Chapter 400: In Five Years, You Won't Even See My Shadow
In the sky above, both sides faced each other in a tense standoff, each radiating intense, murderous intent.
Inside the palace, a deathly silence filled the chambers. Countless palace attendants trembled with fear. Although they believed the royal family would prevail, the power of Dai Yao's forces was undeniable. The combat of such high-level soul masters could easily reduce defenseless people like them to ashes.
In the Lingmao Hall, numerous guards and powerful soul masters surrounded the Empress in a protective circle. She moved slowly toward the palace door, flanked by guards, casting her gaze toward the dozens of distant figures high in the sky, her eyes settling on one in particular—Dai Yao. She couldn't make out his face, but she was certain it was him.
Radiating majesty and a fierce determination, he was nearly unrecognizable as the boy she had once so despised. A deep-seated jealousy surged within her.
"Why? Why is it like this? I lost to Bai Su, and now my son is losing to her son! In birth and beauty, in every way, how am I less than her? Why do the heavens treat me so cruelly?"
Her firstborn, Dai Weisi, and her younger son, Dai Mubai, had both lost to Dai Yao. If it weren't for Dai Yao's betrayal of the family, the title of crown prince would never have passed to Dai Mubai. For the proud Empress, this was an intolerable blow. Now that Dai Yao had returned to the Xingluo Empire, not only more powerful than ever but also with allies as strong as the Dai family itself, her jealousy seethed.
What right did Bai Su's son have to be so exceptional?
Just then, the palace gates, tightly shut, slowly opened, and the guards tensed up, readying their weapons and releasing their martial spirits. They braced themselves in the frigid silence as a tall figure emerged from the shadows.
Seeing who it was, the guards lowered their arms. The Empress looked momentarily stunned, then her expression grew conflicted.
"Mubai… why are you here?" she asked.
It was Dai Mubai.
He scanned the guard formation around his mother, relieved to see they were capable of protecting her. Then, turning to meet his mother's wary gaze, he said quietly, "Mother, I came to tell you that I will confront Dai Yao myself and protect you."
The Empress was visibly shaken.
In his youth, Dai Weisi, her firstborn, had quickly established himself as crown prince after awakening his White Tiger martial spirit, with every expectation of inheriting the throne. By comparison, she had given little care to Mubai, six years his junior. She'd even allowed Dai Weisi to suppress him, embracing the cold reality that only one brother could survive in the struggle for the throne.
She had watched Dai Mubai grow up from a distance, her gaze indifferent—until Dai Yao had awakened his martial spirit.
At that point, she had turned her attention to Mubai, pinning her hopes on him to counter Dai Yao. To her surprise, Dai Mubai lost. Unable to accept that her son had been defeated by Bai Su's, she was bitterly disappointed. However, she granted him a chance to live freely and sent him to Tiandou.
Later, she'd realized the truth: it wasn't that Dai Mubai was inadequate but that Dai Yao was simply too powerful. Dai Yao bested second prince Dai Yaming and then crown prince Dai Weisi, forcing her to accept Dai Mubai as her only option.
After Dai Mubai returned and finally bested his older brother, he claimed the title of crown prince, proving his worth as a genius. But now, she was unsure how to face him, realizing that she had once ignored him and even allowed his older brother to torment him.
Hearing his words today, she felt her resentment toward Bai Su fade, replaced by a quiet concern.
"Mubai, come back. You don't need to act. The Grand Elders will handle Dai Yao, that traitor. What do you gain by rushing in?" she said, her tone tinged with worry.
Dai Mubai paused but didn't look back. "Mother, Dai Yao has returned, ready to die if it means avenging his mother by killing you. You are my mother. How could I just sit by?"
With that, he leapt forward, disappearing from view.
Back in the palace, his confidence shattered after countless losses to Dai Yao, Dai Mubai had long been haunted by the growing chasm between them. From the moment the Soul Master Tournament ended, he'd trained relentlessly to catch up, finally overcoming his elder brother, Dai Weisi. Though he had no guarantee of defeating Dai Yao, he had to know—how large was the gap between them now?
The Empress watched her son's departing figure, overcome by a strange feeling. All these years, blinded by resentment toward Bai Su, she realized, she may have missed something far more important.
"Dai Yao! If you want to kill my mother, you'll have to get through me first!"
During the tense standoff, a lone figure suddenly landed between the two sides. All eyes turned to the newcomer, and the Xingluo Emperor's face darkened.
"Mubai, this is not your fight. Stand down," the Emperor commanded.
Although Mubai was less powerful than Dai Yao, he was one of the most talented princes in Xingluo history and represented the empire's future. With a battle of this magnitude about to begin, Mubai would be in extreme danger, and someone would have to be spared to protect him. Doing so would weaken the empire's forces, something the Emperor hoped to avoid.
Dai Mubai raised his head and clasped his hands, bowing. "Father, Dai Yao is here to avenge his mother and kill the Empress. As her son, how could I just watch? I've waited so long for this day, Father. Please let me face him."
The Emperor hesitated but found truth in his son's words.
To the empire's warriors, Dai Mubai's determination earned a newfound respect. While he had lost to Dai Yao in the past, his actions and character had always been honorable.
But while the Emperor pondered, Dai Yao grew impatient.
"Mubai, why bother? You know you're no match for me. Why ask for defeat?" he said coolly.
Mubai met his gaze, answering in a calm voice. "Dai Yao, if we were in each other's place, and someone sought to kill your mother, wouldn't you stand in their way?"
Dai Yao paused, then nodded solemnly, understanding Mubai's resolve. Besides, with so many Qinglian Sect disciples watching, he had no choice but to accept. If he refused, some might start to question his character.
The Xingluo royal family silently stepped back, creating an open space for the duel.
"Very well," Dai Yao said, his voice low. "Then I'll give you another taste of defeat."
As the countless eyes of Xingluo City watched, Dai Yao descended to the ground, his wings folding back. The snow had been cleared by the opposing forces' energy, leaving only bare stone beneath their feet. Both men took their positions, like competitors readying themselves for battle in the Soul Arena.
Both the Qinglian Sect and the Xingluo royal family fixed their eyes on the combatants.
Dai Mubai initiated, his spirit power swirling as his robes rippled in an unseen wind. His fierce eyes shone with pride as six spirit rings materialized around him.
"Sixty-first level, Assault-Type Battle Soul Emperor, Martial Spirit: White Tiger. I await your instruction," he declared.
The power radiating from him after his White Tiger transformation filled the palace, drawing murmurs of amazement from the ministers watching nearby.
"Truly worthy of being the Crown Prince—his strength is astonishing. No wonder he could overcome a six-year age gap and defeat the former First Prince, Davis."
"Not long ago, the Crown Prince broke through the sixtieth level. Even the Captain of the Palace Guard is no match for him. You must know, the Crown Prince is only in his twenties and has already reached the level of a Soul Emperor. That Dai Yao is definitely not his opponent!"
"Heh, that's where you're wrong. Dai Yao has clashed with the Crown Prince several times, and the Crown Prince hasn't won even once. This time, it's unlikely he'll win either."
"That's not necessarily true. The Crown Prince has been training diligently lately, and his strength has increased significantly. Dai Yao is three years younger than the Crown Prince. The outcome will likely be very close—who will win or lose is still uncertain!"
Watching Dai Mubai's performance, the Grand Elder couldn't help but nod in approval.
"Mubai's strength surpasses what I had at his age. Though he still falls short of Dai Yao, the gap isn't too large."
The lively discussion among the crowd did not affect the two figures in the arena.
Dai Mubai gazed at Dai Yao, who remained motionless, his heart unsettled as memories of past defeats resurfaced. In a deep voice, he said:
"You're too arrogant. I'm not the same person I was before. If you still fight like before, refusing to release your martial soul, then today, it will be you who loses!"
Dai Yao smirked dismissively.
"Oh, is that so?"
After a brief pause, Dai Mubai activated both his third and fifth soul rings. The White Tiger King Transformation and White Tiger Demon God Transformation were unleashed simultaneously. His body swelled in size, stretching his once-loose clothing taut. His muscles, like chiseled granite, radiated a sense of overwhelming power.
Amid the gasps of the onlookers, Dai Mubai made the first move.
With a slight bend of his knees, he sprang forward like a cannonball aimed at Dai Yao. The force of his attack created a rush of wind, leaving the crowd in awe.
But in the next moment, Dai Yao vanished from his spot.
Boom!
A dull thud echoed. Everyone turned toward the source of the sound, and their expressions froze in disbelief, their mouths agape.
Dai Yao had appeared directly in front of Dai Mubai. With a sidestep and a low stance, he delivered a single palm strike to Dai Mubai's abdomen.
Dai Mubai bent like a noodle struck in the middle. His head and feet jerked forward due to the momentum, forming a sharp ">" shape. His pupils dilated, and his mouth opened in agony. Even the six soul rings surrounding him flickered, their glow unsteady.
The next moment, he was flung backward at incredible speed, crashing into the palace wall with a loud impact that left a deep indentation.
Everyone stared blankly at the scene, their faces full of disbelief.
The Crown Prince had lost? And so decisively? Dai Yao hadn't even unleashed his martial soul yet, and he had defeated Dai Mubai with a single move. How could this be the same Crown Prince who once defeated Davis and exuded such confidence and brilliance?
Nobles familiar with the ties to Spirit Hall, aware of Dai Yao's experiences over the past few years, were equally stunned. Although they had expected Dai Yao to be strong, what they had just witnessed was beyond their comprehension.
A Soul Emperor, defeated by Dai Yao in a single exchange. How much had this youth, three years younger than Dai Mubai, grown?
The sky fell silent, the atmosphere thick with tension.
The five elders of the White Tiger Clan, two eunuchs from the palace, and the patriarch of the Zhu Clan all wore grim expressions.
As the saying goes, amateurs watch the excitement; experts see the craft.
Dai Yao's palm strike contained a wealth of mastery. The speed, the power, the precision, the sharp instincts, and the strength of his physical body—none of these factors could be lacking to achieve such a devastating effect.
The precision of his attack struck Dai Mubai's weakest point, the sheer force reverberating through his body, even disrupting his martial soul. Without years of refined practice, such an outcome would have been impossible.
Even the elders weren't confident they could replicate such a move.
The Second Elder, his eyes cold, watched with a mixture of awe and fear as Dai Yao's display left him trembling.
"I've tried to kill him several times—this ungrateful brat surely bears a grudge. If I don't succeed in eliminating him now, and he escapes, I will never know peace!"
Regret surged through the Second Elder. He now understood the dread the Empress must feel with Dai Yao targeting her—it sent shivers down his spine.
The Third and Fourth Elders were equally shocked. The Third Elder's face, however, held traces of murderous intent.
The Fifth Elder, meanwhile, felt waves of anguish. Such a genius—he should have been the pride of the White Tiger Clan!
The Grand Elder, watching Dai Yao's display, let a trace of admiration flash across his face. Stealing a glance at the Star Luo Emperor, his murky eyes turned as deep as an unfathomable abyss, hiding his true thoughts.
Dai Yao's companions bore expressions of calm expectation. They had seen him perform even greater feats than this. Defeating a Soul Emperor? This was hardly extraordinary.
Two Soul Douluo-level eunuchs swiftly descended, pulling Dai Mubai out of the rubble.
Dai Mubai, his face twisted in pain, looked utterly defeated. It wasn't just the physical agony—it was the mental anguish that hurt even more. Years of training had culminated in a single, humiliating defeat. Dai Yao hadn't even needed his martial soul. The weight of this failure crushed his spirit.
The Star Luo Emperor, seeing Dai Mubai's miserable state, was livid. To challenge someone on behalf of the empire only to disgrace the royal name—what would the world think of them now?
He roared,
"Shameful wretch! Get out of my sight!"
But Dai Mubai seemed not to hear the Emperor's words. Instead, he looked at Dai Yao with a mix of pain and complexity, and admitted,
"You've won."
Dai Yao didn't spare him a glance. To Dai Yao, Dai Mubai wasn't even a worthy opponent. His true adversary was in the sky above—a Soul Douluo. Unfolding his eight wings, he rose slowly into the air, speaking indifferently:
"During the Continental Soul Master Tournament, you could at least stand against me. But five years later, you can't even glimpse my shadow. I'll let you live—cherish it."
Hearing this, Dai Mubai chuckled bitterly. All these years of training with Dai Yao as his goal, all those nights of sweat and toil, and yet the gap between them had only widened. What meaning did his efforts have?
In the sky, Dai Yao raised his head, meeting the Star Luo Emperor's gaze, which brimmed with murderous intent. Dai Yao's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"Now, the real show begins. Don't you think so?"
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