It seemed their quiet days had resumed. After classes that morning, Yang Podi and his family were getting ready to eat.
But when his father returned, he actually brought a little girl home with him.
The girl was about the same height as Yang Podi, roughly 1.5 meters tall, with short, deep-purple hair and a spirited look. She could not be called an exceptional beauty, but she possessed an alluring, uncanny charm. Her green eyes were quite unusual, giving her a somewhat eerie air.
When Yang Podi saw the girl, he felt she looked familiar. He guessed she was only around ten years old, but she already showed the makings of a beauty. Even her figure was beginning to look alluring, with well-defined curves.
"Podi, Ping'an, let me introduce you. This young friend is Dugu Yan. His father and grandfather have come to our Breaking Clan for treatment. You'll be staying in our home, so you children must get along."
Yang Zhentian then introduced his children. "Yanyan, this is my wife, Niu Jinfeng. You can call her Auntie from now on. These little ones are all my children. These two are Yang Podi and Yang Ping'an, both eight and a half now. Get to know one another."
Then he pointed to the two-year-old Yang Tianyue. "This is my daughter, Yang Tianyue. She's two this year."
Yang Ping'an and Yang Podi hurried to greet her too.
"Hello, my name is Yang Podi. I'm eight and a half."
"Hello, my name is Yang Ping'an. I'm eight and a half."
The girl seemed a little haughty. "Hello, little friends. My name is Dugu Yan. I'm ten and a half."
Seeing that their greetings did not seem particularly warm, Niu Jinfeng quickly drew Dugu Yan over. "Yanyan, don't mind these two little brats. Just treat this place as your own home from now on."
Yang Podi thought to himself, This girl is actually Dugu Yan. If I remember correctly, she seems to be seven years older than Tang San. To think she would come to our Breaking Clan. Could she have come along with her father, Dugu Xin, for treatment?
According to the original plot, Dugu Yan should soon be attending Heaven Dou Royal Academy, where she would later meet Yu Tianheng and become his girlfriend.
Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng were both grandchildren of Titled Douluo, so their status was fairly well matched. He just did not know whether there was a hint of a political marriage between their families, or whether Dugu Bo simply wanted to find Dugu Yan someone to rely on. After all, Dugu Bo himself knew his own condition and could die from the poison flaring up at any moment.
Dugu Yan was only a ten-year-old child now, and Yang Podi had no interest in her. His mother, Niu Jinfeng, however, treated her quite well.
And so Dugu Yan temporarily settled into his home.
Early the next morning, Yang Podi and Yang Ping'an began practicing their spear techniques at the training ground in the backyard.
After becoming a Soul Grandmaster, Yang Podi had begun adding weights to his body. Apart from medicinal baths and ordinary bathing, he basically never took them off, even when sleeping. He wore five-kilogram cuffs on each of his four limbs, and last time he had put on a thirty-kilogram breastplate outright, bringing the total weight to fifty kilograms.
He had found it somewhat uncomfortable at first, but after repeatedly climbing mountains under the load until he collapsed from exhaustion, he gradually began to get used to it. Especially after each medicinal bath, he always felt as though his physique had grown stronger, and his Body Martial Soul also seemed to be showing signs of strengthening.
After seeing Yang Podi's training methods, his little brother Yang Ping'an had also gotten himself a set of weights as soon as he obtained his first Soul Ring. His were much lighter than Yang Podi's, but he still exhausted himself every day.
There were all sorts of spears in the training ground, all modeled after the Breaking Clan's Soul Breaking Spear, though their weights varied. None of their blades had been sharpened, to keep the two children safe.
In the two years since awakening his Martial Soul, Yang Podi had essentially mastered the basic spear moves. He was especially proficient in thrusting and jabbing, since both of these basic techniques were similar to the Breaking Clan's spear techniques.
By now, Yang Podi had essentially mastered the clan's Soul Breaking Spear Technique and could execute it with some semblance of proper form.
Every morning after practicing the basic spear techniques, Yang Ping'an liked to ask Yang Podi for pointers. Yang Podi had initially wanted to refuse, but then he considered that martial training still needed to center on practical experience. Training alone could not bring true progress, so the two sparred with their spears every morning.
Yang Ping'an used a standard-sized Soul Breaking Spear. At his current age, he could only use one weighing around thirty jin. Yang Podi, on the other hand, preferred heavy spears. Whether practicing or sparring, he liked using spears weighing over a hundred jin. After becoming a Soul Grandmaster, he even began using a two-hundred-jin spear, and that was only because he was already wearing weights.
After all, Yang Podi's Martial Soul already weighed close to three hundred jin, one of the effects of consecutively absorbing strength-type Soul Rings.
Still, Yang Podi won almost every sparring match. Though a heavy spear was somewhat lacking in agility, it had greater strength and momentum. Its power was particularly formidable. Every time Yang Ping'an faced his attacks, he had to block or dodge with all his might. Whenever their pounding attacks collided, the impact sent tremors through both of Yang Ping'an's hands.
Just as the two were getting absorbed in their practice, Dugu Yan walked over from somewhere. She seemed quite interested as she watched them fight, only looking somewhat dispirited once their match ended.
Yang Podi and Yang Ping'an greeted her as well. "Good morning, Sister Yanyan."
Dugu Yan also seemed somewhat interested in these two children who had started practicing spear techniques so early in the morning.
"Good morning, Yang Podi, Yang Ping'an!"
Dugu Yan suddenly asked, "Why did you two get up so early to practice with spears? Shouldn't Soul Masters focus more on cultivating Soul Power? Why do you put more emphasis on martial training instead?"
"Sister Yanyan, we're Tool Soul Masters. We still need to practice with weapons regularly so we can familiarize ourselves with using our Tool Martial Souls."
In truth, Dugu Yan grew interested instead. "Since you're both Soul Masters, why don't we have a Soul Fighting match? Father and Grandfather won't let me fight other people. Training alone all the time is just too boring."
"Don't worry, I won't pick on you two. I'll fight both of you at once."
Yang Podi was speechless at this. Dugu Yan's Martial Soul was the Jade Phosphorous Serpent, and practically all her Soul Skills involved poison. What Soul Master would willingly fight a poison Soul Master in the early stages? The slightest carelessness could put their life in danger.
Just then, his mother, Niu Jinfeng, also arrived at the training ground, looking rather like a spectator who did not mind the trouble getting bigger.
"Podi, have a Soul Fighting match with Yanyan. Don't worry. With me here, none of you will be in danger."
Dugu Yan still seemed brimming with confidence. "Auntie, let me fight both of them. Don't worry, I'll keep my poison well under control."
Hearing this, Niu Jinfeng and the two boys all gave Dugu Yan rather strange looks. Where did this girl get the confidence to take on two opponents at once?