Chapter 6: Undercurrents Surging, Secluded Cultivation
Long Xiao fled, leaving behind a mess and the pungent smell of blood. Yu Boxuan stood suspended in mid-air, his Martial Soul slowly receding, but his tightly furrowed brows and the lingering anxiety in his eyes showed that the turmoil in his heart was far from settled. He landed on the ground, his gaze sweeping over the corpses of the Black Flame Flood Dragon Clan members with cold eyes, devoid of any pity. The five of them followed the traces of the great battle to search for the three.
"Split up and search! If they're alive, I want to see them; if they're dead... I want to see their bodies!" His voice carried a hint of imperceptible hoarseness as he once again ordered the four Elders. Although he held great hope for the survival of Yu Boyu and the others based on his grandson's description and the traces at the scene—the moment he saw Long Xiao (Yu Boxuan didn't know Long Xiao had only just arrived), his heart immediately sank to rock bottom. Facing an ambush by a Titled Douluo and two Soul Douluos, the chances of the three surviving were minuscule—but as long as there was even a shred of possibility, he would never give up.
The four Elders solemnly accepted the order, immediately pushing their Spiritual Power to the limit like the most precise radar, scanning every inch of the land that had been ravaged beyond recognition by Martial Soul Abilities. They overturned crimson rocks and probed deep ravines, not letting go of even the faintest trace of Life aura or Soul Power residue.
Time passed in a silent and anxious search.
Finally, the Healing System Elder who possessed the Staff of Life Martial Soul discovered a faint energy fluctuation beneath a mountain hollow that had been half-collapsed by thunder. He immediately called out to Yu Boxuan and the other three Elders.
The five of them worked together to quickly clear away the accumulated rubble and scorched earth. The sight that met their eyes made even Yu Boxuan, who was accustomed to Life and death, have his pupils shrink violently as his heart twisted in pain.
Yu Boyu and the two Guest Elders were sitting back-to-back, their clothes tattered and covered in scorch marks and lacerations. Especially Yu Boyu, who had a shocking black claw mark that almost pierced through his torso—a fatal wound left by Long Xiao's Black Flame Flood Dragon. Their breath was feeble, and their Soul Power fluctuations were extremely weak, like candles flickering in the wind.
But, they were still alive!
Surrounding the three was an extremely thin yet exceptionally resilient blue light membrane, with tiny electric arcs struggling to flow across it. This defensive barrier, supported by the last of their combined Soul Power, was their final protection after falling unconscious.
"Boyu!" Yu Boxuan lunged forward, his powerful Soul Power carefully enveloping the three to examine their injuries. The situation was dire: many Meridians were broken, their internal organs were severely damaged, and their Soul Power was nearly exhausted. For Yu Boyu in particular, the flame of Life had already grown dim.
"Quick! Save them at all costs!" Yu Boxuan's voice carried an unquestionable decisiveness as he looked toward the Healing System Elder.
That Elder did not dare to delay and immediately released his Dew of Life Martial Soul, which was a cluster of emerald-green light imbued with majestic vitality. The seventh Soul Ring beneath him shone brightly as he directly activated his Martial Soul True Body. The emerald light transformed into a pillar of light, enveloping Yu Boyu and the others. The rich Life aura was like sweet rain, nourishing their parched Meridians and damaged bodies, stabilizing their Life essence that was on the verge of dissipating.
The other two Elders stood guard vigilantly around them while assisting in channeling the energy.
As Yu Boxuan watched the three, whose faces had regained a hint of color under the nourishment of Life energy, his tense heartstrings finally relaxed slightly, but the coldness in his eyes grew even more intense. The Long Family's actions had truly touched his reverse scale!
"Long Xiao... Long Family... This matter will absolutely not end here!" Killing intent surged in his heart, but as the Clan Chief, he had to weigh the overall situation. Right now, ensuring the safety of Boyu's group and Yuanchen, and stabilizing the Family, was the top priority.
Under the Healing System Elder's full effort, the lives of Yu Boyu and the others were finally temporarily saved. However, a complete recovery would not be achieved overnight. Especially for Yu Boyu, he would likely need a very long time to recuperate and might even be left with permanent hidden injuries.
"Return to the clan!" Yu Boxuan made a prompt decision, personally using his Soul Power to lift the three unconscious men. Together with the three Elders, they turned into four streaks of light, returning to Dragon City at the fastest speed.
...
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan estate, side hall of the main palace.
After taking the healing Medicinal Pills treasured by the Family, Yu Yuanchen was sitting cross-legged to regulate his breath and stabilize his internal injuries. Although he was worried about his second grandfather and the two Elders, he also understood that restoring his own strength was the greatest help he could give the Family at this moment.
Suddenly, he sensed the return of the powerful and familiar auras of his grandfather and the three Elders, interspersed with three extremely weak but definitely present auras.
"Second Grandfather and the others... are back!" Yu Yuanchen snapped his eyes open, a flash of surprise and joy in his eyes, and he immediately stood up to go out and meet them.
When he saw Yu Boyu and the other two, who were carefully supported by his grandfather's Soul Power, unconscious and with extremely withered auras, the joy in his heart was instantly replaced by heaviness. Especially the hideous wound on his second grandfather's chest caused his fists to suddenly clench, his nails digging deep into his palms.
"Grandfather, Second Grandfather and the others..." Yu Yuanchen's voice was low.
"Their lives are not in danger, but their injuries are extremely severe and require long-term rest." Yu Boxuan placed the three in a quiet room that had already been prepared, with the Healing System Elder and several support system Soul Masters taking turns to look after them. He looked at Yu Yuanchen and said in a heavy voice, "Chener, you have done well enough. If you hadn't risked your Life to break through and bring back the news, the three of them... would likely not have even had this slim chance of survival."
Yu Yuanchen remained silent, knowing his grandfather was comforting him. But seeing Second Grandfather and the others in such a state because they were protecting him, a strong desire to become stronger and the flames of revenge burned fiercely in his heart.
"What about the Long Family's side..." Yu Yuanchen asked.
A cold light flashed in Yu Boxuan's eyes. "Except for Long Xiao himself and two Elders, all the people he brought have been left behind. This debt is temporarily recorded. After suffering such losses, the Long Family won't dare to invade openly for a short time, but their secret methods will certainly not be few."
He looked at Yu Yuanchen with a solemn tone. "Chener, the talent and strength you displayed this time have completely aroused the Long Family's wariness, and may even draw more hidden prying eyes. Until you have enough strength to protect yourself, you must never leave Dragon City easily again, especially not venturing into danger alone."
Yu Yuanchen nodded solemnly. "I understand."
"The priority now is for you and Boyu's group to recover as soon as possible," Yu Boxuan pondered. "Your injuries haven't healed yet, and your Soul Power needs to be stabilized. From today on, you will enter the deepest part of 'Thunder Canyon' for secluded cultivation. That is the place with the densest thunder element in the Family, which will be of great benefit to your healing and cultivation. I will personally protect you from outside, and all the Family's resources will be prioritized for you."
"Yes, Grandfather!" Yu Yuanchen did not decline. He knew well that only by becoming strong as quickly as possible could he deal with the future storms, protect the Family, and demand the blood debt back from the Long Family.
That day, Yu Yuanchen once again entered the depths of Thunder Canyon, to that familiar scorched stone platform surrounded by electric arcs all year round. Only this time, his state of mind was different. There was less of the previous exploration and confusion, and more of a heavy responsibility and a firm goal.
He sat cross-legged, discarded distracting thoughts, and fully operated his Meditation Method. The rich and active thunder-attribute heaven and earth Origin Qi in the gorge frantically surged into his body as if being pulled. Although the newborn "Thunder God Power" was weak, it seemed to become more active in this environment, spontaneously guiding the surging Origin Qi to temper his Physical Body more efficiently and repair his damaged Meridians, especially his legs which had been overdrawn earlier.
He no longer obsessed over the "Monarch Over the World" concept that could not be immediately realized, but instead immersed his entire mind in the comprehension of the "Thunder God Power" and the polishing of his own Soul Power. The fourth Soul Ring brought not just a Soul skills, but also a deeper level of understanding of the essence of lightning.
Time flew by during his secluded cultivation.
Outside, the situation in Dragon City and even the entire southeast of the Heaven Dou Empire surged with undercurrents due to the battle on the edge of the Thunder Mountain Range.
The Black Flame Flood Dragon Clan lost five Soul Saints and six Soul Emperors all at once, and two Soul Douluos were severely injured. It could be said that their Foundation was shaken and their strength greatly diminished. The news could not be completely suppressed and quickly spread among the major powers.
The news of Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Chief Yu Boxuan personally taking action, boldly killing eleven high-level Soul Masters of the Long Family and forcing Long Xiao back, was like a clap of thunder that shook all parties. Everyone realized that the balance maintained for hundreds of years between the two top Beast Spirit families had been completely shattered. The conflict had shifted from the shadows to the open. Although a full-scale war had not yet broken out, the smell of gunpowder was already extremely strong.
Having suffered such a big loss, the Long Family was naturally unwilling to let it go. Friction involving probes, both open and secret, targeting the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's industries and peripheral personnel began to increase. Under Yu Boxuan's iron-fisted control, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan fully retracted its defenses, holding its base in Dragon City while secretly deploying troops and accumulating strength, putting on a tough posture of not hesitating to fight.
The Imperial Family and Spirit Hall also maintained high attention to this, but both chose to wait and see for the time being. As long as the private grievances of the two Sects did not affect civilians or the stability of the Empire, they were happy to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.
Inside the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan at the center of the vortex, the atmosphere was solemn and united. The severe injuries of Yu Boyu and the others, along with the attack on Yu Yuanchen, completely aroused the shared hatred of all clan members. The story of Yu Yuanchen, with his Spirit Ancestor cultivation, not only successfully escaping the pursuit of a Soul Emperor but even counter-injuring one (which was circulated within a small range of the Family after some embellishment), greatly inspired the younger generation and was seen as the hope and pride of the Family.
In the depths of Thunder Canyon, Yu Yuanchen was oblivious to the turmoil outside.
With a focused mind, he guided the "Thunder God Power" to flow through his entire body. He discovered that this trace of power could not only buff Martial Soul Abilities but also had incredible effects in healing and Body Tempering. Under the nourishment of the purple-gold energy, his damaged Meridians healed at a speed far exceeding expectations and even became more resilient. During the flow, his Soul Power was also continuously purified and compressed. Although his Rank increased slowly, his Foundation was built incomparably solid.
His control over thunder also entered a new level. With a slight thought, the lightning was no longer a simple violent release but could be commanded as easily as his own arms—condensing, dispersing, changing forms, and even simulating some simple electric field effects, with a wider and more refined perception range.
Unknowingly, a month had passed.
On this day, the sitting Yu Yuanchen suddenly opened his eyes. A purple-gold electric light flashed through his pupils and vanished. His aura was whole, majestic yet restrained. His injuries were fully recovered, and his Soul Power was completely stabilized at the Peak of Rank 42, with faint signs of breaking through to Rank 43.
He slowly raised his right hand, and a strand of purple-gold electric arc, condensed as if solid, jumped at his fingertips, emitting a heart-palpitating destructive fluctuation.
"Strength... is still far from enough," he whispered to himself, his gaze piercing through the electric arcs swirling in the gorge, as if seeing the enemies lurking in the distance and the broader but more dangerous world of the future.