Zichuan, the Body Sect's Young Sect Master!

A dark green streak of light tore across the sky, landing precisely at the entrance to the Body Sect's hidden valley.

When Du Busi led Zichuan through the passage disguised as a mountain wall and stepped once more into the familiar sect grounds surrounded by sheer cliffs, a sense of finally being home made Zichuan let out a long breath.

The valley remained unchanged. Shouts rang out from the central training ground, figures moved through the herb fields, and rugged stone-and-wood buildings cast mottled shadows beneath the sunlight.

The air carried a faint, distinctive scent mixed with sweat, medicinal herbs, and earth—the scent that belonged solely to the Body Sect.

"We're finally back..." Zichuan looked at the familiar scene before him, a relaxed smile appearing on his face. He turned to Du Busi, whose aura was as deep and steady as a mountain, and said,

"Teacher, I plan to take some of the immortal herbs we harvested from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and distribute them among the sect's senior brothers and sisters, as well as the elders and stewards who have made contributions. There are so many immortal herbs that I can't use them all myself. Leaving them there is just leaving them there; we might as well use them to improve everyone's strength."

He said it as though it were only natural, as if he were sharing ordinary sweets.

During those six months at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, aside from cultivating and "feeding" Tang Ya, he had not been idle. He had gathered many immortal herbs suitable for harvesting without affecting the foundation of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, as well as some that were old enough.

Yet had not developed sentience—their branches, fruits, and leaves—and sorted and preserved them using special methods.

The Aromatic Silk Beauty's Soul Spirit had provided enormous help in identifying and preserving their medicinal properties.

Du Busi paused slightly upon hearing this and lowered his gaze to Zichuan. His hawk-sharp eyes now held an extremely complicated mix of emotions: gratification, pride, sentiment, and the solemn resolve of someone who had made up his mind.

He looked deeply at Zichuan, then vigorously ruffled his hair with a large hand and said in a low voice,

"Good lad. You've got a good heart. But there's no rush for that. Come meet everyone with me first."

The two had barely entered the valley before sharp-eyed disciples spotted them.

"The Sect Master is back!"

"Little Junior Brother is back too!"

"Sect Master! Junior Brother Zichuan!"

Shouts and cries of delight immediately erupted. The disciples sparring on the training ground stopped, those busy in the herb fields straightened up, and figures poured out from stone houses in every direction, swarming toward them.

In only a moment, dozens of people had gathered around Zichuan and Du Busi. Some were familiar faces, while many others he had only met a few times.

Everyone looked at them with curiosity, delight, and scrutiny—especially Zichuan.

This kid had vanished with the Sect Master for more than half a year without a trace. Now that he had suddenly returned, he seemed... taller? His aura had grown far more composed as well.

Two figures in the crowd were especially conspicuous.

One was Long Aotian. After half a year apart, he appeared to have grown several inches taller. His features had become more resolute, his gaze remained as sharp as ever, and he stood like a drawn sword. His aura was steady and restrained, while his Soul Power had astonishingly reached Rank 30!

One had to know that he had only just turned ten! Such cultivation speed fully deserved the title of the Body Sect's greatest genius among the younger generation.

When he saw Zichuan, surprise flashed through his eyes, followed by pure fighting spirit and a faint smile. He gave a slight nod in greeting.

The other was a little girl about Zichuan's age, dressed in a pale golden skirt and wearing twin buns. She was as delicately lovely as a doll.

She was the Body Sect's little princess, Vina.

Her large, watery eyes curiously examined Zichuan, and a sweet smile rested on her little face.

"Teacher, Junior Brother Zichuan, you're finally back!" Vina called brightly as she ran to Du Busi's side and wrapped her arms around his arm.

"Haha, we're back, we're back!"

At the sight of Vina, some of the solemnity on Du Busi's face faded, though it soon returned to seriousness.

He swept his gaze across the growing crowd of sect members, cleared his throat, and spoke in a voice like a great bell that instantly suppressed all noise.

"Quiet!"

Everyone immediately fell silent, their gazes turning in unison toward Du Busi as they waited for the Sect Master to speak.

Du Busi's gaze slowly passed over the crowd before settling on Zichuan beside him. There was no longer the slightest hesitation in his eyes as he spoke loudly, every word striking their hearts like a heavy hammer.

"I have gathered everyone today to announce an important matter."

He paused, his tone firm and beyond question.

"From this day onward, Zichuan shall be my, Du Busi's, direct disciple and the first-in-line heir to the position of the next Sect Master of the Body Sect! When this old man steps down or dies, Zichuan shall become the new Sect Master!"

"Boom—!"

One sentence stirred a thousand waves!

The entire valley instantly erupted! Everyone was stunned senseless by the news, wondering whether they had heard incorrectly.

The Sect Master's heir? First in line? Zichuan? That little junior brother who was only seven years old and had joined the sect barely half a year ago?!

Although Zichuan's talent was heaven-defying—he possessed the Dual Heart Martial Soul, had gained a thousand-year first soul ring, and had even defeated Long Aotian—wasn't this... far too soon?!

How old was he? What contributions had he made to the sect? How much did he know about its affairs? And he was being directly named the Sect Master's heir? The first in line, no less?

This meant that so long as Du Busi was gone or voluntarily stepped down, Zichuan would unquestionably become the next Sect Master unless he died or betrayed the sect!

This decision was too sudden, too significant!

Even Zichuan himself abruptly raised his head and stared at Du Busi in astonishment.

What was Teacher... pulling with this sudden attack? He had not discussed it with him beforehand at all! Though he did not care about the position of Sect Master, this burden was far too heavy, wasn't it?

He was only seven! He only wanted to be quietly fed, then become a god and cut down Tang San!

"Sect Master! Isn't... isn't this too hasty?" An elder who appeared to be over fifty could not help speaking up. His arms hung past his knees. He was Wang Long-Arm's clan uncle and held considerable prestige within the sect.

"That's right, Sect Master. Junior Brother Zichuan's extraordinary talent is plain for all to see, but the matter of an heir concerns the sect's century-long plans. Shouldn't we deliberate further?"

Another elder with a lean face and abnormally thick legs echoed him.

Quite a few sect members also revealed hesitation, confusion, and even a faint trace of dissatisfaction.

Long Aotian frowned slightly, and his gaze at Zichuan gained a few more traces of appraisal. Vina merely blinked curiously at Zichuan, unable to understand why everyone was reacting so strongly.

Faced with everyone's doubts, Du Busi's expression did not change. Only his aura suddenly rose by a fraction.

That tiny leak of aura alone made everyone present feel their hearts sink, as though an invisible mountain were pressing down upon them and making it difficult to breathe. It was a terrifying pressure far beyond anything before, enough to make their hearts tremble!

"Hasty? Deliberate?" Du Busi snorted coldly, his voice shaking the valley. "Why should this old man explain his actions to the likes of you? But since you have asked, this old man will tell you!"

His gaze flashed like lightning as it swept over the crowd. "This old man has cultivated in seclusion for half a year, and now I have one foot in the realm of a Rank 99 Limit Douluo! Before long, I will truly break through and reach the limit! And all of this is because of Zichuan!"

"Whoa—!" The crowd burst into uproar once again. A Rank 99 Limit Douluo? That was a legendary realm! There were only a handful across the entire continent! The Sect Master was about to break through? And it was because of Zichuan?

Du Busi continued,

"Zichuan carries great fortune. He discovered an unparalleled treasure land... the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well! It nurtures countless immortal herbs and spiritual medicines, including many at the hundred-thousand-year level! The reason this old man was able to break through was because I consumed an eighty-thousand-year Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum from there!"