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**
Although the so-called faction disciples currently recruited by the factions were still essentially soul masters of foreign surnames, it was already noticeably different from two thousand years ago.
Back then, soul masters with foreign surnames only served as a supplementary force for soul master clans, or were even treated as mere subordinates. Because of the refinement of the Fusion Stream, the cultivation paths for human martial souls had become extremely diverse.
Even for the exact same martial soul, choosing a different cultivation faction and coordinating it with a specific cultivation direction could yield at least several distinct paths. In the process of cultivation, this would lead the same martial soul toward entirely different directions.
Furthermore, because similar martial souls shared a certain degree of mutual reference and synergy, the mutual demand between soul master clans and those soul masters who could cultivate toward the clan's inherited martial soul direction had drastically increased.
For a soul master with a foreign surname to join a faction that possessed a martial soul similar to their own not only aided their own cultivation, but their subsequent growth would also strengthen the faction.
It could be called a win-win scenario.
Moreover, this model—where soul master factions established academies to recruit and nurture soul masters, and then absorbed the outstanding ones into the faction—further resolved the issue of a sense of belonging for foreign-surnamed soul masters.
Not to mention, the soul master world had now grasped the relationship between innate soul power and martial souls. Their research and understanding of martial souls had reached a higher level, which would inevitably help soul masters cultivate better.
Based on their own martial soul aptitude, they could choose the most suitable method to reach the highest possible cultivation level they could achieve, ensuring their martial soul aptitude was not wasted.
This would further elevate the treatment of foreign-surnamed soul masters.
However, although there were numerous soul master academies across the continent—including many established by great powers, like Elephant Armored Academy—the students within these academies were still mostly civilian soul masters or soul masters from minor clans.
While there was no shortage of highly gifted individuals among them who studied diligently and subsequently stepped into the soul master world, continuously cultivating to eventually become powerhouses, their numbers were ultimately few.
After all, cultivation as a soul master was ultimately different from the power systems in Ling Xiao's memories, which mainly relied on various cultivation techniques and secret arts to become strong.
The influence of lineage inheritance was still clearly dominant.
As a result, the vast majority of elite soul masters were still concentrated within the major soul master clans. While their total numbers might not necessarily exceed those of civilian soul masters, their proportion on the surface was clearly much larger.
Although some of these soul masters born into great clans would also go to academies to cultivate and study, because they possessed a clan inheritance, they still primarily focused on cultivating within their own clans.
Instances like the Elephant Armored Sect, which directly opened its academy right next to itself, leading some of the younger generation of the Huyan Clan to study directly inside Elephant Armored Academy, were a minority after all.
Therefore, the challenges of Ling Xiao's current journey would mostly focus on soul master factions and soul master clans, supplemented by soul master academies.
Of course, those entities that clearly and directly linked their own clans with an academy—such as Blazing Academy and the One Horned Fire Dragon clan—were also highly regarded by him.
At this moment, in the central area of Colossal Elephant City, stood an extremely massive estate. The plaque above the entrance displayed three grand characters: Elephant Armored Sect.
This was precisely the headquarters of the Elephant Armored Sect within this city.
Inside the discussion hall of the Elephant Armored Sect, sitting upon the highest seat of honor at the very front, was an elder with slightly thinning, graying hair and beard.
His face was square and honest, his eyes resembled bronze bells, and he looked exceptionally imposing. He wore a set of black heavy armor that seemed to be crafted from the hide of some high-level, gigantic soul beast, offering astonishing defensive power.
On the thick leather armor, at the shoulders and on both sides of the neck near the head, curved elephant tusks were decorated. They appeared to be taken from elephant-type soul beasts of over ten thousand years, making them extremely hard.
Even though he seemed to be nearing seventy years of age, his physique was exceptionally magnificent and robust. It could no longer be described by simple words like a strong body that surpassed ordinary people.
Knotted muscles covered his entire body, their blocky textures resembling rock, and thick blue veins pulsed like small pythons, presenting an intimidating physique. Because his frame was far too massive, the main seat beneath him was also custom-made.
It was more than spacious enough to seat three or four grown men.
Even though this man was merely sitting there, he was still much taller than most adult men standing up. Once he stood up, his height would likely be at least over three meters. It was a simply non-human level of burliness, just like a giant.
Not only that, but his breathing was deep, continuous, and profound. His immensely burly frame exuded a terrifying aura of blood vitality at all times. His entire body overflowed with a masculine and vigorous essence.
With this staggering level of blood vitality, if he encountered the kind of phantom ghost comparable to a ten-thousand-year soul beast that Ling Xiao had seen that day—whose strength was far too yin and cold—it would likely be instantly dispersed by this scorching, masculine blood vitality.
Once he engaged in full-scale battle, his blood would churn like molten mercury, and his surging vitality would boundlessly erupt like billowing wolf smoke.
This man, whose entire being radiated the aura of a powerhouse, was none other than the master of the Elephant Armored Sect—one of the Lower Four Factions—Huyan Zhen.
His cultivation had already reached the peak of Rank 87, and he bore the renowned title of "Heavenly Elephant" within the soul master world.
Below and on either side of the main seat where Huyan Zhen sat, several other individuals were seated. Their hair and beards were all slightly graying, showing they were not young, and every single one of them possessed an exceptionally tall physique and formidable blood vitality.
However, they were still quite a cut below Huyan Zhen.
These were the various elders of the Elephant Armored Sect, and every single one of them possessed a cultivation level at or above the Soul Saint realm.
At this moment, however, the atmosphere within the discussion hall of the Elephant Armored Sect was rather solemn, making one feel a sense of oppression.
After a long silence, a voice finally echoed out.
"Elders, what are your thoughts on the challenge letter sent by Spirit Hall?"
The voice was booming and rough, and the speaker was none other than Huyan Zhen.
Today, the Elephant Armored Sect had received a challenge letter delivered by messengers sent by Spirit Hall's Chrysanthemum Douluo, which truly left him somewhat unable to fathom Spirit Hall's true intentions.
After all, if it were merely a sparring match or challenge between young soul masters, it wouldn't warrant such a grand display.
After Huyan Zhen finished reading the challenge letter, it had already been passed around and read by the various elders.
Hearing Huyan Zhen's words now, these elders of the Elephant Armored Sect exchanged glances, most of them harboring their own speculations. Soon, the leading elder on the left frowned and said in a deep voice:
"Sect Master, Spirit Hall's move is likely a case of 'the drinker's heart not being in the wine.'"
"The sparring match between the younger generations might just be an excuse. Their true intent is to suppress our Elephant Armored Sect and weaken our influence and prestige in the soul master world."
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the hall froze.
Most of them had guessed as much in their hearts, but because the matter was of grave importance, it was difficult for them to jump to conclusions, so they had never explicitly stated or discussed it openly.
Now, seeing this strongest and most prestigious elder voice it, the remaining elders who agreed with this theory immediately chimed in.
"Sect Master, what the First Elder said is highly likely. Spirit Hall has always acted overbearing. Using this method to suppress other forces in the soul master world to bolster their own prestige is not out of the question."
"After all, years ago, Spirit Hall suppressed the Clear Sky Sect and forced them to seal off their mountain and isolate themselves, which thoroughly shook the soul master world."
"The Second Elder might be overstating it a bit. Back then, Spirit Hall suppressed the Clear Sky Sect for a specific reason; it cannot be compared to today's matter. After all, our Elephant Armored Sect has not done anything to explicitly offend Spirit Hall."
"However, Spirit Hall's style of conduct over these years has indeed been quite tyrannical. It is not entirely impossible for them to suppress other factions in the soul master world to grow their own renown."
"The Third Elder makes sense. Our Elephant Armored Sect must guard against this."
Such remarks continuously filled the room, and unexpectedly, several elders agreed.
Gradually, not only the other elders who previously had only slight suspicions, but even Huyan Zhen himself secretly came to accept this conclusion. Though his face remained expressionless on the surface, the pressure in the depths of his heart intensified significantly.
The elders clearly showed expressions of worry, and the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly heavy, as if a dark cloud had settled over the Elephant Armored Sect.
**
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