"Second awakening, Golden level!"
When the power dormant within Chen Yi was fully awakened, the atmosphere of the entire battlefield changed dramatically. The giant, who had already been on the advantage, suddenly contracted his pupils at that moment. He could clearly sense that his opponent, who still seemed too young to even speak, was bursting forward at a geometric multiple of speed.
This was not just an increase in soul power, but a sublimation born from the very essence of life.
"This... Is this the legendary second awakening at the gold level?" Tai Tan exclaimed, his voice quivering in disbelief. "This amplification effect is even more exaggerated than the true body of my own martial soul!"
Chen Yi felt the power of qi and blood flow through his body like a river, an excited arc rising at the corner of his lips. Ever since clearing the gold-level second awakening, this was the first time he could unleash his full power in real combat. Each heartbeat was like a war drum, his blood surged with molten force, and his limbs and bones brimmed with an unprecedented explosive energy.
"You old dog, I'll let you be the sacrifice for the first battle of my golden awakening!"
Chen Yi's eyes were filled with golden light. He suddenly looked up at the sky and let out a long howl. Instantly, the Frost-Ending Heavenly Wings on his back unfurled, his entire body transformed into a streamer, and he charged toward the giant at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.
The air was torn apart with a sharp crackling sound.
After all, Tai Tan was a veteran combatant. Though shocked, he quickly calmed his mind. He knew that at this moment, there was no escape — he could only fight to the death. With a furious roar, his voice echoed like an ancient beast, and the eighth soul ring on his body shone brightly — it was his soul skill, "Titan's Wrath."
This clash was completely different from before. The moment fists and thunder collided, a deafening explosion erupted, shockwaves spread around the two, sand and stones flew, and trees within dozens of meters were uprooted.
But the most shocking thing was that both sides were now evenly matched!
Chen Yi was knocked back a few meters by the shock, while Tai Tan retreated three steps, fear surfacing on his face.
"Ha, this is exhilarating!" Chen Yi laughed loudly, his golden pupils burning with fighting spirit. "Old dog, come again!"
Before the words were finished, Chen Yi charged at him again. This time, his attacks were no longer limited to skills. The terrifying power of the golden awakening, the destructive force of thunder, and the swiftness of the Frost-Ending Heavenly Wings were perfectly fused.
Each swing echoed with the sound of wind and thunder, every strike carried the power to collapse mountains and shatter rocks.
Tai Tan gritted his teeth, increasingly terrified. His proud strength was vanishing rapidly, while his opponent's attacks surged like tides.
Soon, the battle entered a white-hot stage.
Supported by the giant's arm, Chen Yi swept his sword, the thunder force attached to the blade flowed into the giant's body along the contact point, paralyzing his muscles temporarily.
Seizing this opening, Chen Yi's left fist charged and condensed golden light, landing a straight punch to the giant's chest.
Tai Tan hurriedly dodged to the side, the punch grazing his ribs, producing a cloud of blood and a crisp cracking sound.
"Bastard!"
Tai Tan sneered and retreated, fear already visible in his eyes. After a long fight, his soul power was nearly exhausted, but Chen Yi seemed to grow braver, as if he had endless energy.
This was the terror of the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone skill — "Wildfire Cannot Destroy the Grass, It Grows Again With the Spring Wind."
Life energy continuously flowed from the soul bone, repairing minor injuries sustained in the fierce battle and replenishing his spent physical strength. Unless it was a fatal wound, Chen Yi could maintain peak condition almost at all times.
Gradually, the tide of battle began to shift. The giant retreated step by step, each block more difficult, his arms numb, bleeding from the wound on his chest, and his breathing became ragged.
But Chen Yi only grew braver as the fight went on, wielding his thunder sword fiercely, his elusive fists and feet completely suppressing the giant.
"Old dog, where's your majesty now?" Chen Yi mocked, tightening his attack.
Tai Tan gritted his teeth, but inside, he had already given up. He knew that turning to run now would only mean a quicker death — turning your back to such a terrifying enemy was suicide.
The battle raged on for half an hour.
Tai Tan's defense finally collapsed.
Chen Yi's eyes flashed, his Frost Ember Heavenly Wings suddenly trembled, and his entire figure circled to the giant's rear at an unbelievable angle. Thunder boomed, all his power condensing at the tip of his sword.
"It's over!"
The purple-gold thunder sword smashed down with world-destroying force!
Tai Tan only had time to gather soul power at his back.
"Boom——!!!"
This collision was even duller than any before. Tai Tan flew forward like a stone from a catapult, crashed thirty meters away, rolled over a dozen times before stopping.
"Wah——"
He fell to the ground, vomiting blood mixed with fragments of ruptured organs. That single strike had severely damaged his insides.
Chen Yi landed slowly, the Frost-Ending Heavenly Wings folding onto his back. He too was bloodstained, his own blood mixed with the giant's.
Golden light flowed across his body, thunder still crackling. In this moment, he looked like an ancient god of war or a demon descended to earth.
Tai Tan struggled to get up, his arm bones shattered, the pain in his organs nearly making him faint. When he looked up and saw Chen Yi's cold golden eyes, all his remaining courage was drowned in terror.
Run! Must escape!
The instinct to survive drove this once-mighty Soul Douluo, who staggered and crawled deeper into the forest, using both hands and feet, heedless of appearances.
"Trying to leave?" Chen Yi sneered. "How could it be so easy?"
Frost Ember Heavenly Wings spread wide again, and in an instant, Chen Yi crossed dozens of meters to block the giant's path.
Tai Tan stared desperately at the youth before him, opening his mouth, perhaps to beg for mercy or to threaten.
But Chen Yi gave him no chance.
The first strike landed on Tai Tan's left knee, the sound of shattered bone echoing clearly, and Tai Tan fell to his knees with a scream.
The second blow struck his face, sending bloodstained teeth flying, choking back any plea for mercy.
The third, final blow — Chen Yi gripped the hilt with both hands, poured all his strength in, and smashed down on the giant's chest!
There was no hesitation.
The giant's pupils dilated, his eyes reflecting the approaching thunder as he muttered his last words in a daze:
"You..."
Crack!
The sound of breaking sternum made one's teeth ache. Tai Tan's chest caved in, and his heart stopped instantly from the thunderous impact.
He opened his mouth wide, eyes bulging, seemingly wanting to say something, but life ebbed away like the tide.
Chen Yi released the thunder blade, the weapon condensed by soul power vanishing into a point of light.
He approached the giant's corpse, leaned over, gripped the massive head with his left hand, pressed his right on the shoulder, and —
Twisted hard.
The sharp snap of broken neck bones echoed in the silent forest.
Chen Yi held the still dripping head, gazed at the dead eyes, and suddenly smiled.
"Looks like I win."
As the words left his lips, Chen Yi's body trembled, nearly staggering. The golden awakening state faded like the tide, the golden light vanished, and his pupils returned to their original color. What followed was an overwhelming weakness — muscles ached, soul power nearly depleted, spirit extremely exhausted.
The earlier dominance had seemed overwhelming, but in truth, it had pushed his potential to the limit every second.
Forcing himself, Chen Yi tossed the giant head to the ground and sat cross-legged. On his right leg, the Blue Silver Emperor soul bone glowed with a gentle green light, pure life energy flowing through his limbs and bones, repairing his damaged body and restoring his depleted soul power.
Time passed minute by minute.
The sun gradually sank westward, the light in the forest softened, and after an indeterminate time, Chen Yi slowly opened his eyes and exhaled the blood-scented, turbid air.
"The true body of a martial soul is truly powerful," he muttered, his voice tired but full of insight. "If I hadn't achieved the second awakening at the gold level and improved myself overall through training with five rings, I'd have had to risk my life to escape today."
This was Chen Yi's most difficult and most rewarding battle since leaving his sect. Under the life-and-death pressure from Tai Tan, his understanding of combat skills, usage of soul techniques, and even cooperation among various trump cards all reached a new level.
Combat techniques that previously existed only in theory were quickly digested and absorbed into real battle.
More importantly, he truly saw the strength of a Soul Douluo. Even if the opponent was a reckless brute relying on strength, the terrifying power blessed by the true body of a martial soul left a deep impression on him.
After resting thoroughly, Chen Yi slowly stood up.
His gaze fell on the head lying on the ground. The giant's eyes were still wide open, the fear and unwillingness from his last moment in life frozen in them.
"Died with eyes open?"
Chen Yi chuckled, bent down, and lifted the head again.
"Then let me guide you to your final scene."
Frost Ember Heavenly Wings spread behind him. Carrying the blood-dripping head, he soared into the sky and flew toward Heaven Dou City.
…
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