Chapter 34: Returning Home to Hunt a Dragon, Two Soul Bones
After months of stealthy travel, bypassing potential inspections and eyes, Yu Yuanchen finally crossed the border of the Heaven Dou Empire without incident and quietly returned to Dragon City.
When he removed his disguise and stepped through the gates of the familiar and majestic clan mansion, every clansman he encountered cast looks of surprise and awe. More than two years of training and bitter Cultivation had left deep marks upon him.
He still possessed that sword-browed, star-eyed face, but the slight immaturity of the past had completely faded, replaced by a mountain-like steadiness and electric sharpness. Years of unremitting, arduous Cultivation and the thunderous tempering in Thunder Roar Ravine had made his physique far more tall and sturdy than his peers. Beneath his deep blue outfit, his muscle lines were smooth and defined; they were not bulging, but every inch seemed to contain explosive power, like a dormant giant dragon, silent yet exuding a heart-palpitating Aura. His short, neat hair was the signature deep blue of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, but as light played across it, faint blue arcs of electricity danced within the strands, adding a touch of mystery. Most striking was the lock of hair falling across his forehead; it was not blue, but a noble purple-gold, echoing the purple-gold lightning that occasionally flashed in the depths of his eyes, making him appear all the more extraordinary.
"Grandfather, Father, I have returned." Standing in the Clan Chief's study, Yu Yuanchen bowed respectfully to the seated Yu Boxuan and his father, Yu Mingfeng, at his side. His voice was calm, yet it could not hide a trace of emotion at returning home.
"Chener!" Yu Mingfeng took a step forward and firmly patted his son's shoulder, feeling the solid, unyielding touch. His eyes were filled with excitement and relief. "Good! Good! It is good that you have returned! Your Aura is steady and your Soul Power is restrained; it seems you have gained a great deal in these two years!"
Yu Boxuan, sitting in the seat of honor, scanned Yu Yuanchen with a majestic gaze. Especially upon sensing his Soul Power, which had reached the Peak of level 60 with an unfathomably solid Foundation, and the Aura of blood-energy that faintly permeated his body—enough to make even him glance twice—a light of irrepressible surprise erupted in his eyes.
"Good! Worthy of being my, Yu Boxuan's, grandson!" Yu Boxuan stood up abruptly and laughed loudly, the sound shaking the roof tiles. "A Spirit Ancestor at thirteen, a Soul Emperor at eighteen! Looking at the history of the continent, who can compare? Hahaha!"
After some warm greetings and concerned inquiries between Family members, the topic quickly shifted to serious matters.
Yu Boxuan's expression turned solemn, and he said in a deep voice: "Chener, is what you mentioned in your letter about the evolution of your Martial Soul true?" This matter was of great importance and could not be taken lightly.
Yu Yuanchen nodded solemnly: "I dare not speak falsely. Since absorbing the Purple Lightning Dragon Soul Ring, and especially since the Awakening of the 'Thunder God Power', I have indeed felt the Origin of my Martial Soul become more active. My affinity with thunder is far beyond what it was in the past, and it seems that some shackles deep within my Bloodline are loosening. I am eighty percent certain that if I can absorb another top-tier dragon Soul Ring, I will surely undergo a transformation upon reaching level 70!"
He did not disclose the matter of the thunder god position fragments, as that was too shocking. Using his Martial Soul evolution and the 'Thunder God Power' as an explanation was already shocking enough.
Yu Boxuan and Yu Mingfeng exchanged a glance, both seeing the determination in the other's eyes.
"If that is the case, there is no time to lose!" Yu Boxuan made a prompt decision. "That 63,000-year-old pure-blood Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon has already been prepared for you! To avoid any complications, we shall set out immediately for the depths of the Thunder Canyon! Mingfeng, you remain to guard the Family and strictly defend against any unusual movements from the Long Family. Elder Super Douluo is already waiting outside. I will personally go with Super Douluo to act as Protector for Chener while he hunts the Soul Ring!"
Without the slightest hesitation, a moment later, three figures quietly swept out from the depths of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan mansion like three bolts of lightning, heading straight for the Thunder Canyon outside the city. Besides Yu Boxuan and Yu Yuanchen, the other was another pillar of the clan, a level 94 Titled Douluo titled the "Thunder Dragon", Super Douluo! He was an old man with a rustic face, eyes as sharp as an eagle's, and thunder light faintly appearing around his body.
Deep in the Thunder Canyon, where Restrictions were heavy, lay the true core Foundation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. In a hidden valley sealed by a powerful barrier, Yu Yuanchen finally saw his target.
It was a real giant dragon! Over thirty meters long, its body covered in deep blue diamond-shaped scales, each as brilliant as a sapphire, reflecting the omnipresent thunder light in the gorge. Its huge dragon wings were folded behind it, and above its ferocious dragon head, a single horn pointed straight to the sky, wreathed in terrifying, crackling electric snakes. It was bound to a stone platform in the center of the valley by several thick, rune-inscribed lightning chains. Even so, the dragon Aura it exuded was as vast as the sea, violent and majestic, and its golden dragon eyes were filled with defiance and rage. With 63,000 years of cultivation, its strength in this thunderous environment was comparable to an ordinary 70,000-year Soul Beast!
Sensing the intruders' Aura, especially the unmasked pressure of the two Titled Douluos, Yu Boxuan and Super Douluo, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon let out a deafening roar, struggling violently. The chains rattled, and thunder light burst forth!
"Do it!" Yu Boxuan gave a low shout, and together with Super Douluo, he released his Martial Soul.
Tyrant Dragon Douluo Yu Boxuan, a level 96 attack system Titled Douluo, manifested his Martial Soul True Body. A massive Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon shadow, even larger and more terrifying than the imprisoned dragon in the valley, soared into the sky. Its dragon Aura was so mighty that it directly suppressed the roar of the imprisoned dragon!
Thunder Dragon Douluo Super Douluo, a level 94 attack system Titled Douluo, also transformed into a half-dragon form, surrounded by thunder. Although not as overbearing as Yu Boxuan, he was sharp and peerless.
With the two Titled Douluos joining forces to deal with a 60,000-year Soul Beast whose mobility was partially restricted, even if it were a top-tier dragon species, the outcome was already sealed.
The battle was intense but short. The imprisoned dragon fought to the death, spitting out dragon breath thunder storms capable of melting metal and stone, and its dragon claws lashed out, tearing the air. But Yu Boxuan's Tyrant Dragon claw was even more terrifying; every collision caused the imprisoned dragon's scales to shatter, while Super Douluo provided support from the side, with his Thunder Dragon Domain's control and attacks constantly weakening the imprisoned dragon's power.
Yu Yuanchen watched the battle with focused attention and did not intervene. He needed a Soul Beast whose state was weakened to the limit, but whose ferocity and Origin were still intact, so he could deliver the final blow.
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the imprisoned dragon was covered in wounds, its Aura listless, and its struggling strength far less than before. Only the arrogance and madness in its pair of dragon eyes remained undiminished.
"Chener, now!" Yu Boxuan shouted, and together with Super Douluo, he intensified the suppression, pinning the imprisoned dragon firmly to the stone platform.
A sharp light erupted in Yu Yuanchen's eyes, and without hesitation, he unleashed his strongest attack! The Thunder God Power mode was activated instantly, his entire body covered in dragon scale armor, and his claws condensed lightning to the limit. But in the end, he chose the single-target ultimate kill with the strongest penetration — Thunder Dragon Shattering Void!
His figure moved like lightning, his purple-gold dragon claws seeming to pierce through space. Amidst the imprisoned dragon's roar of unwillingness and despair, he accurately pierced under its reverse scale, right into the location of its heart!
The condensed thunder power exploded instantly, destroying its last vestige of life.
The imprisoned dragon's massive body twitched violently a few times before finally collapsing powerlessly, its golden dragon eyes gradually dimming. A deep, incomparably profound Soul Ring—black with hints of blue, and with terrifying blue thunder light flashing at its edges—slowly condensed and emerged from its corpse. Within that Soul Ring, a giant dragon shadow seemed to be roaring, and the energy fluctuation it emitted was vast and pure, far exceeding any Soul Ring Yu Yuanchen had absorbed before!
"Good! Worthy of a 63,000-year pure-blood dragon!" Super Douluo looked at the Soul Ring, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes.
Yu Yuanchen calmed his surging blood-energy, sat cross-legged before the Soul Ring, and began to adjust his state, preparing to face this unprecedented challenge.
Meanwhile, Yu Boxuan and Super Douluo began to process the precious dragon corpse. Every part of a pure-blood Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's corpse was a treasure. However, just as Super Douluo carefully decomposed the dragon's right arm bone with his Soul Power, preparing to collect the dragon marrow that might be contained within, he suddenly let out a sound of surprise.
"Clan Chief, look!"
Yu Boxuan heard the sound and looked over. He saw that in the center of the sturdy dragon right arm bone, a bone about a foot long, carved entirely like blue crystal, with liquid thunder seemingly flowing inside, was emitting a soft yet incomparably pure light! A powerful Soul Power fluctuation and Dragon Clan pressure permeated from it.
"This is... a Soul Bone? And it is a perfectly intact right arm Soul Bone!" A light of surprise erupted in Yu Boxuan's eyes. "And looking at its quality and energy fluctuations, it is definitely a top-tier Soul Bone! This imprisoned dragon actually gestated such a treasure within its body!"
Soul Bones, especially those from top-tier dragon species of the same Origin, are of immeasurable value! Not only can they greatly enhance a Soul Master's strength, but they may also bring powerful Soul Bone skills, and even have a certain nourishing effect on the Martial Soul itself.
Yu Boxuan made a prompt decision: "This object is a perfect match for Chener's attributes, and it should be his! It just so happens that the Family had previously prepared a 70,000-year Thunder Armored Horned Python left arm bone for him, which was obtained some years ago. Its quality is also extraordinary, and although its dragon blood is thin, the thunder power and defensive characteristics it contains should also be of great benefit to Chener. I will give him both of these Soul Bones to absorb together!"
Just as Yu Boxuan and Super Douluo made their decision and placed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon right arm bone, along with the silver-gray, scale-patterned Thunder Armored Horned Python left arm bone that had been taken from the Family treasury and kept in Yu Boxuan's storage soul tool, to the side, waiting for Yu Yuanchen to finish absorbing the Soul Ring—
The Soul Power fluctuations around the seated Yu Yuanchen suddenly became intense. The pitch-black sixth Soul Ring shone brightly, completely merging with him. It was as if a dragon's roar sounded within his body, and his Aura broke through at this moment, stabilizing at the Peak of level 61!
He slowly opened his eyes, purple-gold lightning flowing within them, as if it were real. Then, his gaze naturally fell upon the two Soul Bones beside him that were emitting astonishing energy fluctuations, especially that blue crystal-like dragon right arm bone, which resonated strongly with his Bloodline.
Yu Boxuan looked at his awakened grandson, pointed to the two Soul Bones, and had a smile of relief and anticipation on his face: "Chener, it seems your luck is even better than we imagined. These two Soul Bones are your next lesson."