Chapter 1472: Eight-Level Demon King

"The strategy of 'when the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits' is always the most effective," Xu Yang stated. "Since we are already in the role of hunters, why should we directly engage these prey? It's better to let them fight among themselves, and then we can reap the rewards."

Xu Yang maintained a calm and composed demeanor, subtly yet firmly taking control of the situation. Indeed, after years of training and refinement, his leadership qualities had reached an unparalleled level.

At the very least, his mastery of the situation and his efficiency and foresight in managing affairs far surpassed those of the other three team members.

As expected, hearing Xu Yang's words, Long Kun's initial eagerness to immediately engage and confront the high-level demonic beasts instantly waned.

"Haha, Boss, your calculations are always spot on," Long Kun chuckled. "These three are truly formidable opponents. If I had acted rashly, I would have undoubtedly been ambushed by all three demon races at once, becoming their collective target."

Long Kun was clearly the type to act on brute force. He excelled at executing orders, but if given command of a battle plan, even the most formidable team would likely face ruin under his leadership. He was naturally unsuited to be a strategic leader, better suited as an invincible general who could overcome all obstacles.

As they watched the two seventh-level demonic beasts besiege an incredibly powerful eighth-level tiger, they were stunned. Despite lacking wings, the tiger inexplicably possessed the ability to fly for short periods, surprising Long Kun and the others.

"Boss, am I seeing things? That tiger has no wings, so how can it fly into the air?"

Xu Yang gently shook his head.

"That's not actual flight," Xu Yang explained. "It's an exceptionally strong hovering ability. Its physical strength has reached an ultimate peak, allowing it to perceive subtle traces of spatial laws. Combined with its immense physical power, it can achieve short periods of levitation. This ability places it among the top tier of the entire demon race. It truly lives up to its reputation as the Heaven-Piercing Black Tiger, an eighth-level great demon. Its combat prowess is truly astonishing; even among top-tier demonic beasts of the same level, the Heaven-Piercing Black Tiger's power is not to be underestimated."

Xu Yang's explanation immediately resonated with his companions.

They watched as the three top-tier demonic beasts in the center of the battlefield fought fiercely. The battle aura radiating outwards from the epicenter intensified rapidly. Fortunately, Xu Yang and his three companions possessed powerful law-based abilities, which allowed them to directly shield the surrounding void and perfectly conceal their presence.

Otherwise, the sheer shockwaves and sound would undoubtedly compromise their hiding spot.

Suddenly, the Heaven-Piercing Black Tiger let out a furious roar and bellow. Its massive body stepped into the air once more, hovering in the void. The moment its ferocious fangs were bared, its black pupils unleashed two incredibly savage black auroras, striking fiercely into the central area of the battlefield below.

The attack directly hit one of the seventh-level great demons, whose true form was a pangolin. It was well known that reaching the seventh level was a remarkable feat for a demon of the pangolin lineage.

This pangolin was undoubtedly a king among its kind, yet against the raw power of the Heaven-Piercing Black Tiger, it stood no chance.

Hampered by the limitations of its racial bloodline and the overwhelming talent suppression from its opponent, the Pangolin King quickly began to falter. The black tiger aurora was far more complex than a simple armor-piercing attack.

Upon impact, the black energy rapidly merged with the target, triggering a highly distorted and unique reaction within them.

The black Tiger Source had the power to forcibly awaken the Tiger King's bloodline within other species. Imagine a pangolin suddenly manifesting tiger genes within itself – what kind of grotesque transformation would that be?

It would undoubtedly trigger earth-shattering changes deep within its own lineage.

As expected, the tiger merely laughed heartily, without unleashing any further, more violent attacks. Meanwhile, the Pangolin King screamed in agony, rolling and thrashing on the ground.

Soon after, its massive body lost all signs of life, lying motionless on the ground.

"Hahahaha, this is what happens to those who oppose this Tiger King!" the tiger roared. "Little frog, you've also cultivated to the seventh level, which is quite impressive. Originally, I wouldn't have even considered you an opponent, but this time, you've offended me. You didn't even abandon the prey I had claimed. After sensing my presence, you should have immediately fled instead of daring to steal food from the tiger's mouth!"

The Tiger King's declaration clearly sealed the fate of the seventh-level frog. Immediately, an immensely powerful claw attack descended from the air. With a swift dive, the Tiger King augmented its already formidable physical strength.

"Damn it, Boss, that's truly an eighth-level demon beast!" Long Kun exclaimed. "Its strength is several times greater than the Hundred-Eyed Golden Ox-Hound we faced before. If that attack lands, the seventh-level Frog King will likely be torn to shreds instantly. Won't we be left with absolutely nothing?"

Hearing Long Kun's words, Xu Yang clearly shared the same thought. A faint smile touched his lips as he casually flicked his finger.

A blast of ice-blue light from the Ice Emperor Tower, a primary divine artifact, instantly enveloped the Frog King's body. It narrowly shielded the frog from the Tiger King's ferocious assault and, in doing so, caused the Tiger King's incredibly sharp right claw to snap on impact, eliciting a painful shriek.

Xu Yang's strike was truly a masterstroke, serving two purposes. Using the formidable Ice Emperor Tower, a primary divine artifact, he not only suppressed the Frog King, effectively immobilizing its entire demonic form, but also leveraged the tower's immense defensive power to inflict significant damage on the Tiger King, greatly reducing its aggressive momentum.

"Which ignorant wretch is secretly attacking from the shadows? Get out here now!" the Tiger King roared.

"Heh heh, it's hardly 'secretly attacking' when we were already here," Xu Yang replied. "To be frank, the Hundred-Eyed Golden Ox-Hound's corpse, which attracted you so much, was a trap we laid out long ago. Heaven-Piercing Black Tiger King, excellent. If we can subdue you, you alone will earn us a significant number of points."