"Xiao Wu, the person you're looking for can't possibly be at Taoyuan Academy. Grandmaster said the Titan Giant Ape is comparable to a 100,000-year spirit beast. Even a Titled Douluo wouldn't be able to contend with it."
"The most powerful person at Taoyuan Academy should be Su Ran. Although his strength is not bad, he is only a Spirit Saint. It's impossible for him to have saved you from the Titan Giant Ape. Besides, Taoyuan Academy is hostile towards our Shrek. Would he be so kind as to save one of us?"
"Xiao Wu, our top priority right now should be to steal their techniques... ah, no, to find the weaknesses of these Taoyuan Academy students. You should stop letting your imagination run wild—huh? What is this power?"
"Ouch—"
Early in the morning, on the roof of Taoyuan Academy's utility building, Xiao Wu had been lying in wait all night. Tang San came to bring her some breakfast, attempting to persuade her to give up her search while also taking the opportunity to observe the situation at the academy.
He hadn't expected that just a few words after leaping onto the roof, terrifying fragments and shavings of iron would come flying at them. Even from a distance of several hundred meters, they still possessed a certain amount of killing power.
Although Tang San reacted, using his Tang Sect techniques Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon and the Mysterious Jade Hand to grab the iron fragments, it was too late. He was knocked back by the impact and accidentally fell off the roof, landing face-first in the dirt.
"Third Brother, are you okay?"
"My heavens! How did this happen?"
When Xiao Wu crawled to the edge of the eaves and saw Tang San look up, his already plain face was covered in iron shavings, making him look like a pockmarked fool.
"Xiao Wu, did he spot us?"
"I don't know... Third Brother, are you feeling alright now?"
"Xiao Wu, do I look like I'm alright?"
"Third Brother! Third Brother!!!"
Tang San collapsed.
Xiao Wu quickly scrambled down to check on him, her face filled with astonishment. That one punch had pierced through an iron post, and even from such a great distance, the explosive power was still so immense?
Third Brother... you said their ultimate techniques definitely have weaknesses. Can you really find them?
Xiao Wu was speechless. Having seen the training scene inside Taoyuan Academy with her own eyes, she now understood.
What was Grandmaster teaching them?
Was there even a comparison?
Did he really think making them run with baskets of rocks and fight 2v2 within the academy could lead to a comeback? Even she, a rabbit, could see that it was pure nonsense. It was impossible! The other academy was teaching real, practical skills!
While they were training their physical fitness and reaction speed, the others were already learning to split stones and cleave mountains!
While they were practicing basic punches, the others were already brandishing swords and spears!
[You're in the cold weapon era, while they already have nuclear weapons.]
You tell me, how do we win? How?!
Xiao Wu took a deep, shuddering breath. Setting aside the fact that Su Ran was very likely the transcendent immortal she had met in the Star Dou Great Forest, just watching the training at Taoyuan Academy was enough to shake her resolve.
This Su Ran was truly a peerless master.
What Xiao Wu and Tang San saw was not just a part of Ning Rongrong's special training, but also that of Zhu Zhuqing and Meng Yiran.
Zhu Zhuqing's cultivation was physically less demanding than Ning Rongrong's, but the mental strain was immense. For each hall of the Ten Halls of Yama she awakened, she had to walk through that hall in hell, experiencing its horrifying visions until she could awaken and control the evil thoughts within herself and call forth the Yama.
Therefore, in addition to her basic daily training, Su Ran had set up three special training sessions for her:
① Movement Technique Class: This overlapped with Meng Yiran's training in the Thousand Netherworld Weapons. They had to use their Nether Hands to control silver threads and weave complex spiderweb-like cages, through which they had to pass without being touched. Otherwise, even with the protective measures Su Ran had placed on the threads, they could easily leave a bloody scratch on their fair skin.
② Spiritual Meditation: Absorbing the qi of hell and the undead. As Zhu Zhuqing and Meng Yiran were cultivating the Ten Halls of Yama and Necromantic Summoning respectively, communicating with the dead and with hell was an essential process for them. However, for them at their current stage, this kind of meditation was still a bit difficult, often requiring Su Ran to use his first spirit ability to create a Peach Demon Nightmare to assist their cultivation.
③ Hellish Hidden Weapon Knowledge and Technique Study.
In addition to these, Meng Yiran also had to train her body with Ning Rongrong to quickly reach a physical condition where she could absorb the Ghost Summoning Great Snake's Spirit Ring.
In the front courtyard plaza, Wang Sheng's presence was majestic, his punches fierce and powerful.
Swirling amidst the falling red maple leaves, his fists even carried a faint golden glint.
"Wang Sheng, how many years have you been practicing the Tiger Form Fist?"
"Six years, Teacher."
"Six years is not a short time. To have developed true intent from a basic fist form in six years, you are truly perseverant. It was not easy."
As he always did, Su Ran came on his inspection tour from the inner courtyard. After giving pointers to Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran, and Ning Rongrong, he strolled to the outer courtyard plaza. Seeing Wang Sheng, who had been diligently practicing the Tiger Form Fist for six years, day in and day out, he was filled with emotion. This nominal disciple's perseverance was commendable. He truly believed what Su Ran had taught him: if you can't get it in one try, or a hundred, or a thousand, then do it ten thousand times, a hundred thousand times!
"This disciple is slow-witted and cannot compare to the Senior Sisters. As long as Teacher is not disappointed in me, I am content," Wang Sheng said, cupping his hands.
"You have been with me longer than any of them. There is no need to call them Senior Sister just because they are direct disciples. From now on, you are also a direct disciple," Su Ran said with a wave of his hand.
"I... I'm also a direct disciple? Can I?"
"No, I can't." Wang Sheng shook his head.
"What? You don't want to be a direct disciple?"
"It's not that I don't want to, but this disciple's aptitude is poor. I cannot be Teacher's direct disciple and tarnish your name. Being able to learn by your side is enough." Wang Sheng cupped his hands respectfully.
Su Ran smiled helplessly and could only say, "Very well, have it your way."
"Your Tiger Form Fist is a foundational fist style. After more than six years of practice, you have already grasped its essence. Next, you can learn the advanced form."
"Advanced form?" Hearing this, Wang Sheng took a sharp breath. He hadn't expected there was an advanced form to learn.
"But Teacher, I haven't even practiced the Tiger Form Fist a hundred thousand times yet. I'm still more than halfway to go."
"You kid, are you really planning to practice a basic fist form a hundred thousand, or even a million times?" Even Su Ran had to admire his perseverance sometimes.
"Mmm." Wang Sheng nodded earnestly.
"You can spend the remaining fifty thousand or so repetitions practicing the new fist form."
"Wang Sheng, watch closely. This fist form is called [Tiger Subduing Fist]. It has sixty-three forms in total. Fifty-four of them are similar to the Tiger Form Fist. The most important are the last nine forms, which transition from the tiger form to the human form, from the Tiger Fist to the Tiger Subduing Fist."
"The Tiger Subduing Fist is about mastering the intent of the Tiger Fist and transforming it into the power to beat, control, subdue, suppress, pin, slaughter, sever, and annihilate the tiger..."
Under the endless peach blossoms, Su Ran's graceful figure patiently demonstrated the form for Wang Sheng three times in a row.
After watching the first demonstration, Wang Sheng's eyes were wide. He saw his teacher's peerless figure, his steps nimble and powerful, his fists creating a buzzing sound as they boomed through the air, incredibly swift and fierce.
Having practiced the Tiger Form Fist tens of thousands of times, Wang Sheng subconsciously put himself in the role of an opponent facing the Tiger Subduing Fist. He found that he was countered at almost every turn, completely powerless to fight back.
This Tiger Subduing Fist was practically the nemesis of any Tiger Martial Soul user! One could even say that many beast Martial Soul Spirit Masters would be constrained by this set of fist techniques.
Transforming defense into offense, alternating between attack and defense... ingenious, it's absolutely ingenious!
(End of Chapter)