Lin leaned against the tree beside the road, resting with his eyes closed, not even glancing at Tang Ya's side.
Lin had shut himself off, so Tang Ya immediately began promoting her Tang Clan to her companion.
"Little Yuhao."
"The strongest sect on the continent has invited you to join the Haotian Sect."
"I also have a sect to recommend to you."
Tang Ya smiled confidently and immediately took the bait.
"Miss Tang, what sect are you talking about?"
"With the Haotian Sect already there, could it be...?"
Huo Yuhao asked curiously.
Tang Ya saw the hook had been taken and smiled. This was exactly the effect she wanted. Hehehe...
"Little Yuhao, have you heard of the Sea God?"
Tang Ya spoke mysteriously, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Huo Yuhao's face was as dark as if he had swallowed a fly. The Sea God, Tang San—was there anyone in this world who had not heard of him?
"The Sea God who overturned the Martial Spirit Hall in the old legends? Of course I know him."
Not only did he know the Sea God, but he also knew that the Sea God, Tang San, was his own ancestor.
"Since you know him, then you must also know the Tang Clan that the Sea God founded."
"And I, Tang Ya, am the current clan leader of the Tang Clan. How about it? Impressive, right?"
Tang Ya spoke proudly, feeling quite pleased with herself.
"But hasn't the Tang Clan already declined?"
"Compared to the Haotian Sect, it seems..."
Huo Yuhao might have been inexperienced, but he was not stupid. He knew how powerful the Haotian Sect was, and he also knew of the Tang Clan's decline.
"Aiya, Little Yuhao, you only know one side of the story."
"The Tang Clan may indeed have declined, but Shrek Academy has not. The Tang Clan's secret arts have not declined either."
"The Tang Clan's secret arts, the Purple Demon Eyes, are extremely suitable for cultivating your Spiritual-type martial soul."
"Not only that, if you join the Tang Clan, you can enter Shrek Academy."
"Shrek Academy is far better than the Haotian Sect."
"As long as you join the Tang Clan, I can guarantee you the Tang Clan's secret arts and a place at Shrek Academy."
"How about it? Want to think it over?"
Tang Ya had already laid all her cards on the table. She had brought out the Tang Clan's secret arts and even Shrek Academy's admission quota.
That whole package left Huo Yuhao utterly tempted.
These things had existed in the original story as well, but because of Lin's influence, Tang Ya had become more enthusiastic.
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. The Sea God's Tang Clan secret arts and Shrek Academy's admission quota.
Present-day Shrek could be called the strongest academy on the continent. Aside from the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Guidance Devices, Shrek stood at the pinnacle.
It was just that this academy's methods were rather off-putting.
And there was that annoying old hag from Shrek Academy.
But Huo Yuhao did not know any of that. The strongest academy, and the Sea God's secret arts.
Every single one of them stirred his heart.
Heavens, I'm only warning the other side as a kind gesture. I'm not conspiring with them. There's no problem with that, right?
Huo Yuhao had already made up his mind. The condition that impressed him most, and the condition that would prevent the other party from refusing.
The Haotian Sect probably could not offer these either.
"Miss Tang, can I really join the Tang Clan?"
Excited, Huo Yuhao blurted out the question.
"Yes! I'm currently the Tang Clan's leader. If you want to join, I welcome you with applause!"
Tang Ya excitedly jumped up. Success! Hahahaha!
"Then I'll join!"
With such generous terms, Huo Yuhao did not need to think about it at all.
"Yuhao, congratulations. From now on, you are the Tang Clan's third member."
Gui Gui said with a smile, congratulating Huo Yuhao.
"The... third member?"
"Miss Tang, don't tell me the Tang Clan only has the three of us?"
Huo Yuhao looked at himself, then at Tang Ya and Gui Gui, finding it hard to believe.
"Ahem, Little Yuhao, that isn't important."
"Although our Tang Clan has declined, what should be there is still there. We'll rely on ourselves to restore its former glory."
Tang Ya solemnly patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder and encouraged him.
Huo Yuhao's dark eyes had already lit up. He could join Shrek Academy and obtain the Tang Clan's secret arts.
"Miss Tang, since we're so short on people, how about we recruit that little brother over there too?"
Huo Yuhao looked toward Lin and spoke up.
Tang Ya glanced at Lin. The other party was avoiding them, and just thinking about how he had invited Huo Yuhao to join the Haotian Sect made her unhappy.
"Yuhao, you've gone too far."
Gui Gui spoke up, pulling Tang Ya back a little.
Huo Yuhao fell silent, then walked toward Lin.
"Gui Gui, do you think Yuhao will succeed?"
Tang Ya looked over curiously.
Gui Gui shook his head. "I don't know. Miss, could it be that you frightened him earlier?"
Tang Ya puffed out her chest, unconcerned. "How is that possible? He must not know that Miss Tang is a lively, lovely young beauty."
"Clearly, he's the one who lacks taste!"
Gui Gui smiled faintly and said nothing.
Huo Yuhao came to Lin's side. Before he could figure out how to begin, Lin's voice reached him.
"What is it? Did Tang Ya ask you to invite me to join her declining sect?"
Huo Yuhao's dark face revealed that he had been seen through.
"No need to invite me. I won't join that sect."
"Huo Yuhao, for the sake of our previous connection, I advise you to go to the Haotian Sect."
"At least for now, the Haotian Sect is the most suitable place for you. It is the strongest on the continent, and you can even watch the Sun Moon Empire from there."
"If you are willing, you can come with me."
Lin spoke calmly. That was all he could do. He had said what needed to be said; the rest depended on the other party's choice.
"I..."
Huo Yuhao did not know what to say, and could only stare at Lin.
Lin smiled. "We'll meet again, Huo Yuhao. I hope we won't be enemies when that time comes."
"My name is Lin. Farewell, Huo Yuhao, if fate allows."
After saying that, Lin left without looking back.
Since Huo Yuhao had already made his choice, Lin would not interfere with what came next. Let things develop as they would.
That was all Lin could do. If he had not seen Huo Yuhao as someone useful, Lin would not have bothered with him.
Huo Yuhao watched Lin's retreating figure and declared firmly, "I won't regret this!"
"The Haotian Sect may be good, and the Sun Moon Empire is not bad either, but only Shrek suits me and can make me stronger."
"Lin, you'd better not regret this either."
Huo Yuhao muttered to himself, his desire to become stronger growing severalfold.
Lin knew nothing of this. He had gotten what he wanted and done what he wanted to do.
Next came the beginning of his own cultivation.
Lin walked alone through the Star Dou Great Forest, his hands behind his back.
"Eight-Section Brocade, here I come!"
Lin recalled the cultivation method of the Eight-Section Brocade in his mind. Only by learning it could he obtain the physical aptitude for cultivation.
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