Xu Zilong was seriously injured, and Xu Yang was already old. Under Tony's frenzied, life-sacrificing assault, his soul power was also heavily depleted.
Victory in the war was nearly assured, and they did not want any accidents to involve them at this point. So, they ordered a temporary retreat on the spot, intending to launch another attack after recovering.
The soul guide corps of the Sun-Moon Empire gradually retreated, and the remaining soldiers of the two empires looked upon the battlefield with sorrow and despair.
They didn't know how many of their comrades had fallen under the enemy's soul guide firepower, but the damage to the Sun-Moon Empire was enormous. The technological gap in soul guidance between both sides was simply too wide.
Not only were the power and range of the tower-type soul guides vastly different, but the defensive soul guides were also more varied. Almost everyone on the opposing side had trigger-type defensive soul guides of varying levels.
When the two sides confronted each other, even a slight gap could tip the balance of victory — let alone the life-or-death matter of defensive soul guides.
The coalition forces of the two empires could still hold on the upper battlefield, but on the lower battlefield, they suffered a one-sided defeat. Their morale was low, and they no longer had the will to fight.
The only Title Douluo of the Oran Empire died in battle. Lance could no longer raise the banner, and the royal family could no longer govern the entire empire. The generals had differing thoughts, and seeing no hope, they began to have different ideas.
The situation in the Otto Empire was better, thanks to their Title Douluo, Tobo. Tony had just shown his royal blood.
Now that Tony had died, Tobo legitimately ascended to the throne, rallied the Otto Empire's troops, no longer cared about the Orlan Empire, and returned directly to their camp. They needed to discuss the next course of action.
However, the future of the three empires had nothing to do with Xu Mingxi. She returned to the Shark Tooth Mercenary Group and found the place already deserted. Only Song Jiang had left a note in her room.
"Mingxi, they've gone to the sea to avoid conscription and left a message saying that the Lord of Haidu City has a soul guide that can help us return. Let's go tonight."
"No, there's no need to rush. We must first find a group of navigators and sailors, then wait for Song Jiang and the others to return. Once we get the soul guide from the city lord, we'll depart immediately."
The four split up. The three elders recruited people in the city, while Xu Mingxi rode Shark Tooth out to sea.
At nightfall, she flew high into the sky, and under her control, starlight gathered to form the symbol of a large star crown.
Among the Shark Tooth mercenaries roaming the sea, Huo Quan — who had the Martial Soul Eye and was standing night watch on the observation tower — caught a glimpse of this sign.
After using his soul skill to confirm it was the star crown symbol, he immediately woke Song Jiang, and several of them directed their boat toward Xu Mingxi.
Song Jiang and Shui Fu saw Xu Mingxi flying from Shark Tooth with four crew members, gathering the navigation soul guide from the mercenary group.
"Lord Xu, is everything settled?"
"Yes, I saw the message you left at the Shark Tooth base. Can the soul guide in the hands of the Lord of Haidu really map the route that Shark Tooth has traveled?"
"Lord Xu, we can't guarantee it, but the information we received is accurate."
"Alright, the elders have already recruited the sailors. Once all personnel arrive, we will return to the Douluo Continent immediately."
Everyone was very excited. They could finally return home. When they returned to base, the elders brought more good news.
"Mingxi, we've found everyone."
"So quickly?"
"Yes. With gold soul coins, there are always people willing."
"Alright. To avoid trouble, we'll storm the City Lord's Mansion tonight. Elder Eight, please take Song Jiang and the others to pilot Shark Tooth and wait on the ship. Once we succeed, we'll join you immediately. Elder Nine, take the navigators and sailors. If there's resistance, attack directly."
Speed is crucial in warfare. After night fell, Xu Mingxi and the Grand Elder stormed the City Lord's Mansion in Haidu City. Beneath the starry sky, the City Lord of Haidu had no strength to resist. The moonlight turned into chains and tightly bound him.
"City Lord, we are only here for two soul guides. As long as you hand them over, we will let you go."
"Whatever you two adults need, I will surely comply."
"I heard you have a soul guide that can map the route of a navigation soul guide?"
The City Lord of Haidu knew why these two wanted criminals were here, but he had no choice but to hand over the soul guides he greatly valued in order to survive.
He took a long-board-shaped soul guide from his storage soul guide and handed it to Xu Mingxi.
"Sir, this is the soul guide. As long as you place a navigation soul guide on it, it will automatically draw the route it has traveled."
"Very well. By the way, bring out your best long-range soul guide."
Xu Mingxi slowly and reluctantly took over a long-range soul guide named Swordfish, handed over by the City Lord of Haidu, and placed it on the route board. A beam of light appeared on the board and began scanning Swordfish.
Then, the image of a small ship began to appear on the route board. The image slowly moved, gradually drawing the route Swordfish had traveled.
"Sir, just press the button next to it and the route will disappear. You can use it again."
The City Lord of Haidu knew these wanted criminals were most likely fleeing to the sea, which was better — they would be far from the Sun-Moon Continent and less likely to be hunted by the Sun-Moon Empire. That gave him a better chance of surviving.
Xu Mingxi was satisfied. She stored the two soul guides given by the City Lord of Haidu and left with the Grand Elder. Before leaving, she didn't forget to give one last warning.
"We're leaving soon. You probably don't want to stir up trouble again. Xu Zilong is still at the frontlines."
Who would dare? The city lord looked at the ruins around him, wanting to cry but having no tears. At least he survived.
After getting what they wanted, Xu Mingxi and the Grand Elder flew straight to the sea, using the starlight signal to guide Shark Tooth to them.
All personnel were transferred to Swordfish, which was faster and had better defenses. Xu Mingxi retrieved the shrunken Shark Tooth and placed it on the route board.
The ship's image on the board started at one point, moving in and out repeatedly, finally beginning from that point, traversing a route many times longer than before, winding in the middle, and arriving at another point.
Everyone immediately understood — the first point was most likely Hanhai City, and the second point the Sun-Moon Continent. The part in between must have been when they encountered the storm at sea.
Xu Mingxi summoned a navigator skilled in mapping sea charts and instructed him to draw a sea map between the two points based on the route. Then, based on the sea map, she piloted Swordfish in a straight line.