"Battle techniques…"
Jiang Jue's eyes flickered slightly. He hadn't come to the Body Sect to relax; battle techniques were precisely what he needed now to strengthen himself further.
The Body Sect's battle techniques required merging one's qi and blood with soul power to attack—something somewhat similar to Mu En's Sovereign's Descent.
The difference was that one fused qi and blood with soul power, while the other fused spiritual force with soul power. But both had the same wondrous effect.
Jiang Jue recalled that during the second Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, Long Aotian had used his battle technique to resist the effects of Huo Yuhao's Sovereign's Descent.
"Let me tell you, the battle techniques of our Body Sect are in no way weaker than soul skills."
Du Bu Si, seeing Jiang Jue's interest, curled his lips into a faint smile and continued:
"The human body has infinite potential. Because of this, our Body Martial Souls have infinite possibilities. Compared to ordinary martial souls, we are far more likely to comprehend the mysteries of our bodies."
"When you begin cultivation, you'll understand."
Du Bu Si spoke in a cryptic tone, leaving Jiang Jue with an expectation.
"Yes, Sect Master."
Jiang Jue moistened his somewhat dry lips and replied softly, a brighter light returning to his eyes.
As the saying goes: the child who cries gets the candy.
Now, Jiang Jue realized just how true that was.
"Life is like a play, and a play is like life…"
As the scenery on both sides quickly retreated, Jiang Jue sighed inwardly.
Yes—this was the skill of an old stage actor.
Two days later.
The Body Sect.
"Cough, cough… why does this room reek so strongly of alcohol?"
Click!
The crisp sound of a door opening rang out, followed by a burly man stepping inside. The pungent smell of liquor made him frown immediately.
"Aotian, you can't keep living like this."
The man looked at Long Aotian, who lay on the floor dead drunk, eyes bloodshot, and spoke in a low, stern voice.
For a brief moment, a strange gleam flickered in his eyes, but he quickly hid it.
"Second Uncle, tell me… what's the point of living?"
Supporting himself with his arm, Long Aotian slowly dragged himself upright, his body swaying, steps unsteady, his voice full of despair.
That day, after seeing Jiang Jue and Weina leave together, Long Aotian thought he didn't care. But did he really not care?
His heart felt split open, an unbridgeable chasm. No matter what he did, he couldn't mend it.
He had tried drowning himself in alcohol, but wine only deepened the sorrow.
Perhaps this was the deadly power of that unreachable white moonlight of youth.
For people are often haunted for life by what they could never obtain when they were young.
"Aotian, you have to stand back up!"
"You're the strongest of our Body Sect's younger generation. Where is your pride?"
The burly man shouted, his voice heavy. He was none other than Dragon Arm Douluo, who had appeared at the Body Sect meeting last time.
"Second Uncle, the past is past. Now is now. I am no longer the strongest of the younger generation in the Body Sect."
Long Aotian spoke dejectedly, eyes empty, tone defeated.
"You fought against Jiang Jue?"
Dragon Arm Douluo's brows, just relaxed, knit tightly again.
He knew why Aotian was in such a state, but he hadn't been told the details of that day. It was as if something had deliberately concealed the truth from him.
Since Long Aotian hadn't spoken of it, he hadn't pushed—but he never expected the impact to be this great.
"Yes. I'm not as good as him."
Long Aotian lowered his head. It was the first time words like these had left his mouth. Even Dragon Arm Douluo was momentarily stunned.
"Aotian, you're still so young. You can't just give up. The future holds limitless opportunities for you."
"A man shouldn't hang himself on a single tree. Beyond it lies an entire forest."
Dragon Arm Douluo moved closer, helped Aotian into a chair, and spoke calmly.
"Aotian, are you afraid of Jiang Jue?"
"No."
"Then why wallow in despair? Whatever you've lost—take it back with your own hands!"
"Do you know why the later generations surpass the earlier ones? Because the ones before stop fighting, stop striving."
Dragon Arm Douluo locked eyes with Aotian, giving his shoulder two heavy pats.
"But… but Weina, she…"
"You still have a chance. Weina is a princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire. If you truly don't want to give up, then fight to become the Sect Master."
Long Aotian froze at those words. Then, realization struck him.
Veena was the Heavenly Soul Empire's princess. And to put it bluntly, right now, the Heavenly Soul Empire was essentially tied to the Body Sect. If he became the next Sect Master… then Veena…
The more he thought, the hotter his eyes burned. He shot up from his chair, tense, staring at Dragon Arm Douluo.
"Second Uncle, please teach me!"
Seeing him like this, Dragon Arm Douluo's eyes flickered. He pressed Aotian back down into his seat.
"You are already the Young Sect Master. As long as you don't make a grave mistake, the Sect Master won't easily strip you of that title."
"Jiang Jue is just an outsider. In the Body Sect, he has no foundation. You, however—you have me, your Second Uncle, as your shield—"
"Hey! Hey! Second Uncle, don't say that! Those words could get you in trouble."
Hearing this, Long Aotian's lips twitched. He quickly interrupted.
"The Sect Master has forbidden any forming of factions within the sect. Second Uncle, be cautious!"
"Fine. But you understand my meaning. What you do with it, that's up to you."
Dragon Arm Douluo nodded, looking at Long Aotian's flushed face as he spoke softly.
"But never forget one thing: your strength is the root of everything. Don't mistake the branch for the tree."
"Yes, Second Uncle. I understand!"
Long Aotian gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, his eyes shining.
At that moment, something called ambition began to rise in his heart.
"Good. The Sect Master has returned. There will be a sect meeting later. I'll leave you to gather yourself. Stand tall again!"
Before leaving, Dragon Arm Douluo gave his shoulder another pat, then opened the door and stepped outside.
Standing in the doorway, a strange gleam flickered in his eyes, and the corner of his lips curled slightly.
"Aotian… don't blame your Second Uncle. Your heart is too weak. The position of Young Sect Master should belong to one worthy of it…"
The God Realm.
Inside the golden, resplendent committee hall.
A blue figure stood before the round table. With a casual wave of his hand, the light screen floating above the table spun rapidly.
Moments later, a vast blue light screen appeared before him, displaying scenes from the Douluo plane.
This man was none other than Tang San.
"Hm?!"
"How strange. In the God Realm, only a single day has passed, yet the fate of the Douluo plane has already shifted so drastically."
Tang San muttered in surprise. In his gaze, the child of destiny he had chosen earlier was rapidly losing his fate energy, while another newcomer's fate energy was growing stronger and stronger.
"Fight then, fight. Only the one who remains at the end deserves to be the heir of this God King…"
"Since the first child of destiny is gradually losing his fate, perhaps it's time to move Wutong elsewhere as well?"
Tang San's eyes flickered, the Sea God Trident at his brow glimmering faintly.
The weak… were not worthy of becoming Tang San's son-in-law.
(End of Chapter)