Chapter 404: What Is Your Connection to the Shura Emperor?!
Above, the sky was shrouded in a thick blanket of clouds, dark and oppressive, seeming so close it could be touched. The growing clouds pulsed with flashes of violet lightning, gathering strength as if poised to strike. Dai Yao raised his right fist toward the heavens again, his arm reddened from a previous use of his White Tiger Thunder God Strike, the remnants of his sleeve scorched and torn, exposing his powerful, muscled shoulder.
In response to his raised fist, the sky rumbled, lightning crackling more violently as it prepared to descend. Though battered and bruised, Dai Yao emanated a fierce, commanding aura, his intense killing intent striking fear into all who looked upon him. He was like a god of thunder descended to earth, ready to destroy any enemy in his path with sheer force.
The Soul Douluos from both sides had halted their battles, instinctively retreating, unable to hide the horror on their faces.
"The sect leader… he actually did it…" Bullhorn gulped, his voice trembling as he glanced from the defeated Star Luo Emperor to the god-like figure of Dai Yao hovering mid-air. Overwhelming a Soul Douluo as a Soul Emperor was a feat that sent chills down one's spine.
Beside him, Yang Wudi and Bai He stared silently at Dai Yao, transfixed. Yang Wudi finally broke the silence, his voice low with awe, "Give him another ten years, and this continent will be his."
Bai He nodded in agreement, awestruck.
In stark contrast, fear clouded the faces of the Star Luo Douluos. The expressions of the elders varied from complex regret to burning hatred. Second Elder, trembling and pale, muttered incredulously to himself, "Impossible… how could the Emperor… he actually lost?! How could a Soul Douluo fail to defeat a mere Soul Emperor?"
As panic gripped him, his thoughts turned bitter. He had counted on the Emperor to remove Dai Yao, a thorn in his side, but now that Dai Yao had won, he would undoubtedly go after the Empress and then him. He blamed the Emperor for his incompetence—failing to consider that he would have fared even worse in such a battle.
The Star Luo elders were still lost in shock when two palace eunuchs and two gray-cloaked figures attempted to channel their spirit power, intending to rush to the Emperor's aid. But three figures—Yang Wudi, Bullhorn, and Bai He—immediately blocked their path.
Yang Wudi raised his Po Hun Spear, his voice chilling. "If you want to help him, you'll have to go through us first! This is a duel between them. No one is allowed to interfere!"
Frustrated and anxious, the Star Luo Douluos tried to force their way past. But the three elders of Green Lotus Sect held firm, as impenetrable as a wall, blocking them at every turn. Finally realizing the urgency of the situation, the remaining Star Luo Douluos gathered and joined the fray, launching a fierce assault. Shadow Guard from Dai Hengyu and Platinum Bishop Ferdinand stepped in to support the Green Lotus elders, staving off the relentless attacks from the Star Luo Douluos.
High above, as thunder rumbled and lightning converged, the Star Luo Grand Elder's frown deepened, his brows tightly furrowed. He glanced down at the battlefield, unable to suppress his growing anxiety. If the Emperor died, Star Luo's fall in the coming continental upheaval would be inevitable.
Intent on intervening, he took a step forward—only for Dugu Bo to immediately leap in front of him, his gaze icy. "One last warning: if you interfere, I'll reduce all of Star Luo City to ruins!"
The Grand Elder stared back at Dugu Bo, his face unreadable. Either outcome—whether the Emperor fell or Star Luo became a wasteland—would be catastrophic, and yet he had to make a choice. In the silence that followed, the Grand Elder's hand slowly relaxed, his spirit rings dimming as he appeared to give up.
Dugu Bo's eyes narrowed in surprise. "Have you surrendered?"
The Grand Elder shot him a sidelong glance, then looked down at the battlefield below, replying coldly, "Of course not. Did you think I'd come unprepared? There's still one card left to play."
Dugu Bo's expression shifted to one of alarm as he snapped, "You still have a backup? Who are you bringing in?"
The Grand Elder only sneered, refusing to answer.
Growing anxious, Dugu Bo quickly channeled his spirit power, readying himself to warn Dai Yao. But the Grand Elder moved to block him, his voice menacing, "If you dare interfere, I'll abandon restraint and slaughter all invaders myself, starting with you. So, what's your choice?"
Dugu Bo broke out in a cold sweat, torn as he looked down at the battle below, unsure of what to do. He couldn't be certain if the Grand Elder was bluffing or truly had reinforcements. It seemed the only option was to wait and see if anyone appeared to assist him.
After a tense pause, Dugu Bo met the Grand Elder's murderous gaze and scoffed, "So, you still have tricks hidden, 'Old Tomcat'? Well, I'm curious. Let's see who's foolish enough to help you."
As thunder exploded across the sky, innumerable bolts of lightning coalesced around Dai Yao's right fist.
"I don't believe it—I refuse to believe it!" the Star Luo Emperor's voice trembled, his face a mask of despair. "A Soul Emperor shouldn't be able to unleash such a high-level soul skill repeatedly! How do you still have enough soul power?"
Every strike, every incredible feat from Dai Yao chipped away at his spirit, leaving him battered and bewildered.
Normally, Soul Douluos expended a vast amount of spirit power to cast their eighth soul skill, often more than a Soul Emperor possessed in total. But here was Dai Yao, using skills with the power of a Soul Douluo-level attack, not just once but three times—and now he was preparing for a fourth!
How could a Soul Emperor maintain such relentless attacks without even pausing to recover? And where was the toll of physical fatigue that should follow such overextension?
On the ground below, palace guards surrounded the Star Luo Emperor, forming a protective ring. Yet, shaken by his defeat, their unbreakable steel resolve was starting to waver.
Even more than their battered formation, it was the Emperor's defeat at the hands of a Soul Emperor that rattled them. Their leader, their anchor, had lost.
Peering down at the man who had dictated his fate and left him to suffer in the cold palace, his supposed father, Dai Yao felt a surprising calm. There was no exhilaration of revenge fulfilled, only a quiet emptiness.
It was a feeling of peace, of having nothing left to prove, a finality that transcended mere vengeance.
"It's over." His voice was soft but resolute.
The Star Luo Emperor looked up at him, trembling as the dark clouds overhead swirled with a foreboding energy, the impending storm centered on Dai Yao's raised fist. His soldiers' fearful faces stared back up, yet no one moved to save him.
Dai Yao slowly lowered his right fist, placing it behind him. His golden hair danced in the wind, with thunder and lightning serving as his backdrop. The culmination of countless hours of practice—tens of thousands of strikes—had all been for this moment.
On the ground, the palace guards stood with their shields raised, shielding the barely conscious Emperor behind them. Though they knew that facing Dai Yao's next attack was certain death, they still chose to stand their ground. They were prepared to sacrifice their lives to prove their loyalty to the Star Luo Emperor.
A deafening crack of thunder roared across the sky, followed by a blinding flash of lightning that illuminated the entire palace in an eerie white glow.
Dai Yao moved like a bolt of lightning, appearing before the palace guards. With a swing of his right fist, he struck out ferociously. The power of the lightning condensed in his fist burst forth, spreading like a sea of thunder!
Amid screams of agony, nearly a hundred guards fell like wheat before a sickle, their bodies scorched and lifeless.
At the epicenter of the lightning storm, a faintly glowing milky-white shield shimmered intermittently. The Star Luo Emperor extended his radiant right hand, desperately maintaining the shield's integrity. His other hand pressed against the ground as he coughed up blood, his face contorted in pain.
Dai Yao, understanding what was happening, glanced at the Emperor and spoke coolly:
"A soul bone, is it? Quite the life-saver. To withstand my attack, that bone must be of considerable age. But even the ability granted by this soul bone is reaching its limit. Let's see what else you've got!"
Dai Yao wasn't surprised by the Emperor's hidden trump card. As the ruler of the Star Luo Empire, how could he not possess powerful treasures? If the Heaven Dou Empire had something as legendary as the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, the Star Luo Empire couldn't be far behind.
Although the Emperor had endured Dai Yao's White Tiger Thunder God Strike, the price was steep. His organs throbbed with pain, and his head felt as though it had been struck by a sledgehammer.
Cold sweat streamed down his face as he clutched his chest, suppressing the excruciating pain. Glaring at Dai Yao, he coughed up blood again but still managed a grim smile.
"Boy, you've used four top-tier Soul Douluo techniques in succession. Surely your soul power is nearly depleted. Just like me, you're running on fumes. Guards, attack! Whoever kills Dai Yao shall receive a thousand gold coins and be granted the title of Duke!"
The guards, who had been paralyzed by the gruesome sight of their fallen comrades, suddenly breathed heavily, their fear giving way to greed.
A thousand gold coins! A noble title!
The offer inflamed their desires. They knew they weren't a match for Dai Yao, but with so many of them, and Dai Yao seemingly low on soul power, what if they succeeded? If they gave their lives for this chance, wealth, status, and glory would be within reach!
Gripping their spears, the guards advanced cautiously toward Dai Yao.
Seeing the palace guards abandoning their battle with the disciples of the Qinglian Sect and surrounding him instead, Dai Yao let out a faint sigh.
"Do I really need to tell you that I have unlimited soul power? Or that I'm basically a cheat code before you'll give up?"
He thought this to himself, glancing briefly at the Emperor. Only a dozen meters separated them now. However, to use a move like Sky-Tearing Claw or White Tiger Thunder God Strike again would require at least ten seconds of preparation.
Scanning the tightening encirclement of guards, Dai Yao steadied his mind. Chaos on the battlefield was where he truly excelled!
As his third and fifth soul rings lit up simultaneously, a palpable aura condensed around him. With a slight crouch, his feet slammed against the ground, creating a deafening explosion. A crater appeared beneath him, with cracks spreading outward like a spiderweb.
Before the stunned guards could react, Dai Yao's fist struck the chest of one of them.
The impact shattered the armor on the guard's back, leaving a clear imprint of Dai Yao's fist. The unfortunate guard was hurled away like a leaf in a storm.
Snatching up the guard's spear, Dai Yao swung it effortlessly, its tip leveled in front of him. A chilling, bone-deep killing intent began to radiate from him. His eyes glowed faintly red.
The Killing God Domain!
It was as if Dai Yao had returned to the Slaughter City. Moving like a phantom, he thrust the spear with lightning speed. The spear's butt remained visible, but its tip seemed to vanish, leaving only a trail of fallen enemies in its wake.
The guards charged at him by the hundreds, but Dai Yao weaved through them like a butterfly in a field of flowers, untouched and unstoppable. In mere moments, the ten meters separating him from the Emperor had been crossed, leaving a field of corpses in his wake.
Even without soul power, Dai Yao's sheer speed and unparalleled spear techniques left the palace guards utterly devastated.
On the roof of the imperial palace's rear courtyard stood a gray-robed figure. His empty right sleeve swayed in the wind as he watched Dai Yao's spear technique with widening eyes.
"That spear technique… It's the same as the Shura Emperor's! Could Dai Yao actually be the Shura Emperor? Impossible! The Shura Emperor's martial soul is a spear, while Dai Yao's is a beast martial soul. They can't be the same person. But their techniques… they must be connected. I have to get answers!"
The gray-robed man shuddered at the thought.
Earlier, he had planned to intervene when Dai Yao unleashed the White Tiger Thunder God Strike, but upon noticing the Emperor's trump card, he held back. Now, however, what Dai Yao displayed forced his hand.
As Dai Yao closed the distance, the Emperor's menacing smile slowly faded. He hadn't expected Dai Yao to break through his guards' defenses with nothing more than a spear, reaching him unscathed.
The Star Luo Emperor and Dai Yao locked eyes.
The cold wind howled as their golden hair fluttered in unison. Around them, the world seemed to fall silent, leaving only the two of them.
After a moment, the Emperor's despair melted away, replaced by an eerie calm. Looking at the face so similar to his own, he seemed to glimpse his younger self—once brimming with ambition. Quietly, he asked,
"How did you do it?"
Dai Yao stared at the man he nominally called "Father." He understood the Emperor's confusion but had no intention of explaining. He replied simply,
"You forced me."
The Emperor chuckled bitterly, sighing deeply. With a trace of regret, he said,
"So that's how it is. I never imagined that I, myself, would create such a monster. I regret it now. If you return to the Star Luo Empire, I will forgive everything that happened today, and I will even pass the throne to you. What do you say?"
Dai Yao frowned, surprised by the Emperor's words. He coldly replied,
"Do you think there's still any room for reconciliation between us? Either you die, or I do!"
The Emperor sighed softly, his tiger-like eyes filled with regret and sorrow. Almost as if speaking to himself, he muttered,
"What a pity..."
Dai Yao's heart skipped a beat, an ominous feeling welling up inside him.
The Emperor's tone carried no trace of lingering attachment to life. Instead, it sounded as though he was confident of victory—like he had a final ace to play.
Realizing the danger, Dai Yao acted immediately. Kicking the spear's tail, he caught it midair, crouched, and hurled it forward with devastating force. The weapon tore through the air like a dragon's roar, hurtling toward the Emperor's heart.
Just as the spear was about to strike, a pitch-black hammer appeared, smashing into the spear's tip.
Clang!
The spear shattered into pieces. A weapon forged of steel had been obliterated in a single strike.
All eyes turned to the hammer's wielder.
It was a gray-robed elder with an empty right sleeve, holding the legendary Clear Sky Hammer in his left hand. The nine soul rings around him glowed with immense power, though the ninth ring appeared gray and sealed.
This elder was none other than the Seventh Elder, who had once lost an arm to Dai Yao. Fixing a piercing gaze on him, the elder growled,
"Dai Yao, what is your connection to the Shura Emperor?"
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