Body Sect, Sect Square.
When Chen Zhen and Jiang Wu landed steadily in the middle of the square, many Body Sect disciples who had been waiting eagerly gathered with a "swish."
Their youthful faces were full of enthusiasm and curiosity, and one joked, "Fourth Elder, Fifth Elder, how did it go?"
"Did it go well? Is the old crow of the Ming Family settled?"
"Did you run into any trouble? How did the Star Lou Empire and the Spirit Hall react?"
Questions surged like a tide.
Hearing this, Chen Zhen's resolute face broke into a triumphant smile, but remembering to mind his image, he forcibly suppressed it and put on a serious expression.
"Ahem, well!"
Chen Zhen straightened his back, clasped his hands behind him, and tried to maintain the calm demeanor of a master. After a little preamble, he spoke, "Don't worry, just an old crow. When this elder found him, he was trying to run. I thought he'd put up a proper fight, but he stubbornly resisted…"
Once he started talking, he couldn't stop boasting. He told how he struck three times and kicked, easily beating the old crow of the Ming Family, who finally knelt and begged for mercy, all while maintaining a strongman's posture and giving the opponent "happiness" (conveniently ignoring the fact that the opponent would rather die than surrender).
Jiang Wu, seeing Chen Zhen hog the attention, couldn't resist and hurried forward to interrupt, waving his big hand angrily, "And me! Chen Zhen dealt with the old crow, but I took care of the trash. Even though he was the Ming Family's Soul Douluo, he was so scared his soul nearly left his body! I barely used any strength. I just hit him like that, you know? Guess what happened?"
"He flew out like a broken sack, who knows how many bones broke—totally easy."
Jiang Wu mimed pounding on a sack, his face expressing, "How lonely it is to be invincible."
The two sang in harmony, as if" defeating someone as a titled Douluo" was just a casual outing, swatting away a couple of annoying flies.
The young disciples around them, never having heard of "Douluo-level feats" described in such a relaxed manner, listened with shining eyes, their faces full of worship and thirst for absolute power.
"Fourth Elder is too strong! Titled Douluos are nothing before him!"
"Second master as well—Soul Douluos are like chicks in your hand!"
"Our two masters are mighty—let's spread the Body Sect's power!"
Praise and admiration continued, music to the ears of Chen Zhen and Jiang Wu. They could no longer suppress their grins, their smiles stretching nearly to their ears.
At the edge of the square, Huang Qiyi stood with arms folded, leaning against a stone pillar, watching Chen Zhen and Jiang Wu bragging in the crowd. He rolled his eyes and whispered disdainfully to a few people beside him, "Heh, is it so hard to see old immortals with one foot in the grave? Look at those faces yelling."
"If I went up there, I'd win faster than them. That old crow wouldn't even have time to unleash his true martial soul."
The others didn't speak, but their faces clearly read, "I could do it, too."
Just then, a small commotion arose from the crowd, and someone shouted, "The Elders, Grand Elder, the Second Elder, and the Third Elder are here!"
The crowd immediately parted like a tide, opening a wide passage.
The three elders walked in slowly. The Grand Elder, in the center, looked at the blindly laughing Chen Zhen and Jiang Wu with a helpless, amused expression.
As soon as Chen Zhen and Jiang Wu saw the elders, their faces turned like roosters being strangled, laughter halting abruptly as they straightened their backs and put on the attitude of "just completed a difficult mission."
"How did it go?" the Grand Elder asked calmly as he approached.
Chen Zhen and Jiang Wu heard this and thought it was time to show off again. Clearing their throats, they prepared to recount their "great exploits" before the disciples.
"Great Elder, you don't know what it was like out there…"
"The moment we arrived outside Yunluo City, the momentum died down immediately…"
"Alright, alright!" Before they could finish, the Second Elder interrupted with a laugh-cry, scolding, "You swatted the black crow, snapped your fingers and slaughtered Douluos, right? We heard your actions from hundreds of miles away!"
"What about the business we discussed? Did you declare the sect's name and your titles as planned for all to hear?"
"Uh…" Chen Zhen and Jiang Wu were dumbfounded by the Second Elder's barrage, their proud faces freezing instantly.
They realized—the elders didn't care about the process at all, just the results. They looked at each other, embarrassment flashing in their eyes.
Maybe… they really did overdo it and forgot to report the main business.
Chen Zhen hurriedly patted his chest and swore, "It's definitely spread, definitely! When my second brother and I announced our names, our soul power made it ring out like a bell across the sky!"
"There were soul masters watching. The whole Yunluo City must have heard it loud and clear!"
Jiang Wu nodded sharply in agreement, "Yeah, yeah, not a word was missed. 'Fifth Elder of the Body Sect, Title: Dragon Fist,' 'Fourth Elder of the Body Sect, Title: Golden Body'—I shouted it so loud!"
The elders exchanged glances and nodded slightly. Given Chen Zhen and Jiang Wu's personalities, if not for the occasion, they'd have shouted themselves hoarse across Yunluo City just to make the news stick.
"Well done," the Grand Elder finally gave a positive evaluation, his tone still flat, but those who knew him well could hear a hint of satisfaction.
He waved his hand and addressed the crowd, "Alright, everyone disperse. Tonight we'll hold a banquet to celebrate the Fourth and Fifth Elders' victory. No one is to be late!"
"Yeah!!"
Cheers erupted in the square, and the disciples and elders gradually scattered.
As the crowd dispersed, Chen Zhen and Jiang Wu still wore unfinished expressions, as if not yet over the addictive feeling of being worshipped by thousands. They clicked their tongues, almost regretful.
But Chen Zhen soon remembered something. He suppressed his expression and turned to the Grand Elder, asking worriedly, "Grand Elder, by the way… how is Xiao Yi? How much longer will it take for him to awaken from his deep cultivation this time?"
The Grand Elder glared at him, "What's the rush? Xiao Yi is talented. This time, after absorbing the Thunder Hell Vine's soul ring, the benefits are immense. Entering deep cultivation is a great opportunity."
"Such deep cultivation is a good thing. The longer, the better. It's only been half a year—why so anxious?"
After Chen Yi successfully absorbed the Thunder Hell Vine's soul ring, he entered a deep meditative state due to the enormous energy and thunder comprehension. Chu Shanhe immediately brought him back to the sect and placed him in the safest secret room. It's now been half a year.
Chen Zhen was scolded by the Grand Elder, laughing dryly, rubbing his hands, "I just… it's been a while since I saw someone in such deep cultivation. I was worried his body couldn't take it. After all, he's still a child…"
Mu Xi, beside him, couldn't help but chime in with a bit of helplessness, "The Nine-Heart Begonia girl is using her healing power day and night to warm and restore his body. What are you afraid of? The continent's number one healing martial soul isn't famous for nothing."
"Xiao Yi is in great condition now—maybe even consuming less than if he were fighting outside."
Hearing this, Chen Zhen grew even more embarrassed and fell silent after a dry laugh.
In fact, with Ye Lingling, the heir of the Nine-Heart Begonia, personally taking care of him, there was nothing to worry about regarding Chen Yi's health.
Seeing the atmosphere settle, the Grand Elder looked straight ahead, scanning the attending senior members with a low voice, "Alright, enough gossip. With the destruction of the Ming Family Village, our Body Sect's name has begun to spread."
"Now's the time to show your fangs to the outside world, so all the continent's forces can relearn what an body martial soul truly is!"
His gaze finally fell on Mu Xi. "Mu Xi, come with me. You're not just a sect elder, but also the representative of Skywater Academy. We'll need your input for the next arrangements."
…
Bonus Chapter at 300 PS