Toji stopped in his tracks.
"What else is it?"
The young man looked into Toji's eyes and said slowly:
"Young master, your build and appearance closely resemble the person we described. And there isn't the slightest fluctuation of Soul Power coming from you."
"We suspect you're the person we're looking for."
Going straight for it?
Toji remained unhurried.
"If you want to waste both our time, you can do whatever you want."
The young man fell silent for a moment. Seeing that Toji still hadn't given anything away, he had no choice but to say:
"Young master, would you cooperate with us for a simple examination? We only need to see your physical data."
"Why should I cooperate with you?" Toji raised an eyebrow. He certainly couldn't agree to that. Wouldn't the examination expose him?
"It seems your apparent identity is completely different from your actual identity, young master." The young man grew increasingly suspicious as he looked at Toji, his face now full of pride.
"Because we're the Body Sect!"
The Body Sect... is actually looking for me?
Towering waves rose in Toji's heart.
How could I be valuable enough to draw the attention of a major sect like the Body Sect?
"The Body Sect has never needed anyone telling us how to act. Kid, you'd better come clean." The young man looked at Toji arrogantly. "A good-for-nothing without Soul Power should be proud to receive this much attention from the Body Sect."
"So I should thank you, then?" Toji laughed.
"Looks like you won't cooperate."
The nearby Body Sect disciples noticed the commotion and gradually surrounded Toji.
Toji's gaze swept over the Body Sect disciples closing in around him.
"What if I say no?"
The young man sneered. "Kid, don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit."
With that, he abruptly waved his hand. Several Soul Masters behind him immediately activated Martial Soul Possession. Soul Rings shone beneath their feet, and powerful fluctuations of Soul Power erupted in an instant.
More than a dozen Soul Ancestors and five Soul Kings.
They were all disciples at the very bottom of the Body Sect.
Yet every one of the Soul Ancestors had a fierce presence. After activating Martial Soul Possession, various parts of their bodies underwent changes that set them apart from ordinary people.
Some had arms as thick as iron pillars, some had legs as sturdy as beasts' hooves, and others had scales covering their skin, gleaming with a cold light.
Their eyes remained fixed on Toji, as if they were ready to pounce and tear him apart at any moment.
On the surface, Soul Ancestors from a major sect really were different from those of smaller factions.
"The Body Sect is conducting business. All bystanders, leave at once!" the young man shouted, his voice carrying unquestionable authority.
At the mention of the Body Sect, the surrounding pedestrians hurried out of the way, afraid of being caught up in the conflict.
After saying those words, the young man activated Martial Soul Possession, and his legs suddenly grew longer.
"Kid, since you refuse to admit it, don't blame us for showing no mercy."
With a cold shout, the young man lunged at Toji. His Fifth Soul Ring, marking ten thousand years, rose around him. His right leg transformed into a massive battle-axe, which he raised high before chopping straight down at Toji's head.
Toji abruptly flashed aside, avoiding the blow.
The onlookers who saw it were all excited.
He had no Soul Power whatsoever, yet he could dodge a Soul King's strongest Soul Skill?
Wasn't this the man they were looking for?
"So it really is you." A flicker of excitement passed through the young man's eyes. "Once we capture him, we can complete the elder's task!"
The surrounding Soul Ancestors rushed forward, all trying to take Toji down as they attacked him with their various unusual Body Martial Souls.
Toji's physical toughness, however, far exceeded their expectations. Even the Soul Ancestors' attacks couldn't hurt him in the slightest.
On top of that, Toji had a wealth of combat experience. Every time, he was able to precisely evade their attacks while delivering deadly counterattacks.
"Boom-"
Toji sent one Soul Ancestor flying with a kick. The man slammed into a wall and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Another Soul Ancestor reached out, only for Toji to draw a short blade and slash his arm, sending blood streaming down it.
They howled in pain.
The surrounding spectators were increasingly shocked by the sight.
"Who is this guy? He actually dares to challenge the Body Sect, and he's even got the upper hand?"
"Upper hand, my ass. These are all the Body Sect's lowest-ranking disciples. Once their elder gets here, this kid will probably be crippled."
"He really is a monster." The young man snorted coldly, and his right leg, transformed into a giant axe, chopped down again.
A huge arc of axe light shot straight at Toji. The blow tore open the ground, sending shattered stones flying.
Toji was about to retreat, but the other Soul Ancestors worked together with flawless coordination, surrounding him again and cutting off his escape, leaving him to face the blow head-on.
But even though it was a Soul King's full-powered attack, the aftermath of the axe light only sent him staggering back several steps, making the blood and Qi churn in his chest.
It hadn't even broken his skin.
Everyone was stunned by the sight.
Taking advantage of the opening, Toji reached into his Storage Soul Tool and abruptly drew the Heaven-Breaking Sword, which he had treasured for a long time.
The power of the level-six Soul Tool erupted instantly, and a dazzling light shimmered along the blade. Without hesitation, he swung the sword in a fierce slash at those around him.
"Boom-"
A fierce arc of sword Qi swept out. The surrounding Soul Ancestors were caught off guard and struck one after another.
Some had their arms severed, while others had their chests slashed open. Blood sprayed everywhere, and screams rose one after another.
"This kid... how is this possible?!"
The Soul Ancestors retreated, their eyes full of shock and fear.
Seeing this, another Soul King with abnormally swollen hands flashed a look of anger. His enormous palm came crashing down again with world-destroying force, bearing straight down on Toji's head.
Toji snorted coldly and pushed off with his foot. Like an arrow loosed from a bow, he shot up the city wall in an instant.
The city wall was hundreds of meters high, but to Toji, it was like walking on level ground.
"Trying to run? Not so easy!" the Soul King roared. His enormous palm slammed toward the city wall, trying to shake Toji off it.
But Toji was simply too fast. Before the giant palm could land, he had already leaped to the top of the wall. Without hesitation, he jumped down the other side and raced away from the city.
"After him! We can't let him escape!" the Soul King roared, leading the disciples in relentless pursuit through the city gate. But Toji was simply too fast, disappearing from their sight in the blink of an eye.
"Is that really a speed someone without Soul Power can reach?" Even the long-legged Soul King was dumbfounded. Although speed was his specialty, he couldn't run nearly as fast as Toji.
The Soul King with the swollen hands said to him:
"Go back and report to the elder. We'll keep chasing him."
"No problem."
The long-legged Soul King immediately turned back into the city to report to the elder.
When he reached his destination, the Soul King looked at the two elders before him, panting.
"Elders, we... we found Toji!"
The two elders before him both turned around.
They were two men with ordinary faces but unusual builds. One had a particularly thick right arm, while the other was small and thin, with an enormous head like a big-headed doll. They looked much like the Body Sect disciples in that respect.
Or rather, everyone in the Body Sect was like that.
The two elders' eyes lit up at the report.
"Quick, lead the way!"
But by the time they left Heaven Dou City, all they saw ten kilometers outside the city were the Body Sect disciples lying dead on the ground.
More than a dozen Soul Ancestors and four Soul Kings had all perished there. Each had either had their limbs cut off or their throat slit, and had fallen asleep forever.
A few had suffered even worse, their limbs all hacked off. It looked as though they had endured cruel torture before death.
The long-legged Soul King's heart went cold at the sight, though he also felt a trace of relief.
Good thing I didn't keep chasing him...