Chapter 143: The 100,000-Year Dark Devilgod Tiger
A creature resembling an oversized cat emerged from the dark void the Dark Devilgod Tiger.
Its entire body was pitch black, with sleek fur devoid of any impurities. Its frame had grown significantly larger compared to a few years ago.
With each step of its powerful limbs came a heavy thud, radiating an intensely chilling and dark aura.
Those ruby-like eyes burned with bloodthirsty killing intent, locked firmly on Ning Rongrong's group.
Even just meeting its gaze evoked an inexplicable sense of dread.
"So this is the Dark Devilgod Tiger?" Ning Fengzhi's face showed astonishment.
This spirit beast gave him a vastly different impression from others.
Despite being a Soul Douluo himself, simply looking at it stirred latent fear in his heart.
"A terrifying spirit beast."
A stream of buff energy flowed into Bone Douluo as he summoned his Bone Dragon martial soul.
Under the Eight Treasure Glazed Pagoda's radiance, Bone Douluo entered his spirit avatar state, reaching the 97th-rank Title Douluo level.
"ROAR "
The Dark Devilgod Tiger's intelligence wasn't low in fact, it surpassed most spirit beasts of its rank.
It immediately noticed Bone Douluo's power boost was linked to that peculiar pagoda.
With a powerful push from its hind legs, it launched into a pouncing charge, aiming to eliminate Ning Fengzhi first.
"Your opponent is me!" As one of the clan's pillars, Bone Douluo instantly detected the tiger's movement.
He positioned himself protectively before Ning Rongrong and Ning Fengzhi.
"Seventh Spirit Skill Bone Dragon Avatar!"
"Third Spirit Skill Bone Dragon's Deterrence!"
Purple soul power erupted from Bone Douluo's body as the charging Dark Devilgod Tiger was repelled by the manifested spectral bone dragon.
The soul power construct unleashed a deafening draconic roar the Bone Dragon's Deterrence.
Just as the tiger was sent flying by the avatar's impact and prepared to counterattack, it was blasted away again.
"Phantom Wisdom Spirit Bone Illusionary Space!"
"Eighth Spirit Skill Mirror Image Copy!"
In an instant, countless white lights converged around Bone Douluo. Within seconds, an identical copy appeared slightly weaker in aura but otherwise perfect.
The replicated Bone Douluo possessed 70% of the original's pre-buff strength roughly equivalent to a 94th-rank Title Douluo.
After simultaneously activating his spirit bone and spirit skills, Ning Fengzhi's ruddy complexion paled slightly.
"Fengzhi, protect yourself and Rongrong."
"This spirit beast is extraordinary stay vigilant." Bone Douluo spoke gravely in his avatar state.
"Understood."
Ning Fengzhi nodded.
With instructions given, Bone Douluo shot forward like black lightning, initiating his assault.
"A 100,000-year spirit beast means nothing! Challenging the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was your mistake!"
"Eighth Spirit Skil " Before Bone Douluo could fully charge his technique...
Lightning orbs of varying sizes materialized from all directions, homing in on him.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Bone Douluo activated a defensive skill.
Countless electric spheres bombarded the purple barrier, each being deflected by the protective dome.
As Bone Douluo dropped the shield to attack, the Dark Devilgod Tiger vanished from sight like dissipating smoke.
"Damn!"
Bone Douluo's heart clenched.
"Ninth Soul Skill Dragon Bone Transformation!"
Mounted atop a gargantuan bone dragon, Bone Douluo maneuvered it into a soaring leap, narrowly evading the Dark Devilgod Tiger's strike.
The black energy cannon unleashed by the tiger obliterated everything in its path.
"Such sinister energy..." Bone Douluo glimpsed the terrifying aftermath.
Space before him distorted as if compressing distance itself.
The Dark Devilgod Tiger reappeared instantly before him.
At close range, the tiger's oppressive aura felt dimensional its massive frame and twin abyssal-red eyes radiated evil so dense it seemed to congeal the air.
Its maw gaped wide, sinking fangs into the materialized bone dragon. A pained draconic wail echoed as Bone Douluo felt his very soul being gnawed.
His sole spirit bone the Evil Spirit Orca Bone provided a crucial opening.
"GRROOWWL!"
Caught off guard, the Dark Devilgod Tiger stiffened mid-air, afflicted by the 70,000-year Evil Spirit Orca Bone's Demonic Grip.
Seizing this paralysis, Bone Douluo drove his dragonbone construct into a plunging dive.
The collision with the ground sent the tiger crashing down with devastating force.
BOOM!
A mushroom cloud of dust erupted skyward as the bone dragon ascended through the debris.
From his aerial vantage, Bone Douluo observed the enormous crater over a hundred meters across now visible through settling smoke.
But at its epicenter... no Dark Devilgod Tiger.
Bone Douluo's pupils constricted.
"NO!"
He immediately wheeled his dragon toward Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong's position.
Throughout the battle, Bone Douluo had deliberately drawn the fight away, fearing collateral damage.
Aside from the Dark Devilgod Tiger, nothing in this forest threatened the father-daughter pair both wore Level 5 soul tools.
Even against formidable 10,000-year spirit beasts, escape should have been feasible.
He never anticipated the tiger's cunning.
By not shattering the Illusionary Space, it lulled him into false security about Ning Fengzhi's defenses.
Its entire assault had been a feint using smoke screens and misdirection to slip past him, then teleporting to Ning Fengzhi's location.
"Was this its plan from the start?"
"What a fearsome spirit beast." Bone Douluo urged his bone dragon into maximum speed.
Meanwhile...
Ning Fengzhi's 94th-rank mirror image was shredded by the Dark Devilgod Tiger's claws, leaving him severely injured.
Clutching his chest, Ning Fengzhi exhaled sharply while shielding Ning Rongrong.
He'd activated his 100,000-year Evil Spirit Orca King Torso Bone's skill Mirror Annihilation encasing them in reflective armor that barely withstood the attack.
Yet the tiger's power proved overwhelming even defended, Ning Fengzhi tasted blood, his energy in turmoil.
Suddenly...
Crimson light erupted around Ning Fengzhi as a scarlet beam lanced out so fast the tiger couldn't evade.
Its body stiffened momentarily.
"Now's our chance!"
Gasping, Ning Fengzhi brightened the Eight Treasure Glazed Pagoda's eighth ring again.
Within the Illusionary Space, another Bone Douluro materialized.
"Ninth Soul Skill Dragon Bone Transformation!"
Ning Fengzhi commanded the replica, whose nine spirit rings ignited as the ninth gradually brightened.
The Bone Douluro copy drove its bone dragon avatar into a high-speed collision course.
Still recovering from the 100,000-year Demonic Grip, the tiger's limbs remained paralyzed when...
An eruption of sinister energy burst from its body.
Its jagged maw gaped hungrily, viscous saliva dripping between razor fangs.