Chapter 238: The Last Challenger, Hu Liena
Before the Pope's Palace, a shocked silence fell over the audience, each viewer stifling gasps of amazement. All eyes were fixed on Yan, struggling to rise, and disbelief was etched on every face.
Yan, one of the most outstanding among Spirit Hall's younger generation, stood alongside Xie Yue and Hu Liena as part of the "Golden Generation." Their unprecedented rise to the Soul King rank at such a young age had set a record within Spirit Hall, and they had even received the Purple Insignia from the Pope herself. With such a remarkable pace of advancement and his exceptional Flame Lord spirit, Yan had been expected to become a prominent figure within Spirit Hall's elite.
Yet, this revered figure, admired by countless Spirit Hall disciples and held in high regard by the organization's leaders, had been defeated. And not just defeated, but overpowered by an exiled prince from the Star Luo Empire, a Soul Ancestor—someone a whole level below him. This was more than just a victory; it was a crushing, unexpected win that shattered all expectations. It felt as though a god had descended upon them.
The expressions on the faces of the Spirit Hall bishops were grim. One of their Golden Generation, defeated by someone of a lower rank—this was a heavy blow to Spirit Hall's prestige. Yet they knew that Yan's defeat was inevitable; the outcome would have been the same no matter how many times they repeated the match. After all, Dai Yao had faced him after defeating nine others.
Some of the more astute bishops began to revisit Dai Yao's background in their minds. His file had been brief but clear—Dai Yao, the "sharpening stone" hand-picked by the Pope. Quickly calculating Dai Yao's age and speed of cultivation, a few realized something that filled them with astonishment: in just six years, from his spirit awakening at age six to becoming a Soul Ancestor at fifteen, Dai Yao had not only reached level forty-five but had surpassed Yan in spirit rank at the same age.
Could it be that the record set by Spirit Hall's Golden Generation was about to be broken again? Realizing that Dai Yao was poised to join Spirit Hall, the previously darkened expressions of several bishops brightened into smiles.
The four titled Douluo on their gilded thrones also betrayed looks of surprise. Defeating a Soul King while still at the Soul Ancestor level—none of them had been capable of that feat when they were Soul Ancestors, particularly not against an elite like Yan with a high-tier spirit.
Ning Fengzhi turned to Dugu Bo with a congratulatory smile, saying, "Congratulations, Your Eminence. With such an outstanding son-in-law, you'll no longer need to worry about your family's legacy."
Dugu Bo's pale beard trembled with pride, though he gave a slight cough to conceal his pleasure. Privately, he thought to himself, "Ning Fengzhi and his kind are always looking for powerful battle-oriented soul masters to ensure their safety. He's probably considering pairing his precious daughter with Dai Yao. Seeing his performance today must only encourage that thought."
When he realized this, Dugu Bo's expression cooled, and he glanced at Ning Fengzhi, saying, "Sect Master Ning, that boy is too flashy. He doesn't know how to be humble, and that's a flaw unworthy of his talent."
Understanding Dugu Bo's meaning, Ning Fengzhi chuckled quietly in response. Meanwhile, Sword Douluo couldn't help but feel a pang of regret as he looked at Dai Yao, wishing that they had been the ones to help Dai Yao leave the Star Luo Empire. But fate had other plans.
Sensing a strange tension between Dugu Bo and Ning Fengzhi, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged amused smiles, feeling a mix of emotions themselves. Watching Yan grow up, they naturally felt a twinge of sadness at his defeat, but Dai Yao's talent left them feeling optimistic for the future. Their hearts were filled with this complex mixture of emotions.
At the center of the golden thrones, Bibi Dong sat gracefully, her legs crossed and her slender fingers lightly tapping the head of her scepter. Her body, encased in royal purple, outlined her regal figure, while her gaze, icy and imposing, cast an aura of supreme authority that caused those present to feel both awe and submission.
Chrysanthemum Douluo, sensing that Bibi Dong was deep in thought, asked with concern, "Your Holiness, is something troubling you?"
His question drew the attention of the other titled Douluo, who looked expectantly at Bibi Dong.
After a moment of silence, Bibi Dong's gaze shifted to Dai Yao, her expression carrying a glimmer of astonishment.
"I initially thought Dai Yao was conserving his spirit power to defeat as many opponents as possible. However, after he defeated Yan, I have started to doubt that assumption."
Ning Fengzhi looked intrigued and asked, "Your Holiness, are you suggesting…"
Casting a calm glance at Ning Fengzhi, Bibi Dong continued, "Sect Master Ning, you're indeed perceptive. Yes, I suspect Dai Yao's goal might be to take on all fourteen competitors."
The titled Douluo immediately understood, their eyes widening as they realized the implications of her words. An oppressive silence descended as they processed the audacity of such an idea.
"Your Holiness," Chrysanthemum Douluo stammered, his voice sharp with disbelief, "Are you suggesting that Dai Yao intends to defeat both teams entirely on his own? That's impossible!"
Bibi Dong replied evenly, "Elder Chrysanthemum, Dai Yao's victory over Yan has already proven his ability to defeat a Soul King. Now, look at the lineup of the Shrek and Spirit Hall teams. How many remain?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo glanced over at the Spirit Hall and Shrek lineups, his eyes narrowing. Both teams had only four members left.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's face paled, beads of sweat gathering on his brow. The significance of taking on fourteen opponents was not lost on him. A one-versus-seven in the preliminary round had already created waves across the continent. A one-versus-fourteen would be even more astounding.
More importantly, this was no ordinary match. This was the pinnacle of the Three-Nation Finals, with Spirit Hall and Shrek Academy as Dai Yao's opponents. If he succeeded, Dai Yao's reputation would be unparalleled.
Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly turned to Bibi Dong, his voice tense with concern.
"But even if he has the strength, does he have the spirit power to sustain this? As a Soul Ancestor, he's been carefully managing his spirit power throughout. After beating Yan, how much power can he possibly have left?"
Bibi Dong didn't respond, her gaze simply fixed on Dai Yao. Her own formidable senses allowed her to gauge Dai Yao's remaining spirit power accurately, and she thought with fascination, "Dai Yao… I wonder how far you can go with the power you have left."
It wasn't only Chrysanthemum Douluo questioning this. Yan, clutching his chest and coughing as he struggled to his feet, was wondering the same thing.
With a pale face and labored breaths, Yan glanced at Dai Yao with a mixture of disbelief and shock. Finally, he met Dai Yao's gaze and muttered,
"Dai Yao… How were you able to unleash your fourth soul skill consecutively?"
Dai Yao's expression remained calm.
"No comment."
Thanks to his fourth soul ring from the Thunderous Hell Vine, a spirit beast with the bloodline of a thunder god, Dai Yao's soul skill allowed him to channel continuous lightning attacks without taxing his body. As long as his spirit power held out, he could unleash an onslaught of thunderbolts, even to the level of a Contra-class strike if he pushed his power to its limit.
Hearing this, Yan clenched his jaw, his gaze hardening as he spat,
"Fine, keep your secrets. But after three uses of that fourth soul skill, you must be drained by now. Let's see how you handle the next challenge!"
Dai Yao exhaled slowly, his gaze steady as he looked back at Yan.
"You'll see."
With Yan defeated, Dai Yao had used up three rounds of White Tiger Thunder God Strike, consuming nearly thirty percent of his soul power. Now, only thirty percent remained, with four opponents still waiting.
Dai Mubai, Xie Yue, Tang San, Hu Liena.
Dai Mubai wasn't too concerning, but Xie Yue, Tang San, and Hu Liena were formidable opponents, each one challenging in their own way. With a deep breath, Dai Yao felt the gravity of his goal settle on him—completing this one-versus-fourteen challenge would be no easy feat.
With a look of frustration, Yan returned to the Spirit Hall team. He caught Hu Liena's eye but quickly looked away, feeling a pang of shame as he realized the other team members all shared the same humiliation in their downcast expressions.
Yan walked up to Xie Yue, lowered his head, and muttered, "Captain, I'm sorry. I lost."
Xie Yue sighed, placing a hand on Yan's shoulder to console him. "It's not your fault. If I had faced Dai Yao's relentless strikes, I might have struggled just as much."
Hu Liena pressed a finger to her lips, her gaze fixed on Dai Yao with an almost predatory intensity as she spoke in a lilting tone, "How has he trained to reach this level? Yan, with your soul power, using a fifth spirit skill three times would drain you completely. Yet Dai Yao, after defeating nine opponents, managed it thrice in a row. Something about his soul power is unusual."
Yan clenched his jaw, unable to find words to reply. Being crushed by another man in front of Hu Liena was a wound to his pride he couldn't easily bear.
Xie Yue's gaze was equally tense, and an aura of steely resolve began to emanate from him. "It's my turn next. The reputation of Spirit Hall has taken enough damage today. Whatever it takes, I must defeat Dai Yao and restore our honor. It may not be fair to fight him now that he's exhausted, but I'll do what I have to."
While the Spirit Hall team talked, a white-clad figure went flying across the arena, landing near the Shrek team's side. Panting slightly, Dai Yao looked toward the fallen figure with a hint of disdain.
"Dai Mubai, you really haven't improved at all."
"Mu Bai!" Zhu Zhuqing rushed to support him, but Dai Mubai didn't meet her gaze. Shock and bitterness filled his expression as he locked eyes with Dai Yao.
Tang San stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Dai Mubai's shoulder. "Big brother Dai, you did well to conserve your strength for the team match this afternoon."
Dai Mubai clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles went pale. He hadn't held back—he'd fought Dai Yao with everything he had, only to find he couldn't even land a blow. Dai Yao had toyed with him as if he were a child.
Tang San's words were some consolation, and Dai Mubai nodded. But in his heart, he was reeling.
"How has he improved so much in just a few days? What has he been through in the Heaven Dou Empire all these years?"
The match continued atop the arena platform.
In a scene that the crowd had eagerly awaited, Xie Yue, widely acknowledged as the top talent among Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, knelt on one knee, clutching his moon blades with trembling hands. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his arm bore a bluish-purple gash, the mark of Dai Yao's White Tiger Eight Wings.
Breathing heavily, Xie Yue raised his head, glaring at Dai Yao with a mix of frustration and disbelief. "You used poison!"
"In a duel, everything is fair," Dai Yao replied. "Only I have the antidote. Keep resisting, and you'll ruin your future."
Dai Yao was also sweating. After his fight with Dai Mubai, he was down to only twenty percent of his soul power—now, with three opponents remaining, he was in a precarious position. He'd only managed to poison Xie Yue by landing a strike with the venomous barbs of his White Tiger Eight Wings, derived from his Man-Faced Demon Spider soul bone.
Realizing the severity of the poison's effects, Xie Yue struggled to rise, only to collapse back onto the platform. He still wanted to fight, but a voice reached his ears, urging him to stop. He turned toward the Pope's direction, where he saw Bibi Dong nod slightly.
Clenching his teeth in frustration, Xie Yue spat out, "I admit defeat!"
At his words, Dai Yao stepped forward, preventing the Spirit Hall healers from interfering. He drove the barbs of his White Tiger Eight Wings into Xie Yue's wound, drawing out the venom and absorbing a small amount of Xie Yue's remaining soul power in the process.
Though the increase was minor, it was enough to bring him up to about fifteen percent of his soul power.
"The poison is neutralized," he said as Xie Yue recovered.
Staring intently at Dai Yao, Xie Yue finally managed, "You're incredible. Though I don't want to admit defeat, poison is as valid a method as any. You've shown me something new today. When you join Spirit Hall, I'll be sure to challenge you again."
Dai Yao nodded. "I look forward to it."
He turned back to the platform and called across to the Shrek side, locking eyes with Tang San.
"Next!"
Tang San took a deep breath, steadying himself. He wanted nothing more than to face Dai Yao again, but the memory of his near-fatal defeat last time was still fresh. Though Dai Yao's soul power was clearly running low, Tang San knew he'd likely still have enough to best him. If he acted rashly and injured himself before the team match, he'd never forgive himself.
The Clear Sky Hammer and Dai Yao's Cloud Patterned Hand clashed again, their strikes sending shockwaves across the arena. Both restrained their attacks, and after a few tense exchanges, Tang San finally stepped back, conceding.
"Dai Yao, we'll face off again one day," Tang San said coldly as he left the platform.
Dai Yao, too weary to respond, just smirked, his posture conveying his attitude. He knew all of Tang San's tricks well enough—hidden weapons, the Seven-in-One fusion technique.
Though he'd won against Tang San, his soul power was now almost completely drained, down to a meager five percent. Even his White Tiger Thunder God Strike was out of reach. And waiting for him was the true ace of the Golden Generation—Hu Liena.
Tang San's defeat brought an awed hush over the audience. Dai Yao had achieved an unprecedented feat: a one-versus-thirteen victory that included defeating two Soul Kings. Even if he lost now, he would be remembered as a legend across the Douluo Continent.
The crowd's gaze shifted to the Spirit Hall team, all eyes falling on Hu Liena. Some hoped to see Dai Yao achieve yet another victory, while others dreaded the idea of Spirit Hall being humiliated by a one-versus-seven defeat.
Amidst the crowd's conflicted stares, Hu Liena slowly made her way onto the arena platform.
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