Going to School

After returning to the clan, Yang Ming rested for a day.

Early the next morning,

Within Yang Ming's quiet Small Courtyard, the whistling of a spear rang out without end. Yang Ming was practicing his spear techniques.

Thrust, stab, whip, strike, entangle, circle, block, grab, pounce, point, deflect—each move flowed seamlessly into the next, alternating speed and slowness, blending the orthodox with the unexpected. Even the simplest basic spear techniques appeared exceptionally agile in his hands.

Outside the courtyard gate, Yang Wudi watched Yang Ming's nimble spearwork and nodded in satisfaction. After absorbing a Spirit Ring, Yang Ming's physical strength had increased, and his spear skills had improved a little more as well.

Only after Yang Ming finished practicing did Yang Wudi enter the courtyard. He picked up a towel from the side and handed it to Yang Ming, speaking indifferently.

"Not bad. Keep it up."

Yang Ming accepted the towel and respectfully acknowledged his Grandfather's encouragement before asking,

"Yes, Grandfather!"

"But Grandfather, is there something you need to tell me, coming over so early?"

Although Yang Wudi lived in the courtyard next to Yang Ming's Small Courtyard, the clan leader's affairs kept him busy, and he was obsessed with refining medicine. Unless there was something to discuss, grandfather and grandson rarely saw each other in the mornings.

Yang Wudi did not waste words and went straight to the point.

"Starting today, you will attend the Clan School to learn Soul Master knowledge and Pharmaceutical Arts!"

Hearing the words "Clan School," Yang Ming recalled that his Martial Soul had already awakened. According to clan rules, he indeed needed to attend classes there. He answered gently.

"Alright, Grandfather!"

"I'll tidy up and head over shortly."

Yang Wudi nodded expressionlessly, then left the Small Courtyard to attend to his own matters. Take Yang Ming to the Clan School? Forget it. It was only a few steps away; Yang Ming would not even need ten minutes to walk there. Why interrupt this old man's medicine refining?

Dressed in a set of white casual clothes, Yang Ming arrived at the entrance to the clan's Clan School. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar building before him, his expression shifted. There was anticipation for the future, sadness at the thought of his mother's final words, and all sorts of tangled emotions. Only when he heard the students shouting and the teachers instructing inside the Clan School did he come back to himself.

"Spears out, thrust!"

"Ha!!!" xN

"Withdraw your spears, again!"

"."

Yang Ming composed himself and stepped into the Clan School. Before him was a large Martial Arts Arena, where the teachers and students were all gathered.

Then Yang Ming's gaze shifted, and he saw an acquaintance getting beaten up. It was none other than Yang Lin, the little genius who had awakened his Martial Soul at the same time as Yang Ming and possessed Level Seven Innate Soul Power. Yang Ming felt as though a night watchman had caught Chang Wei beating Laifu—completely bewildered.

The teacher doing the beating heard movement behind him and stopped. Turning around and seeing Yang Ming, he immediately understood. Yang Ming knew this teacher too—Yang Lin's father. Getting beaten by his own father in the Clan School, Yang Ming was rather curious about how Yang Lin felt about it.

Feeling the blows stop, Yang Lin followed his father's gaze toward Yang Ming at the entrance and called out in delight.

"Yang Ming, you finally came!"

Hearing Yang Lin's self-rescuing attempt at conversation, Yang Ming casually replied.

"Mm, I'm here."

They were both children of the Breaking Clan's younger generation, so Yang Ming and Yang Lin knew each other and got along fairly well. Yang Lin had not dared say anything at the Ancestral Hall last time because, aside from Yang Ming, the other children in the clan were all rather afraid of Yang Wudi. After all, Yang Wudi had a scar on his face and a vicious air about him. He would not even need makeup to go out at night and play a bandit. It was only natural for children to fear him.

Yang Lin's father, the Clan School teacher Yang Hong, also called out to Yang Ming.

"Yang Ming, come here!"

Yang Ming walked to Yang Hong's side and respectfully addressed him.

"Uncle Hong!"

By clan seniority, Yang Hong was Yang Ming's mother Yang Ying's cousin, making him Yang Ming's maternal cousin uncle.

Yang Hong nodded and spoke to the other students in the Clan School.

"This is Yang Ming. You all know him!"

"Starting today, he is officially joining our Clan School. Welcome him!"

Yang Lin seized the chance to escape and returned to the line, taking the lead in applauding. Yang Hong said nothing, merely giving Yang Lin a threatening look to let him know that he had gotten lucky today. The other children in the Clan School all knew Yang Ming as well. Those who had not known him before had gotten to know him during the sacrificial ceremony half a month ago, and they began applauding one after another. The five girls among them clapped the hardest. After all, people liked beautiful things, regardless of gender.

Seeing that it was enough, Yang Hong raised a hand to stop them, then said to Yang Ming,

"Yang Ming, stand beside Yang Lin!"

At his words, Yang Ming walked over to Yang Lin's side. Yang Lin even winked at him in thanks. Yang Ming blinked back and took his place beside him.

Yang Hong ignored their silent exchange. Once Yang Ming was in position, he continued the day's lesson.

"The basic spear class continues. Raise your spears!"

Seeing the practice spears in everyone's hands, Yang Ming also took a practice spear from the weapon rack at the side.

Once everyone was ready, Yang Hong shouted,

"Ready, thrust!"

"Ha!" xN

Everyone thrust their spears at the command.

Among them, Yang Ming's thrust was naturally the best.

Yang Ming's spear thrust was level, precise, and swift. It went straight out and straight back, with force reaching the spear tip. He had achieved a perfectly straight thrust, his spear emerging like a hidden dragon breaking through water. Seeing Yang Ming's level of skill, Yang Hong was greatly shocked. Although Yang Wudi had told him yesterday that Yang Ming's skill with the spear was extremely high, seeing Yang Ming wield it for himself left Yang Hong deeply shaken!

This kid is a monster, isn't he? His thrust is better than mine. Thinking this, Yang Hong looked at his own son beside Yang Ming, whose thrust was crooked and unsteady. His face darkened. They were both of the same generation, and his son was even older. How could the gap be so enormous?

Yang Hong then began correcting the students whose postures were wrong. When he reached Yang Lin, his tone was especially harsh.

"Slightly bend your arm, keep your eyes on the spear tip, shift your center of gravity forward, straighten your right leg, and form a Left Bow Stance!"

After Yang Lin received another fierce lesson from his father, Yang Hong continued teaching.

"Withdraw your spears!"

"Ready, stab!"

One basic spear move after another was quickly practiced. Yang Hong corrected one issue or another for everyone else, but Yang Ming performed every move flawlessly. His form was as standard as a textbook's—proper without being rigid. Very impressive! After watching through the sequence once, Yang Hong understood Yang Ming's level of spear skill. It was beyond what he could teach, so Yang Hong decisively announced,

"Yang Ming, from now on, practice the basic spear techniques on your own. You do not need to follow everyone else's progress."

Yang Ming had no objection to Yang Hong's arrangement. Anything worked for him. But while Yang Ming was fine with it, that was not necessarily true for everyone else. Among the students, a handsome boy of eight or nine with an arrogant expression spoke up in dissatisfaction.

"Uncle Hong, why can Yang Ming practice by himself?"

The boy was Yang Yi, eight years old this year. Before Yang Ming, he had been the Breaking Clan's foremost genius of their generation. He possessed Level Eight Innate Soul Power, the highest Innate Soul Power seen in recent years among those with the Soul Breaking Spear Martial Soul. Coupled with his diligence, he had always been the best among his peers in every respect. Aside from Yang Ming, he had also needed the fewest corrections from Yang Hong. Today was the first time a clan elder had judged a cousin two years younger than him to be superior. Yang Yi found it difficult to accept.

Yang Hong saw through Yang Yi's thoughts and knew he was unconvinced, but some things could not be disputed. Yang Hong said seriously,

"Because Yang Ming's basic spear techniques are excellent. Better than mine, even. There is nothing I can teach him."

"Hiss—"

Hearing Yang Hong's assessment of Yang Ming, the other children could not help drawing in sharp breaths.

Yang Yi was even more stunned by Yang Hong's evaluation. Such praise was too high! Yang Hong was already one of the outstanding figures of the clan's previous generation. Just how extraordinary must Yang Ming's spear skills be for Yang Hong to praise him like that? Yang Yi could not believe it—or rather, he did not dare believe that someone like this existed when Yang Ming was two years younger than him. His expression grew agitated, his face slightly twisted as he roared,

"I don't believe it!!!"

"I won't believe it unless he beats me in spear skills!!!"

Looking at Yang Yi, whose understanding of the world seemed to be collapsing, Yang Hong sighed inwardly. Yang Yi was already a rare top-tier genius for the Breaking Clan in recent decades, gifted in both cultivation and spear techniques. Yet this generation had produced Yang Ming, someone who might become the strongest person in the Breaking Clan's history.

Yang Hong was conflicted. He did not know whether he should let Yang Ming fight Yang Yi. If they did not fight, Yang Yi would not let the matter rest. But if they did, Yang Hong feared Yang Yi would be unable to recover after losing. As for Yang Yi winning? Yang Hong felt that unless Yang Ming deliberately went easy on him—and not merely a little—Yang Yi would have no chance whatsoever!

Yang Ming saw Yang Yi's unwillingness and defiance. Before Yang Hong could speak, he answered calmly.

"Alright! I accept this match!"

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