Shocking Long Aotian—Junior Brother, What's Going On With You?

As two emerald-green streaks tore across the sky and landed steadily in the Body Sect's plaza, the previously quiet sect instantly erupted into excitement.

"The Sect Master is back!"

"Senior Brother Liu Yuan is back too!"

The news spread through the sect as if it had grown wings.

The disciples waiting near the Martial Arts Arena stopped what they were doing and stared fervently toward the gates.

Chen Lü and the other two, who were adjusting their breathing in the Martial Arts Arena, exchanged glances before teasing Long Aotian. "Senior Brother Long, speak of Liu Yuan and Liu Yuan arrives."

"You were just talking about challenging Senior Brother Liu Yuan. Now he's really back."

Long Aotian said nothing, but the fighting spirit in his eyes had already turned into blazing heat.

He abruptly rose to his feet, not even bothering to wipe the fine sweat from his brow. "Come. Let's welcome the Sect Master and Junior Brother."

Before long, everyone greeted the returning master and disciple at the foot of the steps outside the Sect Master Hall.

Although Liu Yuan had changed into a brand-new set of fitted sect robes, the sharp aura he had acquired through tempering his body in extreme cold and fighting for his life was impossible to conceal.

Standing beside Du Busi, he was like a sharp blade sheathed in its scabbard—steady, yet carrying a suffocating pressure that made hearts tremble.

Seeing him like this, Long Aotian's desire to spar grew even stronger.

Thus, after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Long Aotian impatiently stepped forward, clasped his hands toward Liu Yuan, and said with gleaming eyes:

"Junior Brother Liu, you must have gained greatly from your journey to the Extreme North."

"I've also made some breakthroughs recently. Would Junior Brother be willing to step onto the stage and offer me some guidance, fulfilling this senior brother's wish to spar?"

At Long Aotian's challenge, Du Busi's expression became exceedingly strange.

He cast Long Aotian a sidelong glance and secretly found it amusing.

As a Level 98 Super Douluo, he could see at a glance that Long Aotian had broken through to Level 47. That was indeed outstanding among his peers.

But Long Aotian still followed the growth path of an ordinary soul master, while Liu Yuan... Liu Yuan was a madman who had just solo-killed a Ten-thousand-year Soul Beast in the Extreme North, with both his Soul Power and spiritual power in an inhuman state.

In his view, Long Aotian seeking a spar with Liu Yuan now was simply asking to be beaten.

However, Du Busi did not expose the truth.

He knew well that the Body Sect's tradition was battle. Only competition could bring growth.

Letting Liu Yuan put some pressure on Long Aotian would not necessarily be a bad thing for him.

So, when Liu Yuan looked at Du Busi questioningly, Du Busi waved his hand indifferently. "Why are you looking at me?"

"Since your senior brother wants to test your mettle, go have a match. It's only a spar; you won't lose a piece of flesh."

"Yes, Master." Liu Yuan nodded, then looked toward Long Aotian. "Since Senior Brother is in the mood, I shall gladly oblige."

The news traveled swiftly. The announcement of "Long Aotian versus Liu Yuan" instantly ignited the entire sect.

This was not only another clash between two of the Body Sect's top talents, but also a long-awaited revelation for everyone—

Everyone wanted to know exactly what kind of Third Soul Skill Liu Yuan had obtained after being personally taken to the Extreme North by the Sect Master.

The Martial Drill Arena was already packed with disciples watching the match. Even several elders in seclusion had been alerted and appeared in the stands.

Elder Chen sat beside Du Busi, stroking his beard as he asked curiously, "Sect Master, you personally oversaw Liu Yuan's Third Soul Skill. What level did he choose? Is it any good?"

Du Busi smiled inscrutably without answering directly. He merely pointed below. "Whether it's good or not, you'll see soon enough."

"This old man can only tell you that it will absolutely exceed your imagination."

His response made the anticipation in Elder Chen's heart grow even stronger.

"Oh? Then I'll have to take a good look."

At this moment, the two men on the arena stood facing each other.

Long Aotian's expression was solemn. He could sense that the faint pressure radiating from Liu Yuan was stronger than before.

He reminded him in a deep voice, "Junior Brother, I won't hold back like last time. To show my respect, I'll fight with everything I have."

As his words fell, Long Aotian let out a low shout. His bones crackled loudly, while his skin took on a bronze metallic sheen.

The powerful pressure of a Level 47 Soul Ancestor burst forth instantly. Two yellow and two purple Soul Rings—four in total—pulsed rhythmically beneath his feet, displaying the formidable foundation of a core disciple.

"Level 47! Senior Brother Long has improved so quickly!" The disciples below cried out in amazement.

Du Busi nodded faintly. Long Aotian's progress was indeed impressive, but compared to a monster like Liu Yuan, it was still slightly lacking.

On the arena, Liu Yuan made his move as well.

He steadied his breathing, and a crimson glint flashed through his Double Pupil.

As his Soul Power circulated, an equally powerful and oppressive aura surged directly from within his body.

"Liu Yuan, Level 35. Senior Brother, please enlighten me."

Liu Yuan's voice was not loud, yet it rang clearly throughout the entire arena.

Immediately afterward, three Soul Rings slowly rose from beneath his feet.

The first was yellow, perfectly ordinary.

The second was purple—a Thousand-Year Soul Ring—and murmurs gradually spread through the crowd.

However, when the third Soul Ring fully stabilized around Liu Yuan, the entire Martial Drill Arena fell into deathly silence.

It was black—deep as an abyss, still as iron.

A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring!

The black Soul Ring emitted suffocating Soul Power fluctuations, carrying the terrifying lingering might of a Ten-thousand-year Ice Qilin.

Against the backdrop of that black Soul Ring, Liu Yuan's Level 35 cultivation completely overwhelmed Level 47 Long Aotian in sheer presence.

The entire arena was stunned!

"B-Black?"

"The Third Spirit Ring is ten thousand years?"

"How is that possible?! How could a Three-Ring Soul Elder absorb a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring?!"

Several elders in the stands abruptly shot to their feet, their faces filled with disbelief.

Elder Chen, who had just asked the question, was so shocked that he even tore out several strands of his beard.

Long Aotian's pupils shrank to pinpoints. The composed aura he had gathered violently fluctuated the instant he saw that black Soul Ring.

Three rings, with the third at ten thousand years.

Even he was seeing something like this for the first time.

After all, even his own Third Spirit Ring was merely purple.

Thus, Long Aotian looked toward Du Busi in shock.

"Master, what is going on with Junior Brother?"

The other Body Sect disciples also began asking questions.

"Yeah! Why is Senior Brother Liu Yuan's Third Spirit Ring of such a high grade?"

"How did he do it?"

Du Busi did not hide anything and continued, "His situation is rather special. His physical body is extremely strong, and his spiritual power is absurdly powerful as well."

"That's why he can absorb higher-level Soul Rings ahead of time. Both his body and spirit can withstand it."

"But you lot are still lacking. You can't do that."

After receiving Du Busi's explanation, everyone's gazes toward Liu Yuan became even more fervent.

"So that's how it is..."

"Senior Brother Liu Yuan is truly enviable."