Midday Break

Only after the medicinal liquid in the large wooden tub had completely cooled did Yu Tianlin soak a little longer before slowly getting up. He rinsed the medicinal liquid off his body with the clean water in the two small wooden buckets beside the tub, then changed into a clean set of clothes.

He twisted his neck, then stretched hard, and a burst of crackling sounds immediately rang out from the bones all over Yu Tianlin's body.

The sore, limp feeling in his muscles had already faded. After taking two deep breaths, Yu Tianlin immediately felt refreshed and clear-headed.

"Grrr~"

Just then, Yu Tianlin's stomach growled.

"I should eat first."

Yu Tianlin really was a little hungry. He walked straight out of his room and headed toward the dining hall.

As soon as he entered the dining hall, a faint fragrance rushed into his nose, making his stomach unable to help growling again.

Hearing the sound, Yu Rou turned back to look at Yu Tianlin and smiled. "Little Lin, I just finished making it too and was about to call you. It's even better that you came on your own. Eat while it's hot."

Their family actually had cooks specifically responsible for making meals, but judging from things now, Yu Rou had personally cooked.

The lunch his mother Yu Rou made was very plentiful. Aside from three snow-white steamed buns as the staple food, there was also a plate of stir-fried meat and a dish of vegetables.

Though it did not look like much, Yu Tianlin was, after all, only a six-year-old child right now. This was already enough for him to eat.

Yu Tianlin did not stand on ceremony either. He sat down in his own seat and began eating in huge mouthfuls.

Seeing Yu Tianlin wolfing down the food as if he were a starving ghost reincarnated, Yu Rou could not help showing a distressed expression and said softly, "Little Lin, slow down. Don't choke."

Yu Tianlin hummed twice and did not slow his eating because of his mother's words. In no time at all, he swept all the food on the table clean.

"Burp~"

After letting out a full burp, Yu Tianlin only felt a wave of comfort.

After high-intensity training, being able to eat a full meal—nothing felt better than that.

Yu Tianlin felt as if he could sense his body rapidly absorbing the nutrients in the food.

Seeing that Yu Tianlin had finished eating, Yu Rou could not help asking, "Little Lin, is the training very hard?"

Yu Tianlin shook his head and said, "It's not that hard. Right now I'm only in the adaptation period, so formal training hasn't really started yet."

"I know these principles too. Only with a stronger body can you withstand more Soul Power, and it will be more beneficial for your later cultivation." Yu Rou said, "What's more, in four months, you still have to fight Tianqing. By then, his soul ring will definitely be stronger than yours. To make up for that, this kind of high-intensity training now is indispensable."

At this point, Yu Rou could not help pinching Yu Tianlin's face and continued, "Even though I understand all the reasoning, you've only just turned six, and you're still so little, yet you have to work this hard every day. It doesn't feel good for your mother either."

"All right, Mom." Yu Tianlin smiled. "Don't worry. This isn't enough to stump me. Uncle Yu Jian knows what he's doing too. His training won't leave me with any lingering problems. It'll only be tiring, that's all. I can handle it."

Yu Rou also knew that, as a disciple of a great sect and the sect master's own grandson, these things were unavoidable for Yu Tianlin. He had to bear the pressure that belonged to him.

At that moment, Yu Rou suddenly thought of something and said in annoyance, "And your father too. At such a crucial time, he just had to be in seclusion. He doesn't know anything about what's happening outside."

Yu Tianlin hurriedly said, "If everything goes normally, after Dad comes out of seclusion this time, he'll be able to break through to rank seventy-nine. So don't let him know about this for now. His cultivation is more important right now. Don't affect his breakthrough."

"And Big Brother too. He's studying at Heaven Dou Royal Academy right now, and his studies come first. Don't tell him about my matter."

Right now, only Yu Tianlin and his grandfather knew that the age of Yu Tianlin's First Soul Ring could increase. It was not that the soul ring was too bad; on the contrary, it was too good.

But other people did not know that. Yu Tianlin did not want his father and big brother to worry too much over it, so he would put this matter off as long as he could. Once the soul ring's level rose after some time, they naturally would not worry anymore.

Mm, when the time came, he would also have to discuss it with Grandpa and see if they could make up a more reliable reason. He did not know any techniques for hiding soul rings, and other people were not fools. Once his First Soul Ring turned purple, anyone would know there was a problem.

Hearing Yu Tianlin's words, Yu Rou froze. Looking at the serious expression on her son's childish face, she found it indescribably adorable.

Yu Rou smiled, then pinched Yu Tianlin's little face with both hands and began kneading it. "Just who's the adult here, you or me? You're so young, yet you're worrying about so many things."

"Don't worry. Of course Mom knows these things. For now, I won't tell them about you absorbing the wrong soul ring," Yu Rou said. "But once your father comes out of seclusion and Little Heng comes back for break, they'll naturally find out about it."

He did not know when his father would come out of seclusion, but his father was an adult, so there was no need to worry about him. As for his big brother Yu Tianheng, by the time he came back for break, half a year would already have passed. By then, Yu Tianlin would have long since fought Yu Tianqing. As long as he could win, he could obtain the Dragon Source Fruit to make up for his Dragon Power. Added to the Hundred Year Soul Ring that had "mutated" during the absorption process, his talent would not have been wasted by much, and his status in the sect would not change at all. Big Brother would not need to worry about him either.

Thinking this, Yu Tianlin relaxed, and only then did he feel his face being kneaded by his mother.

"Mom, stop pinching!" Yu Tianlin first grumbled in dissatisfaction, then asked, "From when Uncle Yu Jian and I came back just now until now, how much time has passed?"

"How long has it been? Hmm, let me think. About almost an hour, I suppose." Yu Rou propped her cheeks in both hands, thought for a moment, then gave the time before asking Yu Tianlin, "What is it, Tianlin? Are you going to continue the afternoon training already?"

"Ah, then I'll rest a bit first." Hearing his mother say that not even an hour had passed, Yu Tianlin relaxed all over and leaned straight back against the chair, saying, "Uncle Yu Jian said I could rest for two hours at noon. There's still plenty of time, so I'll go over later."

Yu Rou waved a hand, signaling the servant beside them to clear away the bowls and plates on the table, and said, "Little Lin, since you're so tired, you should go back to your room and rest. After half an hour has passed, I'll have someone come notify you."

Mm, that made sense. Leaning back in a chair still was not as comfortable as lying in bed. Though he did not really want to move, Yu Tianlin still slowly got up and leisurely walked toward his room.