Chapter 173: Dai Yao, Someone Wants to Meet You
As the sky gradually darkened,
Salas sipped his tea lightly, glancing out the window at the fading light. He watched Ning Fengzhi, who was still chatting and laughing with Dai Yao, feeling a growing sense of impatience.
"This Ning Fengzhi, the head of a sect, has so many responsibilities, yet he's shamelessly staying here. He must want to have a private chat with Dai Yao, trying to recruit him! I won't give him that chance!"
Seizing a moment when they were engaged in conversation, Salas interjected:
"Sect Master Ning, it's getting late. How about we head back together?"
Ning Fengzhi turned his head at the sound of Salas's voice, assuming that Salas was ready to leave. His heart lifted with hope, and he replied:
"Please go ahead, Master Salas. Dai Yao and I still have matters to discuss."
However, Salas remained seated, not intending to move. He smiled lightly as he looked at Ning Fengzhi.
Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi frowned inwardly.
Dai Yao sensed the subtle tension in the air and, feeling a little helpless, said to Salas:
"Grandpa Salas, since Sect Master Ning still has things to do, if you're in a hurry, you can go ahead."
Salas gave Ning Fengzhi a quick glance, then stood up, patting Dai Yao's shoulder as he spoke:
"There are still many things to deal with in the Hall of Spirits. Since that's the case, I'll leave first."
Then, his gaze turned meaningful as he looked at Dai Yao, leaning in close to his ear to whisper:
"With your wisdom, I believe you'll make the right choice."
He stood up and turned to leave.
Watching Salas's retreating figure, Ning Fengzhi finally let out a sigh of relief. With Salas here, there were some things that were difficult to say.
"Ning Uncle, is there something you need from me?"
Ning Fengzhi nodded, smiling as he said:
"There is indeed something. Although you've repeatedly declined my offer, I still want to try once more."
Seeing Dai Yao about to refuse, Ning Fengzhi raised a hand to stop him from speaking. Leaning on his jade cane, he smiled gracefully and said:
"You don't need to refuse so quickly. There's someone who wants to meet you. No matter what you want to say, it wouldn't hurt to meet him first."
Hearing this, Dai Yao's heart stirred.
With Ning Fengzhi's status, when he mentioned this person, there was an air of pride in his words. And the confidence with which he spoke—could this person really change Dai Yao's mind?
Recalling the original story, the identity of this person was clear!
Ning Fengzhi's student—the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe!
He was also the possessor of the Six-Winged Angel Spirit, the future Angel God, and currently in hiding within the Tiandou Empire, the daughter of Bibi Dong—Qian Renxue!
Understanding this, Dai Yao cupped his hands and said:
"Ning Uncle, I'll meet the person you mentioned."
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's expression brightened. He replied:
"Trust me, this person will not disappoint you."
Seeing Ning Fengzhi speak with such pride about this person, Dai Yao could only inwardly dismiss it.
"Of course, this person won't disappoint you... he might even leave you in awe! Truly in awe!"
"Anyway, since the sky is already so late, I won't delay you any longer. Tomorrow you'll be facing Shinfeng Academy. They're a real challenge, and I'm really looking forward to your strategy for tomorrow's battle."
"I won't disappoint you," Dai Yao replied.
Ning Fengzhi nodded and then turned to leave.
Once the two of them left, Dai Yao sighed.
First, he needed to think about how to approach Qian Renxue. After all, Qian Renxue was currently hiding in the Tiandou Empire under the guise of Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince.
To maintain her cover, she had to act hostile toward him, someone who was considering joining the Spirit Hall.
But Qian Renxue's true identity was still tied to the Spirit Hall, and Dai Yao couldn't change his decision to ally with them. This meant he needed to be careful with his words when dealing with her.
Secondly, tomorrow he would be facing Shinfeng Academy, a strong competitor that had earned first place in the qualifiers. Regardless of which of their teams faced them, it was certain to be a tough battle.
Their tactic of taking to the skies was incredibly powerful.
So far, no team had figured out a way to counter it.
Flying not only made them immune to most attacks, but also allowed them to amplify their offensive power by harnessing the wind.
Against strong opponents like Thunder Academy, they could wear them down by consuming their soul power, defeating them without a direct confrontation. But in reality, their strength was on par with Thunder Academy.
When facing weaker teams, they could simply sweep through them; against teams with a few strong points, they could concentrate their firepower and strike key targets from the air.
Their strategic options were vast, but the most terrifying part was that they had a genius soul master—Feng Xiaotian.
With his mutated Gale Twin-Headed Wolf, he possessed full soul power from birth and even had his own unique skill, the Gale Magic Wolf Thirty-Six Strikes. If not for Tang San's extraordinary powers in the original story, who could have defeated him?
But as Dai Yao looked at the increasingly dark sky, he murmured to himself:
"It seems like it's going to rain tomorrow."
At the Oakland rest area,
When Dai Yao entered, everyone immediately surrounded him.
Dai Yuan Yi looked at him with envy and jealousy, saying:
"Dai Yao, you're amazing. Sect Master Ning and Master Salas, people of such high status, you can just meet them whenever you want. We can't even get a glimpse of such esteemed people except during the matches."
Nearby, Luo Ling coldly snorted, nudging Dai Yuan Yi with her elbow and saying:
"Of course it's because Dai Yao is talented and has earned the favor of these two great figures. Look at you—good for nothing, neglecting your cultivation, and still haven't reached the Soul Master level. Maybe you should share some of Dai Yao's burden."
"I'm innocent! I've been working hard on my cultivation!"
Dai Yuan Yi replied defensively.
Upon hearing the conversation between the two, an odd feeling surfaced in Dai Yao's heart. Why did the conversation between Dai Yuanyi and Luo Ling sound like an old married couple bickering?
Dai Yao cleared his throat slightly and defended Dai Yuanyi:
"Dai Yuanyi has indeed been working hard recently. I believe it won't be long before he successfully breaks through to the Soul Sovereign rank."
Upon hearing this, Luo Ling's expression softened slightly.
At that moment, Feng Qianli stepped forward and said:
"Everyone is here now, so we should discuss tomorrow's matchups."
As soon as the words were spoken, the room fell silent, and everyone's expressions grew slightly darker.
Everyone knew that their opponent tomorrow would be the Shenfeng Academy.
Dai Yuanyi forced a smile and said, "Why don't we just forfeit tomorrow? That way, we can conserve our energy and properly prepare for the match the day after."
"Ridiculous!" Feng Qianli scolded sharply.
"We're both teams with twelve victories, just like Shenfeng Academy. Even if we can't win, we must give them a proper fight! If we forfeit, do you know what will happen to Oakland?"
"In front of 80,000 spectators, if we surrender out of fear, Oakland will lose face in an instant!" Feng Qianli said firmly.
On the side, Luo Feng and Dou Yu exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.
Dugu Yan's cold eyes swept over the arguing group, and she coldly snorted, playing with her red nails, clearly uninterested in what was going on.
At the core of it all, she believed Dai Yao should join one of the top teams, rather than stay in Oakland, wasting his efforts dragging the team forward.
Meanwhile, Feng Wutong remained completely unfazed by the argument. She continued to sit quietly in her corner, cherishing every moment as she diligently cultivated. Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, as smooth as jade.
Having been tormented by the Heartfire in the past, she was now free from such concerns after her martial soul evolved, allowing her to continue cultivating without interruption. Her diligence wasn't just due to her painful experiences or fear of her own weakness, but more because she wanted to keep up with Dai Yao's progress.
Zhu Zhuqing stood by Dai Yao's side, her expression cold and silent, offering no comment on the debate.
Seeing everyone in conflict, Dai Yao sighed and said:
"Captain, leave tomorrow's match to me."
Feng Qianli patted Dai Yao's shoulder and turned his head, a hint of shame appearing on his usually calm face.
"Dai Yao, you've helped us so much. It's not that we don't trust you, but Shenfeng Academy is just too strong. We can't help you much. Facing them alone, you have no chance."
"Moreover, today's match against Thunder Academy, and the use of the martial soul fusion technique with Zhu Zhuqing—her soul power has already been nearly depleted. She won't recover much overnight."
"Zhu Zhuqing can't participate in tomorrow's match."
"Without the martial soul fusion technique, facing a powerful opponent like Shenfeng Academy, we don't see any hope of victory."
Indeed, today's match could only be won with the martial soul fusion technique. However, the cost was enormous, and Zhu Zhuqing needed a full day to recover from the exhaustion.
Without Zhu Zhuqing on the field, and without the fusion technique, facing Shenfeng Academy was indeed a desperate situation.
Dai Yao gazed out the window, a flash of lightning gleaming in his eyes. He smiled mysteriously and said:
"If it were normal weather, our chances of victory tomorrow would indeed be slim. But with tomorrow's forecast of rain, we now have a slight chance."
"Oh?" Everyone's curiosity was piqued by Dai Yao's words.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan exchanged a glance, remembering the day in Sunset Forest when Dai Yao used his fourth soul skill. They both smiled faintly.
Tomorrow, when facing Shenfeng Academy, everyone would likely be in for a huge surprise.
"Tomorrow, I'll need you to stall for me," Dai Yao said, scanning the room.
Using his fourth soul skill, especially a ten-thousand-year-old skill, would require some time to charge. During this period, Shenfeng Academy would surely not just stand by and do nothing.
That charging time would be the most dangerous for him.
Feng Qianli clenched his fist and pounded it against his chest, resolute:
"Dai Yao, although I don't know what you plan to do, if you need us to stall, then no matter what happens, I'll make sure to complete the task! I'll hold them off!"
Then, his expression softened, and he added in a gentle voice:
"But I hope you don't push yourself too hard in pursuit of victory. Oakland's reputation is important, but your safety is even more important."
"Mm." Dai Yao met Feng Qianli's gaze and nodded.
Just then, a knock sounded on the door, causing everyone to be puzzled. It had been Ning Zongzhu and Sarath earlier, but who could it be now?
Opening the door, all of them froze when they saw the figure standing there, their expressions growing serious.
Dai Yuanyi immediately exclaimed in shock:
"Feng Xiaotian?!"
The figure before them wore a black mask, leaving only their eyes visible, filled with piercing light. Two white eyebrows on their forehead curved upward like two sharp swords. Their black and green attire fluttered as if moved by wind.
It was none other than Feng Xiaotian, the leader of Shenfeng Academy.
His gaze, sharp as lightning, quickly scanned the faces of the generals of Oakland. When his eyes fell on the alluring figure of Dugu Yan, a faint sense of threat rose in his heart.
He realized that Oakland was hiding a trump card.
His gaze briefly lingered on Zhu Zhuqing before finally settling on Dai Yao.
Feng Qianli stepped forward, blocking Feng Xiaotian's unrestrained gaze. He furrowed his brows and said:
"Feng Xiaotian, you are our opponent tomorrow. Is there something you need?"
Feng Xiaotian crossed his arms over his chest, unmoved by the imposing aura of the entire Oakland team. His expression remained calm, and he coldly replied:
"I've come to find Dai Yao."
"Again, you're looking for Dai Yao?"
Dai Yuanyi exclaimed in surprise.
This was the latest in a long series of people coming to see Dai Yao, and everyone was growing numb to it.
Dai Yao, observing Feng Xiaotian's serious expression, guessed that he must be here because of Huo Wu.
"I'll be right back," Dai Yao said, giving a brief instruction to the group before following Feng Xiaotian out.
The others were worried. Feng Xiaotian was their opponent tomorrow, so coming to find Dai Yao couldn't possibly be for anything good.
Dugu Yan snorted coldly while fiddling with her jade hand. She understood that the two of them were likely going out because of Huo Wu. She said coldly:
"You don't need to worry. He'll be back safely."
Upon hearing Dugu Yan's words, the group relaxed slightly. After all, as Dai Yao's woman, if she wasn't worried, why should they be?
They arrived at a secluded spot, and Feng Xiaotian turned around.
"What is it?" Dai Yao asked.
Feng Xiaotian took a deep breath and said:
"I came to apologize."
"Apologize for what?" Dai Yao asked.
"I'm apologizing for Yu Tianxin."
"Yu Tianxin? What relationship do you have with Yu Tianxin, and why are you apologizing on his behalf?" Dai Yao asked, confused.
Feng Xiaotian smiled bitterly and replied, "I've allied myself with Yu Tianxin and Yu Tianheng to deal with you. But I never expected Yu Tianxin to be such a disappointment. After you gave him a chance, he still tried to ambush you."
Dai Yao folded his hands behind his back and turned slightly, looking at the scenery as he replied:
"This is between me and Yu Tianxin. It has nothing to do with you, and you don't need to apologize for him."
Feng Xiaotian continued, "You heavily injured Yu Tianxin today. Be careful of the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus Clan. They're not to be taken lightly; they're known for being overprotective."
"Thanks, but I don't think the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus Clan will dare to touch me," Dai Yao responded.
Feng Xiaotian was stunned. Dai Yao had always seemed like an ordinary civilian to him, but given his personality, it didn't seem like he was just being arrogant.
Thinking back to the words of Bishop Sarath at the opening ceremony, who had shown support for Oakland, a chill ran down his spine. Could it be that Dai Yao has connections with the Spirit Hall?
Suppressing his surprise, Feng Xiaotian's gaze flickered before he smiled lightly and said:
"Since you've already made your plans, then I need not worry anymore. It'll be boring without an opponent like you."
Seeing that Dai Yao didn't respond, Feng Xiaotian added:
"Dai Yao, how about we make a bet?"
"A bet?" Dai Yao asked, his interest piqued. He quickly guessed that Feng Xiaotian was proposing a bet related to Huo Wu.
But he couldn't help but mentally complain—how come everyone on the Douluo Continent loved to bet?
Tang San had probably made hundreds of bets on his way here, even while being pursued by the god-level assassin Qian Renxue. He had still found time to bet.
"I bet on tomorrow's match. If I win, you can never go near Huo Wu again!" Feng Xiaotian's words hung in the air, and the room fell silent. Only his excited voice echoed.
Dai Yao didn't look at Feng Xiaotian, but the corner of his mouth curled into a slight smile.
"And if I win?" Dai Yao asked.
Feng Xiaotian hesitated, his expression struggling. After a long pause, he finally gritted his teeth and said:
"If you win, then I will never go near Huo Wu again!"
He didn't believe that Oakland had any chance of winning against them, but the very idea of staying away from Huo Wu made his heart bleed.
"Why should it matter to me whether you get close to Huo Wu or not? And besides, there's nothing between me and Huo Wu," Dai Yao said, turning his head to look at Feng Xiaotian, whose expression changed slightly. Dai Yao smiled and added:
"However, I can accept this bet."
"Then it's settled."
Upon hearing Dai Yao's agreement, Feng Xiaotian was worried that he might back out, so he quickly said.
The two didn't speak further, and just as Feng Xiaotian was about to turn and leave, Dai Yao called out to him:
"Brother Feng, I need to remind you of something."
Feng Xiaotian froze and turned back, asking:
"What is it?"
"Sometimes, when you're pursuing a girl, you need to show your own charm. Otherwise, constantly trying to please her will only push you further away," Dai Yao advised.
In the original story, Feng Xiaotian had been used by Huo Wu to deal with Tang San. But when they reached the finals, Huo Wu chose to join Shenfeng Academy, and Feng Xiaotian resolutely chose his teammates instead. It was that responsible attitude that had moved Huo Wu.
But the Feng Xiaotian in front of Dai Yao now was nothing more than a desperate "simp."
Upon hearing Dai Yao's words, Feng Xiaotian's expression shifted slightly. His gaze froze for a moment, and then his eyes lowered, seemingly lost in thought.
"Thanks for the advice," he said.
With that, he turned and left, leaving only the image of his graceful back behind.
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