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Chapter 12: Meeting
Yang Xie, now fully aware of his need to become stronger, was focused on improving quickly. Since strange beasts were able to enter the city, it meant that the city was not completely safe. It was better to rely on oneself than to depend on others. Strengthening his personal power was the only way to combat the unknown dangers.
His previous vanity now seemed shallow. Soft rice was delicious, but survival required more.
After settling his grandmother's luggage in the room, Yang Xie grew curious about the practice room in the Nangong family's mansion. He immediately turned to Nangong Ya and said, "Yaya, show me the practice room! I'm really curious about the energy concentration levels here."
Without wasting any time, Nangong Ya led him to the basement.
The practice room was vast and filled with all kinds of weapons—swords, guns, sticks—and various strength training instruments. There were also some mechanical devices that Yang Xie didn't quite understand.
As he absorbed the rich spiritual energy around him, he felt an overwhelming urge to practice until he reached the end of time.
"So, what do you think? Impressive, right?"
"Not just impressive, it's perfect!" Yang Xie responded in awe.
The conditions here were beyond what he had imagined, and he couldn't help but turn to Nangong Ya, pointing at himself. "Can I really practice here?"
"Of course! This isn't anything precious, and my dad's a generous person. He won't mind. He'll be back soon, and you'll see for yourself."
Nangong Ya spoke casually, as if it was no big deal.
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The door opened, and a burly figure appeared at the gate. Nangong Batian had returned.
Yang Xie, engrossed in watching the news on a massive 100-inch TV, glanced over briefly. The report on the screen caught his attention:
"Recently, strange beasts have been spotted entering the remote wilderness beyond the city protection zone. The Warrior Association has dispatched warriors to hunt them. Citizens are advised to be cautious when traveling. With the college entrance examination approaching, pagans have been more active, and Jingguan City has already been attacked by them. The general public is urged to stay vigilant."
As soon as the college entrance exams neared, troublemakers like these pagans emerged. Yang Xie's expression darkened. Both strange beasts and pagans targeted human geniuses. Though he kept his true talents hidden, Yang Xie was still a D-level martial soul awakener. And Nangong Ya, with her S-level talent, was undoubtedly a prime target. Even though she was strong, accidents could happen. Lions, after all, also nap.
Yang Xie's unease grew. He needed to get stronger, and fast.
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"Dinner's ready! Come wash up," Su Lin, Nangong Ya's mother, cheerfully called from the kitchen.
The dining table, which could seat at least twenty people, was laden with a feast. Yang Xie, with his growing hunger from practicing, couldn't help but feel his stomach rumbling.
Nangong Batian, who had just freshened up, sat at the head of the table. His powerful aura made Yang Xie sit up straighter, realizing that this was no ordinary man.
Nangong Batian glanced at Yang Xie, a knowing look in his eyes. Yang Xie didn't recognize Nangong Batian, but Nangong Batian had heard plenty about Yang Xie from his daughter.
"I'm Nangong Batian, Xiaoya's father," he began in a deep voice. "Don't be shy. Xiaoya's told me everything about you. You're welcome to stay here, and I assure you that the safety of our family is well-guarded. You have nothing to worry about."
Yang Xie, sensing the weight of his words, immediately expressed his thanks. "Thank you, Uncle Batian. I'm sorry for troubling you and Aunt Su."
"A small matter," Nangong Batian replied with a smile. "You're Xiaoya's friend, and it's nothing compared to what she's done for us."
Yang Xie's grandmother stood up at that moment, grateful. "Chief Nangong, thank you for your help. You've made it possible for Yang Xie to continue his education in the city, all the way through high school. We can't thank you enough for your kindness."
Nangong Batian waved his hand modestly. "Aunt Yang, don't be polite. It's Yang Xie who has worked hard. We're just doing our part."
As the two exchanged pleasantries, Su Lin, Nangong Ya's mother, smiled warmly. "Let's eat now. Don't worry about anything. Yang Xie, Aunt Yang, make yourselves at home."
Yang Xie, who had intended to be polite, was finding it harder to keep his manners as the aroma of the food reached him. Without hesitation, he dug in.
"Go ahead, eat as much as you like," Su Lin encouraged.
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The Nangong family's wealth was evident in the extravagant meal spread before them. Exotic beast meats were the main dish, and Yang Xie, always the big eater, dug in enthusiastically.
Afterward, it was time to practice again.
Nangong Ya led Yang Xie back to the practice room. Yang Xie sat cross-legged and began meditating. With the 20x spiritual energy concentration in the room, he pushed himself to the limit. The energy filled his body, and he felt the power surge within him.
But something strange happened. Despite completing 108 Zhoutian—his usual limit—Yang Xie didn't feel like he had reached the maximum. Normally, this would be the point where his progress slowed, but this time it felt different. It was as though his limit hadn't been reached yet.
Was it his god-level talent? Or was it because he was practicing three techniques at once? He didn't know for sure, and he couldn't afford to ask. It would sound absurd to claim that he had completed 109 Zhoutian. People would think he was crazy.
For now, he decided to continue practicing and see how far he could go. His shadow soldier was still active, helping him brush up on his skills.
Yang Xie picked up a knife from the practice room and tried it out. Despite never having used a knife before, it felt surprisingly natural, as if the weapon and he were one.
Chop, slash, cut, pick, stab… He repeated the motions over and over. The Bloody Sword Technique was easy to start, but mastering it would take time. Its simplicity made it deceptively difficult, and Yang Xie needed to keep practicing to truly master it.
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