Ahead, the walls of Tiandou City stood tall and majestic, with a continuous stream of commoners queuing to enter the city, and the shouts and curses of the guards could be heard from time to time.
As his gaze traveled through the long corridor, he could vaguely glimpse the bustling city of Tiandou, and Dai Yao couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity.
"It turns out, I've been gone for five years without even realizing it..."
Looking at Tiandou City, which he hadn't seen for five years, Dai Yao thought wistfully.
Turning his gaze to the bishop before him, who resembled an old farmer, Dai Yao smiled and said:
"Bishop, I must depart now. I will be going to the Martial Soul Temple in a few days. Please return to the temple yourself." He turned and asked, stunned.
"Aren't you incapable of protecting yourself? If you leave alone and something happens, how am I supposed to explain this to His Holiness the Pope?"
Dai Yao's soul power suddenly surged throughout his body, causing his clothes to flutter without wind. The gradually rising aura surprised the bishop slightly.
"Bishop, I'm not a helpless cripple who can't even protect myself..."
Dai Yao said calmly.
The bishop frowned and pondered for a moment, his face deeply lined with wrinkles. Didn't Dai Yao use up all his soul power during the battle? How could he have recovered in such a short time?
After a long pause, he finally said helplessly:
"Very well, since you insist on this, I won't force you."
"I heard that you lived in Heaven Dou City for several years and had close ties with certain guys. But I must warn you, you are still a member of the Spirit Hall. Don't get too close to those guys, or you will arouse suspicion within the hall."
Dai Yao remained silent and said calmly:
"Thank you for your guidance, Bishop."
He then got off the carriage and turned to walk into the woods beside the official road.
Leaning against a tree trunk, watching the carriage gradually disappear into the distance, Dai Yao felt increasingly uneasy.
This bishop was one of the representatives of the upper echelons of the Spirit Hall. Although he understood that the bishop meant well, how could he not understand the meaning behind his words?
It turns out that in the minds of these upper echelons of the Spirit Hall, he was still the same person who fawned over Qin and Chu, and who could casually claim a father like Lü Bu.
"Why······"
Dai Yao sighed deeply, his experiences in the Spirit Hall over the past five years leaving him with mixed feelings.
He did receive the best treatment in the Spirit Hall. Whether it was the spirit rings or the cultivation environment, the Spirit Hall did its best. However, when it came to getting along with others, the prejudices of the people were as solid as ice.
Although others may respect him because of his talent, in the eyes of many, like that bishop, he might betray the Spirit Hall at any time.
This was something Bibi Dong had deliberately done in order to control Dai Yao, but she didn't expect that such an action would lead to the alienation of many people in the Spirit Hall, and that few people would even dare to contact him.
Even if he did his best this time and tried his best to force out the Haotian Sect's true strength, he still couldn't gain the bishop's trust.
"It seems it's time for me to establish my own sect..."
Dai Yao thought to himself.
Then, after observing that no one was around, eight pairs of wings burst forth from his clothes. With a flap of his wings, he soared into the sky and flew swiftly toward the Sunset Forest.
The reason he stayed was not to go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. He knew, of course, that he was on a top-secret mission, which he had already completed, but he would not make contact with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, which was hostile to the Spirit Hall, under these circumstances.
Isn't this just creating unnecessary trouble for myself?
Looking down at the familiar mountains in the sky, Dai Yao smiled knowingly, his heart filled with a sense of warmth after several years of separation.
He channeled his abundant soul power, and with a loud bang, he flew eagerly toward the place that haunted his dreams.
"Phew, finally I don't have to be so careful and pretend anymore, I can use my soul power freely and boldly!"
Dai Yao thought to himself with a sense of relief.
Not long ago, he used up all his soul power at the Haotian Sect, but now his soul power is full and he shows no signs of fatigue. The reason is the fifth soul skill of the Chaos Green Lotus.
Infinite Soul Power.
Of course, it's not accurate to say that he has unlimited soul power; there is a limit. But for Dai Yao now, that limit is too far away and he can't even touch it.
So much so that even after obtaining the fifth soul skill, the space that can store soul power has never been filled.
During the year of reflection in the library, Dai Yao also made a guess about the limit of this 'infinite soul power', which is the soul power possessed by a level 99 peak Douluo.
"Luckily, Azure Phoenix Douluo took me away, otherwise I would have really exposed one of my trump cards."
Dai Yao thought with a sense of relief.
Dai Yao would never deplete his soul power and put himself in danger.
Soul power surged, and a white streak of light swept across the sky.
······
Sunset Forest.
The wind whipped against his face, the forest and river rushed past, and gazing at all this familiar scenery, Dai Yao felt like a galloping horse and quickened his pace.
Half an hour later.
Passing through the thick, dark green poisonous fog, and gazing at the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire at the bottom of the volcano, Dai Yao paused for a moment, then changed direction and descended towards the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire.
Along the banks of the hot pot restaurant, herbs grow luxuriantly. The red side of the pot bubbled and steamed, while the icy blue side was covered in ice.
A thriving scene.
"The Yin-Yang Eye of Ice and Fire is intact. Yan Yan's letter said she has been here all along. Where is she?"
Dai Yao looked around and saw all sorts of herbs, but he couldn't find Dugu Yan anywhere.
Dugu Yan often sent letters to Dai Yao in Wuhun City, telling him about the recent changes, fulfilling her promise to Dai Yao, and expressing her longing for him while they were separated.
Suddenly, his gaze settled on a beautiful figure sitting beside a boulder on the shore, seemingly asleep.
A mischievous thought suddenly came to Dai Yao's mind. He concealed himself and tiptoed behind the beautiful figure without making a sound.
Then he suddenly wrapped his arms around her slender waist, lifted her up, rested his head on her fragrant shoulder, and, inhaling the scent of her hair near his ear, said affectionately with his eyes closed:
"It's great to see you again, Yan Yan."
But the girl's stiff body in his arms and her scent, which was different from what he remembered, made Dai Yao frown.
Slightly opening his eyes, Dai Yao saw a face so different from Dugu Yan's. His eyes snapped open, and he retreated abruptly, exclaiming in shock:
"Who are you?!"
The woman was dressed in all black, with long, flowing blue hair cascading down her back, and her face covered by a black veil.
The woman was breathing heavily, looking at Dai Yao with lingering fear. She touched the spot where Dai Yao had touched her and gritted her teeth, saying:
"Who are you?"
The woman's voice was clear and cold, like a secluded orchid in a valley, tinged with a faint melancholy.
The woman was wearing a black veil, and Dai Yao couldn't immediately determine her identity. His heart sank. He glanced around to see if anyone else was there, and only after confirming that no one was present did he stare intently at the woman and say in a deep voice:
"This is my territory. As an intruder, shouldn't you introduce yourself? How can the host state his name first?"
Upon hearing this, the woman wearing a black veil paused slightly, looked at Dai Yao carefully, as if comparing him to someone in her memory. How could this scholarly guy be the same person as the domineering one from before?
He said coldly:
"Stop talking nonsense! This treasure land is not for you to possess. If you don't leave now, you can forget about leaving!"
"Hmph, I'd like to see what you're capable of that keeps me here."
Dai Yao said calmly.
As the master of the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire, he was driven out by thieves. Even with his good temper, he couldn't help but feel angry.
Moreover, he wasn't one to swallow his pride unless the other party was stronger than him. But in his view, that woman was only level fifty-something, and had just defeated two hundred disciples of the Haotian Sect, so how could she be afraid of a Soul King's threat?
Just then, a slender green figure leaped down from the mountain pass and landed between Dai Yao and the woman, causing the ground to tremble and kicking up countless clouds of dust.
Dai Yao's pupils contracted. Without any fluctuation of soul power, the woman relied entirely on her physical strength to land on the ground from the hundred-meter-high mountain pass.
Such physical strength is unmatched even by today's golden generation.
"Sister Yan."
The woman wearing a black veil spoke softly, her cool voice carrying a hint of joy.
As the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, the woman slowly stood up, revealing a face that could bring ruin to a country. Her long, turquoise hair cascaded down to her waist, and she wore a green cheongsam that accentuated her fiery figure. Her long, slender, and shapely legs were faintly visible through the high slit of her skirt.
"Sister Yan?"
Dai Yao murmured to himself, focusing his gaze on the woman. When he saw her clearly, a surge of heat immediately burned within him.
That fiery figure could only be matched by Zhu Zhuqing now. This stunning beauty could easily arouse the desires of any man.
It was Dugu Yan!
Dugu Yan sized up Dai Yao from head to toe, then slightly turned her head, her long, narrow, agate-like eyes gazing at the woman behind her, and chuckled softly:
"Lingling, what's wrong?"
In that languid voice, it was as if a pair of tiny hands were tickling Dai Yao's heart.
A woman dressed in black gauze, known as 'Lingling', walked to Dugu Yan's side, glanced at Dai Yao, and said calmly:
"Sister Yan, this person has barged into the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and claimed it as his own. He's incredibly audacious!"
The woman in black veil felt a surge of anger at the thought of being taken advantage of by this man, along with a touch of shyness.
This was an experience she had never had before.
She felt more disgusted than anything else to be touched so intimately by a strange man.
"Oh? What audacity! This Yin-Yang Well belongs to my man. You've got some nerve!"
Dugu Yan turned her head and stared intently at Dai Yao, her narrow pupils radiating a chilling coldness.
Hearing the woman speak like this, Dai Yao felt no fear whatsoever. Looking at Dugu Yan's stunningly beautiful face, he felt both delighted and somewhat unfamiliar with her. She was truly an unparalleled beauty.
Dai Yao laughed excitedly:
"Yanyan, it's me! Dai Yao!"
"Dai Yao? No, you're not. My man is a true man, not a bookworm like you!"
"You dare to impersonate my man? You won't leave here alive today."
Dugu Yan was slightly taken aback, then said in a cold voice.
As soon as she finished speaking, Dugu Yan's delicate body sank, and she rushed towards Dai Yao like an arrow released from a bow, the air seeming to emit a sharp, mournful cry.
"So fast!"
Dai Yao's pupils contracted sharply, and he immediately assumed a defensive stance, crossing his arms and placing them horizontally in front of him.
boom!
With a loud bang, the woman's seemingly delicate hand slammed into Dai Yao's crossed arms. Dai Yao couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, his feet, firmly planted in the ground, carving out two furrows several meters long.
"Such strength! Is this still Yan Yan?"
Dai Yao peered through the gap between her crossed arms at the beautiful woman, and thought with some horror.
This strength was only slightly weaker than his, and even surpassed that of Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong. Keep in mind, Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong had consumed the lotus flowers he had given them!
"Not bad, you do have some skill. No wonder you dared to enter the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. But let's see if you can handle this next!"
Dugu Yan seemed somewhat surprised that Dai Yao could withstand her attack. After a moment of astonishment, she smiled faintly.
As soon as she finished speaking, streams of air appeared out of nowhere in the crater, gradually converging on Dugu Yan, causing her clothes to billow and adding to her unusual charm.
Her captivating eyes and icy demeanor possess a fatal allure for men.
Outside the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire, countless soul beasts that sensed this aura prostrated themselves on the ground in submission.
"Azure Dragon, possess me!"
Four cold words were uttered from her red lips.
Dugu Yan suddenly became incredibly majestic, with layers of azure armor draped over her body, and a giant azure dragon looming behind her.
The noble and majestic aura even made the sacred white tiger within Dai Yao feel a sense of threat.
"This is······"
Dai Yao stared in shock at the azure dragon phantom that appeared behind Dugu Yan. Although he had guessed that Dugu Yan's martial soul would evolve after consuming the Azure Lotus, he did not expect it to evolve into the Azure Dragon, one of the legendary Four Sacred Beasts.
Like the Vermilion Bird of the Phoenix Tree, it is a legendary mythical beast!
As if threatened, the sacred white tiger within him automatically possessed him, its wings unfurling behind it, and the golden 'King' character on its forehead shining brightly.
They confronted Dugu Yan.
"Yanyan, it's me, Dai Yao, it really is me!"
Dai Yao wanted to explain further.
"You're putting on quite a show, but don't I know my man well enough? Prepare to die!"
Dugu Yan coldly retorted.
As the soul power surged, six soul rings, yellow, purple, and black, slowly pulsed around Dugu Yan. Dugu Yan had actually reached the Soul Emperor level!
The spirit rings flashed, and surging spirit power rushed towards her. Dugu Yan's aura grew even stronger. She lowered her body and charged towards Dai Yao like lightning.
Before Dai Yao could explain, Dugu Yan had already appeared in front of him.
Dai Yao was caught in a dilemma: whether to throw a punch or not. After all, she was his woman; could he really hit her?
He sighed helplessly, but remained in a defensive posture.
The expected powerful attack did not come. Instead, a light palm struck his hand. Dai Yao was stunned and looked at Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan, who had been so indifferent just moments before, was now all smiles, calling out joyfully:
"husband!"
Then she opened her arms and nestled into Dai Yao's embrace like a swallow throwing itself into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist as if she wanted to melt into his embrace.
"Oh, so you recognized me all along, and you were just pretending not to know me!"
Dai Yao immediately understood that Dugu Yan had been pretending not to know him. He slapped her shapely buttocks hard and said fiercely:
"Watch how your husband teaches you a lesson!"
Dugu Yan turned around and left Dai Yao's embrace with a smile. It should be noted that Dai Yao's arm strength was unmatched among his peers, which shows Dugu Yan's progress.
"Oh dear, that man is staying in Wuhun City, with so many beautiful women to choose from. He's long since forgotten about me. I'm old and faded now, and I don't even know where he's forgotten me. Otherwise, five years have passed and he hasn't come to see me even once. And I've been wholeheartedly guarding this wretched place for him!"
Dugu Yan, like a resentful woman abandoned by her husband, looked at her reflection with self-pity and said.
Beside her, Ye Lingling stared in disbelief at Dugu Yan's appearance. Over the years, Dugu Yan had always been aloof and unapproachable in front of outsiders.
Her mastery of poison skills is so formidable that no man dares to approach her, no matter how beautiful she is.
But now, this demure, womanly demeanor completely overturned her impression. Could that man really be Dai Yao, the former champion of the Soul Master Competition?