After dealing with Tang Xiao and Ghost Leopard Douluo's people, Yang Xiong didn't dwell on the matter and immediately threw himself into the construction of the Body Sect.
Both Thunderclap Gorge and the Thunder Nine Peaks were excellent places for cultivation, especially for honing Body martial souls.
Based on his past experience in body training and incorporating some martial arts cultivation methods from Earth/Blue Star, Yang Xiong created various training environments. These primarily involved intense physical exercises to strengthen every part of the body.
For example, following the designs used by martial artists on Earth, Yang Xiong set up plum blossom stakes, bronze man alleys, iron sand palm training, weighted extreme cross-country running, and pushing iron balls. Each method was designed to hone the body and improve physical fitness.
It was clear that within the Body Sect, improving physical fitness was the top priority.
To fully utilize the geographical advantages, a lightning pool was even constructed at the outer edges of Thunderclap Gorge. This pool suppressed one's soul power and martial soul, subjecting the body to endless electrical stimulation, making it stronger.
Additionally, various weapons were specially prepared to help individuals master more combat techniques.
With this, the rough framework of the Body Sect was established. Yang Xiong's next main goal was to research the specific methods for achieving the secondary awakening of Body martial souls.
…
One day, Yang Xiong sat alone in the main hall. Not long after, someone entered the hall.
This person was none other than Huo Wu.
Compared to five years ago during their encounter at the Soul Master Tournament, Huo Wu now appeared even more radiant and alluring. She seemed to have shed her former pride and had matured significantly.
After entering the hall, Huo Wu gave a slight bow: "Greetings, Sect Leader. I'm not sure why you've summoned me."
Although Yang Xiong had known Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu for a long time, and their relationship had outwardly been good, there was now a vast gap in both strength and status between them.
Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu were merely leaders of advanced soul master academies, while Yang Xiong was now the leader of a sect. Possessing the strength of a Title Douluo and commanding numerous other Title Douluos, he was effectively a regional overlord.
Yang Xiong nodded slightly: "Huo Wu, I specifically called you here to ask something. What do you think of the Body Sect?"
Huo Wu thought for a moment before replying: "Sect Leader, I believe the Body Sect is excellent. The Four Elements Academy can study and train peacefully within the Body Sect, gaining access to better cultivation methods. Sometimes, even experts at the Title Douluo level personally teach us. All of us have benefited greatly."
Yang Xiong smiled: "We're peers; there's no need to be so formal. You can treat me as a friend."
Huo Wu hesitated: "That might not be appropriate. There are still differences in status among everyone in the Body Sect, and I shouldn't break the sect's rules."
Yang Xiong couldn't help but chuckle: "Why can't you be like Feng Xiaotian? That guy is full of confidence and rebellious. He even plans to challenge me in the future."
Hearing this, Huo Wu was momentarily speechless. Feng Xiaotian had always been carefree and excelled at making friends. Among the members of the Elemental Academy, he had the best relationship with Yang Xiong.
Yang Xiong continued: "Miss Huo Wu, I mainly want to ask how you feel about the inner sect of the Body Sect. As core disciples, you should understand the sect's structure and composition. Several peaks among the Thunder Nine Peaks remain unclaimed. I hope the Elemental Academy will produce more powerful individuals in the future, who can become the true core members and elders of the Body Sect."
Huo Wu quickly responded: "Sect Leader, Xiaotian's strength is exceptional. Not only does he possess innate full soul power, but he has also already reached the Soul Emperor level. From the looks of it, he will undoubtedly become an elder of the sect in the future."
Yang Xiong stared intently at Huo Wu: "Huo Wu, your personality has changed. Back then, you were so strong-willed. How is it that after falling in love with Feng Xiaotian, everything revolves around him now?"
"I remember that five years ago, your soul power was only one level lower than Feng Xiaotian's. But in these five years, your soul power has only increased by eleven levels, while Feng Xiaotian is already at level sixty-one, having improved by seventeen levels. Is this a difference in talent or something else?"
Hearing this, Huo Wu was deeply shocked. She had always considered herself a genius, but since falling in love, she seemed to have devoted more of her attention to Feng Xiaotian.
During the Soul Master Tournament, Huo Wu was already at level forty-three, while Feng Xiaotian was only at level forty-four. Keep in mind that Feng Xiaotian is four or five years older than Huo Wu, and for soul masters, the period before age twenty-five is the true golden age of cultivation.
Five years later, Feng Xiaotian had reached level sixty-one, while Huo Wu was only at level fifty-four—two levels lower than Shui Bing'er, who was now at level fifty-six.
Hearing this, Huo Wu felt a bit ashamed and ultimately replied helplessly:
"Sect Leader, my innate soul power is much lower than Xiaotian's. He possesses the rare innate full soul power."
Yang Xiong shook his head: "In terms of talent, you are actually superior to Feng Xiaotian."
"Although Feng Xiaotian has innate full soul power and a rare top-tier variant beast martial soul, his martial soul, the Stormwind Doubleheaded Wolf, still falls short compared to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and the Hao Tian Hammer."
"As for you, it's quite the opposite. Your martial soul is your shadow, which is a part of your body—a Body martial soul, one of the core elements of the Body Sect in the future. Moreover, your martial soul has a unique fire attribute, making it an exceptional Body martial soul."
"You must know that my innate soul power was only at level six, while yours was even higher than mine. In the past, you simply used the wrong cultivation methods. This is far from your limit."
Hearing Yang Xiong's words, Huo Wu was deeply shocked. Though she had always believed herself to be talented and was extremely proud, she had never imagined that her talent could surpass Feng Xiaotian's.
"Sect Leader, why are you telling me this? Do you have some other purpose?"
Yang Xiong shook his head: "Since the Elemental Academy has joined the Body Sect, you will all eventually be our own people. Besides myself, the Body Sect needs strong individuals with Body martial souls."
"You are the most talented among all the Body martial soul users I've met, and you have the greatest potential. With the right cultivation methods, your future is limitless. It's even possible for you to surpass Feng Xiaotian."
In truth, Yang Xiong had recently conducted extensive evaluations. Although the sect had absorbed dozens of disciples with Body martial souls, their talents were generally average, and none possessed an exceptional Body martial soul.
Even with diligent cultivation, their upper limits might only reach the Soul Sage or Soul Douluo level, barely scraping into the Title Douluo level at best. However, if Yang Xiong could master the true method for the secondary awakening of Body martial souls and someone could achieve the Gold-level awakening, becoming a Super Douluo or even an Ultimate Douluo would be possible.
Huo Wu was the most talented Body martial soul user Yang Xiong had ever encountered. Even without a secondary awakening, she could reach the level of an ordinary genius.
If Huo Wu could achieve a secondary awakening, especially at the Gold level, she might even reach the level of a top-tier Title Douluo, or possibly an Ultimate Douluo.
While the Body Sect currently appeared very promising, it lacked both depth and true powerhouses. Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian, however, had the potential to become pillars of the Body Sect in the future. Their talents far surpassed those of Yang Wudi and others.
Body martial souls were the most difficult to inherit among all martial souls, as children rarely inherited them.
Given this situation, Yang Xiong planned to establish a unique inheritance system within the Body Sect through a master-disciple relationship. This way, even if his descendants did not possess Body martial souls, the sect's survival would be ensured.
Similarly, if each generation produced true powerhouses, the sect would have a safeguard, ensuring the safety of the families that followed him. At the very least, the martial soul legacy wouldn't disappear after ten thousand years.
After hearing Yang Xiong's words, Huo Wu was somewhat dazed. She had never expected Yang Xiong to place such high regard on her and her martial soul.
Huo Wu gritted her teeth: "Sect Leader, what should I do? What must I sacrifice to become stronger?"
Yang Xiong smiled: "Huo Wu, there's no need to be so nervous. Since you are now a member of the Body Sect, receiving education from the sect is expected. However, I hope you will accept me as your master and make protecting the sect and its legacy your lifelong goal. Only then can I rest assured."
"Of course, this is a sudden matter. You can take some time to consider it. I hope you won't disappoint me."
Huo Wu nodded and left, still visibly shaken by Yang Xiong's words.
The news of Yang Xiong wanting to take Huo Wu as his disciple quickly spread among the sect's higher-ups, shocking everyone. After all, Yang Xiong was only twenty years old, while Huo Wu was several years older. Why would he suddenly want to take on a disciple?
Even the five elders were puzzled. Within the sect, Huo Wu wasn't the most talented, and she was older, with her own family backing her.
Nevertheless, no one raised any objections. Given Yang Xiong's talent and decisiveness, no one dared question his decision.
Feng Xiaotian, however, came to Yang Xiong immediately.
Feng Xiaotian's expression was grim: "Yang Xiong, I thought of you as a brother. How could you suddenly want to take my girlfriend as your disciple? This makes me a whole generation lower than you. How will I face others in the future?"
Yang Xiong chuckled: "Brother Feng, do you really care about generational rankings? Isn't Huo Wu everything to you, even more important than anything else?"
Feng Xiaotian quickly interjected: "I'm willing to sacrifice anything for Huo Wu. But couldn't you have informed me beforehand about taking her as your disciple?"
"I worked hard to get the Four Elements Academy to join the Body Sect. If it weren't for my efforts, my father and those stubborn elders wouldn't have joined so easily."
Yang Xiong smirked: "Brother Feng, are you afraid? I have high expectations for Huo Wu. If one day her soul power surpasses yours, your reputation might suffer."
Feng Xiaotian looked indignant: "How could that happen? I've only been letting Huo Wu win in the past. In the last five years, I've worked hard and trained diligently, which is why I've reached the Soul Emperor level so quickly."
Yang Xiong smiled: "I hope you can say the same thing five or even ten years from now. If you can, then our Body Sect will truly flourish."
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)