A Match with Aotian—Let Me See What Level You're At Now!

Long Aotian stood where he was, listening to Du Busi's shocked words as a bitter smile involuntarily spread across his face.

He lowered his head and looked at his hands. His bronze skin, once a source of pride, seemed to have dimmed somewhat at that moment.

"My junior brother's talent is way too monstrous."

Long Aotian sighed helplessly, his tone full of emotion.

"Compared to him, this so-called chief disciple of ours has become mediocre instead."

"You're mediocre?" Du Busi glared at him irritably upon hearing that.

"Aotian, if the other disciples in the sect heard you say that, they'd be furious! If you're mediocre, then what are they? They wouldn't even qualify as rotten wood!"

Even so, when Du Busi turned to look toward Tingtao Pavilion, the green light in his eyes flickered ever more violently, and his voice carried the complicated air of someone questioning his entire life.

"But... Liu Yuan really is absurdly monstrous."

"Back then, I considered myself exceptionally talented. When cultivating this Body Secret Technique, it took me a full four months to go from knowing nothing to truly getting started! Just what kind of comprehension does this kid have?"

The more Du Busi thought about it, the less he could sit still. He had seen geniuses as numerous as carp crossing a river in his lifetime, but a completely unreasonable "monster" like Liu Yuan was truly a first.

With a wave of his hand, he said to Long Aotian, "Come on, let's go see him!"

The master and disciple flickered through the air, crossing the courtyard in an instant and landing before the doors of Tingtao Pavilion.

Inside Tingtao Pavilion, Liu Yuan had just slowly withdrawn from his cultivation state within the quiet chamber.

He let out a long breath. His Double Pupil, which had remained tightly shut, suddenly opened. The two pupils overlapped and revolved, radiating an unprecedentedly condensed brilliance.

He raised a hand and sensed the Soul Power surging through his body like vast rivers.

Not only had his Soul Power Level risen to level twenty-five, but what delighted him most was his physique, tempered through the Body Secret Technique.

Every inch of his muscles now brimmed with explosive power, while his bone density had increased dramatically.

More importantly, strengthened by the Double Pupil Origin, his spiritual power had become as sharp as steel needles. Both its detection range and precision had increased by more than double.

"Coming to the Body Sect... was indeed the right choice." Liu Yuan clenched his fist, his heart filled with joy.

Only after truly experiencing the benefits of the Body Sect's top-tier cultivation system did he understand just how inefficient that so-called meditation at Shrek Academy had been.

Just then, his keen spiritual power detected two powerful auras outside the door.

He did not dare delay. He immediately rose to his feet and hurried out, where he happened to meet Du Busi and Long Aotian as they arrived together.

"Disciple Liu Yuan greets Master and Senior Brother." Liu Yuan bowed to Du Busi and Long Aotian, his attitude even more respectful than before.

This respect did not stem entirely from their strength. It also came from Du Busi's trust and support in so generously passing down the foundation of the sect to him.

"Good lad, get up quickly!" Before Du Busi had even approached, his eager voice had already reached them. "That fluctuation just now—did you cultivate the Body Secret Art successfully?"

Liu Yuan smiled faintly and answered modestly, "Reporting to Master, I was fortunate enough to get started."

"Hahahaha! Good lad!" After confirming the smooth, natural aura of origin around Liu Yuan, Du Busi could no longer suppress the wild joy in his heart and threw back his head in laughter.

The laughter startled the birds in the surrounding woods, sending them scattering into the air.

He truly was overjoyed.

In this era, the Body Sect had produced not merely two geniuses with Gold Grade Martial Soul awakenings...

What delighted him even more was that the comprehension Liu Yuan had displayed surpassed Long Aotian's—and even his own as Sect Master—by a tremendous margin!

This foretold that Liu Yuan would not only go far in the future, but might even reach the pinnacle at a speed ordinary people could never imagine.

Du Busi slapped Liu Yuan on the shoulder, his voice carrying an irrepressibly bold tone. "Come on! Since Aotian is here too, the two of you will eat with me!"

"You've been in the Body Sect for so long, yet all you do is shut yourself away and cultivate. You don't even know to come chat with me more often."

Liu Yuan scratched his head awkwardly. "This disciple accidentally became too absorbed in cultivation and forgot to pay respects to Master."

"You really are a cultivation maniac." Du Busi smiled and shook his head, then led the way down from the pavilion. "Come on, we'll eat at my place today."

Before long, the three of them arrived at the inner hall of Sect Master Hall.

The dining table there had already been filled with a dazzling array of delicacies.

With a single glance, Liu Yuan found that most of the dishes were high-level soul beast meat, emanating dense Soul Power fluctuations.

After being specially prepared, this soul beast meat was not only exceptionally delicious, but also highly nourishing, making it extremely suitable for Body Sect soul masters seeking to temper their bodies.

The three took their seats without much elaborate ceremony.

As Du Busi wolfed down meat, he told Liu Yuan about the events taking place outside over the past month.

"While you were cooped up in your room, the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire couldn't sit still any longer."

"An envoy already delivered an imperial decree, saying that you rendered meritorious service in protecting the princess. You've been specially granted the title of baron, along with a fief."

Liu Yuan was slightly stunned, then understood that this was the chain reaction brought about by Vina.

He did not appear overly flattered. After all, in the world of soul masters, noble titles were merely icing on the cake. Only strength was the true foundation.

After that, Du Busi did not merely share amusing news; he also thoughtfully asked Liu Yuan about his initial doubts regarding the Body Secret Technique.

"Getting started with the secret technique may be quick, but your foundation must be steady. During cultivation, have you felt any places where your spiritual origin does not align with your body's pulse?"

Liu Yuan set down his bowl and chopsticks, thought for a moment, then briefly described several areas where he had felt obstruction while circulating Soul Power through the Double Pupil acupoints.

After hearing him out, Du Busi's eyes flashed with approval. He then explained Liu Yuan's questions in a clear and accessible manner.

Every piece of guidance struck directly at the heart of the matter, making Liu Yuan feel as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun. He benefited immensely.

The meal came to an end amid a cheerful atmosphere filled with scholarly discussion.

After the meal, Du Busi unusually did not urge them to return to cultivation. Instead, he had them rest for a while in the pavilion behind the hall to aid their digestion.

Just as Liu Yuan thought today's "master-disciple tea gathering" was about to end, Du Busi slowly rose to his feet. A meaningful glint flashed through his eyes as he beckoned to the two of them.

"All right, you've rested enough. You two, come with me to the Martial Arts Arena."

A trace of confusion appeared in Liu Yuan's eyes as he asked, "Master, what are we going there for?"

Du Busi chuckled, pointed at Long Aotian, then at Liu Yuan, and declared domineeringly, "You've been in the Body Sect for so long. I know your potential is heaven-defying and your comprehension is astonishing, but I still don't know just how capable you are in actual combat!"

"As it happens, Aotian has made a breakthrough recently too. Come on, let's go to the Martial Arts Arena and have Long Aotian spar with you. Let me see what level you two are at now."