I have added this story to my Patreon. You can support me and read the latest chapters there. It also fed and motivate me to write more chapters!
Link: Patreon.com/NineClouds69
--- Chapter 360 ---
Following Han Yuan's wise orders, the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, which is fundamentally a sect run by spirit beasts, still recruited human disciples to promote a better relationship between the two races in the future.
As these human disciples grew older and matured, they would help the spirit beasts live harmoniously with humans. They would not have the same prejudices as other spirit masters.
Ju Fuya still remembered Lord Han's words from back then: "Sometimes, you can't change something with just force. You also need softness to overcome and help others understand your vision."
"I wouldn't be a hypocritical person and preach about peace. Conflict is bound to happen, but wouldn't it be better if we worked together against a common enemy?"
"And that common enemy is... evil gods!"
Ju Fuya rubbed his chin and glanced down at the human disciples chosen by Lord Han. They were orphans screened from numerous border cities—not for their talents or special martial souls, but for their clean and young identities.
After all, being an orphan, and especially one from a chaotic border city, meant they could not even awaken their spirits.
However, talent is something that can be "easily" compensated for. Even someone like Ju Fuya, who considered himself a worm, could become a powerful dragon with Han Yuan's assistance, and the same rules apply to these kids.
Heaven-Defying Pills, Spirit Souls, and Cultivation Techniques—Han Yuan possessed them all, and he only needed their loyalty.
Even though these kids were under nine years old, they could still make a choice, and they chose to be loyal to change their fates.
"Introduce yourselves, my dear disciples!" Ju Fuya said grandly, sounding as warm as possible.
The three kids on the stage below the banquet hall glanced at each other, and the one on the left stepped forward first.
He was a boy around seven or eight years old, with short black hair and green eyes, dressed in ordinary training clothes, and had claw marks on his back.
"Chi Ji, eight years old, Martial Soul: Red Blazing Hare. A Level 21 Spirit Grandmaster."
"My chosen spirit master system is the Agility-Offense System."
After stating this, Chi Ji activated his martial soul, causing his appearance to slightly change. He became bulkier, especially in his legs, and his skin reddened as if magma burned inside him. Two bright yellow spirit rings manifested, confirming his status as a Spirit Grandmaster.
A gasp echoed throughout the hall as Chi Ji's age and cultivation level shocked the envoys.
"Such a young age, yet he has reached the Spirit Grandmaster Realm!"
But the showcase was far from over. As if Chi Ji were a galloping horse, he stomped the ground and flew into the air.
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
Each step Chi Ji took increased his speed and produced increasingly booming sounds, momentarily deafening the envoys.
Ultimately, countless red hare afterimages appeared in the sky as Chi Ji descended and slammed into the ground like a comet, creating a massive crater that exceeded the power of a Spirit Grandmaster.
BOOOOOOOOOM!
An envoy from the Speed Clan inhaled sharply. "That boy's momentum has already touched the threshold of Spirit Ancestor. If he hit someone of the same realm, they would surely die unless they had a rare life-saving spirit skill."
"Even I, a Level 53 Spirit King with the Needle-Tailed Swift martial soul, couldn't summon such explosive momentum in such a short time."
"And he is only eight and a spirit grandmaster at that!"
"This boy is a genius!"
"Phew...." Chi Ji canceled his transformation and stepped back to catch his breath.
However, when Chi Ji heard the comment from the Speed Clan's envoy, he could only laugh inside because he knew he was no genius.
Without Lord Han's blessings and the resources of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, he would have long since met his end in the border city.
Ju Fuya, proud, clasped his chest and commented, "Well done, Chi Ji! You have showcased the ferocity and explosiveness of your Red Blazing Hare, but do not get clouded by your beastly momentum."
"Only then will you grasp your true power."
Chi Ji smiled faintly. "Yes, Sect Master!"
Next, the second disciple stepped forward. He was a big boy, but not in a demeaning way; his burly appearance primarily stemmed from his martial soul, which only allowed him to wear an animal-hide coat.
"My name is Zhi Gang. I am also eight years old, a few days older than Chi Ji, and my martial soul is the Ancient Marsh Boar. I am currently a Level 22 Spirit Grandmaster."
"As for my chosen system, it is the Unstoppable Attack System!"
The envoys exchanged confused glances. "Unstoppable Attack System? Is there such a thing?"
While they could understand Chi Ji's agility-offense system, Zhi Gang's declaration was unfamiliar to them.
Ju Fuya cleared his throat. "Let me explain."
"Zhi Gang's chosen path is naturally the Attack System, but due to the nature of his martial soul and beastly essence training, he embodies the essence of a boar that charges fearlessly and is nearly unstoppable. In essence, he is the embodiment of an unstoppable driving force."
"In essence, Zhi gang embodies an unstoppable driving force that can move anything in its path, much like an Ancient Wild Boar."
He concluded with a smile, "Of course, I can't explain how this path was 'actually' cultivated, as it is part of our sect's legacy."
"Well, you will naturally understand once Zhi Gang shows you his path."
As Chi Ji had done earlier, Zhi Gang activated his martial soul. His body thickened, as if covered in mud, and a pair of tusks sprouted beneath his mouth.
His eyes turned into fierce golden eyes that burned brightly like lanterns in the darkness. He also possessed two yellow spirit rings.
Under the astonished gaze of the envoys, Zhi Gang charged forward like a true wild boar, not even activating any spirit skills, and crashed into the wall.
However, the structure of this place was not ordinary—it did not stop Zhi Gang from barreling through it.
BOOOM!
The entire courtyard trembled from Zhi Gang's force, leaving the envoys in disbelief.
Liu Erlong's eyes widened in surprise, "A conceptual power? This martial soul's attribute isn't strength or speed, but the action of moving others."
"It can shift anything in its path."
"Yet, it doesn't seem particularly threatening. The control this brat has over it is lacking."
"Not to mention the glaring flaw of missing the target."
It wasn't just Liu Erlong who recognized Zhi Gang's flaws, yet despite this, they were all still shocked.
Zhi Gang's potential is immense if used correctly. Too bad, being part of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect makes recruiting him impossible.
"Alright, Zhi Gang, that's enough." Ju Fuya waved his hand to Mo Ying, and the elder moved to stop the reckless disciple.
Zhi Gang eventually deactivated his martial soul and returned to his original spot, looking a bit exhausted from the effort, his body having shrunk slightly.
"What a bizarre boy..." The envoys murmured in awe.
Finally, it was time for the last disciple to showcase her abilities. Everyone turned their attention to a girl with jet-black hair, who appeared not only cute but also harmless, like a newborn doe.
She sheepishly introduced herself, fiddling with her fingers, "M-My name is Ao Yun; I'm seven years old."
"M-My martial soul is Dark Goddess Butterfly."
"I'm a Level 23 Spirit Grandmaster."
"C-Chosen path... Spiritual Controller System."
"Dark Goddess Butterfly…" At this moment, the female envoy from Spirit Hall stared at the shy girl in astonishment.
While many warriors boast their martial souls with names like 'divine,' the implication of 'Goddess' or 'God' in a martial soul's name carries a very significant weight.
Whether it is Seraphim—also known as Six-Winged Angel—or the Sea God martial soul, names associated with 'God' are akin to blessings or divine intervention.
Yet here, a seven-year-old girl possessed such a martial soul and had already reached the Spirit Grandmaster level!
'If Xue'er hadn't awakened a Supreme Innate Power of Level 20 with her martial soul, she might lose to this girl!' the Spirit Hall envoy thought to herself.
At the same time, she found herself intrigued by Ao Yun. The Spiritual Controller System was self-explanatory; it indicated that this girl had a gift for mental forces, which only Spirit Saints and above could access in this era.
"Ao Yun, don't be shy. Show us your ability," Ju Fuya encouraged the little girl.
Ao Yun nodded shyly, "Mm."
As soon as she activated her martial soul, a pair of large butterfly wings appeared on her back. She became more beautiful, and her eyes took on a purple hue. Two dark yellow spirit rings appeared.
Ao Yun skillfully controlled her spiritual power, conjuring many weapons, such as an axe, a spear, a halberd, a blade, an arrow, etc, and letting them strike the ground. There was no grand explosion, but the weapons sank into the earth, corroding it with a mix of spiritual and dark attributes.
Watching Ao Yun's bizarre power, the envoys sat in horror. They couldn't imagine what would happen if those weapons hit them.
It's hard to believe such a young and shy girl has such power.
At that moment, most envoys shared the same thought, 'Is this how powerful and deep the Ten Thousand Beast Sect's inheritance is?'
Ju Fuya laughed in a good mood, "So, what do you think of my sect's disciples? They are impressive, right?"
And the envoys could only describe it in one word, 'Terrifying.'
As if knowing their thoughts, Ju Fuya showed a playful expression and then added, "Whether it was Chi Ji, Zhi Gang, and Ao Yun, they are indeed geniuses."
"But what if I told you they aren't the strongest disciple in the sect?"
Gulp!
The envoys audibly swallowed their saliva. "S-Sect Leader Ju, are you saying there is an even more powerful genius in your sect?"
"Of course there is!" Ju Fuya waved his hand casually. "However, she wasn't in the sect today."
"Aih, what a shame, what a shame. I really wanted you guys to know about her monster-like talents!"
"Sigh, maybe on another day…" Ju Fuya lamented as if he had no other choice.
"..." The envoys' mouths twitched in disbelief.