Chapter 72 – Mastery of the Meditation Technique
Yu Xiaogang and Flender were both quite surprised by Yang Xiong's condition. After the entire endurance run, only Ning Rongrong and Yang Xiong had remained completely clear-headed. Considering Yang Xiong's weight, he had surely long surpassed the limits of a Soul Elder.
Flender was puzzled.
"Xiaogang, where do you think Yang Xiong's limit is? I feel like this pile of stones can't hold him down at all."
Yu Xiaogang's expression was serious.
"I'm not sure either. You should know that this time I gave Yang Xiong a full 220 jin of weight, and yet he still handled it with ease—he even managed to help Oscar and Ning Rongrong along the way. I'm starting to suspect he doesn't just have an ordinary body-type martial soul. He's more like someone with a powerful beast martial soul. But Dai Mubai's White Tiger is already considered top-tier among beast souls, and yet Yang Xiong's strength and stamina are truly outrageous."
Flender thought for a moment.
"Could it be possible, Xiaogang, that this isn't about his martial soul at all, but rather about Yang Xiong himself? He's been training with weighted loads and medicinal baths since childhood, and his teacher is Bone Douluo. Perhaps his body has been tempered far beyond that of an ordinary person."
Yu Xiaogang nodded.
"That's the only explanation. It seems I underestimated the training Bone Douluo put him through. Perhaps Yang Xiong really can reach the extreme limits of his martial soul cultivation."
…
In the days that followed, the house sponsored by Yang Xiong was finally completed. Everyone now had their own separate room, making it easier to enjoy some degree of privacy.
Everyone loved the new home at first sight. Though it was Yang Xiong's sponsorship that made it possible, twelve- and thirteen-year-olds naturally had their own need for personal space. Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were especially thrilled, and even Tang San thanked Yang Xiong—now they wouldn't have to sneak out every morning.
Yang Xiong and Tang San usually left their rooms at the same time in the morning. Tang San cultivated his Purple Demon Eye, while Yang Xiong practiced basic techniques outside, along with some Tai Chi. In the early morning, with the world awakening and the air fresh, practicing Tai Chi brought an even deeper sense of connection.
Over the next three months, Yu Xiaogang kept the training more or less the same: running with heavy stones, cross-country hikes carrying stones into the mountains, and even sparring matches. All of it was aimed at tempering the body.
He also made adjustments to the combat training: beyond the one-on-one and two-on-two duels, he introduced other types of competitions.
However, in almost every sparring session, Yang Xiong fought against multiple opponents at once. Yu Xiaogang clearly knew that no one could handle him in a simple one-on-one, so he always set up multi-opponent battles.
For example, Yang Xiong once fought Tang San and Xiao Wu together, another time Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai, and once even Tang San and Dai Mubai as a pair.
In the end, these battles usually came down to stamina and soul power consumption. Facing both Tang San and Dai Mubai at the same time was exhausting even for someone as strong as Yang Xiong, and he was finally worn down until he nearly collapsed.
Because of his overwhelming combat ability, Yang Xiong was never paired against auxiliary-type soul masters—they couldn't keep up with his speed and would be taken out instantly.
According to analysis from Zhao Wuji, Flender, and the others, Yang Xiong's physical attributes were all exceptional—strength, speed, and defense—with no notable weaknesses. The only flaw was his lack of long-range attacks, but this was offset by his teleportation ability, a skill that caused endless trouble for his opponents and left them nowhere to run.
Zhao Wuji personally oversaw Yang Xiong's medicinal baths each day, and the two often trained together in combat. This brought them closer, and Zhao Wuji even shared past experiences and embarrassing stories about the times he was hunted by the Spirit Hall.
Yang Xiong enjoyed these talks—Zhao Wuji was a Soul Sage, and his insights far surpassed what books could offer. In turn, Yang Xiong occasionally shared his own cultivation ideas, which sometimes gave Zhao Wuji new perspectives.
After months of grueling training, the eight Shrek students became more familiar with one another, forming a deeper bond as comrades who endured hardship together.
Yet within the group, three smaller circles began to emerge: Yang Xiong, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong often stuck together—unsurprising, since the two auxiliaries felt safest with Yang Xiong nearby. Tang San's focus was always on Xiao Wu, and it was obvious to everyone that they were a pair. Dai Mubai got along with Ma Hongjun but spent most of his effort wooing Zhu Zhuqing, and even the ice-cold beauty seemed to be thawing a little.
One day, Yang Xiong sat alone in a bathing barrel. The water inside was half red and half blue, split right down the middle—these were various poisonous herbs he had prepared, useful not only for medicinal baths but also for tempering the body and aiding a soul master's absorption.
Yang Xiong was in deep meditation, almost as if he could see changes occurring within his body. In his mind, he saw a silver giant, its head held high toward the heavens, exuding arrogance and a sense of disdain for all living things, as though the entire world was in its grasp.
The inner world around him was like a vast ocean, split into two halves: one red, one blue. They collided and merged endlessly, as if two forces were locked in an eternal struggle.
Looking closely, the giant's torso and head shone more brightly than the limbs, which were still dim but crisscrossed with silver lines that gradually lit up, like meridians glowing from within.
After three months of hard training and his own experimentation, Yang Xiong had barely managed to control his soul power throughout all four limbs. Now, he was on the verge of perfection.
Time passed, and the silver patterns on his limbs grew denser until they formed a seamless whole. His limbs and torso felt completely unified, and his flowing soul power began to merge into a single harmonious current.
Suddenly, Yang Xiong's eyes snapped open, a flash of golden light seeming to shoot out. His limbs lit up fully, and in that instant, his martial soul reached completion—his whole body was silver, as though forged into one.
"It's done!"
At that moment, Yang Xiong felt his Tai Chi reach perfection. His soul power surged like waves, natural and unrestrained. It was as if he had broken through some kind of shackle, gaining a clearer sense of the world and space around him.
His Yin-Yang (Tai Chi) Meditation Technique had finally reached mastery. His soul power flowed continuously without end, perfectly harmonious.
In his mind, the silver giant had fully transformed, and the red-and-blue space had merged into a massive Yin-Yang symbol.
Yang Xiong also broke through to rank twenty-eight, no longer near the bottom among the Shrek students.
Even better, he could now run the Yin-Yang Meditation Technique automatically throughout his body, and as his soul power grew, its cultivation effect would only improve—perhaps even surpassing Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill. After all, Tai Chi's revolving Yin and Yang symbolized the endless cycle of creation, considered supreme in Daoist thought.
…
On the last day of the three months, everyone's physical condition had improved greatly. Tang San and Dai Mubai looked noticeably stronger, Ma Hongjun had slimmed down, and even Oscar could now run the full course under a load.
The three girls had all become slimmer, more easygoing, and more at ease with the boys. Ning Rongrong had shed her spoiled demeanor and gained a hint of heroic spirit—though she still liked to make a fuss with Yang Xiong without the slightest restraint.
During the final weighted run, Ning Rongrong refused to let Yang Xiong carry her, even though he took all her stones. She gritted her teeth and finished the course on her own, tired but elated, her old imperiousness shining through.
In these three months, almost no one's soul power had risen, except Ma Hongjun, who had reached rank twenty-eight, and Ning Rongrong, who had reached rank twenty-nine.
When everyone learned Yang Xiong had also reached rank twenty-eight, they were shocked. He had entered at rank twenty-six, and in just a few months, he had gained two full levels—a remarkable feat. Normally, a soul master could only increase two to three levels in a whole year, even with great talent and intense training.
Zhu Zhuqing's expression dimmed slightly—she was now the only one still at rank twenty-seven, making her the lowest-ranked among them.
Ning Rongrong pouted.
"Little Bear, are you doing this on purpose? I used to be two levels above you, but now I'm only one!"
Yang Xiong chuckled.
"Rongrong, you'd better work harder, or I might surpass you soon."
Her face changed instantly.
"In your dreams! My talent is way better than yours—you'll never catch up to me!"
Yang Xiong only smiled without answering. A little friendly rivalry wouldn't hurt.
Over the months, he and Ning Rongrong had grown closer, especially since in the last laps of weighted training he often carried her to the finish. At first she blushed and resisted, but now she seemed used to it.
Still, she was proud and vain, often calling him "Little Bear" to show off. Xiao Wu had even picked up the habit, much to Yang Xiong's embarrassment.
When Yu Xiaogang announced the completion of the first training phase, granting them a seven-day rest before the next phase began, everyone cheered—even Yang Xiong felt relieved.
It wasn't that the training was bad, but that its intensity had become less effective for him. His body had long reached the limits for his level, and sparring with Zhao Wuji was more beneficial.
Back in his room, soaking in his medicinal bath, Yang Xiong heard a knock on the door and Tang San's voice outside.
"Yang Xiong, are you there? I have something to discuss with you."
"The door's unlocked, come in. I can't get up to open it right now," Yang Xiong replied.
When Tang San entered, he immediately sensed something unusual. This was the first time in months they'd met alone since moving to separate rooms.
Yang Xiong sat in the barrel, eyes half-closed, somewhere between meditation and contemplation.
Tang San followed the unusual aura to his side.
"Yang Xiong, why does your medicinal bath feel so different from ours? It seems poisonous."
Yang Xiong opened his eyes.
"That's right. My bath materials were prepared by my teacher—not only for recovery, but mainly to temper the body."
(End of Chapter)
(END CHAPTER)
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