The Qi Blood Soaring Hall, this magnificent building, sat in the center of the Body Sect. It was not only the residence of successive sect masters but also the decision-making core of the entire sect.
In the hall of the Qi Blood Soaring Hall, a burly old man sat solemnly in the main seat, looking seriously at the middle-aged man before him. This old man was the current sect master of the Body Sect, exuding a powerful aura that inspired awe.
"Changyou," the sect master spoke seriously, his voice deep and forceful. "You're only at level 55 now; attempting secondary awakening is indeed difficult. In my opinion, you'd better wait until you break through to Soul Emperor before trying—that way, the success rate will be higher."
The middle-aged man standing before the sect master was named Zhu Changyou, around thirty years old, with a slender build and refined features, giving a gentle and elegant impression. However, his eyes revealed firmness and determination.
Zhu Changyou frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with the sect master's suggestion. He retorted: "Sect Master, you know with my talent, breaking through to Soul Emperor will take at least three years at the fastest. Attempting secondary awakening three years later—how much better could the situation be compared to now?"
And the identity of the old man before him was self-evident—the Body Sect's sect master, Body Douluo Chu Shanhe. The Body Sect had two Douluos: Sect Master Body Douluo Chu Shanhe and Second Elder Jade Skin Douluo.
Zhu Changyou continued with a bitter smile: "Moreover, even if I really break through to Soul Emperor, what then? Seventh Sister's talent and martial soul are above mine, and she ended up like that. Could my foundation be stronger than Seventh Sister's?"
Chu Shanhe fell silent. Over eighty years, he had seen too many sect disciples attempt martial soul secondary awakening only to end tragically. They should have had bright futures but ended up with wasted martial souls or even death—this tormented even his Titled Douluo mentality.
After a moment of silence, Chu Shanhe said hoarsely: "Actually, you don't have to be obsessed with secondary awakening. Even without it, with your talent, you can still break through to Soul Sage and become..."
"No! Sect Master, if body martial souls were just ordinary martial souls, perhaps I could accept my mediocrity; but that's not the case. Their potential can reach the absolute peak!" Zhu Changyou interrupted Chu Shanhe without hesitation, his voice full of resolve and firmness.
If he hadn't witnessed the power after body martial soul secondary awakening, he could have deceived himself; but he had seen it and knew how terrifying a secondary awakened body martial soul was, making him unable to accept his current self.
Zhu Changyou continued: "Yes, even without secondary awakening, I still have a chance to become a Soul Sage. But Sect Master, you know what our Body Sect lacks isn't just a Soul Sage! What we truly need are powerhouses who can intimidate all directions, making those major sects wary!"
His words were like a sharp sword, piercing Chu Shanhe's proposal and revealing the Body Sect's current predicament. The soul master world is like an ecosystem: either you eat me, or I eat you. If you don't want to be seen as prey, you must become a predator at the top of the food chain.
Not just Zhu Changyou—the entire Body Sect knew that relying on current strength, it was hard for the sect to establish itself in the soul master world, let alone compete with those sects with deep foundations.
"I grew up in the sect since childhood and only heard about the plight of body martial souls from my father and uncles. Once, I heard someone demean our body martial souls as waste, treating body soul masters as inferior—that sounded utterly absurd and laughable to me!" Zhu Changyou's voice rose slightly, as if defending the sect's honor.
"You know, our Body Sect has two Title Douluos—such a glorious achievement that even the overhyped Upper Three Sects outside probably can't compare!" Zhu Changyou's words were full of pride and confidence in the sect.
"It wasn't until I truly ventured outside that I realized how naive and ridiculous my previous thoughts were! Those powerful martial souls are nearly invincible at the same level once awakened! Ten years ago, I personally saw a Soul King with dual palm martial soul get smashed to death on the soul fighting stage by a Clear Sky Hammer Soul King! In terms of soul power, that dual palm Soul King was a full three levels higher! But because his martial soul's strength was insufficient, he was no match. If his body martial soul could have secondary awakened then, the outcome would have been completely different—he definitely wouldn't have lost so miserably."
"Do you remember? The founding sect master's dying wish—'May there come a day when all body under heaven is one family.' You should know this better than I. Our sect's goal is to gather all body soul masters in the world and prove to the people, to the soul master world: Body martial souls are not waste but powerful martial souls not inferior to any other—even the top ones!"
Seeing Zhu Changyou's unwavering determination, Chu Shanhe felt a surge of complex emotions. It was as if he saw his younger self in Zhu Changyou, the fearless youth facing his own father.
Chu Shanhe slowly sat back in his chair, closed his eyes tightly, his mind flashing through the hardships and setbacks the sect had endured over centuries to realize "all body one family." He sighed deeply and murmured: "All body one family? Hehe, difficult—too difficult. Over these centuries, our sect has strived for it, but seen no hope."
Zhu Changyou stood before Chu Shanhe, his gaze locked tightly on him, eyes pleading. He knew Chu Shanhe's helplessness and despair, but he still refused to give up.
"If centuries aren't enough, then millennia, tens of millennia!" Zhu Changyou's voice was somewhat agitated. "Despair? Could it be more despairing than awakening a waste martial soul?" His voice echoed in the room, carrying resolve and unyielding spirit.
Zhu Changyou continued: "If we don't forge a path now, do we leave those kids to face this hardship? Second Uncle, let me try once—just once. And I might not lose."
Chu Shanhe stared blankly at this child he had watched grow up. Just once? But there's only one chance: success means king, failure means death.
Time ticked by, the atmosphere on site oppressively heavy, almost suffocating. In this stifling stalemate, suddenly, a dazzling streak of light shot across the distant sky, racing like a meteor.
This light was extremely fast, arriving outside the hall in the blink of an eye. When it landed, upon closer look, it was Chen Zhen. His face full of excitement, he hurried toward Chu Shanhe, shouting as he walked: "Sect Master, good news, good news!"
"Good... news..." Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Chen Zhen's voice gradually lowered.
Chu Shanhe looked at Chen Zhen expressionlessly: "You're a Soul Soul Douluo after all—acting so rashly, aren't you afraid of setting a bad example for the young?" Then he poured himself a cup of tea. "Speak."
Hearing the sect master's words, the corner of Chen Zhen's mouth twitched. Me setting a bad example? In the entire Body Sect, whose child is as promising as my Chen Yi? So young, smart, steady in actions, and knows to share his father's worries. Saying this, aren't you embarrassed?
After inwardly complaining, Chen Zhen said: "It's Xiao Yi. He..."
He then recounted Chen Yi's discovery and ideas about whale glue's effects to the two present. Meanwhile, their eyes grew brighter, several times wanting to interrupt but holding back. Only when Chen Zhen finished did they eagerly speak:
"Fourth Brother, is what you say true? Does whale glue really have such miraculous effects? Ancestors bless us—if it's true, we won't have to worry about insufficient qi and blood anymore!"
Chen Zhen drank from Chu Shanhe's teapot in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and said: "Xiao Yi speculated based on whale glue's effects, but whether it's true still needs verification."
Chu Shanhe's eyes flickered, his finger tapping lightly on the table, his tone measured: "Xiao Yi's idea is quite shocking, but given this item's previous uses, it's possible!"
"Changyou."
"Disciple is here."
"Immediately notify all sect soul masters above seven rings to come to the Qi Blood Soaring Hall for a meeting."
"Understood." Zhu Changyou immediately cupped his hands in salute, then yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black—five soul rings emerged around him, shining simultaneously. His figure instantly vanished from the Qi Blood Soaring Hall.
Zhu Changyou's martial soul was his legs, known as the "fastest under Soul Soul Douluo in the Body Sect," which was one reason the sect allowed him to travel outside.
Watching Zhu Changyou's departing back, Chu Shanhe clenched his hands behind his back, unable to hide the turmoil in his heart.
"Sit."