At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Fengzhi had just returned from the Heaven Dou City after attending Emperor Xue Ye's birthday banquet. Beside him stood Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
After returning, the Ninth Elder gave a detailed account of the events along the journey, especially the part where Yang Xiong entered the poison formation.
Throughout the entire report, Sword Douluo showed no expression. However, the smile on Ning Fengzhi's face gradually disappeared, his demeanor turning more serious.
"Ninth Elder, you've worked hard this time. The poison formation you mentioned, could it be the rumored medicinal garden that Dugu Bo has hidden in the Sunset Forest? Was everything handled properly?"
The Ninth Elder nodded. "Sect Master, I've already erased all traces on the outskirts. Even Dugu Bo wouldn't be able to find the slightest clue. But I couldn't go deeper into the poison formation."
Only then did Ning Fengzhi smile. "You've done well, Elder. You deserve a good rest."
Without saying much more, the Ninth Elder left, leaving only Ning Fengzhi and the two Douluo behind.
Ning Fengzhi thought for a long time before speaking. "Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, what do you think about Yang Xiong's training this time, especially the part about him entering Dugu Bo's medicinal garden?"
Bone Douluo pondered before replying. "Fengzhi, Yang Xiong has always been extremely cautious. For him to venture into the poison formation laid down by that old freak Dugu Bo, he must have had a reason. There must be something he needed in that garden, something crucial."
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "Yang Xiong has always kept a low profile over the years. Even when contributing to the clan, he does so discreetly. Given all he's done for the sect, we would have planned anything he needed for him. That he risked so much shows there must be something special inside that garden."
"Don't forget, this kid has been hiding an external soul bone and has never revealed any soul skills. It shows just how cautious he truly is."
Bone Douluo's tone turned slightly irritated. "What is this kid hiding? If he had just told me, I could've handled it for him. There was no need to take such risks. That Dugu Bo is nothing to worry about."
"Fengzhi, should I summon Yang Xiong and ask him directly? I feel like he's hiding something."
Ning Fengzhi remained silent for a moment before replying, "Let it go. As long as Yang Xiong remains loyal to our clan, his little secrets will come out eventually. We don't need to pry. If Dugu Bo does find out one day, we'll just have Uncle Sword go and intimidate him. At worst, we pay a small price."
Sword Douluo nodded in agreement, clearly not holding Dugu Bo, the weakest Title Douluo, in high regard.
Meanwhile, in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Dugu Bo looked at the ravaged ground with fury and despair.
"Whoever stole my herbs, if I find out who it was, I'll make you suffer the pain of the Jade Phosphor Serpent's venom. I'll wipe out your entire family."
The current state of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was tragic. All the herbs had been uprooted. It was as if the entire ground had been dug over, leaving nothing behind, not even roots. Even the poisonous plants that Dugu Bo had planted himself were completely gone.
His face twisted with rage, but he quickly regained composure. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's location was unique, and the surrounding poison formation had been meticulously laid by him. Even a Contra couldn't break in, only a Title Douluo could have done it.
Especially considering the two most dangerous herbs, the white and red dual poisons, even Dugu Bo couldn't approach them. This had to be the work of a Title Douluo. But there were only so many Title Douluo in the world, and none of them could act freely. Only the Title Douluo from the Spirit Hall would have the time or motive, and his old enemy, Chrysanthemum Douluo, was the prime suspect.
Dugu Bo's eyes burned with fury. "Chrysanthemum Pass… Spirit Hall… This won't end here. I will never let this go."
Spirit Hall: ...
After returning home, Yang Xiong greeted his parents and shut himself in his room for days, meditating alone.
During the Ice and Fire tempering, the extreme pain he endured, especially the changes in his body and martial soul, made him feel something unfamiliar.
That was his meridians, what truly guides energy flow during meditation.
In the Douluo world, the concept of meridians didn't exist. Meditation methods were basic and simplistic.
But Tang San's Xuantian Technique was different. It operated through meridians and was far more efficient than the current meditation practices.
Due to the extreme effects of the dual poison elements, Yang Xiong gained a much deeper understanding of his body. The Ice and Fire poisons had assaulted his entire system, seemingly expanding his meridians in the process.
This gave Yang Xiong the inspiration to consider an alternate method of cultivation.
The power of Ice and Fire could also be seen as the power of Yin and Yang. To balance such forces within the body's internal organs, one would need soul power to circulate rapidly and continuously, eventually reaching equilibrium. This was the solution he came up with while enduring the peak of the pain inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
At its core, Yang Xiong thought of a term from his past life, Taiji.
In any martial arts world, Daoism held an undisputed place of honor, and Taiji was considered its peak.
In his past life on Earth, although Yang Xiong wasn't a martial arts expert, he had some exposure to Taiji. Parks were full of people practicing it, and it was often shown in TV shows and films. His grandfather had even taught him a bit, though he didn't find it effective at the time and gave up quickly.
But now, things felt different. Taiji might not be suitable for combat in the soul master world, but for meditation, it offered an entirely new realm of possibility.
With this thought, Yang Xiong casually performed a set of Taiji movements. Perhaps due to the effects of the Ice and Fire tempering, the feeling was completely different from before.
The entire sequence felt natural, and as he moved, his soul power flowed through his body as if being gently guided, eventually surging with surprising momentum.
He recalled past life descriptions of Taiji, which claimed that through practice, one could balance Yin and Yang, enhance flexibility and coordination. In combat, Taiji emphasized overcoming strength with softness, motion with stillness, skillfully deflecting attacks. It also promoted blood circulation and overall health, essentially a profound Daoist internal art.
Yang Xiong had once doubted all of that, but now he began to believe. If Tang San's Xuantian Technique could be used in the Douluo world, then Taiji could work too, maybe even better.
Originally, he had considered using Bajiquan, but Taiji was more widely known. Everyone learned a bit as a child, and more importantly, Taiji was a true ancestral treasure, passed down through generations.
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