At this moment, Ye Renxin suddenly spoke: "Yang Podi, I know you're exceptionally talented and that you cultivate with great diligence. But have you considered that sometimes being overly conspicuous can lead to an early demise?"
"Grandfather, I understand what you're saying. But the current situation is chaotic. Only by possessing sufficient strength can one protect themselves. Otherwise, the danger will only increase."
"Podi, I am the number one healing soul master on the continent. I've treated countless people and seen numerous geniuses, but most of them perished prematurely. Only those who grow to maturity can be considered true strong individuals; otherwise, they are merely fleeting talents."
"Thank you for your guidance, Grandfather. I have taken it to heart. No matter the situation, I will always ensure I have a trump card to protect myself."
Ye Renxin seemed reassured and nodded slightly. He then turned his attention to the jade box in his hands, and his expression showed surprise.
"Oh? This is a ten-thousand-year ginseng king. I didn't expect your Breaking Clan to possess such a treasure. This must be one of your family's heirlooms. Such a precious item—take it back with you."
"Grandfather, you don't need to worry. This ten-thousand-year ginseng king was something I found in Sunset Forest while obtaining a soul ring. It does not belong to the Breaking Clan's heritage."
After hearing this explanation, Ye Renxin shook his head. "Very well. I'll keep this ten-thousand-year ginseng king for Lingling's future use."
"Thank you, Grandfather."
The conversation then naturally shifted into a discussion about pharmacology and medicinal knowledge, leaving Ye Lingling feeling helpless.
By the time evening arrived, Yang Podi and Ye Lingling had finally left the Ye family estate, marking the successful end of the meeting with her family.
Ye Lingling couldn't help but tease, "Podi, who would've thought you—a battle soul master—know so much about medicinal studies? It's almost a pity that your martial soul isn't healing-type."
Yang Podi simply smiled and said nothing.
---
Over the next period, Yang Podi focused on cultivation. Although he spent some time nurturing his relationship with Ye Lingling, his training speed did not lag.
Finally, at the age of just under 14 and a half, Yang Podi broke through to the 50th rank, officially stepping into the Soul King realm.
Unlike before, this time Yang Podi chose not to have his father accompany him for the hunt. Instead, he quietly returned to the Breaking Clan.
Upon arriving, he noticed that the atmosphere within the clan was surprisingly subdued. It wasn't as lively as usual.
The older soul masters were busy refining medicine, while the younger ones were immersed in cultivation. On the surface, everything seemed normal, but Yang Podi could sense that the clan was keeping a low profile.
When Yang Podi reached his home, his parents and little sister were all surprised by his sudden return.
His mother, Niu Jinfeng, immediately asked, "Podi, did something happen? Why did you come back so suddenly?"
"Mom, Dad, I've reached the 50th rank."
"Impossible! How could you have reached the 50th rank so quickly? The last time you obtained a soul ring was just over a year ago. Does this mean it only took you a little over a year to rise five levels? Not even a year and a half?"
"Dad, I've truly reached the 50th rank. If you don't believe me, you can check my soul power level yourself."
Hearing this, Yang Zhentian grabbed Yang Podi and carefully examined him from head to toe, worried that his son might have taken extreme measures to advance.
However, after thorough inspection, he found nothing unusual. On the contrary, Yang Podi's soul power was deep, and his physical condition was extraordinarily strong. It was clear that his advancement wasn't achieved by exhausting his potential.
Finally, Yang Zhentian spoke, "Podi, you've returned this time to discuss your fifth soul ring, haven't you?"
"Yes. My primary purpose for returning is to resolve the matter of my fifth soul ring. But Dad, I feel like there's something off about the clan recently. It doesn't seem as usual."
Yang Zhentian thought for a moment before replying, "The clan indeed experienced a significant event recently, though it's a positive one."
"About a month and a half ago, your grandfather finally broke through to the Title Douluo realm. He had originally planned to go with Titan, White Crane, your maternal grandfather, and Senior Dugu Bo to hunt for his soul ring."
"But to everyone's surprise, just a few days ago, your second grandfather also broke through to the Title Douluo level. None of us expected him to advance so quickly."
"Dad, isn't that good news? Our Breaking Clan now has two Title Douluos—it should be a moment of great celebration."
"Of course it's a joyous occasion. But with two people breaking through simultaneously, we now need two high-level soul rings. The clan has been striving to keep a low profile these past years, but now it seems that won't be possible."
"Two Title Douluos in one family—it sounds impressive, but remember the Clear Sky Clan. The Clear Sky Twin Stars once made waves with their dual-Title Douluo status, but their prominence drew the attention of Spirit Hall, eventually leading to a devastating war."
"Moreover, the other powers in the Heaven Dou Empire will not stand idly by as our clan rises. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will be particularly vigilant."
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has been struggling to develop another Title Douluo for years but has failed. Their patriarch, Yu Yuanzhen, has been holding the line alone. If news spreads that we now have two Title Douluos, they might push us into conflict with Spirit Hall."
"Even the Heaven Dou Empire would grow wary of us. Such an imbalance in power would leave our clan surrounded by potential enemies."
"That's why the clan has been keeping a low profile lately, focusing on medicine refinement to reduce the vigilance of other forces. At the same time, we're stockpiling pills for future emergencies."
Hearing this, Yang Podi couldn't help but feel exasperated. For years, the clan had suffered due to a lack of Title Douluos, which limited its strength. Now that they finally had two, they were afraid their rise would bring disaster.
With two Title Douluos in the clan, it was inevitable that Spirit Hall would feel threatened. Given the poor relationship between the Breaking Clan and Spirit Hall, any soul ring hunt would likely be met with increased scrutiny, complicating the process.
After thinking for a while, Yang Podi spoke up, "Dad, I believe my maternal grandfather and Senior Dugu Bo are reliable. If we ask for their help, there shouldn't be any major issues."
"Your grandfather and Senior Dugu Bo are trustworthy, but secrets like these are hard to keep. If news leaks that your second uncle has become a Title Douluo, things will get tricky. While Title Douluos are powerful, their presence can be detected by higher-level Title Douluos, which would expose our secret."
Yang Podi thought deeply about the current predicament. It was indeed a delicate situation where any misstep could lead to trouble.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he said, "Dad, I have an idea!"
"Podi, hold that thought. When you meet your two grandfathers later, you can share your plan with them directly."