Chapter 3: Training
Reflecting on the original story, Yang Potian couldn't help but feel that the Po Clan got a raw deal. Over twenty years ago, they were nearly wiped out because of Haotian Sect's decisions. Then, two decades later, they got roped into Tang San's Tang Sect with little to show for it, aside from a rare medicinal plant, the "Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Product." Otherwise, they received nothing of real value.
Meanwhile, the disciples who joined the Tang Sect found themselves serving in the "Medicine Hall," effectively under Tang San's control. As for the other three clans, they suffered even worse. They gained nothing but were expected to serve Tang San and the Tang Sect loyally. But why?
In the final battle at Jialing Pass, the clan leader, Yang Wudi, fought the Titled Douluo Snake Lance, securing victory but sustaining serious injuries in the process. What benefit did this bring to our clan? Did Tang San's involvement ever actually help us? Would Tang San have shared his Mysterious Heaven Technique with others in the clan?
Clearly, the Four Single-Attribute Clans' contributions never matched their returns. Instead of dedicating themselves to others, they might have been better off focusing on their own growth.
With these realizations, Yang Potian refocused on his immediate goals: avoiding the coming clan massacre and finding ways to advance his own power.
After turning two, and with some persistence, he persuaded his mother to arrange for him to learn reading and writing. Although he'd read Douluo Dalu, the real Douluo world proved vastly different from what was in the book.
For instance, basic knowledge about spirit beasts filled hundreds of volumes alone. The world of Douluo was all about martial souls and spirit beasts, with the latter ranging from tiny blades of grass to towering mountains, all capable of possessing sentience. Each spirit beast differed in size, diet, and combat abilities. Year classification further complicated things, creating even greater distinctions.
Then there were martial souls. The world was full of countless types, each capable of pairing with different spirit rings to produce unique skills. Even the same spirit ring from different years could bring forth varied powers—or even mutations.
Reading through this knowledge, Yang Potian recalled Yu Xiaogang's teaching to Tang San: "More rings, more bones—fight in waves. Fewer rings, fewer bones—run away!" At first, he'd been unimpressed, thinking it cowardly. But as he read more, he began to grasp the differences in strength between spirit masters at various levels.
Yes, a spirit master might fight someone of a higher rank, like his own grandfather Yang Wudi could. But that was the exception. Most spirit masters struggled even to acquire spirit rings. Many spent their lives searching for a suitable ring, with some only managing to absorb a ten-year spirit ring.
The fifth spirit ring at a thousand years? That was a common plateau. In the original story, both Snake Lance and Qin Ming had a fifth spirit ring at this level. It wasn't for lack of skill or connections; rather, obtaining a compatible ring within an ideal age range was extraordinarily difficult. Unless one had powerful backing, finding the right fit was next to impossible.
In the various fanfictions he'd read, Yu Xiaogang was often criticized. Admittedly, Yu Xiaogang didn't exactly have a great reputation: he'd mistreated two women and was often seen as cowardly. Yet academically, he had some merit. After he published his spirit ring guidelines, they became widespread among commoners, even if not entirely accurate. The guidelines helped reduce the risk of soul masters dying by absorbing rings that exceeded their limits.
People's frustration with Yu Xiaogang, however, went beyond his research. Despite being a low-ranked spirit master, he was overly proud. Much of the knowledge he published was already accessible to noble families, but unattainable for commoners. Yu Xiaogang had simply combined teachings from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Spirit Hall and passed them off as his own—essentially stealing their findings. Moreover, he hated Spirit Hall but had no problem living off their golden soul coins.
Even during his time at Nuoding Academy, where he wasn't officially a teacher, he strutted around with a teacher's authority.
Such behaviors led to his poor reputation in fanfics.
Seeing Yang Potian love for reading, his grandfather Yang Wudi started bringing him a variety of books. Some covered spirit master cultivation stories or rare insights from higher-level spirit masters' personal notes.
And so, Potian's days were filled with reading. This continued until he turned three, when his father and grandfather imposed stricter routines.
Now, his daily tasks expanded to include spear training and medicinal baths. The spear technique focused on the Po Clan's signature Soul-Breaking Spear Technique. Yang Potian was a bit skeptical of it, thinking it far less refined than spear techniques in his previous world. But he decided to practice it for the time being.
Every morning, he trained with a heavy iron spear alongside a group of clan members. He kept going until he was almost completely exhausted, at which point his mother would drag him off for his medicinal bath.
The training grounds offered various Soul-Breaking Spears in different sizes, weights, and materials, allowing each practitioner to select one suitable for their strength and height.
As for the medicinal baths, they were a staple of noble families, with training for core disciples often beginning between ages three and four. The Po Clan excelled in medicine, surpassing even the Haotian Sect, which used the clan's medicinal bath formula. Grandpa Yang Wudi personally adjusted the formula to suit Yang Potian's constitution.
By age four, Potian's physical training increased to include activities like frog jumps and running, although he didn't have to carry weights due to his age.
Over the years, he met many people from the Haotian Sect. From his observations, they shared one common trait: arrogance. Many of them carried a high-and-mighty air, looking down on others as if they alone were the best.
This arrogance wasn't exclusive to the Haotian Sect; the Four Single-Attribute Clans shared similar attitudes, thinking themselves unrivaled. With a mindset like this, they wouldn't last two episodes in a modern TV series.
No wonder Spirit Hall had it out for the Haotian Sect. The sect constantly opposed Spirit Hall, especially with the Top Three Sects united against it, showing little regard for Spirit Hall's authority. Any organization would want to take down the Haotian Sect in such circumstances.
And as for Haotian Sect's so-called allies? They likely wanted the sect to act as a shield. Currently, Spirit Hall's power wasn't as overwhelming as it would be two decades later. The Top Three Sects had tens of thousands of spirit masters combined, enough to counter Spirit Hall.
Yang Potian often sighed when he thought about this: wasn't Haotian Sect's decline somewhat inevitable? They'd made too many enemies and had a reputation larger than their actual power.
Only the inner members knew that the former sect master had been missing for decades, and that the Haotian Sect's strength no longer matched its fame.
(End of Chapter)