Chapter 546: Chapter 344 Arduous Training_2
Thinking of this, it was clear that Hui Yue’s wolf in his past life was not a Divine Beast; however, his strength far surpassed Lan Feng. This was something Yan Xiaobao was certain of.
All of these matters were things Yan Xiaobao had not known before but had learned during his personal training with Wan Qiao. After transforming into a werewolf, Yan Xiaobao quickly shifted his attention to a person.
He had enough time to maintain his wolf form, and he knew Wan Qiao planned to challenge him again in combat; as a werewolf, he could only win one fight at a time.
If he couldn’t sustain his werewolf form long enough to defeat his opponent, that would be a stroke of bad luck for Yan Xiaobao. Should that happen, his opponent would leave him bruised and battered in black and blue. This outcome was something Wan Qiao ensured occurred regularly. Wan Qiao’s reason for using this training method was that the battle-averse Yan Xiaobao would take the competition seriously. As a result, he would do everything in his power to strive for victory. If Yan Xiaobao lacked the ability to win, then he would learn lessons from the encounter and push himself to train even harder.
Yan Xiaobao fought the same guards every night until he possessed the ability to defeat them. Doing so ensured he gradually strengthened his powers bit by bit.
The guard Yan Xiaobao prepared to fight tonight was someone he had faced for three consecutive nights, yet he had not won a single battle. On the first night, victory was out of reach for Yan Xiaobao; he lost at a record-breaking speed within minutes. On the second night, he managed to last about ten minutes, while last night, he had come very close to winning after enduring for fifteen minutes.
These battles granted Yan Xiaobao a clear understanding of his daily progress. Yan Xiaobao stood in Wan Qiao’s chamber, staring out of the window where he saw a seemingly youthful man passing through the courtyard outside. This man was heading straight for the building where Wan Qiao’s private quarters were located.
Upon seeing this young man, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t hold back a slight smirk filled with frustration. He knew the man was an Eagle Man, and he seemed much older than his youthful appearance suggested. This was someone who had chosen to halt his physical aging—a symbol of his ascension to the Upper Dantian, where he had become a King-level expert.
When Yan Xiaobao mentioned the man had ascended to the Upper Dantian long ago, he wasn’t exaggerating. Indeed, this guard had been a King for over a century and was one of Wan Qiao’s most trusted protectors.
Without waiting for this young man to enter the premises, Yan Xiaobao rose and left the room where he had been standing alongside Wan Qiao with a deep sigh. The woman trailing him flashed a smile on her face as she anticipated the imminent battle.
The three individuals—Eagle Man, the white-haired youthful man, and the beautiful woman—proceeded toward a small stage situated in the courtyard leading to Wan Qiao’s private pavilion. With very few servants frequenting this place, the pair could engage in combat without interruptions.
Yan Xiaobao’s gaze sparkled with determination. This time, he would prevail, refusing to be beaten senseless. This time, he would prove that he had what it took to defeat the guard handpicked by Wan Qiao.
Though Yan Xiaobao was mindful that this opponent was merely a guard, he knew that once this one was vanquished, another would take his place. It was a never-ending cycle of beatings and battles, but his focus remained solely on the guard before him. To overcome this particular adversary, Yan Xiaobao had trained rigorously according to his plan. He pushed his limits repeatedly and devoted minimal time to eating or tending to his aching muscles.
When Yan Xiaobao transformed into his wolf form, he did not require weapons. His body, equipped with razor-sharp claws and teeth as durable as black iron, sufficed.
Stepping onto the stage, both the guard and Yan Xiaobao shifted their forms. As Yan Xiaobao morphed into a ferocious beast, the Eagle Man transformed into a human. His wings vanished, and suddenly, a longsword appeared in his hand.
Before they began the fight, Yan Xiaobao had no intention of waiting for his opponent to settle. His claws sharpened visibly as he braced himself to strike. With taut leg muscles, he propelled himself forward like an arrow. His razor-like claws sliced through the air, distorting it with a faint buzzing noise. Energy ripples extended in the wake of the claws, releasing five powerful waves imbued with red energy as they surged toward the guard.
With a grunt, the guard raised the longsword to block the incoming energy ripples. Though he managed to fend off the dreadful energy, he was forced back several steps.
As Yan Xiaobao launched his attack, the seemingly youthful Birdman immediately lifted his sword.
"Zhing!"
The blade whizzed through the air, its sharp edge aimed at Yan Xiaobao’s body. Despite its threat, Yan Xiaobao was unafraid; instead, he nimbly dodged the strike and retaliated with a powerful kick from his sturdy legs.
Seeing the incoming kick, the Birdman adjusted his sword’s trajectory at the last moment and managed to block the blow with the flat side of the blade. Once again, the youthful figure was pushed back.
The guard was not the only one retreating. Yan Xiaobao, too, had to step backward; while his strength surpassed that of the guard, the latter’s weapon outmatched Yan Xiaobao’s defensive capabilities. For Yan Xiaobao, it was crucial to act cautiously while ensuring that each strike was decisive—after all, his time in wolf form was limited.
Before charging at the youthful-looking guard, a loud growl erupted from Yan Xiaobao. This time, as he surged forward, he concentrated all his power into his claws. The wind began to whip around Yan Xiaobao, releasing energy ripples once again.
As Yan Xiaobao closed the gap, the guard grew increasingly composed, lifting his sword once more to block the young wolf-man pouring all his strength into his claws.
Yan Xiaobao was determined not to squander the limited time he had in wolf form. He understood that if he fully leveraged his wolf abilities, his chances of success were higher than prolonging the fight. This exchange would be their final confrontation. If Yan Xiaobao won, he wouldn’t have to face this guard again. However, if he lost, he would relive the same ordeal the next day.
The energy ripples around Yan Xiaobao grew fiercer, and the wind itself seemed to clear a path for him. Suddenly, as he thrust his claws forward, a resounding howl echoed. The sheer energy unleashed was enough to tear small holes in the fabric of reality, revealing glimpses of the abyss beyond.
Seeing this, the guard cursed loudly as he retreated swiftly. Yet, no matter how fast he moved, he couldn’t escape to a safe distance. Yan Xiaobao’s claws, shrouded in a crimson mist, collided with the opponent. The collision released a torrent of energy, sending the youthful guard flying out of the arena, where he landed beside Wan Qiao, coughing up fresh blood. Slowly, he sank to the ground, struggling to catch his breath.
Wan Qiao’s face lit up with a radiant smile as she surveyed the defeated guard and then Yan Xiaobao, who was slowly reverting to his human form. Exhausted after the fight, his body felt utterly drained.
"Well done," she said, clapping her hands. "You’ve defeated another King-level expert with sheer strength alone. Tomorrow, we will train against opponents who use Fog Energy. Don’t expect your future opponents to be as lenient during combat. Be prepared." These were her final words before granting him permission to complete the rest of the training.
One day slipped into another. Against Fog Energy users, Yan Xiaobao endured repeated, severe injuries, losing frequently. Controlling the mist was incredibly challenging, but as he continued to train, his strength steadily increased. Mastering red fog allowed Yan Xiaobao to dramatically enhance his physical strength. Not only did his physical prowess improve, but he also refined his control over red fog and Inner Energy.
Hui Yue spent an entire month defeating the first opponent who used Inner Energy. During that month, his arms were pierced, the muscles in his legs were torn, and he was stabbed repeatedly before ultimately overcoming his adversary.
Now, two months later, Yan Xiaobao had perfected his use of mist energy and improved his physical strength to the point that—even as a human—he could now challenge King-level experts. In human form, he could survive and escape, but as a wolf, he could defeat Kings, even those wielding martial power to fight him.
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