# Chapter 2: No Ticket, Pay with Flesh
The snot-like creature seemed capable of transforming into any shape. A extremely thin tentacle extended from within its body, so thin it was almost translucent. What was even more surprising was that this tentacle could actually block perception.
The pickpocketing lasted only a few seconds before ending. An eye emerged on the surface of the snot creature, sizing up Su Xiao for a moment. Perhaps sensing that Su Xiao wasn't a good person, the snot creature secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Various races in line gradually entered the city. However, this didn't reduce the number of people waiting in line; instead, it increased. This puzzled Su Xiao somewhat. Was the Black Abyss so popular?
In reality, the shallow layers of the Black Abyss were indeed very popular. Although it was dangerous, and Void races that were too strong couldn't enter there for long periods—otherwise they'd be dragged into the deepest layers, where death was almost certain—this didn't mean the Black Abyss was an ill-omened place. Its danger came from the abundant resources within, which was why various savage beast races gathered there, claiming territory as their own. Savage beast races had virtually no rationality; aside from their own kind, all other creatures were enemies. Some even attacked their own kind, no different from wild beasts.
The Void races queuing before the city gates included some completing clan trials, some seeking treasure, and some who were simply hunters living by killing. Don't think they only hunted creatures within the Black Abyss—other intelligent races entering the Black Abyss could also be their targets. For instance, the slug-like creature in front of Su Xiao, despite its unremarkable appearance, was actually a hunter within the Black Abyss.
After queuing for a few minutes, Su Xiao successfully entered the city. There was no interrogation or search as he had imagined. The demon soldiers only asked his destination, and upon learning he wanted to enter the Black Abyss, they decisively let him through.
Entering Fanluo City, Su Xiao couldn't move freely. Instead, he waited in a small plaza with decent scenery. After waiting about half an hour, nearly a thousand people had gathered in the small plaza.
"Mula baba sa (unknown language)."
Su Xiao suddenly heard someone shouting "baba." He turned to look and saw it was the crocodile-headed man who had been pickpocketed earlier. His crocodile face was now full of anxiety as he roared something at a human youth.
"Even if you call me daddy, I don't want to help you."
The human youth had a pale complexion and a thin, sickly appearance. With that frail body, it wouldn't be too surprising if he died the next second.
"Ulamaka! (unknown language)"
The crocodile-headed man roared, clearly not understanding the human youth's words.
Pfft!
A short blade with a thin edge and slender body pierced through the crocodile-headed man's skull. The blade entered from his lower jaw and emerged through his skullcap.
The crocodile-headed man's skin instantly changed from black to deathly white, and his muscles visibly began to wither.
With a scraping sound, the youth pulled out the short blade. His cyan-colored eyes indicated he wasn't human but a type of ghost race from the Void—the Cyan Ghost Clan.
"Why seek death."
The Cyan Ghost Clan youth coughed sickly and turned his gaze to the snot creature.
"That blob of snot, hand it over."
"..."
The snot creature didn't speak. After some hesitation, a leather money pouch ejected from within its body.
Just as the Cyan Ghost Clan youth took the money pouch, the sound of clanging armor came. Three demon soldiers fully clad in armor approached.
"You have one ke to state your case (ke: demon race time unit, approximately 72 seconds)."
"Let me start from when this dead fish called me daddy."
The Cyan Ghost Clan youth clearly feared the demon soldiers, knowing that if he didn't cooperate in handling this matter, he would really die.
A few minutes later, the three demon soldiers dragged the corpse away, also taking the money pouch. On demon territory, if someone started trouble first, dying there was no one's concern. Since they dared to cause trouble, they had to be prepared to be killed. Otherwise, behave.
Just after the demon soldiers left, a female succubus gracefully entered the small plaza. Succubi were very similar to humans—Su Xiao had noticed this when he saw Lilim, especially looking at her chest, the resemblance to humans was extremely high.
"Everyone."
The female succubus clapped her hands to attract everyone's attention. Her attire wasn't revealing, but it still gave off a strange seductive feeling—this was a racial talent.
The female succubus was very enthusiastic. Or rather, her enthusiasm was only natural. Everyone in the small plaza was there to enter the Black Abyss. To enter the Black Abyss from demon territory required paying a toll.
The entrance to the Black Abyss was the demon race's cash cow, no wonder this female succubus was so enthusiastic. Su Xiao felt she resembled a tour guide, except her tour group was quite ferocious. Those who dared enter the Black Abyss, aside from young members of major races, were generally not good people—either fleeing after making enemies, or going to the Black Abyss to kill and plunder for wealth.
The female succubus didn't take Su Xiao and the others to tour Fanluo City. They didn't even get a chance to encounter demon civilians. After passing through a very long underground tunnel, a fortress towering to the sky appeared.
However, Su Xiao didn't need to enter the fortress. He entered another underground tunnel. This experience was quite good—a train slowly drove into the tunnel. From its ferocious-looking front, it was easy to tell this thing had a demonic style.
The female succubus began asking everyone their destinations one by one. The Black Abyss had many layers.
Upon learning Su Xiao's destination, the female succubus pointed to a train. Shortly after Su Xiao boarded, the train started.
The train was very stable, powered by steam. Don't think the demon race's technology was backward—they just weren't accustomed to using high-tech products. It wasn't that they couldn't use them or obtain them. There were numerous high-tech civilizations in the Void.
White steam sprayed from above the train as its speed gradually increased. An old woman with a withered figure and severe hunchback emerged from the front of the train. She carried a wooden basket that seemed woven from plant roots. Her eyes, which seemed to have flames burning within them, indicated she was a demon.
Seeing this old hag, a small portion of the train's passengers sat up straight, on guard.
Clang, clang, clang.
The copper bell hanging from the old demon woman's neck rang. She started from the front of the train. Whenever she passed a passenger, they would toss a few coins into her wooden basket.
"Can... can you send me back? My... my belongings were lost, and on your demon race's territory, you share some responsibility."
A burly man nearly four meters tall, with a very Spartan style, spoke. He was a subhuman race, probably some branch lineage of a giant clan. But at this moment, his body was trembling.
The old demon woman's footsteps stopped. She slowly lowered the wooden basket in her hand.
Crack, crack, crack...
The sound of bones shifting came. The old demon woman's hunchback straightened slightly. Seeing this, other passengers near the burly man stood up and backed away, afraid of getting blood splattered on them.
"Hee, hee, hee..."
The burly man's breathing grew increasingly rapid. Saliva sprayed from the corners of his mouth, forming long strands.
"Ah!!"
The burly man roared, white light patterns emerging on his body surface.
10 seconds later.
Crunch, crunch, crunch...
The old demon woman stuffed the last finger of the burly man into her mouth. She pulled her hood back on and picked up the wooden basket from the ground.
Board the train without paying? Get off? Don't be ridiculous. Not to mention the operating costs of this train, this was demon territory. If they couldn't even maintain this much authority, how could they intimidate the myriad races? The demon race wasn't known throughout the Void for being reasonable.