But Lei Dong showed no intention of retreating. A standard Nascent Soul cultivator would indeed find it difficult to deal with such a vast number of Flame-Clawed Blood Bats, but that didn't mean Lei Dong couldn't. The Netherworld Great Art that Lei Dong practiced, coupled with treasures like the Myriad Ghost Banner, made him particularly adept at large-scale engagements.

Moreover, the Underworld Flame Ghost Banner, refined by Lei Dong at significant personal cost, was far from ordinary! The powerful ghosts it summoned instilled in him a fierce confidence. Although the remaining number of his ghosts was less than three hundred thousand, it was more than sufficient to handle this swarm of Flame-Clawed Blood Bats.

The only thing that gave Lei Dong pause was the strange and sudden appearance of this bat swarm; it was highly probable that the Black-Winged Demon King was directing them from the shadows. If that fiend truly commanded these bats, Lei Dong would have to reassess the Demon King's true strength.

Lei Dong's deliberation lasted only a few breaths. The ghosts guarding him had already collided with the vanguard of the Flame-Clawed Blood Bats. In terms of individual power, lacking the direct support of Lei Dong’s pure Netherworld Ghost Qi, a single ghost seemed inferior to a Blood Bat. Upon initial engagement, they were immediately at a disadvantage.

However, this did not imply the ghost army was weaker than the bats. In truth, the ghost army's primary tactic was to overcome the strong with the weak, and the many against the few. Most often, they relied on sheer numbers to violently suppress their opponents—crushing powerful foes with volume.

As ghastly and ferocious-looking ghosts streamed out of the banner to join the fray, an absolute numerical advantage was swiftly established. A single ghost was indeed slightly outmatched, but two ghosts against one bat gained the upper hand. Three surrounding one meant complete suppression. Four ghosts against one bat was pure bullying.

With the ghost count continuously rising, the ghost army seized the decisive advantage. One by one, the Blood Bats were torn to shreds by the ferocious phantoms, their flesh and blood scattering everywhere. After consuming this gore, the ghosts became intensely invigorated and savage, as if they had ingested potent supplements.

Even the larger Blood Bats, whose strength rivaled that of Foundation Establishment cultivators, struggled to survive within the dense ghost masses. Against stronger foes, the ghosts employed only one strategy: the 'Ghost Sea Tactic.' Dozens, even hundreds, of ghosts swarmed the larger Flame-Clawed Blood Bats like ravenous ants, tearing and biting relentlessly, heedless of their own losses. Before long, the large bats were ripped apart amid piercing shrieks, their remains divided and devoured, serving as excellent nourishment.

Of course, even while gaining the upper hand, ghosts were being annihilated constantly, dissolving into plumes of smoke and vanishing forever. This was unavoidable; every execution of the Ghost Sea Tactic necessitated a massive expenditure of cannon fodder.

Lei Dong held back his two great Ghost Kings, conserving them as a precaution against the lurking Black-Winged Demon King. Though the Ghost Kings were potent, dealing with these low-tier demonic beasts with the ghosts' aid would be effortless, like chopping vegetables. But even the mightiest power is not infinite. The two Ghost Kings were Lei Dong's primary assets for confronting the Black-Winged Demon King, so their strength could not be squandered needlessly.

However, Lei Dong’s Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger was dispatched. Having reached the late Golden Core stage, it now measured a staggering seventy to eighty feet long. Its roar shook the mist and the very air, exuding the aura of a true king of beasts.

The Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger possessed its own pride and disdained slaughtering the low-tier bats. It consistently targeted the larger ones. Leaping and striking, it tore apart a Foundation Establishment-level bat every now and then, extracting its beast soul and swallowing it whole.

This aggressive conduct served to intimidate the lesser bats while simultaneously driving the bat king, which carried a late Golden Core aura, into a frenzy. Those Foundation Establishment bats were its powerful offspring, and to see them so casually trampled and killed by a ferocious tiger was an unforgivable provocation to its majesty. Though driven by a secret art to attack these savage creatures, it did not mean the king felt no grief for its continually dying kin, especially its elites.

“Squeak~”

A piercing shriek, sharp enough to rupture eardrums, split the air. The Bat King, hidden in the rear, could hold back no longer. It unleashed its innate sonic attack against the Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger, issuing a clear challenge. Even the speed of the low-tier bats was remarkable; the Bat King, their ruler, flew with lightning speed, leaving only a faint golden afterimage.

The mightily imposing Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger was caught off guard, struck by a powerful sound wave that momentarily stunned it mid-air, leaving it dazed. But immediately following, it erupted in agonizing roars. Several deep gashes, inflicted by massive claws, opened across its beautiful, intricately patterned back. Blood sprayed wildly, and in its agony, the Shadow Tiger plunged into a ferocious counter-rage.

Possessing a trace of divine beast bloodline, the Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger's fighting instincts were formidable. Stung by the pain, it retaliated by spitting a ball of light from its mouth. The Bat King was equally strong; a golden sheen enveloped its body, blocking the violent explosion of the light ball. Though sent flying backward, the Shadow Tiger gained no easy advantage. It hovered, baring its teeth and glaring viciously at the tiger.

The Shadow Tiger had accompanied Lei Dong for a long time, experiencing countless battles, large and small. Against a mongrel beast lacking noble lineage, it certainly would not yield. With fierce roars, it stared with brutal intensity at the Bat King. Due to its robust physique, the claw marks on its back were already beginning to seal, and the bleeding had stopped.

A wounded beast is most dangerous, and the Shadow Tiger was the king among tigers. Its eyes now held a savage and cruel light. Only the beast soul of that golden, dead bat could adequately compensate for the damage it had sustained. Furthermore, with its proud nature, feeling it was gradually falling behind its master's pace and no longer deserving of being the main force, it instinctively yearned for a glorious battle to once again capture its master’s attention and favor.

The Bat King did not appear weak either; its body radiated a faint gold, and when its wings were fully spread, they spanned nearly ten feet, displaying equal ferocity and dominance.

After a tense moment of mutual challenge and appraisal, the two powerful demonic beasts lunged forward simultaneously, clashing in a brutal entanglement. The Bat King’s sharp claws carried potent flames and it excelled at unpredictable sonic attacks, moving with terrifying swiftness.

But the Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger, blessed with a divine beast bloodline, possessed exceptional combat talent, generally surpassing demonic beasts of the same rank. Once locked in ferocious combat, neither side seemed to gain a clear advantage for a time. However, the surrounding bats and ghosts suffered terribly, incurring heavy casualties from the residual shockwaves.

In mere moments, through the most primal and direct form of conflict, both the Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger and the Bat King were covered in wounds. The normally sleek, mirror-like coat of the fierce Shadow Tiger was utterly disheveled, its entire body marred by injuries resembling lightning strikes.

The Bat King fared even worse: a massive claw mark on its abdomen had pierced deep to the bone, its viscera nearly spilling out. One wing was nearly broken, robbing it of its swift flight capability.

Having fought for only a few dozen breaths, the ferocious Bat King realized this reckless, fighting-mad tiger was too formidable. Continuing the fight risked losing its life, and the instinct to retreat surfaced.

But the Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger, desperate to prove itself before Lei Dong, would not relent. It fought with desperate ferocity, forcing the Bat King into a humiliating retreat. Finally, enduring the support strikes from seven or eight Foundation Establishment bats, the Shadow Tiger bit clean through the Bat King's neck, ripped out its beast soul, and savagely devoured it.

It let out a proud roar that scattered the seven or eight supporting Foundation Establishment bats, then trotted back to Lei Dong, carrying the corpse of the Bat King, whining softly as if seeking praise. It licked Lei Dong’s face affectionately with its large tongue.

“Good boy, why did you have to push yourself so hard?” Lei Dong sighed, gently stroking the wounds across its body with concern. During the one-on-one duel, the Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger had clearly communicated its desire not to receive aid from its master, which was why Lei Dong refrained from intervening from start to finish. Otherwise, even risking a worsening of his own injuries, Lei Dong could have reinforced it with Netherworld Ghost Qi, making the fight less strenuous.

“Aww~” The Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger let out a proud roar, gazing at Lei Dong with a pleading look.

“Good child.” A pang of unexpected pain and guilt struck Lei Dong’s heart. First, he retrieved several healing elixirs for it to swallow. Then, stroking its head, he said solemnly, “Alright, I promise you, I will no longer neglect you. You are my indispensable partner.” Over the years, constrained by the tiger's innate talent, breaking through the shackles of its bloodline to reach the Nascent Soul stage had proven nearly impossible. Because of this, lacking a solution to upgrade the Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger's bloodline, Lei Dong had, to some extent, overlooked it. In major battles, it was usually kept out of the fray. Lei Dong had even considered finding a demonic beast with a purer divine beast bloodline to replace the Shadow Tiger.

This had caused the deeply connected Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger, whose feelings often mirrored Lei Dong's, a profound sense of despondency. Hence, it sought to use this battle to demonstrate its value to its master.

In truth, Lei Dong’s affection for the Shadow Tiger was equally deep. After so many years fighting side-by-side and living together, the tiger had rendered countless meritorious services and saved his life countless times. Even the most stone-hearted person would feel a pang of heartache for it.

Indeed, Lei Dong’s words made the Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger ecstatic. It roared happily, rubbing its blockish head against Lei Dong’s body in pure joy and appeasement.

“Good, good! I swear, I will spend whatever resources necessary to forcibly raise you to the Nascent Soul realm,” Lei Dong said, unable to help but smile at its demeanor.