Douluo Dalu 2: The True God King

"You don't know?"

Dai Yuoheng looked at his foolish younger brother with a face full of shock.

Su Yu's identity was no longer a secret.

One could even say it was almost semi-public.

In this academy, among those who had participated in the competition, who didn't know about it?

And yet this idiot claimed he didn't know?

Dai Yuoheng was at a loss for words.

"You fool! If you don't know, can't you at least ask Zhu Lu?"

"Zhu Lu?"

"I can't be bothered to see her. She irritates me every time I do."

Ever since being crippled, Dai Huabin had found Zhu Lu increasingly annoying.

The more seductive Zhu Lu looked, the more mocking it felt to him.

Already prone to being sensitive and irritable, Dai Huabin had berated Zhu Lu countless times over these days.

Even with Zhu Lu's fiery temper, after being met with cold disdain repeatedly, her passion had long since cooled.

In the past few days, Zhu Lu hadn't approached Dai Huabin at all.

"You!"

Dai Yuoheng was so furious he chuckled, pointing at Dai Huabin but unable to find the words to say for a while.

His younger brother had plenty of ambition, sure, but as for brains? Not a shred.

Taking a deep breath to suppress the urge to curse, Dai Yuoheng said in a low voice, "Do you even realize how big a background Su Yu has?"

"So what if he has a background? Would our White Tiger Duke's Mansion fear him?"

Ignorance breeds fearlessness. Dai Huabin, like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger, showed no fear.

He was the second son of the Duke's Mansion!

Why would he be afraid of someone with commoner roots?

No matter how talented Su Yu was, wasn't he still just a commoner?

If Su Yu hadn't gone back with the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Dai Huabin would have taught him a lesson.

Offending him was as good as courting death.

"You know nothing! Just don't drag the Duke's Mansion into your mess."

"Su Yu is the young master of the Ice God Palace. Do you even understand what the Ice God Palace is?

They are not someone you can afford to provoke."

"Ice God Palace?"

Dai Huabin thought hard for a moment. "Never heard of it."

"Big brother, you're regressing as you age.

Are you seriously scared of some third-rate sect I've never even heard of?"

Dai Yuoheng almost coughed up blood from anger. Just as he was about to scold him, he suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure descend upon them.

To his horror, he realized he had lost control of his body.

Not only could he not move, but he couldn't even speak.

Across from him, Dai Huabin's face was also full of fear because he, too, couldn't move.

He tried to speak but couldn't utter a single word.

An immense terror rose from within. Dai Huabin's previously arrogant gaze disappeared in an instant.

"The White Tiger Duke's Mansion, huh? Oh, how impressive."

A voice filled with authority and mockery suddenly sounded, buzzing in their ears like thunder.

The oppressive pressure shattered their composure.

Under that force, they were like lone boats in a tsunami, ready to capsize at any moment.

The utter helplessness and despair of their lives being in another's hands awakened their deepest fears.

Dai Yuoheng wanted to beg for mercy, but he couldn't open his mouth.

"If your Duke's Mansion is so powerful, then I suppose there's no need for you to exist."

The voice carried authority as Dai Huabin's body trembled violently, and blood started to flow from between his legs.

It was as if something had been entirely erased.

Dai Huabin's eyes widened in rage and agony, and he almost fainted from the pain, yet he couldn't make a sound.

"Don't worry, it's not over yet."

The voice came again.

"Now, should it be your left hand or your right hand?"

The casual pondering sent fresh sweat rolling down Dai Huabin's forehead.

What? They were going to sever a limb too?

"Let's go with the left arm. I'm quite considerate, after all."

As the words fell, a cold flash appeared. Dai Huabin's right arm was severed from his body, blood spurting out as it fell.

The arm exploded into pieces midair, making reattachment impossible.

Dai Huabin nearly blacked out. Why was it the right arm?!

"Oh, my mistake. But it's no big deal. You can just use your left hand from now on. By the way, are you left-handed?"

The authoritative voice carried a hint of mockery, like a twisted joke.

Dai Huabin felt a rush of anger overwhelm him, and his vision went black.

The next moment, he spat out blood and fainted on the spot.

"Is that all?"

The voice sounded regretful as if the fun had been cut short.

"Never mind, there's still one more to go."

Dai Yuoheng's heart tightened. What… what did that mean?

"Don't worry, it won't hurt. Once it's done, you'll be a lovely young lady."

Dai Yaoheng: !!!

In his mind, he screamed: Don't come any closer!

But his resistance was meaningless.

With a similar process, Dai Yuoheng was transformed into Dai Huabin's successor.

Unable to accept reality, Dai Yuoheng also blacked out and fainted.

"Hmm?"

"That old guy is coming."

"A half-crippled old relic… should I just finish him off?"

"Eh… better not. I haven't fully broken through yet and might not get away unscathed in a fight."

"Forget it, I'll let him go this time."

Muttering to himself, a shadowy figure vanished into thin air, the entire process taking less than two seconds.

Another figure appeared, hunched over and unable to stand straight.

He looked at the bloodied Dai Yuoheng and Dai Huabin lying on the ground, falling into deep thought.

"To be able to seal this area and evade my perception, the intruder must be formidable."

"If not for their slip-up, accidentally revealing a trace of their presence, I wouldn't have noticed."

"Their power surpasses even Xuan Zi at his peak."

"How did these two brats provoke someone so terrifying?"

Mu En was puzzled.

But seeing the two of them bleeding profusely, he knew this wasn't the time to dwell on it.

If they weren't treated immediately, they would die from excessive blood loss.

With a wave of his right hand, Mu En wrapped the two in his aura and vanished from the spot.

...

White Tiger Duke's Mansion.

Dai Hao was resting.

Having been gravely injured, he had recovered significantly after more than half a month of care.

Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared abruptly in his room.

The intruder made no effort to conceal their presence, and with Dai Hao's cultivation, he naturally sensed them.

Before Dai Hao could open his eyes, however, a slap landed on his face, knocking him unconscious once again.

Dai Hao's eyes rolled back, and it was clear he had been physically lulled into sleep.

"A family should stay whole and united."

"Don't worry, you're not alone. When you wake up, you'll find you have a few new sisters."

The intruder mumbled as they performed surgery on Dai Hao, even amputating a limb in the process.

"Hmm, perfect."

With a satisfied murmur, the figure disappeared.

Moments later, the room was filled with the White Tiger Duchess's panicked and anguished cries.

"Husband!!!"

...

Xuanwu Sect.

In a secret chamber.

A blue figure stood before the Xuanwu Sect's master, who stared back in terror, eyes wide.

He coughed up fragments of his organs, teetering on the brink of death.

"Wh… why?"

"We… have no… grievance… no… enmity."

The sect master, a titled Douluo with the Xuanwu Shield martial soul, was immensely powerful—close to the level of a Super Douluo.

Yet against this intruder, he didn't even have the strength to retaliate.

In just two moves, he was left mortally wounded.

The first strike shattered his Xuanwu Shield.

The second ruptured his internal organs, leaving him dying.

The intruder's strength was overwhelming.

The sect master couldn't fathom why such a formidable figure would attack him, given their lack of enmity.

"Why? Because you're an old bastard. Time to send you on your way."

"Oh, by the way, your son will be joining you soon."

"You… you mustn't harm Sanshi. He's still… just a child!"

"So what?"

"Sanshi carries the Dou Ling royal bloodline. If you dare… harm him, it's tantamount to provoking… the Dou Ling… Empire!"

"And so what?"

"The Dou Ling Empire? I wouldn't hesitate to kill even their emperor. Royal bloodline?"

"Hah."

The contempt in the intruder's tone was blatant, making it clear they had no regard for the Dou Ling Empire.

"Time to go."

With that, the blue figure slammed a palm onto the sect master's head, shattering his brain and obliterating his spirit.

A titled Douluo of great renown had thus fallen.

"Blame your foolish son. Who told him to court death?"

"Daring to offend the young master? Not even your ashes will remain."

The blue figure muttered as they stomped on the sect master's corpse.

Moments later, three blood-stained soul bones appeared in their hand.

"Oh, three spirit bones? Decent quality."

With that, the blue figure vanished from the chamber.

The entire Xuanwu Sect remained unaware of what had transpired in the secret chamber, not just because the battle ended too quickly but because it couldn't even be called a battle—it was… a slaughter.

...

Star Luo Empire.

Xu Jiawei was busy.

After all, Dai Hao, who had already been injured, had suffered yet another blow.

This time, the injuries were far worse.

He had lost his right arm and become enuch.

With such severe injuries, Dai Hao was in no condition to manage the army.

As a good brother, Xu Jiawei, though reluctant, had no choice but to reluctantly take over the management of military affairs.

A country cannot go a day without a leader, and the army cannot go a day without a commander.

Though Xu Jiawei was heartbroken, he sent his trusted generals to take control of the White Tiger Legion.

Naturally, the White Tiger Legion resisted the idea of outsiders stepping in. However, with rumors of Dai Hao's transformation into an eunuch spreading, the soldiers had no choice but to reluctantly accept the new leadership.

After all, how could an eunuch lead a group of hardened men?

Especially after hearing that Dai Hao now had an eunuch son also, the soldiers' morale was utterly crushed.

It was hopeless—while a son could become emperor, a daughter had no chance.

What future could they have following a eunuch?

They had once pledged allegiance to Dai Hao, motivated by loyalty and the hope of helping him rise to greater heights.

But now, those hopes had been completely dashed.

If there was no way to help Dai Hao ascend, no one could blame the soldiers for seeking their paths.

Good opportunities are hard to come by, and one must seize them early.

Of course, a few diehard loyalists remained steadfast. Xu Jiawei valued these individuals highly, giving them significant responsibilities—such as sending them to the frontlines of the Mingdou Mountain Range as vanguard troops.

After all, as Xu Jiawei saw it, brave men should fight at the frontlines. It was his way of showing his appreciation for them. (Sarcasm.)

Truly, Xu Jiawei was a magnanimous leader who made excellent use of talent.

After finalizing personnel arrangements, Xu Jiawei stretched. A servant brought him tea, and after taking a sip, he felt invigorated.

For Xu Jiawei, this unexpected turn of events was a tremendous opportunity.

Without shedding a single drop of blood, he had successfully taken control of the White Tiger Legion, the most elite force in the Star Luo Empire.

Previously, Dai Hao's influence within the White Tiger Legion was so strong that even Xu Jiawei's orders carried less weight than Dai Hao's casual remarks.

But… that was the past.

After Dai Hao became an eunuch, his accumulated prestige vanished overnight.

Everyone in the Star Luo Empire now knew that the White Tiger Duke's Mansion was home to several eunuchs.

In such circumstances, even the White Tiger Legion couldn't escape the ripple effects.

What self-respecting man would willingly be commanded by a eunuch?

Military men were known for their pride and passion. To be ordered around by a castrated figure was intolerable for many.

Moreover, Xu Jiawei held the moral high ground. As long as Dai Hao didn't rebel, Xu Jiawei remained the legitimate authority.

And Dai Hao? Bedridden and practically a corpse, the White Tiger Legion wasn't about to stage a rebellion on its own.

Even if they did, so what? Dai Hao was no longer a contender for the throne, and neither was anyone else in his family.

With no better options, submission was the White Tiger Legion's only choice.

Setting down his teacup, Xu Jiawei gestured for the servant to leave.

He muttered to himself, "Brother Hao, your fate is truly more bitter than gall. Your dear brother's heart aches for you."

Despite his words, Xu Jiawei's face was alight with joy, his grinning mouth almost impossible to suppress.

"One clean sweep: Dai Yuoheng, Dai Huabin, Dai Luoli, and Brother Hao—all in one go."

"Just who is this mysterious powerhouse that can move freely between the White Tiger Duke's Mansion and Shrek Academy? Truly impressive."

Indeed, even Xu Jiawei was curious.

It was one thing to infiltrate the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, which lacked strong defenses.

But to act within Shrek Academy's walls and leave unscathed? That was truly chilling to think about.

This was also why, despite the Dai family's tragic plight, no one suspected Xu Jiawei of being involved.

If Xu Jiawei had such abilities, he wouldn't have been restrained by Dai Hao for so many years.

Xu Jiawei's capabilities were no secret—if his subordinates didn't know the full extent, they at least had a good idea.

Ironically, it was his mediocrity that made him above suspicion.

This allowed Xu Jiawei to confidently take control of the White Tiger Legion without worrying about unrest.

He had no fear of riots because no one suspected him in the first place.

"And now Shrek Academy has suffered another embarrassment. Their students were attacked within their walls, and they still can't catch the culprit."