FRGNM -Chapter 198 The Divine Beasts of Slaughter

The man seated at the platform raised his sharp brows slightly and spoke softly, “You two, go over and tell her what needs to be done.”

“Yes, sir!” Two guards stepped forward simultaneously, grabbing Ling Ruoxi by the arms. Ignoring her struggles, they yanked her sleeves off with a loud rip.

Compared to the other nine participants’ totems, the pattern on Ling Ruoxi’s arm was delicate and feminine. It was neither tiger nor dragon—it was a twisting purple vine, ending in a rounded shape resembling a blooming rose. The other nine sneered at such a “girlish” design.

Can this even compare to our tattoos? Those patterns were symbols of strength. Clearly, the tenth participant was pitifully weak.

“Listen carefully, Number Ten. This is the domain of the Gods, the Southern Wastelands. Here, life and death are dictated by fate. By entering, you have already signed a life-and-death contract—you cannot resist. Every entrant must form a team of ten, venture into the mountains ahead, slay the divine beasts, and retrieve the divine core within each beast to complete the mission. Do you understand now?”

The man spoke lazily, but an aura of strength radiated from him.

Divine beasts… to slay them?!

Ling Ruoxi’s pupils constricted in alarm. She had expected something mundane, but instead, they were talking about killing divine beasts. And only she had entered the palace—ten of them together meant…

“You each have a companion—those jade-green frogs before you. They will report your status back to me. They will not leave unless you die. I will be here, awaiting your good news.”

The man smirked, clapped his hands lazily, and the surrounding figures dissolved into shadows, vanishing without a trace.

Jade-green frogs? That’s… a frog?! Ling Ruoxi grimaced, squatting to meet the gaze of the little creature. She raised her brows, completely bewildered—why would she need a frog to guide her?

The man who had mocked her earlier sneered. “These are Jade Frogs. In the Southern Wastelands, we cannot sense directions on our own, only rely on them for guidance. Kid… you’re so small. How did you even get in here? Are you a Green-Rank Dou Qi practitioner?”

“Of course I’m not Green-Rank… I am—”

“No wonder. You’re not even Green-Rank, yet you dare come here to die. You do know that here, there are Green-Rank mid-to-late Dou Qi practitioners and even Blue-Rank ones. You don’t even have Green-Rank strength—how could you hope to challenge the Gods?”

The man sneered and turned his back, as if Ling Ruoxi wasn’t worth his attention.

The nearby fat man wiped sweat from his cheek, muttering, “Why bother? That kid will be dead in a day at most. By then…”

“A day? Wait, how long are we supposed to stay here?!” Ling Ruoxi nearly jumped. She had rushed in alone; Luo Mingyu and Nangong Mo had already gone to the palace. Ye Ningfeng had been following her, but now she was alone here. What if Luo Mingyu—

Thinking of that man’s temper made her hairs stand on end. She swallowed hard.

The cold-voiced man explained, “Ignorant one, you know nothing. Here’s how it works: time in the Southern Wastelands differs from the imperial city. One month here equals one day in the palace. Experience here is a hundred times more beneficial than outside… but also a hundred times more dangerous. Without a death-defying resolve, you’ll be gnawed to the bone by the beasts here!”

Ling Ruoxi exhaled and patted her chest. Luckily, a month here only counted as one day outside—otherwise people would be searching the palace for her.

Her relief was cut short. She paused—wait, Dou Qi above Green-Rank can kill divine beasts? Her face turned pale. Something was wrong. How could ordinary humans possibly subdue divine beasts?

“Who told you to slay the divine beasts? The Gods themselves? The strength of these beasts is such that even Purple-Rank practitioners may not be able to subdue them. You…”

“Ha! Subduing a tiny divine beast? Do we need Purple-Rank for that? Purple-Rank can flip the skies and clouds at will! For them, killing a tiny divine beast is like crushing an ant!” The fat man laughed uproariously at what he clearly thought was the funniest thing ever.

The others also laughed, staring at Ling Ruoxi. Either Duanyun Kingdom’s people were too strong, or she was too weak. Even a Purple-Rank like her could not recklessly challenge a divine beast—but these kids had the audacity to challenge them!

There must be a trick. Ling Ruoxi’s eyes narrowed. She no longer spoke, focusing on her jade frog companion. Whispering, she said, “Alright, let’s go, little beast. Don’t be surprised if it fights back.”

Meanwhile, in the golden and luxurious palace courtyard, troops returned, generals took their positions, and the previously deployed Qingluan were retrieved.

The man in purple strode forward with more composure than before. Turning, he prepared to enter the hall—but a red figure suddenly grabbed Nangong Mo by the collar.

“I’m not fond of your grandfather Murong Hua. Take me straight to old Murong Ming.”

“In such a hurry?” Nangong Mo raised an eyebrow but said nothing, walking ahead to lead the way.

The farther they went, the quieter and more serene the environment became. Exiting the gilded palace hall, a small archway led into a garden of butterfly flowers. Walking further, they saw straight bamboo stalks, leaves drifting into the pond—like a peaceful woodland, filled with natural energy, untouched by mortal affairs.

For Purple-Rank practitioners, food and water were unnecessary; Dou Qi alone maintained their body, so the serene setting was enough.

“It’s… a kind of enjoyment. Long time no see, he seems to like living in places like this,” Luo Mingyu said, tossing a fallen leaf aside, walking forward with his usual aloofness.

Nangong Mo quickly blocked his path, slightly uneasy. “Luo Mingyu, remember what I told you before?”

“Mhm? I remember,” Luo Mingyu replied, pulling Nangong Mo along.

Standing outside the bamboo grove, a man refused to enter, his fists clenched tightly, inhaling sharply. “Luo Mingyu, whatever you see in there, stay calm. Don’t say anything to Ruoxi!”

Walking through the grove, the faint scent of flowers refreshed Luo Mingyu. He noticed the purple blossoms on the ground and murmured, “Luxurious… Murong Ming, you old thing, even the hardest-to-grow wisteria is here. Truly…”

His voice trailed off. Ahead, a giant blade gleamed among the flowers, radiating a cold aura. Its sheer presence showed how mighty its original owner had been.

But… behind the blade stood a tombstone. Just a single stone. Its solitary presence was enough.

“This is…”

“As you see, these are your master’s belongings,” a deep voice echoed through the flowers, clear as if piercing directly into his mind, sending jolts of pain through him.

Staring at the great blade, Luo Mingyu restrained his emotions, feeling as though lead weights were tied to his feet as he moved forward slowly.

He remembered the Evil King Island, how his master had taught him martial arts with this blade, slicing through stone walls, recording every move. He recalled its ruthless power, capable of taking life in an instant.

Yet now… the blade no longer radiated that force, seeming like a defeated king left behind—just accompanying its owner.

Could it be… his master…

A hand grabbed Luo Mingyu’s shoulder. A man in blue Daoist robes stepped forward, pulling him slightly back. Luo Mingyu stumbled, turning to see the newcomer.

Long black hair hung over his shoulders, secured with a jade pin. He held a duster, exuding solemnity. A vertical red mark on his forehead seemed symbolic.

“Murong Ming… my master—”

“Young man, show respect. Even as his disciple, you must call me Uncle Murong! By your friend Mo’er’s rank, you’d have to call me Supreme Emperor Grandfather!” Murong Ming roared, then struck Luo Mingyu on the head.

Luo Mingyu’s whiskers twitched with rage. “Old man, I’ve told you so many times, don’t hit my head—I…”

“You’re already this dumb. A few more hits won’t matter!”