Troubles

On the tenth day after they returned from Soul Hunting, the teacher Qian Renxue had found for Lu Yang arrived at his little courtyard.

He was a Healing Soul Master whom Qian Renxue had found through Spirit Hall connections. His family had done considerable research into pharmacology, and Qian Renxue felt that having him teach Lu Yang would be more than enough.

Out of respect for Qian Renxue, he held nothing back while teaching Lu Yang. He even brought out the texts passed down through his family and taught Lu Yang everything in them.

Under his instruction, Lu Yang made gratifying progress. With the man's help, he devised a medicinal bath formula best suited to his current physical condition.

When word of this reached Qian Renxue, she was taken aback.

"It was impressive enough that Lu Yang had such a gift for cultivation, but to think he could master theoretical knowledge so quickly, too. He really is astonishing."

"Young mistress, isn't that good news for you as well?" Ci Xue said.

"Indeed. We really did stumble upon a treasure. But uncles, it's time to put your practical combat lessons on the schedule, too. Talent alone isn't enough for a Soul Master. Without accumulating sufficient combat experience, he can't be considered a true Soul Master," Qian Renxue reminded them.

"Rest assured, young mistress. Ci Xue and I have already drawn up a training plan. We'll begin training little Yang soon."

Qian Renxue had already intended this when she accompanied Lu Yang on his Soul Hunting trip. But having Titled Douluos teach a Soul Grandmaster was already like using great timber for a trifling task, and Lu Yang was only six years old to boot. How to teach him and how to train him had given She Long and Ci Xue headaches for quite some time.

Over the following period, Lu Yang's cultivation time was cut back so he could study pharmacology and spar with She Long and Ci Xue to hone his practical combat skills.

Studying these things also slowed Lu Yang's cultivation considerably. Qian Renxue, however, was not particularly concerned. In fact, she considered his current situation normal. His earlier leaps of several levels of soul power in just a few months had been the abnormal part.

Still, Qian Renxue had her own worries. Since coming to Heaven Dou City, Lu Yang had done no socializing beyond his necessary lessons and everyday interactions. That was hardly healthy for a seven-year-old child.

Qian Renxue had recruited Lu Yang not to raise him into a disposable loyalist, but to make him a capable aide. If he lacked social skills, the value of this "blade" to her would be diminished.

To that end, Qian Renxue tried quite a few approaches. She even carved time out of her busy schedule to take Lu Yang around Heaven Dou City. Yet he showed no interest in shopping-not even in shopping with a stunning beauty like her-and even seemed somewhat resistant. This left Qian Renxue deeply frustrated and even stirred a few vague, inexplicable thoughts in her.

Of course, Lu Yang was not averse to interacting with the outside world. He simply had some troubles on his mind.

Although his cultivation had slowed considerably, he was already a level twenty-five Soul Grandmaster, on the verge of reaching level twenty-six. And he was only seven years old. If he continued at this pace, he would reach level thirty in another year at most.

Lu Yang had originally planned to challenge himself by absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring for his third ring. But during this period, he discovered that the improvement in his physical fitness was very limited. Judging by his current progress, his body's strength might not even match that of a Soul Ancestor when he reached level thirty. Worse still, he had no suitable way to improve his spiritual power. This troubled him greatly.

As such, Lu Yang could only set Qian Renxue's efforts aside. He was desperate to find a way to improve himself. Where would he find the time to worry about Qian Renxue's feelings?

Since coming to Heaven Dou City, Lu Yang had not visited Spirit Hall again to collect his Soul Master allowance. Qian Renxue covered all his daily expenses. Naturally, she did so to conceal the news that he had been brought to Heaven Dou City as much as possible.

Lu Yang understood her reasons, so he had not rashly gone to the Spirit Hall Branch in Heaven Dou City to collect his allowance. But now that medicinal baths could no longer effectively improve his body's strength, he turned his attention back to whale rubber. And in Heaven Dou City, the most prosperous city in the Heaven Dou Empire and the one with the most nobles, whale rubber was outrageously expensive.

Yet the saying that a boat would naturally straighten its course upon reaching the bridge proved true. Just as Lu Yang was worrying over how to resolve his troubles, a report concerning him was delivered to Qian Renxue.

"He mastered the vast majority of pharmacological knowledge in just over half a year?" Qian Renxue was astonished as she read the report in her hand.

"Yes, young mistress," She Long said respectfully. "According to the report sent over, the man we found has little left to teach Lu Yang. His recommendation was that we find someone more suitable, with a deeper understanding of pharmacology, to continue teaching him."

"The man we found is a healing-type Soul King! And his family has always delved deeply into this field. Finding someone more suitable than him is easier said than done," Qian Renxue remarked.

"Young mistress, have you forgotten that we have just such a suitable candidate here in Heaven Dou City?" Ci Xue reminded her from the side.

"Hmm? Uncle Ci Xue, do you mean Ye Qingling, the head of the Nine Heart Begonia Family?" Qian Renxue replied.

"Precisely," Ci Xue said. "Young mistress, you already intended to win over the Nine Heart Begonia Family. Wouldn't Lu Yang make the perfect stone to knock on their door? Besides, he himself is willing to delve into pharmacology. It would be a way to get the best of both worlds."

"Thank you for reminding me, Uncle Ci Xue. But if I want to persuade Family Head Ye to let little Yang study with the Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family, approaching her as Qian Renxue certainly won't work. Yet if I use my identity as the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, little Yang is bound to have questions. He's still young. If the truth gets exposed, it would pose a serious threat to our plan, and might even bring all our efforts to ruin," Qian Renxue said.

"Young mistress, as long as we handle it properly, there are still ways," She Long said.

"Let me think it over. We'll set this matter aside for now." Qian Renxue placed the report on the table, then dismissed She Long and Ci Xue.

While Lu Yang was cultivating and studying in Heaven Dou City, quite a few things also happened in Nuoding City.

Ever since Yu Xiaogang had accidentally had his QQ uninstalled while helping Tang San obtain his first soul ring, his demeanor had shifted from that of a dispirited middle-aged man toward something dark and brooding. His appearance sparked all sorts of rumors about him at Nuoding Academy. As Yu Xiaogang's most devoted disciple, Tang San naturally struck hard at those who gossiped behind his teacher's back, making him another universally disliked figure at Nuoding Academy, second only to Yu Xiaogang.