Chapter 316: Di Tian Emerges
"Who are you, someone who doesn't exist within the predetermined fate?" Di Tian stared intently at Dai Yao, his words slowly unfolding.
His indifferent voice made even the proudest of the ancient soul beasts around him bow their heads in submission. In that moment, a hush fell over the entire Star Dou Forest as all the beasts bowed in reverence.
The entire Spirit Hall squad locked their eyes on the black-haired middle-aged man who had suddenly appeared. Though he looked like an ordinary human, the powerful aura surrounding him — a presence that commanded the sun, moon, and stars and treated all living things with disdain — sent chills through their hearts.
This man instilled more fear in them than even the current Pope!
The sheer depth of his presence was like gazing into a bottomless abyss; the intense darkness seemed to swallow everything around him.
They couldn't grasp the meaning of his words, but they knew one thing — they must not provoke this man.
In a flash, shadows darted toward the forest's edge, fleeing from the scene.
Hu Liena cast a worried glance at Dai Yao, reluctant to leave. This black-haired man had obviously come for him. If they abandoned Dai Yao now, wouldn't he be as good as dead?
Xie Yue hurriedly grabbed Hu Liena by the arm and pulled her toward the forest's edge.
If they stayed any longer, they'd be throwing their lives away; rescuing Dai Yao wasn't an option anymore!
Di Tian's gaze narrowed. "Human, this hundred-thousand-year soul ring belongs to the Child of Destiny, not to you. Since you took it, you'll have to pay with your life…"
A buzz reverberated as Dai Yao suddenly felt the space around him solidify, locking his entire body in place.
Watching Di Tian slowly approach, his blood boiled. He knew that the moment Di Tian reached him, it would be the end.
But instead of flowing toward the Sacred White Tiger, his surging soul power flowed into a different martial soul, one he had never used in front of anyone before.
The Chaos Green Lotus!
A third black soul ring suddenly ignited with a strange black light, and with a swift motion, Dai Yao vanished from sight.
"Hm?"
Di Tian uttered a soft, surprised sound, a glint of intrigue flashing in his otherwise impassive black eyes.
"Interesting. To think you could escape from my grasp. It seems there's something within this human that even I cannot control."
With his immense power, few on the entire continent could challenge him. For something to escape his control was indeed rare — almost impossible.
Thus, Dai Yao's sudden disappearance stirred his interest.
"But do you really think you can escape?"
A knowing smile crept onto his lips. Casting a brief, dismissive glance at the now-deranged Tang San, he sighed slightly before taking a single step forward, crossing miles in an instant to reappear before Dai Yao.
Seeing Di Tian suddenly appear in front of him, Dai Yao's pupils constricted, and he activated the third soul skill of the Chaos Green Lotus — teleportation — once again!
In a blink, Dai Yao vanished from Di Tian's sight.
This time, Di Tian couldn't hide his surprise.
He hadn't been careless; he had nearly sealed off the entire surrounding space. Even a regular Title Douluo would have been unable to move within this restricted area. Yet this human had still disappeared right before him!
"Interesting, truly interesting!"
For tens of thousands of years, Di Tian's tranquil heart had been unshaken. But now, a ripple of curiosity had arisen. This human's martial soul, whatever it was, intrigued him, defying his abilities and compelling him to investigate.
What could be so powerful as to render his abilities useless?
Dai Yao, still fleeing at breakneck speed, didn't dare pause. Urging the Chaos Green Lotus within him, he teleported continuously, hurtling toward the Star Dou Forest's outskirts.
"Damn it, what's going on?! Absorbing Xiao Wu's soul ring somehow attracted Di Tian! Weren't they supposed to appear in Douluo Dalu II ten thousand years from now?!"
While teleporting, Dai Yao cursed inwardly.
"It's unfortunate that Tang San got away again. Could it be that fate itself is preventing me from killing him?"
He shook his head, pushing the baseless thought aside.
"And that statement from Di Tian about someone who doesn't exist in fate — could he have been referring to me?"
This thought sent a chill through Dai Yao's heart.
Indeed, he was not part of the original story and could be called someone who doesn't exist within fate. So far, he had stolen countless opportunities from Tang San, significantly altering the original plot.
But what did it mean to be a person who doesn't exist in fate?
Why did Di Tian seek to kill him the moment they met?
These questions might remain forever unanswered; it was unthinkable that he could ask Di Tian directly.
"If the soul beasts of Star Dou Forest, represented by Di Tian, dare protect Tang San and stand in my way, then once I achieve Ultimate Douluo status or ascend to godhood, they should expect no mercy from me!"
Within mere seconds, Dai Yao had reached the edge of the Star Dou Forest.
It had taken them nearly ten days to journey from the edge of the forest to its core, yet Dai Yao had exited the central zone in mere moments. Such speed demonstrated his terrifying abilities.
The third soul skill of the Chaos Green Lotus, teleportation, only required a minimal amount of soul power to allow Dai Yao to move thousands of meters in an instant. He could use it repeatedly until his soul power ran out.
But Dai Yao's soul power was far more potent than that of an ordinary soul master of the same level, and he also possessed the fifth soul skill — a soul power reservoir capable of holding the power of a level ninety-nine Ultimate Douluo. Essentially, Dai Yao was inexhaustible.
This meant he was nearly unkillable.
Finally, after who knows how many teleportations, Dai Yao managed to escape the forest's boundaries.
Unfurling his eight wings, he hovered in the air. Below him, lush forests and the distinctly bordered towns of human civilization spread out, forming a clear dividing line.
With lingering fear, he looked back at the Star Dou Forest. In those few seconds, he had escaped from the forest's core to its edge, finally considering himself safe.
But in the next moment, an eerie silence fell over the once-bustling town below him.
The lively sounds vanished, the wind's whispers ceased, and an unsettling quiet enveloped the entire area.
A black silhouette slowly appeared at the boundary between the forest and the town, stopping without stepping forward.
Di Tian watched Dai Yao with a mix of suspicion and disbelief. He had never imagined that anyone could escape his grasp. And this human had covered such a great distance from the forest's core to this spot in mere seconds, proving that he was no ordinary Soul Emperor.
He was genuinely curious about why this human possessed such capabilities.
Yet his appearance stunned Dai Yao once more, prompting him to activate his teleportation skill and flee again.
Watching Dai Yao disappear into the distance, Di Tian was left speechless.
"This human is excessively cautious. I only wanted to understand why my powers are ineffective against him. Such a pity…"
Back in the Star Dou Forest's core, the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python arrived at the site of Xiao Wu's sacrifice, no longer consumed by their initial frenzy.
They could feel the immense oppressive power radiating from Di Tian — a soul beast of seventy-eight thousand years. This presence affected them profoundly.
The Titan Giant Ape scanned the surroundings with uncertainty before locking its gaze on the grief-stricken Tang San.
It recalled the message Xiao Wu had conveyed to them just before her death. A hint of relief mixed with disappointment appeared in its lantern-sized eyes as it said, "Big Brother, is this the man Xiao Wu chose? If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have died…"
The Sky Azure Bull Python let out a heavy sigh, a thick mist expelled from its nostrils, spectacular to behold. With a tinge of sadness, it replied, "Don't blame him. This human fought for Xiao Wu with everything he had. It's just that the one called Dai Yao was too cunning. He played us all."
The Titan Giant Ape struck the ground, causing a tremor, and roared angrily, "What good is anger? If you're a real man, avenge Xiao Wu!"
Its powerful voice reverberated like a tolling bell in Tang San's heart, pulling him out of his blood-stained rage and back to a sobering reality.
He looked up, dumbfounded, at the two massive creatures before him. The Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python filled most of his field of vision, even blocking out the sky.
Yet his heart held no fear — only desolation.
"I am no match for Dai Yao. Since the Continental Soul Master Tournament, I've been defeated by him time and time again. I have no way to beat him…" His face was full of despair as the memories of Dai Yao's victories played like a nightmare in his mind.
No matter what he tried, he was never able to overcome Dai Yao. Now that Dai Yao had claimed Xiao Wu's soul ring — that blood-red hundred-thousand-year ring — he felt utter hopelessness.
Xiao Wu was dead, and he wanted nothing more than to join her.
"Coward! If you die, what does Xiao Wu's sacrifice mean to you?!"
The Titan Giant Ape pounded the ground in anger, its deep voice echoing all around, snapping several nearby trees.
"But I have no way to defeat Dai Yao…" Tang San said, lifeless, devoid of any desire for revenge.
"You!" The Titan Giant Ape glared furiously. If it weren't for Xiao Wu sacrificing herself to save Tang San, it would have already crushed him in anger.
The Sky Azure Bull Python restrained the furious Titan Giant Ape and, staring at Tang San, spoke slowly:
"Human, you are the one Xiao Wu chose. You have yet to fully unleash the power of your twin martial souls. Er Ming has seen the potential of your second martial soul."
"You haven't even unlocked its true potential."
"If you master the ultimate techniques of your second martial soul, then you may have the strength to face Dai Yao."
In the past, a soul master wielding the Clear Sky Hammer had once defeated a Titan Giant Ape. The power unleashed when that hammer shattered a soul ring had been so overwhelming that even they were astonished.
"The ultimate techniques…"
A glimmer of life slowly returned to Tang San's vacant gaze.
"Yes, human. Xiao Wu told us about you. You have yet to master the true ultimate skills of your Clear Sky Hammer. Train yourself well. When you return to the sect associated with that martial soul, learn its ultimate techniques. Then, and only then, can you face Dai Yao…"
"Remember, do not rush to attach a soul ring to your second martial soul. Wait until you've reached the level of Title Douluo before doing so."
"Don't ruin your limitless future for immediate gain."
The Sky Azure Bull Python spoke with heartfelt concern.
"I will avenge Xiao Wu!" Tang San clenched his fist, his tone resolute. His steady determination made Da Ming and Er Ming nod approvingly.
Because of Xiao Wu's death, Tang San had lost his will to live. But the Sky Azure Bull Python had now given him a reason to survive — to avenge Xiao Wu.
The dead could not be brought back. He had to carry on Xiao Wu's legacy, avenge her, kill Dai Yao, and bring down Bibi Dong, her enemy!
He would overthrow the rule of the Spirit Hall on the Douluo Continent.
"By the way, who was that figure in the black robe who appeared earlier? If we could gain his support, wouldn't killing Dai Yao be simple?"
Tang San raised his head and asked the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape.
At his words, the two forest kings exchanged dark, uneasy glances. The Sky Azure Bull Python responded gravely:
"We don't know. We've been in the Star Dou Forest for one hundred thousand years, yet we have never seen that man in black. His strength is unparalleled — unlike anything I've ever encountered in my hundred-thousand-year life."
"Long ago, I heard tales of powerful beings hiding within the Star Dou Forest, beings even stronger than us."
"So Er Ming and I began searching for traces of them, combing through every corner of the Star Dou Forest. But we found nothing."
"It was around that time that Xiao Wu's mother was attacked..."
"Perhaps that man is one of those hidden powers, but don't expect their help. If they intended to help, they would have already shown themselves to you…"
"Now then, before you leave the Star Dou Forest, you should handle your sixth soul ring. Here, you can have any soul ring you desire…"
As rulers of the Star Dou Forest, it made them uneasy knowing that there existed beings stronger than themselves, lurking in the forest's depths.
Tang San nodded at the Sky Azure Bull Python's explanation and clasped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you. I already have some ideas for my sixth soul ring. But I won't need your help. If I can't hunt my own sixth soul ring, how could I even consider avenging Xiao Wu?"
With that, Tang San turned and disappeared into the forest.
Watching him vanish among the trees, the Sky Azure Bull Python said solemnly:
"Xiao Wu did not choose wrongly."
The Titan Giant Ape snorted, expelling a dense mist from its nostrils. "If it weren't for what that human did before Xiao Wu's death, I'd have killed him myself, letting him accompany Xiao Wu in death. And those other ants… next time I see them, I'll make sure they never leave!"
Thinking of that group, especially the two Title Douluo who performed the martial soul fusion skill, a wary glint flickered in the Sky Azure Bull Python's enormous eyes:
"It's a shame we didn't get to deal with those two. Their martial soul fusion skill posed a major threat to us. A few more human experts of their caliber could seriously wound us!"
All around them, red spider lilies bloomed, transforming the area into a crimson sea. The air carried a mournful aura, as if in tribute to Xiao Wu.
The two hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts remained there, sharing a silent farewell with Xiao Wu's lingering spirit.
"Xiao Wu, forgive us. We couldn't protect you…"
A deep guilt spread through their hearts.
Star Dou Forest, at the bottom of the Lake of Life.
The Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape would never have imagined that the powerful beings they had sought for tens of thousands of years were hidden right beneath their own dwelling.
As Di Tian returned, a woman in a long green robe approached him. It was Bi Ji, the Emerald Swan, the fourth-ranked Great Beast in Douluo II.
Bi Ji greeted him, concerned. "Di Tian, what happened? Why did you leave so suddenly?"
Di Tian's face remained expressionless as he replied, "Nothing much. I was just feeling restless. You go ahead and absorb that Iceworm's life energy. I'm going to visit the Master."
Bi Ji was taken aback but sensed he didn't want to explain further. She smiled gently and nodded, her tone soft. "Very well, Beast God. But remember, we're your companions. If something is troubling you, please talk to us…"
A glimmer flashed in Di Tian's pitch-black eyes, and he nodded before proceeding to where the "Master" awaited.
He entered a vast cavern, its interior dominated by a massive silver egg, too immense to be described in words. The silvery glow illuminated the dark cavern as if it were daylight.
Di Tian knelt on one knee. The Beast God, who was invincible in others' eyes, now showed an unusual hint of bewilderment.
"Master, after tens of thousands of years, I finally found the prophesied Child of Destiny. Our companion has been successfully sent to his side."
"But something unexpected has happened. A human who doesn't exist within fate has disrupted my plans..."
"For this plan, the soul beast clan has paid a monumental price. Even I, the Beast God in their eyes, must tread carefully."
"And now, not only has the seed of the God of Shura failed, but the Child of Destiny has also failed. I, the Beast God, have betrayed the trust of the soul beasts…"
"As for being called the Beast God, I am unworthy…"
As Di Tian murmured softly, the giant silver egg remained unchanged, its gentle glow as constant as it had been for tens of thousands of years.
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