Shang took a deep breath.
Sure enough, the fight hadn't been easy, but it had definitely done its trick.
Before the fight, Shang had been far more afraid than during the fight.
The worst thing that could happen to someone was that they became so afraid of dangerous fights that they refused to ever risk their lives again.
Obviously, this wouldn't be a problem if one's goal was to just live a peaceful life, but for someone with Shang's ambition, such a weakness would have been crippling.
Shang needed to risk his life from time to time. It was important that he always remained used to and comfortable during dangerous fights so that he could unleash all his power when it actually mattered.
Additionally, dangerous fights were important since they pushed one's mind and body to the limit, unlocking resources and strengths one had never thought existed.