After five days of long-distance travel, the old and young finally returned to the sect.
"I'll go report first. As for you, kid, head home and enjoy a good meal."
Leaving those words, the Grand Elder immediately headed toward the Qi Blood Soaring Hall deep in the sect.
Watching the Grand Elder's back, Chen Yi sighed about the life of a worker before heading home. On the way, he surprisingly learned from Zhang Run that her father, Zhang Tao, had returned that morning.
"Hmm? That's not right. Wasn't it five years per rotation? It's only been two and a half years—how did Fifth Uncle come back early?"
Full of doubts, Chen Yi hurried home. Sure enough, as soon as he entered, he saw Chen Zhen slurping a bowl of noodles, while clattering sounds came from the kitchen.
"Dad! You're back!"
Seeing Chen Zhen, Chen Yi rushed forward. Chen Zhen set down his bowl and chopsticks, patted Chen Yi's shoulder, nodded in satisfaction, and said:
"Not bad. You're a bit tanner than before, but much sturdier. Looks like you haven't slacked off these years; your training hasn't fallen behind."
"Of course," Hearing the praise, Chen Yi accepted it fully, boasting smugly: "Lately, I've been sweeping through the mixed zone of the Star Dou Great Forest, taking down numerous thousand-year soul beasts. Just recently, I defeated a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Grandmaster like chopping vegetables."
In front of his parents, Chen Yi was never modest—he blew himself up to the skies, recounting his glorious achievements.
"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon? How did you run into those lunatics?" Chen Zhen asked puzzledly. It wasn't strange for Chen Yi and the Grand Elder to face soul beasts while hunting, but clashing with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was unexpected.
"It went like this..."
Chen Yi explained how, after hunting the soul beast, he and the Grand Elder encountered Yu Yuanao and his grandson forcing the Ye Family, and they heroically intervened.
After listening, Chen Zhen stroked his chin, feeling the stiff stubble, and said thoughtfully: "So, you not only saved the Ye Family group but also picked up a soul bone for free."
As for why he didn't mention Yu Yuanao and the others—it was because, in Chen Zhen's eyes, they were just there to deliver the soul bone. Commendable spirit, but not worth mentioning.
A guy like Yu Yuanao—no combat power, no talent, no fighting will—Chen Zhen could defeat in ten moves and kill in thirty without exaggeration. Not worth a thought.
"But Xiao Yi encountering the Ye Family isn't bad." Chen Zhen thought inwardly.
The Body Sect had a decent relationship with the Ye Family, and Nine Heart Begonia was the continent's strongest healing martial soul. Chen Yi gaining some goodwill would only benefit him in the future.
"Whatever, he went with the Grand Elder, whose strength and experience far surpass mine. No point overthinking."
Shaking his head, Chen Zhen looked down at Chen Yi and said solemnly: "Show me your martial soul!"
Upon returning, Chen Zhen had heard from sect members that Chen Yi had awakened an incredibly powerful body martial soul, shocking even the sect master. They speculated it might have golden-level second awakening potential.
A golden-level potential body martial soul—this existed only in the imaginations of past Body Sect powerhouses. Many preferred believing in a silver-level second awakening evolving to golden-level third awakening over the theoretical possibility of golden-level second awakening.
At his words, Chen Yi circulated his soul power, and his body swelled. Purple-gold lightning patterns appeared on his skin, terrifying lightning arcs gathered in his palms, making him look like a descending thunder god.
As thunder surged, two purple soul rings symbolizing thousand-year cultivation slowly rose from under Chen Yi's feet.
When Chen Zhen saw those two thousand-year soul rings, his eyes widened. Though he'd heard from his wife that Chen Yi might achieve a thousand-year first soul ring, hearing and seeing were different. A level 26 Soul Grandmaster with two thousand-year soul rings was too shocking.
"Good! Good! Good! In this era, our Body Sect is destined to rise! My son will reach the absolute peak!"
Three "good"s in a row showed Chen Zhen's ecstasy. No father wouldn't want his child to become a world-renowned figure, and Chen Zhen was no exception.
Innate soul power level 20, plus the divine inheritance his wife mentioned—this era was destined for his son to dominate the world.
At that moment, Mu Xi, who was cooking, came out with a pot of soup. Seeing Chen Yi's two purple soul rings, her heart trembled; she couldn't imagine how far her son could go.
Tang Chen? Qian Daoliu?
They were just his starting point.
But hearing Chen Zhen's laughter nearly shake the roof, she quickly stopped him, saying irritably:
"What's with the yelling at night? If the neighbors come over, see if they don't sort you out!"
"I fathered such a great son—can't I laugh? If they're not convinced, they can come spar with me."
He said that, but Chen Zhen wisely shut his mouth. Not for anything else—there were a few tough ones nearby.
Mu Xi set the soup on the table, fetched bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen, and gave Chen Zhen a glare, full of disdain: "What do you mean 'you fathered'? I gave birth to him after ten months of pregnancy!"
Chen Zhen didn't get annoyed, just grinned apologetically.
"Of course, of course. Wife, you're the great contributor to our Body Sect. Our son's talent is all thanks to you!"
"Hmph, that's right!"
At this, Mu Xi huffed proudly, clearly pleased with the flattery. Turning to Chen Yi, she said: "Xiao Yi, have you eaten? Mom made dragon bone eight-treasure soup today—try some!"
Seeing his mother's rare tsundere side, Chen Yi grinned and said: "Great! I've been craving your cooking after so long outside."
As he spoke, he sat at the table, ladling soup into his bowl, not forgetting to ask Chen Zhen curiously:
"By the way, Dad, weren't you in Vast Sea City? Why the sudden return? I remember it was five years per rotation."
"A while ago, the sect master suddenly messaged us to return. Not just me—Second Elder and your great-aunt are back too."
"I suspect it's related to you."
Toward the end, Chen Zhen's pride was unmistakable. Before Chen Yi arrived, the sect master had notified a high-level meeting tomorrow, clearly about Chen Yi.
Chen Zhen could already imagine how his son would be the center of attention tomorrow, and he'd be the envy of others.
"Damn, how do you get all the good things? You achieved silver-level second awakening yourself, married a beautiful and strong wife, and your son is a heaven-defying genius!"
"You really deserve to die!"
Thinking of his fellow disciples' gritted teeth and jealous voices tomorrow, Chen Zhen felt like he was floating.
No problem—bring it on!
Express your resentment with the most venomous words!
Chen Yi had no idea of his dad's inner drama. He just paused at the mention of his great-aunt.
The great-aunt Chen Zhen mentioned was the eldest sister of his generation—Hong Yue, with the martial soul Phantom Blade, a short sword between tangible and intangible, incredibly sharp.
By sect rules, Hong Yue shouldn't be ranked, but she was not only the previous generation sect master's sole daughter—her parents and brothers had all died protecting sect disciples. Thus, the sect made an exception and listed her as core.
Chen Yi didn't know her soul power level, but before Chen Zhen's second awakening, she was undisputedly the strongest in the Body Sect's middle generation, at least mid-level Soul Douluo.
Of course, after Chen Zhen's second awakening, he surpassed her, becoming the top in the middle generation.
It seemed the sect was planning something big, Chen Yi thought inwardly.
Last time, he'd left too hastily and hadn't brought out some things. Tomorrow, he'd likely be in the spotlight—time to make the Body Sect great ahead of schedule!