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Chapter 13 Going to School
After returning to the Clan, Yun Ming rested for a day.
Early the next morning,
Inside Yun Ming's quiet courtyard, continuous whistling sounds echoed, as Yun Ming practiced his spear techniques.
Thrust, Pierce, Strike, Pound, Entwine, Circle, Block, Seize, Pounce, Point, and Parry—each Move, a blend of speed and slowness, orthodox and unorthodox, flowed like water. Even the simplest basic spear Moves appeared extraordinarily agile.
Yang Wudi, standing outside the courtyard gate, nodded with satisfaction as he watched Yun Ming's agile spear techniques. After absorbing the spirit ring, Yun Ming's spear techniques had improved further with the increase in his physical strength!
Only after Yun Ming finished his spear practice did Yang Wudi walk into the courtyard, pick up a towel from the side, hand it to Yun Ming, and speak in a calm voice.
"Not bad. Keep up the good work."
Yun Ming took the towel, respectfully acknowledging his grandfather's encouragement, and asked,
"Yes, Grandfather!"
"However, Grandfather, did you come so early in the morning to give me any instructions?"
Although Yang Wudi lived in the courtyard next to Yun Ming's small courtyard, due to the Clan Chief's busy schedule and Yang Wudi's obsession with alchemy, the grandfather and grandson usually didn't see each other in the morning unless there was something to announce.
Yang Wudi didn't waste words and went straight to the point.
"Starting today, you will enter the 'Clan School' to study Spirit Master knowledge and pharmacology!"
Upon hearing about the Clan School, Yun Ming recalled that with his Spirit already Awakened, according to Clan rules, he indeed needed to attend classes at the Clan School. He responded softly,
"Okay, Grandfather!"
"I'll get ready and head over directly in a bit."
Yang Wudi nodded expressionlessly, then left the small courtyard to attend to his own matters. As for escorting Yun Ming to the Clan School? Forget it. It was only a two-step walk; it wouldn't even take Yun Ming ten minutes to get there. Don't interfere with this old man's alchemy.
Yun Ming, dressed in white casual clothes, arrived at the entrance of the Clan School within the Clan. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar building before him, Yun Ming's expression was complex.
There was anticipation for the future, sadness thinking of his mother's words, and other complicated emotions. His thoughts were a jumble until he heard the sounds coming from inside the Clan School—the shouts of students and the teaching voice of the Clan School teacher—which brought him back to reality.
"Thrust the spear!"
"Ha!!!" xN
"Retract the spear, again!"
"..."
Yun Ming composed himself and stepped into the Clan School. What met his eyes was a large training ground, where all the teachers and students of the Clan School were currently gathered.
Then Yun Ming's gaze shifted, and he saw a familiar face getting beaten. This person was none other than Yang Lin, the little Genius who had Awakened his Spirit at the same time as Yun Ming, possessing Innate spirit power of level seven. How did Yun Ming feel at that moment? —very confused.
The teacher who was hitting someone heard movement behind him, stopped his actions, turned around, and saw Yun Ming, understanding immediately. This teacher was also someone Yun Ming knew: Yang Lin's father. Yun Ming was now curious what Yang Lin thought about getting beaten by his own father at the Clan School.
Yang Lin felt the beating stop and, following his father's gaze, looked towards Yun Ming at the entrance, exclaiming in surprise,
"Yun Ming, you're finally here!"
Listening to Yang Lin's self-saving remark, Yun Ming casually replied,
"Yes, I'm here."
As peers from the Breaking Clan, Yun Ming and Yang Lin knew each other and had a decent relationship. The reason Yang Lin didn't dare to speak up in the ancestral hall last time was because, apart from Yun Ming, the other children in the Clan were quite afraid of Yang Wudi.
After all, Yang Wudi had a scarred face and a fierce demeanor; he wouldn't even need makeup to be a bandit at night, so it was normal for children to be afraid of him.
Yang Lin's father, who was also the Clan School teacher, Yang Hong, also called out to Yun Ming.
"Yun Ming, come here!"
Yun Ming walked up to Yang Hong and respectfully called out,
"Uncle Hong!"
According to the Clan hierarchy, Yang Hong was Yun Ming's mother Yang Ying's cousin, making him Yun Ming's maternal uncle.
Yang Hong nodded and spoke to the other students in the Clan School.
"This is Yun Ming, everyone knows him!"
"Starting today, he officially joins our Clan School. Let's welcome him!"
Yang Lin seized the opportunity to escape, returned to the formation, and began to lead the applause. Yang Hong didn't say much, just gave Yang Lin a threatening look, indicating that he was lucky today.
The other children in the Clan School all knew Yun Ming; those who hadn't known him before had met him during the ritual half a month ago. They all started applauding enthusiastically.
Especially five of the girls clapped the hardest, because people, after all, like to see beautiful things, and it's the same for both genders.
Seeing that it was enough, Yang Hong raised his hand to stop them, then said to Yun Ming,
"Yun Ming, stand next to Yang Lin!"
Yun Ming walked to Yang Lin's side upon hearing this, and Yang Lin winked at him to show his gratitude. Yun Ming blinked in response and stood properly beside him.
Yang Hong ignored their unspoken communication and, seeing Yun Ming settled, continued today's lesson.
"Basic spear techniques class continues. Raise your spears!"
Yun Ming saw the practice long spears held by everyone else, and he too took a practice long spear from the weapon rack beside him.
Yang Hong, seeing that everyone was ready, shouted,
"Ready, thrust!"
"Ha!" xN
Everyone thrust their spears as commanded.
Among them, Yun Ming's thrust was naturally the best.
Yun Ming's spear thrust was straight and swift, moving directly in and out, with force reaching the spear tip. He achieved the 'spear thrust in a line,' and his thrust was like a latent Dragon emerging from water. Yang Hong was greatly astonished when he saw Yun Ming's spear thrusting skill. Although Yang Wudi had told him yesterday that Yun Ming's spear usage was very high, seeing Yun Ming use the spear now truly shocked Yang Hong!
Is this kid a monster?!
His spear thrust is even better than his own...
Thinking of this, Yang Hong then looked at his own son, who was thrusting his spear crookedly next to Yun Ming, and his face darkened. They were both the same age, and his son was even a bit older, so why was the difference so vast!
Afterward, Yang Hong began to adjust the postures of students whose stances were incorrect. When it came to Yang Lin, his tone became even more displeased.
"Arms slightly bent, eyes on the spear tip, shift your center of gravity forward, straighten your right leg, form a left bow stance!"
After Yang Lin was severely lectured a few more times by his father, Yang Hong continued the class.
"Retract the spear!"
"Ready, pierce!"
Each Move and stance of the basic spear techniques was quickly demonstrated. Others, more or less, had their flaws corrected by Yang Hong, but only Yun Ming performed every Move perfectly, as if from a textbook—precise yet not rigid, very good!
Yang Hong understood Yun Ming's spear skill after observing him. It was a level he couldn't teach, so Yang Hong decisively announced,
"Yun Ming, from now on, you will Cultivate basic spear techniques on your own; you don't need to follow everyone else's pace."
Yun Ming had no objection to Yang Hong's arrangement; he was fine with it. However, while Yun Ming might be fine, others might not be. Among the students, a boy who looked eight or nine years old, with delicate features and a proud expression, discontentedly questioned,
"Uncle Hong, why can Yun Ming practice by himself?"
The boy who spoke was named Yang Yi. He was eight years old this year and was the number one Genius of the Breaking Clan of his generation before Yun Ming, with Innate spirit power of level eight.
He was the highest Innate spirit power holder of the Soul Breaking Spear Spirit in recent years, and combined with his own diligence, he had always been first in all aspects among his peers. His instances of being corrected by Yang Hong were also the fewest, second only to Yun Ming.
Today, this was the first time he had been judged by an elder in the Clan that a cousin two years younger than him was superior. Yang Yi was momentarily unable to accept it.
Yang Hong saw Yang Yi's thoughts and knew he was unconvinced, but some things had to be accepted. Yang Hong said seriously,
"Because Yun Ming's basic spear techniques are very good, even better than mine. I can't teach him anything."
"Hiss~"
The other children around couldn't help but gasp in surprise when they heard Yang Hong's evaluation of Yun Ming.
As for Yang Yi, hearing Yang Hong's evaluation of Yun Ming astonished him even more; this evaluation was too high!
Yang Hong was already a top-tier expert among the previous generation in the Clan. How high must the spear techniques be to earn such praise from him!
Yang Yi found it hard to believe, or rather, dared not believe that such a person could exist in the World, especially since Yun Ming was two years younger than him. Yang Yi's expression became agitated, his face somewhat distorted, and he roared,
"I don't believe it!!!"
"I don't believe it! Unless his spear techniques can beat mine!!!"
Yang Hong looked at Yang Yi, whose understanding seemed to be breaking down, and sighed in his heart. Yang Yi was already a rare top Genius in the Breaking Clan for decades, possessing excellent Cultivation talent and spear talent. However, in this generation, a Yun Ming had appeared, a person who might become the strongest in the history of the Breaking Clan.
Yang Hong was now conflicted, unsure whether to let Yun Ming fight Yang Yi. If they didn't fight, Yang Yi wouldn't give up; if they did, he was afraid Yang Yi would be completely disheartened after losing.
As for Yang Yi winning?
Yang Hong felt that unless Yun Ming deliberately held back, even a little bit wouldn't be enough, otherwise there would definitely be no chance!
Yun Ming saw Yang Yi's unwillingness and defiance. Without waiting for Yang Hong to speak, he calmly replied,
"Alright! I accept this challenge!"