Chapter 264: Four New Maids
The morning sunlight filtered through the valley's eastern gap, casting a golden glow over the cascade of the waterfall. Beneath it, a lone figure sat steadfast on a large stone, eyes shut, bearing the ceaseless torrent with unwavering focus. The man's skin was reddened by the relentless impact, and within, his previously unstable spirit power, bolstered by the crystals he had absorbed, was slowly but steadily becoming solidified.
That man was none other than Dai Yao.
Opening his eyes, he sensed the transformation in his spirit power and thought with satisfaction, "I didn't expect this waterfall training to still be so effective in condensing my spirit power."
Suddenly, a gleaming light appeared in the eastern sky, followed by four shadows in close pursuit. The undeniable aura of spirit power flowing toward him made Dai Yao look up. As he identified the arrival, his furrowed brow relaxed, and he smiled.
"Wu Tong's here…"
Today, Wu Tong had just finished a week of training with Qingluan Douluo in the Shrine Hall. Spotting the waterfall, her sharp gaze caught the small figure below, and a rare smile broke her usual cold expression.
Behind her, the four young women following Wu Tong exchanged glances, equally astonished. For them, Wu Tong was always a distant, cold beauty, never paying attention to the men around her, no matter their charm. Yet, today, they had witnessed something remarkable—Wu Tong's radiant smile.
The young women instinctively looked in the direction of her gaze and spotted the figure sitting beneath the waterfall, enduring its crushing force. They couldn't help but be startled. Training under a waterfall like that? He must be mad!
Wu Tong spread her fiery wings and soared down toward the waterfall's base. Moments later, she landed gracefully, her wings vanishing behind her. In quick strides, she approached Dai Yao, her eyes filled with warmth and affection as she softly called out, "My lord…"
As Dai Yao stepped out from under the waterfall, Wu Tong gently took his hand, her own imbued with spirit power, drying his soaked clothing and hair with warm flames. Throughout the process, Dai Yao felt only comfort, a testament to Wu Tong's improved mastery over her fire element. Glancing at the wooden hairpin he had given her still tucked into her hair, he smiled.
Turning to the four women who had followed Wu Tong, he asked, "And these four are…?"
Wu Tong explained, "These are the four maids I carefully selected for you. Since you chose to abandon the residence within Spirit City, we filtered out many who were originally selected. Considering the distance from Spirit City, I chose four spirit masters with avian spirit types for ease of travel, making daily life more convenient."
"What are their names?" he asked.
"You may call them by their spirit types," Wu Tong replied, "They are Peacock, Cuckoo, Egret, and Partridge. Among them, Peacock has the highest spirit power at the Spirit King level, while the others are all Spirit Elders."
Each woman nodded gracefully in acknowledgment as Wu Tong introduced them, her own demeanor calm and dignified.
Thanks to Wu Tong's introductions, Dai Yao quickly familiarized himself with his new attendants. Peacock was tall and exuded a soldier-like presence, her gaze piercing. Cuckoo had delicate features and an expressive face that hinted at a lively, playful spirit. Egret's long legs drew attention, and when Dai Yao looked her way, she visibly tensed, bashful yet proud. Finally, Partridge had a demure air about her, her expression tinged with a subtle melancholy.
In his previous life, any one of them would be the idealized beauty of countless admirers. Here in the world of Douluo, they were undoubtedly striking, though they fell short of the standards set by Wu Tong and Zhu Zhuqing. Even as spirit masters themselves, these four had willingly chosen to serve as attendants—a testament to Spirit Hall's opulence and abundant resources.
Dai Yao scanned them thoughtfully, then asked, "Did you all choose this freely? Becoming a maid means giving up a certain amount of freedom."
"We volunteered…" the three younger maids answered at once, their voices soft yet enticing, and each gaze held open admiration for him.
To earn these coveted spots, they had endured countless challenges. Serving as Dai Yao's maid was an honor envied by many within Spirit Hall.
For some, even securing a small connection with Dai Yao might offer boundless opportunity. After all, here was a man with two external spirit bones, a ten-thousand-year fourth spirit ring, and the power to defeat the fusion skill of Golden Generation members Hu Liena and Xie Yue alone—nearly accomplishing the impossible feat of one-against-fourteen. With such remarkable achievements, parents of marriageable young women throughout Spirit Hall were eager to arrange introductions, hoping their daughters might catch his eye, even if only as a maid. Just by forming a connection, they could be lifted to great heights.
The selection process, as Wu Tong recalled, had been fierce. Reviewing the backgrounds of prospective maids had been dizzying, especially when it came to those vying to serve him directly. Ultimately, due to Dai Yao's decision to live by the waterfall, Wu Tong had prioritized candidates with avian spirits for convenience in commuting.
Dai Yao noticed that one of them, Peacock, had yet to answer. He turned to her, his voice cool. "What about you?"
Peacock shared Wu Tong's strong and upright appearance, with a high ponytail tied behind her head. Her gaze held a clear, fiery intensity as she spoke, her tone strong, "Tell me, is it true you defeated the spirit fusion of Hu Liena and Xie Yue on your own?"
"Bold!" Wu Tong snapped before Dai Yao could reply, her voice sharp with disapproval. She had taken great care in selecting these attendants; for one to question her lord on the first day reflected poorly on her efforts. A fierce look filled Wu Tong's phoenix-like eyes, her spirit pressure radiating.
Peacock stumbled back with a muffled gasp, feeling the weight of Zhuque's dominance as if she'd been struck. Even those at a higher level could scarcely withstand Zhuque's godly aura; Peacock, despite her talent, was completely suppressed.
"Calm yourself," Dai Yao said softly to Wu Tong.
Dai Yao gently grabbed Feng Wutong's arm, his warm smile instantly quelling the anger that had flared in her heart. A Soul King, after all, deserved some explanation from Dai Yao. His gaze swept indifferently across Kong Que (Peacock), and with a faint wave of his hand, his ten-thousand-year soul ring appeared.
As the brilliant ring glowed, the sky suddenly darkened. A moment later, a torrential downpour of lightning cascaded from the heavens. Deafening thunderclaps reverberated around them, leaving the four women stunned, their eyes filled with awe and fear at the earth-shaking display.
The three Soul Elders felt utterly insignificant under the oppressive might of the ten-thousand-year soul ring. Any thought of resistance melted away, replaced by admiration tinged with reverence as they gazed upon Dai Yao.
"Well?"
Amid the storm of lightning, Dai Yao stood like a deity, his tone calm yet commanding.
Kong Que stared blankly at the sky filled with lightning, her long hair flying wildly in the wind. Her eyes fixed on Dai Yao with unrestrained excitement.
Only someone truly powerful could become her master—and Dai Yao had proven himself worthy.
"Greetings, Master!"
Kong Que dropped to one knee, her voice trembling with emotion.
Hearing this, Dai Yao withdrew his fourth soul skill. Feng Wutong took charge of the four women, instructing them to tidy up the house.
The wooden cabin, located near a waterfall, was perpetually damp. Feng Wutong used her mastery of fire elements to evaporate the lingering moisture, leaving the cabin fresh and revitalized.
The four women exchanged glances as they surveyed the simple home. They were surprised that someone as talented as Dai Yao lived in such modest conditions. Kong Que, however, felt her admiration deepen—true powerhouses pursued the pinnacle of soul mastery, not material comforts.
At 25 years old, with a soul power level of 55, Kong Que was considered a genius even within Spirit Hall. Yet in her heart, only a truly exceptional individual could match her strength and determination. Not even Xie Yue or Yan had impressed her.
When she heard that Dai Yao, as a mere Soul Elder, had defeated Xie Yue and Hu Liena's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, she rushed to join the selection for Dai Yao's maids. Being close to someone like him, her identity mattered little.
After some small talk, Feng Wutong left for the Papal Palace to continue her training under Spirit Kite Douluo, and Zhu Zhuqing departed shortly after.
Meanwhile, Dai Yao returned to his spot beneath the waterfall, resuming his soul power refinement.
Once the four women finished tidying up, they noticed Dai Yao had already immersed himself in his grueling training. Their admiration deepened when they saw the overwhelming force of the cascading waterfall. The sheer weight of it was unimaginable as a training method—Dai Yao's physical resilience must be extraordinary!
"You four should continue your own training," Dai Yao said calmly, his eyes still closed beneath the waterfall.
As soul masters, the four women had considerable potential despite their age. Dai Yao didn't want their soul power stagnating while serving him.
Hearing this, the women exchanged glances before finding a shaded spot to sit and meditate. When they joined Dai Yao's service, they had prepared themselves to abandon the soul master path entirely.
Only Kong Que had other intentions—she wanted to observe Dai Yao's training closely to better understand how to follow in his footsteps.
Time flew by, and soon it was noon.
When they paused to prepare lunch, the four women were astonished to discover that their soul power had visibly increased after just a morning of cultivation!
Even Kong Que, as a Soul King, felt a slight improvement.
"Kong Que, do you know what's going on?"
Du Juan (Cuckoo) asked in a hushed but excited tone, marveling at the changes within her body.
Lu Si (Egret) and Zhe Gu (Partridge) also turned their curious gazes toward Kong Que. After a moment's thought, Kong Que's eyes landed on Dai Yao, filled with awe.
"This must have something to do with Master," she said, her tone reverent. "Nothing else can explain why our cultivation speed has increased so dramatically."
As they discussed among themselves, Dai Yao's voice rang out from the direction of the waterfall.
"You're correct. Due to the nature of my martial soul, those near me experience faster cultivation speeds. Staying by my side gives you the opportunity to reach greater heights in your training."
This effect was thanks to the Chaos Green Lotus within Dai Yao's body. However, to keep it hidden, he attributed the phenomenon to his martial soul.
This arrangement ensured their loyalty and discouraged any betrayal. By enabling the women to improve their own abilities, he gave them a future worth pursuing alongside him.
The four women exchanged looks, deeply moved. They had come prepared to abandon their dreams of becoming stronger, yet Dai Yao had not only allowed them to continue training but also opened the door to even greater potential.
The unexpected turn of events left the three weaker women immensely grateful. Zhe Gu, prone to melancholy, was especially overwhelmed and couldn't stop the tears welling in her eyes.
"Alright, let's prepare lunch," Kong Que said, directing Lu Si and Du Juan.
As the strongest among them, Kong Que naturally took the lead.
Lu Si and Du Juan activated their martial souls and flew toward Spirit City to gather food supplies. Cooking in this pristine valley would spoil the atmosphere, so they planned to bring ready-made meals.
As they spent more time together, the four women realized that Dai Yao wasn't as unapproachable as they'd imagined.
When not training, he was unexpectedly humorous and approachable. Unlike the lofty nobles of the Douluo Continent, Dai Yao treated people with equality—a mindset shaped by his past life's values.
Though he didn't go out of his way to impress them, his casual kindness endeared him to the women. They felt fortunate to have chosen to serve him.
By dusk, several bright lights appeared in the eastern sky.
Dai Yao turned to see two figures flying swiftly toward him. What caught his attention, however, was a plump silhouette slowly emerging from the valley's entrance.
"Dai Yao, boy! Why no warm welcome for me?"
The round figure laughed heartily, stroking his belly in delight as his booming voice echoed through the valley.
Dai Yao shook his head with a smile.
"Grandpa Ferdinand, how could I not welcome you to my humble abode?"
The visitor was none other than Ferdinand, one of Spirit Hall's four Platinum Bishops and the man who had once rescued Dai Yao from the Star Luo Empire!
(Chapter End)
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