Chapter 72: The Great Completion of the Meditation Method

Yu Xiaogang and Flanders looked at Yang Xiong's condition with surprise, because after the whole process was finished, only Ning Rongrong and Yang Xiong remained fully conscious; it should be noted that Yang Xiong's weight would probably have already exceeded the Soul Elder's limit.

Flanders was a bit puzzled: "Xiaogang, where do you think Yang Xiong's limit actually is? I feel this stone can't press him down at all?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression was serious: "I don't know either; you should know that this time I gave Yang Xiong a full 220 jin of weight. I didn't expect him to handle it so easily, even being able to help Oscar and Ning Rongrong. I suspect his bodily martial soul isn't ordinary, but rather a powerful Beast Soul. Yet Dai Mubai's White Tiger should already be the pinnacle of Beast Souls, but Yang Xiong's strength and stamina are truly exaggerated."

Flanders thought: "Xiaogang, could it be that it's not a martial soul issue but Yang Xiong himself? He's been doing weighted training and Medicine Bath since childhood, and his teacher is Gu Douluo; perhaps his body, tempered through various Body Tempering, is stronger than ordinary people."

Yu Xiaogang nodded: "That seems the only possibility; it appears I underestimated Gu Douluo's training of him. Perhaps he truly can reach the limit of his martial soul cultivation."

……

In the following days, the house sponsored by Yang Xiong was finally completed; everyone had a private room, making it convenient for each person to attend to relatively private matters.

Everyone adored the new house; although it was sponsored by Yang Xiong, the twelve‑ to thirteen‑year‑old boys and girls still had their own privacy. Especially Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were especially delighted, and even Tang San expressed thanks to Yang Xiong, so now they no longer had to sneak out each morning.

In fact, Yang Xiong and Tang San usually left at the same time each morning; however, Tang San was cultivating Purple Extreme Demon Eye, while Yang Xiong mainly practiced ordinary techniques outdoors and also performed Tai Chi. At dawn, when all things revive, the air is especially fresh, and practicing Tai Chi seems to bring more feeling.

During the next three months, Yu Xiaogang's training was basically similar: besides carrying stones while running, there were also stone‑carrying mountain trail runs and even some Soul Fighting Competitions among themselves; in every respect, it was essentially a bodily grind.

Yu Xiaogang also made certain adjustments to individual duels, adding not only one‑on‑one and two‑on‑two matches but also other contests.

However, each time a battle occurred, it was basically Yang Xiong fighting multiple opponents at once; Yu Xiaogang clearly understood that in a pure one‑on‑one no one could trouble him, so he always arranged multi‑person fights.

For example, Yang Xiong once fought Tang San and Xiao Wu together, another time faced Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai, and even once battled Tang San and Dai Mubai.

But such Soul Battles ultimately consume stamina and spirit power; especially when simultaneously fighting Tang San and Dai Mubai, even Yang Xiong's formidable combat power becomes hard to bear, and he was eventually worn out to death by the two, nearly collapsing on the ground.

It is precisely because Yang Xiong's combat ability is outstanding that no Support Spirit Master is assigned when he fights others; after all, a Support Spirit Master simply cannot keep up with Yang Xiong's speed and is knocked down instantly.

According to analyses by Zhao Wuji, Flanders and others, Yang Xiong's physical qualities are exceptional in every aspect—strength, speed, defense have no shortfalls. His only flaw is a lack of ranged attacks, yet he also possesses Teleportation, and that single move gives opponents endless trouble, even making them unable to evade.

Yang Xiong's daily Medicine Bath is basically tended by Zhao Wuji, and since they train together almost every day, their relationship has become quite close; Zhao Wuji even shares some of his past experiences, including the times he was chased by the Spirit Hall.

Yang Xiong also enjoys it; Zhao Wuji is, after all, a Soul Saint strongman, possessing insights far beyond books. Yang Xiong listens with great interest each time, and sometimes shares his own cultivation ideas; his profound martial soul knowledge also resonates with Zhao Wuji.

After the Shrek Eight underwent continuous hard training, they developed a certain mutual understanding; everyone seemed more familiar with each other, since they endured daily grind together as teammates.

However, the Shrek Eight subtly split into three small groups; among them, Yang Xiong, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong preferred to stick together, especially since the latter two are Support Spirit Masters, making safety around Yang Xiong sky‑high.

Tang San's focus has always been on Xiao Wu; although he also enjoys others' trust, anyone with eyes can see the two are a pair, so others are reluctant to interfere too much.

As for Dai Mubai, he gets along with Ma Hongjun, but Dai Mubai also showers affection on Zhu Zhuqing, even the icy beauty Zhu Zhuqing shows signs of melting.

That day, Yang Xiong soaked alone in a bathtub; inside were both red and blue liquids, seemingly dividing the tub in half. These were various poisonous herbs Yang Xiong prepared, usable for Medicine Bath as well as Body Tempering, and highly suitable for a Soul Grandmaster's absorption.

Yang Xiong himself fell into deep Meditation, and invisibly seemed to witness his whole body's transformation, even seeing a silver giant in his mind. The giant gazed at heaven and earth, appearing supremely proud, even disdainful of all living beings, as if the whole world were in its grasp.

The entire space resembled a vast ocean, split into two halves—one red, one blue—where the red and blue collided and merged, like two forces vying with each other.

Upon close inspection, the silver giant's torso and head were distinctly brighter, while its limbs were comparatively dim, with silver lines covering the limbs that gradually began to shine, resembling meridians.

After three months of grinding, plus Yang Xiong's own research, he can barely control spirit power flowing through his limbs; now only the final completion remains.

After an indeterminate period, the silver stripes on his limbs grew denser, eventually forming a seamless whole; Yang Xiong felt his limbs and torso gradually becoming complete, and the wandering spirit power beginning to merge into a single whole.

At that moment, Yang Xiong suddenly opened his eyes, a golden ray seeming to flash from them; his limbs lit up, and his original bodily martial soul appeared to reach completion in an instant, his entire body turning silver as a single entity.

"Done!"

At this moment, Yang Xiong felt the Tai Chi reach perfection; spirit power surged throughout his body like a boundless tide, seemingly innate, making him feel incredibly light, as if breaking through a shackles, and his perception of the surrounding space and heavens became clearer.

At this instant, Yang Xiong's Yin‑Yang (Tai Chi) Meditation Method finally reached great completion; his spirit power surged endlessly, as if naturally formed.

The silver giant in his mind also seemed to have fully completed its metamorphosis; the red‑blue space gradually merged into a single whole, forming a massive Yin Yang Fish.

Yang Xiong also broke through to Level 28 at that instant, so among the Shrek crowd he was no longer at the bottom.

Especially, Yang Xiong believes his Yin‑Yang Meditation Method can operate autonomously throughout his body; as his spirit power rises, the cultivation effect will improve, possibly even surpassing Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill, since Tai Chi's yin‑yang rotation is endless, the supreme existence in Daoism.

……

That day was the final day of the three‑month period; over those months everyone trained desperately, and physical qualities improved markedly. Tang San and Dai Mubai looked much stronger, Ma Hongjun had lost weight, and even Oscar could complete a weighted run.

The three girls became relatively slimmer, were less reserved than before, and their relationships with the boys improved considerably.

Especially Ning Rongrong, who no longer had her previous coquettishness; instead she showed a hint of heroism, her temperament became more restrained, yet she still liked to tease Yang Xiong, showing no shyness at all.

During the final weighted run that day, Ning Rongrong insisted on not letting Yang Xiong carry her, even though Yang Xiong had taken all the stones from behind; she gritted her teeth and persisted, finally completing the entire course.

The Little Demon Girl, though fatigued, appeared extremely happy, as if regaining her previous commanding demeanor.

During these three months, everyone's spirit power barely improved; only Ma Hongjun rose one level to Level 28, while Ning Rongrong advanced to Level 29.

When everyone learned that Yang Xiong's spirit power had risen to Level 28, they were all stunned; he had been only Level 26 at enrollment, and in just a few months reached Level 28, which was almost unbelievable.

Normally a Soul Grandmaster's cultivation progresses step by step; even with hard training and great talent, they only advance two to three levels per year. Yang Xiong's speed far exceeded everyone's expectations, and Zhu Zhuqing's face showed a hint of melancholy—she remained the only Level 27 Soul Grandmaster among them, her spirit power the lowest of all.

Ning Rongrong seemed a bit unwilling: "Xiao Xiongzi, did you do that on purpose? I was two levels higher in spirit power than you, and now I'm only one level above you…"

Yang Xiong laughed: "Rong Rong, you should be careful; if you don't train harder, perhaps someday you'll be surpassed by me…"

Ning Rongrong's face changed: "You think you can…"

Yang Xiong gave a brief laugh without words; a little provocation for the little girl was also good.

After three months of daily companionship, Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong's relationship grew considerably closer; after each weighted training, in the final laps Yang Xiong usually carried Ning Rongrong to the finish. The little girl was initially a bit embarrassed and resistant, but now seems…

But this little girl clearly has an extremely strong vanity, even can be called very proud, always loves to call out Xiao Xiongzi to show off, as if displaying her status, causing Xiao Wu nearby to also call Xiao Xiongzi, and Yang Xiong felt embarrassed.

When Yu Xiaogang announced the completion of the first training phase and a seven‑day rest, they began the next phase; everyone cheered, and even Yang Xiong let out a sigh of relief.

It's not that the training is bad; it's just that its intensity is merely average for him—effective at first, then waning—since Yang Xiong's body has already reached the limit of his realm, he might as well spar with Zhao Wuji a few more times.

However, when Yang Xiong returned to his room to soak in the Medicine Bath, someone knocked, and Tang San's voice came from outside.

"Yang Xiong, are you there? I have something I want to discuss with you."

Yang Xiong replied: "The door isn't locked; just come in. I'm not in a position to open the door right now."

After Tang San entered the room, he sensed something odd about the atmosphere; it was Tang San's first solo visit in months, and the first time alone together since the dormitories were separated.

At that moment, Yang Xiong, still soaking in the tub, narrowed his eyes, appearing both meditative and contemplative.

Tang San followed the scent to Yang Xiong's side: "Yang Xiong, why does your Medicine Bath's aura feel different from ours? It seems to contain deadly poison."

Yang Xiong then opened his eyes: "Indeed. My Medicine Bath ingredients were prepared by my master, and besides the bath, they're mainly for Body Tempering."

(End of Chapter)