Bei Bei frowned and said, “Elder Xuan, do you really believe that Wang Qiu’er has kidnapped him? I don’t think that’s right. Shrek wouldn’t be the number one academy on the Continent if someone could kidnap him from the Sea God’s Pavilion. Nobody knows how senior sister Xiaotao left all those years ago, but we were under attack from powerful enemies back then, and our academy was emptied out as a result. However, you were here with the other elders inside the Sea God’s Pavilion to hold down the fort. How could you guys let Wang Qiu’er, who’s just a Soul Emperor, kidnap him?”

Elder Xuan tilted his head and said, “You’re still coolheaded. The others’ minds were a mess. You’re right… it’s unlikely that Wang Qiu’er has kidnapped him. However, you saw how dejected Dong’er was just now, and I had to find a way to stabilize her before anything else could be done. We don’t know why Huo Yuhao has decided to leave, and we don’t even know if he left together with Wang Qiu’er. But we can’t have any internal problems. I did feel him leave after I got up in the morning. He left by himself, but it felt as if he was in a hurry. I didn’t think much about it back then, but it seems he must have run into something. Think carefully, has anything important happened to Huo Yuhao recently?”

Nobody would ever think, not even in their wildest dreams, that Huo Yuhao’s emergency originated from the pouch that Wang Dong’er had given him.

……

Inside Clear Sky Castle…

“Eh?” Niu Tian was tasting the fragrant wine in his cup when his eyes suddenly froze.

“What’s wrong?” Tiu Tian glanced at him curiously.

Niu Tian frowned and said, “That’s strange! How has the seal been opened so quickly? That’s really strange.”

Tiu Tian was also surprised as he said, “Are you referring to that pouch that you gave her? It’s probably Huo Yuhao if it’s been opened.”

Niu Tian nodded, but he shook his head immediately afterwards and said, “It’s not strange that Dong’er has given the pouch to him. Could you not tell when they returned the last time? Dong’er’s heart is locked onto that fellow. What I find strange is, how does Yuhao have the ability to open that spiritual seal? Does that mean he sought someone else’s help to open it?”

Tiu Tian drank a mouthful of wine and said, “If it’s open, then so be it. He will have to face our final test whether or not he found someone else to help him open it. In the end, the assessment doesn’t just test his abilities. More importantly, it tests his love for Dong’er.”

Niu Tian said, “I’m not worried that he found someone to help open the seal, nor am I worried that he’s found someone to help him find the Yearning Heartbroken Grass. What I’m worried about is that he may have opened the seal by accident, and if that’s the case, that place is simply too dangerous for him with his current cultivation. I’m afraid something might happen to him.”

Tiu Tian was a little confused. “I don’t think so. That fellow is quite intelligent. Can he not retreat and run away if he realizes something is amiss? Besides, can your spiritual seal really be opened by accident? I think we should be more concerned about this fellow showing the letter’s contents to Dong’er.”

Niu Tian heaved a faint sigh and said, “Forget it. We weren’t the ones who came up with this test, anyway. Since the test has already begun, we will submit to fate.”

“Fate?” Tiu Tian gazed at the distant sky through the window, and an understanding smile appeared on his face.

Niu Tian was momentarily stunned as he watched his brother’s expression. Then he seemed to understand as well, and he smiled faintly as he stared at the clear blue skies outside. “Yes! Fate.”

……

Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er flew for five hours, and the Heavenly Soul Empire’s Heaven Dou City was finally peeking out over the horizon.

“Hey, let’s take a break!” Wang Qiu’er exclaimed softly.

“Alright.” Huo Yuhao nodded and glided downwards.

They had been travelling for full speed for five hours, and he was so exhausted that all his strength seemed to have left his body. Soul power could be replenished with a Milk Bottle, but he had to rely on soul power and his own body to defend against the air resistance from high-speed flight. His body was sore from five hours of flight, and he felt as if his entire skeleton was falling apart. He wouldn’t be able to take it anymore if he didn’t rest.

They found a small patch of open ground and landed. Huo Yuhao’s expression was as calm as water. He withdrew the flying-type soul tool behind his back, crossed his legs, sat down on the ground, and immediately began to meditate.

“Hey, aren’t you going to eat?” Wang Qiu’er could clearly see that there was something wrong with Huo Yuhao’s current behavior. The frustration and worry that seemed to come from his bones had made him a little irrational.

“I’m not too hungry. You go ahead.” Huo Yuhao’s storage-type soul tool always carried some food and water; this was one of the Ultimate Soldier Plan’s main requirements.

He handed some food and water to Wang Qiu’er before he immediately continued to meditate.

Wang Qiu’er didn’t push further, and she took the food and water and began to eat. She quietly stared at the cross-legged youth sitting before her as she ate.

Am I going to venture with him into another world of soul beasts? It’s only me and him this time. What does he want, exactly? The Setting Sun Forest? How can that compare to the Great Star Dou Forest? The quality of soul beasts in that area is far inferior to the even Great Star Dou Forest’s Hybrid Region. Perhaps we won’t find a single hundred thousand year soul beast over there.





Chapter 254.2: Invading a Territory?


Wang Qiu’er silently criticized Huo Yuhao in her mind as she watched him. This guy has such average looks. Wang Dong’er is so pretty, so why is she so interested in him? But he doesn’t look so good today. He’s frowning even when he’s meditating.

Wang Qiu’er had really thought that Huo Yuhao told her everything he did because he wanted to avoid her when she first stopped him at the academy. However, she was starting to understand that Huo Yuhao had probably actually run into something urgent. She had never seen him so worried and anxious, not even when they faced off against the three evil brothers in the Great Star Dou Forest. Which friend of his was injured that made him so distraught?

Could it be Wang Dong’er? But Wang Dong’er looked fine.

Every girl was born with a tendency to probe into others’ secrets and be nosy, and Wang Qiu’er was no exception. She stared at Huo Yuhao, who was still meditating, and thoughts ran wild in her head. It didn’t take long before she consumed all the rations in her hands.

“This tastes terrible!” Wang Qiu’er finished her food, but she couldn’t help but mutter and criticize it under her breath. She thought to herself that this was a far cry from what he had made before. He makes really delicious food, though. Perhaps that’s why Wang Dong’er likes him so much?

Huo Yuhao meditated for two hours. He recovered some energy, and his heart was a little calmer than before. He knew that he wasn’t in the right state of mind, and he kept telling himself to calm down after he finished meditating.

The greater the danger he had to face, the calmer he had to be. Emotional disturbances would only make things worse and harder to deal with in the long run.

That was one of the Ultimate Soldier Plan’s defining principles, and Huo Yuhao bore it in mind. He wouldn’t have lost so much self-control if it hadn’t been Wang Dong’er who was in mortal peril, because he was just too concerned about her safety. Wang Dong’er was simply too important to him, and it wasn’t an easy task for him to ease his nerves in the face of this threat.

Don’t worry, Dong’er. Even if I have to face all the dangers in the world, I will help you get that herb and I will bring it back!

Huo Yuhao wasn’t hasty to get back on his way, and he fetched some food and water before he began to eat by himself. He wanted to be in his best condition to search for that herb.

Wang Qiu’er watched Huo Yuhao quietly consume his food, and she couldn’t help but frown. This guy looks quite interesting when he’s deep in thought.

“Hey, don’t you have anything to say to me? I’m here to help you,” Wang Qiu’er spoke up, displeased.

Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh and said, “Qiu’er, I will first apologize about what happened yesterday. Even though it was an accident, I will not deny away my responsibility, it was my fault. I didn’t correctly judge how strong your attack was, which eventually led to… it was just my fault. However, what I have to do now is exceedingly important to me, more important than my life. Therefore, I will be extremely grateful if you truly want to help me and I will owe you a favor. If you just want to watch the show, or if you want to cause trouble for me, then I beg you… you can do anything you want to me and I’ll take it, but only after I’ve completed this task. Thank you.”

He stood up as he spoke, and bowed courteously toward Wang Qiu’er at the end.

“You…” Wang Qiu’er’s eyebrows knitted. She felt a little awkward. This guy was the one who took advantage of me! Why do I suddenly feel like I am the one who is letting him down?

“We’ll settle this when we get back!” Wang Qiu’er wanted to put on a strong front even though she felt differently inside.

Huo Yuhao stared at her seriously and said, “Then you’re willing to help me?”

“Yes,” Wang Qiu’er nodded and said, “I’m already here. Am I supposed to just watch? The Setting Sun Forest shouldn’t have many powerful soul beasts, and we shouldn’t run into any danger if we team up. The key question is, what exactly are you looking for? Looking for something inside a forest isn’t easy. Do you have a target?”

Huo Yuhao’s spirits were lifted when Wang Qiu’er said she was willing to help him. He couldn’t be bothered by his awkward relationship with her at a time like this. When Wang Dong’er’s life hung in the balance, all he wanted to do was acquire that herb no matter what price he had to pay. Wang Qiu’er’s abilities were formidable, and they shared a martial soul fusion skill, the Dragon Roar of Destiny. Their martial soul fusion had even fended off that triple martial soul fusion. Ultimately, this expedition was a lot more likely to succeed with her around.

“I have a map, and this map has the rough location of what I need to find. We just have to search around for a bit when we get there, and that should be enough. Qiu’er… let’s not hurry into the Setting Sun Forest. I still have the three left leg bones that we picked up from last time. Why don’t we absorb one piece each, so that we can further boost our strength?”

He retrieved two wolf-ape left leg bones from his storage-type soul tool as he spoke.

“Alright.” Wang Qiu’er didn’t object. One of these things belonged to her anyway, and she took one before she sat down with her legs crossed.

Huo Yuhao said, “I’ll protect you. You can go first.”

“Okay.” Wang Qiu’er made sure she was sitting properly cross-legged. She waved her right hand, and a golden streak of soul power enveloped the left leg bone.

The left leg bone was entirely purplish-black in color, and it flickered with pale silver light. A deep dragon roar could be heard as the soul power on Wang Qiu’er’s body trembled, and a golden layer of light and encompassed and permeated the entire bone immediately afterwards.

Ding! A faint chiming sound could be heard, and the left leg bone transformed into a flowing purplish-black beam of light that drifted toward Wang Qiu’er. It followed her golden soul power, and she directed it into her left leg before it disappeared.

Purplish-black light circled twice around Wang Qiu’er’s left leg before it vanished, and her body began to shine with golden light once again. Huo Yuhao was standing guard for her, but even he could feel an immense pressure coming from her.

What a powerful martial soul!

Even though the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion was also an Ultimate martial soul, Huo Yuhao could clearly feel that the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion was still a little inferior to the Golden Dragon in terms of strength. Wang Qiu’er’s Golden Dragon martial soul was probably at a higher level than the Dragon God Douluo’s Radiant Holy Dragon and the Dragon Emperor Douluo’s Darkness Holy Dragon, which meant that it was probably the purest inheritance of dragon-type martial souls. Who knew how powerful she would be if she could become a Titled Douluo one day?

Huo Yuhao took out the map and began to study it. The map wasn’t complicated, and there were clear instructions about where he had to enter the Setting Sun Forest from. His destination was quite close to the forest’s center, and there were several other important places that were marked out in detail.

He had to find that book that recorded the various herbs and venomous plants before he could search for the Yearning Heartbroken Grass.

Wang Qiu’er’s formidable body was on full display throughout the absorption process… for fifteen minutes! She actually only took fifteen minutes to complete the absorption process!

Huo Yuhao’s mouth hung slack with astonishment when she leapt off the ground and onto her feet. That’s incredibly fast! She’s absorbing a soul bone, and it’s a soul bone produced by a ten-thousand year soul beast. How can this process be so easy for her?

“It’s your turn.” Wang Qiu’er gestured at Huo Yuhao.

“Alright.” Huo Yuhao didn’t ask any more questions. He sat down with his legged crossed and began his own fusion.

Huo Yuhao had absorbed three soul bones before this. He had fused with the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion’s torso, which included all the chest and rib bones, and was possibly his strongest soul bone. He had the Ice Jade Scorpion Left Arm Bone, which contained the mighty Ice Explosion, and he also had the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear’s Right Palm Bone, which carried the Darkgolden Terrorclaw’s formidable power.

All three soul bones were rare and exotic. At this moment, Huo Yuhao was starting to fuse with his fourth soul bone.

This soul bone didn’t exceed Huo Yuhao’s current cultivation. Furthermore, his body was far stronger than it was all those years ago. But his fusion process wasn’t as quick as Wang Qiu’er’s. He finished absorbing it after one hour.

Huo Yuhao felt as if his body was a lot lighter than before when he jumped up from the ground, and his left leg felt exceptionally strong. He bounced on his feet, and he realized that his jumping strength had been greatly boosted.

“Have you tried its soul skill?” Huo Yuhao asked Wang Qiu’er.

Wang Qiu’er shook her head and said, “Let’s try it together.”

They infused soul power into their respective Wolf-Ape Left Leg Bones at almost the same time. Silver light immediately flickered on their legs, and their bodies vanished into thin air in the next moment before they reappeared at their original locations.

Both Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er had a look of a pleasant surprise in their eyes. It was just as Huo Yuhao had hoped! The soul skill that they had obtained was Instant Shift!

A soul skill like Instant Shift was like a life-saving trump card for any soul master. Even though the soul skills carried by soul bones could only be used for a fixed number of instances, this was already good enough to give them both a delighted surprise. Both Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er would have never obtained this soul skill from their martial soul fusion skills, as Instant Shift was known as a top-tier agility-type soul skill, and neither of them were agility-type soul masters. Of all the soul masters that Huo Yuhao knew, only Jiang Nannan possessed this ability.

Huo Yuhao immediately attempted it once more. Silver light flickered beneath his feet, and he reappeared ten meters away.

“The maximum distance is ten meters. It’s a little shorter than those wolf-apes!” Huo Yuhao had chosen a distance that was further away, but the Instant Shift had ended at ten meters. It was clear that this was its maximum range.

Wang Qiu’er appeared beside him in a flash. “That’s good enough, so you should be content. Ten meters may seem like a very short distance, but it’s usually enough to turn the tables of a battlefield. Eh, why do I feel something peculiar when I’m next to you?”

Huo Yuhao also realized that his left leg began to warm up when Wang Qiu’er came next to him, as if Wang Qiu’er’s left leg had become a magnet and was pulling on his own left leg.





Chapter 254.3: Invading a Territory?


They were both veteran soul masters, and they channeled their soul power subconsciously at the same time.

Something strange happened next. Two silver streaks of light burst out from their left legs, and then intertwined together as they enveloped their bodies. They both disappeared at the same time for an instant, and their bodies instantly switched positions in the next moment.

“This…” Huo Yuhao stared at Wang Qiu’er with an astonished look on his face.

Wang Qiu’er said decisively, “Let’s try again further away.” She raced out as she spoke, and ran about a hundred meters away as she gestured toward Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao released his soul power and activated his left leg bone as he attempted to establish a connection with Wang Qiu’er on the other side. However, he realized that he couldn’t feel anything at all, and nothing changed.

Wang Qiu’er came ten meters closer, and Huo Yuhao continued to try. Nothing was different from before.

Wang Qiu’er wasn’t hasty either, and she slowly shifted forward bit by bit.

Finally, when she was about fifty meters away from him, silver light exploded from their bodies at the same time, and Wang Qiu’er immediately appeared before Huo Yuhao. This wasn’t the Instant Shift carried by their left leg bones anymore, as Instant Shift only had a range of ten meters. This magnet-like force between them increased its range by by five hundred percent, and this was achieved with just Huo Yuhao pulling Wang Qiu’er to his side. This effect was similar to Xu Sanshi’s Mysterious Netherworld Displacement after his Shield of the Xuanming Turtle evolved into the Xuanwu Shield, except Xu Sanshi’s Mysterious Netherworld Displacement could target opponents weaker than he was. Huo Yuhao could only use this with Wang Qiu’er.

They exchanged a look, and they thought about the countless possibilities. They already had a martial soul fusion skill, and this special effect carried by their left leg bones was a cherry on the cake for them. In addition to their new Instant Shift ability… both of them felt as if they had struck a jackpot.

Wang Qiu’er said, “This ability probably originates from the three Wolf-Apes’ triple martial soul fusion skill. Even though that triple martial soul fusion cannot be passed down through their soul bones, this ability is still quite impressive. I don’t want the last soul bone, but you can’t give it to the wrong person. This is very important for the both of us.”

Huo Yuhao didn’t conceal his intentions. “If you don’t mind, I want to give it to Dong’er.”

Wang Qiu’er shot him a glare and grunted as she said, “Whatever. I don’t want it. Just make sure she doesn’t cause me any trouble.”

A sorrowful look flashed across Huo Yuhao’s face. Cause you any trouble? Dong’er has to live for that to happen.

“Let’s go. We’re going to the Setting Sun Forest.” It was nearly noon at this point.

The sun was high in the sky, and it radiated scorching warmth.

“Let’s go, then.” Wang Qiu’er agreed. Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh of relief when she began to cooperate, and they activated their flying-type soul tools before they soared into the sky once more.

Huo Yuhao wasn’t acting hastily anymore, and he flew together with Wang Qiu’er as they followed the map’s markings and traveled towards the Setting Sun Forest.

They hadn’t flown for long, however, before Huo Yuhao suddenly felt something and gazed into the horizon, while he slowed down at the same time.

“What’s wrong?” Wang Qiu’er asked confusedly.

“Someone’s coming here.” Huo Yuhao answered.

Wang Qiu’er followed his gaze. Indeed, there was a group of people flying towards them in the distance from where Heaven Dou City was located.

They were in a fan-like formation, and their formation gradually changed in the sky and formed a semicircle that wrapped toward the two of them.

“Enemies?” Wang Qiu’er asked confusedly.

Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, “Perhaps not. They should be from the Heavenly Soul Empire. This is my fault for being so careless. We’re very close to Heaven Dou City, and we are just flying through the air without attempting to conceal our movements. I think we have attracted the sentries’ attention.”

Wang Qiu’er’s mouth twitched, and she said, “We’re just flying in the sky. What does that have to do with them?”

Huo Yuhao was a little speechless. “Ever since we’ve had flying-type soul tools, every nation’s laws and control has become a lot stricter than before, and this is especially so for the airspace above or around cities. Heaven Dou City is the Heavenly Soul Empire’s capital city. Think about it, if someone flew over the royal palace and tossed down a powerful stationary soul cannon shell, what would happen?”

Wang Qiu’er said, “Is that actually preventable? If we fly high enough, to a height where they can’t see us anymore before we toss the bomb, they can’t do anything about it.”

This was the first time a smile had appeared on Huo Yuhao’s face ever since they left Shrek Academy. “This proves how little you know about soul tools! It’s not as easy as you make it seem. Let’s not talk about how difficult it is to be precise when we’re too high in the sky. With current soul tool technology, flying-type soul tools have a limit to how high they can fly, rarely can one fly higher than one kilometer above the ground at this point. Any telescopic soul tool on the ground that’s watching the skies will be able to discover someone flying around, and night-vision telescopic soul tools can monitor the airspace at night.”

The group had surrounded them while they talked. There were ten soul engineers, and everyone wore standardized flying-type soul tools. They weren’t flying very fast, so it wouldn’t be impossible if Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er wanted to shake them off. He wanted to get to the Setting Sun Forest as fast as possible, but he also didn’t want to bring unnecessary trouble upon himself. If they were suspected to be spying upon Heaven Dou City, and thus attracted the attention of powerful individuals in the Heavenly Soul Empire, then there would be real trouble for him. The Heavenly Soul Empire’s national strength couldn’t compare to the Star Luo Empire, but they were still a nation with a long history, and solid foundations.

The soul engineers didn’t attack as they came up, they just surrounded the two of them. Huo Yuhao didn’t unleash any offensive soul tools, and he raised both hands to show that he meant no ill.

These soul engineers from the Heavenly Soul Empire were all wearing leather armor, which was clearly intended to lessen the weight they had to carry. The person leading the group was a girl with a cold look on her face, appearing both elegant and noble. The flying-type soul tool behind her released pale blue light.

“Who are you? How dare you fly around inside our capital city’s airspace? You’re looking down on my country. Follow me.” Her cold voice felt extremely charming and nice to hear, but the contents were a little unpleasant.

Huo Yuhao was slightly taken aback as he stared at the young girl before him confusedly. “You… are you Mu Xue?”

The ice-cold young girl was also momentarily stunned. She stared at Huo Yuhao with the same doubtful look and asked, “How do you know my name?”

Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh of relief once she confirmed his speculation. “Have you forgotten, Mu Xue? We’ve met before inside the Great Star Dou Forest. Back then, Uncle Mo was the one leading the group, and you guys were inside the Great Star Dou Forest to hunt soul beasts. My name is Huo Yuhao.”

Mu Xue scrutinized Huo Yuhao for a moment longer. A look of revelation came over her face as she said, “Oh, yes, I remember now. You’re that student from the Star Luo National Academy, Huo Yuhao, am I right?”

“Yes! That’s me.” Huo Yuhao hurriedly nodded his head. Back then, he, Wang Dong’er and Xiao Xiao, had entered the Great Star Dou Forest under Elder Xuan’s protection when they met Mo Feiyun and his company. This girl, Mu Xue, had also been part of the company, along with another pretty girl named Wei Na. The two of them had left a fairly strong impression in Huo Yuhao’s mind.

Mu Xue’s face suddenly turned cold. “That’s enough. Stop trying to worm your way through into being friends with me. Follow me.”

Huo Yuhao was shocked. “Follow you? For what?”

Mu Xue’s voice was ice-cold. “You have trespassed into my capital city’s airspace. You know that, so why do you still ask me that question? Even though we’ve met before, today’s situation is very different, and our private relationship cannot interfere with my duty. Let’s go.” She came up with the other soul engineers as she spoke.

She turned towards Wang Qiu’er as they moved up.

It wasn’t just her; all the other soul engineers were also focused on Wang Qiu’er. This wasn’t because they had realized how powerful Wang Qiu’er was, it was because Wang Qiu’er was simply too beautiful.

Wang Qiu’er looked more like the Goddess of Light than Wang Dong’er did. There wasn’t any cover in the sky at this moment, and sunlight shone upon her body and made her flowing blue hair shine with pale golden light. Her enchanting beauty was nearly suffocating.

Mu Xue had always been confident about her looks, and this was especially so because her martial soul’s unique quality was different from normal people. However, she felt a little inferior before Wang Qiu’er. She paled in comparison in terms of looks and aura, and even in terms of her figure.

Huo Yuhao frowned as he lowered his voice and said, “I’m sorry, Mu Xue. I’m in a hurry, and today’s matter is just a misunderstanding. I have somewhere I need to be, and I accidentally trespassed in the Heaven Dou City’s airspace. I am sincerely sorry that this happened, but time is of the essence. I can’t delay any longer.”

Mu Xue also lowered her voice. “You don’t get to make that decision. Are you resisting arrest? You have to know that we have the authority to shoot you down since you’ve trespassed over our airspace. I’ll bring you back to the city because we have been acquainted, and we’ll investigate to make sure that there’s nothing wrong with the two of you, and then we’ll let you go. Don’t worry, we’ll be just and follow official procedures.”

Huo Yuhao was a little exasperated as he shook his head. “I’m sorry, I really don’t have the time.”

Mu Xue’s face turned black as she shouted angrily, “Take them down!” The nine other soul engineers immediately began to move upon hearing her orders, and each of them took out a soul tool from behind their backs.

These soul tools were about half a meter long, and there was a thick cannon barrel at the front with an opening that was roughly thirty centimeters in diameter. Nine cannon barrels were trained on Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er at the same time.

As a Class 6 soul engineer, Huo Yuhao couldn’t be more familiar with this soul tool. These were soul paralysis rays, and they were enhanced versions. Even five-ringed or six-ringed soul masters would be immediately paralyzed and immobilized if these rays hit them. Of course, that meant these paralysis rays had to hit them first!





Chapter 255.1: The Setting Sun Forest


These soul engineers didn’t show any mercy at all, and all nine soul paralysis rays fired at nearly the same time. One could tell that they had a lot of practice, as their shots didn’t just target them, but also blocked off their paths of escape.

Huo Yuhao was also a soul engineer, and he could be considered one of the most outstanding soul engineers of Shrek Academy’s younger generation. Huo Yuhao would have let himself down if he was so easily taken down by these Class 4 soul paralysis rays.

A yellow light suddenly expanded from Huo Yuhao’s body and enveloped the two of them: a Class 6 soul barrier!

Nine beams of light landed on the barrier and created ripple after ripple, but the soul barrier didn’t so much as tremble. Huo Yuhao knew that they had no choice but to fight.

“Don’t do anything, Qiu’er.” Huo Yuhao instructed Wang Qiu’er as his eyes suddenly lit up.

The air within thirty meters of them seemed to contort, and the nine soul engineers’ second shots all missed, while three of them were accidentally struck by their companions and fell from the sky.

Light erupted from behind Huo Yuhao’s back as he activated his soul thrusters explosively and crashed against two other soul engineers. He had never been afraid of meeting force with force with anyone at his level, except for Wang Qiu’er. Furthermore, these soul engineers were just four-ringed Soul Ancestors, and they weren’t even powerful Soul Ancestors.

He forcefully knocked these two soul engineers out of the air, and golden light flickered in his eyes as he turned towards Mu Xue, who was about to make a move.

Mu Xue suddenly felt an intense dizziness in her head, and immediately lost her balance. They were high up in the sky, and losing control meant she could no longer hover, so she plummeted towards the ground.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and save her!” Huo Yuhao shouted at the soul engineers before they could fire off a third wave of soul paralysis rays as he dragged Wang Qiu’er off and turned around to run.

Three of the soul engineers were struck by their own paralysis rays and plunged limply through the air. Mu Xue was struck by Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Confusion and temporarily lost control of her body. The other two that were sent hurtling through the air were relatively stronger than the others, but Huo Yuhao didn’t damage their flying-type soul tools, so they could still move around. The remaining four soul engineers were able to rescue their fallen comrades, but that also meant they couldn’t pursue Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er anymore.

Huo Yuhao shook his head lightly as he watched the falling soul engineers and their comrades who were attempting to rescue them. He controlled his flying-type soul tool and positioned himself accurately behind Wang Qiu’er before he pressed his hands against her back and activated the soul thrusters. Searing white flames extended from behind his back, and Huo Yuhao pushed Wang Qiu’er forward as they rocketed through the air. They raced for several hundred meters before he turned around as he held Wang Qiu’er’s hand and they immediately completed their martial soul fusion. He pushed his flying-type soul tool to the highest possible speed, and the two of them transformed into a ray of light as they disappeared over the horizon.

By the time the Heavenly Soul Empire’s team of soul engineers finally settled down, the two of them had already become two black dots in the distance. Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er had completely vanished from their field of view when they managed to gather themselves.

“Bastards!” Mu Xue’s fists were tightly clenched, her pretty face all tensed up.

“What should we do, team leader? Do we report to our superiors and request reinforcements? These two are difficult to deal with,” one of the soul engineers whispered to Mu Xue.

The fury on Mu Xue’s face vanished and she answered coldly, “There’s no need. I can tell from their behavior that they don’t mean any harm. Otherwise, do you think we’d still be hovering in midair? Let’s go back. I will report this to our superiors.” She was still rational. If Huo Yuhao had really wanted to hurt them, he definitely would’ve had something else up his sleeves if he could release a Class 6 protective barrier. It was unlikely that any of them would have survived this ordeal if Huo Yuhao had unleashed his true abilities.

—

Wang Qiu’er didn’t struggle as Huo Yuhao grasped her hand. She was being pulled along, and this meant she was positioned slightly behind him, and could clearly see Huo Yuhao’s profile.

Huo Yuhao’s face was still scrunched up like before, and his expression was still as black as ever. However, he was a lot calmer than he was when he had left the academy.

Wang Qiu’er felt the circulation of soul power between their bodies, and their soul power was intertwined and even flourished. Her eyes were a little lost and vacant.

This feeling…

Their combined efforts had raised their Class 6 flying-type soul tools’ flight speed to the highest possible level, and Heaven Dou City was now far behind them.

An enormous forest gradually came into view in the distance. They were about to reach their destination according to the map’s instructions.

It was common knowledge that soul masters shouldn’t fly above a place inhabited by soul beasts, as it made them easy targets. Huo Yuhao dragged Wang Qiu’er along and quickly descended from the sky, and naturally let go of her hand once they landed on the ground.

“Have you not seen enough after staring at me for so long? Have I recently become more handsome?” Huo Yuhao turned around and smiled at Wang Qiu’er.

Wang Qiu’er grunted and said, “Why didn’t you kill those people? They were so unreasonable. You didn’t let me fight, either.”

Huo Yuhao laughed exasperatedly. “They were just executing their duties, and they had no intention of hurting us. How could I kill them? Furthermore, we did trespass into a city’s airspace, so we were in the wrong.”

“Is this the place?” Wang Qiu’er didn’t pursue the matter, instead changing the topic. Her eyes turned towards the vast forest in front of them.

Huo Yuhao nodded and retrieved the map. He had already determined their direction while they were still flying, and the forest had a jagged patch at this location, which was easy to find when they were looking down from high in the sky. It was a lot easier to follow the map and venture into the forest after finding this prominent geographical feature.

“Let’s get going.” Wang Qiu’er was the first to move, and she widened her stride towards the forest.

“Be careful,” Huo Yuhao hurriedly caught up with her. “According to the map’s markings, the place we are looking for is full of dangers.”

Wang Qiu’er tilted her mouth indifferently and said, “It’s just a tiny Setting Sun Forest, how dangerous can it be? Don’t forget that I lived in the Great Star Dou Forest by myself for a year.”

Huo Yuhao had nothing else to say. She was incredibly powerful, after all. However, he activated his Spiritual Detection at once and shared it with her before they proceeded.

The reason why those soul engineers had lost their ability to aim was due to Spiritual Interference, a soul skill of his that had been continuously evolving. It was also a soul skill that Huo Yuhao hadn’t used for a long time. The logic was the same as when he used Imitation when he faced the three evil soul master brothers in the Great Star Dou Forest: not using this soul skill didn’t mean it wasn’t good. He had to hide it because it was far too powerful.

Spiritual Interference wasn’t as brutal or forceful as Spiritual Shock. However, there wouldn’t be any negative backlash, and he could use it continuously. This soul skill was a nightmare for most soul masters, and could cover an increasingly larger area as Huo Yuhao’s cultivation increased over time. Huo Yuhao could currently cover a radius of fifty meters at this point, and he could reach one hundred meters if he was focusing on a smaller target area, and he could reach two hundred meters if he used his Eye of Destiny. This was the reason why Huo Yuhao had been so calm and composed when the soul engineers had surrounded them.

Huo Yuhao had once remarked to Skydream that Skydream had changed his entire life, and that statement was absolutely true. He could only have today’s success and his exemplary accomplishments with the abilities and help that Skydream had given him. Otherwise, he probably wouldn’t even have passed Shrek Academy’s freshman examination.

The Setting Sun Forest’s vegetation was a little sparse compared to the Great Star Dou Forest, and the plant species were slightly different as well. The main reason for this was due to their distinct geographical locations.

The Great Star Dou Forest was located in the Continent’s central regions, and the temperature there was pleasant. The temperature within the Great Star Dou Forest remained between twenty to thirty degrees celsius year-round, while winter was almost nonexistent, and ice and snow were rarities.

The Setting Sun Forest was more than a thousand kilometers north of the Great Star Dou Forest. If they travelled far enough north, they would enter the Extreme North, and so this forest’s temperature was much lower than the Great Star Dou Forest’s. Under such circumstances, coniferous trees were the main plant species found in this area, as they were more suitable for living in below-average temperatures. There were also some subtropical plants in the area as well.

There were not that many species in this forest compared to the Great Star Dou Forest, and therefore it appeared to be comparatively scarce. However, the plants that could survive in a place like this would naturally have superior survival capabilities.

They stepped into the Setting Sun Forest, and they hadn’t even taken that many steps before soul beasts appeared within Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection. These soul beasts were pitifully weak, Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er didn’t even have to release their auras, and the soul beasts were already scampering away. There was no need to talk about these soul beasts attacking them.

“They’re all ten-year soul beasts. This place is terribly barren and infertile,” Wang Qiu’er frowned.

Huo Yuhao said, “You can’t compare this place to the Great Star Dou Forest. In the end, the Great Star Dou Forest is one of the most prominent places in the entire Continent, and the Core Region’s Slaughtering Grounds is comparable to the core regions of the Extreme North. Those spots, along with three other extremely dangerous places, are known collectively as the Five Great Forbidden Regions.”

Wang Qiu’er grunted and said, “There should only be three. The other two only appeared because of our collision with the Sun Moon Continent. Don’t you want to speed up?”

“Alright. Let’s pick up the pace.” They didn’t feel any threatening presences within the Setting Sun Forest, and Huo Yuhao naturally didn’t want to waste any more time. The two of them quickened their pace and ventured deeper into the Setting Sun Forest.

The vegetation here wasn’t as dense as the Great Star Dou Forest, so their movements were unimpeded. Furthermore, Huo Yuhao was anxious and worried, so he was moving forward at sixty percent of his maximum speed, while Wang Qiu’er followed closely beside him. The two of them had a tacit understanding, and they didn’t hold each other’s hands anymore. They were both exceptional individuals among everyone else at the same level, even before they had their martial soul fusion skill.





Chapter 255.2: The Setting Sun Forest


Soul masters would only truly enter the realm of high-level soul masters when they got their seventh soul ring. For people like Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er, who were both prodigious soul masters with Ultimate martial souls, their respective strengths were comparable to that of a seven-ringed soul master.

They were deep within the Setting Sun Forest after racing forward for about two hours, and the vegetation became increasingly dense the further they went. However, what made Huo Yuhao surprised was that they had already gone deep into the Setting Sun Forest, yet he still hadn’t detected any powerful soul beasts with Spiritual Detection. They rarely came across any thousand-year soul beasts, let alone ten-thousand year soul beasts.

The occasional thousand-year soul beast that dared to come near with malicious intentions were chased away in fright when Wang Qiu’er released a little bit of her aura. They hadn’t had a single fight after traveling for two hours, an experience thatcould even be described as unimaginable.

“Let’s take a break.” Huo Yuhao had regained his composure after fusing with the soul bone before this. Wang Dong’er still had more than two years before her injury would take her life, and this matter wasn’t that urgent. Huo Yuhao had also seen how incredibly powerful Niu Tian and Titan were with his own eyes, and if a powerful individual like Niu Tian said that this place was filled with dangers, then it couldn’t be false.

Even though they hadn’t encountered any trouble with soul beasts on their journey thus far, Huo Yuhao still decided to take a break after travelling for a certain duration of time so that they could recover to their optimal states before they pushed forward. He had been inside many places inhabited by soul beasts, and his experience told him that maintaining his best condition was the number-one law of survival. His abilities were relatively formidable, but they still paled in comparison to a world filled with soul beasts.

They found a place that was higher than the areas around it so that they could conveniently survey their surroundings, and make it harder for them to get ambushed. They rested while munching on their rations at the same time.

“How far are we?” Wang Qiu’er asked.

Huo Yuhao answered, “Not far. The sky is still bright, so it’s easy to tell the direction. We will probably be nearing our destination within two hours.”

Wang Qiu’er nodded and said, “Yuhao, I don’t know why, but I feel as if something is not right.”

“Eh?” Huo Yuhao was astonished, and he had always been impressed by Wang Qiu’er’s senses. She had the Golden Dragon’s Perception, which was probably more sensitive and at a higher level than his Spiritual Detection. After all, Spiritual Detection could only detect tangible things and real things, while Wang Qiu’er’s Golden Dragon Perception had some clairvoyant abilities.

“What’s wrong? When did it begin?” He hurriedly pursued the issue.

Wang Qiu’er answered, “I can’t quite put a finger on it. There’s this unsettling feeling in my heart, and it’s there even though it’s not serious. It began a few moments ago…it seems like the Setting Sun Forest does have some abnormal entities.”

Huo Yuhao frowned and said, “Can you tell where this unsettling feeling is coming from?”

Wang Qiu’er glanced at him and said, “It’s coming from the direction we are moving towards. This is the reason why I asked how far we are from our destination. I’m getting this ominous feeling even when we’re still two hours away, and that means this unsettling feeling will become an alarming and perilous feeling if we continue forward. I suggest we turn back.” Wang Qiu’er’s attitude was extremely solemn when she uttered these words.

Huo Yuhao went silent and began to contemplate. This was the first time since he had met her that this girl had shown such subtle fear. Yes, she’s right. We still have two more hours to go, and her Golden Dragon Perception is already sensing danger. How perilous will the dangers we face on this expedition be?

Wang Qiu’er didn’t push him, and returned to silently eating her rations.

Huo Yuhao gobbled his rations in a few mouthfuls, and he drank some water before he started to rest. He didn’t meditate, as resting like this could also help him recover his expended soul power, and he could also prepare himself.

Wang Qiu’er’s eyebrows knitted slightly. She couldn’t tell what decision Huo Yuhao had made from his expression, but she was sure that he was considering her words. This fellow had always been quite composed.

Fifteen minutes went by.

Huo Yuhao opened his eyes once more, and Wang Qiu’er opened her eyes at the same time, as if she had felt something, and looked in his direction.

“Go back.” Huo Yuhao muttered calmly.

“Alright,” Wang Qiu’er stood up, and a rare smile appeared on her face. “Composure is a virtue.” She turned around towards where they had come as she spoke.

She took but a few steps before she unwittingly stopped in her tracks and turned back. Huo Yuhao was not there anymore, but he wasn’t behind her. He was moving forward in the opposite direction, which meant he was going towards their initial destination.

“Hey! Did you not say that we’re going back?” Wang Qiu’er shouted. She sounded a little melancholic.

Huo Yuhao didn’t stop moving as he said, “You can go back by yourself. You didn’t have to accompany me on this dangerous adventure in the first place. Mind your own safety on the way back – goodbye.” He began to pick up the pace and sped deeper into the Setting Sun Forest as he spoke.

Wang Qiu’er was rooted to the spot. She could feel an unprecedented aura from Huo Yuhao’s body, and she felt as if his frame had become a lot bigger than before in that instant. She felt as if nothing could stop him on his path forward.

Who is he trying to save that’s making him so stubborn and persistent? Family, perhaps? But he doesn’t have any family, all he has left are his enemies. A strange look flickered across her eyes, as if she had just recalled something. Wang Qiu’er rubbed her fist and finally stomped on the ground as she launched herself in Huo Yuhao’s direction.

Wang Qiu’er was a lot faster than Huo Yuhao in terms of short distance explosiveness, and she caught up with him in no time.

“Thank you,” Huo Yuhao said without even turning back.

“What are you thanking me for?” Wang Qiu’er’s tone didn’t sound very pleasant.

Huo Yuhao said solemnly, “That you can chase me down means you are now my friend in my heart.”

Wang Qiu’er sounded a little depressed as she said, “So you haven’t been treating me like a friend this whole time?”

Huo Yuhao said, “No. I’m talking about a good friend that is deserving of my trust. We haven’t known each other for that long, after all.”

“Hmph! What makes you think I’m not trying to drag you back?” There was a tinge of threat in Wang Qiu’er’s voice.

Huo Yuhao chortled and said, “You’d be doing it for my own good even if you attempted to drag me back. Of course, I would resist.”

Wang Qiu’er grew quiet, but she had already arrived beside Huo Yuhao, and was looking sideways in his direction.

Huo Yuhao turned around and gave her a doubtful look. He met her radiant and piercing gaze, and he immediately felt a little embarrassed. “You staring at me at such a close distance gives me a lot of pressure.”

Wang Qiu’er lowered her voice and said, “It’s really very dangerous! Is it truly worth it?”

Huo Yuhao tilted his head slightly, and his eyes turned diagonally upwards to the sky. He spoke with a calm voice, almost as if this was a matter of fact. “I’ve thought about losing her and what would become of me. I realized that my entire world would turn gray, and I would no longer have any vitality. Perhaps, I might even lose the will to live. That’s when I realized, to my surprise, that her life had become more important than my own.”

Wang Qiu’er’s eyes grew slack. Her big blue eyes flowed with incredulity.

“How… how is that possible? How can someone else’s life be more important than your own? Is there something wrong with your brain?”

Huo Yuhao gave her a doubtful look and said, “Why are you agitated? We will always have someone whose life is more important than our own. If my mother was still alive, her life would be more important than mine in much the same manner.”

Wang Qiu’er’s powerful body started to quiver faintly. She lowered her head and muttered under her breath, “A… a sentiment like this actually exists, where other people’s lives are more important than your own? But only the strongest will survive, and we should do anything we can do continue living, whatever the means. We only live once, and we won’t get this life back once it’s gone.”

Huo Yuhao answered plainly, “You’re right, we only live once. What you’re talking about is the law of the jungle, but not the law of humanity. Humans have flesh, blood, and emotions. We are not soul beasts, and neither are we animals. We are humans. If everyone attempts to survive by doing anything he or she can whatever the means, and if everyone views his or her own benefits and interests as more important than anything else, how different would we be from wild beasts? The main thing that distinguishes us from beasts is our emotions and our sentiments, and the fact that we know how to love.”

Wang Qiu’er’s eyes were completely blank. Her eyes weren’t just blank, it felt as if she was in a daze, and her emotions began to destabilize.

Huo Yuhao had no idea why she was how she was, but he thought about it for a while and understood how she felt. Perhaps she encountered one too many dangers during that year she was living inside the Great Star Dou Forest by herself, and those dangers gave her this desire to survive.

He tried his best to make his tone a little gentler as he said, “You don’t have to think so much. Everyone has their own ways to live. Perhaps the reason why you haven’t experienced what I’m talking about is because you haven’t truly loved someone before. Think about it: our parents gave birth to us and raised us since we were born. How much suffering, effort, sweat, and tears did they have to put in? Did they want anything from us? No. Parental love is unconditional and selfless. Even though I lived in poverty as a kid, and I’ve never had a father, my mother’s love for me was no less than what other parents had for their own children.”

Wang Qiu’er suddenly raised her head vigorously and said angrily, “Nonsense! My parents never took care of me. They abandoned me from the day I was born, and they left me to live in a foreign environment. Do you know how much pain and suffering I’ve been through to survive? Have you experienced the isolation, the helplessness, the panic that nobody is around to help you, that you can just die at any moment? I only love myself!” She was almost growling when she reached the last sentence.





Chapter 255.3: The Setting Sun Forest


Huo Yuhao was astonished by the intensity of her reaction, but he could also relate to that dejection in her heart. The resentment was faint, and only surfaced from time to time, but it was acute and extreme.

This… What experiences has she been through? So much resentment has accumulated in the deepest recesses of her heart, to the point where it’s almost impossible to believe.

Strangely, they both grew silent. Huo Yuhao didn’t know how to console Wang Qiu’er, and Wang Qiu’er didn’t seem like she could control her emotions, but she didn’t attempt to express them anymore. That faintly discernible resentment vanished along with their words.

They continued forward as Huo Yuhao tried his best to determine their location, and a soul tool meant for that purpose appeared in his hands. It was already a challenge to determine the four cardinal directions inside the dense forest, but Huo Yuhao relied on what the Ultimate Soldier Plan had taught him, and he was sure he was on the right track.

—

An hour passed before Huo Yuhao made a gesture and immediately stopped walking.

“Let’s take another break. How do you feel?” he turned and asked Wang Qiu’er.

Wang Qiu’er’s emotions had settled down by now, but her charming face was as cold as ever. She shot a cold glance at Huo Yuhao and said, “I am now absolutely certain that the place you’re heading towards is the source of the danger.”

“You already feel danger? But have you realized that there seem to be fewer and fewer soul beasts the further we go?” Huo Yuhao frowned as he informed her.

Wang Qiu’er grunted coldly and said, “That’s what is most terrifying. Soul beasts inhabit this area, yet they cannot live here, even though they’re extremely adaptable. That shows how dangerous this area is. I think it won’t take long before we will encounter these dangers first-hand.”

Huo Yuhao stared at her with a calm look and said, “It’s not too late to change your mind.”

Wang Qiu’er said, “Stop spouting nonsense. Let me ask you, Huo Yuhao… Is Wang Dong’er the person that you are willing to throw your life away to save?”

“Eh?” Huo Yuhao glanced at her, astonished.

Wang Qiu’er continued, “I have been thinking about it, and I figured that only she is worth it.”

Huo Yuhao replied, “You’re wrong. My companions are also worth risking my life for.”

Wang Qiu’er pressed on, “And this time? Is it her?”

Huo Yuhao nodded his head lightly.

Wang Qiu’er’s eyes froze momentarily, and she grew silent for a few seconds. “I knew it.”

Huo Yuhao said, “Let’s rest a little more. Did you not say that danger is about to come?” He didn’t continue Wang Qiu’er’s topic because he realized that her eyes had become a little peculiar, to the point where her aura had changed.

“Alright.” Wang Qiu’er didn’t say anything else as she casually found a place to sit down. They sat opposite each other quietly while they rested.

This break was relatively shorter, as they hadn’t travelled for too long before this. Huo Yuhao stood up again after fifteen minutes and gazed forward into the distance.

It was afternoon at this point, and there was still some time before evening. However, the temperature was starting to decline, and there was a crisp and cool feeling within the forest.

There were far too few soul beasts within the Setting Sun Forest at this moment. At least, Huo Yuhao drew this conclusion from his observations as they proceeded in that direction.

This sentiment hadn’t been that intense when he had entered the Great Star Dou Forest. There were many soul beasts within the Great Star Dou Forest, and innumerable mighty entities among them. However, the Setting Sun Forest’s landscape seemed to reflect the seriousness of the damage that soul masters had inflicted on the world of soul beasts. Perhaps it wouldn’t be long before the Setting Sun Forest became just a normal forest.

However, human soul masters needed to hunt and kill soul beasts to obtain soul rings if they wanted to increase their cultivation.

This necessity would always lead to conflict and disharmony, unless all the soul beasts in the world went extinct one day. If that day did come, there would no longer be any soul masters, either.

It was apparent that they would have to emphasize their research into spirits. However, even if their research was successful, the most they could do was reduce the need for soul beasts. The truth was that spirits still required soul beasts as a foundation.

These thoughts flashed by one after another in Huo Yuhao’s mind. He was a gifted student from Shrek Academy, and he was clear on the fact that this conflict would erupt in the near future. It could take ten years, a hundred years, or a thousand years, but the human world would be adversely affected if soul beasts went extinct. After another millennium, the soul master profession would become ancient history, and would no longer exist.

Forget it. I’m not going to think about all that for now. No matter what happens in the future, obtaining that herb for Dong’er is the most important task at hand.

They raised their guard as they continued forward, as peril could descend upon them at any time. Wang Qiu’er retrieved her Golden Dragon Spear, and Huo Yuhao stretched his Spiritual Detection to its limits, focusing in one direction from time to time.

They moved forward for another fifteen minutes. Even Huo Yuhao felt a little unsettled at this point, and he had an ominous feeling that something was here that made him feel a little stifled and pressured.

Wang Qiu’er murmured, “Wait.”

Huo Yuhao immediately halted in his tracks and turned towards her. “I also think something is amiss. How are you feeling, Qiu’er?”

Wang Qiu’er surveyed her surroundings as she lowered her voice and said, “Have you realized that the light around us is a lot weaker than before?”

“Eh?” Huo Yuhao had been using Spiritual Detection this whole time, but his Spiritual Detection was mainly focused on soul beasts that could appear, and other sources of danger that could attack them in some way. Wang Qiu’er’s reminder made him realize that this place was a lot dimmer than before.

“Can it be because the sky is getting dark?” He rarely came to the northern regions, so he didn’t know much about the weather in these parts.

Wang Qiu’er shook her head and said, “It’s still afternoon. Even if we go further north, there can’t be so little light. Furthermore, there are no clouds blocking the sun, and you can see the trees’ shadows on the ground. Furthermore, we are comparing the sunlight now to how it was fifteen minutes ago. How can the sky turn dark within such a short period of time? There is only one possibility that can cause the light to dim and weaken…the air.”

“Air?” Huo Yuhao asked doubtfully.

Wang Qiu’er said, “Don’t you have Spiritual Detection? Concentrate it on a relatively small area and focus on what’s inside, observe and see how the air is changing in that space, and then jump up into the sky and perceive how different the air is up there from how it is down here. You should be able to discover something.”

“Alright…” Huo Yuhao answered slowly.

Huo Yuhao immediately focused his attention and used Spiritual Detection on the air in front of him. He discovered something different the moment he concentrated.

Even his Spirit Eyes found it difficult to distinguish the fine dust that was drifting around through the air. These dust particles were pale white. They weren’t thick and dense, but they were floating stably. They were inside a tremendous forest, and the air inside the forest should be a lot better than the outside world. These dust particles clearly wouldn’t be here under normal circumstances.

Huo Yuhao jumped into the air and activated his flying-type soul tool. His body was propelled upwards as he surged into the sky.

He pierced ten meters above the canopy, and his vision instantly lit up, as if he had just broken through some barrier, everything around him very bright and clear.

Huo Yuhao was still using Spiritual Detection, and he immediately discovered that the fine particles disappeared completely once he was out of the forest.

He looked down toward the Setting Sun Forest beneath him, but his naked eye couldn’t distinguish anything.

A thought flashed by in Huo Yuhao’s head. He continued channeling his flying-type soul tool so that he could fly even higher up.

Huo Yuhao looked down once more when he went even higher, and he could finally see what was going on.

The Setting Sun Forest looked extremely calm, but there seemed to be a faint and thin fog floating around inside the forest. What made him even more astounded was the fact that this fog gradually dissipated and vanished where they came from, but it was a lot denser in the place they were heading towards. It felt as if a patch of cloud had descended on the forest, and even the vegetation was blurry and obscured. These clouds weren’t just white, as he could even see multi-colored hues in the distance.

What… what is this?

Huo Yuhao didn’t have too much time to think. He immediately returned to the forest and relayed his discoveries to Wang Qiu’er.

Wang Qiu’er’s eyes grew a little slack as she stared at his eyes, but she immediately recovered as she blurted out, “It’s a miasma, this should be a miasma!”

Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned. “Miasma?” He only had a fuzzy understanding of the term.

Wang Qiu’er lowered her voice and said, “A miasma is a kind of venomous gas that gradually arises from decaying and decomposing vegetation and animals that are not taken care of, and if there isn’t any wind or rain to blow it away. I’ve seen this before inside the Great Star Dou Forest, but I’ve never seen it like the way you describe it. It covers such an enormous surface area, and it even contains specks of various colors.

“Different miasmas have different toxic effects. A lighter miasma will cause dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea, while a heavier miasma can be fatal. It seems like the danger that I sensed before this is related to this miasma. The only thing is, where is this immense miasma coming from? Toxic miasma is not to be trifled with, and it’s not something that we can resist with just our soul power. What do we do?”

Huo Yuhao contemplated momentarily, then said, “It seems like it’s not just because of soul masters hunting that there are so few soul beasts inside the Setting Sun Forest. This phenomena must also be closely connected to this miasma. Qiu’er, you should turn back. It’s too dangerous here, and there’s no need for you to accompany me to face this peril.”

Wang Qiu’er’s eyes widened as she said, “We have encountered a situation that normal human ability cannot fend off, and you still haven’t changed your mind? Will you still go inside if you know that you will never come out alive?”

Huo Yuhao answered, “I have a solution for this. Even though this solution isn’t perfect, it will increase our chances of venturing deeper within. However, it’s quite dangerous. I must go inside for Dong’er, and I will never have the courage to go inside again if I back down today. Go back, Qiu’er. Let me prepare.”

There was miasma in the air around them, but it was still relatively weak and thin. Their physiques were quite formidable, and it wasn’t difficult for them to resist the miasma at this point. This was the reason why Huo Yuhao had no intention of turning back.

Huo Yuhao released his all-terrain self-driving fort onto the open ground beside him and got to work.





Chapter 256.1: Ice and Fire Destroy the Poisonous Miasma


Wang Qiu’er naturally stayed with him. She followed him beside his all-terrain self-driving fort and said, “Are you going to use this toy to barge through the miasma? That’s entirely impossible! The toxic fog inside is too dense, and you can’t even determine the right direction to go. Even if you can do so, you’ll still need to breathe when you go inside! There won’t be much for us to breathe in the depths of the miasma, so what are you going to do? When that happens, will you even be able to escape? Furthermore, I am confident that certain toxic miasmas are extremely corrosive, so metal will gradually become dysfunctional, and could even melt. You think this thing of yours can fend off all the miasma? Stop dreaming!”

Huo Yuhao made no reply as he continued working on his all-terrain self-driving fort. It was just as Wang Qiu’er had said, he was attempting to make the self-driving fort more airtight.

Huo Yuhao was very familiar with this soul tool. The Starlight Sapphire ring’s immense space meant he could bring along a lot of materials, so he took less than an hour to complete the adjustments to make the all-terrain self-driving fort more airtight.

Huo Yuhao went inside to try it out, using Spiritual Detection to scan every single detail and component. He made sure that the internal regions were completely airtight before he came out, and began to work on something else on the outside. From Wang Qiu’er’s perspective, Huo Yuhao was incessantly stripping things off the self-driving fort before he added something else in their place in a manner that seemed overly complicated.

Another two hours passed before he finished refining his all-terrain self-driving fort, and the sky was started to turn dark.

He began to retrieve soul tool after soul tool from his Starlight Sapphire storage ring, and laid them all out neatly on the ground.

He took out sixteen Milk Bottles, and some stationary soul cannon shells. These shells were marked with various patterns and markings, forty-six of them altogether. Huo Yuhao picked out nine shells that had red markings and put the other shells away before he took out another normal storage-type ring and put it on his right hand’s middle finger. He placed those nine shells inside this ring.

It was clear that he was sorting his inventory and his equipment. He checked his sixteen Milk Bottles and discovered that some of them weren’t stored to the brim with soul power, so he immediately began to infuse soul power into these half-full Milk Bottles eventually completely filling every single one. Every single Milk Bottle would be imperative to the subsequent operation, and every single Class 6 Milk Bottle could completely restore his soul power over a period of time.

Wang Qiu’er looked on as Huo Yuhao completed his tasks seriously, and her expression changed continuously.

There was only one thought in her mind. She was still throwing around the statement that Huo Yuhao had just said to her before this.

“I’ve thought about losing her and what would become of me, and I realized that my entire world would turn gray, and I would no longer have any vitality. Perhaps, I might even lose the will to live. That was when I realized to my surprise that her life has become more important than my own.”

She was so important in his heart, and he would risk his own life to break through this miasmic world for her. A person could actually give so much for another person. Why? How is that possible?

She silently watched Huo Yuhao finish everything he was doing as she immersed herself within these complicated emotions. The sky had already turned dark when he finished up with his Milk Bottles.

Huo Yuhao only made some time to rest at this moment. He raised his head and glanced at Wang Qiu’er before he heaved a faint sigh and said, “Why haven’t you left?”

Wang Qiu’er grunted coldly and replied, “Why should I leave? I want to see how a fool is going to kill himself.”

Huo Yuhao smiled when he heard “fool”, as the images of Wang Dong’er and himself on the Sea God’s Lake surfaced in his mind.

“I’m not a fool. I should be an idiot,” Huo Yuhao chuckled in reply.

Wang Qiu’er was taken aback. “Is there something wrong with your brain?”

Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, “She was the one that said that. She told me before that I’m an idiot, and I’m her idiot. No matter what, this idiot has to be idiotic one more time. The sky is getting dark, you should leave at first light tomorrow. If you wish, you can wait for me outside the Setting Sun Forest, and you can go back without me if I’m not out within three days. However, please don’t tell anyone about what happened to me. Just let them believe that I’ve disappeared.”

Wang Qiu’er’s emotions erupted once more, and she began to shout at Huo Yuhao. “Idiot! You truly are an idiot, and there’s nothing that can save you from your idiocy. Is it worth it? Is it really worth it?”

Huo Yuhao didn’t mince words as he replied decisively, “Yes, it’s worth it. I have to try, no matter how much danger and peril I have to put myself through, so that Dong’er may continue to live. At the very least, I have to figure out the true mysteries contained within this place, and I will not give up even if there is but one sliver of hope. How can I look on with open eyes as Dong’er passes into the void from her hidden wound? How can I look on as my entire world turns gray? I can’t let that happen.”

Wang Qiu’er bit down on her lower lip. “Idiot, idiot! Idiot!”

Huo Yuhao didn’t bother with her any longer, and he collected some relatively drier branches from around him and began to make a campfire.

Huo Yuhao had no qualms about starting a fire here, as there weren’t many soul beasts left in this area of the Setting Sun Forest. He was quietly observing how the faint miasma in the air reacted to his campfire at the same time.

Heated rations were still tastier than cold ones. Huo Yuhao didn’t dare to cook food from the things around him, as the plants and vegetation around him had been immersed in this miasma for an incredibly long time, and they probably contained all contained toxins to some degree. He made some thick soup from the rations and food that he had brought along with him and began to eat.

Wang Qiu’er’s emotions had exploded for a moment, but she swiftly returned to normal. She came over to his side and began to eat as well.

Night inside the Setting Sun Forest was a lot colder than inside the Great Star Dou Forest. There wasn’t much wind, but the environment’s eerie cold and humidity was still exceedingly uncomfortable.

Fortunately, they had this campfire. The two of them sat around the campfire and sipped on their warm soup, and this helped them dispel the chill.

Gulp… Huo Yuhao finished the soup in his bowl and stretched out comfortably. He got to his feet and surveyed the area with Spiritual Detection to make sure there were no dangers or threats around them before sitting back on the ground.

Wang Qiu’er sipped her soup in small mouthfuls. She was very serious in this endeavor, as if she was holding some precious treasure in her hands.

“Qiu’er, at which time of day is this miasma the thickest? When is it the thinnest?”

Wang Qiu’er answered coldly, “It’s thickest in the morning, and it’s thinnest at midday.”

Huo Yuhao’s eyes closed into a squint. “Since that’s the case, it’s probably because the morning is a lot more humid than the rest of the day. The accumulated moisture throughout the night probably makes it easier for this miasma to travel. Sunlight is strongest at midday, and the moisture within all this miasma will partially evaporate under direct sunlight. It will thin without the help of voluminous water vapor. Is that correct?”

Wang Qiu’er nodded.

“That’s good, then.” Huo Yuhao closed his eyes, and he seemed like he was starting to meditate beside the campfire.

“Hey! What are you going on and on about?” Wang Qiu’er sounded a little upset.

Huo Yuhao opened his eyes once more. He heaved a faint sigh and said, “I’m serious, Qiu’er. You should leave at first light tomorrow.”

Wang Qiu’er grunted coldly and said, “What makes you think you can tell me what to do? Do you think you are the only one that is allowed to do idiotic things?”

Huo Yuhao shook his head. “But there’s no need for that. It’s too dangerous, and I am not even ten percent confident in succeeding. I’ll have to rely on guesswork, trial, and error for many things.”

“Stop beating around the bush. Say it, what’s your plan, exactly? Since I have already followed you this far, do you think I can just look on while you venture into danger and peril all by yourself? Who do you think I am?” Wang Qiu’er’s voice was ice-cold. Even though her tone was cold, her words were warmer than even the campfire before him when they fell into his ears.

Helpings hands in one’s direst moment were usually the most precious things one could ever have.

“Thank you.” Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and said, “If you’re willing to help, then I think our chances of success will be raised to thirty percent. If this toxic miasma is the only threat in this place, then I have an eighty percent chance of escaping with my life at least. The only thing I’m worried about right now is if there are other dangers besides this toxic miasma.”

Wang Qiu’er was astounded when she heard his words. “Are you being blindly optimistic? Why do you think you have an eighty percent chance of escaping with your life?”

Huo Yuhao answered, “Perhaps I’m not as familiar with forests inhabited by soul beasts or with miasma as you are, but my judgment and decision-making skills are still quite reliable. The person that imparted this map to me is a senior, and I am positive that he harbors no malicious intent. This is the reason why he added a seal on the map when he gave it to me, so that I would only come here to find the Yearning Heartbroken Grass to save Dong’er’s life when I was strong enough. I opened this seal by chance, and before I have obtained the necessary strength.

However, the records suggest that not every area on the way to my destination is covered by this toxic miasma. Otherwise, I may not even have the confidence of retrieving what I’m looking for even if I were a Titled Douluo. This miasma greatly hinders my Spiritual Detection, so how else could I find what I need to find? I trust that this task that this senior has given to me isn’t that difficult to accomplish.”

Wang Qiu’er grunted and said, “These are but your conjectures.”

Huo Yuhao chortled and replied, “We have to hypothesize boldly, but we have to prove it conscientiously and carefully. Furthermore, I have other safeguards. You’ve already said that this miasma is strongest during the early morning, and it will weaken at midday. That means there is no doubt that we should move forward at midday. Furthermore, since the warmth from sunlight impedes the miasma, why don’t we create something hot so that we can weaken the miasma around us?”





Chapter 256.2: Ice and Fire Destroy the Poisonous Miasma


“I’ve been observing it using Spiritual Detection ever since I started the campfire, and I realized that the miasma has no way of resisting fire, and clearly vanishes around this campfire. It’s apparent that flames are fatal to this miasma. I don’t have any fire-type abilities, but some of the soul tools that I carry around can create some fire, and are proving extremely effective. I’ve already attached these soul tools to the all-terrain self-propelling fort, and I’ve made the fort even more airtight than before, along with some other changes that will be imperative to keeping us alive.

“Also, my second martial soul possesses Ultimate Ice. Perhaps ice won’t have the same effect on the miasma as fire does, but the miasma carries miniscule toxins that will be greatly weakened under exceedingly cold temperatures. Furthermore, my Ultimate Ice can affect the water vapor that makes up the fog. The miasma will also be weakened without water vapor to help it permeate.

“I’ve combined all this with the prepared safeguards to keep us alive. Even if we can’t venture too deep inside, we will have no problem breaking out, since all we have to do is prevent the miasma from corroding our flying-type soul tools. That being the case, we will have no problem escaping from here.”

The incredulity in Wang Qiu’er’s eyes grew stronger and stronger as she listened to Huo Yuhao’s analysis. She was truly astonished… she had just been daydreaming beside him during this short period of time, but he had already come up with so many solutions to deal with the problem. Everything he said made perfect sense. Rational judgment told her that not everywhere within this miasma was dangerous, and they also had ice and fire to handle the problem. The danger from Wang Qiu’er’s point of view seemed to diminish.

Huo Yuhao chortled as he stared at the astonished look on her face. “Do you suddenly feel that I am smart and powerful?”

Wang Qiu’er snapped, “Enough nonsense. Hurry up and rest. We’ll get moving tomorrow.”

They began to meditate beside the campfire. The miasma was undeniably dangerous, but it also formed a protective dome around them. There were so few soul beasts in the area that they weren’t threatened at all.

The night passed without any other words.

—

Huo Yuhao activated his flying-type soul tool at first light and soared into the sky to monitor the surrounding miasma.

Wang Qiu’er’s words were accurate. The miasma in the morning was conspicuously denser, and he could see faint white fog around their location. However, the miasma around these parts was not that toxic, and dissipated or disintegrated when it came near the campfire.

Huo Yuhao adjusted his altitude from time to time so that he could better monitor the situation, and he recorded everything that he saw. He didn’t dare to be careless about anything that concerned his and Wang Qiu’er’s safety, especially anything that would have an impact on whether he could retrieve the Yearning Heartbroken Grass or not.

The sun rose fully as he continued to observe and calculate. Huo Yuhao continuously communicated his observations to Wang Qiu’er, and they patiently waited for midday to arrive.

Finally, it was almost time. Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er ate some more, had their fill of water, and set off in their peak condition.

Huo Yuhao’s eyes were as cold as ice as he stared at the thinning miasma in the air.

The weather was good today; the sun was radiant as it loomed over the earth, and there wasn’t a single cloud to be seen. Truthfully, it wasn’t what Huo Yuhao had wanted most. What he wanted most was heavy rain and a thunderstorm!

The miasma would be weakened to a larger extent if a heavy downpour came down upon the Setting Sun Forest. Unfortunately, this was still the dry season, and storms were few and far between in the northern regions to begin with. The scorching sun completely dashed his hopes.

“We’ll be setting off soon, Qiu’er.” Huo Yuhao turned towards Wang Qiu’er.

“Let’s go.” Wang Qiu’er’s expression was equally cold and stoic, but there was a tinge of excitement beneath her eyes. This was the first time she had encountered a situation like this, where Huo Yuhao’s intricate and comprehensive plan resolved the various dangers and threats. She was filled with curiosity and excitement against a natural phenomenon such as this, and the mystery of the unknown and uncertain dangers was extremely stimulating to her.

Huo Yuhao extended the flying-type soul tool behind his back, and reached out for Wang Qiu’er with his left hand.

Their lives were at stake, and it was necessary to conserve as much soul power as they could with every step they took so that they could maintain themselves at their peak conditions. Their martial soul fusion would have a substantial part to play in this endeavor, and Huo Yuhao couldn’t be bothered with anything lesser at a time like this.

Wang Qiu’er glanced at him and hmphed, but eventually slipped her left hand into his palm.

Their hands clasped together, and their soul power naturally interacted, flourishing soul power undulations rippling out. Huo Yuhao looked up at the sky as he grabbed Wang Qiu’er’s hand, and channeled soul power into her before they both soared into the sky.

They surged out of the Setting Sun Forest and continued to climb higher and higher. Their Class 6 flying-type soul tools propelled them up, and they quickly reached several hundred meters in the sky. However, Huo Yuhao showed no signs of stopping as he continued flying upward with Wang Qiu’er.

The miasma beneath them covered a tremendous area, which Huo Yuhao had roughly gauged beforehand. The strongest part of the miasma permeated to about three hundred meters above-ground, and these were the parts that had hints of color. The miasma here looked exceptionally beautiful, but was also exceedingly dangerous.

They climbed to about seven hundred meters before Huo Yuhao stabilized his altitude. They were currently high enough to avoid the miasma’s toxicity, and he took another glance at it before he pulled Wang Qiu’er along and flew towards the place where the miasma was the thickest.

Never once did he consider using the all terrain self-propelling fort to move forward on the ground toward their destination. The miasma on the ground would become increasingly thick, which meant that it would also become more corrosive. This would take a continuous toll on the fort’s protective barrier and his soul power, whereas using their flying-type soul tools expended a lot less.

More importantly, his Spiritual Detection would be greatly impeded as they went deeper into the thick miasma. This meant that it would be impossible for him to determine direction and proceed toward his destination as fast as he could.

It was different in the sky. Discerning direction in the air was convenient, and he was almost sure that the place where the miasma was the densest was likely where he had to go. The place where exotic things existed were undoubtedly unique, and this toxic miasma could be considered one of this place’s unique features.

Even if using flying-type soul tools consumed more soul power than moving along the ground with his all-terrain self-propelling fort, Huo Yuhao would still choose the sky because it was a lot faster, and they could reach the skies above their destination in no time. Huo Yuhao’s subsequent plan could be executed as fast as possible, and this meant he would be conserving soul power.

The area they were coming from was in the toxic miasma’s outer regions. They were flying as fast as they could through the sky, and it took but a few minutes before they reached the sky above the area where the miasma was most dense.

Huo Yuhao held onto Wang Qiu’er with his right hand as he raised his left hand into the air. A beam of light sparkled from his ring, and a stationary soul cannon about one and a half meters long appeared in his hands. He held the cannon stably on his shoulder, and let go of Wang Qiu’er’s hand for a moment. He swung his wrist, and the storage ring on his left hand immediately produced two stationary soul cannon shells in his hands – these were the cannon shells with red markings that he had picked out the previous day.

Huo Yuhao placed one shell into the barrel and held onto the other one as he activated Spiritual Detection. He was looking down from the sky, and the area he could cover was naturally greater than usual, while there was nothing obstructing his vision.

Wang Qiu’er controlled her flying-type soul tool and flew behind him while she tilted herself backward, so that she wouldn’t affect his flying-type soul tool’s stability as she grabbed his shoulders with both hands at the same time. Their martial souls began to fuse, greatly boosting Huo Yuhao’s soul power.

Huo Yuhao didn’t pause at all, swinging his right hand and tossing the cannon shell in it down. It fell away rapidly, while he quickly supported the stationary soul cannon with his right hand and locked onto the shell with his Spiritual Detection. Just as te cannon shell was about to pierce through the thick miasma, Huo Yuhao fired his soul cannon.

Boom! The tremendous recoil pushed Huo Yuhao several meters through the air as a brilliant red beam erupted from his soul cannon. The cannon shell barreled forward at devastating speed, and went straight for the other cannon shell that Huo Yuhao had tossed out earlier.

The shell fired by the stationary soul cannon naturally flew a lot faster than the one that was in freefall through the air. Huo Yuhao had used Spiritual Detection to lock onto his target, and his accuracy was comparable to ruler measurements. A red streak of light unerringly struck the cannon shell that had just plunged into the thick miasma.

Boom, boom, boom! A series of explosions could be heard, and the thick miasma was immediately tainted fiery-red. The entire miasmic cloud began to tremble violently and tumultuously as sparks flew in all directions.

The stationary cannon shell that Huo Yuhao had used was a Class 5 explosive incendiary bomb. It wasn’t as powerful as the Giant Lightning Cannon that he had used before, but it had an extremely large area of effect. The explosion would also generate a terrifying amount of intense heat, whose waves would permeate in all directions. A single Class 5 explosive incendiary bomb could cover a radius of at least a hundred meters, and was exceptionally violent!

Huo Yuhao opted to use two shells, and made it so that these two shells would collide and detonate in the air for an even more explosive impact, which would cause even more damage to the miasmic cloud. On the other hand, detonating the cannon shell on the ground might damage the herb that he was supposed to retrieve. He wanted to obliterate the miasma, not this magical herb!

His calculations could be said to be impeccable and precise, and he executed his plan as perfectly as could be.





Chapter 256.3: Ice and Fire Destroy the Poisonous Miasma


Huo Yuhao didn’t conserve his stationary soul cannon shells, and fired another two more, one after another without hesitation. More frightening explosions rippled through the air.

The first explosion had already cleared away a large amount of the toxic clouds, and the second explosion detonated at a position slightly below the first one. Their vision immediately became clearer when the second explosion went off.

“Let’s go.” Huo Yuhao swiftly stored his stationary soul cannon before reaching back with his right hand and grabbing Wang Qiu’er’s arm, and they plunged towards the ground.

The stationary soul cannon had opened a path, but it couldn’t be maintained for too long. Once the high temperature dissipated, the thick miasma in the surroundings would immediately start to condense once more. Four Class 5 stationary soul cannon shells had opened this path, and Huo Yuhao couldn’t waste such a great opportunity.

Their bodies plummeted rapidly, and they quickly dove toward the thick miasma. Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er could clearly see that the surrounding miasma was starting to close up at an alarming speed. The miasma was just too thick and dense, to the point where it seemed to materialize in the sky as it collapsed in on the hole.

The vegetation beneath them was conspicuously different from the plants in the Setting Sun Forest’s outer regions. Many of these plants were dotted with colors, but this spectacle didn’t represent anything good at all. Colorful plants often meant acute venom; this was common knowledge they had learned at Shrek Academy.

Huo Yuhao was extremely calm at this moment. He pushed his Spiritual Detection to its largest possible range and meticulously monitored everything that was happening around him. It was clear that there was no way out once he and Wang Qiu’er submerged themselves in the toxic cloud, and they could only move forward. They only had this one chance. If they backed out, they would no longer have the ability to delve into this mysterious miasmic world a second time.

They barreled through several hundred meters in the blink of an eye. They were just about to hit the ground when Wang Qiu’er went ahead and punched downward. Golden light erupted amidst a deep dragon roar as fearsome strength compressed the air around them until it began to crackle shrilly. Wang Qiu’er created a deep crater in the ground as explosions continued to ring out, and the colorful plants on the ground, and the liquids within them, were sent flying in all directions.

They landed stably on the ground, and Huo Yuhao activated his Class 6 protective soul barrier immediately, enveloping them both, and swiftly began to survey his surroundings.

The world around them was so colorful that everything felt like rainbows. The multicolored plants on the ground covered every single piece of ground, and not a single inch of soil could be seen. There were hardly any trees or woods in this area, which was probably because of the corrosive power of the plants’ toxins.

Wang Qiu’er was a little surprised as she observed, “Strange…the miasma on the ground isn’t as dense as it is in the sky…”

This was true. They were in the miasma’s core regions, and the miasmic clouds here were tinged with the colors of the rainbow. However, it was only present as a faint mist here, and even though it hindered their vision to a certain extent, it wasn’t enough to block their line of sight completely. The miasma was undoubtedly a lot thinner than the thick and toxic clouds in the sky above them.

Huo Yuhao explained, “Clouds and mist always permeate and drift away upward. I already noticed this, as even though the miasma is dense in these parts, it’s obvious that it’s drifting upward, so the miasma on the ground probably isn’t as toxic as it is above us. However, these multicolored miasmic clouds are still extremely dangerous. I can already feel the miasma corroding my protective barrier, even though it’s energy-based.”

Huo Yuhao had already determined the right direction when they were in the sky. He pulled Wang Qiu’er and immediately proceeded towards their destination.

They were very careful as they pushed forward. Cold energy condensed beneath Huo Yuhao’s feet, and a layer of frost appeared on the ground with every step that he took so that he could block off the plants they were walking on.

The soul protective barrier could clear away the plants in front of them, but it couldn’t do anything against the plants beneath their feet, so Huo Yuhao had to resort to this clumsy method. There was no doubt that this consumed soul power, but it was safer than otherwise. He was not about to let himself come into contact with any of these venomous plants or the multicolored miasma, as he had no idea how toxic these things could be. It would be almost impossible to retreat if something happened to him right here, or if a hole opened in his protective barrier.

They began to see some things that made their skin crawl as they pushed forward. Enormous bones and skeletons would appear on the ground from time to time, and those bones were also as multicolored the miasma around them. Clearly, these weren’t plants, but the remains of soul beasts that had perished from the poison.

Crack! A sound could be heard from not too far away, which startled them both. They concentrated their soul power at almost the same time as they gazed in the direction the sound came from.

A large skeleton began to lean sideways. The bones beneath it had clearly become fragile and brittle from the corrosion, and the skeleton crashed to the ground with a loud boom in the next moment, exploding into a million broken pieces. The brilliant colors above them became even denser than before.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er both drew cold breaths as they looked on. They could see that the venom was so toxic that it could corrode bones, to the point where these bones became fragile, and eventually disintegrated. It was not hard to imagine the number of soul beasts that were buried underneath these multicolored plants.

A soul beast’s skeleton was the toughest part of its body, and some were even used by humans as special materials. One of the items that best represented this was undoubtedly the Golden Dragon Spear in Wang Qiu’er’s hands. It felt as if everything in this miasmic world was being corroded. This toxic cloud was just too overwhelmingly poisonous!

Wang Qiu’er muttered, “These remains have become nutrients for the toxic miasma. The miasma continuously murders other living beings, and even the birds flying through the skies above have become victims. This cycle has made the miasma stronger and stronger. Perhaps, after millennia, the entire Setting Sun Forest will become a toxic and miasmic forest. That’s just… too horrifying.”

Huo Yuhao’s eyebrows were tightly knit together as he began to pick up the pace. He had realized that the colors outside his soul protective barrier were becoming denser as the multicolored miasma began to stick to his barrier. He could withdraw his protective barrier to shake off the toxic miasma, but that would mean he and Wang Qiu’er would be exposed to it.

The toxic miasma was exceedingly corrosive, and Huo Yuhao could clearly feel that his soul power was being consumed at an alarming speed. This was definitely not something that he wanted to see, so he had no choice but to push forward more quickly than before. When they reached a point where both he and Wang Qiu’er couldn’t take it anymore, he would use an explosive incendiary bomb to open a path like before, and they would then use their flying-type soul tools to escape from this toxic world. It was the only way to stay alive.

The world around them was full of brilliant colors as they continued forward. The map wasn’t useful anymore at this point. Huo Yuhao could still use the map to roughly determine their location before they came in, but he could only rely on luck and continual Spiritual Detection to find his destination once they were inside.

Huo Yuhao would activate Spiritual Detection to sweep in a single direction every few minutes. This method was a little clumsy, but it was still effective. In addition to his exemplary memory, it made sure they were not walking around in circles.

An hour quickly passed. Huo Yuhao had already expended his first Milk Bottle. However, Wang Qiu’er was the one that actually used the Milk Bottle, as he had to focus his energy on his Spiritual Detection. Their soul power was connected, so replenishing Wang Qiu’er’s soul power meant Huo Yuhao was also replenishing his own.

Huo Yuhao began to narrow down his destination after the hour of exploration. However, the miasmic clouds outside were starting to put more and more pressure on him, to the point where the multicolored miasma completely blocked off his vision outside the protective barrier. He also had to strengthen his protective barrier continuously to maintain its integrity.

“Wait,” Huo Yuhao whispered as he immediately pulled on Wang Qiu’er. She was already in his embrace before she could even react.

Wang Qiu’er was still carefully perceiving everything around her, and this sudden change startled her. A dense masculine aura smacked her in the face, and she even felt a little dizzy, as if she had been struck by the toxic miasma outside.

An incredibly cold aura emanated from Huo Yuhao’s body in the next moment, and this aura crossed over Wang Qiu’er’s body and permeated outside.

“I’ve done it!” Huo Yuhao’s delighted voice could be heard, and Wang Qiu’er was shocked awake as Huo Yuhao released her from his embrace at the same time.

Wang Qiu’er turned to look, and saw that the multicolored radiance had been replaced by icy-blue colors in a five-meter radius around them. Voluminous rainbow-colored particles had been blown into the air, and the dense miasmic particles that were originally plastered on the soul protective barrier vanished at the same time.

This is…

The Domain of Perpetual Ice. Huo Yuhao had used his Domain of Perpetual Ice to freeze the water vapor within the toxic miasma, and he controlled these frozen particles to push outward so that his barrier was a little cleaner.

This method was a little dubious, and it felt as if he was drinking poison to quench his thirst. In the end, the Domain of Perpetual Ice consumed a lot of soul power, and Huo Yuhao wouldn’t have decided on this method if not for the fact that his protective barrier was reaching the end of its life.

Huo Yuhao withdrew his barrier at this moment and released it against immediately afterwards. His soul power consumption was instantly restored to the optimal level. Huo Yuhao also took this opportunity to take a breather.

Wang Qiu’er forcibly suppressed her palpitating heartbeat as she suggested calmly, “Why don’t you use your third eye to probe around? We may consume a lot more soul power if we continue going around in circles.”

She didn’t need Huo Yuhao’s explanation to understand that the embrace happened because he didn’t want her to get hurt because of his soul skill. Bringing their bodies into close contact meant that Huo Yuhao could use their martial soul fusion to unleash his soul skill beyond her body, and it was clearly the best choice at the moment. But… but this guy still hugged me in the end!





Chapter 257.1: Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes


The truth was that Huo Yuhao also had butterflies in his stomach. Wang Qiu’er’s body was a lot softer and more tender than he had imagined. Of course, that tenderness only lasted for a second before it became rock-hard. He was afraid that Wang Qiu’er would suddenly erupt, but her calm words made him extremely relieved. What an intelligent girl! Huo Yuhao was full of awe and admiration inside.

Huo Yuhao nodded and closed his eyes, and golden light flickered on his forehead as he slowly opened his Eye of Destiny. He stopped moving forward and remained where he was. The extreme chill brought about by his Domain of Perpetual Ice could be maintained for quite a while, and that slowed down the toxic miasma’s assault.

His initial judgment was correct, ice and fire were exceedingly damaging and controlling towards the miasmic clouds. It was a pity that he was far from strong enough. If he had been a Titled Douluo, he could possibly channel his Domain of Perpetual Ice with all his might to create an enormous blizzard and actually obliterate some of this miasma. If he kept sweeping across this area for a prolonged period of time, he wouldn’t need very long to clean out all the miasma in this area. If he could find the origin of all this, this large naturally-occurring disastrous land would no longer consume life.

Faint light continued to flicker as Huo Yuhao’s face flowed with a subtle chill. The Eye of Destiny on his forehead glowed with golden light, and his martial soul fusion with Wang Qiu’er boosted his Eye of Destiny’s power exponentially.

His martial soul fusion with Wang Dong’er also gave him an all-around boost, but Wang Qiu’er gave him an explosive amplification, and this was mainly presented in his strength and his spiritual power. This boost was extremely pure, just like their martial soul fusion.

Huo Yuhao’s martial soul fusion with Wang Dong’er could be considered a general boost, while his martial soul fusion with Wang Qiu’er could be considered a specific boost. The amplification direction was different, so each had their own effects. At this moment, Wang Qiu’er’s explosive effects were more effective for this attempt at stretching the limits of his Spiritual Detection.

Huo Yuhao channeled his Eye of Destiny with all his might, and a powerful golden beam of light fired out from his vertical eye. This golden beam was deep and profound, and even Wang Qiu’er didn’t dare to stare directly at his brilliant golden eye.

Scenes flashed by in Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection, and his head also began to swivel as he searched his surroundings. Even Huo Yuhao himself was astonished by the distance he could reach with Spiritual Detection. He realized, to his surprise, that he could reach far past his normal limit of five kilometers. His soul power was consumed at an alarming rate, but the vast distance that he could reach undoubtedly saved him a lot of time.

This amplification is so powerful, it feels even stronger than it was inside the Great Star Dou Forest. This thought crossed Huo Yuhao’s mind, and his eyes grew slack in the next moment. The golden light disappeared, and his vertical eye closed up before it vanished with another flicker of golden light.

“How is it?” Wang Qiu’er asked softly, and she seemed a little fatigued as well. In the end, Huo Yuhao wasn’t the only one expending spiritual power.

Huo Yuhao’s eyes sparkled as he replied, “I think I have found the direction leading to our target! The miasma over there is different. I think it’s more toxic, and I can see that the miasmic clouds beyond that patch are conspicuously lower than before. It’s likely to be the valley that we’re looking for. Let’s go, quickly!”

He grasped Wang Qiu’er’s hand as he spoke and raced in the direction he had just identified.

They were naturally moving a lot faster than before now that they had a proper target. Huo Yuhao didn’t conserve any soul power, and raised his protective barrier to the highest possible level to keep all the miasma outside as they pushed forward as fast as they could.

His Spiritual Detection had reached more than seven kilometers, and his target was right at the end of that range.

This place was filled with deadly venom, but Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er only needed fifteen minutes to rush seven kilometers.

The second Milk Bottle was already in Wang Qiu’er’s hands, and a different world from before swiftly appeared in the distance in front of them.

Everything was bluish-green, and just so astounding and eerie.

Cyan hues blanketed the earth, while the plants that grew around them covered large patches of earth in a seemingly messy and disorganized manner of teals, aquas, and turquoises. Faint blue-green mist floated up from them before gradually beginning to expand outwards.

“What kind of plant is that?” Huo Yuhao didn’t dare to venture forward blindly, and he halted in his tracks as astonishment flowed from his eyes.

These blue-green plants extended to either side of them. They weren’t that tall, about half a meter tall, and every single plant had nine strangely shaped leaves. These leaves resembled human hands, but each one had seven fingers, while some of the relatively larger ones had nine fingers. There were enormous cyan flowers located at the tips of every leaf, and the mists were being released from the large flowers’ stamens. The mist gradually expanded in all directions before flowing into the multicolored miasma.

The cyan hues they let off were a substantial part of the multicolored miasma.

Huo Yuhao gazed far into the distance, and could see with his formidable vision that huge patches of miasmic clouds were gathered behind these bluish-green plants. These miasmic clouds were gradually flowing towards the ground, but their densities were comparable to what they had encountered in the sky before this.

It was no wonder he couldn’t see this when he was still in the sky, as the densest miasmic clouds were sinking down in this area. There was no question that the place the miasmic clouds were sinking into was a mountain valley.

Wang Qiu’er stared at the bluish-green plants before them, as if she were trying to distinguish something. Huo Yuhao quickly retrieved a bright silvery piece of metal from his storage ring and threw it towards the blue-green plants in the distance.

It was a piece of platinum, a metal which had a very high resistance to corrosion.

The platinum piece hurtled through the multicolored miasma and quickly became tainted with various colors. However, astounding and terrifying transformations began to happen to it when it reached the space above the bluish-green mists in the sky.

The platinum began to emanate dense streams of green mist when it came into contact with the toxic green clouds, and then its volume began to diminish at breakneck speed. Half of the platinum had disappeared by the time it hit the ground, and it only took about three breaths before that tough and corrosion-resistant metal vanished into thin air.

“This… this corrosion is so strong.” Huo Yuhao drew a cold breath. He felt as if his legs were filled with lead, and he didn’t dare to take another step forward. He could tell from how the platinum was corroded that this acidic mist was not something that his Class 6 protective barrier could defend against.

Could he fly past it from above? However, the cyan mist reached an incredible height, and looked like it formed a dome that loomed over the valley. What exactly is this? How can it be so horrifyingly toxic and acidic?

Huo Yuhao retrieved a soul tool as thoughts spun around in his head, and fired a soul ray at the green mist in the distance.

A red beam of light surged forward and left a fiery radiance behind in the air. This was a soul flameray, and even though it was just a Class 3 soul tool, it was extremely effective at burning things up.

The rainbow-colored miasma surged and dissipated when it came into contact with the flame. However, once this flame ray reached the green mists beyond, the multicolored miasma had a lot more green inside, and it became conspicuously more resistant to the flames.

When the flames reached the green mists, the scene that Huo Yuhao absolutely didn’t want to see occurred. The toxic green clouds suddenly became a lot stronger than before after the flames incinerated it. The green clouds all around them surged with lightning speed as they poured back along the cleared path burned by the flame, right towards where Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er were standing.

“Run!” Huo Yuhao dragged Wang Qiu’er as he turned around to run without hesitation. He knew very well that he couldn’t let a single ounce of that green mist touch his body, or they would both remain here as fertilizer!

They turned and ran in the opposite direction. Huo Yuhao brought out the stationary soul cannon from before as he ran, and the green toxic mist chased them down from behind as if it had a life of its own. The bluish-green mist was moving even faster than their running speed, and he didn’t dare to hesitate or delay for even a single second.

He fired twice, and the poisonous clouds in the air exploded to open up a path for them. Huo Yuhao grabbed Wang Qiu’er as they soared into the sky, while he unleashed his Domain of Perpetual Ice to its highest defensive capability as he pulled her into his embrace. He activated his flying-type soul tool, and the four soul thrusters behind his back erupted at the same time, raising his speed to the highest possible level and driving him through the air. The green clouds loomed behind them, but Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er soared through the hole within the poisonous clouds in the air that they had just opened up before the green clouds could reach them.

Huo Yuhao flew eight hundred meters into the sky in one go before he dared to slow down. His forehead had already broken out in a cold sweat.

Wang Qiu’er hadn’t done anything at all. Besides completing his martial soul fusion for him, she was just following him around.

Huo Yuhao hugged her for a longer duration than before this time, and there seemed to be an extra something in Wang Qiu’er’s otherwise calm expression.

“That’s too frightening. The green toxic mist isn’t afraid of fire, and it can even retaliate.” Huo Yuhao released Wang Qiu’er from his embrace, and only then did he realize that the girl hadn’t even opened her flying-type soul tool. Her pretty eyes seemed like they were deep in thought.

“Hey, open your flying-type soul tool. My soul power has been consumed until there’s almost nothing left,” Huo Yuhao hurriedly reminded her.

“Oh.” Wang Qiu’er acknowledged as she infused soul power into the flying-type soul tool behind her, and she worked together with Huo Yuhao to stabilize herself in midair.

Huo Yuhao glanced downwards. What he saw was a torrential green mushroom cloud, which had surged five hundred meters into the air before it gradually receded. The multicolored miasmic clouds were assimilated once they came into contact with this green cloud, as if the miasmic clouds for several kilometers around them had been riled up with this explosion. It felt as if the toxic clouds had been infuriated.

“Why do I feel like these poisonous clouds have a life of their own? I am absolutely certain that my target is located in the valley behind those poisonous green clouds.” Huo Yuhao’s eyebrows were tightly knit together.

Wang Qiu’er suddenly lowered her voice and said, “I remember now. I know what those green plants are.”





Chapter 257.2: Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes


Huo Yuhao was pleasantly surprised as he said, “What is it?” He had to understand what these toxic things were so that he could devise a plan to fight against them.

Wang Qiu’er replied, “That looked like the Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes.”

Huo Yuhao was taken aback. “Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes? What’s that?” He had learned about many plants during his lessons at Shrek Academy, as some soul beasts existed as plants, but he had never heard of this one.

Wang Qiu’er stared at him with solemn eyes and said, “You are right about one thing; these poisonous clouds do have life, and this life originates from those flowers.”

A thought crossed Huo Yuhao’s mind as he asked, “Are you saying that these bluish-green flowers are plant-type soul beasts?”

Wang Qiu’er nodded and said, “At least some of them are.

“The Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes is one of the most poisonous plants in the world. Its toxins contain acute corrosive acid, and it’s known as the number-one corrosive toxin, while also containing an extremely powerful neurological poison. Coming into contact with it will cause the physical body to decay, and one will also have to withstand intense pain and suffering. However, this flower is also very rare and precious, and it’s possibly every plant-type soul master’s dream. If plant-type soul masters can find a Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes that has already become a plant-type soul beast, and assimilate it as their own soul ring, then that soul master will possess the flower’s intense venom. You’ve already seen how powerful that poison can be.”

Huo Yuhao’s eyes widened, and his jaw hung slack. “Are you telling me that this area that is at least a kilometer wide and possibly stretches around the entire valley is filled with these Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes soul beasts? There are so many of them, yet they can still be considered an endangered species?”

Wang Qiu’er’s eyebrows were locked together as she said, “I am also very surprised at this fact, and that’s also why I didn’t tell you about it in the beginning. According to what I remember, the Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes likes to live in groups, but their reproductive capabilities are terrible. They have strict requirements for their environment, and they have to absorb immense amounts of nutrients to sustain themselves during their growth process. Not all the flowers that we just saw have evolved into soul beasts, but most of them have already completed the evolution process. Otherwise, how could they control so much of the bluish-green toxic clouds to attack us?

“I think you noticed that some of their leaves were shaped like human hands with nine fingers. This species is known as the Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Nine Absolutes, and that means they have evolved to become plant-type soul beasts. Furthermore, this flower also belongs to a superior level in the world of plants, and has at least ten thousand years of cultivation when they evolve into soul beasts. That also means that there are possibly hundreds or thousands of Jade Phosphorous Flowers of the Nine Absolutes among the plants we saw. Let’s not discuss us, even a group of Titled Douluo would be in a hurry to get away from here. The ten-thousand year Jade Phosphorous Exotic Flowers channel something called the Jade Phosphorus Poison Cloud, and every plant releasing their poisonous clouds at the same time is a power that’s nearly invincible.”

Huo Yuhao drew a cold breath as he heard Wang Qiu’er’s explanation. Huo Yuhao had always believed ever since he got that letter from Niu Tian that this task was accomplishable, since Niu Tian had given it to him. Even though it was possibly overwhelmingly challenging, he should at least have a chance of success.

However, after listening to Wang Qiu’er’s explanation of how frightening the Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Nine Absolutes was, he understood that his chances were as slim as they could get. He would undoubtedly become fertilizer for the these flowers if he pushed forward forcibly.

There were countless plant-type soul beasts around this place…top-tier plant-type soul beasts! They could also work together, and they could launch an attack with a colossal area of effect, as if they were an army. They could be said to have no loopholes at all.

How could he have even a sliver of chance under such circumstances? Huo Yuhao grew silent, and even his eyes began to dim and grow solemn. He could no longer see any hope at all.

Wang Qiu’er’s eyes flowed with struggle and conflict as she stared at Huo Yuhao’s dejected and defeated face, as if she were hesitant about something.

Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh and said, “I will remember this place. Let’s retreat and rest up.” He had already used two Milk Bottles, and even though he still had several incendiary cannon shells, they would be completely useless against the Jade Phosphorous Poison Cloud, and fire even seemed to make these clouds stronger. If they pushed forward blindly, they would be simply sending themselves to certain death. He wasn’t afraid of death if he had to do so to save Dong’er, but he couldn’t just die for nothing.

Huo Yuhao grabbed Wang Qiu’er’s hand as he spoke, and turned around and flew away from the valley. He flew out of the area covered by the miasmic clouds before they descended back into the Setting Sun Forest.

Huo Yuhao took the two empty Milk Bottles from Wang Qiu’er once they were on the ground, and then gradually infused soul power into each Milk Bottle while he silently contemplated.

His mental state wasn’t in the right condition at the moment, and there was no way he could make it better. He was faced with an impossible situation, and there was practically no way he could move forward. As intelligent as he was, Huo Yuhao began to feel as if he was at his wit’s end, and he had exhausted everything he had.

Wang Qiu’er just stood there as she watched his dark and gloomy expression. Her tensed brows began to smooth out as she heaved a faint sigh and said, “I don’t think I’m wrong to label the Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes as rare and precious. Venomous flowers as powerful as this are extremely rare even deep within the Great Star Dou Forest, and there are hardly more than three that appear at the same time even if they do. They require too much from their surroundings, and that means it’s very difficult for them to evolve into soul beasts. So many Jade Phosphorous Flowers of the Seven Absolutes existing in this area only proves one thing.”

Huo Yuhao looked up at her and asked, “What does it prove?”

Wang Qiu’er lowered her voice and said, “It proves that the valley behind them truly contains some exotic treasure, and I’m certain that, whatever it is, there’s a lot of it. Perhaps the valley has an environment that’s extremely beneficial for growth, and that has provided enough nutrients for these flowers.

“I observed carefully when you pulled me through the air before this. I realized that the Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes dots the area surrounding the valley, but not a single one grows near the edge of the valley. That means there should be something inside the valley that’s countering them and holding them back, such that they don’t dare to spread inside the valley. The miasmic clouds that we faced before this probably come from these flowers – such an enormous volume of these flowers has led to the death of many soul beasts, while the vegetation all around has been corroded. The forest’s unique location and environment also means that it’s a lot easier for this miasma to form, and this accumulation over the years has resulted in the level of miasma that we see now.”

Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and said, “That also means that my judgment is correct. The herb that can save Dong’er must be located within that valley. However, we still have no way of crossing over to the other side. The Jade Phosphorus Flowers of the Seven Absolutes, and the Jade Phosphorus Flowers of the Nine Absolutes that they have evolved into, aren’t something we can fight against. The Jade Phosphorous Poison Cloud is probably so dense that the clouds will dispel my Class 6 soul protective barrier immediately once they touch it. If that happens, the two of us will melt into liquid in the blink of an eye.”

Wang Qiu’er frowned and said, “You don’t have to make it sound so disgusting. Haven’t you heard of the saying that everything in the world has a weakness? The flowers are strong, but there must be something in the world that can counter it. For example, such a thing exists in that valley. Furthermore, I also know one such weakness.”

Huo Yuhao was taken aback as he said urgently, “You… why haven’t you told me before?”

Wang Qiu’er said coldly, “You are the one who wants to save Wang Dong’er, not me. I would have told you if you hadn’t been so melancholic.”

Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned, and emotions undulated in his eyes for a moment. “Please tell me, Qiu’er. I…”

Wang Qiu’er interrupted him roughly and said, “Sure, I can tell you. But only if you kneel down and beg me to.”

Huo Yuhao was stunned once more, and then he was instantly infuriated. “Are you crazy?”

Wang Qiu’er stared at him with an extremely noble and cold look. “I’m not crazy, you’re the one that’s crazy. So what if you can pierce through the Jade Phosphorus Poison Clouds? Can you predict the dangers that you will face afterwards? Since you’ve already decided to die, what use do you have for dignity? Kneel and beg me, and I will tell you. Otherwise, scram back to the academy.”

Huo Yuhao gradually calmed down, and he heaved a faint sigh. “Does this really have to happen, Qiu’er?”

Wang Qiu’er grunted coldly, but said nothing.

Huo Yuhao turned around and gazed at the miasmic clouds in the distance. “I have already explained so much to you. Why do you still not understand?”

Wang Qiu’er didn’t even look at him as she turned around and began walking in the direction that led out of the Setting Sun Forest. She was very sure that Huo Yuhao had no chance of finding that herb and surviving through the ordeal at the same time.

“Wait!” Huo Yuhao called out to her.

Wang Qiu’er turned around and glanced at him coldly. “Let’s go!”

Huo Yuhao stared at her deeply and said, “Since it has to happen, then so be it.”

Wang Qiu’er’s expression relaxed a little. Is this guy finally going to cooperate with me? However, for some reason, there was a thread of disappointment deep within her heart. In the end, one’s own life was more important…

However, her large blue eyes suddenly began to widen just when that thought appeared in her mind… because as she looked on, Huo Yuhao’s tall figure knelt grandly on the ground in her direction.

Huo Yuhao’s expression was still as calm as ever…yes, he was kneeling on the ground. This was the first time that he had knelt down in front of someone other than his mother.

Men would never kneel without a good reason, but he was full of determination as his knees touched the ground.

“I beg you, Qiu’er, tell me what the Jade Phosphorous Exotic Flowers’ weakness is. Thank you.” His voice was still as calm as before, but this calm was heartbreaking. Every single word pierced Wang Qiu’er’s heart as if they were sharp blades.

He… he’s actually kneeling down. He’s actually kneeling down before me! He has relinquished a man’s dignity just to save her. Why? How can this happen? Why?!

Wang Qiu’er felt as if her face was growing cold, and she touched her cheeks subconsciously, and felt tears.

I’m crying…I’m actually crying! Are my tears flowing for him? No, why would I cry for him? Why?

Her lips were trembling, and she continued to quiver as tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes. She rushed to his side and grabbed his collar before she lifted him up from the ground and hurled him heavily against a thick and tall tree beside them.

Boom! The large tree shuddered as leaves drifted down onto the ground. They fluttered all around the two of them, and it felt as if they were being bathed in a rain of greenery.

Huo Yuhao’s face was still calm and composed. Tears continued to trickle down Wang Qiu’er’s face, and her emotions immediately erupted.

“Are you trying to protest against me?!” she shouted at him hysterically.

Huo Yuhao said nothing. He stared at her with a faint smile on his face, and his smile was just so calm and plain in that moment…





Chapter 257.3: Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes


“Why? Why do you have to give so much for her? Is she worth it?”

He was still smiling faintly, and he still didn’t make a sound. He had already shown his heart from the moment he knelt down in front of her. He had to go, no matter what he had to face.

“Go, go, go!” Wang Qiu’er continued to shout. “Just go, and go to your death. The Jade Phosphorous Flowers fear the cold!. If you channel your domain to the strongest possible level, even those Jade Phosphorous Flowers of the Nine Absolutes will be afraid of you. Go, you bastard! I will not follow you to a certain death, you can go by yourself if you want to die for her! You will never return, ever!”

She tossed him heavily into the distance as she spoke, and he flew for dozens of meters before finally slamming into a tree.

Huo Yuhao didn’t utter a word from beginning to end, he was just quietly staring at her with a faint smile on his face. He still wore the same smile even when he got to his feet after crashing into the enormous tree, which had snapped in two from the impact.

“Thank you.” He finally opened his mouth, and said words that couldn’t get any simpler as he strode towards the miasmic clouds.

Wang Qiu’er didn’t follow him this time.

Huo Yuhao paused after a few steps and turned back around. He looked at Wang Qiu’er, who was still rooted to the ground, her shoulders still quivering.

“You’re a nice girl, Qiu’er. We will always be friends whether I return from this expedition dead or alive.” He left this statement for her and gave her a radiant smile before he turned back around. He didn’t stop or slow down this time as he widened his stride and walked away. His steps were determined and unwavering.

“Bastard!” Wang Qiu’er suddenly exclaimed and hurled her right fist violently. She hammered heavily on the large tree that she had just tossed Huo Yuhao against.

The tree was thick enough for a person to place his or her arms around, but the broken half of the tree flew backwards into the distance and slammed against another large tree before it broke apart into smithereens. Her punch was just too strong and ferocious.

Wang Qiu’er bit down on her lower lip as she collapsed to the ground, and tears flowed down her face uncontrollably. “Why? How can there be a fool, an idiot like him? Why is he willing to give his life for a girl? He’s still going to do it even though he knows he’s going to die! Has he really gone crazy?”

Huo Yuhao’s faint smile surfaced repeatedly before her eyes…that despicable smile! The final image stopped at the moment he knelt down before her.

Wang Qiu’er knew that she would never forget this moment, when he knelt down in front of her for another woman. She would remember this for the rest of her life.

“Huo Yuhao! You… you’re such a bastard!” Wang Qiu’er shouted in Huo Yuhao’s direction as he departed the scene. Intense golden light erupted from her body, and every inch within ten meters around her glowed with golden luster.

Huo Yuhao wasn’t that far away, so he could still hear her voice. That faint smile appeared on his mouth once more, but he didn’t turn back around.

I’m sorry, Qiu’er. Perhaps this is the best ending. After all, I am the only person that should be here for this dangerous endeavor.

So, the Jade Phosphorous Seven Exotic Flower was not afraid of fire, but it was afraid of extreme cold. No wonder uncle Niu Tian had figured that he had the ability to venture into this place.

What Huo Yuhao didn’t know was that Niu Tian had decided to give that pouch to Wang Dong’er because of Huo Yuhao’s Snow Empress Spirit. He had both Ultimate ice and snow, and extreme chill was a natural counter to the toxic miasma all around him. Of course, the prerequisite was that he had to be strong enough. Niu Tian had never expected that Huo Yuhao had Skydream Iceworm, and that Skydream was strong enough to break the spiritual seal. This ended up with Huo Yuhao coming into the Setting Sun Forest prematurely.

Huo Yuhao hadn’t moved too far before he found a relatively flat place to sit down. He began to meditate to restore his soul power, while he filled the final two empty Milk Bottles at the same time.

Huo Yuhao closed his eyes, and began to devise and refine the plan in his mind. It was impossible to make his plan entirely seamless and without loopholes, but he had to make sure to prevent all dangers that could possibly appear.

Today’s adventure wasn’t a complete waste, as he had managed to figure some things out, while also discovering that the Jade Phosphorous Flowers were the true originators of the toxic miasma. This information was imperative to his operation and what he was about to do.

Wang Qiu’er seemed to have given up on him, and didn’t follow him. Huo Yuhao had had a peculiar sentiment when he knelt down; he had wanted to show his determination to her, but he had also wanted to consolidate this determination for himself. Furthermore, he had become a lot calmer and more rational than before.

He had thought it through. He didn’t have to find the herb on this expedition, and the mentality of paying with his life even if he was unsuccessful was irresponsible. What he had to do was do everything he could and whatever was necessary to obtain that herb.

It wasn’t embarrassing to ask for help. If he couldn’t do it by himself, then he would have to ask the academy for help. Shrek Academy’s abilities meant there was definitely something they could do against all this miasma. Furthermore, the Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Nine Absolutes would be extremely beneficial for the academy’s plant-type soul masters.

According to Niu Tian, Wang Dong’er’s hidden injury would only be triggered at the age of twenty, while she was currently only seventeen years old. Niu Tian would never use Dong’er’s life as a joke, so this time estimation should be accurate. That also meant that he had more than two years left.

On the other hand, if Skydream hadn’t helped him open that spiritual seal, he would never have opened that seal by himself to see everything that he had seen until after at least another year. That also meant that this endeavor wasn’t that urgent.

Huo Yuhao gradually realized all this after he encountered the Jade Phosphorous Flowers of the Seven Absolutes. The worry, the anxiety, and even the feeling of valiant sacrifice settled down after he thought everything through. What he had to do now was everything he could to probe the valley’s secrets. Obtaining sufficient and valuable information was enough.

If he didn’t have the strength to find this herb, it wouldn’t be difficult to rely on his own abilities to retreat safely so that he could go back with his life. He would then find another opportunity to come back here to retrieve the herb when his chances were boosted to the highest possible level, and that outcome was what he really wanted.

The reason why he said all that he did to Wang Qiu’er was because he really didn’t want to owe her this favor. Huo Yuhao could faintly feel something from Wang Qiu’er’s emotions and her attitude… However, he already had Dong’er, and he couldn’t touch Wang Qiu’er’s feelings at all, and this was especially true because they were in a perilous place. Even though he knew that his operation would be a lot easier if he had Wang Qiu’er’s help, he didn’t dare to ask her for more help.

He knew that he couldn’t afford to owe her this favor. Therefore, he would rather she leave his side than allow her to continue on this hazardous adventure with him. Huo Yuhao had still perceived Wang Qiu’er as just his friend before this, and when they pushed through the poisonous clouds, he had unleashed his abilities while hugging her at the same time. However, she had subconsciously leaned into his shoulder, and it was then that Huo Yuhao realized something wasn’t right. I’m sorry, Qiu’er…

—

Midday had just passed, and Huo Yuhao wasn’t about to wait until the following day. He recharged both Milk Bottles and used another hour to rest so that he could be at his optimum condition.

This was the hottest time of the day, so the miasmic clouds weren’t any stronger than before. Huo Yuhao checked his inventory and equipment once more before he activated his flying-type soul tool and soared into the sky, and back towards the place locked in his memory.

Huo Yuhao had Spiritual Detection to accurately determine his location, and he quickly found the place where the dense multicolored clouds sank downward, and where bluish-green lights shone faintly.

He didn’t plunge through the toxic clouds here. Instead, he hovered in midair about one kilometer from his destination.

“This is about right. I won’t touch those Jade Phosphorous Poison Clouds.” Huo Yuhao mumbled under his breath, and the stationary soul cannon was back on his shoulder in the next moment.

His method was no different from before, and he tossed one shell before he fired another one from his shoulder immediately afterwards. Two incendiary explosive bombs collided in midair, and the subsequent explosion created an enormous hole in the miasmic clouds.

Huo Yuhao didn’t fire another two rounds with the experience from before, as he had enough understanding and judgment about the poison clouds’ thickness and strength. He didn’t have to waste his cannon shells, as those things, would be critical to protecting his life when he broke out from this place.

Huo Yuhao plummeted towards the ground as soon as the hole appeared.

Right at this moment, a golden light erupted beside him without warning and dove down through the sky along with him.

The owner of this golden light was burning up with pale golden flames, and the faint miasma dissipated and vanished when it came into contact with these flames.

“You… why have you followed me?” Huo Yuhao’s voice was full of exasperation.

There was no question that Wang Qiu’er was the owner of this golden light. Huo Yuhao hadn’t used Spiritual Detection at all so that he could conserve soul power, which was why he had no idea that Wang Qiu’er had followed behind him, and that she had picked this “opportune” moment. They were both barreling through the poisonous clouds, and there was no way he could reject her participation anymore.





Chapter 258.1: Paradise on Earth


Wang Qiu’er’s pretty face seemed like it was covered with a layer of frost. “Do I look like someone who doesn’t finish what I start?” She grabbed Huo Yuhao’s left hand authoritatively as she spoke, and the two of them initiated their martial soul fusion.

Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh. He wasn’t willing to receive too much help from her so that he could prevent their feelings from developing. However, he was still relieved when Wang Qiu’er did catch up with him. His exploration attempt would be a lot more relaxed than before with her around, and he would also be a lot safer than otherwise.

His soul protective barrier enveloped Wang Qiu’er within it, so she stopped releasing her golden flames to defend herself, and the two of them landed on the ground as if they had been together the whole time.

They were back in that rainbow-colored world, but they were a lot more familiar with their surroundings from their previous experience. Huo Yuhao pulled Wang Qiu’er along the moment they landed and ran towards the edge of the ravine where the Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes was growing.

“Why aren’t you breaking through the middle? Have you forgotten its location?” Wang Qiu’er asked confusedly.

Huo Yuhao said, “You said it before, I don’t know what unforeseen dangers I may face over there, so I can’t just break through the middle. It will be too late if I run into any contingencies and I have to deal with them on the spot. Furthermore, I also want to test the extent to which these Jade Phosphorous Flowers are afraid of the cold.”

Wang Qiu’er glanced at him coldly, and that noble and aloof feeling made Huo Yuhao feel as if he was being looked down on.

“I thought you weren’t afraid of dying. Why don’t you just throw your life in and get it over with? So, you’re afraid of dying after all. I guess I overestimated you before.”

Huo Yuhao snapped, “Why would we want to die if we can live? That’s enough, let’s not bicker. We are consuming soul power. Take the Milk Bottle, and I’ll have a go.”

Huo Yuhao gave a Milk Bottle to Wang Qiu’er just in case she needed it, and the two of them stopped about thirty meters away from the Jade Phosphorous Flowers.

The Jade Phosphorous Poison Clouds produced by these flowers were still gathered together, but they didn’t permeate too far outside, and only loomed over the valley.

Their mentality had been greatly affected after their initial astonishment when they first saw these flowers, but Huo Yuhao began to feel something different now that he was back here for the second time.

“It’s too neat…Qiu’er, don’t you feel like these flowers are arranged too neatly? Why do I feel like someone did this?” Huo Yuhao lowered his voice as he spoke.

Wang Qiu’er was momentarily stunned, and couldn’t be bothered with bickering anymore. “Now that you mention it, it does seem like it…”

Huo Yuhao flipped his right hand, and a water bag appeared in his hands. He released Wang Qiu’er’s hand, and she naturally shifted behind his back as she pressed her right palm against his back so that they could maintain their martial soul fusion.

Huo Yuhao opened the water bottle and poured out the water from inside. The water that was poured out was immediately frozen in midair by his Ultimate Ice soul power, and a large sphere of ice quickly appeared before him.

Wang Qiu’er looked on as Huo Yuhao did all this, a strange feeling surfacing in her heart. This guy seems to trust me a lot, I’m pressing against a vital point on his back! If I channel my soul power, I can break his nerves and end his life. He’s not afraid of that? Hmph… why should I even kill him? Killing him will dirty my hands, Wang Qiu’er thought to herself arrogantly.

The sphere of ice was roughly a foot in diameter. Huo Yuhao’s left hand was holding it up, and gradually turned icy-blue, while the temperature within his protective barrier began to plummet.

Huo Yuhao shook his wrist, and the enormous ball of ice flew out as it spun through the air. Huo Yuhao was a disciple of the Tang Sect, and he had great control over his fingers and wrists. He was using one of the Tang Sect’s hidden weapon techniques as he hurled the ball of ice, which emanated an icy-blue radiance as it flew straight out.

The multicolored miasma was extremely powerful, and immediately seemed like it was about to attach itself to the sphere of ice once it appeared. However, this sphere of ice contained Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice, so how could the miasma attach itself to it so easily? The multicolored particles were blown in all directions wherever this sphere of extreme chill went, and it was clear that the toxic miasma was severely affected after the water vapor inside was frozen.

The sphere pierced through the multicolored miasma, and it finally arrived at the bluish-green Jade Phosphorous Poison Clouds. Just as Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er had speculated before, these poison clouds were controlled by those flowers that had evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Nine Absolutes, which were plant-type soul beasts. Large patches of poison clouds were stirred up once this sphere of ice plunged into them, and the bluish-green mist poured forward.

However, every kind of poison mist or gas had a unique characteristic… they definitely contained some water within them. Pure smoke or mist dissipated extremely quickly, and there was no way it could drift through the air for a prolonged period of time, and it would be blown away by the wind.

Once the poison clouds approached the sphere of ice, Huo Yuhao could see that the poison mist was pouring forward into the chill from his Ultimate Ice, while it produced large volumes of bluish-green particles that drifted in all directions. The area that the poison clouds covered would then increase for an instant, but then quickly thin.

Huo Yuhao’s experiment clearly wasn’t as simple as tossing the sphere through the clouds, and he raised his left hand as he clenched it tightly.

Boom!

The ball of ice immediately exploded, and the Ice Explosion that Huo Yuhao had infused into it unleashed its full force. A violent explosive force immediately caused the sphere to dissipate into countless ice particles that flew in all directions, while the shockwaves swept towards the Jade Phosphorous Flowers around them.

Huo Yuhao was already using his Spiritual Detection to meticulously observe how the flowers reacted.

The flowers surrounding the vigorous explosion began to sway and tremble like tidal waves, but they were a lot tougher than Huo Yuhao had expected. He had infused Ice Explosion into that sphere of ice, but he wasn’t able to blow away even a single petal, and he only managed to make them sway and shake, while their bodies were undamaged.

A strange scene occurred just when Huo Yuhao was feeling a little disappointed.

The bluish-green flowers quickly closed up, as if they were children who were drawing their blankets over themselves because they were afraid of the cold. The flowers ten meters around the explosion closed up, and the poison clouds in that region became a lot thinner than before.

“They are afraid of the cold!” Huo Yuhao was elated. A thought surfaced in his mind as orange-gold light radiated, and the tiny Snow Lady came out from the middle of his eyebrows and hovered next to him.

Huo Yuhao hurriedly told the Snow Lady not to leave his soul protective barrier through his mind, so that she wouldn’t be hurt by the poisonous clouds outside.

“Yi yi ya ya!” The Snow Lady’s big dark-blue eyes flowed with indifference and contempt. She pointed at the poison clouds outside before she waved her tiny and tender little fingers at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao was shocked as he asked, “You’re not afraid of poison?”

“Yi yi ya ya!” The Snow Lady gave him an affirmative answer before she flew out of the protective barrier.

Huo Yuhao was just feeling a little worried as the orange-gold light on her body began to sparkle. Intense chills billowed from her body as the humid miasma in the air began to transform subtly. Large patches of multicolored miasma swiftly began to dissipate as if they had encountered something terrifying, and uncountable multicolored particles drifted to the ground while the air around them cleared up.

“This…” Both Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er were stunned on the spot. The toxic clouds that they had so feared were like nothing before the little Snow Lady. What was going on?

“Idiot. Ultimate Ice is the best counter to all the toxins in the world. Didn’t you know that? Useless!” Skydream’s lazy voice appeared in Huo Yuhao’s mind.

Where would I ever know that from…?

The corner of Huo Yuhao’s mouth twitched as he spoke in his mind, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier, brother Skydream?”

“I just woke up.”

“……”

The Snow Lady turned around in midair and flew back, while the orange-gold light radiating from her body wrapped back around to envelop Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er inside. The poisonous clouds around them were instantly dispelled, and there wasn’t much left to threaten them at all.

Huo Yuhao turned towards Wang Qiu’er as he forced a laugh and said, “It seems like Ultimate Ice can counter acute poison after all.”

Wang Qiu’er frowned and said, “Seems like it. If that’s the case, then Ultimate Fire can probably counter toxins as well.”

Huo Yuhao said, “Let’s not talk about all that. Let’s take a look and see if we can venture deeper into the valley.”

They began to walk toward the Jade Phosphorous Flowers while the Snow Lady protected them. The intense chill from the Snow Lady’s body was a lot stronger than the sphere of ice from before, and both the multicolored miasma and the Jade Phosphorous Poison Clouds had no way of fending her off. The flowers closed up one by one as the extreme chill assaulted them, while the surrounding poison clouds dissipated continuously, and could no longer threaten the two of them.

Ultimate Ice can beat all toxins… how did I not know that…? It’s no wonder uncle Niu Tian wasn’t worried about sending me here at all…

Huo Yuhao’s confidence was greatly boosted with this discovery. He lowered his voice and growled, “Let’s go!”

Huo Yuhao grabbed Wang Qiu’er’s hand as they soared into the sky. The Jade Phosphorous Flowers were extremely poisonous, and were naturally untouchable, but they had their flying-type soul tools. The little Snow Lady landed on Huo Yuhao, and the orange-gold light that she released became their best defense.

Huo Yuhao was afraid that the speed at which the Snow Lady’s chill took effect was limited, so they didn’t fly very quickly. However, the mass of Jade Phosphorous flowers wasn’t that wide, and it didn’t take long before they pierced through the ravine of death and arrived next to the edge of the valley.

The edge of the valley was extremely steep, like it had been cut off by a knife. Multicolored miasma was still concentrated within the Jade Phosphorous Poison Clouds, and they blocked Huo Yuhao’s vision to a large extent.

Huo Yuhao exchanged a look with Wang Qiu’er. They had discovered that Ultimate Ice was a natural counter to acute poison, so the ominous and perilous feeling in her mind was greatly reduced.

“Let’s fly down?” Wang Qiu’er gestured downwards.

Huo Yuhao nodded and said, “Be careful.”

“I know that.” Wang Qiu’er rolled her eyes, and her Golden Dragon Spear appeared in her hands with a flash of golden light.

Huo Yuhao carried her as they jumped into the air. The Snow Lady was still clearing the way for them as they controlled their flying-type soul tools and gradually descended into the valley.





Chapter 258.2: Paradise on Earth


They swiftly entered the multicolored poison clouds. The Ultimate Ice was extremely effective at clearing the path ahead, and not a single ounce of the poison cloud broke through to their defenses.

This is fantastic! Huo Yuhao was ecstatic. His adventurous and explorative heart was piqued once more, and he could tell from the current situation that he had a much better chance of finding that mystical herb.

The multicolored miasma here was thick, just like it was in the sky. Huo Yuhao couldn’t see anything at all, and he couldn’t even detect anything with his Spiritual Detection. However, he still left his Spiritual Detection activated, channeling soul power into his protective barrier at the same time, so that he could avoid all possible threats and dangers.

What happened next proved that Huo Yuhao’s meticulousness was warranted.

A black shadow suddenly appeared soundlessly within his Spiritual Detection’s area of effect, and swept towards them at an alarming speed.

“Watch out!” Huo Yuhao growled.

Hovering in midair at this moment was undoubtedly the most dangerous thing they could do. Huo Yuhao didn’t dare to conserve soul power as he swung his right hand out and instantly slashed through the dense mist with his Darkgolden Terrorclaw. His right hand slashed through the air with lightning speed, using the complete version of his Darkgolden Terrorclaw.

The Snow Lady and Huo Yuhao’s mind were connected, and that meant they had exceptional chemistry with one another. She blew in the direction of the attack, and cold energy burst ahead of them. Large patches of poison clouds dissipated and cleared up their vision.

It was a dark-blue vine dotted with rainbow-colored patterns. It was as thick as a human thigh, and whipped towards them like an enormous python.

However, the Darkgolden Terrorclaw was the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear’s signature move, and Huo Yuhao gave everything he had with this strike. A dark golden streak of light flashed by, and the thick vine was immediately cut into a million pieces as it drifted away in the wind.

Huo Yuhao raised his voice and reminded Wang Qiu’er, “It’s clear that there are precious and exotic things here that are extremely beneficial for plant growth. This should a place inhabited by many plant-type soul beasts, and they are extremely powerful. Be careful.”

Several other thick vines swept towards them at this moment. The rainbow colors on these vines were clearly caused by the toxic miasma, and the fact that they were completely fine meant they probably contained acute venom as well.

“You control our descent. Let me try!” Wang Qiu’er shouted as she thrust her Golden Dragon Spear forward while she grabbed the other end of it, so that her Golden Dragon Spear could reach the maximum area of effect.

She was the Golden Dragon after all, and she was always dominant and fearsome.

Perhaps she had been stifled for too long after dealing with the poison clouds for two days, or perhaps this was a cathartic release of her fury towards Huo Yuhao, but her strike was exceptionally ferocious.

She was using her Golden Dragon Spear like a flail. A thick blue vine whipped towards her, and Wang Qiu’er swung her Golden Dragon Spear towards it like a lightning bolt. A boom could be heard as she smashed the vine into the distance.

Vines were typically quite flexible and elastic, and the front parts would still whip forward even if the vine itself was struck.

However, the vine didn’t react this way as it was struck by the Golden Dragon Spear. The vine flickered with golden light and rippled back into the distance, breaking apart into pieces as it flew through the air. Light circled around the Golden Dragon Spear, and Huo Yuhao could clearly feel that Wang Qiu’er’s life energy had become a little stronger than before.

The Golden Dragon Spear lived up to its name as a god’s weapon. It could absorb life energy from its target. Huo Yuhao felt faintly terrified in his heart, and he was consoling himself on his good fortune when he managed to defeat Wang Qiu’er that day.

Bam, bam, bam! The Golden Dragon Spear waltzed through the sky, every strike accurately struck the dark-blue vines that were whipping toward them, and every single vine eventually disintegrated into pieces.

Wang Qiu’er didn’t seem like she was under any pressure at all, even though more vines continued to appear. Golden light continued to flicker around her as she protected Huo Yuhao and herself impeccably.

Huo Yuhao controlled their descent, but he didn’t dare to move too quickly, as he didn’t know what awaited them at the bottom. He extended his Spiritual Detection in the direction of those flying vines and attempted to find their source.

He quickly discovered where these vines came from – they were all growing on the cliff, and some of these vines even reached a hundred feet long. They could feel Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er’s presence, so they launched their own attacks. Furthermore, the number of vines growing on the cliff walls increased the further down they went.

“Let’s go further down.” The vines are limited in length after all, I can just fly along the cliff wall.

Huo Yuhao took Wang Qiu’er along as they dropped tens of meters deeper into the valley. The aggressive dark-blue vines that were attacking them eventually disappeared, and it was clear that the two of them had exceeded the vines’ attack range.

An agile mind was enough to help them avoid some problems.

They descended a lot faster than before without the blue vines attacking them, and split the clouds open as they pushed ahead. They dropped about three hundred meters before the poison clouds around them suddenly cleared out, and their blocked vision instantly became became clear.

Huo Yuhao hurriedly controlled their momentum and hovered in midair. It was a lot easier to run into problems if they were attacked when their senses suddenly changed.

However, his entire body froze right when he stopped in midair, and Wang Qiu’er was equally stunned.

They had been extremely careful and vigilant ever since the day they entered the Setting Sun Forest, and kept their guards up against any possible dangers that could appear.

They knew that their expedition wouldn’t be smooth-sailing or relaxed when they discovered the toxic miasma.

The multicolored miasma, the Jade Phosphorous Flowers of the Seven Absolutes, the Jade Phosphorous Poison Clouds, and the venomous vines growing from the valley’s walls… every single entity could have been fatal. This place was protected by so many fatal poisons, so what kind of sinister place was this?

But, but…

What was before Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er now far exceeded their expectations. They had pierced through the multicolored poison clouds, and what they breathed in was an unprecedented fresh air full of life energy. The place they were looking at wasn’t sinister at all, it felt like heaven on earth!

The air was completely covered by the rainbow-colored clouds, and the rainbow colors shone and reflected over the valley, making it appear extremely enchanting.

The valley walls in the distance were full of the dark-blue vines that had ambushed them just now, and the entire wall looked like it was made from sapphires that flickered with a faint rainbow-colored luster.

The valley couldn’t be considered large, but many different plants were growing within it, while there were just too many colors to count as they gazed across it. There were so many beautiful flowers, and each was prettier than the last, bearing all sorts of fruits. Many plants shone with varying degrees of light, and one could tell even with the naked eye that these plants were exotic and extraordinary.

The most astonishing thing was the lake in the middle of these plants. The lake was clearly separated into two parts. One side was icy-blue in color and it exuded a faint white air, while the other side was fiery-red, and the light above this side was slightly distorted. One part was blue and the other was red, and these two parts were like colossal jewels engraved into the ground. The waters evaporating from this lake permeated the dense life energy from the lake all over the valley.

Ever since Huo Yuhao became a soul master, he had to absorb the vital energy of heaven and earth whenever he had to train using his Mysterious Heaven Technique. However, he had never encountered a place with vital energy as strong as the paradise that he was in right now.

Not even Clear Sky Peak could compare to this place. Huo Yuhao had only felt this overwhelming vital energy from the Frigid Jade Essence Bed that was now broken. However, the Frigid Jade Essence Bed had only contained pure cold and iciness, while this mystical world that they were in contained almost every single element, and also vast amounts of life energy.

Their eyes grew slack from their awe and astonishment. Everything before their eyes was just too enchanting and pristine!

“This… this is a paradise!” Wang Qiu’er’s voice was trembling. Her body shone with faint golden mist, as if were she responding to and reciprocating with the thick life energy within this valley.

“I am certain that there is nowhere else on the Douluo Continent that is as suitable for plant growth as this place is. The life energy in this place is at least five times that of the Great Star Dou Forest’s Core Region. How can there be such a place on the Continent? It’s possible that someone is protecting this place, too…”

Wang Qiu’er had the same opinion as Huo Yuhao did. Neither of them believed that the Jade Phosphorous Flowers outside had grown out by themselves. Their arrangement was just too neat.

Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh of admiration and said, “You do need formidable power to protect a paradise such as this. This place is just too beautiful. Why does the lake have two different colors? What is it, exactly? Do you know?”

Wang Qiu’er shook her head and said, “I’m not an encyclopedia. How can I possibly know everything? Let’s go down. There are no more miasmic clouds here.”

Huo Yuhao said, “But I feel like this place is even more dangerous than before. Have you not felt that most of the plants here have evolved into plant-type soul beasts because the life energy in this place is overwhelmingly dense?”

Wang Qiu’er was momentarily stunned, and gazed downwards carefully. Many plants had begun to sway because they had appeared, and some had even turned in their direction, while other plants shone more intensely.

“What should we do?” Wang Qiu’er asked, “We can’t just turn back, since we’re already here.”

The greatest disadvantage that plant-type soul beasts had compared to animal soul beasts was mobility. Many plants couldn’t move around, and were just rooted to the spot, so their attack and control range was limited to an area with their bodies at the center. This was like the vines that they had encountered on the cliff walls – they couldn’t reach beyond their maximum length and distance to attack the two of them.

However, plant-type soul beasts were extremely formidable in the range that they could reach, and were possibly stronger than animal soul beasts in this respect. This was the reason why even exceptionally powerful animal soul beasts wouldn’t want to come to a place where many plant-type soul beasts were gathered.

Huo Yuhao took out his map and looked at the map’s lower part.

The map that Niu Tian had drawn was separated into two parts. The first part depicted the Setting Sun Forest and the valley’s rough location within the forest, while the second, more simplified part depicted the location of the book that he had described in his letter.





Chapter 258.3: Paradise on Earth


Niu Tian had repeatedly reminded him in the letter that Huo Yuhao had to find the book before he began his search for the Yearning Heartbroken Grass.

Huo Yuhao was extremely clear about this. From prior experience, he deeply believed that everything that Niu Tian had said in the letter was important. They were already inside the valley, so the most important thing for them was to find the book that detailed the plants inside and their characteristics.

Huo Yuhao scrutinized the simplified map in his hands while he carefully matched it against the landscape beneath him.

This map was a little too simple, drawn with lines to create a minimal outline. However, Huo Yuhao quickly found the things that were marked out, and the lines did draw the dual-colored lake. He continued to match the landscape against his map as he drifted forward with his flying-type soul tool so that he could match their location with what was drawn on the map.

The map was simple, but the markings were clear, and Huo Yuhao quickly found his target. According to the map’s instructions, his target was located at the shore where the lake’s blue and red parts intersected. There was a flower drawn at that rough location on the map to show that the book was there.

They were in the air, but Huo Yuhao’s Spirit Eyes made it extremely easy for him to directly lock onto a plant beneath him.

It was an enormous light-pink flower that didn’t have any leaves. Its stem was almost ten feet long, and its flower was huge, its diameter more than three feet across. Every single petal was almost transparent as if they were water crystals, and the light-pink flower swayed along with the mist in the air. It grew on the shore next to where the lake’s red and blue water joined.

Huo Yuhao paid attention to it because it was simply too enchanting and riveting. Its body was also located where the two bodies of water joined, and another reason was because there were no other plants within a hundred feet of it! This plant therefore stood out in a valley that was filled with plants…

Huo Yuhao studied it, and realized that there were other plants with similar characteristics, and also other plants with no other plants in a radius around them. These plants shared the same traits: they were either extremely peculiar, or they were just otherworldly beautiful, and they shone with varying degrees of light.

“That enormous flower should be what we’re looking for,” Huo Yuhao said to Wang Qiu’er, and he directed her with Spiritual Detection so that she could also locate their target.

“Do you know what flower that is?” Huo Yuhao asked Wang Qiu’er.

Wang Qiu’er shook her head and said, “I can’t tell. At least, I have never seen something like that inside the Great Star Dou Forest. However, I have a feeling that the plants contain more energy the closer they are to the dual-colored lake. Plants like this one, that are next to the lake and occupy such a huge territory, have probably evolved into soul beasts, and plant-type soul beasts are more formidable than animal-type soul beasts in the range that they can control. Are you sure the book is located there? What have you discovered?”

Huo Yuhao shook his head as he forced a smile. He had already channeled Spiritual Detection to the highest possible level to detect a single spot when he found this enormous flower. The light-pink flower seemed to emanate a pale light mist that blocked off his spiritual power entirely, while it was obvious that the book was nowhere to be found in the open ground around it. The book would probably have been decomposed by this humid environment if it had been placed on the ground just like that.

“It seems like we have to go closer to investigate.” Huo Yuhao lowered his voice as he spoke.

Wang Qiu’er said, “Let me go. Cover me.”

She was just about to move, but Huo Yuhao pulled her back and said, “Did you not say that these plants are typically afraid of heat and cold? Let me go, you cover me. Don’t worry, I will be extremely careful.”

Wang Qiu’er shot a glare in his direction, but she didn’t dispute his words. She was confident that she wasn’t inferior to Huo Yuhao in terms of fighting strength, but she knew that she wasn’t as versatile as he was. Furthermore, Huo Yuhao was adept with soul tools, and he was definitely a lot better than she was at running for his life.

Huo Yuhao gradually descended through the air towards that large light pink flower. He had raised his vigilance to the highest possible level. His right hand’s Darkgolden Terrorclaw was extended, while the soul thruster on his chest was charged as much as it could be. He could immediately escape if something were to go wrong.

Diamond crystals transformed into armor and enveloped his entire body, and his entire body began to sparkle under the brilliant lights. Huo Yuhao also released a little of his Domain of Perpetual Ice, and maintained the area of effect at one meter around him while he continuously emanated extremely chilly energy.

The valley’s plants seemed exceptionally calm as he drifted down through the air, and not a single plant attempted to attack him. Huo Yuhao chose to land on the edge of the empty space around that enormous flower.

Huo Yuhao was just telling himself that his defenses were raised to the highest possible level, when a faint aroma suddenly wafted into his nostrils.

Huo Yuhao was stunned for a moment before he felt goosebumps break out all over his body in the next moment. How could I have forgotten about that? I calculated everything, but I failed to realize that the fragrance from these plants can also be an attack.

Huo Yuhao subconsciously stopped breathing as he placed his Darkgolden Terrorclaw before his chest, while he channeled the soul power within his body with all his might in an attempt to force out the aroma that he had just inhaled. His Ultimate Ice was extremely effective as a counter to most toxins, after all. Huo Yuhao was astonished at this moment, but he wasn’t panicky at all.

However, another situation that exceeded his expectations happened again. The smell immediately integrated with his body once it entered, and he couldn’t force it out because he simply couldn’t find it within his body.

What made Huo Yuhao even more astonished was that the aroma refreshed his mind, and he felt like his tensed nerves were relaxed before this brain became clear and smooth. Even though he had only inhaled a miniscule amount, it was enough to make him feel as if his body and soul had been rinsed by clean water, and he felt an indescribable comfort over his entire body. This was the first time he had experienced this sensation ever since he had entered the Setting Sun Forest.

What’s going on? Why am I having such sensations? Does this mean that the large flower’s aroma isn’t harmful or poisonous?

Huo Yuhao was about to experiment further by inhaling a little bit more when the pink flower suddenly lit up.

A pink layer of light with the plant at the center appeared, and it reached about a hundred feet in diameter as it encompassed all the open ground around it, and Huo Yuhao as well.

Huo Yuhao began to half-squat. He didn’t run away immediately, as he had to try his best to understand more and experience more about this place, or this expedition would be wasted. Furthermore, even though he wasn’t yet considered a top-tier soul master, he had his twin martial souls and an Ultimate martial soul, so his fighting strength was comparable to most seven-ringed Soul Sages. Huo Yuhao was also relatively confident in his own abilities.

What surprised him was that he didn’t feel very different after that pink light appeared. He took a small breath, and he felt as if the aroma was becoming denser. The sensations he felt in his body were even better than before, and that smooth and comforting feeling made him feel better at controlling and manipulating his soul power.

Huo Yuhao was a spiritual-type soul master, and he could immediately tell that the aroma had a rejuvenating effect. The aroma was energizing, and made him feel exceptionally comfortable at the same time, to the point where he felt at peace, and his state of mind was lifted to an unprecedented level.

However, those weren’t things that Huo Yuhao wanted. He began to move once he could tell that the pink light dome didn’t cause him any harm, and orange-gold light flickered as the little Snow Lady appeared on his shoulder.

The Snow Lady was even more flexible with her control of Ultimate Ice, and she didn’t need to consume too much of Huo Yuhao’s soul power. The Snow Lady raised her little finger under Huo Yuhao’s direction, and a icy-blue streak of light fired towards one of the enormous flower’s petals.

The streak of light struck the flower petal, and it was immediately converted into a circle of icy-blue light that expanded outward. Ultimate Ice wasn’t a joke, and this temperature that was more than a hundred degrees below zero was absolutely fatal for plants. The enormous pink flower quivered, and its purple stamen rippled as a pink light immediately rippled from its body.

This light was a lot denser than the dome around them, and Huo Yuhao could feel a sense of majesty in all this.

The giant pink flower shook faintly in the next moment, and the chilly energy carried by the Snow Lady’s attack vanished. A fiery-red streak fired out from behind it. However, it wasn’t going for Huo Yuhao and the Snow Lady. Instead, it transformed into a fiery-red flower that was similar in structure to the original flower, but was one-tenth the size.

How strange! This was the first time that Huo Yuhao had seen anything like this, and it was truly miraculous. There was no question that this enormous pink flower was a plant-type soul beast, but the surprising thing was that its offensive capabilities weren’t that strong.

The fiery-red light didn’t come from its own body, it came from the red part of the dual-colored lake behind it!

At this moment, Huo Yuhao began to feel as if something wasn’t right. Even though he had the Ice Empress’ Armor protecting him, the air around him had become exceedingly dense, while the temperature changes were very intense. He was located at the intersection between the lake’s two parts, and this feeling was most obvious in this region. The blue lake water was cold, while the red lake water was a lot warmer. These two bodies seemed to be in conflict, but there was nothing one side could do to the other.

If it hadn’t been for his Ice Empress’ Armor, Huo Yuhao would have been affected by the temperature in this place with his current cultivation. This was especially true as the dense vital energy in the air around him didn’t seem very welcoming to him. He attempted to absorb a little bit of it, but was immediately impeded by the temperature shocks caused by the dual-colored lake. It felt as if these two varying temperatures had already integrated into the vital energy of heaven and earth, and that energy was now especially violent and aggressive.

But Huo Yuhao couldn’t just give up just like that. The Snow Lady raised her little hands under Huo Yuhao’s direction, and another icy-blue ray of light fired out toward that enormous flower.





Chapter 259: You You


This time, the fiery-red flower that was levitating in front of the enormous pink flower began to move. It rotated in the air and absorbed the icy-blue beam. The beam disappeared, while the fiery-red flower merely dimmed a little.

The Snow Lady’s attack wasn’t that powerful, but it was still Ultimate Ice. It was absorbed and dispelled so easily, so it wasn’t difficult to imagine what the red water’s temperature was like. It had to be a temperature produced by Ultimate Fire!

The large pink flower seemed to have been infuriated at this moment, and every single petal began to tremble before they started to sway rhythmically, and they shifted as if they were lifting something upwards.

Huo Yuhao’s mouth hung slack as he looked on in fright. Flower after flower that resembled the one that had just appeared were created from the red lake water and positioned behind this huge pink flower. There were thousands of them, and they congregated behind the large pink flower in throngs and masses.

This fellow can actually control the strange lake water…

Huo Yuhao hadn’t imagined he would end up facing off against so many entities that originated from Ultimate Fire, and he was almost ready to tuck tail and run without any hesitation at all. However, an amicable female voice could be heard right at this moment.

“Human, it’s your good fortune that you can make it here, but I will no longer show you mercy if you continue to provoke me.”

Huo Yuhao’s charged soul thrusters were prepared to erupt before he suddenly stopped everything. He stared at the giant pink flower before him with slack eyes and his jaw half-open as he mumbled, “You… you can talk?”

Huo Yuhao had encountered soul beasts who could talk before, but it was the first time he had seen plants who could talk.

Wang Qiu’er came up beside Huo Yuhao with a flash of golden light and grabbed his hand. Her face was full of anxiety as she muttered, “That’s a hundred-thousand year plant-type soul beast. Prepare to run!”

Yes, one hundred thousand years! Typically, only hundred-thousand year soul beasts could speak the human language. The Cerberus that he had seen before could speak the human language, and this peculiar giant flower before him also could. This meant the flower was likely to be a hundred-thousand year plant-type soul beast.

No matter how much confidence Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er had in their abilities, they would never consider themselves strong enough to fight a hundred-thousand year soul beast.

A hundred-thousand year soul beast was comparable to a powerful Titled Douluo, and certain especially formidable hundred-thousand year soul beasts could challenge a Transcendent Douluo. They had actually run into an unassailable problem!

“I’m not a hundred-thousand year soul beast.” The giant pink flower’s petals began to open and close, and her voice was just so friendly and warm that the two of them felt extremely comfortable listening to her.

“Yes, you have an aura similar to the ice well…no wonder you could break through the Jade Phosphorous Flowers outside to reach this place.” The large flower muttered under her breath, and there seemed to be a hint of excitement in her voice.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er’s soul power was completely interjoined. They glanced at each other, and they could see the astonishment in each other’s eyes. This flower was clearly a hundred-thousand year soul beast, yet she claimed that she wasn’t. Furthermore, her voice sounded warm and amicable, and it didn’t seem like she harbored any intention of attacking them.

Huo Yuhao was extremely intelligent, and immediately tried to probe the flower. “Greetings, senior. We’ve found our way here by accident, and we don’t know where this place is. We didn’t want to provoke or offend you, and I hope that you can forgive us.”

“Oh, so that’s what happened! It’s nothing much, I can forgive you.” It was easy to talk to this giant pink flower, and the fiery-red flowers that were floating in the sky returned to the red side of the lake and disappeared as she spoke. The pressure that Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er had faced before vanished in an instant.

Huo Yuhao didn’t lower his guard even though it was easy to talk to this large pink flower. He asked once more, “Senior, I don’t know where we are. Since you can speak the human language, why do you say that you’re not a hundred-thousand year soul beast?”

The large pink flower replied, “This place is called the Icefire Yin Yang Well. That person says that this place is one of the world’s Three Great Cornucopias. Since the two of you are here by accident, then please leave as quickly as you can. You are lucky to have met me. If you had run into the other short-tempered fellows, they would probably have killed you on the spot as fertilizer. However, I haven’t seen humans for a long time, and I’m very happy to see you guys here today. Quick, talk to me, and I might even consider giving you some benefits.”

The corner of Huo Yuhao’s mouth twitched, because he realized to his surprise that this amiable enormous pink flower actually liked to nag!

“Alright! Let me accompany you in conversation, then. The empty space around you should be considered safe, right? I haven’t asked yet, senior, what is your name?”

The large flower tilted as if it were a human head that was deep in thought. “That person says that I’m a medicinal herb, and he calls me the Delicate Silk Immortal. You can call me You You…yes, that name sounds good. Does it sound good?”

“Yes, it sounds really good.” Huo Yuhao hurriedly followed the large flower’s conversation. He was thinking about something else. This flower was known as the Delicate Silk Immortal, so she should also be a medicinal herb? An immortal herb, and a herb that had already evolved into a plant-type soul beast…

“You haven’t told me yet, senior. Why do you say that you’re not a hundred-thousand year soul beast?” Huo Yuhao immediately fired off another question.

The Delicate Silk Immortal giggled and said, “That’s because I haven’t lived to a hundred thousand years of age. I’m only ten thousand years old. Actually, I’m a little more than ten thousand years old, but I can’t really remember anymore.”

Wang Qiu’er beside Huo Yuhao blurted out, “That’s impossible! How can you be only ten thousand years old? If you’re just ten thousand years old, it’d be impossible for you to have enough consciousness and intelligence to evolve into a plant-type soul beast. Furthermore, you can already speak!”

You You spoke with obvious pride. “I’m sure you didn’t know this, but even though I’m not a hundred-thousand year soul beast, my abilities have reached that level. The Icefire Yin Yang Well nourishes us, so the plants that live here grow ten times faster than the plants in the outside world. That is the reason why I’m just ten thousand years old, but I’m equivalent to a hundred-thousand year plant. You humans are quite stupid, eh.”

Astonishment! You You made it sound so casual, but both Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er were full of surprise and awe as they heard this.

One day spent in this place was equivalent to ten days in the outside world. Plant-type soul beasts could grow ten times faster than if they were outside – what a terrifying number! That also meant that there were probably a lot more plant-type soul beasts in this place than they had initially thought, and they were probably far more frightening at the same time. It was just as the Delicate Silk Immortal had said, that it was their good fortune that they came to her before going anywhere else. No – Niu Tian’s guidance in his letter had saved them, because if they had gone somewhere else and encountered another short-tempered and aggressive hundred-thousand year plant-type soul beast, they would probably have been dead by now.

“Hey, why aren’t you guys talking anymore? Say something, guys. Chat with me, quickly! If not, I may decide to stop protecting you. Without my protection, even the plants and the Icefire Yin Yang Well’s aura will harm you.”

Thoughts spun in Huo Yuhao’s head, and he quickly came to a decision. He bowed respectfully towards the Delicate Silk Immortal and said, “I’m sorry, You You, I’ve lied to you, and I am now apologizing to you. The truth is that we didn’t come here by accident, and we’re here for a purpose. Someone wants me to come here to find a book. Have you seen this book?”

The Delicate Silk Immortal’s enormous flower suddenly began to sway vigorously from side to side. “Ah, ah, ah! So you have been sent by that person. It’s actually him! How is he? I haven’t seen him for so long, and he doesn’t often come back to see everyone. Tsk, tsk.”

Truthfully, Huo Yuhao didn’t know who “he” was referring to. Was it referring to Wang Dong’er’s father or Niu Tian?

“He… he should be alright. Is that book really with you?” Huo Yuhao continued to probe.

“Yes, yes. It is.” The purple stamen in the flower’s center began to sway rhythmically, and an ancient book that was crafted from some unknown material drifted into view.

Huo Yuhao was elated! Every single one of uncle Niu Tian’s words have turned out to be true. I just didn’t expect this book to be protected by a hundred-thousand year plant-type soul beast. That’s incredible! Is the Clear Sky Sect actually that powerful?

Huo Yuhao still didn’t know what other plants there were inside this place, but he was absolutely certain that this valley was filled with exotic entities and resources. Any plant here grew ten times faster than they normally would…what kind of principle was that?

“Can you give it to me, You You? Thank you.” Huo Yuhao began to feel excited as he realized that he could possibly retrieve the medicinal herb that could save Wang Dong’er’s life.

“No can do. I’ve been protecting it for ten thousand years, so how can I give it to you so easily?” You You’s answer made it sound as if she couldn’t bear to part with that book.

“Ten… ten thousand years?!” Huo Yuhao was stunned on the spot. He suddenly realized that the person that had left this book behind, the person that You You was speaking of, wasn’t Niu Tian, and neither was it Dong’er’s father. Who could that be? Ten thousand years! He left this book here for ten thousand years? That’s almost impossible to believe…

“Yes! It’s been ten thousand years. That person said that this book can only be given to his descendant, or to someone with the right destiny. Furthermore, his descendants have to undergo a test before they can claim this book. You have to do two things if you want this book: you have to prove that you’re his descendant, and then you have to pass the test. Only then can you take it.”

Huo Yuhao asked confusedly, “How can I prove that?”

The Delicate Silk Immortal’s voice became a little solemn as she said, “It’s quite dangerous if you want to prove yourself. If you are unsuccessful, then you might die; that’s the rule he left behind. He said that this place is almost like heaven on earth, and we can never let evil humans know about this place. Those that are pretending to be his descendants will have to die. I will definitely not kill you, but it’s hard to say the same about the other guys. Are you sure you want to prove that you’re his descendant?”

Huo Yuhao felt his heart skip a beat. He understood that the Delicate Silk Immortal was speaking the truth. Plant-type soul beasts could be in every corner of this place, and he probably wouldn’t even have a chance to run if they all attacked him at the same time.

Huo Yuhao’s calm and composure paid off at this moment. He pondered momentarily before he said, “You You, can you tell me how I can prove that I’m his descendant? Someone directed me here, but I do not know whether I am his descendant. I don’t wish to die, so can you tell me how I can prove that I’m his descendant? This way, I will be surer of myself.”

“Yes, alright. You have to eat an herb to test if you’re his descendant. If you survive after ingesting it, that proves that you’re his descendant, and if you die, that means you’re not.”

“Ah?” Huo Yuhao had never expected the test to be like that. There weren’t any hints or clues at all! It would be truly regrettable if he died from rashly eating some herb.

“What herb is it?” Huo Yuhao pressed the issue.

The Delicate Silk Immortal shook her large flower and said, “I can’t tell you that. If you decide to take this test, then I will bring it to you.”

“No! You can’t do it.” Wang Qiu’er exclaimed almost without hesitation, and she grabbed Huo Yuhao’s arm while she stared at him anxiously.

Huo Yuhao turned around to her, and his eyes were full of complicated emotions. “It’s likely that I will succeed, Qiu’er. Even though I don’t know what this thing about descendants is about, and I don’t know who the person who left this book behind ten thousand years ago was, I know that obtaining this book is the only way I can find the medicinal herb to save Dong’er’s life. Uncle Niu Tian directed me here, and I trust that he won’t harm me. He must think that I’m a descendant of the person that left this book behind, and so he has assigned this task to me. Therefore, I am fifty percent certain that I will be fine.”

“No! Absolutely not.” Wang Qiu’er’s words were decisive. “Fifty percent? The other fifty percent will cost you your life, don’t you know that? Do you think it’s worth it for you to die just like that? I can tell you that every single plant in this place is sophisticated, and I have studied plant-type soul beasts before. However, I do not recognize more than two-thirds of the plants in this place. Your chances of survival don’t even stand at fifty percent, I don’t even think you have a thirty percent chance to survive. If you die, I…”

Wang Qiu’er suddenly realized that Huo Yuhao didn’t seem to be listening to her. His eyes seemed a little vacant, and he was looking up diagonally into the sky, as if he were thinking about something.

Yes, Huo Yuhao was thinking, and he was thinking about Wang Dong’er.

The Wang Dong that he knew surfaced continuously in his mind, to the point when Wang Dong became Wang Dong’er.

Wang Dong was his arrogant dormmate, and then became his best buddy. They cultivated together, studied together, and teacher Zhou Yi scolded them when they were late together…

They fought side by side in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, and they fought with everything they had to defend Shrek’s honor and glory…

At the Sea God’s Fate on Sea God’s Lake, the Raiment of Light had been heavily imprinted in the deepest parts of his heart.

The truth was that he had felt that something wasn’t right with Wang Dong a long time ago, and had wanted to test her gender when they met again. However, he didn’t have to investigate anything, and she revealed her gender to him during the Sea God’s Fate.





Chapter 260.1: Polycoria


Mutual Feelings, Love at First Sight, Love at Second Sight, Destined in Three Lives, Eternal Love!

Huo Yuhao couldn’t forget about everything that had happened that day, and how beautiful she was. She’s the Clear Sky Sect’s little princess, but she still chose me without any regrets or complaints…

He could never forget the nights that he had shared with her, every night when they stayed together beneath the same roof, the same window, and every night when they cultivated together…

Huo Yuhao was absolutely certain that Wang Dong’er would give everything she had for him, too. He could feel the love she had for him, she had become a lot gentler than before, and her love for him drove this personality change. Everything fell into his eyes.

He could clearly remember that Wang Dong’er had shyly told him when she gave him the pouch that her first uncle had told her she could only give the pouch to him when she was completely sure that he was the one. This meant she was giving her entire life to him.

“Dong’er…” Tears trickled down Huo Yuhao’s cheeks. His eyes were full of the memories he had of her.

I miss you so much, Dong’er.

Wang Qiu’er looked identical to Wang Dong’er, and she was standing right next to him. However, he felt as if Dong’er was so far away from him, as if she were on the other side of the world. He really wanted to take her into his embrace at this moment.

Wang Qiu’er was stunned as she watched Huo Yuhao’s tears roll down his face. This wasn’t the first time she had seen him cry, but for some reason, she felt her heart grow cold this time. It’s obvious that his tears aren’t flowing for me… is he thinking about her?

Is she really that good? But we look exactly the same! Why? Why is this happening?

Huo Yuhao suppressed his emotions and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes as he softly pulled away Wang Qiu’er’s arm that was holding on to his own.

“You’re right, my chances of survival aren’t great.” Huo Yuhao began to speak, his expression once again calm and composed.

Wang Qiu’er was delighted. She was about to say something before Huo Yuhao turned towards the Delicate Silk Immortal and said, “You You, will I be able to leave this place in peace if I decide not to try?”

You You said, “Yes. As long as you don’t touch anything else in this place, and you’re not afraid of the intense poisons outside, then you can leave as and when you want to.” There was no question that she had a lot of self-confidence in her speech. It was still hard to say exactly how many hidden dangers there were inside this valley. At the very least, You You was confident enough that she wasn’t afraid of Huo Yuhao bringing outsiders into the place. Perhaps there were more hundred-thousand year plant-type soul beasts in this place then everywhere else on the Continent combined.

Huo Yuhao nodded and told her, “Thank you.”

He turned around and stared at Wang Qiu’er. Wang Qiu’er returned his gaze with a complicated expression in her eyes and said, “Let’s go.”

“Alright.” Huo Yuhao nodded his head gently, but his eyes were still welling up with tears.

Wang Qiu’er took the initiative to grab his hand. Even though the Delicate Silk Immortal had said she wouldn’t stop them from leaving, there were still many other dangers in this place, and it was still a lot safer for them to maintain their martial soul fusion.

However, just when Wang Qiu’er began to infuse her soul power into Huo Yuhao, she realized that her soul power didn’t connect with his.

“You…” Wang Qiu’er glanced at him in surprise. Huo Yuhao’s wrist suddenly flipped around at this moment, and he used the Tang Sect’s Arresting Technique to accurately pinch Wang Qiu’er’s carpal vein as he injected soul power into her. Wang Qiu’er immediately felt as if half her body had become extremely numb.

Huo Yuhao then raised his right palm and sliced down onto her neck. Wang Qiu’er’s pretty eyes were fixed on Huo Yuhao with a look of incredulity, but her body still crumpled downwards like a rag doll. Not in her wildest dreams did she expect Huo Yuhao to attack her!

Huo Yuhao pulled gently and supported her waist with his right hand as he carefully placed her flat on the ground.

Huo Yuhao was very apologetic as he said, “I’m sorry, Qiu’er. I know you won’t let me make this choice if I don’t do this to you. Yes, you’re right; it’s very likely that I will fail this test. However, if I don’t even have the courage to try it, I will be letting Dong’er down.”

His expression became extremely relaxed when he uttered the last few words. Huo Yuhao gazed into the horizon and said, “We are bound to do crazy things from time to time in our lives. Dong’er, my only hope is that I can see you again.”

“Whew… you’re such an idiot!” Skydream’s voice rang out in Huo Yuhao’s mind.

Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned, and he frowned faintly as he replied, “Are you going to stop me too, brother Skydream? I…”

Skydream said plainly, “That’s enough, you don’t have to say anything more. Just do it. Why would I stop you? If the Ice Empress were the one that was injured, I wouldn’t cower away, either! Furthermore, you’re underestimating how strong your body is. Don’t forget that your body has absorbed Life Gold before, and you possess Ultimate Ice as well. You went through so much suffering when you fused with the Ice Empress back then, and the circumstances were so difficult, but you did it anyway. Your willpower is far superior to that of the average person, and I don’t believe you will die just from eating some herb.”

Huo Yuhao said, “What if it’s poison?”

Skydream grunted and said, “It’ll be perfect if it’s poison. Do you know the Delicate Silk Immortal’s identity? She’s so high up in the hierarchy that she can be considered above the other immortal-level herbs. I think most of the other plant-type soul beasts within the valley will listen to her command. I am also a soul beast, and I can feel that she doesn’t harbor any hostility against you. What’s more important is that the Delicate Silk Immortal possesses formidable resistance against poison. The reason why there aren’t any other plants growing around her is because she is the natural counter to all toxins. With her beside you, all you have to do is breathe vigorously even if you’ve been poisoned. It would be quite hard to die from it even if you wanted to.”

Huo Yuhao’s eyes grew a little slack. “Why didn’t you tell me that earlier? If I could have explained to that to her, then I wouldn’t have had to knock her unconscious. When she wakes up, I…”

Skydream’s tone was a little arrogant as he said, “I just woke up.”

“Alright, you win.”

He had been so sure he was going to die, but that negative thought was immediately converted into absolute confidence after he listened to Skydream’s consolations. Yes! How can an herb kill me? I don’t believe that.

Huo Yuhao’s thoughts stopped here as he stepped before the Delicate Silk Immortal. He lowered his voice and said, “Please give me that herb. I am willing to undergo this assessment.”

“Hehe! That’s great! You’re so courageous. Let me think, what should I give you?” The Delicate Silk Immortal was clearly quite ecstatic, and her enormous pink blossom was tossing from side to side.

Huo Yuhao immediately became despondent. What’s happening? Has she not decided upon the herb way before this? Why is she making an impromptu decision? This Delicate Silk Immortal is so eccentric…!

The Delicate Silk Immortal seemed to detect the changes in his emotions. She spoke with a scolding voice, “Don’t worry. I’ve been alive for far too long, so it’s normal that my memory isn’t fantastic. Let me take a look at you.”

A purple beam of light floated out from her stamen as she spoke and landed on Huo Yuhao. Huo Yuhao maintained his vigilance, but the Delicate Silk Immortal’s ability arrived with no warning, and he couldn’t detect anything with his Spiritual Detection, either. This meant the Delicate Silk Immortal was stronger than he was in every possible way, and if he wanted to stop it, he could only meet force with force, because he had no chance of avoiding it.

Fortunately, the purple beam didn’t contain any hostility at all. The Delicate Silk Immortal withdrew it after a while and muttered to herself, “So, that’s the case. Let me give you this.”

Another purple beam shot out from her stamen as she spoke. This purple beam fired into the distance, and reached one hundred meters across the valley before it landed in a patch of vegetation.

The purple beam paused momentarily before it was withdrawn. Huo Yuhao had powerful eyes, and he could instantly tell that there was a single plant at the other end of it now.

This herb was entirely unassuming, and its entire body was bluish-green. What was strange was that the plant had three snowy-white leaves in the center, and there were several drops of water in the middle of these leaves, as if they were the remnants of the morning’s dew.

Huo Yuhao knew nothing about this herb. He had no idea what it was, and the herb was quickly brought before him under the Delicate Silk Immortal’s guidance.

It was impossible for Huo Yuhao not to be nervous. This herb could be mortally dangerous to him, after all! Huo Yuhao’s eyes focused as he stared at the herb. “You You, how should I consume it?”

The Delicate Silk Immortal answered, “First, let me ask you a question. You’ve come to the Icefire Yin Yang Well today, and no matter who told you about it, you must have a reason for being here. What are you doing here?”

Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and said, “I’m here in search of a magical herb, called the Yearning Heartbroken Grass. I need it to save someone’s life.”

The Delicate Silk Immortal said, “Yes, that must be it. I knew nobody would attempt to go through all those poison clouds for no reason at all. Lift your head and open your mouth.”

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath. It was impossible for him not to be hesitant about something that concerned his life or death. However, the thought that Dong’er could collapse in front of him and there would be nothing he could do about it flashed across his mind, and whatever hesitation he had before vanished into thin air. He gradually raised his head and opened his mouth, his eyes even more determined now.

The Delicate Silk Immortal controlled the herb and slowly brought it before Huo Yuhao. She tilted the plant, and the transparent dewdrop-like water droplets on its leaves immediately flowed into Huo Yuhao’s mouth.

Huo Yuhao felt a sweet taste flow down his throat, and a crisp aroma that refreshed his heart and mind immediately filled every corner of his body.

Is this poisonous? Why does it taste so good? Huo Yuhao was still thinking to himself when he realized to his surprise that the herb was rapidly wilting away after the dewdrop-like liquid flowed into his mouth. The plant became a pile of dust in no time, and all it left behind were a few seed-like pods.

Purple light flashed, and these tiny seeds flew far away into the distance. Nobody knew what the Delicate Silk Immortal had in mind for them.

There’s no reaction at all? Huo Yuhao immediately channeled and circulated his soul power after ingesting those droplets as he protected his internal organs.





Chapter 260.2: Polycoria


Huo Yuhao discovered that the liquid worked similarly to the Delicate Silk Immortal’s fragrance. It was extremely easy absorb it, and the liquid immediately became part of him once he ingested it, so there was no way he could separate it with his soul power. He didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. Instead, clean and refreshing sensations coursed over his entire body, feeling very comfortable.

Huo Yuhao didn’t dare to delay. He sat down cross-legged and quietly felt all the delicate changes that were happening to his body.

It didn’t take long before the thing he was waiting for arrived.

The refreshing sensations extended across his entire body at first, but that feeling gradually started to withdraw and follow his veins through his limbs as they travelled upward towards his head.

This poison targets the head? Huo Yuhao felt his heart skip a beat. The brain was the most intricate part of the human body, and it was also the most important part, as the spiritual sea was located inside the brain. If toxins damaged the brain, even if he survived the ordeal, he could lose his rationality and his ability to think.

Huo Yuhao controlled his soul power, and his soul power immediately congregated into seven defensive lines at breakneck speed. These defensive lines webbed over his body in an attempt to block that fresh and chilly feeling from pushing up into his head. He reached downward with his spiritual power at the same time and combined it with his soul power, so that he could make use of the Sovereign Descent’s mystical effects.

From Huo Yuhao’s perspective, fusing his soul power and his spiritual power provided an all-round defense, and was probably enough to barricade that peculiar herb’s effects.

However, Huo Yuhao realized he was wrong when the refreshing sensation surged up into his head. The herb’s effects didn’t travel along his passageways like his soul power did! The sensation had integrated into his veins, and it circulated through his body along with his blood!

Huo Yuhao reacted quickly once he discovered this, and he swiftly sealed off his veins and passageways.

This response was effective. His veins stopped circulating, and since the herb’s effects were sealed within his veins, they also stopped flowing through his body.

Huo Yuhao heaved a faint sigh of relief, but he quickly realized that he was just being daft. How long could he seal off his veins and passageways? Completely sealing off his veins meant that he was stopping his heart from beating. Even though he was a powerful Soul King, he could probably only keep this up for several minutes before he would die from the lack of oxygen.

If the herb’s effects were concentrated in one place, he could let blood from his body into that area so that he could expel the toxin from his body. However, the problem was that the herb’s effects were pouring in from every single part of his body! That meant that there was no way he could completely expel the toxin from his body unless he drained every single ounce of blood that he had.

What kind of herb is this? It’s so fierce and formidable. Huo Yuhao’s mind began to work at lightning speed as countless thoughts surfaced in his mind in an attempt to find a solution. However, his efforts were was futile; he couldn’t find an appropriate response for this problem.

He had now kept his veins sealed for a little too long, and he began to feel weak and suffocated. He couldn’t keep this up for much longer.

That’s it… looks like I can only take the hit.

Huo Yuhao recalled what Skydream had just said to him, that toxins were useless as long as he was around the Delicate Silk Immortal. Since that was the case, then it was possible that the Delicate Silk Immortal hadn’t given him poison. If so, then what could possibly happen to him if the herb’s effects integrated with his body? He could only truly feel how it would affect his body through the integration process.

It was better to try it than to let himself die from suffocation. With that in mind, Huo Yuhao gradually withdrew his spiritual power back into his spiritual sea, before slowly reopening his veins so that his blood could flow once more.

The refreshing feelings appeared as soon as his veins were released. The sensations continued flowing upward through his veins, and slowly congregated towards his head.

Huo Yuhao concentrated all his attention on the flow of these sensations. The clean and refreshing feeling quickly reached across his chest, but didn’t attack his heart in any way as it continued travelling upward, just as he had suspected.

The sensations swiftly crossed his neck. Even though Huo Yuhao was controlling the speed of his blood flow, the refreshing feeling was bound to continue upward as it flowed along with his blood. The sensations rushed into Huo Yuhao’s head, but they didn’t launch an attack against his spiritual sea or against his brain – they just exploded.

This eruption made Huo Yuhao momentarily confused and hysterical. He felt a cold and clean-feeling wave burst across his brain, and there was an indescribable restrictive feeling about everything. The sensations then began to congregate towards his eyes as if they were all rivers flowing into an ocean.

Oh no! Huo Yuhao lost his composure as he suddenly considered a possibility. What did the Delicate Silk Immortal discover when she surveyed his body? She was trying to inspect his martial soul! His martial soul was his Spirit Eyes, so the Delicate Silk Immortal picked an herb that specifically targeted his Spirit Eyes.

The intensely refreshing feeling had completely covered his eyes at this moment. Huo Yuhao felt as if his Spirit Eyes were being continuously rinsed by a peculiar force, as if something was being continuously injected inside them. What confused him was the fact that he didn’t feel any agonizing sensations at all, and though he tried everything to make this feeling disappear, nothing worked. He couldn’t do anything even when he sealed off his veins and blood flow.

Does she want to obliterate my Spirit Eyes? That was what Huo Yuhao was most afraid of. However, he was already stuck in this situation, and the only thing he could do was channel his soul and spiritual power, and do all he could to protect his Spirit Eyes.

His Spirit Eyes were neither fragile nor weak. They were his main martial soul, and had been cultivated constantly through the Purple Demon Eyes, so they could in fact be considered powerful and formidable. Simply put, even if Huo Yuhao’s eyes were stabbed by normal metal, it was unlikely they would be hurt.

Spiritual power circulated around and through his Spirit Eyes. The refreshing sensation’s backflow and absorption seemed extremely quick, and the feelings gradually disappeared. Huo Yuhao became increasingly nervous. He was most afraid that this peculiar force would erupt again after integrating into his body, and completely destroy his Spirit Eyes.

The clean and fresh feeling slowly became fiery warmth. His eyes felt as if they were being bathed in lukewarm water, and his soul power and spiritual power became supplements for absorbing the herb’s effects. Huo Yuhao didn’t feel any pain, nor did he experience the eruption that he was expecting. Instead, he could feel an unprecedented degree of comfort in his eyes. The energy that had been injected into his eyes was nourishing his Spirit Eyes, and every pulse of absorption made him feel incredibly comfortable.

This… is this actually a harmful herb? Doubt finally surfaced in Huo Yuhao’s mind. Can it be that I am that person’s chosen one, the person that the Delicate Silk Immortal speaks of? It seems like my judgment was correct. Uncle Niu Tian dared to send me here, and that means I should be able to pass the assessment in front of me.

His anxieety slowly faded, and he began to regain his composure. Huo Yuhao continued channeling his soul power and spiritual power as he began to catalyze his absorption of the herb’s medicinal effects.

The girl that he had knocked unconscious came to right at this moment.

Wang Qiu’er possessed the Golden Dragon martial soul, and her physical capabilities were extremely powerful, and Huo Yuhao hadn’t used that much force when he sliced down on her neck. It didn’t take too long before she naturally recovered by herself.

Wang Qiu’er couldn’t be bothered with being angry when she saw Huo Yuhao sitting on the ground with his legs crossed. She didn’t even have to think to guess what he had done.

“You’re such an idiot!” Wang Qiu’er cursed under her breath, her large pinkish-blue eyes full of worry and anxiety. She targeted the Delicate Silk Immortal in the next moment, and pointed the Golden Dragon Spear in her hands as she exclaimed, “What… what did you give him?”

The Delicate Silk Immortal giggled and said, “I have given him something good, of course. But I won’t give it to you even if you want it.”

Wang Qiu’er said coldly, “Listen… if something happens to him, I will make sure you die right where you are even if I have to pay with my life. I may even destroy everything else in this place. You’d better pray that nothing happens to him.”

The Delicate Silk Immortal was a little surprised as she said, “You sound like you have a lot of self-confidence. Where is your confidence coming from?”

Wang Qiu’er looked up at the sky as she gradually raised the Golden Dragon Spear in her hands. Her body became a little translucent, and a strange energy flowed from her body in the next moment.

She was shining with a faint scarlet-gold light. This light wasn’t intense, and neither were there any soul power undulations. However, the Delicate Silk Immortal’s enormous flower trembled when this scarlet-golden light appeared, and even the plants around them started to quiver faintly.

“You… how can you possess a power like that? You, you…” The Delicate Silk Immortal’s voice was no longer smooth, as if she had suddenly recalled something.

The scarlet-gold light was withdrawn as Wang Qiu’er said coldly, “Tell me what you’ve given him, and whether he will be alright. I will make sure everyone else will die with him if he dies.”

“Calm down. I didn’t give him anything bad,” the Delicate Silk Immortal explained hurriedly, as if she were a little fearful of Wang Qiu’er now.

“You didn’t give him anything bad?” Wang Qiu’er asked doubtfully.

“No!” The Delicate Silk Immortal continued, “That person left this rule behind all those years ago, and this rule is targeted at the people who come to this place in search of medicine and herbs to save someone’s life. The truth is that there isn’t a fixed herb for all these adventurers, and I choose the herb on a case-by-case basis. First, I have to be sure that the adventurer is here to save a life, and then I have to see whether the adventurer has the courage to consume the herb that I’ll eventually give him. If the adventurer decides to consume this herb, that proves he or she has the courage, and this adventurer is willing to sacrifice his or her own life to save someone else. I will approve of a person like this, and this adventurer will be worthy of undergoing the subsequent assessment.”

Wang Qiu’er’s eyes grew vacant as her jaw hung slack. “This… what’s going on?” She turned back towards Huo Yuhao, where she saw a scarlet-gold sphere hovering above his head, while scarlet-gold light threads gradually wove and integrated themselves into his eyes.

The Delicate Silk Immortal said, “That person said that this is a test of a person’s personality, and a person cannot be evil if he or she is willing to sacrifice his or her life for someone else. Yes, he’s courageous enough, and I’ve given him a mystical herb that’s extremely suitable for him, and he should be thanking me. Please don’t use that ability that you just showed me. Even though it’s likely that we won’t be able to resist it, you will definitely die along with us.”





Chapter 260.3: Polycoria


Wang Qiu’er grunted coldly and said, “Why would I fight you to the death if you hadn’t threatened us? This guy is so foolish, but he has his fool’s luck. The person that you speak of is a real bastard…”

Somewhere deep within the clouds in some unknown place, that person unwittingly sneezed…

The Delicate Silk Immortal was a little displeased as she said, “You are not allowed to speak ill of him, he’s a very good person. He could have destroyed us all when he first came here, but he didn’t, and he even gave us a general plan so that we could use the Icefire Yin Yang Well’s effects to grow as quickly as we could. He’s our savior! Otherwise, I wouldn’t help him at all!”

Huo Yuhao did profit from his misfortune, after all. The refreshing feeling in his eyes gradually disappeared. He felt as if his spiritual power had been boosted, and that this transformation was qualitative rather than quantitative.

The water inside his spiritual sea was originally golden, but there was now a blurry purple layer of light hovering above it. Both colors merged together to become a beautiful hue of purple-gold.

Huo Yuhao’s entire spiritual sea was now in his grasp when he willed it so, and even Skydream, who had transformed into a ring on his finger, had a faint purple layer encircling him.

The vertical eye above his spiritual sea that represented the Eye of Destiny didn’t change much. That also meant that the herb had only affected his Spirit Eyes.

Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes after the last of the herb’s effects had been assimilated. He realized to his intense shock that the world had become entirely different when he perceived it again.

The world around him seemed to be a lot more colorful than before. His eyes could detect the most delicate and intricate changes in his surroundings, and he could see the peculiarities of every detail even when he didn’t release his martial soul.

Huo Yuhao looked up at the sky above him. What he saw wasn’t those rainbow-colored poison clouds. Instead, he saw countless minute particles, and he could distinguish each particle’s color even though he was quite far from them.

Huo Yuhao turned back towards the Delicate Silk Immortal, and he realized that he could see the vast life energy circulating inside her. This life energy was a faint pink color, and it wove continually between her petals, stamen, and neck. He could even see what the energy undulations were like in the lake behind her.

Huo Yuhao released his Spirit Eyes – he subconsciously wanted to try and see how his body would react with his Spirit Eyes activated – and he discovered that time began to slow.

Huo Yuhao scrutinized everything with his Spirit Eyes. Not only did everything become a lot clearer than before, but everything seemed to also slow down. This sensation was just too strange, to the point where he almost couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

What he had just ingested wasn’t a harmful herb, it was a mystical herb that was exceedingly beneficial for his Spirit Eyes!

This feeling clearly represented the Purple Demon Eyes’ highest level!

Of the Purple Demon Eye’s four different realms, Huo Yuhao had already reached the third realm. However, he had now ferociously broken through the third realm to reach the final realm, Mustard Seed. The ability to see even the smallest details represented the highest possible realm. Furthermore, his spiritual power also began to evolve along with his Spirit Eyes.

Huo Yuhao activated Spiritual Detection, as this was the soul skill that he used most often. When he did, he could see faint purplish-golden light radiating outwards, with his Spirit Eyes at the center. Everything that this purple light reached was presented in his mind as clear as could be, and he could now use Spiritual Detection on the Delicate Silk Immortal where it had failed utterly before.

This… is this a crystallization of spiritual power? It’s a qualitative change, it really is!

“This isn’t an actual crystallization of your spiritual power – true crystallization should mean your spiritual power should have both form and substance, and I never reached that level even when I was at the pinnacle of my cultivation. My spiritual power is extremely vast, as I have accumulated it for a million years. If I had reached the realm where my spiritual power had both form and substance, heh, those bastards in the Great Star Dou Forest would have scampered away.” Skydream’s voice was clearly a little excited. He was the happiest one when he witnessed the transformations occurring within Huo Yuhao’s Spirit Eyes and to his spiritual power. Skydream was Huo Yuhao’s spirit, and that meant Skydream was a direct beneficiary of all of this, too!

Huo Yuhao hurriedly asked mentally, “Brother Skydream – what realm am I in now?”

Skydream answered, “I think you’ve already entered the metaphysical realm, even though you’re just at the beginner level. However, this realm is an important checkpoint that ninety-nine percent of spiritual-type soul masters and soul beasts absolutely have to cross. I originally imagined that it would have been quite impressive if you could reach that realm within ten years, but who knew? You have skyrocketed to this realm after eating that thing. You will understand when you listen to my explanation…

“When your spiritual power has form but no substance, you can even use spiritual power to suppress your Ultimate Ice soul power, and you can envelop your soul power when you cultivate so that it will no longer affect your body. Your cultivation speed will no longer be affected by Ultimate Ice, not in the least. Your cultivation speed after this can even surpass that of normal soul masters, while every single spiritual-type soul skill that you possess has undergone a qualitative change as well.

“You can absorb another portion of the spiritual origin that I’ve sealed away in your spiritual sea. I will help you with that when we return, so that you can completely consolidate your position in this realm.

“When you have cultivated long enough that you’ve reached the pinnacle of this realm, then you can attempt to break through into the realm where your spiritual power has both form and substance. Once you’ve reached that stage, nobody else in the world can challenge you in terms of spiritual power!”

This pleasant surprise was simply too great. Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power had been strengthened exponentially, while his overall abilities had also risen by an entire level. Even though his soul power wasn’t boosted at all, his spiritual power had changed qualitatively to the point where he had reached the metaphysical realm, and that meant improvements in his soul power weren’t that far away.

“Hey, hey…are you alright?” An extremely displeased voice suddenly jolted Huo Yuhao awake from his pleasant surprise.

Wang Qiu’er had seen him open his eyes, and then she realized that he was just smiling foolishly to himself. Wang Qiu’er was startled when his eyes began to shine with a faint purplish-golden light that began to extend outwards, because she had a feeling as though she was completely naked and exposed to a certain someone’s vision. The feeling of being stripped naked didn’t feel so good, and Huo Yuhao’s pupils had also began to undergo some peculiar transformations.

His pupils were originally pure black in color, but there now seemed to be another pupil within them – this pupil was purple, and the two pupils in a single eye became purple and gold when he released his Spirit Eyes. Everything looked extremely strange and peculiar.

“This is… is this your body soul’s second awakening?” Wang Qiu’er asked in surprise.

Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned. “My body soul’s second awakening? I don’t think so…”

Wang Qiu’er handed him a mirror. “Look at your eyes! Why would there be such a tremendous transformation if your body soul hasn’t been awakened for the second time?”

Huo Yuhao was also overcome with astonishment when he took the mirror and stared at his own pupils.

I have four pupils now! I… I actually have polycoria! This is the White Tiger Duke’s iconic polycoria!

Back in the day, he had been despised as the runt of the litter because he didn’t have polycoria, and the others in the duke’s mansion looked down on him for that. His martial soul had mutated because of the genes that his mother had passed down to him, and this made everyone treat him like a useless piece of trash.

If… if I had been born with polycoria, and inherited the White Tiger Duke’s White Tiger martial soul, the duke’s wife would have never dared to treat my mother like she did, no matter how outrageous she was. Oh heavens, do you know how unfair you were to me and my mother? Why did you have to torment us like that?

Huo Yuhao felt countless emotions rush to his head as these thoughts ran through his mind. His Spirit Eyes had evolved, and it was likely that his martial soul had been awakened for the second time, so he should be happy. However, he couldn’t feel happy at all, and his mother’s image filled every corner of his mind.

“Eh, are you so touched and grateful that you’ve been overcome with astonishment?” the Delicate Silk Immortal asked curiously.

Huo Yuhao gradually calmed his emotions, but his eyes were still full of sullenness and grief.

Wang Qiu’er wanted to get him back for knocking her unconscious after he woke up. However, she could see the dejection in his eyes, and she swallowed everything that she wanted to say.

“What’s up?” Wang Qiu’er touched his shoulder gently.

Huo Yuhao shook his head and got to his feet. “My Spirit Eyes and my spiritual power have undergone some transformations after I absorbed that herb. You’re right, it’s possible that this is the second awakening of my Spirit Eyes, but I can’t be sure at the moment.”

Wang Qiu’er said, “You should really thank You You.” She immediately repeated everything that You You had said to her before this.

This was the test? Huo Yuhao was no longer that little resentful and vengeful youth that he had been when he first departed from the Duke’s mansion. His grief was fleeting, and he quickly recovered from it.

“You You, if I hadn’t taken that herb and I decided to leave with Wang Qiu’er, what would you have done?” Huo Yuhao didn’t directly express his gratitude, and asked this question instead.

The Delicate Silk Immortal heaved a sigh. “Why are you so smart? A question like this hurts our relationship. If you hadn’t taken the herb, that would only mean that you’re not determined and you’re extremely selfish. How would a person like this not tell anyone else about this place? Even though we are confident in being self-sufficient and of defending ourselves, there are just too many humans, and we can’t be sure if we can protect our home in the end. According to that person, we can do what we want to you. If you had the ability to break through from here, then you should be allowed to leave.”





Chapter 261.1: The Blazing Delicate Apricot's Test


Wang Qiu’er was taken aback, and her eyes immediately grew sharp. She understood now, the Delicate Silk Immortal had made thing very clear. If Huo Yuhao hadn’t chosen to risk his life to ingest that herb, they would probably have faced an all-out assault from the plant-type soul beasts around the Icefire Yin Yang Well. There was no need to discuss the other plants around them, as the hundred-thousand year Delicate Silk Immortal herself wasn’t a force that they could deal with. In other words, Huo Yuhao’s impulsiveness had actually saved their lives!

Huo Yuhao’s expression was calm. His spiritual sea had been boosted once more, and his mind had become more transparent and clearer than before. That outcome was something that he had guessed would happen, so it didn’t come as a surprise to him.

Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh and said, “It seems like I’ve been blessed with a fortuitous opportunity among all the dangers and perils. That means, You You, I don’t have to thank you. What I want to know is, what test will I have to go through after this? What test will I have to complete to obtain that book?”

The Delicate Silk Immortal puffed indignantly and said, “You should still thank me. Look, the Fullmoon Piercing Autumn Dew I chose for you is so compatible with you. Even though the Fullmoon Piercing Autumn Dew can’t be considered the best magical herb around here, it’s still ranked amongst the immortal herbs, and it’s also one of the most appropriate herbs for you in this place. Furthermore, it’s the easiest to absorb. I didn’t let you feel any pain or suffering at all!”

Huo Yuhao forced a laugh and said, “But I’ve sustained a lot of emotional pain. Alright, thank you, then. You can tell me about the test I have to go through now.”

The Delicate Silk Immortal was satisfied as she said, “That’s better. The test before this has proven that your personality is trustworthy. That means, the subsequent test will be about your abilities. You can’t protect this book even if you have it if you’re not strong enough, yes? Therefore, according to what that person said, you have to display sufficient ability before you can take this book. You will have to fight against a soul beast suitable for your level to prove that you have sufficient strength. This combat…”

“Wait, can you get to the point?” Huo Yuhao had no choice but to interrupt the Delicate Silk Immortal, as she was just too long-winded. If he were to let her continue like this, he would probably start feeling dizzy by the time there was a conclusion.

The Delicate Silk Immortal grunted and said, “It hasn’t been easy for me to find someone to talk to, and you’re not going to let me talk more? Do you have any courtesy left in you? Hmph, I will choose a strong one for you, then. Ah Jiao, Ah Jiao, are you there? Please answer me if you are!”

Ah Jiao? Huo Yuhao’s eyes focused, and a strange event occurred. The four pupils in his eyes flickered at the same time, and his dual pupils fused together, with the purple pupil behind and his black pupil in front. The purple pupil was slightly larger, and it appeared as if his black pupil had a purple light around it.

Huo Yuhao released his Spirit Eyes, and purple and black light sparkled at the same time. If one didn’t inspect them closely, one would only be able to see that his eyes had become entirely purple-golden. He hadn’t released his Purple Demon Eyes, and yet his eyes were already purple-gold.

“Ah Jiao, Ah Jiao, please answer me! Otherwise, I’m going to disturb you.” The Delicate Silk Immortal’s petals began to flap around as she spoke, and a white streak of light appeared from the white part of the lake before condensing in the air as ice crystals. The crystals instantly lined up in a formation as they pushed towards the center of the shore on the red side.

“You’re so irritating, You You, you garrulous thing. You’re interrupting my pleasant dreams again!” an intensely displeased voice was finally heard. It was also a female voice. However, her voice was a lot brighter and crisper, and she didn’t have You You’s tenderness. Her voice sounded a little more…valiant?

A red sphere lit up on the red lake’s shore in the distance, and Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er could finally see where this other enormous talking flower was located.

This plant was completely fiery-red. It didn’t really look like a flower, and was instead extremely tall. It was almost ten feet tall, while the open flower was slightly smaller than the Delicate Silk Immortal in diameter, and in the shape of a cabbage. Its entire body seemed like it had been sculpted from red rubies. It glowed once more, and the temperature of the air inside the valley rose a little bit.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu’er were both highly resistant to heat, but they could still feel heatwaves smacking them in the face, and they instinctively channeled their soul power to fight against them.

The Delicate Silk Immortal said, “Ah Jiao, can’t you see that we have visitors? You shall conduct this assessment. I can lift a burden off my chest if he can pass this test.”

The plant referred to as Ah Jiao answered, “What burden do you have to lift? Isn’t it just about the crystals that we have cultivated for many years? I sincerely hope that nobody comes to visit us.”

The Delicate Silk Immortal giggled and said, “What’s wrong with that? We don’t have any use for the crystals even if we keep them. Furthermore, he may not even pass your test. Without that person’s help all those years ago, we would have ceased to exist. Why do you have to be so petty? If you are that unwilling, then I will let Aniseed do it. This will prove that Aniseed is more powerful than you are.”

“Nonsense! How is that scoundrel stronger than me? It’s obvious that I’m stronger, so you shut up! Come here, little boy, and let me teach you a lesson. Please bugger off from this place as soon as you lose.”

The fiery-red plant trembled, and a red beam of light soared from her body into the sky. A strange scene appeared – the dense vegetation in the valley suddenly opened a path as the plants on the ground separated to either side, and a path was created all the way from the Delicate Silk Immortal to where the fiery-red plant was located.

The Delicate Silk Immortal said to Huo Yuhao, “Go, go! Ah Jiao’s temper isn’t so good, and she is known as the Blazing Delicate Apricot. She’s a fire-type immortal herb, and she’s extremely hot. Furthermore, you will be affected by the Blazing Sunspring when you’re fighting over there.”

Huo Yuhao laughed bitterly and said, “She is a hundred-thousand year soul beast, and I only have five soul rings. She has every advantage possible, doesn’t that mean I’m just throwing my life away if I carry on with this test?”

The Delicate Silk Immortal said, “Are you stupid? I never said that you have to defeat her. All you have to do is pass the test. Quickly, now! You cannot ask me how you can pass this test, as everyone does it differently. It’s all up to you now!”

Huo Yuhao knew that he couldn’t back down at a time like this. Furthermore, for some reason, his other senses had risen to another level after his Spirit Eyes evolved, and he could even detect a little bit of another person’s thoughts and feelings. For instance, he could feel intense worry and anxiety from Wang Qiu’er beside him, while he didn’t feel any hostility or evil intentions from the Delicate Silk Immortal. It felt like this large flower and the plants around them no longer harbored any hostility or aggression towards them after he had passed the first test.

Huo Yuhao was naturally a lot more confident than before with this realization. He nodded in Wang Qiu’er’s direction before he widened his stride and stepped onto the path that the plants had opened.

Wang Qiu’er hurriedly attempted to follow him, but the plants before her immediately closed up and sealed off her path. Voluminous vines swept into the sky and transformed into a barricade that prevented her from moving forward.

“You can’t go. This is a test that he has to face by himself!” the Delicate Silk Immortal’s voice rang out.

Wang Qiu’er shot a cold glare at her and said, “Have you forgotten what I said before this?”

“Uh… don’t be like that. Okay, okay, I’ll just tell you secretly. No danger will come to him even if he fails the test, as everybody is now treating him like a friend after he passed the personality test. Come, chat with me. The two of you can leave in peace even if he doesn’t pass this test.”

Wang Qiu’er glanced at her. She wasn’t afraid that the flower was lying to her, and so she decided to sit down on the spot. However, she didn’t utter a single sound, let alone chat with the Delicate Silk Immortal.

The Delicate Silk Immortal was becoming a little bored and dejected. Her large pink flower began to droop as she muttered under her breath, “You’re not interesting at all. You think you possess…”

“Shut up!” Wang Qiu’er fired off another fiery glare as golden light erupted and an intimidating look flowed from her pinkish-blue eyes. The plants around her arched backward conspicuously, as if they had been blown back by a gust of strong wind.

The Delicate Silk Immortal said hurriedly, “Alright, alright! Calm down, calm down! I’ll just stop talking…”

Huo Yuhao didn’t hear their conversation, as his attention had been locked entirely onto the Blazing Delicate Apricot ever since he stepped onto the path created by those plants.

There was no question that she was a formidable fire-type plant soul beast, and she was a hundred-thousand year soul beast as well. He knew that he was no match for her, but according to what the Delicate Silk Immortal had said, he didn’t have to defeat her. Since that was the case, then all he could do was give everything he had.

The Icefire Yin Yang Well comprised two lakes, but its surface area wasn’t that big. Huo Yuhao stepped forward steadily and quickly followed the path to where the Blazing Delicate Apricot was located.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot was clearly a lot fiercer than the Delicate Silk Immortal was. Not a single plant grew within two hundred feet around her, and the plants that lived beyond two hundred feet were mostly red, or close to red. There was no question that they were all fire-type plants.

Huo Yuhao didn’t know much about this mystical place, but he had been observing everything around him ever since he had arrived. He had discovered through his observations that the plants in this mystical cornucopia had their own hierarchy. The plants that were located closer to the Icefire Yin Yang Well were either highly resistant to intense chill or intense heat, or they were extremely compatible with these temperatures. That also meant the plants closer to the lake were stronger than the others. The Delicate Silk Immortal and the Blazing Delicate Apricot grew by the lakeshore, and there was no doubt that these two flowers were some of the strongest entities in this place.

The Delicate Silk Immortal grew at a location near the lake’s intersection, meaning her element was relatively neutral, and she didn’t lean towards ice or fire. However, the Blazing Delicate Apricot before him was undoubtedly the dominant one among all the fire-type plants, as she took up the central spot on the Blazing Sunspring’s shore.





Chapter 261.2: The Blazing Delicate Apricot's Test


All these discoveries were important to Huo Yuhao. At least, it was a start to understanding this place better.

He took another step and finally entered that barren patch of land. Huo Yuhao immediately felt a wave of intense and scorching heat hit him in the face, and even his clothes began to smell burnt. The air around him was rippling from the heat!

It’s so hot!

Huo Yuhao almost instinctively unleashed his Ice Empress’ Armor, which covered his entire body. Ultimate Ice was Ultimate Ice after all, and even though Huo Yuhao was still a world away from the Blazing Delicate Apricot’s cultivation and close to the Blazing Sunspring, he still had enough strength to protect himself in such an environment.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot quivered faintly as she said, “Eh? Ultimate Ice. It’s no wonder You You wants me to do it. Little guy, let me see if your Ultimate Ice is stronger, or if my Ultimate Fire is stronger.”

Huo Yuhao forced a laugh and replied, “That doesn’t seem very fair senior, as our cultivations are not equal in the first place. Furthermore, you have the Blazing Sunspring behind you that You You speaks of, so my abilities will be greatly reduced. How could I be a match for you?”

The Blazing Delicate Apricot grunted and said, “Weren’t you extremely courageous when you ingested the Fullmoon Piercing Autumn Dew? Why are you cowering away now?”

Huo Yuhao answered seriously, “I’m not cowering away. The only thing is that book is extremely important to me, and I absolutely have to pass your test. Therefore, all I’m hoping for is that the test will be more just and fair. I also believe that you’re not the kind to bully weaker individuals.”

The Blazing Delicate Apricot said plainly, “Saying all that is useless. My test has been predetermined, and what you shall face is an opponent that is equal to your abilities – Ultimate Fire. However, your opponent will be supported by the Blazing Sunspring, and you will pass if you defeat your opponent. Otherwise, you can leave.”

The Blazing Delicate Apricot leaned backwards vigorously as she spoke, and a peculiar fiery-red whirlpool suddenly appeared in front of the flower. The whirlpool resembled a colossal whale sucking in water as it drew in a large pool of fiery-red spring water from the Blazing Sunspring before firing the water into the air in a violent pillar.

The fiery-red pillar of water condensed and didn’t fall apart. The air around it began to twist energetically and contort wherever this pillar passed, and the temperature within the valley skyrocketed once more.

“The test has begun!” the Blazing Delicate Apricot’s emotionless voice rang out.

The purplish-golden light in Huo Yuhao’s eyes became more intense as he half-crouched, and he made a pose as if he were about to erupt at any moment. His right hand’s Darkgolden Terrorclaw lashed out, and a bluish-green light shone like a wave from his chest.

The fiery-red pillar descended from the sky and came directly for Huo Yuhao.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot’s voice could be heard once more. “Oh, yes. You’re not allowed to step out of this barren area to avoid damaging the plants around you. You will lose if you step out of this area.”

Huo Yuhao would have cursed at the top of his voice if he could, or if he had the time to curse. He couldn’t step out of this area, and that meant he would have to battle in the second hottest place within this valley. His Ultimate Ice would be greatly weakened in the process, while the Blazing Delicate Apricot’s intense heat would be greatly amplified. How could he win this fight, even if they had the same cultivation?

It was a pity that he had no time or space to curse. The searing pillar of water bore down on him as his Spirit Eyes stared ahead, and he could clearly feel how frightening this attack was. The Blazing Sunspring was so hot that even Ma Xiaotao’s transformation into the Darkness Phoenix couldn’t compare to it, This was true Ultimate Fire!

The red pillar of water covered an enormous area, but Huo Yuhao didn’t intend to meet force with force. He tapped on the ground with his foot, and his entire body sprang into the air like a lightning bolt. He twisted and somersaulted in the sky as he nimbly dodged the pillar.

Some of the blazing spring water smeared across his Ice Empress’ Armor, and some of the diamond crystals formed by the armor melted as a result. However, he managed to jump through an opening, and his left hand supported him on the ground as his body turned once more in midair. He tapped on the ground with his foot and changed directions as he leapt through yet another crack in the pillar.

His Spiritual Detection had evolved, and this gave him even greater ability to grasp opportunities. He narrowly but impeccably evaded the Blazing Sunspring’s attack.

However, the scorching spring water didn’t disappear when it landed on the ground. Instead, it congregated together strangely and instantly transformed into a humanoid figure.

Huo Yuhao had initially believed that he would be facing the Blazing Delicate Apricot. This was the reason why he was still on guard against her when he leapt through the air. Only now did he realize that his opponent was that fiery-red spring water.

The spring water congregated into a female human figure, Her features were faint and subtle, while there seemed to be a long red ponytail that draped all the way to her feet. Her figure was stunning, but it was a pity that the temperature emanating from her body was simply too frightening.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot released another red beam that landed on the body the water had formed, and this fiery girl immediately became golden-red. Her hands were lowered to her sides, and she now had a long flaming blade in each hand. She tapped her foot on the ground and pounced towards Huo Yuhao, raising the two blades high above her head and slashing out violently.

Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection allowed him to detect even the smallest details and elemental differences after his Purple Demon Eyes ascended into the Mustard Domain. He looked on speechlessly as countless red specks of elemental fire swiftly congregated toward the fire lady’s twin blades as she raised her blades in the air. The fiery radiance at the tips of her blades reached up more than ten feet when she finally slashed down…and all of that was the unbelievably searing Ultimate Fire!

Huo Yuhao was at a great disadvantage because he was forced to fight this fire lady within the area designated by the Blazing Delicate Apricot. The temperature in this place wasn’t even, and the closer it was to the Blazing Sunspring, the higher it became… and the closer he was to the Blazing Delicate Apricot, the hotter it became! Huo Yuhao felt as if the Ultimate Ice within his body was being greatly suppressed and stifled.

I’m dodging this! Huo Yuhao’s body flickered as he used the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and he once again relied on the might of his Spiritual Detection to leap through an opening within the pattern of the flaming knives. But this time, he retaliated.

Bluish-green light converged in front of his chest, and an extremely chilly bluish-green pillar of light burst out from his chest. Ice Empress’ Wrath!

Huo Yuhao’s eyes grew slack immediately after he unleashed this attack.

The Blazing Sunspring seemed like it had a life of its own, as if it could feel Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice. The fiery-red spring water surged into the air, as if something had induced a tidal wave, and an intense heat wave rushed toward him in the next moment. Huo Yuhao’s Ice Empress’ Wrath hadn’t even reached the fire lady yet, but most of its strength had been dispelled by the scorching heat.

The fire lady seemed like she had just taken steroids, and her frame exploded in size. Her former scarlet-gold color was now almost entirely gold. Her now-golden flaming knives crossed, and Huo Yuhao’s Ice Empress’ Wrath was cut into a million pieces.

How do I fight this? The Blazing Sunspring can also help it fight?! This… isn’t this cheating? Huo Yuhao was truly exasperated. However, he was the passive one in this test, and he was in no position to determine the test’s criteria.

The fire lady pounced toward him once more in a flash. This time, she wasn’t in a hurry to slash down with her flaming knives, and her movements changed right when Huo Yuhao attempted to dodge her using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.

The fire lady’s body also became a little illusory. Huo Yuhao wanted to dodge to one side, but she followed his footsteps to the same side before she laid her flaming knives in front of him. It felt as if Huo Yuhao was about to slam himself into those flaming knives.

“I… I…” Huo Yuhao finally started to curse. No matter how powerful his Spiritual Detection was, there was no way that the fire lady could make the same steps as he did, the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track’s steps…?!?

Huo Yuhao vanished into thin air as his left leg flickered once with golden light, and he reappeared right behind the fire lady in the next moment. This was the Instant Teleportation that the wolf-ape’s left leg bone had given him.

Instant Teleportation was like a legendary skill to most soul masters, and its effects were most obvious when used in close-combat.

Aren’t you trying to weaken my Ultimate Ice? Fine, then I won’t use Ultimate Ice. Huo Yuhao slashed out with his right hand after he used Instant Teleportation, and his Darkgolden Terrorclaw’s sharp edges reached out over seven meters. The frightening blade seemed to howl as it flickered once when it slashed through the air, as if it were about to sever the world itself in two.

One had to admit that combining Instant Teleportation and the Darkgolden Terrorclaw was simply unimaginably powerful. It was hard to avoid this attack even if his opponent could predict it. In the end, Instant Teleportation was just too quick, while the Darkgolden Terrorclaw’s area of effect was too vast at the same time.

The fire lady was formed by the searing Blazing Sunspring, but even though she seemed to possess abilities similar to Huo Yuhao’s, she was caught off-guard, and even though she could use Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and the Blazing Delicate Apricot was controlling her, she couldn’t evade Huo Yuhao’s sudden and explosive attack.

Huo Yuhao’s sharp blades slashed through her in an instant, and the fire lady’s body was cut into multiple pieces by the frightening dark golden blades.

Is it over? Huo Yuhao was ecstatic. He had always been absolutely confident of his Darkgolden Terrorclaw’s offensive ability, and even powerful eight-ringed Soul Sages would probably be injured if they took a direct hit from this attack.

However, something else happened that made his eyes droop and his mouth go slack.

The fire lady was sliced into several large pieces. However, these pieces reverted into spring water once they dropped to the ground, and the liquid swiftly congregated once more. The fire lady reappeared in the time that Huo Yuhao spent in a daze, and she resumed slashing at him with her long flaming knives once more. This time, she pounced toward Huo Yuhao as if she loomed over the entire world, and it felt as if the fire lady had a life of her own…and she was angry…

Physical attacks are useless? Can they stop cheating like that?

It was Huo Yuhao’s turn to panic. He retreated at breakneck speed as he raised his left hand, and a golden light screen immediately transformed into a ripple as he placed it before him.





Chapter 261.3: The Blazing Delicate Apricot's Test


The golden ripple didn’t cover much, but it was large enough to protect Huo Yuhao behind it. The flaming knives bore down on it, but they were actually reflected, and the fire lady seemed like she was waving her flaming knives to slash herself, while her body suddenly grew a little slack.

The Life Reflecting Shield’s defensive abilities were absolutely outstanding. However, its reflecting effect was definitely nothing much against the fire lady, who didn’t have a life of her own. Furthermore, the fire lady was emanating Ultimate Fire, so Skydream’s agonizing howls instantly rang out in Huo Yuhao’s mind.

The fire lady didn’t have life, so the Life Reflecting Shield’s most prominent feature of absorbing the opponent’s life energy to reflect it back couldn’t take effect at all. This naturally made Skydream extremely annoyed and frustrated.

I can’t use it anymore, I’ll hurt brother Skydream! Huo Yuhao exasperatedly realized the sorrowful situation he was in. Every single ability he possessed was being weakened as he continued to fight this fire lady.

Huo Yuhao naturally wasn’t willing to be passive, and he wasn’t about to allow the fire lady to beat him down. The Life Reflecting Shield didn’t hurt the fire lady, but it bought him enough time to make a comeback.

Orange-gold light flickered, and the little Snow Lady emerged behind him.

The Snow Lady wasn’t used to the searing environment around her, and her tiny eyebrows began to frown as she began to chitter.

However, Huo Yuhao began to unleash his abilities at this moment. The Ice Empress Jade Scorpion’s five soul rings lit up at the same time – one red, and four orange soul rings sparkled as his Ultimate Ice was channeled to the highest possible level. His fourth soul ring sparkled brilliantly, and the Snow Lady’s figure became a little illusory as the Snow Empress’ arrogance descended upon the world once more.

In the moment that the Snow Empress’ projection appeared, the fire lady in front of her and the Blazing Delicate Apricot not far from where they were became a little listless.

The Snow Empress was formed by the Icesky Snow Lady. Even though she didn’t have her original body, she still retained some of the aura of her formidable seven hundred thousand year cultivation!

Furthermore, the Snow Empress could be considered the strongest entity amongst ice-type soul beasts, and her element was a natural counter to fire. Even though the Blazing Delicate Apricot was next to the Blazing Sunspring, she couldn’t help but feel a little fear!

Two figures merged back together in the next moment, and an icy-white beam of light erupted from Huo Yuhao with his body at the center.

This was the fusion between the Snow Empress’ Snowy Dance of the Brilliant Sun and Huo Yuhao’s Domain of Perpetual Ice.

The Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice, Huo Yuhao’s strongest area control soul skill, had been unleashed!

Physical attacks were nearly useless against the fire lady, and what use was his Spirit Eyes’ spiritual power against something that was just a puppet? Perhaps he could attack the Blazing Delicate Apricot directly, but if he infuriated her? Furthermore, she was a hundred-thousand year soul beast, so how effective could his spiritual attacks be? Huo Yuhao didn’t have the time for that anyway, as the fire lady continued to pressure him.

Huo Yuhao had experimented with his attacks to the point where he was being suppressed on all fronts, so he finally unleashed his trump card.

The Snow Empress’ Three Ultimate Techniques were formidable, and they were truly unrivaled among all other snow and ice skills. The icy-blue colors that suddenly erupted immediately dispelled the scorching heat around him, and began to extend outward with lightning speed.

It was very likely that his Spirit Eyes had undergone a second awakening and qualitative change, which led to a great boost in his spiritual level, and especially his control of spiritual power. Once the Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice was unleashed, it immediately blanketed the fire lady as if it loomed over the entire world. Huo Yuhao was like a blooming snow plum flower as he bore down on her from the sky amid the scorching heat. Snowflakes flurried as they threatened to consume the fire lady, while Huo Yuhao himself was hidden within his domain.

Huo Yuhao was feeling the full effects of how his spiritual control had been amplified. He felt as if every snowflake within his Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice was under his control, and his spiritual power was like an enormous formless web that connected them all. His domain felt as if it were a part of him and he could control it at whim. The sensation was just too fantastic!

However, the pressure that Huo Yuhao felt suddenly increased exponentially. The release of the Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice meant he was no longer just targeting the fire lady, he was going against the superheated environment around him. This also meant he was targeting the Blazing Delicate Apricot and the Blazing Sunspring.

The Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice’s mighty strength was limited to less than thirty percent of its original power inside this extreme environment. The scorching heat meant there was hardly any moisture in the air, and the temperature itself was incredibly high. Huo Yuhao’s soul power was consumed continuously, as if it were leaking out of his body.

The fire lady seemed to feel the immense threat borne by Huo Yuhao’s Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice, and she began to move the moment Huo Yuhao’s domain was unleashed. However, this wasn’t an attack; she began to move sideways with lightning speed as she darted rapidly towards the Blazing Delicate Apricot.

Huo Yuhao naturally directed his domain in pursuit of the fire lady. The Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice was about to touch the fire lady. Large amounts of water vapor could be seen evaporating from the fire lady’s body, while her scarlet-gold colors swiftly grew dull.

However, something interfered with Huo Yuhao’s battle once again.

Boom! The Blazing Sunspring seemed infuriated, and it exploded as if it were a mother trying to protect her kid. The burning red spring water surged into the sky.

The Blazing Sunspring didn’t retaliate against Huo Yuhao. The red spring water surged vertically into the air, but this sudden instance of extremely high temperature was enough to dispel half of Huo Yuhao’s Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice!

The domain that was just about to envelop the fire lady naturally missed its target, and could only continue forward. The fire lady took this opportunity to run behind the Blazing Delicate Apricot.

The domain inevitably loomed over the Blazing Delicate Apricot, and the flower’s body erupted with an intense golden-red light.

What happened afterwards?

There was no “afterwards”…

The Blazing Sunspring and the Blazing Delicate Apricot worked together against the Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice, and the entire domain dissipated to the point where not a single snowflake remained.

Huo Yuhao’s cheeks were flushed red from the intense heat, and he stumbled backwards.

Fortunately, the Blazing Sunspring’s eruption only lasted for a single moment, and the temperature dropped back down once the red spring water returned to the well. However, the fire lady came out from behind the Blazing Delicate Apricot as she flashed her twin knives, and raced toward Huo Yuhao mercilessly.

“Wait!” Huo Yuhao shouted at the top of his voice.

“What?” The Blazing Delicate Apricot sounded rather bored, and answered extremely casually.

The corner of Huo Yuhao’s mouth twitched as he said, “This is cheating, senior. The Blazing Sunspring’s eruption can still be explained because it was affected by my Ultimate Ice aura. But how am I to continue with this test if you interfere as well?”

The Blazing Delicate Apricot’s voice was full of surprise. “What? Cheating? How am I cheating? The Blazing Sunspring has nothing to do with me. You’re the one who triggered it, yes? The reason why I interfered was because you attacked me too. Your domain was coming towards me, and that domain carried Ultimate Ice, so was I supposed to just let you beat me down? What if you severed my spiritual root? If you can’t pass, then you can’t. Don’t find subjective reasons, and if you can’t pass the test, that means you’re never going to get that book from You You.”

“You…” Huo Yuhao was aggrieved. This is too unfair. How am I supposed to fight this?

The Blazing Delicate Apricot sounded a little proud and excited as she said, “Quickly, are you going to accept the test? If you do, then continue. Otherwise, please leave us be. We don’t really welcome humans in here anyway. I will let you live because of your determination. Oy, look, that little fellow is so mischievous! She’s gone for a bath.”

She was right. While the Blazing Delicate Apricot and Huo Yuhao were talking, the fire lady had actually jumped into the Blazing Sunspring, and only came back out when the flower called her back. The fire lady had recovered completely from her weakened aura and energy, and once again sparkled with scarlet-gold light. She seemed like she had been revitalized. That also meant that if Huo Yuhao continued with the battle, he would be facing the fire lady once more in her peak condition.

Huo Yuhao’s expression grew dark. He took a deep breath and said decisively, “I want to try one more time, senior. However, I wish to give everything I have, and it will be a proper defeat even if I lose. Do you mind letting me leave your arena to replenish my soul power, so that I can have a proper and final fight with the fire lady?”

“That’s up to you,” the Blazing Delicate Apricot said, “However, I can’t guarantee that other plants won’t attack you if you leave my arena.”

It was as if she hadn’t said anything at all . He would be affected by the intense heat if he didn’t leave the area around her, and his recovery would be severely impeded, to the point where he could be weakened instead.

Surprisingly, Huo Yuhao grit his teeth and sat down on the spot. The Ultimate Ice aura around him disappeared, and a faint golden light replaced it. The golden radiance was full of spiritual undulations that protected him within. The air around him was so hot that heat waves were rising from the ground, but it didn’t seem like it affected him much at all.

There was a Class 6 Milk Bottle in Huo Yuhao’s hands he used to gradually replenish his soul power. The Blazing Delicate Apricot seemed like she liked to cheat, but she didn’t take this opportunity to send the fire lady to attack him. She let the fire lady, who had been restored to her peak condition, stand to one side.

Wang Qiu’er was quite far from the battle, but she could see and hear everything that was happening. There was no question that the Blazing Delicate Apricot had been hindering Huo Yuhao this entire time even though she had said she wasn’t going to interfere. In addition to the Blazing Sunspring’s effects, Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice had been greatly weakened. Wang Qiu’er didn’t see a single thread of a chance that Huo Yuhao could emerge victorious despite all his fighting spirit and willpower.





Chapter 262.1: The Snow Empress' Overflowing Tyranny!


You don’t have a chance if you meet force with force. But what else can you do if you don’t do that? The Blazing Delicate Apricot has marked off such a tiny area, and the fight has to be carried out within this designated area. How are you going to pass this test, Huo Yuhao? Can you even pass it?

Wang Qiu’er hoped Huo Yuhao would not continue risking his life for that book. However, there was a hope from deep down in her heart that he would emerge victorious in this battle.

Huo Yuhao got back to his feet in the blink of an eye, as restoring soul power with a Milk Bottle didn’t require much time. He raised his left hand, and a heavy cannon appeared on his shoulder. This was the same stationary soul cannon that he had used before this, and he swiftly placed a high-power Class 5 stationary shell inside the barrel.

It was clearly the first time that these plant-type soul beasts had seen soul tools. The Blazing Delicate Apricot didn’t know what Huo Yuhao was doing, so she continued to observe curiously.

Huo Yuhao pointed the cannon towards the fire lady. He lowered his voice and said, “I’m ready, senior. If I don’t leave the area you have designated, it means I haven’t lost. Am I right?”

The Blazing Delicate Apricot answered primly, “That’s right! Everything’s fine is you don’t step out. Come, come!”

The fire lady dashed forward as she spoke, lunging toward Huo Yuhao with her twin flaming knives as heat poured out from her.

BOOM!

Huo Yuhao’s stationary soul cannon erupted, and a blazing red sphere of light burst out from the cannon barrel. He chose the explosive shell not because of its high temperature, but for its violent explosiveness. The Blazing Delicate Apricot was a hundred-thousand year soul beast, but its territory was only so large. The force created by a Class 5 explosive high-powered shell under normal circumstances could flatten anything within a hundred meters, while the shockwaves could reach from three hundred to five hundred meters away.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot’s attitude changed drastically the moment that high-power shell was fired. The fire lady was thrown backwards by the explosion, and the terrifying explosive energy expanded out instantly.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot lived up to her name as a hundred-thousand year soul beast. Ripples began to twist and contort in the air the moment she realized something was wrong, and the frightening explosive force, was refracted in all directions by the contortions in the air, and the shockwaves blasted through the sky. At the same time, the Blazing Delicate Apricot released a scarlet-red light from herself that formed a dome over her territory. This light absorbed every single ounce of the high-powered shell’s explosive force.

Huo Yuhao had definitely guessed how the Blazing Delicate Apricot was going to react since he dared to do this, and his aim was to buy himself enough time. The fire lady was blown away, and she needed some time to come back, while the Blazing Delicate Apricot was preoccupied with containing the shell’s explosive force. She was caught off-guard, so she couldn’t control the fire lady in time… this was his opportunity!

Four soul thrusters erupted behind Huo Yuhao’s back. Huo Yuhao didn’t choose to rush towards the fire lady hurtling through the air to destroy her while the Blazing Delicate Apricot was distracted, because he knew that that was an impossible endeavor. The fire lady was hurtling towards the Blazing Sunspring, and she was practically invincible and undying over there, since she was made from the Blazing Sunspring’s water in the first place.

Therefore, the four soul thrusters behind Huo Yuhao began to fire downward. A frightening force instantly propelled his body into the air, and he rocketed high up into the sky.

Huo Yuhao had already relied on this explosive acceleration to reach a height of fifty meters before the Blazing Delicate Apricot recovered. His flying-type soul tool expanded behind him and brought him even higher into the sky as he flew upward.

“How… how is that possible? He only has five soul rings… how can he know how to fly?” The Blazing Delicate Apricot was a little dazed. She was confused as to how a five-ringed human could fly through the air at such a high speed.

You’ve fallen behind!, Huo Yuhao thought to himself. There was no longer an aggrieved look on his face, and a self-confident smile appeared in its place.

Huo Yuhao had been probing with his attacks throughout the battle before this, and it was the same even with his domain. He knew very well that it wouldn’t be easy to pass this test. He had absolute confidence to win if the battle had been a fair fight, but he was within the Blazing Delicate Apricot’s area of control, and the Blazing Sunspring also threatened him. How could he not know that he didn’t stand a single chance at all?

Therefore, he had been quietly observing this entire time, and made use of his spiritual power having just evolved into the metaphysical realm to observe…and finally, he had found a solution.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot looked on as Huo Yuhao’s body flew more than a hundred meters into the air. She could control her attacks to reach that height, but this fight was supposed to be between Huo Yuhao and the fire lady. The Blazing Delicate Apricot could interfere from the side, but directly lashing out against Huo Yuhao was clearly not within the test’s rules.

Thus, she could only continue watching as Huo Yuhao flew even higher into the sky. She had no idea what he wanted to do.

“Hey, you’re cheating. You’ve lost – you’ve gone outside my territory!” The Blazing Delicate Apricot shouted at Huo Yuhao in the sky.

Huo Yuhao answered, “No, I haven’t! How have I left your designated area? I’m flying vertically in the air, but I’m still within your territory. I haven’t stepped out of it. If I don’t fly out of this vertical area, then I haven’t lost. Am I right, senior? This test is still ongoing, you can’t lie to me!”

Huo Yuhao placed another Class 5 explosive shell inside his heavy cannon as he spoke, and he trained the cannon barrel downwards.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot immediately burst out with red light, as she was still a little fearful of that fearsome explosive force. It wasn’t much to her, and it definitely wasn’t enough to wound her, but it could destroy the land around her. Land and soil were absolutely important to plants like them, and they were also right next to the Blazing Sunspring. If the soil and ground around the Blazing Sunspring was damaged and the hot spring water flowed out, the surrounding plants would be faced with a calamitous disaster. This wasn’t something that she wanted to see.

Huo Yuhao pulled the trigger right at this moment. A searing red sphere erupted once more, and barreled down towards the ground.

However, the Blazing Delicate Apricot was stunned when she realized that Huo Yuhao’s wasn’t firing at her. The shell arched through the air and landed in the distance…it was going straight for the Extreme Chill Icespring!

Intense red light exploded once more as it came into contact with the white lake water,everything was within the precise calculations of Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection. Just like before, Huo Yuhao wasn’t trying to make use of the shell’s intense heat –,he wanted to use the bomb’s explosive impact and force!

The Extreme Chill Icespring almost instantly absorbed the explosive bomb’s heat energy. However, the terrifying explosive force and impact immediately blew a tidal wave out from the Extreme Chill Icespring.

The freezing water was blown at least thirty meters into the air. Huo Yuhao had deliberately directed his shell at an angle to create this effect, and the Extreme Chill Icespring’s water bore down on the Blazing Sunspring.

Right at this moment, Huo Yuhao was almost freefalling through the air as an orange-gold light emerged from his body. This sphere was like another cannon shell as it slammed accurately against the spring water that had been blown into the air.

A strange scene occurred. The Extreme Chill Icespring’s spring water that carried intense cold was bearing down on the Blazing Sunspring, but most of the water was suddenly frozen in the air.

Huo Yuhao took this opportunity to descend to about thirty meters above the ground. Bluish-green light erupted from his body, and a tiny figure shining with orange-gold light floated above the Extreme Chill Icespring not far from where he was, opened her little hands, and giggled in his direction.

A miraculous scene began to unfurl.

The tiny Snow Lady’s frame was growing bigger with a speed that the naked eye could see, while the airborne Extreme Chill Icespring’s water was vanishing at an alarming rate. More accurately put, the Snow Lady was absorbing the water at an alarming rate!

The Snow Lady had released the Snow Empress’ projection when she unleashed the Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice along with Huo Yuhao. However, it was different this time. The Snow Empress’ spirit seemed to be aging. She gradually became a little child, and then a teenage girl, before finally reverting to the Icesky Snow Lady’s original appearance.

Ice and snow covered her entire body, and was presented as the most beautiful and enchanting dress. Her large dark-blue eyes were clear and deep, as if she could watch over the entire world. Long hair draped behind her back and became icy-blue in color, and her hair seemed like eternal glaciers. Intense cool immediately permeated the skies, and at this moment, the Blazing Sunpsring’s aura was completely suppressed by this frightening chill.

Huo Yuhao was the one that had planned all this, but not even he had expected this to happen. He had determined his battle strategy after his meticulous observations before this. His goal was simple, The Blazing Delicate Apricot and the fire lady are drawing strength from the Blazing Sunspring, and since this place is called the Icefire Yin Yang Well, there is no question that other side is an Icespring, since the Sunspring is on this side. The Sunspring weakens me, while the Icespring will greatly amplify my abilities. Therefore, his high-power shell was aimed that way so that he could draw upon the Icespring’s energy, and then he would use his Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice again. He would give everything he had to strike down from the air and finish off the fire lady with a single strike. He had a chance to determine the outcome of this battle when the fire lady no longer had the Sunspring’s protection, and if he didn’t let the Blazing Delicate Apricot interfere.

Who knew that this peculiar sight would happen once the tiny Snow Lady absorbed the Extreme Chill Icespring? The Snow Lady had grown up, and she had become the actual Icesky Snow Lady. The Snow Empress’ aura was so terrifying that even Huo Yuhao felt his heart quiver in fear, the four orange-gold soul rings on his body sparkling with unprecedented intensity. Huo Yuhao felt the soul power in his body surging torrentially. At this moment, he felt as if he could actually rely on his soul power to fly!





Chapter 262.2: The Snow Empress' Overflowing Tyranny!


Flying with soul power was something that seven-ringed soul sages did, but he only had five rings! That meant that he temporarily possessed the strength of a soul sage. What was happening? Strange things had been happening over and over again ever since they had entered the Icefire Yin Yang Well!

The Snow Empress glanced at Huo Yuhao. Her eyes were a little complicated. Her look seemed a little intimate and friendly, but there was also a little bit of contempt and rejection. However, she only gave him a single glance before she turned towards the Blazing Delicate Apricot beneath her. The Snow Empress snorted coldly as she descended toward the giant flower.

The Snow Empress raised her hands, and the icy-white water from the Extreme Chill Icespring erupted a hundred meters into the air as it became the Snow Empress’ background. Howling winds billowed above the Icefire Yin Yang Well in the next moment as snowflakes waltzed through the air. The entire area around them immediately became enveloped in a whiteness that only snow could produce.

A dome of light separated the Extreme Chill Icespring under the Snow Empress’ control, and it forcibly suppressed the Blazing Sunspring beneath it so that the hot spring’s heat was completely blocked off.

The Snow Lady’s expression was icy as the Icespring’s aura surged into her body rapidly.

Huo Yuhao was still hovering in midair, and he felt as if his body were swelling up as the Snow Lady continued to absorb the Icespring’s energy. No matter how much autonomy and consciousness the Snow Empress’ spirit had, she still had to rely on the host that she had signed a contract with. The Snow Empress’ aura continued to rise, but Huo Yuhao was almost reaching his limit. Huo Yuhao’s body reached the point where it might explode from the overwhelming and terrifying Ultimate Ice if this was allowed to continue.

“I can’t take it anymore, Snow Empress!” Huo Yuhao shouted at the top of his lungs. If he died, the Snow Empress would no longer have a host, and she would perish as well.

The Snow Empress glanced at him, but she didn’t seem to hear him as she pointed at him with her right hand. The little Snow Lady’s familiar dark-blue ice burst out, except it was exponentially larger than before, and it ended up beneath Huo Yuhao’s feet before it froze into an enormous ice pedestal in midair, supporting his body so that he wouldn’t fall. That ice pedestal hovered there along with the blizzard around them.

Large amounts of ice and snow were falling to the ground. The plants around the Icespring were still alright, as they liked the cold, but the plants near the Sunspring no longer had the Sunspring’s heat. They were starting to tremble in response to the Ultimate Ice’s extremely low temperature, and most of them began to release their own auras to resist the ice and snow descending from the sky.

Huo Yuhao felt as if his own blood was freezing, and his body was swelling to the point where it began to crackle. However, there was nothing he could do as the Snow Empress continued to unleash her aura. The gap in their abilities was simply too great.

The Snow Empress descended from the sky towards the Blazing Delicate Apricot. The hundred-thousand year immortal herb was absolutely stunned at this moment.

“You… you…” The Blazing Delicate Apricot no longer had the Sunspring’s support, and her aura was a lot weaker than before. Furthermore, the Snow Empress was bearing down on her the sky, and the hundred-thousand year plant felt a little stifled.

This was the true Empress’ Chill, and it had blanketed the entire Icefire Yin Yang Well. The toxic miasma in the air was blown high into the sky from all the cold energy, and couldn’t come back down.

The Snow Empress stared coldly at the Blazing Delicate Apricot and said, “Weren’t you feeling a little complacent before this?”

She waved her right hand through the air as she spoke, and a dark-blue blade that seemed like it was going to slice the entire world into pieces flickered before it vanished. The fire lady beside the Blazing Delicate Apricot disappeared into a stream of smoke, and the entire area around the Blazing Delicate Apricot was swiftly tainted with icy-blue colors.

“That was just a test, it was a test which that person left behind! You… what are you trying to do? You can’t touch me! You will be condemned and scourged by the heavens!” The Blazing Delicate Apricot’s voice was starting to tremble.

The Snow Empress that had appeared wasn’t the real Snow Empress, but she drew upon the Extreme Chill Icespring’s immense origin energy to temporarily possess the strength that she had when she was still alive.

She had been kidnapped by humans just as she chose to be reborn as a human, and she ended up in Jing Hongchen’s hands before Huo Yuhao rescued her. She experienced the polar reversal afterwards and eventually became Huo Yuhao’s spirit. It wasn’t hard to imagine the grievances and suffocation in her heart. The Snow Empress had once reigned supreme in the Extreme North, but she eventually became a human’s bound spirit! Even though she was grateful to Huo Yuhao for rescuing her, how could she reconcile this with the deep frustration in her heart?

“Punished? Ha ha ha ha, scourged by the heavens!?” The Snow Empress’ voice grew high-pitched and shrill. Even so, her voice was still as enchanting as ever.

“Punishment! I have been punished six times, and I am where I am today because I had to avoid the seventh time. You dare to speak of punishment to me?! Very well… I will settle your punishment before anything else, then!”

The Snow Empress gradually raised her right hand as she spoke. Her palm seemed like it weighed several tons as the torrential ice and snow in the air began to spin in a clockwise direction. It didn’t take long before a colossal and incredibly frightening tornado of ice and snow formed above the Icefire Yin Yang Well.

The Snowless Glacier of the Snow Empress’ Three Ultimate Techniques! If this palm was allowed to come down, it would possess the Snow Empress’ full power! The Snow Empress possessed seven hundred thousand years of cultivation, and she was ranked number three amongst the Ten Great Savage Beasts. She was also the leader of the Extreme North’s Three Heavenly Kings!

“No!” The Delicate Silk Immortal exclaimed in the distance. She wasn’t the only one that reacted, as more than twenty immortal herbs shone with intense light around the Icefire Yin Yang Well. This light swiftly congregated in the air as an enormous barrier resisting the terrifying tornado of ice and snow that was about to fall from the sky.

The Snow Empress grunted coldly as she raised her right hand until her palm was pointing towards the sky. It felt as if she were a ruler who was about to descend upon the world as she muttered coldly, “Do you actually think you can stop me?”

“No, Snow Empress!” Huo Yuhao’s hoarse voice rang out.

The Snow Empress’ body quivered faintly. Even though she had recovered her memory and her powers, she was still Huo Yuhao’s spirit after all. She could feel that Huo Yuhao’s body was about to fall apart, so she no longer absorbed the Extreme Chill Icespring’s origin energy. She couldn’t entirely resist Huo Yuhao’s will.

“Shut up! Have you forgotten how they’ve treated you?” the Snow Empress asked coldly.

Huo Yuhao struggled to reply, “This is a paradise for plants, and the heavens have gifted the Douluo Continent with the miraculous Icefire Yin Yang Well. Furthermore, I have to find the Yearning Heartbroken Grass for Dong’er to save her life. I refuse to continue living if she dies. When that happens, you will die, and even the Ice Empress won’t be revived. Don’t hurt them, Snow Empress. They meant no ill toward me.”

Huo Yuhao’s other words didn’t affect her much, but when he said “Ice Empress”, the Snow Empress’ body finally quivered once more before she brought down the palm that had been raised high in the air.

Her large and beautiful, but fearsome and murderous eyes were fixed upon the trembling Blazing Delicate Apricot. “Has he passed the test?”

“Yes, yes! He has passed the test!” The Blazing Delicate Apricot wasn’t stubborn, and she could only swallow this humiliation in the face of a stronger force. She was facing the Snow Empress directly, and the Snow Empress’ element was a natural counter to her own. The Blazing Delicate Apricot was almost unable to resist the intense chill any longer.

The Snow Empress raised her hand and mercilessly reached into the center of the Blazing Delicate Apricot’s flower. It looked as if a beautiful lady was reaching through another lady’s neckline before she violently grabbed and rubbed a few times inside. When the Snow Empress withdrew her hand, there was a red and transparent rubbery item in her hand.

The rubbery object still caused the air around it to contort a little even though it was being suppressed by the Snow Empress’ formidable powers. It was not difficult to imagine how frighteningly hot this object was.

“You… please don’t take everything! Leave some for me…” the Blazing Delicate Apricot pled pathetically.

“Hmph! You can create a single drop every year with your current cultivation. You can’t do anything with it even if you keep it.” The Snow Empress embodied the meaning of unreasonable as she pinched with her right hand, and the red spherical rubbery object immediately froze. An icy-blue shell appeared around it, completely sealing the heat inside.

The Snow Empress disappeared from in front of the Blazing Delicate Apricot in a flash.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot’s dazzling fiery-red radiance was greatly diminished – perhaps that was because she was freezing from the Snow Empress’ aura, or perhaps she had suffered a painful loss from losing that rubbery object. Her body was still twitching and quivering, as if she were a human reeling from the heartache of losing something precious.

The Snow Empress arrived before the Delicate Silk Immortal in the next moment. She wasn’t courteous at all as she reached out her hand and commanded, “Give it to me!”

“What… what do you want?” The Delicate Silk Immortal’s giant flower immediately closed up and became a giant flower bud, before a tiny purple stamen protruded out and stared at the Snow Empress cautiously.

The Snow Empress replied coldly, “Huo Yuhao has passed the test. Give the book to me, right now!”

“Okay, okay. I’ll give the book to you, alright?” You You immediately chose to submit before the Snow Empress’ fearsome aura.

The book that was made from some unknown material immediately flew out from her flower’s heart and hovered in front of the Snow Empress. The Empress grabbed the book and grunted coldly as she said, “You’re a good-for-nothing as well. It’s too bad for you that you have something valuable. Give me the Silk Heart.”

“How… how can I do that? It hasn’t been easy to cultivate the Silk Heart. I can’t give you that, can I give you something else?”

The Snow Empress’ reply was plain. “This isn’t a negotiation, I’m ordering you to do it! I can tear your body apart to retrieve it, or you can give it to me yourself! With your current cultivation, you can create another one within ten thousand years!”





Chapter 262.3: The Snow Empress' Overflowing Tyranny!


“What!? What do you mean it can be done within ten thousand years? Ten thousand years is a long time, alright!?” the Delicate Silk Immortal retorted.

The Snow Empress’ laughed coldly and said, “You have only been alive for a few days, and you dare to discuss time with me? I have been alive for seven hundred thousand years, and ten thousand years is but one-seventieth of my life. Is that very long to you? I’m going to count to three. One, two…”

The Snow Empress raised her right hand as she spoke, and the ice and snow in the air seemed like it was going to condense into another tornado once more.

“Don’t do it!” The Delicate Silk Immortal was hysterical. “Don’t do it! I’ll give it to you, alright? However, you cannot harm my companions. Otherwise, we will fight you to the death even if it will eventually cost us our lives! You may be powerful, but there are many of us, and everyone’s combined efforts, along with the Icefire Yin Yang Well, might be enough to challenge you!”

The Snow Empress was clearly indifferent towards the Delicate Silk Immortal’s display of strength. “Give it to me. I will let this go because Huo Yuhao has asked me to. However, if anything happens to him…hmph!”

The Delicate Silk Immortal looked like she had to bear humiliation so that she could save her own skin. Her pink petals trembled faintly as a sphere of purple light gradually rose from her stamen.

The purple sphere looked extremely tender, without a trace of any brutal or violent aura. It was a purple pearl about as big as a peach, and looked like a purple water crystal. A layer of cloud-like radiance could be seen meandering within the translucent pearl, and it looked exceedingly peculiar.

The Delicate Silk Immortal was still unconvinced, and it was clear that she couldn’t bear to part with this pearl. She probed one more time after the pearl floated out, “Can you leave half of it for me?”

The Snow Empress didn’t respond, instead directly raising her right hand into the air.

“Don’t do it, I’ll give it to you…” The Delicate Silk Immortal didn’t dare to try anything else, as this concerned the lives of the multiple plants around her, and the purple pearl slowly flew before the Snow Empress.

The Snow Empress grunted as she reached out and grasped the pearl before she turned around and said with a cold look on her face, “It’s not easy for the lot of you to grow in a place like this. In addition to the Icefire Yin Yang Well’s exotica, this will be all.”

The Snow Empress tapped on the ground with her foot, and her enchanting figure soared into the sky dramatically as she flew slowly towards Huo Yuhao. Not a single plant saw that the dark blue color in her eyes was receding rapidly as she surged through the air.

She quickly arrived at the hard ice that was yet floating in midair. Huo Yuhao had gotten to his feet at this point. The Snow Empress controlled herself and didn’t absorb any more energy from the Extreme Chill Icespring in the end, so he could forcibly control her body. However, the immense origin energy of heaven and earth was still clashing within his body and causing him unspeakable suffering.

The Snow Empress said plainly, “Whether this will be good fortune or a disaster for you is up to you. The origin energy of heaven and earth belongs to the Extreme Chill Icepsring . Even though it will temporarily cause damage to your body, it will give you a boost if you can gradually absorb it, and it will completely change your physique. Here, take these. Remember… don’t bully my infant self!”

She passed the book, the rubbery substance obtained from the Blazing Delicate Apricot that had been sealed in Ultimate Ice, and the purple sphere from the Delicate Silk Immortal to Huo Yuhao.

The Snow Empress’ face suddenly blushed at this point, before she glared at Huo Yuhao and said, “And you’re not my father!”

With that, Huo Yuhao looked on with slack eyes and jaw as the extreme chill and iciness in the air suddenly dissipated, and the Snow Empress’ frame shrank rapidly until she reverted to the cute and adorable little Snow Lady in the blink of an eye.

Where was the aura that looked down on the entire world? The little Snow Lady’s huge eyes were pure and full of innocence.

The ice and snow in the air disappeared in an instant, and the icy layer covering the Blazing Sunspring gradually receded, while the tough ice supporting Huo Yuhao’s body was no longer there. He felt as if he were a balloon that had been blown to its largest possible size, and he could pop at any moment. No matter how strong and formidable his physical body was, the nerves and passageways throughout his body throbbed with acute pain.

The little Snow Lady continued to help him as an icy mist condensed beneath Huo Yuhao, supporting him as he gradually descended towards the ground.

Huo Yuhao grunted the moment he touched the ground and spat out an enormous mouthful of blood vapor.

Strangely, the blood vapor immediately transformed into icy dust. He was standing within the Blazing Delicate Apricot’s territory, but this blood vapor actually made the scorching environment slightly cooler than before.

Huo Yuhao’s body swayed, and he collapsed onto the ground, a look of intense pain on his face. The Snow Empress had absorbed too much origin energy from the Extreme Chill Icespring, and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead and face. These beads of sweat became pearls of ice as they dropped to the ground.

Huo Yuhao’s mind was still incredibly clear even though his physical body was in pain. He was extremely clear about the danger that he was in. The problem wasn’t with him, but with the Snow Empress.

Could the Snow Empress have struck down with her palm, the one that she had threatened both the Blazing Delicate Apricot and the Delicate Silk Immortal with?

Huo Yuhao knew very well that the first thing that would have happened if the Snow Empress had swung her palm down was that he would have exploded into a cesspool of blood that would have permeated through the entire valley.

The Snow Empress had temporarily recovered her consciousness using the immense volume of energy from the Extreme Chill Icespring. However, she was still reliant on Huo Yuhao’s existence even if she came back, as she was still Huo Yuhao’s spirit. If Huo Yuhao were a Transcendent Douluo, then perhaps he could have taken this opportunity to help the Snow Empress completely recover her consciousness, and he could perhaps have helped her recover part of her former strength.

It was a pity that he just a Soul King at this moment. There was a limit to the amount of energy that his body could sustain and accommodate, and if the Snow Empress had been stubborn enough to continue absorbing energy under such circumstances, then both she and Huo Yuhao would have perished together.

The fearsome aura that the Snow Empress ferociously released was the limit that Huo Yuhao’s body could take. The Snow Empress didn’t have much offensive power after she drifted to the ground, and she was merely using her seven hundred thousand years of cultivation and the terrifying aura that came with it to suppress the plants in the valley.

What rendered Huo Yuhao speechless was the fact that the leader of the Extreme North’s Three Heavenly Kings had been pushing it as she extorted the Blazing Delicate Apricot and the Delicate Silk Immortal. What would Huo Yuhao and the Snow Empress do if the plants teamed up and retaliated against them?

Huo Yuhao could faintly feel that it wouldn’t have been beyond the Snow Empress to slap down with her palm, given her arrogance and pride. During the period when she recovered her consciousness, it was apparent that their pact had become a little shaky. In the end, the Snow Empress was too powerful, and if Electrolux hadn’t burned his own divine sense, this pact wouldn’t have been completed in the first place.

That was close! Huo Yuhao had never expected that the reason he would have a close shave with death would be the Snow Empress, and not the plants around him.

The little Snow Lady sat on Huo Yuhao’s shoulder and even leaned against his head, her large eyes were staring at the Blazing Delicate Apricot.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot’s cabbage-like body quivered. They were all soul beasts, and it was clear that she could feel that this little person was the petrifying Icesky Snow Lady that had just appeared before her.

“Wah –” Huo Yuhao spat out another pool of blood vapor before he began to feel better. The Snow Empress was his spirit, and when she absorbed the Extreme Chill Icespring’s vast origin energy, it had already coursed through her own body, and thus it was already in its purest form. Huo Yuhao’s body had also fused with the Life Gold before, and the strength of his veins and passageways were unmatched by even Wang Qiu’er, while he was also highly resistant to Ultimate Ice at the same time.

He started feeling a lot better once the Icesky Snow Lady disappeared, and also because the environment around him was scorching hot. He forced himself to sit down with his legs crossed.

However, he couldn’t cultivate even if he wanted to. There was just too much energy contained in his body, and all he could do was sit down and let his own body adjust by itself.

Wang Qiu’er quietly landed beside Huo Yuhao with a flash of golden light. She was full of awe and astonishment over what happened before this. She had no idea that Huo Yuhao possessed a secret as huge as this, and the Icesky Snow Lady’s aura had stifled her to the point where she found it hard to breathe. Wang Qiu’er stared at the little being perched on Huo Yuhao’s shoulder, and a word surfaced in her mind – Spirit!

Wang Qiu’er could see Huo Yuhao’s ghastly pale face, and she placed her hands on his back to help him recover.

However, she felt an exceedingly chilly force lash back at her as soon as she placed her hands on his back. She leapt backwards reflexively, and saw that her entire right hand was already covered with frost.

“How can there be so much soul power within his body? And it’s all Ultimate Ice. How can his body take it?” Wang Qiu’er stared at Huo Yuhao in shock, as she hurried used her own soul power to force away the chill in her hand so that she could melt it away.

The little Snow Lady was also sitting cross-legged on Huo Yuhao’s shoulder. A faint icy-blue light radiated from her, intertwined with the orange-gold light surrounding her body.

Huo Yuhao could feel that the incredibly agonizing chill in his body that was causing his body to swell was gradually flowing into the little Snow Lady. Huo Yuhao instantly felt a lot better with the little Snow Lady sharing the burden.

The lazy bug that was wrapped around Huo Yuhao’s finger slowly raised his head at this moment. Golden light erupted from his eyes, and he transformed into a streak of light that disappeared into Huo Yuhao’s forehead in a flash.

Buzzzz…Huo Yuhao’s body trembled peculiarly. A bluish-green layer of light gradually shone from his body through his clothes, clearly coming from his skeleton.





Chapter 263.1: Ancestor Tang San


The turquoise radiance became increasingly intense and illuminated the surrounding area. After being suppressed by the aura of Ultimate Ice, the Blazing Sunspring that had just broken free from the Extreme Chill Icespring radiated huge waves of heat. It brought about a scorching aura that resisted the chilly intent radiating from Huo Yuhao’s body, greatly reducing it.

When the azure-green radiance expanded to its limit, it started to slowly shrink back and became dimmer.

As this radiance expanded and retracted, Huo Yuhao felt much less bloated, and finally managed to relax.

Undoubtedly, this change was brought about by the Skydream Iceworm. Huo Yuhao’s body was filled with the vital energy of heaven and earth. Even Skydream didn’t dare to circulate his soul power. If something went wrong, the weaker passageways in his body might burst!

However, this didn’t mean that he was helpless. As a million-year soul beast in Huo Yuhao’s body, after Huo Yuhao fused with his spiritual origin he completely understood every part of Huo Yuhao’s body. It wasn’t even far-fetched to claim that the Skydream Iceworm understood Huo Yuhao’s body better than Huo Yuhao himself.

It wasn’t possible to circulate Huo Yuhao’s soul power and absorb it because he was already saturated. However, he could use a different method! Huo Yuhao’s passageways weren’t the toughest part of his body; that was his soul bones!

At this point, Skydream activated the power of the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion’s skeleton. As a hundred-thousand year soul beast, the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion’s skeleton sealed the origin energy of the Ice Empress. The Frigid Jade Essence Bed was originally used to further the fusion, but no one had expected a sudden reversal in the Snow Empress’ soul power that made it perilous. This also caused the Ice Empress to enter a state of hibernation.

At this point, Huo Yuhao’s body had already reached its limit, he couldn’t withstand the strength of the Ultimate Ice anymore. However, the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion’s skeleton hadn’t reached its limit yet!

Under Skydream’s control, a part of the origin energy was absorbed as the radiance expanded and retracted. This helped to neutralize the crisis that Huo Yuhao was facing.

The blue-green radiance appeared once again, ballooning in size before shrinking. The external Blazing Sunspring’s frightening heat helped to protect Huo Yuhao at this point. Because of its suppression, the Skydream Iceworm was able to dispel the remaining chill as he helped to compress the origin energy of heaven and earth into Yuhao’s skeleton. This made the entire shrinkage process much smoother.

This carried on several times. After nine consecutive times, Huo Yuhao’s body wasn’t just exuding an turquoise radiance anymore, he had actually turned pale blue. His body was still aching, but at least he was able to move now. He felt much more comfortable once he could move his body. However, his soul power had stalled, as it was affected by the origin energy. Only a fifth of it was able to circulate, and even then, the circulation was much slower.

“Yuhao, the skeleton has also reached its limit. It can’t compress any further, otherwise there might be danger. You can only rely on time to continue absorbing this strength. The Snow Empress was a little extreme. I’m afraid you won’t be able to unleash your full abilities for some time. However, the Extreme Chill Icespring will be very beneficial in waking up the Ice Empress. After all, her spiritual sense will recover faster under the nourishment of the origin energy of pure Ultimate Ice.”

The Skydream Iceworm was rather exhausted. After all, most of his spiritual origin had fused with Huo Yuhao. Now that he had activated the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion’s skeleton, it was equivalent to him establishing a connection with Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power again. He was helping Huo Yuhao now, and wasn’t just controlling on his own power.

“Thanks, Brother Skydream. I feel much better.” Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh of relief and released a gust of white gas from his mouth, releasing a chill into the region that the Blazing Delicate Apricot occupied.

“Blazing Delicate Apricot, please open a path. I’ll go over to Youyou’s side.” He struggled to stand up and looked at Wang Qiu’er, gesturing to her that he was fine.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot wasn’t in a particularly good mood. She couldn’t wait for Huo Yuhao to leave.

After groaning, she immediately instructed the surrounding plants to open a path for Huo Yuhao to return. She wanted to act up, but she didn’t when she saw the Snow Lady on Huo Yuhao’s shoulder. She was traumatized after almost being crushed into powder. It was her first time experiencing such a complete elemental suppression of her abilities.

Huo Yuhao could walk, but he estimated that his current abilities were only as good as they were when he was at Rank 30. It was difficult for him to even activate flying-type soul tools. His meridians were still aching, too. The surfeit caused great harm to his body and could definitely be called an internal injury.

At this moment, the air that he was exhaling was extremely cold. He also looked pale, and his body felt very cold. This was the huge price he had to pay for the Snow Empress’ awakening!

Huo Yuhao revealed a bitter smile on his face. Ever since the Snow Empress had entered his body, he had suffered greatly. The last time, it was a complete reversal of the Snow Empress’ strength in his body, causing Electrolux to burn his divine sense in a bid to save him. This time, he almost blew apart. It was a huge headache for him!

However, this encounter had also enlightened him. Huo Yuhao realized that he could restore the Snow Empress’ memories temporarily if he possessed immense Ultimate Ice soul power. He could even unleash her tremendous abilities. Of course, he couldn’t do it with his current cultivation. The Snow Empress only appeared today when he tapped into the origin energy of heaven and earth from the Extreme Chill Icespring. If he wanted the Snow Empress to really make a move, he needed to have at least seven or eight soul rings. Furthermore, it would at most be the for only one or two attacks.

However, it was good that there was such a possibility. It was like his eldest senior’s Radiant Holy Dragon’s Awakening, and his third senior’s Xuanwu turtle’s Awakening. It’s just that the Snow Empress’ Awakening was of a more advanced level. In addition, he had no control over her, either. He had to take things slowly. Perhaps the Snow Empress’ memory could be fully restored when he became a Transcendent Douluo in the future…

As he thought of that, Huo Yuhao turned to look at the Snow Lady on his shoulder. He still believed that she was much better right now, rather than with the Snow Empress’ memories. At least the Snow Lady listened to him. Furthermore, she was very cute! The Snow Empress was too cold, just like Wang Qiu’er…

Wang Qiu’er followed behind him, and her nose started to turn itchy. She looked as if she wanted to sneeze, but she managed to suppress it.

As she looked at Huo Yuhao, she could sense that he wasn’t feeling well even though she didn’t know what was happening to him. However, she could still feel it due to their martial soul fusion. The frightening Awakened existence had caused great damage to his body!

However, things became much smoother after he paid the huge price. This was evident from the Blazing Delicate Apricot’s attitude. Who would dare to offend the terrifying existence in Huo Yuhao’s body? It had released an extremely strong aura that could destroy everything here. Even Wang Qiu’er was petrified when she faced the might of the Snow Empress. She had only ever experienced a similar feeling when she…

Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh of relief as he returned to the Delicate Silk Immortal’s side. He lowered his head to look at a book in front of him and said to her, “Apologies, You You! I didn’t imagine something like this would happen. Perhaps I was provoked by something in the outside world, and thus the Snow Empress was Awakened.”

The huge, pink flower on the Delicate Silk Immortal was still blooming. However, the scent was less evident. She groaned and said, “Stop shedding crocodile tears. Hmph, return my pill if you are truly apologetic.”

What left Wang Qiu’er and the Delicate Silk Immortal shocked was that Huo Yuhao actually retrieved the pill and nodded as he said, “Alright, I’ll return it to you.”

As he spoke, he actually walked towards the Delicate Silk Immortal and passed her the pill.

“What? You’re really returning it to me?” If the Delicate Silk Immortal could reveal facial expressions, she would be very stunned right now.

Huo Yuhao said sincerely, “You You, I didn’t come here to look for treasure, I’m not looking to obtain anything. I’m only here to retrieve the Yearning Heartbroken Grass for my lover. I hope to receive your help. I’m extremely apologetic for what the Snow Empress did to all of you earlier. I don’t want this to cause a conflict between us. Not only am I returning this pill to you, but I’ll also return what the Snow Empress took from the Blazing Delicate Apricot. I just hope that there are no more obstructions, and I can search for the Yearning Heartbroken Grass.”

The Delicate Silk Immortal was incredulous. “Wait, wait. Huo Yuhao, do you know what you’re saying? You must know that the Blazing Rubber that Ah Jiao produces is of top-notch quality. A normal Blazing Delicate Apricot can produce very little of the rubber even after ten thousand years. Such a large quantity of rubber is sufficient to increase the cultivation of fire-type soul masters to the level of the Ultimate Fire. It’s very valuable! My pill is even more impressive. If you have it, all lethal poison will lose its effect within a three hundred square foot region. Even if you are infected by poison and the poison has entered your blood, the poison can be dispelled once you place the pill in your mouth. They are considered treasures! Priceless treasures! Are you going to give them up just like that?”





Chapter 263.2: Ancestor Tang San


Huo Yuhao’s expression was very calm as he nodded. He said, “To me, the only priceless thing is my lover. I don’t want to have a conflict with all of you because of these external possessions. Take it.” As he spoke, he placed the pill directly into the flower of the Delicate Silk Immortal. He let go of the pill and allowed it to roll down.

Wang Qiu’er was in a daze as she looked at Huo Yuhao, but she didn’t say anything. She didn’t try to stop him at this point. She only felt that something was stuck in her heart, and she also felt a great sense of loss.

The Delicate Silk Immortal sighed, and her petals started to open. The purplish pill drifted back above her stamen.

“Ah Jiao, what do you think?” she actually asked the Blazing Delicate Apricot.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot also sighed and said, “That person once said that it was easy to find valuable treasures, but difficult to have a lover. Let him pass. He’s probably one of the special humans.”

The Delicate Silk Immortal said, “Alright, I shall let you pass. You’ve passed all the tests that person left behind. Return Ah Jiao’s stuff and you can start reading that book. If you need help, I can help you.”

“Thanks!” Huo Yuhao was delighted.

This was the ending he wanted! To him, nothing was more important than Wang Dong’er. He didn’t wish to offend these plant-type soul beasts because of his greed, which would affect his search for the Yearning Heartbroken Grass. He wasn’t willing to risk anything.

He returned to the Blazing Delicate Apricot excitedly, and passed the Blazing Rubber back to her.

“Don’t, don’t give it directly to me. Just place it on the ground. I want to re-absorb it once the Ultimate Ice melts.” The Blazing Delicate Apricot was evidently terrified of the Ultimate Ice left behind by the Snow Empress.

When she saw Huo Yuhao placing the rubber on the ground without any hesitation, her scarlet-red body swayed a little, and she spoke again, “It’s easy to find valuable treasures, but difficult to have a lover. You are a good person.”

Huo Yuhao grinned and replied, “Thanks. It’ll really be good if I can leave with the Yearning Heartbroken Grass.”

After he finished speaking, he returned to the Delicate Silk Immortal’s domain. He sat down cross-legged and started reading the book.

This book was completely snow-white, and the material used to make it was unknown. The book was soft and felt a little like silk, but it seemed tougher than silk. It was also slightly damp to the touch.

There weren’t any words or title on the cover page. Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged and flipped open the first page of this book.

There weren’t many words on the first page, but those that were there felt very ancient.

“I’m glad that someone can see my last words. If you can pass the Delicate Silk Immortal’s test, it proves that you are qualified to read this book. This book was left behind by Tang Sect’s ancestor, Tang San. It records the difference between the various types of immortal and poisonous plants. There are also some lost Tang Sect methods of using poison. After you learn them, please leave this book behind. You must also use these abilities prudently.”

Huo Yuhao was shocked as he read this! He didn’t expect that this book recorded the Tang Sect’s ways of using poison!

He was originally doubtful of the Blazing Delicate Apricot and Delicate Silk Immortal’s words. They weren’t referring to Wang Dong’er’s father. It seemed like his doubts were right. The person who really left this book behind was Tang San, the founding ancestor of the Tang Sect! He was also the one who had discovered this place!

Wang Dong’er’s father must have had passed the test too, and found the Yearning Heartbroken Grass. It was just that he couldn’t leave with it, and thus he left behind these words in the book.

As he thought of this, a few of his doubts were resolved. This was undoubtedly the most appropriate explanation.

He quickly flipped to the second page.

“He who has an affinity, hello! I am the founder of the Tang Sect, Tang San.

“The Icefire Yin Yang Well is a gift from heaven. The Extreme Chill Icespring and Blazing Sunspring exist together here; Yin and Yang complement each other. It is one of the blessed lands. The Douluo Continent as a whole is also a blessed land. After I discovered this place, I didn’t dare to take it for my own. I found some valuable herbs here along with my partners and re-grafted some of these rare yet valuable plants. Whoever you are, you must rid yourself of greed since you passed my test. You can’t ask for more. You can only take seven types of herbs from this place.

“The methods of using poison can save and harm people. Those with ill intentions can destroy lives. That’s why I intentionally left the medicine and poison chapters of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record here. Only those who have passed the test will be able to learn it. Whoever learns this Treasure Record will be considered a part of the Tang Sect, and I hope you’ll look after the sect. If you are unwilling to join the sect, please return the book. You can still obtain the herbs under the Delicate Silk Immortal’s guidance. If you are willing to join the sect, you can’t leak the chapters either. You can only use them yourself. Exercise caution!

“Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation, Medicine Chapter.

“Delicate Silk Immortal – the jinx of a hundred poisons. It has the effect of neutralizing all poison. It can’t dispel poison on its own, but it can curb poisonous substances. Its scent is clear and refreshing. All poison around the Delicate Silk Immortal becomes useless. Its scent can neutralize all poison. Its flower is pink, and its petals are…

“Snowworms are another way to refer to top-quality cordyceps. Snowworms are greyish-white in color, and there are ring patterns on them, eight in total, and the central four rings are the most evident. It is thin and long, while its color ranges from light to deep brown. Its cross-section is slightly longer than most cordyceps, and there’s a slightly larger spore at the top. This spore is bright-yellow on the outside and white on the inside. It is plump and juicy. Not only is it larger than an ordinary cordyceps, its uses are much better too. Just in the Icefire Yin Yang Well…

“Ninth-grade Trogopterus Dung – an invaluable treasure. It’s nurtured by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and needs to absorb…

“Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass. It possesses huge white flowers in the shape of star anises. The stamen in the center of its flowers shine like ice crystals. It doesn’t possess any scent. It’s located at the center of the Extreme Chill Icespring…

Oh my! Huo Yuhao started to become agitated after just a slight loot at the book. He hadn’t expected to obtain the medicine and poison chapter left behind by Tang San. It wasn’t a problem for him to enter the Tang Sect, since he was already a part of it!

At this point, the Delicate Silk Immortal’s voice sounded, “Hey, have you finished reading the first few pages? Are you willing to join the Tang Sect? If you aren’t, you can’t continue reading. I promised that person…!”

Huo Yuhao lifted his head to look at the Delicate Silk Immortal and smiled. He answered, “I’m a disciple of Tang Sect. Of course I’m willing.”

“Oh? You’re a disciple of Tang Sect? Let me take a look at your Mysterious Jade Hands, then.”

Huo Yuhao nodded and lifted his hands. He slowly circulated his Mysterious Heaven Technique, and his hands slowly turned the color of jade. As his body condition wasn’t at its peak right now, he couldn’t fully use his Mysterious Jade Hands. However, it wasn’t possible for him to fake the Mysterious Heaven Technique.

“Alright, that’s fine. You can continue. After you finish reading, return the book to me. That’s why you’d better memorize it.”

“Alright.” Huo Yuhao nodded, then started to read the book seriously.

He didn’t read it in order. He quickly found the record related to the Yearning Heartbroken Grass.

“Yearning Heartbroken Grass, also known as the Yearning Heartbroken Red Flower. It looks like a flower, but it’s actually grass. It has a white flower the size of a palm. There are no leaves, and its stem is connected to a black stone.

“The Yearning Heartbroken Grass is one of the most valuable herbs. There’s a legend about it too. A long time ago, there was a young man who lived a very simple life. He loved plants and flowers, and he had a whole garden of them. He would spend most of his time with his flowers. Every time his flowers wilted, he would become extremely sorrowful. He would then gather their petals and bury them. He even spent time mourning their loss. His love for flowers touched the Flower God in the heavens, who descended to the mortal world and came to live with him. They had a great time together. However, this didn’t last. The other gods and deities were enraged when they found out about this. They believed that gods and mortals shouldn’t be together, and recalled the Flower God back to the spiritual realm. When the youth lost his lover, he became very depressed and started to neglect his flowers. As a result, his garden became a pitiful sight. One day, a white-haired elder came and told him that his favorite white peony in the garden was the reincarnation of his beloved wife. As long as he destroyed the flower, the Flower God would lose her divine body and could return to the mortal world once again. They would be reunited then. However, he couldn’t forsake his garden. After the elder finished speaking, he turned into a gust of wind and disappeared. The youth was jolted awake and regretted neglecting his flowers. He started to take good care of them again. Although he loved his wife, he couldn’t bear to destroy the white peony. He took even greater care of the flower and shared everything with it. Eventually, he died heartbroken. Before he passed away, he dripped his blood on the flower petals, and the peony instantly turned into grass. The white petals were stained with the youth’s blood. That’s why it’s also called the Yearning Heartbroken Red Flower.

“The flower isn’t ordinary. When you pluck it, you must think of your lover. After that, you must spit out your blood on the petals. If you have other intentions, you’ll die before you even pluck the flower. After plucking it, the flower will never wilt as long as it’s with its owner. If the flower is forcefully destroyed, the Yearning Heartbroken Red Flower will also lose its medicinal effect. Consuming this grass has the effect of preserving one’s body. One can even extend his lifespan by ten years and greatly increase their soul power.

“Previously, my wife loved me deeply, and I plucked this flower. She was once a hundred-thousand year Softbone Rabbit who was reborn into a human. To save me in a crisis that followed, she sacrificed her soul ring. I’m grateful to this grass for saving her. Before I left, I returned to the Icefire Yin Yang Well to plant this flower again. It awaits someone who has the affinity to pluck it once more.

“The Yearning Heartbroken Grass will only work for lovers. Destiny can’t be forced. You must remember that. You must remember that.”





Chapter 263.3: Ancestor Tang San


The medicine chapter introduced the Yearning Heartbroken Grass more thoroughly than the rest of the immortal grasses. However, Huo Yuhao still felt that it was too short. There were two paragraphs of a touching love story. The first paragraph introduced the possible origin of the Yearning Heartbroken Grass. The other paragraph recorded the love story of Tang San and his wife.

Tang San’s story touched Huo Yuhao more, as he understood the life of a soul master. When he saw the word ‘sacrificed’, he felt his blood surging in his body. Their love must have been very deep for Tang San’s wife to sacrifice herself to become a soul ring! Humans could actually get together with soul beasts. Although Tang San only briefly mentioned how the grass was his benefactor, Huo Yuhao knew that the backstory wasn’t so simple. Only Tang San would know how much pain and torment they went through back then.

After taking a deep breath, Huo Yuhao calmed himself down. Wang Dong’er’s beauty filled his mind at this point.

Dong’er, I’d also sacrifice myself as a soul ring if I were a soul beast, and protect you forever.

As he thought until here, he revealed a grin on his face. Her beautiful figure in his mind also became clearer.

After calming himself down, Huo Yuhao started to quietly flip through the Tang Sect’s record in his hand. In addition to his impressive memory, his spiritual power was also considerable He only flipped through the entire book once, but he managed to memorize all its contents. Then, to make sure he didn’t miss out on certain points, he read it again. After that, he stood up and returned the book to the Delicate Silk Immortal.

“You You, can you tell me about the various plants that were introduced in the book?” Huo Yuhao asked.

“Alright.” Perhaps it was because Huo Yuhao returned her Delicate Silk Immortal Pill, she agreed to his request readily. Under her guidance, Huo Yuhao managed to learn more about the various magical plants in this Icefire Yin Yang Well.

No one understood this place like the Delicate Silk Immortal. She even clearly told Huo Yuhao about some soul plants that weren’t recorded in the book.

They only stopped when darkness fell.

—

Wang Qiu’er passed the dry rations that she had just heated up to Huo Yuhao without saying a sound. She only lowered her head and started to munch on her food quietly.

Huo Yuhao looked at her and smiled. He said, “Thanks, Qiu’er.”

Wang Qiu’er was a little startled She lifted her head to look at him, and saw the clear light in his eyes. For some reason, she shivered slightly in her heart when she saw the look in Huo Yuhao’s eyes. An ominous feeling started to rise inside her.

Wang Qiu’er’s senses were not inferior to Huo Yuhao’s, since she possessed the Golden Dragon’s Perception. She suddenly felt that he wasn’t ostracizing her anymore, and didn’t try to keep his distance from her. The look in his eyes was extremely calm and amiable as he looked over. He treated her as a friend now. Yes, he treated her only as a friend now, a good friend one treats with respect. However, this was what made Wang Qiu’er anxious, because he was no longer afraid of what had happened between them.

After receiving Niu Tian’s letter, Huo Yuhao entered the Setting Sun Forest and came to the Icefire Yin Yang Well, where he finally obtained the mysterious record after going through many ordeals. To him, everything was a test of his heart. He was training his heart throughout the entire process, and his love for Wang Dong’er became deeper and deeper. Huo Yuhao felt that his heart had become clearer after he read about Tang San and Xiao Wu’s love and sacrifice.

The clarity also helped him realize why he was terrified of Wang Qiu’er. It was because the Goddess of Light had left a deep impression in his heart, which made him afraid of her. He was afraid that he would fall in love with her.

However, this crisis had also helped him recognize his true feelings. In his heart, there was only one person and one Goddess of Light. That person was Wang Dong’er. After recognizing his true feelings, he didn’t need to worry about other things anymore. He could face her normally now.

“What’s there to thank me for? I didn’t do anything. You managed everything on your own,” Wang Qiu’er said coldly.

Huo Yuhao said, “Thanks for accompanying me here. I will remember this favor. If you need help in the future, you can tell me.”

Wang Qiu’er snorted, “No need. Since you have so much energy to talk nonsense, I suggest that you use it on eating and cultivating. With your current state, I don’t even think you can control a flying-type soul tool.”

“Okay.” Huo Yuhao was already used to her indifferent attitude, and so wasn’t too bothered by it. He quickly consumed his meal before starting to cultivate.

Three days! Huo Yuhao took three days to learn of all the plants in the Icefire Yin Yang Well. This place contained more than two-thirds of the immortal and poisonous grasses recorded in the Hidden Weapons Hundred Separation’s medicine and poison chapters. This place deserved to be called a blessed land. There were some plants that weren’t recorded in the chapters, but the Delicate Silk Immortal introduced them to Huo Yuhao in detail. With her help, Huo Yuhao managed to turn a special herb into a concoction, and he recorded it at the back of the record.

“Alright, your memory is astounding. I have taught you everything I know. You are a good student.” After a few days of interaction, the Delicate Silk Immortal and Huo Yuhao had also become more familiar with each other. Although she was rather naggy, she was actually quite a peaceful character. She also formed a decent friendship with Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao nodded, then turned his head in a certain direction. It was the area where the Yearning Heartbroken Grass grew. He had seen the divine products created by the grass before, but he didn’t rush out after it. He memorized the special characteristics of the surrounding herbs instead.

“Thanks, You You. Can I start now?” Huo Yuhao asked.

She replied, “Anytime. As long as you think it’s possible, you can do it. After that, you can take away seven different types of herbs from this place too. If they have successfully turned into plant-type soul beasts, you can categorize their finished products based on their medicinal effects. For example, there’s my pill and Ah Jiao’s rubber. These are the rules that Tang San left behind. In fact, the pill and rubber would have been included among the seven if you didn’t return them to us.”

Huo Yuhao thought for a moment before saying, “Is the Fullmoon Piercing Autumn Dew that I’ve eaten included?”

The Delicate Silk Immortal’s pink flowers swayed a little, and she said, “No. It was used to test you. If you didn’t pass the test, nothing would have followed.”

Huo Yuhao immediately said without hesitation, “I only want to take two things away today, the Yearning Heartbroken Grass and the Blazing Rubber. As for the other five types, I’ll come in the future when I need them.”

“Alright. Why don’t you want my pill? It can neutralize countless poisons; it’s very useful.” The Delicate Silk Immortal was advertising her own ability.

Huo Yuhao answered, “I’m not going to need it now. I’ll leave these five chances for the future. If my partners or friends need emergency help in the future, it’ll be convenient for me to find suitable herbs here.”

The Delicate Silk Immortal said, “What about the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass? It’s very suitable for you. It’ll greatly increase your cultivation. To be conservative, I expect it to increase your soul power by at least five ranks. It absorbed the extreme cold from the Extreme Chill Icespring and the Frigid Raindew separated from it is more effective than the Blazing Rubber.”

Huo Yuhao shook his head and smiled. “Ancestor Tang San said that we can’t be greedy. I have already absorbed the Fullmoon Piercing Autumn Dew, and I also obtained the origin energy of heaven and earth absorbed by the Snow Empress from the Extreme Chill Icespring. I can’t take more for myself. The origin energy will take some time to fully digest.”

As he spoke til this point, he laughed bitterly. The origin energy absorbed in his body was too immense. It was so immense that even the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion’s skeleton was filled with extremely pure energy. Huo Yuhao’s own body was like a receptacle that was completely filled. If he wasn’t careful, he might blow apart.

He had to be extremely cautious in his cultivation right now. He could only activate the circulation of his soul power through his narrow meridians to absorb the origin energy for his own use. His meridians were also under great pressure, to the extent of being internally hurt because he was being continually struck by the origin energy of the Extreme Chill Icespring. It was even difficult for his Life Gold’s immense life power to restore his body. Huo Yuhao felt that the Snow Empress had used his body’s limit as a blueprint when she was absorbing the origin energy earlier.

However, Huo Yuhao could also sense that once he absorbed more than half of the origin energy, his cultivation would soar. In addition, it would be much easier for him to absorb the remaining origin energy once he reached that stage.

His Ultimate Ice martial soul was a result of fusing with the Ice Empress. This time, he had completely tempered his body into an Ultimate Ice body. This was also the intention of the Snow Empress, and it would be very beneficial for his future development. The Skydream Iceworm told him that he wouldn’t suffer from the repercussions of wielding Ultimate Ice once he managed to absorb all the origin energy. After he absorbed it completely, it might even help him obtain a Martial Soul True Body. The only problem was that he had no idea how long it would take for him to absorb it all. Furthermore, his cultivation was currently stuck at three rings, as he couldn’t overactivate his soul power. Just as Wang Qiu’er had said, he couldn’t even command a flying-type soul tool.





Chapter 264.1: Raging Hot Blood in the Boundary Between Life and Death


The Delicate Silk Immortal made a snorting sound and said, “You really don’t want my pill?”

Huo Yuhao smiled and replied, “If I need it in the future, I’ll ask for it. Thanks, You You.”

The Delicate Silk Immortal groaned, “Then you should get going. I don’t think you can stay any longer either.”

She was right. He had been gone from Shrek Academy for a week. Although he knew that nothing would happen to Wang Dong’er’s internal injury, he was still very anxious. In order to be more prepared to obtain the Yearning Heartbroken Grass, he had to make sufficient preparations. He couldn’t be distracted at all. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a second chance if he failed! This was what he was afraid of.

A dim light flashed, and Huo Yuhao revealed a focused gleam in his eyes. He clasped his hands in front of his chest. Every time the light in his eyes flashed, the air would distort slightly.

He didn’t rush out to pluck the Yearning Heartbroken Grass. He stood up and looked into the distance, in the direction of Shrek Academy.

Slowly, the calm expression in his eyes started to turn gentle. There was only one figure in it, and he started to smile. He recalled the first time he had met Wang Dong’er.

She had been extremely arrogant then! She was obviously a girl, but she dressed up like a guy. No wonder so many weird things had happened.

They had learned and cultivated together. They even possessed martial soul fusion skills and unleashed the Golden Road Amidst Withering Resplendence.

They had been together for a long time.

On the beautiful Sea God’s Lake during the Sea God’s Fate, she finally revealed her identity as a girl. From the Love at First Sight, to Destined in Three Lives, and finally to Eternal Love.

Dong’er, you have finally become my girlfriend. I was stupid, I was really stupid. It was only then that I was certain you were a girl. It was only then that I realized you weren’t a brother or partner to me but…

Dong’er, I’m very foolish, right? In your heart, I’ve always been very foolish and stupid. However, you fell for me. With your status as the Clear Sky Sect’s young mistress, you must have had many choices. With your ravishing Goddess of Light’s looks, you can attract many guys.

However, you chose me. You chose my ordinary looks. I was even the worst-looking fellow when we were first admitted to the academy.

Dong’er, you’ve sacrificed a lot for me. What kind of pressure have you been under? You never told me. Even when Uncle Niu Tian and Tai Tan doubted me, you stood on my side.

You are my goddess, a goddess that I’ll protect with my life. My body, heart and spirit belong to you. Dong’er, I love you.

In his mind, the dancing figure of the Raiment of Light surfaced. Huo Yuhao moved as he smiled.

He walked forward one step at a time. At this point, he seemed to have lost his focus and spirit in his own emotional world. There was a thick sense of love in his eyes.

Wang Qiu’er wasn’t standing far away from him. She watched everything quietly. At this moment, she realized that she couldn’t enter Huo Yuhao’s heart like Wang Dong had.

Her tears started to flow uncontrollably. She was crying in sorrow. Before she had met him, she had never imagined that she would shed tears for a man. However, she was really crying now, and she was even crying for Huo Yuhao.

In just a short seven days, his life had been in danger several times. However, he managed to survive everything because of his love for Wang Dong’er. His love for her was extremely deep. Why did I meet him so late?

Wang Qiu’er was crying in sorrow. At this moment, she didn’t possess the dominance and toughness of the Golden Dragon anymore. She was only filled with the pain and sorrow of a young girl losing her lover.

Huo Yuhao continued to walk forward. The Delicate Silk Immortal didn’t help him, but the sentient plants could sense his love, and they all opened a path for him as they pulled away to either side.

Eventually, he came in front of the pitch-black stone and the white flower that seemed so vulnerable.

The white flower was shaped like a peony, but it was much thinner than one. It didn’t have any scent, and wasn’t decorated with anything. There wasn’t even a leaf on it. There was only a patch of blood-red on it. It was color filled with sorrow.

The Yearning Heartbroken Grass. It bloomed and withered only for love.

The divine product in the grass was also of a ten-thousand year level, but it didn’t possess its own intelligence or the strength of a soul beast. It wasn’t that it couldn’t evolve. If it chose to evolve, it would be the strongest out of all the grasses. However, it didn’t do so because it was unwilling. It only wanted to protect its stubbornness for love. It was just like the scholar and Xiao Wu back then, waiting for the right one to come. Once they decided, they were willing to give their everything. This was the stubbornness for love that the Yearning Heartbroken Grass possessed.

Huo Yuhao stopped and looked down. He looked at the patch of red on the flower that was flashing slightly. Above the patch of red, it really seemed as if fresh blood was flowing.

“Dong’er, Dong’er, wait for me. I’ll be back soon.” Huo Yuhao slowly lifted his head, and a dim layer of golden light started to rise from his body. The weird thing was that the golden light was shaped like a flame as it surfaced. It was undulating slightly, as if he was burning his own life.

Huo Yuhao’s spiritual sea started to shake tremendously at this moment. The pure undulation of his spiritual mind caused his spiritual sea to turn into a smooth icy ocean. A golden figure started to dance amidst this icy ocean. A thick sense of love started to spread in his heart as the Goddess of Light appeared in his mind.

Wang Qiu’er was stunned to find out that a projection that was identical to Wang Dong’er had appeared behind Huo Yuhao as the golden flame rose. Yes, she was certain that the projection was Wang Dong’er, even though they looked very similar.

Even the demeanor, aura, and look in the projection’s eyes were all similar to Wang Dong’er. She was smiling. It was a gentle smile, as if she were sensing something. She floated behind Huo Yuhao quietly and shone along with the golden flame that Huo Yuhao emanated.

The Skydream Iceworm was the most shocked right now. He crawled out of Huo Yuhao’s body and turned into a ring. He was stunned to see the projection and muttered to himself, “Concrete-immaterial realm. He has done it! He has focused everything into love. He has actually entered such a realm! His Sovereign’s Descent will cease to exist now. What’s left will only be the Goddess of Light that he has comprehended!”

Yes, Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power had evolved. He was like Ji Juechen. He had found the path that fused both his spiritual and soul power. It wasn’t the Sovereign’s Descent anymore. The Sovereign’s Descent was created by Elder Mu, but it wasn’t his true path. The Sovereign’s Descent had shown him a smooth road, but at this moment, he had found his own way The name of this path was the same as his lover. It was the Goddess of Light.

Huo Yuhao turned his right palm around and slapped his chest hard.

“Wa—” Icy-blue blood spewed out of his mouth, and splattered on the surface of the Yearning Heartbroken Grass.

Suddenly, the Yearning Heartbroken Grass started to shake. Huo Yuhao’s golden projection also turned dim and disappeared.

He stared at the divine product in the grass that could give Wang Dong’er life again.

This pool of blood that he spat out was filled with his love for Wang Dong’er. His palm strike even caused the suppressed origin energy in his body to rage slightly. This origin energy started to course through his meridians.

However, Huo Yuhao didn’t seem to have any awareness of all of that. He only widened his eyes and looked at the fresh blood that had landed on the Yearning Heartbroken Grass’ flower.

He was in a daze the next moment. That was because he was stunned to discover that his blood had been affected by his origin energy and turned into ice. His blood didn’t fuse with the flower, but turned to ice instead. It stopped seeping into the petals.

“No… no, this can’t happen!” Huo Yuhao panicked. Before this, his face had still been brimming with a smile of love.

What do I do? What should I do? How has this happened? My blood has actually frozen? No, this can’t happen!…

Suddenly, he turned around and ran quickly towards the Icefire Yin Yang Well. The plants opened a path for him.

“Huo Yuhao, what are you doing?” The Delicate Silk Immortal and Wang Qiu’er asked at the same time. That was because they saw Huo Yuhao bursting towards the Blazing Sunspring. It seemed like Huo Yuhao had failed to pluck the Yearning Heartbroken Grass and turned crazy.

Huo Yuhao was too quick. By the time Wang Qiu’er managed to react, he was already in front of the Blazing Sunspring. Without any hesitation, he kneeled down in front of the Blazing Sunspring. He reached out both his hands into the Sunspring.





Chapter 264.2: Raging Hot Blood in the Boundary Between Life and Death


He was like a detonator to a stationary soul cannon, as his body was filled with the origin energy of Ultimate Ice. As his palms entered the spring, there was a sudden explosion in the Blazing Sunspring. The terrifying aura that raged forth after that even swept all the way over to Wang Qiu’er.

Steam started to rise from Huo Yuhao’s body. This was the result as Ultimate Ice clashed with Ultimate Fire. Right now, he seemed to be intoxicated, and didn’t appear to feel anything. He cupped some of the spring water in his hands and brought it to his face.

Mist started to rise from his palms. Even though he had Ultimate Ice to protect his body, he had no intention of protecting himself. Blisters started to surface on his hands. They were like cooked shrimp at this point, burning red.

“Dong’er! My love for you is pure. I will succeed!” He knelt down beside the sunspring and lifted his head and hands as the plants all looked at him. Before Wang Qiu’er could grab hold of him, he swallowed the spring water.

A red gust rose from his head, and a layer of thick icy fog was unleashed from his body. Wang Qiu’er’s hand was pushed away by this layer of fog.

Huo Yuhao didn’t stop. His face had already turned completely red, and he looked like a drunk. However, he still managed to focus and activate the Instant Teleportation from his left leg soul bone.

A golden light flashed, and he teleported all the way back to the black stone, arriving in front of the Yearning Heartbroken Grass.

His eyes had already turned red at this point. However, there was a satisfied smile on his face. However, this look of satisfaction appeared a little weird on his red face. However, it also seemed a little sacred!

“No, you will die!” Wang Qiu’er cried. She also activated her Instant Teleportation, but she wasn’t teleported as far as Huo Yuhao. She was too late. She watched as Huo Yuhao slapped his chest for the second time.

She saw him spewing blood from his mouth. His blood landed on the Yearning Heartbroken Grass.

At this instant, time seemed to have stood still. Wang Qiu’er collapsed onto the ground, and tears flowed down her face. At this moment, she couldn’t imagine what he had been through. At the same time, she also felt that her heart had broken.

“Huo Yuhao, Huo Yuhao!” Wang Qiu’er was crying sorrowfully. She was crying sorrowfully with her eyes shut.

However, Huo Yuhao’s eyes were wide open. He was staring at the white flower and his own blood.

The ice melted. As his blood fused together, it started to seep into the flower. A layer of pure and holy light shone from the flower and engulfed Huo Yuhao. It was shaking slightly, as if it were struggling. The blood of sorrow on the petal started to fade.

Even though it looked very delicate, all the flowers surrounding the Icefire Yin Yang Well closed and drooped when it broke free from the black stone. This included the Delicate Silk Immortal, the Blazed Delicate Apricot, the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass and the Wonderloft Chrysanthemum . They were like subjects bowing down to their king.

The small, white flower drifted quietly in front of Huo Yuhao and stuck closely to his cheek. It was as if it had found its lover, and was exuding a jade glow.

Huo Yuhao’s expression turned a little silly. Even though his hands were filled with blisters and looked as if they were melting, and even though blood was coming out of the pores of his body before turning into ice flakes, he still smiled in deep satisfaction.

He opened his mouth and wanted to say something. However, his throat had been scalded by the Blazing Sunspring water. His voice was very hoarse, but it was possible to tell what he was trying to say by reading his lips.

“Dong’er, I have succeeded!”

The white flower stuck closely to his face and didn’t fall off. The glow that came from it was still flashing, as if it were soothing his hurt body.

Huo Yuhao’s body shook slightly, and he almost fell down. He forcefully twisted his head to look at Wang Qiu’er. There was a pleading look on his face.

Wang Qiu’er had just crawled up from the ground. At this moment, she didn’t dare to reject him no matter how aloof and sad she was.

“Alright, I promise!” Wang Qiu’er muttered as she cried.

Huo Yuhao’s lips moved. Fresh blood flowed from his body. His body was slowly collapsing to the ground. Before he completely collapsed, he forced his head to one side so that the Yearning Heartbroken Grass wouldn’t touch the ground. He was afraid of crushing the delicate flower. No, he was afraid of crushing Wang Dong’er’s hope.

Wang Qiu’er walked towards Huo Yuhao slowly.

His body crashed irregularly to the ground. Fresh blood continued to stream from his mouth and nose. His life was slowly diminishing. The flesh on his hands had mostly melted off, and his bones could almost be seen. An intense chill was surging through his body. It was about to blow him apart.

He’s, he’s about to die. He’s really about to die?

Wang Qiu’er’s heart was trembling. She turned around suddenly to look at the Delicate Silk Immortal.

“What can save him, what can save him?” She was almost shouting hysterically. As she spoke, she lifted Huo Yuhao up and rushed in front of the Delicate Silk Immortal.

The Delicate Silk Immortal’s voice was also filled with sorrow, “He’s hurt too badly. The spring water that he swallowed has already burned his throat, windpipe and even his heart. He didn’t activate the Ultimate Ice in his body to resist the scorching spring water. Because of this, the blood that he spat out was burning. It’s really blood from his heart! He is the best human I’ve ever seen. His stubbornness towards love isn’t inferior to that of Tang San and Xiao Wu!”

“Stop spouting nonsense now. Can you save him? If he dies, I’ll bury all of you here with him.” Wang Qiu’er’s face was stained with tears. However, an indescribable force was unleashed from her body at this instant. Her powdery-blue hair quickly turned golden and flew up behind her back. Her sky blue eyes also turned golden. She released an indescribable aura from her body. Golden light rapidly spread from her body, and everything that surrounded her was dyed gold.

The plants started to tremble in deep fear.

“Stop, please stop first!” The Delicate Silk Immortal was shuddering as she spoke.

Wang Qiu’er said coldly, “He dies, I die, everyone dies.” The golden light stopped spreading momentarily. Every word from her mouth was very determined. She was so determined that it was terrifying.

The Delicate Silk Immortal was a little stunned as she said, “His, his lover doesn’t seem to be you…”

Wang Qiu’er said coldly, “Is this related to what I asked? It’s not important whether he loves me. However, I have realized that I love him. Since he can give up his life for her, I can also do the same thing. Do you really have no way of saving him? If you don’t, I have a plan. However, all of you will die if I use this plan.”

The Delicate Silk Immortal sighed and said, “Initially, there was no way. However, there might be a chance since you love him so much. Unless you can…”

……

Shrek Academy, Sea God’s Lake, Sea God’s Island, Sea God’s Pavilion…

The Golden Tree exuded a gentle aura of life. However, there seemed to be something different within this gentle aura of life.

Wang Dong’er was seated quietly in Huo Yuhao’s room. The window was open, and she could see the thick vegetation outside. But right now, everything seemed grey within her eyes.

She had been seated here for a day and night. She didn’t move the entire time.

Over the past ten days, she and her partners had combed the entire academy and Shrek City. They had even searched a region in the Great Star Dou Forest.

However, there wasn’t any news of him.

Wang Dong’er’s eyes were a little swollen. She had cried a countless number of times.

When she discovered that he had disappeared with Wang Qiu’er, she had been filled with rage apart from the heart-chilling cold. Did he betray me? No, Yuhao wouldn’t do that. These two thoughts appeared alternately in her mind.

Niu Tian wouldn’t have expected that the pouch he gave to Wang Dong’er would also become a test for her. The test was tormenting her.

The initial rage and chill started to change as time passed. Her rage intensified. She couldn’t wait to find him and grab his collar before interrogating him as to why he left, and why he left with Wang Qiu’er. Is it really because I’m not good enough, and she loves you more than I do?

The rage even caused her to lose her rationality.

However, what happened after her rage vanished? After her rage vanished, she was only left with fear.

Before this, she hadn’t expected that she would one day lose Huo Yuhao. However, she really had lost him this time. She had discovered that she couldn’t live without him. Without him, her entire world turned grey and lifeless.





Chapter 264.3: Raging Hot Blood in the Boundary Between Life and Death


After the rage subsided, it was replaced with an indescribable sense of yearning.

At this point, Wang Dong’er only had one thought in her head. As long as you return, I won’t probe further. I believe that you love me. Yuhao, please come back!

At that moment, she started crying. She was so heartbroken that she cried for an entire night. When she crawled up the next morning, she continued to look for him.

It was only yesterday that she felt a little hopeless when she returned to the Sea God’s Pavilion. Her mindset had changed once again.

Yuhao, come back. If you come back, I won’t be angry as long as you are well, alive and fine no matter what your choice is. If you still love me, I’m willing to share you with her. Yuhao, come back, please come back.! I’m waiting for you! No matter how long it takes, I’ll wait for you…

As a result, she went back to his room and sat there quietly.

Bei Bei and the rest came over. Even Yan Shaozhe and Elder Xuan visited her. However, Wang Dong’er didn’t listen to any of their words. She was already completely immersed in her own world. There was only Huo Yuhao there.

It was only after Huo Yuhao disappeared that she fully understood how deeply she loved him.

She was scared that Huo Yuhao would be like Tang Ya and Ma Xiaotao, leaving without returning.

Yuhao, will you come back? No matter what you want, I’ll promise it! Anything as long as you return!

Tears started to flow down her face once again. Wang Dong’er stood up slowly and walked over in front of Huo Yuhao’s bed. She quietly sat down before lying down on it. She hugged his pillow and sniffed the remnants of his scent on it. She was sobbing pitifully.

So, loving someone is actually so tormenting and unforgettable. Yuhao, Yuhao, do you know that? Where are you exactly? As long as you can come back fine, I’m willing to exchange my life. I just want to see you well, even if we can’t get together.

—

Sunlight shone into the room through the window, projecting the jagged shadows of trees into the room. The refreshing air the outside seeped into the room and gently diffused.

“Dong’er, Dong’er!” At this moment, an anxious voice was calling out distantly Wang Dong’er didn’t move. Right now, she was completely immersed in Huo Yuhao’s memory.

The door opened, a purplish figure burst into the room and found Wang Dong’er after scanning the room momentarily.

“Dong’er, quick! Quickly get up! Yuhao, Yuhao is back!”

The word ‘Yuhao’ was like a bell to Wang Dong’er. She instantly bounced up from the bed, and her emotionless eyes became vibrant again. She was looking at the equally ravishing lady that had rushed into the room.

The lady who had rushed into the room was the fourth member of Shrek’s Seven Monsters, Jiang Nannan.

Jiang Nannan had an outraged look on her face. Something seemed to have infuriated her.

“Really, really… is he really back?” Wang Dong’er’s voice was trembling slightly, as was her petite figure.

Jiang Nannan couldn’t stand her haggard look. She wanted to say something, but she stopped herself.

“Sister Nannan, is he really back? Tell me, tell me!” Wang Dong’er grabbed onto her shoulder, and the anxiety in her eyes surged with the tears that flowed down uncontrollably.

Jiang Nannan was still indignant as she told Wang Dong’er, “Yes, he’s back. However, he came back with Wang Qiu’er.

“Huo Yuhao, that scoundrel! I won’t let him off. You treat him so nice, but he went out with Wang Qiu’er. They just returned! I saw them outside the academy before I immediately rushed here to inform you. Dong’er, what are you doing? Don’t go! That scoundrel…!”

Before she could finish speaking, Wang Dong’er had already rushed out through the window. Her Radiant Butterfly Goddess’ wings flapped open and carried her in the direction of Shrek Academy’s gate.

Jiang Nannan sighed and muttered to herself, “More care, more trouble…more care, more trouble! Fortunately, I informed Bei Bei and the rest. Huo Yuhao, you are a bastard! I won’t let you off. Dong’er sacrificed so much for you, but you chose to be with another woman. Hmph!”

As she spoke, she also quickened her footsteps. This was the Sea God’s Pavilion. She didn’t dare to jump out of the window like Wang Dong’er had. She backtracked along her original route and left the Sea God’s Pavilion quickly, heading straight for the gate.

—

Going straight all the way from Shrek Academy’s gate would lead one to the shore of the Sea God’s Lake. Proceeding down the paths that wound along the shore would lead to the inner courtyard. There was also a statue at the end of each of these paths.

At this moment, a tough-looking lady was surrounded in front of one of these statues.

Bei Bei, He Caitou, Xu Sanshi, and Xiao Xiao all looked a little unfriendly. The person who was surrounded by them was Wang Qiu’er, who had been missing for ten days. She was carrying someone on her back, and that person was Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao looked very weird. He seemed to be asleep on her back, and was evidently not clad in his own clothing. His drooping hands were also wrapped up. There was a satisfied smile on his face, and there was even a white flower stuck closely to one side of his face. He appeared very strange.

“Make way!” Wang Qiu’er said coldly.

Even Bei Bei, who was normally very refined, looked slightly infuriated now. “Wang Qiu’er, what happened to Yuhao? He went out with you?”

Wang Qiu’er replied coldly, “That’s right, he went out with me.”

“The two of you, how can the two of you…?” Xiao Xiao said righteously.

Wang Qiu’er scoffed, “Why can’t we?”

“You…” Xiao Xiao was so angry that her face turned red. She was about to rush up, but He Caitou pulled her arm back. They knew that Wang Qiu’er’s abilities were extraordinary. Xiao Xiao was likely to suffer if she attacked like that.

Xu Sanshi said in a deep voice, “Wang Qiu’er, pass Huo Yuhao to us. What happened to him? Why did you carry him back? Where did the two of you go?”

Wang Qiu’er didn’t answer his questions. “Where’s Wang Dong’er? Huo Yuhao is back, but where is she?”

“Are you trying to assert your authority over her?” Xiao Xiao asked furiously. As she spoke, two yellow, two purple and one black soul ring rose from her feet. A black cauldron also subtly appeared. She was ready to attack now!

Wang Qiu’er was still fearless. Her eyes were extremely focused, and a dangerous aura was being exuded from her body.

Bei Bei said unkindly, “Wang Qiu’er, Yuhao’s disappearance must be related to you, even though we don’t know what happened. If you are unwilling to hand him over, don’t blame us for being unkind.”

He was a little worried about Huo Yuhao’s condition. With his cultivation, how could he possibly be sleeping on Wang Qiu’er’s back? Something must have happened!

Wang Qiu’er acted like she didn’t hear his threat. She continued to say coldly, “Where’s Wang Dong’er?”

Bei Bei snorted coldly. His soul rings rose from his feet. He was really angry now. They had been looking for Huo Yuhao for ten days! They had been seeing Wang Dong’er’s pale face every day. Even he was unhappy with Huo Yuhao, a junior that he had always liked.

Seeing that Bei Bei had unleashed his soul rings, He Caitou immediately jumped backward, and heavy soul cannons appeared on his shoulders. Xu Sanshi took a step forward and unleashed his Shield of the Xuanwu Turtle. Although only four of the members of Shrek’s Seven Monsters were here, their coordination was still decent.

Wang Qiu’er stood there without moving and only looked at them coldly. “I won’t fight with all of you. It’ll only hurt him. Call Wang Dong’er over.”

Xu Sanshi snorted furiously. He took a step forward and was about to attack Wang Qiu’er with his shield.

At this point, a bright blue streak descended from the sky as a hoarse voice called out, “Yuhao, where’s Yuhao?”

Wang Dong’er descended from the sky and landed several meters in front of Wang Qiu’er.

After seeing Wang Dong’er, Wang Qiu’er was slightly stunned. Her complexion looked very unhealthy, and it seemed that she had become extremely lifeless. Her body was much thinner, and she even looked a little out of shape. Only ten days had passed! Her life seemed to have diminished.

Wang Dong’er didn’t look at Wang Qiu’er. She was fixated on Huo Yuhao’s body, and exclaimed in sorrow, “Yuhao, what happened to you?” As she spoke, she rushed towards Wang Qiu’er. She had only taken a glance at him, but had already realized that something wasn’t right. Their connection was very close since they had formed martial soul fusion skills together. However, Wang Dong’er clearly couldn’t feel his powerful martial souls in his body right now.

Wang Qiu’er lifted her hand to block Wang Dong’er.

Wang Dong’er was stunned for a moment before looking at her. As their gazes met, Wang Qiu’er saw the look of sadness and heartache in Wang Dong’er’s eyes, while Wang Dong’er only saw loneliness in Wang Qiu’er’s eyes.

“I’ll hand him over to you, but you need to hear what I want to say first,” Wang Qiu’er said.

Wang Dong’er said anxiously, “What, what happened to him? Can you tell me after I’ve taken a look at him?”

Wang Qiu’er said coldly, “Don’t worry, he won’t die.”

Wang Dong’er calmed herself down and nodded. She replied, “Alright, tell me.”

“No.” Bei Bei came up beside Wang Dong’er and interrupted her.

Wang Dong’er’s body was very weak now. Everyone believed that Wang Qiu’er had nothing good to say. What if Wang Dong’er was provoked?





Credits





Translator: Wuxiaworld





Epub: Estevam / dotNOVEL