As everyone knew, people on the Douluo Continent matured rather early.
Both mentally and physically.
In the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, the sect also placed great importance on educating the younger generation. Besides a junior Soul Master Academy, it had a dedicated schoolhouse for children under six.
Once they turned three, the sect's children began studying all kinds of knowledge.
"Soul Masters, the noble profession of the Douluo Continent. They possess strength beyond that of ordinary people..."
Inside the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's schoolhouse, Yu Tianming sat by a window in the back row, listening listlessly to the teacher's explanation.
After all, the children in the schoolhouse were all under six, so their lessons were very basic.
They mainly covered a few concepts and reading and writing.
Yu Tianming had not listened long before realizing that he already knew practically all of it, and lost interest.
"Brother Tianming, you don't want to listen either?"
Suddenly, a chubby boy at the neighboring desk reached out a pudgy hand, poked Yu Tianming, and asked in a whisper.
The chubby boy, Yu Tianzhi, was the same age as Yu Tianming. His father was Yu Minghe's trusted subordinate and one of the sect's instructors, specifically responsible for training young disciples and the guards.
"Yeah. What, want to sneak out?"
Yu Tianming had been attending the schoolhouse for some time and had already become familiar with Yu Tianzhi.
He saw what the other boy meant at a glance.
"Coming?"
Yu Tianzhi grinned.
"Let's go!"
Yu Tianming wasted no words either. With a smile, he climbed straight out the window and slipped away while the teacher at the front was not looking.
The two were "repeat offenders" at skipping class. The chubby boy immediately followed, nimbly climbing out the window.
At the front of the classroom.
The thin old teacher glanced at their seats, shook his head, and sighed.
That little fatty Yu Tianzhi has dragged the young sect master into skipping class again. Looks like I'll have to tell Mingyuan... the old teacher thought.
Yu Mingyuan was Yu Tianzhi's father, a stern man.
Elsewhere.
The chubby Yu Tianzhi suddenly sensed an inexplicable wave of ill will and sneezed.
"Who's bad-mouthing me behind my back?" he muttered, rubbing his nose.
Yu Tianming patted his shoulder and smiled. "Forget that. We're not playing this time. Let's go train on the back mountain."
"Huh? If we're training, why not go to the training grounds?" Yu Tianzhi asked, somewhat puzzled.
"The training grounds? What if we run into your dad?" Yu Tianming rolled his eyes.
Yu Mingyuan usually trained disciples at the training grounds. If he caught Yu Tianzhi skipping class, he would certainly give him a harsh lesson.
Yu Tianzhi shrank back. "Then we'd better go to the back mountain..."
The back mountain was not some forbidden ground, merely a stretch of wooded hills behind the sect. Few people normally went there, making it just right for their secret training.
The two jogged all the way to a clearing on the back mountain.
Several stones of varying sizes sat there. Yu Tianming had brought them over earlier specifically for strength training.
"Here, try this." Yu Tianming pointed at a stone weighing roughly ten jin.
"Th-this is way too heavy, isn't it?" Yu Tianzhi's eyes widened.
"What are you afraid of? Give it a try!"
"O-okay."
Yu Tianzhi gritted his teeth, crouched down, wrapped both hands around the stone, and heaved upward.
"Heave-!"
The stone lifted slightly off the ground, but soon dropped back down.
"I can't. It's too heavy..." Yu Tianzhi shook his head, panting.
Yu Tianming smiled, walked over, and gripped the edge of the stone with one hand. With an effortless lift, he tossed it several meters into the air, then reached out and caught it.
"Whoa! Brother Tianming, you're amazing!" Yu Tianzhi gaped.
Yu Tianming set down the stone and dusted off his hands. "Practice more, and you can do it too."
Perhaps because of that fleeting flash of red light, his physical capabilities far surpassed those of his peers, and were even greater than those of some Soul Masters.
Moreover,
As Yu Tianming grew, his body continued to strengthen.
This was his uniquely blessed advantage!
The two trained on the back mountain like this for nearly half a day, only preparing to return when it began to grow late.
However, just as they reached the foot of the mountain, a tall figure blocked their path.
"Tianzhi, you've certainly grown bold."
At the deep voice, Yu Tianzhi went rigid and slowly looked up-
It was none other than his father, Yu Mingyuan!
"D-Dad..."
Yu Tianzhi stammered.
Yu Mingyuan snorted, his gaze stern. "Skipping class is bad enough, but you dared drag the young sect master along too?"
Hearing this, Yu Tianzhi ducked his head.
This is bad. My backside's getting a serving of bamboo shoots stir-fried with meat today...
Seeing this, Yu Tianming hurried forward and took the blame. "Uncle Mingyuan, it's my fault. I was the one who dragged Tianzhi into skipping class."
Yu Mingyuan glanced at him, his expression softening a little.
After all, Yu Tianming was the young sect master, so he could hardly say much.
"Young sect master, you're still young. You can take your time with cultivation, but it's best not to fall behind on your schoolwork."
Yu Tianming nodded. "I understand."
Yu Mingyuan sighed. "Head back. Brother Minghe is looking for you."
He was Yu Minghe's trusted subordinate, but the two had also grown up together, much like Yu Tianzhi and Yu Tianming, and were very close.
It was precisely because of this that Yu Mingyuan had advised Yu Tianming, the young sect master, in the tone of an elder.
"Father's looking for me?"
Yu Tianming froze briefly, then realized that his skipping class today might have been discovered.
He shot Yu Tianzhi a look, signaling him not to worry, then hurried home.
Watching him leave, a trace of helplessness flashed through Yu Mingyuan's eyes.
"That child... he's exceptionally gifted, but far too unruly."
Yu Tianzhi ventured cautiously, "Dad, let's go home and eat."
Yu Mingyuan glared at him. "Eat? Didn't you skip class to train on the back mountain? You're doing extra training when we get back!"
"Huh?!"
"Dad, Mom!"
Yu Tianming jogged all the way home and pushed open the gate, only to see his father, Yu Minghe, sitting beside the stone table in the middle of the courtyard, holding an ancient volume with a calm expression.
His mother, Mu Qingling, was trimming the flowers and plants nearby. Seeing him return, she smiled gently.
"Skipped class again?" Yu Minghe asked mildly without looking up.
Yu Tianming scratched his head and chuckled. "What they teach at the schoolhouse is too simple. I'm tired of listening to it."
Yu Minghe set down the book and looked calmly at his son. "Too simple? Then how about I teach you myself after school from now on?"
"Really?"
Yu Tianming's eyes lit up.
As one of the strongest among the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's second-generation disciples, his father had long since become a high-ranking Soul Saint. With his guidance, Yu Tianming would surely achieve twice the results with half the effort!
Mu Qingling walked over and rubbed her son's head. "You, don't celebrate too soon."
"Your father is much stricter than the schoolhouse when he teaches. Your older brother Tian Heng knows that all too well."
"It's fine. I'm not afraid!"
Yu Tianming puffed out his chest and said with a smile.
The days passed one by one.
Soon, the eve of Yu Tianming's Martial Soul awakening arrived.
Everyone in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was eagerly waiting to see just how this young sect master would perform, and what level his Innate Soul Power would be.
Even "Grandmaster" Yu Xiaogang, who had been away, made a special trip back to the sect.