Outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the Ninth Elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect looked unusually anxious.
Since Yang Xiong left the sect, the Ninth Elder had been secretly protecting him. However, he mainly focused on driving away and intimidating ten-thousand-year soul beasts. In most situations, Yang Xiong had to handle things himself. The elder would only intervene in life-threatening moments.
But throughout this journey, Yang Xiong had surprised him. In the Great Soul Arena of Heaven Dou City, Yang Xiong effortlessly secured thirteen consecutive victories without even using soul skills, relying solely on his physical strength and combat techniques.
After entering the Sunset Forest, though, Yang Xiong seemed to let loose. He was either being chased by soul beasts or fighting with relatively average ones.
However, the growth was obvious. His combat experience had significantly improved, and he became visibly more aggressive and battle-hardened. As a Soul Douluo-level expert, the Ninth Elder knew that to become a high-ranking soul master, one must undergo life-and-death trials, especially in high-stress environments like the Sunset Forest.
He grew increasingly amazed by Yang Xiong. In secret observation, he realized that Yang Xiong's strength surpassed even his own.
Despite his young age, Yang Xiong had already mastered teleportation and possessed rapid recovery abilities. Most notably, he had a mysterious external soul bone, the Profound Underworld Turtle Shell, which offered astonishing defense.
What shocked him even more in recent days was that Yang Xiong had used strange equipment to enter a massive poison formation. He even sensed Dugu Bo's presence, making it clear that Yang Xiong had stumbled into Dugu Bo's hidden lair within the forest.
Dugu Bo was known for his unpredictable temper and held the title of guest elder of the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family. Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wouldn't dare offend him lightly. If news of Yang Xiong's actions spread, it could bring serious trouble, or even danger to his life.
Now, the Ninth Elder was extremely worried. Yang Xiong had been inside that poison formation for two whole days without showing any sign of coming out. Yet, even with his Soul Douluo strength, the elder couldn't break into the formation.
When he finally saw Yang Xiong escape from the poison formation, he sighed in relief. As long as Yang Xiong left quietly, Dugu Bo shouldn't have a reason to go after the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Still, the elder felt something was off, Yang Xiong's body seemed to have undergone some kind of transformation.
After leaving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Yang Xiong headed quickly toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He had no time to reflect on the changes in his body and didn't even know how long he had stayed there. If he ran into Dugu Bo, things would get complicated. Everything else could wait until he returned to the sect.
In just half a day, Yang Xiong made it back, thanks to his familiarity with the terrain after spending so much time in the Sunset Forest.
Once back at the sect, he finally began to examine the changes in his body.
After undergoing the Ice and Fire Body Refinement, Yang Xiong felt that his body had become incredibly powerful. This strength wasn't just skin-deep; it was a fundamental transformation.
Yang Xiong's recovery abilities were already impressive due to his innate martial soul, but now his physical foundation had improved drastically, even his innate cultivation aptitude had been enhanced. While he still couldn't match those born with full innate soul power, he was now on par with soul masters born with level eight or nine innate soul power.
In other words, Yang Xiong's endurance had skyrocketed. Even when seriously injured, he could recover rapidly without medical aid. This was the greatest benefit of the Ice and Fire Body Refinement.
Second, his martial soul had evolved. When he summoned it again, a silver aura appeared around his body. His strength and speed had both surged, and even his spiritual power had improved significantly. Yang Xiong estimated this to be a second awakening of his martial soul at the silver level, with his combat ability more than doubled.
Third, his entire body now seemed immune to water and fire. Upon waking in the dual springs, the scalding hot spring felt like warm water, and the freezing cold spring had no chilling effect. From now on, he was impervious to fire and ice, nullifying the greatest advantage of any fire or ice-attribute soul master.
Moreover, since both the Fiery Apricot Delicate Branch and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass were poisonous, the combined effects of extreme cold and heat had made him immune to all poisons.
Compared to Tang San in the original story, who consumed only two immortal herbs, Yang Xiong's gains were even greater. Because his entire body was his martial soul, his brain evolved along with the rest of him. In terms of spiritual strength alone, he had undergone a qualitative transformation. This was the most remarkable aspect of his body martial soul, it evolved with the growth of his body.
The brain, being part of the body, had endured immense pain during the refinement process. But that pain also stimulated its development. The second awakening of the body martial soul naturally included the brain, and Yang Xiong now felt his perception had sharpened dramatically.
When he summoned his Profound Underworld Armor again, he was surprised.
The armor had changed significantly. It no longer appeared as a turtle shell on his back, but as a tight-fitting chest plate. It could still transform into a large turtle shell to protect his entire body, but its color had shifted from gray to silver, both the armor and the summoned shell.
Upon closer inspection, Yang Xiong found the Profound Underworld Armor had completely fused with his body. It was now like one of his bones, making it impossible for anyone to remove it. This would deter potential thieves and allow him to use it openly without fear. Its grade had also evolved from a thousand-year soul bone to nearly ten thousand years.
It's important to note that external soul bones that can be removed are extremely rare and valuable in the soul master world, often attracting powerful enemies. But now, that risk was gone.
Yang Xiong was extremely satisfied with the gains from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Not only had he obtained many immortal herbs, but he had also achieved a second awakening of his martial soul. He now had solid chances of survival in any future conflict.
Beyond his physical transformation, there was also a pleasant surprise in his cultivation. He had always practiced the meditation method passed down by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Although it was one of the best in the Douluo Continent, it was still inferior to Tang San's Xuan Tian Technique.
This, too, was an unexpected benefit from his journey to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He had truly achieved a silver-level second awakening.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters, please subscribe to my : patreon.com/Moorowkeel