A Gift from an Old Friend, Returning to the Spirit Hall"By the way, Dai Yao, there's a Star Luo Empire person waiting for you here."
After Ferdinand left, Ning Rongrong glanced at Zhu Zhuqing and then whispered a reminder.
Dai Yao asked, somewhat puzzled:
Who is it?
Ning Rongrong didn't answer directly. Instead, she gave Dai Yao a deep look and said:
"Come with me, Zhuqing, come along too."
Dai Yao was completely bewildered. In the Star Luo Empire, he had practically no old friends. Apart from his Uncle Dai Hengyu and Ye Nantian, everyone else was his enemy. He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, nodded, and then followed Ning Rongrong toward a house.
Ning Rongrong stopped at the door and turned to Dai Yao, saying:
"This is it. You'll know who it is once you go in."
Dai Yao knocked on the door, which opened. When they saw who it was, Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a surprised glance. They then understood why Ning Rongrong had invited Zhu Zhuqing along. Zhu Zhuqing asked uncertainly:
"Sister Zhuyue?"
Many years later, Zhu Zhuyue has completely blossomed into a beautiful young woman. Her appearance has changed considerably, and while her figure remains as alluring as ever, her temperament is now completely different from what it was back then.
Back then, she was alluring and charming, like a blooming poppy, easily arousing desires in others. But now, she dresses rather plainly and deliberately conceals her appearance, as if she doesn't want outsiders to see her.
Upon seeing Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Yao, she glanced at Dai Yao a few more times before resuming her expressionless, deathly silence.
"Please come in."
Zhu Zhuyue said calmly.
Dai Yao was puzzled, not understanding Zhu Zhuyue's purpose in coming here. He glanced into the room a few times but did not find Dai Yaming's presence.
Back then, he had a considerable grudge against Dai Yaming and Zhu Zhuyue. If he hadn't obtained a thousand-year soul ring when he got his second soul ring, he might have died at Dai Yaming's hands.
However, Dai Yao ultimately crippled Dai Yaming's arm, causing Dai Yaming to lose his potential to become a Title Douluo. Therefore, it was inevitable that he would be abandoned by his family. He was the victor of that duel, and Dai Yaming had also paid the price, so Dai Yao no longer held a grudge against Dai Yaming from that year.
"Zhu Zhuyue, what is it you want to say? Please speak plainly."
After sitting down, Dai Yao went straight to the point. Although he didn't understand how Zhu Zhuyue had gotten here, he didn't bother to dwell on it. He had no connection with Dai Yaming or Zhu Zhuyue; they were just strangers.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong also looked at Zhu Zhuyue with curiosity.
A glimmer of life finally appeared on Zhu Zhuyue's deathly pale face. She took out a bone-like object from her soul tool, placed it on the table, and calmly said:
"This is Yamin's soul bone. He instructed me to give it to you."
Sensing the soul power emanating from the bones, everyone was immediately startled, and Dai Yao raised an eyebrow.
In his battle with Dai Yaming years ago, Dai Yaming caused him immense trouble, especially with Dai Yaming's soul bone skill, the Destructive Death Ray, which left him helpless. Now that Dai Yaming's soul bone has appeared here, his fate is self-evident.
Gazing at the soul bone radiating purple light, Dai Yao fell silent for a moment.
The enemy of yesteryear is now gone; such an ending is truly unexpected. However, he doesn't value this soul bone, which is only a thousand years old, and extends his hand to hand it to Zhu Zhuyue, saying:
"I cannot accept this soul bone. If I remember correctly, this soul bone was prepared for Dai Yaming by his mother at a great cost. It should not be given to me under any circumstances."
Zhu Zhuyue showed no reaction on her face, instead saying:
"You're right, but ever since Ya Ming lost to you, not only has Ya Ming become despondent, but the Empress was also suppressed by the Empress and passed away not long after. Ya Ming's maternal clan severed ties with Ya Ming directly, fearing that the future Emperor would punish them. We don't even know who to give this soul bone to."
"The only valuable thing that Yamin and I have is this soul bone. After much thought, we have decided to give it to you."
Dai Yao fell silent for a moment. He and Dai Yaming were enemies, but at this time, it was precisely the enemy who could be trusted.
He sighed softly and asked:
"This item is not suitable for me. Would you mind if I gave it to someone else?"
Zhu Zhuyue answered calmly:
"Since this item has been given to you, you can do with it as you please. Neither Yaming nor I have any objections."
Dai Yao sighed softly and said:
"In that case, I'll accept it."
Zhu Zhuyue nodded and stood up to see the guest out.
"Alright, my mission is complete, so I won't keep you any longer."
The group was somewhat surprised; Zhu Zhuyue's actions were far too impolite. Immediately, Dai Yao stood up and said:
"No need to see me out."
Just as Dai Yao, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong reached the door and were about to leave, Zhu Zhuyue spoke up:
"Zhu Qing..."
Zhu Zhuqing turned around in surprise and asked:
"What's wrong?"
Zhu Zhuyue hesitated for a moment, then said, "What happened back then... I'm sorry..."
Back then, when Zhu Zhuqing became Dai Yao's fiancée, a competitive relationship developed between her and Zhu Zhuqing. Therefore, she repeatedly bullied and suppressed Zhu Zhuqing in order to prevent Dai Yao from threatening Dai Yaming.
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's alright, I stopped caring about it a long time ago."
"Well... that's all, you can go now."
Zhu Zhuyue's eyes flickered, and she said, "Send me away."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, and the three of them left.
After Dai Yao and the other two left and the room fell silent again, Zhu Zhuyue looked on with a deep gaze and sighed with emotion:
"Zhu Qing, you've chosen a good match. Not only did he take you away from the Star Luo Empire, but he's also given you so many opportunities..."
Actually, she felt a little envious of Zhu Zhuqing. Before, there wasn't much difference between her and Zhu Zhuqing; their appearances were similar, and their martial souls were the same. But now, upon seeing her, Zhu Zhuqing was as aloof as the moon, noble and elegant. From Zhu Zhuqing's martial soul, she could still feel that chilling pressure.
Zhu Zhuqing's martial spirit is definitely not the Netherworld Cat!
As for herself, she and Dai Yaming were confined to the cold palace. Although they had enough to eat and wear, they had no freedom and were looked down upon by the maids and servants. The palace was already oppressive, and people like them, who were originally of noble status but had fallen to the mortal world, were even more oppressed by these people.
With her pride intact, she could only keep the palace gates closed, seeking peace of mind from what she saw.
After Dai Yaming's defeat and loss of an arm, his health was still relatively good, and he planned to spend the rest of his life with her in the cold palace. However, after the death of the Imperial Concubine, Dai Yaming's health deteriorated day by day, and he eventually lay on his sickbed, unable to move.
Although Dai Yaming was paralyzed on one side, Zhu Zhuyue did not abandon him. Dai Yaming lost an arm to save her, so how could she leave him when he was injured?
The Zhu family members are all so devoted to love.
Just after Dai Yao entered the Star Luo Empire, Dai Yaming passed away. She originally wanted to die with Dai Yaming, but Dai Yaming's soul bone carried his mother's hopes. She hoped to find a new owner for this soul bone, so she asked Zhu Zhuyue to give the soul bone to Dai Yao.
"Yamin, I've finished what you asked me to do. I'll be with you right away..."
As if recalling Dai Yaming's face, Zhu Zhuyue smiled gently, took out a sharp blade, and held it against her snow-white neck.
A flash of light, blood fell, and a beautiful woman perished.
An hour later, the servant who brought Zhu Zhuyue's food noticed something amiss in the room. When he opened the door, he was immediately terrified and screamed. Shortly after, Dai Yao arrived and, upon seeing Zhu Zhuyue's body, fell into silence.
Zhu Zhuqing gazed silently at Zhu Zhuyue's corpse, a sense of regretful emptiness welling up in her heart.
Aside from being nominally 'sisters,' she had no other relationship with Zhu Zhuyue, yet she felt a pang of guilt upon seeing Zhu Zhuyue's death. The reason they had come to this point of life and death lay in the Dai family's clan rules; they were both victims.
Ning Rongrong glanced at Zhu Zhuyue with some reluctance, then asked Dai Yao:
"Dai Yao, Zhu Zhuyue... what should we do?"
Dai Yao sighed deeply and said:
"Send her back to the Star Luo Empire and let Dai Mubai bury her with Dai Yaming."
Ning Rongrong was taken aback and asked:
"You still have contact with Dai Mubai. Isn't he your enemy?"
Dai Yao smiled wryly, explaining as he walked out of the room:
"My relationship with him is complicated; we're both enemies and friends. The reason I spared his life is because my mother is still buried in the Star Luo Empire. I don't want to disturb her peace unless absolutely necessary. Although I didn't say it, Dai Mubai should understand this."
"He will do his best to ensure that no one disturbs my mother."
"If he can't do that, then I'll have to have my mother taken away. At that point, the Xingluo Dai family will have no reason to exist."
At this point, a fierce glint flashed in Dai Yao's eyes.
Before leaving the Star Luo Empire, he specifically sent several disciples of the Azure Lotus Sect to remain in the Star Luo Empire to guard his mother's tomb. They were to stop those who wanted to use his mother's grave to take revenge on him, and only take the grave away as a last resort.
"So that's how it is."
Ning Rongrong said softly, then smiled and said to Dai Yao:
"Dai Yao, when I have the chance, I also want to visit my mother's grave to pay my respects. After all, I am also..."
Dai Yao understood Ning Rongrong's thoughts; she was also his wife. Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong took this opportunity to pay their respects to their mothers first, but Ning Rongrong did not. Although this action was simple, it held great significance for Dai Yao's wife.
"Okay, when you have the chance in the future, you and Yanyan should both go."
Dai Yao said solemnly.
Ning Rongrong gently took Dai Yao's hand, a little shyly. She exchanged a glance with Zhu Zhuqing and nodded slightly. Zhu Zhuqing had deliberately brought this up; she understood that if this matter wasn't brought up proactively, it would inevitably become a thorn in Ning Rongrong's side and Dugu Yan's side.
As Dai Yao's first woman, she would naturally nip this situation in the bud.
After chatting for a while, Dai Yao said seriously:
"Alright, Rongrong, after all the disciples of the Azure Lotus Sect have boarded the ship, Zhuqing, Wutong, and I will go to the Spirit Hall first. After we finish our business, we will return to Hanhai City."
The Spirit Hall helped him a great deal this time; without them, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to kill the Star Luo Emperor. Furthermore, his relationship with Bibi Dong needed to be resolved. The mistakes of the past, coupled with the interference of the spirit beast forces, had led to increasingly deep misunderstandings, reaching an irreconcilable point.
Now, he either reveals everything he's been hiding to Bibi Dong, or he severs all ties with the Spirit Hall.
Having avenged his great grudge, and now resolving his feud with the Spirit Hall, he will be free from all constraints and able to return to the Azure Lotus Sect in Hanhai City to live for himself.
Furthermore, he hadn't settled accounts with Xiao Wu for betraying him yet! Right now, Xiao Wu was living in fear in his mental world, worrying about his revenge. Dai Yao didn't have time to argue with her. He would settle accounts with Xiao Wu after he finished dealing with these matters.
Furthermore, he has already broken through to level seventy. If the situation in the Star Luo Empire hadn't been so urgent, he would have already gone to find his seventh spirit ring. After finishing his business, he can then go and find the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. He has been planning to obtain the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's spirit ring for a long time!
Ning Rongrong was very reluctant to part ways. She had finally seen Dai Yao, but now they had to separate again. She gazed at Dai Yao affectionately, bit her lip, hugged him tightly, and whispered in his ear:
"Alright, go and come back quickly. Sister Yan and I will be waiting for you at the sect."
······
The Heavenly Dou Empire, Imperial Palace.
Empress Xue Ke sat regally on her throne, while Tang San, as regent, sat beside her. As the Seventh Elder finished speaking, Tang San trembled all over.
"Dai Yao? The Asura Emperor? Very well, he alone has fooled the entire world!"
Tang San roared, veins bulging on his neck, showing just how furious he was.
Dai Yao stole Xiao Wu's soul ring, and the 'Asura Emperor' deprived him of the chance to kill Qian Renxue. Each of them was someone he hated to the core. But unexpectedly, these two people were actually the same person!
Tang Xiao took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:
"This is really troublesome, Seventh Brother. If I'm not mistaken, that kid already has the means to stop a Super Douluo. In addition, he also has twin martial souls. The trouble he will bring us in the future is unimaginable!"
The Second Elder nodded, looking worried, and said:
"That's right. This guy's conflict with our Haotian Sect is irreconcilable. If he becomes powerful, no one will be his match without the intervention of Ancestor Tang Chen. In the future, the Haotian Sect may be destroyed by our hands."
Upon hearing this, the palace fell into a deathly silence.
Seeing the tense expressions on everyone's faces, Empress Xue Ke, who had remained silent until now, revealed a fawning smile and said:
"Gentlemen, it's getting late. You are all pillars of the empire, so it's important for you to rest and not ruin your health."
As Empress Xue Ke finished speaking, everyone glanced at Tang San almost imperceptibly. Tang San seemed not to have heard, still absorbed in his hatred for Dai Yao.
No one paid any attention to Empress Xue Ke, so her expression naturally turned somewhat unpleasant.
Although she was the Empress, no one present took her seriously. Since the Clear Sky Sect seized control of the court, Tang San had become increasingly indifferent to her; she was now practically superfluous. If it weren't for their need to stabilize the court, the Clear Sky Sect might have already usurped the throne.
Yu Xiaogang quickly tried to ease the tension, saying:
"Xiao San, I know you're upset, but your wedding to the Empress can't be delayed any longer. You two must get married as soon as possible. Now that Mu Bai has ascended the throne in the Star Luo Empire, only by joining forces with your brother can the two great empires barely withstand the Spirit Hall's offensive."
Tang San glanced at Xue Ke, then nodded heavily.
Only by completely seizing control of the Heaven Dou Empire could he avenge his parents, eliminate the Spirit Hall, protect the Clear Sky Sect from the fate of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and most importantly, avenge himself and Xiao Wu…
······
Wuhun City, Pope Mountain.
After resting in the wooden house for a day, Dai Yao immediately arrived at Wuhun City. Looking at the majestic Papal Palace halfway up the mountain, Dai Yao felt a little unfamiliar with it.
"Zhuqing, Wutong, go find your teacher."
Dai Yao turned around, looked at the two women, and said with a smile.
Zhu Zhuqing gave a soft "hmm" and said, "Be careful too."
Immediately, the two women left the Papal Palace and headed towards their teacher's residence.
Dai Yao took a deep breath and walked up Papal Hill. Soon after, Ferdinand approached, looking at Dai Yao with a strange expression, and said:
"Let's go, His Holiness the Pope is waiting for you."
For some reason, Dai Yao revealed his identity as the 'Asura Emperor,' but Bibi Dong didn't blame him at all. She simply ordered him to take Dai Yao to the Papal Palace. After receiving news that Dai Yao had entered Wuhun City, she now ordered everyone to stay away from the Papal Palace.
Dai Yao nodded, and then followed Ferdinand as they slowly stepped onto the platform where the Papal Palace was located.
Looking at the Papal Palace, which was devoid of any guards, an ominous premonition welled up in his heart. (End of this chapter)