"You… to be able to unleash spirit abilities in Slaughter City, one must either be recognized by a Slaughter God, or be a God… No, impossible—this is your Domain!"
The Slaughter King's voice cracked slightly, his confidence finally showing the first real signs of collapse. His eyes locked onto the world of cherry blossoms blooming endlessly around them, each petal carrying a pressure that did not belong to this realm.
"This Domain… it is higher-level than the Slaughter God Domain and my Slaughter Forbidden Magic Domain!"
Even as he spoke, disbelief twisted into something closer to fear.
The man before him stood quietly beneath the falling blossoms, black robe swaying gently. There was no trace of the brutality that defined Slaughter City in him—no madness, no corruption, no indulgence in bloodlust. Instead, there was a stillness, like a sword sheathed in the heart of spring.
And worse… he had seen through him.
The Slaughter King's expression shifted violently as he instinctively retreated half a step.
"You… who exactly are you?"
Xin's gaze did not waver.
"I am their Teacher," he said calmly, "and also the one who will take your life."
In that instant, he advanced.
At the same time, the cherry blossoms around him surged as if responding to a command beyond law itself. The ninth spirit ring beneath his feet, patterned with faint golden light, pulsed once—slow and absolute.
"Ninth Spirit Ability…"
His voice lowered slightly, like the declaration of judgment.
"Extreme Intent Freedom."
"Cherry Blossom Immortal Descent—Divine Elegance Sword, come."
The entire cherry blossom tree in the sky bloomed at once.
Petals rained down like a collapsing galaxy of red and white. The world of slaughter, once soaked in blood and screams, was drowned in something strangely pure and overwhelming.
From the center of the storm, a sword descended.
It was not merely a weapon, but a manifestation of intent—pure cherry-white with flowing golden patterns, twin dragon shadows coiling along its body as if guarding its divine will.
The moment it appeared, space itself seemed to hesitate.
The Slaughter King's pupils contracted.
"My sword is not without its edge either!"
"ASURA GOD SWORD!"
He roared, forcing every drop of accumulated killing intent within Slaughter City into his blade. Blood-red energy erupted violently, distorting the air around him as the Asura God Sword transformed into something far more terrifying than before.
This strike carried centuries of slaughtered souls, condensed into one final eruption.
If given even a fraction more time, it might have touched the threshold of divine authority.
But Xin did not grant it that chance.
The Divine Elegance Sword descended.
The collision did not produce sound at first—only a silent rupture.
Then the world shattered.
Color disappeared. Space collapsed. The entire Hell Slaughter Arena trembled violently as if it were being torn apart at its foundations. Massive structures cracked and disintegrated, while those watching were flung outward like leaves in a storm of destruction.
When the chaos finally stabilized, the outcome was already decided.
The Asura God Sword lay embedded in the ruins, trembling violently, its killing intent scattered and broken.
And the Slaughter King—
He lay buried beneath fractured stone and shattered earth, blood spilling from his lips as his body spasmed under the remaining pressure of the sword's aftermath.
Cherry blossom branches pinned his crimson bat-like wings to the ground, restraining every movement.
Above him, the golden-red sword pressed against his glabella.
Cold. Absolute. Unmoving.
Xin stood there, his black robe torn in several places from the residual sword qi. The hood had fallen away completely, revealing a face that seemed almost unreal amid the destruction—calm, refined, yet terrifyingly decisive.
But there was no admiration in the Slaughter King's eyes now.
Only dread.
Because that sword was not just holding him down.
It was already inside his life line.
Xin spoke quietly.
"I give you a choice."
"You don't have to die completely."
His gaze lowered slightly, as if stating something simple.
"You have three seconds to consider."
"Come out of this body immediately."
"And offer yourself as a sacrifice to my disciple."
"Otherwise…"
The pressure on the sword intensified.
"This blade will pierce your skull and spiritual sea of consciousness."
A pause.
The cherry blossoms slowed.
Even the air seemed to stop breathing.
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
"…."