Beibei realized this as well and nodded. "I really didn't expect that. What a pity we were a step too late. We should have helped Little Huo find a better soul beast to fuse with."
Huo Yuhao was fully awake by now. Although he was young, he possessed a fair share of life experience. He immediately guessed that Beibei and Tang Ya assumed his first Soul Ring had come from the baboon. Although he didn't understand why his million-year Soul Ring appeared white, he knew he had to keep it a secret for now, so he didn't offer any explanation.
"Big Brother Beibei, Sister Ya, why were you looking for me? Is something the matter?" Huo Yuhao asked.
Tang Ya said in a mock-scolding tone, "Actually, we only guessed that you were planning to enter the Xingdou Forest, but we didn't expect you to be so bold. Don't you know this is a forbidden zone for humans? Even some Soul Masters with extremely high cultivation bases wouldn't dare to venture deep inside. If a kid like you wanted to enter, you should have had someone to guide you. We chased after you because we wanted to protect you—Beibei and I are Soul Masters, after all. But your luck isn't bad. Although your first Soul Ring isn't very strong, at least you didn't get hurt."
Hearing her words, a wave of unease rose in Huo Yuhao's heart. Although he was young, he had some ability to read people. He could tell that Tang Ya was being completely sincere.
"Big Sister Tang Ya, I..."
In his emotional state, Huo Yuhao almost blurted out the matter of the Tianmeng Iceworm. Right at that moment, a soft cough echoed in his mind, and a pure, refreshing aura flowed in, calming his emotions. He swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
Tang Ya giggled. "Look at your silly expression. Little Huo, now that you have your first Soul Ring, what are your plans?"
Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned. That was right, what were his plans? Before entering the Great Xingdou Forest, his sole goal had been to become a Soul Master by obtaining his first Soul Ring. Although "Soul Master" and "Soul Scholar" differed by only one word, the gap between them was as vast as heaven and earth. Becoming a Soul Master meant stepping through the grand gate, a single leap that opened up the vast sky and wide sea. But he hadn't thought about what would come next. After all, how could an eleven-year-old child out on his own for the first time make such long-term plans?
Seeing his bewildered expression, Tang Ya rejoiced inwardly and winked at Beibei.
Beibei nodded and spoke up, "Little Brother Huo, who else is left in your family?"
Huo Yuhao's gaze instantly froze, and then he shook his head. "There is no one left. I am all alone..."
Tang Ya blurted out in delight, "Great! That's absolutely wonderful!"
Huo Yuhao looked at her in surprise, while Beibei calmly gave Tang Ya a gentle tap on the head. "What nonsense are you talking?"
Tang Ya also realized she had misspoke. She glared at Beibei and said, "I didn't mean it like that! Little Huo, since you have no family left, why don't you join our sect?"
"A sect?"
Back when Huo Yuhao was at the Duke's Mansion, he had heard of sects. On the Douluo Continent, the power of sects was immense, especially those ancient ones. In a way, the Duke's Mansion itself could also be considered a great sect.
Tang Ya nodded. "Yes, a sect. Our sect was once the number one sect on the continent. Once you join, you definitely won't be treated unfairly. Furthermore, our sect's ultimate techniques are extremely suitable for your cultivation. You are all alone and still so young. After joining our sect, we can look after each other, which will make things much easier. If you wander the world by yourself and run into bad luck, it's very easy to be taken advantage of."
"Sister Ya, what is the name of your sect?" Huo Yuhao asked.
Tang Ya's expression turned solemn.
The Tang Sect, once the number one sect under heaven.
Hearing the words "Tang Sect," Huo Yuhao's body trembled slightly. Although the Tang Sect had declined somewhat by now, in the history of the Douluo Continent, its status could be said to be towering, unmatched by any other sect.
When he was young, his mother had told him about the legend of the Tang Sect. Founded ten thousand years ago, it was one of the oldest sects. It was said that the first sect master of the Tang Sect, Tang San, had changed the destiny of the continent, leading to the rapid development of Soul Masters across the land. At that time, the Tang Sect was truly the number one sect under heaven. Furthermore, according to legend, Tang San had broken through the highest realm of Titled Douluo, ascending to a transcendent level of immortality, but no one knew what happened to him after that.
Ten thousand years had passed, and though the Tang Sect still existed, it had stepped off the stage of history, and very few people knew of its descendants. Some of the legends about the Tang Sect had even been forgotten by many, but there was one thing everyone remembered: if Tang San had not provided a foundational path of development for the Soul Masters of the Douluo Continent ten thousand years ago, the outcome of the war between the Sun Moon Continent and the Douluo Continent would have been uncertain, and the Douluo Continent might not have won and unified the two continents.
"Little brother Huo, have you heard of the Tang Sect?"
Beibei asked in surprise.
Huo Yuhao nodded.
"I've heard a bit about the legends of the Tang Sect, but I just don't know where it is."
Tang Ya's eyes reddened.
"The Tang Sect no longer has its estate; our foundation was seized, and currently, only Beibei and I are left. I am the current sect master of the Tang Sect, and Beibei is my eldest disciple."
"Huh?"
Huo Yuhao looked at the two of them in astonishment. Tang Ya was not much older than Beibei, and from the way they spoke, they did not look like master and disciple at all.
Beibei coughed twice.
"You've seen the situation. Currently, there are only two people left in the Tang Sect, but we will definitely restore it to its former glory. If you are willing to join, we would highly welcome you. What Xiao Ya said is also true; the Tang Sect has a cultivation technique that is very suitable for you, which will be extremely beneficial for your future strength development."
Huo Yuhao hesitated for a moment.
"What are the requirements to join the Tang Sect?"
Tang Ya replied:
"You only need to constantly strive to increase your cultivation and grow stronger. When our sect needs you, you must do your best. I won't lie to you; our sect has indeed declined, but our cultivation techniques are still here. Furthermore, as the Tang Sect was once the number one sect under heaven, we still retain a few privileges. You probably know of Shrek Academy, the number one academy on the continent. Although the academy is extremely strict in selecting its students, they still grant our sect a few admission slots every year. Beibei and I are planning to enroll, and it just so happens that there is one slot left this year. If you are willing to join the Tang Sect, this slot will be yours. Whether you can stay at the academy depends on your own efforts. We can help you a lot, but we have only one requirement: once you join the Tang Sect, you are a member of the Tang Sect for life. If you ever leave, you must return all of our sect's ultimate techniques!"
Tang Sect, Tang Sect! Huo Yuhao's eyes gradually lit up. He looked intently at Tang Ya.
"Sister Xiao Ya, I am willing to join the Tang Sect."
***
Tang Sect—open the path!