Chapter 303: Reuniting with Dugu Yan, the Fifth Soul Skill of the Chaos Green Lotus
Ahead loomed the towering walls of Heaven Dou City, bustling with commoners queued to enter. The guards' shouts occasionally broke through the steady hum of activity. Through the grand entranceway, Dai Yao caught glimpses of the city's lively streets, and a familiar sense of belonging welled up within him.
"It's been five years since I last left…" he thought, gazing at the city he hadn't seen in so long.
Dai Yao turned to the elder acting as a simple farmer driving the cart and smiled.
"Elder, I have a personal matter to handle and will enter on my own. In a few days, I'll report to the Spirit Hall here, and you can return to the Holy Hall yourself."
The elder frowned and looked at him sternly.
"Can you truly protect yourself alone? If something happens, how can I explain it to Her Majesty the Pope?"
Dai Yao's spirit power surged through his body, his clothes rippling without wind as he raised his aura, surprising the elder.
"I'm no longer a defenseless soul master, Elder," Dai Yao replied calmly.
After a moment's hesitation, the elder sighed and nodded.
"Fine, but heed my advice: you are part of the Spirit Hall, and you should be cautious about reconnecting with those from your past. Overly close associations may raise suspicions."
Dai Yao's face remained unreadable, and he inclined his head respectfully.
"Thank you for your guidance, Elder."
Dai Yao jumped down from the cart and disappeared into the woods along the official road. Steadying himself against a tree, he watched the cart disappear, feeling a complex surge of emotions. Although the elder's intentions were well-meaning, Dai Yao couldn't help but catch the implication: within the Spirit Hall, he was still seen as a transient, untrustworthy figure—one who might turn his allegiance at a whim.
"Ah…" he sighed. His five years within the Spirit Hall had been bittersweet.
True, he'd enjoyed the finest resources for his training, whether it was spirit rings or ideal cultivation conditions. Yet, no amount of respect for his talents could melt the entrenched mistrust others held toward him. To many, he was someone who could betray the Hall at any moment.
This alienation was not entirely by chance—Bibi Dong had, in fact, fostered this isolation. But she hadn't anticipated that her scheme would result in even higher barriers, leaving few in the Hall willing to engage with him. Even after his recent mission, he still found himself under the elder's wary eye.
"It seems… it may be time to establish a sect of my own…" he mused, and with a glance around to ensure he was alone, Dai Yao unfurled his eight wings. In one powerful stroke, he shot up into the sky, heading swiftly toward Sunset Forest.
He wasn't here to visit the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; his assignment remained classified, and it would only bring him unnecessary trouble to be seen associating with a known rival of the Spirit Hall.
As familiar mountain ranges rolled by below, he let out a contented smile, his spirit warmed by the nostalgia of long-missed lands. With a burst of spirit power, he propelled himself forward, savoring the freedom to fully wield his abilities without reservation.
Not long ago, he'd depleted his power in battle, yet now his energy was fully restored—a benefit granted by the fifth soul skill of his Chaos Green Lotus: Infinite Soul Power. While not literally limitless, the capacity was vast enough that, even after acquiring it, he hadn't yet filled the power reservoir.
"I should thank Green Luan Douluo for rescuing me—otherwise, I might've been forced to reveal one of my trump cards," he reflected, satisfied with his tactical advantage.
A white streak flashed across the sky as Dai Yao sped onward.
Sunset Forest
Wind whipped across Dai Yao's face as he crossed rivers and forests, his heart racing with anticipation. After about half an hour, he reached the Poison Valley's thick green mist. As he descended toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well at the valley's base, he glimpsed vibrant herbs growing along its edges and marveled at the well's red and icy blue halves, steaming and frozen.
"The Yin Yang Well is intact, but where's Yan-Yan?" he murmured, searching for Dugu Yan.
Over the years, Dugu Yan had kept her promise to maintain the herbs and had sent regular letters to him in Spirit City, sharing updates on the well and her longing from afar. As he scanned the area, his gaze fell on a slender figure resting by a large stone at the edge of the well.
Grinning, Dai Yao crept forward, intent on a playful reunion. He silently slipped behind the figure and, with a quick move, wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his face against her shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of her hair. Closing his eyes, he whispered,
"I've missed you, Yan-Yan."
But something felt wrong. Her body was tense, and the fragrance didn't quite match his memory. Opening his eyes, he was stunned to find a face that looked nothing like Dugu Yan's. He leapt back, a startled look on his face.
"Who are you?!"
The woman wore black, with waterfall-like blue hair cascading down her back, partially obscured by a black veil. She clutched the spot he'd touched, glaring at him with a mixture of embarrassment and fury.
"Who are you?" she demanded coldly, her voice carrying a slight trace of resentment.
Though veiled, her presence was unmistakable. Dai Yao scanned their surroundings and, seeing no one else, fixed his gaze on her with a guarded expression.
"This is my territory. Shouldn't an intruder like you introduce herself first?"
The veiled woman paused, scrutinizing Dai Yao as though comparing him with someone in her memory. She scoffed.
"Bold words! Do you think a treasure like this could belong to the likes of you? Leave now, or you'll never leave."
"Oh, I'd like to see how you intend to stop me." Dai Yao replied, his tone calm and unyielding.
As the master of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Dai Yao felt his anger rise at being treated as an intruder by a stranger. Though not normally one to lose his temper, he couldn't let this woman's challenge slide, especially after recently overcoming the two hundred disciples of the Haotian Sect. Why should he be threatened by a mere Soul King?
Just then, a green silhouette leapt down from the mountaintop and landed between Dai Yao and the veiled woman with such force that the ground trembled, stirring up clouds of dust. Dai Yao's eyes narrowed. The newcomer had descended from a height of a hundred meters without the slightest use of soul power, relying entirely on raw physical strength. Not even the elite of the Golden Generation could match such physical prowess.
"Big Sister Yan!" The veiled woman's voice softened, tinged with joy.
As the dust settled, a woman's breathtaking face came into view. Long green hair cascaded down her back, and her green cheongsam traced every curve of her figure, revealing glimpses of snow-white, slender legs through a high slit in her dress.
"Big Sister Yan?" Dai Yao murmured in surprise as he examined her more closely. When he finally recognized her, a wave of heat rushed through him, igniting a fire that burned from within. Only Zhu Zhuqing now matched such a striking beauty, one who could easily stir the desires of any man.
It was Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan's long, gemstone-like eyes held a hint of amusement as she glanced back at the veiled woman and spoke in a lazy tone,
"LingLing, what's the matter?"
Her seductive voice teased at Dai Yao's heart, like invisible hands stirring something deep within him.
The veiled woman, known as Ye LingLing, moved to Dugu Yan's side and gave Dai Yao a cool, distant look.
"Big Sister Yan, this man has trespassed into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and claims it's his. He's utterly shameless!" Remembering how he'd held her earlier, her face flushed with both anger and faint embarrassment—a feeling new to her.
"Oh? Quite the audacious claim!" Dugu Yan fixed her gaze on Dai Yao, eyes narrowing with a frosty edge. "This Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well belongs to my man. You've got a lot of nerve!"
Hearing her words, Dai Yao's heart raced with a mix of happiness and surprise. The woman before him was both familiar and tantalizingly new. Smiling broadly, he called out,
"Yan-Yan, it's me, Dai Yao!"
"Dai Yao?" She paused, then sneered. "Impossible. My man is a true pillar of strength, not some scholar with bookish airs like you!" She glared, her expression cold. "Pretending to be him? You won't leave here alive!"
Without hesitation, Dugu Yan lunged, her graceful body shooting forward like an arrow, the air slicing as if crying out in pain.
"So fast!" Dai Yao quickly crossed his arms in front of him, preparing to defend himself.
With a loud bang, Dugu Yan's delicate-looking hand struck his forearms, forcing him back several paces, his feet digging long furrows into the ground.
"Such power! Is this really Yan-Yan?" Dai Yao thought, peering at the beauty before him with shock. Her strength was only slightly less than his own and even surpassed that of Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong, both of whom had consumed the lotus he'd given them.
"Impressive. No wonder you dared to trespass into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well," Dugu Yan remarked, mildly surprised that he'd withstood her attack. "But let's see if you can handle what's next!"
Air currents began to swirl around her, gathering power as her dress billowed, enhancing her already magnetic charm. Her cold, piercing gaze drew him in, an allure as dangerous as it was mesmerizing.
Outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, nearby soul beasts sensed her aura and lay prostrate in submission.
"Azure Dragon, possess me!" Her words, cool and composed, rang out.
Dai Yao watched in awe as her entire aura changed. An emerald green battle armor materialized on her body, and behind her, the shadow of a massive azure dragon loomed, exuding a noble authority that even made the Holy Tiger within him feel threatened.
"This is…" Dai Yao stared, realizing with shock that her martial soul had evolved into the legendary Azure Dragon, one of the Four Divine Beasts, just like Feng Wutong's Vermillion Bird.
He felt his Holy White Tiger stir in response, automatically activating, its golden "King" mark shining on his forehead. Facing each other, they braced themselves, each exuding a fierce power.
"Yan-Yan, it's me, Dai Yao! I swear it's really me!" he pleaded.
"Quite the actor, but do you think I wouldn't recognize my own man? Prepare to die!" Dugu Yan's voice was sharp, but her eyes held an amused glint. As she activated her soul rings, two yellow, two purple, and two black soul rings emerged—she had reached the rank of Soul Emperor!
Before Dai Yao could react, she was in front of him in a flash, closing the distance in a heartbeat.
Dai Yao hesitated to strike back—how could he hit the woman he loved? But to his surprise, instead of a forceful blow, her hand landed softly against his arm. Stunned, he looked down to find her smiling, her cold demeanor replaced by warmth.
"Husband!" she exclaimed, flinging herself into his arms and wrapping her legs around his waist, clinging to him like a vine.
"So, you recognized me all along and decided to put on a little show, did you?" He understood now and smacked her playfully. "Well, we'll see how I 'punish' you for that!"
Laughing, Dugu Yan gracefully slipped from his arms, showing that her strength had indeed grown, even rivaling his.
"Oh, I'm sure someone's been busy in Spirit City with all those pretty girls at his disposal, forgetting about his poor wife here, guarding this 'useless place' all by herself for five whole years!"
Ye LingLing looked on in shock at this playful, coquettish Dugu Yan. Known for her distant, untouchable beauty and deadly poison skills, she was feared far and wide. Even her striking beauty kept men away, yet here she was, radiating joy and warmth like a lovestruck girl. Could this man really be the same Dai Yao who'd led his team to victory in the Spirit Master Tournament?
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