Chapter 21: Friends, if you want to read chapters in advance, subscribe to my patreon.

Chapter 21: A Second Martial Soul?

Next, Yang Zhentian took out a crystal ball from his belongings—one of the typical tools used to measure spirit power.

"Son, place your hand on the crystal ball and let's test your spirit power level."

Following his father's instructions, Yang Potian placed his right hand on the crystal ball and channeled his spirit power into it. Instantly, the ball glowed intensely, with the inner light filling nearly 90% of the crystal.

By Potian's estimation, the ball was almost full—was he at innate spirit power level 9?

Yang Zhentian's face flashed with excitement, though he quickly masked it. He glanced over at his father, Yang Wudi, who nodded slightly, as if to convey some unspoken understanding.

Zhentian got the message, withdrew the crystal ball, and, addressing the crowd, announced, "Son, your innate spirit power is level 8. Very impressive."

Hearing this, murmurs spread throughout the crowd, and faces broke into smiles. The elders seated at the front exchanged satisfied looks, each thinking the same thing: innate spirit power at level 8 was a mark of exceptional talent. With hard work, Yang Potian could very likely reach the rank of Spirit Douluo one day.

The other children lined up eagerly, each hopeful about their own Martial Soul awakening. Oddly enough, all remaining twelve children also awakened the Po Soul Spear, and each one had an innate spirit power level of five or higher. The highest among them was level 7—borderline genius status, enough to give one a fair chance of reaching Spirit Douluo.

After the ceremony, each family brought their children home. Yang Potian went home with his parents and two grandfathers, though he couldn't help but notice the strange looks his father and grandfather exchanged.

Once they arrived home, Zhentian finally explained, "Son, actually, there was a small matter with your Martial Soul awakening."

Yang Potian looked confused. "Is something wrong with my Martial Soul?"

"When I measured your innate spirit power, it was actually at level 9. But for now, I said it was level 8."

"Why?"

"Our Po Clan now has enmity with the Spirit Hall, and our relationship with the Haotian Clan is also strained. To protect you, I reported a lower spirit power level. It's safer for your future."

Potian nodded in understanding. "Don't worry, Dad. I'll keep a low profile in the future."

"Good. Rest up for now, and later I'll teach you about meditation and cultivation. Our Po Clan has a basic school here, so you'll go there every morning to study."

Yang Potian was stunned. Though only six, his mental age was over 30, and the thought of starting from elementary school wasn't exactly thrilling.

"Dad, do I really have to go? I'd rather just read at home."

"No, school is non-negotiable. You'll be learning about the Spirit Master world, the basics of cultivation, and the fundamentals of alchemy and spear techniques. Once you master the basics, I'll start teaching you advanced alchemy skills. Remember, son, the Po Soul Spear and alchemy are at the heart of our clan's legacy."

Realizing his father's insistence, Potian reluctantly agreed. After all, the Po Clan had a long-standing alchemical heritage, so it made sense to start with the basics.

Later that night, Yang Potian lay in bed, reflecting on his Martial Soul awakening. Something about the process felt incomplete. When his Po Soul Spear awakened, he could still feel spirit energy circulating within him, almost as if a second Martial Soul was stirring. He'd sensed its presence throughout his body, but why hadn't it fully manifested?

"Could it be that the second Martial Soul isn't fully awakened yet?" he wondered. "Or maybe it's only partially awakened. But if that's the case, how will I awaken it fully?"

After puzzling over it without answers, he decided to let it go for now and focus on his immediate goals.

With innate spirit power at level 9 and the Po Soul Spear as his Martial Soul, his prospects were promising. Even without a second Martial Soul, he was already a remarkable talent. However, he couldn't help but wonder about the future: should he follow the clan's traditional path for obtaining spirit rings?

Following the clan's typical methods for spirit rings could limit his potential. Based on the current timeline, Tang San would be about one year old, which meant the Spirit Hall's spirit-hunting campaign would begin in about 19 years. When that time came, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would face devastating attacks, and while the former would be severely weakened, the latter would be wiped out entirely.

This left him with a sense of urgency; he needed to become as strong as possible before war erupted, or the Po Clan would be in grave danger. Enhancing his clan's strength was essential, and securing the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well could be a game-changer.

That afternoon, his father brought a book to his room and adopted a more serious tone.

"Son, since your Martial Soul has awakened, it's time I taught you how to meditate."

"Throughout the centuries, Spirit Master clans and sects have developed their own meditation methods. The differences among them are subtle but significant. As the former main outer clan of the Haotian Clan, the Po Clan's meditation technique is top-tier."

"In any environment, the air around us is filled with spirit power," Zhentian explained. "Meditation involves guiding your spirit power to flow within your body, and gradually drawing in external spirit power. Naturally, different environments vary in spirit power attributes and concentration. For example, a plant-type Spirit Master benefits from being in nature, while a fire-type Spirit Master can absorb spirit power more easily in the presence of flames."

"Our Po Soul Spear is a metal-attribute Martial Soul, which is why our cultivation rooms are usually built on solid metal foundations."

"You can try meditating now. Think of your body as a small world filled with spirit power, and use meditation to guide its flow. The faster it circulates and the more thoroughly it travels through your body, the better you'll be at drawing in outside energy."

Zhentian handed him a book, saying, "Here's a book detailing the specifics of meditation. Take your time to study it."

(End of Chapter)

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