Chapter 272: Instant Collapse
Dawn had not yet broken, and darkness blanketed the battlefield. The night was at its deepest. Off to the side, Dongfang Jiaojiao quietly spoke up, "I can see them even without light, but fighting in pitch black isn't ideal. Allow me to brighten things up a bit, Master."
Ye Wen nodded, and Dongfang Jiaojiao summoned her Spirit: the Holy Light Scepter. Compared to its previous form, her Spirit had become more magnificent, the jewels atop it gleaming with radiant splendor.
"Self Created Soul Skill: Radiant Sun."
A brilliant white light burst from the tip of her scepter, piercing the sky and banishing the darkness within a hundred mile radius. Her skill was a testament to her understanding of light's essence, and within this glow, allies received a slight boost in all attributes.
The brilliance startled the incoming Hundred Beast Regiment. However, as Star Luo's elite force, they quickly shook off their surprise and launched a full assault.
Watching the wave of beast spirit soul masters advance, Ye Wen gave a small smile. "It's your turn, Lion Offering."
"Yes, my lord," replied the man who stepped forward none other than the former Spirit Hall's Fourth Offering, the Lion Douluo, whose Spirit was the Blazing Flame Lion.
The top tier beast Spirit granted him a unique ability: Dominion of the Beast King. Unless a beast Spirit was of a higher bloodline than the Blazing Flame Lion, all beast spirit soul masters below the Title Douluo rank would be subdued in his presence.
Standing alone before the oncoming army, the Lion Douluo radiated an aura so potent that it was like a wall, daring anyone to challenge him.
"Spirit Possession: Blazing Flame Lion!"
A mighty aura spread out, causing every beast spirit soul master to shudder with fear. Only Hu Rou, who bore the Soft Boned Jade Rabbit Spirit, felt the intense pressure among the Ten Prodigies. The others merely observed with quiet confidence.
The Lion Douluo didn't even reveal his soul rings; he simply let his overwhelming presence speak. His voice boomed, "Kneel!"
Astonishingly, the majority of the Hundred Beast Regiment crumbled to their knees, unable to resist, with only a few higher ranked soul masters managing to stand under immense strain.
Ye Wen's gaze was calculating as he issued his next order. "Xiaoxin, strip them of their mobility and detain them. We'll question their allegiance later."
After all, a group of enemies could serve as an endless source of faith power, a valuable asset Ye Wen had no intention of wasting.
DuGu Xin scratched his head and chuckled, "Seems I'm the workhorse here, huh?"
He released a faint cloud of toxin, spreading it with practiced precision. Soon, the Hundred Beast Regiment members lay incapacitated.
In the base camp at Jialing Pass, White Tiger Emperor Dai Tian heard that two waves of his troops had been effortlessly defeated. His face twisted in rage as he shattered whatever he could get his hands on.
"Useless! A bunch of useless good for nothings!" he bellowed. "All the money I've wasted on these parasites, and they couldn't even take out a single enemy Title Douluo! What's the point of keeping them around?!"
The hall fell silent as Tang Xiao and the elders of the Hao Tian Sect exchanged tense glances.
"Clearly, they're stronger than we anticipated," Tang Xiao said, his expression somber. "Even our carefully laid plans are falling apart."
Seventh Elder, the most hot headed of the Hao Tian elders, spoke up. "Forget the schemes! Let's confront them head on. If we unleash our full strength, we're as good as ten Super Douluos. No amount of tactics can stop us."
His words acted as a shot of confidence for Dai Tian, who steadied himself and addressed the elders. "Then I entrust the battle to you."
Despite his reservations, Tang Xiao agreed and led his team out of the hall.
The Hao Tian Hammer was unmatched in its power, but it came with limitations. If faced with agility attack specialists, their all powerful offense could turn into a liability. With this in mind, Tang Xiao had devised a battle plan the night before, positioning seven of the force focused elders at the front while he and two control specialist elders provided support.
Despite his confidence in the strategy, the swift responses from the Holy Spirit Empire left Tang Xiao uneasy, prompting him to remind the elders once more. "Be cautious. Work together, avoid pushing too far forward. Each of you represents our sect's foundation. I don't want to see anyone fall here."
The elders nodded. First Elder, who had long reconciled with Tang Xiao, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Sect Master. We've all been through enough battles. While we may lack your talent, we've got plenty of experience."
"Indeed. Don't underestimate us, Sect Master."
"And you be careful too, Sect Master. There's no shortage of foes on par with your level over there," another elder added, their faces earnest.
The words warmed Tang Xiao's heart, but he knew time was of the essence. If they delayed, reinforcements from the enemy's side would only increase their burden.
Back in the Holy Spirit camp, Ye Wen noted ten high energy soul power readings approaching rapidly.
"The main show has arrived," he murmured.
Alert, the Ten Prodigies sensed the incoming Hao Tian sect members. Blade Eight, ever the battle fanatic, darted forward to confront them first.
"Hands off; these guys are mine," he said with a grin.
His senior and junior siblings exchanged a shrug, unfazed. Even though the Hao Tian Sect's Douluos were powerful, they were confident.
After all, as the Holy Spirit Empire's appointed Vanguard General, this battlefield had been prepared for Blade Eight.
Years of refinement had honed his blade technique, and he'd mastered a unique skill: Fusion Ring. It allowed him to integrate all his rings into a single force, granting him a threefold boost to his attributes and near immunity to injury.
At 95th rank, this state brought him close to the level of a Demigod Douluo, or 99th rank.
Tang Xiao sensed the power radiating from Blade Eight and felt a rare thrill of anxiety. "Such a terrifying aura…not even a hundred thousand year soul beast compares to the intensity of his killing intent."
For Blade Eight, attacking skills were unnecessary.
"Berserker Blade Technique: Thunderous Strike!"
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