Chapter 402: Death Match!
All of Xingluo City seemed to be struck mute, as if someone had hit pause, plunging the city into dead silence.
Everyone froze, their gazes locked on the sky, fixated on that blood-red soul ring. Combatants from both sides stopped mid-strike, momentarily stunned. But after a brief silence, the entire city erupted into chaos.
"That's a hundred-thousand-year soul ring! A hundred thousand years!"
One onlooker gasped, as if beholding a deity.
"One, two… six soul rings? Impossible! He's still only a Soul Emperor, so how can he possess a hundred-thousand-year soul ring? Even among Titled Douluo, few have one!"
Another rubbed his eyes in disbelief, unwilling to accept what he was seeing.
"No wonder the Fourth Prince dared return for vengeance—so he had this kind of power all along!" someone else exclaimed in sudden understanding.
High above, the Grand Elder could barely contain his shock at the unmistakable aura radiating from the tenacious red soul ring.
"It really is a hundred-thousand-year soul ring! But how could he, a Soul Emperor, possibly absorb such power?!" he muttered, his voice betraying a touch of envy.
The Grand Elder had once dreamed of acquiring a hundred-thousand-year soul ring for his ninth ring, but the difficulty of finding and absorbing one had forced him to settle for something less. Yet here stood Dai Yao, a mere Soul Emperor, wielding such a ring! The overwhelming power contained within it was beyond anything even he, a high-ranking elder, could control.
The Grand Elder couldn't comprehend how this was possible, but Dai Yao's crimson soul ring was there for all to see.
Despite his past caution regarding Dai Yao, the Grand Elder only now understood his true worth. For thousands of years, no one had possessed such natural talent. Huang-Purple-Purple-Black-Black-Red—Dai Yao's extraordinary spirit ring configuration was an undeniable testament to his potential. And yet, this incredible genius had been cast out by his family.
As he thought about how the clan's rigid rules had driven Dai Yao to sever all ties, a pang of regret struck him. Would Dai Yao have stayed with the clan had those rules not forced him out?
He turned suddenly to Dugu Bo, whose expression remained as calm as ever. "Did you already know about Dai Yao's sixth ring? Was it because of his talent that you placed all your bets on him, even risking our wrath?"
Dugu Bo smirked. "Heh, looks like you aren't entirely dull, old tomcat."
Receiving confirmation, the Grand Elder's rage flared. Dugu Bo had not only made Dai Yao his grandson-in-law but had also taken to the field himself, risking everything—even the lives of Xingluo's citizens—to support him. And they, the Dai clan, had pushed such a talent out the door and actively tried to eliminate him.
Clenching his fists, the Grand Elder felt a bitterness he had never experienced before.
"Very well, then… very well…"
He activated his seventh soul ring and prepared to dive down into the battle. But Dugu Bo blocked his path, his gaze chilling as he spoke. "You go down there, and I'll make sure not a single soul remains alive in Xingluo City."
The Grand Elder quivered under Dugu Bo's steely gaze. After a tense moment, he reluctantly unclenched his fists. He wouldn't risk Xingluo on a gamble, and while Dai Yao might possess a hundred-thousand-year ring, the outcome was still uncertain.
The Grand Elder inhaled deeply, his voice steady but resentful. "Very well, I'll watch and see if a hundred-thousand-year soul ring can really help a mere Soul Emperor defeat the Emperor."
Dugu Bo, too, directed his focus below. Though he believed in Dai Yao, the Emperor was no ordinary opponent. Once the most formidable of his generation, he wouldn't be easy to overcome.
Below, both sides paused in their skirmishes.
Qinglian Sect disciples were momentarily stunned, seeing their master's legend come to life before them. But they regained their senses faster than the palace guards, quickly unleashing their soul skills and slaying hundreds of guards in an instant—a toll higher than any previous bout of the battle.
The guards, jolted by the screams of their fallen comrades, clashed once more with the Qinglian Sect.
Meanwhile, the Soul Douluo on both sides, tacitly pulling back, seized the lull in the battle to regain their soul power. Ferdinand watched Dai Yao at the center of attention, pride gleaming in his eyes.
Back in the Spirit Hall, news of Dai Yao's hundred-thousand-year soul ring had been suppressed, yet as a platinum bishop, Ferdinand had been one of the few to know.
"Dai Yao," Ferdinand thought with satisfaction, "I had high hopes for you, but even so, I've underestimated you…"
The Qinglian Sect's Soul Douluo seemed at ease, but Xingluo's forces looked visibly shaken.
The Second Elder's eyes flashed with a cold fury, feeling a chill down his spine that quickly morphed into a dark rage. Why hadn't he seen it before? As a matter of pride, he had personally sought to eliminate Dai Yao, despising him for violating the clan's rules. Even though Dai Yao was a gifted genius, Xingluo was full of talents; he hadn't thought him irreplaceable.
Now, he finally understood the reason behind Elder Zhu's injuries during their failed attempts on Dai Yao's life. She must have known about the red ring even then—no wonder she wasn't here today!
"Dai Yao must be eliminated today, or I will never know peace again," he thought, venom in his gaze.
Other clan elders shared his unease. The Fifth Elder wore a look of sorrow, grasping the grim realization that there would be no reconciliation. If they didn't eliminate Dai Yao now, his eventual retribution would be inevitable.
"Yes, sister, now I see why you chose to avoid today's battle," murmured the Zhu family's matriarch, her heart set on playing it safe. If it weren't for the Zhu family's longstanding alliance with the Dai family, she would have already abandoned the fight.
At Xingluo Royal Academy, Dai Hengyu watched the faint red glint in the sky, releasing a deep breath as he whispered, "Susu, our Dai Yao has truly grown…"
Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Red.
The sight of the six rings left the Emperor momentarily speechless, his mind reeling. Dai Yao's voice, filled with killing intent, shook him from his daze, and he took a deep breath to regain his composure.
Gone was the Emperor's earlier smugness. His face turned somber as he took in the sight of Dai Yao's incredible power, a hint of conflicted emotion in his gaze as he spoke:
"A hundred-thousand-year soul ring… kid, even I have to respect that," said the Emperor, his eyes narrowing with a mixture of admiration and menace. "You are a talent without equal in the history of the Douluo Continent. But your arrogance will be your downfall. If you hadn't been so rash, if you'd bided your time, I would never have had the chance to eliminate you."
His voice turned icy as he declared, "But you came back, and today, on your birthday, will also be your death day."
Dai Yao sneered. "We'll see who lives and who dies," he replied coldly.
As he spoke, Dai Yao's third and fifth soul rings flared to life, unleashing a dark, fierce glow. He activated his Darkgold Tiger Transformation and White Tiger Titan Transformation, instantly pushing his power to its fullest against his formidable foe. This was no time to hold back.
With these dual transformations, Dai Yao's appearance remained deceptively calm; unlike Dai Mubai's exaggerated bulk during his own White Tiger transformations, Dai Yao projected a chilling aura of sheer terror. A single look in his eyes could evoke primal fear in his opponents.
"Returning to your primal essence? How many more tricks is this kid hiding?" the Emperor thought, a chill running through him.
For the first time, the Emperor took Dai Yao with utmost seriousness. His own eight soul rings emerged, and he activated his seventh soul ring. From the outset, he held nothing back, releasing his beast spirit's true form. However, he had adjusted his size, making his tiger form only three meters tall, mindful of Dai Yao's speed—any larger would only slow him down.
"Starting with your spirit's true form?" Dai Yao taunted with a cold smile.
Power surged through his body, flowing from his core through his meridians and concentrating in his left arm. Three razor-sharp blades emerged from his hand, gleaming white as they extended from the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear's external soul bone.
In the next moment, with a spread of his eight wings, Dai Yao shot toward the Emperor, cutting through the air like a fierce gust of wind.
Unlike most soul masters, Dai Yao's strength lay in close-quarters combat. With a body on par with that of a Titled Douluo, he knew his greatest killing potential lay in direct confrontation, and he was confident that few could best him at this range.
Close combat was also the White Tiger clan's forte. Seeing Dai Yao hurtling toward him, the Emperor's massive tiger eyes gleamed with a hint of human disdain. "Bring it on!" he roared.
High above, the Grand Elder watched the scene, eyebrows furrowed as he thought, "Is this kid insane? Hand-to-hand combat at this level is perilous; one wrong move could mean total ruin. Rather than clashing soul skills, he's chosen to fight in the White Tiger's own favored arena. Is he really that confident?"
The two combatants hurtled toward each other in the sky, deadly auras colliding as their figures clashed.
Shing—
The claws of Dai Yao's Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear soul bone collided with the Emperor's tiger claws, producing a sickening screech. Dai Yao blocked the Emperor's left claw with his other hand, effortlessly absorbing the blow without sustaining any damage.
The Emperor was shocked—Dai Yao, without even activating his spirit's true form, had overpowered him in sheer strength. Seizing the opportunity, the Emperor opened his mouth wide, aiming to sink his bloodstained fangs into Dai Yao. But with a beat of his wings, Dai Yao dodged out of reach.
One man and one tiger clashed again, even faster and more ferociously than before.
In the midst of the brutal, frenzied assault, a series of powerful shockwaves burst outward, making the air itself tremble. Their relentless attacks, executed with lethal precision, left all spectators trembling in awe. Within seconds, both combatants were injured, yet their strikes only grew fiercer—each move intended to kill.
The ferocity of their duel shocked everyone. For supposed "father and son," their blows were merciless enough to suggest a lifelong enmity.
The Emperor struck Dai Yao squarely in the chest with a massive paw, aiming for his heart. Dai Yao twisted his body to avoid a lethal strike, grunting as he absorbed the hit. Taking advantage of the opening, he slid low, striking with his left arm. His claw pierced the Emperor's spirit shield and plunged into his stomach.
The Emperor let out a painful roar and leaped back, narrowly avoiding disembowelment.
They separated, each watching the other warily. The Emperor's fur was stained with blood—his own or Dai Yao's, it was impossible to tell. His eyes narrowed, acknowledging that Dai Yao's abilities had far exceeded his expectations; the young man had nearly killed him several times already. No ordinary Soul Douluo could have fought him to such a standstill.
The Emperor, now in his human form, spoke in a cold, gravelly tone, "Kid, I didn't expect you to force me this far. Even in my true form, I can't match your strength and speed. You must have a healing soul bone to recover that quickly."
While Dai Yao was seriously injured, his Blue Silver Emperor soul bone's healing ability mended his wounds rapidly, restoring his strength with incredible speed. Smiling tiredly, Dai Yao replied, "Good eye. Yes, I possess a healing soul bone. But look at you—seems like you're reaching your limit, aren't you?"
The Emperor sneered. "It's true, I can't match you in close combat. But I'm done giving you any more chances!"
His eighth black soul ring suddenly flared, radiating a brilliant, fearsome light. Unbeknownst to Dai Yao, the Emperor had been secretly charging his most powerful technique during their clash, determined to leave Dai Yao no opportunity to counterattack.
Noting the Emperor's intent, Dai Yao's expression turned equally steely. "I was thinking the same thing. The warm-up is over!"
The energy around Dai Yao's Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear soul bone gathered into an intense white glow, the sharpness of which hurt the eyes.
Just as the Emperor had charged his eighth soul skill, Dai Yao had been preparing his own ultimate move: the Dreadclaw's soul skill, Sky-Rending Claw.
Now, the true battle was about to begin!
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