Chapter 467: Huanglian and the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox
"I'm sorry, Nana."
Feeling the trembling figure in his arms, Dai Yao froze for a moment before reaching out and gently holding Hu Liena's waist, his tone apologetic.
So many emotions clogged his heart that he didn't know what to say. Only now did he understand why Hu Liena had feigned indifference at first—three years apart had left her lonely and yearning, and even someone as gentle and patient as she was bound to feel hurt and frustrated.
Hearing his apology only made Hu Liena's emotions harder to control. Her tears soaked through his shirt as three years' worth of suppressed pain flooded out. Bibi Dong had named her as the supreme commander of the army, and to fulfill her duty, she had been forced to stifle her kindness, to harden herself. She had to act cold and decisive, to project the image of a rational, unyielding leader.
The pressure weighed on her like crashing waves, threatening to drown her, and though Yan and Xie Yue could understand her burden, they couldn't offer much comfort. In the solitude of the long nights, all her stress and exhaustion could only be borne alone.
But no matter how composed her appearance, she had never become the heartless person she appeared to be. The moment she saw Dai Yao, the three years of pent-up emotion surged forth, breaking her defenses.
At long last, her emotions eased, and Hu Liena whispered, "Dai Yao, I missed you so much..."
A tremor ran through Dai Yao's heart as his hand froze in place. On Seagod Island, with so many close to him, he hadn't felt the same longing that Hu Liena had endured. He sighed, feeling guilt and sympathy; he realized just how unfair this was to Hu Liena, though he had no intention of letting her go.
"I missed you too," he murmured gently near her ear.
His warm breath caressed her ear, sending a shiver through her. Blushing, she turned her head, embarrassed by her own loss of composure. "I'm sorry for losing my self-control. About Hanhai City—I already had a plan in place. I never intended to act against the Qinglian Sect or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, but both your strength and influence are considerable. Internally, many have concerns about you, so I had to listen to their voices. That's why I sent two Titled Douluos to monitor the situation."
Moving to the table, she picked up a document she'd prepared earlier and handed it to Dai Yao. "This is the draft treaty I prepared for peaceful coexistence. See if there's anything you'd like to add. Once we finalize it, we can issue a joint statement to ease the tension between Hanhai City and the empire."
Dai Yao didn't immediately look at the paper. Instead, he caught Hu Liena's hand as she tried to pull away, compelling her to face him. Tenderly, he wiped away the remaining traces of her tears. "Thank you, Nana. I'm sorry I haven't been by your side these past three years."
Hu Liena's heart skipped a beat, and she unconsciously leaned into his embrace, finding herself anchored once more. "No… it's not your fault. I'm the Pope's disciple, the Holy Maiden of the Wuhun Hall. I have a responsibility that I can't turn away from."
After a long pause, she looked up at him, her voice gentle. "So, what about you? What have you been through these three years?"
Suddenly, her hands brushed against something hard on his back. "Hm? What's this?"
Dai Yao smiled and brought the Seagod Trident forward, unwrapping the fabric and revealing the radiant golden trident. "This is my experience over the past three years—the Seagod's Trident, the weapon of the Seagod himself. You remember I told you I was going to Seagod Island? Well, it turned out to be the Seagod's inheritance ground, and I was lucky enough to be chosen to undergo the Seagod's trials. As I've advanced through the tests, my soul power has surged, reaching eighty-seven levels."
Hu Liena's lips parted in shock, leaving her speechless. The Seagod's weapon? A path to godhood? Level eighty-seven?
The flood of information left her mind reeling, blank and uncertain. After closely examining the energy radiating from the Seagod Trident, she couldn't help but believe his words. Though her spirit power was lower than his, only at the level of a Spirit Sage, as the Holy Maiden of the Wuhun Hall, her knowledge was vast, greater than that of many Spirit Douluos or even Titled Douluos.
The man she had longed for over three years suddenly seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
"Nana, what's wrong?" Dai Yao asked, noticing her bewildered expression.
"Are you… still the Dai Yao I once knew?" she murmured.
Dai Yao smiled and playfully tapped her hand. "Silly girl, who else would I be?"
She bit her lip, gazing at him in silence before finally muttering in a low voice, "It just feels like you're so far away now. You've changed so much in these three years—not only is your power so high, but you're also on a path to becoming a god. One day, you'll be a deity, and I'll only be by your side for a short while before I turn to dust."
Now understanding her worry, Dai Yao chuckled softly and pulled her close, whispering, "Silly girl, we'll still be together. From what I've heard, gods can take their loved ones with them to the legendary God Realm."
Hu Liena's eyes sparkled with hope but then dimmed again. She lowered her head. "I don't know much about the rules of the God Realm, but I imagine there are restrictions on that, like a limit on the number of people. You have four wives already, and even if you have enough places for them, would there be room left for me? I'm just… an affair. How could I compare to them?"
Her words, full of self-doubt, pierced Dai Yao's heart, filling him with both pity and frustration. He knew it was finally time to give her that golden lotus from his spirit world.
"That's not how it is. You mean as much to me as they do. There are just a few circumstances that have prevented me from marrying you so far. Besides, you may not even need my help to ascend to the God Realm."
"What?" She looked up at him, surprised.
Was he saying that she, too, had the potential to become a god? The thought seemed absurd, and she felt embarrassed even imagining it. She knew her own strengths and weaknesses well—although she was exceptional among her peers, she couldn't compete with true prodigies.
She was far from his level. Even Tang San, who had once been defeated by Dai Yao, was much stronger than she was. Were it not for the age advantage, the gap between her and Dai Yao would be even greater. While she believed she could become a Titled Douluo someday, the notion of becoming a deity was simply unimaginable.
Dai Yao didn't answer directly; instead, he asked, "Nana, you're familiar with the changes that have happened to Zhuqing, Wutong, and Dugu Yan, aren't you?"
Hu Liena furrowed her brows, pondering for a moment before replying softly, "I've heard a bit. Before you joined the Wuhun Hall, we conducted a thorough investigation on you and those close to you. Among the findings, some people noticed the changes in Zhuqing and Wutong's martial spirits."
"Zhuqing's martial spirit used to be the Nether Spirit Cat, but later it became known as the Nether Lord. Wutong's spirit was initially the Flamebird at the Star Luo Academy, but after she came to Heaven Dou Empire, it evolved into the Vermilion Bird Spirit. Both of these are extremely rare, high-level martial spirits. Teacher even speculated that their spirit quality might surpass even that of the Clear Sky Hammer."
"At the time, many were intrigued. They wanted to research the secret behind these transformations. After all, if the Wuhun Hall possessed a way to evolve martial spirits, it would elevate our power to an unprecedented level, potentially allowing us to defeat the other two empires easily."
"The proposals from those people were ultimately overruled by the teacher."
"Dai Yao, what does any of this have to do with me?"
Dai Yao's heart stirred. He hadn't expected such a secret to come to light—that Bibi Dong had secretly protected him in the past. If he remembered correctly, that was during the time they both faced the challenges of the Rakshasa God's Trial.
Hearing Hu Liena's question, Dai Yao quickly came back to his senses. With a simple gesture, a yellow lotus appeared in his palm, floating and spinning gently.
The lotus had twelve petals, its leaves gracefully unfurling, exuding a mesmerizing aura.
One glance at it seemed to awaken the purest desires buried deep within the heart. Even closing one's eyes wasn't enough to dispel the enchanting sensation.
"What is that?"
Hu Liena's gaze locked onto the lotus in Dai Yao's hand, and a powerful, almost greedy yearning surged within her. She could feel it—obtaining this lotus would bring an unimaginable transformation. If not for the last vestiges of her self-control, she might have already tried to snatch it.
Dai Yao smiled and explained:
"This is one of my secrets. Each time I break through to a new level, a new lotus blooms in my spiritual world."
"Every lotus carries miraculous power that defies the natural order. For example, Zhuqing and Wutong's martial spirits evolved after they consumed the lotus. Their talents and potential underwent a complete transformation. You could even say they now have the potential to become deities."
"When they break through to Title Douluo, they might even attract the attention of a god."
"This yellow lotus is meant for you. Consuming it will not only evolve your martial spirit but also significantly enhance your physique, as though cleansing your body of impurities. When you reach Title Douluo, you might also encounter a god seeking you out."
Hu Liena didn't doubt Dai Yao's words. She could feel her martial spirit's desperate longing for the lotus—a yearning rooted in her very bloodline.
Seeing her reaction, Dai Yao handed the yellow lotus to her, smiling.
"Go ahead and absorb it. It should take about half an hour. I'll stand guard for you."
Hu Liena accepted the lotus, her martial spirit practically urging her to absorb it immediately. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions. Turning to Dai Yao, her heart swelled with gratitude. For him to reveal such a secret to her was proof of how important she was to him.
With a soft smile, Hu Liena said, "Thank you."
Dai Yao waved her words aside. "There's no need for thanks between us. Hurry and consume the yellow lotus."
Hu Liena nodded but didn't begin absorbing it immediately. First, she instructed the camp guards and made brief arrangements for camp affairs before returning to the command tent to focus on the lotus.
When the yellow lotus entered her mouth, it transformed into a warm current that coursed through her entire body. A golden-yellow soul power surged around her, taking on a tangible form and enveloping her like a cocoon.
"Back when Rongrong absorbed the golden lotus, it looked just like this. The time it takes for Liena to absorb the yellow lotus should be about the same—around half an hour."
Looking at the familiar cocoon, Dai Yao sighed.
"Hu Liena was already an enchantress. With just a glance, she could stir any man's desires. After absorbing the yellow lotus, her allure will likely become irresistible to anyone..."
Half an Hour Later
A crisp cracking sound echoed through the tent as Dai Yao opened his eyes.
The yellow cocoon began to shatter piece by piece. As the heated moisture inside made contact with the air, it turned into white mist. Within the mist, a graceful silhouette emerged, its curves faintly visible.
The moment Dai Yao's gaze fell upon the figure, a wave of heat surged through his body. His mouth went dry, and his breathing quickened.
"Dai Yao, do I look beautiful?"
A voice, soft and bewitching, resonated from within the mist.
Then, the enchanting figure stepped out from the fog. Her flawless, jade-like skin seemed as if it had been sculpted by the heavens. She approached Dai Yao with tantalizing elegance, her every movement exuding an otherworldly charm.
Leaning against Dai Yao, Hu Liena trailed her delicate fingers along his jaw, her rosy lips parting to exhale warm breath. Her captivating eyes shimmered with an irresistible allure.
Dai Yao abruptly pulled Hu Liena closer, his arm encircling her waist while his hand rested on her chest. His voice was rough with desire.
"Liena, you're playing with fire."
Hearing the restraint in his voice, Hu Liena let out a melodic laugh before deactivating her martial spirit's innate ability.
As the charm effect of her martial spirit faded, the mesmerizing aura around her vanished. Still, even without it, Hu Liena's appearance had changed significantly after absorbing the yellow lotus.
Her skin had become flawless, without a single blemish. If she had been a masterpiece of nature before, she now resembled the ultimate creation of a divine craftsman.
"Dai Yao, if you want me, you can have me here and now..."
Seeing the intensity in his eyes, Hu Liena gently caressed his face, her voice tender and sweet.
She had no idea how to repay Dai Yao for giving her such a miraculous treasure as the yellow lotus. Offering herself seemed like the only appropriate response.
Dai Yao thought for a moment but ultimately declined. He wasn't one for short encounters, and making love to Hu Liena here would disrupt the discipline of the Spirit Empire's army and harm her authority as their leader.
Hu Liena clearly understood this as well. She had been willing to compromise for him, but Dai Yao couldn't bring himself to disregard her circumstances.
"Not now, Liena. You're willing to make sacrifices for me, but I can't ignore your position. When the time comes, when I marry you in the open for all to see, I'll make you mine."
With that, Dai Yao kissed her deeply, leaving them both breathless. As he pulled away, a glistening thread lingered between their lips. Hu Liena's cheeks flushed a delicate red. Dai Yao retrieved a robe from his soul device and draped it over her, concealing her tempting figure.
"Now, Liena, has your martial spirit changed?" he asked.
Hu Liena smiled seductively, and as her soul rings appeared one by one, her seventh black soul ring shone brightly. Suddenly, nine pink fox tails extended from her back, swaying gently.
"My martial spirit is now the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox," she replied, her mesmerizing eyes tinged with a faint pink glow, her voice sweet and intoxicating.
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