Though he was deeply reluctant to admit it, Dai Tao knew in his heart that the empire had suffered another defeat.
For Dai Tao, the former emperor of Star Luo and the previous patriarch of the White Tiger Family, avenging his son's death was undoubtedly a matter of utmost importance. However, everything had to take a backseat to the survival and continuation of the empire and the White Tiger Family.
Surrounded by wolves, once the ranks of Title Douluos were extinguished, the empire's downfall would be imminent. And as the imperial family, the White Tiger Family would face the threat of extinction.
At this point, revenge was no longer feasible. What he needed to do now was preserve as much strength as possible for the empire and the royal family.
At the very least, he had to return safely to Star Luo—otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Hmph, not a single one shall escape!"
With a cold snort, Chu Chengzhou, who was brutally beating Tyrant Dragon Douluo, delivered a chilling warning.
If they had chosen to flee from the start, with so many Title-level experts from Star Luo present, even if he could win, annihilating them all would have been nearly impossible.
In fact, had he not achieved significant results early on and executed his ambush plan flawlessly, instantly killing four Nether White Tigers, tonight might very well have ended in failure.
But now, thinking of fleeing? Wasn't it already too late?
After all, at this moment, the enemy only had four Nether White Tigers and one weak Title Douluo left—a mere five combatants.
On his side, including Canglong Douluo under his control, there were also five combatants.
Though it was a five-on-five battle without numerical superiority, the enemy was entirely at a disadvantage, even on the brink of collapse. If he still couldn't prevent their escape, then what kind of soul master would he be?
Without needing Chu Chengzhou's orders, neither the three summon beasts nor the controlled Canglong Douluo gave the enemy any opportunity.
Especially Xiao Ming, the summoned Titan Giant Ape, which clamped down tightly on the neck of the Nether White Tiger with its left arm while its right fist, almost as large as the tiger's head, rained down blows like a storm.
Chu Chengzhou's arrows flew ceaselessly, and soon, he again shattered the Martial Soul True Body of Tyrant Dragon Douluo's Iron Armor Tyrant Dragon.
Although this Douluo was an offensive-type Title Douluo, he possessed a fifty-thousand-year defensive eighth soul skill and a defensive soul bone skill. His body was far sturdier than the previously defeated Sky Wolf and Wind and Thunder Douluos, enduring six waves of eighteen Flowing Gold Armor-Piercing Arrows before his True Martial Soul was finally destroyed.
Firing another arrow, Chu Chengzhou shattered Tyrant Dragon Douluo's head, claiming his kill. He immediately shifted his focus to the strongest Nether White Tiger, currently suppressed by Xiao Hei.
"Thud thud thud—"
Three streaks of light interwoven with crimson and yellow flashes shot through his field of vision. As the three arrows pierced into his body, Dai Tao felt the Nether White Tiger he had transformed into shudder violently, its soul power becoming chaotic. He immediately realized the extraordinary nature of Chu Chengzhou's archery.
No wonder Tian Lang, Feng Lei, and Bao Long had fallen so quickly. While their relatively weaker strengths among Title Douluos played a part, the overwhelming power of Chu Chengzhou's arrows was undoubtedly the primary reason.
Even though he was in the form of a Nether White Tiger, with strength comparable to a Level 97 Title Douluo, he couldn't withstand too many arrows—let alone the much weaker Tian Lang and the others.
After deflecting a burst of wind and evil dual-attribute fused energy arrows unleashed by Xiao Hei, Dai Tao shot Chu Chengzhou a hateful glare, gritted his teeth, flapped his tiger wings, broke away from the battle, and fled south at high speed.
The other three elders of the royal family were trapped and beyond saving. To ensure the survival of the empire and the White Tiger Family, he had no choice but to become a deserter.
"Xiao Hei, pursue!"
Seeing the big tiger flee, Chu Chengzhou activated Golden Light Soaring, leapt onto Xiao Hei's back, and immediately issued the order to chase.
You want to run? Do you think you can escape?!
Despite the Nether White Tiger martial soul fusion technique granting wings, its forte lay in offense, not speed.
Upon receiving the command, Xiao Hei flapped its wings fiercely and pursued the fleeing tiger.
While continuing to attack the fleeing tiger ahead, Chu Chengzhou glanced back at the battlefield. Through his spiritual power, he issued a command to the controlled Canglong Douluo.
Instantly, Canglong Douluo, who had been mercilessly beating a Nether White Tiger, paused. A flicker of piety and resolve appeared in his eyes, and the aura of his soul power became violently turbulent.
The next moment, the night sky outside Tian Dou City lit up once more.
"Boom—"
A massive green mushroom cloud bloomed in the night sky, instantly engulfing the Nether White Tiger that had been brutally beaten by Canglong Douluo.
Under the command of the great Lord Almighty, the Level 94 Title Douluo Canglong self-destructed!
With victory secured, it was time for this "disposable tool" to expend its final bit of light and heat.
And just as Canglong Douluo's self-destruction eliminated the Nether White Tiger formed by Seventh Elder Dai Pan of the Star Luo royal family, the Sixth Elder, Dai Li, could no longer endure the relentless onslaught of Big Bear's Dark Gold claws.
In an instant, the massive Nether White Tiger collapsed, dissolving into countless fragments of soul power in the air. Two gravely injured figures were revealed on the ground.
Immediately afterward, Big Bear's giant claws descended, adding two more mutilated corpses to the wilderness.
Technically speaking, Big Bear shouldn't have been able to defeat this Nether White Tiger.
After all, Title-level Nether White Tigers had wings and could fly, while Big Bear, though strong, couldn't fly. Aside from its innate soul skill Dark Gold Terror Claw in its soul skill attack mode, it lacked any other ranged attacks.
However, Big Bear wasn't fighting Dai Li alone. Under the Gravity Domain released by Xiao Ming, the summoned Titan Giant Ape, this newly minted nine-ring Nether White Tiger couldn't even lift off the ground.
On the ground, trading blow for blow, claw for claw, even a Level 95 opponent wouldn't dare engage in such a brutal exchange with Big Bear, the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear.
After Dai Li's death, seeing that the only remaining enemy was the Nether White Tiger in his grasp, Xiao Ming immediately contracted the Gravity Domain, which had originally covered hundreds of meters, to just tens of meters.
Instantly, Fifth Elder Dai Hui of the Star Luo royal family, who had been enduring punches, felt the gravity on his body intensify. Under the even more terrifying gravitational pressure, even his struggling strength diminished significantly.
"Bang bang bang—"
Three more ruthless punches landed on the tiger's head. With a loud "Boom," the massive Nether White Tiger in Xiao Ming's hands shattered piece by piece, revealing the gravely injured Dai Hui and his partner.
Seeing this, Xiao Ming's face twisted into a ferocious grin. Lifting his fist, which was many times larger than a sandbag, he delivered a fierce punch.
"Boom—"
The massive fist descended, causing the earth to tremble.
Moments later, when Xiao Ming lifted his fist again, a smear of blood stained it, and a massive fist-shaped crater was left behind on the wilderness.
The battlefield fell silent. Xiao Ming let out a low growl toward Big Bear, pointed at the scattered corpses on the ground, and then rushed southward.
The battle here had ended, but the big tiger that had fled earlier was still alive. Xiao Ming had to assist.
Not long after, when Chen Xin and Gu Rong arrived, slightly delayed, they found no trace of Chu Chengzhou or the Star Luo Empire's Nether White Tigers on the battlefield. Instead, a Dark Gold beast was cleaning up the battlefield, gathering the scattered corpses.
------------------------------------------------------
Join my Patreon to read an exclusive novel – 'Douluo: Rebuilding Hao Tian Sect'
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)