Chapter 102: Ice Fire Dragon Claw

Compared with the Shrek team, Yang Xiong had already taken leave and left, and he took a full five‑day vacation.

In fact, according to Yang Xiong's estimate, the current strength of the Shrek team is enough to rank among the top five in the Tiandou Region, which means they will have to go to Spirit City for the finals.

Thinking of the various secrets he carries, especially the Dragon Claw External Soul Bones on his two hands, he realized that if he really reached Spirit City it would be hard to deal with, and even Ning Fengzhi might not be able to suppress everyone's covetousness.

Yang Xiong directly asked Flanders and Yu Xiaogang for leave, citing a small problem that had arisen in his recent cultivation and the need to go out for a while.

Yu Xiaogang was initially hesitant, even saying he wanted to help Yang Xiong analyze the issue, but Flanders immediately agreed without hesitation; although Yu Xiaogang is the team leader, Flanders is regarded by everyone as the one with the highest status.

From Yang Xiong's recent observations, the old fellow Dugu Bo basically attends the competitions every day, and after each evening's tactical analysis he personally takes Dugu Yan away, which means Dugu Bo has probably had no time to go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well lately.

Yang Xiong and Lin Gong hurried along, and in just a little over half a day they arrived at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Lin Gong sounded a bit depressed: "Xiao Xiong, the competition is going fine, why did you think of coming to this bird place? Is there something different about it?"

Yang Xiong laughed: "This is a treasure spot; Dugu Bo just doesn't know about it. Here I can solve a current hidden problem and even become stronger."

When they reached the outer area of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Lin Gong still stayed outside the poisonous mist; although his strength is formidable, he cannot cross the Poison Array.

But the two had already coordinated: if Dugu Bo returns early, he will release a large‑range soul skill to alert Yang Xiong.

When Yang Xiong followed the rope back to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the whole place had changed dramatically compared with last time.

Although it had been almost three years since his last visit, it was clear that Dugu Bo had reorganized the area and replanted some poisonous herbs.

Especially the medicinal herbs here seem to grow extremely fast; after Yang Xiong had left the ground barren last time, they are now lush and even many Spirit Herbs have sprouted.

Yang Xiong had no time to worry about these things; taking advantage of Dugu Bo's absence, he planned to use the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well again for Ice Fire Tempering Body, at least to quickly fuse the two External Soul Bones on his palms, otherwise if people found out at Spirit City it would be troublesome, since there are many Title Douluo there and who knows what schemes might arise.

Using the ice‑fire power of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to fuse the External Soul Bones is the only method Yang Xiong can think of at this stage, and Dugu Bo's absence is a rare opportunity.

Yang Xiong stripped off his clothes, leapt, and plunged directly into the spring water of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

After the previous Ice Fire Tempering Body, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had lost its corrosiveness toward him, but perhaps because the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Blazing Fire Apricot Tender had consumed most of its potency, he now felt a lot of pain again.

However, compared with his body, after the two hands entered the spring of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, both palms instantly became extremely painful; the right palm felt as if it were in blazing fire, the left as if in freezing ice—a pain he had not felt for a long time.

Yang Xiong clenched his teeth, ignored the pain in his hands, and submerged his whole body into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

As time passed, his hands seemed to melt; the pain even surpassed that of his first body tempering, especially as the ten fingertips each transmitted scorching heat and biting cold, and the two auras could not complement nor cancel each other.

Yang Xiong gritted his teeth, silently practiced the Yin Yang Meditation Method, and struggled to hold himself together.

After a full two days, Yang Xiong finally crawled out of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, but his hands had changed dramatically.

On both hands remained the two External Soul Bones, and thick scales covered the palms; the tips were only about ten centimeters, yet extremely hard and sharp, like refined steel, resembling a pair of Dragon Claws.

But both the dragon scales and the dragon claws on the palms changed drastically; the claws, which were originally silver, now have the right hand glowing fire‑red and the left hand a deep blue.

Yang Xiong could clearly feel that the two External Soul Bones had merged completely with his body, as if they were his own bones; the right hand seemed to wield fire‑attribute energy, the left ice‑attribute energy, but these energies were confined to the claws and could not enter his body.

Yang Xiong casually slid both hands across the ground; the stones instantly split, the area the right claw brushed became as if seared, while the left's path instantly solidified into ice.

Yang Xiong was instantly overjoyed; originally the pair of dragon claws possessed only a very sharp attribute, making them unrivaled in attack.

But after being tempered in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, they now have both ice and fire attributes, greatly increasing their power, making battles against enemies stronger and more unexpected.

Yang Xiong named the pair of dragon claws Ice Fire Dragon Claw, with the right hand called the Flaming Dragon Claw and the left the Frost Dragon Claw.

At that moment Yang Xiong seemed to think of something, leapt back into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, but even after exhausting all his strength he could not dive deep, as if a special force was blocking him.

But Yang Xiong felt that something must exist deep within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, yet with his current strength he could not reach it.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is the burial ground of the Ice Fire Dragon King, who is a God King of the God Realm; his power likely far exceeds that of a million‑year soul beast, and even after tens of thousands of years, there may still be soul bones or similar relics inside.

In the end Yang Xiong sighed helplessly, acknowledging that his strength as a Soul Elder was indeed too weak, and perhaps only in the future could he delve deeper.

After this extremely painful soul bone fusion, Yang Xiong's soul power rose another level; he is now at Level 39, and Level 40 is not far off.

When Yang Xiong emerged from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Lin Gong finally breathed a sigh of relief; after all, this place is not safe, and if Dugu Bo suddenly returned it would be trouble.

This visit to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well turned out smoother and more rewarding than Yang Xiong had imagined; not only could the soul bones fully fuse, their power surpassed before, and his soul power also increased by one level.

Because of the five‑day leave, Yang Xiong and Lin Gong were not in a hurry to return; they leisurely roamed on the way back, even at night they cared little, since Lin Gong, a top Soul Douluo, was with them.

That night the two simply barbecued in Sunset Forest; even the ferocious soul beasts that sensed the scent were unafraid, especially as Lin Gong surrounded a large bamboo grove with Purple Emperor Bamboo, and his aura as a Soul Douluo was so formidable that no soul beast dared approach.

Lin Gong was a bit puzzled: "Xiao Xiong, this Sunset Forest feels like your home court; you've leveled up again, so purely in terms of cultivation speed you're now a bit better than the two members of your team who have Innate Full Soul Power."

Yang Xiong laughed: "Teacher Lin, it's not that simple; they have Innate Full Soul Power, which my Innate Soul Power Level 6 cannot match."

Lin Gong laughed: "You kid, keep pretending; the day you truly show your full strength, you'll probably scare a bunch of people to death."

Yang Xiong said: "Strength and combat power aren't just words; they truly have to be forged in a sea of corpses and blood, otherwise having soul power alone is useless."

Lin Gong nodded: "That's true, but the innate talents of your two teams are indeed good, especially this batch of newcomers."

After a moment of silence, Yang Xiong spoke: "Teacher Lin, after this Soul Master Competition I plan to go out for training, perhaps I won't stay at the academy any longer."

Lin Gong smiled: "I'm aware of your little thoughts; after these years of training, the drills inside the academy no longer help you much, you should perhaps experience the real Soul Master world."

"But I wonder what the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and your few team leaders will think; after all, given your age and talent, at the next Soul Master Competition you'll at least be Soul Kings, and perhaps even high‑rank Soul Kings could appear."

Yang Xiong heard this and brightened: "Teacher Lin, does that mean we could never become Soul Emperors?"

Lin Gong sighed: "Soul Emperor? That's far rarer than Soul King; even if you're outstanding, it's unlikely, a Soul Emperor before twenty is unimaginable."

After a pause, Yang Xiong asked: "Teacher Lin, do you have any plans for the future, are you content to stay like this forever?"

Lin Gong remained silent for a long time before answering: "One cannot defy destiny; I'm already not young, I have no more potential, and because of my early foundation, my soul power has plateaued these years, I fear I'll only reach Level 87 by death."

Looking at the little old man who had followed him for so long, Yang Xiong couldn't help but say: "Teacher Lin, what if I could find a way for you to break through to Title Douluo?"

Lin Gong's gaze sharpened: "Xiao Xiong, don't speak such things carelessly; saying it to me is fine, but if others hear it, it could bring you endless trouble."

Yang Xiong grabbed the whole bottle and gulped several swigs, as if venting, his face turning slightly flushed.

"Teacher Lin, over the years the two of us have been in contact the most; you've protected me from the shadows, like a master and a friend, I don't want you to live with regret."

Lin Gong grasped the bottle, tipped his head back and drank it all in one go, his face showing a hint of emotion: "I too have wanted to avenge the old grudges, but unfortunately I no longer have the heart for such a fight."

Yang Xiong watched a trace of reluctance on Lin Gong's face, but ultimately just kept drinking silently.

Although Yang Xiong now seemed more relaxed, his heart was still very nervous; chronologically, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's annihilation war was only five years ago, and if nothing can be done, he may have to settle his parents and elder brother in advance.

The two drank heartily, each expressing their inner melancholy, then each meditated alone to rest.

Back at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Yang Xiong did not see the whole team, probably still in Heaven Dou City.

Actually, Oscar, Qin Shuang and the rest of their team are still training hard, and judging by the situation the relationship between Oscar and Qin Shuang seems to have improved considerably; at least Qin Shuang is no longer as cold as before.

(End of chapter)