Chapter 18: Dragon Brilliance Dispels Evil, Traveling Together
On the Rocky Beach, the smell of blood and scorched flesh mixed and permeated the air. Three Wolf Bandit Leaders at the end of their ropes stood back-to-back, their dark gold fur stained with blood and dust. Their heavy breathing sounded like broken bellows, and their crimson eyes were a mess of brutality, fear, and a final sliver of madness.
Surrounding them, Yu Yuanchen, Tang Chen, and Qian Daoliu stood in a triangular formation. Although their breathing fluctuated slightly from the fierce battle, their eyes remained as sharp as ever, locked onto their respective prey.
"Yu Yuanchen... a good name!" Tang Chen laughed heartily, his Clear Sky Hammer pointing from afar at the Wolf Bandit Leader whose chest he had caved in. "Brother Yuanchen, your Soul Ring configuration is truly terrifying! It seems the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has produced another true dragon!"
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, light swirling in his golden eyes with a hint of scrutiny and approval. "Brother Yu's strength is astonishing. To be able to frontally suppress a Soul Emperor-level Wolftaken while only at the Soul King realm is truly admirable." His tone was calm, yet it carried an innate noble air.
"You both overpraise me," Yu Yuanchen said calmly, his gaze never leaving the Wolf Bandit Leader he was fighting, the one most adept at speed. "I am merely relying on the advantages of my Martial Soul and Soul Rings. The priority now is to deal with these three scourges first, lest long nights lead to more trouble."
"Exactly my thoughts!" Tang Chen's Battle Intent surged as his fifth Soul Ring suddenly lit up. The deep black light seemed capable of swallowing even light itself. "Fifth Spirit Ability, Mountain Quake!"
He and the Clear Sky Hammer seemed to merge into one, transforming into a black stream of light that tore through the sky. Carrying an indomitable, sky-shattering will, he slammed violently into his opponent! The Wolf Bandit Leader let out a desperate roar, condensing all its remaining evil power into its claws in an attempt to resist.
Boom—!
It was like a meteor striking the earth! The black hammer light instantly swallowed the Wolf Bandit Leader's figure, and the violent force blasted it directly into a mist of blood, leaving it unable to even finish a scream!
Almost at the same moment Tang Chen moved, Qian Daoliu also acted. The six wings on his back spread to their limit, his holy aura climbing to its Peak. He held the Angelic Sacred Sword high above his head, and his fifth Soul Ring, which was also black, shone with ten thousand beams of light!
"Fifth Spirit Ability, Holy Light Judgment!"
A highly condensed, massive golden light sword—seemingly formed of pure holy energy—appeared out of thin air. Carrying the supreme majesty that judges all evil in the world, it slashed down upon his opponent! The corrosive storm spat out by the Wolf Bandit Leader melted like spring snow before the sacred sword. It only had time to let out a short wail before being split down the middle by the golden light sword, its body rapidly turning to ash in the holy flames!
The power of the two Soul Emperors' Fifth Martial Soul Abilities was displayed without reservation!
At that very moment, the speed-oriented Wolf Bandit Leader facing Yu Yuanchen saw its companions die instantly. The last sliver of its reason was swallowed by fear, and it turned away recklessly, transforming into a dark gold afterimage as it tried to flee deep into the mountain forest!
"Thinking of leaving?"
Yu Yuanchen's eyes turned cold. He did not use his Domain, but instead pushed his state to the limit. His first, third, and fourth Soul Rings flashed simultaneously!
"Wrath of Thunder! Thunder Dragon Claw! Thunder God Power!"
Under the amplification of Wrath of Thunder, and with the attribute boost of nearly Ultimate Lightning brought by his fifth Soul Ring, he integrated that wisp of 'Thunder God Power' as the core drive! His dragonified right arm expanded again, the purple-gold lightning becoming more brilliant than ever before, and the true 'Thunder Dragon Claw' form faintly reappeared!
He didn't use a ranged attack. Instead, he stomped hard, blasting a shallow pit into the ground, and caught up to the fleeing Wolf Bandit Leader like Teleportation! His speed was so fast it even exceeded the leader's expectations!
"Die!"
As the cold word was spat out, Yu Yuanchen's Thunder Dragon Claw, which had condensed his entire strength, arrived first despite starting later. As if piercing through the Void Realm, it accurately gripped the Wolf Bandit Leader's back!
Sensing the fatal crisis from behind, the Wolf Bandit Leader turned in desperation to swing its claws in a block.
Crack! Psh—!
The ear-piercing sound of bone snapping and a sharp blade entering flesh rang out almost simultaneously!
The indestructible nature of the Thunder Dragon Claw was displayed to its fullest at this moment! The Wolf Bandit Leader's claws, which were as tough as fine steel, and its solid arm bones were easily torn and crushed like paper before the Thunder Dragon Claw! Immediately after, the purple-gold claw light pierced through its chest without hindrance, crushing the heart that was still beating wildly!
Violent thunder power instantly surged into its body, destroying its internal organs and Meridians completely! The Wolf Bandit Leader's massive body stiffened suddenly, the light in its eyes fading rapidly. With endless fear and resentment, it fell heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Yu Yuanchen slowly withdrew his dragon claw, the purple-gold lightning gradually receding. His breathing was steady, as if that world-shaking strike just now hadn't cost him much energy.
At this point, the three Soul Emperor-level Wolf Bandit Leaders were all executed!
Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu watched Yu Yuanchen deal with his opponent so cleanly, and a hint of astonishment flashed in their eyes again. They could feel that the power of Yu Yuanchen's final claw strike had definitely reached the Soul Emperor level, and it wasn't even something an ordinary Soul Emperor could easily withstand. Especially the wisp of Concept contained within it that seemed capable of tearing and crushing everything was truly alarming.
"Excellent claw technique!" Tang Chen put away his Clear Sky Hammer and strode over, slapping Yu Yuanchen's shoulder with such force that Yu Yuanchen raised an eyebrow slightly. "Brother Yuanchen, your strength seems greater than many Soul Emperors! The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan truly hides dragons and tigers!"
Qian Daoliu also landed on the ground, his wings retracting. He smiled and said, "Brother Yu's claw just now had thunder power so refined it was nearly ultimate, and it even possessed a unique Concept of Destruction. I am impressed."
Yu Yuanchen dismissed his Martial Soul, and the five shocking Soul Rings vanished along with it. He shook his head slightly. "You both overpraise me; it was just an all-out strike. If you hadn't pinned down the other two leaders and the mass of Wolftaken, I wouldn't have been able to succeed so easily." His tone was humble, neither servile nor overbearing.
The three looked at each other and smiled. After fighting side-by-side just now, a sense of rapport and recognition had already grown between them. The strong are often more easily attracted to one another.
"Right, we haven't officially introduced ourselves yet." Tang Chen, being straightforward, spoke first. "Clear Sky Sect, Tang Chen."
"Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu," Qian Daoliu also gave his name.
Yu Yuanchen knew it in his heart; it really was them. "Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, Yu Yuanchen."
The three powerhouses who would stand at the Peak of the continent in the future completed their historic first meeting on this blood-scented Rocky Beach.
"This place isn't suitable for a long stay. The smell of blood is too strong and will easily attract other Soul Beasts," Qian Daoliu reminded them, looking at the messy battlefield around them.
Tang Chen and Yu Yuanchen both nodded in agreement. The three quickly cleaned up the battlefield, mainly taking the hardest claws and fangs from the three Wolf Bandit Leaders as trophies and Materials. As for the ordinary Wolftaken, they were of little value and were ignored.
Subsequently, the three used their movement techniques and quickly left the area, not stopping to rest until they found a secluded woodland near a stream.
Lighting a bonfire, Tang Chen took out a wineskin and dried meat from his storage soul tool, generously sharing them with Yu Yuanchen and Qian Daoliu. Qian Daoliu seemed to dislike alcohol and only took fresh water. Yu Yuanchen accepted the wineskin, thanked him, and took a sip. The strong liquor went down his throat, bringing a burning sensation that helped dispel some of his fatigue.
"Is Brother Yu traveling alone on this journey?" Tang Chen asked curiously while chewing on meat. With the talent and strength Yu Yuanchen displayed, how could his Family be at ease letting him out alone?
Yu Yuanchen had already prepared his explanation and said calmly, "Friction between my Family and our old enemies has intensified recently. To avoid becoming a target, they sent me out to travel, broaden my horizons, and lie low for a while." He did not explicitly mention the Black Flame Flood Dragon Clan or Long Ye's Breakthrough, as those were Family secrets.
Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu were both smart men; they knew there must be more to it, but it wasn't convenient to ask further. Qian Daoliu mused, "To force the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to send a Genius like you out to hide, it seems the opponent is not to be underestimated."
Tang Chen snorted. "Hmph, those monsters hiding in the shadows only know how to play these dirty tricks! If they have the guts, they should fight a real battle!" His personality was upright, and he hated these schemes and intrigues most.
Yu Yuanchen smiled and didn't respond, instead asking, "I wonder how you two encountered this pack of Wolftaken?"
Qian Daoliu explained, "Brother Tang and I met by chance on the edge of the Savage Beast Hills. After a brief spar, we heard there were Wolftaken causing trouble nearby and slaughtering villages, so we joined forces to clear them out. We didn't expect the scale of this pack to be so large. If Brother Yu hadn't arrived in time, the two of us would likely have had quite a bit of trouble." He spoke tactfully, but all three understood that without Yu Yuanchen's joining, even if they could have won, it wouldn't have been so easy, and they likely would have suffered significant injuries.
"I see." Yu Yuanchen nodded. It seemed these two had also joined forces out of a sense of justice.
The three chatted for a while longer, exchanging some Cultivation insights and views on the continent's situation. Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu were quite interested in Yu Yuanchen's Soul Ring configuration, but refrained from asking due to their shallow acquaintance.
Regarding this, Yu Yuanchen also intended to release some information. "You two must be curious about my Soul Ring configuration. Actually, there's no great secret; the large families basically know. As long as one's physical fitness is sufficient, one can absorb Soul Rings beyond the standard level limits. I have been taking medicinal baths and tempering my bones since I was a child. My first Soul Ring was an eight-hundred-year ring, increasing sequentially. Before the fourth ring, my Family found a precious medicinal herb to improve my Spiritual Power so I could withstand a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring," Yu Yuanchen said, half-truthfully.
After all, he didn't expect to keep the secret of absorbing Soul Rings beyond the level limits for long. His configuration had already been discovered by the Long Family, and it was only a matter of time before other powers found out. Rather than letting them guess if the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect had obtained some supreme treasure or secret method, it was better to just say it. He didn't think he was the only smart person on the continent; it was just that due to historical limitations, most hadn't thought in that direction. With him as an example, plus the massive purchase of Body Refining Materials for medicinal baths, someone would eventually analyze it.
As long as the effects of Whale Glue weren't exposed, it was fine. Even if someone learned the Yu Family was buying Whale Glue, they could just say it was because dragons are naturally lustful. Besides, no one would think an average person could absorb a thousand-year second ring just through exercise; even for a Genius like that, a ten-thousand-year fourth ring is still a difficult chasm to cross.
After hearing this, Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu showed looks of understanding and admiration. After all, the willpower to start tempering one's bones from childhood and persist was not something everyone had. The two reciprocated, each sharing some real knowledge, such as force-exertion techniques, Soul Power control techniques, and non-essential secrets recorded by their respective Sects.
After the conversation, all three felt they had benefited greatly and felt a sense of mutual appreciation.
"Haha, to be able to meet you two today is truly a joy!" Tang Chen was in high Martial Souls and raised his wineskin. "Why don't we travel together for a while? These Savage Beast Hills are vast; we can spar with each other and look out for one another."
Qian Daoliu looked at Yu Yuanchen, clearly having the same intention. They were both attracted by Yu Yuanchen's strength and Heart-Nature, believing him to be a person worth befriending.
Yu Yuanchen pondered for a moment and then nodded in agreement. "It is exactly what I wished for, but I didn't dare ask." Traveling with these two would allow them to temper each other and improve their strength, and also provide an opportunity to deeply understand his future rivals and allies; for him, the benefits outweighed the disadvantages. Moreover, with them around, even if the Long Family discovered his tracks, they would have to think twice before acting.
Seeing Yu Yuanchen agree, Tang Chen was overjoyed, and a hint of a smile appeared in Qian Daoliu's eyes.
The temporary alliance of three peerless geniuses was thus initially forged by the bonfire.
As the night deepened, the bonfire crackled. After agreeing on a watch order, the three of them each began to meditate and rest.
Yu Yuanchen sat cross-legged to the side, feeling the Soul Power slowly circulating within him and the wisp of 'Thunder God Power' faintly resonating with his blood and Qi. His heart was calm. He knew that this chance encounter might greatly change his planned training trajectory, but it might also bring unprecedented opportunities.
The road ahead was unknown, but with companions, it seemed no longer so lonely. A Hidden Dragon Leaves the Abyss and finally encounters the wind and clouds. The upcoming journey through the Savage Beast Hills would surely be even more exciting.