Outside Tian Dou City.
After the white-golden mushroom cloud bloomed, Chu Chengzhou, who had been blasted several miles away by Dai Tao's self-explosion, finally stabilized his body midair.
The soul bone skill Crystal Body could completely block physical and energy attacks below god-level during its duration. However, its actual effect was merely granting the user an extremely high level of physical and energy defense. While it prevented damage, the impact force of the attack still affected the body—it just didn't cause harm.
"Phew, good thing I had an absolute defense skill. Otherwise, tonight would've left me either dead or crippled!"
Glancing at the heavily distorted scars on his Nine Heavens Mystic Armor, and looking at the distant white-golden mushroom cloud illuminating the night sky, Chu Chengzhou couldn't help but click his tongue.
Earlier, he had let the "devout" Canglong Douluo unleash his final burst of light and heat with a self-detonation. Little did he expect that not long after, he himself would also endure one.
Was this karma coming full circle? Did heaven spare anyone?
Fortunately, his spiritual power wasn't weak, so he hadn't been controlled for long by the opponent's spiritual soul bone skill. Moreover, Flower Blooming in an Instant and the Nine Heavens Mystic Armor had bought him a moment's delay, allowing him to activate the "absolute defense skill" in time. Otherwise, tonight might have ended with him severely injured—or worse, dead.
In truth, this was the closest he had ever come to death in his entire life.
But everything was over now. This time, the Star Luo Empire had likely exhausted all its hidden reserves. Thirteen Title-level experts forming the empire's foundational strength had been annihilated, effectively dismantling the Star Luo Empire as a major threat.
As for whether the official Star Luo Empire or imperial family still had any remaining Title-level experts? Perhaps there were one or two left behind to guard the home front—but no more than that.
In theory, the Star Luo Empire could have nurtured more experts.
After all, every Nether White Tiger martial soul fusion technique he encountered was formed by male White Tiger soul masters and female Nether Spirit Cat soul masters.
In large families, the male-to-female ratio should be roughly equal, and aside from a few exceptional geniuses, there shouldn't be a significant difference in cultivation talent between genders.
So the question arose: where were the Title-level Nether White Tigers formed by male Nether Spirit Cats and female White Tigers?
Theoretically, such combinations should exist, but in reality, they don't.
Any talented women from the Zhu family would marry into the Star Luo imperial family—except for Zhu Zhuqing, whom he had "stolen." There were no exceptions.
If talented men from the Zhu family also married into the Star Luo imperial family, the Nether Spirit Cat family's lineage would cease to continue.
Without a doubt, the quality of the White Tiger martial soul inherited by the Dai family surpassed that of the Nether Spirit Cat martial soul inherited by the Zhu family. Once intermarried, regardless of gender, unless their martial soul mutated, the offspring would awaken the White Tiger martial soul.
If all the talented ones intermarried, what would remain to carry on the Nether Spirit Cat martial soul?
It must be understood that without high-level soul masters appearing in a family, generation after generation would decline, and the quality of the inherited martial soul would degrade.
Moreover, children of strong parents might not necessarily have a high talent ceiling, but their talent floor would rarely be low. Conversely, if the parents weren't strong, not only would the talent floor be low, but it would also be difficult for geniuses to emerge.
If the Zhu family were left with only "rejects," then the Star Luo imperial family would no longer find talented women from the Zhu family.
To ensure sustainable development, men from the Zhu family wouldn't marry into the Star Luo imperial family. Instead, they would seek women from non-noble families whose martial souls were of lower quality than the Nether Spirit Cat but who possessed excellent cultivation talent.
As for women from the Star Luo imperial family, those with poor talent weren't worth mentioning. Those with decent talent would pair up with equally talented genius soul masters.
Male members of the imperial family married women from the Zhu family, gaining the Nether White Tiger martial soul fusion technique. Female members married talented soul masters loyal to the empire and close to the imperial family.
This way, the Star Luo imperial family ensured that every generation produced many Title-level Nether White Tigers, while the powerful individuals emerging within the empire were all "one of their own."
This was the marital strategy of the White Tiger family of the Star Luo imperial family.
Tonight, after losing another thirteen Title-level experts, the Star Luo Empire became like a cricket in autumn—though it might still hop around for a bit, it wouldn't last long. Chu Chengzhou's mood was exceptionally good.
Without a doubt, the Title Douluo who had just self-detonated was likely Dai Tao, the former emperor of Star Luo and the White Tiger Douluo.
As the former emperor and empress of Star Luo, Dai Tao and his wife undoubtedly possessed numerous soul bones, and not just ordinary ones. Add to that the soul bones of the Star Luo imperial elders and five other Title Douluos, and tonight was destined to be a bountiful harvest for Chu Chengzhou.
Spreading out his spiritual power, Chu Chengzhou began cleaning up the battlefield.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Chu Chengzhou detected two familiar presences approaching from the northeast.
Not long after, Chen Xin and Gu Rong arrived, flying through the air.
"What kind of commotion have you caused this time?"
Seeing that Chu Chengzhou was unharmed, Chen Xin let out a sigh of relief, then asked with a hint of exasperation.
When he had sensed the appearance of eight Title-level Nether White Tigers earlier, Chen Xin had been startled.
After all, among these eight Title-level Nether White Tigers, some were undoubtedly on par with his strength.
Combined with the other Title Douluos present earlier, even though Chu Chengzhou's summon beasts were formidable, Chen Xin didn't believe he could handle such overwhelming odds—two fists couldn't fight off four hands.
However, he had underestimated Chu Chengzhou. Despite the Star Luo Empire sending so many experts, Chu Chengzhou had managed to resolve everything in less than fifteen minutes.
Question: What can you do in the time it takes to take a dump or two?
Answer: Slay more than ten Title-level experts.
Truly beyond belief!
Similarly, Chen Xin was puzzled. What exactly had Chu Chengzhou done to provoke such retaliation from the Star Luo Empire?
"A few days ago, I merely retaliated slightly against them. I never expected the mighty Star Luo Empire to lack such tolerance."
Chu Chengzhou said indignantly.
"Slightly retaliate? Only ghosts would believe that!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Rong couldn't help but retort.
The Star Luo Empire lacking tolerance?
For soft targets, perhaps the Star Luo Empire showed no mercy. But for tough opponents, the Star Luo Empire not only had tolerance but also a great deal of it.
Take, for example, the Spirit Hall. As long as relations hadn't completely broken down, the Star Luo Empire annually handed over massive amounts of gold spirit coins to the Spirit Hall to distribute subsidies to low-level soul masters—and they didn't dare utter a single complaint.
This time, with so many Title-level experts sent by the Star Luo Empire, Gu Rong was willing to bet that Chu Chengzhou must have done something earth-shattering, leaving the Star Luo Empire with no choice but to retaliate at all costs.
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