The situation is reversed, a protracted war? (Seeking follow-up reads on the last page!)

Ge Long, discerning position by sound, sidestepped the White Tiger's sharp claws and swept his Yazi greatsword horizontally, clashing against Dai Jiangong's claws.

The airwaves from the clashing Soul Power sent nearby corpses flying. Both men retreated a few steps, their eyes filled with ferocity.

"Dai Jiangong, you actually brought backup!" Ge Long glanced behind Dai Jiangong, where two Soul Douluos, both with eight rings glowing, slowly walked out. One was a Soul Douluo with the agile attack type Martial Soul, Nether Panther, and the other was a control type Soul Douluo with the Martial Soul Demon Spider.

"To deal with you, I naturally have to go all out!" Dai Jiangong unleashed his White Tiger Martial Soul True Body, his size swelling. "Today, I'll let you know that with the combined strength of us Star Luo Three Soul Douluos, this Guard City will surely fall!"

The Nether Panther Soul Douluo attacked first, unleashing his Eighth Spirit Ability, "Nether Strangulation." His figure vanished instantly, appearing to Ge Long's left the next second, his claws lunging for his neck.

Simultaneously, the Demon Spider Soul Douluo released his Sixth Spirit Ability, "Heavenly Net," as countless Soul Power silk threads shot towards Ge Long, sealing off all his escape routes.

Ge Long's pupils constricted. Yazi transformed into a greatsword, held vertically in front of him. His Sixth Spirit Ability, "Ya Zi's Roar," erupted again. The sonic waves caused the silk threads to momentarily halt. Seizing this opening, the greatsword cleaved towards the Nether Panther's claws.

But Dai Jiangong's White Tiger claws were already upon him, smashing heavily onto his back.

"Pfft!" Ge Long spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered to his knees, propping himself up with the Yazi greatsword.

The encirclement by the three Soul Douluos was too fierce. His Soul Power was draining rapidly. He had only used his Eighth Spirit Ability twice, and his breathing was already erratic.

"General Ge!" Chen Chu's heart tightened. He couldn't let anything happen to him; the commander was the morale of the army.

After snapping the neck of a Star Luo soldier with his bare hands, he was about to charge over when he was entangled by two other Soul Sages. Soul Skills rained down on him, forcing him to retreat repeatedly.

The Heaven Dou army on the city wall saw their commander faltering, and their morale plummeted by more than half. The Star Luo soldiers, like madmen, charged into the breach without regard for their lives. A few suicide squads even carried explosive packs, widening the breach in the city wall.

"Kill them all! Anyone who retreats will be court-martialed!" General Zhang arrived from the east gate, his Mystic Armor Shield blocking in front of Chen Chu, taking the brunt of a Soul Sage's attack. "Chen Chu, go help the Marshal. I'll hold this position!"

"Mystic Armor Giant Shield!" Instantly, a massive shield appeared, temporarily blocking the breach.

Chen Chu nodded. Seizing the opportunity while General Zhang held off the Soul Sage, he charged forward fiercely. "Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul True Body. Holy King · Sagros, instant fusion!"

Buzz!

Crimson Soul Power surged towards the heavens. A phantom image of a giant praying mantis with scythe-like legs appeared behind Chen Chu. Seven Soul Rings – yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, red – exploded outwards. The might of the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring sent a great shock through everyone on the field. The Heaven Dou soldiers, seeing this, regained much of their scattered morale.

"What kind of Martial Soul is that?" Dai Jiangong naturally glimpsed Chen Chu's Soul Rings. However, upon seeing the combination of the rings, his pupils constricted. A Soul Sage, with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!

Chen Chu ignored his shock. Sagros's scythe-like legs condensed in his hands. His Sixth Spirit Ability, Nether Sky Slash Soaring Sword, was activated. The golden scythe blade, with a whistling sound, directly slashed towards the Nether Panther Soul Douluo who was entangled with Ge Long.

The Nether Panther Soul Douluo was about to evade, but found his body utterly unable to react. This was Sagros's talent effect: Skill Restriction!

No matter who you are, my Sagros must strike the first blow!

Coupled with the Gravity Domain, one of the Hundred Thousand Year Titan Giant Ape Soul Bone skills, their movements were further greatly hindered.

"No!" The Nether Panther Soul Douluo roared, attempting to call for help from his companions, but it was too late. The Nether Sky Slash Soaring Sword struck directly at his waist. His Martial Soul instantly dissipated. An eight-ring Soul Douluo, struck down in one blow. He perished on the spot!

This scene stunned everyone. How was this possible? A Soul Sage killing a veteran Soul Douluo in one strike?

Ge Long quickly seized the opportunity, thrusting his Yazi greatsword towards the Demon Spider Soul Douluo's chest. The Demon Spider Soul Douluo's mind was in chaos and was pierced by the sword. Soul Power leaked out, and under Chen Chu's follow-up strike, he quickly fell to the ground, lifeless.

In the blink of an eye, two Soul Douluos perished. Dai Jiangong was both shocked and enraged, slamming his White Tiger claws towards Chen Chu: "Brat, you're courting death!"

Chen Chu turned, Sagros's scythe-like legs crossing to block the White Tiger claws. Golden Soul Power collided with white Soul Power. Chen Chu was forced back three steps, his eyes still cold. "Dai Jiangong, let's see how many moves your Dai family's inherited Martial Soul can withstand against my Sagros!"

His figure flickered, his speed pushed to the extreme. He circled Dai Jiangong, constantly slashing, Sagros's scythe-like legs creating afterimages, forcing Dai Jiangong into purely defensive actions.

Seeing this, Ge Long also recovered his strength. The Yazi greatsword, in coordination with Chen Chu, attacked Dai Jiangong from both sides.

"Two against one, what kind of skill is that!" Dai Jiangong roared in humiliation. His Eighth Spirit Ability, White Tiger Wind Split, was activated, white Soul Power condensing into a tiger's head, smashing towards the two of them.

Chen Chu and Ge Long dodged simultaneously. The tiger's head crashed into the city wall, and with a boom, another section of the wall collapsed. But just as Dai Jiangong's previous force subsided and before new strength could gather, Chen Chu vanished again. It was Sagros's Fourth Spirit Ability, Soaring Moon Double Flash, with initiative +2, unleashing two high-speed slashes!

The next second, Chen Chu appeared behind Dai Jiangong, Sagros's scythe-like legs thrusting towards his back: "It's over!"

Dai Jiangong hurriedly turned, blocking the scythe-like legs with his White Tiger claws. He grunted, forced to use his body to resist. As the double scythes struck his flesh and blood, his entire body's Soul Power instantly became chaotic, unable to continue supporting him.

Ge Long seized the opportunity, his Eighth Spirit Ability, "Yazi Greatsword," cleaving into Dai Jiangong's shoulder. The White Tiger Martial Soul's defense was broken, blood splattering. One arm was severed.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" Dai Jiangong knew he had lost. Seizing a gap in skills, he desperately ran backward. The Star Luo army, seeing their commander forced to flee and two generals at the Soul Douluo level dead, had no will to fight. They threw down their weapons and retreated in disarray.

Chen Chu did not pursue. The Sagros Martial Soul dissipated, and he collapsed on the ground. After prolonged combat, his Soul Power was also depleted; he needed to recuperate for a while.

Ge Long retracted his Martial Soul, watching Dai Jiangong's panicked retreat. He did not give the order to pursue. The Heaven Dou army had suffered over half their casualties, and the city walls were extensively damaged; further pursuit was not advisable.

He turned to look at Chen Chu, who was sitting on the ground. He stumbled over and reached out to help him up. "Kid, can you hold on?"

Chen Chu nodded, indicating he was not seriously injured. "It's fine, my Soul Power is depleted. I just need to rest a bit."

The Heaven Dou army on the city wall erupted in cheers. Generals led their men to clear the battlefield, and soldiers stepped over corpses to carry the wounded down the city. The once silent Guard City began to show signs of life.

But the cheers did not last long. Suddenly, the sound of carriages and horses echoed from the distance. The Star Luo army, having retreated but not rested, had set up camp ten miles away, built defensive fortifications, and were ready for battle.

"Dai Jiangong isn't giving up?" General Zhang frowned. "He's been beaten like that, does he still intend to counterattack?"