Chapter 240: Sea God's Light

After everyone finished climbing, each felt heavy, yet they all became very serious.

The Sea God's Light assessment is far harder than everyone imagined; now, even giving their all, everyone can only climb halfway up the staircase, and what lies ahead will be stronger and harder.

In contrast, Tang San and his party were even more surprised; they had been training here for a full three months, and although their soul power and physical condition had improved, they did not expect Ning Rongrong and the others to climb so high—several of them already surpassed Tang San and Xiao Wu.

It should be noted that Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and Qin Shuang were all substitutes in the team before, with the lowest soul power levels; after five or six years of change, not only have their physical qualities far surpassed them, but even their soul power levels have wholly exceeded theirs.

Even the usually proud Tang San and Dai Mubai now fell into self‑doubt.

One should recall that Dai Mubai was Oscar's elder brother back then; before Yang Xiong and others entered Shrek Academy, it was Dai Mubai who led Oscar into the Soul Master Competition. As a result, now both in physical condition and soul power level, Oscar far outmatches Dai Mubai, not to mention Ning Rongrong, who was the weakest in every aspect back then.

After everyone finished the Sea God's Light staircase, Yang Xiong began climbing alone.

When Yang Xiong walked the Sea God's Light staircase, he indeed felt an extremely gentle pressure; this pressure seemed all‑encompassing, with both realm and tier exceedingly high, and the Sea God's Light could even purify a person's body and soul.

But Yang Xiong didn't dwell on it for now, moving slowly up the steps.

For Yang Xiong, the first hundred steps posed little pressure; after the hundredth step, the pressure began to increase gradually.

Yet at this moment Yang Xiong actually quickened his pace, sprinting straight to the two‑hundred‑fiftyth step.

Upon reaching the two‑hundred‑fiftyth step, the pressure became immense, essentially reaching the limit of a normal Soul Saint.

At this point Yang Xiong summoned his martial soul and soul rings, and when the two blood‑red soul rings shone, not only Tang San's party but also those on Sea God Island who saw them were unusually astonished.

Now Yang Xiong, bearing the pressure, climbed step by step; each step was a thousand‑jin burden, yet still within Yang Xiong's tolerance.

When he reached the three‑hundred‑fiftieth step, the pressure had already surpassed that of a Soul Douluo, and even top‑tier Soul Douluo masters could not cross it.

At that moment, all of Yang Xiong's soul bones lit up, especially the Profound Armor External Soul Bone, which looked like armor, tightly shielding his torso.

Yang Xiong kept climbing under the pressure, and when he reached the four‑hundredth step, he had essentially hit his bodily limit.

Yang Xiong showed no fear; although several soul rings flickered on his body and he employed the Third Soul Skill: Tyrant Dragon's Fury and the Fourth Soul Skill: Dragon‑Elephant Rigid Body, his muscles swelled, his height grew to nearly three meters, making him appear as a towering giant.

At this point, each step Yang Xiong climbed seemed to increase the pressure by several points, and even his bones began to crackle.

Yang Xiong gritted his teeth, his Seventh Soul Ring flickered, and he unleashed his Seventh Soul Skill: Asura True Form.

Simultaneously, endless red light radiated from him—that is the Killing Domain.

After employing the Killing Domain and Asura True Form, the sky filled with blood‑red light colliding with the golden Sea God's Light, and the pressure on Yang Xiong seemed to ease considerably.

Meanwhile, Yang Xiong also pushed his amplification to the limit, using all his strength to continue climbing higher on the staircase.

When he finally reached the five‑hundred‑thirtieth step, Yang Xiong had exhausted virtually all his methods; he seemed to bear pressure like a mountain crushing him, every inch of skin and every bone feeling pressure to the utmost.

Finally, Yang Xiong gritted his teeth and slowly withdrew from the Sea God's Light.

At this moment, whether Tang San's party or Ning Rongrong and the others, they stared at Yang Xiong as if he were a monster.

They had always known Yang Xiong was strong, but never imagined he could be this powerful; the five‑hundred‑thirtieth step was beyond anyone's imagination.

In the shadows, when Yang Xiong displayed his martial soul and soul rings, essentially the entire Sea God Island watched his ascent.

Whether it was Yang Xiong's soul ring configuration or his terrifying physical condition, climbing all the way to the five‑hundred‑thirtieth step is something many Title Douluo cannot achieve, even Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi could not help but marvel.

However, Bo Saixi found it odd; given Yang Xiong's talent and physical condition, he already far surpasses his former self, so why would the assessment be the same as his?

Yang Xiong rested briefly, then addressed everyone: "You should all understand how difficult the first trial on Sea God Island is. Not just you— even I couldn't pass without giving everything I've got. So for the next year you must give your all, training hard for your lives."

Everyone nodded solemnly.

According to Yang Xiong's estimate, among his eight people, the truly difficult test is for Shui Bing'er; she is a Red Level Seven Trial, needing to climb one‑hundred‑thirty‑six steps, and she is only a Soul King at present.

His sole disciple Huo Wu, though also facing some difficulty, likely has the greatest potential for improvement in the Sea God assessment due to the uniqueness of her Body martial soul.

From now on, per Yang Xiong's arrangement, everyone will train on the step corresponding to them, and must climb with all their might once daily, striving to reach their own limits.

After hard training, they will take Medicine Baths and other treatments, so that bodily improvement can reach its peak.

Moreover, according to Yang Xiong's plan, they will follow the Body Tempering method he originally used for cultivation and Medicine Baths; only when utterly exhausted will the Medicine Bath's effect be maximized.

Especially since the Sea God's Light is unique, possessing extreme inclusivity that does not harm the body; it can be called the world's strongest Simulated Environment, and under such conditions Body Tempering can make one even stronger.

Once each person found their suitable spot, they all settled down to train earnestly, essentially without a moment's pause.

Of course, besides training, Yang Xiong also set an extra exercise for everyone: a weekly bout against Yang Xiong.

During each bout, Yang Xiong would roughly beat everyone to serious injury, yet with control—mainly damaging their muscles and bones—and after the injuries they would consume Oscar's Super Recovery Big Sausage to heal quickly.

Only through repeated bouts and enduring hardships can the body truly become stronger.

……

In the time that followed, everyone noticed the effect of this training; under the Sea God's Light, the training speed was several times faster than before.

Of course, among everyone, Yang Xiong paid the most attention to the two girls, Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er; both are only Soul Kings, yet their assessment difficulty is the highest, making them the most pressured of all.

Shui Bing'er, though unusually gentle, also has a very strong temperament; a certain resilience runs in her bones, making her no weaker than the boys.

As for his sole disciple Huo Wu, Yang Xiong is more concerned than anyone else and has devoted extra effort.

Since Yang Xiong took Huo Wu as a disciple, she seems to have become more proud, even her romantic side has waned; in her eyes, the Body Sect inheritance comes first, and even Feng Xiaotian has been somewhat neglected.

That day Huo Wu approached Yang Xiong, looking a bit lost.

Yang Xiong, a bit puzzled, said: "Huo Wu, is it because the assessment pressure is too great that you seem off?"

Huo Wu shook her head: "Teacher, am I a failure? I'm your only disciple, yet among everyone my soul power level is the lowest, and the steps I climb are the lowest too."

Yang Xiong's expression turned serious: "Huo Wu, why do you think that? If it's purely about talent, why are you a Black Level Six Trial while Yang Wei and Qin Shuang are Black Level Four Trials? If it's only about soul power, then I might as well take Feng Tengtian as a disciple; perhaps he could break through to Title Douluo even faster."

Huo Wu helplessly said: "Teacher, I just feel pressure and can't see the road ahead clearly."

Yang Xiong couldn't help but shake his head: "Huo Wu, do you know why I took you as a disciple?"

Huo Wu's face showed a hint of doubt: "Teacher, isn't it because I possess a rare Body martial soul?"

Yang Xiong's mouth curled into a faint sneer: "Do you think I'm that shallow? The martial soul is only part of a Soul Grandmaster; what truly matters for cultivation is the Soul Grandmaster himself."

"You are extremely proud, almost unbridled; where has that defiant, unwilling-to-lose expression from the Soul Grandmaster Competition gone?"

"In my eyes, you are proud and confident, fearless of death for victory and advancement; that is the true essence of you, the thing in your bones, not this softer appearance now."

Huo Wu, hearing this, grew increasingly serious: "Teacher, I understand. I must become stronger, even stronger than Feng Xiaotian."

Yang Xiong shook his head: "Why is Feng Xiaotian the only one you see? Your talent exceeds what you imagine; your Body martial soul is one in ten thousand, a gift from the heavens."

"But the strongest Body martial soul is not what they call adaptability and compatibility, nor is it the so‑called perfect fusion of body and martial soul; it is the unique resilience of the Body martial soul."

"Since the martial soul is our body, each person has their own capacity to endure, and as the Body martial soul grows stronger with personal willpower, with one's own perseverance and effort, with one's indomitable progress, the Body martial soul can become stronger without limit, eventually even rivaling Divine Level Martial Soul."

"I call this the Second Awakening; when I absorbed the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, I originally thought you would undergo a Second Awakening, but although your strength increased, it was still far below what I expected."

"Sea God Island is a treasure land; under the illumination of Sea God's Light, you can break through your own strength without limit. That requires your willpower to be strong enough, that you endure incomparable hardships, and only then can you repeatedly break limits, eventually possibly achieving a true Second Awakening."

"Huo Wu was shocked by these words, never having expected Yang Xiong to value her so highly, never having imagined the Body martial soul to be stronger than she had thought."

"Teacher, I understand. I will certainly strive to break my limits and soon reach the Title Douluo rank."

"Yang Xiong shook his head: 'Huo Wu, you still underestimate yourself. If I only wanted to cultivate an ordinary Title Douluo, there would be no need to take you as a disciple at all.'"

"I hope the Body Sect Yi Wan Nian remains unshakable; that requires not an ordinary Title Douluo but a truly peerless master. With your extraordinary talent, the uniqueness of your martial soul, and your unruly temperament, I hope you will eventually attain the Ninety-Eighth Level Title Douluo, or even the th Level Ultimate Douluo, so that the Body Sect can truly stand unshaken."

"Now is a contest of great forces; the Spirit Hall is about to truly wage war across the world, and only genuine strong ones can survive. I hope you become such a strong one, and after me, you can truly lead the Body Sect to rule the world."

(End of Chapter)