Chapter 370: Identity Revealed, Desperate Situation, and Battle of the Titled Douluo
The chilling aura of that spear, filled with the scent of slaughter, struck a deep chord in Tang San's memory, causing the hazy recollections to resurface. The figure standing before him, the one in the mask, slowly merged with someone from his past.
The City of Slaughter—the first person to survive one hundred consecutive battles and the one who joined forces with Hu Liena to conquer the Hell Road—the Asura Sovereign.
"It's you!" Tang San exclaimed, staring at Dai Yao, his voice tinged with astonishment. He had never expected the masked figure before him to be a familiar face from his past.
Without hesitation, Tang San began to retreat, inching away from Qian Renxue and Spirit Hall's two Titled Douluo. Although the situation had just turned in his favor, he was still surrounded. If he caught Qian Renxue's attention, he would have no escape, so he took advantage of the distraction to move away.
No one noticed Tang San's quiet retreat. All eyes were fixed on the masked figure as he drove his spear towards Emperor Xue Ye.
Everyone knew that Emperor Xue Ye was the linchpin in this coup. His death would solidify Qian Renxue's control and the dominance of Spirit Hall over the empire. Even with the support of Prince Xue Xing and Xu Bing, neither held enough influence to sway the nobility against her rule. Emperor Xue Ye's death would mean the end of any meaningful resistance.
Qian Renxue remained expressionless, yet beneath her calm exterior, waves of unease rippled through her heart. The situation had spiraled beyond her control; success or failure now rested entirely on Dai Yao's spear thrust. Yet even if he succeeded, he would surely be crushed by the five incoming Clear Sky Hammers.
Her pride wavered, even if only for a moment.
If she had heeded Dai Yao's advice sooner, could this outcome have been avoided? She found herself feeling an uncharacteristic pang of regret.
Snake Spear Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo, too, were tense, cold sweat dotting their foreheads.
"You dare!" roared the second elder of the Clear Sky Clan as he closed in on the palace, his voice thundering across the sky. His bellow, like a lightning bolt, caused waves of pressure to surge through the air. In unison, the five streams of light hurtled even faster toward Emperor Xue Ye's chamber.
"Curse that man! Is he really so fearless that he's willing to risk the Clear Sky Hammers just to kill Emperor Xue Ye? If he succeeds, we're finished!" Blue veins pulsed on the second elder's forehead as he yearned to shield Emperor Xue Ye himself.
Their strategy had been to intimidate Spirit Hall's forces with the Clear Sky Hammers, deterring anyone from approaching the emperor's bed. Once they reached him, the five elders could have restored their forms and shielded Emperor Xue Ye from all sides.
While Spirit Hall's forces were indeed intimidated by the tactic, they dared not risk their lives testing it. Yet here was an unknown fighter, undeterred by their display, launching a full-on assault against Emperor Xue Ye. Their efforts to persuade the emperor to renounce Qian Renxue and recognize Xu Bing seemed destined to fail if Emperor Xue Ye died.
Before everyone's eyes, Dai Yao leaped down, twisting his body in mid-air. His spear, gleaming with a dangerous radiance, struck the protective barrier around Emperor Xue Ye.
The shield offered no resistance; as soon as the Blue Lotus spear made contact, it shattered like glass. Piercing through the barrier effortlessly, the spear embedded itself into Emperor Xue Ye.
The other name for the Blue Lotus Spear was the God-Slayer Spear.
This weapon, capable of slaying deities, required no shield to penetrate. If anyone knew the true strength of this barrier, they would have been shocked, for it was Heaven Dou's ancestral treasure, capable of repelling even attacks from a Titled Douluo.
And yet, before the God-Slayer Spear, it had shattered instantly.
Everyone's expressions changed dramatically.
Snake Spear and Porcupinefish Douluo wore expressions of joyful relief, while Qian Renxue exhaled a long, deep breath, as if releasing the heavy weight on her heart. With Emperor Xue Ye gone, even if they failed to defeat the Clear Sky Clan elders, Tang San's group would gain nothing from this struggle. The plan was far from perfect, but it had yielded substantial gains.
The five Clear Sky elders, however, had reactions that were altogether different. Their faces, once tense with anticipation, now darkened with fury, their spirit energy fluctuations causing the entire palace to tremble.
"Young fool, nothing can save you now!" the seventh elder shouted angrily.
Every one of the elders was fuming, yet in that brief moment, they had closed in around Emperor Xue Ye's bedchamber. Just like that, they appeared above his quarters, the five enormous Clear Sky Hammers hovering like falling meteors over the masked figure near the emperor's bed, carrying the full force of utter destruction.
Feeling the overwhelming pressure from above, Dai Yao's heart clenched, his whole body shivering in response.
He cast a final, lingering glance at Emperor Xue Ye's pierced figure, a strange sense of unease growing in his chest. But there was no time to ponder it. Summoning his spirit skill, Chaos Blue Lotus Third Soul Skill—Teleportation!
This was his reason for daring to risk the wrath of five Titled Douluo to eliminate Emperor Xue Ye: within a five-kilometer radius, he could teleport to any location instantly.
With a whoosh, the masked figure vanished from sight. The five Clear Sky Clan elders, momentarily stunned, immediately released their avatar forms and surrounded the emperor's bed.
As they landed, a wave of spirit energy surged outward, scattering the debris of shattered walls and leaving a wide, empty space around them in the palace.
The second elder rushed forward to check Emperor Xue Ye's condition.
The seventh elder, scanning the sky for the masked figure who had attacked the emperor, glanced at Snake Spear, Porcupinefish, and Qian Renxue, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Second Brother, there's no need to check. Xue Ye is dead," he growled. "I'm going to hunt down that little rat myself!"
Having witnessed such an audacious murder under their very noses, only to have the culprit escape, the seventh elder felt the sting of unbearable humiliation. The Clear Sky elders had hoped to sway Emperor Xue Ye to their side; his death rendered their efforts meaningless.
Yet as the second elder inspected Emperor Xue Ye's condition, his tense expression eased into a look of calm. Just then, Tang San, having put some distance between himself and Spirit Hall's forces, returned. With the Clear Sky Clan elders now surrounding the emperor, it was the safest place for him to be.
"Tang San," the elders said, their expressions complicated. Tang San's actions today had earned their full approval, though their feelings remained mixed given his relationship with Tang Hao.
Tang San had done all he could, though their delayed arrival had prevented him from saving Emperor Xue Ye.
"Tang San, you did well, but…" one elder said gravely.
Tang San's lips curled into a faint smile. His gaze drifted up to Qian Renxue, a hint of mockery in his eyes, as he replied,
"Who said the emperor is dead?"
The elders blinked in confusion. The second elder, stepping away from the bed, nodded at Tang San with approval.
"Tang San, why don't you tell us? Where is the real Emperor Xue Ye?"
After examining the bed, he had discovered that the figure lying there lacked the presence of a living being, more akin to a lifeless puppet. This was the reason behind Dai Yao's strange reaction upon landing his blow.
Upon hearing this, the elation on Spirit Hall's side evaporated, their expressions darkening visibly.
In a loud voice, Tang San declared,
"Your Majesty, you're safe now. You may come out!"
The ground suddenly split open with a low rumble, and a massive stone slab shifted aside to reveal a hidden chamber. Emperor Xue Ye, supporting himself against the wall, emerged from the shadows, his body trembling with weakness as he coughed.
"Tang San, I knew I could trust you…"
"I'll protect His Majesty! Third Brother, Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, and Seventh Brother, do not let a single one from Spirit Hall escape! Today marks the beginning of our reckoning for the blood feud of the past!"
The Second Elder of the Clear Sky Clan instantly appeared at Emperor Xue Ye's side, holding the Clear Sky Hammer tightly, glaring at Qian Renxue and the two Titled Douluo in the sky. Now, he not only had to ensure the emperor's safety but also prevent any Spirit Hall fighters from escaping. With two Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall in their grasp, the loss would be devastating for Spirit Hall, even with its power.
The four elders, startled only for a moment, swiftly rose into the sky, blocking Qian Renxue and her companions' path. The four Clear Sky Clan elders fixed their deadly gazes on Snake Spear Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo. The intent to kill in their eyes sent chills down the spines of the two Titled Douluo; with a four-against-two scenario, they had no advantage, especially when faced with the Clear Sky Hammer—the most formidable weapon spirit of all.
Snake Spear and Porcupinefish quickly positioned themselves to shield Qian Renxue, casting cautious glances at the encircling Clear Sky elders.
"Young Mistress, we will hold off these men as long as possible. You must escape at all costs!"
Qian Renxue, the granddaughter of Qian Daoliu and potential inheritor of the Grand Worshipper's legacy, even had the potential to become a deity in her own right. The two Douluo had pledged their lives to Spirit Hall; to them, Qian Renxue embodied Spirit Hall's future. If they perished here, they would at least ensure her escape.
Porcupinefish Douluo's eyes gleamed with bloodlust, and even in the face of likely death, he showed no fear. Instead, he chuckled, saying,
"Old She, who would've thought we'd get a chance to fight side by side? Today, I want to see if the legendary Clear Sky Hammer is as mighty as it once was! Young Mistress, don't worry—no matter what, Old She and I will fight to the end to see you safely out."
Qian Renxue's heart stirred as she sensed the loyalty of these two elders, willing to sacrifice themselves for her sake. Taking a deep breath, she said evenly,
"Elders, there's no need for such grim talk. We are not yet at the end of the road. There are only four Clear Sky Clan Titled Douluo here—I will take on one of them myself, which should lighten your burden. Their sudden arrival indicates that something went wrong with the Second Worshipper's plan."
"Spirit Hall is sure to notice the anomaly soon, and reinforcements will arrive. We can make it out safely as long as we hold them off for a while."
Snake Spear and Porcupinefish were stunned for a moment, and then replied in alarm,
"Young Mistress, you're the future of the Spirit Hall! How can you risk your life? Each of these Clear Sky Clan elders is a Titled Douluo. You've only reached the Spirit Saint rank. What would we say to the Grand Worshipper if something happened to you?"
Qian Renxue snapped back,
"There's no time for titles and formalities! I'm the inheritor of the Six-Winged Angel spirit, and I have my pride! I cannot abandon you and flee alone. And besides, even against a Titled Douluo, I have the confidence to stand my ground."
Snake Spear and Porcupinefish shared a glance and then broke into smiles. Although the Six-Winged Angel was only a Spirit Saint, it was a god-level spirit, granting its user abilities to rival weaker Titled Douluo. Qian Renxue's participation would undeniably relieve some of their burden. However, they weren't merely pleased by her power but by her resolute decision to stay by their side. For the first time, she had truly earned their respect.
"Very well, Young Mistress. Choose the weakest of the four as your opponent, and Old She and I will handle the other three."
Despite his words, both elders felt a weight on their hearts. Even with three fighting two, facing Clear Sky Clan Titled Douluo—who were elite within their rank—was no simple task, especially as some of the elders were nearly as powerful as they were.
Just then, a voice sounded from below.
"Honored Elders, save your strength and leave one of them for me."
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice. Standing on a palace rooftop, the masked figure held a long spear at his back, his stance firm and resolute as a spear himself.
Qian Renxue's pupils dilated. She hadn't expected Dai Yao to remain, let alone choose a Titled Douluo as his opponent.
She knew that Dai Yao's warnings had gone unheeded, and her own arrogance was a significant factor in their current predicament. By insisting that Emperor Xue Ye die naturally, she had given Tang San the opportunity to contact the Clear Sky Clan for support.
But if Dai Yao could truly hold off a Titled Douluo, it would considerably reduce their pressure. However, Dai Yao was only at the Spirit Emperor rank—a full level lower than herself. She could barely match a Titled Douluo with her god-level spirit, but a Spirit Emperor challenging a Titled Douluo seemed suicidal.
After a moment's hesitation, she asked,
"Do you have confidence in this, Dai Yao?"
"Naturally. I wouldn't gamble with my own life."
As the two exchanged words, a booming laugh interrupted them.
"Hah! Trapped rats, and yet you dare boast so shamelessly! None of you will leave here alive! Third Brother, Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, leave this fool to me!"
The seventh elder of the Clear Sky Clan fixed his gaze on the masked man on the rooftop, his eyes flashing with fury. The audacity of Qian Renxue and her masked ally to pick and choose their opponents in their presence was an insult. Overcome with anger, he could barely wait to cut down the masked pretender to vent his rage.
"Very well. Fifth Brother, you'll handle the one called Xue Qinghe. Fourth Brother and I will take on the two Spirit Hall elders. Finish them quickly and join us. Today, we settle our score with Spirit Hall—one hundredfold!" the third elder declared, his killing intent unmasked.
Fifth Brother scowled,
"Third Brother, I wanted to test myself against Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo, and instead, you're having me take on a mere Spirit Saint. Winning won't bring any glory."
Guarding Emperor Xue Ye, the second elder, hearing Fifth Brother's discontent, shouted,
"Fifth Brother! This isn't a contest—it's a battle to the death! You'll have your chance to fight Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo in the future. Right now, your pride means nothing! Xue Qinghe is from the Six-Winged Angel Clan. If we capture her, we gain leverage over Spirit Hall!"
"Do not underestimate her!"
After hearing his elder's warning, Fifth Brother smirked, eyeing Qian Renxue as if she were prey. He lifted his Clear Sky Hammer and licked his lips.
"Don't worry, Second Brother. This brat won't escape."
The air grew thick with the tension of impending battle.
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