Chapter 474: Facing Five Title Douluo Alone
In front of the expansive Shrek Academy gates, the massive crowd stared in silence at the waves of blood-red energy rippling outward.
"Impossible! A hundred-thousand-year spirit ring?! And there are two of them?!" Tang Xiao muttered in disbelief, his face dark as stone.
Back when Dai Yao had led the Wuhun Hall forces to infiltrate the Hao Tian Clan's hidden domain, he had only been at the Spirit King level, with just two ten-thousand-year spirit rings. No one knew why he now had only three spirit rings, but even so, those three rings alone were enough to put the Title Douluo on high alert.
Those were hundred-thousand-year spirit rings—an unattainable dream for the Hao Tian Clan's Title Douluo, except for one infamous exception: the clan's traitor, Tang Hao. And even Tang Hao's hundred-thousand-year spirit ring had come from his wife, a spirit beast of that age who had taken human form.
But here was Dai Yao, so young and in possession of two such rings. Their jealousy was mixed with a deep, chilling fear.
If this boy were to become a Title Douluo, he would be unmatched with those two hundred-thousand-year rings, creating a new standard among Title Douluo!
And even more troubling, no one knew why his lower-aged spirit rings had vanished. If he could fill those vacant slots with even more powerful rings, then… the thought alone made Tang Xiao's scalp prickle with dread.
"He must not be allowed to leave here alive today!"
Tang Xiao's eyes glinted with fierce intent.
"What a remarkable talent," Yi Feng sighed, exchanging looks with the others after a long, shocked silence. "Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wu, and the others did not lose unfairly when they lost to Dai Yao."
As heads of the four elemental academies, they knew of Dai Yao, the genius spirit master from the surprise academy that had stunned everyone at the Spirit Master Tournament. They'd heard the stories but had never seen him in person.
Now, seeing him up close, all their lingering doubts vanished.
Those blood-red rings said it all.
"Two hundred-thousand-year rings… Wait! Where's Xiao Wu's spirit ring?!"
Tang San, still staring at Dai Yao's rings, suddenly snapped out of his shock.
He couldn't see Xiao Wu's spirit ring among them!
The memory of Xiao Wu's sacrifice was deeply etched in his mind, an indelible mark he could never forget, and there was no way he could mistake her spirit ring. Dai Yao's terrifying progress was startling enough, but even more unsettling was the disappearance of Xiao Wu's spirit ring from his body. And strangely, Dai Yao's lower-aged spirit rings had also vanished. Why? Could it be related to Xiao Wu's spirit ring?
Remembering what Da Ming and Er Ming had told him, a wild thought struck Tang San: had Dai Yao resurrected Xiao Wu?
The possibility made his heart nearly stop.
A surge of exhilaration washed over him like a tidal wave, making his muscles tremble slightly. He couldn't believe that Dai Yao would have any reason to bring Xiao Wu back to life!
And yet, the evidence before him made it hard to deny.
He looked at the man he had once hated with a searing fury, yet now he felt a flicker of familiarity. For the first time, Tang San felt a pang of fear toward Dai Yao. It wasn't the disparity in their power that made him afraid; he had always thought he'd never fear Dai Yao, no matter how vast their power difference. Now, he feared Dai Yao would shatter his final hope of Xiao Wu still being alive.
"Don't worry, Young Master. With me here, that boy won't touch a hair on your head."
Noticing the change in Tang San's expression, the Fifth Elder misinterpreted it as fear and reassured him.
The elder's words brought Tang San back to reality. He looked at the Fifth Elder, regaining his calm, and his gaze returned to Dai Yao with a complex expression.
"No, Fifth Elder, you're wrong," Tang San replied. "I'm not afraid of him. I know Dai Yao well. He wouldn't be here without a means of escape. I'm only trying to figure out what his ace is."
"His primary martial spirit only has three spirit rings, but remember, he once used a spear-type spirit in the Xing Luo Empire. That spear had a teleportation ability—the Xing Luo Empress died to it."
"That may be his trump card. Everyone, stay vigilant."
The Fifth Elder's heart tensed, and he quickly relayed the information to the other elders.
Seeing the Hao Tian Clan's Title Douluo closing in, Dai Yao nodded to himself.
This was precisely his plan.
To allow the Elemental Academy to leave Tian Dou City safely, he needed to prevent interference from any Title Douluo.
If even one Title Douluo intervened, the Elemental Academy would have no chance of escaping. Thus, Dai Yao had deliberately revealed himself to draw all the Title Douluo's attention. The heads of the Elemental Academy were Spirit Douluo, and with no Title Douluo to stop them, they would be able to exit Tian Dou City unharmed.
Now, the last barrier was the palace guards and the city wall.
Turning back, Dai Yao saw the still-shocked faces of Yi Feng and the others and quickly said, "Elders, I will create an escape route for you. I'll do my best to hold off the five Hao Tian Clan Title Douluo. Please take this chance to leave immediately."
Yi Feng and the others looked at him with confusion.
Not only were they surrounded by thousands of elite soldiers, but the towering walls of Tian Dou City—the most formidable fortress on the continent—stood in their way. Leaving unscathed seemed like a fantasy.
Before Yi Feng could voice his concerns, explosions and cries filled the air, silencing his doubts.
Golden light surged from Dai Yao's hand as he launched the Golden Trident like an arrow toward the city wall. The force swept through the densely packed soldiers surrounding Yi Feng and the others, clearing a path as effortlessly as autumn wind scattering leaves.
Boom!
After a thunderous crash, a massive hole appeared in the ancient, indestructible walls of Tian Dou City.
Everyone—the empire's spirit masters, soldiers, and common citizens—gazed in shock. Even the faces of the Title Douluo in the sky darkened.
These were the walls of Tian Dou City! One of the grandest fortresses on the Douluo Continent, undefeated for thousands of years. Even the strongest Title Douluo could only gaze upon them in awe, yet now, they had been shattered by a single strike from a young man—a feat beyond belief.
"Go!" Yi Feng shouted after a brief moment of stunned silence.
He was no fool. Dai Yao had limited time to buy for them, and they had to seize the opportunity to escape. As Yi Feng's voice rang out, the Elemental Academy's powerhouses activated their spirit skills, racing toward the hole in the wall.
As they fled, soldiers rushed toward the opening, trying to block their path. The Tian Dou Empire's spirit masters activated their spirit rings, sending a barrage of abilities toward the backs of the fleeing group.
"Damn it! These pursuers won't give up—we can't shake them off!" Huo Rong roared, his beard bristling as he used his spirit skills to fend off the attacks from behind.
Just then, Dai Yao spun the Golden Trident, creating a golden shield that shattered the thousands of spirit abilities directed at them.
Standing alone, with only a trident in hand, Dai Yao held the line, preventing anyone from advancing.
"One man blocking an army…"
Dai Yao's fierce determination and relentless power held back the entire pursuit, leaving the soldiers unwilling to approach further.
"Time is running out—go quickly!" Dai Yao urged, his expression serious.
Yi Feng and Huo Rong exchanged a glance with Dai Yao, nodding in gratitude before quickly leading their people toward the breach in the city wall.
They knew their strength was insufficient. Staying would only distract Dai Yao, so it was better to leave quickly and allow him to fight without reservation.
Ruo Shui cast a long, meaningful look at Dai Yao. She had come to accept this charismatic son-in-law. She understood that Dai Yao's timely arrival to buy them time wasn't for her or the others—it was for Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu. In truth, if they survived this ordeal, it would be thanks to Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu.
As Shui Bing'er passed by Dai Yao, she couldn't help but stop. Her breathtakingly beautiful face was filled with worry and longing.
Beside her, Xue Wu also paused, her concerned gaze fixed on Dai Yao. This reunion, years in the making, had occurred under such dire circumstances that there wasn't even time for a proper conversation.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. Go quickly," Dai Yao said softly, his eyes gentle as they rested on the two figures before him.
"We'll wait for you," Shui Bing'er replied, her usually icy gaze now brimming with tender affection. With one last look, she took Xue Wu's hand, and the two sped away.
Tang Xiao, observing Dai Yao's trident, was struck with awe.
"This strike... it's already on par with my fifth soul skill. What kind of weapon is that trident?"
The Second Elder, equally stunned, turned back, his murky eyes flashing with disbelief.
"Could it be... the legendary divine weapon...?"
His voice, though soft, carried a weight that left everyone speechless.
The elders were visibly shaken, and Tang Xiao's brows furrowed deeply. The Clear Sky Clan had some knowledge of divine weapons and their incredible power. Long ago, their strongest ancestor, Tang Chen, had vanished in search of a god's inheritance. Divine weapons were a crucial part of ascending to godhood.
If the trident in Dai Yao's hands truly was a divine weapon, then it meant he had already begun the path to godhood. The terrifying power it displayed was no longer a mystery.
If Dai Yao ascended to godhood, the Clear Sky Clan's future was bleak.
"Today, we cannot let this man leave Heaven Dou City alive!"
"Everyone, stand back! Eldest Uncle, strike now!" Tang San roared.
At his command, five overwhelming auras erupted into the sky. Tang Xiao and four other Title Douluo of the Clear Sky Clan activated their soul rings. The Clear Sky Hammers in their hands grew rapidly, as massive as mountains, hurtling toward Dai Yao with a deafening roar.
Dai Yao, faced with the combined attack of five Title Douluo, did the unexpected—he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, a glimmering blue hue appeared within.
Omniscience!
In this state, Dai Yao could perceive every move his opponents made.
The five Clear Sky Hammers, with their unique adhesive force, left no room for evasion. Dai Yao had no choice but to face the attack head-on. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have resorted to such measures. But with five of his eight soul rings removed, his strength was significantly diminished, forcing him to act cautiously.
To Dai Yao, the five hammers hurtling toward him slowed. The fluctuations of soul power within them revealed not only their attack trajectories but also their critical weak points.
Golden light surged along the Sea God's Trident in Dai Yao's hand. As his eight wings spread wide, he lunged forward like lightning, thrusting the trident toward the hammer directly in front of him.
Tang Xiao's faint smile froze on his face.
The combined attack of five Title Douluo left no room for survival. To him, Dai Yao's thrust was a futile act of desperation.
But in the instant the trident collided with his Clear Sky Hammer, Tang Xiao felt a sudden loss of control over his weapon. His hammer deviated slightly from its trajectory, colliding with the Second Elder's hammer.
Boom!
The impact triggered a chain reaction. The five Clear Sky Hammers, which had been perfectly synchronized, crashed into one another, unleashing a deafening explosion.
The shockwave shook all of Heaven Dou City. A visible ripple spread outward, shattering glass windows and scattering shards like rain. Citizens nearby briefly lost their hearing, panic spreading in the aftermath.
"In our combined assault, that boy has surely been turned to paste," the Fifth Elder declared smugly, his frustration seemingly lifted.
"No, Fifth Brother, keep your mouth shut," the Second Elder snapped, his expression grim. He had noticed something unusual during the attack. Turning to Tang Xiao, he asked, "Clan Master, did you sense it?"
Tang Xiao's face was dark as he nodded. Gazing into the cloud of dust, he couldn't detect Dai Yao's aura. In this world, no one could withstand an attack from five Title Douluo—not even a Peak Douluo. Though his Clear Sky Hammer had briefly gone out of control, it shouldn't have affected the result.
"There's no way that boy survived... but I can't shake this uneasy feeling," Tang Xiao muttered.
As the dust gradually settled, a bizarre sight emerged.
In the center of the massive crater was a solitary pillar of earth, like a chopstick balanced upright in a bowl.
"What is that?! Where is he?!" the Fifth Elder shouted in shock.
Tang Xiao's mouth fell open, his whiskers trembling slightly. He quickly realized what had happened.
Dai Yao's trident had disrupted the trajectory of his hammer, causing it to collide with the Second Elder's. The chain reaction shifted the angles of all five hammers, creating a minuscule gap in their formation.
That gap, no wider than a thread, was the safest spot in the entire attack—the one place untouched by the destructive force.
The strange earthen pillar was proof of Dai Yao's survival.
Suddenly, a powerful fluctuation in the sky drew everyone's attention. Tang Xiao's head snapped upward as golden light filled the heavens, brighter than the sun.
A serene yet commanding voice echoed from above.
"Sea God's Trident—First Style: Indeterminate Storm!"
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