Chapter 2219 - 1194: Perseverance of the Strong (Part 4)

Originally, it was a desperate attack, but the effect shocked Yang Xiao. In the next second, his blade tore through the sandstorm.

The cost-unrestricted injection of spiritual power created a strange resonance between him and the blade, causing an invisible blade to form around it. The originally fierce blade turned into a strange purple-black color, with faint electric flashes flowing on it.

It was precisely these invisible blades and the purple-black blade that together helped him break through the Cannibal Buddha’s domain.

After completing all this, Yang Xiao breathed heavily, propping himself with the blade against the ground to avoid falling. His entire body was exhausted, as if squeezed dry.

"Clap"

"Clap"

"Clap"

A sound of clapping came from behind, and Yang Xiao slowly turned around, only to see the High Priest Cannibal Buddha, with his murderous intent already receded, looking at him with full appreciation. His eyes no longer held the pure care and kindness of an elder admiring a junior, but a sense of equal recognition toward a strong person.

"Well done, my Dachaya, you are a true warrior, possessing the heart of a true lion-like strongman."

"In your hands, this blade does not shame that person’s good name."

Only then did Yang Xiao notice that the left sleeve of Cannibal Buddha was ripped open, as if it was cut by some sharp weapon like a sword.

It was at this moment that Yang Xiao understood his adoptive father’s painstaking intentions.

Though he had been growing in battles over the years, each time facing formidable foes, especially after acquiring the Soul-Capturing Mirror and the Ghost Lantern, his first consideration was either to escape or to appear weak, then find an opportunity to ambush.

This combat style itself was not incorrect, but persisting in it over time made him increasingly repulsive and unfamiliar with those fierce, confrontational death battles.

His direct combat level and will greatly declined; in Cannibal Buddha’s words, he had lost the heart of a strongman.

Facing ordinary opponents was manageable, but encountering fierce types like Cannibal Buddha, Overlord Spear Wu Qingcang, he might have been daunted even before the battle started, losing half of it before the fight.

Masters like Elder Sheng, Jiushan Cangxuan, and Second Demon Uncle never imposed such strong pressing and life-threatening feelings on him either out of love or pity for him, but this lesson was completed by Cannibal Buddha, who was familiar with slaughter, for him.

Yin Temple experts do not pamper children like those family powers back home, which is determined by the unique customs and living environment of Myanmar and Thailand.

In places like this, indulging a child is equivalent to killing one. If you don’t eat others, you’ll be eaten. Not wanting to be thrown into the Alchemy Furnace by others means you must dispose of your opponent first and throw them in.

Under the pressure exerted by Cannibal Buddha, he grew rapidly, realizing the wonder of the newly forged Ring-Headed Saber in a short time.

"Elder Sheng was indeed right, the reforging of these two magical artifacts together truly works wonders, it’s practically custom-made for me, Yang Xiao!"

Gripping the knife in his hand and looking at Cannibal Buddha not far in front of him, Yang Xiao’s heart felt unprecedentedly wide and free.

Furthermore, he clearly noticed something: ever since he faced and broke through Cannibal Buddha’s sandstorm, facing him never held that shyness and restraint feeling anymore, but a sense of unprecedented clarity and naturalness.

It’s not disrespect; he always holds a heart full of gratitude toward his adoptive father, Cannibal Buddha, but his view of himself changed.

He already started learning to measure himself with the heart of a strongman.

His adoptive father was right; to become a strongman, first one must possess the heart of a strongman, and Yang Xiao already realized this.

This lesson had an even greater impact on Yang Xiao than obtaining the new Ring-Headed Saber.

"Many thanks to my adoptive father’s painstaking efforts!" Yang Xiao clasped his hands, bowed to Cannibal Buddha, expressing gratitude.

"Dachaya, you are extraordinary. Among your peers, I’ve given many opportunities to people, yet you are one of the only two who passed the test."

"Remember, strategy and cunning have their merits, but once you reach my level, you’ll understand that simple ambushes and calculations are almost useless against people like us. To truly defeat or even kill a fellow Angel Envoy of similar level, only direct confrontation will work."

"Instead of putting effort into ambushes and calculations, better hone yourself, strengthen your physique and power, focus all effort on one point to defeat the enemy."

"Between me and Dharma Sect Farhad, we are actually similar in spiritual power level, but we’ve fought more than ten times over the years, and he’s been completely defeated by me every time. Do you know why?"

Yang Xiao swallowed with difficulty, knowing Farhad is the head of Dharma Sect and one of the peerless masters in this world.

"It’s because his heart lacks purity. Every time fighting me, he always tries to take shortcuts, or use some newly learned and realized moves for surprise attacks. Once realizing these are useless, or slightly losing advantage in the battle, his heart becomes disordered, starting to think about how to retreat safely. For people like this, even giving him another hundred years, he won’t be my match."