Douluo Continent: Starting with a Heavenly Fire Judgment

Chapter 420 Sudden Attack

For any country on the continent, the number of Soul Masters is a problem. Even the personal guards of Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger are not all Soul Masters; there are also ordinary people. You can imagine how much more ordinary people are in other armies. Even if the Sun Moon Empire gathers the strength of the whole country, it can only form a few Soul Master Legions.

The gathering of so many top-tier soul masters in Mingdu is extremely rare on the continent. In the previous battle where Mingdu attacked the imperial palace, probably more than a third of the continent's strongest warriors were gathered there.

Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger, seated atop his white tiger steed, immediately spotted Xu Jiujiu beside Ji Lin. He quickly dismounted, strode to Xu Jiujiu, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness. May I ask why Your Highness is here? And who are they?"

Although Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger clan knew Ji Lin, he didn't have much of an impression of the others.

He had a guess in his mind as to why Xu Jiujiu was here.

The main reason he came out to inspect was because the Sun Moon Empire was unstable.

The Sun Moon Empire has been plotting for a long time, and war has been on the verge of breaking out. On the Star Luo Empire's side, heavy troops have been deployed at all major passes.

However, according to news from the Sun Moon Empire, the war will last at least several more months. The Sun Moon Empire will need to make sufficient preparations and mobilize more troops to the border before it can be launched.

But last night, in the middle of the night, Dai Hao suddenly received a shocking message: an unprecedented explosion had occurred in Mingdu, affecting more than a third of the city. This massive explosion caused an uproar throughout the Sun Moon Empire, resulting in heavy losses. The Sun Moon Empire officially announced that the explosion was related to the Star Luo Empire and the Heavenly Soul Empire, but did not specify what.

In the middle of the night, he received advance notice from Xu Jiujiu that the massive explosion in Mingdu had nothing to do with their Star Luo Empire and was likely the work of Shrek Academy.

Who did it is no longer important, but the explosion of that scale was undoubtedly a huge blow to Mingdu. It is said that Mingdu suffered heavy casualties. Not only was the entire western district destroyed, but an important military warehouse was also lost. Under these circumstances, the possibility of the Sun Moon Empire launching a full-scale war will be greatly reduced. In particular, according to secret reports, His Majesty the Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire was so shocked by the explosion that he died.

As a result, the royal family of the Sun Moon Empire will inevitably be plunged into internal strife for the time being. Although Crown Prince Xu Tianran has already gained an absolute advantage and initiative, the other princes who have a chance to inherit the throne are not to be underestimated. Moreover, they know Xu Tianran well enough that once this elder brother successfully ascends the throne, what awaits them is unimaginable. Therefore, they will definitely launch a counterattack at all costs.

This news is definitely great news for the Star Luo Empire. The possibility of a full-scale war has become close to zero, which gives the Star Luo Empire more time to prepare for war.

The reason he came out to inspect today was because Duke White Tiger was worried that the Sun Moon Empire had suffered heavy losses and that their border garrison might make some moves. Hatred can sometimes make people lose their minds, especially hatred between countries, so he wanted to check the defenses of various passes and fortresses as soon as possible.

Dai Hao always preferred to do things personally, which is a major reason why he enjoyed such high prestige in the army.

He just didn't expect to meet Xu Jiujiu, who was sending him a message, in the Mingdou Mountains. Xu Jiujiu also didn't expect it to be such a coincidence. Her original plan was to return directly to Xingluo City and not stay in the Mingdou Mountains.

"Brother Dai, there's no need for such formalities. We just left Mingdu overnight. I had already written to you in advance to inform you about what happened in Mingdu. I suppose you were on patrol to guard against the Sun Moon Empire's army."

Dai Hao nodded. It was just dawn, and a cool breeze was blowing. The Duke of White Tiger was in a good mood. After all, with the war postponed, the pressure on him, the commander-in-chief of the three armies, was naturally much less.

"Indeed, in order to prevent the Sun Moon Empire's garrison in the Mingdou Mountains from being blinded by hatred, I inspected the military camp overnight, just in case. Since I also need to return to the military camp, why don't we escort Her Highness the Princess away from the Mingdou Mountains?"

After looking at Ji Lin for a long time, Ji Lin nodded slightly and did not refuse. It was fine to travel with Duke Baihu.

Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger also witnessed this scene, his brows furrowing slightly. He knew about the relationship between Ji Lin and Xu Jiujiu, but he hadn't expected that Ji Lin held such a high position in Xu Jiujiu's heart, that she would need Ji Lin's consent for such a small matter.

However, he was a soldier by nature, decisive and efficient, and did not hesitate for long. He remounted his warhorse, turned it around, and the white tiger steed beneath him let out a low roar.

This white tiger steed is a strange soul beast, born with tiger skin and nearly ten thousand years of cultivation. In terms of strength, it is no less than a Soul Emperor. It was raised by Dai Hao since childhood and is as close to him as a brother. When it cooperates with Dai Hao, it gives him combat power far exceeding that of his peers before he advances to Soul Saint. It can be said that it has made great contributions to him.

Under the protection of the White Tiger Guards led by Duke White Tiger, Ji Lin and his entourage headed towards the military camp, which was also the only way to enter the Star Luo Empire.

Ji Lin rode the warhorse of the White Tiger Guard, walking side by side with the White Tiger Duke.

"Young Master Ji Lin, given the unforeseen events at the Mingdu Tournament, is there any news of my son?"

"Your Grace, just call me Ji Lin. As for Dai Huabin, he left with Shrek Academy, so he should be safe now. After all, Shrek Academy had more than one Title Douluo leading the team this time, and the Sun Moon Empire was too busy to look after anything else, so their safe escape was no problem."

Ji Lin and Dai Hao chatted at the front, from the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament in Xingluo City five years ago, to Dai Yueheng after graduating from Shrek Academy, and then to Dai Huabin.

Dai Hao was in a good mood because the war was postponed, and Ji Lin didn't hold back because of his identity, so the two got along quite well.

Just then, Ji Lin frowned, and Chi Yuan and Gu Yuena also looked ahead at the same time. "Interesting, there's actually an ambush."

It's unclear whether this is aimed at them or at Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger.

Upon hearing Ji Lin's words, Dai Hao was taken aback. He couldn't understand why Ji Lin would say there was an ambush ahead, something even a Title Douluo like himself hadn't noticed. However, Dai Hao wasn't one to hesitate, and he also knew that someone of Ji Lin's status wouldn't joke around at this time. As the Commander-in-Chief of the three armies, he was always decisive and efficient. He immediately shouted in a deep voice, "Ambush! Be on alert!"

The White Tiger Guards, as expected of elites, formed a battle formation the instant Dai Hao spoke, and simultaneously released their reconnaissance soul tools to probe ahead.

But at that moment, the sky suddenly brightened.

Clusters of green light flashed and flew towards them from the front. These green lights appeared to be gourd-shaped. Because they were too far from the ground, their exact size could not be seen, but the flames they emitted were dazzling even in the early morning. Their target was none other than their group.

It seems the other side also realized their location had been exposed and launched a surprise attack immediately.

At the same time, Ji Lin also discovered that there was a monitoring soul tool five thousand meters above the ground. Before meeting Dai Hao and the others, Ji Lin and Chi Yuan had not noticed that they were being monitored, which meant that it was aimed at Dai Hao.

The ability to launch a monitoring soul tool five thousand meters into the air for directional surveillance is a technology possessed only by the Sun Moon Empire. At least among the three kingdoms of the Douluo Continent, none can achieve this. Even air defense systems rarely have the capability to accurately target targets more than three thousand meters away.

However, the focus was no longer on the monitoring soul tool; the enemy was clearly well-prepared and immediately launched a ranged attack after noticing something was wrong.

Faced with the green gourd-shaped light attacking from the sky, the White Tiger Guards instantly took out their anti-aircraft soul guides, and beams of red light shot out to meet the green gourd-shaped light.

For the White Tiger Guards, who have fought against the Sun Moon Empire for many years, the air-to-air soul tool is almost a necessity for everyone. After all, the Sun Moon Empire's flying soul tools are excellent, and what they like most is to fly high in the sky and bombard the enemies on the ground with soul cannons from above.

Therefore, the elite troops of the Star Luo Empire all carry anti-aircraft soul guides.

Soon, a large cluster of red light clashed with the green gourd-shaped lights. Just as they were about to collide, the gourd-shaped lights suddenly split apart, with the front and back ends of the gourds separating. The front end accelerated forward and collided with the red light clusters, while the green light behind it paused in mid-air for a moment.

The changes at high altitudes can be so rapid that they can catch you off guard.

A deafening sound suddenly rang out in the air, and a large halo of light illuminated the entire sky.

Interception successful?

The thought had barely crossed the minds of the White Tiger Guards below when it was shattered. Clusters of green light, now cone-shaped, fell from the sky like lightning, their target the direction of Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger.

Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger Clan, a seasoned veteran of countless battles, reacted instantly. His imposing figure suddenly swelled, his short hair transformed into a black and white tiger stripe pattern, and his nine spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—rose up, transforming into dazzling rings. Among them, the fourth spirit ring shone brightly, and a cluster of shimmering white, jade-like light orbs, faintly resembling tiger heads, rapidly formed above his head. Then, these orbs pulled up dazzling white trails of flame that shot upwards to meet the sky.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom..." A series of violent booming sounds illuminated the entire mountain road.

(End of this chapter)