In the desolate valley, the auras of the three young powerhouses were like three volcanoes on the verge of eruption, colliding and crushing against one another until even the dust in the air seemed to freeze.
Tang Chen's fighting spirit burned the fiercest. He slammed his giant hammer into the ground, his voice booming like thunder. "No need for more nonsense. Same rules as before—Qian Daoliu and I will play with you first?" He was referring to the old arrangement from when the three had first met five years ago: he and Qian Daoliu would fight first, and the winner would then face Yu Yuanchen.
However, Yu Yuanchen slowly shook his head. His gaze swept over Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu, his tone calm yet filled with unquestionable confidence. "Brother Tang, Brother Qian, you went easy on me five years ago. Today, there's no need to follow the old rules."
After a slight pause, he continued, "The three of us will engage in a free-for-all. Each relying on our own abilities, fighting to our hearts' content. Wouldn't that be better?"
The moment those words fell, Tang Chen's and Qian Daoliu's gazes sharpened.
Yu Yuanchen had two reasons for proposing a free-for-all. First, he knew his current strength well. After Thunderclap Nethervine's sacrifice, the transformation of his Thunder True Essence, and more than half a year of consolidation, his combat power had already surpassed that of ordinary Soul Sages by far. Even against someone who had only recently entered the Titled Douluo realm, so long as they were not absolutely suppressed by his Martial Soul, he was confident he could gain the upper hand in a direct confrontation. Killing them would not be easy, but the balance of victory had already tilted in his favor. Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu were