Yang Xiong glanced at Tang San with a polite but slightly weary expression. "I'm really sorry, but this is my scheduled time for medicinal baths. Please have a seat and wait for a moment while I finish up."
Tang San settled down comfortably beside the bathtub, while Yang Xiong stepped out of the medicinal bath, returned to the bathroom to clean himself thoroughly, and changed into a fresh set of clothes.
Ever since he had begun cultivating Tai Chi principles, Yang Xiong had developed an appreciation for balance between strenuous exercise and peaceful contemplation. This philosophy had led him to cultivate the refined habit of preparing and enjoying tea during his quiet moments.
When he had invested in the construction of the new dormitories, Yang Xiong had ensured that each room was built spaciously with a one-bedroom and one-living room layout, fully equipped with all necessary facilities. The living room contained not only the medicinal bath tub, but also elegant tea tables and chairs, plus a sturdy desk primarily used for reading during his moments of quiet reflection.
Yang Xiong carefully prepared a cup of tea for Tang San and then spoke warmly. "Tang San, what brings you here alone today? Shouldn't everyone be out celebrating and enjoying themselves after Master just announced a week-long holiday?"
Tang San took a thoughtful sip of the fragrant tea and smiled. "Xiao Wu was completely exhausted from today's training and has been sleeping soundly since returning to her room. I also wanted to find a proper balance between work and rest, so I decided to take a break as well."
"However, you seem to keep yourself busy every single moment," Tang San observed. "Your dedication and perseverance in cultivation is quite admirable and inspiring."
Yang Xiong smiled modestly. "I've been accustomed to this routine since childhood. I actually feel somewhat uncomfortable and restless if I don't maintain my cultivation practices or take my medicinal baths regularly."
Tang San considered his words carefully before speaking. "Actually, Yang Xiong, I've noticed that your medicinal bath ingredients seem quite extraordinary and unusual. Many of the poisonous herbs I can sense within that mixture are extremely potent and dangerous. Normally, let alone a Spirit Elder, even a Spirit King might not be able to withstand such concentrated toxicity."
Yang Xiong nodded thoughtfully. "That observation reflects a gradual change in my body's tolerance and resistance over many years. I've been refining and strengthening my physical form since early childhood, and my body has been systematically exposed to various toxins during that entire period. I was able to adapt gradually through careful progression. However, besides the toxic elements, my medicinal ingredients also contain numerous beneficial spiritual herbs. The careful combination creates a very effective mixture for absorption into both the body and soul power."
Yang Xiong paused, then asked directly, "So, did you come to see me specifically about something important?"
Tang San then spoke with obvious purpose. "Yang Xiong, I'm planning to spend this week crafting some advanced hidden weapons. You should have seen my Godly Zhuge Crossbow in action. I'm currently lacking some specific poisons for the projectiles. I can see that you have access to quite a variety of potent poisonous substances, and if it's possible, I'd like to purchase some from you."
Yang Xiong smiled warmly. "This request is no problem at all. You can tell me exactly which poisonous herbs you need, though I'm not completely certain whether I have all of them in my current collection."
Tang San shook his head firmly. "Proper payment is still absolutely necessary. I understand that some poisonous herbs can be extremely valuable. I'll purchase them at fair market prices."
Yang Xiong looked somewhat helpless. "That creates a bit of an awkward situation, because I honestly don't know the market prices of these poisonous herbs. These materials were provided to me directly from my sect's resources, so I've never actually spent money purchasing them myself."
"Besides," Yang Xiong continued reasonably, "you're likely crafting these hidden weapons for all of us to use. It wouldn't be right to make you bear the entire financial burden alone, especially considering that the materials for hidden weapons are expensive, and you'll also be investing considerable time and energy in the crafting process."
Yang Xiong's situation was quite unique. Ning Fengzhi seemed to have granted Yang Xiong considerable authority and access within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. All his medicinal bath ingredients were pre-prepared and readily available, and even the items needed for later stages of his 'Way of Defense' cultivation had been gathered long in advance. Someone would deliver whatever he needed without Yang Xiong even having to make requests, and the medicinal herbs all seemed to possess significant age and potency. This made him wonder whether Bone Douluo had prepared them specifically in advance, or whether they were surplus materials from the master's own past cultivation.
As for the countless poisonous herbs he had obtained from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Yang Xiong had never encountered any information about their market values and wouldn't consider revealing them to anyone.
In essence, within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, it seemed he never needed to spend personal money. As long as he expressed interest in something, the sect's various departments could quickly provide it.
After some discussion between the two, Tang San wrote down the names of quite a few specific poisonous herbs on a piece of paper. Yang Xiong examined the list carefully, considered his available inventory thoughtfully, and then crossed out some names.
"I have these particular herbs available right now, and I'll give them to you immediately," Yang Xiong explained. "As for the names I crossed out, I don't currently have those in my possession. I might be able to find them if I returned to the sect, but being stationed at Shrek Academy now, it might not be practical to make that trip quickly."
Tang San smiled gratefully. "I'll figure out alternative ways to obtain the remaining ingredients. I won't trouble you to make a special trip back to your sect just for my project."
Yang Xiong walked back to his bedroom and, after searching through his organized storage, retrieved several wooden boxes and handed them to Tang San.
The herbs Yang Xiong provided were relatively common poisonous varieties. Although they possessed certain value and potency, they could be purchased on the open market. He deliberately avoided sharing any of the rarer specimens or those he had obtained from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
In Yang Xiong's perspective, since Tang San was planning to provide both him and Ning Rongrong with sets of hidden weapons, giving him some poisonous herbs represented a fair exchange. Yang Xiong had never liked taking unfair advantages, especially among classmates and friends.
Tang San accepted the wooden boxes and examined their contents carefully, immediately expressing joy and satisfaction. "Thank you very much for your generosity. With these materials, I should definitely be able to craft the hidden weapons during these few vacation days. I'll make sure to give you a complete set in advance when they're finished."
Yang Xiong smiled warmly. "These herbs really aren't a significant matter, and it happens that I have these particular poisonous herbs readily available."
Tang San also joked with friendly familiarity. "Yang Xiong, sometimes I genuinely envy your sect background and the privilege of having a Titled Douluo as your personal teacher."
Yang Xiong shook his head thoughtfully. "You shouldn't express such envy. Perhaps others might envy me for having wealth and resources within my sect, but I also envy your personal freedom and independence. The sect structure might represent a constraining yoke that we disciples can never completely escape, and you also have an excellent teacher who genuinely cares for your development and plans carefully for your future."
Tang San nodded sincerely. "My teacher has indeed been exceptionally good to me. He has painstakingly taught and guided me throughout all these years. Without his dedication, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today."
After the two friends chatted for several more minutes, Yang Xiong noticed a hint of hesitation and uncertainty on Tang San's face, so he spoke encouragingly.
"Tang San, just say whatever is on your mind. There's nothing we can't discuss openly between classmates and friends."
Tang San hesitated for a moment before speaking carefully. "Then I might be somewhat presumptuous with this request. I observed that the self-created soul skill you used during our last battle was remarkably effective. You understand that my Blue Silver Grass lacks serious explosive power capabilities. Could I possibly ask you for guidance to learn that technique? Of course, I wouldn't expect to receive it for free. You can ask for anything you want in exchange."
Yang Xiong picked up his teacup and considered the request thoughtfully before responding. "Tang San, we are classmates and friends, which means some matters need to be considered very carefully. My Spiral Pill technique can indeed compensate for your shortcomings to some extent, but it was created under the direct personal guidance of my master and is now considered a top secret of our sect. According to sect rules, it cannot be taught to anyone other than the sect master's designated successor and direct disciples."
"Furthermore," Yang Xiong continued seriously, "you should understand the tremendous importance of self-created soul skills to any individual Spirit Master. We've exchanged combat techniques many times, and I know you possess quite a few impressive self-created soul skills yourself. Even if someone offered a substantial price, would you willingly give away your own self-created soul skills to others?"
Tang San remained silent for several moments before gritting his teeth with determination and speaking. "What if I were willing to exchange one of my self-created soul skills with you? I don't think you would be at a disadvantage in such a trade."
Yang Xiong smiled knowingly. "Tang San, we've had quite a few training exchanges during this time period, and you should understand that I'm also actively researching and developing self-created soul skills. Although our methods differ and our techniques vary considerably, I'm not completely unable to handle or counter your attacks. Among your many impressive self-created soul skills, the only one I completely cannot understand or analyze is that technique where your eyes turn completely purple and you attack the enemy's mind. You should understand exactly what I'm referring to."
Tang San was silent for a long moment before speaking quietly. "I understand your meaning. I need some time to consider this proposal carefully."
After watching Tang San leave his room, Yang Xiong couldn't help but shake his head with a mixture of understanding and resignation. This Tang San really couldn't contain his desires and ambitions. As expected from his behavior in the original story, he had wanted Yang Xiong's self-created soul skill. Judging by his persistent character and methods shown throughout the original work, Tang San probably wouldn't give up on this goal easily.
Yang Xiong understood that although Tang San had been an outer disciple of the Tang Sect in his previous life, those so-called Tang Sect unique skills had actually been stolen from the inner sect's closely guarded secrets. Although Tang San wanted to prove himself and his worth, his methods weren't exactly honorable or legitimate.
Tang San's numerous advanced techniques basically originated from the 'Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record', primarily including the Mysterious Heaven Skill, Purple Demon Eye, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, Mysterious Jade Hand, and various comprehensive knowledge about immortal grasses contained within the 'Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record'.
Among all these valuable techniques, what Yang Xiong was genuinely interested in were the Purple Demon Eye and the extensive knowledge of various immortal grasses and their applications.
Although Yang Xiong currently possessed various immortal grasses in his collection, even if he only carried some for self-preservation and emergency necessity, he wouldn't reveal this information to anyone else, especially the sharp-minded and observant Tang San. Once Tang San discovered that Yang Xiong possessed immortal grasses, it would likely create numerous complications and potential conflicts.
The Purple Demon Eye represented the only method for cultivating spiritual power that Yang Xiong was aware of in the entire Douluo Continent world. Exchanging it for a Spiral Pill technique that hadn't undergone secondary development wouldn't represent a loss for Yang Xiong.
As for the other Tang Sect cultivation methods, with Yang Xiong's recent in-depth research and understanding of Tai Chi principles, he had gradually begun to develop his own adaptations and improvements.
The so-called Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step was essentially just particularly agile footwork, combined with some special dodging and positioning methods. It wouldn't provide significant advantages when facing absolute speed superiority.
Mysterious Jade Hand was a method to harden and strengthen one's palms, which would have minimal effect on Yang Xiong as a Body Spirit Master who already possessed exceptional physical conditioning.
As for Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, Yang Xiong had nearly perfected his Tai Chi martial arts to an advanced state. His method of deflecting tremendous force with minimal effort was potentially even stronger than Tang San's technique.
Regarding Mysterious Heaven Skill, there was no need to even consider it seriously. This represented Tang San's most closely guarded secret, and he would never pass it on to anyone else.
Looking at all of Tang San's Tang Sect unique skills objectively, the only truly useful technique for Yang Xiong's development was the Purple Demon Eye. It remained very effective even at the Titled Douluo realm, and could be considered one of the fundamental reasons for Tang San's true strength. Cultivating the Purple Demon Eye made Tang San's spiritual power far stronger than Spirit Masters of equivalent levels.
Yang Xiong had certainly considered researching a method to cultivate spiritual power independently, but he could never find a proper starting point. Even the extensive library of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School didn't contain anything similar that he could reference or study.
However, based on Yang Xiong's understanding of Tang San's character and priorities, Tang San probably wouldn't be willing to exchange the Purple Demon Eye for the Spiral Pill. Perhaps Tang San believed that with his intelligence and analytical abilities, he could reverse-engineer the technique himself. After all, the Spiral Pill didn't appear overly complicated from external observation.
Only Yang Xiong truly understood the genuine difficulty of mastering the Spiral Pill. The technique appeared deceptively simple, but it possessed extremely high requirements for soul power control and manipulation, especially requiring long-term dedicated practice to grasp the subtle soul power dynamics between the palms. Only through countless repetitions and failures could one gradually achieve proper formation, not to mention Yang Xiong's plans for secondary development and enhancement of the Spiral Pill.
As Yang Xiong had predicted, Tang San never brought up this exchange topic again after that evening. However, Yang Xiong noticed that Tang San's palms seemed somewhat damaged and off-condition, which was likely due to injuries caused by attempting to research and replicate the Spiral Pill technique independently.
In the following days, everyone felt extremely relaxed and rejuvenated. Oscar immediately collapsed and slept for several consecutive days, not even bothering to wake up for meals.
Zhu Zhuqing continued cultivating diligently as always, maintaining her disciplined routine. Even Dai Mubai remained by her side consistently, completely demonstrating a reformed and dedicated appearance.
Tang San, on the other hand, stayed indoors crafting various hidden weapons and mechanisms, even spending significantly less time with Xiao Wu than usual.
After sleeping for several restorative days, both Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong immediately became excited and energetic. They even dragged Yang Xiong and Tang San along for shopping expeditions in the city. The two girls had quickly bonded and appeared like best friends.
These two young ladies ate, drank, and played throughout Soto City with tremendous enthusiasm, especially shopping to their heart's content. Yang Xiong found that dealing with their shopping adventures felt even more exhausting than classes and training, while Tang San had already taken the opportunity to sneak away to the blacksmith shop for his own projects.
As for Ma Hongjun, according to Dai Mubai's reports, this person had become addicted to visiting pleasure houses, which made all the female students look at Dai Mubai with obvious disdain and suspicion about his own past behavior.
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