Chapter 75: Reluctance to Be Subordinate
On the stands, both Dai Mubai and Tang San looked serious, clearly surprised once again by Yang Xiong's combat strength, which had surpassed their expectations.
Dai Mubai showed a hint of anger. "I told Yang Xiong to hold back, but he still went all out."
Tang San shook his head. "Yang Xiong didn't hold back. Otherwise, Zhu Zhuqing wouldn't be unscathed. I also feel like Yang Xiong has become even stronger."
Dai Mubai was puzzled. "How is that possible? His soul power hasn't changed much, and his speed is about the same as when he fought us."
Tang San replied, "It's not about speed or strength. I feel like Yang Xiong's techniques have become smoother. He switches between different moves much faster and more naturally. His self-created soul skill, using softness to overcome hardness, should be fully developed now."
Having trained in the Crane Grasping Dragon Technique, Tang San felt that Yang Xiong had already reached or even surpassed his level in that aspect.
When Yang Xiong and Zhu Zhuqing returned to the team, Dai Mubai seemed a bit upset. "Yang Xiong, didn't you promise me to go easy on Zhu Zhuqing? How did she lose so quickly?"
Before Yang Xiong could respond, Zhu Zhuqing, looking somewhat dejected, spoke up. "It was my request to have him go all out. Don't interfere with my matters next time."
Dai Mubai immediately felt awkward and quickly apologized, "Sorry, I misunderstood you."
"Zhuqing, are you okay?" he asked.
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at everyone and then turned to leave the scene. Dai Mubai quickly followed her.
Yang Xiong shook his head, watching the two leave. Their personalities were so different—Dai Mubai, rebellious and unruly, and Zhu Zhuqing, gentle yet stubborn. Yang Xiong couldn't understand how the two of them formed a pair.
Before he could think any further, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his waist. It was Ning Rongrong, pinching him hard.
Ning Rongrong had a displeased look on her face. "Little Bear, I told you not to bully Zhu Zhuqing. Do you believe that we'll beat you up together?"
Yang Xiong helplessly replied, "It was Zhu Zhuqing's request. She wanted me to go all out to test the difference between us. Besides, I held back at the end. Otherwise, she wouldn't have just fallen off the stage."
Ning Rongrong snorted, "She asked you to go all out, and you did? Couldn't you have held back a little? Zhu Zhuqing is the most diligent among all of us. If you had held back a bit, you might have helped her build her confidence, and she might have pushed herself harder in training. But now, after seeing your full strength, she might even be discouraged."
Yang Xiong looked at Ning Rongrong, who seemed so angry, and couldn't help but feel speechless. It seemed like he couldn't please anyone, no matter what.
Oscar quickly approached, "Brother Xiong, the next match is about to start. You should be fine, right? You can defeat two Soul Kings, right?"
Yang Xiong helplessly followed Oscar to prepare for the next match.
Oscar gave him a knowing look, "Brother Xiong, have you been single all your life?"
Yang Xiong was puzzled, "What does that have to do with being single?"
Oscar immediately adopted a "come from experience" tone, "Although you're strong, you really don't understand women. I thought you and Ning Rongrong were getting close, but now it seems you need to study women's hearts more."
"Sometimes, you should show some weakness. If you deliberately let a girl win, she might fall into your arms in excitement."
"Especially someone like Ning Rongrong, a proud little princess. You can't be too strong. If you two are both too proud, you'll just push each other away."
Yang Xiong looked at Oscar and couldn't help but feel speechless. However, upon thinking carefully, Oscar did make some valid points. No wonder, in the original story, Oscar managed to win Ning Rongrong over.
Finally, Yang Xiong shook his head. "I'm not really thinking about that right now. I just want to get stronger as quickly as possible."
Oscar acted as if he couldn't understand, "You don't know how to seize the opportunity now? If she becomes a high-ranking princess in the sect again, it'll be even harder for you. You better act soon, or you'll lose your chance."
Yang Xiong: …
At this moment, Yang Xiong felt speechless. In the original story, Oscar and Ning Rongrong were the official pairing. Their relationship was more impressive and sympathetic than any other pairing because both of them were support-type soul masters, and being together was difficult. Yet, now Oscar was giving him advice on how to pursue Ning Rongrong?
After several consecutive team battles, Yang Xiong won easily. Even when paired with Oscar to fight two Soul Kings, it didn't take much effort from him.
After this period of training and especially after sparring with everyone, Yang Xiong's battle experience became much richer.
Most of the Shrek Academy students had been doing well, with everyone, except Zhu Zhuqing, winning either pair or team battles, which made the teachers quite happy.
According to the academy's arrangements, everyone spent the night in a hotel in Soto City. Yang Xiong booked a luxurious suite, both for meditation and rest, and to do some other training.
According to Yu Xiaogang and Flender's second-stage training plan, since the last battle of the day would be late, everyone would stay in Soto City. During the day, they were free to organize their time as they wished.
For a Great Soul Master, they received ten Gold Soul Coins a month, and Soul Kings received a hundred Gold Soul Coins. With the purchasing power of Gold Soul Coins, staying at a hotel was not a problem, especially since winning each battle would also yield rewards. After a five-game winning streak, each match would earn them one hundred Gold Soul Coins.
After the Soul Arena battles, everyone gathered for a meal, and the mood was high, especially since Dai Mubai was treating. He even thanked Tang San, likely for his help during the team battle with Zhu Zhuqing.
This was Yang Xiong's first time drinking. Even without using soul power to dissipate the alcohol, his strong physique and previous experience with drinking stunned everyone with how much he could handle.
Laughter filled the room, and most of the group got drunk, even some of the girls.
What was truly surprising was Ning Rongrong. She drank heavily, showing an impressive capacity, gulping down one cup after another, her fiery demeanor making even the men fear her.
By the end of the night, only Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong remained completely sober. Oscar, feeling the effects of the alcohol, joked, saying that the two of them should no longer be called the Seven Treasure combination but the "Drunken Bag" combination, as they were the ones who drank the most, with Yang Xiong also eating the most.
The next morning, after Yang Xiong came back from his morning training, someone knocked on his door.
When he opened it, it was three of the girls, and they seemed quite serious.
As Yang Xiong looked puzzled, Ning Rongrong spoke first, "Little Bear, this time it's Zhu Zhuqing who wants to talk to you. Xiao Wu and I came along to make sure you don't bully her."
Yang Xiong helplessly led the three of them into the room and served tea to everyone in the small living area outside.
"Zhu Zhuqing, what brings you here today?"
Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip before speaking, "Yang Xiong, how much of your real strength did you use yesterday?"
Yang Xiong took a sip of tea and replied, "About seventy percent."
Based on his own estimate, Yang Xiong had only shown about seventy percent of his fighting ability in the Soul Arena, but if he had fought seriously, his real strength would have been less than fifty percent. Yang Xiong always kept back some of his strength during battles, especially when he hadn't removed his weight. No one knew his true combat power.
Zhu Zhuqing's face turned pale. "I know there's a huge gap between us, but I didn't expect it to be this big. I used two of my soul skills, and I couldn't even put up a fight."
Yang Xiong shook his head. "Everyone has their strengths. You don't need to obsess over the difference between us. Just like Rongrong, her support is very good, but she doesn't have much combat power."
Ning Rongrong frowned. "Little Bear, can you stop using me as an example? Do you want me to tell Grandpa Jian that you're bullying me?"
Yang Xiong chuckled. "This comparison might be wrong. Your martial soul and training are focused on speed. You have hidden abilities that are very impressive. You may not show your true strength in the Soul Arena, but in reconnaissance and assassination, especially in the dark, your combat power can truly shine."
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "I know you're trying to comfort me, but I've been trying so hard. I still feel like the gap between us is too big. I've always been at the bottom of everyone."
Yang Xiong smiled. "Why do you have to be so persistent? People show different strengths in different situations."
Zhu Zhuqing bitterly smiled. "What's the point? My fate is like a huge chain. If I don't work hard to get stronger, I might not even have the chance to survive."
Just as Yang Xiong was about to speak, there was another knock on the door. This time, it was Tang San and Dai Mubai. After some inquiry, they had come to find Zhu Zhuqing and ended up at Yang Xiong's room.
Dai Mubai seemed a little anxious. "Zhuqing, I'll figure something out for us. Don't worry too much."
Zhu Zhuqing was silent. Although Dai Mubai had reached level 37, the gap between them and their enemies was still enormous.
After Yang Xiong invited them to sit, he looked around at everyone and couldn't help but sigh. As an outsider, it wasn't his place to get too involved in their situation.
Zhu Zhuqing finally spoke, "Yang Xiong, how did you become so strong? Why are you so much stronger than me?"
Yang Xiong thought for a moment and then took off a wrist guard from his arm and placed it on the table.
Everyone was surprised when they saw the wrist guard. It weighed at least ten pounds.
Yang Xiong said, "I'm not more talented than you all. In fact, my innate soul power is the weakest among everyone. But ever since I became a soul master, I've been wearing weights. What you call weight training in the first phase, I've been doing since I was a child."
"I know each of you has your own background and some pressure, but I've been just a regular outer disciple's son from Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. For all these years, I've been working hard to get stronger and to take control of my own fate."
Ning Rongrong seemed confused. "Little Bear, do you feel unsafe in Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
Yang Xiong smiled. "There's no real safety in this world. Relying on others' safety is like chasing illusions. No matter what, strengthening myself is more reliable. Parents, friends, brothers, lovers—they might help, but in the end, you must rely on yourself."
"Besides, even though the soul master world seems peaceful, those with experience know it's just the calm before the storm. One day, there could be a world-shaking battle that drags us all in. If we don't have enough strength, we'll lose our loved ones, and even our own lives."
After everyone left in deep thought, Ning Rongrong stayed behind, looking somewhat upset.
"Little Bear, what did you mean by 'control your own fate'?"
Yang Xiong fixed his gaze on Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, you still don't understand who I am. I've always worked hard to become stronger and even made my own plans because I refuse to always live under someone else's shadow, no matter who it is."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong seemed shocked.
Yang Xiong had kept these feelings inside for a long time. Recently, his relationship with Ning Rongrong had gotten closer, and the others even thought they were a couple. But Yang Xiong hadn't been proactive.
It wasn't just because of his personality—Yang Xiong knew that in this life, he could never remain at Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School as a mere protector of the sect. He could never dedicate his life to the sect.
He had never shown hostility to anyone, even to Tang San, whom he considered a normal rival. He didn't hate him.
Yang Xiong was constantly seeking opportunities to grow stronger, even if it meant surpassing gods. He would become the strongest person, and perhaps even the strongest god.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10