Chapter 41: Leaving the City, Ambushed, The Saint Dragon Descends
After deciding to head to the Star Dou Great Forest to find the Thunder Hell Vine, Yu Yuanchen did not set off immediately.
He knew this trip was dangerous, and having an extra trump card would provide an extra layer of security.
The Soul Ring Fusion secret technique that had intrigued him was exactly the power he needed to master at this moment.
He explained to Dean that he needed to go into seclusion for a period of time to digest what he had researched, and Dean naturally agreed, arranging the quietest cultivation room in the academy for him.
For the next half month, Yu Yuanchen immersed his entire mind in the practice of the Soul Ring Fusion secret technique.
He already understood the principles of the secret technique; the key lay in practice.
Using his own powerful Spiritual Power, which far exceeded that of a Soul Emperor, as a guide, he cautiously attempted to channel his Soul Power and communicate with different Soul Rings.
The initial attempts were not smooth.
Each Soul Ring was independent, containing the Origin characteristics and Soul skills rules of different Soul Beasts.
Forcing them to fuse was like trying to mix water and fire, immediately triggering violent conflicts in Soul Power and Spiritual backlash.
If his Spiritual Power had not been sufficiently resilient and his Physical Body strong, he would have been injured long ago.
But he did not give up; he failed time and time again, adjusting each time.
He first chose to start with the Soul Rings that were most closely connected due to his combined use of them—the first Soul Ring, Thunder Dragon Claw, and the third Soul Ring, Wrath of Thunder.
Both originated from Dragon Clan or sub-dragon-type Soul Beasts, and both were related to basic thunder strengthening.
His Spiritual focus was highly concentrated, like the most precise carving knife, etching a bridge for connection on the invisible barrier of the Soul Ring's Origin.
His massive Spiritual Power forcibly constrained the two strands of Soul Power, causing them to slowly approach, make contact, and attempt to merge.
During the process, the Soul Power was restless like a wild horse that had broken free, and tearing pain came from his Meridians, but he did not even frown.
Finally, on the seventh day, accompanied by a low hum, the light of his first and third Soul Rings suddenly merged under his feet, turning into a more brilliant and profound thunder light.
Although it only lasted for less than a breath before dissipating due to a lack of follow-up power, the instantly erupted momentum, which far exceeded the superposition of the two, made a look of pleasant surprise burst forth in Yu Yuanchen's eyes!
"Success! Although it is only a prototype, the direction is correct!"
With this successful experience, subsequent cultivation went much smoother.
He practiced the Fusion of the first and third Soul Rings repeatedly, extending the Fusion time, and began to try incorporating the second Soul Ring as well.
The process was still dangerous, but the demands on his Spiritual Power and control were just within his range of tolerance.
Just as he was continuously practicing the Soul Ring Fusion, with his Spiritual Power and Soul Power resonating highly and deeply digging into his own potential, an unexpected change occurred—
His Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Bloodline, which had become increasingly active and constantly purified due to the Thunder God Power and repeatedly absorbing dragon-type Soul Rings beyond his level, seemed to have been stimulated by something intense and suddenly boiled over!
"Roar—!"
A dragon roar that seemed to come from the ancient primordial era sounded from deep within his Bloodline, shaking his entire Sea of Consciousness until it roared!
Purple-gold light erupted uncontrollably from his body, and the lock of purple-gold hair on his forehead was even more dazzling than the scorching sun!
The blood throughout his body flowed like magma, his bones emitted cracking sounds, and an aura far more ancient, majestic, and closer to the Origin of thunder than ever before, like a sleeping dragon, slowly awakened!
Yu Yuanchen had a flash of inspiration and immediately guided this surging Bloodline Power.
He felt that his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was undergoing some kind of essential leap under the scouring of this power!
The deep blue dragon scale phantom became more solid, and fine, ancient purple-gold runes began to appear in the texture.
Within the dragon might, in addition to dominance, it added a touch of sanctity and judgment!
"Is this... a further Awakening of the Bloodline? No, it is a short-lived evolution!" Yu Yuanchen realized in his heart.
He was already only one step away from the true top-tier Dragon Clan—the Thunder Saint Dragon (assuming in this setting, the Thunder Saint Dragon is one of the evolutionary directions of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon).
At this moment, stimulated by the potential triggered by the Soul Ring Fusion secret technique and the deep resonance between his Spiritual Power and Bloodline, he had actually briefly broken through that boundary!
With a thought, he actively stimulated this boiling Bloodline Power!
"Hum!"
A more brilliant purple-gold light completely enveloped him, and he himself seemed to have transformed into a small source of thunder!
Behind him, a massive dragon phantom, covered in purple-gold rune scales, with eyes as majestic as a Divinity, and entwined with substantial purple-gold electric snakes, appeared proudly!
Although it was still somewhat illusory, the terrifying pressure had already far exceeded the previous Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!
Thunder Saint Dragon! Although it was only a temporary and incomplete evolutionary form, its status and power had already undergone a qualitative leap!
However, maintaining this state came at a huge cost.
Yu Yuanchen could clearly feel that his Spiritual Power, Soul Power, and blood energy were all being consumed at a terrifying speed!
With his current Peak level sixty-six cultivation, in his prime state, he could only last for ten minutes at most!
Once the time limit was exceeded, he would exit this state due to power exhaustion, and might even fall into weakness.
Forcibly maintaining it would even damage his Bloodline Foundation.
What surprised him even more was that in this Thunder Saint Dragon state, he had a flash of inspiration and attempted to perform Soul Ring Fusion on his first five Soul Rings!
Under the command of the higher-status Martial Soul after evolution, and under the precise control of his surging Spiritual Power, the first five Soul Rings merged as smoothly as water and milk, turning into a huge, deep black Soul Ring with purple-gold halos flashing on its edges!
An indescribable, terrifying power that seemed capable of triggering the thunder of heaven and earth condensed and sublimated within it!
A brand new piece of information about a Soul skills, originating from his Bloodline Origin, naturally emerged in his mind—Bloodline Soul skills: Thunder Saint Dragon Descends!
"With this trump card, I can go to the Star Dou Great Forest!" Yu Yuanchen dispersed his Bloodline Power, feeling the slight weakness in his body, but his eyes were full of confidence.
After leaving seclusion, he politely declined Dean's kind offer to send people to accompany him, saying only that he wanted to travel alone to verify what he had learned.
Dean knew his strength was extraordinary and that he needed to hide his identity, so he did not force it.
Yu Yuanchen quietly left Elemental City and headed in the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest.
However, he did not know that a pair of eyes hidden in the dark had already set their sights on him.
The spies planted by the Elephant Armored Academy in Rock Academy had noticed the unusual resource mobilization and frequent contact between the top brass of the five major academies during the research project.
Although they could not find out the specific content of the "nature change" (the Dean's line of Rock Academy and the other four academies guarded this strictly), they instinctively felt that this matter was of vital importance.
After many inquiries, they spared no cost and secretly bought off a teacher who worked at another academy but was only a marginal figure who knew part of the inside story.
From that teacher, they learned that an important project was led by a Thunder Academy lecturer named "Yu Chen," and this person seemed to have a close relationship with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect!
"Yu Chen? Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect?" The Elder of the Elephant Armored Academy in charge of this matter immediately associated it with the commission the Sect had secretly accepted from the Black Flame Flood Dragon Clan—to kill the peerless Genius of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Yuanchen!
Although there was a one-character difference in the name, and intelligence indicated that Yu Yuanchen should be a Soul Emperor, while this Yu Chen was a Soul King, the age and the Sect of Origin were so consistent that they could not help but be suspicious!
"Better to kill by mistake than to let go! Send someone to keep a close eye on him.
Once he leaves Elemental City, find an opportunity to 'invite' him back!
If it really is Yu Yuanchen, it will be a great achievement!
If not, capturing a young Genius from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect can also be exchanged for many benefits!" The top brass of the Elephant Armored Academy issued the order.
Thus, not long after Yu Yuanchen left Elemental City, two Elephant Armored Academy Soul Saints with aura as thick as a mountain, wearing plain clothes but unable to hide their fierce temperament, followed him like ghosts without a sound.
After leaving Elemental City for over a hundred miles and entering a sparsely populated hilly area, Yu Yuanchen's powerful Spiritual Power keenly sensed the two earth-attribute Soul Power fluctuations behind him that were like bone-attached gangrene, deliberately restrained but still heavy.
"Two Soul Saints... earth-attribute... Elephant Armored Academy?" Yu Yuanchen's thoughts raced, and he immediately guessed the identity of the other party, and couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart, "They really are like ghosts, always conflicting with me."
He remained calm, did not speed up to escape, but deliberately slowed down, as if enjoying the scenery along the way, while actually secretly observing the tracking habits and aura of the trackers.
At the same time, he was also looking for a suitable battlefield.
Finally, when a barren valley with jagged rocks and relatively open but sufficiently hidden terrain appeared ahead, Yu Yuanchen turned his body and swept into the valley.
The two Elephant Armored Academy Soul Saints looked at each other and followed without hesitation.
In their view, a Soul King, even with some methods, could not make any waves in front of the two of them, who were Soul Saints.
Entering the barren valley, Yu Yuanchen stopped, turned around slowly, looked at the two people who followed closely, and said lightly, "The two of you have followed me all the way, may I ask what your instructions are?"
One of the arrogant and particularly tall Soul Saints sneered, "Kid, are you Yu Chen? Come with us obediently to avoid physical suffering!"
The other Soul Saint had a calmer face, his eyes scanning the surroundings sharply, as if confirming whether there was an ambush.
He did not speak, but his aura had already locked onto Yu Yuanchen.
Yu Yuanchen deliberately revealed some "panic" and "forced calmness": "Who are you? Why do you want me to go with you?"
"So much nonsense!" The arrogant Soul Saint was impatient.
His Soul Power erupted, two yellow, two purple, and three black Soul Rings swirled up, and a heavy Diamond Mammoth phantom appeared, ready to take the person directly.
He indeed harbored contempt, believing that dealing with a Soul King was an easy task.
A cold light flashed in Yu Yuanchen's eyes; what he wanted was the other party's carelessness!
Just as the Soul Saint reached out to grab him, his "first and third Soul Rings" suddenly lit up (simulated) under his feet, thunder burst around him, his Swimming Dragon Steps were displayed to the extreme, and his figure moved like a ghost, advancing instead of retreating, instantly getting close!
His right arm dragonized, and the dragon claw, which condensed the "Thunder Dragon Shattering Void" Concept, stabbed straight at the empty space on the opponent's chest exposed by the forward charge without any fancy moves!
This strike was fast! Accurate! Ruthless!
It condensed his Physical Body strength, Soul Power, and a trace of "Thunder God Power," striving to heavily injure or even kill with one blow!
"Careful!" The calm Soul Saint's expression changed, and he spoke to warn, but it was already half a step too late!
The arrogant Soul Saint also did not expect the other party, a "Soul King," to dare to counterattack actively, and the speed and power were so shocking!
In his haste, he only had time to condense his Soul Power on his chest for defense.
"Pfft!"
The dragon claw, containing ultimate penetrating power, although it failed to completely break through the thick Soul Power defense of the Soul Saint level, still tore his clothes and left five deep, charred wounds on his chest that reached the bone!
The violent thunder energy penetrated into his body, causing his blood to churn.
He let out a muffled groan, staggered back, and his face was full of shock, anger, and disbelief!
"You... you are not a Soul King!" He clutched his chest and roared in shock and anger.
The calm Soul Saint also completely confirmed it at this moment, his eyes extremely cold: "With such strength, control over thunder, and this dragonization... you are Yu Yuanchen! That kid from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
With his identity exposed, Yu Yuanchen no longer disguised himself.
He dispersed the simulated Soul Rings, and the powerful aura belonging to a level sixty-six Soul Emperor was released without reservation.
One yellow, two purple, and three black Soul Rings shone brightly under his feet!
"Since you have recognized me, then today, I cannot let you leave!" Yu Yuanchen's tone was grim.
"Arrogant! Even if you are a Soul Emperor, we will capture you today!"
The injured Soul Saint was furious and activated his Martial Soul True Body simultaneously with the calm Soul Saint!
Two Diamond Mammoth phantoms, like small mountains, appeared in the barren valley, and the terrifying pressure crushed toward Yu Yuanchen like a physical force!
The great battle broke out instantly!
Yu Yuanchen drove his Swimming Dragon Steps, Thunder God mode, and Dragon Scale Armor to the extreme.
As his double claws waved, thunder raged, maneuvering with the two Soul Saints.
He fought while retreating, constantly testing the Soul skills characteristics and tacit understanding of the two.
The calm Soul Saint's defense was impeccable, his attacks were heavy, and he had rich combat experience, always able to block Yu Yuanchen's evasion routes.
Although the injured Soul Saint's offensive was slightly slowed by his injury, it was more violent, wishing he could tear Yu Yuanchen to pieces.
Although Yu Yuanchen was temporarily undefeated by virtue of his strange movement techniques and strong Physical Body, and could even counterattack occasionally, leaving marks on the other's heavy defense, it was as difficult as ascending to heaven to kill or heavily injure one of them in a short time.
The opponent's defense was too strong.
Except for "Thunder Dragon Shattering Void," other attacks could not cause fatal threats.
And "Thunder Dragon Shattering Void" consumed a huge amount of energy, and the opponent was now prepared, making it difficult to find an opportunity for a one-hit kill.
The entanglement lasted for about an incense stick's time.
The barren valley was a mess, boulders shattered, and the ground was charred black.
Yu Yuanchen's breathing was slightly rapid, and his Soul Power consumption was not small.
The two Elephant Armored Academy Soul Saints, although they had added some scorch marks, had no major problems, and their offensive became increasingly fierce.
"Can't drag this out! Who knows if they have any backup plans!" A flash of determination crossed Yu Yuanchen's eyes.
He jumped back a distance, took a deep breath, looked at the two pursuing Soul Saints, and his eyes became extremely calm, yet carried a heart-palpitating majesty.
"To be able to force me to use this move, you can consider your deaths worthwhile."
The next moment, an ancient, sacred, terrifying aura that seemed to originate from the Origin of thunder, like a volcano that had been sleeping for ten thousand years, erupted from his body!
Dazzling purple-gold light soared into the sky!
Bloodline stimulated, Thunder Saint Dragon, Descends!
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