Lan Xuan'yu lay prone on the ground, wailing. Around him, snowflakes seemed to flutter down.
"No! Xiuxiu!!!"
A single thought popped into everyone's heads.
...He really must be mentally ill.
Finally, even Wang Yan couldn't stand to watch any longer. He stepped in once more, knocking him unconscious and carrying him away. It was truly too embarrassing...
VIP Room No. 2
Having obtained the God Sealing Altar, Xiao Hongchen actually calmed down. He solemnly handed it over to Elder Ma: "Elder Ma, this supreme treasure is a complete hot potato. I'll have to trouble you to return immediately and hand it over to my grandfather. As long as it enters the Illustrious Virtue Hall, I'd like to see who else dares to eye it."
Elder Ma nodded and said, "That is only right. We must remain as low-key as possible. I will return immediately through the Illustrious Virtue Hall's secret channels in Star Luo City."
"Good! Then I'll leave it to you!"
Xiao Hongchen clenched his fists, an endless fighting spirit burning within his heterochromatic eyes.
I will prove to everyone in this world that I am the strongest genius!
The auction, teeming with undercurrents and hidden agendas, finally came to an end, but the various teams continued their matches during the day.
On Shrek's side, with the powerful support of Gong_yang Mo, the return of the Ice-control Soul King Ling Luochen, and the addition of the Evil Fire Phoenix Soul Emperor Ma Xiaotao, the strength of the three official members was crushing for most teams, even without Huo Yuhao having to take action.
After defeating Dou Ling Royal Academy, Shrek Academy successfully advanced to the quarter-finals.
Whether it was by the grace of fate or not, their opponents for the quarter-finals this time were none other than Zhengtian Academy.
Zhengtian Academy couldn't win before; now that the three members like Ma Xiaotao had fully returned, they naturally stood even less of a chance.
There wasn't much to say about a "noob-stomping" match; Shrek advanced into the semi-finals.
On the other hand, the Star Luo National Academy side was quite interesting. As the vice-captain, Dai Yueheng participated in almost every battle. With his cultivation as a six-ring Soul Emperor, he was essentially invincible. Coupled with that signature White Tiger martial soul, he actually garnered quite a few fangirls among the audience.
As for Dai Huabin... with a cultivation of a mere three rings, he could only sit on the preparatory team's bench, biting his handkerchief as he watched his "dear elder brother" slaughter in all directions.
"Boom!"
Dust billowed as Dai Yueheng settled his opponent with extremely brutal methods. Retracting those sharp tiger claws, he let out a furious roar toward the sky, his six optimally configured soul rings flashing with powerful light.
This majestic and domineering scene immediately triggered screams from many young girls.
"Lord Dai Yueheng, we love and respect you, koya!"
"Ah... Lord Dai Yueheng! I want to give birth to your little monkeys!"
Dai Yueheng did not respond to the girls' fervor. His domineering and awe-inspiring gaze swept across the other academy teams, lingering specifically on Shrek Academy, and especially on Huo Yuhao, for a while longer.
The tiger is the lord of a hundred beasts; who dares touch its wrath?
Even someone as proud as Xiao Hongchen felt his scalp tingle under Dai Yueheng's gaze.
A White Tiger Soul Emperor is truly terrifying to such an extent.
But when Huo Yuhao saw Dai Yueheng's gaze, he simply gave him a "Are you an idiot?" eye-roll, making Dai Yueheng feel the frustration of throwing a punch into a bale of cotton.
Finally, the top four were Shrek Academy, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Engineer Academy, Star Luo National Academy, and the Heaven Dou Empire's Di'ao Academy.
Di'ao? Dio? This name was truly strange.
The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Duel Great Competition had reached this point and was nearing its end—and the end meant the arrival of the climax, because this was when the audience could see the "river of blood" they most desired.
To allow the audience to better appreciate the matches and to ensure the competing members could fight in their best states, it was decided that the semi-finals would take place in two days.
"Hmm?"
On the way back to the hotel, Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow and looked up at a spot not far away.
There were two quite distinctive people. Their looks were the kind you wouldn't find just by walking down the street. One had a particularly large head, like a big-headed doll; the other's right arm was extremely thick and muscular, almost twice the size of his left arm.
The big-headed doll kept his eyes closed, seemingly not needing them to see the road, but Huo Yuhao could faintly sense an extremely profound spiritual power from him—at least at the same level as himself, the Spirit Abyss Realm.
[I flipped through Douluo 3; Spirit Abyss Realm spiritual power is basically standard for a Soul Douluo, while Spirit Domain Realm is standard for a Limit Douluo (spiritual domains aside). In the era of Douluo 2, spiritual power wasn't as emphasized, but the people from the Body Sect should value it more than Shrek. Plus, since their martial soul is their own body, it's normal for Lang Ya to have Spirit Abyss Realm spiritual power. Zhang Lexuan already has a 100,000-year soul ring and is a genius herself, so she should be in the Spirit Abyss Realm too.]
The big-headed man seemed to notice Huo Yuhao's gaze. He slowly opened his eyes, nodded kindly toward Huo Yuhao, made a "please" gesture, and then the two figures disappeared one after the other.
Traveling with him, Zhang Lexuan also noticed the anomaly and asked in a low, wary voice, "Yuhao, what's going on?"
Huo Yuhao blinked a couple of times. "Well... they're probably here to recruit me."
"Huh?"
Huo Yuhao smiled. "Teacher Lexuan, you guys head back first. I'll go have a chat with them."
Hearing this answer, Zhang Lexuan's heart stirred. Recalling what Huo Yuhao had said to her before, she gripped his shoulder.
After taking a heavy breath, Zhang Lexuan said calmly, "Alright, then be careful."
When Ma Xiaotao passed by Huo Yuhao, she seemed to want to say something, but Huo Yuhao shook his head slightly, giving her a reassuring smile.
Only after Zhang Lexuan and the others entered the Star Emperor Hotel did Huo Yuhao walk into the spacious lobby alone.
In the lounge area of the lobby, there were several sofas for guests to rest. The two men who had disappeared earlier were sitting there, seemingly waiting for someone.
When Huo Yuhao sat opposite them, the big-headed man opened his eyes. His gaze was very peculiar—extraordinarily gentle. Although not as beautiful as Huo Yuhao's eyes, they made it impossible to feel any desire to fight.
Huo Yuhao gave a calm smile. "Gentlemen, what business do you have with me?"
The man with the exceptionally large right arm couldn't help but ask, "Little guy, aren't you afraid we might harm you?"
Huo Yuhao shrugged. "This is the territory of the Star Luo Empire's imperial family. If you two want to cause trouble, you should be the ones worried. Besides... you didn't seek me out to harm me; otherwise, why go to all this trouble?"
The big-headed man smiled warmly. "How clever. Truly a fine prospect for my Body Sect! Let me introduce myself first. My name is Lang Ya, and this is my brother Yu Tao. We are here to take you home."
Huo Yuhao tilted his head. "Home?"
Lang Ya said solemnly, "We come from the Body Sect. The Body Sect is the home of all soul masters who possess a body martial soul. Since your martial soul is your eyes, you are a part of the Body Sect. Since we have found you, we naturally must take you home."
As expected!
Huo Yuhao naturally knew of the Body Sect; it was also the top sect that Baili Du had recommended he join back then.
Huo Yuhao thought for a moment and asked, "What are the benefits of me joining the Body Sect?"
These two were clearly led by the man named Lang Ya; that Yu Tao looked more like a "muscle" type character.
Lang Ya said, "Your martial soul is your eyes, but it is of the spiritual attribute. This is different from Gu Tong... if I'm not mistaken, your martial soul isn't just your eyes, but a combination of eyes and brain—the highest tier of body martial soul!"
"However..." Lang Ya hesitated for a moment, "your martial soul doesn't seem to have fully awakened, because when you release it, the phantom of a brain doesn't appear."
"???"
This actually surprised Huo Yuhao. His Spirit Eye martial soul was actually eyes plus the brain? Even he didn't know that.
Then Lang Ya spread his palms somewhat helplessly. "It's also possible my judgment is wrong. After all, I still can't tell what your third and fourth soul skills are. I can only guess that the first two should be detection-type and can be shared with others, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to react to the attacks in the soul tool ray zone; and there's one related to simulation. I wonder if I guessed correctly?"
Huo Yuhao looked at this "big-headed doll" with some surprise. As expected of the Body Sect, not simple at all!
He began to feel a bit more anticipation toward this "Number One Mysterious Sect" in the world.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's surprise, Lang Ya struck while the iron was hot: "I've said so much but haven't asked yet. Little friend Huo Yuhao, are you willing to return to the Body Sect with us? With your talent, in less than twenty years... no, not even ten years, I am certain the entire soul master world of the continent will be shaken because of you."
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "That's just empty talk. There was once a sect leader who pestered me all day, painting grand visions, saying their sect would definitely return to the heights of the world's number one sect and that I would be some 'Master of Restoration'... but I still want to know, what practical things can I get by joining the Body Sect?"
Yu Tao seemed to be getting impatient, his large fist seemingly crackling with exploding air currents, but Lang Ya continued to explain patiently.
Geniuses are always different from ordinary people.
"Little friend Huo Yuhao, although you are studying at Shrek Academy, you must have heard something of the Body Sect's deeds, right?"
Huo Yuhao nodded silently. "Not much. After all, your sect has always been secluded, and Shrek has a grudge against the Body Sect. They wouldn't exactly beautify their rivals."
Lang Ya took a deep breath, his voice turning heavy. "In the past, body martial soul masters suffered no small amount of mockery and cold looks from ordinary soul masters because of their physical abnormalities. They classified us as outcasts, even viewing us as Evil Soul Masters, and under the leadership of Shrek Academy, they even rose up to crusade against us..."
Huo Yuhao subconsciously looked at Lang Ya's head and Yu Tao's arm, nodding thoughtfully.
"Later, the First Ancestor founded the sect, establishing the Body Sect to widely recruit disciples with body martial souls. Only then did everyone settle down and receive normal treatment. So, when we say all body martial soul masters in the world are disciples of our Body Sect, it is no lie, because only the Body Sect truly holds the 'body passwords' of soul masters. Your martial soul hasn't undergone its second awakening yet; you haven't been able to fully experience the true power of a body martial soul. Come back with us, and the first thing we'll do is help you truly complete your martial soul's second awakening."
Then Lang Ya gave a signal. Yu Tao very calmly raised his right arm—upon it were four purple and four black, eight soul rings!
Huo Yuhao's pupils shrank slightly. He knew Lang Ya was telling him that the Body Sect also had a way to evolve soul rings.
Then Yu Tao gave a slight smile, and without knowing how he did it, that thick right arm of his returned to normal size.
"This is?"
This was something Huo Yuhao couldn't quite understand, but Lang Ya smiled calmly and didn't explain further. "As I said, only the Body Sect truly masters the soul master's body passwords. As for the rest, sorry, I can't say too much. I can only tell you after you join the Body Sect. But I can guarantee you that what you can learn at the Body Sect is definitely more than what you can learn at Shrek!"
Huo Yuhao nodded slightly and said flatly, "We'll talk after the competition ends."
No rejection, but no agreement either—that meant there was a chance.
"No, you have to come with us now!"
The hot-tempered Yu Tao frowned and stood up abruptly. He extended his right hand; the arm that was originally normal-sized suddenly became thick again. It stretched out naturally, almost instantly touching Huo Yuhao's shoulder.
"Ah..."
As if he had touched an electric current, Yu Tao's right hand snapped back. On his palm, a bloody gash had appeared.
Huo Yuhao, his expression cold, slowly lowered the Elucidator in his hand. "Who gave you permission to touch me?!"
Yu Tao's face was pale. Even though he hadn't released his martial soul, as a member of the Body Sect, his right arm was his martial soul!
Huo Yuhao hadn't even used his martial soul, yet he had broken the defense of his right arm with a single sword strike...
"Kid, you..."
Lang Ya quickly pulled his brother back. "Yu Tao, do not be rude!"
Huo Yuhao looked at Lang Ya with an unfriendly expression. "Senior Lang Ya, it seems the Body Sect isn't quite as 'close as family' as you say."
Lang Ya annoyed-ly slapped Yu Tao on the head and bowed slightly in apology. "Forgive us, little friend Yuhao. My brother was rude; I apologize on his behalf. Just as you said, after this competition ends, we will come find you, and we can talk in detail then."
Then Lang Ya pulled him and walked out.
"Second Brother...!"
"Haven't you been embarrassing enough?!"
He seemed to fear this "Second Brother" of his greatly, keeping his head down and not daring to speak along the way.
Watching their departing backs, Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes.
From Yu Tao's actions just now, it was clear that the Body Sect always did as they pleased without regard for consequences.
That is a path to disaster... should he really join such a sect?
However, the title "Home of Body Soul Masters" was indeed very attractive, making Huo Yuhao feel a bit of longing.
I'll maintain contact and see, after all, Baili Du did say I could join this sect.