After finishing the match, Zhu Ziyang and the group returned to the Star Emperor Hotel. As they crossed the main lobby and were about to head upstairs, two strange-looking men blocked their path.
The two men, though ordinary in facial features, had very peculiar body proportions—one had an abnormally thick right arm, and the other had an enlarged head. Were it not for the powerful aura emanating from them, they might have been laughed at by others for their appearances.
"Hm?" The Shrek group was clearly startled. At the front, Wang Yan frowned and said, "Gentlemen, please step aside."
The man with the massive right arm replied, "You may go, but our sect's disciple must stay. We've come to bring him back to the sect."
He pointed directly at Huo Yuhao.
"Me?" Huo Yuhao blinked in confusion. "I don't know you people at all…"
But Zhu Ziyang had already guessed what was happening. He looked at the two strange men and laughed.
"You must be from the Body Sect, right? Trying to snatch a student of Shrek Academy right here in public—that's quite bold."
At Zhu Ziyang's words, the others tensed—Ma Xiaotao, Wang Yan, and the rest all stared at the two men warily. Their odd appearances and powerful aura left little doubt: they were members of the Body Sect.
"I know you—you're Zhu Ziyang!" said the big-headed man. "But today's matter doesn't concern you. Don't get in our way. Everyone across the continent knows that anyone born with a Body-type Martial Soul belongs to the Body Sect! This kid has Spirit Eyes, one of the rarest and purest body-type martial souls. He's clearly one of us. So step aside."
"Bullsh*t!" Ma Xiaotao cursed without hesitation. "What do you think Shrek Academy is? A talent marketplace? You say Yuhao is yours, so that makes it true? Who do you think you are?!"
"Exactly!" shouted Tang Ya, stepping in front of Huo Yuhao like a mother hen protecting her chick. "Yuhao joined Tang Sect a long time ago. He's ours! I don't care what nonsense sect you come from—get lost!"
"How dare you insult the Body Sect!" growled the thick-armed man, and in the next moment, he reached toward Tang Ya.
But he hadn't even gotten close before Zhu Ziyang stepped forward and grabbed his wrist.
Only when he made contact did Zhu Ziyang fully grasp the strength of the man's martial soul. Though the man hadn't appeared to exert any real force, Zhu Ziyang had to use half his strength just to resist the sheer physical power in that arm.
"Yutao, stop!" barked the big-headed man.
The one called Yutao heard the command, and though clearly still furious, he obediently pulled his hand back. He couldn't help but glance at Zhu Ziyang with a trace of surprise and caution in his eyes.
"As you can see," said the big-headed man more calmly than before, "we're not here to start trouble. My name is Lang Ya, and I'm from the Body Sect. We're only here because of this young man, Huo Yuhao."
He turned to Yuhao and continued, "You possess the Spirit Eye Martial Soul, one of the most powerful and rarest among body-type martial souls. Only by coming with us to the Body Sect can you receive the best training and development."
Huo Yuhao was stunned, but then firmly shook his head. "No! I'm already a member of Shrek Academy and Tang Sect. I'm not leaving either of them!"
Lang Ya's expression showed a flicker of disappointment, but he nodded. "I see. Then I won't say more. If you ever change your mind, come to Heaven Dou City. Sorry for the disturbance. Goodbye."
He turned and walked toward the hotel entrance.
"Wait, we're just leaving like that?" asked Yutao, clearly baffled.
Lang Ya didn't answer, simply walking away.
"Hey! Big bro! Wait up!" Yutao ran after him in a panic.
The two odd-looking men left the Star Emperor Hotel together, leaving the Shrek team in a state of confusion.
"…So, did they just show up for attention?" Jiang Nannan muttered.
"Maybe," said Zhu Ziyang with a shrug. "This is Star Luo City, after all. Unless they have a death wish, there's no way they'd actually pick a fight here. Not to mention—Elder Lin is still around."
Jiang Nannan nodded thoughtfully and added, "Still, that Lang Ya guy doesn't seem particularly smart."
"You're a good kid, Yuhao!" said Ma Xiaotao, slapping him on the back with a grin. "I knew I was right about you!"
"I was just telling the truth…" Yuhao chuckled awkwardly, rubbing his now sore shoulder.
"No matter what, I'm really proud of you," said Tang Ya. "I've decided—when we get back to the academy, I'm treating you to some barbecue!"
"Yeah, and by that you mean Yuhao will do the grilling, and you'll be the one eating, right?" laughed Xu Sanshi, instantly seeing through her little scheme.
"Xu Sanshi! Don't say nonsense!" Tang Ya shouted, chasing after him in a rage.
Xu Sanshi dove behind Bei Bei, shouting, "Bei Bei! Are you going to let your girl attack me like this? If I get hurt, that's on you!"
Unfortunately for him, Bei Bei betrayed him without hesitation, helping Tang Ya chase him down.
The hotel lobby erupted with laughter and cheerful chaos.
"…Can we go upstairs now?" said Zhu Ziyang, utterly exasperated. "You're blocking the whole lobby."
Meanwhile, Lang Ya and Yutao had already left Star Luo City, only slowing their pace once they were well outside the city walls.
"Why did we just leave like that, big bro?" asked Yutao, still confused.
"What else could we do?" Lang Ya replied, exasperated. "You want us to snatch him in broad daylight?"
"Well… I guess not," Yutao admitted. "Wouldn't really help our sect's image if we did it in a public place like that."
"That's what you're worried about?" Lang Ya groaned, holding his forehead. "That kid is from Shrek Academy, you know. Didn't you notice the incredible soul power hiding nearby in the hotel? Don't tell me you didn't feel it."
"…Maybe a little," Yutao replied slowly. "You mean someone was watching us the whole time?"
"Of course! Probably a Hyper Douluo guarding Zhu Ziyang. There's no way Shrek would send someone like him out without protection."
"Yeah, that makes sense," Yutao said, then added excitedly, "By the way, Zhu Ziyang is insanely strong! He actually grabbed my arm with brute strength! He's definitely going to be Aotian's rival in the future!"
Lang Ya snorted. "You think I didn't notice? That kid is dangerous. I'm guessing he has twin martial souls. There's no way someone with just a weapon-type martial soul could withstand the pressure of a 100,000-year soul ring at the sixth ring."
"You think he's a twin-soul holder?" Yutao asked, eyes wide.
Lang Ya nodded. "Our previous sect master only managed to fuse a 100,000-year ring with special techniques at his seventh ring. Zhu Ziyang did it at the sixth. If he's not a twin-soul holder, I can't explain it."
"So… what do we do?" Yutao asked, eyes flashing dangerously.
"You want to die?" Lang Ya smacked him on the head. "The Sect Master himself already told us not to interfere. He's on his way here now. We're heading back to Heaven Dou City."
"Even the Sect Master is getting involved?" Yutao was stunned. "But what about Huo Yuhao? You're really going to give up on him? A martial soul of both eyes and brain—can you seriously walk away from that?"
Lang Ya sighed. "What can I do if he won't come willingly? All we can do now is wait. I believe… he'll come to us eventually. If Shrek Academy falls, he'll have nowhere else to go but back to us."
"…You've got a point," Yutao muttered.
The two brothers kept talking as they vanished into the distance—leaving Star Luo City behind.
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