Surging Undercurrents, Secluded Cultivation

Long Xiao fled, leaving behind a field of wreckage and the pungent stench of blood. Yu Boxuan hovered in midair, his Martial Soul slowly retracting, yet the deeply furrowed brows and lingering anxiety in his eyes showed that the turmoil in his heart had not subsided. He landed on the ground and swept his gaze over the corpses of the Black Flame Demon Flood Dragon Family members, his eyes icy and devoid of pity. The five of them followed the traces of the battle in search of the three men.

"Split up! Dead or alive, find them!" His voice carried a faint, barely perceptible hoarseness as he once again gave the order to the four Elders. Though Yuan Chen's account and the traces at the scene had given him considerable hope that Yu Bo Yu and the other two had survived, the moment he saw Long Xiao—unaware that Long Xiao had only just arrived himself—his heart sank to the bottom. Facing the siege of a Titled Douluo and two Soul Douluos, the odds of the three surviving were minuscule. But as long as there was even the slightest possibility, he would never give up.

The four Elders solemnly accepted the order and immediately pushed their Spiritual Power to its limits, scanning every inch of this land ravaged beyond recognition by Soul Skills like the most precise radar. They overturned scorched red rocks and searched deep ravines, refusing to overlook even the faintest trace of Life Aura or residual Soul Power.

Time passed amid the silent, anxious search.

At last, the Healing System Elder with the Staff of Life Martial Soul detected a faint energy fluctuation beneath a mountain hollow whose side had been shattered by lightning. He immediately called over Yu Boxuan and the other three Elders.

The five joined forces and swiftly cleared away the piled rubble and charred earth. The sight before them made even Yu Boxuan, who had witnessed countless deaths, suddenly constrict his pupils, his heart twisting like a knife.

Yu Bo Yu and the two Guest Elders sat cross-legged back to back. Their clothes were torn to shreds, their bodies covered in burns and lacerations. Yu Bo Yu in particular bore a terrifying black claw wound across his chest that had nearly pierced through his torso—the fatal injury left by Long Xiao's Black Flame Demonic Dragon. Their breaths were faint, their Soul Power Fluctuations weakened to the extreme, like candles flickering in the wind.

But they were still alive!

A layer of extremely thin yet remarkably resilient blue light covered the three of them. Tiny arcs of electricity struggled to flow across its surface. This defensive barrier, maintained by the last of their combined Soul Power, was their final protection after they had fallen unconscious.

"Boyu!" Yu Boxuan rushed forward in a single stride. His powerful Soul Power carefully enveloped the three as he examined their injuries. The situation was dire. Their Meridians had ruptured in many places, their internal organs were severely damaged, and their Soul Power was nearly exhausted. Yu Bo Yu's Life Fire in particular had already grown dim.

"Quick! Spare no cost—save them!" Yu Boxuan's voice was resolute beyond question as he looked at the Healing System Elder.

The Elder did not dare delay. He immediately released his Dew of Life Martial Soul, a lush emerald glow brimming with boundless Life Force. The Seventh Soul Ring beneath him lit up as he directly unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar. The emerald radiance transformed into a pillar of light that enveloped Yu Bo Yu and the other two. The rich Life Aura fell over them like sweet rain, nourishing their dried-up Meridians and damaged bodies, stabilizing their Life Origin that was on the verge of dispersing.

The other two Elders stood guard vigilantly around them while helping channel the energy.

Watching the color gradually return to the faces of the three under the nourishment of life energy, Yu Boxuan's taut nerves finally eased slightly. Yet the chill in his eyes only deepened. The Long Family had touched his inverse scale!

"Long Xiao... Long Family... this matter will never end here!" Killing intent surged within him, but as the Patriarch, he had to weigh the broader situation. Ensuring the safety of Boyu, the others, and Yuan Chen, and stabilizing the clan, were now the highest priorities.

With the Healing System Elder's full efforts, Yu Bo Yu and the other two finally had their lives temporarily preserved. However, a complete recovery would not happen overnight. Yu Bo Yu especially would likely need a very long period of recuperation and might even be left with permanent Hidden Injuries.

"Return to the clan!" Yu Boxuan made the decision without hesitation. He personally lifted the unconscious three with his Soul Power, then transformed into four streaks of light with the three Elders and rushed back to Dragon City at top speed.

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan residence, side hall of the Main Hall.

After taking the clan's treasured Healing Pill, Yu Yuanchen was sitting cross-legged and regulating his breath, stabilizing the injuries within his body. Though he worried about Second Grandfather and the two Elders, he also understood that recovering his strength was the greatest help he could offer the clan at this moment.

Suddenly, he sensed the powerful, familiar auras of Grandfather and the three Elders returning, mixed with three exceedingly weak yet unmistakably present auras.

"Second Grandfather and the others... they're back!" Yu Yuanchen abruptly opened his eyes. A flash of joy appeared in them as he immediately rose and rushed outside.

When he saw Yu Bo Yu and the other two, carefully supported by Grandfather's Soul Power, unconscious and with their auras weakened to the extreme, the joy in his heart was instantly replaced by heaviness. The savage wound across Second Grandfather's chest in particular made his fists clench tightly, his nails digging deeply into his palms.

"Grandfather, Second Grandfather and the others..." Yu Yuanchen's voice was low.

"Their lives are no longer in danger, but their injuries are severe. They need long-term rest." Yu Boxuan placed the three in a prepared quiet room, where the Healing System Elder and several Support System Soul Masters took turns tending to them. He looked at Yu Yuanchen and said gravely, "Chen'er, you have already done enough. If you had not risked your life to break through and bring back word, the three of them... might not even have had this slim chance at survival."

Yu Yuanchen remained silent. He knew Grandfather was trying to comfort him. But seeing Second Grandfather and the others reduced to such a state because they had protected him, a powerful desire to grow stronger and flames of vengeance burned fiercely in his heart.

"What about the Long Family..." Yu Yuanchen asked.

A cold glint flashed through Yu Boxuan's eyes. "Of the people Long Xiao brought, apart from himself and two Elders, all have been left behind. We will put this debt on hold for now. After such losses, the Long Family will not dare openly attack again in the near future, but there will be no shortage of schemes in the shadows."

He looked at Yu Yuanchen, his tone solemn. "Chen'er, the talent and strength you displayed this time have completely drawn the Long Family's fear. It may even attract more hidden eyes. Until you possess sufficient strength to protect yourself, you must not leave Dragon City lightly again—especially not venture into danger alone."

Yu Yuanchen nodded solemnly. "Your grandson understands."

"The urgent matter is to help you and Boyu recover as quickly as possible." Yu Boxuan pondered for a moment. "Your injuries have not healed, and your Soul Power needs stabilizing as well. Starting today, you will enter the deepest part of Thunder Gorge for secluded cultivation. It is where the clan's Lightning Element is most concentrated and will greatly benefit both your recovery and cultivation. I will personally stand guard outside for you. All clan resources will be supplied to you first."

"Yes, Grandfather!" Yu Yuanchen did not refuse. He knew only by becoming strong as quickly as possible could he face the storms ahead, protect the clan, and make the Long Family repay its debt of blood.

That very day, Yu Yuanchen entered the depths of Thunder Gorge once more, returning to that familiar charred stone platform wreathed in electric arcs throughout the year. But this time, his state of mind was entirely different. The uncertainty and confusion from before had lessened, replaced by the weight of responsibility and an unwavering goal.

He sat cross-legged, cast aside distracting thoughts, and circulated the Meditation Method with all his strength. The dense, active Lightning Attribute Heaven and Earth Origin Qi within the gorge seemed drawn by an invisible force as it surged madly into his body. Though the newly formed Thunder God Power was weak, in this environment it seemed to grow more active, spontaneously guiding the incoming Origin Qi to temper his body more efficiently and repair his damaged Meridians, especially Both Legs, which had been excessively overdrawn before.

He no longer dwelled on the vision of "Ruling the World," which could not be realized immediately. Instead, he immersed all his focus in comprehending Thunder God Power and refining his own Soul Power. The Fourth Soul Ring had brought him more than just a Soul Skill—it had also granted him a deeper understanding of the essence of lightning.

Time flew by during his secluded cultivation.

Beyond the gorge, however, the situation in Dragon City and throughout the southeastern Heaven Dou Empire grew turbulent beneath the surface because of the battle at the edge of the Thunder Mountain Range.

The Black Flame Demon Flood Dragon Family had lost five Soul Sages and six Soul Emperors in one blow, while two Soul Douluos had been seriously injured. Their strength had been severely damaged. The news could not be completely suppressed and soon spread among the major powers.

News that Yu Boxuan, Patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, had personally acted, brazenly slain eleven high-ranking Soul Masters of the Long Family, and forced back Long Xiao struck every faction like a thunderclap. Everyone realized that the balance maintained for centuries between the two top beast Martial Soul clans had been completely shattered. Their conflict had shifted from the shadows into the open. Though all-out war had not yet erupted, the smell of gunpowder had become overwhelming.

Having suffered such enormous losses, the Long Family naturally refused to let the matter rest. Open and covert probes increased, as did clashes targeting the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's industries and outlying personnel. Under Yu Boxuan's iron-handed control, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan fully contracted its defenses, firmly holding its base in Dragon City while secretly moving troops and gathering strength, displaying an uncompromising stance that it would not hesitate to fight.

The Imperial Royal Family and Spirit Hall also watched the matter closely, but both chose to observe for the time being. As long as the private feud between the two great sects did not harm civilians or affect the Empire's stability, they were happy to watch the tigers fight from the mountain.

Within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan at the center of the vortex, the atmosphere was grim yet united. The severe injuries suffered by Yu Bo Yu and the other two, along with the attack on Yu Yuanchen, had completely stirred the shared hatred of every clansman. Yu Yuanchen's feat of escaping pursuit by a Soul Emperor at the cultivation level of a Soul Ancestor and even injuring one in return—after some embellishment, it spread within a small circle of the clan—greatly inspired the younger generation. He was regarded as the clan's hope and pride.

Deep within Thunder Gorge, Yu Yuanchen seemed entirely unaware of the turmoil outside.

With no distractions in his heart, he guided Thunder God Power throughout his body. He discovered that this wisp of power could not only enhance Soul Skills but also produce incredible effects in healing and Body Tempering. Nourished by the Purple-Gold energy, his damaged Meridians healed at a speed far beyond expectations and even became tougher than before. As his Soul Power flowed, it was constantly purified and compressed. Though his level rose slowly, his foundation became incomparably solid.

His control over lightning had also entered a new realm. With a mere thought, lightning no longer erupted in simple, violent bursts. It could be commanded as easily as his own limbs—condensed, dispersed, reshaped, and even used to imitate simple electric field effects. His range of perception became broader and more precise.

Before he knew it, a month had passed.

On this day, Yu Yuanchen suddenly opened his eyes while sitting in meditation. Purple Gold Lightning flashed through his pupils and vanished. His aura was Integrated, vast yet restrained. His injuries had completely healed, and his Soul Power had thoroughly stabilized at the peak of Level 42, with faint signs of breaking through to Level 43.

He slowly raised his right hand. A wisp of condensed, almost tangible Purple Gold Lightning danced at his fingertips, radiating a palpitating Destructive Wave.

"Power... is still far from enough." He murmured softly. His gaze pierced through the electric arcs curling around the gorge, as though he could see the enemies lying in wait far away, as well as the broader yet more dangerous world that awaited him.