As the three of them continued onward, a massive, solemn vermilion gate came into view, facing east with its back to the west.
The gate was exceptionally wide and several zhang tall. Its vermilion paint gleamed brilliantly beneath the sunlight, and two splendid golden evergreen trees had been carefully painted upon it, so lifelike that they lent it a touch of vitality.
On either side of the gate stood enormous stone lions, carved with exquisite craftsmanship. They bared their fangs and claws, their imposing forms radiating majesty.
"This will be the home of our Body Sect from now on."
"I hope our sect can thrive and pass down its glory, just like those two evergreen trees."
Mu Ye drew a deep breath and spoke, his eyes flickering as if lost in thought.
Han Tianyi stood still as well, a trace of remembrance and emotion passing through his eyes.
Both of them knew that from this day forward, the Body Sect, which had drifted for a thousand years, finally had roots.
A tree could live once it had roots; people, too, needed roots to give them a place to belong.
"Come, Xiao Xiu. You should be the one to open this gate."
Mu Ye looked at Han Tianyi. When his martial uncle gave a slight nod, he turned to Jiang Xiu with a faint smile.
Neither of them would likely be able to revive the Body Sect in their lifetimes, but Jiang Xiu, who had only just embarked on the path of a Soul Master, had boundless possibilities ahead of him.
"Okay!"
Determination surfaced in Jiang Xiu's eyes. He stepped forward solemnly and planted himself before the gate, then pushed hard with both hands. With a creak, the heavy vermilion doors swung open to either side.
Behind Jiang Xiu, the rising sun shone brightly into the courtyard, driving away the shadows within as though it had brought new life to the place.
More than a dozen buildings stood in the courtyard, and on the western side was a sizable training ground. Just as Han Tianyi had said, this was indeed a suitable location for the Body Sect's headquarters.
"Not bad. We could build another base underground, and put a Cultivation Room down there, too. This place would work as well..."
The moment they entered the courtyard, Mu Ye began drawing up plans. He was not only a Mecha maker but also a Mecha designer. One glance around the courtyard was enough for him to come up with ideas for its layout.
Before long, the three of them had familiarized themselves with the entire courtyard, and time slipped quietly by.
The sun sank in the west, and the bright moon hung high overhead.
"Disciple, come out quickly. Come to the bathing room and try the medicinal bath I prepared for you."
After dinner, just as Jiang Xiu was preparing to sink his consciousness into the Abyss Plane again, Mu Ye's voice came from outside the house.
"Coming, Master."
Jiang Xiu called back. After tidying himself up, he left the house and headed for the bathing room.
"Come, this medicinal bath is made from Soul Beast blood essence mixed with thousand-year-old medicinal herbs. Combined with our Body Sect's special cultivation method, it can not only strengthen your physique but also make your cultivation twice as effective."
In the bathing room, Mu Ye pointed at the enormous pool before him, the corners of his mouth lifting.
The pool was filled with pale-red liquid. Its surface rippled softly in the light like glass, and a strange, sweet fragrance drifted through the air.
"A medicinal bath... Thank you, Master."
Jiang Xiu's eyes lit up slightly as he thanked him.
As far as he knew, apart from its powerful combat techniques, the Body Sect was also known for medicinal baths that strengthened the physique. After all, the Body Sect's Martial Souls were all parts of the body itself, so strengthening the physique was, to a certain extent, like strengthening one's Martial Soul.
And though the Body Sect had fallen into decline, it could still afford to cultivate him and his senior brother, whom he had yet to meet.
"Xiao Xiu, do you know what makes our Body Martial Soul strongest?"
Mu Ye asked softly, hinting at something.
"The Second Awakening of the Body Martial Soul?"
Jiang Xiu considered the question for a moment, then replied with a flicker in his eyes.
"Exactly. At first, the Body Martial Soul was looked down upon by the Soul Master World. That only changed when the founding ancestor of our Body Sect discovered the Second Awakening of the Body Martial Soul."
A trace of satisfaction appeared in Mu Ye's eyes at Jiang Xiu's answer, and he continued.
"The Second Awakening of a Body Martial Soul has four levels: black iron, bronze, silver, and the highest level, Gold-Grade Awakening. The highest, Gold-Grade Awakening, can unleash three times a Body Soul Master's overall strength!
"The opportunity for a Body Martial Soul's Second Awakening comes when you break through to Soul Saint or Titled Douluo. Of course, if you have an Immortal Herb, there's also a chance you can awaken directly."
At that, Mu Ye sighed. Though Immortal Herbs still existed in the world, they were all firmly controlled by the Tang Sect. The fallen Body Sect had no chance of obtaining any.
"But don't worry, Xiao Xiu. We may not have any Immortal Herbs, but we do have the Secret of the Body. Your Shadow Martial Soul's Second Awakening is a sure thing."
"This medicinal bath will lay a solid foundation for your Martial Soul's Second Awakening. Go on, Xiao Xiu. Give it a try."
Mu Ye gestured toward the pool, his voice full of anticipation.
He was skilled not only in cooking but also had unique insights into preparing medicinal baths. His secret was that he combined cooking with medicinal baths...
Jiang Xiu nodded slightly, but he had already formed a plan in his heart. They might not have any Immortal Herbs now, but that did not mean they would never get any. Once he was strong enough, he would eventually visit the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Splash, splash!"
Suppressing the thoughts churning in his mind, Jiang Xiu stepped into the pool. The pale-red liquid around him began to ripple.
The moment Jiang Xiu entered the pool, he felt strands of energy pass through his skin and slowly seep into his body. He shuddered with renewed energy.
Jiang Xiu even felt his cultivation loosen a little. If he kept soaking in the pool, he might break through to level fourteen within a week.
"Disciple, you can feel it, right?"
Seeing the change in Jiang Xiu's expression, Mu Ye laughed heartily. He then rested his enormous palm against the edge of the pool and activated his Soul Power.
"Disciple, this is only the beginning. Our secret method is much more complicated than that."
As Mu Ye's voice faded, Jiang Xiu felt the water around him begin to heat up. The energy in the pool stirred, flowing into his body even faster.
"Master, what are you..."
"Disciple, when it comes to being a person... Ah, no, when it comes to cooking, the most important thing is getting the heat just right."
"After researching it, I've found that medicinal baths require just the right heat, too."
Mu Ye watched the water in the pool grow paler and cleared his throat, looking quite pleased.
As Jiang Xiu absorbed the energy, he couldn't help feeling that something was off. Why did this medicinal bath his master had prepared for him feel like cooking?
"By the way, disciple, do you know what the first lesson of our Body Sect is?"
"What?"
Jiang Xiu asked, puzzled.
"Loyalty!"
"..."
Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, four years quietly blossomed.
"Jiang Xiu! Jiang Xiu! Jiang Xiu!"
"I'm here to see you!"
A voice as clear as silver bells rang out beyond the Body Sect's gate. A moment later, a graceful young girl, radiating a fresh vitality, dashed inside.
But the next moment, she saw a young man over two and a half meters tall, his body covered in bulging muscles and his frame towering like a black pagoda, speaking to her in a hushed voice.
"Na'er, keep your voice down. Junior Brother is breaking through today."
At that moment, inside Jiang Xiu's room,
cold darkness welled up as his consciousness sank deep into the Shadow Monarch.
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