The Great Battle BeginsSitting on the collapsed house, Dai Hengyu stared blankly in the direction Dai Yao had left, his expression dazed.
Dai Yao's departure signifies a complete break with the Xingluo Dai family, a fight to the death between them. Caught in the middle, he is torn and doesn't know what to do.
"Hengyu, you'd better watch yourself."
After giving Dai Hengyu a brief glance, the Grand Elder's figure disappeared into the distance.
Dai Yao has already left, preparing his revenge plan. He must report to His Majesty as soon as possible and make preparations accordingly.
The Soul Masters, who were initially overjoyed by Poison Douluo's arrival, were now completely bewildered. Why had Poison Douluo suddenly disappeared? But under the influence of a mysterious force, these ripples were subtly smoothed out, as if Poison Douluo had never even been there.
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Inside a teahouse in Xingluo City.
"Sect Master, how is it?"
Upon seeing Dai Yao return, the three elders immediately came forward to greet him and inquire about his whereabouts. Dugu Yan and Feng Wutong also came to Dai Yao's side, one on each side, looking at him with concern.
Dai Yao sat in the chair, his expression solemn, and said in a deep voice:
"Gentlemen, Prince Hengyu is not in any danger. The reason why the Star Luo Empire sent out such news is to try to bring me back so that I can find an opportunity to resolve our grievances with them."
"What was the result?"
Zhu Zhuqing stared intently at Dai Yao. Dai Yao's decision directly affected her relationship with the Zhu family. Although she decided to follow Dai Yao's decision, she still had a special feeling for that place called 'home'.
Dai Yao glanced apologetically at Zhu Zhuqing, then shook his head and said mockingly:
"Those guys from the Dai family are still dreaming, preparing to give me a chance, fantasizing that I'll cry my eyes out and return to the Dai family!"
The elders exchanged bewildered glances, utterly shocked by the Dai family's arrogance. They acted as if their sect leader desperately wanted to return to the family. Dai Yao's return to the Star Luo Empire to gather forces was precisely to confront the Dai family, yet these people actually dared to dream of giving their sect leader a chance to return?!
"The Dai family is far too arrogant. Sect Master, what are you going to do next? Whatever your decision is, our medical department will fully support you!"
Yang Wudi slammed his fist on the table and shouted angrily.
Yang Wudi was a man who hated evil and injustice. Because of the fate of the Po clan in the Star Luo Empire, he had no goodwill towards the royal family. Coupled with Dai Yao's deeds, he despised the Dai family even more. Therefore, even if Dai Yao decided to fight the Dai family, he would support him.
Niu Gao and Bai He exchanged a glance, and Niu Gao nodded, saying:
"The same applies to our Ministry of Construction."
Bai He gritted his teeth and agreed, "Our Information Department also supports the Sect Master's decision."
Hearing this, Dai Yao felt reassured and smiled:
"Very well! Thank you all for your support. I must avenge my mother's death! As the saying goes, once the arrow is on the bowstring, it must be released. The Azure Lotus Sect has finally come to Star Luo City; we may not have such an opportunity again. Therefore, we will launch our attack on a chosen day and make Star Luo City bleed!"
"good!"
The elders all agreed in unison.
A moment later, dozens of people in a hurry left the teahouse and headed to various parts of Xingluo City.
Inside the noble manor and the commoners' quarters, in all sorts of rooms and among all the teams, everyone received Dai Yao's signal and began to prepare for action. Dai Yao promised them conditions that would make countless people envious: if they succeeded, they would benefit for life, and even if they died, their descendants would be blessed.
······
"Zhu Qing, Wu Tong, come with me somewhere."
Despite the impending great battle and the uncertain outcome, Dai Yao remained surprisingly calm. Gazing at the falling snow outside the window, he sighed softly and said in a low voice.
Zhu Zhuqing leaned against Dai Yao, and upon hearing Dai Yao's words, asked with some confusion:
Where to?
Dai Yao did not answer, but instead called out to Feng Wutong, and then said:
"Come with me."
He pulled on his hood and stepped into the swirling snow. The snow was heavy and visibility was low, so there weren't many people on the streets. Dai Yao led the two women westward along the street, passing through the city gate guards he had bribed beforehand, and left Xingluo City.
The heavy snow turned the entire world white.
After walking a while longer, the magnificent Xingluo City was reduced to a horizontal section of its city wall. The mountains ahead were bare, with nothing left in the swirling snow.
The footprints made a soft, thumping sound as they stepped into the deep snow, and were quickly erased by the falling snow.
As the sun gradually set and the surroundings grew darker, Feng Wutong asked, somewhat puzzled:
"Dai Yao, where are we going?"
Dai Yao simply replied, "It will be soon."
After a while, the sun completely set, and night enveloped the entire mountain. In the extreme cold, all was quiet. Just then, Dai Yao finally stopped climbing and said with a complex expression:
"This is it."
The two women followed Dai Yao's gaze and saw a relatively flat area ahead, which was quite rare in this mountainous region. On this flat area, a sudden ridge caught their attention.
Dai Yao stepped forward and, without using his soul power, personally removed the snow from the mound.
Seeing Dai Yao's actions, the two women were startled and realized something. They immediately stepped forward to help Dai Yao clear the snow.
As the three men moved, the mound revealed its true form. It was a tomb, overgrown with weeds beneath the heavy snow, and the tombstone in front of it was completely blank, as if it had been forgotten by the world.
"This is?!"
Feng Wutong's eyes widened, and she said in disbelief. She had already guessed the truth, but she was still not sure.
Dai Yao nodded, reaching out to stroke the blank stele, his hand trembling slightly. During his conversation with Dai Hengyu, he had specifically inquired about his mother's burial place. He was told that his mother was not buried in the Imperial Concubine's Cemetery, but rather in a joint burial arrangement with the Emperor.
Instead, it was on a desolate mountain.
Now, seeing this lonely grave with his own eyes, his heart trembles.
A noble concubine, she never found peace in life, nor in death. She was a taboo subject; even her name was not etched on her tombstone. Forgotten by her family, her nominal husband disdained to even glance at her.
All traces of her have been deliberately erased, leaving only this nameless, lonely grave.
"Your son is unfilial! I am late."
Before the blank stele, Dai Yao suddenly knelt on the ground, his voice choked with sobs. He slammed his knees heavily onto the ground, making a dull thud.
He had never been here before, not even once in his life. Of course, there were compelling reasons for this; if he dared to leave the palace and the Star Luo Royal Academy, the Empress would certainly not mind reuniting Dai Yao and his mother.
More than twenty years later, he finally saw his mother for the first time. Although Dai Yao had only met his mother once, her loving face was deeply etched in his mind, unforgettable for life. His mother had never been happy in her life, but she never neglected her son; instead, she loved and cared for him dearly.
He couldn't imagine how lonely his mother must be on this desolate mountain if she knew what was happening to her.
Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong exchanged a glance, stood beside Dai Yao, and knelt down without hesitation.
This is Dai Yao's mother; as Dai Yao's wife, she is also their mother.
Dai Yao snapped out of his grief and began to explain to the wordless stele:
"Mother, these are your two daughters-in-law. The one on the left is named Zhu Zhuqing, and the one on the right is named Feng Wutong. There are two other daughters-in-law who are not here yet. Their names are Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan. I will definitely bring them here to meet you when there is an opportunity later."
The two women gazed at the desolate tomb and seemed to see a beautiful woman looking at them with loving kindness.
In a daze, it seemed as if Dai Yao's mother had approved of them.
They quickly kowtowed on the ground, just like Dai Yao, and from this day forward, they would be considered Dai Yao's true wives.
Dai Yao took out the fruits and vegetables he had prepared beforehand from his Ruyi Treasure Pouch and placed them in front of the tombstone. He also took out a radiant fairy herb and planted it in front of the tombstone.
"Mother, this plant is called Crystal Orchid. It is like a lantern and can emit light. When I am not here, let it be me and light up this place for you."
Dai Yao said in a deep voice.
After doing all this, Dai Yao returned to his original spot, gazing at the withered tomb in the desolate mountain, and slowly said:
"Mother, I'm back here, and I won't let you continue to suffer humiliation. I won't spare a single one of your enemies! Wait here, I'll send those bastards down to apologize to you. Empress, the maid who killed you, and... the Star Luo Emperor!"
The wind and snow howled, the trees rustled, and after a moment, the wind and snow buried the withered mound again, and the three figures in front of the mound had disappeared.
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Starry Palace.
"Elder, it seems your plan has failed."
Emperor Xingluo sat on his throne, looking at the newly returned Grand Elder, and said calmly.
It turns out that it wasn't just the Grand Elder trying to resolve their feud with Dai Yao; the Star Luo Empire was also involved. Dai Yao's talent and character were enough to make any power envious. If Dai Yao joined their ranks, the future would undoubtedly gain another peerless Douluo. Therefore, they were willing to pay the price of the Empress's death to gain Dai Yao's forgiveness.
The Grand Elder looked up at the Star Luo Emperor, gave him a deep look, then sighed but did not answer.
Emperor Xingluo became interested and asked:
"Elder, the conditions I offered were already quite generous, so why won't that boy agree?"
The Grand Elder gazed intently at the snowstorm outside the palace gates and replied:
"The conditions you offered are not enough. He not only wants the Empress to die, but also the Second Elder. Most importantly, he wants you to be buried with his mother."
Upon hearing this, the air in the palace became slightly still.
Emperor Xingluo stared at the Grand Elder in disbelief. The one who killed Dai Yao's mother was clearly the Empress; how was she connected to him? He inquired:
Are you telling the truth?
The Grand Elder said in a deep voice:
"How could I lie to Your Majesty? He told me that if Your Majesty hadn't disregarded Bai Su's wishes and forced her to marry you, neither she nor her son would have ended up like this. Therefore, this boy believes that the culprit who killed his mother is none other than Your Majesty!"
The emperor was stunned for a moment, still unable to understand Dai Yao's logic. In his mind, it would be an honor for any woman he married, and there was no reason for her to refuse.
As the saying goes, both thunder and rain are acts of imperial favor. It was Bai Su's honor to be married to him, yet she remained indifferent to him after the marriage, and even when he executed her, she didn't say a word. Sparing Bai Su's life was entirely due to his own mercy.
But in Dai Yao's mind, this became his mistake.
This matter is not about right or wrong, but about perspective. From Dai Yao's perspective, the view on this matter is completely different.
He shook his head helplessly, his expression slowly turning cold. He said coldly:
"Since this brat wants to take my life, let him come at me! I can't even handle a mere traitor, how can I possibly govern the entire empire?! I'll wait for him in the palace!"
"Elder, when will that boy arrive?"
The Grand Elder shook his head. Dai Yao hadn't said when he would arrive, and he wondered:
"Maybe he won't dare to come? Knowing that the family has already laid a trap, if he comes again, wouldn't he be courting death?"
The Star Luo Emperor pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said:
"No, he will definitely come. I know this kid; he's been vengeful since he was a child, especially for the murder of his mother. Now that he's finally come to Xingluo City, even if the chances of winning are slim, he'll definitely take the gamble!"
The First Elder's heart skipped a beat. It seemed there was no room for reconciliation between Dai Yao and the Star Luo Empire. If he had several more decades to live, he wouldn't be so worried. A little over ten years was enough time for the family to cultivate a Title Douluo.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and he pressed on with the question:
"Your Majesty, when is Dai Yao's birthday?"
Emperor Xingluo was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood Dai Yao's plan. Looking at the wind and snow outside the palace, he suddenly realized:
"I see. If I remember correctly, the Empress eliminated Bai Su on this kid's birthday. This kid must be planning to get rid of us, his enemies, on the same day!"
In an instant, the wind and snow intensified, the cold wind howled, and a desolate atmosphere filled the world.
······
Two days later.
It happened to be Dai Yao's birthday.
The snow had not yet melted, and the streets were covered in snow.
Are you ready?
Inside the secret chamber, all the elders nodded, their eyes filled with determination.
"Sect Master, we're ready, but your plan..."
Niu Gao asked with concern.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything I'm not sure of. Senior Dugu, I'm entrusting this matter to you."
Dai Yao turned his head and said seriously to Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo stared intently at Dai Yao with a deep gaze. After a long while, he sighed helplessly and said:
"Don't call me senior, just call me grandpa. Sigh, I'm really going all out this time. If anything happens to me, I'm entrusting Yan Yan to you."
This was the first time Dugu Bo had spoken so softly, which showed his concern for Dai Yao's operation.
Dai Yao was startled, then smiled and said:
"Grandpa, don't worry, you'll be fine. Yanyan is waiting for you to come back."
Dai Yao looked at everyone's faces again, and seeing the worried faces of Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong, he couldn't help but stroke their hair to comfort them.
Immediately, Dai Yao turned and walked forward, and the crowd followed in his footsteps, slowly making their way towards the Star Luo Imperial Palace along the street. One by one, the disciples of the Azure Lotus Sect caught up with the group, and hundreds of Azure Lotus Sect disciples dressed in blue robes followed behind the group, resembling an azure dragon, converging towards the imperial palace.
Before long, the majestic palace came into view.
Gazing at the imperial palace towers that have stood for millennia, Dai Yao felt an unprecedented sense of peace.
"After more than twenty years of grudges, today is the day to settle things." (End of Chapter)