Douluo: Soul-Breaking spear

Chapter 64: Sword Douluo

After Yang Potian left the dean's hall, a heavy silence settled over the room.

It was a while before Ning Fengzhi broke the silence, asking, "Uncle Jian, did you sense any problems with Yang Potian?"

Sword Douluo opened his eyes and looked around. "Yang Potian is no ordinary soul master. As everyone knows, every member of the Breaking Clan absorbs only offensive spirit rings, focusing solely on attack. When facing an opponent, they fight fiercely and with total disregard for defense.

"But Yang Potian has chosen spirit rings that are all strength-oriented, each one from an extraordinary spirit beast, and every ring surpasses the usual absorption limit. That alone shows remarkable physical resilience, and with the heavy weights he constantly trains with, it's clear he's pushed his body to extremes. I'd wager that, despite his modesty, there are few Soul Elders who could stand against him.

"Moreover, the specific spirit beasts he absorbed are incredibly rare. The Force Ant is perfect for strength-based soul masters, and an 800-year Violet-Eyed Demon Tiger is almost impossible to come by. The 2,000-year Golden Crocodile King is practically a legendary beast. His selection of spirit rings shows he's been meticulous in planning his growth."

Sword Douluo then paused before adding, "And there was something even stranger about him. When I examined him, I sensed a hint of sword intent. His Broken Soul Spear is sharper than any other I've seen. Frankly, he could wield that spear as if it were a sword. If his martial spirit had been a sword, I'd have been tempted to take him on as a disciple."

At these words, the others exchanged uneasy glances. Despite having anticipated that Yang Potian would be talented, it was clear they had underestimated him.

Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi were both deep in thought. Yang Potian's lineage and backing were formidable, being the grandson of Yang Wudi, leader of the Breaking Clan, which boasted over 400 soul masters and three Soul Douluo. The Breaking Clan was also known for its mastery of poisons, deterring most from provoking them lightly.

Moreover, Yang Potian's maternal grandfather was Niu Gao, leader of the Defense Clan. And with the single-attribute clans now allied, they commanded over a thousand soul masters—a force approaching that of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, albeit without a Titled Douluo.

There were also whispers that the Breaking Clan had grown close with Dugu Bo recently, thanks to the successful treatment of his son's injuries. Any action against Yang Potian could trigger Dugu Bo's ire—a risk no one wanted to take.

Meanwhile, the three academy deans looked pleased, knowing that with Yang Potian as a student, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy would have a strong contender in future tournaments. And based on Xue Qinghe's endorsement, they could allow Yang Potian to form the academy's second team for the next competition.

The only one who seemed unconcerned was Ning Rongrong, who found the whole scene amusing and didn't think much of it. After all, she was only seven.

As he left the dean's hall, Yang Potian's expression was somewhat dark. How troublesome Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo turned out to be, he thought. He had been forced to reveal more information than he wanted. Despite the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's generally positive portrayal in the original story, Yang Potian thought of them as an opportunistic faction, always looking out for their own interests.

Sighing to himself, he muttered, One step at a time. For now, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy should be a safe place. I doubt anyone would be willing to face the wrath of the four single-attribute clans outright.

Back in the dean's hall, the parties soon concluded their discussions and went their separate ways. Xue Qinghe returned to the crown prince's palace with his guards, while Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Ning Rongrong left for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The three deans, meanwhile, resumed their duties.

Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's carriage, Ning Fengzhi turned to Sword Douluo. "Uncle Jian, is Yang Potian's talent really that remarkable?"

Sword Douluo shook his head slightly. "Yang Potian may be even more gifted than I suggested. If he continues adding strength-oriented spirit rings to his Broken Soul Spear, it must already be considerably heavy. Yet he seems fully capable of handling it. I wonder, though, how his speed compares? If his agility matches his power, and combined with the Breaking Clan's spear techniques, there may be no one at the Soul Elder level who can defeat him."

"And judging by his rigorous training regimen, it seems likely that all his future rings will be strength-based and over the recommended age limit. By the time he reaches his eighth ring, his Broken Soul Spear will be extraordinarily powerful. I've only seen one other sect whose tool spirit masters absorb strength-based spirit rings exclusively."

After a pause, Ning Fengzhi quietly remarked, "The Clear Sky Sect."

Sword Douluo nodded. "It seems Yang Potian has ambitions to follow in the Clear Sky Sect's footsteps. But the Broken Soul Spear isn't quite the Clear Sky Hammer. It's a shame."

Next to them, Ning Rongrong's youthful voice chimed in, "Father, Grandpa Jian, I don't think this Yang Potian is so impressive. I'll definitely be stronger than him one day!"

Ning Fengzhi affectionately patted her head, while Sword Douluo allowed himself a rare smile.

Back at the crown prince's palace, Xue Qinghe was greeted by Snake Spear Douluo, who appeared and asked, "My lord, Yang Potian is indeed exceptionally talented. Do you wish to eliminate him early? The Breaking Clan does hold a grudge against our Spirit Hall."

Xue Qinghe replied casually, "There's no rush. I hear 'that woman' recently took on a disciple with outstanding talent, and Spirit Hall has other promising geniuses as well. I think it would be interesting to see who proves themselves to be the true genius at the tournament in seven years. A 'genius'? Hmph."

Snake Spear Douluo wisely remained silent. He knew better than to interfere in matters beyond his control, especially when both sides were equally powerful.

Returning to his dormitory, Yang Potian began refining his training plans. For a weapon spirit like the Broken Soul Spear, effective training environments were rare—even in Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Ideally, the best setting for his Broken Soul Spear would be a battlefield, but for now, joining the battlefield was out of the question.

After some thought, Yang Potian decided he would begin practicing at the Heaven Dou City Great Arena. The weapon spirit was ultimately meant for combat, and actual fighting would yield the best results. As for his afternoon weighted push exercises, he could easily find a simulated mountain environment at the academy.

If that still wasn't sufficient, he would find other training methods. The resourcefulness of the human mind held limitless possibilities, and he was confident there were countless other ways to build strength.

In the end, the key to growth lay in battle—only through constant fighting could he truly become stronger.

(End of Chapter)

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