Chapter 3 - The Sect Master

"A strong body not only improves combat endurance but also enhances soul ring tolerance and cultivation speed," Lang Ya explained as he led Han Yu through the sect, providing insight into its workings. Han Yu listened intently, feeling his understanding deepen with each step.

Before long, they arrived at the main hall of the sect. Inside, two old men were seated. The first was tall, with long dark green hair flowing down his back, but humorously, he was bald on top. His skin appeared smooth and youthful, almost like a baby's, with very few wrinkles.

"Sect Master, Han Yu has arrived!" Lang Ya announced, bowing and clasping his hands respectfully.

Han Yu couldn't help but smile inwardly at the sight. He almost recognized himself in the bald man; in his previous life, he had been on the verge of becoming "Mediterranean" as well, working late nights and noticing more hair in the shower each day.

"This old man is the leader of the Body Sect, Du Bu Si," Lang Ya introduced. "Han Yu, release your martial spirit for me to see."

Du Bu Si stood up, his expression serious as he fixed his gaze on Han Yu.

"Yes, Sect Leader!" Han Yu replied, nodding slightly. He closed his eyes and summoned his Sharingan.

In an instant, a cold aura enveloped him, and his eyes turned blood red, with a tomoe slowly rotating within them.

"Such strong mental power! This kid's mental capabilities at his stage rival those of some weaker soul masters," Du Bu Si remarked, astonished.

Before he could continue, the old man next to him stood up suddenly, eyes wide with surprise.

"Old Jin, calm down! Don't lose your manners in front of the juniors!" Du Bu Si chided, though his own eyes reflected deep surprise.

"Hmph! Sect Leader, don't pretend—you're clearly thrilled to have found such a treasure!" Old Jin retorted, unable to hide his excitement.

Du Bu Si, unfazed by the interruption, let out a hearty laugh. "Haha, Han Yu, would you like to become my disciple? If you do, the sect will train you vigorously, and you could be the next sect master."

Han Yu was taken aback; he hadn't expected such an offer. After a moment of hesitation, he replied, "Sect Master, I'm willing, but to be honest, my innate soul power is only level 4. I'm afraid—"

Du Bu Si cut him off, his enthusiasm undeterred. "That doesn't matter! In our Body Sect, innate soul power isn't the most important thing; martial soul quality is.

"Low innate soul power can be improved later. We may not have everything, but we do have many natural treasures to enhance your talent. And if we need more, I'll go to great lengths to acquire them—even if it means taking legendary herbs by force!"

Han Yu felt a stir of emotion at Du Bu Si's words. He knew the location of the fairy grass, but this wasn't the right moment to share that information. Having just joined the sect, he was wary about revealing how he knew it. Trust was hard to come by, and he wasn't ready to share his secrets.

Yet, he could sense Du Bu Si's sincerity, which moved him. He bowed deeply and said, "Disciple Han Yu greets you, Master!"

Seeing Han Yu accept him as a disciple brought a childlike joy to Du Bu Si. "Excellent! Here, take this storage soul guide." A flash of light illuminated Du Bu Si's hand, revealing an ancient ring. "Inside, you'll find two types of elixirs: Xuanshui Dan, which improves your cultivation qualifications, and Shenghun Dan, which boosts your soul power."

With a flick of his finger, the ring landed in Han Yu's palm, a tangible symbol of his new journey.

"Thank you, Master!" Han Yu exclaimed, placing the ring on his hand. As he injected his soul power, two exquisite jade bottles materialized.

"Is this the Xuanshui Pill? If I absorb these, my innate soul power will definitely increase!" he said, feeling a rush of excitement.

"Yes, go ahead and absorb them first. I'll come to guide you in your cultivation later," Du Bu Si replied. He turned to Lang Ya, gesturing for him to take action. "Lang Ya, arrange a place for Han Yu to live—right next to me!"

"Yes, Sect Master! I'll take my leave now!" Lang Ya bowed and led Han Yu out of the hall.

As they departed, Du Bu Si turned to the Golden Body Douluo beside him, his excitement palpable. "I can't believe it! Such a talented disciple has been found! Lao Jin, there's real hope for our future!"

"Han Yu's martial soul is indeed powerful, but his physical fitness is concerning. He's not even as strong as an ordinary child, and his soul power is quite low," the Golden Body Douluo remarked, frowning. While he acknowledged Du Bu Si's point that innate soul power wasn't everything, it still held significance.

"True, but I'll find a way to enhance his innate soul power. There are various methods available for that," Du Bu Si replied. "Additionally, we need to work on improving his physical fitness. After all, if jade isn't polished, it won't become a useful tool!"

The two old men exchanged a knowing smile, their laughter echoing in the hall.

Meanwhile, Lang Ya led Han Yu to a modest courtyard. "This will be your residence from now on," he said, pushing open the door to a small hut.

Han Yu's lips twitched slightly as he surveyed the hut. It wasn't large and had a somewhat shabby appearance.

The surrounding facilities were quite basic: a lamp, a small table, and a few stools. The so-called soul guide lamp and home soul guide device were disappointingly sparse. It was only a slight improvement over his previous living conditions. The only redeeming feature was the beautiful scenery; the space was ample, and a small pond nearby held clear water.

"Han Yu, are you disappointed? It's not as luxurious as you imagined?" Lang Ya asked, picking up a small stool and sitting down with a smile.

"Not at all. I think it's quite nice here. It's very quiet and suitable for cultivation," Han Yu replied. "But why don't you have more home soul guides?"

While he wasn't picky about his living arrangements, the reality before him differed greatly from his expectations of the Body Sect. As one of the three major forces, he had assumed the sect would be in much better condition.

Now, Han Yu felt as if he were living like an ascetic monk.

"Haha, kid, I know our sect might not match your expectations; your reaction is perfectly normal," Lang Ya said, his tone confident. "Our sect doesn't rely on soul guides; we focus on self-cultivation. That's how everyone becomes strong. Soul guides are external tools, after all, and we don't need them in a refined place like this!"

While Han Yu understood Lang Ya's perspective, he still believed soul guides had their merits. "I think I should still explore soul guides if I get the chance. Even if I can't create them myself, it's important to understand them to avoid setbacks in the future."

He made up his mind to learn more about soul guides, seeing their potential value despite the sect's philosophy.