Chapter 67: Yang Xiong vs Tang San

Yang Xiong and Tang San walked out, the distance between them about six meters, preparing to commence their first Spirit Battle.

Tang San said, "Yang Xiong, you need to be careful; although your combat power is outstanding, my Blue Silver Grass is much faster than before."

Yang Xiong smiled, "Actually I have always wanted to spar with you, and I also want to see how much this Third Soul Ring has boosted you."

Both hold a certain respect for the other; after all Tang San is a Soul Elder, a realm higher than Yang Xiong, and his combat power is exceptional, able to defeat Dai Mubai, whose physical condition is far stronger, and Dai Mubai has the boost of a Beast Soul.

But Yang Xiong's outstanding combat ability also surprised many; he has competed in a Soul Fighting Competition with Ning Rongrong and Oscar, able to fight two top Great Soul Masters simultaneously, even without using soul skills.

As the competition began, both displayed their martial soul and Soul Ring, and around Yang Xiong's whole body instantly appeared a Silver phantom.

Countless Blue Silver Grass flew from Tang San's body, rapidly pouncing on Yang Xiong, looking indeed much faster than when fighting Great Soul Masters.

But Yang Xiong's speed was extremely fast; he leapt away directly, and the original spot was instantly surrounded by Blue Silver Grass.

Yang Xiong ran swiftly, his body extremely agile and fast; although the Blue Silver Grass appeared and vanished like a ghost, it could not catch up to Yang Xiong in speed.

Yang Xiong skillfully evaded the pursuit of the Blue Silver Grass and gradually approached Tang San, just as Yu Xiaogang said, a Control System Soul Master can hold an early advantage, especially with ranged‑attack superiority, but only if the enemy is restrained; otherwise it's just a waste of soul power.

Tang San seemed to understand that his Blue Silver Grass couldn't match Yang Xiong's speed; he himself also moved at extreme speed, his figure approaching Yang Xiong like a ghost, employing his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step.

Seeing Tang San close in, Yang Xiong's mouth twitched a smile; if Tang San's soul power is deep enough, using Blue Silver Grass for a ranged attack could indeed trap the enemy, whereas Yang Xiong lacks ranged‑attack capability.

Even though Tang San's Ghost Shadow Mirage Step speed is extremely fast, Yang Xiong's hand is no weaker, and the two quickly engaged.

The two's fists and palms collided directly, both stepping back several meters; in terms of strength and physical quality, Yang Xiong was clearly stronger.

But Tang San was more mysterious, his hands like white jade, appearing extremely hard.

Tang Sect techniques in the early stage of a soul master truly seem like a cheat, after all Douluo Shijie has no similar methods, especially when ordinary soul masters lack Self‑Created Spirit Skills.

Tang San was also unusually surprised; just now a palm struck Yang Xiong, but after his Mysterious Jade Hand touched Yang Xiong, Yang Xiong's fist was harder than he imagined, even far stronger than he expected.

In an instant, the two rapidly faced each other, the original Soul Fighting Competition turning into a simple exchange of punches and kicks.

If Tang San is mysterious, Yang Xiong is bold and open, a bit like Hua Country's martial‑arts sparring on Blue Star; compared to Tang's systematic martial‑arts world foundation, Yang Xiong has never encountered martial arts, appearing more simple and brutal.

After several consecutive exchanges, Yang Xiong, who had been using fists and kicks, suddenly clawed at Tang San with his five fingers like sharp claws; even though Tang San's reaction speed was extremely fast, at that instant his white‑jade‑colored right hand was grabbed.

But Tang San's Mysterious Jade Hand was much harder than Yang Xiong imagined, only leaving five faint scratches, yet even so Tang San was extremely surprised; his Mysterious Jade Hand had never been broken by any opponent of the same level soul master.

Just as Yang Xiong consecutively used several Dragon Claw‑like attacks, he suddenly felt his whole body's center of gravity a bit unstable, as if grasped by cotton, his hands involuntarily shifted, especially Tang San's both hands formed a vortex‑like pulling force; before Yang Xiong could react, his whole body began to tilt, and Tang San, moving extremely fast, seized the chance to kick.

Yang Xiong hardily endured Tang San's kick to the abdomen, his whole body was blasted several meters; this should be Tang San's Crane Control and Dragon Capture, having the effect of moving a thousand pounds with a few ounces.

But given Yang Xiong's current physical quality, such a normal attack had no effect on him; in an instant he flipped like a hawk and surged toward Tang San again.

At this moment Tang San's reaction speed was extremely fast; countless Blue Silver Grass flew out, as if to envelop Yang Xiong.

Yet Yang Xiong was not at all frightened by the Blue Silver Grass; his right hand acted like a hand blade, especially the whole palm turned Silver, looking as sharp as a real blade, he used all his strength to slash, directly cutting the Blue Silver Grass that collided with him.

Although Tang San's Blue Silver Grass was extremely fast, its resilience was ultimately insufficient; even Tang San himself was a bit surprised, seeing Yang Xiong's hand blade seemed like a sharp Tool Spirit, unimaginable.

Before Tang San could react, Yang Xiong approached again, but Tang San's reaction speed was extremely fast, his two Mysterious Jade Hands quickly met Yang Xiong's attack.

After several minutes of continuous fighting, Yang Xiong himself was hit by Tang San many times, yet even though Tang San's strength was full, he could not cause much damage to Yang Xiong.

The surrounding crowd also felt strange; the battle between two soul masters seemed like a fight between ordinary people, mostly just body collisions.

Especially Yu Xiaogang's face looked extremely displeased; he didn't expect Tang San not to use the Blue Silver Grass, instead relying on physical quality and combat techniques, completely unlike a Control System Soul Master.

Crane Control and Dragon Capture is indeed the pinnacle of Tang Sect techniques, also the pinnacle of using force to counter force, soft overcoming hard; even though Yang Xiong also diligently practiced body combat techniques, he is still far behind, even his whole strength seems unable to be fully exerted.

After Yang Xiong's continuous attacks countless times, seeing a claw strike Tang San seemed to hit cotton again.

But this time Yang Xiong was prepared; his both hands at that instant merged like palms, the originally fierce attack paused, his hands became extremely slow, like a circle.

Tang San originally wanted to use Crane Control and Dragon Capture to use force against force, but Yang Xiong's attack completely exceeded his imagination, as if he himself was also in a vortex.

Even if Tang San's Mysterious Jade Hand attacked Yang Xiong with full force, it felt like striking a mass of cotton, as if the opponent also mastered Crane Control and Dragon Capture.

Before he could react, his whole hand seemed to be sucked, involuntarily deviated, while Yang Xiong at that instant, though moving extremely slowly, his circular double hands actually circled and pushed, appearing light, yet Tang San's whole body was blasted away; this was the first time Tang San was knocked flying.

This is precisely the Tai Chi Push Hands Yang Xiong used; compared to the subtlety of Crane Control and Dragon Capture, Tai Chi Push Hands is more like the culmination of Tai Chi, which Yang Xiong had played with on Blue Star; one could say all who practice Tai Chi know Tai Chi Push Hands.

At this moment Tang San's face was extremely displeased; he has always had great confidence in Tang Sect's absolute arts, especially Crane Control and Dragon Capture, believing that even against a stronger opponent he can defeat the enemy, relying on the Tang Sect's absolute arts.

Although Tang San took a hit from Tai Chi Push Hands, he is extremely determined; wherever he falls he gets up, and quickly attacks Yang Xiong again.

At this moment Tang San's figure was like a ghost, apparently using Mysterious Jade Hand, Crane Control and Dragon Capture, and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step all together; Yang Xiong stood unmoving like a mountain, his fists, palms, claws constantly changing, meeting Tang San's attacks.

At this moment the fight between them no longer resembled a Spirit Battle, but more like a duel in a martial‑arts world.

Especially Tang San repeatedly used Crane Control and Dragon Capture, clearly intending to verify that the earlier hit was just an accident, and that his combat technique is absolutely far stronger than Yang Xiong's.

Yang Xiong's Tai Chi, though appearing unusually crude, also has strong physical quality as foundation; in terms of bodily endurance, he is far stronger than Tang San.

After countless continuous battles, Yang Xiong was knocked flying noticeably more times than Tang San, yet he could occasionally use Tai Chi to knock Tang San flying.

This battle between the two does not seem like an ordinary soul master skirmish, but more like a consumption of stamina and body.

It lasted over ten minutes; Tang San's head began to sweat a thin line, but Yang Xiong showed no reaction, clearly physically stronger than Tang San.

At this moment Tang San also seemed to understand; if both continue this way, they would fully fall into Yang Xiong's rhythm, making it hard to decide a winner, and even at the end he would likely be the one exhausted.

Especially Yang Xiong's physical quality is stronger than Tang San imagined; even after continuous hits he shows no injury trend; note that neither his Mysterious Jade Hand nor other methods left any opening.

Tang San feels Yang Xiong's Tai Chi Push Hands is clearly more crude than his own Crane Control and Dragon Capture, even not mastered well, yet he gains no advantage, and he feels Yang Xiong becoming more proficient, making it harder to win by technique.

If Tang San is surprised, Yang Xiong instead relaxes a lot; he has always trained alone, unaware of his combat technique limits; now fighting a combat master like Tang San, it feels less a battle and more a honing.

Especially as the fight deepens, Yang Xiong's grasp of Tai Chi becomes more proficient, even beginning to gradually understand Tai Chi's principle.

Tai Chi emphasizes using softness to overcome hardness, also emphasizes responding unchanged to myriad changes; although it seems not strong in combat, not very fierce, its operation seems to contain some profound truth, encompassing yin and yang and hardness and softness, as well as the change between motion and stillness.

Especially as his understanding of Tai Chi deepens, his soul power throughout his body seems to involuntarily circulate, his Yin Yang Meditation Method seems to start spreading, extending from his torso and head gradually to his limbs, even beginning to merge into each cell.

Especially after multiple uses of Tai Chi, his soul power throughout his body seems to gradually merge into a whole, not a simple cycle, more like yin and yang succeeding each other, naturally perfect.

(End of Chapter)