Chapter 101: Ice-Fire Dragon Claws
Compared to the Shrek Team, Yang Xiong had already taken leave and had requested a five-day break.
In fact, according to Yang Xiong's estimates, with the current strength of the Shrek Team, they could already rank in the top five in the Tiandou region. This would mean they would have to go to Soul Master City to participate in the finals.
Thinking about the various secrets he held, especially the Dragon Claw external spirit bones on his hands, Yang Xiong knew that it would be difficult to handle them once they reached Soul Master City. Even Ning Fengzhi might not be able to suppress the greed of others.
Yang Xiong directly asked Flander and Yu Xiaogang for leave, stating that he had encountered some minor issues with his cultivation and needed to go out for a while.
Yu Xiaogang hesitated at first, even offering to help Yang Xiong analyze the problem, but Flander agreed without hesitation. Though Yu Xiaogang was the team leader, Flander was the one with the highest status in the eyes of everyone.
After observing recently, Yang Xiong noticed that Dugu Bo, the old man, had been attending the competitions daily. In fact, every evening after tactical analysis, Dugu Bo would personally take Dugu Yan away. This meant that Dugu Bo had probably not had time to visit the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes recently.
Yang Xiong and Lin Gong quickly made their way to the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes, arriving in just half a day.
Lin Gong was a bit frustrated: "Xiong, this competition is going well, so why come to this remote place? Is there something special here?"
Yang Xiong smiled and said, "This is a treasure land. Dugu Bo doesn't recognize it, but it can solve a hidden danger for me and make me even stronger."
Arriving at the perimeter of the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes, Lin Gong stayed outside the poisonous fog. Although his strength was formidable, he could not pass through the poison formation.
However, the two had made arrangements. If Dugu Bo returned early, Lin Gong would release a large-scale soul skill to warn Yang Xiong.
When Yang Xiong climbed the rope again to reach the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes, the place had changed greatly since his last visit.
Although it had been almost three years since he last came here, it was clear that Dugu Bo had done some renovations. He had even replanted some poisonous herbs.
The medicinal herbs here seemed to grow incredibly fast. The last time Yang Xiong was here, the place was barren, but now it was lush and even had a fair number of spiritual herbs growing again.
Yang Xiong didn't have time to concern himself with these things. This time, taking advantage of Dugu Bo's absence, he planned to use the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes for body refining again. At the very least, he needed to merge the two external spirit bones on his hands as soon as possible. Otherwise, if others found out in Soul Master City, it would be troublesome, especially with so many Title Douluo present there—who knew what kind of ideas they might come up with.
Using the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes' ice and fire power to fuse the external spirit bones was the only method Yang Xiong could think of at this stage, and with Dugu Bo unexpectedly absent, it was a rare opportunity.
Yang Xiong took off his clothes and leapt into the spring waters of the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes.
After the previous Ice-Fire body refining, the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes no longer had any corrosive effects on him. However, for some reason, possibly due to the consumption of the medicinal powers from the Eight-Spoked Mystic Ice Grass and the Fierce Fire Apricot Blossom Herb, there was still considerable pain.
However, compared to his body, his hands felt unbearable once they entered the springs. His right hand felt as if it were in raging flames, while his left hand felt like it was immersed in freezing ice. This was a long-awaited pain.
Yang Xiong gritted his teeth and ignored the pain in his hands as he submerged himself completely into the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes.
As time passed, his hands felt as if they were about to melt. The pain was even more intense than the first time he went through body refining, especially as the heat and cold sensations from all ten fingers sent scorching and freezing forces to his heart. These two forces could not complement each other or neutralize one another.
Yang Xiong clenched his teeth and silently activated his Yin-Yang Meditation technique, struggling to endure.
After two full days, Yang Xiong finally crawled out of the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes. At this point, his hands had undergone a dramatic transformation.
The two external spirit bones on his hands were still there, but now his palms were covered in thick scales, with the tips extending about ten centimeters, extremely hard and sharp, like fine iron, resembling a pair of dragon claws.
However, both the dragon scales and claws had undergone significant changes. The originally silver dragon claws on his right hand were now fiery red, while the left hand had turned a deep blue.
Yang Xiong could clearly feel that the two external spirit bones had completely merged with his body, as if they were part of his own bones. The right hand seemed to have mastered fire energy, while the left hand had ice energy. However, these energies were limited to the claws and could not merge with his body.
Yang Xiong swiped his hands casually across the ground, and the stones on the ground were immediately sliced open. The area where his right claw passed felt like it had been scorched, while his left hand immediately froze the ground.
Yang Xiong was overjoyed. Originally, these dragon claws only had a sharp attribute, making them unrivaled in attack.
However, after refining them in the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes, they now possessed both ice and fire attributes, greatly enhancing their power and making them even more unpredictable and formidable in battle.
Yang Xiong named the dragon claws "Ice-Fire Dragon Claws," with the right hand being the Blaze Dragon Claw and the left hand being the Frost Dragon Claw.
At that moment, Yang Xiong seemed to have thought of something and jumped back into the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes. However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not go too deep, as if a special force was blocking his way.
But Yang Xiong felt that there must be something deep within the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes. Unfortunately, with his current strength, he was unable to reach it.
The Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes were the burial site of the Ice-Fire Dragon King, a god king from the divine realm. The Ice-Fire Dragon King's strength was probably far beyond that of a million-year-old soul beast. Even after tens of thousands of years, there might still be soul bones or other treasures hidden inside.
Eventually, Yang Xiong sighed helplessly. As a Soul Venerable, his strength was indeed too weak. Perhaps only in the future could he delve deeper into the place.
After this extremely painful fusion of the spirit bones, Yang Xiong's soul power had risen by one level. He was now at level 39, with level 40 not far off.
When Yang Xiong walked out of the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes, Lin Gong finally breathed a sigh of relief. After all, this place was not entirely safe, and if Dugu Bo suddenly returned, it would be troublesome.
This trip to the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Eyes went even more smoothly than Yang Xiong had imagined. He gained more than expected, not only fully merging his spirit bones, but also enhancing their power. Most importantly, his soul power had increased by one level.
Since he had taken a five-day leave, Yang Xiong and Lin Gong weren't in a hurry to return. Instead, they casually strolled back, not worrying even when it got dark, as they had Lin Gong, a top-tier Soul Douluo, with them.
That evening, the two of them barbecued in the Sunset Forest. Even the fierce soul beasts in the area weren't afraid, especially as Lin Gong used his Purple Glory Bamboo to surround a large area, exuding the overwhelming aura of a Soul Douluo that not a single soul beast dared to approach.
Lin Gong was a bit confused: "Xiong, it feels like this Sunset Forest is your territory. You've even leveled up again. It seems that compared to your teammates with innate full soul power, you're progressing faster."
Yang Xiong smiled and said, "Teacher Lin, it's not that simple. Those guys have innate full soul power, so they're on a completely different level compared to my innate soul power of level six."
Lin Gong laughed: "You're just pretending. When you finally show your true strength, you'll probably scare a lot of people."
Yang Xiong said, "Strength and battle power are not something you can just talk about. It's something you have to fight for through a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Otherwise, soul power alone is useless."
Lin Gong nodded: "That's true. However, your two teams have incredible talent, especially the batch that entered the academy this time."
Yang Xiong fell silent for a while before speaking: "Teacher Lin, after the Soul Master Competition, I plan to go out and experience the world. Maybe I won't stay in the academy anymore."
Lin Gong smiled: "I knew you had that in mind. After these years of training, the academy's exercises aren't really helpful to you anymore. It's time you experience the real world of soul masters."
"But I'm not sure how the Tiandou royal family and your leaders will feel about that. After all, with your age and talent, you'll likely be a Soul King by the next Soul Master Competition, and there's even a chance you might become a high-tier Soul King."
Yang Xiong laughed when he heard this: "Teacher Lin, do you think it's impossible for us to reach Soul Emperor?"
Lin Gong sighed: "A Soul Emperor? That's much rarer than a Soul King. Even someone as outstanding as you probably can't make it. A Soul Emperor before twenty is almost unimaginable."
Yang Xiong fell silent for a while before asking: "Teacher Lin, do you have any plans for the future? Are you really content staying like this?"
Lin Gong remained silent for a long time before speaking: "One cannot fight against destiny. I'm not young anymore, and I've already exhausted my potential. Due to my early foundation, my soul power hasn't improved in years. I'll probably die at level 87."
Looking at the little old man who had accompanied him for so long, Yang Xiong couldn't help but speak: "Teacher Lin, what if I can help you break through to Title Douluo?"
Lin Gong's eyes suddenly turned sharp when he heard this: "Xiong, don't say such things lightly. It's fine to talk to me, but if others hear this, it will cause endless trouble for you."
Yang Xiong took a whole bottle of alcohol and gulped down several mouthfuls, as if venting his emotions, his face even turning a bit red.
"Teacher Lin, over these years, we've been together the most. You've secretly protected me, like a mentor and like a friend. I don't want you to regret it later."
Lin Gong grabbed the bottle and drank it all in one go, even showing a bit of emotion on his face: "I too wish I could avenge the grudges from back then, but unfortunately, I no longer have the heart to fight."
Yang Xiong saw a trace of reluctance on Lin Gong's face, but in the end, he silently drank.
Although Yang Xiong seemed casual now, his heart was very tense. According to the timeline, the Battle of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's destruction would happen in just five years. If he couldn't find a solution by then, he would have to prepare his parents and elder brother.
The two drank heartily, venting their suppressed emotions, and then meditated to rest.
When they returned to the Tiandou Royal Academy, Yang Xiong didn't see the rest of the team, probably because they were still in Tiandou City.
However, Oscar and Qin Shuang's team was still diligently training. It seemed that the relationship between Oscar and Qin Shuang had improved a lot, at least Qin Shuang wasn't as cold as before.
(END CHAPTER)
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