The Tyranny of Strength

Xiao Chen had planned it all deliberately. It was not that he lacked exquisite techniques, but to completely overwhelm this barbarian expert in terms of momentum, he had to suppress him with the very power the other man trusted most. Even if he could not kill him, he would leave an indelible shadow on his spirit.

There was no need for mercy toward an enemy. He would defeat him forever—in his very soul.

Xiao Chen wanted to shatter Kai'ao. He did not wish to leave a great隐患 for the future. Now that they had become enemies, for his own safety, the most effective method was to annihilate him completely.

But the ancient beast-souls—the divine wolf and the fierce tiger—that coiled around Kai'ao roared without cease, erupting in waves of terrifying fluctuation. They protected Kai'ao's body like an impenetrable divine armor, and a torrent of power surged toward Kai'ao's right leg, trying to shake Xiao Chen's grip loose.

While Xiao Chen and Kai'ao fought, hundreds of meters away, the Forest Clan youth Yaluode had also endured a battle. At the most critical moment, an expert shrouded in faint light had blocked his path, preventing him from rescuing Kai'ao. Someone clearly wanted to use Xiao Chen's hand to kill the barbarian.

It was a mysterious Spellmaster, who harried Yaluode until Kai'ao had fallen into the direst danger. Only then did Yaluode wound his opponent and rush over, though he himself had taken light injuries.

Endless vines and trees spread rapidly across the forest floor like green angry waves, rolling toward Xiao Chen. The three skeletons, who had been watching from the side, saw someone enter the fray. They transformed into three streams of white light and charged at Yaluode.

The dreadful thorny vines and tough creepers gave Xiao Chen some trouble, but he was not afraid. He simply used Kai'ao's body as a weapon and smashed it into the thorns and vines.

The thorny vines retreated. The creepers surged wildly, engulfing Kai'ao's body. A green light emanated from the vines, containing boundless spiritual power—the very essence of Yaluode's strength.

The combined power of Yaluode and Kai'ao finally forced Xiao Chen to release his grip. But as he let go, Xiao Chen drove downward with savage force, smashing through a patch of vines and bringing Kai'ao's body into the most intimate contact with the hard ground. The forest floor trembled violently.

Kai'ao was saved. He did not recklessly charge forward again but quickly retreated with the vines.

On the other side, the three skeletons had actually reached Yaluode's side. A moment ago, most of Yaluode's spiritual power had been channeled into the vines near Xiao Chen, and in that instant the skeletons had nearly wounded him.

Qin Guangwang, Yanluowang, and Lunhuiwang all unleashed Dark Netherfire. The dreadful yin flame burned away most of the defensive vegetation. Now that his spiritual power had fully returned, Yaluode calmly trapped the three skeletons. But at that moment, Xiao Chen charged over, and Yaluode was forced to retreat quickly and rejoin Kai'ao.

A brief stillness. The two sides faced each other in the mountain forest. The distant onlookers held their breath and watched intently.

Kai'ao growled in low fury, his eyes gleaming with an eerie green light. This was the awakening of his bestial nature. Today he had felt immense humiliation, a grievous blow to his pride. He wanted to charge forward together with Yaluode.

But Yaluode held him back, speaking in a low voice. "We underestimated him. A true lesson. We cannot fight him any longer now. There are people in the shadows eyeing us covetously. That was why I was delayed and could not rescue you sooner. We are already wounded. We cannot afford to aggravate our injuries by fighting him. If we do, those in the shadows may strike at us. Today, let us withdraw."

Xiao Chen joined the three skeletons, facing the two young experts ahead. He knew he had no chance of victory—neither of them was much weaker than him, and his skeleton companions were not as strong. One-on-one, he feared neither, but in a chaotic melee, the danger was real.

In that moment, Xiao Chen's violent aura gradually faded. He stood there motionless, his tall frame slowly exuding an air of ethereal detachment.

Yaluode's expression shifted slightly. Clearly, this opponent was not just overwhelmingly powerful. From the aura he now emitted, that "brute strength" had only been one facet of his dominance.

"Let today's matter rest here!" Yaluode said, pulling the unwilling Kai'ao away swiftly.

Xiao Chen said nothing. He watched them go in calm silence. Do not trouble others unless troubled, but if others press him, he would retaliate with the sharpest counterstrike. This was his law of survival.

This battle had completely overturned Kai'ao and Yaluode's perception of Xiao Chen. They had never imagined this opponent could be this strong. As Kai'ao raged, he felt his pride trampled into the dirt.

Never underestimate an enemy! Yaluode summarized with some chagrin, and in his malice, he hoped that Yan Qingcheng and Rand would make the same mistake.

Xiao Chen stood still for a long time. Only when all the prying gazes from the shadows had vanished did he let out a deep breath. He had suffered some light injuries, but it did not matter. His life essence was vigorous, and he would recover soon.

To dominate with brute force was true power. If his Central Court acupoint had not been divinely transformed and his cultivation improved, this encounter might have been dangerous.

After a short rest, Xiao Chen and the three skeletons continued forward. A few hundred meters ahead, he finally understood why Yaluode had been delayed and failed to rescue Kai'ao in time. In this area, he found traces of Yaluode's battle with another.

Another expert was lurking nearby, hoping to use Xiao Chen's hand to eliminate Kai'ao. Xiao Chen frowned slightly. The situation on Dragon Island was growing more complicated. Clearly, the true chaos of slaughter had begun.

The strong live, the weak die. This would be the law of survival on Dragon Island.

Undulating mountains. Xiao Chen and the three skeletons crossed a low hill and saw a valley ahead. Here, the traces of wild beasts noticeably thinned, and the surroundings grew gradually quiet.

Xiao Chen began to examine the environment carefully. After all, even the Scarlet Demon Ape was unwilling to approach this area, which meant danger definitely existed. Sure enough, at the entrance to the valley, he discovered many enormous footprints, each a full meter long!