Eighth Place, Dai Hao

The farce involving Yan Shaozhe came to an end in an extremely humiliating fashion.

Everyone assumed that this trial, which spanned two eras, would pause like the last one, leaving the world enough time to digest and discuss the events.

However, this time the Sky Screen did not dissipate; instead, it lit up with golden light once again!

Hum--!

Ten thousand zhang of golden radiance, like the light of divine punishment, instantly pierced through the clouds of both eras, painting the firmament into a majestic golden ocean.

"It's not over yet?!"

"Heavens! Is it going to expose them back-to-back?!"

"Look! New words are appearing!"

Whether in the Douluo I or Douluo II periods, at this moment, everyone was so shocked by this sudden turn of events that their scalps went numb!

Every gaze was fixed unblinkingly upon the sky.

Within that endless golden light, a new line of gilded characters, carrying the weight of judgment, slowly emerged with an unquestionable posture!

[Top Ten Hypocrites List, Eighth Place...]

It's here!

It's here again!

Countless people subconsciously held their breath.

Who, exactly, could it be?

Under the gaze of the masses, in the center of that golden radiance capable of making even gods look sideways, two ancient and heavy names slowly coalesced into shape.

[Dai Hao!]

[Douluo II Period]

.

When the name "Dai Hao" appeared, the entire Star Luo Empire, from the imperial court to the frontiers, from the nobles to the commoners, instantly erupted into chaos!

"What?!"

"Duke White Tiger?! Marshal Dai?! How is this possible!"

"Are you joking! Marshal Dai is the military soul of our Star Luo! He is the guardian deity of the empire! How could he possibly be a hypocrite?!"

Countless Star Luo citizens let out cries of disbelief.

Dai Hao, Duke White Tiger.

In the Star Luo Empire, this name represented not just power and status, but a form of faith!

It was he who, at the empire's most perilous moment, turned the tide and blocked the iron hooves of the Sun Moon Empire outside the national gates!

It was he who, through victory after victory that could be called miraculous, forged the invincible military soul of the Star Luo Empire!

He was a god in the hearts of all soldiers, and a hero in the eyes of all citizens!

Now, the Sky Screen was telling them that their hero was a hypocrite?

This was even more painful than killing them!

Star Luo Empire, frontline military camp.

Facing the Sun Moon Empire, this place was filled with year-round sandstorms and an atmosphere of iron-blooded lethality.

Inside a heavily guarded command tent.

A middle-aged man wearing white armor, with a sturdy build, a resolute face, and an imposing manner that commanded respect without anger, was frowning at a massive sand table map.

He was the very pillar of the Star Luo Empire, the Duke White Tiger, Dai Hao!

Just then, a staff officer rushed in with a panicked expression, his voice trembling: "Du--Duke! You must go out and look! The Sky Screen! It's the Sky Screen!"

"What is there to panic about!"

Dai Hao did not even look up, his voice as steady as a mountain.

"The sky isn't falling! Can a mere Sky Screen of unknown origin really disrupt my army's morale?"

"No--it's not that, Duke!"

The staff officer was so anxious he was on the verge of tears.

"It's--it's your name! Your name is on the list!"

"What?"

Dai Hao suddenly raised his head, and a terrifying glint erupted from his sharp, eagle-like eyes.

He stepped out of the tent in one stride and looked up at the sky.

When those two familiar and glaring names entered his vision, even a battle-hardened marshal with a heart of stone like him saw his expression turn as dark as water in an instant.

A terrifying murderous aura began to emanate uncontrollably from his body.

"Absurd!"

Star Luo Empire, Imperial Palace.

Emperor Xu Jiawei was slightly stunned when he saw the two characters "Dai Hao".

Immediately, a playful, schadenfreude-filled smile curled the corners of his lips.

Dai Hao?

Could this Duke, whose achievements overshadowed his master and who held half the empire's military power in his hands, actually be a hypocrite?

Interesting, far too interesting.

He wanted to see exactly what kind of dirt this Sky Screen could dig up on him.

Shrek Academy.

The moment Dai Huabin saw his father's name, he was struck as if by lightning, standing frozen on the spot.

"No—impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

--

He roared in a broken voice, appearing as if he had gone mad.

"My father is the Marshal of the Empire, a hero who protects the nation! How could he be a hypocrite?! This is slander! This must be slander!"

Meanwhile, in another corner of the crowd.

When the name "Dai Hao" appeared, a young man's body stiffened violently, as if struck by lightning.

It was none other than Huo Yuhao.

He slowly raised his head, his azure eyes locked firmly onto the figure on the Sky Screen, who looked as majestic as a god or demon.

Dai Hao.

This name was like a scar that could never heal, branded into the deepest part of his soul.

This man was his father.

And also—the root of all the suffering he and his mother had endured!

In his childhood, in that cold, detached courtyard of the Duke's Mansion, he had heard his mother call out this name countless times in the dead of night, sobbing while she coughed.

Yet, this man had never appeared even once.

He allowed his wife and child to be bullied, abused, starved, and left in rags by the people in the mansion.

Even until his mother coughed up blood and died, this man had never once come to see her!

Huo Yuhao's body began to tremble uncontrollably.

But it was not out of fear; it was the result of over a decade of suppressed—

Hatred!

In those deep eyes surged cold and complex emotions that no one could understand.

His hands, hanging at his sides, had clenched into fists without him realizing it, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.

Blood dripped through his fingers, yet he remained completely unaware.

Just then, golden light swirled across the Sky Screen, beginning the "introduction" of Dai Hao.

It followed the familiar pattern of praise followed by subversion.

[Dai Hao, hereditary Duke White Tiger of the Star Luo Empire, Grand Marshal of the Imperial Army, level 94 Power Attack System Title Douluo, titled "White Tiger".]

The imagery unfolded, displaying scene after scene of Dai Hao's "glorious deeds."

[He is the pillar of Star Luo, the Great Wall of the Empire.]

In the scene, a battlefield was engulfed in flames of war; Dai Hao took the lead, transforming into his massive White Tiger true form, tearing the enemy commander to shreds amidst ten thousand troops!

Behind him, Star Luo soldiers cheered like a mountain of waves!

[His achievements: commanding armies like a god, protecting the nation and its people.]

In the scene, Dai Hao was in the imperial court, debating against scholars, pushing aside all dissent to finalize a surprise strategy, ultimately crushing the invading army of the Sun Moon Empire and ensuring decades of peace for the borders.

[His virtue: loving his soldiers like his own children, showing compassion for his subordinates.]

In the scene, on a snowy winter night, Dai Hao took off his own marshal's cloak and draped it over a shivering young sentry, then handed him his own waterskin, his gaze gentle.

Each and every act highlighted his near-perfect heroic image.

In the frontline military camps, countless soldiers watched the Sky Screen, their eyes turning red.

"This is our Duke!"

"The Sky Screen must be mistaken! How could the Duke be a hypocrite!"

Inside the Star Luo Imperial Palace, Emperor Xu Jiawei watched these scenes, the smile on his face gradually fading, replaced by a grave expression.

Dai Hao was indeed an indispensable pillar of his Star Luo Empire.

The praise on the Sky Screen was every bit the truth.

However, the next line of text that appeared on the Sky Screen caused Xu Jiawei's expression to sink instantly!

[His lineage: a descendant of the White Tiger, the orthodoxy of Star Luo!]