Yi Chen was immensely powerful. They had no hope of victory.
They feared Yi Chen's revenge!
"Get lost! I won't kill you, but if I find out you've leaked anything, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Yi Chen threatened.
Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo dared not linger. They hurriedly turned and fled.
Yi Chen had won this battle decisively!
"Whew!" Yi Chen let out a long breath. His whole body felt weak and sore, nearly drained of all strength, and his face was deathly pale.
Fortunately, his stellar Soul Skill was powerful enough to weaken Tang Chen somewhat, allowing Yi Chen to wound him.
Yi Chen sat cross-legged and regulated his breathing, restoring his soul's strength and recuperating his mind.
That brief instant had taken an enormous toll on Yi Chen, leaving his Soul Power severely depleted.
Moreover, he had suffered serious injuries, and his body had borne far too great a burden.
Thankfully, Yi Chen's body had powerful regenerative abilities. Otherwise, it would have collapsed long ago.
Although Tang Chen was badly wounded, his Soul Ring had not yet been destroyed. Yi Chen had to destroy it, or it would surely become a source of trouble someday.
He swiftly activated his stellar Soul Skill, directing that wisp of sword intent toward Tang Chen's Soul Ring.
To Yi Chen's surprise, however, the sword intent was blocked the moment it touched Tang Chen's Soul Ring.
The Soul Ring released a brilliant black light, illuminating the entire valley and turning the dark night bright.
Yi Chen was deeply shocked. "How is that possible?!" he exclaimed in utter disbelief.
His Soul Skill had actually been blocked. Yi Chen had never encountered anything like this.
He immediately tried activating his Soul Skill again, but the result remained unchanged. It could not shatter the Soul Ring at all; it was even swallowed up by it.
Rumble!
Suddenly, a strange phenomenon erupted. A surging wave of air swept outward, whipping the surrounding trees into a swaying frenzy and sending sand and stones flying through the sky.
Pitch-black flames began burning over Tang Chen's body, as though he had caught fire.
"What is that?" Yi Chen's face filled with shock, and an intense sense of danger rose within him.
He sensed that Tang Chen was in a berserk state.
Bang! Bang!
The black flames burning on Tang Chen spread rapidly, covering his entire body in the blink of an eye, as though he had been enveloped in a mass of roaring fire.
At that moment, eerie black flames poured from Tang Chen's skin, bones, internal organs, and every other part of him.
Those black flames contained an extremely overbearing, chilling power.
"Argh..." Tang Chen instantly began screaming in agony. His body twisted and trembled, and his face twitched.
Tang Chen's screams made everyone in the valley's hair stand on end.
Yi Chen stared at Tang Chen in bewilderment and uncertainty, unable to understand what kind of power this was.
Still, Tang Chen looked utterly wretched now, like a candle that had been set alight.
Yi Chen's sword intent could not destroy his Soul Ring, but the black flames on his body possessed tremendous power.
In mere moments, Tang Chen turned into a heap of charcoal. Not a trace of his remains survived, not even ash-he had been burned into nothingness.
Tang Hao gulped, his face turning ashen with fear.
Yi Chen withdrew his gaze, glanced at him, and said calmly, "I know you're furious!"
The other man immediately fell silent.
Yi Chen continued indifferently, "Since you chose to oppose me, you should have been prepared to die."
Hearing this, Tang Hao stumbled back several steps in panic. He stared at Yi Chen with terrified eyes, his heart filled with fear.
He knew perfectly well that once Yi Chen struck, death would be certain. No one could escape.
"However, I'll give you a way to live. Cripple your own limbs, and I'll spare your life!" Yi Chen wore a smile and looked harmless, but his eyes were cold and merciless, radiating a chilling aura that made it hard to breathe.
Tang Hao froze where he stood, his expression extremely ugly as he hesitated.
If he crippled all four limbs, how would he be any different from a useless wreck?!
Seeing Tang Hao remain silent, Yi Chen frowned and said coldly, "If you refuse to cripple your limbs, I'll kill you right now!"
Yi Chen's vicious gaze fell on Tang Hao, frightening him into backing away in panic, his face deathly pale.
Tang Chen knew perfectly well that Yi Chen was not joking.
If he did not cripple his own limbs, Yi Chen would kill him without hesitation.
"Fine! I agree!" In the end, Tang Chen gave in.
Tang Hao gritted his teeth. "As long as you don't kill me, I'll do anything-even serve as your ox or horse."
Yi Chen nodded expressionlessly.
He had always followed his whims, doing whatever he pleased.
Yi Chen did not need slaves, for he had his own pride.
Crack! Yi Chen raised his hand and brought it down in a chopping strike, shattering both of Tang Chen's kneecaps without hesitation.
The excruciating pain made Tang Chen scream. His body curled up and trembled as blood sprayed out.
Now that the moment had come, Tang Hao regretted it after all!
His lips moved with difficulty as he pleaded in humiliation, "Let me go. I'll give you money-as much as you want."
"Oh?" Yi Chen wore a faint, mocking smile.
"Do you think I'm short of money? Heh, I don't want your life, either. Cripple your hands and feet, then get out of here. I'll let bygones be bygones over what happened today. How does that sound?" Yi Chen asked with a smile.
"I won't... I won't destroy my cultivation foundation!" Tang Hao shrieked, his eyes bloodshot.
He was a genius of the Clear Sky Sect's direct lineage, a Soul Douluo with extraordinary talent. How could he abandon the very foundation of his cultivation?
If his hands and feet were crippled, even staying alive would likely prove difficult!
Yi Chen smiled contemptuously. "You have no right to refuse. If I weren't afraid of sullying Ah Yin's eyes, I would have killed you long ago. A filthy man like you only pollutes the air by remaining in this world!"
Happiness appeared on Ah Yin's face. She gazed at Yi Chen with tender sweetness, deep love filling her eyes.
"You two... no, you pair of filthy lovers! How dare you humiliate me like this?!" Tang Hao roared furiously, his eyes filled with hatred.
Smack!
"You dare insult Ah Yin? You're courting death!"
Yi Chen's eyes turned cold. Then he slapped him again, leaving him utterly dazed.
Several more slaps followed, knocking Tang Hao's teeth out and sending blood gushing from his nostrils.
"Mmph... mmph!" Tang Hao struggled in agony, low, beastlike growls rising from his throat.
Thud!
"Stop making noise!" Yi Chen raised his leg and kicked Tang Hao to the ground. "Since you're unwilling, I'll do it myself!"
With that, he showed no courtesy and seized Tang Hao's arms!
A series of crisp cracks rang out. The sound of joints wrenching out of place and twisting made everyone's hair stand on end.
Yi Chen showed no mercy, pounding Tang Hao's body with punch after punch and shattering every rib.
He did not do this solely because of Tang Hao's verbal insults.
In truth, some people in this world were indeed utterly selfish and incomparably cruel-even more terrifying than devils.
If a man like Tang Hao remained in this world, he would certainly harm those around him, perhaps even bringing calamity upon generation after generation.