During the banquet, Golden Crocodile Douluo's shocking evaluation that "Chen Yi might reach the rank of Douluo before thirty" caused a commotion and sparked lively debate, which did not subside immediately. Representatives from all factions leaned in, occasionally glancing at the young man in purple seated on the high platform. His eyes held a complex, inscrutable light.
As the men from the Body Sect listened to the astounding comments surrounding them, they naturally wore proud expressions. Their sect would possess this unicorn in the future; there was no need to worry about lack of interest.
Especially Mu Xi, Chen Yi's mother. She made no attempt to hide her pride and joy; her smile was as warm as the spring sun, making her seem radiant all over. If, at this moment, she truly had a tail behind her, she would already be raising her head proudly, barely able to contain herself, wanting everyone to know that the remarkable youth on the stage was her own son.
The Grand Elder gazed at Chen Yi, who remained calm beside him, his heart surging with emotion and memories flooding back to years past. Had this been in the past, when the sect was weak and isolated, they would never have dared reveal Chen Yi before a giant like Spirit Hall. Back then, the Body Sect lacked the confidence and power to withstand possible desire, suppression, or even strangulation from their enemies, nor could they protect the fate-bound sapling destined to rise.
But now, things were different!
The Grand Elder's deep gaze swept indifferently over the solemn Golden Crocodile Douluo in Spirit Hall's seat. Just from their brief eye contact and the invisible clash of auras earlier, he could clearly sense that this peak 98th-level Douluo was no longer his match. Having undergone countless transformations, the Grand Elder's spiritual power was already beyond the realm of ordinary Soul Masters.
Moreover, Sect Master Chu Shanhe had successfully undergone his third awakening, and his strength had soared to unimaginable heights. Even if these two worked together, not even Qian Daoliu, the "Invincible Under Heaven" of Spirit Hall, could guarantee satisfaction.
Admittedly, in terms of overall strength, influence, and the number of Soul Masters, the Body Sect still lagged behind Spirit Hall, which had been operating for many years. But at least at the highest level of combat power, they now had enough capital to resist, to suppress anyone, and to protect their sect's geniuses!
Looking to the Spirit Hall side, especially at Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Grand Elder could see that, despite his calm exterior, a solemn and suspicious look flickered in his eyes, making the Elder's inward smile grow even deeper. No longer having to endure and being able to reveal their sharpness was truly a good feeling.
Yet, as guests and hosts enjoyed themselves, the Elder's heart only slightly relaxed.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, the Grand Elder's expression changed. His wise and profound eyes sharpened in an instant, like those of an eagle or hawk, as if two invisible bolts of lightning flashed out.
"Clear Sky's people?!"
With spiritual power condensed to the extreme—like a dormant volcano erupting in a controlled, limited area—a hiltless dagger about thirty centimeters long materialized in thin air, as if carved from pure crystal. The moment the spirit blade condensed, there was little fluctuation in soul power, but all the titled Douluos present—Golden Crocodile Douluo, Light Feather Douluo, Sword Douluo, and others—felt a chill and sharpness from the depths of their souls and jolted upright.
"Go!"
The Elder uttered a barely audible, low cry. The spirit dagger trembled slightly, and in the next instant, it pierced through space, vanished silently, and shot out in a certain direction outside Grand Martial Academy. Its speed surpassed the recognition of most people.
All this happened in a flash, from the Elder's change in expression to the disappearance of the spiritual dagger, in just one or two breaths.
Many guests in the square only saw the Grand Elder's face suddenly turn solemn, as if something flashed by, but couldn't tell what had happened, and couldn't help but stare at the high platform in curiosity and confusion.
However, those with keen insight sensed something; their expressions instantly became grave.
Who was peeping at the opening ceremony of Grand Martial Academy in secret?
Almost at the same time the spirit blade vanished, the figure of Illusion Douluo Hong Yue on the high platform flickered slightly like a bubble and disappeared in the next moment. Her movement was light and mysterious, as if merging with the wind, with no disturbance in the air.
Astonishingly, when the spirit dagger appeared, the Ghost Douluo of Spirit Hall, seated in black robes, trembled slightly and, almost unconsciously, turned into faint black smoke that merged into the shadows on the ground, rushing towards the direction in which the dagger disappeared.
Two people, one a titled Douluo of the attack system with a dreamlike body, the other Ghost Douluo of Spirit Hall, whose stealth and tracking skills were the best on the continent—at this moment, for the same reason, both chose to give chase.
...
Outside Grand Martial Academy, atop a solitary peak miles away.
Two figures cloaked in wide black robes, tightly wrapped and faces hidden in the shadows of their hoods, stared at the brightly lit plaza of Grand Martial Academy in the distance.
"Second brother, this Body Sect is truly unfathomable, just as the rumors say. There are so many titled Douluos, and even the old monster Golden Crocodile is here..."
The thinner man on the left whispered hoarsely.
The man on the right, known as "Second Brother," nodded slightly, seemingly about to speak when—
Suddenly!
His body stiffened as if targeted by an invisible venomous snake; a deadly crisis surged through his body like ice water from the depths of his soul.
"Not good!"
He only had time to scream in his heart before a barely visible but extremely sharp dagger appeared right before his brow, seemingly ignoring all distance.
This dagger didn't attack the body—it sliced directly at the soul!
"Ah—!!"
A terrifying scream escaped "Second Brother's" mouth. He clutched his head with both hands, his whole body reeling as if struck by a heavy hammer, the protective aura around him instantly shattered.
Beneath the black robe, faint dark-red blood oozed from all seven orifices—his soul had clearly been severely damaged!
"Second Brother!"
The man in black on the left was shocked. He hurried forward to support his collapsing companion, his voice shaking with anger and fear.
"Second Brother," enduring excruciating soul pain, grabbed his companion's arm, his voice hoarse and weak, filled with unprecedented terror.
"Let's go! Please! The Grand Elder of the Body Sect is terrifyingly powerful!"
Hearing this, the thin man in black didn't hesitate. His soul power erupted as he carried the injured "Second Brother" on his back, their figures blurring into the deep forest, leaving only faint afterimages behind.
Less than ten breaths after their departure—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two figures appeared almost simultaneously atop the lonely peak.
The first to arrive were Hong Yue and Ghost Douluo. Hong Yue's eyes flashed like lightning as she quickly surveyed the area. Her slender fingers traced the air, sensing the sharp spiritual aura that had not yet dissipated and the lingering fluctuations of blood and soul power.
She frowned slightly and spoke in a cold voice.
"There should have been two people here just now. One of them was wounded by the Grand Elder's spiritual power, his soul badly damaged."
"But... these two are quite good at escaping and hiding. Their presence has been wiped clean."
Hong Yue glanced at the shadow-like Ghost Douluo beside her, a hint of consultation in her tone.
"Uncle Ghost, on the Douluo Continent, when did such experts in stealth and escape appear? What do you think?"
Hearing Hong Yue's natural "Uncle Ghost" address, Ghost Douluo's black-robed figure trembled almost imperceptibly. He was silent for a while, carefully surveying the surroundings, then finally shook his head, a puzzled note in his hoarse voice.
"I don't know."
"Their methods of hiding and escape are unlike those of any major sect, and I've never heard of them."
Soon, more sounds of breaking air arrived, and powerful Douluos like Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan appeared one after another. After careful investigation, they reached similar conclusions as Hong Yue, all interested in the identity of the mysterious black-robed duo.
However, among those present, the most experienced—Golden Crocodile Douluo and the later-arriving Ning Fengzhi—after closely sensing the lingering fluctuations of soul power at the scene, unconsciously glanced back towards Grand Martial Academy's plaza, their faces revealing deep, uncontrollable fear.
…
Bonus chapter at 300 PS