After a long seven-day journey, the Grand Elder and Chen Yi finally saw the majestic outline of Martial City. As the sect's current external base, the city thrived with the sect's power. Its towering walls shimmered with a metallic glow in the setting sun, faintly revealing a sense of immortality.
The first thing the Grand Elder did upon arrival was to go directly to the academy, where he approached the Second Elder and issued an order without greeting:
"Tonight, all the city elders are to attend an emergency council meeting in the main assembly hall."
The Second Elder, seeing the Grand Elder's travel-worn face yet noting the hint of joy and solemnity between his brows, realized something important was afoot and immediately arranged for the summons.
Relieved, the Grand Elder listened as the Second Elder reported on the academy's operations.
"Senior, since the Grand Martial Academy officially opened, the results have exceeded expectations. Not only have we attracted many excellent seedlings among civilian soul masters, but even the great and small nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire, as well as neighboring principalities and regions, have rushed to enroll their children."
Hearing this, the old man paused with his teacup, raising an eyebrow and joking lightly,
"Oh? Those troublemaking young nobles are coming in droves, and yet the academy hasn't been turned upside down by their 'virtues'?"
The Grand Elder knew all too well the arrogant nature of the Douluo Continent's noble children. Entering a relatively equal environment, it was amazing they hadn't caused a ruckus.
The Second Elder laughed.
"Haha, Senior, you may be surprised! At first, a few bold ones relied on their family backgrounds to form gangs, oppress civilian students, and even challenge academy rules. But I showed no mercy. Those with decisive evidence or serious offenses were directly expelled from the academy and the city, never to be employed again!"
"Most of the arrogant ones have been cleared out over the past months."
Chen Yi, listening from the side, thought to himself: Seeing how decisively our sect's elders act, those who were only 'expelled' were the lucky ones. The rest surely met a deeper fate at the hands of the sect's enforcers.
The Second Elder continued:
"Some families are left, but they are quite 'savvy'. When their juniors committed offenses, instead of making a scene, they mobilized the whole family to donate resources and wealth, apologized sincerely, and sponsored the academy's construction."
"Heh, as long as their attitude is genuine." The Grand Elder nodded. "Those resources will only be used to nurture our disciples, not wasted."
They cared little about whether the nobles were upset. The sect now far exceeded them in strength. Besides, Grand Martial Academy was always intended as a talent pool for the sect. How many of the noble children would actually enter the sect?
"That's right," the Second Elder added, smiling even brighter. "There's more good news. In less than three months since the academy opened, we've successfully recruited six talented soul masters with body martial souls! Their innate qualities vary, but this efficiency is more than ten times greater than our previous method of scouring the continent!"
Only one in ten thousand possessed an body martial soul, and recruitment was previously slow and difficult. The academy's platform had proved itself.
The Grand Elder smiled sincerely, but his eyes soon narrowed with a flash of caution.
"Six? That's a great gain. But I worry some may be spies or plants from rival powers. We must scrutinize them carefully."
The Second Elder smiled confidently.
"Senior, rest assured. We anticipated this and have thorough entrance exams and background checks. Besides, as you always say, once someone sets foot on our sect's territory, no hidden agenda can threaten us! Our sect has the means to turn any outsider into a brick for the sect's foundation."
The body sect had unique, effective means for transforming and controlling those with body martial souls.
…
After further discussion about academy operations and disciple training, night gradually fell. Soon, figures exuding dignified auras arrived at the sect's council hall in the city center, some by teleportation, others striding like dragons.
More than a dozen top-level elders gathered in the grand, solemn hall, each with curiosity and confusion about the sudden summons. Once everyone arrived, the Grand Elder—seated at the head—smiled mysteriously and spoke loudly:
"There's no need to guess. This time, I've called you all not for trouble, but… to distribute benefits!"
"Benefits?"
Everyone looked at each other, curiosity mounting.
Under their doubtful gazes, the Grand Elder flicked his sleeve. Instantly, six dazzling lights of various colors illuminated the hall, hovering like six little suns above the round table, their powerful energy fluctuations making the space tremble.
Six different soul bones spun slowly, radiating unmatched energy as they revealed their true forms before every elder.
"These are… soul bones?! Six of them?! Such intense energy! Luck is with us!"
Even as high-ranking members of the sect, they couldn't conceal their shock at the sight of six top-grade soul bones appearing at once. If these soul bones appeared elsewhere on the continent, a bloody storm would erupt.
As everyone stared in awe, the Grand Elder signaled for calm and proceeded to recount how he and Chen Yi had gone to Nuoding City, encountered Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, and finally killed Tang Hao. Of course, he omitted the intervention of the God Realm and the secret of the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
When the name "Tang Hao" and the news of his death were mentioned, the hall first fell into stunned silence, then erupted with emotion.
With a loud crack, Yang Wudi, seated to the left, shattered the corner of a sturdy ironwood table with his fist. He stood up, his body trembling, his tiger eyes blazing with long-held hatred.
"Tang Hao! That bastard! He caused a great disaster back then and vanished, leaving me to bear the brunt of the Spirit Hall's wrath. My clan nearly perished! Today, justice is served. Thank you, Grand Elder, for avenging us!"
Beside him, the burly Niu Gao slammed his chest, his words full of emotion and old resentment.
"That old goat is right! Back then, our two clans really suffered under Tang Hao. If not for luck and the sect's help, we'd be dust in history! Today, he finally paid the price!"
Excitement filled the hall, and all eyes fell on the six soul bones—no longer just with greed, but with a sense of justified victory.
…
Bonus chapter at 500 PS