Qi Blood Soaring Hall.
Seeing the Grand Elder approach, Chu Shanhe's stern face showed a smile.
"You're back? How did it feel this time?"
Standing to pour a cup of fragrant tea for the Grand Elder, Chu Shanhe asked with a light smile.
The Grand Elder naturally knew what Chu Shanhe was asking. Dropping his enigmatic attitude from in front of Chen Yi, he smiled, took the teacup, and said:
"Not bad. In terms of mindset and adaptability, he's top-tier among his peers. Most importantly, he's ruthless but has his own bottom line—he won't end up with nothing."
He then recounted Chen Yi's performance during this time. Though the Body Sect was good to its own, it wasn't blindly so—even for a genius like Chen Yi.
Genius?
A brainless genius was just a disaster, at best a top thug; an uncontrollable genius was a powder keg that could backfire.
The Grand Elder had taken Chen Yi not just to protect him but to assess if he was worth the sect's full investment. After all, Chen Yi might face the Angel lineage or even the Spirit Hall in the future, risking the sect's destruction.
If Chen Yi's character was worthy, Chu Shanhe would see him as the hope for the Body Sect's rise, paving his path at all costs. Otherwise, Chu Shanhe would still help him ascend, as it was a once-in-eternity opportunity, but he'd leave a spark for the sect to ensure its legacy.
Now, the Grand Elder's assessment was a shot in the arm for Chu Shanhe—Chen Yi was worth it, worth the Body Sect staking everything.
"However, from what I observed, Xiao Yi harbors extreme hatred for those corrupt nobles, almost murderous."
Toward the end, the Grand Elder's tone was grave.
As the group controlling the most resources on Douluo Continent, those nobles were deeply rooted everywhere. If Chen Yi clashed with them in the future, it would be troublesome.
"Hmph, those decaying nobles—do they deserve it?"
Mentioning them, Chu Shanhe's eyes were full of contempt. Most Body Sect members came from humble origins, innately hostile to nobles. Even now, without revealing identities, many disciples in the sect upheld justice.
"Fourth Brother, you overthink sometimes. You said Xiao Yi hates the corrupt ones, not the entire group. With our Body Sect as backing, those bullies won't dare act rashly. We'll kill some, win over others—that's it."
Chu Shanhe drained his tea, casually toying with the cup, nonchalantly deciding the nobles' fate.
"Besides, if Xiao Yi truly reaches level 100 and becomes a god, do those nobles' voices matter?"
Hearing the first part, the Grand Elder was speechless.
I overthink? Everyone in the sect knows that though my martial soul is the brain, you're streets ahead in scheming. People know you're the skeleton martial soul, but they'd think it's a belly full of dirty tricks!
Though the Grand Elder's martial soul was the brain, he was obsessed with self-created soul skills and didn't care much for plots. In contrast, Sect Master Chu Shanhe was not only the sect's martial force but, under his rugged exterior, meticulous and the top strategist.
"Hahaha, Fourth Brother, don't mind the details. By the way, this morning, Old Six brought back a bottle of fine wine from Vast Sea City—said to be incredibly smooth. We must try it. I'll call him over now, and us brothers will drink till dawn!"
...
The next day, Chen Zhen brought Chen Yi to Qi Blood Soaring Hall early. Chen Yi thought the elders would be catching up with family at this hour. But upon arrival—good grief, they were all there, more than even at New Year's!
"Hehe! Kid, you didn't think I'd come early, did you? These days, the big show saves the finale."
As Chen Yi was dazed, Chen Zhen's voice sounded in his ear, but it felt different from usual.
It seemed... a bit cheeky!
After transmitting to Chen Yi, Chen Zhen's face bloomed into a brilliant smile as he strode toward the crowd.
The others had turned their gazes here when Chen Yi and his father appeared. Shocked eyes lingered on Chen Yi before settling on Chen Zhen's sleazy grin.
Seeing Chen Zhen strut over with his head high, black lines appeared on their foreheads. They knew Chen Zhen too well—if they were in his shoes, having such a genius son, they'd feel cheated if they didn't parade around Yun Tian Mountains thirty times.
Sure enough, the next moment...
"Oh my, isn't this Third Brother? Your Xiao Bing awakened his martial soul two years ago, right? Broken through to Soul Grandmaster? Ah, not yet? Hurry up! As the saying goes: If the young don't work hard, the old will grieve!"
"Eh, isn't this Ninth Uncle? I heard my little junior brother awakened too? How is it? What?! Oh, innate soul power level 6—not bad! Breaking through to Soul Sage won't be hard."
"Yo, Second Brother, sorry, I was busy and didn't see you. Wife said Hong Fei awakened a body martial soul too, and it's the eyes, a crucial part. Bronze level shouldn't be hard; silver level isn't impossible!"
As expected, Chen Zhen dragged Chen Yi into the crowd, not giving others a chance to speak, launching a barrage that stabbed right at their sore spots. Their eyes blazed—if eyes could shoot fire, Chen Zhen would be well-done by now.
Damn, when did your torso martial soul turn into a cheapskate bone?
Finally, after talking for a while, Chen Zhen reached a middle-aged woman. He flashed a mechanical smile, about to speak, but she casually shoved him aside with a disgusted voice.
"Get lost. At your age, still so childish! Don't make me smack you."
Chen Zhen's smile froze... and shifted to the others' faces.
"Hahaha! Chen Old Four, you think your little tricks fool Big Sis? How's that face-slap feel!"
This woman, looking in her early thirties, was the big sister of the Body Sect's middle generation—Hong Yue.
As the eldest of that generation, five years older than Jiang Wu, in the sect's less prosperous days, she was not just a senior sister but like a little parent, raising many.
Though not blood siblings, the sibling blood suppression was fully there.
Having been shoved and realizing he'd tried to show off to Big Sis, Chen Zhen knew he'd gotten carried away. About to say something, Hong Yue glared at him, and he immediately stood at attention.
Chen Yi, seeing his dad silenced by one look from Hong Yue—though not the first time—still found it amusing.
Dad and Hong Yue were like him and his sister in his previous life. Who hadn't been pinned on the sofa and beaten with tongs by their sister as a kid?
"It's been five years; Xiao Yi has grown so big. I remember holding you when you were a month old—just this tiny."
Hong Yue said, gesturing with her hands.
Though young and often asleep back then, Chen Yi remembered this aunt. He respectfully bowed to Hong Yue:
"Nephew Chen Yi greets Great-Aunt!"
Such an adorable demeanor made Hong Yue beam. This little guy was much cuter than the little devil at home.
"Good, good! Great-Aunt found some rare gadgets in Vast Sea City these days—you'll love them!"
As she spoke, sensing three auras awakening, everyone's expressions turned serious.
"The sect master and the others are here."