On the viewing platform, Dai Mubai and Tang San both looked grim. Clearly, Yang Xiong's strength this time had once again surpassed their expectations.
Dai Mubai showed a hint of anger. "I told Yang Xiong to go easy on her, yet he still went so hard."
Tang San shook his head. "Yang Xiong didn't actually go all out. Otherwise, Zhu Zhuqing wouldn't have come out unscathed. In fact, I think he's gotten even stronger."
Dai Mubai looked puzzled. "How is that possible? His spirit power hasn't changed much, and even his speed is about the same as when he fights us."
Tang San said, "It's not about speed or strength. I think Yang Xiong's techniques have become smoother. He switches between moves faster and more naturally. His self-created spirit skill that uses softness to counter strength seems to be fully developed."
Having practiced Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon himself, Tang San felt that Yang Xiong was now no weaker than he was in this area, possibly even stronger in some aspects.
When Yang Xiong and Zhu Zhuqing returned to the team, Dai Mubai looked displeased. "Yang Xiong, didn't you promise me you wouldn't go all out against Zhuqing? Why did she lose so quickly?"
Before Yang Xiong could respond, Zhu Zhuqing, looking slightly dejected, spoke up. "I asked him to fight with full strength. My business is none of yours."
Dai Mubai was instantly embarrassed. "Sorry, I misunderstood."
"Zhuqing, are you okay?"
Zhu Zhuqing gave the group a glance, then turned and walked away. Dai Mubai quickly followed.
Yang Xiong watched them go and couldn't help shaking his head. The two of them had such different personalities. Dai Mubai was arrogant and unyielding, while Zhu Zhuqing was gentle but incredibly stubborn. It was hard to imagine how they ended up together.
Before Yang Xiong could react, a sharp pain hit his waist, Ning Rongrong had pinched him hard.
Ning Rongrong looked annoyed. "Little Bear, bullying Zhuqing again? Want us to gang up and beat you?"
Yang Xiong replied helplessly, "It was her request. She wanted me to go all out to gauge the gap between us. And I did hold back, otherwise, she wouldn't have just been knocked out of the ring."
Ning Rongrong snorted, "So just because she asked, you really went all out? Couldn't you have gone easier? Zhuqing is the most hardworking among us. If you had held back, she might've been encouraged to catch up. Now you've probably crushed her confidence."
Yang Xiong was speechless at her angry expression. Somehow, he always ended up being the bad guy.
Oscar quickly came over. "Brother Xiong, our next match is about to start. You should be fine, right? Can you take on two Spirit Elders?"
Yang Xiong sighed and followed Oscar to the next match.
Oscar leaned in, smirking. "Brother Xiong, have you been single your whole life?"
Yang Xiong looked confused. "What does that have to do with anything?"
Oscar said in a knowing tone, "You may be strong, but you don't understand girls at all. I thought you and Ning Rongrong were close to being a couple. Clearly, you need to study girls more."
"Sometimes, you should show a little weakness, or even go easy on them. Maybe Rongrong would've fallen right into your arms."
"Especially a proud girl like Rongrong, you can't be too tough. Otherwise, you'll push each other away."
Yang Xiong didn't reply, but thinking about it, Oscar had a point. No wonder he ended up with Ning Rongrong in the original story.
Finally, Yang Xiong shook his head. "I'm not interested in that right now. I just want to get stronger."
Oscar looked disappointed. "If you don't take your chance now, when she returns to her clan as the high and mighty princess, things will only get harder."
"Trust me, bro. You better act soon, or even the cooked duck might fly away."
Yang Xiong: "…"
Yang Xiong was speechless. In the original story, Oscar and Ning Rongrong were the canon couple, a pairing that was both impressive and moving. After all, they were both support-type spirit masters, overcoming numerous obstacles to be together. And now Oscar was coaching him on how to pursue Ning Rongrong?
Several two-person duels followed. All were easy wins. Even when teamed with Oscar against two Spirit Elders, Yang Xiong didn't have to exert much effort.
Thanks to all the training and battles, Yang Xiong's combat experience had significantly improved.
Almost everyone at Shrek Academy was showing impressive results. Except for Zhu Zhuqing, all other members had won both duo and team battles, making the teachers very pleased.
Per the academy's arrangement, everyone stayed at a hotel in Soto City that night. Yang Xiong booked a luxury suite, not just for rest and meditation, but also for personal training.
According to the second phase of Yu Xiaogang and Flender's training plan, everyone would stay in the city after late-night matches and manage their own daytime schedules.
Spirit Masters could receive ten gold coins monthly from the Spirit Hall, while Spirit Elders got a hundred. With such purchasing power, staying at a hotel was easy, especially since each victory in the arena came with bonuses. After five consecutive wins, each match yielded a hundred gold coins.
After the match, the whole group had dinner together. Spirits were high, especially with Dai Mubai hosting and publicly thanking Tang San for his help in team battles with Zhu Zhuqing.
It was Yang Xiong's first time drinking in a while. Even without using spirit power to dispel the alcohol, his strong body and drinking experience from his previous life shocked everyone with his tolerance.
The whole group was laughing and drinking. Most got drunk, even the girls.
One girl was a big surprise, drinking straight from the bottle with amazing tolerance, practically one cup at a time. Even the boys were intimidated.
In the end, only Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong remained sober. Oscar, tipsy, joked that the two should be called the "Wine and Food Duo" instead of the "Seven Treasures Duo" since Yang Xiong drank the most and ate the most.
The next morning, after his training run, Yang Xiong heard a knock at the door.
To his surprise, it was three girls, all looking rather serious.
Before he could ask, Ning Rongrong stepped forward. "Little Bear, Zhuqing wanted to see you. Xiao Wu and I came along to make sure you don't bully her."
Yang Xiong helplessly invited them in, poured them each a cup of tea in the sitting room, and said, "Zhu Zhuqing, what can I help you with?"
Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip before asking, "How much of your strength did you use yesterday?"
Yang Xiong sipped his tea. "About seventy percent."
By his estimate, he used about 70% of his combat strength in the arena. If it were a life-or-death fight, he probably would have only used half of his full potential. He always hid a portion of his strength, especially before removing his weighted training gear.
Zhu Zhuqing's face turned pale. "I knew there was a gap, but not this big. I used two spirit abilities and still couldn't fight back."
Yang Xiong shook his head. "Everyone has their strengths. There's no need to fixate on the gap between us. Take Rongrong, for example. She's great at support but lacks combat power."
Ning Rongrong scowled. "Can you not use me as an example? I'll tell Grandpa Jian you're bullying me!"
Yang Xiong chuckled. "Alright, maybe that wasn't the best example. Your spirit and training lean toward speed and concealment. In the arena, you can't show your full strength, but in intelligence gathering or assassinations, especially at night, you'd be formidable."
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "I know you're trying to comfort me. I've worked really hard, but the gap is still huge. I'm always the weakest one."
Yang Xiong smiled. "Why be so fixated? People shine in different circumstances."
Zhu Zhuqing gave a bitter smile. "So what? My destiny feels like a massive shackle. If I don't grow stronger, I might not even survive."
Just as Yang Xiong was about to respond, the door knocked again. This time it was Tang San and Dai Mubai, who had come looking for the girls and were directed here.
Dai Mubai sounded a bit urgent. "Zhuqing, I'll figure things out. Don't overthink it."
Zhu Zhuqing remained silent. Even though Dai Mubai had reached level 37, the enemies they faced were far too powerful.
Yang Xiong invited them to sit and looked around the room. As an outsider, he really wasn't in a position to interfere too much.
Zhu Zhuqing finally asked, "Yang Xiong, how did you become so strong? Why are you so much stronger than me?"
Yang Xiong thought for a moment, then took off a wrist guard and placed it on the table.
Everyone examined it and was shocked, it weighed ten kilograms.
Yang Xiong said, "I'm not more talented than you. My innate spirit power was the weakest among us. But ever since I became a spirit master, I've worn weighted gear. That so-called first stage of training? I've lived it since I was young."
"I know each of you comes from powerful backgrounds and faces pressure. But I was just the son of an outer sect steward from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. I've trained so hard all these years to become stronger, so I can control my own fate."
Ning Rongrong asked, "You don't feel safe in the clan?"
Yang Xiong smiled. "What safety is truly reliable? Relying on others is like chasing a mirage. Nothing compares to growing stronger yourself. Family, friends, brothers, lovers, they may support you, but in the end, you have to rely on yourself."
"This world of spirit masters may seem peaceful, but the elders know, this is only the calm before the storm. One day, a war might erupt and drag us all into it. Without enough strength, we'll lose loved ones, or even our lives."
After everyone left deep in thought, only Ning Rongrong remained in the room, visibly upset.
"Little Bear, what did you mean earlier? 'Control your own fate'?"
Yang Xiong stared at her. "Rongrong, you've never truly understood me. I've always strived to grow stronger, with countless plans and goals, because I never want to be beneath anyone, no matter who they are."
Ning Rongrong looked as if she had been struck.
These words had been held in for a long time. Though their relationship had grown closer lately, many saw them as a couple, Yang Xiong never made any clear moves.
That wasn't just his personality. His goal was never to stay in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan forever as some kind of Guardian Douluo, nor to devote his life to it.
Yang Xiong never showed hostility to anyone, not even Tang San, whom he saw only as a rival.
He sought every opportunity to grow stronger. Even gods wouldn't make him bow. He wanted to be the strongest person, perhaps even the strongest god.
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