Chapter 218: Departure
Three days later.
At the entrance of Auckland Academy, a lavishly adorned convoy of carriages awaited. Nearby, dozens of royal knights in regal armor stood at attention, ready to escort the Auckland Academy team members.
Principal Jackson was also there early, and beside him stood a tall, slender figure clad in dark green. Just his presence exuded a chilling aura.
Before long, the team members gathered one by one.
"Grandpa!"
Upon spotting the green-clad figure, Dugu Yan gleefully ran into his arms. This man was none other than one of the few Titled Douluo on the continent—the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.
"Aye…"
Usually stern and unsmiling, Dugu Bo's face softened as he embraced Dugu Yan.
Everyone's hearts, which had been tense and excited, grew even more awestruck upon seeing Dugu Yan's familiarity with this man. The students now knew his identity, and they looked at him with deep reverence.
A Titled Douluo—the pinnacle of strength on the continent. This was a time when Titled Douluo were as rare as phoenix feathers, unlike later eras when they became more commonplace.
"Greetings, Bi Lin Your Grace."
The students greeted him respectfully.
Dugu Bo nodded, his gaze scanning the group. When he looked at Feng Wutong and Zhu Zhuqing, he sensed an intense heat and icy aura emanating from them, which surprised him. Could Auckland Academy truly be a match for the Spirit Hall team?
Pressing his surprise aside, his gaze finally landed on Dai Yao.
"Boy, I've been waiting long enough for you. Hurry it up!"
He spoke curtly, then led Dugu Yan to the carriage.
Dai Yao shook his head with a wry smile and turned to Feng Wutong. "Did you bring everything?" he asked. This trip to Spirit City was one from which they wouldn't be returning.
"Yes, it's all stored in my spirit tool," Feng Wutong replied.
"Why are you guys packing so much?" Dai Yuanyi asked, puzzled. "It's not like we won't come back."
"After the finals, Zhuqing, Wutong, and I will stay in Spirit City and join Spirit Hall. We won't be returning to Auckland Academy."
Dai Yao looked back at the academy gates with a trace of reluctance. Six years of memories had to be left behind.
Hearing Dai Yao's decision, everyone fell silent, their expressions a mix of sadness and disbelief.
Principal Jackson stepped forward. "I've known about this for some time. Each of you has your own path. Right now, you're still teammates. In the finals, give it your all, so you leave with no regrets."
"Right!"
The team members nodded vigorously.
The carriage moved steadily along as Dai Yao, feeling Dugu Bo's gaze on him, grew a bit uncomfortable. He understood Dugu Bo's concern. Anyone would be uneasy seeing their granddaughter with Dai Yao, who already had two other girls by his side.
However, his thoughts soon turned elsewhere.
He remembered that on this route, the Heaven Dou delegation was ambushed in the original story. Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo appeared, aiming to kill Tang San.
In that version, Chrysanthemum Douluo attacked Shrek, but Dugu Bo, along with the renowned Serpent Couple, delayed him until Sword Douluo arrived. Sword Douluo's Seven Kills Sword forced Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo to retreat.
This time, Dai Yao's influence likely meant that Tang San hadn't formed a bond with the Serpent Couple. If he could keep Dugu Bo occupied, Tang San would have little chance of survival—unless Tang Hao showed up or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan intervened.
The thought reassured Dai Yao. While he no longer feared Tang San, eliminating him would still be ideal. Yet he felt a certain obligation to protect Ning Rongrong's life. Her family, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, had shown him considerable kindness.
"Joining Spirit Hall but feeling compelled to protect someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—it's quite the predicament," he mused.
In this timeline, Dugu Bo's allegiance likely still lay with Heaven Dou Empire. Though his presence had altered events, it hadn't affected Dugu Bo's connection with Tang San.
If Tang San faces danger, Dugu Bo would fight to the death to protect him.
A procession of fifteen teams, over a thousand people, departed in grandeur. Outside Heaven Dou's city gates, the scene passed by in a blur as they traveled across towns, rivers, and mountains. They replenished supplies at each town and were greeted with the highest honors everywhere they went. The royal knights ensured they encountered no trouble.
Watching a deferential city lord before him, Dai Yao experienced the taste of power for the first time. Here stood a man responsible for tens of thousands of lives, yet he smiled obsequiously at Dai Yao. This was a drastic change from his previous life, where his attention had been solely on the Shrek Seven and their battles.
All professions and statuses are beneath that of a spirit master!
With a new understanding of Douluo's rigid hierarchy, he put the thought aside and resumed the journey. Midway through, after about ten days, the royal knights led them into a secluded gorge. The path was narrow, bordered by towering cliffs—a route that would save several miles.
Looking out the carriage window at the steep walls of the gorge, Dai Yao's heart raced.
This terrain is perfect for an ambush. Could this be the place Spirit Hall has planned to intercept us, just like in the original story?
Peering out, his gaze fixed on Shrek's carriage just ahead, his eyes glinting coldly.
This time, how will Tang San escape? With my intervention, perhaps that Spirit Hall Soul Douluo, Lordialo, won't be so pitifully thwarted.
In the original story, Lordialo was repeatedly stopped by Chrysanthemum Douluo's orders, his Soul Power cut off mid-fight, leaving him humiliated.
Ahead of Auckland's carriage were teams from Blazing, Tianshui, and Divine Wind academies, with Shrek's carriage positioned just before them, well-protected within the center of the convoy.
"Stop! Everyone be on alert!"
The leader of the Royal Knights raised his hand, his sharp gaze scanning the area. At his command, the convoy instantly halted.
The spirit masters felt a jolt of anxiety, but before they could question what was happening, they sensed Spirit Power fluctuations along the tops of the cliffs, and all heads instinctively turned upward.
Countless stones fell like a downpour from the sky. The Royal Knights maintained a steely resolve, but many academy participants looked relatively unconcerned.
With so many powerful spirit masters here, what's there to worry about?
Five hundred knights formed a wall of spears, creating an iron barrier that intercepted the falling rocks.
"What's going on? Who'd be foolish enough to ambush us?" Dai Yuanyi exclaimed in disbelief.
"Not sure, but let's stay cautious. Everyone, stop your training, and let's get off the carriages," Feng Qianli ordered, his expression growing serious. "Even though we have Poison Douluo and the principal with us, it's best to stay vigilant."
The group quickly disembarked.
Hearing Feng Qianli's orderly instructions, Jackson nodded in quiet approval. Even Dugu Bo stroked his beard in satisfaction. Although Feng Qianli's talent wasn't quite on par with Dai Yao's or that of the Shrek Seven, his careful disposition made up for those shortcomings. Given time, he could very well become a legendary spirit master.
Suddenly, Dugu Bo, who had been floating mid-air, froze and exchanged a look with Jackson. Both saw shock and unease reflected in each other's eyes—they had sensed several terrifying presences atop the canyon cliffs.
The rocks kept falling. Despite the Royal Knights' efforts, more stones broke through, piling up like walls and isolating each academy's carriages from each other. Meanwhile, stones continued raining down, targeting individual groups.
"Quick! Activate your spirit abilities!"
In unison, a multitude of spirit rings lit up across the field as the academy teams responded. Yellow, purple, and other glowing spirit rings filled the air with a breathtaking brilliance.
The combined spirit skills managed to fend off the falling rocks. But before anyone could even catch their breath, a piercing whistle broke the air. Thousands of black-clad figures charged down the cliff with astonishing speed.
Their spirit rings flared—shockingly, every single one was a spirit master. Among them, over thirty were Spirit Kings or higher, with even some Spirit Saints and Spirit Douluo in their ranks.
The fifteen hundred attackers quickly divided into smaller formations, surrounding the fifteen academy teams now isolated by the stones.
Seeing this, nearly every participant's face turned pale. This overwhelming lineup could easily end every one of them.
"Everyone, gather together, back to back! Take position behind me!" Jackson called out, his face grave.
Dugu Bo guarded Dugu Yan, his expression stony. Among the powerful presences surrounding them, he recognized some familiar auras. Watching the encircling spirit masters, he muttered to himself, "Such an impressive formation…there are very few factions on the continent capable of this. Could it really be them? But if so, what's their goal?"
Surveying the spirit masters around them, he quickly noted they bore no killing intent. Particularly when they looked at Dai Yao, there was even a hint of respect in their eyes.
Only in Shrek Academy's direction did he sense a volatile clash of spirit power—one aura was so strong it rivaled a Spirit Douluo.
Dugu Bo's heart skipped a beat as he pieced it together. These spirit masters must be from Spirit Hall. That explains why they hold no hostility toward Dai Yao, who is on the verge of joining them.
Their true target was clearly Tang San, his once-unlikely friend.
With urgency flashing in his gaze, Dugu Bo shot a glance at Dai Yao, whose expression remained calm and unruffled. After a deep look, Dugu Bo asked, "Dai Yao, did you know this was going to happen?"
Dai Yao shook his head.
"Then why do you seem entirely unbothered by this?" Dugu Bo pressed.
Dai Yao smiled and explained, "Only a handful of powers on the continent could muster a force like this. The three upper sects have easily identifiable spirits, and the Star Luo Empire lacks the capacity to infiltrate this close to Spirit City undetected."
He pointed toward the sky. "These spirit masters could only come from one place."
A leader among the black-clad spirit masters cleared his throat in a subtle signal to Dai Yao. Though Dai Yao hadn't directly named the faction, it was clear enough to those who understood.
It was an odd scene, with battles raging nearby while they carried on this strange, calm exchange.
"Since that's the case, I'll leave Yan-Yan in your care," Dugu Bo said as he prepared to rush toward Tang San's side. But just as he was about to leave, Dai Yao spoke quietly through spiritual transmission.
"Are you heading to help Tang San?"
Dugu Bo paused, casting a long look back at Dai Yao, his green eyes glinting as he transmitted his own response, "Are you trying to stop me?"
"No," Dai Yao replied. "I just want to know—what debt do you owe Tang San that you're willing to defy Spirit Hall to help him?"
To anyone observing, their lips moved subtly, but no sound could be heard.
In this timeline, Tang San never saved Dugu Bo's life—it was Dai Yao who rescued both Dugu Bo and his granddaughter. So why was Dugu Bo still so willing to risk everything for Tang San? Could this truly be the world's will at play?
Dugu Bo seemed to reflect on the question, perhaps searching for his own justification for helping Tang San. Finally, he replied, "Tang San is a friend, one I regard across our age difference. Now that he's in trouble, I cannot simply stand by."
Though ruthless at times, Dugu Bo possessed a kind of streetwise loyalty. Friends, once made, were friends for life.
Dai Yao shook his head. "What a shame," he thought. Dugu Bo's loyalty would ultimately go unremembered by Tang San. The jade green of Jialing Pass would one day fade, all lost to the river of time.
He noticed a slight uncertainty in Dugu Bo's voice. If Dugu Bo continued to follow Tang San, his fate would be far grimmer than in the original tale. Under the might of the Spirit Empire, even a powerhouse like Dugu Bo would eventually fall.
For Dugu Yan's sake, he needed to prevent Dugu Bo from risking himself. Besides, Dugu Bo's power was far too valuable to be handed over to Tang San's side.
Dai Yao carefully countered, "Senior, you, of all people, know how fearsome Spirit Hall is—the sheer number of Titled Douluo is staggering. I mean no offense, but even if all the other factions united, they could barely withstand Spirit Hall's might."
"The Haotian Sect's grievances with Spirit Hall run deep. This is a matter between them. No one could fault you if you choose not to get involved."
This offered Dugu Bo an excuse to keep his integrity intact.
Finally, Dai Yao clasped his hands and bowed slightly. "I ask you, Senior, to reconsider, if not for my sake, then for Yan-Yan's."
(Chapter End)
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