Yun Luo followed the stone steps upward, crossed the outer sect plaza, and headed toward his room.
Along the way, the Body Sect disciples who saw Yun Luo all bowed to him, their eyes filled with yearning and reverence.
All because of that battle in the training grounds, when Yun Luo had defeated Long Aotian with a single strike, he was now a role model in their eyes.
After all, strength reigned supreme throughout the Body Sect.
"Holy Son."
Yun Luo nodded in acknowledgment without stopping, continuing toward his room.
His original plan had been to find Du Busi first and tell him what had happened.
But since Elder Wang was going to report to Du Busi upon their return, there was no need for him to go. After all, Elder Wang knew almost everything he had done in the Star Dou Great Forest.
He reached his courtyard, where old scholar trees lined both sides of the blue-brick path, their branches and leaves casting a thick shade.
Yun Luo walked up to the courtyard gate and pushed it open, but his foot stopped after he had taken only half a step inside.
He saw that the window was open, and a figure with long, pale-blue hair had her back to him, bending over his desk and wiping it with a cloth.
She was so focused that she had not even heard him enter.
Yun Luo froze for a moment at the sight, then spoke in some confusion.
"Hmm? What are you doing here?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Su Tong jumped, nearly dropping the cloth in her hand.
She had not expected the youth to return so soon. Su Tong had originally thought that if he really had something to do, it would take him at least half a month to return.
"Hmm? Why aren't you saying anything?"
At Yun Luo's words, Su Tong knew that playing the quail would do her no good now. She turned around rather slowly, her face slightly flushed, and stammered.
"Oh, it's nothing. Haven't you been away lately? I was afraid the house would get dusty, so I came to help clean it.
Don't misunderstand. It's just that since I came here, other than cultivating... I haven't had anything to do."
Feeling that her explanation was far too ridiculous, Su Tong's voice grew quieter and quieter.
Yun Luo opened the door and walked in. He looked at the gleaming desktop, then at Su Tong.
His gaze made her extremely nervous, and her fingers kept fidgeting with the cloth.
To escape that awkward scrutiny, Su Tong could only hurry to change the subject.
"Yun Luo, why are you back so soon? Did you finish what you needed to do?"
Seeing Su Tong change the subject, Yun Luo naturally knew that she was far too nervous, so he followed her lead.
He then nodded and said.
"I finished what I needed to do in the Star Dou Great Forest, so I came back."
"Oh..."
After hearing Yun Luo's brief answer, Su Tong fell silent.
After the two sank into a strange silence, Su Tong put the cloth on the desk and awkwardly tidied the loose strands of hair by her ear.
"Then... get some rest, Yun Luo. I've finished cleaning your room, so I'll head back to cultivate."
With that, Su Tong lowered her head and walked outside, her steps much quicker than usual, looking rather like she was fleeing in disarray.
But before she reached the door, Yun Luo's voice sounded behind her.
"Wait."
At Yun Luo's words, Su Tong's steps stiffened, and she turned back.
"Well... since I'm back, come to my room tonight."
"???"
"Come to... your room tonight."
In an instant, Su Tong's face turned as red as an apple, and she could barely speak properly.
"W-what would I come to your room for?"
"We've only just met. No, even if you're strong and saved me once, you shouldn't..."
"Huh?"
She had completely baffled Yun Luo.
"Uh, I'm asking you to come to my room so we can study a way to fuse our Martial Souls. What are you thinking?"
"Oh, oh, sorry. I got the wrong idea."
Su Tong awkwardly rubbed her long hair, her face growing even redder, a pink flush spreading over her neck and the tips of her ears.
"Well, um, I still need to cultivate. I'll come back tonight."
With that, she ran out without looking back.
Watching her disappear through the courtyard gate, Yun Luo shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
He closed the door. A faint scent of soapberry still lingered in the room.
He sat cross-legged on the bed and began cultivating, while also reviewing Electrolux's memories to study and practice those formations.
Although the system's rewards had given Yun Luo knowledge of many of Electrolux's abilities, Electrolux's formation system differed from the Douluo Continent's Soul Power system, leaving some Necromancy spells completely unusable.
After all, unlike Huo Yuhao, he did not have the Holy Necromancer as his third Martial Soul.
This made Yun Luo sigh inwardly that Electrolux had died too soon. If he were still alive, Yun Luo could have gotten a Martial Soul for free.
As Yun Luo studied, the sky outside the window grew completely dark before he knew it.
Meanwhile, after parting with Yun Luo, Elder Wang dared not delay at all and headed straight to Du Busi's residence.
When Elder Wang arrived at Du Busi's residence, he found him sitting in the courtyard drinking tea.
Seeing Elder Wang arrive, Du Busi raised a hand, signaling for him to sit.
"Elder Wang, you're back. There weren't any mishaps this time, were there?"
At Du Busi's question, Elder Wang gave him a rough account of what had happened in the Star Dou Great Forest.
After Yun Luo arrived, he had initially wanted to leave, but fortunately, Yun Luo had changed his mind in the end and kept him there.
Elder Wang then told Du Busi everything he knew about what Yun Luo had done in the Star Dou Great Forest.
When he finished, Elder Wang hardly dared breathe as he waited for Du Busi's reaction.
After listening, Du Busi held his teacup and fell silent for a moment.
"In that case, where is the Holy Son now?"
"Sect Master, the Holy Son returned to his room after coming back to the sect."
"Mm, I understand. You may go."
Du Busi nodded, signaling for Elder Wang to leave.
Hearing Du Busi's words, Elder Wang felt as though he had been granted amnesty and hurriedly rose to take his leave.
Du Busi set down his teacup and narrowed his eyes in thought.
Although he did not know exactly what Yun Luo had done, that widespread loss of consciousness from a mental effect had most likely been related to whatever Yun Luo had been looking for.
And judging by Yun Luo's appearance, he had probably obtained it.
Who knows what that brat has cooked up on this trip?
With that thought, Du Busi rose and headed toward Yun Luo's courtyard.
The night breeze was cool, and the only light in the courtyard was the little spilling out from the room.
Du Busi reached the door to his room and knocked twice.
"Come in."
Thinking Su Tong had arrived, Yun Luo did not get up to open the door and instead continued studying the formation diagram in his hands.
Du Busi pushed the door open and entered, seeing Yun Luo sitting cross-legged on the bed with a stack of papers beside him, covered in formation diagrams he could not quite understand.
"You didn't come to see me first when you got back. What are you holed up in here drawing?"
"Sect Master."
Yun Luo put down the formation diagram in his hands, rose, and bowed before saying with a smile.
"I was just planning to sort out my thoughts before reporting to you."
"Enough, spare me the empty formalities."
Du Busi sat down in a chair and asked directly.
"I won't ask what you were doing. I'll just ask you one thing: did you succeed?"
"I did."
Du Busi nodded without pressing for details.
After all, with his cultivation, he had sensed the moment he entered that Yun Luo had already broken through to Soul Sage.
He glanced at the formation diagrams on the desk and changed the subject.
"What are your plans next?"
"Are you planning to stay in the sect and cultivate, or head out?"