It has been three years since Tang Yuan's first birthday. Since then, he has matured from a toddler to about a preschooler. He is four years old this year, but he has developed beyond that typical period. It seems that such is common even for unawakened soul masters.
Currently, Tang Yuan is sitting in the Clear Sky Clan's large library. He has managed to correct one of the biggest issues that had plagued him: not being able to understand the spoken language of the world. This is mainly thanks to the stories told to him at bedtime. At least at first, that was how he managed it.
Then he discovered the library of the clan. He had long ago been able to walk with ease. One day while exploring the halls of the clan he managed to find his goal. That was when he was three only a year ago. Since then he has spent hours in the library teaching himself to read. However, he has had help from his mother and maids as well.
Through effort, he has managed to begin reading. Of course, his reading is far from perfect and is, in fact, very bad. He manages to improve himself every day in his reading level. He read in his past life that the best way to learn a language is through practical experience.
Reading books is one of the most effective methods. It is also by far one of the most frustrating and demanding. It actually makes him feel his age with all the mistakes he makes. Yet even so his progress is also astounding. He makes fewer mistakes every day now.
Once more he is actually able to understand a good amount of the content. This is a critical boon for him to have. He can finally begin to accumulate knowledge of the world. Though he has all the knowledge of canon events from the Soul Land series. There is always the possibility of there being flaws in said knowledge.
Once more if he reveals his knowledge people will likely ask its origin. If he can find parts of this knowledge in books. Then that will grant the knowledge support, and make convincing people easier. Later on, he can go on a journey, and "conveniently" stumble upon a hidden legacy. A common event in cultivation stories that changes the course of people's lives.
Until then he can only attempt to find the information. He has met with some degree of success so far. There has also been a measure of failure.
The Soul Beast population is one such case. There is no mention of the ten fierce beasts at least yet. In fact, there are several vacancies in the soul beast encyclopedia itself. Including Evil Eyes, Ice Jade Scorpions, Mermaid Clan, and several others. Once more all of the books only have information on a hundred thousand-year beasts. There is no real knowledge of the beasts beyond it. Rather all of them are lumped together it seems.
Tang Yuan finds that there are in fact legends of such beasts. Beasts so powerful that they can kill a super Douluo easily. The most prominent being a massive Golden bear able to cleave mountains. A three-headed hellhound burning with flames like that of the flames of hell. Another tells of entering an entire forest of Demon Eyed Trees.
In terms of soul beast habits well the answers are really informative to Tang Yuan. In the series, the only real major habitats are Star Dou Forest, Extreme North, and Ocean. Well at least in this era of the continent. Those are the three well-known major ones.
Other habits exist in this era. There are several empires and Spirit Hall-controlled and tended forests. Yet those are small forests mainly for the first four rings. You can only find the decade, hundred, and millennial spirit beast within them. Even than the millennial year beasts are found in the core area. If they break through to ten thousand years then they are hunted down.
Those forests are only like a garden or a zoo in this world. There is still danger for those who enter of course. Yet that danger is kept to an incredibly reasonable level. Everyone who enters has to have permission to do so. The students are accompanied by a minimum of a spirit Elder usually multiple.
They are species of the wild true, but ones tamed by humanity. As a result, they are far far less dangerous than other habits. As a result, they also present far fewer opportunities in terms of options.
However, there are in fact rivals to those great territories. One in each of the four directions of the continent in fact. They are nicknamed together as the four extremes of the land as they are nicknamed. The Far North, The Burning South, The Eternal Forest, and the Endless Desert. Each one of them is a major unexplored soul beast habit of an extreme danger. Such that only outer areas are readily explored by those who enter.
The Far North and Burning South are considered to be especially dangerous. Tang Yuan knows about the Far North from Soul Land Two. The Burning South is basically its polar opposite of its counterpart. Where the Far North is a land of ice and snow. The Burning South is a land of fire and ash with sweltering heat as its counterpart is cold.
The Burning South is like a massive mountain range. A record from someone who visited the area says.
"It was a massive range of mountains like dragons roaring at the sky. Burning holes opened in many of them with liquid fire leaking from them. As if their blood is leaking from them to burn all of the land. A burning land where all things are flame, ash falls like snow."
Tang Yuan can't help but gulp at the sound of such a terrifying place. It honestly sounds like something straight out of Dante's Inferno. It's probably absolutely filled with powerful fire-type spirit beasts. Those beasts will get you if the magma doesn't, or the sheer sweltering heat. In other words a picture of hell on earth.
Tang Yuan reads to find that that is all the information about the Burning South. The information on the Far North is just if nor more scarce. Likely a result of the ice and snow blocking vision. At least if it doesn't kill the explorers in their tracks.
Knowledge of the Eternal Forest and Endless Desert is far better. At least compared to the other two habits. As a result of them being safer than the other two. At least safer by a moderate amount in consideration.
Both of them are exactly as they are called. The Endless Dessert is an endless fold of sand dunes and sand. The dangers are even greater than in a desert on Earth. The Sun is constantly shining down upon those who travel on it. Then at night it becomes freezing cold even to soul masters.
The Eternal Forest is similar to the Star Dou forest. A tropical rainforest environment with towering trees like skyscrapers. As a result of its positioning and climate, it suffers from constant storms. Storms are either daily events, or events that last for days.
Tang Yuan finds this information both informative, and shocking. He had absolutely no inkling that these habits existed. He wonders why that is? Is it just that the novel never went into them, or is it a difference between worlds?
As that question rings in his mind Tang Yuan finishes reading. He makes a list of the books he finished today, and the ones he hasn't. Tang Yuan then cleans up the area of the desk. Putting the books away on the shelves if possible.
Yet his short stature made that completely impossible. Being short had its advantages and disadvantages this is one of them. Tang Yuan grumbled privately to himself with a scowl on his face.
Then a hand takes the book from his reaching hand. The hand places the book on the shelf as it is supposed to be placed. As it does so he hears a voice behind him.
"Let me help little uncle." the voice is strong and deep though not unkind.
Tang Yuan is already aware of who it is from the voice. Though even then few among the clan come here anyway. From what he gathers most of them are muscle heads as the term is used. Plus only two people really call him that. He turns around, and sure enough, it is his nephew Tang Xiao.
"Hello, brother Xiao thank you for your help. How are you today?" Tang Yuan asks Tang Xiao referring to him as brother rather than nephew. He is much younger than him after all. It feels weird to call him a nephew.
Tang Xiao pats his uncle on the head. Tang Hao was the one who first called him little uncle. Since Tang Yuan had nothing against it the name stuck.
"You're welcome little uncle, and I'm doing fine." Tang Xiao answers him with a smile. Thinking that Tang Yuan is always a kind and humble child. "I see you're here for books against today."
"Yes, I read more about spirit beasts today. There were some interesting ones." Tang Yuan tells his old nephew with a smile shining with genuine interest. Attempting to act like a child often is simply unsuitable. So he decided to act as a child genius.
This is indeed a fantasy world so such things aren't impossible. At least not as impossible-seeming as on Earth. At the same time, it is also more dangerous in other ways. There are actually concepts of body snatching and possession to consider.
As a result, he tried to act normalish in his first years. That was not hard with him not being able to do much. Yet attempting to hide too much would instead seem suspicious. So he tries to make his actions as honest as possible when interacting with people. It's not hard in such a new world he experiences leading to genuine interaction.
He thinks this as he walks with his old nephew. They go on by one to the shelves to put the books back where they belong. Big Brother does not complain about having to help him in doing so. He is extremely caring of his family members and can be quite doting. This contrasts slightly with his appearance.
He is a two-meter-tall giant with the physique of a bear. His muscles are incredibly pronounced on his body easily showing his physical might. Yet his muscles are not in any way obscene in any way. If father is a rock then Tang Xiao is a rock or near.
He is a handsome fellow certainly. His black hair is kept short and neatly parted to the sides. His mustache is well-kept with a small beard on his chin. He is the picture of a well-dignified gentleman with a highly muscled physique. Seemingly in his early thirties to late twenties in appearance.
In fact, when he had first seen him Tang Yuan had mistaken his age. He had done the same with Tang Hao whom he believed to already be in his twenties. This as it turns out was a false first impression. Tang Xiao is in his mid-twenties, and Tang Hao is not even twenty.
This false impression originates from semi semi-common occurrence. That being a physical mutation or growth from certain events. Tang San's appearance changed due to martial soul evolution for example. Though that is the most extreme of examples as well.
Much more common is the mutation from absorbing soul rings. More accurately rings from spirit beasts with powerful bloodlines. Causing the body to age up during absorption sometimes.
Finally, the last book is placed on its shelf. His mind had been multitasking with his thoughts and walking. He had gotten rather good at that he notices idly.
"Thank you for your help big brother Xiao. I'm still too short to reach." Tang Yuan thanks him sincerely as his voice turns slightly annoyed at the end.
"It's fine little uncle it's no problem. You'll grow up soon enough." Tang Xiao says as he pats Tang Yuan's head. "That being said how did you get them down yourself?"
"The maids helped me with some of them. I sent them away afterward to have a break." Tang Yuan says an explanation.
"I see that sounds like you." Tang Xiao tells him. Thinking it's no wonder the servants all adore him amongst the clan.
Most people would absolutely take advantage of the high life. Having servants to do nearly anything you want is like a dream. Have them dress you, bathe you, feed you, and more. Yet Tang Yuan does not let himself do so often. Aware that such a mindset could lead to reliance.
So having put away all of the books he parts ways with Tang Xiao. Tang Xiao is going to return to his own reading. As the current clan heir, he seeks to further his knowledge. Tang Yuan knows that in the future Tang Hao will be acknowledged as the heir. Yet that has not yet occurred.
Tang Yuan walks down the halls of the clan fortress. It is definitely a massive complex fortress system. Portions of the clan complex are built on the mountain. Yet far more of it is carved into the mountain itself instead. As a result, the entire complex is made from carved dense stone.
It is truly monumental in the way it's made. Each hallway is made to seem like it was built for small giants. Reaching up to the shortest areas of four meters. There are hundreds of tunnels within the complex forming a maze. Made in such a way that those unfamiliar with navigating it would lose their way.
Tang Yuan had trouble at first navigating the tunnels alone. Now however he has a good feel for moving through the halls. At least to the locations he knows in the complex. Including the library, council hall, clan head room, and more.
It takes him about 30 minutes to walk to his quarters. His quarters are in the same overall area as his family. The main families area as it were in regard to the complex. The high-ranking elders have their own smaller sections for their families elsewhere.
He enters the hall section of his family quarters. The clan complex is basically like its own small city. District might be a better term for it though. The hall serves as the entrance to the area of the main family core members.
From the hall, Tang Yuan enters his own quarters. His quarters are rather large in form at the very least larger than an apartment. Divided into sections including a small living area for sitting. Then an entrance to the well-furnished bedroom. The bathroom is remarkably well furnished including plumbing. The most opulent aspect is the stone-carved bath in it. Finally, the bedroom is adjacent training meditation room for privacy.
This meditation room is Tang Yuan's destination at the moment. He quickly sits himself down in the center in a meditative posture. Then he begins to envision his mental palace in his mind. Still his old childhood room from his past life.
For years ago his mental palace has become easier to envision. He comes to live it is a matter of habit reinforcing it. There are times he can almost imagine walking through it himself. Yet those feelings are fleeting in their appearance.
Tang Yuan begins to add the newly discovered knowledge to his memory palace. He does so by assigning the knowledge as best he can to certain areas. Placing soul beast knowledge under a picture of animals or mythical beasts. The more real he makes the beasts or the more terrifying the better.
He has placed the knowledge of maps on an envisioned map. This map takes the form of a large table in his mind. This table is not a set thing, but something that changes. It changes as he discovers new geographical information and has done so at least a dozen times. This time he does not change anything on the table in terms of appearance.
Once he is finished envision and fitting his new knowledge to existing concepts. He then goes to the very start of his mental place, or rather its core. The memories of his previous life specifically the memories of his past family. In the form of pictures on the wall, and the most important moments.
He focuses on them reaffirming them in his mind as he does every day. Then he moves forward doing the same to every memory and part of the mind palace. He has done this every day since first establishing the palace in his mind. To ensure that the memories don't fade from here and to better record new ones.
Originally it took a number of hours to do this, and left him exhausted afterwards. The mental focus this requires is immense every time. Yet Tang Yuan notices his memories becoming stable every time. Thus having finished doing this he stands up and yawns. By his assessment, only two hours have passed since he started.
That is much faster than it was in the past. It used to take him at least twice that to complete it at the beginning. Most of the time he couldn't even finish before needing to sleep. Now he can always finish in half the time with a hundred percent completion.
Now with his mental work done, Tang Yuan turns to physical work. A more basic Saitama training routine of 20 sit-ups, squats, and push-ups. Plus running in place for a set amount of time. Then unleashing 200 punches, and then 200 kicks as well.
It's not the most extreme anime training plan from fiction. It's actually a fairly low-level one, yet it I what works currently. With his four-year-old body, it's what he is able to handle. A way to begin strengthening his body early. He can increase it as he grows older and stronger too.
Even then it takes him a long time to finish it. Especially after the exhausting effect of his mental exercise. Walking from the training room to his bathroom. He is not surprised to find the tub already full of hot water. The maids standing by were pouring the medical solution into it.
Tang Yuan strips down and enters the tub with little fanfare. Letting himself soak in the hot water already eases his muscles. Even as the herbs are mixing into the water transforming the entire bath. The bath will now help his body in its recovery and strengthening.
The herbs will help to ease the body's stressed muscles. This helps to prevent the accumulation of hidden injuries to the body. Another purpose of the mixture is to slowly help extract or purify the impurities of the body. Though that is a relatively slight effect that takes a long time to affect the body.
Tang Yuan allows himself to simply enjoy the bath. Even in his past life hot baths were one of his absolute favorite things. The size of the tub makes this more of a luxury than normal. The herbs make the bath incredibly relaxing and energizing as well.
Letting himself enjoy the bath for what feels like hours. Then Tang Yuan gets up as he feels he is in danger of falling asleep. He stands up and steps out of the tub as a maid hands him a towel. He wipes himself down with the towel to the point of dryness.
He takes a pair of sleep clothes from another of the maids. Putting it on his body while releasing a yawn. He then walks out of the bathroom to the living room.
He sits down on a chair in front of the table. The maids bring in a number of highly nourishing meals to his table. He quickly begins to dig into the dishes with gusto. He quickly works to fill his stomach taking enough time to savour the food.
The food is made from high-quality ingredients. Once more the seasoning and cooking technique are all good. The sheer quality of the ingredients themselves is the real winner though. As expected from a fantasy world with supernatural ingredients.
In no time Tang Yuan finishes his food with a sigh of contentment. He brings his wine to his mouth drinking a good gulp of it. Like the food, the wine is also medicinal in nature. Though that certainly does not make it any less good.
As Tang Yuan stands up from his chair stretching slightly while yawning. "That was delicious. Give my compliments to the chefs if you see them. Good job today girls thank you for your work, and good night." he tells them as he walks off to his room.
"Good night young master." the girls tell him as he walks away to the room. They all have slight smiles on their faces from his compliment. Then they work on cleaning up the area as he leaves.
Tang Yuan enters his room locking the door behind him. He then quickly enters his bed enjoying the softness of the bed. As he does the events of the day catch up to him quickly. He feels his eyes become heavy as he falls asleep. His dreams became peaceful with thoughts of the coming days.