Chapter 26: The Three Prodigies' Melee (Part 2)
The setting sun was like blood, stretching the shadows of the three figures on the wasteland to great lengths. By this point in the fierce battle, none of the three retained their initial composure. Yu Yuanchen's breathing was heavy and ragged. The Soul Power of his Rank 54 had been massively depleted in such a high-intensity melee. Were it not for the efficient utilization of Soul Power granted by the Thunder God Power and the extra endurance provided by his Qi and blood, he would have collapsed long ago. Tang Chen had gained several new scorch marks and sword wounds on his body. Although the swings of his Clear Sky Hammer remained powerful and fierce, the effortless grace they once held had faded considerably, revealing his fatigue. The glow from Qian Daoliu's six wings had also noticeably dimmed. His pristine white robe was stained with dust and flecks of blood. Maintaining the Angelic Domain was likewise a tremendous burden for him.
Yet, the light in their eyes was brighter and sharper than ever before! They all understood that this chaotic melee was nearing its end. Victory or defeat would be decided within the next few moves!
The one to first break the deadlock was the one who seemed to be at the greatest disadvantage — Yu Yuanchen!
Purple lightning flashed violently in his eyes, as if he had made a firm resolution. Facing Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu, who had once again joined forces to press him (the two having finally re-established a brief, tacit understanding after their prolonged, fruitless assault), he did not dodge or evade. Instead, he actively charged forward to meet them!
"Domain, extreme compression!"
He let out a low shout. The Purple Lightning Domain, which had originally covered a ten-meter radius around him intermittently, suddenly and violently collapsed inward! All of its thunderous power was forcibly compressed onto his draconified right arm! The entire arm instantly swelled, its scales standing on end. The violet-gold electrical radiance became so dense it nearly solidified, emitting a heart-palpitating series of crackling and popping sounds, as if he were clutching a thunderstorm about to erupt! A wave of destructive Aura, far exceeding his own Rank, abruptly spread out!
"Is he going all out?!" Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu both felt a chill in their hearts simultaneously, their forward momentum involuntarily faltering for a moment. They both sensed a lethal threat from Yu Yuanchen's move!
However, Yu Yuanchen's target was not either of them! In the very instant the two were on guard and wary, his right arm, which had concentrated all the power of his Domain, suddenly and viciously smashed down towards the earth beneath his feet!
"Fifth Spirit Ability, Purple Lightning Domain — Thunder Pool Burial Annihilation!"
BOOM——!!!
Centered on the point where his fist struck, countless thick, arm-sized purple lightning serpents instantly burrowed into the ground like living creatures. Immediately after, the earth within a thirty-meter radius violently trembled, bulged, and then erupted with a thunderous roar! It wasn't merely flying earth and stones; endless purple lightning surged forth from underground, as if instantly creating a temporary, boiling swamp of thunder on the surface!
This was precisely another profound application Yu Yuanchen had developed for the Purple Lightning Domain! Instead of using the Domain's power to control space, he transformed it into an extreme, instantaneous explosion, creating an indiscriminate, wide-area attack! Although the consumption was immense and it couldn't be sustained, at this critical juncture deciding victory, it was enough to change the tide of battle!
Caught completely off guard, Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu were instantly swallowed by this raging tide of thunder erupting from beneath their feet!
"Damn it!" Tang Chen roared, pushing his second Soul skills, Clear Sky Body Guard, to its limit. A thick, dark radiance firmly protected him as he withstood the biting and impact of countless lightning serpents. Staggering unsteadily within the thunder pool, he felt his entire body go numb and sting, his Soul Power depleting rapidly.
Qian Daoliu's expression also changed. He urgently beat his six wings, wanting to ascend and escape. However, the eruption of the thunder pool carried a powerful suction and paralyzing force, making his ascent exceptionally difficult. He had no choice but to contract the Angelic Domain close to his body. Holy Light and purple lightning clashed violently, emitting a continuous series of explosive pops. His speed greatly reduced, he could only deploy Angelic Protection to withstand the assault.
This sudden, wide-area explosion successfully ensnared both of them simultaneously, causing effective disruption and depletion!
After unleashing this all-or-nothing strike, Yu Yuanchen's face instantly turned as pale as paper, his Aura plummeting. Clearly, his Soul Power was nearly exhausted. But he stubbornly refused to fall, his gaze locked firmly on the two, searching for one final opportunity.
The thunder pool's eruption lasted only three breaths before rapidly dissipating, but the intended effect had already been achieved.
Tang Chen's Clear Sky Body Guard radiance had dimmed by more than half. He panted like an ox, his movements noticeably sluggish. Although Qian Daoliu, relying on the Angelic Domain and his flight advantage, had suffered lighter damage, his Soul Power consumption was similarly significant, his face pale.
In the very instant the thunder pool vanished, as both men's old strength had just faded and new strength had yet to be born, their focus momentarily relaxing due to the recent explosion—
Yu Yuanchen moved! He squeezed out the last shred of Soul Power from his body, fusing it with that faint wisp of Thunder God Power and his surging Qi and blood. His figure shot forward like a purple bolt of lightning skimming the ground, his target fixed squarely on Tang Chen, who was in relatively worse condition and hadn't yet steadied himself!
He knew this was his only chance! He had to take down one person before Qian Daoliu could react!
"Thunder Dragon Shattering Void!"
It was still that self-created Soul skills with extreme penetrative power, but this time, its might was greatly diminished due to his condition. However, the timing was captured with exquisite precision! The violet-gold Dragon Claw aimed directly at Tang Chen's chest, where his defense had revealed a gap after withstanding the thunder pool!
Tang Chen's pupils contracted sharply. In his haste, he could only bring the Clear Sky Hammer across his chest to block!
"BANG!"
Thunder Dragon Shattering Void slammed against the hammer's body. The penetrating thunder force passed through the hammer and drilled viciously into Tang Chen's body! Tang Chen's entire frame shook violently. He finally couldn't hold back a mouthful of blood, which sprayed out. The force of the impact sent him flying backward, where he crashed heavily to the ground. He struggled twice but found himself momentarily unable to rise! Although not directly defeated, he had clearly lost the ability to continue fighting.
Having succeeded with his strike, Yu Yuanchen himself fell to one knee from exhaustion, breathing heavily and raggedly. Even maintaining his draconified state seemed a struggle.
On the battlefield, only Yu Yuanchen and Qian Daoliu remained standing in an instant, but both were at the end of their strength.
Qian Daoliu looked at the fallen Tang Chen and the clearly exhausted Yu Yuanchen. A flicker of complexity passed through his golden eyes. He hadn't expected Yu Yuanchen to employ such a desperate tactic, forcibly dragging the situation to this point.
"Brother Yuanchen, impressive skill," Qian Daoliu's voice carried a trace of weariness but remained calm. "A pity you no longer have the strength to fight."
Yu Yuanchen raised his head, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and revealed a bitter smile. "Brother Qian has also expended a great deal, hasn't he?" Although powerless to launch another strong attack, the defiance in his eyes remained unyielding.
Qian Daoliu gave a slight nod. "Indeed. But ultimately, I hold a slight advantage." He slowly raised the Angelic Sacred Sword in his hand. Although its radiance was dim, its sacred Aura remained condensed. "One final strike to decide the outcome."
The remaining light wings on his back fluttered gently as his body slowly ascended into the air. Though not as swift as before, it carried a final solemnity and resolve. He poured all his remaining Soul Power, holding nothing back, into the Sacred Sword, its tip aimed at Yu Yuanchen below. He didn't use any Soul skills; this was simply a sword strike condensed from his last vestiges of power and will.
Yu Yuanchen took a deep breath, forcing himself to stand upright. He knew he could no longer avoid this strike, nor did he have enough Soul Power to support another strong defensive Soul skills. All he could rely on was this tempered Physical Body and that sliver of Dragon Clan pride deeply hidden within his Bloodline!
He abandoned all defensive postures. His draconified right arm hung low, but at his fingertips, he secretly gathered the last, almost imperceptible wisp of violet-gold lightning — the final afterglow of the Thunder God Power. He prepared to take the hit head-on and, at the moment of contact, detonate this last bit of power to mount the most desperate counterattack!
The atmosphere solidified to its extreme.
However, just as Qian Daoliu was about to dive down and Yu Yuanchen prepared for a fight to the death—
Another unexpected change occurred!
Tang Chen, who had originally seemed unable to rise, had, unbeknownst to anyone, quietly grasped a fist-sized, hard stone! At the very moment Qian Daoliu's entire focus was locked on Yu Yuanchen, he used his last ounce of strength to hurl the stone with vicious accuracy towards the root of one of the light wings on Qian Daoliu's back!
This throw held no Soul Power fluctuation; it relied purely on Physical Body strength and precise angle, silent yet ruthlessly accurate!
"Whoosh—Thud!"
The stone accurately struck the connecting point at the root of one of Qian Daoliu's light wings, where his defense had dropped to its lowest due to immense depletion. Although it didn't cause serious injury, the sudden sting and disruption threw Qian Daoliu's gathered Aura into disarray. His diving movement suffered a fatal deviation and hesitation!
That split-second difference was all it took!
Brilliant light exploded in Yu Yuanchen's eyes below! This was the opportunity he had been waiting for! The last shred of Thunder God Power he had prepared for a mutual demise instantly changed its trajectory. Instead of attacking Qian Daoliu, he violently channeled it into his legs!
"BOOM!"
Two shallow craters exploded in the ground. Relying on this final burst, Yu Yuanchen's figure shifted horizontally with ghostly speed, narrowly and perilously evading Qian Daoliu's diving strike, which had lost both its accuracy and much of its power due to the interference!
The Angelic Sacred Sword grazed past the hem of Yu Yuanchen's clothes, carving a deep trench into the ground.
Meanwhile, Qian Daoliu, due to this sure-hit strike missing and the disturbance to his wing, staggered, nearly losing his balance and falling.
And in that very moment as he adjusted his posture, a moment of absolute vulnerability where old strength was spent and new strength had yet to form—
A weakened yet unwaveringly determined figure pounced from the side like a leopard! It was Yu Yuanchen! The instant he evaded, borrowing the momentum of his lateral shift, he bodily crashed into Qian Daoliu's embrace! Although his draconified right arm lacked the strength to execute another Thunder Dragon Claw, its hardened elbow, imbued with the last of his Qi and blood power, slammed viciously into the Danzhong acupoint on Qian Daoliu's chest, which had been left wide open from executing his attack!
"Ugh!"
Qian Daoliu grunted, feeling a savage force penetrate his body. Though not fatal, it instantly disrupted his already nearly depleted Soul Power circulation, throwing his Aura into complete disorder! He could no longer maintain flight. His figure swayed, and he fell from the low altitude. Only by propping himself up with his sword did he barely avoid collapsing, but he had clearly also lost the ability to continue fighting.
The battlefield finally fell completely silent.
After delivering that elbow strike, Yu Yuanchen was utterly drained of strength as well, slumping to the ground, unable to even move a finger.
Having thrown the stone, Tang Chen also seemed to have expended his last bit of energy. Lying on the ground, breathing heavily, he looked at the scene before him and couldn't help but let out a hoarse laugh. "Heh... heheh... Never thought... in the end... it would be like this..."
Propped on his sword, Qian Daoliu looked at the slumped Yu Yuanchen and the prone Tang Chen, then felt the emptiness of his Soul Power and the dull pain in his chest. A trace of helpless, bitter smile appeared on his usually elegant and composed face.
The setting sun completely sank below the horizon. The last rays of twilight illuminated this wasteland, plowed as if by a harrow, and the three utterly exhausted, peerless Prodigies lying at its center in various postures, yet all wearing smiles.
There was no true victor. Or perhaps, all three were victors, and all three were also the defeated.
This heart-stopping melee of the three Prodigies finally drew to a close in this manner — almost farcical, yet perfectly reasonable — with all three parties completely drained, their lamps having burned to the end of their oil.
After a long while, Yu Yuanchen was the first to catch his breath. With a raspy laugh, he said, "It seems... the three of us... have fought to a draw..."
Tang Chen chimed in weakly, "A draw... a draw is good... No one lost... haha..."
Qian Daoliu also slowly straightened up. Though disheveled, he still maintained his poise. With a slight smile, he said, "To have been able to fight so freely and intensely with the two of you is my fortune. In this battle, there is no victory or defeat, only satisfaction."
The three looked at each other. Despite being utterly exhausted and wounded, they all saw sincere admiration, recognition, and a trace of mutual respect in each other's eyes.
In this battle, they had poured out their full strength, battling with both wisdom and courage, pushing their own power, will, and even hidden trump cards to the limit. They had not only verified each other's strength but also glimpsed each other's shining points and their own shortcomings in the midst of combat.
The Hidden Dragon's tenacity, the Clear Sky's might, and the Angel's wisdom intertwined and clashed in this melee, leaving an indelible mark.
Night slowly descended, stars beginning to twinkle in the sky's curtain. The three struggled to their feet, supporting each other. Bearing their full load of weariness and gains, they staggered back towards Stone Spring Town under the starlight.
Their story was still long. And this day's melee of the three Prodigies would surely become a vivid, indelible stroke in the legends that would one day resound across the continent.