Chapter 220: Transmission of the Method (Part 1)

One hundred and seven members of the Zodiac Hall sat in meditation on the platform atop the cliff wall of the Binghuo Liangyi Yan's massive form, with Gu Xuan standing directly in front of them, calmly watching them.

Gu Miao was not sitting; she was waiting beside Gu Xuan, still calling him "master" because Gu Xuan gave her new life and hope, and in her eyes her entire life belongs to Gu Xuan.

Although Gu Xuan felt helpless, this is how the world is, so he showed no other emotion, keeping the aura of a superior tightly in check.

Du Gu Yan and his party did not arrive; aside from the one hundred and eight members of the Zodiac Hall, only Gu Xuan was present.

Gu Xuan calmly watched the few Hall Masters seated at the front; it was his first meeting with them, since the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect had been searching the continent for these people, and only now had they barely assembled the Zodiac Hall.

But even now it is merely a framework, because their strength is far too weak within the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, placing them at the very bottom.

That is only the present situation; although most of this group's talents are average, a few possess top‑grade gifts, and given time the Zodiac Hall's power will surely rise.

Gu Xuan's training of them is not a whim but has a clever purpose, though not now, because with their current strength even attempting to use it would be futile.

Long Yi looked at Gu Xuan at the front with eager eyes, his gratitude evident.

Having been at the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect for over a year, his soul power has risen four levels in that time!

There is no other reason; the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect has abundant resources, and Hall Masters like them, selected for outstanding talent, receive individual training and instruction, truly putting their gifts to use.

The other members of the Zodiac Hall also train their respective strengths, because as half‑beastmen they are naturally better suited to the simulated cultivation grounds of beast soul masters.

Moreover, possessing traits of soul beasts gives them a more formative direction than ordinary humans.

Of course, not all of the one hundred and eight are like Long Yi; fifty of them are under ten years old, having only recently awakened their martial souls.

At this moment they nervously clutch the large hands of the older brothers and sisters beside them, cautiously observing Gu Xuan; from those elders they learned that this brother rescued them from a tiger's mouth and gave them their current happy lives.

The children's eyes also shone with light.

Gu Xuan looked at the crowd, his exceptionally handsome appearance radiant, and softly said, "Today's gathering is not for leisure; I hope you are mentally prepared for what I am about to say."

Upon hearing Gu Xuan speak, everyone focused intently, perking up their ears to listen seriously; the two large ears of Zhu Er, who sat beside Long Yi at the front, flapped open comically.

Zhu Er is also a Soul King, his talent ranking among the top in the Zodiac Hall; his looks resemble the pig character from Gu Xuan's past Journey to the West, but instead of protecting a monk, his terrifying strength earned him the name Zhu Er.

The Zodiac Hall appoints one Hall Master, a Vice Hall Master, and twelve Hall Masters; beneath the twelve Hall Masters are twelve Deputy Hall Masters, each bearing a number from one to twelve in their name, symbolizing their talents.

However, these positions are largely vacant now; only those with true talent can fill them, not merely those whose zodiac sign matches the Hall's name.

The name Zodiac Hall was chosen simply because Gu Xuan thought it sounded pleasant and fit this group better.

Currently the Zodiac Hall has only four Hall Masters; their talents are not lacking, and Gu Xuan believes they can at least cultivate to the Soul Douluo level, with Long Yi and Zhu Er possibly reaching the Titled Douluo realm.

Seeing everyone attentive, Gu Xuan continued, "I recruited you from across the continent to my command not only to give you a normal human life, but more importantly because of your value."

"Because your martial souls mutated, you possess unique traits that prevent you from appearing normal, yet most of you have gained talents far beyond ordinary people."

"I am not a saint; someday I may need you to charge into battle for me, so from now on you must decide for yourselves."

"Those willing to stay, sit in meditation; those who wish to return to an ordinary life, stand up. I will not block you nor control your thoughts, but I require complete obedience to my subordinates."

Gu Xuan's words were brief, but most understood their meaning; however, a minute after he finished speaking, no one stood up, not even the children who had just awakened their martial souls.

Gu Xuan was very satisfied with this, because the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect had already screened candidates when recruiting, and this group originally numbered more than one hundred and eight.

Even the children who awakened their martial souls this year were included.

After their martial souls mutated, the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect did not immediately bring them back but tracked them, letting them experience a period of abandonment before selecting the well‑behaved to return.

Not everyone may have been exemplary, but the overall quality was high.

Long Yi was the first to speak, "Hall Master, we were given new life because of you; elsewhere our future would only be to die for others, but here we feel the warmth of home and are treated as normal people, so I will not leave. Long Yi, I am willing to serve the Hall Master with my life."

Zhu Er likewise said, "Hall Master, I only ate a full meal after joining the sect; because I eat so much, I have to plow a hundred mu for the landlord each day just to be barely satisfied. I long to escape that place, but I am merely a small Soul King, unable to defeat those powerful Soul Masters. Without you, I might never have a full stomach."

"Zhu Er is a rough man, but he knows gratitude; better to die honorably in battle than to die exhausted from toil."

"Zhu Er, I am willing to serve the Hall Master with my life."

As the two Hall Masters spoke, the others rose together, knelt on one knee, and declared, "I am willing to serve the Hall Master with my life."

Gu Miao, standing beside Gu Xuan, also knelt on one knee, her gaze at Gu Xuan filled with eagerness—this is the master she follows!

Gu Xuan nodded approvingly, signaled everyone to sit, then said, "Brothers, you will not regret today's decision; your legacy will surely be left on this continent."

Gu Xuan did not offer many motivational or brain‑washing words, as they no longer needed indoctrination; the future will inevitably bring life‑or‑death matters, and having clarified things now will prevent future turmoil.

Gu Xuan turned to Gu Miao and seriously said, "Gu Miao, you must memorize every word I say from now on. As Vice Hall Master, although your strength does not yet match the Hall Masters, your wisdom must be enough to bear this position."

Gu Miao solemnly replied, "I understand, master."

ps: typos will be corrected later.

(End of Chapter)