Chapter 406: "I'll Handle the Grand Elder!"
In that moment, silence fell over the battlefield.
A chilling wind howled as the Star Luo Emperor lay on the cold ground, blood seeping from the gaping wound in his chest and pooling beneath him. His eyes, now void of life, remained fixed on Dai Yao, filled with shock and disbelief.
Everyone else stood frozen, staring in stunned silence at the Emperor's fallen figure. Their voices caught in their throats, unable to form a single word. Some rubbed their eyes, hoping they'd wake from this nightmare, but reality, cold and unyielding, confirmed the truth.
Just moments ago, the Star Luo Emperor had held the advantage, swearing confidently that he'd eliminate Dai Yao. Now, his heart was pierced, his life slipping away, leaving those who looked on feeling as though they'd plunged from heaven into hell.
Eyes slowly shifted toward Dai Yao, who stood expressionless, his hand resting on the weapon that had felled the Emperor—a simple, jade-green spear. There was a faint scent of lotus emanating from it, as if it were merely an ordinary weapon. But the Emperor's lifeless body at Dai Yao's feet made it clear: this was no ordinary spear.
Countless experts on the battlefield locked their gaze on the weapon, their eyes narrowing in fear and wonder. What was this weapon? A martial spirit? A soul tool? Or some other kind of rare treasure?
"What is that spear?"
This question lingered in the minds of everyone present, particularly the Soul Douluo-level elders of the Qinglian Sect, who stared in astonishment, each wondering about the origin of their Sect Master's mysterious spear.
Only Yang Wudi seemed less surprised. As he watched the scene, a knowing look crossed his face. The first time he'd encountered Dai Yao in Longxing City, he had noted Dai Yao's exceptional skill with the spear. Although Dai Yao didn't use elaborate techniques, Yang Wudi sensed the deadly precision of one who had perfected their craft through countless battles. He'd wondered then why Dai Yao, with his beast martial spirit, was so adept at wielding a spear. Now, seeing the spear itself, his earlier suspicions crystallized into a shocking realization.
"It can't be… That's too monstrous!" Yang Wudi muttered, grappling with the idea.
The Seventh Elder glared at Dai Yao. In his mind, he saw the shadow of a masked figure wielding a spear superimposed over Dai Yao's image. The mask dissolved, revealing the face of Dai Yao beneath.
"So it was you!" the Seventh Elder spat through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with fury and hatred.
Dai Yao had calculated every move, baiting the Seventh Elder into position before striking down the Star Luo Emperor. The moment Dai Yao had revealed his true identity, the Emperor's fate was sealed; Dai Yao wouldn't even have needed a second attack if the Seventh Elder had recognized the spear sooner.
As realization dawned, the Seventh Elder was swept by a wave of shock. With the Emperor dead, Star Luo's leadership lay in ruin, its soldiers and generals robbed of their morale. Though the Star Luo Empire still had formidable warriors like himself and the Grand Elder, any potential victory over Dai Yao's forces was now in vain.
And there was more at stake than the immediate battle. The Star Luo Empire's internal stability would soon falter. Although there was a Crown Prince, his lack of prestige left him unfit to lead the empire's legions. And should the Wuhun Hall seize this opportunity to invade, the dual monarchies of Heaven Dou and Star Luo would be critically weakened.
But even these daunting challenges paled in comparison to the revelation the Seventh Elder had just uncovered.
The Shura Sovereign—a figure who once fought the Seventh Elder to a standstill and severed his arm—had been a soul emperor like Dai Yao. Back then, rumors had spread across the continent, praising the Shura Sovereign as a once-in-a-generation talent who could face even titled Douluo. To add to the mystery, he'd used a spear, yet his soul rings had never been revealed.
Now, Dai Yao, also a soul emperor, had defeated the top-ranked Soul Douluo of the Star Luo Empire. Without the Emperor's spirit bone for protection, he would have perished even sooner.
But the two were not separate individuals. The Shura Sovereign and Dai Yao were one and the same.
Dai Yao possessed twin martial spirits.
The Seventh Elder's chest swelled with bitterness and anger. What divine intervention had allowed such favor? How was it fair that someone with such remarkable talent should also receive a second martial spirit? But as he pondered, his rage cooled, giving way to a chilling realization.
The hatred between Dai Yao and the Clear Sky Clan had grown irreversible. First, Dai Yao had thwarted their schemes in the Heaven Dou Empire, and now, he'd interfered in the Star Luo Empire's internal affairs. They were now locked in a deadly feud.
And there was no escaping it. Once Dai Yao reached his full potential, he would undoubtedly lay waste to the Clear Sky Clan, avenging every grievance. In his mind's eye, the Seventh Elder could already envision rivers of blood and mountains of fallen Clear Sky disciples, trampled beneath Dai Yao's relentless march to glory.
But what could he do? Dai Yao's agility and combat technique were such that not even he, the Seventh Elder, could pin him down. Dai Yao could simply flee, and there was no one here capable of stopping him.
Seeing the conflicted expression clouding the Seventh Elder's face, Dai Yao sneered, "You wanted to know my relationship with the Shura Sovereign. Have you figured it out now?"
The Seventh Elder swallowed, his eyes filled with a reluctant admiration and wariness. "You hid your true identity well. If it weren't for my intervention, I doubt you would've revealed this secret so soon."
Dai Yao's expression softened into a cold smile as he glanced at the Emperor's motionless form, speaking in an even tone, "All thanks to you, I suppose. I had intended to keep this hidden a while longer, but you forced my hand."
The Seventh Elder let out a bitter laugh. "If I'd known the Shura Sovereign was you, I wouldn't have dared to come to Star Luo, much less interfere in your vendetta."
The Grand Elder stared at the Emperor's lifeless body, disbelief evident in his eyes. The Emperor's heart had been pierced, his body held together only by sheer force of will. No healer, however skilled, could restore life to his lifeless heart. He was beyond saving.
Hearing the puzzling exchange between Dai Yao and the Seventh Elder, the Grand Elder cast a deep, questioning look at Dai Yao, then turned to the Seventh Elder. "What are you talking about?"
The Seventh Elder glanced at the Grand Elder, a complex mixture of emotions in his eyes. "Is your Star Luo Empire completely devoid of sense? You forced out Dai Yao, a talent of unprecedented potential, only to hand him over to the Wuhun Hall. And now, he's become a threat to us all."
Suppressing his frustration, the Seventh Elder pointed to his own severed arm. "Let me explain…
"Grand Elder, are you familiar with the story of how I lost an arm?"
The Grand Elder paused, caught off guard.
"Of course I know. The incident shocked the entire continent. You, a Titled Douluo, not only lost to a Soul Emperor but also had an arm severed by him. Such a disgraceful and monumental event—I could hardly forget. If I remember correctly, that person didn't have a name, only the title Shura Emperor, correct?"
"On this continent, the only one who might be capable of defeating Dai Yao in a direct confrontation is the Shura Emperor."
"Why are you bringing this up now?"
The Seventh Elder's face darkened at the remark. Having his shame laid bare in front of others stung. Fixing a deep gaze on the Grand Elder, he said slowly:
"What if I told you… that Dai Yao is the Shura Emperor?"
As the words left his mouth, an eerie silence fell over the scene, broken only by the howling wind.
The Grand Elder's mind went blank, as if struck by a bolt of lightning. After a stunned moment, he whipped around, staring intently at Dai Yao. His expression was a mix of excitement and fear. His lips trembled, and the leathery skin of his face twitched uncontrollably.
A long moment passed before the Grand Elder managed to calm himself. His voice trembled as he asked:
"Are you saying… Dai Yao has twin martial souls?!"
Seeing the Grand Elder's reaction, the Seventh Elder felt a trace of pity rise in his heart. He nodded firmly and replied:
"I am certain. The spear martial soul that Dai Yao wields is the very weapon that took my arm. There's no mistaking it."
Hearing the Seventh Elder's confirmation, the Grand Elder's breath caught, and for a moment, it seemed as though he might collapse. Only the immense power of his Level 96 soul force kept him standing. A tide of regret surged through him, drowning his thoughts.
He looked at Dai Yao with a mix of complexity and sorrow. With just one martial soul, Dai Yao had already crushed all his peers, able to leap ranks and defeat opponents two levels higher. But now, he also possessed a second martial soul.
The spear martial soul had only shown one ability so far—teleportation. Who knew how many soul rings it could absorb in the future, or what powers those soul rings would bring?
Even Titled Douluo might not be Dai Yao's ultimate limit.
This genius, this unparalleled talent, should have been the pride of the Star Luo Empire! Rules, family traditions—none of it mattered compared to a prodigy like him.
The Grand Elder's heart ached with the realization that it was their own actions that had driven Dai Yao out of the Star Luo Empire. He closed his eyes slowly, his voice trembling as he murmured:
"What sins have we committed… This glory should have belonged to the Empire."
The barely-conscious Star Luo Emperor also heard the Seventh Elder's words. His eyes widened in shock as he stared at Dai Yao, his lips moving wordlessly. Crimson blood spilled uncontrollably from his mouth. Moments later, his eyes lost focus, and his body fell still.
The Star Luo Emperor died in disbelief, fully understanding at last. Whether he regretted abandoning Dai Yao and his mother was something only he knew, but his realization had come too late.
Though the conversation between the Seventh and Grand Elders wasn't loud, no one present was weak enough to miss its content.
The way everyone looked at Dai Yao changed, as if they were staring at a monster.
The Star Luo Empire's strongest figures all wore expressions of shock and dismay. The Second Elder turned pale, cold sweat dripping down his face. Even the aloof and indifferent Fourth Elder couldn't hide the astonishment on his face.
The Zhu Clan patriarch made a firm decision in his heart—he would no longer involve himself in the Dai family's affairs.
Even the Soul Douluo of the Qinglian Sect were left dumbfounded. They had never imagined that Dai Yao had a second martial soul—one even more domineering than his Holy White Tiger martial soul!
"Our sect master… he's a monster," muttered Niu Gao, his voice unsteady.
Dugu Bo leaped lightly to Dai Yao's side, studying him with newfound incomprehension. He had spent considerable time with Dai Yao and never noticed any sign of a second martial soul. A wave of relief washed over him—thankfully, he had not completely offended Dai Yao in the past. Instead, he had even sent Dugu Yan to his side.
Otherwise, Dugu Bo realized, he might have been living in constant fear of Dai Yao's vengeance.
Taking a deep breath, Dugu Bo smiled wryly and said:
"Dai Yao, I didn't expect you to have hidden such a trump card!"
Dai Yao managed a faint smile. If it weren't for the sudden appearance of the Clear Sky Sect, he wouldn't have revealed the God-Slaying Spear form of his Chaos Green Lotus. His Holy White Tiger martial soul already overshadowed his peers; revealing a second martial soul would only provoke further hostility from countless factions.
"Grandpa Dugu, I told you—I'll ensure everyone returns safely. But now that the Star Luo Emperor is dead, the Dai Clan will retaliate even more fiercely. We must prepare ourselves."
Dugu Bo's face grew serious as he nodded.
At that moment, a thunderous voice filled with killing intent exploded outside the palace.
"Return? Such arrogance! Dai Yao, I may not be able to stop you, but as for your companions? None of them will leave here alive!"
The Grand Elder, recovering from his shock, had heard Dugu Bo and Dai Yao's conversation. He let out a cold snarl.
With the Star Luo Emperor dead, the royal family's authority had taken a severe blow. The feud between Dai Yao and the Dai Clan had reached a point of no return. Despite Dai Yao's immense talent, the Dai Clan could not afford to back down. Before he fully matured, they had to eliminate him at all costs.
Dai Yao's teleportation skill made it impossible to contain him; he could come and go as he pleased. But his fatal weakness lay in his companions—the Qinglian Sect members present.
If Dai Yao abandoned them to escape, his influence would greatly diminish. A leader who forsook his comrades wouldn't be able to command the same loyalty, even if he rebuilt his forces.
This was their only chance to stop him!
Hearing the Grand Elder's words, Dai Yao cursed under his breath.
"Such a nuisance!"
Dugu Bo glanced at the Grand Elder, then at the Seventh Elder, and said gravely:
"Dai Yao, I'll hold off the Grand Elder. You take on the Seventh Elder and buy time for the Qinglian Sect disciples to escape."
Although the Seventh Elder was no longer a Titled Douluo, his Clear Sky Hammer martial soul still made him a match for weaker Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo. Dai Yao would have no choice but to confront him.
Dai Yao's expression turned cold as he said decisively:
"No, Grandpa Dugu. You can't hold off the Grand Elder. With the Star Luo Emperor dead, he has no reason to hesitate anymore. He'll stop at nothing, even if it means mutual destruction, to kill me."
Dugu Bo frowned.
"Then what do we do?"
Dai Yao looked at the Grand Elder and said calmly:
"I'll deal with him myself."
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Canserbero10