On the Rocky Beach, the scent of blood and charred flesh mingled, permeating the air. Three cornered Wolf Bandit Leaders stood back-to-back, their dark-gold fur matted with blood and dust. Their heavy breathing sounded like broken bellows, and their scarlet eyes were a tangle of violence, fear, and a final shred of madness.
Surrounding them, Yu Yuanchen, Tang Chen, and Qian Daoliu stood in a triangular formation. Though their auras fluctuated slightly from the intense battle, their gazes remained as sharp as ever, locked firmly onto their respective prey.
"Yu Yuanchen... what a great name!" Tang Chen laughed heartily, pointing his Clear Sky Hammer at the Wolf Bandit Leader opposite him, whose chest had been smashed into a crater by his blow. "Brother Yuanchen, your Soul Ring configuration is truly terrifying! It seems the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family has produced another true dragon!"
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, light swirling within his golden eyes, carrying a hint of scrutiny and approval. "Brother Yu's strength is astonishing. To be able to suppress a Soul Emperor-level Wolf Bandit head-on while at the Soul King realm is truly admirable." His tone was calm, yet carried an inherent air of nobility.
"You both flatter me." Yu Yuanchen's tone was calm, though his gaze never left the Wolf Bandit Leader he was engaging—the one most proficient in speed. "It is merely relying on the advantages of my Martial Soul and Soul Rings. The priority now is to eliminate these three scourges to avoid any further complications."
"My thoughts exactly!" Tang Chen's battle intent surged, his Fifth Soul Ring suddenly lighting up, its deep black radiance seemingly capable of swallowing even light itself. "Fifth Soul Skill, Earthquake Mountain!"
He and his Clear Sky Hammer seemed to merge into one, transforming into a streak of black light that tore through the sky. Carrying an unstoppable, heaven-shattering will, he crashed violently into his opponent! The Wolf Bandit Leader let out a desperate roar, condensing all its remaining evil power into its claws in an attempt to block.
"BOOM--!"
It was like a meteor striking the earth! The black hammer light instantly swallowed the Wolf Bandit Leader's figure, the furious power blasting it directly into a mist of blood; it didn't even have time to finish its scream!
Almost at the same moment Tang Chen moved, Qian Daoliu acted as well. The six wings on his back spread to their limit, his sacred aura climbing to its peak. He held his Angel Sacred Sword high above his head, and his own black Fifth Soul Ring shone with brilliant light!
"Fifth Soul Skill, Holy Light Judgment!"
A massive, highly condensed golden sword, seemingly formed from pure sacred energy, appeared out of thin air. Carrying the supreme majesty of judging all evil in the world, it slashed down toward his opponent! The corrosive storm spewed by the Wolf Bandit Leader melted like snow under the spring sun before the sacred sword. It only had time to let out a short, sharp wail before being cleaved in two by the golden blade, its body rapidly turning to ash within the sacred flames!
The power of the two Soul Emperors' Fifth Soul Skills was displayed without doubt!
At this very moment, the speed-oriented Wolf Bandit Leader facing Yu Yuanchen, seeing its companions die instantly, had its last shred of reason consumed by fear. It turned recklessly, transforming into a dark-gold afterimage, attempting to flee into the depths of the mountains and forests!
"Want to leave?"
Yu Yuanchen's eyes turned cold. He did not use his domain, but instead pushed his state to the limit. His first, third, and fourth Soul Rings flashed simultaneously!
"Wrath of Thunder! Thunder Dragon Claw! Thunder God Power!"
Under the amplification of Wrath of Thunder, and the attribute bonus of the near-Ultimate Thunder provided by his Fifth Soul Ring, he integrated that sliver of "Thunder God Power" as the core driver! His dragon-transformed right arm expanded once more, the purple-gold lightning becoming unprecedentedly intense, and the form of the true "Thunder Dragon Claw" faintly reappeared!
He did not use a long-range attack; instead, he stomped hard, blasting a shallow pit into the ground, and chased after the fleeing Wolf Bandit Leader as if using Instantaneous Movement! His speed was so great that it exceeded the leader's expectations!
"Die!"
As the cold word was spat out, Yu Yuanchen's Thunder Dragon Claw, which had condensed his entire strength, struck first despite being launched later. As if piercing through the void, it grabbed with pinpoint accuracy toward the Wolf Bandit Leader's heart!
The Wolf Bandit Leader sensed the lethal crisis behind it and, in desperation, turned to swing its claws in defense.
"CRACK! SQUELCH--!"
The ear-piercing sound of bone fracture and the sound of a blade entering flesh rang out almost simultaneously!
The indestructible nature of the Thunder Dragon Claw was displayed to the fullest at this moment! The Wolf Bandit Leader's claws, comparable to refined steel, and its solid arm bones were torn apart and shattered as easily as paper before the Thunder Dragon Claw! Following this, the purple-gold claw light pierced through its chest without obstruction, crushing the heart that was still beating frantically!
Furious Lightning Power instantly surged into its body, destroying its internal organs and even its meridians! The Wolf Bandit Leader's massive body stiffened abruptly, the light in its eyes fading rapidly. Carrying endless fear and unwillingness, it collapsed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Yu Yuanchen slowly retracted his dragon claw, the purple-gold lightning gradually receding. His breathing was steady, as if that heaven-shattering strike had not consumed much of his strength at all.
With this, all three Soul Emperor-level Wolf Bandit Leaders had been slain!
Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu watched Yu Yuanchen finish off his opponent cleanly, and a hint of astonishment flashed in their eyes once more. They could feel that the power of Yu Yuanchen's final claw strike had definitely reached the Soul Emperor level, and it was not something an ordinary Soul Emperor could easily withstand. In particular, the artistic conception contained within it, which seemed capable of tearing and shattering everything, was truly startling.
"Great claw technique!" Tang Chen put away his Clear Sky Hammer and walked over, patting Yu Yuanchen's shoulder with such force that Yu Yuanchen raised an eyebrow. "Brother Yuanchen, your strength is, in my opinion, stronger than many Soul Emperors! The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family is truly full of hidden talents!"
Qian Daoliu also descended to the ground, folding his wings and smiling. "Brother Yu's claw just now, the lightning power was condensed to the extreme, nearly reaching the ultimate level, and it possessed a unique destructive artistic conception. I am impressed."
Yu Yuanchen dispersed his Martial Soul, and his five shocking Soul Rings vanished along with it. He shook his head slightly. "You both flatter me; it was merely a full-strength strike. If not for you two pinning down the other two leaders and the large number of wolf bandits, I would not have been able to succeed so easily." His tone was humble, neither arrogant nor servile.
The three of them smiled at each other; after the bloody battle they had just fought side-by-side, a tacit understanding and mutual recognition had already formed between them. Among the strong, it is often easier to be mutually attracted.
"By the way, we haven't formally introduced ourselves." Tang Chen, with his forthright personality, spoke first. "Clear Sky Sect, Tang Chen."
"Martial Soul Hall, Qian Daoliu." Qian Daoliu also stated his name.
Yu Yuanchen understood in his heart; it was indeed them. "Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Yuanchen."
The three future powerhouses who would stand at the pinnacle of the continent had completed their historic first meeting on this blood-stained Rocky Beach.
"This place is not suitable for staying long. The smell of blood is too strong and easily attracts other soul beasts." Qian Daoliu looked at the messy battlefield and reminded them.
Tang Chen and Yu Yuanchen both nodded in agreement. The three of them quickly cleaned up the battlefield, mainly removing the sharpest claws and fangs from the three Wolf Bandit Leaders as trophies and materials. As for the ordinary wolf bandits, they were of little value, so they ignored them.
Afterward, the three of them used their movement techniques to quickly leave the area, finding a quiet forest near a stream to stop and rest.
Lighting a campfire, Tang Chen took out a wineskin and dried meat from his Storage Soul Tool, generously sharing them with Yu Yuanchen and Qian Daoliu. Qian Daoliu did not seem to like drinking, opting for clear water instead. Yu Yuanchen took the wineskin, thanked him, and took a sip. The strong liquor went down his throat, bringing a scorching sensation that dispelled some of his fatigue.
"Is Brother Yu on a solo training trip?" Tang Chen asked curiously while chewing on the dried meat. With the talent and strength Yu Yuanchen had displayed, how could his family feel at ease letting him be out alone?
Yu Yuanchen had already prepared his excuse and said calmly, "Friction between my family and our arch-rivals has intensified recently. To avoid becoming a target, they sent me out to travel, broaden my horizons, and also to lie low for a while." He did not explicitly mention the Black Flame Demon Flood Dragon Family or Long Ye's breakthrough, as these were family secrets.
Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu were both clever people; hearing this, they knew there must be hidden circumstances, but it was not their place to ask further. Qian Daoliu mused, "To be able to force the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family to send out a genius like you to avoid disaster, it seems your opponents are not to be underestimated."
Tang Chen snorted, "Hmph, those goblins and monsters hiding in the shadows only know how to play these dirty tricks! If they have the ability, let them fight a real battle!" He was upright by nature and hated these conspiracies and schemes the most.
Yu Yuanchen smiled without responding, instead asking, "I wonder how you two encountered this group of wolf bandits?"
Qian Daoliu explained, "Brother Tang and I met by chance on the edge of the Savage Beast Hills. After sparring, we heard that there were wolf bandits causing trouble and slaughtering villages nearby, so we joined forces to clear them out. I didn't expect this group of wolf bandits to be so large. If not for Brother Yu arriving in time, I fear we would have had quite a bit of trouble." He spoke tactfully, but all three understood that without Yu Yuanchen's participation, even if they could have won, it would not have been so easy, and they likely would have suffered non-trivial injuries.
"So that's how it is." Yu Yuanchen nodded; it seemed these two had also joined forces out of a sense of justice.
The three chatted for a while longer, exchanging some cultivation insights and their views on the situation on the continent. Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu were quite interested in Yu Yuanchen's Soul Ring configuration, but due to their lack of deep friendship, they did not ask.
Regarding this, Yu Yuanchen intended to release some information. "You two are curious about my Soul Ring configuration, right? Actually, it's no secret; major families basically all know that as long as one's physical fitness is sufficient, Soul Rings under ten thousand years can be absorbed level-crossing. I have been taking medicinal baths since I was young to temper my bones and meridians. My first Soul Ring was an eight-hundred-year ring, and it increased sequentially. Before my fourth ring, the family found a precious medicinal herb to enhance my Spiritual Power so I could withstand a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring," Yu Yuanchen said, half-truthfully.
After all, he did not expect to keep the secret of his Level-Crossing Soul Ring absorption hidden for long. His Soul Ring configuration had long been known to the Long Family, and it was only a matter of time before other factions found out. Rather than letting them speculate whether the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had obtained some supreme treasure or secret technique, it was better to just speak the truth. He did not believe he was the only smart person on the continent; it was simply due to historical limitations that most people had not thought in that direction. With him as an example, combined with the large-scale purchase of body-tempering medicinal herbs for his medicinal baths, someone would eventually figure it out.
As long as the effects of the Whale Rubber were not exposed, it would be fine. Even if someone learned that the Yu Family was purchasing Whale Rubber, he could simply claim it was due to Dragon Nature. Moreover, no one would believe that an individual could absorb a Millennium Second Ring just by exercising; even if such a Genius existed, the ten-thousand-year Fourth Ring remained an insurmountable chasm.
Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu's eyes flashed with understanding and admiration after hearing this, as not everyone possessed the perseverance to begin tempering their bones and muscles from a young age and stick with it. The two returned the favor, each revealing some genuine insights, such as Force Application Techniques, Soul Power Control techniques, and non-foundational secrets recorded by their respective sects.
After the conversation, all three felt they had benefited significantly and felt a sense of mutual appreciation.
"Haha, it is a great pleasure to make the acquaintance of you two today!" Tang Chen said, feeling lighthearted as he raised his wine pouch. "Why don't we travel together for a while? These Savage Beast Hills are vast, and it would be perfect for us to Spar and look out for one another."
Qian Daoliu looked at Yu Yuanchen, clearly sharing the same sentiment. They were both drawn to Yu Yuanchen's strength and character, believing him to be a person worth befriending.
Yu Yuanchen pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement: "That is exactly what I wished for, though I dared not ask." Traveling with these two would allow them to hone each other and improve their strength, while also providing an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of his future rivals and allies; for him, the benefits outweighed the risks. Furthermore, with them around, even if the Long Family discovered his tracks, they would have to think twice before making a move.
Seeing Yu Yuanchen agree, Tang Chen was overjoyed, and a hint of a smile appeared in Qian Daoliu's eyes.
A temporary alliance of three peerless Geniuses was thus initially formed beside the campfire.
The night deepened, and the campfire crackled. After agreeing on a watch rotation, the three began to Regulate Breath and rest.
Yu Yuanchen sat cross-legged to the side, feeling the Soul Power slowly circulating within his body, along with that wisp of Thunder God Power faintly resonating with his Qi and Blood, his heart at peace. He knew that this unexpected encounter might greatly alter the trajectory of his planned Training, but it could also bring unprecedented opportunities.
The road ahead was unknown, but with companions, it no longer seemed so lonely. The Hidden Dragon had left the abyss and finally encountered the Wind and Clouds. The journey through the Savage Beast Hills ahead would surely be even more spectacular.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan