After his Soul Power broke through to rank ten, Yang Podi settled down and began seriously considering his future cultivation plans.
The Breaking Clan's Martial Soul, the Soul Breaking Spear, pursued ultimate attack power and ultimate destructive power. According to the experience passed down through the clan, every Soul Ring should provide an offensive Soul Skill.
This made their attack power almost the strongest among those of the same rank, even allowing them to fight above their rank.
The drawbacks were equally obvious: insufficient defense and a lack of variation. It could be called relatively rigid.
Although it was good in theory, this was not the path Yang Podi himself wanted to take.
Having read the original novel, Yang Podi thought carefully. The finest Tool Martial Souls in the world today included the Clear Sky Hammer, the Seven Kill Sword, and the Soul Breaking Spear. Their representative figures were the brothers Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and his own grandfather, Yang Wudi, respectively.
But there were still certain disparities between them.
Tang Hao had defeated Qian Xunji and two other Titled Douluos just after becoming a Titled Douluo himself, offering a glimpse of his formidable strength. At rank ninety-seven, Tang Xiao had used the Clear Sky Formation to defeat three Spirit Hall Titled Douluos with similar Soul Power simultaneously. It had practically dazzled everyone blind.
During the battle at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Sword Douluo Chen Xin had managed to defeat four Titled Douluos, but he had already been rank ninety-seven at the time and had the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Defeating Snake Lance and the other three, whose highest rank was only ninety-two, had been impressive, but not outrageous.
His own grandfather, Yang Wudi, could defeat the rank ninety-two Snake Lance at rank eighty-two. Although that record was impressive, it had essentially meant mutual destruction, and his eventual Soul Power of rank eighty-two was simply far too lackluster.
The main difference was that the Clear Sky Sect had always followed a path of pure strength in its inheritance, supplemented by its Self-Created Soul Skill, the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes. Although the Seven Kill Sword and Soul Breaking Spear followed an offensive path, neither concentrated on a single point the way the Clear Sky Hammer did.
Thus, Yang Podi's planned cultivation path also had to follow pure strength. He would study spear techniques afterward, giving him a higher ceiling.
Spear techniques were relatively simple. He had particularly enjoyed practicing with spears in his previous life and had studied both the Yang Family Spear Technique and the Yue Family Spear Technique. Although his knowledge barely scratched the surface, as long as he mastered the fundamentals of spear techniques, he could create his own Soul Skills.
There was another point he struggled with: normally speaking, he possessed two Martial Souls. If he cultivated his Body Martial Soul first, his physical constitution would probably become even stronger. By the Soul Saint stage, his physical constitution could rival a Titled Douluo's, and cultivating the Soul Breaking Spear afterward would be terrifying.
But he had to keep his Body Martial Soul hidden for now. Moreover, he was the Breaking Clan's young clan leader, so he still had to display his Soul Breaking Spear Martial Soul in public. Otherwise, it would be difficult to win everyone's acceptance.
After some thought, Yang Podi had essentially settled on his future cultivation path. All he lacked now was a Soul Ring. Of course, this cultivation path would also require his father's and grandfather's support.
The next morning, Yang Podi went straight to his grandfather and father. "Grandpa, Dad, I'm already rank ten."
Both were somewhat surprised, especially his father. "Son, how are you cultivating so quickly? You've already reached rank ten?"
Hearing this, Yang Podi could not help grumbling inwardly. What kind of dad is this? He doesn't even know his own son's cultivation progress.
His grandfather, Yang Wudi, spoke instead. "Podi, following our Breaking Clan's best cultivation plan, I'll definitely take you to find a suitable Soul Ring."
Yang Podi said with a serious expression, "Grandpa, Dad, I want to find a strength-type Soul Ring."
Both immediately grew interested. "Podi, why do you want a strength-type Soul Ring? Isn't following our Breaking Clan's inheritance good enough?"
"Grandpa, the Breaking Clan's Soul Ring Configuration is indeed good, but I still want a strength-type Soul Ring. And I want every Soul Ring after that to be a strength-type Soul Ring too."
Hearing this, Yang Wudi's expression grew somewhat stern. "Podi, what do you need so many strength-type Soul Rings for? Do you want to imitate the Strength Clan? No, you want to imitate that bunch from the Clear Sky Sect?"
"Your idea is good, but many people have actually tried this method. Don't forget the inherent characteristics of our Soul Breaking Spear, though. If the spear is too heavy, your spear technique will easily suffer. You should know that spear techniques place greater emphasis on agility."
"Grandpa, I've already considered the problem you mentioned. That's why I want to absorb every Soul Ring beyond the age limit. For example, I want my first Soul Ring to be around five hundred to six hundred years old."
"Podi, I have indeed seen people absorb Soul Rings beyond the age limit, but doing so can easily cause internal injuries. Have you considered that too? Besides, you'd be taking a great risk."
Yang Podi looked utterly resolute. "Grandpa, don't forget that refining medicine is what our Breaking Clan does best. Mere internal injuries can be completely treated with medicinal baths. Besides, I've been exercising and taking medicinal baths for a long time. If you don't believe me, Grandpa, you can test how strong my body is."
After hearing this, his grandfather carefully examined Yang Podi's body, missing nothing. Finally, Yang Wudi smiled. "Good, just what I'd expect from my Podi. Your physical constitution is excellent. Absorbing a Soul Ring around five hundred years old shouldn't be a problem."
Hearing this, his father also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Podi, I'll take you to hunt for a Soul Ring tomorrow. Do you have any targets in mind?"
"Grandpa, I don't have any particular target. Anything strength-type will do, though the rarer, the better. Something like a Titan Giant Ape or a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear would be best."
Hearing this, Yang Wudi could not help giving Yang Podi a smack on the head. "Podi, you're dreaming big. I've never even seen those things you mentioned, let alone ones of a suitable age."
Yang Podi could not help grumbling inwardly. He's an outer sect elder of the Clear Sky Sect, after all, yet he's never even seen a Titan Giant Ape.
After some discussion, they finally settled on several types of Soul Beasts.
These mainly included Qian Jun Ants and bear, ape, tiger, and dragon-type Soul Beasts. These Soul Beasts were generally renowned for their strength. Next came the question of their age. Soul Beasts between five hundred and six hundred years old were rather difficult to find.
They planned for Yang Wudi to personally take Yang Podi to search in Sunset Forest. Although Sunset Forest did not have many Soul Beasts of great age, it still had plenty of ordinary Soul Beasts. Otherwise, it would not have become one of the Douluo Continent's famous Soul Beast forests.
Yang Podi also had other ideas for this trip to Sunset Forest. Finding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well would be perfect. Ideally, he would occupy it before Dugu Bo found it. If that proved impossible, he would find its location first and slowly make plans later.
Early the next morning, Yang Wudi took Yang Podi aboard a carriage and set off toward Sunset Forest. Sunset Forest was roughly sixty kilometers from the Breaking Clan. At Yang Podi's age of six, walking there himself would still be rather troublesome.