The people of Xingyue City, upon seeing Chen Yuan take Yang Zhong as his disciple, gathered around and congratulated Chen Yuan, Yang Ming, and Yang Hai.
Amidst the packed Martial Arts Stage, Yang Xiaotian and his father withdrew from the stage.
Nobody paid attention to their departure.
Half a day later, the annual meeting ended.
In his room, Yang Zhong, rubbing his still somewhat sore eyes, thought of the day's events and grew increasingly resentful, "Yang Xiaotian, once I return from Divine Sword Academy during the summer break, I definitely won't let you off!"
Tomorrow, Chen Yuan would take him to Divine Sword Academy for cultivation, with both Divine Sword Academy's and Chen Yuan's training, he would soon break through to the second, third, or even fourth tier!
When he returned to Yang Family Manor in half a year, he would settle the score with Yang Xiaotian.
The next day.
The snow had stopped.
Under the joyful and respectful send-off of everyone at Yang Family Manor, Chen Yuan set off with Yang Zhong, leaving the Yang Family Manor behind.
Before leaving, Yang Zhong harshly said to Yang Xiaotian, "When I come back during the summer break, I will challenge you to a duel."
Yang Xiaotian, looking at the fiercely resentful Yang Zhong, replied, "Then I'll wait for you. Don't end up getting beaten by a single move and crying again."
Chen Yuan, who heard this from the side, shook his head and chuckled, considering Yang Xiaotian's words as mere childish ignorance.
With his and Divine Sword Academy's training, his disciple Yang Zhong would undoubtedly break through to the fourth tier in half a year. How could Yang Xiaotian, with his Giant Tortoise Martial Soul, possibly be a match for his disciple?
In half a year, Yang Xiaotian would certainly not be able to withstand a single move from his disciple.
Eventually, Yang Zhong and Chen Yuan disappeared from the view of the people of the Yang family.
Yang Xiaotian's life returned to its previous tranquility.
As before, he cultivated without stepping out of his home.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed in his room, Yang Xiaotian circulated the Prajna Skill, and soon, the Black Tortoise Divine Beast Martial Soul appeared once again.
After days of cultivation, both the Black Tortoise Divine Beast Martial Soul and the Black Snake Martial Spirit had undergone some changes. The Black Snake's body had become shinier and grew some scales, while on the massive shell of the Black Tortoise, faint patterns had emerged.
These patterns were extremely profound.
As the Black Tortoise Divine Beast and Black Snake devoured the nature's spiritual energy, it continuously transformed into Fighting Spirit within Yang Xiaotian's body.
Boom!
A faint, clear sound rang inside his body.
Yang Xiaotian, who was already at the peak of the fourth tier, finally made another breakthrough and stepped into the fifth tier.
Upon breaking into the fifth tier, another line of patterns appeared on the shell of the Giant Tortoise, and the patterns grew deeper, no longer faintly visible as before.
As for the Black Snake, its scales became even darker and shinier, and it had grown significantly larger.
By the time daylight came, Yang Xiaotian stopped the Martial Soul cultivation and started practicing the Taiji Scripture in the courtyard.
The Taiji Scripture was a profound inner strength cultivation technique, which complemented Fighting Spirit and also strengthened the body. He persistently practiced it every day.
Several more days passed.
The end of the year was approaching.
The snowfall grew even heavier.
This year's snow was heavier than in previous years.
Yang Xiaotian, looking at the drifting snowflakes, furrowed his brows tightly.
These past few days, rumors had been swirling around Yang Family Manor, saying that he was able to break through a tier so quickly because his father, while previously managing the family's silk business, had embezzled from the family's funds and used them to buy Spirit Pills for his cultivation.
Spirit Pills were far superior to Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid, but they came with a hefty price tag.
With these rumors spreading, the face of his grandfather was becoming increasingly unsightly.
Although his father and mother had explained many times, his grandfather simply did not believe them.
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These rumors and slanders must have been the work of his uncle Yang Hai.
Thinking of his parents' worried and sighing demeanors these days, Yang Xiaotian clenched his fists tightly.
As Yang Xiaotian was lost in thought, he saw his younger sister Yang Ling'er bouncing in excitedly, "Brother, father and mother asked me to call you over."
"Call me for what?" Yang Xiaotian asked with a smile, seeing the girl's happy demeanor.
"The New Year is just a few days away, father and mother bought us new clothes, they want you to come and try them on," the little girl said laughingly, then she lowered her voice, "I'll tell you a secret, there's lots of yummy treats, there are pastries from Rice Flower Village, nuts from Huaguo Mountain, and taffy."
Whether it was the pastries from Rice Flower Village or the nuts from Huaguo Mountain, both were the siblings' favorites.
Seeing the little girl drooling, Yang Xiaotian laughed.
The siblings chattered and laughed their way to the front hall.
Huang Ying, seeing the siblings entering, smiled warmly at both. She beckoned Yang Xiaotian over and said with a smile, "Xiaotian, come here, your mother bought you new clothes, try them on to see if they fit."
Yang Xiaotian approached his mother and put on the New Year's clothes she had bought for him.
The new clothes were lined with cotton, very warm and comfortable.
Huang Ying looked at her son Yang Xiaotian, her emotions mixed. She had seen how hard her son had been practicing these days, and she felt both heartache and pride.
As parents, of course, she hoped her son would achieve great things in the future.
Yet, thinking of her son's Martial Soul, she sighed inwardly.
In the Martial Soul World, there has never been a second-level Martial Soul that became an Innate Expert.
"Mother, where's father?" asked Yang Xiaotian.
"Your father has been called over by your grandfather," replied Huang Ying with a smile, "he said he has something for your father to do."
Something for father to do?
Yang Xiaotian was puzzled.
Ever since he awakened the Giant Tortoise Martial Soul, his grandfather had been extremely cold towards his father, not allowing him to meddle in any affairs of the Yang Family Manor. And now he was being tasked with a job?
This was very abnormal.
Just then, Yang Xiaotian saw his father return with a somber face.
"Chao, what did father ask you to do?" Huang Ying also noticed the change in Yang Chao's expression and went up to ask.
"A few days ago, the minerals my elder brother was escorting to Heavenly Sword Manor got robbed by Black Wind Stronghold," Yang Chao said gravely, "Elder brother and father have asked me to go to Black Wind Stronghold and retrieve them."
"What?!" Huang Ying was infuriated, "The minerals were lost by your elder brother, but father isn't asking him to retrieve them, instead he sends you. Black Wind Stronghold is filled with murderous bandits, isn't this like sending you to your death?!"
Yang Xiaotian also felt his blood boil.
"Did you agree to it?" Huang Ying pressed Yang Chao further.
Yang Chao remained silent.
Seeing her husband's expression, Huang Ying knew the answer, and she burst into tears, "If something really happens to you, what will Xiaotian, Ling'er, and I do as widows and orphans?"
"I'll go find father!"
As Huang Ying was about to go and find her father-in-law, Yang Chao exclaimed, "Stop!" He then said, "Father mentioned that I should take ten thousand gold to Black Wind Stronghold to ransom the minerals. The minerals aren't much use in the hands of Black Wind Stronghold; they should agree to the trade."
"Furthermore, father said if I can retrieve the minerals and deliver them to Heavenly Sword Manor on time, he will let me manage the mines together with elder brother."
Still teary-eyed, Huang Ying said, "But what if Black Wind Stronghold doesn't agree? If they know you have ten thousand gold, they might kill you and everyone from Yang Family Manor who goes with you!"
Yang Chao hesitated, then replied, "The leader of Black Wind Stronghold is an Innate Expert of the fourth level, same as me; he can't harm me. Don't worry, if we see the situation turn sour, we'll fight our way out. There won't be any problems."
But was it really so?
Black Wind Stronghold was home to more than one Innate Expert. Although their leader was of the fourth Innate level, the stronghold itself had fourteen Innate Experts! And Black Wind Stronghold boasted four to five hundred people.
If you compared the overall strength, Yang Family Manor was weaker than Black Wind Stronghold.
Moreover, for this trip, Yang Chao could only take twenty people; if negotiations broke down, it was uncertain whether they could fight their way out of Black Wind Stronghold.
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