Chapter 15: First Encounter With the Body Sect Prodigies, Just So-So?
Precipitous peaks towered like jagged spears, piercing straight through the dense canopy of clouds.
Led by Vina, Liu Yuan finally set foot on the territory revered as the absolute holy land for Body Soul Masters. It lacked the resplendent, gold-gilded grandeur he might have expected of a major power. Instead, the environment exuded a heavy air of ancient simplicity and raw desolation.
The massive mountain gate was built directly against the sheer cliff face, chiseled from the living rock. It looked rugged, imposing, and entirely unyielding. Swirling mist clung to the jagged boulders scattered across the path. From deep within the shadowed valleys, the guttural roars of unknown Soul Beasts echoed, layering the atmosphere with a primal mystery.
'This is the Body Sect...' Liu Yuan swept his gaze across the towering stone structures, nodding inwardly.
Compared to the refined academic elegance and pristine architecture of Shrek Academy, this wild, untamed environment suited the fundamental nature of a Body Martial Soul perfectly. It was a place built for those who pursued their own physical limits, entirely unconstrained by the trivialities of high society.
"Halt! Who dares trespass on the grounds of the Body Sect!"
Just as they approached the towering stone archway, several guards clad in tight-fitting martial attire stepped out from the shadows, blocking their path. Their auras flared fiercely. Though they were merely gatekeepers, their eyes darted with a hawkish sharpness. The heavy, oppressive weight of their soul power made it clear they possessed significant cultivation.
"It is me."
Vina stepped forward. With a casual flick of her wrist, she pulled back the heavy hood of her cloak, revealing her refined, beautiful features. At the same time, she raised a dark, heavy token engraved with complex, swirling runes.
"Greetings, Young Miss Vina!"
The moment the guards recognized her face and the token, their hostile expressions dissolved. The fierce auras retracted instantly. Moving in perfect unison, the men dropped to one knee, bowing their heads in deep respect.
Vina's status within the Body Sect was exceptionally unique. Not only was she a core disciple heavily nurtured by the sect's upper echelon, but she was also a princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire. She served as the vital diplomatic bridge between the sect and the royal family. Naturally, these guards would not dare show her even a sliver of disrespect.
"Rise." Vina waved her hand lightly, gesturing toward the youth standing quietly behind her. "This is Liu Yuan, a friend I brought back with me. He is a Soul Master who possesses a Body Martial Soul. I have brought him here specifically to participate in the sect's entry examination."
"Since he is a guest of the Young Miss, there is naturally no issue." The lead guard quickly stepped aside, clearing the path. Though his eyes lingered on Liu Yuan with a heavy dose of scrutiny and curiosity, he made no move to hinder them.
After all, anyone personally escorted by Senior Sister Vina was certainly no ordinary commoner.
Stepping past the massive stone gates, the claustrophobic mountain path suddenly opened up into a sprawling expanse.
Before them lay a massive, open-air training ground. Disciples were scattered everywhere, their bodies slick with sweat as they brutally honed their physiques. Some sprinted across the uneven terrain bearing massive iron weights chained to their backs. Others engaged in vicious, bare-handed sparring matches, the sharp cracks of bone on bone echoing through the air. A few were entirely bare-chested, repeatedly slamming their shoulders and backs into solid granite boulders with dull, rhythmic thuds.
The heavy scent of sweat, the visceral sounds of fist-to-flesh combat, and the raw, unadulterated pursuit of extreme physical power made Liu Yuan's blood run a fraction hotter.
"Liu Yuan, do not let their brutal training methods intimidate you. This is merely the foundational conditioning of our Body Sect," Vina explained, a light smile gracing her lips as she led the way across the perimeter of the grounds. "Our sect emphasizes excavating the absolute limits of human potential. Therefore, the baseline requirements for physical fitness are extraordinarily high."
"Next, we just need to head to the Elder Hall and find the elder in charge of recruitment. He will conduct a simple evaluation of your martial soul, your innate potential, and your current strength. Once you are registered, you will officially become a member of our Body Sect."
"Sounds simple enough." Liu Yuan nodded, a faint glint of anticipation settling in his eyes.
Given the terrifying quality of his Double Pupils, he was more than ready to give these old monsters of the Body Sect a proper shock.
However, just as the two altered their course toward the towering structure of the Elder Hall, a voice called out.
"Vina! You have returned!"
The shout was hearty, laced with pleasant surprise. Liu Yuan and Vina paused, turning toward the source of the sound.
Striding briskly from the edge of the training ground were four youths, all clad in the distinctive martial attire of the Body Sect's core disciples.
The one leading the group was tall and broad-shouldered. Though he appeared quite young, his entire being radiated an incredibly oppressive aura. His exposed skin bore a strange, metallic bronze hue that caught the sunlight, giving him the appearance of an indestructible human weapon.
Three others flanked him.
The youth to his left possessed abnormally long arms that dangled well past his knees, a clear physical mutation distinct from ordinary humans.
The one to the right had incredibly thick, trunk-like legs. With every step he took, the solid stone ground beneath his boots seemed to tremble slightly.
The final youth trailing slightly behind was relatively thin and compact, but his eyes were unnervingly bright, flashing with a sharp, predatory glint that darted rapidly across his surroundings.
"Ao Tian! And Yanfeng, Chen Lu, Gu Tong! It has been a while," Vina called back, her smile brightening considerably at the sight of familiar faces.
"It really has been," the tall youth, Long Aotian, replied as he closed the distance. He stopped in front of Vina, his gaze sweeping over her with genuine concern. "How did it go? Did the hunt for your soul ring go smoothly? You did not run into any life-threatening danger, did you?"
"It was a close call at times, but everything worked out fine." Vina stuck out her tongue in a lighthearted gesture before suddenly remembering her companion. She quickly stepped aside, bringing Liu Yuan into full view. "Oh, right! Let me introduce you all."
"This is Liu Yuan, a friend I met during my journey back. His martial soul is also a Body Martial Soul, and it is his eyes! I brought him back specifically to join the sect."
Turning to Liu Yuan, Vina began to introduce the imposing group one by one.
"Liu Yuan, these are my good friends within the sect. They are also the most outstanding talents of our younger generation."
She gestured to the towering youth with the bronze skin. "This is Long Aotian. His martial soul is his skin, and he is the young disciple the Sect Master values above all others."
"Hello." Long Aotian's chin tilted up slightly. Though his natural disposition was undeniably arrogant, he maintained a basic level of politeness in front of Vina, offering Liu Yuan a brief nod. However, his eyes narrowed, sweeping over Liu Yuan with the heavy, calculating scrutiny of a superior assessing a newcomer's worth.
"This is Wang Yanfeng. His martial soul is his arms."
"This is Chen Lu. His martial soul is his legs."
"And finally, this is Gu Tong. His martial soul is the exact same category as yours, his eyes."
As Vina listed their names, Liu Yuan met each of their gazes, offering a calm, polite nod. He recognized these names easily. These were the very individuals who had participated in the grand tournament alongside Vina in the original timeline.
As for their reception of him...
Wang Yanfeng and Chen Lu offered nothing more than indifferent, noncommittal grunts. In a place like the Body Sect, absolute strength dictated respect. A random newcomer who had not even passed the entry exam was not worth the effort of a warm welcome.
Gu Tong, however, reacted differently. Upon hearing that Liu Yuan also possessed an eye-type martial soul, the smaller youth's gaze locked onto him. A flash of intense curiosity, and a sharp spike of battle intent, ignited in his pupils.
Rivals in the same domain were natural adversaries. Sharing the same rare classification of martial soul instinctively bred a desire to establish dominance.
"Liu Yuan, was it? Since Vina went out of her way to bring you back, see to it that you work hard. Try to pass the entry test as quickly as possible," Long Aotian said, his tone flat and unbothered.
Liu Yuan simply nodded. He felt no irritation toward their dismissive attitudes.
He understood the rules of this world better than anyone. Respect was carved out with overwhelming power, not handed out through polite introductions., they were complete strangers; expecting them to fawn over him would be absurd.
After the brief, obligatory pleasantries concluded, the group's attention immediately snapped back to Vina.
"By the way, Vina," Wang Yanfeng asked, his long arms crossing over his chest, "what kind of soul beast did you hunt for your ring this time? What rank have you reached after absorbing it?"
"Mm, it was a thousand-year Gold-Silk Demon Ape," Vina replied, a hint of well-earned pride lifting her chin. "I am now a Rank 22 Soul Grandmaster!"
"Hiss, Rank 22!"
Chen Lu sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes widening. "Vina, you are making the rest of us look bad! We might be a bit older than you, but we are still bottlenecked at Rank 19. Aside from Ao Tian, you are the only one in our entire generation to break through to the Soul Grandmaster realm!"
"He is right. Your talent is truly monstrous," Gu Tong chimed in, his sharp eyes softening with blatant envy. "In the entire younger generation of the sect, only Ao Tian has the qualifications to go toe-to-toe with you now."
Even the perpetually haughty Long Aotian nodded in genuine approval. "Not bad at all. Your cultivation speed is exceptionally fast. At this rate, it will not be long before you catch up to me."
The group quickly surrounded Vina, showering her with exclamations of praise and astonishment. Their words were thick with genuine respect for her talent. Reaching the Soul Grandmaster realm at her age, even within a gathering place for absolute monsters like the Body Sect, was a remarkably rare feat.
Throughout the entire exchange, Liu Yuan stood quietly on the periphery. His expression remained placid, a faint, polite smile resting on his lips. He did not interject, nor did he display a single ounce of impatience, awkwardness, or jealousy.
'Is Rank 22 really that surprising?' he mused inwardly.
If this group of proud geniuses knew that he, the random passerby they had just dismissed, possessed a soul power rank far exceeding Rank 22...
Yet, Liu Yuan felt absolutely no urge to show off.
They were simply friends catching up, celebrating a milestone. They had not actively provoked or targeted him. If he suddenly inserted himself into their conversation just to flex his cultivation, he would look like an insecure clown.
So, he remained silent, letting them enjoy their moment.
Before long, the group's path brought them to the imposing stone steps of the Elder Hall.
Upon arriving, Vina finally pulled her attention away from her sect brothers and turned back to Liu Yuan.
It was not that she had intentionally ostracized him during the walk. She simply had many relationships to maintain within the sect, and balancing the feelings of her long-time friends required her attention.
Now that the initial excitement had settled, she focused entirely on him.
"Liu Yuan, we are here," she said, gesturing to the heavy wooden doors of the hall. "In a moment, I will go in and speak with the elder in charge. After that, you just need to follow his instructions to test your abilities and your innate potential. Do not worry, the actual process is very quick..."
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