Chapter 240: One Against Fourteen—Dai Yao Concedes
"Your Majesty, what just happened? Should we intervene?" Yue Guan, watching the fallen Hu Liena, asked Bibi Dong in confusion.
Bibi Dong's brows furrowed, a flash of concern in her gaze. But after probing Hu Liena's mind with her spiritual power, she exhaled in relief and replied to Chrysanthemum Douluo, "It's nothing serious—just a minor mental shock. She'll recover shortly; there's no need to worry. But be on alert; keep an eye on the match to prevent injuries for both of them."
"Your Majesty, do you know what technique Dai Yao used?" Ning Fengzhi asked, turning to her with polite curiosity. He couldn't make sense of how Dai Yao had turned the tide so unexpectedly when Hu Liena had been on the brink of victory.
Bibi Dong considered thoughtfully, then replied, "It's likely a soul bone ability."
With her experience, she had detected the flash of lightning in Dai Yao's gaze—something that didn't resemble any known soul skill or soul tool. The only plausible explanation was a soul bone's power.
Ning Fengzhi regarded Dai Yao intently, muttering, "Could it truly be... a soul bone?"
With Bibi Dong's decision to continue the match, the uproar among the spectators died down, and they resumed watching.
Dai Yao himself gradually regained clarity from the mental chaos, and his heart sank as he recalled the moment before Hu Liena's fall, his mind flashing to the mysterious purple drop. He quickly suppressed his suspicions and refocused, locking his gaze on the dazed Hu Liena. The intense mental attack had yet to fully wear off, and she was still reeling.
"This is it!" A sharp glint appeared in Dai Yao's eyes. He knew he could make a move and secure his victory, yet he remained motionless.
Moments later, Hu Liena's eyes cleared, realization dawning as she stumbled back, cold sweat trickling down her spine. She glanced at Dai Yao, who hadn't moved an inch, and stared at him in shock.
"Why… didn't you take the chance to attack me? And just now—what was that spiritual shock?"
Dai Yao simply shook his head with a smile, choosing not to answer, and instead looked towards the red-robed cardinal, his expression composed.
"Is there something you need, Dai Yao?" the cardinal asked, puzzled.
"I concede," Dai Yao said lightly, his voice calm but carrying enough weight to render the entire arena silent.
"Are you sure, Dai Yao?" the red-robed cardinal hesitated, as he had wanted to see the Spirit Hall team victorious but had also hoped to witness Dai Yao's achievement of an unbeaten fourteen-victory streak.
The spectators were stunned, their faces reflecting disbelief—especially Hu Liena, who stared in confusion.
Dai Yao had clearly had the chance to defeat her and achieve the legendary one-against-fourteen victory. So why was he conceding?
A member of the Spirit Hall's esteemed Golden Generation, Hu Liena had always carried herself with pride. To her, accepting victory as a gift felt like an unbearable insult, her hands trembling in frustration. Yet, as she mulled it over, her thoughts shifted.
"Perhaps this is for the best. Even if it's a victory granted out of pity, it will at least save some face for Spirit Hall. If I can defeat all remaining members of the Auckland team in the afternoon group match, Spirit Hall will still prove to be the number one team."
With all Shrek team members eliminated, Hu Liena was confident. She knew she stood at the pinnacle of the younger generation and felt certain that, even alone, she could take on the six remaining Auckland members.
For many, Dai Yao's concession was a relief, preserving some dignity for Spirit Hall. But for others, it was a disappointment to see him give up the chance to complete the rare feat. And just as the audience's emotions began to settle, Dai Yao spoke again, causing a new stir in the crowd.
"Referee, my concession isn't just for myself—I'm conceding on behalf of the entire Auckland team. We voluntarily take second place in the individual competition and will face Shrek in the playoff for the final match slot."
"What?"
The arena erupted in a new wave of fervent discussions. The Auckland team members looked equally astonished until Feng Qianli broke the silence with a sigh and said, "So that's what Dai Yao meant earlier."
Their teammates turned to Feng Qianli, their confusion apparent. He explained, "Before he stepped onto the stage, Dai Yao asked us to agree to whatever he said. Clearly, he had already decided we would face Shrek for the chance to advance."
Seeing the baffled expressions around him, Feng Qianli chuckled, "We've come so far thanks to Dai Yao's efforts, so he must have a good reason. Let's trust his judgment."
Though still not entirely understanding, the team members nodded in agreement. They trusted Dai Yao implicitly and knew he wouldn't make a decision without purpose.
"No, you can't just concede like this!" Hu Liena said angrily, trying to get Dai Yao to reverse his decision. None of his teammates had entered the stage yet, and their soul power remained untouched. To her, it felt less like pity and more like humiliation. She'd never been underestimated like this.
Dai Yao turned to her with a cool gaze. "Hu Liena, I made this decision to ensure my teammates preserve their strength for this afternoon's match. Do you really want them to waste soul power fighting you now, only to exhaust them and give us an unfair disadvantage later?"
"Stop dodging the question! Why did you concede?" Hu Liena pressed, realizing he was deflecting the topic. She was asking why he had personally conceded, not about the team's preparations for the group match.
Dai Yao considered his answer, but he had already made his decision.
But in the face of Hu Liena's question, Dai Yao gave no answer. Instead, he looked to the dazed referee and asked, "Your Excellency, Cardinal, won't you announce the result?"
"This…" The red-robed cardinal hesitated, clearly torn. A full team surrender was something he had never encountered before, so he looked toward the Pope, silently seeking her decision.
All eyes turned to that majestic figure in purple, overlooking the scene from above. Bibi Dong looked down at Dai Yao, her gaze deep and unreadable, before her delicate lips parted.
"Is this the choice of your entire team?" she asked.
Feng Qianli stepped forward immediately and answered, "Your Holiness, Dai Yao's choice is the choice of the Auckland team."
"Since it's the decision of the entire team, and nothing in the rules prohibits such a surrender, I'll accept it," Bibi Dong replied, her voice calm but cold. Although her words were soft, they held a weight that quieted everyone in the arena.
"Very well," she continued, "Auckland and Shrek will prepare for the afternoon team match." She gave them a sweeping, indifferent glance and fell silent.
As Bibi Dong's voice faded, whispers and murmurs began softly but soon grew into a chorus of speculation and shock. Though Hu Liena still looked discontent, the cardinal led her back to the Spirit Hall team.
"Nana, don't worry! You won, didn't you?" Yan approached Hu Liena, trying to console her as he noticed her frustration.
But his comfort only made things worse. Her face twisted in anger as she snapped, "What kind of victory is this? Dai Yao could have beaten me, but instead, he chose to surrender! I've never felt such humiliation in my life!"
Xie Yue sighed, his gaze fixed on Dai Yao as he regained his soul power. His fists clenched, eyes cold. "Nana, don't let it bother you. Just focus on tomorrow's match. The fight between Shrek and Auckland is as good as decided. If you want revenge, you'll get your chance tomorrow."
Hearing this, the Spirit Hall team members quickly calmed down. Some even began meditating to recover their soul power.
In front of the Pope's Hall, Yue Guan respectfully turned to Bibi Dong and said, "Your Holiness, Dai Yao certainly knows his place, choosing to surrender and effectively sending our team straight to the finals."
Unexpectedly, Bibi Dong did not display any satisfaction. Instead, she let out a sigh. "I'd have preferred Nana and her team to learn from this defeat and rise stronger. A Soul King lost to a Soul Ancestor, and worse, almost allowed themselves to be beaten by a one-against-fourteen run. If not for Dai Yao's final surrender, it would have been a complete sweep."
Bibi Dong paused, gazing thoughtfully at the two Douluos, Chrysanthemum and Ghost, standing beside her. "I'm beginning to wonder if the sharpening stone I chose for them was too sharp…"
The two Douluos exchanged glances, deciding to remain silent.
Bibi Dong continued with a hint of admiration, "Dai Yao's performance surpassed my expectations. He avoided soul skills, wore down opponents, then used his ten-thousand-year soul skill to easily defeat Yan, and used poison to take down Xie Yue. Though he didn't single-handedly sweep both teams, he came very close. To achieve such a feat requires not only remarkable strength but also tactical foresight and sharp adaptability."
"Dai Yao is likely the most gifted soul master our continent has ever seen," she concluded. "The credit for discovering and nurturing him goes to Ferdinan and Salas. They've done an exceptional job."
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