The Body Sect as State Religion?

"You're deeply opposed to Soul Tools and consider them heretical. Even if I proposed another form of cooperation, I'm afraid you wouldn't accept it."

Kong Deming glanced at Du Busi. Seeing that he had no intention of speaking, Kong Deming continued, "In my view, the Sun Moon Empire and the Body Sect could work closely together. We could keep the first arrangement in place while pursuing deeper exchanges."

"For instance, outstanding students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy could study with the Body Sect, learning your combat techniques, your approach to battle, or even your unique cultivation methods. In turn, disciples of the Body Sect could come to our academy for systematic instruction in Soul Tools. Over time, the Soul Masters of the Sun Moon Empire would grow stronger, while the Body Sect's Soul Tool technology would advance rapidly—perhaps even catch up with Shrek Academy."

"Beyond that, there's trade, paid commissions, and plenty of other ways to cooperate. It all depends on what you choose, Sect Master Du, doesn't it?"

To be honest, Xu Tiance thought these proposals were still too conservative.

His suggestion was simple: the Body Sect had little reason to stay in the Heaven Dou Empire, so it might as well relocate in its entirety to the Sun Moon Empire. That would make it much easier for Soul Masters who awakened Body Martial Souls there to join the sect. In a few years, when his father, Prince Purple Brilliant, was ready to launch his coup, Du Busi could lead the Body Sect to his aid and even secure the title of State Religion.

The Body Sect might not be as powerful overall as the Holy Spirit Cult, but in outsiders' eyes, its worst fault was being overbearing. That was far better than making the Holy Spirit Cult, a sect of Evil Soul Masters, the State Religion.

With that thought, Xu Tiance turned to Du Busi. "Senior Du Busi, I'm bound to spend most of my time in the Sun Moon Empire. If you're willing to teach me, traveling back and forth won't be convenient. So why not take our cooperation further? Move the entire Body Sect to the Sun Moon Empire. Once I become Crown Prince, I could honor the Body Sect as the State Religion."

At those words, even Kong Deming's eyes widened slightly, shock showing on his face—let alone Du Busi's.

Kong Deming had only intended to build closer ties with the Body Sect. His ultimate goal was for the sect to become a firm ally of the Sun Moon Empire, but wasn't Tiance being a little too direct?

"Move the entire Body Sect to the Sun Moon Empire?"

Du Busi had been frowning as he listened to Kong Deming, but Xu Tiance's words made him laugh instead. "You brat. I couldn't bring you into the Body Sect, so now you've set your sights on taking the Body Sect for yourself?"

Despite his words, Du Busi's tone was light. He wasn't angry.

Moving the entire sect to the Sun Moon Empire, perhaps even becoming its State Religion someday... It did sound tempting. The Body Sect had no real ties to the Three Great Empires anyway. The Beast Tide and the death of its previous sect master, Du Bisou, had even forced it into seclusion.

If the sect truly relocated and became the Sun Moon Empire's State Religion, it might be a good thing for the Body Sect.

Its ranks would swell, and the treatment its disciples received would certainly be better than what they had in the Heaven Dou Empire.

But even as sect master, he couldn't decide such a matter on the spot. He would have to return and hold several sect meetings before they could reach a decision.

"Allow this old man to return to the sect and think carefully about the cooperation you've proposed. Once I've made up my mind, I'll come to the Sun Moon Empire."

Du Busi paused in thought. "This is a grave matter. I can't give you a definite answer by myself right now. I also need to return to the sect and consider carefully how to cultivate and develop your Primordial Cells Martial Soul. Until then, you must not add anything to it. Since you've chosen Sun-Moon Radiance as the Martial Soul you'll cultivate first, wait until you have at least seven Soul Rings before considering adding Soul Rings to your Primordial Cells Martial Soul."

Du Busi hurried away with Long Aotian. He even forgot the Heavenly Soul Royal Family's invitation and went straight back to the Body Sect. As a result, he missed Princess Vina's Martial Soul Awakening ceremony and never discovered that she, too, had Twin Martial Souls, including a Body Martial Soul.

Of course, even if he had known Vina possessed Twin Martial Souls, Xu Tiance would still have come first in his eyes.

In fact, Xu Tiance and Vina had much in common. Each had an entire empire behind them. Each possessed Twin Martial Souls—an Imperial Martial Soul and a Body Martial Soul—and both their Body Martial Souls were top-tier.

The difference was the vast gulf in strength between the Sun Moon Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire. Xu Tiance's Sun-Moon Radiance Martial Soul also far surpassed Vina's Snow Lotus Martial Soul in both quality and attributes.

Du Busi had left without giving an answer, but neither Kong Deming nor Xu Tiance was discouraged.

Before leaving, Du Busi had made a point of giving them a way to contact the Body Sect directly. Xu Tiance was also certain that Du Busi could never resist the allure of him—the unattainable moonlight in Du Busi's heart.

Besides, the Sun Moon Empire's offer to help find Soul Masters with Body Martial Souls was hard for Du Busi to refuse on its own.

Before long, Du Busi might well come seeking cooperation of his own accord.

"Tiance, you brat, you've got nerve! Even I wouldn't dare ask the Body Sect to move wholesale to the Sun Moon Empire. I never thought you'd put it to him so openly."

Kong Deming laughed as he scolded him, then grew serious. His voice steadied. "Tiance, I said earlier that you would become Crown Prince and inherit the Sun Moon Empire. But I still need to ask what you want."

"Do you want to become Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire?"

At that, the chopsticks slipped from Ye Guyi's hand and clattered to the floor. She had been quietly eating, paying little attention to the conversation.

Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that Xu Tiance—the one who had saved her, pulled her out of the mire, given her hope of living, and could even perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with her—might one day become Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire!

Then...

Wouldn't that make her the Empress of the Sun Moon Empire someday?

No, no, no!

That wasn't right!

Ye Guyi, Ye Guyi, why have you already started imagining yourself as Xu Tiance's wife?

Realizing where her thoughts had gone, Ye Guyi flushed crimson and immediately ducked her head like an ostrich, afraid Xu Tiance would notice anything amiss. Yet she couldn't stop a faint ripple from spreading through her heart.