Douluo: Martial Soul White Tiger, I am the White Emperor of Heaven

They continued forward, finally reaching the end of the corridor. Ahead was a steep, damp staircase that reeked of mildew. Descending the stairs, the space opened up dramatically; it was a massive underground cavern, about thirty meters high and the size of a football field. The cavern's walls were piled high with various instruments and containers, some containing the grotesque corpses of spirit beasts, and others… humanoid corpses.

In the very center of the cave stood three enormous iron cages, each containing a spirit beast. The first spirit beast resembled a tiger, but was three times the size of an ordinary tiger, its entire body covered in black scales, its eyes blood-red, and it paced restlessly within its cage. The second spirit beast resembled a giant python, but had two curved horns on its head, and its body was covered in flowing black patterns; it lay coiled motionless in its cage. The third spirit beast was the smallest, only the size of a hunting dog, and looked like a fox, but it had nine tails, each burning with black flames.

"This is the Void Soul Beast..." Chen Hao gasped.

"Zhang Wan, start setting up the magic array," Su Chen said. "Li Yang, you stay with her. Chen Hao, Lin Xue, come with me to check the instruments and collect all the research data."

Zhang Wan immediately took out the jade plate and squatted in the center of the cave to begin setting things up. Li Yang stood beside her, his arms outstretched, a layer of yellow light enveloping them.

Su Chen, Chen Hao, and Lin Xue split up and stored the data and samples from the cave into their soul storage devices. The data contained a large amount of bloody experimental data, and every page was stained with dried blood.

Just as Zhang Wan was halfway through setting up the magic array, a loud bang suddenly came from the entrance of the cave, followed by heavy footsteps.

Su Chen turned around abruptly and saw a tall figure descending the stairs. It was a man in a black robe, with a gaunt face, sunken eyes, and a body that resembled a walking skeleton. But what sank Su Chen's heart to the bottom was the aura emanating from him—a Title Douluo.

"Lady Qian Renxue has dealt with three Title Douluos, but it seems she missed the fourth one." The man spoke, his voice hoarse like sandpaper scraping. "Or rather, the fourth Title Douluo didn't participate in the battle at all, but was waiting for you here."

He raised his hand, and a ball of black energy condensed in his palm: "Five brats, trying to destroy our hard work? Dream on."

Without a second thought, Su Chen stepped forward, blocking Chen Hao and Lin Xue: "Take Zhang Wan away quickly! I'll hold him off!"

"You?" The man let out a sneer. "A Soul Emperor trying to stop a Title Douluo? You're overestimating yourself."

The black energy transformed into a beam of light that shot towards Su Chen at incredible speed. Su Chen had no time to dodge and could only gather all his soul power into his arms to take the blow head-on.

boom--!
The immense impact sent him flying, his back slamming heavily against the cave wall, sending debris flying. He felt excruciating pain in his arms, as if his bones were shattered, and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Strategist!" Chen Hao roared, and the will of the sun was activated on its own. Golden light shone on his body, illuminating the entire cave as bright as day.

"Oh? The Will of the Sun?" A hint of surprise flashed in the man's eyes. "No wonder it could destroy the base in the far north. But... you're only a Soul King. Even if you have the Will of the Sun, what can you do to me?"

He raised his hand again, and this time, even more black energy gathered in his hand, forming a huge energy ball.

Chen Hao gritted his teeth, advancing instead of retreating, raising his arms high and concentrating the will of the sun to its fullest extent. The golden light grew brighter and brighter, like a miniature sun rising in the cave.

"Chen Hao! No!" Su Chen struggled to get up, but he was too badly injured to even stand.

However, Chen Hao did not turn around. He roared and transformed the solar power he had condensed to its limit into a golden beam of light, which shot straight toward the man.

The golden beam of light collided with the black energy sphere in mid-air, creating a deafening explosion. The entire cave shook, and debris rained down from the ceiling.

Chen Hao was sent flying backward, crashing into the wall as well. His solar will was extinguished, and he fell into a coma.

But the man wasn't faring any better. His right hand was scorched by the sun's power, the skin and flesh charred black, emitting a foul, burnt smell. He clutched his arm, his face contorted in rage: "You little beast... you actually hurt me... I'll make you suffer a horrible death!"

Just as he was about to make another move, a cold voice came from the cave entrance: "You can't kill anyone."

Qian Renxue stood there, her long hair disheveled, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, but her eyes remained sharp. She gripped an ice blade in each hand, emanating the aura of a Title Douluo, though somewhat diminished, it was still breathtakingly powerful.

"You..." The man's expression changed, "You actually killed those three?"

“Four,” Qian Renxue said. “You are the fifth.” The ice blade sliced ​​through the air. The man hastily tried to block, but Qian Renxue was too fast. Although she had consumed most of her soul power, her combat experience and skills far surpassed her opponent's. After three rounds, the ice blade pierced the man's chest. He stared wide-eyed at the ice blade in his chest in disbelief, then slowly collapsed.

Qian Renxue staggered, only managing to avoid falling by grabbing the wall. Her face was as pale as paper, clearly indicating that the battle with the four Title Douluos had exhausted most of her soul power.

"Is the magic circle... ready?" she asked with difficulty.

"Alright!" Zhang Wan shouted.

"Activate! Let's go!"

Zhang Wan placed her hands on the jade plate, channeling her soul power into it. The runes on the plate lit up one by one, emitting a buzzing sound. Then, she picked up the unconscious Chen Hao and rushed up the stairs with Su Chen, Lin Xue, and Li Yang.

They had just rushed out of the cave entrance when a muffled explosion came from the underground cave behind them, followed by a series of collapses. The ground shook violently, the waterfall was shaken backward, and large amounts of debris tumbled down the mountainside.

The five people rushed out of the waterfall and ran out of the valley, stopping only after running more than 300 meters. When they looked back, the valley had changed. A large section of the mountain below the waterfall had collapsed, and a lot of smoke and dust was rising up, obscuring the sky.

“It’s over…” Zhang Wan slumped to the ground, panting heavily.

Su Chen leaned against the tree trunk, his arms hanging limply at his sides, unable to lift them. He glanced at the unconscious Chen Hao, then at the exhausted Qian Renxue, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Go home,” he said.

Qian Renxue nodded, walked to Chen Hao's side, checked his injuries, and then breathed a sigh of relief: "It's just that his soul power is exhausted. He'll be fine after a few days of rest."

The group moved slowly through the forest in silence. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the tree canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Lin Xue brought up the rear, glanced back at the ruins of the valley, then turned and caught up with the group.

When we emerged from the forest, it was already dawn. The eastern horizon was turning a pale white, and the morning glow spread across half the sky like fire.

Su Chen stopped and looked at the sunrise, suddenly feeling a little dazed. Three days ago, when they set off, it was the same morning, with the same sunrise. In three days, they destroyed a Void Cult base, eliminated five Title Douluos, collected a large amount of experimental data, and even rescued a few Void Soul Beasts—unfortunately, the three soul beasts couldn't escape in the explosion and were reduced to ashes along with the base.

"Su Chen," Qian Renxue walked to his side, "How's your hand?"

"It's broken," Su Chen said casually. "Just go back and reconnect it."

"I'm sorry, it was my oversight. I thought all four Title Douluos were up there, but I didn't expect they left one underground."

"Who could have imagined this?" Su Chen smiled. "At least we're all alive, and that's the best outcome."

Qian Renxue looked into his eyes for a long time, then said softly, "Yes, it's good that you're alive."

The group continued forward, heading towards Tiandou City. Su Chen walked in the middle of the group, looking at the young faces around him—the unconscious Chen Hao, Li Yang carrying Chen Hao on his back, Lin Xue supporting Zhang Wan, and Qian Renxue walking at the very front.

He remembered what the High Priest of Nothingness had said: The Heavenly Dou Empire will be destroyed, and everyone will die.

He clenched his fist, the excruciating pain from his severed arm bringing him back to his senses.

"No," he said silently to himself. "I will protect them and won't let anyone die." (End of Chapter)