After breaking through to the Soul Emperor realm and undergoing the initial tempering of his bones and muscles, Yu Yuanchen remained at Thunderclap Ravine for another half-month to fully stabilize his realm and familiarize himself with his surging power. Feeling the vast Soul Power and formidable physique within him that far exceeded his past self, he knew it was time to leave this treasure trove where he had spent two years in secluded cultivation.
His goal was clear: return to the family and obtain the 63,000-year pure-blooded Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Ring that had long been prepared for him!
In fact, about a month before his breakthrough, when he sensed the timing was approaching, he had already secretly sent a message back to Dragon City through the family's clandestine channels. In the letter, he did not mention his specific location, only stating that he was about to break through to level sixty and "honestly" revealing 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 level-crossing absorptions of Soul Rings! If he could absorb a top-tier dragon-species Soul Ring of sufficient age and perfectly compatible attributes, it would surely greatly accelerate the evolutionary process. He was fully confident that he would complete the ultimate transformation of his Martial Soul upon breaking through to level seventy!
For the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, this news was undoubtedly earth-shattering. Martial Soul evolution meant the sublimation of bloodline, implying that the family might one day give birth to a supreme powerhouse who could transcend the limits! After receiving the letter, Yu Boxuan was both shocked and delighted. Although he felt his grandson's words were somewhat shocking, he chose to believe him, recalling the miracles Yu Yuanchen had created along the way and that mysterious "Thunder God Power." After an emergency consultation, the family high council made an immediate decision: activate the long-treasured foundation—the pure-blooded Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, with a cultivation level as high as 63,000 years, which had been kept in captivity deep within the Thunder Gorge and secretly guarded and nurtured by generations of family powerhouses! Using this as Yu Yuanchen's Sixth Soul Ring could not be more appropriate!
The family's reply came through a secret channel, informing him that the Soul Beast was ready and also mentioning the situation in the outside world. The Long family of the Black Flame Demon Flood Dragon Family had clearly learned through some channel that Yu Yuanchen was out for training. On the surface, the friction with the Yu Family had slowed down, seemingly because they knew they could not shake 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 Sect, known for its defense and strength, promising them heavy rewards to secretly search for and eliminate Yu Yuanchen! The Long family was responsible for creating incidents in the dark to keep the Yu Family's attention occupied.
By the time the Yu Family realized the Long family's true intentions and the movements of the Elephant Armored Sect, it was already a step too late. The Elephant Armored Sect's men had already been dispatched. Although the Yu Family's ally, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, had greater overall strength than the Elephant Armored Sect—which currently only had one Titled Douluo—the two were in a loose alliance primarily due to shared interests. Their relationship had not reached the point of an all-out, life-or-death war against the Elephant Armored Sect. All the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could do was use its influence to increase pressure on the Elephant Armored Sect within the Heaven Dou Empire and ensure that the Elephant Armored Sect's high-level combatants at the Soul Douluo level and above could not easily move, lest it trigger uncontrollable consequences. As for the pursuit by Soul Sages, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could hardly prevent it entirely; after all, the continent was vast, and Soul Sage-level Soul Masters possessed considerable mobility.
"Elephant Armored Sect... 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 problem. A pursuit by Soul Sages was already a massive threat to him.
He had to be even more careful. After planning several circuitous routes, he chose the most concealed one, intending to cross the border between Heaven Dou and Star Luo silently and sneak back into the Heaven Dou Empire.
However, he still underestimated the determination of the Elephant Armored Sect, or rather, the price the Long family had paid.
Just as he was crossing a hilly area on the border between the two countries, where the population was relatively sparse, trouble found him.
On the only road ahead, a checkpoint had been set up. More than a dozen disciples wearing the Elephant Armored Sect's signature heavy armor were blocking the road for inspections. The leader was extremely burly, like a small fortress, with a heavy and condensed aura—he was clearly a Soul Sage-level powerhouse! The seven Soul Rings beneath his feet—two yellow, two purple, and three black—rotated slowly, and the pressure they brought made passing travelers and merchants tremble in fear.
These Elephant Armored Sect disciples were questioning every passing Soul Master, ranging from Soul Elders to Soul Emperors. They demanded they state their identities and origins, and carefully checked their faces, seemingly comparing them against some kind of portrait.
A passing Soul King, dissatisfied with their attitude, muttered, "The Elephant Armored Sect sure is arrogant," and was immediately met with a cold snort from the Soul Sage. A vast aura pressed down like a mountain, causing the Soul King's face to turn deathly pale, stumbling backward with blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, and he dared not say another word.
A Soul Sage guarding the line, checking everyone from Soul Elders to Soul Emperors... The target is clear; they are coming for me. Hidden in the shadows, Yu Yuanchen's thoughts raced. 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 with the other side checking so carefully, it was hard to guarantee he wouldn't be exposed. Force his way through? With one Soul Sage and several Soul Ancestors and Soul Kings, even if he could win, it would be a pyrrhic victory, and he would immediately expose his tracks, drawing even stronger enemies.
In an instant, a plan formed in his mind.
He did not approach directly but left temporarily. That night, he secretly returned to the same spot and deliberately made a slight noise nearby, then, like a startled rabbit, flashed his figure and fled in a panic toward the depths of the dense forest by the road, intentionally leaking a trace of chaotic and "sneaky" aura.
"Hmm? Who is being sneaky! Stop!" The leading Elephant Armored Sect Soul Sage's gaze was like lightning, immediately locking onto Yu Yuanchen's fleeing back. He did not pursue personally but waved a large hand, "You lot, go and take him down! Be careful, it might be a big fish!"
"Yes! Elder!" Five disciples immediately responded, including two Soul Kings and three Soul Ancestors. Their Soul Rings lit up, and like five heavy tanks, they rumbled through the trees, chasing after Yu Yuanchen. The Soul Sage remained at the checkpoint, clearly believing five disciples were enough to handle it, while also guarding against a diversionary tactic.
Yu Yuanchen sneered inwardly, controlling his speed so that they wouldn't catch up immediately but wouldn't lose him either, leading these five Elephant Armored Sect disciples to a desolate valley several miles away.
Entering the valley, the terrain was relatively enclosed. Yu Yuanchen stopped abruptly and turned around. The panicked look on his face vanished instantly, replaced by icy killing intent.
"Run? Why aren't you running anymore?" The leading Soul King sneered, surrounding him in a fan shape with the other four. The phantom of the heavy Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul emerged behind them, and the powerful force pressed against 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, his Fifth Soul Ring lit up instantly, but instead of expanding a domain, he used the power of the domain to instantly generate a large amount of Lightning Power, which he compressed, exploded, and fused into himself!
"Thunder God Mode, activate!"
"BOOM!"
Blinding purple-gold lightning erupted from his body! It was no longer just simple lightning stimulating his cells; it was a violent state of all-around amplification formed by the instant fusion of his Soul Power and his initially tempered Bloodline Power, with that strand of "Thunder God Power" as the core!
His speed, strength, reaction, and Soul Power intensity soared to a terrifying level in an instant. Arcs of electricity jumped around his body, and the air even emitted a burnt smell. It was only because his body tempering had achieved some results that he didn't destroy himself with this sudden surge.
What was even more shocking was that as he activated the Thunder God Mode, his blood surged beneath his skin, and an ancient and majestic Dragon Might permeated the air! Accompanied by a low dragon roar, deep blue dragon scales, each the size of a thumb with edges shimmering in purple-gold luster and a texture like solid metal, covered his main body parts like a tide!
These were not the Soul Power scales generated by the Dragon Transformation Secret Method, which were more energy-based and lacked true "vitality" despite their strong defense. These were the True Dragon Scale Armor, manifested on his skin by using his highly active Bloodline Power—tempered to a small degree—combined with the Dragon Transformation Secret Method to truly stimulate and guide the dragon bloodline hidden within his body! Their defense, conductivity of power, and compatibility with his own body were far beyond those of Soul Power scales. They were like the true physical scales of Tang Da'er in Dou San, though Yu Yuanchen's scales were far from reaching that level of strength yet, their essence was completely different. After all, Tang Da'er only obtained them passively by absorbing foreign bloodlines, while Yu Yuanchen cultivated them actively by digging into his own!
At the same time, he perfectly integrated the "Lightning Strike Robe" technique—taught by the family elders, which involved spreading Lightning Power across the body surface to form a high-speed vibrating defensive layer—into this Thunder God Mode and Dragon Scale Armor. Now, covered in dragon scales with purple-gold lightning rapidly circulating and vibrating between the gaps, he looked like a Dragon God warrior who had walked out of an ancient thunder pool, his momentum heaven-shaking!
"Not good! Full defense!" The leading Soul King's pupils shrank. Feeling the fatal threat, he roared and activated his Soul Skill. The heavy Diamond Mammoth phantom solidified, protecting his whole body.
But it was too late!
Yu Yuanchen's target from the beginning was not him, but the three Soul Ancestors! Under the terrifying amplification of the Thunder God Mode, his speed was as fast as instantaneous movement, leaving only a purple-gold afterimage in place.
"Puff! Puff! Puff!"
Three slight sounds, like cloth tearing, rang out almost simultaneously. Yu Yuanchen's hands had completely transformed into dragon claws; not only his right arm but his left arm was also covered in heavier, sharper purple-gold dragon scales, his five fingers having become ferocious dragon claws. After completing the tempering of his flesh and blood, his control over his body had greatly increased, and the Thunder Dragon Claw on his left arm had finally sublimated as a matter of course! Both claws struck out, containing the piercing artistic conception of "Thunder Dragon Shatters Void," yet he did not release it fully, instead concentrating the extremely condensed lightning and power at the tips of his claws.
The three Soul 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 "Thunder God Power," and their throats or hearts were instantly pierced! With astonishment and disbelief still lingering in their eyes, their bodies slumped to the ground.
Killing three Soul Ancestors in seconds, all in the blink of an eye!
"Bastards!" The two Soul Kings' eyes were bloodshot, and they roared as they launched their strongest attack Soul Skills. The giant mammoth phantom stomped and charged, slamming toward Yu Yuanchen with the momentum to crush everything.
Yu Yuanchen did not dodge or evade. A cold light flashed in his eyes, and he crossed his claws in front of his chest. The dragon scales on his body shone brightly, and the Lightning Strike Robe vibrated at high speed!
"BOOM!"
The full-force strike of the two Soul Kings slammed solidly into his body! The violent energy exploded, blasting a large crater into the ground.
As the dust settled, Yu Yuanchen's figure remained unmoved! Only a few white marks were left on the Dragon Scale Armor, which quickly recovered as the lightning flowed. The powerful impact was neutralized layer by layer by his formidable physique, dragon scales, and lightning robe. His blood only surged slightly, and he was not injured!
"How is this possible?!" The two Soul Kings were horrified. Their combined strike hadn't even broken his defense?
The moment they were stunned, Yu Yuanchen moved. His figure flickered, approaching one of the Soul Kings like a ghost. His left claw struck 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. A huge gash was torn in his chest, blood sprayed wildly, and it was clear he wouldn't survive.
The last Soul King was terrified, turning to flee. How could Yu Yuanchen let him have his way? His right claw swiped through the air, and a condensed purple-gold lightning claw-light struck first, instantly piercing his heart.
From the sudden eruption to the death of all five Elephant Armored Sect disciples, the entire process took less than ten breaths!
Yu Yuanchen dissipated the lightning on his claws, his breathing slightly rapid. The Thunder God Mode consumed a huge amount of energy, and maintaining the Dragon Scale Armor and Lightning Strike Robe simultaneously was a double test for his Soul Power 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! How dare you kill my Elephant Armored Sect disciples! Give me your life!"
That fortress-like figure, carrying heaven-shaking rage, smashed into the valley like a meteorite. It was the Elephant Armored Sect Soul Sage who had been guarding the checkpoint! He had ultimately been uneasy and followed them, only to witness the scene of his disciples being slaughtered.
The massive pressure of a Soul Sage was like substance, firmly locking onto Yu Yuanchen. The Seventh Soul Ring beneath his feet suddenly lit up—Martial Soul True Body!
A ten-meter-tall Diamond Mammoth Giant Elephant phantom, like a mountain, solidified. Its long trunk curled, emitting a deafening roar. Its massive foot lifted, carrying the power to collapse mountains and split the earth, and stomped down toward Yu Yuanchen's head! The air was compressed into white blast waves under this stomp!
Facing this full-force strike from the enraged Soul Sage, Yu Yuanchen's pupils shrank, but he did not retreat. He took a deep breath, his Soul Power and blood running wildly again. The Dragon Scale Armor and Lightning Strike Robe shone brightly, and on his claws, the purple-gold lightning began to compress and condense to the extreme once more.
The real hard battle was just beginning!
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan