The Star Luo army swarmed to encircle and kill. A storm of arrows filled the sky.
For ordinary soldiers, bows and arrows are the only way to harm flying soul masters. Unfortunately, common arrows lack the force of Godly Zhuge Crossbows. Those could barely hurt a Soul Ancestor; common arrows can't even hurt a two-ring soul master.
But that's in general. Dripping water wears through stone—when tens of thousands of arrows fly at once, even Soul Kings and Soul Emperors can be turned into pin cushions. The Douluo Continent's power system isn't so high that bodies are truly invulnerable to blades and fire.
"In this situation, did you think I wasn't prepared? Eighth soul skill, Gale That Fells Towers!" Yu Feng suddenly beat his wings. He had advanced to Soul Douluo not long ago. His eighth soul skill is a large-area wind-type attack.
It works wonders against hidden weapons and arrows. In the roaring gale, even a hundred thousand arrows couldn't get through.
"Yu Feng, now—use fire!" Oslo shouted from the ground.
"Got it! Scorching Wind!" After taking the Wind-Fire Seven-Leaf Flower, Yu Feng had long become dual-attribute wind and fire, though his fire lagged behind his wind.
But wind fans fire. His wind can amplify flames, and with his self-created simultaneous dual-skill release, the advantage is maximized.
Following the gale, a fiery wind swept through. Flames erupted across the camp. Lit by firelight, something rare on a moonless night appeared—shadows.
"Perfect. Soul bone skill: Shadow Meld!" Oslo channeled all his soul power, enveloped the entire Speed Clan, and merged them into the shadows of the soldiers below.
With the tacit teamwork of the Emperor Team duo, they successfully broke everyone out of the encirclement.
And the assassinations became even eerier—killing from within shadows. Who could stop that?
"Kill that one first! If we take him down, those hiding in shadows will be forced out!" Five soul masters suddenly surrounded Oslo. He'd focused on saving others and couldn't escape himself.
But he was unafraid, smiling faintly. "Heh, five Soul Douluo. As expected of the great Star Luo Empire—impressive foundation. All five of you, come. I'll finish you in one go."
"Oslo, I'll help!" Yu Feng didn't hide in shadows either. He landed by Oslo's side. How could he watch his brother get besieged? Besides, it had been a long time since the Emperor Team's two agility attackers had teamed up.
Bai He hadn't shown himself; he was looking for a chance. When everyone's attention was drawn away, he finally couldn't hold back, launching a surprise strike at Dai Weisi. Capture Dai Weisi alive, and everything would be solved.
But right then, a mad bull and a fire dragon—seemingly prepared—simultaneously unleashed large-area attacks, forcing Bai He back.
"Heh, finally came out, eh? The one hiding in the dark—you're the one who killed Old Snake, aren't you?" Mad Bull Douluo asked.
"No doubt. This speed—Old Bull, he should be Bai He. Looks like I misjudged it. His ease in killing Old Snake wasn't because his martial soul's attack is strong, but because his sword is too special. I didn't know such a weapon existed in this world," Fire Dragon Douluo said in surprise. A master who relied on a weapon's power rather than martial soul—this was a first for him on the Douluo Continent.
These two Titled Douluo hadn't attacked the Speed Clan disciples because they knew that group couldn't possibly instant-kill Twin Serpent Douluo. There had to be a stronger expert hidden in the dark. Dai Weisi deliberately stayed put to lure Bai He out.
"Sigh, this is my first time doing assassination work—my experience is lacking," Bai He realized he'd been baited and regretted his impulsiveness.
"Your Highness, please leave immediately. It's too dangerous here," Mad Bull urged. Since Bai He had taken the bait, Dai Weisi no longer needed to remain.
"Fire Dragon, you go too—protect the prince, and while you're at it, burn those little bugs out one by one. As for this guy, I can handle him alone."
"Mad Bull, are you sure? He's someone who instant-killed Old Snake," Fire Dragon Douluo hesitated.
"Hmph, just a sneak attack trick. A mere Soul Douluo. My wide-area skills and locking skills counter speed types. Don't worry." Mad Bull was supremely confident. He had a lock-on skill that was a speed-type's bane.
"Fine. Let's go!" Fire Dragon Douluo grabbed Dai Weisi and withdrew. Bai He wanted to leave—he was an assassin, not someone who'd go head-to-head with a thick-skinned ox-type Titled Douluo.
"Trying to leave? Ninth soul skill—Arena of Dark Bulls!" A strange black miasma sealed the surroundings. Bai He lost all vision. No matter how he flew, he couldn't escape the shroud.
"Heh, you can't escape. My ninth soul skill is a field-type control skill—you've never seen this before, have you? In here we follow the rules—neither of us leaves until we decide the winner," Mad Bull Douluo's eerie chuckle echoed through the space.
"In that case, I'll kill you first," Bai He gripped the Shetian Divine Sword. With this blade in hand, he was confident he could cut through Mad Bull's tough body.
Outside the black fog, Oslo and Yu Feng were besieged by five Soul Douluo. With Oslo's six full soul bones and Yu Feng's wind-fire power, they weren't gaining the upper hand, but they wouldn't lose quickly either.
Bai Chenxiang, however, was in trouble—Fire Dragon Douluo had arrived. With a Titled Douluo's perception, he could precisely locate each Speed Clan soul master hiding in shadows.
They weren't Oslo himself and couldn't completely conceal their aura.
"Damn it—everyone fall back! I'll hold him off." Bai Chenxiang mustered her courage and charged the Titled Douluo.
"Miss!" The Speed Clan disciples couldn't just watch their lady face a mighty foe alone and moved to help.
Bai Chenxiang shouted, "All retreat! That's a military order—disobey and be executed!"
"Yes!" They no longer hesitated. They were all speed-type. If they focused on escaping and weren't surrounded, common soldiers couldn't catch them.
They didn't flee aimlessly, though. They flew toward Gengxin City. They'd killed many officers tonight, even a Titled Douluo. It was time to have Tuoba Xi send troops.
…
Elsewhere, Dai Weisi returned to his tent and stumbled upon Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun's battle. Zhu Zhuyun was already covered in wounds. Fortunately, she held out until Dai Weisi returned, and the Nether White Tiger began to counterattack.
But that was what Zhu Zhuqing wanted. If she truly wished to finish Zhu Zhuyun, she could do it in a couple of moves. Only by defeating both Zhu Zhuyun and Dai Weisi together would she truly avenge her past self. This time she didn't need to rely on Dai Mubai. With her Spirit Cat true body activated, she was confident she could break their Nether White Tiger alone.
…
"Brave girl," Fire Dragon Douluo said appreciatively to Bai Chenxiang in the sky. "If we weren't enemies, I'd be happy to be your friend. I respect someone willing to sacrifice for subordinates."
"Thank you, senior. I'm only doing my duty as the Speed Clan's young lady. Since they follow me, it's my job to ensure their safety. I could never approve of sacrificing one's own people the way you did," Bai Chenxiang said earnestly.
"Well said. In truth, I don't approve either. Out of respect, I'll give you a clean end. Eighth soul skill, Blazing Dragon Body." Fire Dragon Douluo's eighth ring lit. Using an eighth ring against a mere Soul Emperor was giving her face.
"Many thanks, senior. But I won't sit and wait for death. Please take my strike!" Knowing she couldn't block it, Bai Chenxiang decided to fight to the last, charging with twin swords. She faced death calmly.
At that moment, not far away, a streak of flame like a meteor hurtled toward the unfavorable battlefield.