A true genius should stand beneath the sun
"The Five Beasts Merged Essence Form!"
Bai Yushan roared, no longer holding back. Five distinct forces—tiger, bear, deer, ape, and crane—converged wildly within his body, twisting into a terrifying power that combined both strength and gentleness. The lightning around him surged, and his aura instantly reached its peak.
He met the Body Soul King's fist head-on with a punch.
There are no fancy moves, just a punch delivered with all your might.
"Thump--!!"
A deafening roar, like muffled thunder, exploded outwards, and a visible shockwave swept in all directions, instantly cracking the ground, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading for more than ten meters.
Bai Yushan's arm was bent at an odd angle, and he flew out like a rag doll, crashing heavily to the ground and sliding more than ten meters away, leaving a long trail of blood.
He lay sprawled on the ground, his bones feeling like they were falling apart; he didn't even have the strength to lift a finger. His vision began to darken, and his consciousness gradually faded.
The Body Soul King on the other side was also not in good shape. He took four or five steps back before he could regain his footing. His chest was dented, and golden data fragments spilled from the corner of his mouth. He was obviously also seriously injured.
But he only paused for two seconds before taking another step and walking towards Bai Yushan.
The outcome is decided.
As Bai Yushan watched the figure approaching, he felt no fear, but instead chuckled softly. The laughter grew louder and louder, accompanied by a painful tremor in his chest, yet it was exhilarating.
"That felt so good... so incredibly good..."
He closed his eyes, and his consciousness sank completely into darkness.
"Buzz--"
The hibernation pod emitted a soft sound, and the hatch slowly rose.
Bai Yushan sat up abruptly, panting heavily. He instinctively touched his shoulder and side, finding them smooth to the touch, without wounds, bloodstains, or even the slightest pain. The virtual combat pod only synchronizes pain and combat experience; it doesn't actually cause physical damage.
The deep-seated fatigue felt incredibly real. My Spiritual Power seemed to have been completely drained, my head was spinning, and I barely had the strength to lift my hand.
"How was it? How did it feel?"
Leng Yaozhu's voice came from the side, carrying a faint smile. She walked to the hibernation pod, her crimson-gold eyes falling on Bai Yushan with a hint of approval.
Bai Yushan took a deep breath and slowly calmed his breathing. He raised his head, his eyes not showing any sign of defeat or frustration, but rather filled with an excited gleam, like a gourmand who had just tasted an unparalleled delicacy, satisfied yet still wanting more.
"It's... absolutely wonderful!"
His voice was still a little hoarse, but it was filled with barely suppressed excitement.
Gu Yue, standing to the side, felt somewhat intimidated by Bai Yushan.
Although Gu Yue has acquired some of the eccentric traits due to the influence of Fate Magnetic Field, he is still far inferior to Bai Yushan, and can even be described as a mere amateur compared to a madman.
Bai Yushan was completely oblivious to Gu Yue's gaze at this moment. His mind was filled with the details of the battle just now. His fingers were unconsciously gesturing in the air, and he was muttering incantations. He was twisting his waist and slouching his shoulders, as if he were possessed.
After gesturing for a moment, he suddenly slapped his thigh, looked up at Leng Yaozhu, and his eyes shone with an alarming light. "Teacher! Again! This time, give me a Soul Emperor level! I want to see just how strong a Soul Emperor- level Body Martial Soul can be!"
Leng Yaozhu had just picked up the water glass beside her when she heard this, and her hand paused, almost spilling the water. She glanced at Bai Yushan, her crimson-gold eyes filled with a hint of annoyance. "Soul Emperor? You just finished fighting the Spiritual Power Soul King and are exhausted, yet you dare to try and provoke the Soul Emperor?"
"How can a real man be afraid of challenges?"
Bai Yushan chuckled, showing no fear whatsoever. He even took two steps forward, his tone pleading, "Just one match! Just one match! I promise I won't fight head-on, I'll just learn his power techniques, okay?"
"No way." Leng Yaozhu refused without even thinking. "Virtual battles can't hurt your physical body, but the Spiritual Power drain is real. Today is your first time in the pod; one battle is enough to get used to it. Don't try to do too much at once. If you really deplete your Spiritual Power, you won't be able to cultivate for the next few days."
Bai Yushan's face immediately fell, looking like a wolf cub who hadn't gotten any meat, his displeasure written all over his face. But he knew Leng Yaozhu was telling the truth, so he could only awkwardly touch his nose and not press the matter further.
Leng Yaozhu's temples throbbed with anger, and she raised her hand, flicking her finger across his forehead.
With a crisp "thud," it struck solidly.
Bai Yushan hissed, clutched his forehead, and shrank back, looking aggrieved. "Teacher, why did you hit me?!"
"To take action would be too lenient."
Leng Yaozhu glared at him. "I'm serious, so listen carefully. You have great talent and strong fighting instincts, but the more talented you are, the more likely you are to get into trouble."
She paused, her tone turning serious. "You're only at the second ring now, and you dare to go toe-to-toe with Soul King, going beyond your level. Who knows how crazy you'll become when you reach the Soul Ancestor or Soul King level? The Soul Master World is a deep and complex place; there are countless geniuses, but very few truly succeed. With your flamboyant and wild nature, you'll attract attention sooner or later."
"There are many factions within the Spirit Pagoda, and outside there are the Holy Spirit Cult and the Evil Soul Master —none of them are benevolent. If someone sees you as a threat and tries to attack you secretly, do you think you can withstand it a few times with your current strength?"
Leng Yaozhu looked at him, her crimson-gold eyes filled with seriousness. "Unless you're by my side every single day, never leaving my side, there will always be times when I can't take care of you. It won't hurt to tone down your temper a bit."
These words came from the bottom of my heart; they were the earnest advice of an elder to a younger generation.
Bai Yushan's playful smile slowly disappeared, and he stared at Leng Yaozhu, stunned for several seconds.
In all his life, apart from Na'er, Bi Ji, and Chen Qingquan, no one had ever said such a thing to him.
Most people either fear his madness, are wary of his strength, or fawn over him and take advantage of him. Leng Yaozhu, who is clearly a high-ranking Limit Douluo, is truly the first person to genuinely care about his safety.
He felt a strange warmth in his heart, but he didn't say anything serious.
Bai Yushan grinned, raised his hand, pointed his thumb at himself, and said arrogantly, "Teacher, you underestimate me."
"I can't learn that 'hide your strength and bide your time' approach."
Bai Yushan scoffed, his tone full of disdain, "Clearly talented, yet you have to hide it, like you can't stand the light of day. Aren't you tired? A true genius should stand in the sunlight, facing everyone's gaze with dignity."
"Whether it's fear, jealousy, or a desire to destroy me, do I need to avoid their sharp edge?"
He took a step forward, his back ramrod straight, exuding an air of disdain. "They should be the ones afraid of me."
These words were extremely arrogant, utterly outrageous.
But when he said it, coupled with his fearless demeanor, it somehow made people feel as if he really could do it.
Leng Yaozhu looked at him, so angry she didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and shook her head repeatedly while holding her forehead.
Sure enough, she shouldn't have expected this kid to listen to advice. No matter what she said, good or bad, it went in one ear and out the other, and he'd forget it completely the moment he turned his back.