Half a Year

Three days later, Ye Lingling brought Zhao Ming back to the Ye Clan.

The Ye Clan's residence in Heaven Dou City was not particularly large. Compared to those noble estates that sprawled across dozens of acres, it even seemed somewhat plain.

But the moment Zhao Ming stepped through the Ye Clan's gates, a rich medicinal fragrance washed over him.

It was not the scent of any single herb, but a unique aroma formed by the intermingling of hundreds, even thousands, of medicinal ingredients over countless years.

Bamboo trays of drying herbs could be seen throughout the courtyard, while shelves in the corners were packed with earthenware jars of all sizes. Every jar bore a label stating the name and age of the medicinal ingredient within.

Several Ye Clan servants busied themselves in the courtyard, turning herbs out to dry, grinding medicinal powder, and brewing medicinal paste. Everything was kept in perfect order.

Ye Renxin had not gone out today. He had been waiting in the main hall for his granddaughter to return.

This healing-system Soul Douluo, renowned throughout the continent, sat in a grand rosewood chair, engrossed in a yellowed ancient tome held in his hands.

He looked to be around sixty. His hair had already turned gray, yet his complexion was rosy and his spirits vigorous. His eyes were clear and bright, showing no trace of age.

He wore a plain robe marked by several faint medicinal stains, evidently left behind from personally preparing medicine in his daily life.

"Grandfather, we're back." Ye Lingling led Zhao Ming into the main hall, her voice carrying a hint of coquettishness. "He's Zhao Ming, the one I told you about. Zhao Ming, this is my grandfather, an eighty-seventh-level healing-system Soul Douluo, the continent's number one healing Soul Master."

Hearing this, Zhao Ming hurriedly stepped forward and bowed deeply, his waist bent low as his voice filled with respect. "Junior Zhao Ming greets Senior Ye."

Ye Renxin set down the ancient tome in his hand and looked Zhao Ming over. After a moment, he smiled and waved dismissively, his tone gentle and easygoing. "No need to be so formal. You are Lingling's classmate, and you possess Innate Full Soul Power. A child with such outstanding talent wishes to study medicinal knowledge—I am naturally pleased to see it."

He paused, lifted the teacup beside him, and took a sip before continuing, "From now on, come with Lingling every other day to the medical hall my Ye Clan runs in eastern Heaven Dou City.

I spend most of my days seeing patients there. You can lend a hand when you come as well.

The art of medicine cannot be learned merely by reading books. You must touch, smell, taste, and come into contact with living, breathing patients before you can truly gain any understanding."

Zhao Ming was overjoyed. He bowed once more, even lower than before. "Thank you, Senior Ye, for granting me this opportunity! This junior will certainly study diligently and never disappoint Senior Ye's expectations."

Ye Renxin nodded and said nothing further. He merely waved his hand, signaling that they could leave.

Taking the hint, Zhao Ming bade his farewell. Ye Lingling saw him to the Ye Clan's gates, and after agreeing to meet at the medical hall the day after tomorrow, Zhao Ming returned to the Crown Prince's Palace first.

After Zhao Ming left, Ye Lingling returned to the main hall and sat in the chair opposite Ye Renxin. She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately could not help asking, "Grandfather, are you really going to teach Zhao Ming medicine?"

At her words, Ye Renxin put down the ancient tome and looked at his granddaughter with an amused smile. "Wasn't it you who asked me to teach him?"

Ye Lingling choked at that, an unnatural expression appearing on her face.

She had indeed mentioned Zhao Ming to her grandfather, saying that he wanted to learn medicinal knowledge and hoping her grandfather could offer him some guidance.

But at the time, she had only pitied Zhao Ming's background and seen that he was genuinely interested in medicine. Now that her grandfather had agreed so readily, she felt uneasy instead.

"But..." Ye Lingling bit her lower lip and lowered her voice. "He is, after all, from the Crown Prince's Palace. Aren't you worried that His Highness the Crown Prince sent him here to win over our Ye Clan under the pretense of studying medicine?"

Seeing his granddaughter's worried expression, Ye Renxin could not help laughing.

He shook his head, his tone carrying the open-minded clarity of one with experience. "It does not matter. In the current Heaven Dou Empire, there is really only one person capable of sitting in that position: His Highness the Crown Prince.

You and I both know what kind of useless fool Xue Beng is. Prince Xue Xing may have some skill, but he is still only a prince, without proper claim or justification.

Whether in ability, reputation, or public support, His Highness the Crown Prince is far beyond anyone else.

Not to mention our Ye Clan—even that old poisoner Dugu Bo has never truly fallen out with His Highness the Crown Prince. Teaching that boy a few things will not cause any problems."

He paused, and his gaze deepened. "Besides, you saw how that child bowed just now.

For a seven-year-old child to possess such bearing and manners, he is either pure by nature or exceptionally calculating.

But either way, he is worth teaching. If he is pure by nature, then teaching him medicine is an act of virtue and kindness.

If he is exceptionally calculating, then he will certainly remember this favor in the future. That would not be a bad thing for our Ye Clan either."

After hearing her grandfather's words, Ye Lingling was finally completely reassured. She nodded, asked no more questions, and rose to make tea for her grandfather.

From that day onward, Zhao Ming's life gradually became more regular.

Every morning, before dawn had even broken, Zhao Ming would awaken from his cultivation.

After washing up, he would gather with the other members of the Royal Dou Team at the training grounds for various high-intensity physical exercises.

The Royal Dou Team's morning training was exceptionally harsh. Weighted running, extreme climbing, obstacle courses—every exercise challenged the members' physical limits.

Though Zhao Ming was the youngest, after cultivating Nine-Breath Qi Absorption, his physical constitution far surpassed that of ordinary people. Completing these exercises was extremely easy for him.

He even deliberately held back some of his strength each time so that he would not stand out too much, making himself appear about equal to the other members.

After morning training came the medicinal baths.

The team members would head to the little white building and soak in medicinal baths in their separate rooms, restoring their bodies from the damage suffered during training.

Whenever Zhao Ming soaked in a medicinal bath, he carefully sensed the paths through which the medicinal effects flowed within his body, committing the properties, proportions, and effects of every ingredient to memory.

After the medicinal baths came paired sparring sessions.

Qin Ming arranged the sparring pairs according to each member's traits and shortcomings.

Over many sparring sessions, Zhao Ming had partnered with every member of the Royal Dou Team and fought against every one of them. In two-man cooperation, while keeping his true Soul Power concealed, he still won far more often than he lost.

His talent in battle and practical combat experience made everyone view him in a new light. Even Yu Tianheng, who had always been proud and arrogant, had to admit that Zhao Ming was the most monstrous genius he had ever seen.

The afternoons were freely arranged. Whenever he needed to go to the Ye Clan Medical Hall, Zhao Ming would go with Ye Lingling and study how to identify and process medicinal ingredients, diagnose illnesses, and formulate prescriptions under Ye Renxin's guidance.

Ye Renxin was quite satisfied with this intelligent and diligent young man. He often explained some medicinal theories unique to the Nine-Hearted Begonia Clan. Though they were only basic teachings, they were already immensely precious to Zhao Ming.

Whenever he did not need to visit the medical hall, Zhao Ming would bury himself in the library of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, reading all kinds of books related to medicine.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy had an exceptionally rich collection of books, including many precious pharmacopoeias and botanical illustrations. Zhao Ming absorbed this knowledge thirstily, gradually piecing together the medicinal system of Douluo Continent.

At night, Zhao Ming returned to his small courtyard and used meditation in place of sleep, cultivating Nine-Breath Qi Absorption to accumulate Soul Power.

Before he knew it, nearly five months had passed. After this half-year of arduous cultivation, his Soul Power Level had reached level 36.

As for the disguise he showed others, he had raised his Soul Power Level to level 26.

Raising his Soul Power by four levels in less than half a year astonished all the teachers of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, including the three education committee members. They could only marvel that he truly possessed Innate Full Soul Power.

Today was Zhao Ming's eighth birthday, and he was preparing to attempt refining pills for the first time.