Chapter 9: Tang Sect? Ptooey!
"Crack, crack, crack..."
The flames flickered in the wind, and the dry branches crackled like popping beans as they burned.
Tang Ya was eating grilled fish when her eyes suddenly lit up as if she had remembered something important. She abruptly turned to Lin Xuan, a warm and enthusiastic smile blooming on her face.
"Oh right! Junior Lin Xuan! Would you like to consider joining our Tang Sect? Although we don't have many people right now, we have a long history and deep foundations! Once you join, you'll be one of us, and I'll look out for you! What do you think? How about it?"
Lin Xuan, who was focused on his grilled fish, suddenly paused.
I kindly saved your lives, and yet you're trying to screw me over?!
Hearing this, Bei Bei also immediately cast an expectant gaze over.
Although he didn't know the specifics of Lin Xuan's strength, someone who dared to hunt Soul Beasts alone in the Star Dou Great Forest definitely had talent and power that weren't lacking.
Moreover, with the current state of the Tang Sect, there weren't even five people in total including the dogs. It was already good enough if anyone joined; why be picky?
"Thank you for your kindness, Senior, but I'm used to being on my own and have no plans to join any Sect for the time being."
Lin Xuan shook his head, tactfully declining Tang Ya's invitation.
If it weren't for the fact that it was difficult to obtain a large amount of resources on his own, he wouldn't even want to go to Shrek Academy.
As for other Sects and forces, such as the Sun Moon Empire, the three original Empires of the Douluo Continent, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, the Body Sect, or even the Holy Spirit Cult, he hadn't entirely ruled them out.
But the real problem was that these forces were either unable to protect themselves or were simply a poor match for his "specialty."
The only one that perfectly suited him, the Holy Spirit Cult, was a den of villains.
He, Lin Xuan, wasn't Sukuna.
It would be fine to go there later and reap some benefits with his Malevolent Shrine Martial Soul, but as for actually living there—forget it.
Seeing Lin Xuan decline the invitation, Tang Ya and Bei Bei stopped pestering him and turned to teach Huo Yuhao about the Tang Sect's cultivation techniques and secret skills.
Zhang Lexuan stood up and said softly to Lin Xuan,
"Junior Lin, shall we take a walk around?"
Lin Xuan looked at Huo Yuhao and the other two who had their backs turned and nodded. Although he had zero interest in the Tang Sect's relics, it was better to avoid any suspicion.
If they were to later use the excuse of "you saw the Tang Sect's techniques, so you must join the Tang Sect" as blackmail, he would be at a huge loss.
The two of them walked side by side, silently leaving the range of the campfire's light and stepping onto a forest path shrouded in hazy moonlight.
Zhang Lexuan walked half a step ahead. The moonlight cast a silvery glow over her slender figure, and her long black hair fluttered gently in the breeze.
Her profile was soft and perfect, and her temperament appeared increasingly ethereal and otherworldly, like a secluded orchid blooming quietly under the moon.
She turned her head slightly and glanced at Lin Xuan, whose expression remained calm beside her.
There was a serenity between the youth's brows that transcended his age, and his black eyes appeared even deeper in the moonlight, as if they held many stories.
After deliberating for a moment, Zhang Lexuan spoke softly, breaking the silence of the forest.
"Junior Lin, I heard Tang Ya and Bei Bei briefly mention that your Martial Soul... is somewhat special. It can summon shadow creatures like Soul Beasts to assist in battle, and they are quite sentient."
"I'm a bit curious. If you don't mind, could you tell me about your Martial Soul? Of course, if it involves personal secrets you'd rather not disclose, that's perfectly fine."
Lin Xuan stopped and turned to face Zhang Lexuan.
"Since you're curious, Senior, it's naturally not a problem."
Douluo Continent was different from jujutsu kaisen.
In jujutsu kaisen, jujutsu sorcerers would rather take the information about their cursed techniques to their graves. After all, a tiny information gap could decide life or death.
Except for the binding vow of revealing one's hand to increase the technique's power; once a technique was revealed, it basically meant a fight to the death.
But on the Douluo Continent, it was quite the opposite. Geniuses with higher talent and stronger Martial Souls had no need to hide.
The first reaction of any power would be to recruit them, not destroy them.
Try that in jujutsu kaisen. Who cares if your talent is high? 'Genius' and'Special Grade' weren't exactly positive terms there.
Lin Xuan had experienced this deeply in his past life. Despite the prestigious title of Special Grade jujutsu sorcerer, everyone except a few close friends wanted you dead as soon as possible.
For example, Gojo Satoru was nothing more than a monster in the eyes of others.
"My Martial Soul is called the 'Shadow of the Hunting God'."
Lin Xuan said slowly.
"I can use shadows as a medium to summon ten types of Shikigami to fight, and the strength of the Shikigami increases with my Soul Power level."
"Shadow of the Hunting God? Shikigami?"
Zhang Lexuan was stunned. This was the first time she had heard of such a Martial Soul. Was it a Weapon Spirit, a Beast Martial Soul, or a Body Martial Soul?
After all, a shadow could be considered a part of the body.
While explaining, Lin Xuan lightly snapped his fingers under Zhang Lexuan's puzzled gaze.
"Snap!"
The crisp sound of the finger snap was exceptionally clear in the quiet forest.
In the next moment, purple, purple, and black—three Soul Rings rose sequentially from beneath his feet, their light swirling. The deep black third Soul Ring was particularly eye-catching in the moonlight.
The moment this Soul Ring configuration appeared, even the steady Zhang Lexuan couldn't help but have her pupils shrink, and a look of undisguised shock clearly appeared on her beautiful face!
Purple, purple, black?!
The first Soul Ring is a thousand-year one? The second is also a thousand-year one? And the third Soul Ring... is actually a ten-thousand-year one?!
How is this possible?!
Even the legendary first generation of the Shrek Seven Devils didn't have such a terrifying early-stage Soul Ring configuration!
This could no longer be described as being gifted; it was simply... against common sense!
"This..."
Zhang Lexuan took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent waves in her heart, and looked at Lin Xuan with a complex gaze.
Before this moment, she had never imagined that the junior before her would be so heaven-defying.
"Junior Lin, your Soul Ring configuration... is unprecedented. If I may be so bold as to ask, could you... perhaps be from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, or the legendary reclusive Clear Sky Sect?"
In her view, to possess such a heaven-defying Soul Ring configuration, talent was certainly paramount, but massive resources and background were also absolutely indispensable.
However, Lin Xuan merely shook his head calmly and withdrew his Soul Rings.
His gaze shifted toward the deep shadows of the forest, his tone indifferent.
"Neither. Senior, as I said before, I have been alone from the very beginning."
"Alone? How is that possible..."
Zhang Lexuan murmured in disbelief, but then she looked into Lin Xuan's emotionless eyes, and something in her heart was gently touched.
There was no boasting in that gaze, no sadness, only a sense of loneliness and resilience that had settled after being tempered by hardships.
If one had not struggled alone and been covered in wounds through the storms of fate, it would be extremely difficult to forge such a gaze.
The surprise in her heart was gradually replaced by feelings of appreciation, pity, and admiration.
Zhang Lexuan hesitated for a moment but eventually reached out and gently ruffled Lin Xuan's hair, her movements tender and natural, like a true elder sister.
"If you encounter any difficulties after entering the academy, or if you have any doubts about your cultivation, you can come to me at any time."
Her voice became even softer.
"Also, you can call me Eldest Senior Sister from now on."
Lin Xuan was slightly taken aback, seemingly surprised by this sudden intimacy.
But he didn't pull away. Knowing more people meant more paths, especially since Zhang Lexuan's status in the Inner Court was no small matter. There was no reason to refuse a connection that came knocking on his door.
"...Yes, thank you, Eldest Senior Sister."