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Compared to the rest of the Shrek Team, Yang Xiong had already taken leave and requested a full five-day vacation.
In Yang Xiong's estimation, with the current strength of the Shrek Team, they were more than capable of ranking in the top five of the Tian Dou region. That meant they would likely advance to the finals in Spirit City.
Thinking about the secrets he carried—especially the external soul bones on his hands in the form of dragon claws—Yang Xiong realized that if he went to Spirit City, it would become difficult to handle. Even Ning Fengzhi might not be able to suppress the covetous eyes of others.
Yang Xiong directly requested leave from Flender and Yu Xiaogang, citing that he had encountered some minor issues in his cultivation and needed to go out for a while.
Yu Xiaogang initially hesitated, even offering to help analyze the problem, but Flender immediately approved without hesitation. Although Yu Xiaogang was the team leader, Flender remained the most respected figure in everyone's eyes.
From his recent observations, Yang Xiong noticed that Dugu Bo, the old man, had been attending matches every day. After each evening's tactical analysis, he personally took Dugu Yan away. This suggested that Dugu Bo likely hadn't had time to visit the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well recently.
Yang Xiong and Lin Gong traveled quickly, reaching the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in just half a day.
Lin Gong grumbled: "Xiao Xiong, the competition is going so well. Why did you suddenly decide to come to this desolate place? Is there something special about it?"
Yang Xiong chuckled: "This is a treasure trove, though Dugu Bo doesn't recognize its value. It can resolve a hidden issue I'm facing and make me even stronger."
Upon arriving at the outer perimeter of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Lin Gong remained outside the toxic fog. Though his strength was formidable, he couldn't traverse the poison array.
However, the two had already coordinated their plan. If Dugu Bo returned early, Lin Gong would release a large-scale soul skill to alert Yang Xiong.
When Yang Xiong descended along the rope into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well once again, he found that the site had changed dramatically since his last visit nearly three years ago.
Dugu Bo had clearly tidied up the area, even replanting some poisonous herbs. The medicinal plants here seemed to grow exceptionally fast. The barren land Yang Xiong had left behind was now lush and green, with many new spirit grasses sprouting.
Yang Xiong didn't waste time on these details. With Dugu Bo absent, he planned to use the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to refine his body again. At the very least, he needed to quickly fuse the two external soul bones on his palms. If others in Spirit City discovered them, it would lead to trouble. After all, there were many Title Douluos there, and who knew what schemes they might harbor.
Using the ice and fire energies of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to fuse the external soul bones was the only method Yang Xiong could think of at this stage. Moreover, it was rare for Dugu Bo to be absent recently.
Yang Xiong stripped off his clothes and leaped straight into the dual springs of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Though the corrosive effects of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had diminished after his previous training, possibly due to the depletion of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, he still experienced significant pain.
Compared to his body, his hands submerged in the springs suffered immensely. His right palm felt as though it were engulfed in flames, while his left palm felt encased in ice. This was an excruciating sensation he hadn't felt in a long time.
Clenching his teeth, Yang Xiong ignored the pain and submerged himself entirely in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
As time passed, his hands felt as though they were melting. The pain even surpassed his first experience with body refinement. Especially in his ten fingers, which were deeply connected to his heart, scorching heat emanated from one hand and freezing cold from the other. These two sensations couldn't complement or cancel each other out—they clashed painfully.
Yang Xiong gritted his teeth, silently circulating the Yin-Yang Meditation Technique, enduring the torment.
After two full days, Yang Xiong finally crawled out of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. By then, his hands had undergone a dramatic transformation.
The two external soul bones remained on his hands, but his palms were now covered in thick scales. The claws extended about ten centimeters, incredibly hard and sharp, resembling iron. They looked like a pair of dragon claws.
Both the dragon scales and claws had undergone significant changes. Originally silver, the right claw now appeared fiery red, while the left claw turned a deep azure blue.
Yang Xiong could feel that the two external soul bones had completely fused with him, becoming as natural as his own bones. His right hand now contained fire attribute energy, while his left hand held ice attribute energy. However, these energies were confined to his claws and couldn't integrate into his body.
Casually swiping his claws across the ground, Yang Xiong instantly sliced through the rocks. Where his right claw passed, the ground scorched as if burned; where his left claw swept, ice instantly formed.
Yang Xiong was overjoyed. Originally, these dragon claws possessed only extreme sharpness, making them unparalleled in offensive power.
But after being tempered by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, they gained both ice and fire attributes, significantly increasing their power. In battle, they would be even more devastating and unpredictable.
Yang Xiong named these claws the Ice-Fire Dragon Claws: the right claw, the Blazing Dragon Claw, and the left claw, the Frost Dragon Claw.
At this moment, Yang Xiong thought of something and jumped back into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't dive too deep, as if a mysterious force was obstructing him.
However, Yang Xiong believed that something valuable lay deep within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Unfortunately, with his current strength, he couldn't reach it.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well were the burial grounds of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, God Kings from the Divine Realm. Their power far exceeded even million-year soul beasts. Even after tens of thousands of years, remnants like soul bones might still exist.
Ultimately, Yang Xiong sighed in resignation. As a Soul Elder, his strength was still too weak. Perhaps in the future, he might have a chance to delve deeper.
After this excruciating fusion of soul bones, Yang Xiong's soul power increased by another level, reaching Level 39. He was now close to breaking through to Level 40.
When Yang Xiong emerged from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Lin Gong breathed a sigh of relief. This place wasn't safe, and if Dugu Bo returned unexpectedly, it would cause trouble.
This trip to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had gone smoother than Yang Xiong anticipated. Not only had he fully fused the soul bones, but their power had grown even stronger. Additionally, his soul power had increased by a level.
With five days of leave, Yang Xiong and Lin Gong weren't in a rush to return. Instead, they leisurely wandered back, even staying out late at night without concern, given Lin Gong's presence as a top-tier Soul Douluo.
At night, the two roasted food in Sunset Forest. Even the ferocious soul beasts nearby didn't dare approach upon smelling the aroma. Especially since Lin Gong used Purple Emperor Bamboo to create a large bamboo enclosure, and the overwhelming aura of a Soul Douluo deterred any soul beasts from coming near.
Lin Gong remarked curiously: "Xiao Xiong, it feels like Sunset Forest is your home turf. You've advanced another level. Judging by cultivation speed alone, you're surpassing even the two members of your team with innate full soul power."
Yang Xiong smiled: "Teacher Lin, it's not that simple. They were born with full soul power, unlike me, who started with only six levels of soul power."
Lin Gong laughed: "Stop pretending, boy. One day, when you reveal your true strength, it'll scare a lot of people."
Yang Xiong replied: "Strength and combat ability aren't just words—they're forged through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Having soul power alone isn't enough."
Lin Gong nodded: "Indeed. Your teams' talents are remarkable, especially this batch of students you entered with."
After a moment of silence, Yang Xiong spoke: "Teacher Lin, after this Soul Master Competition, I plan to go out and train. Perhaps I won't stay in the academy anymore."
Lin Gong smiled: "I understand your intentions. After years of training, the academy's exercises no longer offer much benefit to you. It's time for you to step into the real world of soul masters."
"But I wonder how the Tian Dou Imperial Family and your team leaders will react. Given your age and talent, by the next Soul Master Competition, you'll at least be Soul Kings, possibly even high-ranking ones."
Yang Xiong grinned: "Teacher Lin, is it impossible for us to become Soul Emperors?"
Lin Gong sighed: "A Soul Emperor? That's far harder than becoming a Soul King. Even someone as exceptional as you would find it nearly impossible. A Soul Emperor before the age of twenty is unimaginable."
After a pause, Yang Xiong asked: "Teacher Lin, do you have any plans for the future? Are you content to remain like this?"
Lin Gong remained silent for a long time before replying: "No one can defy fate. I'm no longer young, and my potential has dried up. Due to my earlier foundation, my soul power hasn't progressed in years. I'll likely die at Level 87."
Looking at the small, elderly figure who had followed him for so long, Yang Xiong couldn't help but ask: "Teacher Lin, what if I could find a way for you to break through to become a Title Douluo?"
Lin Gong's eyes sharpened instantly: "Xiao Xiong, don't speak such words carelessly. It's fine to tell me, but if others heard, it would bring endless trouble upon you."
Yang Xiong grabbed the wine bottle and took several gulps, as if venting his frustration. His face flushed slightly.
"Teacher Lin, over the years, we've interacted the most. You've protected me in secret, acting like both my master and my friend. I don't want you to live with regrets."
Lin Gong raised the wine bottle and drank it all in one gulp, his expression softening: "Who doesn't want to avenge past wrongs? But I no longer have the heart for such struggles."
Yang Xiong looked at Lin Gong with a hint of pity but ultimately remained silent, drinking quietly.
Though Yang Xiong appeared relaxed, he was inwardly tense. Based on the timeline, the destruction of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was only five years away. If nothing could be done by then, he'd need to arrange for the safety of his parents and older brother in advance.
The two indulged in drinking, venting their inner frustrations, before retreating to meditate and rest.
Upon returning to Tian Dou Imperial Academy, Yang Xiong didn't see the entire team, likely because they were still in Tian Dou City.
However, Oscar, Qin Shuang, and the other members of Team One were still training diligently. Moreover, it seemed that Oscar and Qin Shuang's relationship had improved significantly—Qin Shuang no longer appeared as cold as before.
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