Yang Xiong's face broke into a faint smile: "Teacher Lin, how is the Body Sect doing right now? Is everything running smoothly?"
Lin Gong chuckled: "You've already prepared for this long ago, haven't you? I'm just an old man with no family to lean on, while those four elders each have their own clans. However, over these years, thanks to the support of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, they've made quite a bit of money."
"Of course, as per your instructions, part of the earnings were reinvested into the sect's development, and another portion was allocated to the Body Academy—there wasn't much left in reserve."
"However, you need to understand something: each clan earns differently, and their profit margins vary. If contributions to the Body Sect are unequal, it could lead to future conflicts."
Yang Xiong shook his head: "I'm not worried about that. They're only together because of mutual benefit, and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect offers them rewards they can't refuse. No matter where they go, they won't find such lucrative returns or be treated with such importance."
Lin Gong nodded: "That's true. If it weren't for your status, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect wouldn't have paid such a high price to collaborate with the Body Sect. You should know that the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect isn't like other sects—it operates more like a business."
Yang Xiong quickly asked: "How is the Body Academy doing now?"
Lin Gong couldn't help but laugh: "So, what you're really concerned about isn't us old folks—it's the students with Body Martial Souls you recruited, right?"
Yang Xiong shook his head: "It's not the same. Right now, the Body Sect is nearly on track, but what we lack is depth and heritage—things that can only be addressed in the future. Those students with Body Martial Souls represent the true future."
Lin Gong nodded: "The Body Academy is doing fairly well. The major families are getting along relatively harmoniously. Currently, there are eighteen children with Body Martial Souls at the academy. Though their innate talent is average, my focus recently has been on training these children."
"Interestingly, though their talent may not match that of other children, after rigorous cultivation—what you call physical tempering and body refining—their cultivation speed is surprisingly fast. It seems you've truly discovered a method for cultivating Body Martial Souls."
Yang Xiong gave a self-deprecating smile: "We're still far from where we need to be. Cultivating Body Martial Souls isn't so simple. While basic physical tempering can accelerate their early cultivation, the gap in inherent talent remains insurmountable."
"Teacher Lin, you should know better than anyone that most students with Body Martial Souls have low innate soul power, which is the biggest challenge."
Lin Gong thought for a long time before speaking: "Xiao Xiong, do you know the true secret of Body Martial Souls?"
Yang Xiong replied: "After years of cultivation, I've learned a little, but it's still incomplete. Teacher Lin, you've witnessed the changes in my martial soul. The biggest difference between Body Martial Souls and ordinary martial souls is that Body Martial Souls grow alongside the body. As the body grows stronger, so does the martial soul."
Lin Gong shook his head: "It shouldn't be that simple, though. I've indeed witnessed the changes in your martial soul. There were two significant transformations—one in Dugu Bo's medicinal garden, and the other in Slaughter City. Although I didn't personally see your martial soul transform, I suspect you must have endured immense pain and peril during those times."
Yang Xiong confirmed: "That's correct. At first, Body Martial Souls are too ordinary, and innate soul power is too low. But after cultivation and transformation, they can truly rival top-tier martial souls. That's the secret behind founding the Body Sect."
Lin Gong sighed: "Well, as long as you have a plan, that's good enough. For now, the Body Sect is performing decently—I hope you've thought things through."
Yang Xiong suddenly remembered something: "By the way, Teacher Lin, why don't I see Teacher Zhao Wuji living in the inner sect anymore?"
Lin Gong looked at Yang Xiong with a strange expression: "You know Zhao Wuji's personality. Ever since you, Oscar, and Qin Shuang left, he's been incredibly bored. Recently, he went to Yunwu Mountain to train those students with Body Martial Souls in combat. Those kids have been suffering under him."
Yang Xiong was speechless: "This teacher Zhao sure has some ideas. My parents should be fine, right?"
Lin Gong responded helplessly: "Zhao Wuji said that conducting combat training at your house alone was too boring, so he spends most of his time living on Yunwu Mountain. However, he still trains your parents in combat every day."
"Though, your judgment is spot-on. Zhao Wuji's growth has been rapid. His soul power is already at level eighty-four, and there's a chance he might even surpass Bai He in breaking through to become a Title Douluo."
"He reached level eighty just half a year after you left. Yang Wudi and I went to the Star Dou Forest to help him hunt for a soul ring."
…
The two talked for a long time, covering all internal matters of the sect, as well as issues related to its development.
Currently, the Body Sect has over a thousand soul masters, and none of them are weak—at least, their combat abilities are solid. There's also good cooperation among the various types of soul masters. Overall, the sect's strength has surpassed that of the so-called lower four sects.
Moreover, the Body Sect keeps a low profile. Even outsiders are unaware that Lin Gong and Dragon Duke have broken through to become Title Douluos. Everyone only knows that the several families on Yunwu Mountain have some cooperation with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—they remain ignorant of the Body Sect's existence.
Lin Gong expressed some doubt: "Xiao Xiong, Yunwu Mountain is decent, but both its terrain and other aspects are average. There are no natural barriers or defenses. If we want to establish a top-tier sect, this place might not suffice."
Yang Xiong smiled: "Teacher Lin, you're worrying too much. I've already chosen the location for the new sect. Within three years, we'll move to a new place. Once we're there, it'll be perfect for everyone's cultivation."
Lin Gong stared at Yang Xiong, utterly speechless. This young man loved keeping secrets, and no matter how hard Lin Gong tried, he couldn't figure out where this place might be.
According to Yang Xiong, the new sect's location would not only have natural barriers but also be ideal for disciples' cultivation. Yet even someone as experienced as Lin Gong had no clue where it might be.
Yang Xiong thought for a moment before asking: "Teacher Lin, do you remember the place where we obtained our third soul ring in Sunset Forest?"
Lin Gong frowned: "Of course I remember. The terrain there was very peculiar, with a massive abyss. Even I didn't dare venture too deep—I always felt there was tremendous danger lurking within."
Yang Xiong continued: "Teacher Lin, do you remember the loud roar when we were leaving? It sounded like a mix of a bull's bellow and a dragon's roar. You hurried me away at the time—did you sense what kind of soul beast it might be?"
Lin Gong thought carefully before replying: "I'm not entirely sure, but if that soul beast isn't a hundred-thousand-year one, it's certainly close to that age."
Yang Xiong quickly followed up: "Teacher Lin, based on your perception at the time, what attribute do you think that soul beast had? Could it be fire-attribute?"
Lin Gong recalled his initial impressions and finally shook his head: "I'm not certain, but based on what I sensed back then, it was definitely fire-attribute. Unfortunately, given its habitat in that abyss, it likely possesses strong dark attributes as well. Why do you ask? Are you thinking of using it as your sixth soul ring?"
Yang Xiong nodded: "I want to find a top-tier fire-attribute soul beast for my sixth soul ring. I've reviewed all the records of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, and there aren't many high-level fire-attribute soul beasts on the continent, especially no hundred-thousand-year ones."
Lin Gong's face turned pale: "Are you insane? Do you know what a hundred-thousand-year soul beast represents? Even for a normal soul master, their ninth soul ring might not be able to absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. When I absorbed mine, it was an eighty-five-thousand-year soul beast, and that was already pushing my limits. And you're only at your sixth soul ring!"
Yang Xiong laughed: "Teacher, I have full confidence in my body. My fifth soul ring already exceeds forty-three thousand years. Absorbing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring for my sixth should be no problem."
Lin Gong stared at Yang Xiong as if looking at a monster: "Xiao Xiong, you're overestimating yourself. I admit your physical condition is extraordinary, perhaps the strongest I've ever seen—it's already comparable to top-tier Soul Sages."
"But over the years, I've observed that soul beasts undergo qualitative changes as they cross major age thresholds. For example, the differences between ten-year, hundred-year, thousand-year, and ten-thousand-year soul beasts aren't just about the color of their soul rings—their energy levels experience a qualitative leap."
"For instance, between thousand-year and ten-thousand-year soul beasts, the latter introduces soul impact, whereas even the most powerful thousand-year soul beasts won't exhibit that, regardless of how strong their bloodline is."
"And from what I know, there's another qualitative leap between ten-thousand-year and hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. This isn't just a simple increase in energy."
"If you were absorbing an eighth soul ring, I'd fully support you going for a hundred-thousand-year soul beast—even your seventh soul ring might handle it. But your sixth soul ring? That's far too early."
Yang Xiong carefully considered Lin Gong's words, comparing them to his own physical condition. Despite the warnings, he still believed he had a chance to absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring as his sixth.
After all, Du Busi, the founder of the Body Sect who lived ten thousand years later, also possessed a full-body martial soul. He was able to absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul beast as his seventh soul ring, and many others in the Body Sect could achieve the same.
But Yang Xiong had undergone unique opportunities for physical tempering—whether it was the ice-fire tempering in the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well or the blood river tempering in Slaughter City. These experiences far exceeded what Du Busi had gone through.
Yang Xiong's greatest advantage now was the *Asura Body* he cultivated after the blood river tempering. His current physique could undoubtedly withstand the energy of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
After much deliberation, Yang Xiong finally spoke: "Teacher Lin, you can test my current physical condition. Absorbing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring won't be a problem."
Lin Gong hesitated for a moment before reluctantly agreeing: "Alright, let's give it a try. I'm curious to see just how strong your body has become."
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