Chapter 288: The Challenge Against the Hao Tian Sect
"Your Holiness, did you summon me for something?" In the Pope's Hall, Dai Yao's calm gaze met Bibi Dong, who sat regally on her throne.
But Bibi Dong's heart was a storm of emotions. Dai Yao's eyes, brimming with the wisdom of ages, drew her in, reminding her of a long-lost figure from her past. Her heart momentarily slipped back to her youth, to someone he vaguely resembled. Rising abruptly, she clenched her teeth and stared at Dai Yao as an image of Yu Xiaogang, relentlessly dedicated to his studies despite his talent, flickered across her mind. After a long silence, her lips moved slightly as she murmured, "You're not him…"
Though Dai Yao had left a profound impression on her over the past year, he hadn't erased her memories of Yu Xiaogang. Despite their closeness during those six months in the zombie world, she couldn't simply forget Yu Xiaogang. Yet her feelings for Dai Yao were complex: she saw in him both a reminder of her painful past and a faint glimmer of hope to escape it. Their closeness, however, made her uncomfortable. His calm but captivating presence felt like a light in her otherwise cold and empty reality.
Hearing her soft words, Dai Yao's expression hardened, as he thought he understood her meaning. "If you think of me as someone else, then I cannot oblige you further, Your Holiness."
Her illusion shattered, and Bibi Dong saw Dai Yao clearly, a figure wholly distinct from her memories of Yu Xiaogang. She now understood Dai Yao was his own person, separate from her past, and felt an admiration at how he'd transformed from the ruthless Shura Emperor into a calm, disciplined man. Though she'd observed him several times over the year, witnessing him like this was still astonishing.
"Forgive me. I didn't expect you'd master your killing intent so completely in just one year," she said. "Even at my peak, I could never control it as seamlessly as you."
"To restrain killing intent requires mastering oneself. If you can fully immerse yourself in something, it will naturally fall into place," he replied, his expression softening.
They fell silent. Dai Yao felt acutely the chasm between them—she was the Pope, and their bond in the zombie world might be nothing more than a distant memory to her now. On her end, years of being venerated by everyone left her unsure of how to start a real conversation. A mutual yet unspoken sense of warmth lay between them, yet neither dared to speak first.
Finally, Dai Yao broke the silence, lifting his gaze. "Your Holiness, you did summon me for something, didn't you?"
Bibi Dong collected herself. "Yes, there is something important I want to discuss with you," she began, her tone surprisingly gentle. "Since you once suggested that we target the Hao Tian Sect rather than the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, I've had time to reflect and agree with your reasoning. But if we're to dismantle Hao Tian Sect, we must first know their strength."
"To this end, I need someone to assess the Hao Tian Sect's current capabilities. I plan to send a young disciple from Spirit Hall to challenge their own younger generation in combat. Alongside them, a few Titled Douluo would go to gauge their full power."
"I need someone formidable enough to compete with Hao Tian's disciples to avoid compromising our operatives' surveillance by losing quickly. Although our Golden Generation is strong, there's only a slim chance of success against Hao Tian disciples. Even Hu Liena's charm abilities would have little effect on them."
"But I am fully confident that you could defeat their disciples and help the Titled Douluo accomplish their task. So, I am here to ask—will you take on this mission for me?" Her tone was steady, though it masked an inner unease, as she feared Dai Yao might misunderstand her intentions.
She quickly added, "But of course, if you don't wish to go, Yan or Xie Yue could be sent instead."
Dai Yao smiled at her softened stance, appreciating how she now seemed willing to consider his feelings and his earlier suggestions. "Thank you, Your Holiness, for considering my views. But I've spent years here in Spirit Hall without any achievements to show for it, leading to criticism from some quarters. Moreover, it was my proposal to go after the Hao Tian Sect in the first place. How could I back away now?"
He clasped his hands and continued, "But I'm sincerely grateful that you're taking my views into account."
A faint smile touched Bibi Dong's lips before quickly vanishing. She noticed Dai Yao's restrained aura, her expression shifting thoughtfully as she observed his current state.
"Dai Yao, you've reached a bottleneck at level sixty. Wouldn't it be better to absorb a spirit ring first, become a Soul Emperor, and then take on the Hao Tian Sect?"
"Thank you for the advice, Your Holiness, but I haven't yet found a suitable spirit beast. I'll wait until after the mission to search the Star Dou Forest for one," he replied.
Bibi Dong sighed. "Very well, it's your decision. Just be prepared—the mission to Hao Tian Sect won't start for another six months."
"I understand," Dai Yao nodded, though his expression grew contemplative.
Noticing his hesitation, Bibi Dong's brow furrowed. "Speak freely," she urged.
Dai Yao took a deep breath. "Your Holiness, about the Hao Tian Sect… would it be possible to send more Titled Douluo along?"
"I'm already assigning Ju Douluo and Ghost Douluo to accompany you—is that not sufficient?" she replied, dismissive of the need for more.
In her view, the Hao Tian Sect had been in hiding for twenty years with only two Titled Douluo back then. Given the time passed, it seemed unlikely they'd grown significantly stronger. Plus, one of their top fighters, Tang Hao, had already left.
Dai Yao held back a wry smile. According to the original storyline, the Hao Tian Sect now had six Titled Douluo, all wielding the powerful Hao Tian Hammer, and each capable of punching above their level. Sending only Ju Douluo and Ghost Douluo would be practically delivering them into a trap.
"Your Holiness, if you truly aim to dismantle the Hao Tian Sect, please consider dispatching more Titled Douluo. The Hao Tian Sect's seclusion may have allowed them to quietly produce even more Titled Douluo," Dai Yao said earnestly.
Bibi Dong studied Dai Yao's resolute face, her brows knitting together thoughtfully. After a long silence, she spoke gravely:
"The Pope has granted me permission to send Spirit Hawk Douluo and Devil Bear Douluo along with you. Four Titled Douluo should be enough, don't you think?"
"It's still not enough."
Dai Yao's calm response lit a fire in Bibi Dong's heart. Rising from her throne, her tall, graceful figure on the elevated platform exuded an intimidating authority that made Dai Yao catch his breath.
"Dai Yao, do you think Titled Douluo are as common as cabbages?" she said coldly. "Four Titled Douluo is already the strongest force I can pull from the Pope's Hall. I'm entrusting all of them to you, yet you're still unsatisfied? Do you think Hao Tian Sect is that powerful?"
"If you have no desire to go, don't hide behind such excuses. I can send Xie Yue, Yan, or someone else."
Bibi Dong stood sideways, her chest rising and falling as her anger subsided. It was clear she had been genuinely affected. Apart from Snake Spear and Thorny Porcupine, who were loyal to the Grand Worship, she'd committed every Titled Douluo available. This demonstrated the trust she placed in Dai Yao, yet he insisted it wasn't enough. Bibi Dong took this as a sign that Dai Yao had no intention of undertaking the mission and was just making excuses to avoid it.
Hearing her words tinged with anger, Dai Yao sighed inwardly. There was no way he could tell her that Hao Tian Sect now had six Titled Douluo—the five elders and their sect leader, Tang Xiao. Spirit Hall itself didn't know this, so how could he possibly?
Lifting his gaze to meet hers, he responded, his tone steady, "Bibi Dong, can't you trust me on this just once?"
The sound of her name, spoken plainly, was like a jolt of electricity running through her body, rendering her momentarily speechless. She turned back, meeting Dai Yao's gaze, and for reasons she couldn't understand, she found herself inclined to believe him.
The two of them locked eyes in silence. Though the Pope's Hall was silent, neither could ignore the storm of emotions within. For a moment, it felt as if they were back in the zombie world, each supporting the other.
Biting her lip, Bibi Dong finally broke the silence with a calm, measured tone, "If you're that insistent, I'll trust you this once. However, I can only spare those four Titled Douluo from the Pope's Hall. If you need more, you'll have to find them yourself."
She knew that if he wanted more assistance, he'd have to turn to the Worship Hall, the very faction with which she was at odds. For her to even allow him to seek additional support was a significant compromise.
Dai Yao's heart lifted at her response. Although he had no personal ties to the Worship Hall, Feng Wutong did—and her mentor was none other than Spirit Hawk Douluo, the Third Worship. Once Feng Wutong returned, he could ask her to appeal to Qing Luan Douluo for additional help. If Qing Luan could gather just one more Titled Douluo, Dai Yao would be armed with two Super Douluo and four standard Titled Douluo. With such a lineup, anyone would assume Spirit Hall was mobilizing to eliminate Hao Tian Sect entirely.
With newfound determination, Dai Yao knelt on one knee, respectfully saluting. "Thank you, Your Holiness."
Upon hearing him revert to addressing her as "Your Holiness," Bibi Dong's expression shifted, a twinge of vulnerability in her gaze as she watched him retreat. Just as he reached the door, she couldn't resist calling out.
"Wait."
Dai Yao paused, looking back. "Is there something else, Your Holiness?"
Taking a deep breath and carefully containing her emotions, Bibi Dong replied, "Dai Yao, in the future, when it's just the two of us, you may address me as Bibi Dong—just as you did in the other world. There's no need for 'Your Holiness.'"
Surprised, Dai Yao's face softened with a smile. "Alright, Bibi Dong."
As the massive doors of the Pope's Hall opened, sunlight streamed in, flooding the room with light.
In the secluded valley, inside his wooden cabin, Dai Yao sat gazing at the waterfall outside, his mind fixed on his impending mission to Hao Tian Sect in six months.
"My role will be to hold the attention of Hao Tian Sect, creating an opening for the Titled Douluo to infiltrate," he mused. "As for their disciples, none are my match. In the original story, their third-generation disciples, like Tang Long and Tang Hu, were all Soul Emperors, but they'd still fall to me."
"But there's one possible exception—Tang San."
"It's been nearly five years since I joined Spirit Hall," Dai Yao thought wistfully. "One year of spear training, over two years in Slaughter City, six months in the zombie world, and a year in the library dissipating my killing intent. We're just a half-year shy of five years total."
In the original story, the five-year reunion for the Shrek Seven was fast approaching. Tang San had spent two years with the hammer, two years in Slaughter City, and a year at Yue Xuan refining his aura—all perfectly aligning with the five-year mark.
"If I end up facing Tang San at Hao Tian Sect, that would be ideal," Dai Yao mused darkly.
Dai Yao's grudge against Tang Hao from nearly dying under his hammer still simmered. He wouldn't kill Tang San yet, though; he still needed him alive for the sake of Xiao Wu's spirit ring. But while Tang San's life might be spared, punishment was inevitable.
Tang Hao and Tang San had always sought reconciliation with Hao Tian Sect, going as far as self-mutilation to atone. Dai Yao planned to ensure that they would forever be despised by their sect. If Tang Hao lost his Spirit Bone in the process, his soul power would remain trapped at Soul Sage level, reducing any threat he posed to nothing.
"When the time comes, I'll take away everything you cherish, Tang Hao," he thought, a malicious grin creeping onto his face.
While the mission would undoubtedly pose danger, Dai Yao knew he couldn't rely solely on Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo. The rivalries between the Pope's Hall and the Worship Hall might weaken their coordination, and despite the Titled Douluo's formidable presence, he couldn't depend on them entirely.
"Chaos Lotus will remain my final trump card, to be used only in extremis. But combining my fourth soul skill with Ba Ji Fist's Eight Extremes could yield an attack near the level of a Titled Douluo."
This combination excited him, and a flicker of blue-violet lightning danced in his eyes as his mind brimmed with anticipation.
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