"Oh my, Tianheng, how could you be so careless? Fell asleep in the grove again?"
Yu Xiaochuan tossed aside the broken wooden stick in his hand and showed concern for Yu Tianheng, who lay motionless on the ground.
Honestly, this kid never even picked a decent place to sleep. His daily cultivation really must have worn him out, to flop down and fall asleep just anywhere.
He looked at the huge lump swelling on the back of Yu Tianheng's head.
In a sense, Yu Tianheng now had "curves in front and behind." His head truly sported some impressive peaks!
"Ah, why put yourself through this? The last bump hasn't even healed completely, and now you've got another one. Surely you don't need a whole head full of lumps before you learn!"
Yu Xiaochuan shook his head, hoisted Yu Tianheng onto his back, and took him home again.
What could he do? He was just too kindhearted!
Yu Xiaochuan handed Yu Tianheng over to his household servants, who were already growing used to the sight.
When Yu Tianheng woke again and saw his grandfather sitting beside the bed, he did not gnash his teeth over Yu Xiaochuan as he had the first time. Instead, his expression was very calm.
He had realized his mistake.
He had told Yu Xiaochuan not to resort to crooked tricks, that only one's own strength mattered, yet he had failed to live up to those words himself.
That blow from Yu Xiaochuan's stick really had curbed his pride and impatience, knocking his restlessness out of him.
Yu Tianheng admitted his mistake to his grandfather. "Grandfather, I was wrong."
"What did you do wrong?"
Looking at his eldest grandson's calm face, the old clan leader felt a stirring in his heart. That blow from Yu Xiaochuan's stick really had worked, making his grandson mature immediately.
"I only knew that my own strength was what mattered, but I failed to act on it. What I should be doing now is cultivating properly. Once I add a Soul Ring, I'll have an absolute advantage over Xiaochuan. I shouldn't have been so eager to get revenge."
"Good. Tianheng, I'm very pleased that you've realized this. Get some rest. I look forward to the day you defeat Yu Xiaochuan, and even become a Titled Douluo."
The old clan leader left, gratified.
People could teach someone over and over without success, but an experience could teach them in an instant.
That child Yu Xiaochuan really had done a good deed.
"Something's wrong. Something's very wrong!"
Yu Xiaochuan felt that something had been off about Yu Tianheng lately. Not only had he stopped challenging him, but he had actually begun concentrating on his studies and cultivating diligently.
He did not even say anything when Yu Xiaochuan put Caterpie on his desk to feed him.
Oh no!
That brat Yu Tianheng is holding in one hell of a fart!
Yu Xiaochuan felt some urgency now. After all, Yu Tianheng was only one level away from level ten. Once he added a Soul Ring, wouldn't he be able to slaughter him with ease?
At first, he was somewhat uneasy.
But as the days passed, he grew used to it. Several months passed just like that, and Yu Xiaochuan's Soul Power Level rose three levels, reaching level seven.
When Caterpie reached level seven, he actually began showing signs of evolving.
Yu Xiaochuan hurriedly had Caterpie suppress the urge to evolve.
Hold on a little longer. At least wait until level ten.
Evolving after adding a Soul Ring will definitely bring greater benefits.
Although Yu Xiaochuan yearned to improve his strength, he could still take the long view rather than be blinded by immediate gains.
Unfortunately, after Caterpie reached level seven, the rate of Soul Power growth that had previously been terrifying by the standards of the Douluo Continent slowed down.
Gaining seven levels in a few months would probably make countless Soul Masters envious if word got out.
But that was all in the past now.
At his current rate, he would probably only gain one or two levels a year.
"Ah, why does Soul Power grow so slowly?"
Yu Xiaochuan sighed. His Soul Power Level had not risen in a whole month.
Sprawled over his desk, he watched Caterpie diligently munching on Blue Silver Grass and sighed again and again.
"Hmph!"
Those outrageous words nearly made the veins on Yu Tianheng's forehead bulge.
How many months had it been?!
Yu Xiaochuan's Soul Power Level had risen from half a level to level seven.
Meanwhile, his own Soul Power Level had not risen even once.
It truly filled Yu Tianheng with anxiety. He cultivated hard every day, sometimes even cultivating his Soul Power during class.
Yet the fellow beside him merely read books. He never seemed to put much effort into cultivating his Soul Power, but his Soul Power Level kept shooting upward.
Breaking through was practically as easy for him as eating and drinking.
Fortunately, his rate of advancement had slowed lately. After reaching level seven, it had barely budged.
"Just be content! It's only been a few months, and you've gained seven levels. You've just gone back to a normal pace now."
Yu Tianheng grumbled at Yu Xiaochuan. After all, Yu Xiaochuan was now only two levels behind him, and the sense of urgency that brought was truly intense.
Even the atmosphere of cultivation in the clan school had grown stronger as a result, with fewer people playing around after class.
After exchanging a few words with Yu Xiaochuan, Yu Tianheng devoted his full attention to cultivation. He felt that his breakthrough was very close!
He directed his Soul Power through his body with his mind, steadily accumulating it.
Finally, he seemed to hear a soft pop, as though he had broken through a barrier.
Yu Tianheng's Soul Power Level reached level ten-the level at which he could add a Soul Ring!
"Ha, I broke through!"
Yu Tianheng opened his eyes, his face filled with delight, and looked at Yu Xiaochuan beside him with an utterly radiant smile.
"Eww-why are you looking at me like that? Tianheng, you broke through, and your big brother here is happy for you. But that look in your eyes is very disrespectful, and I really don't like it."
Yu Xiaochuan looked at the peculiar gleam in Yu Tianheng's eyes.
Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You're just planning to deal with me once you've added a Soul Ring, aren't you?
If I can't afford to provoke you then, can't I still afford to hide?
As long as I don't accept your challenges, my record against you will remain a clean sweep.
Of course, Yu Xiaochuan felt that this was merely wishful thinking.
He believed that Yu Tianheng, as the eldest grandson of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan leader, would offer terms he could not refuse.
Ah, it'll just mean taking a beating then.
No, I can't just sit here and wait to die!
After returning home, Yu Xiaochuan began considering strategies for dealing with Yu Tianheng.
Caterpie was leveling very slowly now, had only two moves, and had already developed his own capabilities and Ability.
Yu Xiaochuan really could not think of any other way to strengthen Caterpie.
There were only those two moves. No matter how he used them, he could not make flowers bloom out of them!
Wait. Come to think of it, Caterpie could also learn Electroweb through a Technical Machine. It might not be impossible for him to learn it on his own.
After all, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was lightning-attribute.
Yu Xiaochuan's Caterpie had mutated from a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Mastering Electric-type power and then learning to use Electroweb might just be possible. It really might!
"Not enough. Electroweb alone isn't enough! I need to think of something else."
Yu Xiaochuan continued thinking. Electroweb could catch an opponent in an electric net to attack them and lower their speed.
Its actual power was not great.
Even if he learned Electroweb, it would only give him one more move. He needed to become even stronger!