Chapter 434: Reactions from All Sides, the War Begins on the Continent
In the Holy City of Spirit Hall, inside the Pope's Palace…
The grand palace sat midway up the mountain, with the angelic statue above seeming almost like a real divine presence, holy and majestic, inspiring reverence in all who gazed upon it.
Hu Liena paused as she looked at the familiar statue, feeling a wave of emotion. As she ascended the steps, flanked by respectful guards, she was surprised to see an unexpected figure waiting for her at the palace entrance.
"Yan? What are you doing here?" Hu Liena asked, momentarily stunned.
Yan looked at her, his expression conflicted, his throat dry as he struggled to speak. "Nana, did… did you get the answer you were looking for?" he asked, his voice barely steady.
A brief look of apology crossed Hu Liena's face, but soon a soft, blissful smile replaced it. "Thank you for your concern, Yan. Yes, I did. Is there anything else?"
Her words, distant yet polite, cut into Yan like a knife. His tall frame swayed slightly, his gaze on her pained yet filled with a kind of bittersweet blessing.
"No… no, nothing else. Nana, I wish you happiness," he said, turning to leave. Xie Yue watched, sighing as he shook his head, then quickly followed Yan, offering him words of comfort.
Watching them walk away, Hu Liena sighed inwardly. She understood Yan's feelings, but some things couldn't be forced, no matter how long they endured. Time held no power over matters of the heart.
Reflecting on the unforgettable memories from her time in the City of Hell, she murmured, "I'm sorry, Yan. It may be cruel, but I can't pretend. This is best for both of us."
A breeze stirred her short, coffee-colored hair, rousing her from her reverie. With a final glance at the retreating figures, she entered the grand hall.
Inside the Pope's Palace…
Bibi Dong stood before her throne, her slender form both graceful and imposing—a presence Hu Liena could only look up to, like a towering mountain.
"Teacher, I've returned," Hu Liena said, kneeling respectfully.
Bibi Dong turned, her expression unreadable, though a hint of apprehension flickered in her eyes. Her grip tightened on her Pope's staff, her hand trembling slightly as she asked, "Nana, did he… agree?"
Sending Hu Liena to attend Dai Yao's wedding in Hanhai City had served multiple purposes. On one hand, their rift had started with Hu Liena, so her visit would signal Bibi Dong's concession and acknowledgment of Dai Yao's relationship with her. On the other, Hu Liena was a subtle emissary, conveying Bibi Dong's hope for a final meeting with him.
She possessed great power and influence across the continent, and if she were to visit Hanhai City herself, Dai Yao would have little choice but to meet her. Yet, she feared doing so.
She had already driven him away once, damaging their relationship. Forcing another encounter might sever their bond irreparably. So she waited, letting Hu Liena act as a bridge to learn if Dai Yao could forgive her.
Hu Liena hesitated, noticing the vulnerability in her teacher's gaze—a rare sight for a figure as lofty as Bibi Dong. She couldn't understand her teacher's cautious approach with Dai Yao, but she wanted to help preserve Dai Yao's image in Bibi Dong's eyes.
Seeing her hesitation, Bibi Dong's eyes dimmed, her whole form seeming to sag as though her strength had left her. "So… he doesn't wish to see me, does he?"
Startled by her teacher's reaction, Hu Liena quickly replied, "Teacher, it's not that. Dai Yao… he's about to embark on a journey to a distant place to train, and he's newly married—his time is just very limited at the moment…"
Unsure why she was struggling so much to find the right words, Hu Liena could only try to soften the impact of her message.
A faint, bitter smile appeared on Bibi Dong's face as she watched her disciple rush to defend Dai Yao. "Nana, you're speaking on his behalf with such sincerity. It seems you two have grown quite close."
Hu Liena's cheeks flushed red as she stammered shyly, "Yes, Teacher. Thank you… If not for your blessing, I might never have crossed paths with him."
Bibi Dong's heart ached, seeing her disciple so filled with love—a love she herself once knew but had since lost. She'd already tarnished her chance with Dai Yao. Perhaps Hu Liena could offer him some solace.
Stepping forward, Bibi Dong gently brushed Hu Liena's cheek with her hand. "No, don't thank me. If it weren't for me, you and Dai Yao wouldn't have faced these hardships. Hold onto him, Nana. Don't make the same mistakes I did."
Hu Liena nodded fervently.
"Now go and rest. You must be tired after your journey," Bibi Dong said kindly.
After watching Hu Liena leave, her innocent smile a stark contrast to the remorse filling Bibi Dong's heart, the Pope's face grew cold, her gentle façade vanishing.
Gripping her staff until her nails dug into her palm, drawing blood, she trembled as she whispered with fierce resolve, "I'll make you forgive me, Dai Yao… no matter the cost."
The Lake of Life, Deep in Star Dou Forest
A massive, snow-white silkworm with ten golden lines sat in silence, surrounded by figures too awe-inspiring to look at directly.
A small bird suddenly flew in, landing on a black-haired man's shoulder, chirping urgently. The man's amber eyes narrowed to slits, and the air around him seemed to explode with pressure, jolting the other beasts to alertness.
The bird flew off, sensing the tension.
"Beast God, what's happened?" A stunning figure, radiating a vibrant green aura, approached the black-haired man—Di Tian—her voice anxious.
Even Mr. Xiong, typically skeptical of Di Tian, remained silent. He knew how rare it was for Di Tian to react so strongly.
Di Tian sighed deeply, his gaze heavy with weariness and defeat. Looking around at the gathering of spirit beasts, he murmured, "All our schemes, and in the end, it was all in vain. The Chosen One… has slipped through our grasp."
They had pooled countless resources and even mobilized transformed spirit beasts long hidden in the human world, all to recruit Dai Yao, the prophesied Chosen One, into their ranks. But Dai Yao's growth had been far faster than expected.
At the level of a Spirit Emperor, he had already defeated Star Luo's emperor, exacting his revenge. Using that victory, he established his sect, which quickly became a force the Spirit Hall and the two empires could not ignore.
In this way, Dai Yao firmly established his foothold on the continent.
If Dai Yao hadn't been strong enough, he would have been forced to flee Spirit Hall after their machinations, seeking refuge with a faction to survive. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect alone couldn't have protected him. If the Third Worshiper from the Worship Hall pushed for it, Spirit Hall could have easily crushed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. At that point, Dai Yao would have had no choice but to flee.
Under their manipulations, the Heaven Dou Empire had fallen into Tang San's hands. The Star Luo Empire, bound by blood hatred against Dai Yao, would never accept him.
Thus, the only path for Dai Yao to survive would have been to join their soul beast clan!
But now, all of their plans had been completely undone.
What they couldn't foresee was that even if Spirit Hall wanted to wipe out Dai Yao's faction, neither the Worship Hall nor the Pope's Hall would ever agree.
Qian Renxue, already beginning the inheritance of the Angel God, and Bibi Dong, on the verge of becoming the Rakshasa God, would immediately eliminate anyone who threatened Dai Yao. They would be the first to hunt down those plotting against him!
The Beast Clan Council
The Scarlet King's voice rang out in disbelief:
"Beast God, does this so-called Child of Destiny have a death wish? If he doesn't rely on us, what other path does he have to survive?"
Di Tian let out a faint sigh and said,
"The Child of Destiny has shattered all our schemes with raw strength. His growing influence and the Qinglian Sect he founded have made it so that no one on this continent dares underestimate him. Why would someone like him need our help now?"
The Bear Lord pounded the ground furiously, the resulting tremor startling the Skydream Iceworm awake. Realizing no one was feeding on its essence, the Iceworm squirmed comfortably and went back to sleep.
"That damned brat! When he came to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt that Evil Tiger, I should have killed him on the spot! That would've ended this disaster before it began!" the Bear Lord roared in anger.
"No, we couldn't act then," Bi Ji interjected gently, shaking her head. "When Dai Yao hunted the Dark Devilgod Tiger, we could sense it—an otherworldly gaze watching over him from the heavens. If we had made a move, it would have drawn that being's attention. If our schemes were discovered, the consequences would've been catastrophic."
Bi Ji turned her worried gaze to Di Tian.
"Beast God, the Child of Destiny already knows of our existence. If he grows stronger and decides to act against us, what then? He's not the kind of person who forgives and forgets. He repays kindness with kindness and vengeance with vengeance. Right now, his enemies are being temporarily set aside due to his lack of strength. But once he gains power, he will surely eliminate them one by one."
"Our actions toward him have been anything but righteous. We schemed to make him fall out of favor with the Pope, forcing him to leave Spirit Hall. We sabotaged the Heaven Dou Empire's coup, ruining his chances of earning the Worship Hall's trust. Every step we've taken has pushed him into a corner."
"Someone like him will not forget these grievances. When he rises, what will we do?"
Di Tian's golden eyes gleamed coldly as he paused in thought. After a moment, he spoke in a deep voice:
"The soul beasts of Douluo Continent have stood strong for a million years. We will not fall to a single human. With the human factions on the brink of civil war, our priority is to fan the flames and weaken their strength. As for the Child of Destiny, when he finally dares to challenge us, I will make sure he learns his place."
The gathered soul beasts felt reassured. Di Tian's power was undeniable; in the entire continent, perhaps only the one dwelling in the depths of the sea could rival him…
Heaven Dou Empire – Imperial Palace
"Teacher, what did you just say?"
Tang San, seated on the imperial throne, glared at Yu Xiaogang, barely restraining his anger as he spoke each word deliberately.
Seeing the look on his prized disciple's face, Yu Xiaogang felt a pang of sympathy. Being forced to cooperate with one's enemy—let alone needing their help—was undoubtedly a humiliating ordeal.
"Sigh, Xiao San, I understand your feelings. But you are aware of the disparity in strength between us and our enemies. Right now, the major kingdoms and duchies no longer heed the Empire's orders and are on the verge of defecting to Spirit Hall. With their conventional armies joining Spirit Hall's soul master forces, the balance of power between the two empires and Spirit Hall has already begun to tip."
"The Clear Sky Sect alone cannot withstand Spirit Hall's advance."
"And as for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Qinglian Sect established by… that man—together, their soul master forces rival those of the Empire. If they decide to intervene during our war with Spirit Hall, the consequences would be catastrophic."
"Thus, before waging war against Spirit Hall, we must win them over. Even if we cannot form an alliance, we must ensure their neutrality. While they have publicly declared their neutrality, we need to personally confirm their intentions."
"Moreover, the Clan of Agility's leader has stopped sending us intelligence. We know nothing about the Qinglian Sect's current situation. That's why I must go to Vast Sea City."
In the palace, the gathered ministers dared not breathe too loudly. Lan Hao Wang (Tang San) was a ruler of great ability, but whenever the discussion touched on Dai Yao, his temperament always changed.
Tang San clenched his fists, his veins bulging as he shut his eyes tightly. He understood the Empire's precarious situation. But to compromise with Dai Yao, the man responsible for Xiao Wu's death, was a bitter pill to swallow—a knife twisting in his heart.
Yet a true man must endure. Defeating Spirit Hall would come first; settling the score with Dai Yao could come later.
After taking a deep breath, Tang San finally opened his eyes and said with difficulty,
"Teacher, I agree with your decision. Please go to Vast Sea City—but take care."
Yu Xiaogang nodded heavily, bearing the weight of a mountain on his shoulders. It seemed as though the continent's fate rested on this single journey. Liu Erlong wanted to speak up but was stopped by Flender, who gently shook his head.
Matters of state could not be swayed by personal feelings.
Tang San forced himself to stay composed and waved his hand wearily.
"Court dismissed..."
Only after the officials left did he slump back into his throne, utterly exhausted.
Though he had used the Clear Sky Sect to consolidate his hold over the Heaven Dou Empire, the endless intrigue and bureaucracy had drained him.
When news reached him that Dai Yao had taken his wife to train on Sea God Island, Tang San's mood plummeted. He was already falling behind Dai Yao, and now, while he was mired in affairs of state, Dai Yao was free to focus on cultivation. How could he ever catch up?
Staring at the vast, empty hall, Tang San fell into a long silence.
Outside Holy Soul Village – Mountain Waterfall
Tang Hao returned to the valley in high spirits. After ensuring the Heaven Dou Empire was stable, he had resigned and returned to Holy Soul Village, where his true love awaited.
He deftly triggered the mechanism that opened the hidden cave. While it seemed slightly out of place, as though someone had tampered with it, he dismissed the thought. The area was so secluded that it was impossible for anyone to have been there. Perhaps a bird had accidentally triggered it.
Excitedly, he entered the cave. The next moment, he froze.
The platform was empty.
The Blue Silver Emperor he had planted was gone.
Collapsing to his knees, Tang Hao roared in despair,
"Where is my grass?!"
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