Yu Xiaogang and Flender were both surprised as they observed Yang Xiong's condition. After the entire training session ended, only Ning Rongrong and Yang Xiong remained fully conscious. Considering Yang Xiong's weight had likely already surpassed the limit for a Soul Elder, this was shocking.
Flender found it odd. "Xiaogang, where do you think Yang Xiong's limits lie? It feels like this amount of weight doesn't affect him at all."
Yu Xiaogang replied with a serious expression, "I don't know either. You're aware that I gave Yang Xiong a total weight of 220 jin this time. I didn't expect him to handle it so easily, even helping Oscar and Ning Rongrong in the process. I'm beginning to doubt that his martial spirit is an ordinary body-type one. It seems more like a powerful beast-type martial spirit. But Dai Mubai's White Tiger is already considered top-tier among beast spirits, and Yang Xiong's strength and endurance are simply too astonishing."
Flender thought for a moment. "Xiaogang, could it be that it's not about his martial spirit, but about his own physical foundation? He's been carrying weights and undergoing medicinal baths since he was young, and his teacher is Bone Douluo. Perhaps his body has been strengthened to an extraordinary degree."
Yu Xiaogang nodded. "That seems to be the only possibility. I underestimated Bone Douluo's training. Maybe he really is capable of reaching the ultimate limit of his martial spirit cultivation."
In the following days, the house sponsored by Yang Xiong was finally completed. Everyone had their own private rooms, making it easier to take care of personal matters.
Everyone loved the new house. Even though Yang Xiong funded it, the boys and girls, who were around twelve or thirteen years old, valued their privacy. Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were particularly delighted. Even Tang San expressed his gratitude to Yang Xiong, now, he could leave in the mornings without sneaking around.
Every morning, Yang Xiong and Tang San would usually leave at about the same time. Tang San would practice his Purple Demon Eye, while Yang Xiong practiced basic techniques and Tai Chi outside. The early morning air was especially fresh, and he always felt a deeper connection to nature while practicing Tai Chi.
For the next three months, Yu Xiaogang maintained similar training routines. Besides running while carrying stones, there was cross-country running into the mountains with weights and occasional mock battles between students, all focused on physical conditioning.
Yu Xiaogang also made adjustments to their combat training, adding different match formats besides one-on-one or two-on-two battles.
However, Yang Xiong usually had to fight multiple opponents at once. Yu Xiaogang clearly understood that no one could challenge Yang Xiong in a one-on-one match, so he made sure to create group challenges.
For example, Yang Xiong once fought against both Tang San and Xiao Wu, another time against Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai, and even once against Tang San and Dai Mubai together.
But these soul battles usually ended up being tests of endurance. Even though Yang Xiong was incredibly powerful, fighting both Tang San and Dai Mubai at once proved to be too much. He was eventually worn down and almost collapsed from exhaustion.
Because of his exceptional combat abilities, Yang Xiong was never paired against support-type soul masters in battle simulations, they simply couldn't keep up with his speed and were usually knocked out instantly.
According to analysis from Zhao Wuji and Flender, Yang Xiong had no apparent weaknesses in terms of strength, speed, or defense. His only shortcoming was his lack of ranged attacks. But this was offset by his mastery of teleportation, which made it almost impossible to evade him.
Yang Xiong's daily medicinal baths were taken care of by Zhao Wuji. The two had grown closer through frequent sparring. Zhao Wuji even shared past experiences, including embarrassing stories about being hunted by the Spirit Hall.
Yang Xiong enjoyed these conversations. As a Soul Saint, Zhao Wuji had insights that couldn't be found in books. Yang Xiong always listened intently and occasionally shared his own training thoughts, which also left a strong impression on Zhao Wuji.
The eight students of Shrek had become more familiar with each other after months of intense training. After all, they were teammates enduring hardships together.
The group naturally split into three smaller cliques. Yang Xiong, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong often hung out together—especially since both Oscar and Ning Rongrong were support-type soul masters and felt more secure around Yang Xiong.
Tang San focused mostly on Xiao Wu. Though he earned everyone's trust, it was obvious to all that he and Xiao Wu were a pair, and no one wanted to interfere.
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun had a similar disposition, but Dai Mubai often tried to impress Zhu Zhuqing. Even the "ice queen" Zhu Zhuqing seemed to be softening a bit.
One day, Yang Xiong was soaking alone in a large wooden tub filled with both red and blue liquids, almost as if the tub had been divided into two halves. These were various toxic herbs prepared by Yang Xiong for medicinal bathing and body refining, ideal for soul master absorption.
Yang Xiong was in deep meditation, and it seemed like he could see changes within his body. In his mind, a silver giant appeared, gazing arrogantly at the heavens, as if it held the world in contempt and everything was under its control.
His spiritual space was like a vast ocean, split into red and blue halves that constantly clashed and merged. The silver giant's torso and head were particularly radiant, while its limbs were dimmer, though silver lines started lighting up along them like veins.
After three months of intense training and his own research, Yang Xiong could now barely guide his soul power through his limbs. He was only one step away from perfection.
No one knew how long had passed, but the silver lines on his limbs grew denser until they seemed like a unified whole. Yang Xiong felt his limbs and torso become one, and his soul power began to flow seamlessly.
Suddenly, Yang Xiong opened his eyes, and a golden light seemed to flash from them. His limbs lit up, and his entire body glowed silver as if he had achieved perfect unity.
"It's done!"
At that moment, he felt a complete understanding of Tai Chi, his soul power surged naturally and effortlessly, and his whole body felt lighter, as if he had broken through a barrier. He could now sense the surrounding space and the essence of heaven and earth more clearly.
Yang Xiong's Yin-Yang (Tai Chi) Meditation Technique had finally reached mastery. His soul power flowed continuously and harmoniously, as if perfectly aligned with nature.
The silver giant in his mind had fully transformed, and the red and blue space had merged into a massive Taiji (yin-yang) symbol.
At the same time, Yang Xiong advanced to level 28 in soul power, no longer trailing behind the others at Shrek.
He felt that his Tai Chi meditation technique could now operate autonomously within his body. As his soul power increased, the cultivation effect would become even better, possibly surpassing Tang San's Xuan Tian Technique. After all, Tai Chi, with its ceaseless yin-yang rotation, is a supreme principle in Daoist philosophy.
It was the final day of the three-month training. Everyone had worked hard, and their physical abilities had significantly improved. Tang San and Dai Mubai looked visibly stronger, Ma Hongjun had slimmed down, and even Oscar could now complete the full run with weights.
The three girls had become slimmer and more open with the boys.
Ning Rongrong, in particular, was no longer spoiled. She even seemed braver and more reserved in temperament, though she still playfully bickered with Yang Xiong.
On the last weighted run, Ning Rongrong insisted on completing it without being carried by Yang Xiong. Although he had taken her weights, she still gritted her teeth and ran the whole distance.
Though exhausted, the little princess looked proud, like she had regained her usual commanding aura.
Over the past three months, most didn't see much improvement in soul power. Only Ma Hongjun advanced by one level to 28, and Ning Rongrong reached level 29.
When the others learned that Yang Xiong had also reached level 28, they were shocked. He had entered at level 26, and within just a few months, had gained two levels, a speed that defied belief.
Typically, soul masters could only improve by two or three levels per year, even with hard work and good talent. Yang Xiong's progress exceeded everyone's expectations. Zhu Zhuqing seemed a bit disappointed, as she was now the only one at level 27 and the lowest among them.
Ning Rongrong pouted, "Xiao Xiong, are you doing this on purpose? I used to be two levels higher than you, and now I'm only one level ahead."
Yang Xiong smiled, "You'd better be careful. If you don't train harder, I might surpass you soon."
Ning Rongrong snapped, "Dream on! My talent is way better than yours. You'll never catch up!"
Yang Xiong didn't reply, just laughed. A little challenge might motivate her.
After three months of training together, Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong had grown much closer. Especially during the weighted runs, Yang Xiong usually carried her for the last few laps. She had been shy at first, but now she was used to it.
Still, she clearly had a strong sense of pride and vanity. She liked calling him "Xiao Xiong" in front of others to assert a sort of status, which led even Xiao Wu to start calling him that too, leaving Yang Xiong rather embarrassed.
When Yu Xiaogang announced that the first training phase was complete and gave them a seven-day rest before the next stage, everyone cheered, even Yang Xiong felt relieved.
Not because the training was hard, but because the intensity no longer challenged him. It had become less effective, as he had already reached the physical limits of his current level. He preferred sparring with Zhao Wuji, which was more beneficial.
Later that day, as Yang Xiong soaked in his medicinal bath, someone knocked on the door. Tang San's voice came from outside.
"Yang Xiong, are you in? I need to talk to you."
Yang Xiong replied, "The door's unlocked. Come in. I'm not able to open it right now."
When Tang San entered, he sensed something unusual. It was the first time he'd visited Yang Xiong alone since the new dorms were built.
Yang Xiong sat in the tub, eyes half-closed, meditating or deep in thought.
Tang San followed the aura to his side and said, "Yang Xiong, your medicinal bath feels different from ours. It seems... toxic."
Yang Xiong opened his eyes and explained, "You're right. The ingredients were prepared by my teacher. They're not just for medicinal soaking but also for body refining."
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