Chapter 38: Tai Chi

Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi has already returned, returned from Heaven Dou City after attending the Snow Night Emperor's birthday banquet, and Jian Gu Douluo is beside him.

Elder Nine, after returning, gave a detailed account of the whole journey, especially the part where Yang Xiong penetrated the Poison Array.

Jian Gu Douluo showed no expression at all throughout, while Ning Fengzhi's smile gradually faded, and his demeanor became somewhat serious.

"Elder Nine, you've worked hard this time; the Poison Array you mentioned should be the one rumored to be in Dugu Bo's Medicine Garden in Sunset Forest—have the ends been dealt with cleanly?"

Elder Nine nodded: "Report to the Sect Leader, I have already erased all traces on the outskirts; even Dugu Bo could not find any clue, but I cannot penetrate the interior of the Poison Array."

Ning Fengzhi then smiled: "This time the hardship falls on the Elder; now let's have a good rest for a while."

Elder Nine said no more and left directly, leaving only Ning Fengzhi and Jian Gu Douluo on the scene.

Ning Fengzhi thought for a long time before speaking: "Jian Shu, Gu Shu, what do you think of Yang Xiong's trial this time, especially his infiltration of Dugu Bo's Medicine Garden?"

Gu Douluo thought carefully before replying: "Fengzhi, Yang Xiong is always extremely cautious; this time he actually entered the Poison Array set by that old monster Dugu Bo, so he must have received some information. There must be something he wants in Dugu Bo's Medicine Garden, and it is definitely something crucial."

Ning Fengzhi nodded: "In recent years Yang Xiong has never shown his head, and even when he contributes to the sect he is meticulous. Given his contributions, we can plan anything for him. It seems Dugu Bo's Medicine Garden must contain something different, which is why he would willingly take the risk."

"One should know that this kid has always hidden an External Soul Bone, and hasn't even displayed a single soul skill, which shows how cautious he is."

Gu Douluo seemed a bit angry at hearing this: "What exactly is this kid hiding? If he told me, I wouldn't need so many tricks, nor risk such danger. A mere Dugu Bo is not worth the effort we spend."

"Fengzhi, shall I arrange for Yang Xiong to come over for a personal inquiry? I always feel this kid is hiding some secret."

Ning Fengzhi was silent for a while before speaking: "Fine, as long as Yang Xiong is loyal to our sect, his little secrets will eventually surface. We need not mind his petty thoughts. If one day Dugu Bo finds out, we can just have Jian Shu intimidate him; at worst we pay a small price."

Jian Gu Douluo both nodded, clearly accepting Ning Fengzhi's view; of course they also looked down a bit on the weakest Title Douluo, Dugu Bo.

In the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Dugu Bo looked at the scarred ground, appearing extremely indignant.

"Which bastard stole my medicinal herbs? If I find out, I'll make you taste the pain of Jade Phosphorus Snake venom and have your whole family wiped out clean."

At this moment the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was extremely desolate; all the herbs had been dug up completely, the ground seemed to have been scraped in a circle, everything underground was cleared clean, not even a root remained, not even a single poisonous plant that Dugu Bo himself had cultivated.

Dugu Bo's face twisted a bit, but he quickly calmed down. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's location is special; outside there is his own Poison Array, even Soul Douluo cannot breach it, only Title Douluo can enter.

Not to mention the poisonous plants inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, especially the one white and one red plant that even he cannot approach; they must be the work of a Title Douluo. Yet Title Douluos are few in the world, and generally none can act independently, so only the Title Douluos of the Spirit Hall have time to enter this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and his mortal enemy Ju Douluo is the prime suspect.

Dugu Bo's eyes flashed with rage: "Ju Hua Pass, Spirit Hall, this matter will not be settled so easily; I will certainly not give up peacefully."

The Spirit Hall: …

After Yang Xiong returned home and greeted his parents, he secluded himself in his room to cultivate, not having left the room for many days.

During this Ice Fire Tempering Body, Yang Xiong suffered extreme pain, and his body and martial soul seemed to undergo a metamorphosis, as if he sensed some unknown element within his body.

That was the meridians, the true circuit diagram revealed during Meditation.

In the Douluo Shijie, the concept of meridians does not exist, especially in Douluo No. 1 Middle School, where only some relatively simple Meditation methods are taught.

However, Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill is entirely different; it operates through the meridians, far more efficient than the current Meditation methods.

And Yang Xiong, after undergoing the extreme dual poisonous properties of ice and fire, gained deeper insight into his body; the ice‑fire poison seemed to assault the meridians from start to finish, making the whole meridian appear to expand outward.

Under the influence of the ice‑fire poison, Yang Xiong conceived an alternative method for cultivation.

The ice‑fire power, in a sense, can be called yin‑yang power; to balance it within the Five Organs Six Bowels, the soul power must circulate rapidly inside the body, eventually achieving equilibrium. This was the solution Yang Xiong devised during the extreme pain in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

In fact, at its core, Yang Xiong recalled a term from his past life—Tai Chi.

In any wuxia world, the Daoists hold undisputed leadership, and Tai Chi is regarded as the pinnacle of Daoism.

In his previous life on Blue Star, although Yang Xiong had little study of martial arts, he did encounter Tai Chi; parks everywhere had people practicing Tai Chi, and various TV shows and movies gave detailed introductions. His grandfather once took him to learn a few days, but he felt Tai Chi had no effect, so he did not pursue it further.

Now Yang Xiong sees that Tai Chi may not suit combat, especially within the Soul Master World, but for Meditation in the Soul Master World it represents another level.

Thinking of this, Yang Xiong casually performed a round of his past life's Tai Chi fist; perhaps due to the Ice Fire Tempering Body, this time it felt completely different from before.

The set of Tai Chi fist felt extremely natural, especially as the soul power throughout his body seemed to be drawn along during the movements, surging invisibly.

He recalled having seen various introductions to Tai Chi in his past life; legend says that practicing Tai Chi harmonizes the internal yin‑yang energies, enhancing flexibility and coordination. In combat, Tai Chi overcomes hardness with softness, steadiness with motion, cleverly neutralizing attacks. It also promotes Qi Blood circulation and improves bodily functions, making it a Daoist profound skill that combines fitness and health benefits.

Yang Xiong originally doubted this, but now he somewhat believes it, especially since Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill is cultivated within the Soul Master World; Tai Chi should also work, perhaps even stronger.

(I originally wanted to write about Baji Quan, but Tai Chi seems more widely spread; we learned a bit as children, and Tai Chi is truly the treasured pinnacle passed down from the ancestors, even laypeople learn a bit.)

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(End of Chapter)