Encirclement and Breakout

At the edge of the Thunder Mountain Range, ancient trees towered overhead. Sunlight filtering through the branches and leaves was distorted by the hazy aura of the lightning element, creating a bizarre and fantastic sight.

Yu Yuanchen sat cross-legged atop a green stone, the soul power around him slowly subsiding like a tide. His Level 42 soul power had completely stabilized. He opened his eyes, violet lightning flashing through them before vanishing. Sensing the newly born strand of purple-gold "Thunder God Power" within him, carrying a hint of supreme authority, his heart churned with emotion.

The emergence of this "Thunder God Power" seemed to have pushed open an entirely new door before him. Soul power, qi and blood, and spiritual power—could the fusion of all three actually produce such a qualitative transformation? It made him involuntarily recall an ultimate skill from the fragmented memories of his past life: "Ruling the World." It was the perfect combination of spiritual power and soul power, crushing opponents through sheer momentum and sweeping away all resistance.

"My 'Thunder God Power' seems to have gone a step further, incorporating qi and blood, making its essence even higher. But how can I actively and efficiently mobilize spiritual power, perfectly fuse it into every attack, and create a crushing force similar to 'momentum'? The key lies in..." Yu Yuanchen fell into thought. The concept behind "Ruling the World" was like a signpost, guiding him forward.

However, he soon shook his head and suppressed the urge to experiment. "My realm is still too low. Methods of using spiritual power are exceptionally profound. Trying recklessly might damage my foundation. The emergence of this 'Thunder God Power' is already an unexpected joy, pointing out the road ahead. As for its specific fusion and application, I should wait until my soul power is higher and my control over my own strength is more refined before exploring it gradually."

The urgent matter was becoming familiar with and mastering his newly acquired Fourth Soul Skill, as well as his greatly increased soul power.

"Chen'er, how do you feel?" Yu Bo Yu walked over and asked with concern. The other two elders stood guard nearby, their faces carrying relief along with lingering tension. After all, witnessing a Soul Elder successfully absorb a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring across levels was a tremendous shock.

"Second Grandfather, two elders, I am fine. My soul power has stabilized at Level 42." Yu Yuanchen rose and gave them a solemn bow. "Thank you, Second Grandfather and the two elders, for protecting me this time."

Yu Bo Yu patted his shoulder and laughed heartily. "We're family. Why be so polite? A thirteen-year-old Level 42 Soul Ancestor with a Ten Thousand Year Fourth Ring—haha! The rise of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is unstoppable! This place is not safe to linger in. We must return to Dragon City as soon as possible."

Everyone understood the stakes. The Black Flame Demon Flood Dragon Family was like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows and had to be guarded against. The four of them wasted no more time. Yu Bo Yu led the way, while the two elders guarded Yu Yuanchen in the middle from the left and right as they sped toward the outskirts of the mountain range.

The journey back seemed smoother than the trip there. They were just about to completely leave the Thunder Mountain Range when a relatively open hilly area appeared ahead.

However, at the instant the four of them relaxed slightly—

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several sharp sounds of breaking air rang out abruptly. Pitch Black Flame Breath arrows shot out from the dense forest and behind mountain rocks in every direction like venomous snakes striking from their dens, all aimed directly at Yu Yuanchen in the center! The cold yet scorching black flames clinging to the arrows instantly made the surrounding temperature turn strange.

"Enemy attack! Protect Yuan Chen!" Yu Bo Yu reacted swiftly, roaring as eight Soul Rings bloomed around him. A powerful soul power fluctuation erupted with a bang. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul possessed him, blue electric light flashing wildly over his half-dragon-transformed body. He threw a punch, thunder exploding as several black flame arrows aimed at Yu Yuanchen shattered in midair.

The other two elders also released their Martial Souls at the same time. The aura of Soul Douluo-level experts spread without restraint, forming a soul power barrier that blocked all the remaining arrows.

"Those hiding their heads and showing their tails, get out here!" a Guest Elder shouted, his voice like thunder.

"Hehe, Second Master Yu, it has been a long time." A cold laugh rang out as seven figures slowly emerged from hiding. The two in front possessed thick, majestic auras no weaker than Yu Bo Yu's. They were precisely two Soul Douluo-level elders from the Black Flame Demon Flood Dragon Family! Behind them followed five Soul Sages with sharp eyes, their qi locked onto the three Soul Douluo experts of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Farther away, six Soul Emperors stood in scattered positions, faintly forming an encirclement formation that cut off every retreat path.

"Long Xiao! Long Sha!" Yu Bo Yu's pupils contracted, his expression instantly turning extremely grim. "You Black Flame Demon Flood Dragon Family actually dared to set an ambush here! Are you trying to provoke an all-out war between our two families?"

The leading Soul Douluo, Long Xiao, wore a sullen face as he sneered. "War? As long as we leave all of you here, who will know we did it? If you want someone to blame, blame the gambling match between our two families' ancestors. Whoever lost had to willingly abandon the Dragon name and call themselves Flood Dragons instead. We have always remembered that humiliation!"

"Bullshit! Our two families were already irreconcilable back then. Even without that agreement, you would have found some other excuse to oppose the Yu Family. Stop dredging up that old stuff. It's nothing but an excuse to harm our family's genius!" Though Yu Bo Yu answered aloud, his heart had sunk to the bottom. The enemy had deployed two Soul Douluo experts, five Soul Sages, and six Soul Emperors. They had clearly paid a great cost and were determined to win. Although his side had three Soul Douluo experts, they also had to divide their attention to protect Yu Yuanchen. Their situation was extremely unfavorable.

"Hahaha, who told your Yu Family to produce a genius you never should have produced!" The other Soul Douluo, Long Sha, laughed wildly. His gaze was like poisoned thorns as it passed over Yu Bo Yu and fixed viciously on Yu Yuanchen. "Innate Full Soul Power, a Ten Thousand Year Fourth Ring... If this kid isn't eliminated, the Long Family will never know peace!"

"Boyu, let Yuan Chen go! We'll cover the rear!" another Guest Elder transmitted, his tone resolute.

A flicker of struggle passed through Yu Bo Yu's eyes, but it instantly turned into determination. He knew this was their only way out. He suddenly looked at Yu Yuanchen and shouted sternly, "Chen'er, find the right opportunity and escape immediately! Don't look back! Return to Dragon City at full speed!"

Before his words had faded, Yu Bo Yu exchanged looks with the two elders. Blinding light erupted from all three of them at once, and their soul power boiled as if it were burning!

"Eighth Soul Skill, Mad Thunder Heavenly Prison!"

"Eighth Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Roar!"

"Eighth Soul Skill, Thunder Domain Descends!"

The three Soul Douluo experts simultaneously unleashed their strongest Eighth Soul Skills. In an instant, lightning filled heaven and earth, transforming into a massive Thunder Cage, a roaring Thunder Dragon, and a Furious Thunder Domain that covered the entire battlefield as they charged fiercely toward the two opposing Soul Douluo experts and four Soul Sages!

This desperate explosion of power was astonishing, catching the enemy completely off guard. Long Xiao, Long Sha, and the others had no choice but to respond with all their strength, while the six Soul Emperors were forced back again and again by the terrifying aftershocks of the Soul Skills.

In that flash of lightning, Yu Bo Yu took a Black Flame Claw Strike from Long Xiao head-on and forcibly tore open a gap. He roared at Yu Yuanchen, "Go!"

Yu Yuanchen's eyes nearly split with rage as he watched blood spill from the corner of Second Grandfather's mouth and saw the resolute backs of the two elders. An unprecedented fury and frustration surged through him. But he knew this was not the time to act on impulse. If he stayed, the sacrifices of the three elders would be in vain! As long as he escaped, these people could never stop three Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Douluo experts.

He forcibly suppressed the surging qi and blood within him, and his gaze instantly regained its icy calm. The First Soul Ring beneath him lit up. The Thunder Dragon Claw was not used to attack; instead, he slammed it backward, borrowing the recoil force. At the same time, lightning erupted from both legs. Combining it with an extreme burst of soul power, he shot through that fleeting gap like a true bolt of Blue Lightning, racing toward the outside of the mountain range without looking back!

"Trying to run? Chase him!" Long Xiao roared in fury, wanting to intercept him, but the desperate Yu Bo Yu held him back firmly.

Of the six Soul Emperors, three immediately broke off and chased urgently after Yu Yuanchen like maggots on bone. One possessed the Black Flame Demonic Dragon Martial Soul, while the other two were vassals with the Gale Wolf and Rock Turtle Martial Souls respectively. Their Soul Ring configurations were far from ideal, with white, yellow, purple, and black rings mixed unevenly among them, but they were still genuine Soul Emperor-level powerhouses!

Yu Yuanchen pushed his speed to the limit. Wind howled by his ears as his Level 42 soul power circulated with unprecedented efficiency. His mind was highly focused. Not only did he monitor the pursuers behind him, but he also silently unleashed his Second Soul Skill, "Thunderous Might."

It was not for attack. Instead, he dispersed the lightning power contained within it through the air around his body at extremely low intensity and across a large range, forming a faint electric field. This was one of the results of his many years developing Soul Skills—Electric Field Perception! Any object that entered the range of the electric field would cause subtle changes within it, which would be fed back to his mind.

"Three Soul Emperors... one Power Attack System, one Agility Attack System, and one Defense System." Yu Yuanchen instantly judged the pursuers' traits and general directions. The fastest was the Gale Wolf Soul Emperor, who was rapidly closing distance. Next came the Black Flame Demonic Dragon Soul Emperor. The slowest was the Rock Turtle Soul Emperor, who had already been left some distance behind.

I can't keep being chased! Soul power consumption and stamina are my disadvantages. I have to find an opportunity—at the very least, take down one of them first!

A rocky forest appeared ahead, filled with rugged rocks and complex terrain.

A gleam of light flashed in Yu Yuanchen's eyes as he suddenly plunged into the rocky forest.

"Kid, where do you think you're running?!" The Gale Wolf Soul Emperor was the first to catch up. Relying on his speed advantage, he entered the rocky forest after only a few leaps. Seeing Yu Yuanchen's figure disappear around a turn ahead, he accelerated without a second thought.

However, at the instant he turned past the rock—

"Third Soul Skill, Wrath of Thunder!"

"First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!"

"Thunder Rage Dragon Claw!"

Yu Yuanchen, who had long been accumulating power, launched a huge Thunder Dragon Claw straight at him under the one-hundred-percent Attack Power Boost of Wrath of Thunder! The timing and angle of this attack were vicious to the extreme. It struck precisely when the Gale Wolf Soul Emperor's old strength had just exhausted, new strength had not yet arisen, and his vision was obstructed!

"What?!" The Gale Wolf Soul Emperor was greatly alarmed. In haste, he could only cross both arms before his chest and erupt with soul power in an attempt to block it head-on.

Boom!

The lightning claw struck him solidly. Furious Lightning Power instantly tore through his soul power defense, blasting his entire body backward and sending him crashing violently into a stone pillar. Blood sprayed from his mouth, and he had clearly suffered serious internal injuries. Though he was a Soul Emperor, the quality of his Martial Soul and his Soul Ring configuration were far inferior to Yu Yuanchen's. Under Yu Yuanchen's long-prepared full-force strike, he was immediately wounded.

Yu Yuanchen pressed his advantage without mercy. His body followed like a shadow as he prepared to deliver another strike and finish the man completely.

"Roar!" A dragon's roar sounded as the Black Flame Demonic Dragon Soul Emperor finally arrived. A Pitch Black Flame Breath came howling toward him, forcing Yu Yuanchen to abandon his pursuit and flash aside.

At the same time, the Rock Turtle Soul Emperor came rumbling over as well, blocking the injured Gale Wolf Soul Emperor. Thick Earth Yellow Soul Power condensed into a Turtle Shell Shield.

The situation instantly became Yu Yuanchen facing a fully intact Black Flame Demonic Dragon Soul Emperor, a lightly injured Gale Wolf Soul Emperor, and a Rock Turtle Soul Emperor with formidable defenses.

The three Soul Emperors surrounded Yu Yuanchen in a triangular formation, their killing intent overwhelming.

Yu Yuanchen took a deep breath. There was no fear in his azure blue eyes, only ice-cold calm and fighting intent dancing deep within them. He slowly raised his dragon-transformed right arm. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul let out a low, majestic roar, while four Soul Rings—yellow, two purple, and black—slowly revolved beneath him. In particular, the Deep Black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring radiated a heart-pounding pressure.

He looked at the Black Flame Demonic Dragon Soul Emperor, his voice calm yet carrying unquestionable resolve:

"Want my life? Then let's see whether you have what it takes."