Five years later, the Slaughter City had completely changed.
Fighting and bloodshed were still the main themes here, but unlike the chaos and disorder of the past, the Slaughter City now resembled a group of adventurers who had signed a death pact, honing their skills and battling here.
Regardless of origin, strength, or life or death, all who entered the Slaughter City were welcomed! However, anyone who fought outside the arena would be killed without mercy!
Furthermore, from that day forward, the Slaughter City no longer required people to contribute blood. Whether strong or weak, there was only one way to survive here: participate in the trials of the Hell Slaughter Arena!
At the same time, Wang Zhong abolished the rule that only one person could leave the Hell Slaughter Arena alive. If you were the victor, you could choose whether or not to kill your opponent.
Other than these points, everything else remained the same!
These were the new rules Wang Zhong had set for the place. Because of these new rules, in just six years, the population of the Slaughter City had more than quadrupled, and every person who came here was a strong soul master.
But no matter how strong they were, they all followed Wang Zhong's rules here! This was because the number of those who had disobeyed and died at Wang Zhong's hands was enough to cover the entire Hell Slaughter Arena!
Absolute strength brought absolute obedience.
"I will be away for a while. During this time, you will be in charge of the Slaughter City!"
In the very center of the Slaughter City, within the Imperial City, which everyone regarded as the most noble and supreme, Wang Zhong, whose appearance had not changed but whose demeanor had become more majestic and steady, stood up from his throne and calmly instructed the woman beside him.
"Master, you are going out?" the woman asked with curiosity.
For six full years, apart from the times when someone resisted his authority in the Slaughter City, the new king, known by the title of Asura, had spent all his other time cultivating, day and night, without stopping.
"Yes, it's time to go home." Wang Zhong nodded. Five years here, plus one year on Sea God Island, made it six years. It was time for him to go back and see some people.
"Then do you need any guards?" the woman suggested.
During the time Wang Zhong had controlled the Slaughter City, countless people had submitted to his absolute strength and willingly served him, leading to the formation of a soul master legion that obeyed only him.
The numbers were not large, about a hundred people, but the weakest among them was a Soul Saint!
"No, let them guard the Slaughter City. Although your strength is Title Douluo, these people are a group of unruly individuals."
"With them obeying your command, it will be easier to control this place," Wang Zhong refused the woman's suggestion and explained.
The woman beside him was his former guide. She had accompanied him diligently for the past six years, her contributions and loyalty were immense. Therefore, Wang Zhong bestowed upon her an Immortal Herb and poured a large amount of Slaughter City's resources to help her break through to the Title Douluo realm.
"Yes." The woman clasped her hands at her lower abdomen, smiled, and bowed slightly, indicating her understanding.
Wang Zhong nodded and said no more. A pair of deep red wings unfurled behind him, exuding supreme pressure and majesty.
In six years, Wang Zhong had raised his soul power to level ninety-nine, and all his divine power had been transformed into Asura Divine Power. As long as he wished, he could cross the hundred-level barrier at any time and become the next Asura God.
However, due to the rules of the Divine Realm, gods were not allowed to interfere in mortal affairs, so he had suppressed the speed of his strength progression, stopping just before the ninety-ninth level.
Also, due to his Asura Divine Power, several of his soul bones had advanced to the level of divine artifacts, and his Six-Winged Purple Light Wings had transformed into blood-colored Asura Divine Wings!
With a slight tremor of his Asura Divine Wings, Wang Zhong's figure turned into a red light and disappeared in an instant.
The woman maintained her slight bow until Wang Zhong's figure had disappeared for a quarter of an hour. Only then did she straighten up. She stared in the direction Wang Zhong had left, her gaze filled with admiration and ardor.
Wang Zhong, who was powerful and trusted her implicitly, even cultivating and supporting her without reservation, was an irresistible attraction to her, like a poison.
Even though she had been following Wang Zhong for five full years and he had never asked for her name, she had no complaints and diligently did her own work.
"Master, you are my only master from now on!" Her dark lips moved slightly, and the woman clutched her chest, her eyes hazy and infatuated.
Leaving the Slaughter City, the speed of the Asura Divine Wings increased again, soaring through the sky at speeds beyond sound. The low and earth-shattering sonic booms startled the soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest below.
What would have taken several months to travel was now a mere instant for Wang Zhong. It had only been a quarter of an hour since he left the Slaughter City, and he had already flown above the Star Dou Great Forest. Such speed was unmatched, even Qian Daoliu was far behind.
The Spirit Hall was just a few breaths away. A sense of joy and excitement rose in Wang Zhong's heart.
In the Spirit Hall, there was Bibi Dong, who treated him like her own son, his teacher Ying Yan Yang, who had diligently guided him, and Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan, with whom he had grown up.
This place was like a second home to him. The prodigal son, who had been away for a long time, had finally returned!
"Eh? Who is she?"
In the sky, Wang Zhong saw a familiar figure in the Star Dou Great Forest.
It was a woman with a very voluptuous figure, but she appeared extremely disheveled at the moment, her breathing also extremely disordered. Behind her, several figures were relentlessly pursuing her.
"Wuhun City is ahead! Just hold on a little longer, just a little longer!"
"It will be alright once I get there!"
The woman tightly clutched her right arm, which was injured. No blood flowed, indicating it was likely dislocated. Such an injury might have been bearable for a soul master to endure and reset, but the pursuers behind her were too close, leaving her no time to even stop and catch her breath.
An arrow whizzed through the air behind her. The woman instinctively dodged to the side, but the continuous escape had left her utterly exhausted, with her soul power and stamina nearly depleted.
With such an arrow, her tired body and reflexes, even if she could still dodge it.
As the arrow was about to pierce her body, Wang Zhong's figure suddenly appeared in front of the arrow, grasping the arrow shaft and shattering it.
The sudden appearance of a figure not only greatly surprised the pursuers but also caused the woman to falter, her body tilting to the side.
Before she could fall, a strong arm wrapped around her slender waist, pulling her into his embrace. Then, a curious voice sounded.
"Just by her back and figure, I thought it was Zhu Yun, but it seems I was mistaken!"
"You should be Xiao Zhuqing, right?"
The familiar voice and face stunned Zhu Zhuqing.
Though their time together had been brief, it had left the most comfortable and warmest memories. That person's figure was the most unforgettable presence in her mind.
"Wang... Zhong...!"
Her red lips murmured, her pupils trembling slightly. Zhu Zhuqing instinctively called out the name.
"Yes, little cat, you still remember me!"
"Long time no see!" Wang Zhong released her slender hand, reset her dislocated arm, and helped her stand, smiling gently.
He still remembered the four Zhu sisters from back then, with their distinct personalities!
"Hurry, let's go!"
Momentarily stunned by Wang Zhong's appearance, Zhu Zhuqing immediately realized she was still being pursued and, grabbing Wang Zhong's hand, urged him to leave.
She remembered very clearly that Wang Zhong had no soul power and was not a soul master!
The people chasing her were all at least Soul Kings, and she was only level twenty-five, no match for them at all.
Wang Zhong gently shook his head at Zhu Zhuqing's nervousness and said with feigned helplessness, "There's no time!"
As soon as he finished speaking, six figures arrived one after another, surrounding them.
"I'll hold them off!"
"You take the chance to escape!"
Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth and immediately stood in front of Wang Zhong, her Netherworld Spirit Cat martial soul manifesting, two purple soul rings spinning beneath her feet.
"Fool."
Wang Zhong walked past Zhu Zhuqing, gently tapping her smooth forehead, and said with helplessness.
"Behind you, there are a total of six Soul Kings and one Soul Douluo. How could your level twenty-five strength possibly deal with them?"
"Furthermore, do you think your strength could really allow you to escape for so long? And considering the numerous soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, you wandered around without attracting any of them. Haven't you ever thought about that?"
These two questions left Zhu Zhuqing stunned. She had been so focused on escaping that she hadn't considered this.
Wang Zhong sighed lightly and stepped forward, addressing the six people and the hidden Soul Douluo. "Gentlemen, I don't know what your purpose is, nor do I understand the meaning of your actions. But let this end here."
"Who are you to interfere in the Zhu family's affairs!"
One of the six men stepped forward, his gaze towards Wang Zhong filled with ill will.
If it weren't for Wang Zhong's meddling, they would have been able to escort Zhu Zhuqing into Wuhun City under the guise of pursuit!
"My name is Wang Zhong," Wang Zhong said, introducing himself to the speaker.
But unfortunately, the other party did not recognize him, so he threatened with a harsh tone, "Boy, get lost! Otherwise, we'll kill you too!"
Wang Zhong slightly raised his arm, pointing his index finger at the speaker, and said indifferently, "I said, let this end here! But it seems you haven't understood my words!"
A black lightning bolt shot out, and with lightning speed, it pierced the shoulder of the person Wang Zhong was speaking to, pinning him to the tree behind him.
This sudden scene terrified the other five men. They didn't even know when Wang Zhong had attacked. If this attack had been aimed at their hearts, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"The meaning of 'let this end here' is that from now on, leave my sight. All plans and subsequent actions concerning Xiao Zhuqing end here!"
"No matter what!"
These domineering and chilling words made the five men's hearts pound. Although Wang Zhong showed no fluctuations of soul power, his superior presence and unwavering authority put immense pressure on them.
"Let's go!"
A woman emerged from the forest. Like Zhu Zhuqing, she also had a voluptuous figure and wore a tight black leather dress. Her martial soul was the same, but beneath her feet were four soul rings: two yellow, two purple, and four black, totaling eight soul rings.
Without any hesitation or explanation, after hearing Zhu Zhuqing call out his name and witnessing the strength Wang Zhong displayed, she knew her mission was complete!
As she emerged, the five men stepped forward, rescued the one pinned to the tree, and disappeared into the forest in a few leaps, without any delay.
"Why?" Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward, her expression anxious, and asked urgently.
As an agile-type Soul Douluo of the Netherworld Spirit Cat, if the other party had truly wanted to kill her, she wouldn't have been able to escape this far.
Turning her steps, the woman looked at Zhu Zhuqing with a look of encouragement and joy. "Live well, live freely!"
"Please remember, young lady, your future freedom was given to you at the cost of your three sisters sacrificing their futures!"
After saying these two sentences, the woman moved, and with a few agile leaps, she disappeared into the forest.
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned, the woman's last words echoing in her mind: your freedom was given to you at the cost of your three sisters sacrificing their futures!
The Zhu family's rules, the fate of sisters turning against each other, the elder sister's cold-bloodedness, the second sister's death, the third sister's encouragement—were there hidden secrets in these events?
Wang Zhong, upon hearing this, also raised his eyebrows slightly.
The fate of the Zhu sisters seemed to have taken a different turn.
His eyes narrowed, and Wang Zhong's mind began to form some ideas. At the same time, the figure of a gentle and elegant woman appeared in his mind.
Zhu Ya Ning, the person in power of the Zhu family!
This woman seemed to be doing something extraordinary.
"Zhuqing, let's rest for a while! Your current state and emotions are too chaotic," Wang Zhong gently reminded her.
At Wang Zhong's reminder, Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath and asked him in a hoarse and trembling voice.
"Do you know what she meant by that?"
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's trembling and sorrowful expression, Wang Zhong gently patted her shoulder and sighed. "You've already thought of it, haven't you? Why do you still need me to confirm it?"
"If you absolutely must have an answer from me, then I can only tell you that your guess is correct!"
Zhu Zhu Yun, Zhu Zhu Ya, and Zhu Zhu Yi had sacrificed their futures, or rather, given up the chance to escape the vortex of the Zhu family's fate, placing all possibilities onto Zhu Zhuqing, hoping she would find Wang Zhong in Wuhun City and live freely.
All the cold-bloodedness, all the cruelty and ruthlessness, were merely a play, a performance for someone's eyes, designed to ensure Zhu Zhuqing's escape with absolute certainty!
Upon realizing this, Zhu Zhuqing's legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the ground, tears streaming down her face.
So, she wasn't the only one who hated family restraints and fate!
Her three sisters shared the same aversion, but they had fulfilled her.
"Elder sister, second sister, third sister... you, you..."
"I'm sorry, it was Zhuqing's fault!"
Zhu Zhuqing cried out in pain. It turned out she had been so self-righteous, thinking that her sisters had truly abandoned their sisterly affection for the sake of family rules! She had also thought that the people behind her were assassins sent by her sisters to take her life!
She had never imagined that her sisters had only placed their only hope on her, and even worried that she wouldn't reach Wuhun City, escorting her here under the pretense of pursuit as part of their act!