Welcome our new Patron: Caleb! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to 'Chapter 48: A Headache for Ning Fengzhi' on Patreon!
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)
------------------------------------------------------
Yang Xiong continued his rigorous daily training, though he spent less and less time in the library. Over the past few years, he had already read through most of the useful books.
His routine now consisted of body tempering, meditation, extreme weighted exercises, developing self-created soul skills, and foundational combat training with the wooden dummy and sandbag. These activities made up Yang Xiong's entire day.
Meditation and weighted exercises took up the most time. He meditated every night and practiced basic combat techniques in the morning. The wooden dummy and sandbag not only honed his punches and kicks but also improved his reflexes and resistance to physical blows.
Since absorbing his second soul ring, Yang Xiong had increased the weight he carried daily. He now bore sixty jin (approximately 30 kilograms) of weight at all times, never removing it.
Developing his self-created soul skills took about two hours each afternoon. In addition to the Rasengan, he was working on another skill.
Body tempering remained focused on ice, fire, and poison. As his strength grew, the herbs he used became more potent, the pain more intense—but these trials further strengthened his body.
Six months after absorbing his second soul ring, Yang Xiong's soul power rose by another level, reaching level twenty-four.
One afternoon, Yang Xiong concentrated a high density of soul power in his palm, continuously channeling more energy into it. The soul power spun rapidly, forming a miniature typhoon.
Focusing all his spiritual energy on this tiny typhoon, Yang Xiong gradually shaped it under his control until it formed into a pale blue sphere.
Overjoyed, Yang Xiong held the pale blue sphere and slammed it into the ground. The surface shattered instantly, forming a crater about one meter in diameter.
Yang Xiong couldn't contain his excitement. "It's done! I've finally succeeded! My Rasengan will one day become one of the most terrifying soul skills in the world of soul masters."
After several days of practice, Yang Xiong could now quickly form the Rasengan for battle. However, his current soul power level was still too low. Even with Heart Separation Control reducing soul power consumption, he could only form the Rasengan three times before exhausting himself.
Still, the Rasengan's power was impressive—it rivaled a soul master's third soul skill. With increased strength and soul power, achieving the might of a ten-thousand-year soul skill was only a matter of time.
Over the years, Yang Xiong had developed two self-created soul skills. Besides the Rasengan, the other was derived from his first soul skill, Xuan Ming Replacement. By swapping himself with the surrounding air, he had gradually refined it into a new skill: Teleportation.
Compared to Xuan Ming Replacement, Teleportation consumed less energy and didn't require soul ring power. It could be used in any situation, showcasing the application of spatial attributes in his Body Martial Soul.
With Teleportation and the Rasengan, Yang Xiong was confident he could hold his own against any opponent below the Soul King rank. If he couldn't win, he could at least escape.
Yang Xiong was now eleven and a half, just a few months shy of twelve. He planned to venture out alone soon—partly to train independently and partly to gain combat experience, especially against soul beasts. After all, soul masters were forged through blood and battle.
More importantly, the entire Douluo Continent was about to become lively. Yang Xiong needed to quickly strengthen himself to seize opportunities he didn't want to miss. He even had a plan for his next steps.
However, one crucial question remained: Should he submit the Rasengan to the sect?
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul had two major flaws. First, the pagoda itself only had seven layers, preventing its users from breaking through to the Soul Dou Luo rank. Second, as an auxiliary martial soul, it lacked offensive capabilities, leaving its users weaker than others in direct combat.
To some extent, the Rasengan could compensate for these shortcomings, giving Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul users offensive abilities and transforming them into true battle-support soul masters.
Personally, the Rasengan had cost Yang Xiong years of painstaking effort—it was truly his own creation. Parting with it felt difficult.
But Yang Xiong had lived within the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Sect since birth, enjoying its resources as an inner disciple. The sect had provided him with a stable environment for growth.
What seemed simple and common to him—such as obtaining top-tier soul rings—would have been impossible for ordinary soul master families. Moreover, Yang Xiong had no experience in earning money or surviving independently; the sect had essentially become his home.
Yang Xiong thought about the future. In approximately seven years, the Spirit Hall would launch its Soul Hunt campaign, endangering both the sect and his parents. His current peaceful life could be destroyed overnight.
Throughout the years, Yang Xiong had trained alone, interacting little with others. Still, he could feel the sect's investment in him. When he sought his second soul ring, Teacher Lin Gong showed concern but no hesitation, clearly following the sect's instructions.
Yang Xiong even felt that the sect had given him special treatment. Things had gone unusually smoothly—like the extreme body tempering herbs for cultivating The Way of Defense, which his parents provided seemingly without purchase. Likely, a senior sect member had supplied them upon learning of his cultivation.
Having lived in the sect for over a decade, Yang Xiong felt a sense of belonging to the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Sect. He had faced no troubles or complications—a testament to the sect's subtle power. It made nearly all soul masters view the sect as their home.
Another factor weighed heavily on Yang Xiong's mind. In the future, he would need several top-tier soul rings, especially after his fifth. Many of these soul beasts would be beyond his or even his parents' ability to defeat. Only the sect's support could help him secure them.
Yang Xiong had even tested his parents' feelings about the sect. They viewed it as their home, willing to sacrifice everything for it. They scolded Yang Xiong when he hinted at leaving, insisting he never entertain such thoughts.
Finally, Yang Xiong sighed. "Very well. For the sake of my parents' safety, I'll do it. I hope Ning Fengzhi doesn't disappoint me."
There was another reason. Sooner or later, Yang Xiong would use the Rasengan outside the sect, prompting inquiries. Rather than being passive, it was better to proactively offer it now, potentially gaining more benefits.
As his father once said, within the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Sect, standing out was encouraged—being mediocre was frowned upon.
This wasn't about choosing sides. In the world of Douluo, being part of a sect came with constraints but also significant advantages. Simply revealing his status as an inner disciple of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Sect deterred most people. Even high-level Soul Saints wouldn't dare provoke Yang Xiong. This was the sect's power and prestige.
---
Author's Note: A small foreshadowing: Relying solely on oneself isn't a long-term solution. Sooner or later, the protagonist will seek a mentor.
------------------------------------------------------
Double Daily Chapters Until We Are 40 Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow