More troubling still, Spirit Hall's people were moving toward both flanks.
No one could say for certain whether they were surrounding the White Tiger or preparing to cut off the other factions' retreat.
As the head of his clan, Yu Yuanzhen had many things to consider.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
Ning Fengzhi's enhancements had never stopped, either.
But the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan could only rely on him alone to hold the front line.
"Fall back to the canyon entrance!" Yu Yuanzhen finally ordered.
An elder beside him froze for a moment. "Clan head, if we retreat, the Soul Ring and Soul Bone..."
"Get our people out first!" Yu Yuanzhen cut him off.
The elder hesitated no longer and immediately led the injured clan members back.
Seeing this, the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires' forces also began tightening their formations.
Their Titled Douluo were not strong enough. If the White Tiger set its sights on them, even their handful of powerful fighters might be wiped out.
In that case, they would be better off withdrawing first!
"Withdraw from the canyon!"
The leaders of both sides spoke almost simultaneously.
Several Soul Douluo skilled in defense stayed at the rear, while the others swiftly retreated with the wounded.
Some still lingered reluctantly, hoping to see whether they could pick up some scraps.
But after seeing the White Tiger force Chrysanthemum Douluo back with a single swipe, they immediately quickened their retreat.
Yu Yuanzhen was the last of his clan to retreat. Once he emerged, he dispelled his Martial Soul Avatar.
Blood still dripped from his right hand. The spot where he had collided with the White Tiger had been injured.
"From the look of things, we can't go to Crimson Flame Volcano, either," Yu Yuanzhen told everyone.
No one objected.
They could not handle the White Tiger on flat ground, while the Vermilion Bird was staying in lava.
Among the forces the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had brought, there were no Soul Masters skilled at resisting flames.
Once they entered the volcano, they would not even have the chance to cover one another's retreat as they had just done.
They had no chance of winning at all!
Not far away, the leaders of the two empires were also taking a head count.
The survivors were all in a sorry state, their armor either cracked by the impacts.
Or they sat on the ground, breathing hard, unable to recover for a long time.
They had not even exchanged blows with the White Tiger.
Merely standing nearby had left them this battered from its roars and the shock waves of its enormous claws striking the ground.
"Let's head back." The Heaven Dou Empire's consecrated expert sighed.
"If we keep going, we'll lose our lives before we get a Soul Bone."
But the Star Luo Empire's people were still unwilling to leave.
This was the White Tiger, a two-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast intimately connected to their imperial family!
Just then, the image on the sky screen changed again.
The Vermilion Bird in the sky gradually faded away.
A new image appeared.
A broad river cut across the mountains.
Its waters surged through a gorge, with vast stretches of trees growing along its banks.
The view followed the river upstream and soon reached a broad river bend.
An enormous azure figure was slowly swimming through the water.
Azure scales covered its snakelike body, and four dragon claws emerged from beneath the water.
The twin horns atop its head extended backward, and its whiskers swayed gently with the current.
When it lifted its head, a pair of golden, slit-pupiled eyes appeared right in the center of the screen.
[Douluo Continent's top ten Soul Beasts, first place!] [Azure Dragon!] [Soul Beast age: two hundred thousand years.] [Current status: juvenile.] [Location: an upstream river bend in the Qingchuan Mountain Range, in the eastern part of the continent.] [Species description: the Azure Dragon possesses a powerful physique and wood-attribute powers. It can control the surrounding plants and attack enemies with lightning.] [Its dragon scales possess extremely strong defensive capabilities, and its dragon claws excel at close-range attacks.] [Special note: the Azure Dragon possesses the bloodline of an ancient divine beast and can move on land, in water, and through the air.] [Ranking note: the top four places are in no particular order.]
After the golden text appeared.
Discussions rose once again across the continent.
"The final Soul Beast really is two hundred thousand years old, too."
"This ranking gets more outrageous the longer I watch!"
"But this dragon does look more imposing than that turtle."
"And it's in a river, not the sea!"
Soon, some people turned their attention to its location.
The Qingchuan Mountain Range lay in the eastern part of the continent.
Although vast forests surrounded it, there were mountain paths through them.
Moreover, high-level Soul Beasts were relatively scarce there.
Even an army of ordinary people could reach the riverbank without difficulty.
Compared with Sea God Island and Crimson Flame Volcano, this place was clearly easier to reach.
Outside White Tiger Canyon.
Yu Yuanzhen's gaze was instantly riveted on the Azure Dragon.
A dragon-type Soul Beast.
And it possessed lightning abilities.
It had neither the Vermilion Bird's blazing flames nor the mental intimidation the White Tiger had already displayed.
This Azure Dragon's attributes could hardly have been more suitable for their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Yu Yuanzhen felt as though he could already see hope for his clan's rise!
"Clan head." The elder beside him also showed a look of delighted surprise!
"There's an overland route through the Qingchuan Mountain Range. We can approach from the bank."
"At least we won't have to enter the deep sea or a volcano."
Yu Yuanzhen glanced at the clan members behind him.
"Let's go take a look!"
"Remember, no one is to attack before we get a clear look at its true form."
Several elders immediately nodded.
They had already suffered once.
But giving up on the White Tiger did not mean they had to give up on the Azure Dragon as well.
Besides, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Spirit Hall were still in the canyon.
Leaving now might instead give them a chance to find the Azure Dragon first.
When the leaders of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires heard the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan mobilizing, their eyes darted about.
Without prior agreement, both sides sped away with their forces!
They charged straight toward the Azure Dragon's location!
"The wounded should head back first."
"Everyone else, follow the road east. Advance at full speed."
Soon, both empires' forces changed direction.
Inside the Clear Sky Sect.
Tang Xiao gazed at the Azure Dragon, his face filled with conflict!
"They all possess the bloodlines of ancient divine beasts."
"It seems what the sky screen values is this so-called bloodline."
"As for the Azure Dragon... it is indeed the closest, and the environment isn't harsh, either."
"Most importantly, Spirit Hall and the others probably aren't there right now!"
Even without receiving news from outside, Tang Xiao knew Spirit Hall would not pass up the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts this time.
They were surely hunting Soul Beasts somewhere by now.
Presumably, no one would have focused their efforts here on the Azure Dragon, which had appeared last.
The sect's elders were also somewhat tempted.
But Tang Xiao still had not ordered them to leave the mountain, so they did not act rashly.
The Clear Sky Sect's seclusion and sealing of its mountain were no mere words.
Without the sect master or grand elder speaking up, along with the other elders' approval, the mountain seal could not possibly be lifted.
"Everyone, come discuss this!" After pondering for a long time, Tang Xiao finally gave in to temptation!
With his Clear Sky Sect's strength, if all the elders went out, they might very well be able to seize a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!
The elders' expressions all changed at his words. Could it be that our Clear Sky Sect has finally reached the time to return?
They had spent so long as turtles with their heads tucked into their shells that they felt terribly uncomfortable, both mentally and physically!