Lin Xiao leaned against a distant tree to rest, not even sparing Tang Ya a glance.
As soon as Lin Xiao left, Tang Ya began pitching her Tang Sect.
"Little Yuhao."
"That annoying fellow just told you to go to the Body Sect."
"I have a sect to recommend to you too."
Tang Ya chuckled happily, then deliberately kept him in suspense.
"Xiao Ya Jie, what sect are you talking about?"
"Is it as powerful as the Body Sect?"
Huo Yuhao asked curiously.
Tang Ya smiled at his reaction. This was exactly the effect she wanted. Heh heh heh...
"Little Yuhao, have you heard of the Sea God?"
Tang Ya gently led him along, a subtle gleam stirring in her eyes.
Huo Yuhao nodded like a pellet drum. Sea God Tang San-who in this world hadn't heard of him?
"Of course I know of Lord Sea God, who overthrew the evil Spirit Hall ten thousand years ago."
He knew not only the Sea God, but also the God of War, Dai Mubai. The God of War, Dai Mubai, was even his ancestor.
"Since you know him, you must also know about the Tang Sect founded by Lord Sea God."
"And I, Tang Ya, am the current sect master of the Tang Sect. Well? Impressive, right?"
Tang Ya spoke smugly, in an excellent mood.
"But hasn't the Tang Sect already fallen into decline?"
"Compared to the Body Sect, it seems..."
Huo Yuhao was merely a novice, not an idiot. He knew how powerful the Body Sect was, and he also knew of the Tang Sect's decline.
"Heh heh heh, little Yuhao, you know one side of the story, but not the other."
"The Tang Sect may have declined, but Shrek hasn't, and neither have the Tang Sect Secret Arts."
"The Purple Demon Eye, one of the Tang Sect Secret Arts, is a Self-Created Soul Skill perfectly suited to cultivating your Spiritual Eye."
"Not only that, if you join the Tang Sect, you can enter Shrek Academy."
"Shrek Academy is much better than the Body Sect, isn't it?"
"As long as you join the Tang Sect, I can give you both the Tang Sect Secret Arts and a place at Shrek."
"Well? Will you consider it?"
Tang Ya had really gone all in. She had offered up the Tang Sect Secret Arts, and even brought out that place at Shrek.
Her barrage of persuasion left Huo Yuhao thoroughly dazed.
Although these offers had also appeared in the original story, Lin Xiao's presence had made Tang Ya even more enthusiastic now.
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. The Sea God's Tang Sect Secret Arts, a place at Shrek.
Shrek was currently about as powerful as it got on the continent. Apart from the Sun Moon Continent's Soul Tools, Shrek stood at the pinnacle.
Yet the way such an academy conducted itself was truly disgusting.
And then there were those disgusting teachers within Shrek.
But Huo Yuhao knew nothing of that. The strongest academy, the Sea God's secret arts.
Every one of those things stirred Huo Yuhao's heart.
Brother Sky Dream, I'm only refusing his suggestion, not making an enemy of him. That should be fine, right?
Huo Yuhao had already made up his mind. Such enticing terms, such an irresistible offer.
Surely even the Body Sect couldn't offer this.
"Xiao Ya Jie, can I really join the Tang Sect?"
Thrilled, Huo Yuhao asked aloud.
"Yes! I'm the Tang Sect's sect master now. If you want to join, I'll welcome you with applause!"
Tang Ya jumped up excitedly. She had done it! Hahahahaha!
"Then I'll join!"
With such a huge temptation before him, Huo Yuhao hardly needed to think twice.
"Yuhao, congratulations. From now on, you're the Tang Sect's third member."
Bei Bei smiled as he congratulated Huo Yuhao.
"The... third member?"
"Xiao Ya Jie, don't tell me the Tang Sect only has the three of us?"
Huo Yuhao looked at himself, then at Tang Ya and Bei Bei, scarcely able to believe it.
"Ahem, little Yuhao, that's not the point."
"Although our Tang Sect has declined, we still have everything we should. It's up to us to restore its former glory."
With a perfectly serious expression, Tang Ya patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder, stringing him along.
Huo Yuhao nodded awkwardly. He had already boarded the pirate ship. At least he could enter Shrek Academy and obtain the Tang Sect Secret Arts.
"Xiao Ya Jie, since we have so few people, why don't we try recruiting that young fellow over there too?"
Huo Yuhao glanced at Lin Xiao and made the suggestion.
Tang Ya looked over at Lin Xiao, who was standing far away. The thought of him telling Huo Yuhao to join the Body Sect made her a little unhappy.
"Yuhao, go give it a try."
Bei Bei spoke up, soothing Tang Ya in passing.
Huo Yuhao nodded and walked toward Lin Xiao.
"Bei Bei, do you think Yuhao will succeed?" Tang Ya looked over curiously.
Bei Bei shook his head. "I don't know. Xiao Ya, could you have frightened him earlier?"
Tang Ya gave a soft snort, unconcerned. "How could that be? Doesn't he know that I, Teacher Xiao Ya, am sunny and carefree, a beautiful girl through and through?"
"He's clearly the one who can't recognize a good thing!"
Bei Bei smiled faintly without saying anything.
Huo Yuhao came up beside Lin Xiao. Before he could figure out how to begin, he heard Lin Xiao speak:
"What? Did Tang Ya send you to invite me into that declining sect of hers?"
Huo Yuhao nodded awkwardly. He had been seen through.
"Don't bother inviting me. I won't join that sect."
"Huo Yuhao, since fate has brought the two of us together, I still suggest you go to the Body Sect."
"At least for now, the Body Sect suits you best. Failing that, the Sun Moon Empire would work too."
"If you're willing, you can also come with me."
Lin Xiao spoke calmly. This was all he could do. He had said what needed saying; now it depended on the other boy's choice.
"I..."
Huo Yuhao didn't know what to say. He simply stared at Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao understood. "Until we meet again, Huo Yuhao. I hope we won't be enemies in the future."
"My name is Lin Xiao. If fate allows, we'll meet again, Huo Yuhao."
With that, Lin Xiao left without looking back.
Since the choice had already been made, Lin Xiao would no longer interfere in what followed. Things could develop however they would.
There was only so much Lin Xiao could do. Had he not felt sorry for Huo Yuhao, he wouldn't even have taken this extra step.
Watching Lin Xiao's retreating figure, Huo Yuhao declared firmly, "I won't regret this!"
"The Body Sect may be good, and the Sun Moon Empire isn't bad either, but Shrek suits me better. I can become even stronger there."
"Lin Xiao, was it? You'd better not become my enemy either."
Huo Yuhao muttered to himself, his desire to grow stronger intensifying.
Lin Xiao knew nothing of this. He had already obtained what he wanted and done what he wished to do.
Next came the start of his own cultivation.
With both hands behind his head, Lin Xiao walked alone through the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Eight Extremes Collapse, here I come!"
Lin Xiao recalled the cultivation method for Eight Extremes Collapse. Only real combat could put it to the test.
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