Chapter 138: Bone Douluo's Unfortunate Training

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo led a group of people quietly out of Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Early the next morning, Yang Xiong followed Bone Douluo to the training ground.

Bone Douluo looked at Yang Xiong with extreme seriousness: "Yang Xiong, I know you have been practicing my book *Defense Path* since childhood, and you could even be said to have made some progress, but do you know what the strongest defense truly is?"

Yang Xiong thought for a moment: "Teacher Bone Douluo, I think the strongest defense is an ultimate, extremely robust physique, absolutely strong bodily quality, and additionally reinforcing oneself with defense-type soul skill."

Bone Douluo nodded: "Well said; regarding Defense Path you indeed have some research, but this is still too one‑sided and too simple."

"Whether it's your previous Body Tempering or the so‑called absorption of defense-type Soul Ring, that is not the essence of Defense Path. The truly strongest defense requires absolute, unyielding willpower, even when facing the strongest attacks."

"These past years, in the Soul Master World, only Elephant Armor Sect and Yu Yi Zu have truly achieved notable results in defense. Their martial souls are inherently defensive, but more importantly they possess certain Inheritance and Body Tempering methods."

"In fact, purely regarding Defense Path, many martial souls surpass Plate Armor Giant Lizard and Diamond Mammoth—for example, the Xuanwu Turtle martial soul you encountered with your First Soul Ring, as well as the Shi Brothers' Xuanwu Turtle martial soul, and even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul can also pursue ultimate defense. Yet they are not strong in this Path, and no Defense Path masters have ever appeared; this relates to their cultivation methods and Inheritance issues."

"And in my view, defense exists only through one's own will, repeatedly repelling the enemy's attacks, ultimately breaking through oneself."

Yang Xiong seemed thoughtful upon hearing this; he had previously considered himself to have some research on Defense Path, but now his thoughts seemed different.

Bone Douluo casually waved a hand, and countless extremely sharp bone spikes materialized in the space, hurling toward Yang Xiong.

Yang Xiong was startled as well; at once he summoned his martial soul and Soul Ring, and his entire body instantly turned silver.

Facing the countless razor‑sharp bone spikes, Yang Xiong swiftly dodged, occasionally clenching his fists to strike the incoming spikes.

However, these bone spikes were unusually cunning, attacking Yang Xiong's relatively weak spots from various directions—such as the head and joints. Soon Yang Xiong appeared a bit overwhelmed; many parts of his body were pierced, and if he hadn't reacted quickly, several spikes would have nearly struck his eyes.

After only a few minutes, Yang Xiong was panting, standing at the edge of the training ground, his body riddled with injuries and bleeding profusely.

Bone Douluo finally halted: "Yang Xiong, in terms of defense, even at Soul Ancestor or Soul King Realm you would find few opponents, yet I only used Soul Ancestor‑level strength just now, and you still seemed unable to withstand."

Yang Xiong's face flushed slightly upon hearing this; he had been confident in his defense, but now seemed to have fully witnessed another kind of attack.

As Bone Douluo said, the earlier attack was neither strong nor fast; it was likely only at the Soul Ancestor realm.

Yet such a level of attack could continuously wound him; besides Bone Douluo's own strength, his long‑term study of defense made him even more aware of his opponent's shortcomings.

Bone Douluo extended a hand and lightly tapped Yang Xiong; a terrifying surge of soul power seemed to strike toward him.

Yang Xiong's expression hardened; he quickly clasped his chest, his muscles and bones solidified, elevating his defense to the extreme—this is the self‑created soul skill: Steel Reinforced Iron Bones.

But Bone Douluo's soul power changed in that instant; the attacking soul power suddenly dispersed rapidly, and he seemed to be struck countless times, with his body's weak spots again assaulted.

Yang Xiong was instantly shocked; he hadn't expected an attack could be employed in such a way.

Bone Douluo couldn't help shaking his head: "Yang Xiong, you are far too inexperienced and weak now; you don't understand what true defense is."

"Defense is not merely bodily toughness; it also requires your body to become a cohesive whole. Moreover, your soul power circulation is still very coarse. No matter how strong you temper your body, weaknesses remain. The technique I just used should be easily mastered even by an ordinary Soul Emperor."

Yang Xiong quickly spoke: "Please, teacher, give me guidance!"

Bone Douluo shook his head: "This is not something that can be taught; you must grasp it through countless battles. Try using your strongest attack against me as a test."

Yang Xiong thought carefully, then his eyes became extremely sharp; he swiftly condensed a golden Spiral Sphere in his hand and hurled it at Bone Douluo with all his might.

The Spiral Sphere had been infused with a powerful Metal Attribute, its rotation speed extremely fast, definitely beyond what an ordinary Soul Grandmaster could withstand.

But unexpectedly, when the Spiral Sphere struck Bone Douluo, it seemed to encounter some resistance; notably, the Spiral Sphere Yang Xiong used this time was a full fifty centimeters, covering Bone Douluo's neck and head.

Yet Bone Douluo remained completely still; at the instant the Spiral Sphere collided with him, it seemed to have a dampening effect. Bone Douluo's soul power trembled slightly, and this tremor dissipated Yang Xiong's full‑force attack, causing Yang Xiong himself to suffer a recoil.

At this moment, Yang Xiong began to gradually understand Bone Douluo's meaning; his body, after long‑term Body Tempering and refinement, seemed able to autonomously respond to enemy attacks, forming an instinctive reaction, or rather his soul power had developed an instinctive response.

Bone Douluo said: "Do you perhaps understand a bit now?"

Yang Xiong nodded: "Teacher, I think your body and soul power have formed some instinct; not only is it as hard as iron, but some weak spots are actually different."

Bone Douluo nodded: "Your observation is detailed, but still far from enough. Since you know your body has weak spots, haven't you considered training those areas' resistance to blows?"

"I know you've long fought Zhao Wuji, but he is a Soul Saint; his soul power far exceeds yours, so when he battles you he is always restrained, even deliberately limiting certain attack forces. This method of training, though effective, is not obvious."

Yang Xiong quickly asked: "Teacher, then how should I train?"

Bone Douluo pointed at Yang Xiong again; a force surged extremely fast toward Yang Xiong's forehead, and even with his quick reaction he could only block with both arms.

But Bone Douluo's attack looped around and struck his forehead, leaving Yang Xiong dizzy and blurred.

Bone Douluo snorted coldly: "Yang Xiong, have you trained your defense to the point that your brain has gone crazy? When facing an enemy's attack, especially a lethal threat to the head, you still try to block—haven't you ever thought of evading?"

Yang Xiong's face turned slightly embarrassed, and he couldn't help recalling Douluo One's first iron Hu Yanzhen, who was a fool daring to place a Divine Artifact atop his head.

……

Bone Douluo launched a series of attacks on Yang Xiong; Yang Xiong felt that against this defense‑expert, his whole body was riddled with flaws, utterly unable to cope, and he was in unbearable agony.

After a full half hour, Yang Xiong was nearly collapsing onto the ground, and Bone Douluo finally spoke: "The warm‑up training is about done; next I'll teach you further. The essence of training defense is to cultivate the body's resistance to blows, whether through tendon and bone refinement or alchemical body tempering, all aimed at enhancing impact resistance."

Bone Douluo's figure flashed, swiftly arriving before Yang Xiong, and lightly tapped Yang Xiong's chest.

Yang Xiong felt there was no escape; his soul power across his whole body was instantly completely suppressed, and even his martial soul could not be summoned.

Bone Douluo waved a hand, as if giving a command; eight hulking men instantly emerged from outside, each gripping a pitch‑black iron rod that looked extremely heavy.

Yang Xiong sensed something amiss and quickly said: "Teacher, you aren't making me suppress my soul power to fight these people, are you?"

Bone Douluo stared at Yang Xiong like a fool: "Do you think you can still fight in this condition? These people's martial souls differ, and their abilities vary; now the focus is on delivering striking training to you."

Before Yang Xiong could say anything, the eight hulking men brandishing iron rods slammed them directly at Yang Xiong, each appearing well‑trained and powerful.

Yang Xiong initially tried to resist, but his soul power was completely suppressed, so he could only use both hands to block the iron rods' attacks.

But these eight were clearly not ordinary people; each strike came at unusually cunning angles, specifically targeting Yang Xiong's weak spots, especially joints and the head.

In a short while, Yang Xiong endured various attacks; his whole body was excruciatingly painful, especially the joints which felt oddly sore, and the eight coordinated with remarkable harmony, making it impossible for Yang Xiong to dodge.

Meanwhile, Bone Douluo had already floated to the outer perimeter of the training ground and began drinking tea.

After a full hour, Yang Xiong was utterly exhausted; his entire body seemed to have no healthy skin, turning a purplish hue, his hands trembling as he lay on the ground, his mouth corner twitching, looking extremely miserable.

Bone Douluo finally approached Yang Xiong, nodded: "Your physical condition is decent; today was only the first day, the lightest training load. Tomorrow you'll need to endure two hours."

Before Yang Xiong could speak, he seemed pulled by soul power into a bathtub; the tub was blood‑red, not an herb brew but resembling the blood of some soul beast, freshly drawn.

Even after Yang Xiong's Ice Fire Tempering Body, once in the tub the blood seemed to begin bubbling, especially this blood appeared to have a scorching sensation, but unlike flame or toxin, as if his whole body were melting.

After entering the tub, Yang Xiong felt excruciating pain; though not as severe as Ice Fire Tempering, the blood‑red liquid pierced every pore of his body.

Beside him, Bone Douluo nodded: "Your luck is good; recently the sect captured several thousand‑year‑old Bone‑Transforming Snakes. Their toxin and blood are excellent materials for Body Tempering, though normally only a Soul Emperor can endure them. It seems they should have some effect on you."

Before Yang Xiong could speak, Gu Douluo emitted a kind of power, and Yang Xiong's entire head was completely submerged in red liquid.

After staying in the blood‑red liquid for a full half hour, the red liquid in the whole bathtub had lightened.

Yang Xiong finally managed to crawl out of the bathtub, but before he could react, eight hulking men, still gripping iron rods, continued to attack him, their force even more violent than before.

……

After being tormented by Gu Douluo for an entire morning, Gu Douluo finally drifted away, while Yang Xiong, repeatedly assaulted, lay on the ground barely clinging to life.

However, as Gu Douluo left, the suppression of the martial soul and soul power seemed to gradually fade, yet after a morning of torment, his whole body felt an indescribable soreness, far more painful than the battle at the Spirit Hall before.

Yang Xiong felt on the verge of tears with none to shed, seriously suspecting that Gu Douluo was targeting him.

(End of chapter)