Chapter 17: Three Heroes Fight the Wolves, The First Cry of the Thunder Dragon
Chen Yuan (Yu Yuanchen) pushed his speed to the limit, like a Lightning Falcon flying close to the ground, following the nauseating scent of blood and messy footprints in the air. Fury burned in his chest, but the more it did, the calmer his mind became. His Electric Field Perception expanded fully, like invisible tentacles, capturing every movement ahead.
After chasing for about twenty or thirty li, a relatively open rocky beach came into view, accompanied by deafening roars, the clashing of weapons, and violent energy fluctuations that reached his perception.
He quietly crept behind a giant rock and peered out.
On the rocky beach, a dense mass of Wolftaken appeared—there were nearly five hundred of them! Most of these monsters maintained a half-human, half-wolf form, standing over two meters tall. They were covered in stiff, greenish-gray fur, with protruding fangs and sharp claws glinting with a cold light. Their eyes were filled with bloodlust and madness. They emitted low growls, surging toward the center of the battlefield like a tide.
These ordinary Wolftaken had individual strength roughly equivalent to a human Great Soul Master, but gathered in such massive numbers, the impact they formed was enough to make any Soul Master's scalp tingle.
Among the ordinary Wolftaken, there were also twenty or so that were even more burly, with significantly stronger auras. They stood nearly three meters tall, with knotted muscles and sharper claws and teeth. Cyan-colored wind-attribute Soul Power swirled around them; these were Intermediate Wolftaken, with strength comparable to a Spirit Ancestor!
That wasn't even the most troublesome part. At the rear of the pack, three exceptionally large and ferocious Wolf Bandit Leaders were roaring, directing the pack's attack. They were nearly four meters tall, like three small mountains of flesh, covered in dark cyan fur. Their muscles bulged like granite, their claws were like short daggers, and foul-smelling saliva dripped from their mouths. The Soul Power fluctuations they emitted had actually reached the Soul Emperor level! Moreover, judging by its solidity, they were definitely not mere beginners at that rank.
Three Soul Emperor-level Wolf Bandit Leaders, coordinated with hundreds of Wolftaken, functioned like an efficient killing machine, enough to wear down even a Soul Saint to death!
And at this moment, the ones being besieged by this terrifying pack were two figures moving with great power and sweeping away all obstacles, shining with dazzling light.
One of them was tall and straight, holding a massive black war hammer. The hammer had an ancient design, its head seemingly containing the weight of a World, producing heart-stopping whistles and titanic force with every swing. Every time his hammer fell, it was as if a mountain were collapsing; the violent power crushed the lunging Wolftaken and their weapons into pulp. Even the Intermediate Wolftaken didn't dare face its edge directly. Six Soul Rings pulsed around him—two yellow, two purple, and two black—he was a Rank 62 Soul Emperor! With that heroic face, wild and unrestrained gaze, and the signature Clear Sky Hammer, he was undoubtedly Tang Chen, who was also out on a journey of tempering.
The other person appeared much more elegant and ethereal. Dressed in plain white robes with flying golden hair, his face was as handsome as a Divinity. A pair of pure white wings spread behind his back, shedding fragments of Holy Light feathers. He held a longsword burning with golden flames, his swordsmanship exquisite. Every thrust carried a sacred aura that purified evil, and the golden flames burned the Wolftaken, causing them to howl miserably. He was extremely fast, leaving afterimages in the air, often escaping before the Wolftaken could surround him and leaving behind fatal sword marks. Six Soul Rings also circled him, with the same color configuration as Tang Chen, but his Soul Power fluctuations were deeper, reaching Rank 64! This should be Qian Daoliu, possessor of the Divine Rank Martial Soul, the Seraphim!
Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu, these two powerhouses who would stand at the Peak of the continent in the future, were actually joining forces here to fight the Wolftaken! Yu Yuanchen was quite surprised; he hadn't expected them to know each other so early.
The two possessed incredible combat power and worked together with considerable unspoken understanding. Tang Chen led the offense like a stone fortress, withstanding the most violent frontal impacts with his invincible Clear Sky Hammer; Qian Daoliu used his speed and flight advantage to roam and assassinate, purifying evil and sharing the pressure.
However, there were simply too many Wolftaken, and those three Wolf Bandit Leaders were extremely cunning. They didn't clash head-on with Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu but instead constantly directed the pack to engage in a war of attrition, seizing opportunities to launch sneak attacks. Although Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu were brave, they were already wounded; Tang Chen's robes were torn in several places, seeping blood, and Qian Daoliu's wings were stained with some filth, his speed seemingly slightly affected. Their Soul Power consumption was immense. If this continued, even if they eventually defeated the Wolftaken, they would surely pay a heavy price.
Chen Yuan saw this and made a decision in an instant.
The identities of these two were of no small importance. If he could forge a good bond here, it might be of great benefit in the future. More importantly, this pack of Wolftaken had slaughtered the innocent and deserved to die! For both public and private reasons, he could not stand by and watch.
Since he had decided to act, facing such a formation, there was no point in hiding his Martial Soul and Soul Rings anymore; doing so would only arouse suspicion. As for the true secrets of his Bloodline vitality and the Thunder God Power, he would just use them carefully.
With that thought, Chen Yuan no longer hid. He took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the giant rock!
"Roar—!"
Accompanying a low and majestic dragon roar, brilliant blue-purple electric light suddenly erupted from his body! Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul possession! His stature rose slightly, his muscle lines became more fluid and powerful, and his right arm was instantly covered in deep blue dragon scales. His five fingers turned into sharp claws, and wisps of purple electric snakes roamed between the scales. Even more striking were the five Soul Rings that rose from beneath his feet and circled upward!
Yellow! Purple! Purple! Black! Black!
This Soul Ring configuration, which exceeded the optimal ratio—especially the fourth and fifth deep black ten-thousand-year Soul Rings—instantly attracted all eyes on the battlefield!
That majestic and pure dragon prestige and thunderous aura even temporarily suppressed the bloodthirsty agitation of the Wolftaken pack!
Tang Chen sent several Wolftaken flying with a hammer strike and took a quick glance, a flash of surprise in his eyes: "Good heavens! Which family's monster is this? A ten-thousand-year fourth Soul Ring? And two of them?"
Qian Daoliu swung his sword to deflect a sneak-attacking claw shadow, his golden eyes also showing astonishment: "Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon? Someone from the Heaven Dou Empire's Yu Family? Such talent is unheard of!"
The three Wolf Bandit Leaders let out wary roars. From this newly appeared human, they felt a faint suppression of their Bloodline by a higher-order being, even more so than from the other two!
Chen Yuan didn't waste words; his first and third Soul Rings instantly lit up.
"Wrath of Thunder! Thunder Dragon Claw!"
Under the 100% attack boost of Wrath of Thunder, a massive Thunder Dragon Claw took shape! But this time, the dragon claw was completely different from before! Its color was no longer pure azure, but purple-tinted blue, and the arcs of electricity dancing on the claw tips carried a heart-stopping piercing power and sense of destruction. This was the power that, after merging with the Purple Lightning Dragon Spirit Ring, approached the Ultimate Thunder attribute!
"Boom!"
The massive purple lightning claw, like a thundercloud, slammed directly into the most densely packed area of Wolftaken!
"Awoo—!"
Piteous howls instantly rang out! Over a dozen ordinary Wolftaken were turned directly into charcoal under the thunder claw, and dozens more were affected by the dissipating lightning, falling to the ground in convulsions and instantly losing their combat capability! The power of a single strike was actually this terrifying!
He wasn't finished! Chen Yuan's figure was like lightning as he charged directly into the pack. He didn't deploy the Purple Lightning Domain, which required continuous consumption, but instead quietly infused the Thunder God Power into his Martial Soul Abilities and physical attacks, using it purely as an extremely potent boosting method.
His speed surged abruptly, weaving through the Wolftaken like a ghost. His dragonified right arm used both claws and fists, every attack carrying condensed purple-gold electric flashes (which he carefully controlled to make the color look like a Soul skills effect). Ordinary Wolftaken died upon contact, and even Intermediate Wolftaken could not withstand the power of his single strike! Wherever he passed, it was like a hot knife through butter, forcibly tearing a path through the pack!
"What strong lightning! What overbearing power!" Battle Intent erupted in Tang Chen's eyes as he shouted, "Brother, you've come at the right time! Let's slaughter these beasts together!"
The Clear Sky Hammer in his hand shone brightly, and his fifth Soul Ring lit up. "Fifth Spirit Ability, Mountain Quake!" The giant hammer fell with a shockwave, shattering the bones of several Intermediate Wolftaken trying to surround Chen Yuan.
Qian Daoliu also gave a clear cry, his wings fluttering as countless golden light feathers shot like arrows toward the rear of the pack, providing fire coverage and easing the frontal pressure. At the same time, his voice reached Chen Yuan's ears clearly: "Friend, watch out for those three leaders; they are very cunning!"
The coordination between the three was initially formed in an instant. Tang Chen stayed at the very front, bearing the main pressure; Chen Yuan used his ultimate attack power and speed to weave through and cut the pack, expanding their gains; Qian Daoliu controlled the overall situation, providing long-range support and purifying debuffs.
With the addition of Chen Yuan's fresh strength—especially his overbearing thunder attacks, which had a significant restraining effect on the Wolftaken—the battle situation turned instantly!
Seeing the situation turn sour, the three Wolf Bandit Leaders could no longer hold back. They simultaneously let out a violent roar and turned into three dark cyan afterimages, lunging at the three humans respectively! They also saw that if they didn't deal with these three powerful humans, no matter how many wolves there were, they would just be sent to their deaths.
The Wolf Bandit Leader lunging at Tang Chen directly activated a state similar to a Martial Soul True Body. Its size expanded again, and its claws, carrying sharp glints that seemed to tear space, clashed head-on with the Clear Sky Hammer, producing a loud metallic clang.
The leader lunging at Qian Daoliu spat out a corrosive storm breath, trying to withstand the Angelic Holy Light.
The one lunging at Chen Yuan was clearly the fastest of the three leaders. Its figure was blurred as its claws aimed straight for Chen Yuan's heart from behind, the angle tricky and ruthless.
"Come!" Purple lightning flashed in Chen Yuan's eyes. Without dodging, he turned his dragonified right arm and delivered a Thunder Dragon Claw! He didn't use his Bloodline vitality to fully activate it, but the Thunder Dragon Claw infused with the Thunder God Power was already far more powerful than an ordinary Soul skills!
"Clang!"
Claw met claw, producing a piercing scraping sound! Purple-gold electric light and dark cyan Soul Power clashed violently!
The Wolf Bandit Leader felt an overwhelming force surge toward it. The numbness and tearing sensation on its claws made it howl in pain as it staggered back, its eyes filled with horror. It couldn't understand why a Soul King's physical strength and control over thunder would be so terrifying.
Chen Yuan did not let up. His movement technique unfolded, following like a shadow, as his Thunder Dragon Claw attacked the leader like a storm. His attacks were not only strong and fast but also carried a unique'shattering' effect. Every collision sent subtle thunder shockwaves into the opponent's body, damaging its muscles and bones, and its skin was cracked with scale-like wounds that carried a numbing sensation!
This Wolf Bandit Leader, despite having Soul Emperor-level Soul Power, was beaten back by Chen Yuan's exquisite and violent attacks, reduced to merely defending with no strength to strike back!
On the other side, Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu had also suppressed their respective opponents. Tang Chen's Clear Sky Hammer was heavy and powerful, making his opponent vomit blood repeatedly; Qian Daoliu's Angelic Sacred Sword purified the dark breath, his sword light like a rainbow, leaving charred sword marks on his opponent.
Seeing their leaders suppressed, the pack's offensive immediately became chaotic.
Chen Yuan saw his chance and shouted to Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu, "Gentlemen, clear the minions first!"
Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu understood immediately. Tang Chen forced his opponent back with a heavy blow, then raised the Clear Sky Hammer high as his third Soul Ring lit up. "Third Soul skills, Whirlwind Dance!" The giant hammer carried a terrifying whirlwind, charging into the pack like a meat grinder.
Qian Daoliu folded his wings, his fifth Soul Ring shining brilliantly. "Fifth Spirit Ability, Holy Light Judgment!" A highly concentrated golden pillar of light, filled with sacred purifying power, swept through the densest part of the pack like a divine punishment. Wherever it passed, the Wolftaken melted like snow.
Chen Yuan was even more direct. He temporarily abandoned the Wolf Bandit Leader he was fighting and moved like a swimming dragon, weaving through the pack at high speed. His second Soul skills, Thunderous Fury, released thousands of lightning bolts to numb all the surrounding Wolftaken, and he drove his dragon claws to form claw blades over three feet long, clearing a small area with every swipe.
Under the joint purge of the three, the number of Wolftaken dwindled at a visible rate. Ordinary and Intermediate Wolftaken simply could not withstand the combined attack of these three peerless geniuses, falling in heaps.
The three Wolf Bandit Leaders let out anxious and angry roars, wanting to stop them, but were held fast by their respective opponents.
In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the nearly five hundred Wolftaken were almost completely slaughtered, except for a few who saw the situation early and fled into the forest! The vast rocky beach was strewn with the corpses of Wolftaken, and the air was thick with the mixed scent of char and blood.
Now, only the three scarred and panting Wolf Bandit Leaders remained.
The three humans formed a triangle, surrounding the three leaders in the center.
Tang Chen wiped the blood from his face and grinned, his Battle Intent high: "Satisfying! I didn't expect to meet two such experts in this wilderness! Let's finish off these three beast leaders first, then we can have a good talk!"
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, his golden eyes carrying a hint of admiration as he looked at Chen Yuan: "The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan truly lives up to its reputation. How should I address Your Excellency?"
Chen Yuan dispelled his dragonification, but his Soul Rings still pulsed around him as he spoke calmly: "Yu Yuanchen." He did not hide it; since his Martial Soul and rings were exposed, hiding his name was useless.
After giving his name, his gaze locked onto the three desperate Wolf Bandit Leaders, showing a dangerous glint.