Douluo Continent: Starting with a Heavenly Fire Judgment

Chapter 456 Boiling Frog in Slow Water

Hearing Duke Dai Hao's words, Xuanji Douluo's chest heaved violently. How could he not understand the meaning behind Dai Hao's words? Duke Dai Hao was going to use his death to buy them a chance to live. But how could he abandon Dai Hao, whom he had watched grow up since childhood? Even though Duke Dai Hao's method was their only way out at the moment.

"Uncle Xuanji, while everyone still has soul power, we must take action. It's settled then. I trust you with Yaoheng in my care."

Duke Baihu acted swiftly and decisively. Once the plan was finalized, he immediately issued the order, regardless of whether Xuanji Douluo agreed or not.

As he spoke, he released the soundproof barrier he had created and said in a deep voice to Dai Yueheng beside him, "You go with your grandfather Xuanji. We'll split into two groups to break through. After we break through, follow your grandfather Xuanji's orders. Understand?"

Dai Yueheng hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Father, what about you?"

Dai Hao said coldly, "I will break through from another direction. Only by breaking through separately can we have a better chance of getting out. Go, Uncle Xuanji, I'm counting on you."

Seeing the resolute look in Dai Hao's deep eyes, Xuanji Douluo sighed, grabbed Dai Yueheng, and turned to leave.

Yes, they had no time left. Obeying Dai Hao's orders was the best course of action. Just as Dai Hao said, in war, the worst thing is to act on emotion. Having lived for over a hundred years and experienced countless wars of varying scales, how could Xuanji Douluo not understand this principle? Even though his heart was breaking, he still obeyed Dai Hao's orders and prepared to lead the First Soul Master Legion and Dai Yueheng to break through from the southeast, so that Dai Hao's sacrifice would not be in vain.

Each of the two Soul Master Corps of the Sun Moon Empire carries a baby bottle of the same level as them, and at least two of them. However, their side does not have such a configuration at all. Among the three kingdoms that originally belonged to the Douluo Continent, the Star Luo Empire is the oldest and therefore the least concerned about the development of Soul Tools. This is because there are too many traditional Soul Master sects in the Star Luo Empire that are resistant to Soul Tools. Although Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu wanted to promote Soul Tools, they were repeatedly thwarted and eventually had to compromise.

It wasn't until recent years, with the rapid development of soul tools and the decreasing resistance within the Star Luo Empire, that the Star Luo Empire began to vigorously develop soul tools. They even spent huge sums of money to commission the Tang Sect to build a large number of Zhuge Divine Crossbows. However, the Tang Sect had very few people and could not supply them at all. Moreover, the Star Luo Empire was not the only one to see the potential of the Zhuge Divine Crossbows. Therefore, although some Zhuge Divine Crossbows were deployed in the Western Jiang region, the number was not large.

What made it even more distressing for them was that the Zhuge Divine Crossbows on the Western Frontier were destroyed in a surprise attack by the Sun Moon Empire before they could even be used. Only some of the Zhuge Divine Crossbows in the military camps were able to play a certain role.

Watching Xuanji Douluo take Dai Yueheng away, a hint of gentleness gradually appeared on the cold and resolute face of the White Tiger Duke. Although Dai Yueheng was somewhat arrogant, he had improved a lot over the years by his side, and his cultivation talent even surpassed his own. There was also Dai Huabin, the most talented descendant of the White Tiger Duke lineage, but his personality still needed refinement. He was too busy with affairs to teach him, and it was only because Dai Yueheng was by his side that he had the opportunity to hone Dai Yueheng's character and temperament. He had originally planned to take Dai Huabin under his wing and teach him after he graduated from Shrek Academy, but now it seemed that the opportunity was gone. However, with the two brothers Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin, the White Tiger Duke lineage would not be cut off in the future. He just didn't know what would become of the Star Luo Empire.

With a sigh, Dai Hao shook his head and raised his head again. The future of the Star Luo Empire was no longer something he could consider. He had made up his mind to die in the Ming Dou Mountains with the White Tiger Guards. Only in this way could the First Soul Master Legion and Dai Yueheng have a chance of survival. War is cruel, and as the commander, he had to make choices. He chose to give his life to the First Soul Master Legion and Dai Yueheng.

He and the White Tiger Guards spent their entire lives guarding the Mingdou Mountains. Their deaths here can be considered a testament to their loyalty to the empire.

"White Tiger's subordinates, heed my command!" Dai Hao roared.

As soon as the First Soul Master Legion withdraws, their protective shield will immediately disappear. At that time, although the White Tiger Guards' individual combat strength is comparable to that of first and second ring Soul Masters, they will probably turn into corpses in no time under the attack of so many Soul Guidance Devices in the sky.

With his lips pressed tightly together, Dai Hao glanced guiltily at his old brothers who had followed him through thick and thin for many years, then closed his eyes in anguish. In this short half-day of war, his most elite White Tiger Guards had dwindled to just over a thousand men. He had let these old brothers down; he, as their commander, had been incompetent.

The commanders of the White Tiger Guards quickly gathered in front of Dai Hao, waiting for his orders. These commanders of the White Tiger Guards were all Soul Masters, and each of them was quite powerful.

Dai Hao said in a deep voice, "In a moment, we will cover the retreat of the First Soul Master Legion. We will charge north."

The leading commander said in a deep voice, "Marshal, is this a feint attack?"

"Mm." Dai Hao nodded.

Almost simultaneously, all the commanders knelt down on one knee. "Marshal, please retreat with the First Soul Master Legion."

As veterans who had followed Dai Hao for many years, they knew him well. Seeing the resolute look in Dai Hao's eyes, they knew that he wanted to die with them.

Dai Hao smiled slightly, raised his hands, and an invisible force lifted up these generals who were utterly loyal to him. "Do you think that if I were among those breaking through, those people from the Sun Moon Empire would let me go? Only by using me as bait can more people escape. As the commander of the Northwest Army Group, we, the White Tiger lineage, cannot be cowardly at this time. Are you willing to live and die with me?"

"Marshal!" the generals cried out in grief. They were not afraid of death, and were even more willing to die for Duke White Tiger. However, they did not want to watch the Duke go to his death with them!

"Time is of the essence. This is an order. You should understand that once I've made a decision, no one can change it. Get ready. Wait for my command, and then you'll charge with me! Hurry!"

With tears in their eyes, the generals turned and left under Dai Hao's chilling gaze. Watching their retreating figures, tears finally streamed down Dai Hao's face. He looked up at the sky, watching the beams of soul-guided light falling continuously, and murmured to himself, "If there is a next life, I will still be your brother. I'm sorry, brothers, I can't protect you all."

With his fists clenched and veins bulging on his arms, Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger began to rise at an astonishing speed. Nine spirit rings rose from his feet, and the white tiger's light and shadow flickered. His unrestrained aura could be clearly felt even by powerful figures like Star Douluo Ye Yulin in the sky.

Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin coldly said, "The White Tiger Duke is going to fight to the death. Be prepared to attack with all your might."

As he spoke, his body shone brightly, and a large amount of soul power was poured into the Sun and Moon Divine Needle. He had only one goal: to kill Dai Hao.

Once the White Tiger Duke dies, all defenses in the western part of the Star Luo Empire will be rendered useless. Of course, in his view, even if the White Tiger Duke were still alive, it wouldn't affect the overall situation. In his eyes, the Star Luo Empire, the Heavenly Soul Empire, and the Fighting Spirit Empire were all ignorant and outdated. This world already belonged to the Soul Guidance Device. Although the three kingdoms that originally belonged to the Douluo Continent have somewhat awakened in recent years, they have ultimately realized it too late.

Ji Lin silently watched the battlefield ahead. His mental detection had already heard the White Tiger Duke's plan. He could only say that the plan was good, but it would be very difficult to implement. With the White Tiger Duke's current half-crippled state and more than a thousand White Tiger guards, could they really break through and lure away Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin and the others?

Ji Lin could see clearly that Ye Yulin and the others in the sky were not using their full strength. They were simply trying to prevent Duke Baihu and his group from going all out and were slowly boiling the frog in lukewarm water.

Once Duke White Tiger and the First Soul Master Legion fall into a slump, they will face even stronger blows.

Unfortunately, he brought Huo Yuhao to Yuming City this time but not Chi Yuan. With his current strength, he no longer needs Chi Yuan to protect him in the shadows.

With Ji Lin's current strength, he can at most hold off Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin, and even that won't last long. You have to understand that although Starry Sky Douluo is only a level 94 Title Douluo, the same level as Xuanji Douluo, in a real fight, Xuanji Douluo would undoubtedly lose. Even if Xuanzi were here and fought Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin, if the distance between the two sides were widened, Xuanzi might be kited to death by Starry Sky Douluo.

Of course, Xuanzi would still win in close combat, but that's enough to show how terrifying Ye Yulin, the Starry Sky Douluo, is.

Moreover, besides Starry Sky Douluo, the Sun Moon Empire also has other level nine soul masters. Ji Lin dared not be so arrogant as to provoke several level nine soul masters with his cultivation of a seven-ring soul saint, including Starry Sky Douluo, who is no less than a Super Douluo.

Once he's pinned down, even Ji Lin won't be able to escape. If he's surrounded by the Soul Master Corps, he risks his own demise.

However, secretly assisting Duke White Tiger is still not a problem.

On the battlefield, as both sides were on edge and the great battle was about to reach its final stage, the clouds in the sky churned and gradually turned crimson, and a scorching heat permeated the entire area.

A hundred-meter-long flaming giant sword descended from the sky, crashing down on the two major Soul Master Corps of the Sun Moon Empire with earth-shattering force. The moment the giant sword appeared, the air was ignited, and fireballs rained down from the sky like a meteor shower, sweeping across the two major Soul Master Corps of the Sun Moon Empire along with the flaming giant sword.

(End of this chapter)