Douluo: Starting with an Engagement to Zhu Zhuqing

Chapter 180: Reaction of the Xingluo Dai Family

After the match, Ning Fengzhi approached Dai Yao. They walked together, conversing as they went. Reflecting on the shocking display he had just witnessed, Ning Fengzhi's gaze held deep admiration for the younger man.

"Dai Yao, your performance against Shenfeng Academy today truly astounded everyone. Such a powerful soul skill—did it cause any strain on your body?"

Dai Yao clasped his hands in thanks. "Thank you, Uncle Ning, for your concern. Though my fourth soul skill has considerable power, it hasn't affected my body."

Beside them, Chenxin's eyes flashed with surprise. He placed a hand on Dai Yao's shoulder and tilted his head slightly, asking, "Mind if I check for myself?"

"Go ahead."

With Dai Yao's permission, Chenxin nodded, closed his eyes, and directed his soul power into Dai Yao's body. As the energy coursed through him, an invisible wind rose from the ground, causing their clothing to ripple and flutter. The deeper Chenxin probed, the more his brows furrowed.

Noticing this, Ning Fengzhi's expression turned cautious. "Uncle Jian, is something wrong with Dai Yao's body?"

Chenxin shook his head, and after a few moments, the wind began to fade. Opening his eyes, usually calm and unreadable, he now looked genuinely shocked.

"I worried that the strain of using a ten-thousand-year soul skill would damage your meridians," he said, "but it seems your body is entirely unharmed—you're practically bursting with vitality. In fact, your physical strength alone is remarkable. It's no wonder you could absorb a ten-thousand-year ring as your fourth."

"Just lucky, I suppose," Dai Yao replied with a small laugh.

Both Ning Fengzhi and Chenxin were at a loss. How many times had they heard Dai Yao attribute his feats to "luck"?

Ning Fengzhi's tone grew serious. "Dai Yao, you may not realize the full impact of your performance today. Even Soul Douluos could sense the danger in your fourth soul skill. Once you reach the level of Titled Douluo, everyone knows your strength will only grow to even more alarming heights.

"But as they say, 'the tallest tree catches the wind.' Your abilities will now be on the radar of every major faction. If you were still unaligned, they would all go to any lengths to recruit you. Wealth, beauty—whatever you wanted, they'd be eager to provide.

"However, you've chosen to join Spirit Hall. This means factions aligned with Spirit Hall may step back, but those opposed…" Ning Fengzhi trailed off.

Dai Yao chuckled softly, finishing the thought, "Those opposed to Spirit Hall will likely want me eliminated."

"You understand well." Chenxin's impassive gaze met Dai Yao's.

Ning Fengzhi's expression turned even graver. "Although the continent seems peaceful, under the surface there's constant tension—one wrong move could lead to disaster. Even with your extraordinary talent, you're still a Soul Ancestor. There are many who could pose a threat to you.

"As a prince, you should already be aware of the complex relationship between the two empires and Spirit Hall—a three-way balance of power, each side often at odds with the others. Here in the Heaven Dou Empire, if you were to decline the Emperor's attempts to recruit you, they might not hesitate to use… other means. Even Spirit Hall may not be able to protect you."

Dai Yao smiled, stopping in his tracks. Ning Fengzhi and Chenxin both turned to look at him with questioning expressions.

"What's on your mind?" Ning Fengzhi asked.

Dai Yao took a deep breath, his gaze intently searching Ning Fengzhi's face, studying every nuance of his expression. "Then, Uncle Ning, what would you do?"

Ning Fengzhi paused, his expression shifting briefly before softening into one of compassion. Dai Yao's question was probing, and Ning Fengzhi understood the implication—whether he, too, would seek to destroy what he couldn't control.

"While you are here in Heaven Dou, I will ensure your safety," he replied.

Dai Yao smiled and clasped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you, Uncle Ning. I will not forget this kindness."

Ning Fengzhi's face softened further. "No need for such formality, you rascal. And remember, I still owe you a great debt for evolving my martial soul to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. No thanks will ever be enough for that."

Turning, he said, "Come now. There's someone I want you to meet today."

Dai Yao's eyes brightened with curiosity. "Who?"

Ning Fengzhi smiled enigmatically. "Someone who wishes to recruit you on behalf of Heaven Dou Empire."

Realizing who Ning Fengzhi meant, Dai Yao's heart skipped a beat—the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe.

Or rather, the future Angel God, Qian Renxue.

"So soon…?" Dai Yao thought, surprised. "Not long from now, I'll be joining Spirit Hall. Qian Renxue, as the successor of the Douluo Hall and the daughter of Bibi Dong, is highly influential within Spirit Hall. If I am to succeed there, it's essential that I earn her favor now."

Following Ning Fengzhi, Dai Yao quickly noticed they weren't heading out of the arena. He asked, a bit confused, "Uncle Ning, where are we going? Didn't you say we were meeting someone? Are they here in the arena?"

Ning Fengzhi smiled gently and said, "No, he's not in the Grand Arena. First, we need to make a quick stop at Shrek Academy."

Dai Yao's heart skipped a beat.

"Shrek Academy?"

"Yes, there's someone else who will be joining you."

"Who might that be?"

"Tang San."

Star Luo Empire

The Baihu (White Tiger) Mountains, ancestral lands of the Dai Family.

The Baihu Mountain Range comprises one large mountain and four slender ridges. Seen from above, the formation resembles the massive claw of a tiger. As the ancestral land of the Star Luo Empire's Dai family, all family members, except the royal lineage within Star Luo's capital, reside here.

This site also houses the Dai family's highest authority—the Council of Elders. Each mountain is guarded by one of the family elders. Currently, the position at the smallest mountain—typically overseen by the Fifth Elder—has been vacant for decades, as he has been stationed within the royal palace.

The mountain range, flanked by a large soul-beast forest, is a desolate place, shrouded in ancestral mystery. Yet, at that moment, a peculiar phenomenon unfolded in the sky—a vast crimson cloud appeared suddenly, spreading rapidly until the heavens looked ablaze.

"What is that?"

The disciples on watch stopped in their tracks, eyes wide as the overwhelming aura washed over them. Aghast, they exchanged looks and began shouting in alarm, "We're under attack! Enemy alert!"

Simultaneously, within the other three mountain strongholds, three elder men opened their eyes in unison.

As the disciples frantically sounded the alarm, a calm hand touched one of their shoulders from behind.

"Stop yelling," came a steady voice. "There's no need to panic."

The disciple turned, stunned, and immediately dropped to one knee, voice trembling. "Second Elder!"

The Second Elder, a thin figure with flowing white hair and beard, nodded. In a flash, he soared skyward, a streak of brilliant white light trailing after him. Seconds later, two more lights shot up from the remaining mountains.

Staring at the fiery red cloud on the horizon, the Second Elder murmured with a frown, "What's that rascal Old Five up to now? Stirring up all this commotion?"

The other two elders quickly approached, their figures emerging through the haze—one, rotund and lined with age, and the other, a bookish man with white-streaked hair, looking the youngest of the three.

Though distinct in appearance, they each exuded the unmistakable aura of dominance and authority in their every movement.

Their appearance sparked a stir among the Dai disciples below, who grew animated at the rare sight of the elders.

"Look! It's the Second Elder, the Third Elder, and the Fourth Elder!"

"We haven't seen them in ages; today's our chance to witness our ancestral pillars!"

"These elders are our family's pillars! Each one is at least at the Soul Douluo rank, and even the youngest, the Fifth Elder, has been a Soul Douluo for over a decade!"

"Well, as mighty as they are, no one can surpass the Great Elder—our family's Titled Douluo!"

"Exactly! The Great Elder is our greatest source of strength."

Seeing the tense atmosphere between the Second Elder and the incoming figure, the Third Elder, grinning, tried to ease things. "You know Old Five's temperament, brother; he can't help himself."

His eyes gleamed with a sharp insight. "Still, he's been at the palace for years, and the last time I saw him, he had clearly gained a lot of experience. Coming back in such a display must mean something serious—he wouldn't go through all this trouble for nothing."

The Second Elder snorted, his eyes narrowing in exasperation. "Gain experience, my foot! Last time, he went head-to-head with me over some nonsense—he wanted to change our ancestral laws! If it weren't for you talking me down, I'd have given him a taste of my lessons from our youth. Just because he's a Soul Douluo doesn't mean he can talk back to me!"

The portly Third Elder sighed. "You two have been fighting since childhood; I'm tired of it. Let's get down before the younger disciples catch on and mock us."

"You'd better have a good reason for causing such a scene," the Second Elder snapped. "Otherwise, I'll make you remember every single time I beat you up when we were kids!"

The mighty aura of the Fifth Elder flickered for a moment, his expression shifting at the familiar warning.

The Second Elder was over twenty years older than the Fifth Elder. Back when the Fifth Elder was still a toddler, the Second Elder had already come of age. After the passing of the Fifth Elder's father, the Second Elder stepped in as a father figure, protecting him as best as he could. However, as a member of the Dai family of the Star Luo Empire, accustomed to battle rather than childcare, his idea of discipline often involved a good beating when the younger sibling misbehaved.

As a result, the Fifth Elder had grown up with a complex mix of admiration and resentment toward his elder brother. Every time he advanced to a new level, he would challenge the Second Elder, determined to return all those childhood thrashings. Yet without fail, he ended up on the receiving end of yet another "lesson."

"Let's go down," said the Second Elder.

As the four elders descended, life in the White Tiger Mountains resumed its usual rhythm, with the crowds dispersing. The Third Elder prepared a fragrant tea for each of them. As the aroma filled the air, the Second Elder took his cup and broke the silence.

"So, let's hear it. Why have you come back so suddenly?"

The tea was exquisite, worth a fortune, but the Fifth Elder seemed disinterested. His fiery gaze locked onto the Second Elder as he spoke, "I need to see the Great Elder."

The Third and Fourth Elders looked at each other in surprise, while the Second Elder's hand froze mid-air, his face darkening. "What's going on?" he asked. "The Great Elder is at a critical stage, aiming to break through the barrier of Level 95. He cannot be disturbed lightly."

Taking a deep breath, the Fifth Elder replied, "I don't wish to interrupt him either, but only he can decide on this matter. Second Brother, do you remember that young man I once mentioned to you, Dai Yao?"

"Dai Yao?" The Second Elder's eyes flashed with a hint of recognition as he recalled the dispute he'd had with his brother. The entire disagreement had stemmed from that boy.

He leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "Are you telling me that this boy is important enough to disrupt the Great Elder's cultivation? I'd say you're overstepping your bounds again."

The Third Elder, seeing the tension rise, tried to defuse it. "Hold on, Second Brother. Let's hear him out before jumping to conclusions. As I recall, wasn't that boy a traitor? He ran away, didn't he?"

The Fifth Elder nodded. "You're right, Third Brother. Dai Yao managed to escape to the Heaven Dou Empire with the help of Spirit Hall."

"So what does that have to do with disturbing the Great Elder?" the Second Elder asked impatiently.

"Do you remember why I fought with you about him?" the Fifth Elder replied gravely.

The Second Elder paused to reflect. "Because he obtained a thousand-year spirit ring as his second ring, and you wanted to change the ancestral rules so that he'd be removed from the line of succession."

Then he sneered, "Ancestral laws cannot be changed! No matter how gifted that traitor may be, the rules stand firm."

"Foolishness!" the Fifth Elder shouted, slamming his hand on the table. His face was flushed with anger. "Do you have any idea how terrifying his growth has been? He's now obtained his fourth spirit ring—and that ring is a ten-thousand-year spirit ring!"

The Second Elder's hand trembled, and his teacup slipped from his grasp, shattering on the floor. No one noticed. All eyes were on the Fifth Elder, stunned by his revelation.

"What did you say?"

"His fourth ring is a ten-thousand-year spirit ring?"

The Second and Third Elders' disbelief was palpable, and even the usually silent Fourth Elder looked over in shock.

"You can't be serious!" The Second Elder was skeptical—not because he doubted his brother's honesty but because what he'd just heard was utterly implausible.

"You've been isolated here for too long!" the Fifth Elder snapped. "This news is known across the continent! Ask anyone, and you'll find that I'm telling the truth! Recently, Dai Yao used his fourth spirit ability to alter the skies over Heaven Dou City itself, unleashing an attack comparable to a Contra-level soul master. He single-handedly overwhelmed Godwind Academy, one of the Five Elemental Academies!"

The Second Elder's face turned pale, and he swallowed with difficulty. The Fifth Elder, filled with regret, continued, "This should have been Star Luo Empire's glory!"

A vicious glint appeared in the Second Elder's eyes. "We can't allow him to continue growing. He must be eliminated before he becomes an even greater threat. With his current power, he's already capable of Contra-level attacks. If he reaches the rank of Titled Douluo, imagine the danger he'll pose! He could become a catastrophe for us!"

The Fifth Elder slammed his fist down. "Absolutely not! If we hadn't refused to adapt the ancestral laws, this never would have happened! Dai Yao carries the blood of the Dai family—there may yet be a way to win him back!"

The Fourth Elder, who had been listening quietly, now snorted in disdain and looked at the Second Elder with a hint of scorn.

"'Win him back?' What nonsense! The ancestral laws cannot be changed! The fact that he defected proves he has no loyalty to the Dai family. The only prudent course is to eliminate him and resolve the problem at its root," the Second Elder countered sharply.

The Fifth Elder felt a surge of anger as he remembered Dai Yao's desperate cries at Wuguan. How could anyone demand loyalty from a child raised amid despair and rejection?

The Third Elder, sensing the heated clash about to erupt, stepped in. "Enough, both of you! Since this is beyond our decision, we'll let the Great Elder rule on the matter."

(End of Chapter)

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