Chapter 8: First Spar, Establishing Dominance
The news of Lu Yang breaking through to the Second Stage of Body Tempering Realm spread throughout the Lu Family before noon the next day.
Compared to the shock from his first breakthrough a year ago, the reactions this time were noticeably calmer.
After all, everyone had already grown somewhat numb to Lu Yang’s cultivation speed.
A genius who entered the Body Tempering Realm just two weeks after beginning cultivation could no longer be measured by common sense.
Still, when many clan members learned that Lu Yang had not even turned seven years old yet, waves were inevitably stirred once more throughout the estate.
After stabilizing his cultivation for a few days, Lu Yang went straight to the Internal Affairs Hall to report.
Within the Internal Affairs Hall, several clan servants and members looked toward Lu Yang with unconcealed respect.
Talent was respected within the cultivation world, specially talent that possessed the possibility of becoming a future pillar of the family.
The Internal Affairs Grand Elder sitting behind the jade desk swept his Divine Sense over Lu Yang before nodding calmly, a flash of approval appearing in his eyes.
"Second Stage of Body Tempering Realm before seven years old..."
His attitude toward Lu Yang became noticeably gentler.
"According to the clan rules, your monthly medicinal bath quota will increase by thirty percent beginning next month. The amount of Blood Nourishing Powder and Body Tempering Paste distributed monthly will also double."
Lu Yang clasped his hands politely, "Thank you, Grand Elder."
The Internal Affairs Grand Elder chuckled warmly and waved his hand.
"With your talent, these are things you deserve."
Soon after, Lu Yang left the Internal Affairs Hall quietly.
The warm spring sunlight shone upon the stone pathways of the inner clan region, while servants and cultivators occasionally moved through the surroundings.
Guard Zhou followed several steps behind him silently as usual.
However, just as Lu Yang turned past a corridor, several figures suddenly blocked the pathway ahead.
The atmosphere instantly became somewhat subtle.
Lu Yang raised his gaze slightly.
Standing at in front of him was precisely Lu Ming.
Compared to a year ago, he had grown slightly taller, though the arrogance between his brows remained almost unchanged.
Faint Blood Qi fluctuations continuously radiated from his body.
Second Stage of Body Tempering Realm.
Lu Yang raised an eyebrow.
Clearly, during this past year and a half, Lu Ming had not remained idle either.
Behind him stood several familiar followers, all looking toward Lu Yang with hostility and wariness.
Meanwhile, many nearby clan members gradually slowed their footsteps after noticing the situation, curious gazes quietly drifting over.
Lu Yang’s expression remained calm as he asked, "What does young master Lu Ming want?"
Lu Ming stared at him fixedly, anger rising within his heart.
Ever since they first met, Lu Yang had always spoken to him in that mocking tone.
A trace of unwillingness flashed deep within his eyes.
From the moment Lu Yang appeared, the attention that originally belonged to him had gradually shifted away little by little.
The elders only had Lu Yang on their tongues, the servants discussed only Lu Yang, and even some younger clan members always secretly compared the two of them constantly.
And every comparison ended with Lu Yang overwhelming him completely.
This feeling had accumulated within Lu Ming’s heart for a very long time.
Finally, he slowly spoke through gritted teeth: "I heard you’ve broken through."
Lu Yang nodded slightly, "Fortunately."
The corner of Lu Ming’s mouth twitched faintly, then, he suddenly smiled.
"Since we’re both at the Second Stage of Body Tempering Realm now... how about a spar?"
As soon as he said those words, the surroundings instantly grew lively.
Guard Zhou frowned slightly behind Lu Yang.
A spar between two top geniuses of the younger generation naturally attracted attention easily, especially when one of them was Lu Yang, the rising star of the Lu Family and the pride of the mortal branch.
Lu Yang looked at Lu Ming quietly, naturally understanding the other party’s thoughts.
Lu Ming wanted to regain face, or perhaps more accurately, he wanted to prove that cultivation speed did not represent everything.
After all, Lu Yang had only cultivated for less than a year.
Meanwhile, Lu Ming had received guidance from cultivators since childhood, forging his foundation, consuming expensive resources, bathing in medicine daily.
In terms of cultivation foundation and practical fighting experience, he believed himself superior without question.
Several breaths of time quietly passed before Lu Yang nodded lightly, "Alright."
Soon after, the group arrived at one of the clan training grounds.
News spread quickly throughout the Lu Family estate, and before long, many clan members had already gathered around the surroundings.
Mortal branch descendants, main line children, family servants, and even several older cultivators in the middle and later stages of Body Tempering Realm arrived quietly to watch.
Even Lu Chuan and Lu Shan were among them, watching with interest.
After all, both Lu Yang and Lu Ming were among the most famous younger generation geniuses within the clan currently.
At the center of the training grounds, the two children stood opposite one another silently.
The spring breeze swept gently across the arena.
Lu Ming slowly loosened his wrists, his gaze sharp.
"This time, I’ll let everyone understand that talent alone means nothing."
Hearing this, Lu Yang’s expression did not fluctuate in the slightest.
Seeing this, irritation once more surfaced within Lu Ming’s heart.
Why?
Why did a mortal branch ant always look so calm, as if nothing truly mattered to him at all?
A low shout suddenly erupted from Lu Ming’s mouth, and the next instant, he charged forward abruptly.
Blood Qi surged beneath his skin as his fist smashed directly toward Lu Yang’s chest.
The force behind it was extremely fierce for a child.
Even several surrounding spectators nodded subconsciously.
Clearly, Lu Ming’s foundation was indeed solid.
However, Lu Yang merely shifted half a step sideways, causing the fist to narrowly brush past his robes.
Lu Ming’s expression changed slightly.
Before he could react further, Lu Yang’s palm had already struck lightly against his wrist.
A sharp numbness instantly spread throughout Lu Ming’s arm, and his attack trajectory collapsed immediately.
The spectators’ expressions subtly changed, shocked by Lu Yang’s precise control over his movements.
Lu Ming gritted his teeth and forcefully twisted his body before sweeping his leg sideways.
Yet Lu Yang retreated casually once more, as if he had already predicted Lu Ming’s attack beforehand.
Gradually, the expressions of the surrounding cultivators became strange.
Because everyone could now see clearly that Lu Ming was being completely suppressed.
From beginning to end, he could not even touch Lu Yang’s clothes.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang’s movements grew increasingly smooth and natural.
Flowing Cloud Steps.
Shattering Bone Palm.
Both were ordinary clan martial techniques everyone present recognized easily, yet in Lu Yang’s hands, they displayed an entirely different feeling.
Every strike directly targeted flaws within Lu Ming’s movements.
*Bang!*
Lu Yang’s palm suddenly struck Lu Ming’s shoulder heavily.
A muffled sound rang out as Lu Ming staggered backward several steps painfully before barely stabilizing himself.
His face flushed red from anger and humiliation.
"Again!" He roared before rushing forward once more recklessly.
But this time, Lu Yang no longer continued avoiding.
His figure advanced instead, the distance between the two sides shortening instantly.
Before Lu Ming could react, Lu Yang’s fist had already smashed directly into his abdomen.
*Boom!*
Lu Ming’s eyes widened violently.
The air within his lungs was squeezed out sharply.
His body bent like a shrimp before another palm strike landed against his back.
*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*
A series of muffled impacts echoed continuously throughout the training grounds.
The surrounding spectators gradually fell silent.
Because the battle had already become completely one-sided.
Lu Ming could not even counterattack properly anymore, his movements becoming increasingly chaotic under Lu Yang’s relentless suppression.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang remained calm from beginning to end.
His attacks were neither flashy nor excessive, yet every strike landed precisely where Lu Ming’s defenses were weakest.
*Bang!*
Soon enough, Lu Ming’s body was sent tumbling across the ground heavily before crashing near the edge of the training grounds.
His face was bruised and bloodied, swollen like a pig’s head, and even his robes had become torn and dusty.
For a moment, absolute silence filled the surroundings.
Everyone stared blankly at the scene before them.
Lu Ming... had lost.
And he had lost completely, utterly.
He had been beaten thoroughly from beginning to end without possessing any ability to retaliate, like a child being beaten up by an elder.
Lu Yang slowly withdrew his hand before standing quietly in place.
His breathing remained steady without the slightest disorder.
Several physicians hurried forward quickly alongside Lu Ming’s followers who rushed over in panic.
"Young master!"
"Young master Lu Ming!"
The surrounding mortal branch descendants looked toward Lu Yang with complicated expressions.
For years, the mortal branch had always remained suppressed beneath the main line descendants.
Yet now, Lu Yang had defeated one of the most famous main line geniuses publicly and thoroughly.
Many people felt an indescribable sense of exhilaration inwardly, their blood boiling.
Meanwhile, several main line descendants watching from afar revealed ugly expressions.
Lu Yang naturally noticed all those gazes clearly, but he did not care at all.
From the very beginning, he had never placed Lu Ming in his eyes truly.
A child remained a child in the end, even if the other party possessed decent talent.
As for offending the main line further?
Lu Yang understood this point clearly already.
But he also understood something else.
That was, the truly powerful figures within the Lu Family did not care about childish conflicts.
The Spirit Awakening Realm elders only cared whether the family itself benefited.
And right now, Lu Yang’s value far exceeded Lu Ming’s.
This was the cruelty of the cultivation world.
Most likely, Lu Ming’s elder father would not blame him at all afterward. Instead, Lu Ming himself would probably suffer punishment for losing so miserably.
Just as Lu Yang expected, from that day onward, the younger main line descendants completely stopped provoking him openly.
Many even deliberately avoided him whenever they crossed paths.
Whether this was a good thing or not, he did not know, but at least, he could enjoy his peace for the time being.
