Chapter 70: The Duel of Soul Douluo

Chapter 70: The Duel of Soul Douluo

Dai Yao immediately understood Ferdinand's intentions.

"Ferdinand has already arrived here but is not showing himself, trying to force me to declare my allegiance and directly join the Spirit Hall!"

However, Dai Yao was not ready to join the Spirit Hall just yet.

He suddenly spoke up, "Fifth Elder, I have one more question."

"What is it?"

The Fifth Elder was puzzled. Dai Yao had seemingly resigned himself earlier, but now his attitude had changed.

"I have a question: Dai Mubai also left the Star Luo Empire, why aren't you going after him?" Dai Yao questioned.

"Hmph, he left the Star Luo Empire without colluding with the Spirit Hall. Your issue isn't leaving the empire, it's your unclear ties with the Spirit Hall!"

The Fifth Elder snorted, growing more convinced that Dai Yao was beyond saving, still not realizing the gravity of his situation.

But Dai Yao had been waiting for this moment. He hadn't asked this question earlier because it would have been useless. Now, knowing Ferdinand was lurking in the shadows, he dared to press on.

"Then let me ask you one more question, Elder! Could I have left the empire on my own?" Dai Yao's tone suddenly grew sharper.

"Why wouldn't you..."

The Fifth Elder began to reply without thinking, but midway through his sentence, he froze, unable to continue.

He knew Dai Yao's circumstances and was aware of the entanglements between Emperor Star Luo and Dai Yao's mother. Without protection, Dai Yao would certainly have died under the empress's watch.

But weren't imperial succession struggles always like this?

Seeing the Fifth Elder pause, Dai Yao sneered. "If Dai Mubai can leave the empire safely, could I? Without the help of the Spirit Hall, the moment I leave the imperial capital, it would be the moment of my death."

"No, Dai Yao, you don't have to be so pessimistic. You still have your family behind you!" The Fifth Elder, after thinking for a moment, realized Dai Yao's predicament.

"Family, what a family!" Dai Yao's anger flared when the topic of family was mentioned.

"Has my family ever cared for me?!"

"When I was bullied by the eunuchs in the Cold Palace, where was my family?!"

"When I was insulted by Dai Yaming's subordinates in the academy, where was my family?! I am a prince, after all!"

"When I was preparing to leave the Star Luo Empire, where was my family?!"

Dai Yao shouted these words with pain, each sentence filled with sorrow. His eyes were misty with tears.

"Now, when you force me to be entangled with the Spirit Hall just to leave the empire, suddenly my family reappears!"

"I just want to live! Have I done anything wrong? Now you say I've betrayed the family, telling me to repent."

"I ask you! Why should I?!"

The words "Why should I?!" echoed in the sky, the dust scattering as many travelers looked up in confusion, murmuring. The two children seemed to elicit pity from them.

Zhu Zhuqing gently approached Dai Yao, holding his hand tenderly, offering a small smile. Though she didn't speak, her gesture spoke volumes.

The Fifth Elder stared at Dai Yao, his desperate, helpless scream like a sword piercing his heart.

He could understand Dai Yao, but he couldn't agree to his request.

As the Fifth Elder of the Clan Elders, he bore the heavy responsibility of his family's rise and fall. He could not allow personal emotions to cloud his judgment and let Dai Yao become a huge problem for the family.

Yes, with Dai Yao's potential, if he were to leave the Star Luo Empire and grow stronger, he would undoubtedly become a major trouble for the empire.

At this point, the Fifth Elder had no choice but to bring Dai Yao back, regardless of life or death.

This was also the reason why Dai Yao hadn't dared to ask that question before.

Once he asked, there would be no turning back with the White Tiger family.

"Enough, Dai Yao! Even if you have countless grievances, you cannot betray the family! If the family has wronged you, you can suggest improvements, but you cannot betray the family, that is the bottom line!" The Fifth Elder said coldly.

With a single motion, his enormous soul power surged, and gusts of wind appeared from nowhere, as he prepared to capture Dai Yao.

"At this point, isn't Ferdinand going to take action?!" Dai Yao realized the danger and shouted loudly.

Suddenly, another powerful aura appeared in the sky, shattering the Fifth Elder's invisible hand.

Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing fell from the sky. Soul power surged, and their martial souls activated, wings extending to catch them. Though they couldn't fly, gliding wasn't an issue.

With the wings acting as a buffer, they fell too quickly for a proper landing. Dai Yao gritted his teeth, protecting Zhu Zhuqing as they rolled upon landing to slow down their descent.

Dai Yao was a powerful Soul Master with high resilience. The rolling didn't cause much harm to him, while Zhu Zhuqing, who he shielded, was unharmed.

When the rolling finally stopped, Zhu Zhuqing immediately got up and, worried, helped Dai Yao.

"Are you okay?"

Dai Yao didn't hesitate. "I'm fine, we need to go!"

They didn't dare to look back, using all their soul power, pushing themselves to their limit as they hurried toward the direction of the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Hahaha!"

A loud laugh echoed through the heavens and earth, followed by a powerful wave of energy shooting into the sky, pushing back the fiery red sky by half.

Countless people covered their ears in pain as the sound was deafening, as though thunder had exploded right beside them.

A chubby figure flew out from a mountain peak, standing opposite the Fifth Elder.

It was the long-awaited Ferdinand, the bishop of the Spirit Hall.

The Fifth Elder's gaze narrowed, and he warned sternly, "Fat man, do you realize that by sheltering Dai Yao today, you're making the Spirit Hall an enemy of our Star Luo Empire?!"

"Can you bear the consequences?"

His voice rumbled like thunder!

"Oh, old Five, no need to get so worked up," Ferdinand replied with his usual fake smile, speaking slowly.

In truth, Ferdinand was cursing inwardly. He had been lying in wait for Dai Yao to openly declare his allegiance to the Spirit Hall, so that as the bishop of the Spirit Hall, he could protect the Spirit Hall's disciples with justification.

But he didn't expect Dai Yao to remain resolute even in this dire situation, unwilling to openly join the Spirit Hall.

This made Ferdinand think even more highly of Dai Yao. He must be someone who keeps his promises, and once he joins the Spirit Hall, he would never betray it.

Since Dai Yao hadn't joined the Spirit Hall yet, Ferdinand could not help him openly.

Now, as Dai Yao escaped from Wu Pass, Ferdinand could only assist him indirectly by stalling the Fifth Elder.

"Old Five, I was just about to report back to the Spirit Hall, and what do you know, I run into you here. Haven't you always wanted a match with me?"

Ferdinand wasn't directly protecting Dai Yao; he was using a personal duel to hold off the Fifth Elder.

The Fifth Elder understood this but his face turned as cold as ice. "Fatty, I advise you not to mislead yourself!"

"Old friends dueling, what's wrong with that?" Ferdinand waved his hand dismissively, exuding the attitude of someone who wasn't afraid of trouble.

"Fine, since you want to die, I'll grant your wish."

The Fifth Elder laughed wildly, his large hand sweeping the air as a vast ocean-like soul power erupted, causing the air to become thick and sticky, and the sky turned dark.

Eight terrifying soul rings slowly began to release.

(End of chapter)