Chapter 252: New Plans
Yang Potian spent a long time resting at home, taking a break from training and from any involvement in external matters. He simply relaxed, lying down or sitting peacefully, savoring this rare tranquility.
The whole family seemed to share an understanding and left Yang Potian and Ye Lingling to enjoy their time together in peace. This serene environment allowed Yang Potian to regulate his intense killing aura, and he felt confident that he could even face Di Tian, the Black Dragon Emperor, without the risk of defeat.
One day, Yang Potian wandered through the clan's grounds and found everything as calm as ever. The family members and the academy's students were focused on their training. In addition to his original five companions, there were now members from the Elemental Academy and Ning Rongrong.
His sister, Yang Tianyue, came over, clearly excited, and playfully boasted, "Brother, I've reached level 90 now! I'm about to become a Titled Douluo—am I amazing or what?"
Yang Potian affectionately patted her head. "You're incredible, Tianyue. You've improved so fast. But you'll still have to keep pushing yourself if you want to reach level 99 in twenty years."
Over the past two years, the group had made considerable progress. Yang Tianyue had just reached the Titled Douluo level and only needed a new spirit ring. Niu Meng had reached level 86 but was still short of the Titled Douluo rank, while Yang Potian's uncle, Niu Mang, had achieved that rank six months earlier and had already acquired his ring. Ye Lingling and Yang Ping'an had both advanced to level 94, placing them among the most powerful in their clan. Du Guyen had reached level 87, though further breakthroughs would likely take some time.
Yang Potian discreetly sought out his father, Yang Zhentian, along with his grandfather, Yang Wudi, and great-uncle, Yang Wushuang. From them, he retrieved six spirit bones he had taken from Tang Chen's body and handed them to his father.
Yang Zhentian's eyes widened in astonishment as he examined them. "Potian, where did you get such extraordinary spirit bones? Each one is worth a fortune!"
Yang Potian replied calmly, "These are from Tang Chen. He met his end in the City of Slaughter, and I collected these bones from him. This is sensitive information, so it's best to keep it within the family."
"As for these six spirit bones," he continued, "they should serve as heirlooms for our clan. We shouldn't reveal their existence to others."
Yang Wudi sighed, a note of melancholy in his voice. "To think that Tang Chen, who dominated the continent for most of his life, would die so unceremoniously. Tell me, Potian, how exactly did he die?"
Yang Potian thought for a moment. "Tang Chen was once the inheritor of the Asura God. He attempted the Asura God's trials but failed on the eighth. He spent his final years deranged, trapped in the City of Slaughter, and only recently passed away."
The others fell silent, contemplating the path to godhood, which felt as distant as ever. They hadn't imagined it would be so fraught with danger.
Yang Zhentian looked pained. "Potian, with the trials being so dangerous, will you and Tianyue be safe?"
"I don't foresee any major issues for myself," Yang Potian assured. "I already have a plan in mind. But Tianyue might face more difficulty, especially since she must reach level 99 within twenty years. You all know the obstacles, particularly the immense challenge in advancing from level 98 to 99."
Yang Zhentian asked, "Now that Tianyue is at level 90, what spirit ring should she seek?"
Yang Potian hesitated before responding, "Father, as the Sea God's heir, Tianyue must prove her strength on her own. To become a god requires more than talent—it demands resilience, wisdom, and courage. She must learn to stand independently. Otherwise, even if she ascends, she will be the weakest of gods. Gods can fall, after all."
"As for her spirit ring, I'll leave it to you. Take Tianyue to the Extreme North, where there are excellent water-attribute spirit beasts. But let her make the critical decisions herself."
After a moment's reflection, Yang Potian brought out two secret manuals and a small golden hammer. The manuals were none other than the sect's treasures, The Nine Absolute Strikes of the Clear Sky and The Grand Xu Mi Hammer, a set that was perfect for an armament-based martial soul like the family's Soul-Breaking Spear.
As for the golden hammer, it was the Clear Sky Sect's legacy token. Yang Potian gave it to his grandfather as a gesture of closure, knowing it had no real use in his own hands.
Yang Wudi and Yang Wushuang held the golden hammer with somber expressions. Having served the Clear Sky Sect for nearly a century, they felt a complex sense of loss.
Finally, Yang Wudi spoke. "Potian, I think we should return this golden hammer to the Clear Sky Sect as our last offering."
Yang Potian agreed. "The hammer has no use for us. Quietly return it to the Clear Sky Sect without revealing our involvement."
The family then turned their attention to The Nine Absolute Strikes and The Grand Xu Mi Hammer, captivated by the ingenuity of these techniques.
"These can serve as our clan's core techniques," Yang Potian explained. "They'll require some adjustment to suit our Soul-Breaking Spear, as they're primarily based on the Clear Sky Hammer."
Yang Potian also shared various treasures he had collected from the Heaven Dou Empire's royal treasury. While there were no extraordinary items for spirit masters, the resources would sustain the clan for several generations.
Seeing the treasure, the family couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. The Heaven Dou Empire's stolen treasures had ended up in Potian's possession. "Always up to mischief, that one," they mused.
Yang Potian then mentioned, "I also have a 300,000-year-old fire dragon torso bone, which I acquired from my seventh spirit ring. I'll hold onto it for now, but anyone who needs it can come to me."
His father shook his head. "Potian, keep that spirit bone for yourself. None of us lack spirit bones for the time being, and it would be best suited for your own development."
In the days that followed, Yang Potian continued to enjoy a leisurely life at home. Soon, his younger sister Yang Tianyue came to him, looking a little dejected. "Brother, why aren't you helping me get my ninth spirit ring? With your help, I'm sure I could obtain the best one!"
Yang Potian looked at her fondly, slightly amused. "You silly girl, I'm doing this for your own good. You're only on the eighth Sea God Trial—have you already lost confidence in completing it on your own? You know the ninth trial will be much harder, and I won't be able to help you then."
Pouting a little, Yang Tianyue replied, "But I feel safer with you by my side."
"Tianyue, the journey to becoming a god is a solitary one. The help you receive from others will always be limited. You need to learn how to face these challenges yourself. Tang Chen was the most gifted soul master on the Douluo Continent for nearly a millennium, yet he still failed his God Trials. If you're serious about becoming a god, you must be prepared to face every challenge and put in hundreds, even thousands, of times more effort than others. If you can't do that, you may end up with a tragic fate."
Hearing this, Yang Tianyue paused, reflecting deeply for once. Finally, she replied with renewed determination, "Don't worry, brother. I'll get an extraordinary spirit ring this time. I'll show you that your little sister is the best!"
After Yang Tianyue left, brimming with confidence, Ye Lingling came into the room, looking worried. "Potian, are you really not planning to help Tianyue with her spirit ring? She's still just a child, not even twenty."
"Lingling, the path to becoming a god isn't easy. I can help her for a while, but not for a lifetime. Besides, the Sea God chose her because he believes in her talent and strength."
In the following days, a large group of soul masters from the clan and the academy set out for the Extreme North to help Yang Tianyue. Her five close friends all accompanied her, as did Ye Lingling. The academy's leaders—including Yang Wudi, Yang Wushuang, Yang Zhentian, Niu Jinfeng, Dugu Bo, Niu Gao, Niu Mang, and the newly added Shui Qingrou, a water-attributed Contra—also joined the expedition. Shui Qingrou's water abilities would be particularly useful in the Extreme North, even more so than some Titled Douluo.
Yang Potian looked around the now-empty Heaven Traversing Academy, feeling a bit speechless. He had only wanted to give his sister a chance to cultivate her independence, yet everyone, including his own wife, had rushed off to help with her spirit ring hunt. Had he unintentionally sabotaged his own plan?
But on further thought, he felt reassured. The most powerful soul beasts in the Extreme North were the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress. Yang Tianyue possessed the Sea God's Trident, and with a party of nearly ten Titled Douluo, her safety shouldn't be an issue.
Taking down the Snow Empress might be a challenge, but with the Sea God's Light from the trident, the Snow Empress wouldn't go too far. As for the Ice Empress, the group's combined strength should be sufficient to defeat her. Despite her power over ultimate ice, she hadn't reached 400,000 years of age and likely had strength equivalent to a level 98 Titled Douluo at most.
Yang Potian also left a trace of his spiritual consciousness on Yang Tianyue and her companions. If they encountered serious trouble, he could rush to their aid instantly.
For now, Yang Potian retreated to the highest peak of the Almos Mountains. There, he closed his eyes and sealed off his five senses, attuning himself to the essence of the world within the silent snowfall.
After leaving the City of Slaughter, his body and soul power had both begun a remarkable transformation. He noticed that the world itself seemed altered. In the midst of the soul power around him, he sensed various rules and principles—the true foundations of this world.
Gradually, his killing aura receded, and his presence grew subdued, as if he were merging into the world itself. His soul power grew serene and condensed, blending seamlessly with his surroundings.
As the snow continued to fall, the flakes that landed on him did not melt but instead settled gently on his body, covering him. Over time, Yang Potian appeared no different from a statue, encased in snow and ice like a living sculpture.
From an outsider's perspective, this icy figure would seem devoid of any soul power or sign of life—a mere fragment of the mountains, blending into the vast and timeless wilderness.
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