These young men and women were all dressed in matching purple robes, with the character “武” (Martial) embroidered on the back.

From Xu Zimo’s guess, they were probably like him, people who had arrived via teleportation.

Their purple robes reminded Xu Zimo of a certain Sacred Ground.

The Martial Zenith Sacred Ground of the Northern Continent.

An imperial lineage founded by the Martial Emperor.

The group entered the tavern together, while Xu Zimo found a window seat and sat down.

…

“Junior Sister Xiaoxiao, what would you like to eat?” asked a young man sitting at the head of the group, a sword at his waist, who looked warmly at the girl across from him.

Shang Xiaoxiao shook her head and replied, “Senior Brother Lu Tian, better ask everyone. I’m fine with anything.”

“We’ll go with whatever Senior Brother Lu decides,” a nearby youth named Guo Zhi chuckled. “Everyone in the Sacred Ground knows Lu Tian’s totally smitten with Junior Sister Shang.”

The others laughed, while another girl in the group, Fu Yu, grumbled:

“I really don’t get what the Sacred Ground was thinking, sending us to this filthy place to train. How can a place like this compare to the Sacred Ground?”

“Stop complaining, Junior Sister Fu,” Shang Xiaoxiao said with a smile. “The Sacred Ground must have its reasons.”

“This Dark Corner Capital isn’t like our Martial Zenith Sacred Ground. Everyone, be cautious,” Lu Tian reminded.

As they were enjoying their meal, a new group entered the tavern.

They were all dressed in black robes, cloaked head to toe.

Their hoods and cloaks masked everything, leaving no features visible.

Only the one leading them stood out, a bald, obese man swaggering in.

As soon as the bald fatty walked in, he barked, “Innkeeper, get me your best private room!”

The tavern owner looked up, saw the black-robed figures behind him, and his face changed. He quickly nodded in agreement.

The fat man grinned smugly. As he passed the Martial Zenith Sacred Ground table, his eyes lit up at the sight of Shang Xiaoxiao.

He laughed and reached out to touch her face.

Lu Tian frowned and smacked the fat man’s hand away with his sword sheath. “Watch your behavior,” he said coldly.

Shang Xiaoxiao also stepped back, visibly disturbed.

Hearing Lu Tian’s words, the fat man laughed like he’d just heard the funniest joke.

“You little punk, do you even know who I am? You dare speak to me like that?”

With a wave of his hand, he commanded the black-robed figures behind him, “Grab them all!”

The sound of swords being drawn rang out. The black-robed people surrounded the Martial Zenith disciples, their Paragon Meridian Realm auras surging.

“We’re from the Martial Zenith Sacred Ground,” Guo Zhi said, his face darkening. “If you touch us, aren’t you afraid of provoking an imperial lineage Sacred Ground?”

Hearing that, the black-robed people froze.

“What are you all doing? I said grab them!” the bald fatty yelled.

“Second Master, the Palace Lord gave orders, we’re not to mess with imperial lineage Sacred Grounds,” one of the black-robed men said hesitantly.

“What are you scared of? If anything happens, I’ll take the blame! This is Dark Corner Capital, what’s an imperial Sacred Ground gonna do here?” the fat man scoffed.

“Besides, they’re not even from the Middle Continent. Their reach can’t extend here.”

“Clear the place first. No need for unnecessary witnesses,” the black-robed man frowned.

With a gesture, the remaining black-robed men began clearing out the tavern.

The owner scurried off to a corner, not daring to speak.

Many patrons were forced out.

Some newcomers unfamiliar with the scene grumbled, “Who the hell are these guys? So arrogant!”

After all, anyone who dared come to Dark Corner Capital was probably a force to be reckoned with elsewhere.

“Death God Palace. If you don’t want to die, leave quietly,” someone nearby whispered.

Upon hearing that name, most people immediately shrank back and hurried away.

Though Dark Corner Capital was chaotic and lawless, there were still three universally recognized top powers:

Death God Palace, Radiant Temple, and Thousand Sword Gate.

Each had their own origins. While they didn’t rule the city, everyone agreed: do not mess with them.

…

Xu Zimo sipped his strong wine, watching the scene unfold with interest.

A black-robed figure approached him, pointed at the door, and stared directly at him.

The meaning was clear.

“No worries, you guys do your thing. I’ll just enjoy my meal. I’m not in your way,” Xu Zimo said casually.

The black-robed man said nothing and immediately swung his blade at Xu Zimo’s head.

BOOM!

A deafening blast drew everyone’s attention.

The black-robed man lay on the ground, blood pouring from his mouth. After a few twitches, he was dead.

“You dared to kill someone from the Death God Palace?” the bald fatty looked at Xu Zimo in shock.

“I told you, go ahead and fight. I’m just eating. I’m not in the way,” Xu Zimo said calmly, then lowered his head and kept drinking.

The fat man’s face turned red with rage, then he laughed in disbelief. “Alright then. Let’s see if you can walk out of Dark Corner Capital alive. I’ll twist off your head and use it as my chamber pot!”

“With what you just said, you’re already a dead man,” Xu Zimo replied coolly.

“Kill him! Kill him now!” the fat man screamed at the remaining black-robed men.

They all charged forward. Most were at the Paragon Meridian Realm.

Xu Zimo slowly drew his saber, Shadow Tyrant, without even standing up.

Lightning crackled along the blade.

He used the Nineteen Forms of Dao-Seeking, Sixth Form: Blade of Slaughter.

The scent of blood and a red mist filled the air.

In the once-bustling tavern, the moment his curved blade descended, everything fell silent.

All the black-robed men froze mid-motion. A line of blood spurted from each of their necks.

Their eyes filled with fear. They tried to say something, lifting their hands…

Thud.

Heads separated from bodies. One by one, they dropped to the ground.

The fat man watched in horror. As Xu Zimo looked at him, he immediately dropped to his knees.

“Please don’t kill me! I’ll give you anything you want! My brother is the Palace Lord of Death God Palace!”

Xu Zimo wiped the blood from his blade with a piece of cloth and slowly stood up.

He walked step by step toward the fat man.

His gaze swept beyond the tavern, toward the dark and gloomy city outside.

There was no emotion in his eyes.

"This journey of slaughter across the Middle Continent... begins here, in Dark Corner Capital."