Douluo Unrivaled: The Beginning Materializes the Black Abyss and White Flowers

"Marshal, this can't go on!"

Xuanji Douluo rushed to Dai Hao's side, his expression solemn.

"Their tracking soul tool is too powerful; we can't shake them off at all. Moreover, they seem to be deliberately driving us away, trying to force us into a certain area."

Dai Hao knew this all too well.

He had already realized that the Soul Master Legion pursuing them was not attacking with all their might, but rather conducting a ruthless "hunt," constantly depleting their manpower and soul power, and compressing their space for maneuver.

"I know."

Dai Hao gritted his teeth and smashed a boulder that had rolled down from the side and been loosened by the soul-guided cannon with a single punch.

"But we have no choice. We must cross the 'narrow passage' ahead and enter the heart of Xingluo before nightfall, otherwise we'll be surrounded..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood the consequences.

Once surrounded by this well-equipped legion of Soul Masters, they would be lambs to the slaughter on this indefensible ruin.

However, the Sun and Moon Empire clearly had no intention of giving them that opportunity.

Suddenly, dozens of points of light, indicating the charging of soul tools, lit up on the hillsides on both sides ahead without warning.

"There's an ambush! Be careful!"

Dai Hao's pupils contracted sharply, and he issued a stern warning.

But it's too late.

Dozens of thick beams of energy were not aimed at the crowd, but at the narrow exit of the passage in front of the group.

"Boom--!"

The violent explosion completely collapsed the exit, and huge rocks mixed with soil crashed down, instantly blocking their only way out.

"It's over..." Someone in the group whispered in despair, and panic began to spread.

At the same time, the Soul Master Legion, which had been keeping a distance from the rear, suddenly accelerated, pressing in from three directions like a black tide.

They no longer concealed themselves; their neat formation, cold metal armor, and countless soul-guided cannons pointing in this direction exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.

The legion slowly parted, and a magnificent, giant Soul Guidance Commander's vehicle, resembling a mobile fortress, emerged from the crowd.

On her vehicle, Ju Zi, dressed in military uniform and expressionless, coldly surveyed the desperate remnants of the Xingluo army.

"Duke White Tiger, I'm so glad to finally meet you."

Orange's voice came through the amplified soul tool, calm and undisturbed, as if stating a fact that had nothing to do with her.

"The Mingdou Mountains are now part of our Sun and Moon territory. How long will you defeated generals continue your stubborn resistance?"

Dai Hao took a deep breath, stepped forward from the crowd, and looked up to meet Ju Zi's gaze.

Even in dire straits, he maintained the pride of an imperial duke:
"You are the commander of this army? I never expected you to be a woman. You are truly a woman who is just as capable as any man. The victor is king and the loser is villain. I have nothing to say, but to think that I, Duke White Tiger, will surrender without a fight is wishful thinking."

"Stubborn."

Orange gently shook her head, her gaze falling on Dai Hao's face, which, though disheveled, remained resolute.

This is the person.

This name, which haunted her like a nightmare in her youth, is the one she believes to be the culprit behind her family's destruction.

In order to take revenge on him, she did not hesitate to navigate the power struggles and even conspire with ruthless people to reach her current position.

But now, her enemy is right in front of her, she is in dire straits, and her life hangs in the balance.

Why... do I not feel the exhilarating feeling of impending revenge that I had imagined?

A strange sense of emptiness quietly spread through me.

Is it because of growth? Has the world broadened? Or has the heart become numb from being immersed in the quagmire of power for too long?
Of course she knew that back then, it was indeed Dai Hao who led the Star Luo army into the territory of the Sun Moon Empire. As a result of the war, her father, who was a chef, was conscripted into the army and eventually died in battle.

This is also the reason why my mother died in depression.

But if you think about it calmly, when two countries are at war, each is fighting for its own side.

As the commander of the Star Luo Empire, it is only natural for Dai Hao to attack enemy countries.

It was the corrupt and incompetent royal family of the Sun Moon Empire, which was unable to protect its borders, that truly sent civilians to their deaths on the battlefield.

She poured all her hatred onto Dai Hao; wasn't that a form of...displaced anger?
Over the years, she may have just been using this seemingly unwavering hatred to support herself and to find a seemingly legitimate reason for all her choices.

Hatred still lingers, of course.

The images of her parents' deaths still pain her.

But that hatred no longer seemed as pure and intense as it once was; instead, it had become mixed with too many complex things, becoming somewhat blurred, somewhat... listless.

These thoughts flashed through her mind like lightning, but left no trace on her indifferent face.

She merely raised her hand slightly and issued the command in a voice devoid of any emotion:
"In that case... let's send the Duke on his way. All troops, attack."

The moment the order was given, the heavens and earth changed color.

Hundreds of soul-guided cannons roared simultaneously, unleashing scorching beams, icy rays, and explosive energy bursts like a destructive torrent, pouring down on the besieged remnants of the Star Luo army.

At the same time, the new floating turrets hidden within the legion rose up, releasing force fields that interfered with the flow of soul power.

There were also binding soul tools specifically designed for high-level soul masters, which shot out energy chains in an attempt to restrict the movements of Dai Hao and Xuanji Douluo.

"White Tiger Legion, fight to the death!"

Dai Hao let out a tiger's roar as he looked up at the sky, and his seventh soul ring suddenly lit up—the true form of the White Tiger.

He transformed into a massive, blood-white, ferocious tiger, lunging towards the direction of the densest soul-guided artillery fire, attempting to open a path to survival for his subordinates.

Xuanji Douluo roared in anger as well, his martial soul "Xuanji Umbrella" blooming in the air, transforming into a huge barrier to desperately resist the attacks from the flanks.

The soldiers of the First Soul Master Legion also went berserk, unleashing all sorts of soul skills as if they were free, colliding with the soul guide rays and erupting into continuous energy explosions.

This was an unequal massacre.

The Soul Master Legion holds an absolute advantage in terrain, numbers, and equipment.

Every time the remnants of the Star Luo army unleash their soul skills, it could mean that a soul master's soul power is exhausted or they are instantly killed by concentrated fire.

However, the firepower of the Soul Master Legion seemed inexhaustible.

Soul Masters were constantly being reduced to ashes in the explosions, and soldiers were being pierced by the rays and falling to the ground.

Blood stained the scorched earth, and severed limbs were scattered everywhere.

In order to protect several young soul masters, Xuanji Douluo was grazed on the shoulder by a level nine soul guide ray that pierced through the barrier. His entire left arm was instantly destroyed. He groaned and his face was as pale as paper, but he still held on to his crumbling defense.

Dai Hao's true form as a white tiger endured the most attacks, with new wounds constantly appearing on his body, his white fur covered in blood and scorch marks.

He was incredibly brave, tearing apart several soul-guided mechs that tried to get close, but under the intense barrage of fire, his range of movement was constantly being compressed.

Orange watched all of this with indifference, watching the enemy who had once ruined her family fall into a desperate situation, watching his subordinates fall one by one.

"Execute the final plan." She issued the order to the special forces hidden in the shadows via her soul-guided communicator.

A moment later, several extremely subtle yet terrifyingly penetrating beams of light shot from a great distance, their target being the White Tiger Duke Dai Hao, who was fighting fiercely, and the heavily injured Xuanji Douluo.

This was a fatal blow from a level nine soul tool.

"Duke, be careful!"

With his keen senses as a Title Douluo, Xuanji Douluo was the first to notice. He shoved Dai Hao aside and used his last bit of soul power to shield himself with the Xuanji Umbrella.

"puff--!"

A beam of light pierced through the Xuanji Umbrella's defenses and precisely entered his chest.

"Uncle Xuanji!"

Dai Hao's eyes were bloodshot.

Xuanji Douluo's body stiffened. He looked down at the charred hole in his chest, then at Dai Hao. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately could not utter a word. His body slowly fell backward, and his aura quickly dissipated.

"Commander."

The remnants of the First Soul Master Legion roared in grief and anger.

Dai Hao's eyes were filled with tears. He knew he couldn't hesitate any longer.

"Everyone obeys orders."

He let out a deafening roar.

"Break into smaller groups, disperse and break through. Take as many people as you can and return to Xingluo to tell His Majesty that Dai Hao... has failed the Emperor's grace."

After saying that, he ignored the pursuers behind him and stopped trying to break through. Instead, he turned around and, with a death wish, charged into the core of the Soul Master Legion.

He was willing to use his own life as bait to give his subordinates a last chance to survive.

The White Tiger Guards and some soldiers of the First Soul Master Legion, their eyes red, tried to follow, but Dai Hao forcibly pushed them away with his soul power.

"go!"

Watching the Duke rush towards death like a shooting star, the surviving Star Luo soldiers let out a mournful cry of unwillingness. Finally, with tears in their eyes, they took advantage of the brief chaos created by Dai Hao and, like drops of water, seeped into the broken forest and scattered in all directions.

As Orange watched the White Tiger Duke charge towards her alone, a complex emotion flashed across her eyes once again, but it was quickly covered by an even deeper coldness.

"Focus fire."

Countless soul-guided cannons turned and aimed at that lonely and resolute white figure.

Just as the destructive energy condensed from the countless soul-guided cannons was about to engulf Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger, a sudden change occurred.

"Father."

A roar filled with anxiety and determination came from the side and behind.

Immediately afterwards, several powerful auras shot into the sky like smoke signals, accompanied by a piercing sound of air being torn apart, and several figures cut into the battlefield at an astonishing speed.

The leader was Dai Hao's eldest son, Dai Yueheng.

He was clad in blood-stained white tiger armor, and his eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating that he had been through a series of fierce battles.

Behind him were several titled Douluo powerhouses from the Star Luo Empire's military, as well as a reinforcement army that, though equally exhausted, was in high spirits.

"The Star Luo Empire, Xuan Guang Douluo is here."

"The Fiery Sun Douluo has arrived."

The two titled Douluo attacked simultaneously. One of them unleashed a sky full of swirling light, like countless rotating shields, which accurately blocked Dai Hao's path.

The other person transformed into a blazing sun, unleashing a torrent of fiery soul power that blasted the front row of soul-guided cannons into a chaotic mess.

Boom boom boom——!
The violent explosion was forcibly intercepted and deflected in front of Dai Hao. Although the energy impact still made his blood surge and he staggered back several steps, he ultimately survived.

"Key Balance?!"

Upon recognizing the newcomer, Dai Hao showed no joy whatsoever; instead, his expression changed drastically, and he shouted sternly:

"You bastard, who told you to come back?! Didn't I tell you to go to the rear immediately and establish a second line of defense relying on the natural defenses?! How dare you disobey military orders."

Dai Yueheng rushed to his father's side, stubbornly blocking his way, and said urgently:
"Father, if I hadn't come, you and the remaining brothers would have been wiped out here today. The Empire has sent reinforcements; this is our last chance. I can't just stand by and watch you..."

"Foolish, womanly, and acting on impulse!"

Dai Hao was so angry that he was trembling and interrupted him.

“You are a soldier, how can you let personal matters interfere with public duty? Your actions will not only ruin all previous efforts, but also drag the empire’s last mobile force and reinforcements into a dead end.”

As if to confirm Dai Hao's words, Orange, sitting high in her car, showed no surprise at the sudden turn of events, but instead revealed a cold indifference as if she had everything under control.

She gently raised her hand, as if brushing away insignificant dust.

The next moment, another unexpected event occurred.

In the shadows of the surrounding mountains, which had seemed empty before, the air began to ripple like water.

A Soul Master Corps with extremely sophisticated equipment and an aura of darkness and coldness appeared silently like ghosts. The insignia on their chests was that of the Evil Lord Soul Master Corps, one of the Guardians of the Sun Moon Empire.

As soon as they appeared, they quickly occupied all the high ground, and their cold cannons locked onto the newly arrived Star Luo reinforcements.

At the same time, a dazzling star suddenly lit up the sky.

An elderly man dressed in a magnificent starry battle robe stood out from the sky, surrounded by nine soul rings that shimmered with starlight. His powerful aura caused the world to lose its color.

It was none other than Ye Yulin, one of the three great Soul Masters of the Sun Moon Empire, the Starry Sky Douluo.

"Om-!"

A scorching heatwave swept in from another direction, turning the sky a fiery red.

Another powerful Soul Master Corps has emerged, its banner embroidered with a phoenix reborn from the ashes—the Fire Phoenix Soul Master Corps.

In the blink of an eye, the reinforcements brought by Dai Yueheng, along with the remaining White Tiger Army and the remnants of the First Soul Master Legion, were completely surrounded by the three top forces of the Sun Moon Empire, leaving them no way out.

The situation did not ease; instead, it plunged into an even more desperate ambush.

Seeing this, Dai Hao's face turned ashen, and his last shred of hope was completely shattered.

He gave a bitter laugh, his gaze sweeping over the faces around him, some filled with fear, some with determination, and some with bewilderment, finally settling on his son Dai Yueheng's resolute yet despairing profile.

"Did you see that? Yaoheng..."

Dai Hao's voice carried endless weariness and a hint of barely perceptible sorrow.

"We...we've long been trapped. Their pursuit and interception haven't been all-out; they're just waiting for your fresh troops to walk right into their trap...what a clever scheme, what patience!"

Dai Yueheng realized what was happening at that moment, and his face turned pale instantly.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, and blood dripped from between his fingers.

He understood his father's anger, and the devastating consequences of his impulsiveness. (End of Chapter)