Douluo: Soul-Breaking spear

Chapter 132: Plum Blossom Posts

If Ning Rongrong still had the protection of her clan's elders, then others on the first team fared far worse.

Oscar, a food-type spirit master, suffered the most. Long hours of grueling training left him with internal injuries that were difficult to heal.

Ma Hongjun was dealing with a different issue altogether. Since joining Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, his Evil Fire problem had only worsened amidst the academy's wealth of beautiful women and temptations. He had quickly sunk into a pit of indulgence and now found himself entangled and unable to escape.

Things were equally severe for two of the original first-team members: one with a Skyvine martial spirit for control and an agility-type spirit master. Bai Xiaofei, formerly of the second team, was also affected. While his Sharp-Tailed Swift martial spirit was a beast spirit, it was known for low power and attack, making him physically weak—a condition Yang Potian had once tried to improve with special medicinal baths.

After weeks of training with the first team, Bai Xiaofei felt his health decline. Suspicious, he reported to Tang San and Yu Xiaogang. "Young Master, the medicinal baths used by the second team were different. I don't feel the same benefits here, and my body feels weaker. Several teammates seem to have similar issues. If we keep training this way, things could get serious."

Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were shocked. The training regimen had been directly modeled after the second team's; how could problems arise?

Tang San, being knowledgeable in medicine, examined his own body and discovered some internal injuries. He quickly informed Yu Xiaogang. "Teacher, I think something's wrong with my body too. I found a few internal injuries."

Concerned, the three went to the academy's administration, suspecting the medicinal supplies. However, after checking, they found that the same ingredients were issued to both teams.

Tang San turned to Bai Xiaofei. "Bai Xiaofei, who prepared the second team's medicinal baths? Did anyone supervise the process?"

Bai Xiaofei shook his head. "Everything in the second team was handled by Big Brother Potian and Teacher Li Xiang. We just followed orders. They always prepared the medicinal ingredients for the baths."

Tang San sighed. "I see now. Yang Potian himself handled all of the second team's baths. The Potian Clan are masters of medicine and can adjust medicinal properties to prevent internal injuries."

Tang San regretted that the Potian Clan hadn't joined Tang Sect. With them, the Tang Sect's strength would have increased immensely, and these problems could have been avoided.

Yu Xiaogang appeared lost. "Xiao San, what should we do? We can't stop the first team's training."

"Teacher, we'll have to halt training and let everyone recover. If we want to resume, we'll need Yang Potian's help."

Before Yu Xiaogang could respond, Bai Xiaofei spoke up. "I heard the second team is out on an extended training trip. It's been months since anyone's seen them."

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. "That Yang Potian, taking his team out on some trip just to watch us struggle! He must have planned this."

After debating, they decided to halt the intensive training. Resolving the situation would have to wait until Yang Potian returned.

Though Tang San knew some methods for treating internal injuries, they required expensive medicinal herbs. With over a dozen people needing treatment, the academy was unlikely to provide such costly materials.

Meanwhile, after six months in the Sunset Forest, Yang Potian's team returned to the Potian Clan's base rather than the academy. Now that the team consisted solely of clan members, Yang Potian preferred training at home, away from Yu Xiaogang and the first team.

Once back at the Potian Clan, Yang Potian instructed his team to build a Plum Blossom Post array. Hundreds of five-meter-long wooden posts, each with a diameter of about ten centimeters, were firmly anchored into the ground. Each post stood four meters above the ground, spaced a meter apart, making the array large enough to accommodate the entire team.

Yang Potian gathered everyone in front of the Plum Blossom Posts and announced, "Today's training is simple. You'll spend each day on these posts, practicing combat and running exercises."

Yang Tianyue eyed the posts skeptically. "Brother, isn't this a bit too easy? I don't see how this will help us."

"Tianyue, you think it's easy? Why don't you try standing on the posts first—and don't fall."

"I'll show you, it's just a bunch of posts," she replied, leaping up to the array. But once atop, she realized it was harder than expected.

Each post was only ten centimeters wide—barely enough space for the ball of her foot. To balance, she had to stand on her toes. With the posts a meter apart, she had to stretch to step across, making movement precarious.

Tianyue attempted to move between the posts, but after only a few steps, she lost her footing and fell.

Annoyed, she confronted Yang Potian. "What's the point of this training? What's it even good for?"

Yang Potian looked at his sister, then turned to address the entire team. "You've all trained hard, gaining strength and speed, but few of you have mastered control, precision, or balance. This array will improve your stability, flexibility, and accuracy, while also building muscle elasticity and cardiovascular strength. Right now, it's the perfect training for all of you."

Everyone, curious, leapt onto the Plum Blossom Posts to try it out. As expected, most fell quickly.

In the days that followed, the entire team trained in the array. Yang Potian instructed them to fight one another while balanced on the posts. The sessions often lasted several hours, and the restrictive platform meant even the slightest misstep led to a fall. This demanded extreme focus, making it a challenging and slightly torturous training.

One day, Yang Potian was informed of a visitor. Puzzled as to who would visit him at the clan base, he went to the reception hall, where his grandfather Yang Wudi was already seated. With him were Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Ning Rongrong.

After exchanging pleasantries, Ning Fengzhi got to the point. "Yang Potian, I hear your team is a bit short-handed. I'd like to offer Rongrong as a member, if you'll accept her."

Yang Potian replied politely, "Thank you, Sect Leader Ning, but our team is complete. The physical training is over, and now the entire team is focused on meditative practice within the Potian Clan. There are no additional training plans."

"But I was told your team has only six members. How could it be complete?"

"We recently recruited two talented members, bringing the total to eight. We have enough personnel."

"But each team is allowed seven main players and four substitutes. Doesn't your team need backup?"

Yang Potian shook his head. "In the preliminaries, I won't be competing, and I want the remaining seven to participate in every match. This way, they'll build teamwork and gain valuable tournament experience. Even if Miss Rongrong joins, she may not get the chance to compete."

Before Ning Fengzhi could respond, an attendant announced, "Clan Leader, Titan, Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and Tang San are at the gate, requesting entry."

Yang Wudi initially seemed uninterested, but Ning Fengzhi interjected, "Clan Leader Yang, if it's important, please attend to it. I can wait and explore your grounds in the meantime."

After a moment's thought, Yang Wudi decided, "There's no reason not to meet them. In fact, it's a good chance for everyone to get acquainted. Please, invite them to the main hall."

When Yu Xiaogang's group entered and saw Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Ning Rongrong, they seemed surprised.

This was Titan's first visit since the recent split between their clans, and it was clear they no longer shared the camaraderie they once had.

Yang Wudi addressed Titan directly. "Clan Leader Titan, what brings the four of you to the Potian Clan?"

With a dour expression, Titan replied, "I'm here only to ensure my young master's safety. The young master has matters to discuss with you."

All eyes turned to Yu Xiaogang and Tang San. After a moment of hesitation, Yu Xiaogang finally spoke. "Yang Potian, may I ask you a question?"

Yang Potian smiled. "Teacher Yu, we're all friends here. Ask away."

Yu Xiaogang spoke seriously. "Is the medicinal bath you use for the second team different from the one provided by the academy?"

"Indeed, I used some valuable herbs from the Potian Clan in those baths."

"Did you ever consider that others might suffer if they followed your training regimen without those herbs?"

Yang Potian smiled coolly. "Teacher Yu, as I recall, I designed that regimen for the second team only. If someone decided to copy it, any consequences wouldn't be my responsibility, would they?"

Yu Xiaogang's face reddened. "How can you be so dismissive? Since you created the regimen, you should ensure it's safe for anyone who uses it."

Yang Potian shook his head in disbelief. "I've never heard of such a demand. Your disciple, Tang San, knows his way around medicinal herbs. He should be able to prepare a similar remedy for the team. Do you have any idea how much that level of treatment costs?"

"Or is it that, based on one request, I'm expected to spend my own resources on your team's training?"

Titan, visibly irritated, interjected. "Yang, watch how you speak to the young master."

Yang Potian turned to him. "Elder Titan, I spent years investing time, energy, and valuable resources to train Tailong. Without my efforts, his aptitude alone wouldn't have gotten him to the level of a Spirit Ancestor. Yet here you are, supporting Yu Xiaogang against me?"

Despite Titan's stoic nature, his face reddened slightly with embarrassment, and he fell silent.

Ignoring Titan, Yang Potian continued. "As I recall, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has a secret Dragon Transformation Technique that requires specific medicines for safe training. Yet if an outsider were to steal that technique, they would be executed, isn't that right?"

Silence filled the room as everyone took in his words.

(End of Chapter)

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