Chapter 11: Body Sect? Why Not Join Shrek?
Hearing Tang Ya's invitation, it was actually Huo Yuhao who reacted first.
A sudden, brilliant light surged within his Spirit Eyes. He stared intently at Liu Yuan, his small hands curling into tight fists at his sides, practically vibrating with anticipation.
Over the past few days of traveling together, a deep sense of admiration had taken root in the young boy's chest. Liu Yuan was powerful, steady, and possessed a ruthless, unstoppable aura in battle that left a lasting impression. More, during their brief moments of rest, Liu Yuan had offered genuine, unpretentious praise for Huo Yuhao's grilled fish. For a boy who had endured nothing but cold stares, mockery, and neglect since childhood, that simple acknowledgment felt like a roaring hearth in the dead of winter.
'If only Brother Liu Yuan could join the Tang Sect with us,'Huo Yuhao thought, his heart hammering against his ribs.'Going to Shrek Academy together... how wonderful would that be?''Our Martial Souls are similar. We could spar. With someone like him around, I wouldn't feel so afraid...'
In Huo Yuhao's mind, there was absolutely no reason for Liu Yuan to refuse.
True, the Tang Sect had fallen from grace, but it was still the legendary number one sect from ten thousand years ago. It possessed a deep foundation and miraculous secret techniques. And beyond that lay the ultimate prize: entering Shrek Academy together.
The number one academy on the Douluo Continent.
For any young Soul Master, such an offer was a golden ticket. An irresistible temptation.
Reality, however, delivered a swift and ruthless strike.
Liu Yuan looked down at Tang Ya. He took in her wide, hopeful eyes, the eager tilt of her posture, and the quiet desperation in Huo Yuhao's gaze.
He let the silence stretch for a single, heavy second.
Then, he gently shook his head.
"I am sorry, Tang Ya. Bei Bei."
His voice was calm. Smooth. Yet beneath that placid surface lay a bedrock of absolute, unshakeable certainty. "I cannot join the Tang Sect. Nor will I be going to Shrek Academy with you."
"Ah?"
The bright smile on Tang Ya's face shattered. She froze mid-breath, her eyes widening as if she had just been struck by a binding curse.
She hadn't anticipated this. Not even a fraction of a doubt had crossed her mind that he might say no, let alone with such blunt finality.
"Why?" Tang Ya blurted out, her voice pitching up several decibels in her anxiety. She took a step forward. "Are the Tang Sect's conditions not good enough? Or do you just not like Shrek Academy? You have to understand, Shrek is the absolute pinnacle of the continent! It has the most elite instructors, the most abundant cultivation resources..."
"She is right, Liu Yuan," Bei Bei interjected, his usually smooth brow furrowing into a deep knot of confusion.
"By joining the Tang Sect, we can pool our cultivation resources. The sect's secret techniques provide a massive advantage to any Soul Master. Combine that with a guaranteed admission quota for Shrek Academy—this is an opportunity countless people would kill for. Will you... truly not reconsider?"
Liu Yuan watched their desperate attempts to sway him. A faint, dry amusement flickered in his chest, though his expression remained perfectly neutral.
Return to Shrek? That hypocritical cesspool of false glory? Absolutely not.
Still, there was no benefit in openly trashing their beloved academy right to their faces. Bei Bei and Tang Ya were already thoroughly entrenched in Shrek's ideology.
"It is not a matter of your conditions," Liu Yuan replied, his tone even.
"It is simply because... I already have a destination in mind. A place far more suited to my path."
"A more suitable place?" Huo Yuhao blinked, his face a portrait of pure bewilderment. "Is there anywhere on the continent better for a Soul Master to cultivate than Shrek Academy?"
Liu Yuan met the boy's gaze, gave a single nod, and slowly articulated two words.
"Body Sect."
"Body Sect?"
Huo Yuhao tilted his head, the name completely foreign to his ears.
But the reaction from Bei Bei was instantaneous and violent. The refined, elegant youth physically jolted. A sharp intake of breath hissed through his teeth, and absolute shock fractured his usually composed demeanor.
"The Body Sect?!" Bei Bei's voice cracked, losing its usual smooth cadence. "That... that reclusive, fanatic sect? The one that exclusively recruits those with a Body Martial Soul?"
As a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the great-grandson of Elder Mu, Bei Bei's access to classified continental history far exceeded that of Tang Ya or Huo Yuhao. He knew exactly what those words meant. He knew the terrifying, mysterious power that sect wielded.
"Correct," Liu Yuan affirmed.
Bei Bei's frown deepened, his mind racing to process this absurdity. "But... as far as the continent knows, the Body Sect sealed itself away from the world centuries ago. No one knows where their mountain gate is located. Some doubt their legacy even survived the passage of time. How... where do you even plan to start looking for them?"
"If one has the will, clues will naturally present themselves," Liu Yuan replied with a faint, enigmatic smile. He had no intention of explaining that he already knew the general geographical coordinates of their hidden sanctuary. He simply added a touch of casual humor, "And if I truly cannot find them when the time comes, I will simply forge my own way."
Standing off to the side, Huo Yuhao felt entirely left out of the loop. He tugged nervously at his sleeve and interrupted, "Senior Brother Bei Bei... Liu Yuan... is this Body Sect really that powerful? Stronger than Shrek Academy?"
In Huo Yuhao's limited, street-level worldview, Shrek was the absolute ceiling of existence. An invincible monolith. How could a sect he had never even heard of suddenly appear and make Liu Yuan toss Shrek aside like discarded trash?
Hearing the naive question, Bei Bei could only offer a bitter, complicated smile.
In terms of sheer continental influence and overall complete strength, Shrek Academy was undeniably the reigning champion.
But when it came to extreme specialization...
Before Bei Bei could formulate an answer, Liu Yuan took the initiative.
"Yuhao, there is no such thing as an 'absolute strongest' in this world. There is only what is most suitable." Liu Yuan's voice carried a steady, pragmatic weight. "Shrek Academy is indeed the number one academy on the Douluo Continent right now. That is an objective fact."
He cast a brief, measured glance toward Bei Bei and Tang Ya, softening his tone just enough to grant them face.
"However, consider this: a chef seeking to master culinary arts must study in the finest restaurant. A blacksmith wishing to forge divine weapons must seek out the greatest smithy."
Liu Yuan raised a hand, his fingers curling slightly as if grasping the very air. "For a Soul Master who possesses a Body Martial Soul, the Body Sect holds unmatched, ancient insights into the mysteries of the human physique. They understand how to tear past mortal limits."
"The path I intend to walk requires pushing the absolute potential of my flesh and blood to the extreme."
"And in that specific domain... the Body Sect possesses far more expertise than Shrek."
His logic was airtight.
He had clearly outlined his grand ambition without directly stepping on Shrek Academy's pride. Hearing his reasoning, both Bei Bei and Tang Ya felt the defensive tension bleed out of their shoulders.
While Bei Bei still felt a deep sense of regret at losing such a monstrous talent, seeing the unyielding determination in Liu Yuan's eyes told him everything he needed to know.
"Since your ambitions lie elsewhere, Liu Yuan, it would be improper for us to force the issue," Bei Bei sighed, regaining his scholarly grace. "Seeking the path most suited to oneself is the true mindset of a powerhouse."
"Indeed. There is no banquet in this world that does not eventually come to an end," Liu Yuan said.
He took a step back, brought his hands together, and offered the three of them a crisp, traditional martial salute. A free, unburdened smile touched his lips.
"Tang Ya. Bei Bei. Yuhao. Thank you for your company over these past few days. The green mountains remain, and the rivers flow on forever. Until we meet again."
With those final words, Liu Yuan turned on his heel.
He strode toward the dense, shadowed depths of the forest. His back was straight, his steps measured and resolute. He did not look back. There was not a single ounce of hesitation in his departure.
Watching Liu Yuan's figure gradually dissolve into the thick jungle foliage, Tang Ya stood in silence. Her shoulders slumped. With a frustrated huff, she kicked a small pebble into the underbrush.
"Ugh... what a massive waste," she grumbled, her face scrunching into a pout. "He was such an incredible potential stock! If only he joined the Tang Sect... Or even if he just became our classmate at Shrek, we would have had a reliable powerhouse to back us up in fights later on."
Huo Yuhao stared at the empty space between the trees, his eyes laced with deep reluctance. Only when the absolute last trace of Liu Yuan vanished did he finally lower his gaze.
"Yeah," the boy murmured softly, clutching his hands together. "He is a really good person... I hope we can see him again someday."
"Do not be so discouraged."
Bei Bei stepped forward, his gentle smile returning. He reached out, affectionately ruffling Tang Ya's hair before giving Huo Yuhao's shoulder a reassuring pat.
"Everyone has their own ambitions. Besides..." Bei Bei narrowed his eyes slightly, staring into the forest. "The Body Sect has been completely isolated from the world for centuries. Their whereabouts are a total mystery to the rest of the continent."
"Liu Yuan is undoubtedly a genius, but finding a legendary sect that actively wishes to remain hidden will not be an easy task."
A subtle, calculating gleam flashed through Bei Bei's refined eyes—the innate arrogance of a Shrek elite bleeding through his polite facade.
"Perhaps, after he wanders the wilderness for a while and hits a dead end... or perhaps when he realizes just how harsh the outside world is compared to the resources Shrek Academy offers, he will change his mind. When that time comes, he might just make his way to Shrek City to find us."
"You're right!"
Tang Ya's eyes instantly lit up, the gloomy clouds parting from her expression. She clapped her hands together, her mood doing a complete one-eighty. "Bei Bei, you are absolutely right! If he can't find that so-called Body Sect, he will definitely remember us! After all, the glorious gates of Shrek Academy are always open!"
"Alright, alright, let us not dwell on it any longer. Since Brother Liu Yuan has taken his leave, it is time we set off as well."
Bei Bei tilted his head back, checking the position of the sun through the canopy.
"We need to head back to Shrek..."
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