Facing the mighty Tai Tan, Clan Master of the Strength Clan, with soul power at eighty-five ranks, Chen Yi was surging with fighting spirit but far from careless. Even a lion uses its full strength—his opponent was a seasoned powerhouse, a Soul Douluo with endless killing intent.
Thus, the moment the giant charged in fury, Chen Yi entered his peak combat state, soul power flowing like a river. His first, second, and third soul rings under his feet lit up almost out of order, purple, purple, black light intertwining like the god of thunder.
Chen Yi didn't choose to play around or tempt fate—he wanted to test the "Hercules" quality directly.
"Come!"
A clear yet infinitely powerful shout erupted from Chen Yi's throat. His right fist clenched, purple-gold lightning wrapped around it like liquid, condensing into a blazing thunderball, and he met Tai Tan's fist head-on.
BOOM!!!
The two fists clashed violently, like two mountain peaks colliding, a dull, thunderous boom exploding into a visible circular shockwave, sweeping away all fallen leaves and pebbles within dozens of meters, and stripping a layer from the ground.
Chen Yi felt an overwhelming, pure, terrifying force from Tai Tan's arm—even with three soul skills' blessings and the Thor's dominant body, he couldn't fully counteract it. He snorted, blown uncontrollably backward, his feet gouging two deep trenches over ten meters long into the earth before finally stopping, his chest filled with qi and blood.
But on the opposite side, even Tai Tan—the power-proclaimed Soul Douluo—shook, taking a half-step back with a "boom." Tai Tan's smile froze instantly, changing to a look of disbelief. He looked down at his huge fist, then up at the slightly breathless Chen Yi in the distance, as if doubting his own senses.
With his strength and the Hercules martial spirit, even a newly titled Douluo wouldn't easily match him in a pure contest of strength. But the kid before him, only level 58, not only took his punch with anger but even forced him back half a step?!
"How… How is this possible?!"
Tai Tan murmured, the absurdity overwhelming his anger for a moment.
"Hahahaha! Good! Enjoy yourself!"
Unlike the stunned Tai Tan, the outcome excited Chen Yi—he had lit his blood bar, so today, Tai Tan's head was his.
Before Tai Tan could recover, Chen Yi shot forward, thunder exploding underfoot, launching a second charge. If strength was no natural moat, he was happy to fight!
"Don't know life from death!"
Tai Tan snapped out of it as Chen Yi attacked, his eyes turning icy cold. To be pushed back even half a step by a mere Soul King was a disgrace.
"Second Soul Skill: Explosive Strength!"
Tai Tan roared, his second soul ring shining, already robust muscles swelling further, green veins writhing under his skin like dragons, his strength surging again. This time he held nothing back, intent on crushing this arrogant brat.
Even facing the terrifying force that could topple mountains, Chen Yi's charge didn't slow, his eyes sharp, calculating the precise timing.
As Tai Tan's fist, empowered with "Explosive Strength," was about to land—
From inside Chen Yi's left leg, dazzling platinum light burst forth, instantly condensing into a sharp arc-shaped blade of light whose edge gleamed like diamond.
"Diamond Mammoth Left Leg Soul Bone Skill—Diamond Crystal Ground Cleaver!"
Chen Yi twisted midair, pivoting on his left foot, swinging a platinum light blade with his right foot like a battle axe, slashing diagonally across Tai Tan's chest and abdomen.
"What?!"
Tai Tan's pupils shrank! That platinum light blade gave off a tremendous sense of threat. Hastily, with no time to switch to defense, the light blade struck fast and skillfully, his crisis sense making him react instantly.
"Sixth Soul Skill: Ultimate Vajra!"
A deep black sixth soul ring flared as Tai Tan's skin was instantly coated in a thick layer of gold, transforming as if into a statue carved by Vajra, his defense surging several levels. With a roar, he crossed his arms imbued with the "Ultimate Vajra!" power to block the slash!
CLANG!!!
No longer a dull impact, but a sharp, metallic rending sound as the platinum blade struck Tai Tan's golden arms, scattering dazzling sparks. The impact forced Tai Tan's massive body back two steps, the earth cracking beneath his feet. The dark gold glow on his crossed arms dimmed slightly, with fine cracks visible. Even more shocking, a gash ran from his left shoulder to his right rib, blood gushing and staining his gray clothes.
If not for the "Ultimate Vajra!" defense and true body martial spirit, this blow would have gutted him!
"Cough…" Tai Tan snorted, pain flashing across his face. Looking down at his chest wound, his eyes dulled from pain, then rapidly turned to monstrous humiliation and fury.
He, an 85th-level Soul Douluo and clan leader, had been forced to use his life-saving sixth soul skill and still took a heavy wound from a level 58 Soul King boy?!
Chen Yi landed softly, looked at the wound on Tai Tan's chest, and a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes. "The gap in soul power is still too great. An eighty-fifth rank's foundation and defense, plus the sixth soul skill, really aren't easy to break. The Diamond Mammoth soul bone is strong, but my soul power alone is not enough."
"Diamond Mammoth's breath…"
Tai Tan slowly looked up, tearing his gaze from the wound to Chen Yi, especially his glittering left leg, eyes nearly palpable with greed, overriding his anger and humiliation.
"Boy… you really have good stuff, the gods are treating me, Tai Tan, well!"
Chen Yi's eyes turned icy with killing intent, his fourth soul ring's deep black light flashing.
"Die!"
Chen Yi donned his Thunder Armor, wielded his Thunder Sword, transformed into a humanoid lightning bolt, and attacked Tai Tan head-on, raising his sword with a thousand-pound force to cleave Tai Tan's skull.
"Arrogant!"
Tai Tan roared in fury, ignoring his chest wound, swinging his massive, gold-shrouded fist at Chen Yi.
CLANG! CLANG! BOOM!
In an instant, the sounds of metal, iron, and energy explosions echoed endlessly through the dense forest, as purple-gold lightning clashed with the dark gold giant, staggering, separating, and colliding again. Thunderous clashes and mighty force swept through, felling ancient trees, smashing rocks, pitting the ground with holes of various depths.
Chen Yi made the most of his Thunder Blade, slashing, sweeping, and striking with lightning speed around Tai Tan, targeting wounds, abdomen, and joints. Tai Tan relied on force and defense to counter, his fists fierce, forcing Chen Yi to dodge and defend repeatedly.
After dozens of rounds, Chen Yi, relying on speed and skill, had left several bloody wounds on Tai Tan, but he himself was severely drained, his Thunder Armor repeatedly flickering under Tai Tan's immense power.
The more Tai Tan fought, the more fear he felt—this boy was tougher and more resourceful than he'd imagined, the mysterious thunder and lightning even more dangerous, often slowing his moves.
"Can't let this drag on!"
Chen Yi's mind whirred, his eyes turning grim.
"Fifth Soul Skill, Profound Thunder Annihilation!"
"Blood Art: Blood Transforms Yin and Yang!"
Chen Yi's speed surged again, dodging Tai Tan's heavy blow, his figure flashing behind and slamming his heavy spear, surging with qi and blood, at Tai Tan's back near the heart with the force to split mountains and seas.
Tai Tan, not confused, roared, summoned his "Ultimate Vajra!" to the limit for defense, twisted to strike back, intending wound for wound.
BANG!
A dull shock sounded, the annihilation thunder and dark gold defense colliding fiercely with a terrifying grinding sound. Tai Tan's fist grazed Chen Yi's Thunder Armor, sparks flying, as Chen Yi's heavy shovel slammed Tai Tan's back near his heart!
BANG!
Tai Tan's massive body was struck by thunder, thrown forward, spitting blood as he rolled dozens of meters before stopping, his back scorched black. Chen Yi was also shocked by the counterattack, retreating several steps, his Thunder Armor flickering and dim.
Tai Tan staggered to his feet, wiped the blood from his mouth, his anger gone, replaced by extreme coldness and madness. He stared at Chen Yi, his voice hoarse: "Fine… very fine… Boy, you've completely pissed me off."
"Seventh Soul Skill: Martial Spirit True Body!"
BOOM!
The deep black light of Tai Tan's seventh soul ring burst out, his already massive body soaring instantly into a ten-meter-tall giant ape, covered in thick golden hair, transformed into a terrifying ape. The giant ape's eyes were blood red, fangs bared, his whole body exuding a suffocatingly fierce aura and mountain-like pressure. This was the true body of the martial spirit, greatly enhancing strength, defense, and soul power recovery.
"Let's see how strong your martial spirit true body is!"
Chen Yi's eyes grew solemn, but there was no fear. He moved his heart, his clothes torn at the back as the Frost-Ending Heavenly Wings of his external soul bone spread wide. With a flap, Chen Yi's figure rose from the ground, floating in the air. He took a deep breath, pouring his remaining soul power desperately into the Frost-Ending Heavenly Wings and Thunder Blade, releasing a chaotic surge of power.
"Die!"
The giant ape, now a monster, let out an earth-shaking roar, its massive palms covering the sky, the wind bending all the trees below. Chen Yi howled back, his frost and ash wings vibrating violently as he charged like a shooting star straight at the huge palm, compressing all his remaining power into this collision.
RUMBLE!!!
An unprecedented explosion echoed over the forest, an energy storm sweeping hundreds of meters. Chen Yi flew back at even greater speed, crashing into the dense forest like a cannonball, breaking dozens of towering trees, his Frost-Ending Heavenly Wings shrouded in smoke and sawdust, barely stopping.
"Ugh, cough, cough…" Chen Yi coughed violently, spitting a mouthful of bloody phlegm, his face pale as paper. His Thunder Armor was completely shattered, his Frost-Ending Heavenly Wings limp and gray. If the "Mysterious Thunder Annihilation" soul skill's powerful protection hadn't triggered automatically at the last second, offsetting most of the impact, he would have been crushed in that palm. The martial spirit true body was truly the real divide for soul masters—too strong!
As the smoke and dust cleared, the giant ape's form reappeared, still standing, but with several new wounds, bones showing on its right arm where Chen Yi's purple-gold Dread Claw had struck.
"Heh… heh…"
The giant ape let out a dull laugh, staring at Chen Yi with mixed greed and killing intent. "Boy… feels good… truly endless… these wings, this thunder and lightning, these soul bones… Unfortunately, they'll all be mine soon!"
Chen Yi stood with his Thunder Blade, wiping the blood from his mouth, a hideous yet cheerful grin instead of despair. He looked at Tai Tan as if about to catch his prey. "Old dog… you think this is the end?"
In the next moment, under the suddenly contracted gaze of Tai Tan, Chen Yi's qi and blood surged like a volcano, dazzling golden light blooming under his skin.
"Second Golden Awakening—Activate!"