Chapter 473: Facing the Hao Tian Clan Alone
As the figure removed his wide-brimmed hat, revealing his unfamiliar face, memories long buried and avoided by many came rushing back, causing their expressions to change abruptly.
Tang San froze momentarily. Though years had passed, he recognized Dai Yao immediately. Bloodlust filled his eyes, turning them crimson as his face contorted with fury. Killing intent radiated from him, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
The Fifth Elder narrowed his eyes, examining the unexpected visitor, his gaze full of undisguised shock and fear.
The thousands of Tian Dou Empire soldiers took an involuntary step back, as if confronted with an indescribable terror. Their previously orderly ranks became noticeably disorganized.
"Why did you come? You need to leave now!"
Upon seeing Dai Yao appear, Shui Bing'er's face momentarily lit up with joy. However, she quickly realized the danger of their situation, and her expression turned anxious.
It wasn't only Shui Bing'er; Xue Wu, standing beside her, shared the same anxious expression, her brows furrowed. Although she didn't speak, her thoughts echoed Shui Bing'er's concern.
This was the imperial capital of the Tian Dou Empire, home to countless masters, with nearly half of the Hao Tian Clan's five Title Douluo stationed here.
Shui Bing'er was painfully aware of the deep, unresolvable hatred between Dai Yao and Tang San, and the Hao Tian Clan's intense desire to eliminate him. Previously, Dai Yao had been protected by powerful allies, leaving the Hao Tian Clan unable to seize an opportunity to strike. But now that Dai Yao was here in Tian Dou City alone, they would never let this chance slip by!
Though Dai Yao had just repelled the Fifth Elder with a single blow, Tian Dou City still had three other Title Douluo, with additional forces stationed nearby who could return from the southern front at any time. If those five or six Title Douluo returned, no matter how much Dai Yao had improved, he wouldn't stand a chance against them.
Shui Bing'er didn't want Dai Yao to fall into a hopeless situation because of her.
With worry in her gaze, Shui Bing'er urged him softly, "Please, leave now. It's not too late!"
Facing Shui Bing'er's worried gaze, Dai Yao's heart trembled, and he briefly met Xue Wu's eyes, which were filled with yearning and unspoken words. Guilt stirred in him.
"Sorry, I'm late. I'll take responsibility for everything that's happened with the three elemental academies today. Bing'er, Xue Wu, I promise that all of you will leave Tian Dou City safely!" Dai Yao's voice was soft but carried an undeniable firmness.
At his words, some of the soldiers surrounding Yi Feng and the others couldn't help but laugh. Even with their strict discipline, they couldn't suppress their reaction to such an audacious claim.
Tian Dou City was filled with powerful figures, with three Title Douluo present and three more who could rush back from the front at any time. Though this intruder had overpowered the Fifth Elder momentarily, what chance did he stand against six Title Douluo?
Shui Bing'er's gaze fixed on Dai Yao, her lips tightening.
In his brief words, she already understood Dai Yao's intentions. She was staying in Tian Dou City to protect her academy and family, but she had never wanted Dai Yao to put himself at risk for her and Xue Wu. Bittersweet regret filled her heart; though they were meeting again after a long separation, she knew this would likely be their last farewell.
Taking a deep breath, she looked at the endless wall of soldiers surrounding them and pleaded, "You need to leave—if you don't go now, it'll be too late!"
Her pleas, along with Xue Wu's unconcealed worry, left Yi Feng and the others puzzled.
Could this powerful figure have come specifically for Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu?
Ruo Shui's heart skipped a beat. She knew Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's personalities very well; they always kept a certain distance even from the academy's junior members, let alone young men their age.
Yet here they were, showing unprecedented emotion toward this unexpected visitor. This situation made Ruo Shui wonder if this man was the one who had taken both girls' innocence in Star Dou Forest—the man whose identity she hadn't been able to force out of them!
Narrowing her eyes, she studied Dai Yao closely. Were it not for the urgency of the situation, she would insist on uncovering his identity.
For him to repel the Hao Tian Clan's Fifth Elder in one strike meant his strength was exceptional even among Title Douluo. Yet, he appeared to be around Shui Bing'er's age, making his power all the more astonishing. And strangely, Ruo Shui felt a nagging sense of familiarity.
Seeing his golden hair, a realization dawned on her.
In today's younger generation, there was only one figure with such youth and power, able to repel the Fifth Elder of the Hao Tian Clan.
It was the very figure who had vanished from the continent for years, once the undisputed leader of the younger generation—Dai Yao.
A flicker of sharp intelligence flashed in Ruo Shui's eyes. While the thought of Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu serving one man was disgraceful to Tian Shui Academy—especially since Dai Yao already had several wives—if he could help them break through the encirclement, she might consider giving him a chance.
"Bing'er…"
Ruo Shui took Shui Bing'er's hand, signaling her with a gentle shake of her head to stop talking.
Under Ruo Shui's stern gaze, Shui Bing'er understood her mother's intentions. Yet she felt no inclination to comply and was about to speak again when Ruo Shui immediately cut her off.
"Bing'er, only now do I understand why you kept silent no matter how much I pressured you. You know his identity, and he already has other women. If you wish to stay with him, you'll need my approval. If he can truly get us out of here safely today, then, in honor of the academy, I'll consider giving him a chance."
Shui Bing'er's face remained impassive as she replied calmly, "Mother, as long as he loves me, I'd go to the ends of the earth with him. Your opinion cannot change that. More than your approval, I don't want him hurt because of me."
Ruo Shui was stunned.
She hadn't expected her daughter to be so resolute for the man she loved.
But before Shui Bing'er could continue, a thunderous shout shattered their conversation.
"Boy, it's you!"
The Fifth Elder's eyes widened with fury as he yelled.
He had just recognized Dai Yao—the same young man who, years ago, had defeated all the young talents of the Hao Tian Clan in their hidden realm, and later, during the Tian Dou Palace incident, had crippled the Seventh Elder's arm, demoting him from Title Douluo status.
Rumors had since circulated that this man had founded his own sect, which had allied with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, forming a fourth major power on the continent, only second to the three great empires.
Had it not been for the relentless offensive of the Wuhun Empire, which left them no time for other matters, they would have gathered their forces long ago to wipe Dai Yao and his sect from the continent.
The Fifth Elder raised his Hao Tian Hammer slowly, letting lightning dance around it as his terrifying Title Douluo aura burst forth, making everyone's hearts skip a beat.
"Ha ha, Fifth Elder, I'm surprised you're still alive," Dai Yao replied, unperturbed, with a faint smile.
The Fifth Elder's expression changed multiple times. From that one exchange, he knew that he alone could not stop Dai Yao. His face darkened, and he exchanged a subtle glance with Tang San. At this point, notifying reinforcements was their best option.
With a cold sneer, he said, "Boy, as they say, 'The path to heaven is open, but you refuse to walk it; the gates of hell are closed, but you insist on entering.' Since you've come to Tian Dou City today, you can stay here forever! And you dare claim you'll get them all out? Such empty boasting!"
Dai Yao shrugged indifferently at the Fifth Elder's words, offering no rebuttal. His gaze shifted to Tang San, and memories of their encounters flooded his mind—their clashes at the Spirit Master Tournament, the dark undercurrents in Slaughter City, and the upheaval following the events at Tian Dou Palace. Tang San had been drastically weakened by the loss of luck and fate Dai Yao had subtly imposed, leading him down a path completely different from the one originally written.
Now, no one could foresee Tang San's end.
"Tang San, it's been a long time," Dai Yao said calmly.
Everyone looked to Tang San, only to find that the once-elegant Lan Hao King was now twisted with fury, exuding a murderous aura like a demon risen from hell.
Was this truly the refined and noble Lan Hao King?
Who was this stranger, and what connection did he have to Lan Hao King to provoke such intense hatred?
Tang San's breathing grew heavy, his gaze lingering on the Sea God's Trident in Dai Yao's hand. For reasons he couldn't explain, a hollow sensation gnawed at his heart, as if he had lost something vital. He looked up at Dai Yao, clenching his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood. The hatred he had long buried surged to the surface.
"Dai Yao, it's been years, and it seems your power has only grown," Tang San sneered.
Hearing the name "Dai Yao," many were reminded of the legendary stories surrounding him. They stared in amazement. The tales of him defeating the Wuhun Hall team to win the Spirit Master Tournament, founding the Qinglian Sect, invading the Xing Luo Empire, and even killing its emperor—these stories had spread across the continent. Encountering him in person now was beyond unexpected.
Dai Yao raised an eyebrow, sensing the fluctuations within Tang San's power. It was just as he'd suspected.
Without Xiao Wu's spirit ring and the opportunities from Sea God Island, Tang San's strength had fallen far short of his original potential, reaching only the Spirit Sage level, without the three hundred-thousand-year spirit rings he would have had.
"Tang San, after all these years, it seems your power hasn't improved much. Weren't you aiming to kill me to avenge that rabbit? Looks like you're further from that goal than ever," Dai Yao said with a faint smile, resting the Sea God's Trident on his shoulder.
Tang San clenched his teeth, glaring at Dai Yao with unbridled hatred. He could feel the terrifying power within Dai Yao—a level he had only felt before from his father and his uncle. He couldn't fathom what Dai Yao had been through in recent years to achieve such growth. Back when Dai Yao disappeared from the continent, he was only at the Spirit Emperor level. Now, he was at least a Spirit Douluo.
And Tang San? He still had a long way to go before reaching the Spirit Douluo level.
His position as Lan Hao King and his control over the Tian Dou Empire's power consumed most of his time with balancing interests and stabilizing the empire. This, along with the ever-encroaching threat of the Wuhun Hall, left him little time to train.
Though he could leverage Tian Dou's resources to enhance himself, over time, his spirit power had become unstable, forcing him to stop relying on rare treasures for power growth.
Once, he could have rivaled Dai Yao. Now, he couldn't even glimpse Dai Yao's shadow.
An overwhelming sense of powerlessness crashed over him, drowning him.
Xiao Wu's death, his father's grudge, the Hao Tian Clan's shame—he had once sworn to defeat and kill Dai Yao with his own hands. Now, that goal seemed like a distant fantasy.
Taking a deep breath, Tang San calculated the time that had passed. The fury on his face gradually subsided, and his tightly clenched fists relaxed. A cold smile slowly spread across his face as he regained a calm and poised demeanor.
From the moment Dai Yao appeared, Tang San had immediately activated a secret command within the Hao Tian Clan to summon all its elders. His display of anger had been merely an act, meant to stall Dai Yao and hide his true intentions, buying time for the elders to arrive.
"Dai Yao, you're right; in terms of power, I can't compare to you. In fact, few even among the older generation's strongest could stand against you," Tang San said, his eyes flashing coldly. "But your arrogance is your downfall! To think you'd come alone into Tian Dou City! Now, the two elders in Tian Dou City have already gathered, and the others at Zhen Nan Pass are on their way. Within minutes, five Title Douluo will be here. I don't believe that even you can survive against them all!"
"Today, Tian Dou City will be your grave! I'll take your head to honor Xiao Wu's memory!"
As Tang San's words faded, four figures suddenly appeared in the sky above Tian Dou City.
Each wore a gray robe that billowed in the wind, wielding massive Hao Tian Hammers surrounded by nine soul rings. The Fifth Elder immediately stepped protectively in front of Tang San, pointing his hammer at Dai Yao.
The five Hao Tian Clan Title Douluo gathered, their oppressive aura making the entire city tremble, causing anyone below the level of Spirit Douluo to struggle even to stand.
The middle-aged man leading them was none other than Tang Xiao, the current head of the Hao Tian Clan. He, along with the other three elders, surrounded Dai Yao from four directions. Even the Seventh Elder, who had once been maimed by Dai Yao and demoted from Title Douluo, watched coldly from atop a high building.
Tang Xiao's icy gaze swept over Huo Rong and the others before finally settling on Dai Yao, and the strength radiating from him made his eyes flicker slightly with caution.
In just a few short years, the young man they once knew had grown to a level even Tang Xiao found formidable—an astonishing pace of growth.
With a bit more time, there would be no one in the world capable of matching him.
While relations between the Hao Tian Clan and the Wuhun Empire were strained, they had not reached the point of open conflict. If Dai Yao were to ally with the Wuhun Hall, it would deliver a devastating blow to the fragile situation, threatening to topple the entire Tian Dou Empire.
And with the fall of the Tian Dou Empire, the Hao Tian Clan, which relied upon it, would cease to exist.
This young man could not be allowed to live!
Now that he had entered Tian Dou City alone, this was an opportunity granted by fate itself. Dai Yao had become a critical threat, and if they missed this chance to eliminate him, he could one day be the very cause of the Hao Tian Clan's downfall.
Dai Yao glanced over the five Hao Tian Clan Title Douluo and chuckled softly. "Five Title Douluo—it seems you all hold me in high regard."
With that, his expression turned cold, and an overwhelming, almost tyrannical aura erupted from his body. Everyone present felt a slight chill, but the Hao Tian Clan's elders felt it most keenly.
"But if you think five Title Douluo are enough to stop me, you're dreaming," Dai Yao declared coldly, brandishing the Sea God's Trident.
Under the onlookers' increasingly shocked gazes, three dazzling soul rings—black, red, red—rose around him, emitting an aura of unimaginable power...
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