Chapter 349: The Voice of the Soul Beast
Outside the gates of Heaven Dou City, the normally bustling crowd slowed, with many turning to gaze at a particular carriage just beyond the gates.
In front of the carriage stood a man with golden hair, with two women dressed in flowing black robes standing behind him. Despite the cloaks obscuring their figures, their elegant presence was unmistakable. Before the man, two women were seeing him off.
One of them, dressed in a sea-green gown, was as graceful as a lotus after the rain, exuding noble elegance. In contrast, the other radiated a sultry allure, wearing a jade-green, high-slit cheongsam that hugged her figure. Men who glanced her way couldn't resist a burning thrill, their eyes turning crimson with desire for this vision of seduction. Her face even had a glow that hinted she'd been indulged the night before, adding a dangerous charm to her aura.
This was none other than Dai Yao's group, preparing to leave the Heaven Dou Empire.
Dugu Yan's gaze was soft, her hands carefully adjusting Dai Yao's collar as she spoke gently,
"Go back with peace of mind. Ning Rongrong and I will manage the sect well here in Heaven Dou City. When you return, you'll see a whole new Qinglian Sect."
Dai Yao nodded with a smile.
"I have every faith in you."
Since Dai Yao was set to leave that day, Zhu Zhuqing and the others had left the previous night to give him time alone with Dugu Yan, allowing them to rekindle their bond after five long years apart. In their moments of closeness, Dai Yao had gone over all the arrangements with her, especially regarding the younger disciples he had assigned to branch out to Hanhai City.
Turning to Ning Rongrong, he said apologetically,
"Rongrong, until we meet again."
With reluctant eyes, Ning Rongrong bit her lip and took a small step toward him, embracing him softly as she whispered,
"I'll work with Yan to build our sect into something great."
Just as Dai Yao felt a surge of emotion, Ning Rongrong abruptly pulled back and, with a mischievous glint, added,
"You troublemaker, if you come back with another 'sister,' I'll ask Zhuqing to teach you a lesson!"
At this, the four women laughed, covering their mouths with amusement.
Dugu Yan joined in,
"Rongrong is absolutely right! If you show up with another woman, don't even think about setting foot in our rooms!"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't say anything but fixed him with a steady, warning gaze, clearly echoing the same sentiment. Faced with the united front of the four women, Dai Yao could only manage a helpless smile.
"Alright, enough teasing; you should go now," Dugu Yan said, her eyes growing red. She urged him to leave before her tears got the better of her.
Dai Yao nodded, helping Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong into the carriage before snapping the reins. The carriage gradually rolled out of Heaven Dou City, leaving the gates behind. Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, a single tear slipped down Dugu Yan's cheek, and she sighed softly.
"Who knows when we'll meet again…" she murmured.
She had waited five long years for this reunion. While she felt no regret, the pain of being apart was a sorrow only she understood. Ning Rongrong, watching the carriage fade from sight, felt the world around her grow colder and emptier, a quiet sadness taking root in her heart.
After a long pause, her voice, gentle yet determined, broke the silence,
"Yan, we'll build the strongest foundation for Dai Yao, won't we?"
Dugu Yan blinked, and then smiled, nodding in agreement.
In the Hall of the Pope, Spirit Hall, Wuhun City
Hearing of Dai Yao's return, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and Lingyuan Douluo had come to the Pope's Palace to welcome him—or rather, to reunite with their own disciples. When word spread of Dai Yao's dire situation in the Star Luo Empire and the danger their disciples had faced, they had been ready to go and rescue them. Fortunately, news came just in time that everyone was safe.
Before the three titled Douluo, a graceful figure stood—regal and refined, none other than the current Pope, Bibi Dong. Her gaze remained fixed on the steps leading up to the palace, watching expectantly as dry leaves drifted by on the empty stairs.
Yue Guan, known as Chrysanthemum Douluo, snuck a glance at Bibi Dong and couldn't help but wonder why she was there. It made sense for them to be waiting here. Zhu Zhuqing was Ghost Douluo's disciple, Feng Wutong was Lingyuan Douluo's student, and Yue Guan himself was close with Dai Yao. Welcoming him back safely was reasonable. But Bibi Dong, the mighty Pope, had no apparent connection with Dai Yao. Why would she come?
Moreover, Bibi Dong's demeanor had shifted in recent times. Her sharp and powerful aura had softened significantly, and she even smiled more often. But since Dai Yao left, her expression had returned to its former coldness, as though the gentleness of those days had been a mere illusion. The shift in her mood, Yue Guan noticed, seemed to coincide with Dai Yao's departure.
"Could there really be a connection between the two?" he wondered. But he dismissed the thought just as quickly—what relationship could exist between the Pope and a young man who spent most of his time secluded in the mountains?
Finally, three figures appeared at the top of the stairs. The moment Dai Yao stepped forward, Bibi Dong's steely gaze visibly softened. Had it not been for her presence, Ghost Douluo and Lingyuan Douluo would have already rushed forward to check on their beloved disciples.
Standing before the Pope and the three elders, Dai Yao instinctively reined in his demeanor.
"What's going on? I have no connection with Bibi Dong, yet I can't help but feel I should behave myself," he thought, frustrated.
As he approached, Bibi Dong resumed her icy facade and addressed him with a stern tone,
"Dai Yao, your safe return is fortunate for Spirit Hall. But as Pope, I must remind you, you may not be so lucky next time. You have only one life, and many elders here hold you in their trust. Do not let them down."
Dai Yao nodded, lowering his head respectfully,
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Holiness."
Satisfied, Bibi Dong gave him a brief nod and added with a casual air,
"Remember, you are now part of Spirit Hall. Your grievances with the Star Luo Empire are now ours as well. Do not rush; Spirit Hall will see to settling these grievances for you."
With that, Bibi Dong, regal as ever, turned and left, her long, violet gown trailing behind her.
Just after leaving, Bibi Dong couldn't suppress a heavy sigh. The real reason Dai Yao had ventured into the Star Luo Empire lay in the plans she had made for him long ago. But with her dark reputation, she was unable to voice her concerns directly to him, forced instead to deliver them in a restrained manner, cloaked in the tone of her title as Pope. Whether or not Dai Yao could understand her intentions, she wasn't certain.
As Bibi Dong departed, two gusts of wind swept past Dai Yao. Before he could react, Lingyuan Douluo and Ghost Douluo appeared at Feng Wutong and Zhu Zhuqing's sides, anxiously inspecting their beloved disciples for injuries.
Dai Yao sighed and shook his head, resigning himself to a chat with Yue Guan.
A few days later.
Dai Yao made his way alone to the Archive Pavilion within Spirit City, seeking out the records held by the Spirit Hall. The Archive Pavilion stored the personnel files of every member within Spirit Hall, containing detailed records for each principal figure. Knowing his former teammate Dou Yu's desire to help his hometown, Dai Yao couldn't ignore it, so he decided to use his influence within the Spirit Hall to allocate resources that would help Dou Yu.
"Dai Yao, thank you for waiting. My name is Xu Kun. The documents you requested are all prepared and waiting for you," came a polite voice. An official hurried over, bowing respectfully.
Though Dai Yao had no official position within the Spirit Hall—a condition he himself had negotiated with Bibi Dong—no one dared underestimate him as the champion of the previous Soul Master Tournament.
"Thank you for your help," Dai Yao said with a smile.
Xu Kun beamed, bowing low and leading Dai Yao into an ancient stone building lined with wooden shelves, all filled with countless files. They walked through a maze of bookshelves, and soon Xu Kun stopped, retrieving the prepared documents and handing them over to Dai Yao.
"Everything you need is here. Please, feel free to call on me if you need anything further," Xu Kun said with a bow.
Dai Yao nodded, finding a quiet corner to review the information. Before assisting Dou Yu, he needed to understand the specific conditions of his village to provide meaningful support.
After some time, Dai Yao gained an overview of Dou Yu's hometown, Qianshan Village. The village was in a region of sheer cliffs, accessible only by narrow paths cut into the rock face. The treacherous terrain had prevented even the Spirit Hall from sending soul masters to awaken the village's spirits.
"This really is a difficult situation…" Dai Yao thought with some frustration. Supporting Dou Yu's village would require more than just funds; it would need sustained resources and manpower. Clearing a pathway through such cliffs was no easy task—even a titled Douluo would be reluctant to take it on. Though some powerful allies might agree to help him personally, asking them to assist an unrelated soul master would be too much.
As Dai Yao considered this, a deep voice suddenly sounded in his ear, breaking his thoughts.
"Dai Yao, I greet you as a soul beast. How have you enjoyed the ten-thousand-year Soft-Bone Rabbit spirit ring?"
Dai Yao's eyes widened, every muscle tense. His acquisition of the ten-thousand-year spirit ring was a tightly held secret, known only to a handful of people. The Spirit Hall had issued a strict gag order. For someone to know about this—especially as a soul beast—was no simple matter.
Was there truly a soul beast here in Spirit City, in the heart of the Spirit Hall itself? With Bibi Dong's zeal for ten-thousand-year spirit rings, any such creature would have long since been turned into one. The only possible explanation was that this creature was a transformed soul beast, hiding its power beyond level seventy, thus avoiding detection by Spirit Hall's experts.
Whatever its motives, they were undoubtedly significant. Dai Yao's gaze turned steely, and he scanned the endless rows of shelves, seeking the source of the voice.
As if sensing Dai Yao's movements, the voice chuckled,
"Don't waste your efforts—you won't find me. I harbor no ill intentions. Why don't we have a calm conversation?"
Dai Yao frowned, spreading his spiritual sense as he continued to search. But he found nothing. Whoever this was had either a much higher cultivation level than his own or an artifact to mask their presence.
"If you truly wish to talk, then reveal yourself," Dai Yao replied, his voice sharp.
He waited, hoping to force the figure into revealing themselves. If the entity was indeed using a concealed treasure, it wouldn't hear him. Unfortunately, he soon realized the situation was indeed as bad as he'd thought.
"Heh. I'll save you the trouble. My power far surpasses anything you could imagine," the voice answered with a smug chuckle. "As for meeting face-to-face, I'm afraid that isn't possible."
Resigned, Dai Yao abandoned his search.
"What do you want to discuss?" he asked, his expression dark.
Sensing Dai Yao's shifting attitude, the voice continued in a grave tone,
"According to prophecy, Tang San is the destined child of this era. He is fated to possess unprecedented fortune and break all limits, becoming this world's new god. Therefore, we soul beasts have placed our bets early. That Soft-Bone Rabbit was our pawn."
"But the ten-thousand-year spirit ring meant for the child of fate was taken by you. We don't know how you managed it, but it's clear that fate's threads have been severed, sending it irreversibly down a new path. On this path, you are the one chosen by destiny."
"Thus, we soul beasts have come to propose a transaction."
Dai Yao felt as if lightning had struck his mind, leaving him reeling.
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