Chapter 31: Border Ambush, Fighting the Soul Saint
Having broken through to Soul Emperor and begun tempering his bones, Yu Yuanchen stayed in Thunder Roar Ravine for another half-month, thoroughly stabilizing his Realm and gaining control over his surging power. Feeling the vast Soul Power and formidable physique within him that far exceeded his past, he knew it was time to leave this treasure land where he had been cultivating in seclusion for two years.
His goal was clear—return to the Family and obtain that 63,000-year-old purebred Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Ring already prepared for him!
In fact, about a month before his Breakthrough, upon sensing that the time was near, he had secretly sent a message back to Dragon City through the Family's secret channels. In the letter, he didn't mention his specific location, only stating that he was about to break through to level 60. He "candidly" revealed that he felt his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul had shown signs of evolution under the stimulation of the "Thunder God Power" and his multiple cross-level Soul Ring absorptions! If he could absorb a top-tier Dragon Clan Soul Beast Soul Ring of sufficient age and perfectly compatible attributes, it would greatly accelerate the evolution process. He had absolute confidence that upon breaking through to level 70, he would complete the ultimate transformation of his Martial Soul!
This news was undoubtedly earth-shattering, joyous news for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Martial Soul evolution meant the sublimation of the Bloodline, meaning the Family might potentially give birth to a supreme powerhouse who surpassed the limits! After receiving the letter, Yu Boxuan was both shocked and delighted. Although he felt what his grandson said was somewhat shocking, he chose to believe it, considering the miracles Yu Yuanchen had created along the way and that mysterious "Thunder God Power." After an emergency discussion, the Family leadership immediately made a decision: activate that long-treasured Foundation—that pure-blooded Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, cultivated and secretly guarded by generations of Family powerhouses in the depths of the Thunder Canyon, with a cultivation base reaching 63,000 years! Using this as Yu Yuanchen's sixth Soul Ring could not be more appropriate!
The Family's reply came through a secret channel. Besides informing him that the Soul Beast was ready, it also mentioned the outside situation. The Black Flame Flood Dragon Clan, the Long Family, had obviously learned through some channel that Yu Yuanchen had gone out for training. On the surface, the friction with the Yu Family had slowed down, seemingly knowing that they couldn't do anything to the Yu Family's Foundation while their top combat power was tied up. But in the shadows, the Long Family had colluded with the Elephant Armored Academy, known for its defense and power, promising them heavy benefits to secretly search for and eliminate Yu Yuanchen! The Long Family was responsible for creating incidents in the dark to distract the Yu Family.
By the time the Yu Family realized the Long Family's true intentions and the Elephant Armored Academy's movements, it was already a step too late. The Elephant Armored Academy's personnel had already been dispatched. Although the Yu Family's collaborator, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, was slightly stronger in overall strength than the Elephant Armored Academy (which currently only had one Titled Douluo consultant—the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School only entered an unprecedentedly powerful period under Ning Fengzhi's leadership; before that, it had at most one Titled Douluo), the two sides were mostly in a vaguely allied state due to mutual interests. The relationship was far from reaching the point of going to all-out, life-and-death war with the Elephant Armored Academy for their sake. The most the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School could do was rely on its influence to increase pressure on the Elephant Armored Academy within the Heaven Dou Empire, ensuring that the Elephant Armored Academy's high-level combatants at the Soul Douluo level and above could not be easily dispatched to avoid triggering uncontrollable consequences. As for the pursuit at the Soul Saint level, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School could not completely prevent it; after all, the continent was vast, and Soul Saint-level Soul Masters already possessed significant mobility.
"Elephant Armored Academy... Huyan Kuang..." A cold glint flashed in Yu Yuanchen's eyes. A Sect with a level 93 Titled Douluo sitting in command was indeed a trouble. A pursuit at the Soul Saint level was already a huge threat to him.
He had to be more careful. After planning several circuitous routes, he chose the most hidden one, intending to silently cross the border between Heaven Dou and Star Luo and sneak back into the Heaven Dou Empire.
However, he still underestimated the Elephant Armored Academy's determination, or rather, the price the Long Family had paid.
Just as he was crossing a relatively sparsely populated hilly area on the border between the two countries, trouble came knocking.
A checkpoint had been set up on the only road ahead. More than a dozen Disciples wearing the Elephant Armored Academy's iconic heavy armor were blocking the road, inspecting passersby. The leader was extremely burly, like a small fortress, his Aura dense and heavy—he was actually a Soul Saint-level powerhouse! The seven Soul Rings at his feet—two yellow, two purple, three black—slowly rotated, the pressure they brought making passing travelers and merchants tremble with fear.
These Elephant Armored Academy Disciples were questioning all passing Soul Masters, from Soul Elder to Soul Emperor. They demanded they state their identity and background, and carefully checked their faces, seemingly comparing them to some portrait.
A passing Soul King was dissatisfied with their attitude and muttered, "The Elephant Armored Academy is so imposing." Immediately, the Soul Saint let out a cold snort, and a majestic Aura pressed down like a mountain. The Soul King's face instantly turned pale, he stumbled back, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, and dared not speak another word.
"A Soul Saint guarding, inspecting from Soul Elder to Soul Emperor... The target is clear; they are coming for me." Yu Yuanchen, hidden in the shadows, thought rapidly. He was currently disguised as a middle-aged man with an ordinary face and an Aura maintained at the level of a newly promoted Soul Emperor, but the other side was checking so carefully that it was hard to guarantee he wouldn't be exposed. Charge through? The other side had a Soul Saint and several Spirit Ancestors and Soul Kings. Once they formed a formation, even if he could win, it would definitely be a pyrrhic victory, and he would immediately expose his tracks, attracting stronger enemies.
In an instant, a plan formed in his mind.
He did not go forward directly but left temporarily. That night, he secretly returned to the original spot and deliberately made a slight noise not far away, then, like a frightened rabbit, his figure flashed, fleeing in panic towards the depths of the dense forest beside the road, deliberately leaking a trace of disorder and a "sneaky" feeling in his Aura.
"Hmm? Who is being sneaky! Stop!" The leading Elephant Armored Academy Soul Saint's eyes were like lightning, immediately locking onto Yu Yuanchen's fleeing back. He did not pursue personally but waved a large hand, "You few, go and capture him for me! Be careful, it might be a big fish!"
"Yes! Elder!" Five Disciples immediately responded and set out. Among them were two Soul Kings and three Spirit Ancestors. Their Soul Rings lit up, and like five heavy chariots, they rumbled, crashing through the trees and chasing after Yu Yuanchen. The Soul Saint remained guarding the checkpoint, obviously believing five Disciples were enough to handle it, while also guarding against a diversionary tactic.
Yu Yuanchen sneered inwardly, controlling his speed to a level where they wouldn't catch up immediately but wouldn't lose track either, leading these five Elephant Armored Academy Disciples to a desolate valley several miles away.
Entering the valley, the terrain was relatively enclosed. Yu Yuanchen suddenly stopped, turned around, the look of panic on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by icy killing intent.
"Run? Why don't you run anymore?" The leading Soul King grinned, surrounding him with the other four in a fan shape. The phantom images of the heavy Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul appeared behind them, powerful force pressing down on the air.
"Since you are in such a hurry to die, I will fulfill your wish." Yu Yuanchen's voice was calm but carried a chilling coldness.
The next moment, he moved! Without any warning, the fifth Soul Ring at his feet instantly lit up, but he didn't expand his Domain. Instead, he used the power of the Domain to instantly generate a large amount of Thunder God Power and compress and explode it, integrating it into himself!
"Thunder God Power mode, activate!"
"Boom!"
Blinding purple-gold lightning erupted from his body! It was no longer simple lightning stimulating cells, but the instant Fusion of Soul Power and his initially tempered Qi and blood power, drawing on that wisp of "Thunder God Power" as the core, forming a violent state of all-around amplification!
His speed, strength, reaction, and Soul Power intensity instantly soared to a terrifying level. Arcs of electricity jumped around his body, and the air even emitted a burnt smell. It was fortunate that his body training had achieved some results; otherwise, this would have destroyed him first.
Even more shocking was that as he activated the Thunder God Power mode, beneath his skin, Qi and blood surged, and an ancient and majestic dragon Aura spread out! Accompanied by a low dragon roar, dark blue dragon scales, each the size of a thumb, with edges flashing with purple-gold luster and a texture like solid metal, rapidly covered his entire body like a tide!
This was not Soul Power scales generated by a dragon transformation secret technique simulated by Soul Power; those scales were more like energy bodies, and although their defense was strong, they lacked real "activity." This was him relying on his Qi and blood power—which had achieved Minor Achievement and possessed extreme activity—combined with the dragon transformation secret technique, to truly stimulate and guide the Dragon Clan Bloodline hidden within his body, manifesting on his body surface—True Dragon Scales! Their defensive power, conductivity to force, and compatibility with himself were far beyond what Soul Power scales could compare to! Like the true body scales of Tangs eldest son in Douluo Dalu III, only Yu Yuanchen's scales had not yet reached that level of strength, but they were fundamentally different. After all, Tangs eldest son only passively obtained them by absorbing external Bloodlines, while Yu Yuanchen actively cultivated them by mining his own!
At the same time, he perfectly integrated the "Thunder Strike Garment" technique—taught by the clan Elder, which involved spreading lightning power over the body surface to form a high-speed vibrating defensive layer—into this Thunder God Power mode and the dragon scale armor. At this moment, with dragon scales covering his body and purple-gold lightning rapidly circulating and vibrating between the scales, he looked like a Dragon God warrior who had walked out of an ancient thunder pool, his Aura overwhelming!
"Not good! Full defense!" The leading Soul King's pupils shrank, feeling the fatal threat, roaring and activating his Soul skills. The heavy Diamond Mammoth phantom solidified, protecting his whole body.
But, it was too late!
Yu Yuanchen's target was never him from the beginning, but those three Spirit Ancestors! Under the terrifying amplification of the Thunder God Power mode, his speed was as fast as Teleportation, leaving only a purple-gold afterimage in place.
"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"
Three slight sounds, like tearing cloth, rang out almost simultaneously. Yu Yuanchen's hands had completely undergone dragon transformation. Not only his right arm, but his left arm was also covered in thicker, sharper purple-gold dragon scales, his five fingers having become hideous dragon claws—after completing the tempering of flesh and blood, his control over his body had greatly increased, and the Thunder Dragon Claw on his left arm had finally been sublimated as expected! Both claws struck out, containing the piercing Concept of "Thunder Dragon Shattering Void," but not fully released; he just concentrated the extremely condensed lightning and power at the tips of his claws.
Those three Spirit Ancestors couldn't even fully release their Martial Soul True Body. Their protective Soul Power was like paper in front of the dragon claws fused with the "Thunder God Power," instantly having their throats or hearts pierced! With shock and disbelief still remaining in their eyes, their bodies softened and fell to the ground.
Killing three Spirit Ancestors in seconds, it happened in the blink of an eye!
"Bastards!" The two Soul Kings' eyes were splitting with rage. They roared and launched their strongest attack Soul skills. The huge mammoth phantom trampled and charged, carrying the momentum to crush everything, thundering toward Yu Yuanchen.
Yu Yuanchen did not dodge or avoid. A cold light flashed in his eyes. He crossed his claws in front of his chest, the dragon scales all over his body shone brightly, and the Thunder Strike Garment vibrated at high speed!
"Boom!"
The full-force strike of the two Soul Kings slammed solidly onto his body! The violent energy exploded, blasting a large pit in the ground.
As the dust settled, Yu Yuanchen's figure stood motionless! Only a few white marks were left on the dragon scale armor, and they recovered rapidly as the lightning flowed. The powerful impact was neutralized layer by layer by his formidable physique, dragon scales, and Thunder Strike Garment. His Qi and blood were only slightly roiling; he was not injured!
"How is this possible?!" The two Soul Kings were horrified. Their joint attack hadn't even broken through his defense?
Just as they were shocked and distracted, Yu Yuanchen moved. His figure flickered, approaching one of the Soul Kings like a ghost, his left claw striking like lightning, aiming straight for his chest. The Soul King blocked in a hurry, but his defense was directly shattered by the terrifying power contained in the dragon claw. His chest was torn open, a huge hole appeared, blood sprayed wildly, and he clearly wouldn't survive.
The last Soul King was terrified, turned around, and wanted to run. How could Yu Yuanchen let him have his way? His right claw swung through the air, and a condensed purple-gold lightning claw light struck first, instantly piercing his heart from behind.
From the sudden attack to all five Elephant Armored Academy Disciples dying, the whole process took less than ten breaths!
Yu Yuanchen dispelled the lightning on his claws, his breathing slightly rapid. The Thunder God Power mode consumed a huge amount of energy, and simultaneously maintaining the dragon scale armor and the Thunder Strike Garment was a dual test for his Soul Power and Qi and blood. But his eyes remained cold, looking toward the entrance of the valley.
Almost at the same time he finished off the last Soul King, a violent rage and terrifying Aura swept in from outside the valley like a volcanic eruption!
"Little beast! Dare to kill my Elephant Armored Academy Disciples, pay with your life!"
That fortress-like figure, carrying monstrous rage, smashed into the valley like a meteorite. It was the Elephant Armored Academy Soul Saint who had been guarding the checkpoint! He ultimately couldn't rest easy and had followed, only to see the scene where all the Disciples under his Sect had been slaughtered.
The vast pressure of the Soul Saint level was like substance, firmly locking onto Yu Yuanchen. The seventh Soul Ring at his feet suddenly lit up—Martial Soul True Body!
A Diamond Mammoth giant elephant phantom, ten meters high and like a mountain, solidified. Its long trunk curled, letting out a deafening roar. Its huge feet lifted, carrying the power to collapse mountains and split the earth, stomping down on Yu Yuanchen's head! The air was compressed into white air waves under this foot!
Facing this full-force strike from the furious Soul Saint, Yu Yuanchen's pupils shrank, but he did not retreat. He took a deep breath, the Soul Power and Qi and blood in his body circulated crazily again, the dragon scale armor and Thunder Strike Garment shone brightly, and on his claws, the purple-gold lightning began to compress and condense to the limit again.
The real hard battle was only just beginning!