Chapter 397: Severance
At that moment, Dai Yao's expression suddenly hardened, and he glanced toward the door.
"Uncle Hengyu, someone's here."
Dai Hengyu paused, wiping away his tears, then looked toward the door. He carefully sensed the area but didn't detect anyone. Turning back to Dai Yao, he asked, puzzled,
"Dai Yao, it doesn't seem like anyone's here…"
Just as Dai Hengyu was still processing this, the door slowly opened. An elderly man with a worn, timeless face appeared before them.
His hair and beard were unkempt, and he wore simple hemp clothing like that of an ordinary commoner. But his eyes—when focused, they seemed to gaze into boundless depths, and when they shifted, they flashed with an intensity like thunder. He looked anything but a shabby old man.
The casual attire only added a wild, unrestrained air to his presence.
After entering, the elder's gaze briefly settled on Dai Hengyu before moving to Dai Yao. That penetrating look weighed on Dai Yao like a mountain, as if piercing his very soul. His skin tingled as if pricked by needles.
"This old man is strong," Dai Yao thought, his brow furrowing. "He's even more formidable than Bone Douluo at level ninety-five. He must be the Grand Elder of the clan's Elder Council."
Under the elder's pressure, Dai Yao remained calm, and the Grand Elder nodded approvingly. Such composure was rare among the younger generation. Even the Crown Prince Dai Mubai could hardly stay upright before him, but Dai Yao, known as the brightest genius of his generation, indeed lived up to the title.
With a voice as powerful as a tiger's roar, the elder asked,
"Are you Dai Yao?"
In that instant, Dai Yao felt as though he were being stalked by a fierce tiger in a desolate wilderness. He scoffed, replying coolly,
"You already know who I am, so why ask?"
Dai Yao had no respect for the clan's Elder Council, who had tried to kill him more than once. If luck hadn't been on his side, he'd be dead by now. And after learning the truth from Uncle Hengyu, he knew his true enemy. There was no reconciliation to be had here, no possibility for peace.
"Dai Yao…" Dai Hengyu's face showed his concern as he tried to intervene. The Grand Elder was a Super Douluo at level ninety-six, among the most powerful in the entire continent. If they provoked him, even with Poison Douluo's protection, Dai Yao might not leave alive.
But the Grand Elder chuckled.
"Hengyu, you don't need to worry. I'm here to resolve this conflict, so I won't get angry over such a small matter. Besides, what's wrong with a bit of boldness in the young? The people of our White Tiger Clan should have a spirit that looks down upon the world. Dai Yao did well."
Dai Yao's frown deepened. The Grand Elder's words sickened him.
Back when he was still in Xingluo, they'd completely ignored him. Only after he joined the Spirit Hall and revealed his talent did they come around, trying to entice him back to the Empire. Where were they back when he was left to struggle alone?
"If you've come with a purpose, say it directly. No need for empty gestures."
Dai Yao looked straight at the Grand Elder, voice steady.
The elder hesitated, then smiled.
"Impatient, aren't you? Fine, Hengyu, leave us. I'll talk to him alone."
Dai Hengyu looked worriedly at Dai Yao, but after seeing Dai Yao's nod, he reluctantly exited.
With the door closed, silence settled in the room. Dai Yao met the Grand Elder's scrutinizing gaze without flinching.
"Well?" he asked coolly.
The elder shook his head with a sigh.
"You young people… very well. Tell me what it would take for you to let go of your hatred against the clan. Whatever you need, I'll see that it's provided."
A cold smile crossed Dai Yao's face. His grudge against the clan was unrelenting.
The current emperor had killed his mother, the Empress had ordered her death, and the Second Elder had repeatedly attempted to take his life. Though he might understand the Fifth Elder's stance as one of loyalty, he would never forgive the Second Elder.
When Dai Yao returned to the Xingluo Empire to establish Qinglian Sect, the Second Elder labeled him a traitor without hesitation, intending to kill him on sight. Despite Dai Yao's innocence, they hadn't given him a chance to defend himself, which was unforgivable.
"Let go of my hatred? Save it! Your clan is far too noble; I wouldn't dare sully myself by joining you."
Dai Yao's sneer cut through the room.
Hearing this, the Grand Elder's expression didn't waver. He observed Dai Yao in silence for a long moment before sighing.
"I know about your grievances, Dai Yao. It's true the Empress harmed your mother, but this was a matter of the royal family—one we couldn't easily interfere with. And as for what happened to you in the Academy, yes, the clan was in the wrong."
"The clan's duty is to ensure a fair competition for the throne, providing every prince with the best possible training and guarding them from external threats. However, we are only overseers, and with oversight, lapses are inevitable."
Dai Yao's expression was cold as he pressed,
"So when the Empress plotted to take my life, you all simply looked the other way? And when she interfered with my spirit ring hunts, sending no one to assist me? Not once was she punished, and now she still sits comfortably in her place?"
The Grand Elder was silent for a moment, acknowledging the clan's failure. As the royal family's overseers, they should have protected Dai Yao from harm and punished the Empress's misconduct. But while the Grand Elder had been in seclusion, the Second Elder had managed clan affairs, and by the time he emerged, Dai Yao had already fled the Empire.
After a long pause, the Grand Elder spoke with renewed determination.
"If you're willing to return, we will deal with the Empress—she'll be at your mercy. How does that sound?"
Dai Yao crossed his arms, his expression unchanging.
"It sounds meaningless."
The elder, a Super Douluo, found himself increasingly irritated. Despite his patience, Dai Yao's hostility was unrelenting, and even he struggled to maintain his calm.
With a deep, steadying breath, he asked,
"What is it that you want, then?"
Dai Yao scoffed. They had come begging for his forgiveness, but now they had the audacity to act annoyed? He had seen through the Grand Elder's charade, and he was done with their games.
"Fine. I'll tell you exactly what I want!"
"First, the Empress must die. Can you do that?"
The Grand Elder's face hardened, and he hesitated. Dai Yao's demands were relentless, and even his patience was wearing thin. But the thought of Dai Yao's talent stayed his temper. If Dai Yao fully committed to the clan, the Xingluo Empire could gain a peerless Douluo at level ninety-nine in the future.
With that in mind, he held his anger back and finally nodded.
"I can make that promise."
Seeing the Grand Elder agree so easily, Dai Yao wasn't surprised and coldly continued,
"The second thing I demand: I want the Second Elder dead!"
The Grand Elder paused, a slight confusion flickering across his face as he asked,
"The Second Elder offended you?"
Dai Yao sneered.
"When I returned to the Xingluo Empire, the Second Elder tried to kill me without even hearing me out. He knew the truth of what happened back then but still insisted on taking my life. His intentions were obvious; he bore no goodwill toward me. If he lives, how can I feel safe returning to the Dai family?"
The Grand Elder's expression remained unreadable. After a moment of silence, he nodded and replied,
"Very well, I will grant you this as well."
The Second Elder had indeed dedicated his life to the family, but his actions regarding Dai Yao had caused significant issues. Since the Second Elder didn't have much time left, sacrificing him in exchange for Dai Yao's return to the family seemed a fair trade, well worth the cost.
Dai Yao was taken aback for a moment, surprised that the Grand Elder would actually agree to such terms. It seemed the Dai family was even more ruthless than he'd thought. His expression grew dark as he continued coldly,
"As for the third matter, I want the Xingluo Emperor dead!"
Crash!
The Grand Elder struck the solid wood table with such force that it shattered instantly.
He glared at Dai Yao, eyes blazing with fury at what he saw as an insult. Xingluo's Emperor was the face of the Empire; his death would plunge the Empire into utter chaos.
Especially in these troubled times, the Emperor's death would leave Xingluo vulnerable, paving the way for the Spirit Hall to destroy them. Dai Yao's talent might be exceptional, but compared to the fate of the Empire, the choice was clear. The Grand Elder understood all too well that Dai Yao had no intention of returning to the family.
"Boy," he growled, "don't think that just because of your talent, you can do as you please. You're testing my patience, which has its limits. Do you realize that most of the family elders would rather see you dead and the threat removed? It was I who gave you a chance to return!"
"I tolerated your previous demands, but what do you mean by this third one? The Emperor is your father! What offense did he commit that would make you want him dead?"
Dai Yao could hardly believe the sheer absurdity of it all.
They acted as though granting him a chance to return was some generous gift—as if he'd wanted it in the first place. These people, steeped in power, could never comprehend the depths of his hatred. They came seeking forgiveness, yet it felt more like they were handing down charity. In what world was this reasonable?
He had known that any attempt to negotiate with the Grand Elder was bound to be fruitless, but he hadn't anticipated it would be so preposterous.
In a blaze of anger, Dai Yao rose to his feet, meeting the Grand Elder's gaze fearlessly as he shouted,
"He killed my mother—isn't that enough? If he hadn't insisted on marrying her, she would never have set foot in the palace, and the Empress would never have killed her! Since childhood, he's never looked at me even once. How is he a father?"
The Grand Elder's glare grew sharper as he thundered,
"Ridiculous! It was the Empress who killed your mother! What does that have to do with the Emperor? She was fortunate to marry into the Dai family! How can you blame the Emperor? Boy, if you keep this up, I won't show any mercy!"
A fierce aura exploded from the Grand Elder, causing the room to tremble. Papers fluttered in the air, cracks began to spread along the floor, and a massive pressure bore down on Dai Yao.
But Dai Yao was no longer the helpless youth he once was. He had withstood the oppressive aura of Qingluan Douluo and remained calm, let alone the Grand Elder, whose power was inferior to Qingluan's. But the rage within him continued to burn.
These people still deluded themselves, thinking he was the vulnerable, powerless youth they could manipulate with scraps of charity, hoping he'd beg tearfully for a place within the Dai family.
In a rush, his soul power flooded through him, breaking the Grand Elder's pressure in an instant.
"Get out!" he roared, voice like a tiger's roar. The already-shaking room collapsed entirely under his shout.
With twenty years of pent-up frustration released, Dai Yao felt a weight lifted from his heart. He had long wanted to teach these self-righteous elders a lesson.
Through the swirling dust and rubble, Dai Yao's eyes locked onto the Grand Elder's figure, unwavering as he said coldly,
"You old fool—I've been giving you all far too much credit. If you want my forgiveness, then show it! Yet the moment things don't go your way, you resort to threats, even to murder! You're no different from the rest of the Dai family!"
"For my mother, I will avenge her death."
"I will claim their lives, and not even the gods will stand in my way!"
Dai Yao's voice thundered through the air, momentarily stunning the Grand Elder.
The dust seemed to dance and settle around the Grand Elder, whose silhouette faded in and out of sight. A chilling, murderous intent emanated from him as he stared down Dai Yao, his icy gaze unfiltered.
"You…"
The Grand Elder glared, narrowing his eyes as he spoke slowly.
He had never anticipated that Dai Yao would be so determined, leaving no room for reconciliation. If matters were beyond repair, he might have to go against his promise to Dai Hengyu and eliminate Dai Yao. Otherwise, if Dai Yao grew stronger, the threat to the Empire would be unimaginable.
The Grand Elder's right hand lifted, forming a claw, but before he could act, a figure in dark green appeared beside Dai Yao, entering his field of vision.
The Grand Elder froze, lowering his hand as he regarded the newcomer and spoke in a deep tone,
"Dugu Bo, are you planning to involve yourself in this mess? I'd advise you to leave before you drag the entire Jade Phosphor clan into trouble you can't bear."
Dugu Bo's face remained impassive, but his expression grew cold as he responded. His beloved granddaughter was his most sacred bond. Though he knew he wasn't a match for the Grand Elder, his strength didn't lie in one-on-one fights. If he unleashed his poison in full, the entire Xingluo City would be a wasteland.
He sneered,
"Old cat, Dai Yao is my grandson-in-law. Of course, I stand by him. Touch him, and I'll turn Xingluo City into a barren field! Besides, let me remind you, you and I don't have long left. So, think carefully—if you die, who will take your place?"
"And when that time comes, if Dai Yao is still alive, who among you will withstand his revenge?"
With that, Dugu Bo placed a hand on Dai Yao's shoulder and said quietly,
"We shouldn't linger here. Let's go."
Dai Yao glanced coldly at the Grand Elder. Without a word, he turned and left with Dugu Bo before the guards of the Xingluo Royal Academy could arrive.
Watching their retreating figures, the Grand Elder's face darkened.
He understood that Dugu Bo was capable of carrying out every word he'd threatened. He couldn't risk the lives of everyone in Xingluo City. Should the Spirit Hall take advantage of the aftermath, the entire Xingluo Empire could disappear from the continent.
But Dai Yao's existence remained a threat he could not ignore. He knew what it had cost him to reach the level of Super Douluo. His life force was already near depletion, and he'd paid a steep price, sacrificing much of his own energy in the process.
"Sigh… I'm running out of time…"
The Grand Elder's sigh was heavy as he gazed up at the sky.
Had he more time, he would never have needed to appease a youth like Dai Yao. But once he was gone, who would protect the Dai family? And so, he had no choice but to hide his claws, to dim his own sharpness, and seek someone who could succeed him.
Yet Dai Yao's refusal forced his hand. He would need to make a decision—and soon.
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