Escape and Bloody Battle Against a Soul Emperor

In the Rocky Forest, the atmosphere was frozen solid.

Yu Yuanchen was surrounded in a triangular formation by three Soul Emperors. The oppressive force of their Soul Power felt almost tangible, making it slightly difficult for him to breathe. Yet his upright body still stood like a spear, blue electric snakes constantly coursing over his dragon-transformed right arm. His azure eyes calmly swept across the three enemies as his mind raced.

A direct confrontation offered no chance of victory. Even with an Overlimit Soul Ring and a top-tier Martial Soul, he could briefly contend with an ordinary Soul Emperor. But against three coordinated opponents, especially the Rock Turtle Soul Emperor with his astonishing defense, prolonged battle would inevitably end in defeat.

His only way out lay in speed—in breaking through!

His gaze instantly locked onto the wounded Gale Wolf Soul Emperor. He was the fastest and most dangerous among them, but at this moment, he was also the weakest link of the three!

"Move!" Long Li, the Black Flame Demonic Dragon Soul Emperor, clearly had no intention of giving Yu Yuanchen more time to think. With a low shout, his Fifth Soul Ring lit up, and black flames condensed in his hand into a spear burning with eerie dark fire. Carrying both corrosive and scorching force, it shot fiercely toward Yu Yuanchen!

At the same time, the Rock Turtle Soul Emperor roared, his Third Soul Ring flashing as both fists smashed heavily into the ground!

"Third Soul Skill, Earth Wave Tremor!"

Boom! The ground heaved like waves, and powerful shockwaves spread toward Yu Yuanchen's feet, intending to disrupt his balance and restrict his evasion.

Meanwhile, the wounded Gale Wolf Soul Emperor endured his injuries and transformed into a streak of green shadow, circling in from the flank. His claws gleamed coldly as he waited for an opening.

Facing this nearly hopeless encirclement, a fierce glint flashed through Yu Yuanchen's eyes. He did not choose to take the most powerful Black Flame Spear head-on, nor did he try to steady himself against the Earth Wave Tremor.

Just before the attacks reached him, he made a move that stunned everyone!

"Second Soul Skill, Thunderous Might!"

Rather than releasing the energy of Thunderous Might outward, he forcibly compressed it and ruthlessly directed the vast majority of its Thunder Power into the meridians of his legs!

"Crackle—!"

A piercing explosion of electricity erupted from his legs. Fine arcs of lightning could even be seen bursting from beneath his trouser legs. An indescribable agony struck him in an instant, as though every inch of muscle and every meridian in his legs were being torn apart and scorched by violent lightning! It was an extremely dangerous move. If his body had not been tempered by repeatedly Absorbing Soul Rings across levels and by the Thunder Valley, making it far stronger than those of the same rank, his legs would likely have been crippled instantly!

But the result was equally remarkable!

"Boom!"

His body seemed to transform into true lightning, leaving behind a faint blue afterimage. His speed suddenly increased severalfold, and he skimmed nearly along the ground in a manner close to Instantaneous Movement, narrowly avoiding the Black Flame Spear's piercing strike and the core area of the Earth Wave Tremor.

"What?!" Long Li's pupils contracted sharply. He had not expected Yu Yuanchen to dare use such a self-destructive method to forcefully increase his speed!

"Stop him!" the Rock Turtle Soul Emperor roared, trying to block the route with his massive body.

But Yu Yuanchen's target was never him! The impact brought by that extreme speed turned him into a cannonball fired from its barrel, shooting directly at the Gale Wolf Soul Emperor, who had frozen for an instant at his sudden burst of speed!

"First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!"

His dragon-transformed right claw carried a shrill Sound of Breaking Air and explosive blue light as it mercilessly tore toward the Gale Wolf Soul Emperor's chest! This time, the Dragon Claw did not enlarge. Instead, it was compressed to the extreme, its five fingers hooked like claws, all destructive force concentrated at the fingertips in pursuit of ultimate penetration!

The Gale Wolf Soul Emperor had just been struck, and the Qi and Blood within him had yet to settle. Seeing Yu Yuanchen charge at him with such terrifying speed, he could only hastily spread Soul Power across Both Arms and block again.

"Rip!"

The condensed lightning claw was far more powerful than before. It instantly tore through his Soul Power defense, leaving charred wounds deep enough to expose bone across his crossed arms. The Remaining Thunder Power surged into his body, making him scream as he was blasted away like a kite with its string cut. After crashing heavily onto the ground and struggling a few times, he was unable to rise for the moment, completely losing the ability to pursue.

After landing the blow, Yu Yuanchen did not pause. Borrowing the recoil, he completely detonated the lightning-attribute Soul Power raging through his body from stimulating his legs. He transformed into a streak of Blue Electric Light and fled desperately toward the deeper Rocky Forest, in the direction of the mountain range's outer edge, without looking back!

"Useless trash!" Long Li flew into a furious rage. He had not expected two Soul Emperors working together to have one of them instantly crippled by a Soul Ancestor who had only just advanced. "Chase him! Don't let him get away!"

He and the Rock Turtle Soul Emperor immediately sprang into motion and gave chase.

However, the speed Yu Yuanchen had gained through self-injury was simply too astonishing. The Rock Turtle Soul Emperor excelled at defense, and speed was his weakness. Even bursting forth at full power, he could only watch helplessly as the distance between himself and that streak of blue lightning widened further and further.

After barely a dozen breaths, the Rock Turtle Soul Emperor had been left far behind and could only roar in frustration.

Only Long Li, relying on the formidable physique granted by the Black Flame Flood Dragon Martial Soul and the abundant Soul Power of a Soul Emperor, could remain tightly on Yu Yuanchen's trail. Though he could not immediately close the distance, Yu Yuanchen could not completely shake him off either.

One pursued while the other fled, like two meteors of different colors darting through the forests and valleys at the outer edge of the Thunder Mountain Range.

Yu Yuanchen felt the tearing pain from his legs and their growing numbness. He knew this escape method of stimulating his meridians could not last long. The consumption of Soul Power was also terrifying. Had he not just reached Level 42 and greatly increased his total Soul Power, he would have exhausted himself long ago.

"I have to find a way to shake him off, or... deal with him!" A cold gleam flickered in Yu Yuanchen's eyes. Being pursued so closely by a Soul Emperor was too dangerous. Once his Soul Power ran short or his legs could no longer endure, he would have no Way Out.

While maintaining his high-speed escape, he secretly circulated his Soul Power and tried to draw upon the newly born strand of Thunder God Power within his body. This power was of an extremely high nature, but its quantity was minuscule, and wielding it placed a considerable burden on his Spiritual Power.

"Perhaps... it's worth trying!"

Yu Yuanchen's gaze swept over the terrain ahead. He spotted a dry riverbed flanked on both sides by steep earthen slopes, and a plan immediately formed in his mind.

He abruptly changed direction and charged into the dry riverbed, then suddenly stopped and turned around! The tremendous inertia gouged two deep furrows through the riverbed's gravel beneath his feet.

Long Li, who was pursuing him, was first startled when Yu Yuanchen suddenly stopped. Then he sneered. "Can't run anymore? Kid, you should be proud that you forced me to personally hunt you down for so long! Accept your death obediently, and I can give you a quick one!"

Yu Yuanchen panted heavily. His face was somewhat pale from the depletion of Soul Power and the pain in his legs, but his gaze was like ten-thousand-year ice, unwavering in the slightest. "You want to kill me? Then show me what you can really do!"

"Courting death!" Long Li shouted furiously, his Third Soul Ring lighting up. "Third Soul Skill, Black Flame Breath!"

A thick pillar of black fire surged toward Yu Yuanchen, carrying a frigid aura capable of corroding everything.

Yu Yuanchen did not dare be careless. His First and Third Soul Rings flashed simultaneously.

"Wrath of Thunder! Thunder Dragon Claw!"

Enhanced by Wrath of Thunder, the massive Thunder Dragon Claw slammed forward and collided violently with the Black Flame Breath.

Boom!

The clash of lightning and fire erupted into a fierce energy shockwave. Blue light and black flames scattered in every direction, shearing away layers from the earthen slopes on both sides of the riverbed. Yu Yuanchen gave a muffled grunt and staggered back several steps. A sweetness rose in his throat, and a trace of blood spilled from the Corner of Mouth. The quality of a Soul Emperor's Soul Power was ultimately far superior to his own.

"Hmph, overestimating yourself!" Long Li pressed his advantage without mercy. His Fifth Soul Ring lit up once again, and the Black Flame Spear condensed anew before shooting through the air with even greater force!

Yu Yuanchen's pupils narrowed slightly. He knew he could not take another attack head-on. His footwork shifted, and his body flickered left and right through the narrow riverbed as though he had eyes in the back of his head, barely evading the spear's direct strike.

Yet the black flames attached to the spear still grazed his shoulder, leaving behind a charred wound and a searing pain.

"Let's see how many more times you can dodge!" Long Li's attacks came in unceasing waves. All kinds of Soul Skills bombarded Yu Yuanchen one after another, fully displaying the devastating offensive power of the Black Flame Flood Dragon Martial Soul. Yu Yuanchen could only keep dodging and blocking, and his situation became increasingly perilous.

After repeated clashes, Yu Yuanchen's body accumulated more and more wounds. His Soul Power was also rapidly draining, and his aura began to grow chaotic. He looked like he was at the end of his strength, as though he would be completely defeated at any moment.

A bloodthirsty delight flashed in Long Li's eyes, as if he could already see the Genius of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan dying miserably by his hand. To end the battle quickly, he took a fierce step forward, Closing Distance. His right fist, condensed with dense black flames, smashed directly toward Yu Yuanchen's face! This punch was powerful and heavy, containing the full force of a Soul Emperor.

However, at the instant his fist was about to strike, Yu Yuanchen—who had remained on the defensive and appeared ready to collapse—suddenly burst forth with an unprecedented brilliance in his eyes!

This was the opportunity he had been waiting for! The perfect moment when his opponent believed victory was assured, let down his guard, and moved close!

"Now!"

Within Yu Yuanchen's body, that dormant strand of Purple-Gold Thunder God Power was completely activated, like a sleeping dragon awakening! He did not use this power to enhance any Soul Skill. Instead, he poured all of it into his legs!

At the same time, enduring the agonizing pain in his meridians, he frantically poured all his Remaining Soul Power into his legs as well!

"Boom!"

His legs seemed to become two sources of lightning. Blinding Purple Gold Lightning burst forth in an instant, even temporarily suppressing the blue lightning of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon itself! A speed and explosive force far surpassing anything before surged forth!

He did not dodge backward. Instead... he moved forward! Facing Long Li's fist, he narrowly avoided the lethal blow in a bizarre posture nearly skimming the ground. Like a Lightning Snake gliding across the earth, he instantly entered Long Li's inner range!

"What?!" This sudden turn of events completely exceeded Long Li's expectations! His old strength had already been expended, while New Strength Not Yet Arisen, leaving his center completely exposed!

Yu Yuanchen's gaze was cold as a blade. On his dragon-transformed right arm, all his Soul Power, along with the Remaining lightning drawn out after the eruption of that strand of Thunder God Power, was compressed to the extreme at his fingertips!

He did not use any Soul Skill, because activating one required a brief moment—and at this instant, everything depended on that flash of lightning-fast time! This was pure power, a strike that condensed all his essence, spirit, and will, merging Soul Power, Qi and Blood, and his ultimate control over lightning!

"Break!"

With a low roar, Yu Yuanchen's right hand formed a sword with two fingers, carrying destructive lightning condensed to its limit. Like a true Divine Thunder Spear, it viciously stabbed toward the side of Long Li's knee joints!

Fast! Precise! Ruthless!

"Crack!"

The clear sound of Bone Fracture rang out!

"Ah—!" Long Li let out an incomparably shrill scream. Piercing pain and numbness surged from his knees, his condensed Soul Power instantly collapsing. Losing all support, he dropped to his knees with a thud, his face filled with incredulous pain and horror.

He could never have imagined that he would fall at the hands of a Soul Ancestor Kid—and in such a manner, with Both Legs crippled after being approached at close range!

Having succeeded with one strike, Yu Yuanchen did not linger in battle. He did not even look at Long Li's miserable state. He knew that although this attack had severely injured his opponent, it was still far from enough to kill a Soul Emperor. He could clearly feel that the meridians in his legs had reached the brink of collapse, while his Soul Power was nearly exhausted.

He forcibly drew upon his last breath of Origin Qi, dragged his nearly numb legs, and erupted with what little speed remained. Without looking back, he rushed out of the dry riverbed and vanished into the dense forest.

Long Li knelt on the ground, staring in the direction where Yu Yuanchen had disappeared. He wanted to pursue, but the agonizing pain and numbness in his legs made it impossible for him to even stand. He could only let out an enraged and unwilling roar.

"You little bastard... I will kill you! Ah—!"

The roar echoed through the river valley, while Yu Yuanchen's figure had long since merged into the mountains and forests, disappearing without a trace.

This pursuit, so vastly unequal in strength, ultimately ended with one pursuer severely injured, one lightly injured, and one left behind, while Yu Yuanchen escaped death by a narrow margin at the cost of multiple wounds and severe exhaustion.

Dragging his battered body onward, he relied on his unyielding will and keen perception of the terrain to continue struggling toward Dragon City. Every wound ached, and every trace of Soul Power seemed to wail, but his eyes shone brighter and more resolutely than ever before.

After this battle, the young dragon had been baptized in blood, and the sharp edge of his scales and claws had begun to reveal itself.