Inside the small inn courtyard in Stone Spring Town, the dim lamplight cast long, weary shadows of three figures. When Yu Yuanchen, Tang Chen, and Qian Daoliu returned, supporting one another, their disheveled and battered appearance gave the innkeeper quite a scare. Had it not been for their extraordinary bearing and generous tipping, the innkeeper would have almost mistaken them for a group of desperados.
Back in Yu Yuanchen's room, the three of them relaxed almost simultaneously. Tang Chen collapsed directly onto a chair, baring his teeth as he hissed in pain. Although the scorch marks and sword wounds on his body were not deep, they were numerous. In particular, the internal organ tremors from resisting Qian Daoliu's Holy Light Judgment and Yu Yuanchen's Lightning Pool Burial Annihilation, along with the final wound from being pierced by the Thunder Dragon Shatters Void, all required time to heal.
Qian Daoliu was in slightly better condition, but his Soul Power was exhausted and his spirit was drained. The area at the root of his wings, where Tang Chen had struck him with a stone, still throbbed with pain, and the Danzhong Acupoint on his chest, which had been struck by Yu Yuanchen's elbow, felt congested. This drained the color from his peerlessly handsome face, leaving him looking rather weak.
Yu Yuanchen was the one among the three who had consumed the most and suffered the most "varied" injuries. His Soul Power was completely dried up, and the sharp, stabbing pains from overdrawing his Spiritual Power had yet to subside. The strain on his meridians from forcibly compressing and releasing the Lightning Pool Burial Annihilation, combined with the backlash from his domain and the hidden injuries from multiple collisions, made his body feel as if it were falling apart; even lifting a finger felt like a monumental effort.
"Damn it... that was intense..." Tang Chen panted, tugging at his tattered clothes to reveal the bruised and battered skin beneath. "Brother Qian, that Holy Light Judgment of yours nearly shifted my internal organs! And Brother Yuanchen, what was that lightning pool that erupted from the ground? That was too underhanded! My tongue is still numb and won't listen to me."
Qian Daoliu leaned elegantly against the back of his chair, maintaining his basic decorum even in his disheveled state. He gave a faint smile at these words. "Brother Tang's Clear Sky Formation was also quite ingenious. If not for that stone you threw, I wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state." Qian Daoliu looked at Tang Chen with a faint glint in his eyes. "As for Brother Yuanchen's lightning pool... it was truly impressive. To transform the power of a domain in such a way is a stroke of genius, and the power was indeed terrifying." He looked toward Yu Yuanchen, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration and curiosity.
Yu Yuanchen managed a weak smile, his voice raspy. "You two brothers flatter me; it was merely a desperate move. Brother Tang's power is peerless and fierce. If not for that final moment... cough, cough." He paused, glancing at Tang Chen, and recalled that precise and ruthless stone throw, which made him chuckle. "If not for Brother Tang's quick wit, I likely would have been defeated by Brother Qian's sword. Brother Qian's control over his domain and his grasp of the battle situation have also benefited me greatly."
The three looked at each other, and recalling the dramatic conclusion, they couldn't help but laugh. However, the laughter aggravated their injuries, instantly turning the room into a chorus of wincing and gasping.
After the jokes, it was time for business. Knowing their current state was dire, the three dared not be negligent. They braced their spirits, took out the healing pills they carried, and began to regulate their breath.
Yu Yuanchen swallowed a Dragon Blood Returning Yuan Pill, a family secret recipe. A warm, gentle current immediately dissolved, nourishing his parched meridians and damaged internal organs. He carefully guided the faint trace of new Soul Power within him, circulating it slowly while using his Spiritual Power to inspect his Sea of Consciousness, which had grown dim from over-expenditure. The Purple Gold Scale on his chest grew slightly warm, emitting a soft and pure dragon aura that complemented the medicinal power, accelerating the recovery of his Bloodline Power and the healing of his physical body. He discovered that after this extreme battle, his meager control over the Thunder God Power seemed more fluid. Although the total amount had not increased, it circulated more harmoniously, with a higher degree of compatibility with his Soul Power and Bloodline Power.
Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu also swallowed their respective secret medicines and began to heal.
For a time, the room fell into silence, save for the long, steady breathing of the three and the faint energy fluctuations caused by the circulation of their Soul Power.
This meditation lasted for an entire day and night.
By noon the next day, the three woke up one after another from their deep cultivation. Although it would take time to fully recover, their surface injuries had basically stabilized, and they had regained about thirty to forty percent of their Soul Power. At the very least, they could move without hindrance, and their complexions were much more ruddy.
The inn waiter brought a sumptuous meal, which the three devoured like a whirlwind. After filling their stomachs, their spirits were significantly boosted.
"Satisfying! Even though we didn't manage to determine a winner, that fight was truly satisfying!" Tang Chen slapped the table, his voice booming, clearly in a great mood. "It's been a long time since I've fought with such abandon! You two really didn't disappoint me!"
Qian Daoliu elegantly wiped the corner of his mouth and smiled. "To have fought with all my might against Brother Tang and Brother Yuanchen is an honor for me as well. The gains from this battle far exceed months of ordinary hard training." He looked at Yu Yuanchen. "Especially Brother Yuanchen's application of soul skills and the development of your domain; it was an eye-opener. That piercing power of your 'Thunder Dragon Shatters Void' doesn't seem like a simple soul skill; it seems to have incorporated your spiritual will?"
Yu Yuanchen inwardly praised Qian Daoliu's sharp eye and nodded in admission. "Brother Qian has keen insight. This move was inspired by my fourth soul skill. I attempted to highly condense my Spiritual Power and integrate it into the thunder to achieve a armor-piercing effect. There are still many shortcomings."
"This is a self-created soul skill?" Tang Chen's eyes widened, and he clicked his tongue in wonder. "Incredible! I'm still trying to figure out how to make my Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer more fluid! Brother Yuanchen, you're only a Soul King and you're already creating your own soul skills? And such a tricky one at that!" Although he was straightforward by nature, he understood the difficulty and significance of self-created soul skills, and he looked at Yu Yuanchen with newfound respect.
Qian Daoliu was also moved. Self-created soul skills were often more compatible with the Soul Master themselves and held immense growth potential. That Yu Yuanchen could create such a powerful skill at the level of a Soul King was truly shocking in terms of talent and comprehension.
The three decided to use this battle as a starting point to exchange their cultivation insights. They cast aside sectarian biases and discussed only the Martial Way and the principles of soul power.
Tang Chen shared his understanding of power control: how to transform the weight of the Clear Sky Hammer into unstoppable kinetic energy, how to contain immense explosive power within the simplest of moves, and a few mysteries of his "Clear Sky Formation"—a preliminary application of gravity and soul power fields. While not a complete domain, it already had a prototype and could produce miraculous effects at the right timing.
Qian Daoliu elaborated on the characteristics of the Angel Domain: how to use sacred aura to purify negative states and suppress opponents, how to use the power of light for judgment and protection, and his unique insights into combining flight soul skills with close-quarters sword techniques. His combat method was elegant, efficient, and filled with wisdom and calculation.
Yu Yuanchen also candidly shared some of his insights into the "Thunder God Power," how he attempted to integrate Spiritual Power into the power of thunder, and the two directions he was developing for his "Purple Lightning Domain"—control and explosion. He also spoke of some techniques and the bottlenecks he had encountered.
The three were all top-tier geniuses of their generation, and the collision of their thoughts often sparked amazing insights. Many points that had puzzled them during their daily practice were suddenly clarified by a few words or a different perspective from the others. They argued until their faces were red, fell into deep contemplation, and then burst into laughter. This exchange was no less beneficial to the three than the intense battle they had just fought.
Time flew by in their heated discussions, and in the blink of an eye, three more days passed. Their injuries were mostly healed, and their Soul Power had basically recovered.
On the evening of that day, the three gathered in the courtyard again, but the atmosphere was more solemn than before.
"Two brothers," Tang Chen spoke first, his voice as straightforward as ever, yet tinged with a hint of rare sentiment. "Meeting the two of you on this trip to the Savage Beast Hills is my luck! The fighting was satisfying, and the conversation was just as satisfying! However, all good things must come to an end. I have been away from home for a long time, and there are matters in my sect that need to be handled. It is time for me to return."
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, a hint of melancholy in his golden eyes, which quickly transformed into a gentle smile. "Brother Tang is right. This training has been very fruitful, and it requires time to settle. I also have duties at the Martial Soul Hall that cannot be neglected for long."
Yu Yuanchen understood that this accidental meeting and partnership would eventually come to an end. He had also gained a great deal; not only had his strength improved, but more importantly, he had gained two close friends and rivals to whom he could entrust his back. He cupped his hands and said, "It has been my fortune to meet and befriend you two brothers. My family also has matters to attend to, and I must continue my own path of training."
The three looked at each other, everything understood without words.
Tang Chen suddenly grinned, the fighting spirit in his eyes reigniting. "Just parting like this is too boring! How about we make a pact?"
Qian Daoliu raised an eyebrow. "What is your suggestion, Brother Tang?"
"Five years!" Tang Chen stretched out his fan-like hand, his five fingers spread wide. "Let's set a five-year term! Five years from now, no matter where we are or what our cultivation levels are, we will find a place to have another satisfying fight! Let's see who has made the most progress in these five years! How about it?"
A gleam of light flashed in Yu Yuanchen's eyes, and he responded without hesitation. "Agreed! The Five Year Agreement, I, Yu Yuanchen, will definitely attend!"
Qian Daoliu also smiled and nodded, his tone carrying an unquestionable confidence. "How could I miss such a grand event? Five years from now, I will certainly seek to learn from your more advanced techniques."
"Haha! Then it's settled!" Tang Chen was overjoyed and extended his fist. Yu Yuanchen and Qian Daoliu smiled at each other and extended their fists as well. Three fists, representing the Hidden Dragon, the Clear Sky, and the Angel, collided heavily in the air!
A simple agreement, yet it carried the beliefs and friendship of three young geniuses.
The next morning, outside Stone Spring Town, the three cupped their hands in farewell.
Tang Chen, carrying his restored Clear Sky Hammer, strode away toward the northeast, his back view heroic and his voice like a booming bell. "Two brothers, take care! See you in five years!"
Qian Daoliu spread his six wings, which radiated a sacred glow in the morning light. He nodded slightly to Yu Yuanchen. "Brother Yuanchen, take care. I look forward to seeing your thunder with even greater power in five years." With that, he flapped his wings, turned into a streak of golden light, and soared into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.
Yu Yuanchen stood where he was, watching the direction in which the two had departed, his heart filled with emotion. These few months of experience were more exciting than the previous ten-plus years of his life. He tightened his plain gray martial attire, adjusted his bamboo hat, turned around, and chose a different path. With steady steps, he once again embarked on his solitary journey of training.
Stone Spring Town returned to its former tranquility, as if nothing had ever happened. But no one knew that here, three future powerhouses who would stand at the pinnacle of the continent had made a Five Year Agreement that would shake the era.
The Hidden Dragon continued to hide its tracks, sharpening its claws; the Clear Sky returned to its mountain gate, tempering its edge; the Angel soared through the sky, spreading sacred light.
Their paths had intersected and then temporarily separated, only to burst forth with even more dazzling brilliance at some point in the future.
Yu Yuanchen's figure drifted further and further away, merging into the vast land. His legend had only just begun. And the wind and clouds of the continent were about to change quietly because of these three young men who had parted ways, and the forces behind them.
───────────────
Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan