The girls of Skywater Academy arrive
Guga One walked out of the door, Iron Hand saluted, and his eyelight flashed three times. "Reporting to the boss, the first phase of the Body Sect project is complete. One main hall, two side halls, twelve dormitory buildings for disciples, one training ground, three warehouses, and one kitchen. All water and electricity are connected, and the soul-guided lighting system is functioning normally."
"You've worked hard." Jiang Lan patted its iron shoulder and strode through the gate with its short legs.
Behind the door was a stone-paved path, with saplings he had brought back from the Star Dou Great Forest planted on both sides. They were short and their leaves had not yet fully grown.
"Where is the disciple?" Jiang Lan turned around and asked Guga One.
"We have zero disciples currently recruited," Guga One answered crisply.
Jiang Lan remained silent for a moment.
"Has the advertising been run?"
"As instructed by the boss, I posted posters on Vermilion Bird Street for three days. The posters said that the Body Sect was recruiting disciples with Body Martial Soul, providing food and lodging, monthly allowance, and guaranteed teaching."
Has anyone asked?
"Seven have arrived," said Guga One. "Six claimed their Martial Soul were their Body Martial Soul, but after testing, two turned out to be shovels, one hoes, and one rolling pins. Of the remaining three, one claimed his Body Martial Soul was the hand, but it turned out to be a foot; another claimed his Body Martial Soul was the eye, but it turned out he was nearsighted; and the last one claimed his entire body was his Body Martial Soul, but after testing, it turned out his Martial Soul was a chicken."
Jiang Lan rubbed her forehead.
"What about six more?"
"The sixth one is the guy with the rolling pin; he came with me, not to register. The seventh one was just passing by to see what was going on; he asked if we wanted to sell roasted sweet potatoes."
Doro was laughing so hard he almost dropped the Ju Zi. He squatted on the ground, his little hands covering his belly, his white fur trembling.
Jiang Lan sighed and said, "We can only rely on Sister Qian now."
Over the next period of time, people came to the door one after another.
The first one to arrive was a boy of sixteen or seventeen, Martial Soul was his own two hands.
Jiang Lan tested his Soul Power; it was only level twenty-one, not high, but it was still his Body Martial Soul, so she accepted it.
The second one was a girl of twelve or thirteen years old. Her Martial Soul was eyes, and she was only level eighteen. Jiang Lan also took her in.
A dozen or so arrived one after another, all around level 20, with all sorts of Martial Soul —some had hands, some had feet, some had hair, and one even had its own teeth as Martial Soul, capable of biting through stone.
Jiang Lan settled these disciples in the sect, leaving their food and lodging to Guga One, while he taught them basic cultivation techniques in the training ground every day.
"Your Martial Soul are part of your bodies, so your cultivation path is different from ordinary Soul Master." Jiang Lan stood on a low stool in the middle of the training ground, his short hands behind his back, speaking to the row of disciples sitting neatly below. "Ordinary Soul Master rely on their Martial Soul to release Soul Skill, but you rely on your bodies themselves. If you have a hand Martial Soul, you'll practice fist and palm techniques; if you have a foot martial soul, you'll practice leg and Martial Soul techniques; and if you have an eye Martial Soul, you'll practice pupil techniques for insight."
The disciples listened attentively, and some even took out small notebooks to write it down.
After teaching basic classes for a few days, Jiang Lan discovered that although these disciples' Martial Soul were all physical forms, their quality varied greatly; some had good potential, while others had limited ceilings.
He selected a few students with good foundations and gave them individual tutoring, providing them with Pill and special training. They all made rapid progress.
However, the overall number was still too small, so Jiang Lan gave up representing the Body Sect in the competition and could only participate with the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Jiang Lan stood on a low stool in the training ground, speaking animatedly with great enthusiasm. His short hands gestured the fist techniques in the air, while dozens of disciples sat neatly below, listening attentively.
Suddenly, a series of chaotic footsteps and chattering voices arose outside the training ground.
"This is the place, isn't it?"
"The plaque above the gate says 'Body Sect,' so it should be correct."
"That handwriting is really ugly."
"Yue'er, keep your voice down, don't let Little Guga hear you."
Jiang Lan's ears perked up.
He knew that voice, that tone, so well.
Before he could turn around, the gate to the martial arts arena was pushed open from the outside.
Shui Yue'er was the first to rush in, her blue curly hair fluttering in the wind. Before her eyes even found anyone, her mouth had already called out, "Little Guga! We've come to see you!"
Shui Bing'er followed behind her, her long, icy blue hair cascading over her shoulders, a faint smile on her face.
Following them were Xue Wu, Yu Hairou, Shen Liuyu, Gu Qingbo, and Qiu Ruoshui. All seven members of the Skywater Academy marched into the martial arts arena in a grand procession.
Jiang Lan stood on the low stool, completely frozen.
The disciples sitting below all turned around and stared wide-eyed as they saw seven beautiful girls storming in.
"Master, who are they?" a disciple stammered.
"Your martial uncle." Jiang Lan jumped down from the low stool, and before he could even stand up, Shui Yue'er had already pounced on him.
"Little Guga!" Shui Yue'er scooped him up from the ground and held him up in front of her. "I've missed you so much! Let me see if you've lost weight!"
"Yue'er, put me down--"
Shui Yue'er ignored him completely, turned him over and looked him over twice, then hugged him and rubbed her face against his head a couple of times.
"Still so soft! You haven't changed at all in the years I haven't seen you!"
Jiang Lan struggled listlessly in her arms for a couple of moments, kicking her short legs.
"Sister Yue'er, I can't breathe--"
"Stop panting, hold it in."
Shui Bing'er walked over, scooped Jiang Lan out of Shui Yue'er's arms, put him on the ground, and squatted down to look him straight in the eye.
"Jiang Lan." Shui Bing'er's voice was still so gentle, her icy blue eyes curving into a smile, "Long time no see."
"Sister Bing'er," Jiang Lan called out obediently.
Shui Bing'er reached out and gently pinched his cheek, then rubbed his head.
Have you grown taller?
"... It hasn't grown."
"Hasn't grown at all?"
"It hasn't grown at all."
Shui Bing'er was silent for a moment, then smiled and pulled him into her arms.
"It's fine if it hasn't grown."
Xue Wu leaned over from the side and poked Jiang Lan's cheek. "Bing'er, have you hugged enough? It's my turn."
Jiang Lan was handed from Shui Bing'er's arms to Xue Wu's arms. Xue Wu hugged him and spun him around before handing him to Yu Hairou.
Yu Hairou took it, hugged it, and then handed it to Shen Liuyu.
Shen Liuyu hugged him and handed him to Gu Qingbo.
Gu Qingbo hugged her and handed her to Qiu Ruoshui.
Qiu Ruoshui hugged him one last time, sighing with satisfaction, "He feels so good, exactly the same as before."
Jiang Lan was hugged by seven people in turn, looking like a glutinous rice ball that had been passed around. The hood of her Penguin Suit was askew, her cheeks were kissed several times, and her face was covered in lipstick marks.
"Alright, alright, that's enough." Jiang Lan slid off Qiu Ruoshui's arms, patted the wrinkles on her Penguin Suit, and straightened her hat. "What brings you all here?"
"I heard your Body Sect is finished, so I came to check it out." Shui Yue'er squatted down, looking up at him. "What, aren't you welcome?"
"Welcome is welcome," Jiang Lan said, touching her cheek that had been pinched red. "But since you guys always do this every time you come, I'm afraid to open the door anymore."
"If you don't open the door, we'll climb over the wall," Xue Wu said confidently. "Anyway, it's not like the seven of us can't climb over the wall."
Jiang Lan thought about it and realized she was right, so she stopped worrying about it.