Town Respite, Tang Chen vs. Qian Daoliu

At the edge of the Savage Beast Hills lay a small town called Stone Spring Town. It was named after the sweet spring water in its center that never ran dry throughout the year, making it an important supply stop for passing Soul Masters and merchant caravans. The town was not large, and most of its buildings were constructed from sturdy gray stone, bearing the rugged style unique to the Star Luo Empire.

When Yu Yuanchen, Tang Chen, and Qian Daoliu entered the town, dragging bodies that were somewhat weary yet full of spirit, they drew quite a few curious looks. Though they had cleaned themselves up a little, their torn clothes, the lingering scent of blood, and the sharp aura they could not fully conceal all made it clear that they were no ordinary Soul Masters.

The three found a relatively clean and spacious inn in town. Their first priority was replenishing their exhausted supplies of water, food, and basic healing medicine. Afterward, with perfect mutual understanding, they each requested a quiet room and began a half-month period of secluded recovery.

For the three of them, who had endured life-and-death trials in the Savage Beast Hills, these fifteen days were of utmost importance.

Yu Yuanchen sat cross-legged in his quiet room, his mind sinking into his body. He first stabilized his newly broken-through Level 54 Soul Power. Soul Power surged through his broad, resilient meridians, more abundant and condensed than before. He carefully relived that perilous battle with the Hellfire Kite, especially the profound sensation from using Soaring Strike at the end—compressing Thunder Power to the extreme, piercing defenses through high-frequency vibrations, and striking directly at the internal organs. His understanding of this Self-Created Soul Skill deepened further, and he began trying to reduce its windup and use it more smoothly while moving.

He also began trying to fuse Spiritual Power, Thunder Power, and Soul Power according to the method he had used to synthesize Thunder God Power. Unfortunately, after countless attempts, every one of them failed without the aid of Soul Rings. He could only settle for fusing Spiritual Power with Thunder Power alone. After nearly a hundred attempts, he finally began to grasp a hint of the trick.

At the same time, he continually nourished that Purple Gold Scale, guiding Thunder God Power to merge with Bloodline Power, gradually purifying his bloodline and strengthening his physique.

Tang Chen, meanwhile, was engaging in a deeper exchange with his heavy Clear Sky Hammer in his own room. The countless hammer swings in the Savage Beast Hills and his head-on clashes with powerful Soul Beasts had given him new insights into Power Usage. He no longer blindly pursued absolute ferocity. Instead, he began considering how to better combine the Clear Sky Hammer's weight with speed, how to conceal subtler changes and Force Application Techniques within seemingly clumsy swings. His Soul Power also naturally broke through to Level 63 during this period of consolidation, and his aura became even more steady and imposing.

Qian Daoliu's quiet room seemed shrouded in a faint layer of Holy Light. He repaired the minor damage to his wings and purified the traces of hostility and exhaustion accumulated in his body after successive battles. The Six-winged Angel Martial Soul brought him not only power, but also an almost harsh demand for perfection in his own condition. His Soul Power had already been near the threshold of a breakthrough, and the accumulation from this expedition allowed him to advance smoothly to Level 65. His sacred aura became ever purer and more majestic, and his control over Angel Domain seemed to have grown more refined as well.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye amid focused cultivation.

When the three gathered again in the inn's small courtyard, each could sense the restrained yet sharper aura emanating from the others.

"Haha, looks like none of us slacked off these past fifteen days!" Tang Chen stretched his limbs, feeling the increased strength within him as his fighting spirit was the first to ignite. "Cultivating alone is boring! So, brothers, have you thought about my earlier proposal?" His burning gaze turned toward the other two, full of anticipation.

Half a month ago, Tang Chen had suggested that the three of them have a sparring match. However, they had all needed time to recover then, so they agreed to discuss it again after fifteen days.

Qian Daoliu elegantly brushed his sleeve. A barely perceptible fighting spirit ignited in his golden eyes, and he smiled and nodded. "That is precisely what I desire."

A flicker of interest also passed through Yu Yuanchen's eyes. Fighting peerless geniuses of the same level was undoubtedly the best way to test himself and uncover his shortcomings. He nodded. "Naturally."

Yet Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu exchanged a glance, then silently turned their gazes toward Yu Yuanchen.

Qian Daoliu said, "Brother Yu, you are the youngest, and your Cultivation Level is also slightly lower. How about Tang Chen and I fight first? It can serve as a warm-up for our spar with you afterward. What do you think?" His tone was gentle, and his reasoning was quite sound.

Tang Chen grinned as well. "That's right. Yuanchen, watch from the side first. We've been holding back for half a month, so let your older brothers have some fun first." Though he was straightforward, he could see that Yu Yuanchen was indeed a few years younger than them and had a lower Soul Power Level. Letting him watch a battle first would make things relatively fairer.

Yu Yuanchen naturally had no objection. He was also happy to watch a duel between two peak Soul Emperors first.

Several miles outside town was an open stretch of gravelly ground, the perfect place for a spar.

The Afterglow of the Setting Sun dyed the sky orange-red, lending this desolate land an added air of bleakness and killing intent.

Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu stood fifty meters apart, while Yu Yuanchen withdrew to a hundred meters away to watch the battle.

"Brother Tang, please." Qian Daoliu gave a slight nod as the six wings behind him silently unfurled, and a sacred aura began to spread.

"Then I won't hold back!" Tang Chen laughed. Soul Power erupted from his body, and six Soul Rings—Two Yellow, Two Purple, and Two Black—rose around him. The Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand, and a terrifying aura as heavy as a mountain, seemingly capable of shattering everything, instantly locked onto Qian Daoliu!

Tang Chen attacked first! He knew Qian Daoliu possessed the advantage of flight, so he had to close the distance. He stomped down hard, cracking the ground beneath him, and shot forward like a cannonball. The Clear Sky Hammer in his hand came down in a simple, direct chop! It was his First Soul Skill—Soaring Strike! Though it was his most basic Soul Skill, empowered by Tang Chen's terrifying strength and Soul Power, this hammer strike seemed capable of splitting a mountain apart. With a shrill howl, it headed straight for Qian Daoliu's face!

Qian Daoliu's expression did not change. His First Soul Ring behind him lit up, and the Angel Sacred Sword appeared in his hand, its blade gathering sacred light. First Soul Skill—Angel Assault! Rather than receiving the attack head-on, he shifted slightly, angled his sacred sword upward, and precisely struck the weakest point along the side of the Clear Sky Hammer's force. At the same time, he borrowed the impact to drift backward, his six wings beating as he instantly opened a ten-meter gap. The sacred aura collided with the Clear Sky Hammer's tyrannical force, producing a dull explosion.

Tang Chen's first strike missed, but he did not pause. His Third Soul Ring lit up—Whirlwind Dance! His entire body seemed to transform into a black tornado, the Clear Sky Hammer spinning like a wheel as he pursued Qian Daoliu with a violent aura that could shred everything, sealing off his space to evade!

Qian Daoliu's gaze sharpened, knowing he could not evade forever. His Second Soul Ring flashed, and a gentle yet resilient golden shield appeared before him—Second Soul Skill, Angel's Guard! At the same time, he swung the sacred sword in his hand. Third Soul Skill—Holy Spirit Slash! Several condensed golden sword lights slashed out like crescent moons. They did not target Tang Chen himself, but precisely cut toward the nodes where Whirlwind Dance's power flowed!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The golden sword lights and black tornado collided and annihilated one another without pause! Angel's Guard's light shield rippled violently beneath the Clear Sky Hammer's residual shockwaves, yet stubbornly refused to break. With exquisite swordsmanship and powerful defense, Qian Daoliu forcibly blocked Tang Chen's savage barrage of attacks!

Seeing that brute force would not quickly yield results, a fierce glint flashed through Tang Chen's eyes. His Second Soul Ring suddenly lit up—Clear Sky Body Protection! A layer of solidified dark light covered his entire body and the Clear Sky Hammer, causing his defense and strength to surge instantly! He gathered all his power and followed it with an extremely concise Fifth Soul Skill—Earthquake Mountain! This strike raised its power, speed, and momentum to a new height. Before the hammer even arrived, its terrifying pressure had already caused the ground to sink slightly!

Qian Daoliu felt the might behind the strike and knew Angel's Guard alone could not fully withstand it. He no longer held back and shouted, "Angel Domain, open!"

Dazzling golden light suddenly spread outward from him, instantly covering an area thirty meters around him! Sacred hymns rang out as holy pressure descended! Within this domain, all of Qian Daoliu's attributes were enhanced, while Tang Chen felt as though he had fallen into a swamp. His speed, strength, and even the circulation of his Soul Power were suppressed to a certain degree!

"Break for me!"

Tang Chen roared, and the light of Clear Sky Body Protection blazed brightly. Resisting Angel Domain's suppression head-on, the hammer strike containing all his strength still smashed down without hesitation!

Qian Daoliu's eyes were sharp. His Fourth Soul Ring flashed—Sacred Sword! The Angel Sacred Sword in his hand instantly shone with boundless light, transforming into a massive golden Light Sword. Carrying the intent to purify and judge, it charged fearlessly toward the Clear Sky Hammer!

Boom—!!!

It was as if an enormous bell had been struck! A deafening explosion erupted alongside a blinding burst of gold and black light! A terrifying energy shockwave spread outward in a ring, throwing up and shattering every piece of gravel on the ground!

Tang Chen's body shook violently as he staggered back seven steps. Each step left a deep footprint in the ground, and the hands gripping his hammer went slightly numb. Qian Daoliu, meanwhile, used the force of the collision to drift backward, his wings beating rapidly to dissipate the impact. His face also paled for an instant.

In this first direct clash of domains, they were evenly matched! Relying on the terrifying strength enhanced by Clear Sky Body Protection, Tang Chen had forcibly endured Angel Domain's suppression and fought Qian Daoliu's Sacred Sword to a standstill!

However, Qian Daoliu's attacks did not stop. At the very instant when Tang Chen's Old Strength Just Exhausted and New Strength Not Yet Arisen, as he retreated to adjust himself, Qian Daoliu's Fifth Soul Ring lit up—Holy Light Judgment!

An incomparably condensed pillar of golden light, seemingly formed from pure sacred energy, descended upon Tang Chen's head like divine judgment, ignoring the brief distance between them! This attack was unbelievably fast and carried a powerful locking aura!

Tang Chen's Pupils Contracted. At the moment of crisis, his combat instincts erupted! He forcibly twisted his body and raised the Clear Sky Hammer horizontally above his head, pushing the glow of Clear Sky Body Protection to its limit!

Boom!

Holy Light Judgment slammed viciously into the Clear Sky Hammer! Golden sacred flames and black Soul Power clashed and annihilated each other wildly! The ground beneath Tang Chen exploded into a shallow crater, and the tremendous force drove him to one knee. A trace of blood spilled from the Corner of Mouth, while the glow of Clear Sky Body Protection became extremely dim.

Qian Daoliu seized this rare advantage. His six wings beat, and his body flashed forward like lightning, instantly Closing Distance. The Sacred Sword in his hand condensed once more and stabbed straight toward Tang Chen's wide-open chest! His offensive flowed like moving clouds and flowing water, utterly merciless!

Yu Yuanchen, who was Watching a Battle, narrowed his eyes and silently praised Qian Daoliu's seasoned grasp of battle opportunities.

However, just as Qian Daoliu's sacred sword was about to strike Tang Chen, a sudden change occurred!

Tang Chen, half-kneeling on the ground, showed no panic in his eyes. Instead, a ruthless gleam of triumph flashed through them! The pitch-black Sixth Soul Ring around him suddenly erupted with deep black light at that moment!

"Sixth Soul Skill, Clear Sky Formation!"

With his low roar, a strange circular formation composed of countless intricate black runes instantly emerged on the ground, centered on him! Within the formation's range, gravity seemed to multiply several times over, while even the air became incomparably viscous! A powerful force of restraint and suppression suddenly descended upon Qian Daoliu, who had rushed into the formation's range!

Qian Daoliu's forward momentum abruptly stalled. It was as though he had fallen into an invisible mire, and his speed plummeted!

"Got you!" Tang Chen roared. Ignoring the surging Qi and Blood within his body, he forcibly rose to his feet. The Clear Sky Hammer in his hand carried the violent force of breaking free from restraints as he unleashed Earthquake Mountain once more. Seizing the perfect chance while Qian Daoliu was bound by the formation and his movements were restricted, he smashed fiercely back at him!

The situation reversed in an instant!

The offense and defense had switched. Now it was Qian Daoliu's turn to face Tang Chen's long-planned, deadly counterattack!