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Entering the small woods, the air was quiet, but Tang San felt a strange chill down his spine. His heart trembled with a sudden sense of danger, and he found himself constantly guarding against Su Yan in secret. Even though they were supposed to be training, Tang San did not fully trust the young man walking beside him.
He still miscalculated. Su Yan turned around with a lightning-fast movement and threw a sharp left jab. The blow landed squarely on Tang San's eye, instantly giving him a painful black eye. Tang San stumbled back, his vision swimming. He couldn't believe it. Was this a sneak attack? He thought to himself that young people these days really have no martial ethics.
Tang San angrily cursed as he held his throbbing face. Su Yan, you bastard, you... you... he stammered, unable to even finish his sentence because of the sheer shock. Before he could recover, Su Yan delivered a powerful left front kick. The force was enough to knock Tang San flat onto the ground.
Tang San groaned as he hit the dirt. I made a big mistake, he thought bitterly. I didn't dodge when I had the chance.
High above, or perhaps within the mysterious jade mirror she held, Ah Yin was also full of questions at this moment. She watched the scene with a confused expression. Wasn't Su Yan supposed to use a secret method to help Tang San reach a breakthrough to Level 30? What happened to the refined cultivation method? This looked less like a secret technique and more like a one-sided street brawl.
Tang San, quickly circulate your spirit power and defend with all your might, I'm coming again! Su Yan shouted as he rushed forward.
Tang San hadn't even gotten up to react or brush the dust off his clothes when Su Yan was already on top of him. Su Yan instantly pinned him down, locking him in place.
Yura yura yura! Yura yura yura!
Su Yan unleashed a storm of attacks, his fists moving like a blur. He didn't stop for a second, directly turning Tang San's entire face into something resembling a swollen pig's head. Each punch landed with a heavy thud, echoing through the trees.
Tang San was screaming internally. Young people really have no martial ethics, coming here to sneak attack and deceive me, a man who is technically a forty-two-year-old elder in spirit. I advise you to be careful, he thought, even though his physical body was only a teenager. He was so angry that his blood began to boil.
Ah! Tang San let out a roar of fury. He stopped trying to talk and instead began frantically circulating his spirit power. Purple Demon Eye and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, open for me! I will let this bastard Su Yan know how terrifying my Tang Sect cultivation technique truly is!
With a burst of energy, Tang San scrambled to his feet. He threw a heavy punch toward Su Yan's chest, hoping to regain some ground. But Su Yan was faster. He leaned back and directly kicked Tang San in the face again.
Bang!
Hurry, hurry! Release your anger! Frantically circulate your spirit power and attack me! Su Yan yelled, his eyes bright with a strange excitement. Fighting is awesome!
Su Yan jumped up and delivered another severe beating. Tang San was desperately trying to use his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to dodge and his Purple Demon Eye to predict the movements. But how could his techniques compare to what Su Yan was using? Su Yan possessed the Nine Yang Divine Art and the Paradox Breaker Steps.
Su Yan's cultivation technique was a vastly advanced version of martial arts, while Tang San's Tang Sect techniques were, at best, meant for the use of hidden weapons and stealth. In a direct physical confrontation against these higher arts, Tang San was completely outmatched.
Ah! Ah!
At this moment, Tang San's helpless and pathetic screams echoed through the small woods, scaring away the local birds.
Louder! The more you scream, the more excited I get! Su Yan was truly enjoying himself. Back at Nuoding Academy, he had always wanted to beat Tang San, but at that time, he was wary of the powerful Tang Hao. He didn't dare to truly hit the boy then for fear of a Titled Douluo descending upon him. But today, under the guise of helping him, he could finally unleash a good beating on Tang San without any consequences.
Battle makes me forget my madness, Su Yan whispered to himself.
Deep in the shadows of the forest, Tang Hao was watching. Although he stayed far away to avoid being noticed, he still clearly saw everything. It reminded him of a bully beating a helpless victim. No, it was Su Yan brutally beating his son, Tang San.
Damn it! Tang Hao thought, his eyes narrowing. Su Yan, you have chosen the path of death. He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. He decided not to probe further or interfere yet, but he made a mental note. If he had the chance in the future, he would make this kid disappear from the world. After all, Tang San was his only hope for returning to the Clear Sky Sect in the future! The sight of his son being treated like a punching bag made the old man's heart ache.
On the other side of the woods, the rest of the Shrek group was waiting. Ma Hongjun listened to the distant screams and scratched his head. He looked over and said, Teacher Zhao, Tang San seems to be calling for help?
Is he? Zhao Wuji replied nonchalantly. He picked his ears and looked at the sky, replying seriously, I think you misheard. The voice is definitely Tang San's, but Tang San is currently undergoing Su Yan's secret method to breakthrough to Level 30 spirit power. Hard work always sounds a bit painful.
Dai Mubai looked at Zhao Wuji with wide eyes. Holy crap! he thought. This is clearly a scream of agony! You call this a secret method? Dai Mubai shivered, vividly imagining the horrifying scene taking place behind those trees.
Could it be that Zhao Wuji couldn't hear clearly? Of course not. Zhao Wuji heard it perfectly, but he simply didn't care. As the saying goes, you reap what you sow. Zhao Wuji's own facial injuries from his previous encounter with Tang Hao hadn't fully healed yet, so he wasn't about to go out of his way to save Tang San from a little "training." Zhao Wuji was full of mischief.
He continued to hypnotize himself, thinking, this is just Su Yan helping Tang San breakthrough his spirit power. Even the King of Hell would agree that this is for his own good.
Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan looked toward the woods, their curiosity getting the better of them. They wanted to go watch the show, but Zhu Zhuqing gently shook her head, signaling them to stay put.
In a private communication channel, a message appeared. Cat in the Shadows: Ah Yin is about to release a video. Ma Xiaotao: Old Ancestors, why are you being so mysterious again? Liu Erlong: You guys always treat us like outsiders?
Back in the woods, a sudden wave of Qi erupted from Tang San's body. The intense pressure and the physical stress had forced his potential to the surface. Level 30 spirit power was achieved.
Wait a minute! Tang San suddenly shouted, sensing the change in his own body.
But Su Yan's fist was already in motion. It stopped just two fingers away from Tang San's face for a split second before the momentum carried it through.
Bang!
Tang San was directly knocked to the ground again with one last punch.
Su Yan! Tang San angrily got up and shouted, his voice cracking. I've already broken through! Why are you still hitting me? Damn it, you bastard, you have chosen the path of death!
Su Yan gave an awkward, innocent smile and rubbed the back of his head. Sorry about that. I couldn't hold back the last punch. It was just reflex. You won't blame me, right, bro? We're friends after all. I'm out of here!
In the group chat, Ah Yin posted a file: Video (5 minutes 03 seconds). Everyone in the chat eagerly clicked to view it. Within seconds, the chat was filled with question marks. No one could believe what they were seeing.
As Su Yan brought Tang San back to the main camp, Zhao Wuji and the others looked at Tang San's terrible appearance. They all gasped. Holy crap! Dai Mubai muttered under his breath. You really hit him hard! Su Yan, you are truly a bad person.
Su Yan ignored the stares and put on a profound expression. He cleared his throat and said, When Heaven is about to confer a great office on any man, it first exercises his mind with suffering, and his sinews and bones with toil.
It exposes his body to hunger, and subjects him to extreme poverty. It confounds his undertakings. By all these methods, it stimulates his mind, hardens his nature, and supplies his incompetencies.
He looked at the group with a proud smile. I only used five minutes to help Tang San complete at least five days of spirit power cultivation. Where's the applause?
The previous second, everyone still thought Su Yan was too brutal. But after hearing those eloquent and philosophical words, they were momentarily stunned.
Holy crap, awesome! someone shouted.
You kid are truly divine, Tang San actually broke through! another added.
Can spirit power be cultivated like this? Ma Hongjun asked, looking genuinely curious.
Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu bit their lips, trying their best to hold back their laughter. They knew Su Yan well enough to know he was full of it. They knew that none of his ideas were ever purely "good." They decided right then to study hard and become more cultured. If they had culture, they realized that after beating someone up, they could also speak eloquently and leave no room for criticism!
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were just stunned. They were now a little confused, unable to tell whether Su Yan was deliberately beating Tang San for fun or genuinely helping him reach Level 30.
Tang San, covering his swollen face, followed behind Su Yan. His heart was filled with a deep, dark hatred. His resentment was enough to nurture an evil Sword Immortal. This bastard was definitely doing it on purpose! He did genuinely help me reach Level 30, but he definitely beat me up with total sincerity!
Clap clap clap!
Zhao Wuji couldn't help but clap his hands. Tang San, why aren't you thanking Su Yan? This is a great achievement. Now we can go help you find a spirit ring.
Hearing Zhao Wuji's words, Tang San's face twisted with a mix of injustice and anger. What did you say? This bastard beat me up like this, and you want me to thank him? Are you not human either?
Su Yan, however, said calmly, We're all brothers, so saying thanks or not is the same. My spirit power is increasing, so how can I just watch my brother's spirit power stay the same? I had to help.
Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai exchanged glances, confusion written all over their faces. Wait a moment, they thought. We also got beaten up a lot in training, didn't we? Excuse me, where do we claim our spirit power breakthrough? This isn't right! Are we still missing some spirit power that hasn't been given to us?
Zhao Wuji was actually somewhat convinced now. After all, Tang San's breakthrough was real. You couldn't just say it was a coincidence. Su Yan, what kind of cultivation method is this exactly? he asked.
Su Yan said earnestly, Though sifting through thousands of sands is arduous, only after blowing away the yellow sand will gold appear. Teacher Zhao, you wouldn't think that my spirit power came without effort, would you? This is a brand new path for Spirit Master cultivation. If Tang San weren't my brother, I would never reveal it to anyone.