After returning to the clan, Yun Ming rested for a day.
Early the next morning.
Inside Yun Ming's quiet Small Courtyard, the sound of whistling wind was continuous; it was Yun Ming practicing his Spear Art.
Stab, pierce, whip, strike, entangle, circle, block, grab, pounce, point, deflect—every move and every stance, combining speed with slowness, orthodoxy with ingenuity, flowed like clouds and water. Even the simplest basic Spear Art techniques appeared exceptionally agile.
Standing outside the courtyard gate, Yang Wudi nodded with a satisfied expression as he watched Yun Ming's agile Spear Art. After absorbing the Soul Ring and with the improvement in his physical strength, Yun Ming's Spear Art had improved once again!
Only after Yun Ming finished practicing did Yang Wudi walk into the courtyard, pick up a towel from the side to hand to him, and speak in a calm voice.
"Not bad, keep up the effort."
Yun Ming took the towel, respectfully acknowledged his Grandfather's encouragement, and asked.
"Yes, Grandfather!"
"But, Grandfather, is there something you needed to tell me by coming over so early?"
Although Yang Wudi lived in the courtyard right next to Yun Ming's, due to his busy schedule as Clan Leader and his obsession with alchemy, the grandfather and grandson rarely saw each other in the morning unless there was a notification.
Yang Wudi didn't waste words and went straight to the point.
"Starting today, you will enter the 'Clan School' to learn Soul Master knowledge and pharmacology!"
Hearing about the Clan School, Yun Ming recalled that his Martial Soul had already awakened, and according to clan rules, he indeed needed to attend classes at the Clan School. He replied gently.
"Understood, Grandfather!"
"I will tidy up and head over shortly."
Yang Wudi nodded expressionlessly, then left the Small Courtyard to attend to his own affairs. As for escorting Yun Ming to the Clan School? Forget it; it was only a few steps away, and it wouldn't take Yun Ming ten minutes to walk there. He didn't want to interfere with his own alchemy.
Dressed in white casual attire, Yun Ming arrived at the entrance of the clan's Clan School. Looking at the familiar yet strange building before him, Yun Ming's expression was uncertain. There was a longing for the future, a sadness at the thought of his mother's final words, and a complex mix of emotions, until he heard the sounds coming from within—the shouts of students and the teaching voice of the instructor—which brought him back to his senses.
"Extend the spear, stab!"
"Ha!!!" xN
"Retract the spear, again!"
"..."
Yun Ming composed his emotions and stepped into the Clan School. What met his eyes was a large Martial Arts Arena, where the teachers and students were currently gathered.
Then, Yun Ming's gaze shifted, and he saw an acquaintance getting beaten up. This person was none other than the little genius who had awakened his Martial Soul at the same time as Yun Ming with an Innate Soul Power of level seven, Yang Lin. As for how Yun Ming felt right now, it was like a night watchman seeing Chang Wei beating Lai Fu—completely bewildered.
The teacher who was doing the hitting heard movement behind him, stopped his actions, turned around, and saw Yun Ming, immediately understanding the situation. This teacher was also someone Yun Ming knew: Yang Lin's father. Being beaten by his own father at the Clan School, Yun Ming was now curious about what Yang Lin was thinking.
Feeling the beating stop, Yang Lin followed his father's gaze to the door and saw Yun Ming, exclaiming with pleasant surprise.
"Yun Ming, you're finally here!"
Hearing Yang Lin's self-rescue attempt at conversation, Yun Ming responded casually.
"Yeah, I'm here."
As peers within the Breaking Clan, Yun Ming and Yang Lin knew each other, and their relationship was decent. The reason they hadn't dared to make a sound at the Ancestral Hall last time was that, other than Yun Ming, the other children were quite afraid of Yang Wudi. After all, Yang Wudi had a scar on his face and a ruthless temperament; he wouldn't even need makeup to go out as a bandit at night, so it was normal for children to fear him.
Yang Lin's father, the Clan School teacher Yang Hong, also called out to greet Yun Ming.
"Yun Ming, come over here!"
Yun Ming walked to Yang Hong's side and called out respectfully.
"Uncle Hong!"
According to the clan's seniority, Yang Hong was the cousin of Yun Ming's mother, Yang Ying, making him Yun Ming's cousin-uncle.
Yang Hong nodded and said to the other students in the Clan School.
"This is Yun Ming; I'm sure you all know him!"
"Starting today, he will officially join our Clan School. Let's give him a welcome!"
Seeing an opportunity to escape, Yang Lin returned to the ranks and began leading the applause. Seeing this, Yang Hong didn't say much, just threatened Yang Lin with a look, signaling that he was lucky today. The other children in the Clan School also knew Yun Ming; even those who hadn't known him before recognized him after the Ritual half a month ago, and they began to clap. In particular, five girls clapped the hardest—after all, people, regardless of gender, all like looking at good-looking things.
Seeing that was enough, Yang Hong raised his hand to stop them and then said to Yun Ming.
"Yun Ming, just stand next to Yang Lin!"
Hearing this, Yun Ming walked over to Yang Lin's side, and Yang Lin winked at him to show his gratitude. Yun Ming blinked back in response and stood still beside him.
Yang Hong ignored the silent exchange between the two, and seeing that Yun Ming had settled in, he continued the day's lesson.
"The basic Spear Art lesson continues. Everyone, raise your spears!"
Seeing the practice spears everyone was holding, Yun Ming took a practice spear from the weapon rack on the side.
Seeing that everyone was ready, Yang Hong shouted loudly.
"Ready, stab!"
"Ha!" xN
Everyone followed the order and thrust their spears.
Among them, the one who performed the thrust best was, of course, Yun Ming.
Yun Ming's spear thrust was level, swift, and straight, with force concentrated at the spear tip. He achieved a perfect line, his spear emerging like a hidden dragon rising from the water. Seeing Yun Ming's proficiency, Uncle Hong was inwardly shocked. Although Yang Wudi had already told him yesterday that Yun Ming's spear skills were exceptional, seeing it with his own eyes left Uncle Hong deeply stunned!
Is this kid a monster? He performed the thrust even better than Uncle Hong himself. Thinking this, Uncle Hong glanced at his own son, who was struggling with crooked thrusts beside Yun Ming, and his face darkened. They were the same age, and his son was even slightly older, so why was the gap so vast?
Uncle Hong then began adjusting the postures of the students who were struggling. When he reached Yang Lin, his tone was particularly harsh.
"Arms slightly bent, eyes on the spear tip, shift your center of gravity forward, straighten your right leg, and form a Left Bow Stance!"
After Yang Lin was severely lectured by his father, Uncle Hong continued the lesson.
"Retract spear!"
"Ready, Stab!"
One by one, the basic Spear Art techniques were practiced. Everyone else had their flaws corrected to varying degrees, except for Yun Ming, whose every move was standard—standard as a textbook, rigid yet not stiff. It was excellent! After watching through the session, Uncle Hong understood Yun Ming's level of spear mastery. It was a level he could no longer teach, so Uncle Hong made a decisive call.
"Yun Ming, from now on, you may practice your basic Spear Art on your own; you don't need to follow the class pace."
Yun Ming had no objections to Uncle Hong's arrangement; he was fine with anything. However, while Yun Ming was fine with it, others were not. Among the students, an eight or nine-year-old boy with delicate features and an arrogant expression spoke up in dissatisfaction.
"Uncle Hong, why does Yun Ming get to practice on his own?"
The boy speaking was Yang Yi, eight years old this year. Before Yun Ming, he had been the top genius of the current generation of the Breaking Clan, possessing an Innate Soul Power of level eight—the highest for a Soul Breaking Spear Martial Soul in recent years. Combined with his own diligence, he had always been the best among his peers in every aspect. Previously, he had also required the fewest corrections from Uncle Hong, aside from Yun Ming. Today was the first time he had been judged by an elder of the Clan as being inferior to a cousin two years his junior, and Yang Yi found it hard to accept.
Uncle Hong saw through Yang Yi's thoughts and knew he was unconvinced, but some things had to be accepted. Uncle Hong said earnestly.
"Because Yun Ming's basic Spear Art is excellent—better than mine. I have nothing left to teach him."
"Hiss~"
Hearing Uncle Hong's evaluation of Yun Ming, the surrounding children couldn't help but gasp.
As for Yang Yi, hearing Uncle Hong's assessment left him utterly astonished; this praise was far too high! Uncle Hong was already a standout among the previous generation of the Clan. Just how high must a spear skill be to earn such high regard? Yang Yi found it hard to believe—or rather, he dared not believe—that such a person could exist in the world, especially when Yun Ming was two years younger than him. Yang Yi's expression became agitated, his face twisted, and he roared.
"I don't believe it!!!"
"I don't believe it! Unless his spear skills can beat mine!!!"
Watching Yang Yi, whose worldview was beginning to crumble, Uncle Hong sighed inwardly. Yang Yi was already a top-tier genius rarely seen in the Breaking Clan for decades, possessing both cultivation talent and spear talent. Yet, this generation had produced Yun Ming, a person who might become the strongest in the history of the Breaking Clan.
Uncle Hong was now conflicted, unsure whether to let Yun Ming and Yang Yi spar. If they didn't fight, Yang Yi wouldn't let it go; if they did, he feared Yang Yi would be devastated by the loss. As for Yang Yi winning? Uncle Hong felt that unless Yun Ming intentionally threw the match—and even then, just a little bit of holding back wouldn't be enough—there was absolutely no chance!
Yun Ming saw Yang Yi's unwillingness and defiance, and before Uncle Hong could speak, he replied calmly.
"Fine! I accept this challenge!"
ps: Seeking monthly tickets and recommendations.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader