Chapter 140: Hardship Cultivation

The massive Spotted Tiger stepped out of its cage and instantly became exceedingly ferocious, truly worthy of a thousand‑year Soul Beast.

The current Yang Xiong was far more nervous than before; although he had rarely used soul skills before, now his soul power was completely suppressed, his self‑created soul skill unusable, making him feel just like an ordinary person.

Given the physical quality of the Soul Ancestor, without any soul power it is utterly impossible to defeat the Spotted Tiger.

But seeing the Spotted Tiger lunge straight at him, especially its massive tiger claws that seemed to tear the very air.

Yang Xiong fully understood his situation, his heart resolute, and he charged straight toward the Spotted Tiger.

Just as man and tiger were about to collide, Yang Xiong forced his body to twist, narrowly evading the Spotted Tiger's attack, then smashed a punch into its arm.

However, given Yang Xiong's current condition—strength without soul power—he could not inflict serious injury on the Spotted Tiger.

The Spotted Tiger seemed unusually enraged, letting out a massive roar, opening a blood‑filled maw and lunging at Yang Xiong's neck.

Yang Xiong was startled and immediately clawed at the Spotted Tiger's neck with both hands.

But the Spotted Tiger was extremely fast and its body was immensely strong, far beyond what Yang Xiong could match.

In just a few minutes, Yang Xiong had already endured several massive paw strikes from the Spotted Tiger, with terrifying blood marks appearing on his body.

Yet at this moment Yang Xiong became extremely ferocious, disregarding his own wounds, fighting the Spotted Tiger desperately like a beast‑fighter.

After more than an hour, Yang Xiong finally knocked the Spotted Tiger down, but he himself looked exceptionally miserable.

His clothes had turned to fragments, making him look like a beggar; blood streamed from his mouth, countless claw marks covered his body, and countless bones were broken.

This battle with the Spotted Tiger was extremely brutal; Yang Xiong had never sustained such severe injuries in his whole life.

The Spotted Tiger fared even worse, having taken countless punches from Yang Xiong, many parts scratched by his claws, and a terrifying bite mark on its neck.

Indeed, it was a bite mark; at the critical moment, Yang Xiong, desperate to survive, even used his teeth.

Man and beast fought to the crucial instant, and Yang Xiong used all his strength to bite off the Spotted Tiger's throat, securing final victory.

Sword Douluo then approached Yang Xiong, slapped him twice, and the previously suppressed soul power and martial soul recovered.

With martial soul and soul power restored, Yang Xiong's body began healing at a remarkable speed, even the original wounds mended rapidly.

Sword Douluo said, "Your body is rather interesting; it likely already far exceeds that of an ordinary Soul King‑level Soul Grandmaster. Though you defeated the Spotted Tiger, you showed none of a Soul Grandmaster's bearing. I can only say your body is tougher than the tiger's, and your Body Sect's reflexes are stronger as well."

Yang Xiong then gave a slight bow, "Please, teacher, give me guidance."

Sword Douluo asked, "Do you know exactly what allowed you to defeat the Spotted Tiger just now?"

Yang Xiong thought and replied, "Teacher, perhaps I have stronger survival courage than the Spotted Tiger, and my combat technique is considerably better."

Sword Douluo nodded, "Indeed. I had you fight the Spotted Tiger not to test any combat skill, but to make you understand why you fight, or to let you experience the most primal battle."

As Yang Xiong felt a bit puzzled, Sword Douluo suddenly exuded endless killing intent; Yang Xiong's whole body seemed immersed in an abyss, his spirit trembling.

At that moment Sword Douluo appeared not as a person but as a drawn sword, seemingly able to slay with its terrifying aura.

Facing Sword Douluo's overwhelming aura, Yang Xiong collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily, drenched in sweat, as if he had just emerged from a pool.

Sword Douluo continued, "To truly become stronger, you must understand the gap between you and your enemy, and fight using your body's most instinctive survival desire; only then can you gradually forge killing intent."

"From now on I will not teach you any combat techniques; judging by your recent fight, you may not lack technique. What you truly lack is the all‑out, head‑first desperation against an enemy."

"From now on you will battle Soul Beasts daily; today was merely an ordinary Spotted Tiger. Tomorrow you might face multiple thousand‑year Soul Beasts, even premium Soul Beasts or Ten‑thousand Year Soul Beasts."

"As my disciple, I hope you can seize your life and strive to survive. If you fall so easily, I will consider you not my disciple at all."

Yang Xiong swallowed reflexively upon hearing this; such a top‑tier Title Douluo seemed to have a unique personal style, especially since Sword Douluo claims to be the world's number one Attack Douluo, already reaching the pinnacle of Title Douluos.

Thinking of this, Yang Xiong quickly said, "Thank you, master; I will certainly work hard on cultivation."

Sword Douluo then nodded, "Your aptitude is quite good across the board, but you must understand that anyone who breaks through to Title Douluo possesses great talent and uniqueness; they are never just ordinary cultivators, so your path is still far away."

Yang Xiong hurriedly replied, "Thank you, teacher, for the guidance."

Sword Douluo, upon hearing this, leisurely departed.

In the following period, Sword Douluo arranged daily combats with various Soul Beasts, usually under soul‑power restriction; each training session for Yang Xiong was fraught with danger, and he nearly lost his life several times.

However, after continuous battles with Soul Beasts, Yang Xiong gradually realized Sword Douluo's training purpose: only by engaging in the most instinctive fights with Soul Beasts can one survive, requiring relentless forward drive, less calculation, and fighting with one's own physical strength.

This training method resembled the legendary Killing City in some ways, showing a similar ingenious effect.

Yang Xiong continued cultivation under two teachers, Sword Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo; Bone Douluo could be said to torment him in various ways, his body seemingly battered daily, while Sword Douluo's training was extremely brutal—any lapse could be life‑threatening, essentially a fight to the death rather than mere training.

After more than ten days, the single‑attribute Three Great Families finally relocated from the Star Luo Empire to Cloud Mist Mountain.

The Three Great Families alone have nearly a thousand Soul Grandmasters, plus many non‑Grandmaster staff, since no one can guarantee awakening a martial soul.

Ning Fengzhi had also prepared long ago; Cloud Mist Mountain now boasts various buildings and many cultivation facilities, enough for thousands of people and mounts to live and train, many of which were rushed out overnight.

Under the leadership of Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo, Yang Xiong together met Yang Wudi, Niu Gao, and Bai He; it was clear Ning Fengzhi placed great importance on the three families, confirming specific cooperation details on the spot and even assigning a core family team to follow up, ensuring their satisfaction.

After all communications were completed, only Yang Xiong, Lin Gong, Yang Wudi, Niu Gao, and Bai He remained on site—these are the Body Sect core members of Yang Xiong's plan.

It was evident the three were fairly satisfied with Yang Xiong's arrangement; at least for now, all family members have a decent place.

Yang Wudi asked with some confusion, "Sect Leader, according to the plan, we've been operating within a few hundred li of Cloud Mist Mountain and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; is there any other arrangement?"

Yang Xiong also appeared unusually solemn, "Elders, I have already spoken with Ning Zong Zhu; in recent years everyone should keep a low profile. Whether family Soul Grandmasters or you, you must cultivate diligently to become stronger."

"By my estimate, in as short as five years or as long as ten, the world will undergo great changes, and that will be the time our Body Sect emerges publicly."

"Necessary cultivation facilities have already been built on Cloud Mist Mountain, and Teacher Lin Gong will also stay there as much as possible, mainly to teach cultivation methods."

The cultivation methods Yang Xiong mentioned are mainly Body Tempering, including wooden dummy striking, weighted training, and so on; though they appear simple, they do have effect.

Moreover, according to Yang Xiong's plan, a complete cultivation system will gradually be established within Cloud Mist Mountain, largely designed from the wuxia world, which will be highly beneficial to the single‑attribute Three Great Families.

Yang Xiong did not hesitate; he took out two Jade Boxes and handed them to the two.

He gave Niu Gao and Bai He each a Divine Medicine; Niu Gao, with his strong defense and exceptional physique, received a Yi Wan Nian Tu Fu Ling, which, though not an Immortal Herb, is a top‑tier Divine Medicine, extremely rare.

Bai He received a Yi Wan Nian Tian Xian Zi, also a premier medicinal herb, matching his attributes.

Both Niu Gao and Bai He were unusually delighted to receive the Divine Medicines, repeatedly thanking Sect Leader Yang Xiong.

However, Yang Xiong remained unusually solemn, "Elders, both cultivation resources and Divine Medicines are privileges reserved for you, the Elder of the Body Sect; please remember the promise you made to me."

"Your joining the Body Sect is an honor to the sect; I hope you treat the Body Sect as your home. Traitors die; I hope you will not disappoint me."

Now that we have reached this stage, the sect has been established, and they have even arrived in the Heaven Dou Empire; there will be no more...

Yang Wudi, Niu Gao and Bai He all stood up together, bowed and saluted: "Sect Leader, we will never disappoint you; no matter what, we will not betray the Body Sect, we will not betray the Sect Leader."

Yang Xiong finally nodded with satisfaction: "Thank you, three Elders, for your support; I hope you remember today's words."

"Of course you must also remember today: this Cloud Mist Mountain is the first step of the Body Sect's rise; the Body Sect will surely make the whole world tremble in the future."

Everyone felt a surge of heroic fervor upon hearing this; as Soul Grandmasters, who does not wish to stand at the pinnacle of the Soul Master World?

(End of Chapter)