Chapter 249: The True Identity of the Purple Droplet
"Phew…"
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Dai Yao let out a long breath.
After returning from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's estate, he quickly ate a small meal, then went straight back to his room to begin meditation, restoring his depleted spirit power.
Two hours passed, and with the moon high in the sky, he had increased his spirit power from four-tenths to seven-tenths capacity. A little more practice, and he'd be fully recovered.
But instead of feeling satisfied, Dai Yao halted his meditation, troubled by thoughts of the mysterious purple droplet that had surfaced during his battle with Hu Liena. The foreboding thought lingered in his mind.
In his mental realm, after all, lay his greatest secret—the Chaotic Green Lotus.
Because of the tournament's demands, he had to push aside his concern, pretending not to notice the droplet. But now, with a quiet moment, he resolved to remove any hidden danger.
He focused his mind, entering his mental world. Casting a quick glance at the mighty Sacred White Tiger in repose, he turned his gaze to the Chaotic Green Lotus, or more specifically, to the purple droplet resting on its leaf.
The Chaotic Green Lotus unfurled gently as the purple droplet rolled across one of its leaves, occasionally flashing with unsettling purple lightning. Near the Chaotic Green Lotus was another, simpler green lotus.
Compared to the Chaotic Green Lotus, this other lotus had a much weaker aura. If the Chaotic Green Lotus was a 48-petal lotus, then this one had only 12 petals.
This simpler lotus was something Dai Yao had gained upon reaching level forty. He had kept it here, waiting to present it to Dugu Yan after the tournament. Not that he was being stingy—it was just that, with all eyes on them during the tournament, this wasn't the right time. Once things calmed down, he'd give the lotus to Dugu Yan, which he believed would also cure her Jade Phosphor Serpent's poison.
"Come out," he said icily, fixing his gaze on the purple droplet. "You intruded uninvited—how long do you plan to hide in my mental world?"
At his words, the purple droplet floated midair, and suddenly countless purple lightning bolts filled the mental space, thunder echoing ominously.
The purple droplet vanished, replaced by a striking woman clad in a flowing violet gown.
Her hair was styled in an elaborate phoenix hairdo, and though her features were delicate, her face was devoid of emotion. Her arched eyebrows and piercing gaze showed neither warmth nor mercy, only an unshakeable sense of superiority and detachment—as if she was born to rule.
She cast Dai Yao a scornful look, her jade-like hands behind her back as she spoke with a faint sneer:
"You killed me to gain my spirit ring, and now you won't even tolerate me existing here in your mental world?"
Dai Yao's pupils contracted. "It's you?" he murmured, finally realizing who she was.
This woman was the spirit of the Thunder Prison Vine! When Dai Yao had struck her during her heavenly tribulation, his blow had broken her concentration, causing her death.
However, the remnant spirit energy in her ring had healed itself under the Chaotic Green Lotus's aura, reaching even greater strength than she had in her prime.
Now aware of the purple droplet's origin, Dai Yao's face darkened. This woman knew his greatest secret. He needed to eliminate her before she became a greater threat.
Sensing the slight killing intent in him, the woman chuckled coldly.
"What's this? Are you already planning to kill me? Humans truly are all the same."
Hovering in front of him, she met his gaze fearlessly, seemingly indifferent to his hostility. She sneered,
"Let me be clear: the moment you try to harm me, I'll self-destruct, unleashing the full power of my Thunder God bloodline. Even with the Chaotic Green Lotus shielding you, you'd end up a babbling idiot."
"Though I can't say for how long," she added mockingly. "Could be a few years, or maybe a lifetime."
Dai Yao's heart sank. The prospect of turning into a fool was one he couldn't accept lightly. He furrowed his brows, thinking it over.
It was clear that any attempt on her life would drive her to drastic action, and she would rather go down in flames than let him succeed easily.
For now, it was best to delay things. He would have to watch her closely and discover her intentions. Raising his head, he met her gaze squarely. "So what do you want?"
The woman's tone was dismissive. "Don't worry. I don't harbor any serious grudge, even if you did kill me for my spirit ring." She eyed him as if the matter were trivial. "In fact, I'd say our goals align."
"You see, you're the master of this lotus. This artifact is the cornerstone of your strength, so of course you don't want it to be exposed. Meanwhile, I'd like to cultivate using its power. So like you, I have no interest in making this public."
Dai Yao relaxed slightly. Her words seemed reasonable, and they shared a common goal in keeping the Chaotic Green Lotus hidden. Still, he maintained a measure of caution.
Who's to say this wasn't a ruse to lower his guard so she could scheme against him, perhaps even seize the Chaotic Green Lotus?
He scrutinized her again before replying cautiously, "Fine. But if you claim you'll cultivate with the lotus, I'd like proof."
The woman's delicately arched eyebrows tightened slightly, a simple motion, yet one so beautifully crafted it could've won anyone's heart.
"How dare you question me?" she huffed, incensed. "I possess the Thunder God's bloodline—do you think I'd lie to you?"
But Dai Yao wasn't swayed. "I don't care what bloodline you have. If you want to stay in my mental world to cultivate with the lotus, then you'll follow my rules. Otherwise, I'd rather risk becoming a fool than let a threat like you linger here!"
The woman seemed taken aback at first, then a furious expression crossed her face.
"How dare you suspect me!" She trembled with rage, her figure encased in violet fabric heaving with her heavy breathing. "How dare you accuse me of lying!"
Dai Yao blinked. Was she seriously this preoccupied with her so-called Thunder God bloodline? Bloodline or no, it wasn't as if she was a god herself.
"Prove your cultivation method," he demanded firmly, undeterred by her fury.
Grumbling under her breath, the woman finally calmed herself. With a cold snort, she reverted to a purple droplet, rolling gently over the Chaotic Green Lotus leaf. Just a faint touch of the lotus aura caused her energy to rise visibly.
Dai Yao nodded slowly, reassured. Her cultivation technique seemed genuine, though he would still watch her closely. For now, he'd allow her to remain.
"Fine," he said. "But why reveal yourself today? If you had stayed hidden, I wouldn't have even known you were here."
In his place, he would've remained concealed, using the lotus until reaching the million-year level before emerging. The fact she'd revealed herself was puzzling.
The purple droplet seemed angry, refusing to answer Dai Yao's question.
After a long silence, Dai Yao furrowed his brow and demanded,
"I told you, if you want to cultivate within my spiritual realm, you need to follow my rules. I'm just asking you a few questions; it's not like I'm prying into your private affairs. What reason do you have not to answer?"
The purple droplet didn't transform back into the purple-clad woman but stayed in droplet form. Begrudgingly, her cold, disdainful voice finally sounded,
"As one with the Thunder God's bloodline, I am not one to stand for such petty intrusions on my spirit. Naturally, I struck back."
Her voice, tinged with pride, held a trace of indifference.
Dai Yao was baffled. He stared at her in shock, blurting,
"That was it? You revealed yourself just because you felt disrespected?!"
"Of course," she replied with a trace of scorn, "I possess the Thunder God's bloodline. How could I allow a mere mortal to slight me?"
Hearing her answer, Dai Yao could only feel exasperated. The indomitable image of the Thunder Prison Vine he had once held in his mind—the one who had fought against fate until her own destruction—shattered. In its place, he saw a proud fool, infuriatingly self-important.
Now, though, he actually began to believe she wouldn't reveal the secret of his Chaotic Green Lotus. With such extreme pride in her lineage, she wouldn't dare betray herself by lying, not even under duress.
However, Dai Yao remained wary, cautious by nature after years in the cold palace. Perhaps all this was an act on her part, a ploy to win his trust.
Suppressing these thoughts, he suddenly realized that referring to her as "Thunder Prison Vine" was impractical. So, he suggested,
"Hey, should I give you a name? It's hard to keep calling you 'Thunder Prison Vine'..."
But before he could finish, her cold voice interrupted from within the purple droplet.
"No need. As one with the Thunder God's bloodline, I wouldn't lower myself to bear a mortal name. Just call me Lei Yu Teng."
Dai Yao sighed, exasperated.
"Fine, fine. Lei Yu Teng it is."
With her constant invocation of the Thunder God's bloodline, Dai Yao was nearly numb to her pride. Did she need to harp on it every other sentence? She seemed to think that her god-level bloodline made her superior to everyone.
Breaking free from his spiritual world, Dai Yao donned a light robe, rose, and made his way to the window. As he gazed out at the sparse lights of Spirit City, he let out a long sigh.
The day's intense battles, the afternoon's risk of using his second spirit to break the Seven-in-One Fusion, Tang Hao's unexpected arrival, Sword Douluo's assistance, and Ning Rongrong's troubling news, as well as his parting from her—all culminated in tonight's discovery that the purple droplet was Lei Yu Teng.
All these events had left him mentally and physically exhausted.
Torn between the Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan; the question of whether to disclose his second spirit to Bibi Dong; and the presence of Lei Yu Teng—each new complication blurred the road ahead.
"For now, I'll focus on what I can control," he muttered to himself. "I need to train, rest up, and face tomorrow's final battle in top condition."
"As for Lei Yu Teng, I'll take it one step at a time. If she does harbor ill intentions, it'll reveal itself eventually."
A cool night breeze drifted in, and Dai Yao suddenly felt a chill. He closed the window, shutting out the outside noise, then returned to his bed, cross-legged, to continue restoring his spirit power.
Atop the Spirit Hall's mountain peak, an elderly man clad in gold robes embroidered with silver ascended, gazing into the inky darkness. His sharp eyes looked toward where Tang Hao had vanished earlier, and he let out a soft sigh.
A trace of sorrow and helplessness crossed his aged face.
"So, this time, it's you, Soft-Boned Rabbit, who's chosen the human form," he murmured. "But you must know, this isn't just your personal vendetta. You're the key to our hundred-thousand-year plan."
"Even if this plan fails, as long as the chosen one ascends, your existence will be the ember that preserves the soul beast lineage."
"It's surprising, though, that Tang San is the Blue Silver Emperor's child. Fate truly has a way of connecting lives."
He thought of the tragic fates of Tang Hao and Ah Yin, but with a glimmer of hope—if Tang San succeeded, then the sacrifices would be worthwhile. Then, the lofty gods would feel the rage his kind had held for millions of years.
The old man's heart, which had been calm for centuries, suddenly felt a surge of excitement.
What he didn't know was that, when Tang San eventually ascended to the divine realm with Xiao Wu, she would have forgotten all her hatred for the soul beasts.
Watching the unchanging full moon in the night sky, he murmured, "I suppose… I really am getting old."
The mountain stood silent. After a long while, the elder turned his gaze toward the inn where the Oakland Academy team was staying, a glint of consideration in his eye.
"Dai Yao has the potential to ascend as well. Pity there's no suitable female soul beast left who could assume a human form. With the plan's odds already slim, perhaps no soul beast is willing to take that risk anymore."
The sound of cicadas filled the air, cutting through the stillness. A patrolling soul master, catching sight of a figure on the peak, called out sharply,
"Who's there?!"
The elder turned, and the patroller, recognizing his face, broke out in a cold sweat and stammered,
"Exalted Elder, I meant no offense…"
The old man waved a dismissive hand, saying, "It's fine. You're only doing your duty. I was just wandering. Continue with your patrol."
"Yes, sir!" The soul master quickly departed, leaving the mountaintop to its quiet solitude once more.
(Chapter End)
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