Chapter 58: Cowardice Is for the Mediocre?
Tang San originally wanted to defend the theory put forward by Yu Xiaogang, but at this moment, he didn't know what to say.
Although the process of absorbing the soul ring was painful, the gains were certainly significant. Especially when he saw Yang Xiong surpass the soul ring's age limit—did that mean the teacher's theory was wrong?
At this moment, Tang San was deep in thought. As for Yang Xiong and Oscar, both of them had their own cultivation plans. Oscar sat on his bed meditating, while after a brief conversation, Yang Xiong went back to Zhao Wujing for combat training.
The construction of new dormitories next to their original one had already begun, but it seemed like it would take a few more days to complete. For now, Yang Xiong had to share a room with Oscar and Tang San.
Shrek Academy had few students and even fewer dormitories, which made Yang Xiong feel somewhat uncomfortable.
The next morning, everyone followed Zhao Wujing to prepare for their journey to the Star Dou Great Forest.
Zhao Wujing had been in an exceptionally disheveled state after being beaten by Tang Hao, especially since Tang Hao had used some mysterious method that even a Soul Saint couldn't immediately heal the bruises on his face.
Yang Xiong had spent the last few days training with Zhao Wujing. After their conversations, Yang Xiong gave Zhao Wujing some spiritual medicine to treat his bruises. Initially, Zhao Wujing wanted to refuse, but after looking in the mirror, he reluctantly accepted the medicine, feeling it would help.
After discussing some safety tips for the Star Dou Great Forest, they were ready to depart from Shrek Academy.
The Star Dou Great Forest was 500 kilometers away from Shrek Academy, and the academy hadn't prepared any carriages. Everyone would have to travel on foot, which, according to Zhao Wujing and Dai Mubai, was also a form of training.
The 500-kilometer distance was still quite far for Great Soul Masters, but with Oscar's sausages to replenish their energy, Ning Rongrong seemed to have reduced her isolation from the group, even offering her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda assistance to everyone. The three girls, especially, kept chatting non-stop along the way.
In just one day, the group reached the Soul Hunting Town on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The Star Dou Great Forest became incredibly dangerous at night, so the group planned to eat and rest at the Soul Hunting Town, entering the forest early the next morning.
As in the original story, they encountered the Canghui Academy during their meal.
After some words exchanged between Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai, a conflict broke out, and they ended up fighting. Even the teachers from Canghui Academy were taught a lesson by the group, especially as Tang San showcased the impressive power of his hidden weapons.
Yang Xiong wasn't particularly fond of such conflicts, and he just quietly stayed to the side.
Oscar, curious, asked: "Xiong, why do I feel like you don't like this kind of fighting? The dean said we're all monsters, and the academy rule is that anyone who avoids trouble is a mediocre talent."
Yang Xiong sighed: "Avoiding trouble is just about bullying the weak. In this situation, we're actually in the wrong. Especially you, Oscar, you're a food-type soul master with weak combat power. The soul master world is extremely brutal, and some people are very extreme."
Oscar replied: "Don't you think the dean's words really inspire confidence?"
Yang Xiong shook his head: "Our seniors have a high mortality rate. Apart from those dying while hunting soul beasts, I suspect many of them were killed because they liked causing trouble."
"When we go out, it's not like we always have a teacher with us. The highest-level student is only a Soul Scholar. We're still too weak in the soul master world. Some might not dare to harm us because they fear our academy or the strength of the Soul Saints, but more people in the soul master world would prefer to eliminate any threats completely. Sometimes, being low-key is better than being too conspicuous."
"After we graduate, we'll be disconnected from Shrek. It won't be our safety net anymore. If we keep causing trouble, it's easy to lose our lives in the soul master world."
Oscar, a commoner, nodded in agreement: "Xiong, you really understand the soul master world. You have so much experience."
Yang Xiong shook his head: "It's not about soul master world experience. It's just my own survival experience. I was born in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and to be blunt, few people dare to easily provoke me. But I still think there's no need to be so flashy. Rather than saying avoiding trouble makes you mediocre, I prefer another saying: not causing trouble, but not fearing it either."
Oscar, being a food-type soul master with weak combat power, fully agreed with Yang Xiong's statement about not causing trouble but not fearing it.
Although Yang Xiong and Oscar spoke softly, everyone, as soul masters, could hear clearly. They didn't care much though, since most of them had some background and were quite prideful.
Zhao Wujing had initially been somewhat critical of Yang Xiong for not getting involved, but after hearing these words, he didn't comment further. Everyone had their own approach to dealing with the world. Right now, they were just classmates, not yet at the point where they needed to fight together.
Yang Xiong, despite his own pride, understood the brutal nature of the soul master world.
In fact, Yang Xiong had always doubted that, although the Shrek group had a strong background, if they were to venture alone in the soul master world, it was a bit far-fetched to think that no one would try to harm them.
Especially someone like Ma Hongjun, who loved causing trouble. That he had managed to grow up unharmed was almost incomprehensible.
Dai Mubai, on the other hand, as a prince from the Star Luo Empire, certainly had people secretly protecting him. His strength was not weak either; otherwise, with his arrogant personality, he would have been dealt with long ago.
After a night of rest, everyone was in their best condition and ready to enter the Star Dou Great Forest.
Yang Xiong himself was quite excited, as this was his first time entering the Star Dou Great Forest. This time wasn't just about encountering top-tier soul beasts for the first time; he could also witness the power of the Titan Giant Ape, which might become part of his future plans.
Before entering the Star Dou Great Forest, Oscar handed out sausages to everyone. It was clear that now everyone fully acknowledged Oscar and his sausages.
Zhao Wujing looked unusually serious: "Once we enter the Star Dou Great Forest, no one is allowed to leave a 20-meter radius from me, especially Oscar and Ning Rongrong. You two must stay close to me, and under no circumstances are you allowed to attack any soul beasts without my command."
According to Zhao Wujing's plan, Tang San and Dai Mubai walked in front, with Zhao Wujing leading from the rear. Yang Xiong walked beside Ning Rongrong.
Once they entered the Star Dou Great Forest, Yang Xiong immediately felt as though he had entered an entirely new world. Even just the outskirts were more densely populated with trees and vegetation than the Sunset Forest, and the terrain was far more complex.
(END CHAPTER)
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