"I've met many geniuses before—but every one of them called me a genius."
That was Jin Peng's most direct impression of Jiang Jue.
"Elder Jin, I've already broken through to Rank Sixty. This time, I'm preparing to obtain my sixth spirit ring," Jiang Jue said with a smile as he looked at Jin Peng.
"Time really flies. The younger generation is truly to be feared," Jin Peng sighed, his face softening into a kindly smile.
At just thirteen years old, Jiang Jue had already reached the level of a Spirit Emperor—a speed of cultivation that was nothing short of astonishing. Across the entire continent, who could possibly compare to him?"Even Mu En and Long Xiaoyao in their youth couldn't match this," Jin Peng thought to himself."This is all thanks to the Sect Master—without him, our Body Sect wouldn't have such an outstanding seedling."
Over the past year, Jiang Jue had devoted most of his time to cultivating the Immaculate Golden Body, in order to stimulate a second awakening of his innate body martial soul.The essence of that technique lay in forsaking soul power and training purely in vital energy and physical strength.
"So, Xiao Jiang," Jin Peng asked gently, stroking his long beard, "have you decided where you'll be getting your spirit ring?"
"Elder Jin, I plan to go to the Sunset Forest, within the Heavenly Soul Empire's borders," Jiang Jue said, his gaze firm.
"Oh? Why there?" Jin Peng raised an eyebrow in confusion."The spirit beasts in the Sunset Forest are of lower quality than those in the Star Dou Great Forest. Our Body Sect has more than enough strength to take you there to hunt one—you don't need to waste time searching in a place like the Sunset Forest."
But Jiang Jue only shook his head slowly.
"Elder Jin, have you forgotten what happened the last time the Sect Master and I went to the Star Dou Great Forest? That one inside already gave his warning," Jiang Jue said meaningfully."Besides, the Sunset Forest is closer to our sect."
Of course, his real purpose for going there was the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, so there was no way he would change his destination.
"That's fine too," Jin Peng said after a pause. "You can just stay here in the sect to cultivate. I'll send someone to capture a suitable spirit beast from the Star Dou Great Forest for you."
"Elder Jin, I've been training inside the sect for over a year now. Besides obtaining the spirit ring, I also want to get out and see the world—gain some experience," Jiang Jue said seriously, looking Jin Peng in the eye.
"I see…" Jin Peng frowned slightly at the young man standing tall before him. The hand stroking his beard came to a stop.
But Jiang Jue's eyes were full of firm resolve, and even a faint spark of expectation.
Lang Ya and Yu Tao stood silently nearby, pretending to be statues, not daring to speak.
"Well, it's true," Jin Peng thought. "We can't keep him in the sect forever. A true genius of the Body Sect shouldn't grow up in a greenhouse."
After all, the lesson of Long Aotian was right before his eyes. Long Aotian spent all day locked up in his room cultivating, sometimes not stepping outside for days.To Jin Peng, that was a sign of an immature mindset—raised too safely within the sect, untested by the outside world's hardships.
"Very well then. I'll assign someone to accompany you," Jin Peng finally said with a nod.
He didn't even consider the possibility that Jiang Jue might try to run away. After more than a year of observing him, he understood the boy's character.Although Jiang Jue acted decisively and sometimes ruthlessly, he was not the type to be ungrateful or treacherous.
And besides—within the Body Sect, Jiang Jue already had everything he could want: resources, respect, and even the potential to become the next Sect Master.There was no reason for him to flee.
Hearing Jin Peng's words, Jiang Jue's heart leapt with joy. Without showing it, he cast a subtle glance at Yu Tao.
Yu Tao immediately caught the signal, stepped forward, and said with a grin,"Elder Jin, second brother and I are willing to escort Jiang Jue to obtain his spirit ring."
"Hahaha, good! Then the three of you shall go together." Jin Peng laughed heartily. Of course, he had noticed their little exchange.
Lang Ya and Yu Tao were both Soul Douluo, and both were capable of achieving a second awakening of their body martial souls. Together, even an average Titled Douluo might not be their match.Since he estimated Jiang Jue's sixth spirit ring would be around 70,000 to 80,000 years, Jin Peng was quite confident in letting the three go.
"Thank you, Elder Jin. Oh, and this is for you," Jiang Jue said with a slight smile, walking forward and retrieving a small golden booklet from his storage ring.
It was the secret manual of the Immaculate Golden Body—the same one Jin Peng had given him before.
"Oh, you didn't need to return this. I nearly forgot I even gave it to you," Jin Peng said, waving his hand. "You can keep it yourself."
"This is far too valuable. Please, Elder, take it back," Jiang Jue insisted, handing the booklet to him again.
"You, you—still so polite with this old man." Jin Peng chuckled.
Jiang Jue simply smiled and said nothing.
"Very well. Pack your things and set out soon. The sooner you go, the sooner you'll return," Jin Peng said, a flash of golden light making the booklet vanish into thin air."Lang Ya, Yu Tao, you two must ensure Jiang Jue's safety."
"Yes, Elder Jin," both men answered in unison.
Moments later, Jiang Jue and his two companions stepped out of Jin Peng's chamber.
"I just hope the Sect Master can break through soon," Jin Peng murmured, rubbing his temples. Over the past year, he had been managing all of the sect's affairs—large and small.He couldn't deny he was tired.
But more than rest, what he truly hoped for was that Du Busi could finally break through to Limit Douluo. That was the future the Body Sect needed.
Five days later.
In the vast Sunset Forest, three figures moved among the trees.
Compared to the Star Dou Great Forest, the vegetation here was much sparser—mainly because the Sunset Forest lay at a higher latitude, filled mostly with cold-resistant coniferous trees.
"Just a bunch of hundred-year beasts… this place really is barren," Yu Tao muttered with a frown, glancing around.
They had been walking for nearly half an hour since entering, yet all they'd seen were low-level spirit beasts, none exceeding a thousand years.
"What's the rush? We're only in the mixed zone," Lang Ya said, glaring at him. The two kept Jiang Jue protected between them.
"No rush. We'll take our time," Jiang Jue said calmly, continuing forward.
He didn't know the exact location of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, but the Sunset Forest wasn't that large. Heading toward the core region would eventually lead them there.
Because the forest was thinly vegetated, they moved swiftly, weaving deeper through the trees, which grew thicker and denser as they went.
Then suddenly—"Hmm?" Jiang Jue stopped, a flash of cold light flickering in his eyes.
"A spirit beast is approaching—flying type, extremely fast. Estimated age: ten thousand years," Lang Ya said in a deep voice, his spiritual power rippling outward like waves.
"Good! I was getting bored," Yu Tao said eagerly, his right arm turning a bronze hue.
"No need," Jiang Jue said softly. "Let me test my newly perfected Immaculate Golden Body."
The next instant, an aura of spiritual power no weaker than Lang Ya's burst outward from him, blanketing the surroundings.
"Second brother?" Yu Tao asked, glancing at Lang Ya.Seeing Lang Ya shake his head, he lowered his arm and stood guard beside Jiang Jue.
A sharp, piercing cry echoed—A flash of emerald light streaked through the forest, its speed far exceeding that of a normal ten-thousand-year bird-type beast. The air itself seemed to tear around it.
"That's… an Emerald Demon Bird?" Jiang Jue's eyes locked onto the creature.
Its entire body shimmered like jade, wings narrow and translucent enough to show faint vein patterns beneath.And its eyes—blood-red and vicious—were filled with killing intent and a hunger for brains.
(End of Chapter)