Early that morning, Yang Podi went to the training ground in his family's backyard and began practicing his spear techniques.
Yang Podi carefully studied the Soul Breaking Spear in his hands.
The spear was one of ancient China's weapons, a long-handled thrusting weapon consisting of a sharp blade and a staff, with a shaft longer than its blade and great overall power. It was one of the "Eighteen Arms," foremost among the "Four Great Weapons," and known as the "King of All Weapons."
The spear was a long-handled weapon combining a long staff and a short blade. Together, the two formed a spear that could not only be wielded in close combat but also thrown to attack from a distance. Its wielder could also freely draw on the advantages and tactics of various polearms to unleash different spear techniques against enemies.
The saber, spear, sword, and staff were outstanding weapons of ancient China, each with its own unique standing and characteristics: the saber was hailed as the "Marshal of All Weapons," while the spear was called the "King of All Weapons," beloved by the ancients for its long reach and wide-ranging killing power. The sword was called the "Sovereign of All Weapons" and was also a symbol of authority in ancient times. The staff was called the "Ancestor of All Weapons," the most primitive weapon and the simplest in structure.
No matter how one looked at it, the spear was the most powerful of all weapons, and the foremost weapon on the battlefield, without exception.
Yet on the Douluo Continent, although the Soul Breaking Spear was known as a top-tier tool Martial Soul, it did not enjoy a corresponding status.
The Soul Breaking Spear Technique had nine moves in total, corresponding to the Soul Breaking Spear's eight Soul Skills, while no one had ever comprehended the final move. They were Tremor, Penetration, Explosion, Piercing, Breaking, Halt, Collapse, Malice, and Slaughter.
Since every move was offensive, they were extremely lethal when used with the Soul Breaking Spear. This was also why the Yang family was known as the Breaking Clan. Just as with their selection of Soul Skills, they exclusively chose offensive Soul Beasts, and had even worked out a method and sequence for absorbing Soul Rings that corresponded to the moves of the Soul Breaking Spear Technique one by one.
Most astonishingly, when it came time to fight for their lives, they could stack all their Soul Ring skills together to deliver a fatal blow. In the original story, Snake Lance had also died to this move.
However, Yang Podi had always felt that although the Soul Breaking Spear Technique was powerful, it did not embody the essence of spear techniques themselves.
The true foundations of spear techniques were thrusting, jabbing, lifting, deflecting, blocking, trapping, winding, flicking, pressing, chopping, snapping, and flourishes. As long as he mastered these, he would not have so many requirements for his Soul Skills. This was also one reason Yang Podi dared to absorb only strength-type Soul Rings.
The basics of spear techniques included thrusts, jabs, winding strikes, flicks, deflections, pounding stabs, chops, sweeps, flourishes, snapping strikes, and blocking and trapping techniques. Once he learned them, he would essentially be able to wield the Soul Breaking Spear to perfection.
As for more sophisticated moves, those were not something Yang Podi could practice at his current stage. What mattered most now was building a solid foundation, making the Soul Breaking Spear in his hands as natural to use as his own limbs.
This was also Yang Podi's main learning objective at his current stage.
Yang Podi himself began with the most elementary thrusting technique.
Holding a heavy Soul Breaking Spear, Yang Podi thrust it straight forward. Spear thrusts fell mainly into three types: level thrusts, diagonal upward thrusts, and diagonal downward thrusts. Level thrusts were mostly used to strike an opponent's chest, waist, and abdomen; diagonal upward thrusts were mostly used to strike the throat, head, face, back of the crown, and similar areas; diagonal downward thrusts were mostly used to strike the legs, feet, and other such areas.
Even with this simple thrusting technique, Yang Podi practiced for a full two hours every morning, stopping only when his entire body ached before going to eat breakfast.
Yang Podi planned to master each move completely before practicing the next. By his estimate, each spear technique would take two months of practice to barely grasp, while complete mastery would take at least three years.
These were only simple spear techniques, too. He would have to wait until his foundations were solid before he could learn truly profound techniques.
Even this speed was only possible on the Douluo Continent because becoming a Soul Master brought the support of Soul Power and greatly improved physical fitness. In the ancient times of his previous life, becoming an expert spearman would have been impossible without ten years.
That afternoon, after finishing his studies in medicine refining, Yang Podi was about to leave when Yang Wudi called him back.
"Podi, I hear you usually read alone and cultivate alone. You're my grandson, the young clan leader of the Breaking Clan, and you'll be its clan leader in the future. You need to learn to communicate with others, rather than just cultivate hard on your own."
"Grandpa, it's not that I don't like communicating with others. It's that everyone studying with me is a little kid. They're really too childish."
"Podi, even so, you can't refuse to play with even a single child your age. That will make you seem very withdrawn. How will you lead the Breaking Clan in the future? Besides, no matter how strong you become on your own, you'll still need helpers."
"Grandpa, no matter what, I still think personal strength matters most. Only by becoming stronger myself can I truly lead the Breaking Clan."
"I think practicing your spear and studying alone must be quite boring. Boys still need to interact more with others their age. Then you won't be bored."
Hearing Yang Wudi's words, Yang Podi was momentarily speechless. What exactly did Grandpa want with me today? Surely he wouldn't say all this for no reason?
"Grandpa, you've said so much. What exactly are you trying to say? Can't you just say it directly?"
"Podi, here's the thing. There's a child your age named Yang Ping'an. His mother passed away from illness a while ago, and his father and grandfather both died in that war involving the Clear Sky Sect. Before his mother died, she entrusted him to me. I thought I might as well take him as my grandson. Your parents have already agreed."
"Grandpa, since you've all agreed, why are you still asking me?"
"Podi, Yang Ping'an underwent his Martial Soul Awakening with all of you back then. His Innate Soul Power was rank seven, making him a rare genius in our Breaking Clan, and he also works very hard at cultivation. I want him to train with you so he can become your right-hand man in the future."
Yang Podi considered it for a moment. There did not seem to be anything wrong with it, and the Breaking Clan truly could not rely on him alone. Rank-seven Innate Soul Power already qualified someone as a genius. Zhu Zhuqing of Shrek Academy had also had rank-seven Innate Soul Power. With some nurturing, he should have no problem becoming a Soul Saint or even a Soul Douluo in the future.
"Grandpa, no problem. Just arrange for him to move into our home. I'll take him along to cultivate when the time comes."
Hearing Yang Podi say this, Yang Wudi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
This grandson of his was exceptionally mature despite his young age, extremely hardworking and disciplined in his cultivation, and outstandingly talented. He was excellent in practically every respect. He simply did not much like interacting with others and had few friends in the clan. If something happened in the future, he might not have even a single helper.
With rank-seven Innate Soul Power, Yang Ping'an could also be considered a fine genius. Having him study alongside Yang Podi would both settle the matter of a clanswoman entrusting her orphan to him and address his grandson's psychological problems-one move, many gains.