two of them stepped out onto the balcony.
"Have you gained control over the killing intent?" Qian Renxue asked immediately.
"Perfectly under control. Not only that, but my understanding of the Slaughter Domain has deepened as well. This trip was quite fruitful," Ye Hao replied with satisfaction.
"That's good." Qian Renxue's throat was parched from the effort of lulling their daughter to sleep. Without another word, she picked up a glass of water and drained it in one go.
Ye Hao began massaging her shoulders, his large hands working with firm, soothing motions.
"How is the situation in Heaven Dou City?" he suddenly asked.
"I've already cleaned up Heaven Dou City thoroughly. The Heaven Dou royal family is practically gone now. Not long ago, the last remaining heir, Xue Ke, was married off. All that's left is the right opportunity…"
She paused, then added, "I heard that Mother is planning to move against the Top Three Clans?"
Ye Hao nodded. "That's right. Not only that, but she's also entrusted me with the task of destroying them. Right now, I'm at a loss. Wiping out the Top Three Clans isn't something that can be done recklessly—it has to be achieved at the smallest possible cost."
"Mm." Qian Renxue nodded solemnly. This was indeed something that required careful planning.
"During my time as the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, something rather interesting happened in Heaven Dou City."
"Oh? Do tell…" Ye Hao asked with interest.
"Remember Liu Erlong?" Qian Renxue began.
"Of course. What about her?"
"A few years ago, you crushed Yu Xiaogang's skull right in front of her, making her believe he was dead. Not long after the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, Flender from Shrek Academy actually married Liu Erlong. They even held a grand banquet, as if they wanted the entire city to know."
"Really?" Ye Hao laughed. "Flender moved fast, huh?"
Well, with Yu Xiaogang gone, it was only natural for the "big brother" to take care of the girl. At least Yu Xiaogang could rest in peace knowing she was in good hands.
"Did Yu Xiaogang find out?" Ye Hao asked curiously.
"Of course he did." Qian Renxue smirked. "The dungeon was anything but peaceful during that time. We had to assign extra guards to watch him day and night. At one point, Yu Xiaogang even tried to take his own life several times. He kept muttering curses under his breath…"
"What was he saying?" Ye Hao raised an eyebrow.
"Mostly curses against Spirit Hall and Flender. Eventually, someone beat him up, and after that, he quieted down."
Finished with her story, Qian Renxue stretched comfortably and leaned into Ye Hao's embrace, closing her beautiful eyes as if ready to doze off.
"Wait!" Ye Hao suddenly had an idea. "Xue'er, your Angel Soul Bone has a disguise effect. Do you think it could…"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Night fell, the starry sky brilliant as darkness enveloped the land. Spirit Hall thrived in prosperity.
Inside the Pope's Palace, Ye Hao cradled his daughter in his arms, his hands trembling with joy.
Since coming to this world, he had never been as happy as he was today—he was finally holding his daughter!
Watching the scene from the sofa, Qian Renxue couldn't help but smile. This was what life should be like.
Ye Hao's daughter was named Qian Qiuyue.
From Xiao Hong, they learned that their daughter had inherited her mother's Martial Soul—the god-level Six-Winged Angel, with an innate full soul power of twenty.
She was truly born at the pinnacle of the continent!
Ye Hao grinned. "Say 'Daddy'! Da-ddy!"
Qian Renxue shook her head with a wry smile. "She's only three months old. It's a bit early for her to call you 'Daddy'."
Watching Ye Hao refuse to let go of their daughter, Qian Renxue felt a deep sense of happiness.
Currently, Ye Hao had a heavy burden—not only did he have to deal with the Top Three Clans, but he also had to prepare for the arrival of his second trial.
His soul power had reached level 68, and his progress in daily cultivation had noticeably slowed.
"When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a path. When the boat reaches the bridge, it will straighten itself out naturally. No need to worry—I'll reach level 70 eventually," Ye Hao reassured himself calmly before resuming his cultivation.
Days passed, one after another, filled with fulfillment and joy.
By day, he cultivated and handled Spirit Hall affairs. By night, he returned home to spend time with his daughter. Life couldn't be better.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
One day, in the Slaughter City…
The Hell Killing Arena was alive with noise as all the fallen souls cheered. Once again, they bore witness to the arrival of the Slaughter King. To them, the Slaughter King was their "god"—an inviolable, supreme existence.
Anyone who dared speak ill of the Slaughter King would instantly become public enemy number one, facing the wrath of all the fallen souls.
Meanwhile, Tang San sat among the fallen souls, his expression dark as he glared at Hu Liena standing on the arena stage.
Hu Liena wore a mask, making it impossible for anyone to recognize her true identity.
Tang San had investigated this "Hell Messenger" and discovered that she had once been very close to Ye Hao.
"An enemy!" Tang San's eyes burned with fury. Anyone close to Ye Hao was his enemy.
Over the past six months, Tang San had repeatedly attempted to assassinate Hu Liena.
Yet, every time he got close, some inexplicable force restrained him, preventing him from attacking her.
This left Tang San utterly baffled.
To this day, he remained at a loss.
So far, Tang San had achieved a 77-win streak in the Hell Killing Arena, second only to Hu Liena.
He had earned the title "Asura King."
"Today, I am pleased to announce that, after half a year, Slaughter City has produced another Slaughter God."
The Slaughter King slowly approached Hu Liena, extending an invitation.
"Hell Messenger, I hereby grant you the title of Slaughter God, with the freedom to enter and leave Slaughter City at will. Would you be interested in becoming an advisor of Slaughter City?"
The same offer as before.
Hu Liena shook her head. "My apologies, Great Slaughter King. My goal is the Hell Road. Please open the path for me."
Another one seeking the Slaughter Domain.
The Slaughter King gritted his teeth in frustration. He knew exactly who stood behind Hu Liena.
In the end, he had no choice but to open the passage to the Hell Road.
A crimson light seeped from the ground, illuminating the entire Hell Killing Arena in a bloody glow.
At the same time, an immense suction force emanated from the Hell Road, pulling in fallen souls from the arena without mercy.
Those pulled in wore expressions of longing, as if they were willing participants.
"A blood sacrifice to open the Hell Road, huh?" Hu Liena murmured.
Seeing the passage fully open, she stepped forward—then paused, her gaze shifting to Tang San, who sat in the stands with a stern expression.
Tang San was utterly bewildered. At that moment, Hu Liena removed her mask.
At this sight, Tang San could no longer contain himself!
"Hu! Lie! Na!"
Tang San's eyes widened, his entire body trembling violently!
"People of Spirit Hall, you all deserve to die!" Tang San gnashed his teeth, wanting to charge forward, but the Slaughter King was currently staring at him with piercing eyes.
In Slaughter City, one must abide by Slaughter City's rules.
Hu Liena curled her lips slightly, looking at Tang San with disdain.
"Tang San, over the past six months, how many despicable methods have you used in an attempt to kill me? Now that I'm about to leave, I thought it necessary to let you see my true face. How does it feel?" Hu Liena said proudly.
At this moment, Tang San's face twisted grotesquely. He wished he could rush forward right now and kill Hu Liena on the spot.
"Spirit Hall! One day, I, Tang San, will personally destroy you all!" Tang San swore through gritted teeth, traces of blood seeping from the corners of his mouth as he trembled with rage.
"Tang San, do you remember that rabbit from back then?" Hu Liena brought it up deliberately.
Tang San could no longer endure it. His left hand reached out, and the Clear Sky Hammer instantly materialized in his grasp.
The fallen souls in the arena couldn't help but pale at the sight—he actually dared to take action here, right in front of the Slaughter King!
One had to admit, his audacity was staggering.
"Xiao Wu! What have you done to Xiao Wu!" Tang San's eyes burned red, the grip on his Clear Sky Hammer so tight that audible creaks could be heard.
Xiao Wu had always been Tang San's greatest pain.
Falling into Spirit Hall's hands, her fate was all too predictable.
"I forgot to tell you—long before the Young Master left, his soul power had already reached the sixtieth rank."
Hu Liena shook her head, a bitter smile on her face. "I imagine that rabbit has a very high chance of having already become the Young Master's sixth soul ring by now."
The moment these words were spoken, Tang San's entire body shook violently with fury. He completely disregarded the Slaughter King's presence.
In a fit of rage, he raised the Clear Sky Hammer and swung it toward Hu Liena...
At the same time—
The Slaughter King moved!