The Heaven Dou Empire's one hundred and sixty-seven people who had awakened Body Martial Souls were scattered across the land.
The Body Sect's experts followed the list, visiting them door to door.
Most of the recruitment went smoothly.
Some who had awakened Body Martial Souls had already joined other factions, but as long as they themselves wanted to join the Body Sect, no one could stop them!
If those factions cooperated and let them go, the Body Sect would offer some compensation.
If they refused, not only would they receive no compensation, but the Body Sect's experts would also teach them a lesson and extort them while they were at it.
As for the few who did not wish to join the Body Sect themselves, the sect's experts would not forcibly abduct them unless they possessed top-tier Body Martial Souls such as the whole body, heart, brain, or torso.
In just seven days.
More than eighty percent of the people on the list had been brought back to the Body Sect.
Inside the Body Sect.
Long Aoyu was cultivating when a system notification suddenly sounded-
[Special mission: Have the sect manufacture one hundred soul tools within one month (including no fewer than fifty combat soul tools). Completed.] [Rewards obtained: High-level soul tools ×3, 5,000 Sect Contribution Points!]
"The mission's complete?"
Long Aoyu opened his eyes. "Those guys work pretty fast!"
[Randomly drawing high-level soul tools...] [Congratulations, host! Obtained: Level Eight Absolute Defense Barrier, Level 9 Soul Tool-Sun Moon Divine Needle, Level 9 Humanoid Soul Tool-Tidal Battle Armor!]
"These rewards are incredibly generous!"
Long Aoyu's pupils contracted, and even his breathing paused for a moment.
The Level Eight Absolute Defense Barrier was a single-use defensive soul tool. Once activated, it could generate a barrier capable of withstanding a Titled Douluo's attacks for a long time.
That alone was already extremely precious, but compared to the other two, it was hardly worth mentioning!
The Level 9 Soul Tool-the Sun Moon Divine Needle-was a long-range hunting soul tool created by Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin. Charged with sun moon essence, it could track and strike targets through spiritual guidance from thirty kilometers away.
In theory, its Twin-Needle Combined Strike could severely injure a level 96 Titled Douluo and threaten a level 97 Titled Douluo.
This was a true killing weapon!
And furthermore,
In the Peerless Tang Sect animation, Long Aotian had died on the spot precisely because he had taken a hit from the Sun Moon Divine Needle to protect Vina.
Who would have thought the Sun Moon Divine Needle would end up in my hands...
Long Aoyu's gaze was somewhat conflicted.
As for the Tidal Battle Armor, it was a Level 9 Humanoid Soul Tool that even someone who was not a soul engineer could activate. It greatly enhanced soul power and various attributes, combining offense and defense.
Although activating it consumed a tremendous amount of soul power, it was still very powerful!
An ordinary Titled Douluo wearing it could challenge a level 96 Peak Douluo.
If the level 97 Jin Peng used it, he could even fight a level 98 Titled Douluo!
System, take out those three high-level soul tools.
Long Aoyu gave the command silently.
The next moment.
Three streaks of light flew out of the system space and hovered before Long Aoyu.
A dark-gold, multifaceted crystal bead, a pair of gold and silver rings, one large and one small, and a suit of deep-blue, ocean-styled full-body armor with a sea-blue crystal core embedded in its chest.
Long Aoyu put away the three soul tools and sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion again.
The Level Eight Absolute Defense Barrier, Sun Moon Divine Needle, and Tidal Battle Armor-these three items had indeed given him more trump cards, but true strength ultimately depended on his own cultivation.
Long Aoyu closed his eyes and slowly regulated his breathing, sinking his mind into his body.
"Unity of Heaven and Man!"
Unity of Heaven and Man was a closely guarded secret of the Body Sect, divided into four stages-
The first stage: Breath and Pulse Stillness.
The second stage: Flesh and Blood Draw Essence. Once mastered, the heaven and earth essence within several yards of the practitioner would naturally rise and fall with their breathing.
The third stage: Soul-Body Resonance. Once mastered, it allowed the practitioner to briefly invoke Unity of Heaven and Man!
It broke through the barrier between internal and external energy, causing soul power, the physical body, and the spirit to vibrate in unison as a trinity, their frequency matching the rhythm of heaven and earth.
The fourth stage: Heaven and Earth Flow as One. At present, Du Busi was the only person in the sect who had mastered it.
Long Aoyu had long since perfected the second stage, Flesh and Blood Draw Essence. What he sought to break through to now was the third stage-Soul-Body Resonance.
The physical body, spirit, soul power...
Within Long Aoyu's body, the three began to vibrate in unison, their frequencies gradually converging.
The advantages of a Body Martial Soul were fully revealed.
His body was his martial soul, making adjustments far smoother than they were for ordinary soul masters.
Long Aoyu's consciousness gradually grew hazy, its boundaries dissolving.
His perception was no longer confined to the side hall.
The air currents surging above the canyon, the rhythmic movements of the vegetation on the cliff walls, and the footsteps of disciples performing their morning exercises in the square poured directly into his spirit, as though heaven and earth themselves were conveying information.
Heaven and earth essence converged on him from every direction, penetrating his flesh, bones, and meridians, resonating with his soul power.
Warmth spread from deep within his meridians-not a stabbing pain, but the soothing comfort of being put in order.
Time slowly passed.
When Long Aoyu opened his eyes again, the view outside the window had changed.
It was not the faint light of early morning, but dusk-the sliver of blue sky above the canyon had already been dyed dark red by the sunset clouds.
He had sat there for an entire day.
"The third stage, Soul-Body Resonance-I've done it!"
Long Aoyu walked to the window, but just as he pushed it open for some fresh air, his body abruptly froze.
In the state of Unity of Heaven and Man, his perception had expanded to an unprecedented extent-past the canyon entrance, over the surrounding mountain forests, and toward the distant horizon.
In the sky dozens of li away, he detected several rapidly moving auras-
"Titled Douluo!"
Every aura was powerful, carrying the distinctive pressure of a Titled Douluo, and they were flying toward the Body Sect.
The aura in the lead was the most astonishing, sending a bone-piercing chill through Long Aoyu.
"Bibi Dong? Why is she here?"
Long Aoyu frowned, turned, and hurried out of the side hall, heading straight for the council hall.
Jin Peng was sitting in the hall reading documents. Seeing Long Aoyu stride in with a grave expression, he put down the documents in his hands.
"Xiao Yu, what's wrong?"
Long Aoyu spoke directly. "Bibi Dong is coming! Along with Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo elders. Eight people in total, flying toward the sect."
Jin Peng's hand paused. He slowly lowered the documents and rose to his feet.
He did not ask, "Are you sure?"
Because Jin Peng knew Long Aoyu would not joke about something like this.
Jin Peng walked to the doorway, looked toward the dusk above the canyon, and transmitted his voice directly. "All elders, assemble in the council hall!"
As soon as his words fell, several figures darted out, landing one after another at the council hall's entrance.
Elder Qian was the first to push the door open and enter.
Chen Yuan followed closely behind, his steps steady and his gaze grave.
Immediately afterward, Elder Zhou, Elder Zhao, Elder Mo, and the others, including Guest Elder Dugu Bo, also arrived in succession.
Jin Peng wasted no words and spoke directly. "Bibi Dong is coming with Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo. Eight people in total, flying toward the sect."
Elder Wei frowned, closed his eyes, and tilted his head slightly to listen. "There are indeed eight auras approaching. The one in the lead is very powerful."
"I sense them too."
Chen Yuan also released his spiritual power at the same time and nodded. "And the aura of the person leading them is very strange. Although it's hidden very deeply, I sensed a trace of... evil."
Standing to one side, Elder Zhao's expression darkened somewhat. "The Pope is coming in person? This hardly looks like a visit to discuss cooperation."
Jin Peng's expression was solemn. With a wave of his hand, he led the way outside.
"Let's go, old friends."
"Our Body Sect isn't some soft persimmon for others to squeeze. If Bibi Dong has come looking for trouble, we'll let her see what we're capable of!"
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