Unrivaled Tang Sect Volume 32

Book 32: Journey

Chapter 412: Revisiting the Setting Sun Forest

Huo Yuhao whispered a few words, and Elder Xuan was stunned for a moment. His smile widened a little. “If you are trying to play dumb, take good care to ensure that you don’t become the dumb one. Honestly speaking, the Academy has nothing else to teach you anymore. Since you want to leave, just leave. I only have one request: please send news of your safety once every three months, regardless of what method you use.”

Huo Yuhao chortled. “Definitely. I won’t be impatient when I deal with things in the future. I’ll be steadier, and won’t make you worry.”

Elder Xuan said, “Remember, no matter what trouble you face, the Academy will always back you up. Always stay true to yourself.”

“Okay.”

 

Elder Xuan leaned back into his chair as he retrieved a huge wine gourd. As he opened it, a strong fragrance of wine filled the air.

Huo Yuhao was stunned. Ever since Elder Xuan became the Master of the Sea God’s Pavilion, Huo Yuhao had not seen him drink like this. He couldn’t help but recall the days when Elder Xuan would hold a wine gourd in one hand and a chicken drumstick in the other hand. He had been under huge pressure over the past few years in the Sea God’s Pavilion.

After downing a few mouthfuls of wine, Elder Xuan looked more vibrant, “It feels great! I haven’t drunk like this in a long time. Over these few years, the situation in the continent has been very uncertain. The Sun Moon Empire has grown to be very strong, and Xu Tianran dared to ignore all considerations, going as far as to lay his hands on the competitors of the Youth Soul Master Tournament. This shows how confident he is in his own abilities.

“Originally, I didn’t think too much about it. No matter how strong the Sun Moon Empire was, I thought that it was only slightly stronger than the Star Luo Empire. Even so, the Sun Moon Empire shouldn’t be too strong. If the three empires in

 

the Douluo Continent teamed up, along with the presence of Heaven’s Wrath to defend us, what could they do?

“However, I only realized I was wrong after this war. The presence of soul tools is indeed an important factor affecting how wars are fought. As the beast wave raged and the soul beast army charged towards Shrek City, we managed to survive for two days with only ten thousand people, three thousand soul masters, and soul tools. We weren’t even fully equipped with soul tools then! In such a large-scale war, one’s individual abilities are unlikely to affect the outcome unless they are as powerful as Di Tian. How were we able to survive? We survived because of soul tools!

“In total, we had less than fifty Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons. With the Tang Sect’s All-Terrain Self-Driving Forts and all types of soul tools from the Academy, we formed a crossfire that managed to resist the onslaught of the soul beast army. Those stationary soul cannon shells that the Tang Sect provided even caused greater losses to the soul beasts. If they hadn’t been battered so heavily, I believe the Great Star Dou Forest wouldn’t have compromised, even with our Spirits. Their goal was very simple: launch an all-out attack to weaken our abilities! The more soul masters they killed, the safer the soul beasts would be for a period of time!

 

“I originally looked down on soul tools, as I felt that the strength of a soul tool, even if it was Class 9, might not be as strong as an all-out attack from a Titled Douluo. However, I discovered that I was wrong. If a hundred soul masters attack at the same time, it’s very difficult for their power to add up together. However, the attacks of a hundred soul tools can be extremely destructive if they’re coordinated well. Furthermore, the future of soul tools is that they’ll be controlled by ordinary people, according to the Tang Sect’s research. If this really comes true, humans will still rule the Douluo Continent, even if soul masters cease to exist.”

Huo Yuhao understood what Elder Xuan meant through his tone.  He  was  stunned  as  he  asked,  “Elder  Xuan,  are  you adopting a pessimistic attitude towards the war between the three empires and the Sun Moon Empire?”

Elder Xuan laughed slightly. “I’m not pessimistic. It’s just difficult to judge. However, it’ll depend on the younger people from the three empires to defeat the Sun Moon Empire. Go on, your experiences in the outside world will be very beneficial to your growth. Don’t worry about the Tang Sect. The Academy will do its best to support the sect. The growth of the Tang Sect might actually be what we need to resist the Sun Moon Empire in the future.”

 

“That’s great. Elder Xuan, I’ll leave first. I hope that you can achieve success.” Huo Yuhao stood up and bowed respectfully to Elder Xuan. He only left the Sea God’s Pavilion after Elder Xuan gave him the signal to.

He didn’t rush to leave. He turned around before kneeling towards the Golden Tree again. After kowtowing three times, he drifted away.

A teacher for a day, a father for a life. No matter the time, his respect for Elder Mu would never change.

------

School was in session now, and the Academy was much quieter. Huo Yuhao quickly left the Academy and rushed over to the Tang Sect.

The thing he wanted to do the most now was to see Wang Dong’er. If the Clear Sky Sect allowed it, he would remain there to take care of Wang Dong’er.

 

As a result, he had to settle many things before that.

When Huo Yuhao returned to the Tang Sect, the sect was extremely crowded. There were many more disciples in the Sect right now. Huo Yuhao felt that many of them were very familiar, they were probably from the Academy. Furthermore, there weren’t just students from the Soul Tool Department, there were also students from the Martial Soul Department. Of course, there were some unfamiliar faces, too!

The outer wall of the Sect had already been torn down. It seemed like their territory had been expanded once again.

Huo Yuhao was extremely notable in Shrek City right now. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he used his Imitation, concealed himself in the air, and entered the inner hall of the Tang Sect.

---

“Alright, let’s follow the original plan for this side. Oh yes, proceed according to the blueprint for this side too. Use the best materials and don’t cut any corners. Otherwise, Teacher Xuan will ‘take care’ of all of you. Alright, that’s all. Get busy.”

As he entered, Huo Yuhao heard He Caitou’s voice. He Caitou had retained his original appearance and seemed to be very busy. There were a few people dressed in construction gear beside him.

As he smiled, Huo Yuhao stopped using his Imitation.

He Caitou subconsciously turned in his direction. When he saw Huo Yuhao, he couldn’t help but rub his eyes, wanting to ensure that he wasn’t seeing things. It was only after he confirmed that it was really Huo Yuhao that he shouted in delight, “Little junior, you’re finally back!”

As he spoke, he charged forward and hugged Huo Yuhao.

Everyone from the Tang Sect was anxious after Huo Yuhao was taken away by Di Tian. However, even Elder Xuan was helpless, given Di Tian’s cultivation. The Tang Sect could only choose to wait. Fortunately, they knew that Huo Yuhao wasn’t in any immediate danger due to the presence of Spirits. Right now, He Caitou was delighted because Huo Yuhao had returned.

 

“Little   junior,   are   you   fine?”   He   Caitou   looked   very concerned.

Huo Yuhao chortled, “Second senior, do I look like I’m not fine? Didn’t you say that the Tang Sect was given a larger plot of land in the outer city? Why are you still renovating this place?”

He  Caitou  chuckled  and  replied,  “We  planned  this  after discussing it with the Academy. Yes, we were given a larger plot of land in the outer city. However, it’s much safer here, since it’s close to the Academy! We decided to renovate this place and turn it into a Soul Tool Research Institute. After this, we’ll move the other things, such as our working area and soul tool manufacturing factory, to the outer city. We’ll leave everything important in the inner city. In the future, Teacher Xuan will hold the fort inside the city and conduct holistic research.

“This time, the Academy has become much more invested in the Sect. They’ve shared all their resources in the Soul Tool Department with us, especially in the area of soul tool research. They’ve given unconditional support to Teacher Xuan. Whatever Teacher Xuan needs, the Academy will try its best to gather.”

 

Huo Yuhao laughed, “That’s great, then! I’m relieved. Second senior, where’s eldest senior?”

He Caitou answered, “He’s around. He has been very worried about you these few days. He keeps going to the Academy to try to find a way to save you. Now that you’re back, I’m sure he’ll be delighted. Let’s go and find him.”

---

Right now, only He Caitou and Bei Bei were in the Tang Sect among Shrek’s Seven Monsters. Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao were all in the outer city, overseeing the construction of the Tang Sect’s new building.

Huo Yuhao found Bei Bei quickly. When he saw Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei was naturally extremely delighted. Huo Yuhao recounted everything he had experienced in the Great Star Dou Forest to Bei Bei. He only concealed the future influence of Di Tian’s Black Dragon reverse scale on him. After all, it was unimportant to the Tang Sect, and it was only a problem that would slowly arise once he became a Titled Douluo. He didn’t want to make Bei Bei worry about him.

 

Huo Yuhao smiled as he said, “Eldest senior, settle things here at the sect before following me.”

Bei Bei immediately understood what he meant, and seemed slightly agitated. He nodded quickly.

Huo Yuhao said, “Have we had no news about Sister Xiaotao over the past few days?”

Bei Bei shook his head and said, “No, she hasn’t appeared at all. It’s the same situation with the Academy. If she’s fine, she’ll still be in the Sun Moon Empire. It’s just that the evil energy that you helped to dispel from her body…”

Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, “I don’t know if she can hold on, either. It’ll depend on her willpower. I believe she’ll be fine. It’s just that I don’t know why she hasn’t returned.” Ma Xiaotao was still the Holy Lady of the Holy Ghost Church, and a Soul Douluo with an Ultimate martial soul. As long as she didn’t expose her identity, no one could easily harm her inside the Sun Moon Empire.

Bei Bei said, “Little junior, go and rest first. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. How long do you think it will take before we return?”

Huo Yuhao replied, “If we’re fast, we’ll take three to five days. Even if we’re slow, we shouldn’t take more than half a month.”

After pondering for a moment, Bei Bei said, “Alright, it’s better to finish it as quickly as possible. I’ll go and settle things first.”

As he spoke, Bei Bei charged out. In addition to the anxious look in his eyes, he was also excited.

He  Caitou  was  confused  as  he  asked  Huo  Yuhao,  “Little junior, what’s with eldest senior? What are you bringing him to do? He seems very agitated!”

 

Huo Yuhao smiled and whispered a few words in his ears. He Caitou was only enlightened after that. After sighing, he said, “Yes! No matter what, we have to help him!”

------

On the second morning, dawn had only just arrived before two figures left the Tang Sect. After they quickly left Shrek City, they immediately used their flying-type soul tools to ascend into the air, and rapidly headed north.

Huo Yuhao looked at Bei Bei and couldn’t help but say, “Eldest senior, you seem to have languished recently. You must watch your body!”

Bei Bei laughed bitterly. “There are so many things to settle in the sect. How do I have time to rest?”

He was right. Rescuing the hostages, Huo Yuhao’s disappearance, the surge of the beast wave, and the Tang Sect’s expansion came one after another. As the sect leader of the Tang Sect, he had to settle everything. Under such a situation, he didn’t have time to rest.

Huo Yuhao smiled and said, “Eldest senior, I have to help you find those things no matter what.”

There was naturally only one reason why Bei Bei would take time off from his busy schedule to leave Shrek City...Tang Ya!

Bei Bei’s reward in the Yin-Yang Love Querying Valley was learning the two types of plants that could help Tang Ya recover. Huo Yuhao had seen one of them before, the Delicate Silk Immortal, and he was certain that the Delicate Silk Immortal knew the other type of plant.

Before he went to see Wang Dong’er, he wanted to help Bei Bei fulfill his wish first. After all, he didn’t know how long he would take to return after going to the Clear Sky Sect. This was because he had something else to do apart from accompanying Wang Dong’er. This issue was bound to take up a lot of his time.

Now that the construction of the Tang Sect was on the right track, and the Soul Tool Research Institute was helmed by Teacher Xuan, Huo Yuhao had enough time to get away from the Sect. However, he understood how tormented Bei Bei was

 

feeling, so he wanted to bring Bei Bei to the Setting Sun Forest before he went to the Clear Sky Sect.

---

As he flew in the direction of the Setting Sun Forest, Huo Yuhao felt a little emotional. The last time he went to the Setting Sun Forest, he was there to seek a Yearning Heartbroken Grass for Wang Dong’er. Wang Qiu’er was the one who had accompanied him there.

Wang Dong’er and Wang Qiu’er were no longer by his side. Wang Dong’er was in a deep sleep, while Wang Qiu’er had sacrificed herself for him. As he thought of this, Huo Yuhao felt a pain in his heart.

He bit his tongue in a bid to use the pain that he felt to distract himself from the torment in his heart. He kept on reminding himself that he had to be resilient. It was only by remaining resilient that he could continue to walk this rough road. He believed that there was light at the end of the tunnel, and Wang Dong’er would eventually wake up.

 

That day, he had promised the Ice Empress and Skydream Iceworm that he would try to become a god in the future. It wasn’t just to help them; he was also helping himself. This was because Wang Qiu’er might also have the possibility of being revived if he became a god.

Right now, Huo Yuhao’s greatest hope, apart from avenging his mother, was to have Wang Dong’er and Wang Qiu’er alive by his side.

He was now a Soul Sage, and the only Soul Sage among the members of Shrek’s Seven Monsters. In terms of cultivation, he had caught up with the rest and overtaken them.

However, Bei Bei wasn’t lousy, either. He wasn’t far from being a Soul Sage. As the eldest senior of the Tang Sect, his soul power had greatly increased since he exited the Yin-Yang Love Querying Valley. Along with his daily, tireless cultivation, he was now around Rank 68. Apart from Huo Yuhao, he was the strongest member of Shrek’s Seven Monsters.

Both of them were using Class 6 flying-type soul tools right now, and flying incredibly fast.

 

They only landed and rested after flying for close to four hours. After resting, they continued on their journey again.

------

They approached the Setting Sun Forest before noon.

Huo Yuhao led Bei Bei into the Setting Sun Forest. With his previous experience, he knew that there were very few soul beasts residing in this forest. In terms of strong soul beasts, they were mostly in the Icefire Yin Yang Well. Although those soul beasts were plant-type, their cultivations weren’t low.

The poisonous miasma released by the Jade Phosphorus Flower of the Seven Absolutes was ineffective against Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice. Huo Yuhao proceeded in a straight line directly towards the mountain valley where the Icefire Yin Yang Well was located.

Bei Bei was astonished when he saw the seven-colored poisonous miasma around him slowly turn jade-green. If not for Huo Yuhao’s Domain of Perpetual Ice as protection, even a

 

Titled Douluo would have been completely corroded by the poison!

“Little junior, how did you enter the last time? This place is too  dangerous!”   Bei  Bei  exclaimed  in  shock  when  he  saw nothing growing around this place; even the soil was seven- colored!

Huo Yuhao forced a laugh. “Ultimate Ice is the jinx of all poisons. Don’t worry, eldest senior. We’ll be fine. Let’s go in.”

Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice created a path for them to enter, and the Jade Phosphorous Flowers of the Seven and Nine Absolutes shrank back into buds under the control of Huo Yuhao’s immense spiritual power. After that, he flew along towards the Icefire Yin Yang Well with Bei Bei.

From the air, the view of the Icefire Yin Yang Well, which resembled a mortal paradise, was presented in front of them.

Even though this place wasn’t filled with prosperous life energy like the Slaughtering Grounds in the Great Star Dou Forest, it was still a miraculous place.

Ice and fire co-existed in this place, and there were all types of valuable plants that filled every corner of the mountain valley. This was the first time Bei Bei had seen this, and he was completely in a daze.

All the plant-type soul beasts around the well started to react when they sensed outsiders approaching. However, they soon felt the spiritual aura that Huo Yuhao released.

Huo Yuhao was no longer like before. There were many hundred-thousand-year plant-type soul beasts here. However, their cultivation was different from hundred-thousand-year animal-type soul beasts, as they only had great strength in their own domains. In terms of fighting strength, they were far inferior to hundred-thousand-year animal-type soul beasts. They were only strong because of the Icefire Yin Yang well.

With Huo Yuhao’s current abilities, he wasn’t afraid of these soul beasts. In addition, he even controlled the power of destiny.

Initially, Wang Qiu’er had once threatened the Delicate Silk Immortal. As the Emperor Beast, she controlled the destiny of

 

all the soul beast habitats on the continent. She used this to threaten the Delicate Silk Immortal. Even though the Great Star Dou Forest was the main place, it was still possible for her to destroy the destiny of the Icefire Yin Yang Well. She only had to pay a certain price for that to happen.

Given that, how would the soul beasts here dare to rile Wang Qiu’er? If not for her threat, she wouldn’t have found the second Yearning Heartbroken Grass.

------

“Why are you here again?” The Delicate Silk Immortal sounded slightly annoyed.

No plants liked humans that were aggressive or destructive. This was even more applicable for valuable immortal herbs like them.

Seeing that Huo Yuhao had brought a stranger too, the Delicate Silk Immortal wasn’t very happy.

 

Huo Yuhao didn’t utter a sound. His Eye of Destiny slowly opened, and rose-gold sunray patterns caused his forehead to turn extremely dazzling. A weird rose-gold ring started to spread from his forehead. After he came the last time, Huo Yuhao had developed some understanding of these plant-type

soul beasts. He knew he had to go hard on them. Without threatening them with his abilities, it was impossible to obtain their help.

Indeed, all the immortal and medicinal herbs that had turned into plant-type soul beasts were jolted awake when they sensed the immense spiritual undulations that were filled with the aura of destiny. Suddenly, there were several spiritual intents filled with fear that spreading towards Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei descended, and the plants opened a path for them to land.

“You You, we meet again,” Huo Yuhao said to the Delicate Silk Immortal. Bei Bei’s eyes had already brightened by this point. Wasn’t this Delicate Silk Immortal one of the plants that the Yin-Yang Love Querying Valley had mentioned? Furthermore, this Delicate Silk Immortal seemed even larger than the image he saw.

 

The Delicate Silk Immortal was astonished, “You, why do you control the power of destiny now? Impossible! The power of destiny can’t be taken away. You, you, you…”

She wasn’t the only one who was shocked. All the surrounding plant-type soul beasts started to panic.

Huo Yuhao replied calmly, “You don’t need to know this, and I don’t want to be reminded, either. If I’m not wrong, you said that I could take away seven types of plants from here the last time I was here. Am I right?”

The Delicate Silk Immortal nodded gently. “Yes, you can take away seven types of plants since you passed Tang San’s test.”

Huo Yuhao replied, “Good. I’m here today to take away another five types of plants. We took two stalks of Yearning Heartbroken Grass last time, so this means I’m left with five types of plants to take. Am I right?”

“No, you are not!”  the Delicate Silk Immortal immediately answered. “You also consumed a Fullmoon Autumn Dew!”

Huo Yuhao calmly replied, “I remember you mentioning before that that one didn’t count. It was part of your test for me. After that, I was seriously hurt because of your test. I had no choice but to use the water from the Blazing Sunspring to warm my blood and pluck that Yearning Heartbroken Grass. In fact, I only took one stalk of Yearning Heartbroken Grass. The other stalk was taken by Qiu’er in order to save me. It shouldn’t be counted. This is why taking five types of plants this time is already considered less than what I’m entitled to. I should leave with six types of plants instead.”

“How, how can you be like this?” The Delicate Silk Immortal was immediately furious.

Huo Yuhao’s soul rings slowly rose from his feet, and the sixth soul ring that Wang Qiu’er had given him appeared. The moment it appeared, all the soul beasts were shocked.

Huo Yuhao said, “You You, Qiu’er sacrificed herself for me in order to save me. I’m sure you know who she is. This means that I’ve inherited her power of destiny. I’m not an

 

unreasonable person, but I really need to leave with some valuable plants today. Among all these plants, I’ll first need you to follow me. If you aren’t willing, I can take away just your destiny.”

“What, what are you saying? You want to take me away? No, no way. That’s impossible. I’m not leaving this place. You can’t eat  me!  I’m  useless  to  you!”   The  Delicate  Silk  Immortal instantly panicked.

Just like Huo Yuhao mentioned, they were more afraid of Wang Qiu’er than the entire Great Star Dou Forest. This was because the Icefire Yin Yang Well was one of the places in the world where destiny congregated. It was also the reason why this place looked so magical. If the destiny of this place was ruined, the Icefire Yin Yang Well would be damaged. When that happened, all the plants here would be doomed. If they left the Icefire Yin Yang Well, they wouldn’t be able to grow as fast as they did now.

Huo Yuhao said, “You don’t have a say in this matter. I’m leaving with you. I’m not violating any restrictions that ancestor Tang San came up with. You are also one of the plants here, right?” As he spoke, he was already slowly walking towards the Delicate Silk Immortal.

“No, don’t! Don’t take me away. I can only curb all sorts of poison. You possess the strength of Ultimate Ice, which means that you aren’t afraid of lethal poisons anyway! Bringing me away won’t do you any good!” The Delicate Silk Immortal was extremely anxious right now. She wasn’t adept at fighting

either, and had no chance of resisting Huo Yuhao.

At this point, the lack of unity between the plant-type soul beasts was demonstrated. Every one of them was scared of being taken away by Huo Yuhao, and didn’t dare to make a sound. Naturally, they didn’t come to You You’s aid.

The last time Huo Yuhao was here, he had activated the Snow Empress’ help. Given how strong the Snow Empress was, these soul beasts weren’t able to resist her.

Huo Yuhao only stopped when he reached the pink halo that the Delicate Silk Immortal released from her body. Bei Bei, who followed behind him, could smell the refreshing fragrance, and was jolted awake immediately.

Huo Yuhao looked thoughtful, and said, “You seem to be right. I don’t really need you to neutralize any poison. Let’s do

 

it this way: help me locate one type of plant. If I’m satisfied, I’ll consider letting you off.”

As he spoke, Huo Yuhao took out the scroll that Bei Bei had drawn for him before.

“Alright, alright, I’ll help you. There’s no plant that I can’t recognize in this world.” You You was delighted, and immediately agreed to Huo Yuhao’s request.

Huo Yuhao didn’t stop, and directly opened the scroll before presenting it to You You.

“Do you see it? You are actually included in this scroll. It’s not a lie when I said that I wanted to leave with you. Tell me what the other plant is, and I’ll consider letting you remain here.”

From the start, Huo Yuhao had already set this trap for the Delicate Silk Immortal. These plant-type soul beasts were very clever. He might not get an answer if he asked directly. He also didn’t have time to slowly get an answer out of them. He had

 

no choice but to threaten them in order to find out what he wanted.

“Yes, I recognize what plant this is. However, can you really not leave with me if I tell you what it is? How can you guarantee that?” The Delicate Silk Immortal was indeed clever. She immediately stated her condition.

Huo Yuhao didn’t make a sound. He lifted his right hand and his Ice Empress’ Pincer was instantly unleashed. He immediately grabbed onto her, and a streak of rose-gold light shot out from his Eye of Destiny.

This was one of the two soul skills from his sixth soul ring, Destiny’s Demise. Once struck by this Destiny’s Demise, all defenses that weren’t formed using soul power would lose their effect. One’s body would also become extremely fragile. Under the guidance of destiny, it was impossible not to be struck by it. Unless one’s soul power attack could directly destroy Huo Yuhao, his Destiny’s Demise would last for a full minute.

“Ah! No, I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you, okay?!”  the Delicate Silk Immortal immediately screamed wildly after being struck by

 

the Destiny’s Demise. He didn’t give her a chance to play any tricks at all!

Huo Yuhao’s hand stopped in mid-air, and he said coldly, “Given your abilities, your life energy won’t dissipate any time soon even if I pluck you and leave. I can still slowly interrogate you even after we leave with you. So, you can choose to answer me here, or answer me after we leave.”

“I’ll, I’ll tell you. I need to sense that plant you’re referring to. I can’t see your scroll. After all, I’m only just a plant. Can you describe what it looks like?” You You was trembling as she spoke.

Huo Yuhao’s lips twisted a little. Bei Bei, who originally had some sympathy for her, also turned cold when he heard her words. She was simply too cunning.

Huo  Yuhao  twisted  his  head  to  Bei  Bei  and  said,  “Eldest senior, can you show her what it looks like?”

The Yin-Yang Love Querying Valley had given Bei Bei three opportunities to present the image, which included the aura of

 

the two plants as shown in the image. This was also why You You was much larger than what she looked like in the image.

“Alright.”

Bei Bei acknowledged his words and shut his eyes. An illusory streak of light appeared in the air under his mental control. The appearances and auras of two different types of plants were presented in the form of projections in the air.

This time, the Delicate Silk Immortal didn’t dare to delay any more. She was certain that Huo Yuhao would really lay his hands on her.

Rings of pinkish light started to spread from her head as she sensed the projections.

After a brief moment, the projections vanished, and everything returned to normal.

“So?” Huo Yuhao asked. Although Bei Bei was very anxious now, he didn’t make a sound, and let Huo Yuhao do all the

 

talking.

“Weird. It’s very small and weak, but it’s very strong.”  The Delicate Silk Immortal seemed to be in deep thought.

“Don’t try any tricks,” Huo Yuhao said coldly, “Otherwise, I’ll bring you to another place and let you think over it slowly.”

The Delicate Silk Immortal rushed to say, “No, no! Ah! I’ve figured it out. I know what it is. It’s small and weak because of its size, but it’s strong because it comes from that species. It’s the Bluesilver Emperor.”

“Bluesilver Emperor? What’s that?”  Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei were both lost when they heard the Delicate Silk Immortal mention this name.

The  Delicate  Silk  Immortal  quickly  said,  “The  Bluesilver Emperor is the emperor of Bluesilver Grasses. It’s the strongest Bluesilver Grass. While Bluesilver Grass looks small and weak, their emperor is extremely strong. The Bluesilver Emperor is also a true, hundred-thousand-year soul beast. I know what’s going on. Your friend must be poisoned, and needs my abilities

 

to neutralize her poison before the Bluesilver Emperor can help her Awaken by guiding the strength of her bloodline. Your friend’s martial soul should be a Bluesilver Grass.”

After hearing her words, Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei’s eyes brightened.

Yes! Tang Ya’s martial soul was a Bluesilver Grass. The Delicate Silk Immortal’s analysis was on point. If this was the case, she really had hope.

Huo Yuhao said, “Since this is the case, what we need to do is to help her neutralize her poison and recover?”

The Delicate Silk Immortal replied, “Regarding this, hmm… it’s certain that you don’t have to feed me to her. You just need to bring her and the Bluesilver Emperor here. I’m sure I can neutralize her poison, but I won’t be able to remove it from her body. I have no way of doing so if the source of the poison is deep within her body. I can’t remove poison from a person’s blood. I can only neutralize the poison in her body after the Bluesilver Emperor forces it out of her blood.”

 

Huo Yuhao asked, “Are you saying that the Bluesilver Grass is a soul beast?”

The  Delicate  Silk  Immortal  replied,  “He’s  not  just  a  soul beast. He’s a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Only a hundred-thousand-year Bluesilver Grass can become an emperor.”

Huo Yuhao asked, “Do you know where the Bluesilver Emperor is?”

The Delicate Silk Immortal answered, “About this…”

Seeing how hesitant she appeared to be, Huo Yuhao laughed coldly. “It seems like you don’t know, either. You’ve never left this Icefire Yin Yang Well. It’s logical that you don’t know. I’ll bring you out of here and we can neutralize the poison when we see him.”

“No, you can’t do that!”  the Delicate Silk Immortal wailed. “Don’t do it! I don’t want to leave this place. I’ll die if I leave this place. I won’t be able to survive. My roots are here. I’m not leaving. I don’t know where the Bluesilver Emperor is.

“But, think about it, he has to be willing to help your friend first. If you bring him here, he’ll be delighted, considering this is a place suitable for plant growth. He’ll help you then. If I leave this place, I’ll wither quickly. How will I be able to help the both of you if that happens? Leave me here. As long as you

bring the Bluesilver Emperor here, I’ll help to neutralize your friend’s poison any time. Will that do?”

Chapter 413: Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass

“Oh, oh, I still have more to say. Although I’ve never left this valley before, I can roughly guess where the Bluesilver Emperor is. A hundred-thousand-year Bluesilver Emperor can only grow in the very center of the continent. I believe you can find him around there.”

The very center of the continent? Bei Bei and Huo Yuhao looked at each other, and their expressions turned weird.

The very center of the continent was undoubtedly the Great Star Dou Forest. That was also the place with the most types of soul beasts.

Did the Bluesilver Emperor really reside in the Great Star Dou Forest?

Huo Yuhao said, “I hope you’re not lying to me. Since this is the case, I’ll leave you here for now. I’ll also only choose one type of medicinal herb to take away. Oh yes, You You, is there

 

anything here that can help someone in a deep sleep to wake up?”

You You immediately swayed her huge flower head, “No. It also depends on what type of deep sleep that person is in. Plants don’t know the body structure of humans. If that person isn’t poisoned, we won’t be able to do anything.”

Huo Yuhao furrowed his brow and said, “Alright then. I’ll leave with some stuff first.” As he spoke, he turned around and walked towards the Blazing Delicate Apricot.

The Blazing Delicate Apricot was watching from one side earlier but didn’t make a sound. She was afraid of being noticed by Huo Yuhao. She had suffered greatly when Huo Yuhao came here the last time. After that, she had also sustained serious injuries. Seeing that Huo Yuhao was walking over now, she immediately shrank tightly.

“You, what are you doing? I’m not suitable for you. I’m fire- type,  so  I  won’t  be  useful  for  you!”   The  Blazing  Delicate Apricot’s voice was trembling.

 

Huo Yuhao calmly said, “Of course I know you’re useless to me. I only want something from you. Either I uproot you and leave, or you give me a piece of your Blazing Rubber. I need it to save someone.”

The Blazing Delicate Apricot was furious as she shouted, “This is robbery!”

“Yes, I’m robbing you,”  Huo Yuhao said coldly, “You better give me an answer soon, as I have limited patience. Don’t make me bring up our unpleasant past.”  As he spoke, his Eye of Destiny lit up, and immense spiritual undulations surged out like tidal waves.

Although Huo Yuhao was still a Soul Sage, he was equivalent to a Soul Douluo in terms of his overall fighting strength. It wouldn’t be a problem to fight a hundred-thousand-year soul beast on his own. Moreover, he even had the Snow Lady as a weapon!

The Blazing Delicate Apricot was sorrowful and furious as she said, “Alright, I’ll give it to you.” Following this, a piece of Blazing Rubber the size of a fingernail drifted out from his core.

Huo Yuhao didn’t even look at this piece of Blazing Rubber. “I remember the Snow Empress managed to get a fist-sized piece of Blazing Rubber the other time, and still left half for you. Hurry up, or I’ll get the Snow Empress to demand more from you again.”

As he spoke, a streak of white light flashed by, and the Snow Lady crawled out of his Eye of Destiny. She didn’t bother with the Blazing Delicate Apricot, and flew directly above the Extreme Chill Icespring, silently absorbing the concentrated ice element there. As long as Huo Yuhao wanted, he could help the Snow Empress temporarily regain her memory through the stimulation of the Icespring.

“I’ll give, I’ll give!” If the Blazing Delicate Apricot had teeth, she would have gnashed them until they were broken.

A piece of Blazing Rubber half the size of a fist flew out from the extremely reluctant Blazing Delicate Apricot.

Huo Yuhao retrieved a dark-green jade box from his storage- type soul tool and put this piece of Blazing Rubber inside. Its extremely high temperature was sealed using this method.

Tang San’s Poison Scripture had recorded the method of preserving a piece of a Blazing Rubber from a Blazing Delicate Apricot. It wasn’t viable to use extreme chill to resist the high heat, as that might cause an explosion. Using a piece of warm jade was the most suitable.

Huo Yuhao’s warm jade box came from Shrek Academy. He naturally took this piece of Blazing Rubber for Ma Xiaotao. Only Blazing Rubber was able to purify Ma Xiaotao’s Evil Phoenix. Along with his Ultimate Ice, he should be able to dispel the impurities and evil energy within her Ultimate Fire.

After putting the piece of Blazing Rubber away, Huo Yuhao ignored the Blazing Delicate Apricot and returned to the Delicate Silk Immortal. He said, “We’re leaving. I only took a piece of Blazing Rubber this time and didn’t touch any of the medicinal herbs here. If I come here again, I should still be able to take six different types of plants.”

“You…” You You didn’t know what to say by now. She also didn’t dare to rage, as she was afraid of agitating Huo Yuhao.

 

Huo Yuhao’s original plan was to take six types of medicinal herbs for his compatriots the second time he was here. However, he immediately changed this plan after listening to how the Delicate Silk Immortal described the method to neutralize Tang Ya’s poison.

If he didn’t take anything from this place, it meant that he could come back again. Furthermore, the medicinal herbs in this place were all top-quality things. He might need them some other time. What if his compatriots were hurt, and needed some special medicinal herb? It wouldn’t be too late to come back for it. They were all some of the strongest soul masters among their peers. They didn’t need medicinal herbs to become stronger. The six medicinal herbs that he was entitled to could be lifesavers in the future.

After adopting such thoughts, he decided to only leave with a piece of Blazing Rubber.

After Bei Bei learned about the Bluesilver Emperor and witnessed the existence of the Delicate Silk Immortal, he felt extremely good. This meant that Tang Ya had a chance to recover! What he had to do next was locate the Bluesilver Emperor, and then save Tang Ya. Although it was still a long shot, it was better than having no chance at all.

“Eldest  senior,  let’s  go.  Let’s  return  after  finding  the Bluesilver Emperor.”

Bei Bei nodded before opening up his flying-type soul tool, which was still on his back.

At this moment, two voices sounded at the same time, “Don’t leave yet.”

Of these two voices, one evidently belonged to the Delicate Silk Immortal. The other voice sounded a little cold, and it came from the Extreme Chill Icespring.

“Oh? They can’t bear for us to leave?”  Huo Yuhao turned towards the Extreme Chill Icespring. It was another plant that had let out that cold voice, and he had seen this plant the last time he was here. It was the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass, which grew at the center of the Icespring. The Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass was bitter enemies with the Blazing Delicate Apricot.

 

“You You, you can speak first.” This Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass took the initiative to let the Delicate Silk Immortal speak first.

The Delicate Silk Immortal seemed to be determined, and said, “Huo Yuhao, don’t go just yet. I have something else for you.”

“So good to me?” Huo Yuhao was curious as he came before her.

She said, “Use a jade bottle to store it before sealing it.”  As she spoke, a trace of pinkish fog drifted from her flower head.

Huo Yuhao rushed to retrieve a huge jade bottle a foot high and opened the cork.

Under the control of the Delicate Silk Immortal, the pinkish fog drifted towards the opening of the bottle before entering it. Slowly, it sank down. From the looks of it, it seemed like pollen.

 

In a few seconds, all the fog was inside the bottle. As Huo Yuhao’s bottle was too big, only the bottom of the bottle had a bit of pollen in it.

“Is  this  your  pollen?”  Huo  Yuhao  asked  the  Delicate  Silk Immortal.

You You replied, “Yes! Its effect is the same as my fragrance.”

“With my pollen, you don’t have to come to me when you want to save someone. As long as you can persuade the Bluesilver Emperor to help, you’ll be fine. Dip a finger into my pollen and flick it into the air. My fragrance will last for two hours within a three-meter region.”  She was scared of Huo Yuhao and didn’t want to see him anymore. She tolerated the pain and sacrificed her own pollen.

Huo Yuhao said, “I remember you still have that pearl…”

“Don’t go overboard! Why are you so different from the last time you were here? I remember you were quite kind the last time!” You You was infuriated.

 

Huo Yuhao said, “Being too kind will cause one to be unable to protect his loved ones. I can forgo your pearl, but give me more pollen. I’m using it to save someone. You can consider this a way of accumulating good deeds.”

The Delicate Silk Immortal tolerated the pain once again and released some more pollen, then said “I’ve no more left. This is all I’ve got.”

“Alright, thank you. Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass, what do you want?” After storing the additional pollen, Huo Yuhao passed the bottle to Bei Bei before turning to the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass.

The Ice Grass coldly replied, “I want to leave with you.”

“What?” Huo Yuhao was stunned. All the other medicinal herbs were afraid of him and shunned him. However, this Ice Grass wanted to leave with him. Wasn’t this weird?

Huo Yuhao was thus curious as he asked, “You want to leave with me? Why?”

 

The Ice Grass replied, “Since you can fuse with the Snow Empress in that way, you should be able to do the same with me. I’m a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. I should be able to help you. Turn me into that form too.”

Huo Yuhao was shocked as he looked at the Ice Grass. “Why? Why do you want to become my Spirit for no rhyme or reason?”

The Ice Grass calmly replied, “I want to leave this place to see the outside world. I’ve lived in this place for too long. Furthermore, I can sense your aura. To me, it’s better than this Icespring.”

“Just because of this?” Huo Yuhao was a little doubtful.

The Ice Grass said, “When the Snow Empress appeared, she once told me that following you could grant me eternal life. I didn’t believe it then. However, her words seem to be true. The Auspicious God Beast sacrificed herself for you, and you carry her aura now, and your abilities have grown so quickly. If I stay here, I’ll just become medicine to humans one day. If I follow you, I might achieve eternal life. There’s only loneliness here. What’s the point even if I live for so long? I want to leave with

 

you, but I won’t be counted among the six types of herbs that you can leave with. I’m doing this of my own accord. I only have one condition: you must preserve my consciousness. If you can do that, I swear that I’ll follow you.”

Huo Yuhao hadn’t expected anything like this. He had scammed and threatened the Delicate Silk Immortal earlier, mainly because he wanted to find a method to save Tang Ya. He wouldn’t easily destroy this treasure ground that Tang San had left behind. However, he hadn’t expected the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass to take the initiative to choose him, and even want to become his Spirit. It was a delightful surprise.

All the other plant-type soul beasts were perplexed, especially the Blazing Delicate Apricot. She showed her emotions clearly, and it was clear that she was mocking the Ice Grass.

Huo Yuhao drifted up and went over to the Ice Grass before saying, “I can maintain your consciousness if you fuse with me. What you are wagering on is whether I’ll be able to overcome the barrier of this world and become a God before I die. This must be the eternal life that the Snow Empress was talking about. I can’t guarantee that I can do that in the future. However, what I can guarantee is that you’ll see many exciting

 

things you’ve never seen here if you follow me, and your consciousness will be preserved along with your abilities. Think about it carefully. Once you become my Spirit, it’s equivalent to giving up your actual body. There’s no turning back.”

“I’ve thought it through. You can swear now.” The Ice Grass was very steadfast.

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath before he nodded and said, “I, Huo Yuhao, swear that I’ll do my best to preserve the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass’ consciousness as I sign this equal contract. The success rate is above ninety percent. If I’m lying, I’ll freeze to death and never reincarnate.”

After he swore his oath, the Ice Grass said, “Very good. You can tell me what to do now.”

Inside the Icefire Yin Yang Well, all the soul beasts were watching Huo Yuhao and the Ice Grass. They were curious as to why the Ice Grass would choose to become Huo Yuhao’s Spirit.

 

In front of these soul beasts, Huo Yuhao explained the meaning and effect of an equal contract used to fuse with Spirits.

“I understand. Wait a minute.”  The Ice Grass released icy- blue light, and halos started to slowly surge upward from the soil he was rooted in. Gradually, they turned into icy-blue light rings.

The star anise leaves that were already very beautiful slowly turned into extremely eye-catching blue crystals. Amid the magnificent flashing lights, these blue crystals looked like perfect art pieces.

“He’s crazy. He really wants to give up everything to follow a human.  Star  Anise  is  crazy!”   the  Blazing  Delicate  Apricot nagged.

The Delicate Silk Immortal’s flower head also fully opened as she sensed what the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass was doing.

It didn’t take long for a diamond-shaped crystal entity to slowly rise from the core of the Ice Grass. The two tips and

 

sides of this crystal entity were very obvious. However, there was a ridgeline on every corner of the center of this crystal entity. Naturally, it made it seem as if every corner had two tips. There were a total of eight corners, which was why this Ice Grass was called the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass. Even the special products that it formed had eight corners.

When this crystal entity appeared, an extremely pure chilly intent started to spread out. Even Huo Yuhao couldn’t help but shiver when he sensed this chill.

Chapter 414: Dong'er, I'm Coming

The diamond-shaped star anise crystal entity was completely revealed on the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass’ body, exuding a pure chilly intent.

In Huo Yuhao’s spiritual sea, the Skydream Iceworm exclaimed,   “What   an   excellent   guy!   The   purity   and concentration of the ice element in that far exceeds the Ten Thousand Year Ice Pith that I absorbed years ago. This must be the essence of the Extreme Chill Icespring that he has refined over ten thousand years.”

The Ice Grass’ weak voice sounded, “Since I’m leaving with you, I don’t need this anymore. This is the Star Anise Ice Crystal that I’ve cultivated for over ten thousand years. Keep it. It’ll increase your cultivation speed if you carry it along with you. If it’s embedded into a weapon, it can confer the strength of Ultimate Ice to any metal. The essence of my ten thousand years of cultivation lies in it.”

After hearing his words, Huo Yuhao’s expression turned serious. He hadn’t expected the Ice Grass to offer his most valuable item to him so sincerely. At this point, he was no

 

longer doubtful. As he received the Ice Crystal, he sensed the extreme chill on it. He said seriously, “Star Anise, thanks for your trust. I believe you won’t be disappointed. Let’s start.”

Huo Yuhao was by this point extremely familiar with the process of Spirit Transmission, having been completely occupied with it over the past few months.

His Eye of Destiny shone brightly on his forehead, and rose- gold sunray patterns slowly released halos out from it.

The hexagram beneath Huo Yuhao’s feet was also rose-gold. His martial soul immediately switched, and the original seven rings turned into five rings – one red and four orange-gold. All five soul rings represented immense strength and ultimate power.

Huo Yuhao raised his right hand, a ball of rose-gold light shining there. His low-pitched yet awe-inspiring voice could be heard as he recited the incantation of the equal contract.

A streak of rose-gold light shot out from his Eye of Destiny and landed on the Ice Grass’ body. It was guiding his spiritual

 

origin and soul power.

The uppermost leaf on the Ice Grass was suddenly stained bluish-gold, but he started to wither.

The Extreme Chill Icespring surged gently, and waves of pure chilly intent were released. It was like the Icespring couldn’t bear to let the Ice Grass go.

The Snow Lady silently flew to the side of the spring and used her body to block these waves of chilling intent. The origin energy of Ultimate Ice that she absorbed was used to supplement Huo Yuhao through her connection with him.

Behind Huo Yuhao, his huge Eye of the Asura silently rose. It had nothing to do with his Spirit Eyes but came under the guidance of his Eye of Destiny.

His incantation was working more smoothly now, compared to the past. Streaks of elegant light started to shine from Huo Yuhao’s body and brushed across the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass.

 

As of now, Huo Yuhao already had two Spirits, the Skydream Iceworm, and Snow Empress. The Ice Empress was his second martial soul.

Initially, Huo Yuhao had drained almost all of his spiritual power when he fused with the Snow Empress. As for the Skydream Iceworm, changing into Huo Yuhao’s Spirit only required him to alter his form slightly, given that he was already Huo Yuhao’s soul ring and possessed great spiritual power. As a result, Huo Yuhao wasn’t drained too much when he fused with the Skydream Iceworm.

No matter what, Huo Yuhao already possessed two Spirits that had greater than hundred-thousand-year cultivations. If not for the fact that his spiritual power had reached the concrete-material realm, he wouldn’t have dared to fuse with a third-hundred-thousand year Spirit. However, he was filled with confidence right now.

His spiritual power surged out and fused with the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass’ spiritual origin. They guided each other and drew closer.

 

The Ice Grass was also astonished right now. Although he could sense how strong Huo Yuhao was earlier, he didn’t realize that Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power was actually so great. He had never seen spiritual power as pure as this; it completely surpassed all the plant-type soul beasts living near the Icefire Yin Yang Well.

The contract proceeded very smoothly. When Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power was drained by about forty percent, the Ice Grass’ body finally withered completely.

A small and delicate Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass, completely icy-blue and seemingly formed from crystals, drifted in front of him. After this, this Ice Grass slowly stuck to his right leg before it silently disappeared.

All the strange phenomena flashed, then disappeared. It was also at this point that Huo Yuhao’s five soul rings started to tremble.

Following this, a blood-red soul ring appeared as his sixth soul ring.

 

A weird force started to move towards Huo Yuhao’s body from the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass. Huo Yuhao only felt his legs suddenly fill with strength as red halos rushed out from his right leg.

This was…

This was the strength of a soul bone!

A hundred-thousand-year soul beast was bound to produce a soul bone. This was true even for a plant-type soul beast. After becoming Huo Yuhao’s Spirit, the soul bone that the Ice Grass produced directly became the right leg soul bone that Huo Yuhao lacked.

Although he didn’t know what soul skills it contained, Huo Yuhao immediately sensed the extremely strong aura brought about by his right leg soul bone. Two soul skills! He was confident that this soul bone would give him two extra soul skills!

Just as all the plant-type soul beasts and Bei Bei thought the fusion had ended, Huo Yuhao’s body suddenly shone brightly

 

with azure light. His clothes burst apart, and the image of the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion surfaced in the air. After this, Huo Yuhao’s form started to change.

His body turned translucent as if he were a jade sculpture. An indescribable force mixed with the extreme chill from his Ultimate Ice silenced the Extreme Chill Icespring.

He took a step out in the air, and Huo Yuhao strode directly above the Icespring. Vigorous origin energy of Ultimate Ice instantly surged out from his body.

Another red soul ring rose from Huo Yuhao’s feet and slowly took form. It was a red that represented a hundred thousand years!

The Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass wasn’t the first hundred- thousand-year Spirit. More accurately speaking, the Snow Empress was the first. It was just that the Snow Empress’ cultivation was too great, and her body almost blew apart, as things weren’t going too well then. That was why she experienced a strange mutation.

 

The Snow Empress gave Huo Yuhao four unprecedented orange-gold soul rings. Every orange-gold soul ring only contained one soul skill, but they were already very helpful for Huo Yuhao. However, he didn’t completely fuse with a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Without a soul bone and a soul ring that gave him two soul skills, Huo Yuhao’s soul power was only slightly boosted, though the purity of his Ultimate Ice had reached a peak. After all, it was a combination of the Snow and Ice Empresses! The combination of the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress’ strength even produced Huo Yuhao’s strongest soul skill (apart from his Three Ultimate Haodong Skills), the Pride of the Ice and Snow Empresses.

The Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass chose Huo Yuhao without any hesitation due to the presence of Huo Yuhao’s pure Ultimate Ice. In terms of purity and tier, Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice had already surpassed the Extreme Chill Icespring.

However, the Snow Empress’ Spirit couldn’t be considered a full hundred-thousand-year Spirit because it had mutated, and so this Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass could be considered his first hundred-thousand-year Spirit.

The advantage that a Spirit had over a soul ring was magnified when it had a hundred-thousand-year cultivation.

 

Given that Huo Yuhao’s soul power was sufficiently strong, it was equivalent to him adding two hundred-thousand-year soul rings!

Undoubtedly, his sixth soul ring provided him two extra soul skills. However, no ordinary soul master would add a hundred- thousand-year soul ring to his seventh spot, given that his seventh soul ring was bound to be his Martial Soul True Body. Despite this, Huo Yuhao still did it. The Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass also became the seventh soul ring of his Ice Jade Empress Scorpion. This completed his hundred-thousand-year Martial Soul True Body, the Ice Empress’ True Body.

Furthermore, Huo Yuhao could subtly sense that this Martial Soul True Body would be completely different from that of his Spirit Eyes because the Ice Empress possessed her own intelligence. It seemed like the Ice Empress’ aura had increased exponentially after his seventh soul ring appeared.

Apart from all these, Huo Yuhao had also gained a right leg soul bone. Right now, he had six soul bones!

They included the Three-Eyed Golden Lion’s Skull of Destiny, the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion’s backbone, the Ice Jade

 

Scorpion Left Arm Bone, the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear’s Right Palm Bone, the Instant Teleportation Left Leg Bone, and this newly added Star Anise Right Leg Bone.

Six soul bones! In the current world of soul masters, this was a shocking number. Even the elders of the Sea God’s Pavilion didn’t have this many soul bones.

Moreover, Huo Yuhao’s six soul bones were all top-tier soul bones, normal soul bones couldn’t compare to them. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion’s Skull of Destiny was even more special! It controlled the power of destiny, and greatly increased Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power. It also helped Huo Yuhao increase his spiritual power capacity. The Ice Jade Empress Scorpion’s backbone and the Star Anise Right Leg Bone were hundred-thousand-year soul bones that each came with two soul skills!

Huo Yuhao’s Ice Jade Scorpion Left Arm Bone carried the Ice Explosion Technique, while his Instant Teleportation from his Left Leg Bone was an ultimate technique that could help him preserve his life. As for his Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear’s Right Palm Bone, it was one of the strongest offensive soul bones in the world.

 

Right now, Huo Yuhao already had five out of the six main soul bones, missing only a right arm bone. He even had an external soul bone in the Darkgolden Terrroclaw’s Bear Right Palm Bone, which was very strong.

He had twin martial souls, and both martial souls had seven soul rings. After fusing with the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass, Huo Yuhao’s abilities had increased to a level that his current cultivation couldn’t compare to.

Lights flashed from the image of the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion on his body, making it seem very lifelike. The glow from it also became stronger, as if it could come to life at any time.

The aura of Ultimate Ice shot towards the sky. In the sky above the mountain valley that contained the Icefire Yin Yang Well, the poisonous miasma released by the Jade Phosphorous Flowers of the Nine Absolutes gave way, and the temperature in the entire valley dropped significantly.

The Blazing Sunspring was suppressed, which caused the water in the spring to undulate vigorously. It released waves of heat that maintained a certain temperature around the Icefire Yin Yang Well.

After letting out a breath, Huo Yuhao slowly retracted his aura, and his eyes slowly brightened. He thought of something and raised his right hand. A strange stalk of icy-blue grass surfaced in his hand. It was a smaller version of the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass.

Huo Yuhao revealed a delighted smile after sensing the difference it brought to his body.

“Congratulations, little junior!” Bei Bei chortled.

Huo Yuhao chuckled and said, “This proves that a hundred- thousand-year Spirit is indeed very effective. Eldest senior, you must work harder in your cultivation.” As he spoke, he scanned his surroundings and looked at the rest of the plants around the Icefire Yin Yang Well.

Bei Bei smiled and said, “A Spirit has to be willing to complete a contract. Let’s go, little junior.”

Huo Yuhao looked at all the medicinal herbs and said, “Guys, the Star Anise has already fused with me and become my Spirit. All of you should be able to sense the condition that he’s in right now. I won’t say anything else. Goodbye.”

After he finished speaking, Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei used their flying-type soul tools and flew out of the mountain valley before the poisonous miasma could return.

------

The Icefire Yin Yang Well was silent at this moment. All the medicinal herbs that had their own consciousness became very thoughtful right now.

Huo Yuhao was right. After fusing with him, the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass was different. Even though he had abandoned his body, his aura had become extremely pure.

 

After fusing with Huo Yuhao, Huo Yuhao wasn’t the only who benefitted.

They had formed an equal contract! The Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass also completed his evolution under the influence of Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice. He turned from a plant to an energy body, and he even became an extremely pure energy body. The change in his aura greatly tempted all the plant-type soul beasts.

They were even more moved by the fact that Huo Yuhao mentioned he might become a God, and could give his Spirits eternal life.

Compared to animal-type soul beasts, plant-type soul beasts were much lonelier. Before they possessed their own intelligence, they couldn’t move at all. Even a hundred- thousand-year plant-type soul beast was unwilling to leave the Icefire Yin Yang Well, as it was too reliant on it. The poisonous miasmas of the Jade Phosphorous Flowers of the Seven and Nine Absolutes also covered the area outside the well. Apart from the Delicate Silk Immortal, the other immortal and medicinal herbs couldn’t leave the well even if they wanted to. This was an important reason why You You was able to take charge of the well.

When the Ice Grass made his decision, all the plant-type soul beasts were shocked. However, they were all moved after he completed his fusion with Huo Yuhao and managed to evolve.

He was able to leave this place and proceed to the human world with a human soul master. He could also experience the beauty of the human world.

He might even have a chance to attain eternal life!

These weren’t the biggest reason why they were moved, however. They were most moved by the fact that the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass managed to evolve into an extremely pure energy state. In that way, he could regrow using that pure energy even if Huo Yuhao died! Furthermore, his cultivation would only become stronger. All of the plants here were very valuable, formed after absorbing the origin energy of heaven and earth. If they went through everything that the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass went through, and the soul masters that fused with them died, they could still reabsorb their origin energy. It wouldn’t be very difficult.

 

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the Icefire Yin Yang Well was no longer peaceful. All the plant-type soul beasts with their own intelligence, especially the hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, started to become very restless…

------

Huo Yuhao knew what they were thinking. After he completed his fusion with the Ice Grass, the Ice Grass told him about how he was unable to live independently. He didn’t conceal anything from Huo Yuhao.

Plant-type soul beasts were greatly disadvantaged compared to animal-type soul beasts. However, they had their own advantages, which was that they were purely nurtured from the origin energy of heaven and earth. They didn’t have any bloodlines; they only had spiritual energy.

The Ice Empress, Skydream Iceworm, and Snow Empress were all stronger than the Star Anise. However, they were bound to die if Huo Yuhao died, as they would lose their only source of energy. However, the Star Anise would be able to continue living based on his close connection to the origin energy of heaven and earth. This was the advantage of a plant.

 

The Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass was already satisfied even though he had only been fused for such a short period of time. Yes, he was extremely satisfied. Furthermore, his future was going to be extremely bright. Perhaps he might really gain eternal life?

The Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass was the quietest among all the medicinal herbs in the Icefire Yin Yang Well. However, he was also the wisest.

It might seem his decision to follow Huo Yuhao was very sudden. However, he had in fact pondered it meticulously. Huo Yuhao didn’t hesitate to swallow the water from the Blazing Sunspring to save his loved one and almost lost his life. After going through countless tests from the Delicate Silk Immortal and the Blazing Delicate Apricot, the qualities that he demonstrated proved that he was one of the most outstanding humans in terms of character and abilities. Along with the temptation of Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice, the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass knew that his decision was unlikely to backfire on him.

Both Huo Yuhao and the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass were winners after this fusion. In terms of Spirit Fusion, a win-win situation was always the best start.

------

After flying out of the Setting Sun Forest, Huo Yuhao controlled his body and said to Bei Bei while facing him, “Eldest senior, I can’t return to the Tang Sect with you.”

Bei Bei wasn’t surprised. He smiled and said, “You are going to find Dong’er, am I right?”

Huo Yuhao nodded and replied, “Yes! It’s been so long. I wonder how she’s doing. I’ve done most of the things I was supposed to do. I’m going to see her now. When you return, you can also communicate with the soul beasts through the Spirit Pagoda. Bi Ji is a nice soul beast to talk to. Ask her for help seeking out the Bluesilver Emperor. After I finish visiting Dong’er, I might go to the border between the Star Luo Empire and Sun Moon Empire. At the same time, I’ll try to find out where Teacher Xiao Ya is. If possible, I’ll save her.”

Bei Bei took a deep breath and opened his arms wide, hugging Huo Yuhao tightly. “You are my good brother. I’ll skip the thanks between us. Don’t worry about the Tang Sect. If there’s anything you need, send a letter back. No matter what

 

your choices are, the Tang Sect will always be your ardent backer.”

The two of them separated like this. Huo Yuhao watched as Bei Bei disappeared into the distance. After he saw him off, he turned around and peered in the direction that he was going to go. He muttered to himself, “I can finally live for myself. Dong’er, have you awoken? I’m coming!”

Blinding lights shone from Huo Yuhao’s body, and he released his soul power without reservation. His speed increased to its maximum as he powered his flying-type soul tool, shooting towards the Clear Sky Sect.

He had settled most of the things that he was supposed to settle. Right now, he was set on going home. He couldn’t wait to get to the Clear Sky Sect, and hoped that Wang Dong’er would be standing at the gate, waiting to receive him.

He knew that Wang Dong’er was unlikely to have awoken. Otherwise, she would have returned to Shrek Academy to find him! But right now, he hoped that the two sect leaders of the Clear Sky Sect had grounded her, and hadn’t allowed her to find him, instead of her still being in a deep sleep.

He could finally go find her after completing the other matters that he had to attend to. Right now, Huo Yuhao was in a state where he was ready to unleash his Three Ultimate Haodong Skills at any time.

------

As Huo Yuhao flew toward the top of Clear Sky Peak and quickly began to climb it, he was already panting. It wasn’t just because he didn’t rest at all, and was drained. It was also because he was nervous.

How was Wang Dong’er? This was simply too important to him. No matter how resilient or mature he was, he still had a weak spot, and that weak spot was Wang Dong’er.

With every step he took, he would pray in his heart. He prayed that Wang Dong’er would be awake, and could be by his side again. He didn’t care about anything else. If she wasn’t awake, he wouldn’t leave easily even if the two sect leaders forced him to leave. He wanted to accompany her.

 

“Who  dares  to  step  onto  Clear  Sky  Peak?”  a  loud  voice sounded. Following this, Huo Yuhao could sense the clouds around him moving. It felt like everything was changing.

He clearly recalled how Wang Dong’er had mentioned how dangerous the clouds around Clear Sky Peak were. He couldn’t fly, otherwise, he would be attacked by soul beasts. These clouds were a formation!

He quietly crept close to walls of the mountain peak. His voice rang out, “I’m Huo Yuhao. I’m here to see Dong’er.”

The voice went silent for a moment before it replied, “The Clear Sky Sect doesn’t welcome you. Leave.”

Huo Yuhao said, “I want to see Dong’er.”  After he finished speaking, he lifted his head. His eyes were already filled with purplish-gold light. It was like countless stars were shining in his Spirit Eyes.

His immense spiritual power started to spread into his surroundings from his forehead. He extended his right hand, and the smooth and shiny Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass

 

surfaced. Layers of jade-blue light started to spread from the leaf of this Ice Grass.

An extreme chill started to rise. The layers of jade-blue light seemed to have their own lives. As they spread, the surrounding clouds quickly dispersed. The bizarre sense contained within these clouds was quickly stirred up.

Intense soul power undulations raged, but there was some sort of spiritual confusion that appeared to be even stronger. However, it wasn’t able to affect Huo Yuhao, given his immense spiritual power.

Huo Yuhao remained rooted to the ground and continued to release the aura of his Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass. The chilly air within the clouds was slowly and continuously being sucked in by the Ice Grass. Patches of clouds around started to rise, and the concentrated origin energy of heaven and earth started to surge towards Huo Yuhao, with the Ice Grass as its center.

The origin energy that was sucked into the Ice Grass was filtered and started to pass into Huo Yuhao’s body and quickly replenished his soul power, which had been depleted in his rush to Clear Sky Peak.

This origin energy wasn’t very domineering but was instead very gentle and pure. After entering his body, it immediately fused with his Mysterious Heaven Technique and became inseparable. It seemed as if Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power was being nourished by the origin energy of heaven and earth. Huo Yuhao was a little stunned as he looked at his Ice Grass and said softly, “Thanks, Star Anise.”

 

The Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass had given him a total of four soul skills. Two came from the soul bone, and two were added to the sixth soul ring of his Ice Empress. Right now, the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass was not demonstrating any of these four soul skills. Rather, he had already fused with Huo Yuhao’s body.

More accurately speaking, the soul skill that the Ice Grass was unleashing right now seemed to belong to Huo Yuhao’s seventh soul ring. It was just that Huo Yuhao couldn’t use this soul skill on his own. His seventh soul ring was his Martial Soul True Body, but the Ice Grass could control it alone and unleashed this soul skill to help him.

This was an auxiliary-type soul skill that helped him absorb the origin energy of heaven and earth, which was something plant-type soul beasts were very adept at. Furthermore, the Ice Grass even churned the origin energy of heaven and earth around during this absorption process and broke the Clear Sky Sect’s mountain-guarding formation. In terms of fighting strength, plant-type soul beasts were inferior to animal-type soul beasts. However, plants had a deeper mastery of the principles of heaven and earth.

 

“Eh?” the earlier voice exclaimed slightly. Following this, Huo Yuhao saw several disciples in the Clear Sky Sect’s uniform block the path in front of him.

The road to the top of the Clear Sky Peak was precipitous. People had to use their hands and legs in order to reach the top. Right now, these disciples stuck close to the walls and looked very unfriendly as they looked at Huo Yuhao.

“Guys, I’m only here to see Dong’er. I have no ill-intentions.” Huo Yuhao said sincerely after putting the Ice Grass away.

A middle-aged man who was around thirty years old said, “Go back. I said earlier that the Clear Sky Sect doesn’t welcome you.”

Huo Yuhao furrowed his brow. “I only want to see Dong’er.”

“Please return.”  The burly middle-aged man from the Clear Sky Sect glared, and a strong aura was released from his body. Two yellow, three purple, and three black soul rings rose from his body. He was a Soul Sage!

 

The other six soul masters also released their soul rings. They were all five-ringed Soul Kings, and they all held a pitch- black hammer in their hands. These hammers were called Clear Sky Hammers, the powerful tool soul of the Clear Sky Sect.

Huo Yuhao had almost never seen Wang Dong’er use her Clear Sky Hammer before. However, Wang Dong’er had twin martial souls. Her Clear Sky Hammer was her second martial soul, and thus she didn’t use it very often. She mostly used her Radiant Butterfly Goddess to fight.

Huo Yuhao was stunned as he faced the strong aura released by these seven Clear Sky Hammers.

“Leave now. If you don’t, don’t blame us for chasing you away,” the burly man snorted.

Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, “I can’t leave. I’m here to see Dong’er. I won’t leave before I see her. Guys, please give way to me.”  The amiable look on his face also retracted. He didn’t know whether these disciples were acting of their own accord, or if they were instructed by their sect leaders.

 

However, Wang Dong’er must not be in good condition if they were trying to stop him.

Huo Yuhao, who was normally very calm, would start to get emotional whenever something concerned Wang Dong’er. His eyes shone with purplish-gold light, and seven soul rings rose from his feet.

When everyone from the Clear Sky Sect saw the color of his soul rings, their expressions changed slightly. The colors of his soul rings aren’t what a normal soul master is supposed to have! What kind of power does this person possess?

Huo Yuhao repeated, “Guys, please give way.”

“Attack!”  the  burly  man  shouted  and  lifted  his  Clear  Sky Hammer. His first and third soul rings shone brightly. His Clear Sky Hammer rapidly increased in size as he lifted it up, and instantly turned into a huge hammer more than ten meters in length. The cross-section of the hammer’s head was already more than two meters in diameter.

 

The huge hammer was lifted up, then crashed down on Huo Yuhao with a terrifying aura.

A cold look surfaced on Huo Yuhao’s face. He didn’t dodge the attack. Instead, he lifted his right hand to punch this hammer.

Without using any soul skills, Huo Yuhao actually used his own fist to resist the powerful Clear Sky Hammer.

A loud boom echoed across the entire Clear Sky Peak. Not far away, a huge drift of snow suddenly slid down, causing snowflakes to scatter into the air.

The six Clear Sky Sect disciples who were charging down stopped for a moment. The shock from that sound affected them quite badly. All of them were affected as they glared at Huo Yuhao. Huo Yuhao’s legs had sunk slightly into the ground. However, the Clear Sky Hammer that had hammered down on him was instantly deflected away. The burly man’s legs were slightly unstable, and he almost fell off the mountain.

 

What strength is this? He used his fist to resist a Clear Sky Hammer? How is this possible? All the Clear Sky Sect’s disciples couldn’t believe their eyes.

Was that even a human’s hand?

Huo Yuhao’s right hand had turned jade-green, and there was even a golden glow on it.

In front of the Beast God Di Tian, he was so small and weak that he couldn’t do anything. However, how could he lose against opponents that were either at the same level or inferior to him in terms of cultivation? This was even true if his opponents came from the Clear Sky Sect, which was the number one tool soul sect on the continent.

With the strength of his Mysterious Jade Hands and the Golden Dragon, Huo Yuhao could compare to Wang Qiu’er. This was the legacy of the Emperor Beast!

He forced the burly man’s Clear Sky Hammer away with his fist, and his eyes shone with a bright light. The surrounding air distorted strangely. In the eyes of all the Clear Sky Sect’s

 

disciples and that burly man, everything in front of them had turned illusory. Fog seemed to appear again, but it wasn’t the cloudy fog that they were familiar with. Huo Yuhao vanished into thin air, just like that.

Huo Yuhao had no intention of fighting it out with these Clear Sky Sect disciples. He wanted to find Wang Dong’er!

He unleashed his Spiritual Interference Domain to confuse these disciples, whose spiritual power was far weaker than his.

“Trash!” a low-pitched, furious roar sounded out. Huo Yuhao was shocked, and his Spiritual Interference Domain lost its effect for a moment, revealing his body.

The second sect leader of the Clear Sky Sect, Tai Tan, was standing on the path to Clear Sky Castle with his hands behind his back and looking down coldly at Huo Yuhao, who was trying to climb up.

“Uncle  Tai  Tan.”   After  seeing  him,  Huo  Yuhao  rushed forward a few steps and greeted him respectfully.

 

“Don’t call me uncle. I don’t have a nephew like you. Leave now. I won’t let you see Dong’er,” Tai Tan said coldly.

Huo Yuhao bit his lower lip and said, “Uncle Tai Tan, how is Dong’er? Has she awoken?”

“None of that has anything to do with you. You can’t even protect her. Why are you here?” Tai Tan said coldly.

The gate of the Clear Sky Castle was not far behind Tai Tan. However, Huo Yuhao knew that he couldn’t enter without Tai Tan’s permission.

He had experienced Tai Tan’s abilities once. He was a Transcendent Douluo who possessed terrifying strength and suppression. His spiritual power couldn’t mend the gap between them no matter how strong it was. Moreover, he was here to see Dong’er. He wasn’t here to fight!

“Uncle Tai Tan, everything’s my fault. I only want to see Dong’er. Please let me take a look at her.”  As he spoke, Huo Yuhao grit his teeth and kneeled down on one knee in front of Tai Tan.

Tai Tan’s brow moved slightly, but he soon returned to normal. He snapped, “You are a fellow without any backbone. A man’s knee can only touch the ground for heaven, earth, and his parents. Don’t you have a kneecap? You are turning more and more into a good-for-nothing. How dare you demand to see Dong’er like that? Scram.”

Huo Yuhao raised his head suddenly and looked at Tai Tan seriously. He said, “Uncle Tai Tan, what must I do before you’ll let me see her?”

Tai Tan snorted in disdain. “If you want to see her, you must defeat me. When you can defeat me, I’ll trust that you can protect her. If that happens, I’ll let you see her.”

After he finished speaking, he turned around and walked towards Clear Sky Castle. It was like he couldn’t be bothered to talk to Huo Yuhao anymore.

“Uncle Tai Tan, wait a minute.”  Huo Yuhao suddenly called out as he continued to kneel on the ground. However, he still lowered his head.

 

Tai Tan turned around and asked, “Why? Do you think you can defeat me now? Are you trying to challenge me?”

Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, “No, I know there’s a huge gap between us.”

“Great that you know. Now scram,” Tai Tan said coldly.

Huo Yuhao slowly lifted his head. The purplish-gold light in his eyes had already turned rose-gold. His Eye of Destiny also slowly opened.

“But I want to try. I want to know how far away I am from you.”

His yearning for Wang Dong’er had been torturing him. It wasn’t an easy thing for him to come here, but he was being stopped by Tai Tan. He finally couldn’t remain composed anymore. Right now, there was only Wang Dong’er in his mind. He could finally see her if he defeated Tai Tan.

 

While he knew that there was a huge gap between him and Tai Tan, Huo Yuhao still couldn’t help but want to try. If he didn’t vent, he felt that he might go crazy because he missed Wang Dong’er too much. Furthermore, Tai Tan had already stated his condition. If he didn’t try, how would he know how wide the gap between them was?

Chapter 415: Dong'er Is Awake?

“Try? Haha, alright. Seeing that you’ve still got a little bit of courage,  I  shall  let  you  try.  Come  on!”   Tai  Tan  laughed, striding towards Huo Yuhao.

He didn’t unleash his martial soul. He just strode proudly over. In this manner, there appeared to be many flaws about him that could be exposed. However, Huo Yuhao felt as if he were facing a huge beast right now. The terrifying pressure that he was being subjected to left him breathless.

Powerful!

Huo Yuhao had once sparred with Tai Tan. However, Tai Tan was only testing him then. Right now, Huo Yuhao could really feel the terrifying abilities Tai Tan possessed.

Pitch-black soul rings rose from Tai Tan’s feet. All of them were black, apart from his ninth soul ring, which was red.

 

He had eight black and one red soul ring. The weakest of all his soul rings were ten thousand year soul rings. What situation was Huo Yuhao facing?

Behind Tai Tan, a gust of black air surged out and slowly took form, transforming into a huge ape a hundred meters tall. Tai Tan’s terrifying suppression caused the clouds around Clear Sky Peak to be pushed thousands of meters away, and it seemed like Clear Sky Peak itself had become haughtier.

Against the pressure brought about by Tai Tan, Huo Yuhao grit his teeth and slowly stood up. His Eye of Destiny shone brightly, and a huge rose-gold, vertical eye instantly shone behind his back.

The seven soul rings that belonged to his Spirit Eyes all rose. He didn’t stop at all. As he leapt backwards, he instantly turned into a streak of flowing rose-gold light and fused completely with the vertical eye behind him. Just as he disappeared, his seventh soul ring shone brightly!

This was the seventh soul skill and Martial Soul True Body of his Spirit Eyes, called the Eye of the Asura!

 

After Huo Yuhao’s fusion, the huge vertical eye no longer seemed illusory. It appeared to have materialized. Countless streaks of starlight flashed inside this huge eye, as well as dazzling rays that seemed to determine destiny. Even just glancing at it, one could feel their spirit being dragged into it.

Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura flashed slightly, and Tai Tan shook as he advanced. He was astonished, and the ape projection behind him dimmed slightly.

It was the sixth soul skill of Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura: Destiny’s Demise, Spiritual Reaving.

Right now, Tai Tan felt as if all color in front of the Eye of the Asura had disappeared, there was only black and white left. Everything slowed down, and time and space seemed to stop. He even saw double images of Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura in front of him.

His spiritual power has already reached a stage where he can influence me? No, this isn’t pure spiritual power...

 

Just as Tai Tan hesitated, Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura lit up, and a beam of rose-gold light with a cross-section as large as its actual form shot out towards Tai Tan.

It was a Spiritual Shock from Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura!

A strong sense of crisis instantly filled Tai Tan’s mind. He was very experienced in combat, and once he discovered something was wrong, he immediately reacted.

He stopped advancing and opened his arms, letting out a deafening roar in the direction of Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura.

A projection of the head of a huge ape was released, and it shot straight towards Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Shock.

At that instant, rose-gold light shone brightly.

However, this black ape head was like a shield designed specifically to block spiritual power. It managed to resist the effect of Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Shock.

Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura shone once again. This time, the air started to distort tremendously. A strange blast, invisible and inaudible, occurred within an area of several dozen square meters.

This time, Tai Tan was unable to avoid it. His body stiffened, and there was a look of confusion and pain in his eyes.

It was a Spiritual Blast from Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura!

Huo Yuhao didn’t dare to hold back against Tai Tan. He immediately unleashed all his abilities.

His Destiny’s Demise, Spiritual Reaving was a powerful soul skill that couldn’t be avoided. Tai Tan’s spiritual defenses weakened significantly as he was struck by the Eye of the Asura. Although Huo Yuhao didn’t know how long these two soul skills would remain effective against a Transcendent Douluo, all he could do now was attack with full force.

Under normal circumstances, Tai Tan wouldn’t have been affected by his Spiritual Blast. However, his defense against

 

spiritual power became extremely weak after he was struck by Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Reaving, and he was shocked until his mind went completely blank.

A trace of golden light instantly shone within Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura. This trace of golden light shot forward towards Tai Tan with a strong aura. Not only that, but a streak of transparent golden light scattered on Tai Tan’s body first.

It was another soul skill of Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura, Destiny’s Adjudication, a soul skill from the Three-Eyed Golden Lion’s Skull of Destiny. It had the power to control destiny and could cause misfortune to descend on his opponent. The trace of golden light that shot out was the Golden Dragon’s Spear.

However, Huo Yuhao was quickly surprised. When his Destiny’s Adjudication, which had never failed before, landed on Tai Tan, Tai Tan seemed to turn illusory. The Destiny’s Adjudication penetrated through his body, just like that and landed nowhere.

Huo Yuhao’s Golden Dragon Spear instantly appeared. However, Tai Tan seemed to have become clear-minded again.

 

He swept his right hand out and slapped the spear away.

He has recovered from my Spiritual Blast? Huo Yuhao was shocked.

Tai Tan was agitated and roared furiously into the sky. His nine soul rings shone in a cyclical manner, and it was impossible to tell what soul skill he was using.

Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura suddenly sank down, as a strong pulling force came from the ground.

This was… it was like a soul skill controlling gravity. However, it was much stronger than Jiang Nannan’s gravitational control.

Tai Tan’s fists wrapped around each other, and he lifted them up. After this, he made a hammering motion towards Huo Yuhao. The ape projection behind him that had disappeared reformed again. This black projection, a hundred meters tall, also wrapped its fists together and smashed them down towards Huo Yuhao’s head.

 

Before the fists even reached him, Huo Yuhao could already sense that his Eye of the Asura was about to be crushed.

As lights flashed, Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura disappeared. However, he didn’t stop. Instead, he squatted down before springing up and punched out with his right fist.

Remembrance was a very magical thing. The Fist of Remembrance was a fist that contained a surging feeling of remembrance.

Wang Dong’er was so close to him, but he couldn’t see her. The sense of remembrance in his heart had already reached its peak. His spiritual and soul power was greatly enhanced, and this fist was the strongest Fist of Remembrance he had ever unleashed.

Huo Yuhao’s entire body turned golden instantly. His three energies were completely synchronized at this point. Not only that, but his fist was also filled with an unprecedentedly strong aura. His terrifying spiritual power instantly closed the gap between him and Tai Tan.

 

BOOM!

Huo Yuhao’s sense of remembrance for Wang Dong’er rose, and gold and black clashed in the air. At this instant, Clear Sky Peak seemed to whimper slightly.

The top of Clear Sky Peak was made of extremely hard granite. However, Huo Yuhao’s legs were pushed knee-deep into the stone. A trace of blood also flowed out from the side of his lips. Even so, he still managed to block Tai Tan’s fist!

Tai Tan had unleashed his fist in a moment of fury. After he unleashed it, he was a little regretful. It was indeed too strong for a Soul Sage like Huo Yuhao.

Tai Tan wanted to retract his power, but he unwittingly unleashed the full force of his fist when he saw the look in Huo Yuhao’s eyes. In truth, his judgment was accurate. Huo Yuhao actually managed to block his full force attack. Furthermore, Huo Yuhao’s fist contained his spiritual intent, which forced Tai Tan into a momentary trance.

 

Huo Yuhao exerted force in his legs and leapt out from the hole he had made. He pointed his right hand towards the sky, and an icy-blue projection silently appeared behind him. It was the Snow Empress.

The Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass appeared at the same time, surfacing on Huo Yuhao’s left arm.

Suddenly, an extreme chill was unleashed from Huo Yuhao’s body on the Clear Sky Peak. The extremely low temperature caused the water content in the air to instantly precipitate.

The Snow Lady shone with bright blue light. A streak of icy- blue light also rose from the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass and fell upon the Snow Lady’s body. Suddenly, the Snow Lady seemed to grow older by two years, and she grew taller, too. She lifted her right hand and swiped it down, unleashing her Unparalleled Chill, Empress’ Sword.

A streak of deep-blue light swept across the sky. Wherever it passed, it cast light upon the view of the Extreme North. The terrifying chill that came from it caused the temperature to fall to below negative one hundred degrees Celsius. Even with Tai Tan’s cultivation, he couldn’t help but shiver.

As the Snow Lady’s hand swept down, Huo Yuhao’s right hand also started to move. A streak of golden sword light stuck close to that deep-blue sword light as they slashed out together.

It was the Sword of Longing, a sword which would never be forgotten.

This was a fusion of the Snow Empress’ Three Ultimate Techniques and the Three Ultimate Haodong Skills. It was the perfect combination of a Spirit and soul master.

This sword was shockingly powerful after it was strengthened by two Spirits!

Tai Tan finally turned serious. He had never expected Huo Yuhao to possess such abilities after leaving for less than a year.

Whether it was his Spiritual Shock earlier or the combination of his two swords right now, they were strong enough to threaten Tai Tan’s safety.

 

Tai Tan lifted his arms up high, and his body instantly grew in size. His seventh soul ring flashed, and he immediately turned into a huge black-furred ape over five meters tall.

This was his Martial Soul True Body, the Giant Ape Tai Tan!

Tai Tan was obviously not just five meters tall. However, it was a suitable height for resisting attacks. He unleashed an extremely terrifying strength.

He raised his fists towards the sky, and Huo Yuhao felt as if Tai Tan had ripped the sky apart. When he unleashed his fists, a sorrowful cry sounded from above.

Black, deep-blue, and gold; it didn’t matter the color, everything was instantly destroyed. The combination of Huo Yuhao’s swords instantly turned into countless streaks of lights before vanishing.

However, Tai Tan’s upper body shook slightly after he resisted Huo Yuhao’s swords.

He was a Transcendent Douluo! After resisting Huo Yuhao’s attack, his body was actually shaking. Furthermore, he revealed a lost look in his eyes again.

Unforgettable... this was the power of Remembrance. The Fist of Remembrance and Sword of Longing forced Tai Tan to feel the crazy sense of remembrance in Huo Yuhao’s heart!

Huo Yuhao didn’t stop; his body followed his heart. There was only a gentle look in his eyes. As he lifted his right hand, his palm turned transparent gold. The Snow Lady behind him was like his shadow as she moved along with him.

 

Just as Huo Yuhao was three meters away from Tai Tan, the Snow Lady flowed into Huo Yuhao from behind before drifting forward in front of him. She beat Huo Yuhao to Tai Tan and imprinted her snowy-white palm on his chest.

It was her Unparalleled Chill, Empress’ Sword.

The Haodong Palm, a palm which would last eternally.

Tai Tan’s momentary trance lasted for only a second before his eyes revealed a furious glare once again. His sixth soul ring suddenly turned from black to gold, and his Giant Ape form was instantly covered by a layer of golden light.

Indestructible Vajra! It was a defensive-type soul skill stronger than an Invincible Barrier, a powerful ability that was fused with his bloodline.

The Snow Lady imprinted her right palm on Tai Tan’s body but didn’t make any sound. After this, she drifted backward and fused with Huo Yuhao.

 

While this palm seemed very light and gentle, it was the Snow Empress’ strongest attack! The layer of golden light covering Tai Tan’s body instantly turned white.

If the Snow Empress unleashed her full strength, Tai Tan would never dare to resist this palm. It was a pity that the Snow Empress was still a Snow Lady right now. She was still in her young state.

However, Huo Yuhao followed by imprinting his Haodong Palm in the same place.

Huo Yuhao only felt as if he had crashed into a towering mountain. Instantly, his right arm let out a series of cracking sounds. If not for the fact that he had become very strong, and his tolerance was extremely great under the nourishment of his life energy, his arm would have fractured.

He felt a stiff feeling in his chest and spat out blood. He was also immediately flung backward.

The defensive strength of the Giant Ape was too great under the effect of Tai Tan’s Indestructible Vajra.

White turned back to gold. Tai Tan stood in place without moving. When he unleashed his Indestructible Vajra in his Martial Soul True Body, even a Titled Douluo wasn’t able to hurt him.

However, his body still locked up because of the extreme chill he was subjected to. Although the strength of the Snow Lady’s Unparalleled Chill wasn’t able to surge towards his heart, it was still the Snow Empress’ strongest attack!

Moreover, the Haodong Palm still followed after her Unparalleled Chill. Given the strength of the Haodong Palm, Tai Tan’s Indestructible Vajra couldn’t be overcome. However, this palm was still filled with Huo Yuhao’s spiritual intent! Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power was much stronger than Tai Tan's spiritual power!

Tai Tan only felt an indescribable wave of spiritual power surging into his brain and spirit. That strong sense of remembrance was filled with sorrowful memories; it was tear- inducing! Tai Tan’s eyes turned red, and two streams of tears flowed down his cheeks. His emotions were immersed in this sense of remembrance, and he stood there in a daze. Although

 

he had still unleashed his Indestructible Vajra, he didn’t chase Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao was flung away, but he didn’t stop fighting. He wasn’t the old Huo Yuhao, who would immediately lose his fighting strength after unleashing his Three Ultimate Haodong Skills. He was now the Eye of the Asura, with three Spirits, twin martial souls, and the cultivation of a Soul Sage!

As he flew back, his soul rings flashed. One red, four orange- gold, and two more red soul rings appeared.

The Ice Jade Empress Scorpion’s seven soul rings were undoubtedly more dazzling than the seven soul rings of Huo Yuhao’s Spirit Eyes. Huo Yuhao’s terrifying spiritual power instantly reached an extreme. He shut his eyes, but his Eye of Destiny opened once again.

Without unleashing his Spirit Eyes, his Eye of Destiny still managed to unleash his Spiritual Shock, which struck Tai Tan.

Tai Tan’s defense against spiritual attacks weakened significantly while he was stuck in his current state of

 

remembrance and after he was struck by the two soul skills of Huo Yuhao’s Eye of the Asura. Fortunately, his Indestructible Vajra could still defend against spiritual power.

He staggered backward. After his spirit was shocked, he wasn’t able to maintain his Martial Soul True Body and Indestructible Vajra anymore. He suffered from a splitting headache and quickly retreated.

At this moment, Huo Yuhao changed. His seventh soul ring shone brightly, and a huge projection of an Ice Jade Scorpion appeared behind him. Huo Yuhao immediately fused with this light projection.

This light projection instantly became solid, but the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion didn’t appear. Instead, there was a lady in a long, jade-green dress. She looked very cold, arrogant, and elegant.

She was the Ice Empress.

It was the Ice Empress’ Martial Soul True Body, the Ice Empress’ Descent!

This Martial Soul True Body was unique. The reason was very simple: Huo Yuhao’s second martial soul was alive! A living Martial Soul True Body had to be unique.

Without his fusion with the Skydream Iceworm, he wouldn’t have had his second martial soul, which was an Ultimate Ice martial soul. He also wouldn’t have been able to fuse with the Ice Empress.

This was only possible with the cooperation of a million-year soul beast and a four-hundred-thousand year soul beast! How could it possibly be replicated?

The Ice Empress’ Descent could enable the temporary appearance of the Ice Empress in this Martial Soul True Body state. At the same time, the Ice Empress’ original fighting strength could also be unleashed. As for how long the Ice Empress could appear to fight, that was directly related to Huo Yuhao’s cultivation.

The Ice Empress looked at Tai Tan coldly. She could already sense how strong he was. As she lifted her right hand, her palm, which was covered with diamond ice crystals, shook

 

slightly, and another projection appeared beside her. It was the Snow Lady.

The Snow Lady grabbed onto the Ice Empress’ right hand with her left hand before something strange occurred. The Snow Lady grew at a shocking speed, and her snow-white dress swayed.

Her gaze also became deeper.

As the Ice Empress and the Snow Empress looked at each other, their bodies started to glow with different-colored lights.

This wasn’t the end. A strange stalk of grass silently appeared behind their backs. All its leaves turned illusory and only left two diamond-shaped ice crystals behind. These two crystals drifted up and landed on the both of the Snow Empress and Ice Empress’ foreheads, making them seem even more regal.

The light that rose from these two empresses seemed to turn solid, and surged forward. The white and jade-green light from

 

their bodies released auras of extremely low temperature. At this moment, the temperature around these two empresses dropped to almost absolute zero. Liquid oxygen was falling around them like misting rain.

A rose-gold vertical eye rose behind them at this moment. Behind this vertical eye, projections of ten golden rings surfaced and flashed subtly.

A rose-gold beam shot out. It was Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Shock again. Even though the vertical eye immediately dissipated and disappeared after this Spiritual Shock was unleashed, this attack still managed to strike Tai Tan.

Tai Tan staggered backward and groaned. His nostrils were already flowing with fresh blood. After his defense against spiritual power was affected by Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Reaving, his resistance had reached a low point.

If not for the fact that Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Shock was controlled by the Skydream Iceworm and not by Huo Yuhao’s actual body, he would have been hurt even worse!

 

The white and jade-green light had completely interwoven by now to form a patch of light that was strange, yet seemed to contain the power of the coldest chill in this heaven and earth.

As white and jade-green interwove, they formed an ultimate Ultimate Ice!

This was the Pride of the Ice and Snow Empresses! It instantly turned into a huge beam of light that charged towards Tai Tan.

Right now, Tai Tan had been affected by the two previous strikes of Spiritual Shock, and couldn’t mount an effective defense. He had underestimated Huo Yuhao from the start. He had just wanted to see how Huo Yuhao would perform after months of not seeing him. But Huo Yuhao gave him a huge surprise!

A low-pitched dragon roar sounded at this moment. Following this, a green projection descended from the sky and turned into a barrier that engulfed Tai Tan.

 

This barrier looked very strange. There were actually nine green dragons revolving around it, which made it look very bright and dazzling.

When the Pride of the Ice and Snow Empresses landed on this barrier, the barrier was stained by the mixture of white and jade-green. However, the nine green dragons still continued to revolve around it. Furthermore, the strength of the Pride of the Ice and Snow Empresses became weaker with every revolution.

Tai Tan was finally clear-headed now. When he saw the situation he was in, he couldn’t help but curse. His body flashed with black light. He was about to unleash his soul skills again.

“Aren’t you embarrassed enough!?” a furious voice shouted. A figure was standing beside him and grabbing his shoulder. He was flung back towards the gate of Clear Sky Castle, which was now standing open.

The Ice and Snow Empresses re-appeared again. They focused their gaze on this tall and burly man. As lights flashed, they silently disappeared, and Huo Yuhao re-appeared.

 

However, his body shook a little before he collapsed softly to the ground. He had lost consciousness.

As the Ice Empress, Snow Empress, Skydream Iceworm, and Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass unleashed their full powers, even a Soul Sage with twin martial souls wouldn’t be able to handle the exhaustion! Huo Yuhao didn’t have a contingency plan after unleashing this series of ultimate attacks. In fact, he was unable to fight further due to the emotional changes that he experienced after he unleashed the Haodong Palm. The attacks that followed were all completed by his three Spirits and the Ice Empress. Huo Yuhao had proved how good and terrifying it was to have Spirits!

If not for Niu Tian, who had helped Tai Tan block the last attack, the Pride of the Ice and Snow Empresses might have been able to seriously injure Tai Tan, even if it wasn’t able to overcome his strong physical body.

“Elder brother, I…”  Tai Tan rushed out of Clear Sky Castle again, looking depressed. Right now, there was still blood flowing from his nose.

Niu Tian looked a little gloomy. “Is it even possible for you to be more useless?”

Tai Tan’s face turned red at this moment. “Elder brother, I only used thirty percent of my abilities earlier. Who knew that this guy was so perverted? He was able to suppress my spirit and unleash a series of consecutive attacks. I initially thought that he wouldn’t be able to hurt me, even if I let him attack all he wanted. But he had some weird strength that was able to lower my spiritual and physical defenses. He’s perverted! It’s only been a few months! Why does it seem like he has changed completely?”

 

Niu Tian snorted and said, “This is the guy that our darling chose. It would be weird if he were lousy. If not for me, you would have been in deep trouble.”  As he spoke, he gestured towards Huo Yuhao. Huo Yuhao drifted over into his arms before his aura was even revealed.

Carrying Huo Yuhao, Niu Tian turned around and entered Clear Sky Castle.

------

When Huo Yuhao finally regained consciousness, he only felt prickling pain all over his body. His head was still fine, and his spiritual power wasn’t drained too much. However, his soul power had been completely over-drafted after he fully unleashed his powers at the last moment.

If this was before he had fused with everything Wang Qiu’er gave him, the Ice Empress and Skydream Iceworm wouldn’t have dared to use such powers, his body would have collapsed completely if they did so. Even now, Huo Yuhao was still feeling extremely weak. His muscles and bones were aching, while his soul power had been completely drained. He had no energy at all.

Where is this? Huo Yuhao was in a daze as he looked at the stone ceiling. Suddenly, he felt a little lost.

He had such a feeling every time he unleashed his Three Ultimate Haodong Skills. It was very difficult for him to recover after being so emotionally immersed. Furthermore, this symptom worsened every time he unleashed the Haodong Palm.

It seems like I really have to use the Haodong Palm more sparingly in the future, Huo Yuhao sighed in his heart. He also slowly recalled everything that had happened earlier.

This should be Clear Sky Castle? Am I inside?

He subconsciously wanted to get up, but the pain that he felt suddenly intensified. He groaned softly before laying back down. He also started to breathe more heavily.

“Don’t move,”  a low-pitched voice ordered. Following this, the door opened, and Niu Tian walked in.

 

Huo Yuhao looked at him, and subconsciously greeted him, “Uncle Niu Tian.”

Niu Tian didn’t acknowledge his words, but didn’t retort either. He walked to Yuhao’s bedside and watched him with his sparkling eyes.

Huo Yuhao’s hair stood on end. “Uncle Niu Tian, where’s Uncle Tai Tan? Did I defeat him?”

Niu Tian snorted, “You really don’t know your limits! Given your abilities, how could you have defeated Tai Tan? If not for the fact that he intentionally went easier on you, he would have been able to crush you with one attack.” After he finished speaking, Niu Tian felt his face turning a little hot for some unknown reason. He was right in his description about the gap between Huo Yuhao and Tai Tan’s abilities. However, in that fight…

Huo Yuhao instantly seemed to be in low spirits. “Uncle Niu Tian, I know that my abilities are still not good enough. I’m still far from the power that is needed to protect Dong’er. However, can I please see her? I really miss her.” His emotions had become fragile, as his body was weak. When he thought

 

about how he and Dong’er couldn’t see each other even though they were so close, Huo Yuhao felt as if his heart had been stabbed by a knife. His sense of remembrance started to engulf him.

Why did he always become stronger every time he unleashed his Three Ultimate Haodong Skills? Apart from the development of his abilities, it also had to do with his yearning for Wang Dong’er. He would become intoxicated and crazy, which made him stronger. Niu Tian sighed as he saw the state Huo Yuhao was in and said, “Rest first.”

Huo Yuhao was roused, and rushed to say, “My body is fine. Uncle Niu Tian, I can see Dong’er now.” He seemed to gather strength from some unknown place, and crawled up as he tolerated the pain that filled ihm. A dim layer of gold also surfaced on his body and supported him as he sat up.

Niu Tian was a little stunned. He had inspected Huo Yuhao’s body before this, and naturally knew what was going on. Huo Yuhao was able to sit up even though his body had been seriously over-drafted because he relied completely on his spiritual power!

 

“Lie down and rest first. You can leave once your body is better.”  Niu Tian waved his hand, and a gentle strength was transmitted into Huo Yuhao’s body. He was softly forced back down again.

Huo Yuhao was anxious as he said, “Uncle Niu Tian, please let me see Dong’er.” He struggled to get up once again.

Niu Tian said, “It’s not that I don’t want to let you see her. It’s that she’s already not here anymore. How can you see her?”

“What? She’s not here anymore? Dong’er, is Dong’er awake?”

Niu Tian replied, “She indeed awoke some time ago. Her father returned to treat her disease. However, it involves her brain. This is why she has forgotten everything after she woke up. She has also forgotten you. This is why you don’t have to find her anymore. Even if you do, she won’t be able to recognize you.”

“Great.” Huo Yuhao was excited, and almost jumped off his bed. However, he collapsed back onto the bed because of the

 

prickling pain. Although he gritted his teeth in pain, his face was filled with excitement.

Niu Tian was perplexed as he looked at him and asked, “You are happy that Dong’er has forgotten you?”

Huo Yuhao replied, “Of course not. I’m happy because she has awoken, and her disease has been treated too! I don’t believe that she has forgotten me. She couldn’t have. Even if she did, I can make her remember. Uncle Niu Tian, where is she? Please tell me. I can help her regain her memory.”

Niu Tian’s expression turned cold, and he said, “I’ve already said that she’s no longer Wang Dong’er. I don’t know where her father has taken her, either. She’s using her old name once again.”

Huo Yuhao said in a daze, “Nothing else is important. It’s good to know that she’s safe and healthy.”

Niu Tian shook his head as he looked at Huo Yuhao and answered, “A man has to have aspirations, he can’t only be burdened by relationships. Leave once you recover. If you want

 

to know where she’s gone, ask me when you’re a Titled Douluo. Otherwise, it’ll depend on your fate with one another.”

After he finished speaking, he didn’t give Huo Yuhao a chance to ask again. He simply turned around and left.

------

Huo Yuhao’s emotions slowly stabilized after Niu Tian left. He laid down on the stone bed and kept telling himself to calm down. He could only think properly if he calmed himself down.

There were a few important pieces of information in Niu Tian’s words earlier. Wang Dong’er had awoken and been treated. That was undoubtedly the most important thing. He had been afraid that Wang Dong’er was in a worse state than just a deep sleep, just like what Wang Qiu’er experienced. He had been afraid that she had left him forever.

Since Wang Dong’er had already awoken and been treated, his biggest problem had been solved. Even though he hadn’t

 

managed to see her, he was still extremely happy and relieved right now.

He recalled what Niu Tian had said to him earlier. From Niu Tian’s tone of voice, he could tell that Niu Tian was lying to him regarding Wang Dong’er’s condition and departure.

While Wang Dong’er’s condition had improved, it was undoubtedly bad news that she had lost her memories and forgotten everything that had happened between them. Furthermore, Niu Tian even mentioned that she had changed her name. She was no longer the old Wang Dong’er. If she wasn’t Wang Dong’er, who was she? What was she called now? Where did she go? Where would her father take her?

All of these doubts appeared in Huo Yuhao’s mind.

It was a pity he couldn’t get answers to these questions. Niu Tian had sounded very determined. He wasn’t going to divulge where Wang Dong’er went, no matter how much Huo Yuhao pestered him. If that was the case, how was he going to find Wang Dong’er?

 

Niu Tian only gave him two answers earlier. First, Huo Yuhao had to become a nine-ringed Titled Douluo first. That would undoubtedly mean that he possessed enough power to protect Wang Dong’er, and Niu Tian would reveal her whereabouts to him then. Next, it depended on Huo Yuhao’s fate with Wang Dong’er. However, the Douluo Continent was so huge. Would he really be able to bump into her?

Yes, it’s definitely possible. Huo Yuhao told himself. Qiu’er passed her power of destiny to me. Why can’t I have this luck? I must quickly become strong and hope that luck will help me find Dong’er.

After he figured things out, Huo Yuhao’s emotions slowly stabilized. Since Wang Dong’er was fine, he was no longer as sad and hurt as he was before. He was instantly determined to recover and follow his original plan. As he increased his abilities, he would wait for lady luck to shine on him.

As he finished thinking, Huo Yuhao used his spiritual power to prop himself up again. He grit his teeth and sat cross-legged while bearing the pain. He activated his spiritual power and started to circulate it within his body according to his soul power circulation. He was trying to recover his drained soul power.

His body was indeed the strongest among those of the same age. His soul power slowly recovered, and started circulating through his body. The Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass appeared once again. After his soul power reached a certain level, it started to guide the origin energy of heaven and earth to fuse with his body and speed up his recovery process.

His immense life energy was also extremely effective at helping him recover. In less than six hours, his soul power recovered to its peak state, and the pain he was suffering had also disappeared.

Chapter 416: Recruit Tang Dong

Niu Tian and Tai Tan didn’t see him again. Instead, they had Clear Sky Sect disciples escort him out of Clear Sky Castle.

Huo Yuhao stepped out of Clear Sky Castle and watched its large gates close. He took a deep breath and swore to himself that he would have the strength of a Titled Douluo when he returned the next time. It would be best if he could bring Dong’er back with him at that time!

He tapped his foot on the ground and leapt down from Clear Sky Peak, just like that. He bounced off the side of the mountain continuously as he rushed down as quickly as he could. He plummeted through the clouds before he extended his flying-type soul tool and activated his soul power, transforming into a ray of flowing light as he disappeared into the distance.

---

Back inside Clear Sky Castle...

 

Niu Tian and Tai Tan watched Huo Yuhao leave as they stood by the window in the highest room in the castle. They wore different expressions on their faces.

Tai Tan looked a little gloomy. Evidently, he hadn’t gotten over the fight he had just had with Huo Yuhao. He muttered under his breath, “Life has been hard on this guy! But his mind seems a lot more resilient and resolute than last time.”

Niu Tian’s face was full of admiration and appreciation. “Yes! It wasn’t easy for him to become like that at such an age. Hopefully, he can meet that fellow’s requirements as quickly as possible. In truth, I can’t bear to watch this kid being tortured like this. Dong’er – oh, I mean our little phoenix – I wonder what she’s doing at the moment? I’m hoping that they can meet each other outside...”

Tai Tan said, “That fellow is so cruel. He has quite some skill at torturing people... but do you think our sister knows about this?”

Niu Tian chuckled and said, “It would be strange if he dared to tell her. However, I can understand what he’s feeling. He’s a

 

man, and when the daughter you love most is being stolen by another man, your mood can’t be too good.”

---

Huo Yuhao didn’t proceed towards Shrek Academy after he left the Clear Sky Sect. Right now, he was overwhelmed with emotions, and not just because he had received the good news that Dong’er had recovered. He was also excited because of what he was going to do next.

He had to stop and rest after every two hours because of the state his body was currently in. He found a small city when night fell and stayed the night in a hotel. He continued on his way when dawn broke the next day.

He took another four hours before he finally left the Heavenly Soul Empire’s borders and entered the Star Luo Empire’s borders. He went straight for the Star Luo Empire’s capital city, Star Luo City.

It was midday before Star Luo City was within sight. Huo Yuhao slowed down, descended from the sky and landed on the

 

ground.

Star Luo City was the Star Luo Empire’s capital, and their air defenses were very tight and strict. He could run into trouble at any moment within fifty kilometers of Star Luo City, so Huo Yuhao landed on the ground well before that. Furthermore, he didn’t have to go into Star Luo City to reach his destination.

Huo Yuhao found a quiet and isolated place that was devoid of people and removed his flying-type soul tool. He withdrew everything that was relatively eye-catching from his body and placed them into his storage-type soul ring. He turned his ring around so that his Starlight Sapphire was facing his palm. Unless he opened his hand for others to look at, nobody would see the dazzling jewel.

He removed Shrek’s uniform and put on some hemp clothes before he took out a series of bottles and cans of paints and cremes.

Changing his appearance was part of the training he had received during the Ultimate Soldier Plan. Even though he felt a little unfamiliar with the process as he put on his disguise, his standards were still there.

It didn’t take long to change his appearance to that of an unassuming youth who seemed as typical as could be. He looked very simple and honest, and very modest at the same time. He looked like he was a little over twenty years old, his appearance was the kind that was hard to distinguish in a crowd of people.

Huo Yuhao inspected his appearance after making himself up and nodded satisfactorily before he began walking towards Star Luo City. However, his destination wasn’t Star Luo City.

---

He didn’t use soul power, so he didn’t move that quickly. After about one hour, a bunch of structures entered his vision.

Huo Yuhao immediately stopped in his tracks when he saw these structures. He clenched his fists slowly and pressed his lips tightly together.

Where was this? This place used to be his home! The White Tiger Duke’s residence, the place he had sworn to come back to

 

so that he could avenge his mother. Ever since his mother had passed away, this place was no longer his home. Instead, this had become a place where his enemies lived.

The White Tiger Duke, Dai Yueheng, and Dai Huabin’s faces swiftly surfaced in his mind. The hatred and vengeance that Huo Yuhao had suppressed deep within his heart instantly erupted like a fountain.

“I’m back, mother! Even though I’m not strong enough yet, I will be in the future, and I will definitely avenge you for good!”

He picked up his pace as he walked briskly towards the White Tiger Duke’s residence. Of course, he wouldn’t enter the White Tiger Duke’s Mansion. Instead, he proceeded towards a small patch of hills to the side that bordered the White Tiger Duke’s residence.

Huo Yuhao had grown up in this place, and he was still very familiar with it even though he hadn’t been back here for many years.

He quickly found his destination.

A tall gravestone appeared in the distance. This gravestone was at least two meters tall, and both wide and spacious. Its surroundings were renovated and ornamented with granite and seemed fine and exquisite. There were even carvings of the Emperor Beast on the gravestone’s surface, watching over the one interred there.

There was a grave behind this stone, also constructed from granite.

Huo Yuhao’s eyes grew wet when he saw this gravestone. He took a few quick steps forward, and the writing on the gravestone’s surface was clearly presented to him.

“The  Grave  of  my  Wife,  Huo  Yun.”  Dai  Hao’s  name  was etched below this inscription.

This was the grave of Huo Yuhao’s mother, but it was very different from when he had departed this place.

Back then, he was still young and didn’t have the means to give his mother a grand burial. He could only use a wooden

 

grave marker that he had carved and sculpted with his own hands, and some loess.

At this moment, his mother’s gravestone had been renovated, but it was still located where it used to be. However, it looked entirely different from before.

He had not been back here before, and now someone had renovated his mother’s grave. Huo Yuhao was a little dazed as he slowly knelt down in front of his mother’s gravestone. The roiling hatred and vengeance in his heart subconsciously dampened, but tears surged out uncontrollably as he placed his head down in front of his mother’s gravestone and sobbed loudly.

“Mom! Mom, I’m back! I’m here to see you!” Huo Yuhao had been gone for so many years, and this was the first time that he had returned to pay respects to his mother. His heart was full of guilt.

Huo Yuhao had become increasingly powerful over the years and had worked so hard that he almost didn’t rest at all. He didn’t even dare to think about his mother, because he was

 

afraid that he wouldn’t be able to resist the impulse to avenge her.

More than eight years had gone by since he had left this place. Huo Yuhao had transformed from a weak child to a powerful Soul Sage with twin martial souls after eight years, and everything had changed. He finally had the courage to come back and pay his respects to his mother.

His greatest wish was to avenge his mother, and for the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, to kneel in front of his mother’s grave and repent.

His mother’s grave had been renovated, and Dai Hao had rebuilt her gravestone and called her his wife. That was always what mom wanted the most!

But why didn’t Dai Hao do that for her all those years ago? He never visited us, and you had to die so violently in the end...

Huo Yuhao’s longing and yearning for his mother, and the grief carried deep within his heart surged forth continuously,

 

and manifested as tears that splattered all over his mother’s gravestone.

The pressure that he had to bear in his heart over these days, his longing for Dong’er, and his guilt towards Qiu’er seemed to be released through his bitter sobs as his tears flowed uncontrollably.

Huo Yuhao laid down on his mother’s gravestone and fell asleep at some point, and this nap was exceptionally sound and steady.

---

He had a dream... he dreamed that his mother was back, and the White Tiger Duke had his hand wrapped around his mother’s waist. The White Tiger Duke had a warm and faint smile on his face he softly called out her name, while his mother’s expression was full of bliss and happiness as she leaned into the White Tiger Duke’s embrace.

Unfortunately, it was all just a dream. Dawn broke on the second day when Huo Yuhao woke up from his dream, his

 

clothes were wet from morning dew, but he felt as if all his grief and despondency had drained out through his tears.

Huo Yuhao knelt down in front of his mother’s gravestone again and kowtowed nine times solemnly.

Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and said, “Don’t worry, mother. I will always remember this hatred, and I will prove to that person that your son is stronger than he is. I can do what he can, and one day, I will return to this place, the White Tiger Duke’s Mansion, rightfully and fairly, and I will tread on every single one of them. I will make everyone repay you with ten times, a hundred times the hurt that they caused you. I will force the White Tiger Duke to welcome you back into the White Tiger Duke’s Mansion and admit that you are his official wife. I will force him to kneel down before your grave to repent!”

Huo Yuhao took out the offerings that he had prepared after his speech and laid them out before his mother’s grave, one by one. He kowtowed heavily a few more times before he stood up. He turned away, yet glanced at his mother’s gravestone because he couldn’t bear to leave. He wiped the tears from his face, and his eyes became resolute and determined once more as he strode off into the distance.

He didn’t proceed towards Star Luo City. Instead, he picked up his pace as he traveled west. He ran some distance before unleashing his flying-type soul tool and flying rapidly into the distance.

------

After two hours, he stopped at a mid-sized city within the Star Luo empire. He created a new identity for himself and purchased documents for thirty golden soul coins, having a light meal before he resumed his journey.

Imperial Radiant City was located in the Star Luo Empire’s northwestern corner and was less than a hundred kilometers away from the Ming Dou Mountain Range. It was less than five hundred kilometers from the Heavenly Soul Empire’s borders and was one of the Star Luo Empire’s important strongholds to defend against the Sun Moon Empire. This city was one of the most important cities in charge of resupply for the front line camps.

There were two reserve legions stationed in this city.

 

Reserve legions typically had one and half times the troops that regular legions had, and they went through tough and strict training, just like the regular legions. As soon as the regular legions suffered losses on the frontlines, these reserve legions would muster the soldiers to replenish the regular legions.

Imperial Radiant City’s reserves were fully enlisted. The White Tiger Duke was the Western Field Army’s marshal, and they might face the Sun Moon Empire’s great army at any moment. Nobody dared to slack off or mess around in this place. Therefore, Imperial Radiant City’s two Reserve Legions were at their full strength of fifteen thousand men. They could send soldiers to the frontlines within four hours as long the frontlines needed them to.

Imperial Radiant City was also an important granary for the western corps. The city’s walls were tough and thick, and its security was tight and strict. Everything was handled by the White Tiger Duke’s most trusted subordinates.

These two Reserve Legions were collectively known as the Western Field Army, and were individually known as the Fourth Reserve Legion and the Sixth Reserve Legion.

Recently, these two armies had started recruiting new soldiers, because a batch of overage soldiers had retired from the army.

 

The Sun Moon Empire was a great threat, so the Star Luo Empire had cast a wide net for enlisting new blood. This was especially true for veterans who had been to war before, and the empire retained them by treating them extremely well.

But even so, humans had to grow old in the end. The bodies of normal humans would start to age more rapidly after they passed forty, and it became very hard for them to maintain the required condition in the army. A batch of veterans would inevitably retire every year from both the regular army and the reserves.

New soldiers would have to be recruited to replace those veterans who had retired. The Western Field Army’s Sixth Reserve Legion was currently recruiting those new soldiers.

The Fourth Reserve had stopped recruiting just yesterday. Because the atmosphere at the borders were tense, many families from cities along the borders weren’t willing to let their children enlist. If their children became soldiers, there was a chance that they would step onto the battlefield, and that meant they could be in danger! Therefore, the Fourth Reserve Legion’s recruitment hadn’t been that successful.

 

However, recruitment had its benefits. It was the best way for people mired in poverty to become rich by accomplishing meritorious deeds, and service in the army was the fastest shortcut to rising in social rank. Therefore, there were some youngsters who believed their bodies were sturdy enough, and

were brave enough to come forward to join the army.

The Sixth Reserve Legion was stationed on the western side of Imperial Radiant City. The place where they were recruiting new soldiers faced Imperial Radiant City’s gate, and everybody moving in or out of the city could clearly see the legion’s booth.

------

At this moment, several veterans were hollering constantly at youngsters who were walking along the streets.

“The Sixth Reserve Legion is recruiting soldiers. You will be given generous compensation and salaries!. Four silver soul coins are given every month as a soldier’s pay, and we will never lower that amount! You will get three meals a day, and two meals are guaranteed to contain meat! Uniforms and weapons will be assigned immediately after you pass an audit! Becoming a soldier is a glorious endeavor! You will be

 

protecting the empire! You are welcome to join the Sixth Reserve Legion!”

These veterans’ words were effective, to a certain extent. Many youngsters who were willing to enlist hailed from poor families, and a soldier’s pay and food were what they hoped for most. Once they enlisted, they would be given a month’s pay, and this amount was enough to change their family’s life for quite some time.

A long queue stretched out in front of the recruitment booth. There were twenty-some young and fit men attempting to enlist in the army.

The recruitment booth’s setup was simple. Two veterans sat behind a long desk, along with a middle-aged man who looked like an officer. However, everyone could tell from his uniform that his rank wasn’t that high, even if he was an officer.

“Name?”

“Ge Dazhuang.”

 

“Age?”

“Twenty-three.”

“Please show me your identification document,”  the officer said to the youth in front of him.

The youth hurriedly passed a small booklet over. In the Star Luo Empire, everyone had an identification document assigned by the military, and there were simple watermarks along with a seal unique to the city that each citizen was born in. Forging and replicating such documents was relatively complicated. Furthermore, the military could conduct investigations using these identification documents when absolutely necessary.

“Go over there. Find a stone weight that you can lift for us to see.” The officer pointed to a pile of stone weights nearby.

There were about a dozen of them. The largest weight was about the size of a millstone, while the smallest one was at least twenty kilograms.

 

The recruitment assessment was very simple. New soldiers had their strength assessed, and they would have to go through boot camp. New soldiers who hadn’t gone through at least one year of training weren’t allowed onto the battlefield unless they displayed exceptional prowess.

“Yes!” Ge Dazhuang acknowledged loudly and hurriedly ran over to the pile of stone weights. He weighed several different weights before he found a relatively large one, flexed his arms, and lifted it.

“Up!”  Ge  Dazhuang  exclaimed  as  he  gradually  lifted  the weight into the air. His face was flushed, and it seemed like he was putting in a lot of effort, but he managed to lift the stone lock above his head in the end. This measurement was considered complete once the recruit raised a weight over his head.

“Yes, not bad! You’re quite strong. You have passed, work hard in the future! The Sixth Reserve Legion is where talents are produced! If you are lucky enough to go to the frontlines, you might even get to accomplish glorious military feats!” The officer picked up a wooden card that read “Private”  from the table and handed it to Ge Dazhuang as he finished speaking.

 

Ge Dazhuang hurriedly thanked the officer with a smile on his face. He could redeem a month’s worth of soldier’s pay from the quartermaster with this wooden card, before he would be assigned a uniform and a weapon.

Most of the youths who came afterwards passed the assessment. Only an excessively skinny youth couldn’t even lift the lightest weight, and was turned away.

“Next!” The officer seemed a little sleepy as he leaned back in his chair and hollered lazily.

A tall and lanky youth walked in front of him and produced his identification document.

The officer could tell that this youth was quite smart and clever. He picked up this youth’s documents and said, “Tang Dong, from Fourleaves City. Born into a farmer’s family. How old are you?”

Tang Dong seemed a little inarticulate. He lowered his head and said, “Sir, I’m nineteen years old.”

 

The officer was pleased to be addressed as “sir”. He said to Tang Dong, “Go and lift a stone weight.”

“Yes.”  Tang  Dong  walked  to  the  pile  of  stone  locks.  He hesitated momentarily before he walked to the stone weight that was about as large as a millstone, weighing almost a hundred kilos.

Tang Dong gripped the stone weight with both hands and exerted the strength in his legs as he suddenly raised the weight into the air. He swayed a little before swinging the weight and raising it above his head.

“Eh!” The officer was taken aback.

Tang Dong placed the stone weight back down on the ground. His face seemed a little flushed, probably because of the strength that he had just displayed.

“Not bad, not bad. You don’t seem very robust, but you are quite strong. Not even I can lift the largest weight!. You have a future!  You  have  passed!  Come,  take  this!”  He  retrieved  a

 

golden card from the small stack of them on the table, and passed it to Tang Dong.

This golden card had “Private First Class”  engraved on its surface.

In the Star Luo Empire’s army, privates had the lowest rank, followed by private first class. It was a clear and important gap between the lowest and the second-lowest rank.

Privates first class were treated a lot better than normal privates. They were assigned normal uniforms, and were equipped with simple leather armor and a spear. They were given six silver soul coins every month, while privates were only given four. Privates were only given cloth uniforms and a simple knife.

“Thank you, sir,”  Tang Dong replied gratefully, taking the golden card and proceeding to the barracks.

Tang Dong saw a sign with “Quartermaster”  written on it stuck in the ground once he walked into the barracks, and there was also an arrow pointing in a certain direction.

Tang Dong paused in his tracks, and a disappointed look appeared on his face before he strode in the direction the arrow was pointing.

Tang Dong... “Tang” from the Tang Sect, and “Dong” from Wang Dong’er. Wasn’t this seemingly honest and simple youth Huo Yuhao, who had just left the Clear Sky Sect and just paid his respects to his mother?

Yes, the Star Luo Empire’s barracks were his destination. He had made this decision long ago in his heart, and he wanted to use his own abilities, just like the White Tiger Duke did all those years ago. He wanted to accumulate merit bit by bit, and reach a high rank. He wanted to use his own strength to prove that he was stronger than the White Tiger Duke. He wanted to stand in front of the White Tiger Duke righteously one day, and he wanted to use his own merit to reach a rank even higher than the White Tiger Duke’s rank. He would reveal his identity when that happened, and he would use his own status within the Star Luo empire to clear his mother’s name, and avenge her!

He didn’t care about power and authority. However, he understood that no matter how strong he was individually, all

 

he could do with his own strength was kill someone if he wanted to avenge his mother. That wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to use his own accomplishments for the empire to clear his mother’s name and seek justice for her! He wanted his mother to feel rightfully proud because of him, so that she could rightfully be called the White Tiger Duke’s wife!

Huo Yuhao wasn’t willing to take any shortcuts. His reputation was starting to stand out in the Continent, and as long as he was willing to, it wasn’t impossible for him to directly become a high-ranking officer in the Star Luo Empire’s military. However, that wasn’t what he wanted… he wanted to take the same path the White Tiger Duke did! The Star Luo Empire was his country, and even though this empire had never given him anything, this place was his ancestral home. He wanted to use his own merits to rise through the ranks.

After all, he was the Spirit Pagoda’s honorary Pagoda Master, and also a lifetime member, and he enjoyed a substantial status in Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect. If he appeared in the Star Luo empire with his own identity, he could even affect the Douluo Continent’s three native empires’ overall situation, even if that sounded like a far-fetched notion.

 

Huo Yuhao’s personal strength was nothing much to the three empires. However, the powers he represented were too strong. Therefore, when he went into closed-door cultivation, he decided that he would use an all-new identity to achieve what he wanted. And so, Tang Dong was born!

The quartermaster was a fatty, and Huo Yuhao could tell that he had quite a lot to eat every day. The man was a little shocked when he saw Huo Yuhao’s “Private, First Class”  card, but he still gave Huo Yuhao the equipment and compensation that a private first class should receive, and told Huo Yuhao to report to the military drill grounds on the left side of the army barracks.

The Star Luo Empire was wealthy, and one could tell that they were a class above the rest from the equipment they gave their soldiers. The leather armor was made from treated cowhide. Even though this leather armor could only protect one’s torso, it was enough to give the soldier a sense of safety after donning it. The spear was about twelve feet long, and made from a very flexible white wood. The spear’s steel tip was half a meter long, and it sparkled with chilly light, without a single inch of rust.

 

Soldiers were given two uniforms, which were made from decent canvas. The uniform was extremely tough, and even though wearing one wasn’t very comfortable, the uniform was definitely durable, and resistant to wear and tear.

Huo Yuhao changed into his uniform and his leather armor on the spot, grabbing his other uniform with his left hand and his spear with his right hand before he jogged towards the drill grounds on the left side of the army camp.

The drill ground was very spacious; Huo Yuhao almost couldn’t see the end of it. There were phalanxes hard at work on the drill ground, and cavalry companies riding left and right. The Sixth Reserve Legion’s soldiers were clearly training hard.

The Star Luo Empire’s military system was arranged in ascending order: small team, medium team, large team, battalion, division, and legion. A small team had ten people. A medium team was made up of five small teams, for a total of fifty people. A large team was composed of three medium teams, for a total of a hundred and fifty people, while a battalion contained three large teams, for a total of four hundred and fifty people. A division consisted of three battalions, with a total of one thousand three hundred and fifty people, while a regular legion consisted of six divisions, seven thousand two hundred and ten soldiers. Adding in transportation units and logistics units, as well as other

 

auxiliary units, a legion contained about ten thousand people in total.

The reserves were a little different. Every Reserve Legion consisted of nine divisions of soldiers, and in addition to other auxiliary units, a Reserve Legion had about fifteen thousand people.

Huo Yuhao quickly found the assembly point for new soldiers, because the veteran soldiers who were undergoing training here were in strict formation, and seemed very intimidating. On the other hand, several hundred new soldiers were assembled not far from where he was, and they seemed a lot more relaxed and loose in comparison. They didn’t stand properly, their postures were loose and undisciplined, and there were even people who loafed at the back, or were sitting down on the ground.

Huo Yuhao hurriedly ran over once he found this group.

There were three men standing in front of those new soldiers, who looked like officers. Distinguishing officers was very simple: those who wore golden armor were definitely officers, and were at least medium team leaders.

Soldiers like Huo Yuhao, who were also wearing a private first class’ leather armor, would typically become small team leaders. Medium team leaders wore chainmail armor, and only large team leaders or officers ranking higher than large team leaders could wear plate armor. Officers like battalion commanders, division commanders, and legion commanders wore armor that was made from a different material. They were distinguished from each other with special markings, such as the color of the plume feathers on their helmets, or the color of their capes, the equipment of their bodyguards, etc.

The bodyguards of the Western Field Army’s marshal, White Tiger Duke Dai Hao, had all been wearing chainmail armor. This meant that they were all at least medium team leaders.

“Recruit Tang Dong, reporting.”  Huo Yuhao walked briskly up before those three officers. He didn’t know any military salutes, but he knew how to stand at attention.

All three officers were wearing chainmail armor. When they saw the leather armor on Huo Yuhao’s body, their faces showed some surprise.

 

The officer who was standing in the middle had a tough and muscular frame, and seemed to be around thirty years old. He said, “Eh, you must be the one who became a private first class. Seems like your physique isn’t bad. Your name’s Tang Dong, right? Come here.” He waved at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao quickly took a few steps forward and arrived in front of the three officers.

Huo Yuhao’s consciousness twitched, but he couldn’t feel any soul power undulations from these three officers. Officers were typically promoted for two different reasons: the first was a promotion from an accumulation of military merits, while the second was promotion from an increase in fighting strength.

However, officers who rose through the ranks because of their fighting strength typically didn’t become commanders. Normal soldiers also had chances to become high-ranking officers, and would have to accumulate military merit. However, their rise through the ranks was a lot more challenging compared to soul masters.

In the end, a soul master was considered the most exalted and powerful profession on the Douluo Continent. No matter

 

how much effort a normal person put in, he would almost certainly be defeated and killed by a soul master if he fought one alone on the battlefield.

The officer scrutinized Huo Yuhao for a few moments. He couldn’t tell from Huo Yuhao’s appearance how he was any different from a normal person. He frowned and said, “Tang Dong, how did you become a private first class?”

Huo Yuhao smiled simply and honestly and said, “Sir, I am quite strong, and the recruiting officer let me become a private first class because of that.”

“You’re strong? Come, let’s try.” He reached out toward Huo Yuhao with his right hand as he spoke.

Huo Yuhao switched his spear to his left hand and draped his uniform over his left arm so that he could free up his right hand. Huo Yuhao’s right hand gripped the officer’s right hand, and the officer’s palm immediately contracted as a wave of strength considered quite strong for normal people compressed Huo Yuhao’s right hand.

 

But how could this little bit of strength be anything to Huo Yuhao? He didn’t even have to use any soul power; his physique was already much stronger than normal people!

Huo Yuhao didn’t push back. Instead, he let the officer twist and clutch as much as and however he wanted. The officer felt as if Huo Yuhao’s palm was made from steel, and he couldn’t make Huo Yuhao move an inch no matter how much strength he used.

“Very strong!” This officer didn’t continue the contest. These lower-ranked officers were all veterans in the army, and he didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of so many recruits. He tested Huo Yuhao for a moment more before he released his grip, and gestured at the recruits in front of him. “Join the formation.”

“Yes, sir.” Huo Yuhao acknowledged as he turned and jogged into the recruits’ ranks.

Most of these recruits had curious and novel looks on their faces. Everybody watched the other soldiers train not far from where they were. Some of them were rubbing their fists, and some were so lazy and idle that they were lying around in

 

different positions. Everyone was in a different position. However, the officers didn’t say anything to restrict them. They were just standing in front of everyone and speaking softly, chattering amongst themselves.

Their behavior could confuse others, but how could they confuse the Eye of the Asura Huo Yuhao, whose spiritual power was already in the concrete-material realm?

Huo Yuhao paid a little more attention, and discovered that although these three officers seemed like they didn’t care about those recruits, but in reality, their attention was indeed focused on the recruits, and their eyes became sharp and focused from time to time as they observed them.

Naturally, Huo Yuhao didn’t remind the recruits behind him. Instead, he stood up straight near the edge of the formation, and didn’t move an inch as he waited calmly.

New soldiers continued streaming in and adding themselves into the formation, and this group of recruits became larger and larger.

 

They were around five hundred in total when noon arrived.

One of the three officers suddenly turned and jogged away. It didn’t take long before another officer wearing sparkling silver steel plate armor was escorted back by the officer who had jogged away in front of these recruits.

This new officer’s aura was conspicuously different. He was tall, and his rectangular face had hints of majesty and dignity.

These recruits had been standing around for a long time, and they were already wandering in all directions, but they shaped up a little now. Even they could tell that this new officer was quite a high-ranking one.

The officer planted himself in front of those five hundred recruits. The officer in chainmail armor who had just wrestled with Huo Yuhao suddenly hollered at the top of his voice, “Squad, attention!”  He was very loud, and his voice sounded like rolling thunder. Many recruits were startled by his voice and shivered in response. Everyone actually quieted down within a few moments.

 

The officer in plate armor surveyed the recruits as he lowered his voice and said, “Listen up! From the moment that you enlisted into the Sixth Reserve Legion, you’ve become one of the Star Luo Empire’s glorious soldiers! A soldier’s sacred duty is to follow orders, and a soldier that fails to follow this rule will be dealt with according to military law!

“I am Zhuang Tian, the large team leader of the second large team of the third battalion of the Sixth Reserve Legion’s seventh division! You recruits will be under my charge over the next three months. Now, your bunks will be assigned, and your tasks delegated! Fighting soldiers will stand to my left after this, and auxiliary soldiers will stand to my right.”

This speech sounded very simple, but it emanated a somber sternness. This large team member was a soldier who had been on the battlefield and seen blood before. His ferocious aura instantly sent chills down the recruits’ spines.

This officer waved his hand, and the officer in chainmail armor immediately took a few steps forward. He took out a name list from somewhere and raised his voice as he read, “Tang Dong, fighting soldier. In charge of the bunk for large team one.”

 

Huo Yuhao hadn’t expected his name to be called out first, but his reactions were quick, and he instantly ran to the large team leader’s left side and stood at attention. He was standing up straight and didn’t move a muscle, just as he had been doing, but his expression was a little foolish and naïve from beginning to end.

Names were called out one after another, and more and more people quickly stood behind Huo Yuhao. However, some soldiers appeared on the other side, and the recruits who were assigned there had black faces. Auxiliary soldiers and fighting soldiers had very different statuses in the military. Under normal circumstances, only fighting soldiers could accumulate enough military merit to be promoted, while auxiliary soldiers would have far fewer chances.

Many auxiliary soldiers seemed very unconvinced, but they didn’t dare to protest because they were intimidated by the large team leader’s might. They just muttered under their breath.

The officer took more than an hour to read through the list of five hundred people. Huo Yuhao had been counting silently the entire time; in the end, two hundred soldiers were assigned

 

to be auxiliary soldiers, while three hundred were chosen as fighting soldiers.

The large team leader slowly turned around after the last recruit joined the line that he was supposed to. He turned towards the group of auxiliary soldiers as he lowered his voice and said, “Do you know why you guys are auxiliary soldiers? You have been selected after an integrated assessment. Everyone has been monitored and observed ever since you joined, and every word and every gesture that you made, along with your physique, were all part of this criteria. In the end, you guys aren’t qualified to become fighting soldiers.

“Now,  you  have  two  choices  –   one,  remain  as  auxiliary soldiers. Auxiliary soldiers will receive the same pay as normal fighting soldiers, but it will be hard for you guys to get a promotion. Second, you can return everything that you’ve claimed from the quartermaster and leave the camp. But you have to remember, once you leave the camp, your names will be recorded, and the army will never take you in again. If you remain as auxiliary soldiers, you might have a chance to become a fighting soldier if your performance is outstanding. For now, you will be given ten minutes to consider. I want an answer from everyone after ten minutes!”

 

Zhuang Tian turned towards the three hundred fighting soldiers after he made his speech to the auxiliary soldiers. His face  suddenly  darkened  as  he  said  coldly,  “Recruits!  Don’t think that everything is over just because you guys have been chosen as fighting soldiers! Let me tell you, in the basic military training that you will receive in the subsequent three months, you will be eliminated and demoted to an auxiliary soldier if you don’t pass! Only those who pass this training with flying colors can become fighting soldiers!

“Don’t think that I am being harsh; I am trying to be responsible for you and your family! Only the most outstanding soldiers are worthy of stepping onto the battlefield! Otherwise, you will only be going to your deaths! In that case, it’s better for you to remain in the backlines or go back home to farm!

“You may return to your respective bunks that we have just assigned to take care of any arrangements there, and you may have lunch! Assemble here in two hours!”

Chapter 417: Being a Soldier Feels Good

Several simple statements taught these recruits who had just entered the army camp a new lesson. Their laziness and idleness from before was a lot more toned down, and the three officers in chainmail armor led them off to the army barracks.

The three hundred fighting soldiers were led to ten bunkhouses. Each bunkhouse was quite spacious, and each one could accommodate thirty soldiers. Huo Yuhao’s bunk was the first among these ten bunks. Furthermore, according to their allocations earlier, he was in charge of this bunk. This meant that the affairs within his bunk were temporarily in his command.

Complaints and curses started as soon as all thirty soldiers entered the bunkhouse.

“Aiyo, I’m so tired! We’ve been standing the entire morning, and only now are they letting us eat. I guess it’s not so easy being a soldier after all!”  one skinny recruit mumbled with a gloomy look on his face.

 

Another relatively fatter soldier said, “Let’s not talk about that, I’ve been cooked to the point where I’m sweating oil! Thirty people staying together! This bunk is already starting to smell! We’re going to have a tough time. If I’d known all this, I wouldn’t have enlisted as a soldier! My dad insisted that I train

myself in the military... this really makes people speechless.”

Similar voices rang out in every corner of Huo Yuhao’s bunkhouse.

Huo Yuhao found a berth for himself in the corner after he entered the room, a bunk actually meaning a simple cot. It was a straw mat laid out over a wooden frame, and a thin mattress was laid out on the straw mat, with a blanket on top of the mattress. This was the standard setup for every bunk in the room.

Huo Yuhao had no complaints about this because he didn’t care about it at all. He placed his uniform on the blanket and his spear to one side. He didn’t even need his eyes to see – his spiritual power covered the entire room. There were twenty- nine other people in his room, and every single person was now within his perception. Nobody could hide anything under his careful observation.

 

Most of the others were still complaining. They were clearly unadjusted to army life, but there were some others who were very calm, such as a soldier roughly twenty years of age on a bunk not far from Huo Yuhao. His build was average, and he looked very composed. Furthermore, there were dashes of coldness between his eyebrows. He clearly didn’t quite fit in

with the other recruits.

Besides Huo Yuhao, there were six others among the group who could face the novelty of entering army life with a relatively calm attitude. They quickly packed their things up properly, and two of them stood up and were about to go out to eat.

Huo Yuhao stood up and suddenly clapped his hands.

“Clap, clap, clap!”  Three crisp sounds could be heard, and Huo Yuhao immediately attracted every recruit’s attention.

“Quiet  down  for  a  moment,  everyone.  Let  me  say  a  few words.” Huo Yuhao spoke with a faint smile on his face. He had changed his appearance to someone who had a very simple and honest look, and this smile made him seem even more so. Furthermore, his smile even seemed a little rustic.

Everyone stared at the leather armor that Huo Yuhao was wearing, and he had their attention. The entire room actually quickly quieted down.

Huo Yuhao said, “My brothers, we have all reported to a new army camp today, and today is our first day. Everyone must have seen what happened just now; if we don’t perform well, we might just be allocated to become an auxiliary soldier. I don’t think anyone wants to become an auxiliary soldier, right? Since we have been allocated into the same squad we will be brothers-in-arms in the future. We have to fight and slay our enemies together if we get to go onto the battlefield.

“Our three months of basic military training will be very important for us. That officer already said that only those who perform excellently can truly become fighting soldiers. That means we are up against the recruits from the nine other bunks. They are all our rivals and competitors. If we want to become fighting soldiers, then we have to perform better than they do. That means teamwork is paramount.

“We’re all recruits, and everyone in the other bunks won’t be familiar with one another. Everyone is still like a plate of scattered sand. If First Bunk’s brothers can unite, then none of

 

the other bunks will be a match for us. We will move forward and backward together in the future. What do you guys think?”

Huo Yuhao’s speech was quite inciting. Juxtaposed with his tone, and with an infusion of a thread of his spiritual power, most of the recruits in First Bunk were moved.

However, there were also dissident voices. The fatso that was complaining before this slanted his mouth and said, “Do you really think you’re in charge? Don’t you just have some leather armor on you? We’re all recruits, what makes you think you can tell us what to do? Let’s not bother with him, everyone. Let’s go and eat!” He turned and walked out as he spoke.

There were several other recruits like him who had indifferent expressions. Mocking looks flashed across their faces when they heard his words.

Huo Yuhao’s eyes flickered as he bolted forward, and he blocked the fat recruit’s path with a few steps.

 

He withdrew his simple and honest smile, and he stared seriously at the fat soldier in front of him. “What I just said isn’t just a suggestion. It’s also an order.”

The fat soldier glared at Huo Yuhao and said, “Fuck, who do you think you are? What makes you think you can control me? Fuck off!” He reached out with a large hand that resembled a cattail-leaf fan as he spoke, and he attempted to shove Huo Yuhao on the chest.

Huo Yuhao smiled faintly, and he raised his left hand and pinched the web between the fat soldier’s thumb and his forefinger. The fat soldier stumbled and slammed towards Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao slanted his body towards one side and stepped lightly with the tip of his foot on the tip of the fat soldier’s foot. The fatso immediately lost his balance and fell face-first to the ground.

“Our superior has said that I am the person in charge of First Bunk. That means I have to be responsible for everyone. You don’t have to listen to my orders, and you can be unconvinced of my authority. You can leave as long as you defeat me.

 

Furthermore, if you manage to do so, I will report to the superior and relinquish my duties as the person in charge of this bunk.”

The fatso who had just crashed to the ground roared as he leapt to his feet and charged at Huo Yuhao once more.

Huo Yuhao didn’t move at all. He placed his feet at shoulder- width and squatted down a little in a horse stance. Huo Yuhao let the fatso slam against the side of his body.

The fatso was quite heavy, and adding in his forward momentum, the impact was relatively forceful. However, the moment that he slammed against Huo Yuhao, he felt as if he were slamming into a wall, and he bounced out after their collision. He rolled across the floor several times before he could stabilize himself, and knocked himself so dizzy that he looked like he couldn’t get up at all.

Huo Yuhao didn’t even look at him. “Who else wants to try?”

The other recruits stared at him with slightly different expressions after this display. Quite a few soldiers were

 

thinking to themselves, This fellow can wear leather armor… he is quite different from the others!

Huo Yuhao wasn’t hasty at all, and just waited there quietly.

The calm youth that Huo Yuhao had paid attention to before this stepped out and came in front of Huo Yuhao. He said, “I agree with how you’re getting us to work together. However, I want to try you.”

“Come!” Huo Yuhao nodded at him.

This youth growled as he took a quick step forward. His movements were very agile, and when he was right front of Huo Yuhao, he bent down and punched at Huo Yuhao’s abdomen. This soldier moved at lightning speed, and his actions were very smooth.

Huo Yuhao extended his right hand and blocked the fist. The youth pulled back very quickly, but Huo Yuhao was faster. His fingers were like an iron claw that locked the youth’s fist inside his palm. Huo Yuhao shook his right arm a little and threw the youth into the air.

The youth felt as if his entire body was going soft, and all the strength in his body was about to be shaken away by Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao lifted his left leg and pushed lightly on the youth’s waist. He released his right hand, and the youth returned to his original posture, sore and unsteady. He couldn’t use any strength at all, and only barely regained his balance after swaying a little and his lost strength gradually returned to him.

This youth cupped his fists and said, “I’m convinced. My name is Wang Xiaodian, and I will listen to you in the future.”

Huo Yuhao smiled faintly and nodded in his direction. Even though this youth didn’t have any soul power, he was very agile, and his physique could be considered relatively impressive among normal human beings.

After these two episodes, everyone else’s expressions were conspicuously different from before as they stared at Huo Yuhao. Those recruits who were indifferent and a little disdainful before this withdrew their expressions. Even though

 

their appearances subtly revealed that they were still a little unconvinced, nobody expressed their thoughts.

Huo Yuhao suddenly wanted to laugh, because these recruits reminded him of how things had been when he had just entered Shrek Academy. Back then, he and Dong’er were class monitors. Weren’t they the ones leading their classmates to train and cultivate every day?

“If nobody has any more objections, let’s go eat. Form up, and let’s go.” Huo Yuhao finally turned as he spoke, and was the first to leave the room.

The recruits were intimidated by his formidable display, and they actually listened to him as they streamed out of the room one by one. Huo Yuhao briefly arranged them in formation outside the room, and they stood in three rows as they marched neatly towards the army canteen.

The military’s dining area was unsheltered, and the logistical soldiers responsible for food delivered the meals they had prepared to every respective large team. Every large team had a place where they were supposed to eat together.

 

When Huo Yuhao brought First Bunk’s other twenty-nine recruits to the canteen, there were already many soldiers eating there.

Large Team Two seemed to only have these three hundred recruits. The other auxiliary soldiers from before weren’t here, and quite a few soldiers had already finished their meals and were enjoying some fruits and desserts.

The food was quite good. There was steaming meat soup in a giant metal wok that resembled an enormous vat, with vegetables and steamed buns.

The large team leader Zhuang Tian was standing behind the counter. He was personally serving his recruits, and the recruits were very quiet with him around. The other three officers in chainmail armor were standing by his side, helping him.

Huo Yuhao nodded with approval when he saw this. The Star Luo Empire’s military is quite high-quality! Their recruitment process from before was great, and now the large team member is personally serving food for his recruits, and that’s

 

great too. These commanders are showing grace and a firm hand at the same time.

Zhuang Tian and the three medium team leaders were a little surprised when they saw Huo Yuhao leading First Bunk’s recruits in neat rows to get their meals. These recruits hadn’t seemed very disciplined to them, and even though there were some who behaved well, like Huo Yuhao, the batch was generally not too impressive.

Thus, these commanders truly didn’t expect Huo Yuhao to be able to restrain these recruits so quickly.

Huo Yuhao brought his comrades and paused in front of the wok that contained the meat soup. He raised his voice and said, “All thirty recruits from First Bunk are here to eat. Greetings, large team leader.”

Zhuang Tian’s expression was a lot warmer than before. He smiled and said, “Well done. Come, eat.”

Huo Yuhao wasn’t the first to get his meal. He took the lunch plate that Zhuang Tian passed him and turned around and passed it to the recruit behind him. He repeated this action

 

while he continued reminding First Bunk’s recruits to keep in line.

The recruits quickly got their meals in an orderly fashion before Huo Yuhao brought them to a shady place and let everyone sit down to eat. After everything had been settled, he returned to Zhuang Tian and got himself a lunch plate.

“Your name is Tang Dong, right?” Zhuang Tian asked as he served him a bowl of meat soup.

Huo Yuhao nodded and said, “Yes, sir.”

Zhuang Tian smiled faintly and said, “You’ve done well. Keep at it.”

“Yes, sir.” Huo Yuhao carried his food and jogged back to his bunk’s recruits, and they ate together.

Zhuang Tian smiled faintly as he watched Huo Yuhao move. He nodded and said, “Not bad… he has potential. Which one of you is in charge of his bunk?”

The middle-aged man that had arm-wrestled Huo Yuhao before said, “Boss, I am in charge. I am also the one who chose this fellow. He’s quite strong, at least not any weaker than I am. I didn’t expect him to be able to do this. He’s managed to keep his bunk in such order when they’ve only just entered the

army camp. He has some tricks up his sleeve!”

Zhuang Tian nodded and said, “Yes, he’s very impressive. However, we should test him a little more. Send someone to investigate his identity, to ensure that there’s nothing wrong with him.”

“Alright.”

Huo Yuhao smiled faintly as he enjoyed his meal. He had long ago considered that they would check his identity, so he spent a little more money when forging his documents so that he could eliminate all possible loopholes. Huo Yuhao could practically remain undiscovered even if he was investigated on a national level. He had spent a hundred gold soul coins to fabricate his identity, and had confirmed that everything was alright again and again.

 

Lunchtime was over, and Huo Yuhao led First Bunk’s recruits back to their bunk as a group to rest. Two hours for eating and resting wasn’t considered long, and their afternoon assembly time quickly arrived.

Out of the three hundred recruits, not a single one was late. Evidently, the assigning of fighting soldiers and auxiliary soldiers in the morning left a dark shadow on their hearts. First Bunk’s recruits, with Huo Yuhao leading them, were the first to arrive on the military drill ground. Many recruits were discreetly complaining, and they resented Huo Yuhao for that, but their resentment immediately vanished when they arrived at the military drill ground… because the large team leader, Zhuang Tian, and the other three medium team leaders were already there, standing straight on the drill ground. Zhuang Tian smiled when he saw them arrive, and he even nodded in their direction.

Encouragement from superiors was clearly quite compelling for these recruits. Their resentment and complaints at being forced to come early disappeared, and everyone stood up straight. Everyone knew the benefits of showing themselves in front of their superiors.

 

Huo Yuhao jogged up before Zhuang Tian as he raised his voice and said, “Reporting to you, sir! The recruits from the First Bunk of Team Two, of the Third Battalion, of the Seventh Division, of the Sixth Reserve Legion are all present. Please advise!”

Zhuang Tian nodded and said, “Very well. Rejoin your lines and place your feet at shoulder-width. This is standing at ease. When I say ‘attention’, you have to close your legs and stand up straight.”

“Yes, sir.”  Huo Yuhao acknowledged once and swiftly ran back to his position. His thirty recruits were all standing at ease.

After almost ten minutes, the recruits from the other bunks arrived, one after another. However, they were clearly not sorted by bunks, and everyone was scattered. But at least nobody was late.

“Squad, attention!” one of the mid-team leaders shouted.

 

Zhuang Tian surveyed the recruits, who were standing up as straight as they could. He raised his voice and said, “Comrades, we will be brothers-in-arms from now on. Let me introduce these three officers standing beside me.”

He pointed towards the medium team leader who had tested Huo Yuhao’s strength as he spoke and said, “This is Shi Shuo, Medium Team One’s leader.”

He pointed to the other two and said, “Yun Tian, Medium Team Two’s leader. Long Shun, Medium Team Three’s leader.

“Our large team should have a hundred and fifty fighting soldiers, but there are three hundred of you here. Do you know why this is so? This means that after the next three months of basic military training, I have the authority to reduce one hundred and fifty of you to either auxiliary soldiers or send you home. However, I hope that more people can stay behind, and perhaps even the entire lot of you can stay behind, so that we can add one more large team. What happens will all depend on your results after training.

“A soldier’s sacred duty is to follow orders. The first lesson I want to teach you today is how to follow orders. Shi Shuo, Yun

 

Tian, Long Shun.”

“Sir!”  The three medium team leaders stood up straight as they shouted at the same time.

Zhuang Tian said solemnly, “Everyone will stand at attention from now on. Recruits are allowed to faint, but they cannot slack off, and they cannot relax. We will continue until sunset. Whip those who slack off or relax.”

“Yes, sir!”

Zhuang Tian turned to leave after giving his instructions. The three medium team leaders smiled sardonically before they drew horsewhips from their waists and walked towards the recruits.

“I’m sure everyone heard the large team leader’s words. Stand up straight, everyone. Otherwise, the whip will show no mercy.”

 

Aren’t we just standing around? Most recruits didn’t think too much about it. Everyone stood up as straight as they could. Nobody wanted to be whipped!

The three medium team leaders’ eyes were tinged with pity towards those recruits whose backs were especially straight. Veterans all knew that they would rather climb mountains and cross rivers than stand at attention! Standing at attention tested one’s willpower the most, but this was the best training for recruits.

Walking underneath the sun wasn’t much, but after standing for a long time…

------

An hour passed.

These recruits were all youngsters. They were at least eighteen years old, and none were older than twenty-five. Those who dared to enlist had decent physiques, but after one hour of standing, some recruits were starting to sway and waver.

Their bodies couldn’t move, and that meant their blood circulation wouldn’t be smooth. In addition to the fact that they were standing up so straight, their muscles began to hurt after a while, and their breathing became a little forced and hindered. Many of their uniforms were soaked with sweat.

The three medium team leaders didn’t bother much with those soldiers who were swaying and wavering. However, they immediately whipped anyone that wanted to slack off and laze around. They didn’t whip them hard, but every lash still gave those recruits a burning reminder.

Huo Yuhao was just standing there. His eyes were calm, and he wasn’t standing up that straight, but he didn’t relax one bit. He was standing steadily and stably as if he were a statue, while his heart and mind were already immersed in meditation.

With his current cultivation, he didn’t have to sit down and cross his legs to enter meditation. He could enter that special realm in any state.

Huo Yuhao’s mood was lifted a little after he paid his respects to his mother, and he gradually got into character as Tang

 

Dong after coming to this place. Standing at attention was painful and torturous to the other recruits, but this was almost considered the best kind of rest for him.

Huo Yuhao had been hustling too much, and his feelings had been going through roller coasters. He finally had some time to calm himself down. He was satisfied with this, and he even felt as if this was a little luxurious. However, he liked this feeling.

Huo Yuhao couldn’t forget that when he had saved the White Tiger Duke, his bodyguards had resolutely decided to jump down the cliff to their deaths so that they wouldn’t hold him back. That scene had shaken him, and also made him passionate about the military.

A soldier’s sacred duty is to follow orders, and a soldier’s mission is to protect his nation. I have grown up, and I have joined the army to serve my nation. Even though he was just a recruit, Huo Yuhao was full of pride at what he was doing.

------

Two hours went by.

“Kerplunk, kerplunk…”  Two recruits finally couldn’t take the torture of standing at attention anymore, and they fell to the ground. The temperature wasn’t that high at the moment, or they would have gone down a lot quicker.

Army medics instantly appeared and carried away those who had fainted.

More and more soldiers crumpled to the ground over the next hour. Of course, there were those who pretended to faint, but the army medics weren’t fooled at all. They gave each person who pretended to faint ten lashes, and nobody else dared to pretend afterwards.

The three medium team leaders stood together, and whispered to each other from time to time.

“This batch of recruits is of average quality, but there aren’t many troublemakers after all. I remember when we were training a new batch of soldiers the last time. Everyone rioted collectively after standing at attention for too long. That was exciting!” Shi Shuo muttered softly to his companions.

 

Yun Tian chuckled and agreed, “Rioting, that was great! How comfortable is it to beat people up justly and rightfully?”

“You’re so violent,” Long Shun snapped.

------

Three hours went by, and there were only a hundred soldiers left standing. Furthermore, most of them were shaking and swaying, and looked like they could fall to the ground at any moment.

The three medium team leaders’ expressions grew serious and solemn. They paced continuously beside the remaining recruits, and observed their expressions. Those recruits whose faces were too pale were immediately escorted away by army medics to rest.

In terms of overall endurance, Huo Yuhao’s bunk wasn’t that much better than the other bunks. At this point, there were only half a dozen people from his bunk left.

 

Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power was so powerful that his perception was exceptionally strong even if he didn’t deliberately direct his senses. Wang Xiaodian was amongst those who remained, and several other youths that he had observed before also remained. One youth who wore a grave and stern look on his face even emanated soul power undulations!. Even though his soul power undulations weren’t that strong, a soul master enlisting in the army and starting as a normal fighting soldier was quite interesting...

Huo Yuhao’s soul power undulations didn’t leak out at all. With his current physique, he would have no problem standing for three days and three nights. Since he had decided to present himself as “Tang Dong”, he wouldn’t use his abilities as a soul master unless absolutely necessary, but Huo Yuhao had absolutely no trouble standing out and performing better than normal soldiers with his strength, his experience in combat, and his physique.

---

Most of the remaining recruits couldn’t take it after yet another hour passed. Recruits dropped to the ground one after another around them, while Huo Yuhao and the other recruit with a grave look on his face remained.

That recruit was sweating profusely, and when his body felt very uncomfortable, he would quietly circulate soul power and readjust his condition. Using that method, he could also keep himself in this position for a very long time. He glanced at Huo Yuhao from time to time, attempting to sense Huo Yuhao’s soul power undulations, but he couldn’t discover anything at all.

------

Four hours had now gone by. The sun was starting to dip over the western horizon, and it was just one hour away from evening. Most of the recruits who had collapsed to the ground were treated and sorted by the army medics. They were given a little salt water, and most of them recovered after resting. They stared at Huo Yuhao and the stern-looking youth who were still standing, and couldn’t help but admire them. In the army, the strongest individuals were the most respected and admired.

Even some of the the recruits in Huo Yuhao’s bunk who still resented him felt their resentment slowly dampen. He’s so powerful. No wonder he can become a private first class, and he can stand longer than everyone else even though he’s wearing leather armor. Leather armor provided decent protection on the battlefield, but it had some weight. Leather armor was also good at “keeping warm”  when a soldier was standing at attention.

A clattering of horse’s hooves were heard. Furthermore, these horses were coming towards them, and the recruits all turned and looked in the hoofbeats were coming from.

Two horses arrived side by side. Zhuang Tian, their large team leader, sat on one of these horses, while another high- ranking commander in plate armor sat on the other horse. Almost everyone’s eyes widened when they saw this commander. They were incredulous, and some were even a

little mesmerized.

Yes, this high-ranking commander was a lady, and a beautiful one, at that. She had large eyes, and her golden hair draped and fluttered behind her head. She was slim, and her body ratios were good. Her plate armor seemed to have been tailor- made to her frame, fit tight to her, and brought out her figure.

Her skin couldn’t be considered fair, but had a healthy wheat color. She seemed valiant and heroic as she sat on her horse, and was truly enchanting. Everyone could tell from the white cap behind her back that she was a battalion commander. Battalion commanders were considered mid-level ranks in the military, and if she could be promoted to a division commander, she would officially be a high-ranking officer.

At the same time, battalion commanders were considered natural moats for many lower-level officers. Many large team

 

leaders would put in a lot of effort throughout their entire careers, but never get beyond that rank.

The appearance of this beautiful battalion commander who looked only a little older than twenty instantly ignited these recruits’ hormones. Those who were sitting on the ground and resting didn’t need their superiors to order them; they swiftly got to their feet one after another and stood at attention. However, their bearing wasn’t proper, and their appearances still reflected the state they were in before this.

The two horses arrived in front of everyone in the blink of an eye. Zhuang Tian was a little surprised when he saw that two recruits were still standing. Quite some time has gone by. These two recruits have quite some discipline and quality to remain standing after more than four hours while burning under the sun! Zhuang Tian focused, and Huo Yuhao was the first person he noticed, before he glanced at the grave-looking youth behind him.

The beautiful battalion commander and Zhuang Tian stopped at the same time, pulling on their reins.

 

The three medium team leaders swiftly stepped forward and saluted the lady battalion commander. They raised their voices and said, “Greetings, battalion commander!”

The beautiful battalion commander had quite a demeanor. She only nodded in their direction before she waved at Zhuang Tian to signal something.

Zhuang Tian shouted, “Assemble, everyone!”

All the recruits ran over as rapidly as if they had been pumped with adrenaline, and formed up. The beautiful lady’s charm seemed to transcend the large team leader’s majesty and intimidation, and those recruits’ exhausted bodies were replenished by the force of their hormones.

Everyone could see the battalion commander’s beauty more clearly as they came closer. Her nose bridge was sharp and straight, and her rosy lips were wet. Her face was a little skinny, but her large blue eyes were sparkling with energy and spirit. Even though her figure wasn’t exceptionally stunning, the lines on her armor perfectly brought out her mesmerizing female charms.

 

Zhuang Tian was relatively pleased with his recruits’ behavior. He surveyed them as he raised his voice and said, “Let me introduce everyone. This is the battalion commander of the Seventh Division’s Third Battalion within the Sixth Reserve Legion, Xu Yun. If you guys can pass all your tests, you will become a warrior under Battalion Commander Xu’s wing. Raise your weapons and greet Battalion Commander Xu.”

“Greetings, battalion commander…”

“Greetings, Commander Xu…”

They were recruits after all, so even their exclamations were mixed up.

Huo Yuhao had been observing this battalion commander ever since she arrived. Such a beautiful lady appearing in an army camp was probably a little abnormal.

Huo Yuhao wasn’t deliberately controlling his spiritual power, but even then, he could automatically cover almost a hundred meters around him. He discovered that when this battalion commander appeared, the expression of the youth

 

behind him changed conspicuously, and his blood flow increased rapidly, while his emotions became a little excited.

He was also the first person that the battalion commander paid attention to when she arrived. When her eyes swept over him, a faint look of disdain and contempt flowed from her eyes. Even though this look only flickered once before it disappeared, Huo Yuhao still managed to capture her expression clearly.

“Large team leader Zhuang, how is this batch of recruits?” Commander Xu finally spoke, and her voice contained the kind of bravery that only female soldiers could have. Her voice wasn’t very gentle and tender, but it was still melodious.

“They’re alright. Even though these recruits are of average quality overall, there are some who have potential. Soldiers don’t just need talent; as long as soldiers are willing to put in effort, a little lack of talent isn’t considered much. You can still become a good soldier!”  Zhuang Tian was very satisfied with the fact that Huo Yuhao and the stern-looking youth could stand until the very end. They boosted his impression before the battalion commander.

 

“You and you. Step out.” He pointed towards Huo Yuhao and the other guy.

Huo Yuhao grasped his spear with one hand as he took two steps forward. He was still standing very straight.

The stern-looking youth hurriedly followed suit. However, he didn’t continue standing behind Huo Yuhao, and walked up next to him. Even though he was playing it cool, Huo Yuhao could clearly feel that his emotions were very excited, and a little unstable. He was putting in a lot of effort to control himself, and only then could he avoid glancing towards the battalion commander.

“Your performance is impressive. Are you both from the First Bunk?” Zhuang Tian asked.

“Reporting!  Yes,  sir,” the  stern-looking  youth  responded without waiting for Huo Yuhao to speak.

Huo Yuhao’s expression didn’t change, and he answered with one word, “Yes.”

 

Zhuang Tian said, “Alright. From now on, Tang Dong – you will be Small Team One’s leader, and all thirty recruits from your bunk will temporarily become Small Team One. This arrangement has three times as many people as regular small teams, so you’ll have to perform well.”

“Yes, sir!” Huo Yuhao’s answer was still as simple as it could be.

Zhuang Tian turned towards the stern-looking youth and said, “Dai Luoli, you will be Small Team One’s vice-team leader, and you are promoted to Private first Class. You will assist Tang Dong in managing Small Team One.”

Dai Luolin was momentarily stunned, but he was still standing at attention as he answered, “Yes, sir!”

“Back into formation.” Huo Yuhao and Dai Luolin returned to the group. However, Dai Luolin glanced at Huo Yuhao when they were returning, and his eyes were different from all that coldness from before. His eyes now burned with passion, a passion that came from competitiveness.

 

Huo Yuhao was laughing inside. He could judge from the situation that Dai Luolin should know that beautiful battalion commander personally. Was he joining the army as a soul master for this battalion commander? This youth was a soul master, he wouldn’t be resigned to his fate as number two. It

was normal that the youth wanted to take over Huo Yuhao’s

position.

The three medium team leaders subsequently made their reports and arranged a small team leader for the remaining nine bunks.

“You have to remember that you are all just recruits. You have become small team leaders because you performed well before this. However, your position as small team leader isn’t fixed, and you may be replaced at any time. Becoming a small team leader is very simple, and anyone can do it. As long as you perform sufficiently well during training, you will have a chance. Do you guys understand?”  Zhuang Tian admonished everyone at the end.

“Understood, sir!” the recruits answered loudly.

 

Zhuang Tian nodded satisfactorily as he turned towards Xu Yun and asked, “Do you have any instructions, battalion commander?”

Xu Yun said plainly, “No. You guys can go, and we will assemble for training tomorrow.” She turned her horse and waved her whip as she uttered her last words, before riding her horse off into the distance.

Zhuang Tian watched her leave earshot before he raised his voice and said, “Disperse! Dinner will be in one hour!”

Huo Yuhao turned and gestured to the First Bunk’s recruits to form up and return to camp. Dai Luoli was very cooperative about this, and stood next to Huo Yuhao as he led the remaining twenty-eight people back to the First Bunk.

Xu Yun is a little interesting, Huo Yuhao smiled faintly. The battalion commander was also a soul master, and her cultivation rank wasn’t weak. Huo Yuhao could sense that she had at least four soul rings, and she was only about twenty years old. The fact that she had such a cultivation rank was quite impressive for her age. Dai Luoli was a little weaker, but he should be younger than Xu Yun was.

Dai Luoli… this name seems to feel very familiar.

The recruits were beyond exhausted after training for the entire afternoon. They conversed a lot less than they had when they first arrived, and everyone returned to their bunks after dinner. Quite a few people just collapsed onto their beds and quickly dozed off.

Huo Yuhao sat down on his own berth, and began to daydream as he listened to the other recruits’ snoring. For him, it was luxurious to even have time for daydreaming. However, he was contemplating a lot of things even as he was daydreaming...

Chapter 418: Younger Brother?

He was mostly wondering where Wang Dong’er had gone. Dong’er, where exactly have you gone? Even if you’ve forgotten everything, at least let me find you!

“Team  leader.”  At  this  moment,  a  cold  voice  jolted  Huo Yuhao awake from his thoughts.

When he twisted his head, he saw Dai Luoli looking intently at him.

“What? Is there something?” Huo Yuhao asked.

“Can we go out and talk?” Dai Luoli asked.

Huo Yuhao naturally knew what he wanted to do, but didn’t reject his request. He stood up and said, “Alright.” He didn’t bring his spear along either, and walked out of the tent with Dai Luoli empty-handed.

 

When the two of them exited the house, their bunk started to bustle with noise. Many of the new soldiers started to talk among themselves. Huo Yuhao was unmoved, but Dai Luoli’s expression was more obvious.

“Do all of you think that the vice-team leader is trying to challenge the team leader?”

“It’s  possible.  Look  at  the  vice-team  leader,  he  seems confident. Didn’t the large team leader mention earlier that as long as one’s capable, he can become the team leader? It seems like the vice-team leader is also very strong, since he dares to challenge the team leader even after the team leader performed today! Our bunk is indeed filled with hidden talents!”

---

At this moment, the sky outside had already turned completely dark. Dai Luoli walked further away from the bunk, but Huo Yuhao still didn’t ask him why. He just silently followed him.

 

After leaving their camp, the two of them quickly came to the parade ground.

Dai Luoli stopped and turned to look at Huo Yuhao, “Tang Dong, I’ll not beat around the bush. I hope that you’ll give up your position as team leader to me.”

Huo Yuhao peacefully asked, “Why should I?”

Dai Luoli answered, “I have to become the team leader. Don’t ask me why. I just want this title. I can let you continue to run the First Bunk, I’m not good at that. However, I’ll definitely charge in front during our training and the imminent war. I believe that I’ll be able to accumulate some merits, and get promoted. When that happens, you’ll still continue to be the team leader. What do you think?”

“No.” Huo Yuhao’s answer was simple. He naturally understood that Dai Luoli’s goal was probably the same as his. They both wanted to start from the bottom and eventually become a high-ranking officer. It was just that he didn’t have much time to linger around in the lower ranks, either!

 

“Let’s spar. If I win, you give up your position to me, how about that?” Dai Luoli could naturally guess that Huo Yuhao was going to be unwilling. However, he didn’t expect Huo Yuhao to directly reject him without probing further.

“Alright.” Huo Yuhao’s answer was as simple as before. He was going to quickly deal with Dai Luoli before going back to meditate. It was getting late.

Dai Luoli was evidently infuriated by the direct and seemingly contemptuous tone of Huo Yuhao’s voice. He shouted coldly before darting forward towards Huo Yuhao.

He was indeed very quick. As a soul master’s soul power increased, his body would also transform continuously, making him much stronger than an ordinary person. As he reached Huo Yuhao, he punched at Huo Yuhao’s right shoulder.

Huo Yuhao’s body sank slightly, and he went into his horse stance, just like he had in the afternoon. Just as Dai Luoli’s fist was about to hit him, he pulled the left half of his body back slightly and avoided contact. Following this, he struck his right shoulder back towards Dai Luoli’s fist.

 

Dai Luoli only sensed a force slamming into him, and felt as if he had punched a steel plate. He staggered a few steps back before stabilizing himself, and a stunned look flashed across his eyes.

During the afternoon, he could tell that Huo Yuhao’s abilities weren’t weak. However, he hadn’t expected Huo Yuhao’s strength to be above his.

He wasn’t going to let it go at that, however. After he staggered back, he immediately charged forward again. This time, he was much faster.

He didn’t punch this time, but used one hand to grab for Huo Yuhao’s shoulder. This time, the look in his eyes was sharper.

Huo Yuhao lifted his left hand and grabbed onto Dai Luoli’s hand. Dai Luoli’s right hand stopped halfway, and he tried to change its direction. However, Huo Yuhao’s hand moved faster. Dai Luoli felt everything turn blurry in front of him before Huo Yuhao grabbed hold of his wrist.

 

When Huo Yuhao grabbed his right hand, he immediately tightened his grip on Dai Luoli’s wrist. With a pull, he threw Dai Luoli up.

Sensing danger, Dai Luoli subconsciously activated his soul power. However, he only felt that Huo Yuhao’s fingers were like steel fixtures tightening around his wrist and causing the lower half of his body to go numb. He was actually unable to gather his soul power because of this.

There was much more movement this time. Dai Luoli was directly slammed to the ground by Huo Yuhao.

The parade ground was covered in soil. However, he was disoriented, and felt as if his internal organs were tumbling inside his body when he was tossed to the ground. His bones were also on the verge of being crushed. This was, in part, due to his weight and inertia.

Huo Yuhao let go of his wrist and shook his head. After this, he turned around and walked back towards their bunk.

 

Dai Luoli was embarrassed and furious as he shouted, “You, don’t go!” He gathered his soul power and crawled up from the ground.

Huo Yuhao stopped before turning around to look at him. “Let’s go back. We still need to train tomorrow. I believe the training intensity for newly-enlisted soldiers will not be slack.”

“No! I have to defeat you! I’m sorry!”  Dai Luoli suddenly shouted. After this, a layer of white light shone from his body. Suddenly, his body quickly grew larger, and his muscles became extremely thick. White strands of hair also started to emerge from his body, and his uniform almost burst from being too tight.

This was the first time Huo Yuhao was surprised after entering this military camp. This martial soul that Dai Luoli revealed was all too familiar to him.

White Tiger. It was a White Tiger! No, something wasn’t right. The aura of his White Tiger was rather weak. Furthermore, the hair on his body was pure-white, without any black stripes. In addition, this White Tiger didn’t possess the strange pupils of the White Tiger family.

Dai Luoli, Dai Luojiao…

Suddenly, Huo Yuhao recalled why his name sounded so familiar.

He, he’s…

The way Huo Yuhao looked at Dai Luoli immediately changed. It changed from indifference to earnesty.

When he was still living in the Duke’s Mansion, there were a few people who were warm to him, apart from his own mother. There was a woman who was a concubine of the White Tiger Duke. This woman was yet another woman whom the wife of the White Tiger Duke hated.

This woman treated both Huo Yuhao and his mother very well. In the first few years after Huo Yuhao was born, she would give them food and clothing. She had even carried Huo Yuhao before.

 

After the wife of the White Tiger Duke found out about this, they lost contact with each other.

Huo Yuhao was still very young then, which was why he didn’t have a very deep memory of what had happened. However, he vaguely recalled that this concubine also had a child named Dai Luoli. In terms of age, he should be one year younger than Yuhao himself.

This guy in front of him didn’t have a pure White Tiger, and his name was also Dai Luoli. Was he really his younger half- brother from the same father, but a different mother?

In terms of age, Dai Luoli was one year younger than him, if he was really the White Tiger Duke’s son!

As he remembered all this, Huo Yuhao’s eyes turned wet. While he disliked Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin, he only had affection for Dai Luoli. Dai Luoli’s mother had once helped his own mother a lot, otherwise, he would have died. After that, the White Tiger Duke’s wife interfered, and they stopped seeing each other anymore. However, he would never forget the kindness she had shown to him and his mother.

 

Three soul rings rose from beneath Dai Luoli’s feet. Two of them were yellow, while the last one was purple, the best combination that he could achieve. However, his talent seemed worse than his other two brothers, Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin. Huo Yuhao was going to be nineteen years old soon,

which meant that Dai Luoli was close to eighteen years old. He only had three soul rings at the age of eighteen. For an ordinary soul master, he was considered quite strong. However, he was considered weak among the White Tiger Duke’s lineage. At least, he wasn’t able to excel in the Duke’s

Mansion.

“I don’t have to say anything else, do I? Although you are very strong, and I’m curious how you managed to achieve such strength, an ordinary person will always only be an ordinary person. You can’t compare to soul masters like me. Concede defeat and relinquish your position as team leader. I’ll help you in the future, and I won’t snatch your authority away, either. Let’s return and tell the large team leader that we are switching positions. I won’t tell the others about this arrangement, either. What do you think?” Dai Luoli said with a sense of superiority.

Huo Yuhao revealed a smile on his face, and thought to himself, This younger brother of mine isn’t suited to be a

 

soldier. He’s not vicious enough. I can tell that from our sparring earlier and from the childish words he just said.

Of course he could relinquish his position as team leader. However, he had to educate Dai Luoli, since he had discovered that Dai Luoli was his younger brother. Although Huo Yuhao didn’t know why his White Tiger wasn’t pure, he could still help Dai Luoli develop, given his current abilities.

“Come on.” Huo Yuhao gestured towards him.

Dai Luoli couldn’t believe it, “I’m a soul master. You still dare to fight me?”

Huo Yuhao smiled, “Soul masters aren’t invincible. If you defeat me, I’ll let you be the team leader.”

Dai Luoli snorted, “Alright then. Watch out!” As he spoke, he suddenly charged towards Huo Yuhao. After unleashing his martial soul, his speed and strength had greatly increased. He was a three-ringed Soul Elder, and wasn’t even considered in the intermediate-tier of soul masters. However, he was still

 

pretty decent. His White Tiger was mutated, but it was ultimately still the king of beasts!

He unleashed a powerful aura, and his soul power surged. Without using any soul skills, Dai Luoli reached Huo Yuhao in the next instant, and grabbed onto his shoulders with his tiger claws!

Huo Yuhao furrowed his brow. Suddenly, he quickly pulled his right leg up and kicked Dai Luoli’s chest. He was so quick that he even seemed to form shadows along the way.

Dai Luoli’s tiger claws were about to grab Huo Yuhao’s shoulders when he was kicked seven to eight meters away, and collapsed to the ground before he could touch Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao frowned and said, “Are you trying to defeat me with the kind of skills you are showing? Soul masters aren’t everything. It still depends on the person. I’m now your opponent, and I think you are being too soft. Are you a girl?”

“You!”  Dai  Luoli  crawled  up  from  the  ground  and  glared furiously, “How dare you say I’m a girl?”

He charged forward once again, and his first soul ring shone. He used his White Tiger’s Shield, which was the most common first soul skill of a White Tiger. A layer of white light shone from his body and protected him.

 

This time, Huo Yuhao discovered the difference between Dai Luoli’s White Tiger and a conventional White Tiger.

A conventional White Tiger was filled with might and dominance after unleashing its soul skill. However, Dai Luoli’s White Tiger was filled with spirituality after he unleashed his White Tiger’s Shield. His spiritual aura suddenly became very strong and blended with his soul power. It actually felt as if his spiritual and soul power had fused together. This was only a situation that occurred when one used an advanced self- created fighting skill!

Dai Luoli burst towards Huo Yuhao again. Either he was stubborn or confident; he did the same thing he had before, reaching out towards Huo Yuhao’s shoulders.

Huo Yuhao stomped on the ground with his right foot. A low- pitched muffled sound echoed out, and Dai Luoli felt a tremor coming from underneath his feet. He was thrown a few meters into the air. As he rose into the air, his claws naturally didn’t reach their target.

Huo Yuhao took a step forward and pressed his right hand against Dai Luoli’s chest. Dai Luoli’s White Tiger Shield started

 

to shine with white light in a bid to push Huo Yuhao away. However, it was a pity that he couldn’t do so in the face of absolute strength, not to mention that his soul power was nowhere near great enough.

In the next instant, Dai Luoli flew back again. He didn’t collapse on the ground this time, with his White Tiger’s Shield protecting him. Instead, he staggered more than ten steps backward.

This time, Dai Luoli’s expression finally turned serious.

If Huo Yuhao’s fighting abilities were merely outstanding and he had underestimated his opponent earlier, then it wasn’t just a coincidence this time. His opponent wasn’t a soul master but had managed to force him back twice in a row. Huo Yuhao’s terrifying strength couldn’t be underestimated anymore!

“Watch out! I’m going to get serious now!” Dai Luoli shouted. His aura suddenly changed, and his white hair started to look shinier. The spiritual undulations that Huo Yuhao had sensed earlier also became much stronger.

 

Dai Luoli leapt forward again as his figure flashed. However, he suddenly changed directions in the air this time and landed in a spot diagonally three meters to Huo Yuhao’s left. He instantly sprang forward again, and his speed soared. He turned into a projection and immediately reached behind Huo Yuhao. He deftly grabbed Huo Yuhao’s shoulder with one claw while he reached for Huo Yuhao’s waist with his other claw.

Whether it was in terms of speed, strength or technique, he used them very well this time.

Huo Yuhao smiled slightly. At least this guy has some skill...

He didn’t turn around. He waved his hands back at the same time to block Dai Luoli’s claws and grabbed them.

Dai Luoli was stunned, and thought to himself, Are you really an ordinary person without a martial soul who can fight me in terms of strength even after I’ve unleashed my martial soul?

He didn’t pull his claws away. Instead, he exerted his strength and attempted to drag Huo Yuhao down.

Huo Yuhao didn’t move a single inch. Dai Luoli saw Huo Yuhao’s hands turn completely white before a huge force drove into him. Suddenly, he was flung from behind Huo Yuhao, back to his front, and flew in the air for a few seconds.

Dai Luoli didn’t fall like the last two times. As he roared out, his third soul ring shone, and his body grew larger. It was his White Tiger’s Vajra Transformation.

His figure enlarged once again, and the uniform he was in burst open. The hair on his body was now covered with a layer of gold. He extended his claws and reached towards Huo Yuhao’s hands.

Hard!

This was the only feeling that Dai Luoli had. He had already used his White Tiger’s Vajra Transformation, but his opponent’s palms seemed to be even harder than his claws. This was beyond his comprehension.

How is this possible? Are these human hands?

As Dai Luoli was trying to get over his shock, Huo Yuhao pulled his right hand back before pushing it forward hard. Dai Luoli was thrown back once again.

His strength is greater than my White Tiger’s Vajra Transformation. Is he still human?

After Dai Luoli landed on the ground, he didn’t rush to attack Huo Yuhao. He only stared at him intently and tried to size him up.

Huo Yuhao calmly said, “Now you know that a martial soul isn’t everything.”

Dai Luoli snorted and said, “I haven’t given my all yet. Furthermore, only your technique is good. You can’t break through my defense.”

Huo Yuhao laughed, “Do you really think so? Do you really think that I can’t overcome your defense? Watch carefully then.”

 

As he spoke, Huo Yuhao made the first move for the first time in this fight. He charged towards Dai Luoli with long strides. He still didn’t use any soul power, but he was already pretty quick.

Dai Luoli stared at him sternly, and the golden light from his body became stronger and stronger.

Seeing that Huo Yuhao was about to reach him, Dai Luoli wanted to exert his strength. However, Huo Yuhao suddenly disappeared in front of him.

Dai Luoli felt a large hand strangling his neck. Before he could even struggle, a strong tingling and numbing feeling spread throughout his body. His soul power couldn’t circulate anymore, and the hair on his body quickly faded away. He returned to his original appearance within a breath. Of course, there were still some broken pieces of cloth on his body right now, which helped to cover vital parts of his body.

Huo Yuhao swung his hand and threw Dai Luoli off to one side. He shook his head gently as he looked at him before he walked back towards their bunk.

 

“Wait here for me. I’ll go get some clothes for you.”

Dai Luoli was stunned as he watched Huo Yuhao slowly leave. He seemed to lose focus in his eyes, and an indescribable sense of frustration caused him to turn pale.

Huo Yuhao’s judgment was right. He was indeed the youngest son of the White Tiger Duke Dai Hao. This meant that he was Huo Yuhao’s younger half-brother. When he was young, his martial soul had mutated. Although his White Tiger was awakened, it was different from Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin’s White Tiger. Dai Luoli’s mother was greatly suppressed in the Duke’s Mansion; even though her status was slightly higher than that of Huo Yuhao’s mother, she wasn’t in a much better condition.

Dai Luoli had always wanted to become a powerful soul master. He wasn’t any less hardworking than Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin. However, it was much more difficult to cultivate with his mutated martial soul than expected. He wasn’t able to enter Shrek Academy because he didn’t reach Rank 20 by the time he was twelve years old. He was the White Tiger Duke’s son. Given Dai Hao’s character, how would he let him get in through back channels?

 

Under such circumstances, he could only work hard at his cultivation. However, he was already going to turn eighteen, and yet his soul power was only at Rank 32.

He was already considered quite good among ordinary soul masters and was able to become a Soul Elder before he was twenty years old, which meant that not all hope was lost.

It was a pity that he wasn’t any ordinary soul master. He was the White Tiger Duke’s son! His cultivation wasn’t much to be raved about. Dai Hao was also very busy with military matters and didn’t have time to guide him.

In order to seek a breakthrough and become as strong as his father, Dai Luoli silently left his home and joined the military. Of course, there was an even more important reason why he was here.

Dai Luoli only felt as if all of his hopes had been extinguished as he sat there in a daze on the ground. He initially thought that he should still have an edge over others in the military, even if he couldn’t compare to his brothers. Today, he managed to become a Private First Class, which gave testament to this belief of his.

However, he was dealt a huge blow after his fight against Huo Yuhao. He couldn’t even defeat an ordinary person, although he used a thousand-year soul skill. What other hope did he still have? Let alone becoming a hero like his father, he wasn’t even qualified to be a small team leader!

Just as he was imagining things, Huo Yuhao returned with a military uniform.

“Change into this.” He passed the uniform to Dai Luoli.

Dai Luoli just sat where he was without reacting.

Huo Yuhao smiled and sat down beside him.

“Are you unconvinced, or is it too huge a blow for you after losing to me?” Huo Yuhao asked.

Dai Luoli remained silent.

 

Huo Yuhao said, “If you are unconvinced, I welcome you to challenge me anytime. I’ll let you be the small team leader if you can beat me, anytime you want. If this is a huge blow for you, I only have one question to ask you… how old are you? What do men rely on in this world? Men don’t rely on

cowardice, but resilience.

“If you can’t be resilient, how can you be qualified to be a soldier? If you can’t beat me, aren’t you going to work hard to catch up? You’ll only be regarded as a piece of trash if you simply give up on yourself like this; you’ll be eliminated by this world. If that’s the case, it’d be better for you to return home, buy a plot of land, and start tilling. You can still live a stable life.”

Dai Luoli twisted his head and glared at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao’s expression looked very leisurely right now. He didn’t have any feelings towards the rage that Dai Luoli currently felt towards him.

“I’ll defeat you one day!” Dai Luoli clenched his fist.

 

Huo Yuhao chortled. “If you can defeat me one day, you’ll definitely become a successful person.”

Dai Luoli was scornful, “So what if I defeat you? I must become a Titled Douluo! You aren’t even a soul master! How can you be my target?”

Huo Yuhao said, “Don’t be too ambitious. Defeat me first.” As he spoke, he passed the uniform that he was holding over again.

Dai Luoli took the uniform this time and quickly got dressed.

After that, he leapt up.

“I was distracted today. I’ll challenge you again tomorrow.” After he finished speaking, he started walking back towards their camp.

Huo Yuhao said to his back, “It’s fine if you want to challenge me. However, you’d better prepare some clothes for tomorrow. Everyone only has two uniforms.”

Dai Luoli’s went rigid for a moment, before he quickened his pace back.

---

 

When Huo Yuhao returned to their bunk, most of the soldiers were already sleeping because they were tired. However, there were those who were still awake, too. Wang Xiaodian was one of them.

When Huo Yuhao returned, Wang Xiaodian silently crept up to him and whispered, “Boss, what happened? Did the vice- team leader challenge you?”

Huo Yuhao nodded.

Wang Xiaodian chuckled and said, “I can tell that you won.”

Huo Yuhao laughed as he asked, “How so?”

Wang Xiaodian replied, “The vice-team leader wore a gloomy look on his face when he returned. After that, he covered himself with his blanket and just sat on his bed. I don’t know what he’s doing.”

Huo Yuhao replied, “Alright. You should go and sleep. Tomorrow’s training isn’t going to be easy. You still have time

 

to be involved in gossip?”

“Yes, I’ll go and sleep immediately. Boss, I’ll follow you in the future.” Wang Xiaodian quickly snuck back to his bed to sleep.

Huo Yuhao also lay down on his bed, but he didn’t enter deep meditation immediately. Rather, he was thinking how he could help Dai Luoli improve his abilities.

------

The night went on silently. The next morning, the sound of a horn rang out to gather everyone as the first hint of dawn tinged the sky.

Huo Yuhao was the first to jump out of bed, and he woke up all the new recruits from the First Bunk. All the recruits were whining as they got up, but quickly donned their uniforms before running out.

Dai Luoli followed along. He had covered himself in his blanket the night before, and was in deep meditation. In the

 

morning, he seemed pretty energetic, apart from the fact that he looked a little pale. He didn’t even glance at Huo Yuhao, and directly left their bunk.

The initial training for recruits was simple and boring. It was either running or drills. In the afternoon, there was someone from the Military Law Department who came to talk to them about military law. The recruits were exhausted after an entire day of this. After dinner, even the energetic Wang Xiaodian immediately fell asleep.

Huo Yuhao and Dai Luoli were the exceptions.

---

After dinner, Huo Yuhao gestured towards Dai Luoli when the sky had turned completely dark, and before Dai Luoli could issue a challenge. He smiled and said, “Let’s go! I’ll give you another chance today.”

“Let’s  go!”   Dai  Luoli  immediately  sprang  up.  As  a  soul master, the recruit training wasn’t too tiring for him.

 

The two of them left the camp and went to the parade ground once again. To prevent detection, Huo Yuhao dragged Dai Luoli to a corner of the parade ground.

“Come on.” Huo Yuhao gestured towards Dai Luoli.

Dai Luoli had pondered yesterday’s bitter experience as he carried on with his training during the day. He thought about it for the entire day. He believed that he had lost to Huo Yuhao because he had been careless. He wasn’t going to repeat the same mistake twice.

This was why he was especially cautious today. In his opinion, he wouldn’t lose to Huo Yuhao if he was more careful.

However, was this really the case?

Huo Yuhao didn’t have any intention of initiating an attack, and thus Dai Luoli had to be the proactive one. After observing carefully, he felt that Huo Yuhao had many flaws. His second soul ring shone, and a streak of white light shot out from his mouth towards Huo Yuhao.

 

It was his White Tiger’s Fierce Light Wave.

When his White Tiger’s Fierce Light Wave was shot out, it took the shape of a halo and spread out. In terms of offensive strength, his Fierce Light Wave was naturally weaker than Dai Yueheng or Dai Huabin’s Fierce Light Wave. However, his Fierce Light Wave covered a larger area, and it even carried a spiritual-type attack with it.

It was a pity that no one at the same level could compare to Huo Yuhao in terms of spiritual power, which meant that Dai Luoli was naturally inferior to Huo Yuhao in this aspect, too.

Huo Yuhao’s figure flashed, and he instantly turned illusory in Dai Luoli’s eyes. Dai Luoli was astonished. He had clearly locked onto his opponent before unleashing his soul skill, but he still missed. Huo Yuhao promptly reappeared in front of him.

As Yuhao squatted down, Dai Luoli’s tiger claws extended out, and he clawed towards Huo Yuhao’s chest.

 

Huo Yuhao stopped charging forward and lifted his right foot. Instantly, he kicked both of Dai Luoli’s wrists. As Dai Luoli’s hands went numb, Huo Yuhao kicked out again, and Dai Luoli was knocked into the air before he crashed to the ground five meters away.

Dai Luoli was able to take beatings after unleashing his White Tiger, and he had been thinking about how he could deal with Huo Yuhao for an entire day. As for Huo Yuhao, he was thinking of the fastest way to make his younger brother stronger. After pondering for some time, he thought that the best method was to copy the bluish-gold figure that he had faced in the Yin-Yang Love Querying Valley.

Thrash him! He was going to give Dai Luoli a good thrashing!

It was only after a good thrashing that Dai Luoli would remember this lesson for life. If he remembered this lesson for life, his abilities would naturally improve.

As a result, Huo Yuhao’s plan was to conduct individual training with Dai Luoli every night during this recruit training period.

 

Dai Luoli’s tragedy started the moment Huo Yuhao recognized him. At the very start, he didn’t believe that he couldn’t defeat an ordinary person as a soul master. However, as time passed, Huo Yuhao was always able to defeat him using his strength and speed no matter what methods he used. Huo Yuhao knew his limits, though. He hit Dai Luoli without causing him any real injuries.

A recruit’s life was plain and exhausting, or at least this was the case for most recruits. Most of the recruits were fatigued because of the high-intensity training they were being subjected to. However, Dai Luoli’s life was very exciting, if being hit and battered all the time could be considered exciting.

Huo Yuhao stood out during his recruit training. He was the best in almost every training component. The recruits in the First Bunk were slowly won over by him because of his abilityand the occasional help of his spiritual power. Huo Yuhao would also teach the new recruits some of the simpler techniques from the Tang Sect, and guide them in their training. His reputation in the First Bunk slowly rose. Under his leadership, the First Bunk, or rather the First Small Team, performed the best among all the small teams.

 

------

“Let’s  go.”  Night  fell,  and  it  was  time  again.  Huo  Yuhao walked to Dai Luoli’s side and patted his shoulder.

Every night, the two of them would go out. Huo Yuhao had come up with an excuse, which was that they were reporting to the large team leader.

Dai Luoli shuddered slightly and lifted his head to look at Huo Yuhao. There was a complex look in his eyes.

One month had already passed out of the three months of their recruit training. He had also been beaten up by Huo Yuhao for a month. It was pathetic! The only comfort he had was that Huo Yuhao was still kind enough to not hit his face, meaning he was still presentable in front of others. However, it wasn’t a good feeling being thrashed for a month.

Every time Dai Luoli saw the genial smile on Huo Yuhao’s face, he couldn’t help but shudder. It was like a recurring nightmare at this time every night.

 

“I’m not going!” Dai Luoli smacked Huo Yuhao’s hand away.

Huo Yuhao sat down beside his bed and smiled, “Why? Are you throwing a tantrum?”

Dai Luoli glared at him, but didn’t say anything.

Huo Yuhao sighed faintly. “It’s fine if you don’t want to go. I’m going to find the large team leader and tell him you’re a soul master.” He spoke very softly so that only Dai Luoli could hear him clearly.

“You!” Dai Luoli glared furiously at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao smiled, “I have a sandbag to punch every night. It’s become a pleasant habit for me. You’ll defeat me if you’re capable. Why is a big man like you acting as if you’re a coward?”

Yet again! Dai Luoli shut his eyes in pain. It wasn’t his first time rejecting Huo Yuhao. However, Huo Yuhao would threaten him with his vulnerability every time. Even though

 

he knew that he shouldn’t be duped, his identity as a soul master was a double-edged sword. If he couldn’t defeat an ‘ordinary person’ like Huo Yuhao, how would he have the face to tell anyone he was a soul master?

“Let’s  go!”  Dai  Luoli  suddenly  stood  up,  infuriated  as  he walked out of their bunkhouse.

Huo Yuhao smiled as he followed him. He even took the initiative to grab Dai Luoli’s shoulder and drag him towards the parade ground.

After a few steps, Huo Yuhao lifted his head slightly and revealed a smile on his face. Indeed, they knew each other. Using his spiritual power, he watched where they were walking.

------

Huo Yuhao brought Dai Luoli to the same old place – a remote corner of the parade ground.

 

Dai Luoli struggled and pushed Huo Yuhao’s hand away. Before even saying anything, he kicked towards Huo Yuhao’s head. He hated Huo Yuhao. Not only did Huo Yuhao beat him up every day, but he would even use words to agitate him!

Huo Yuhao waved his right hand and blocked Dai Luoli’s leg. His right leg kicked out extremely quickly and subtly, managing to hit the ankle of Dai Luoli’s supporting leg.

Dai Luoli lost his balance and fell backward. However, he unleashed his White Tiger as he fell back, supporting himself with his right hand before propping himself back up. After this, he shot out his White Tiger’s Fierce Light Wave at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao could already guess what he was trying to do. Just as Dai Luoli unleashed his Fierce Light Wave, Huo Yuhao disappeared and somehow arrived at Dai Luoli’s side. He cut down with his right leg, aiming at Dai Luoli’s chest.

Dai Luoli roared, and his third soul ring was unleashed before he even finished using his Fierce Light Wave. His body expanded greatly, and his claws crossed each other as they slashed towards Huo Yuhao’s right leg. His claws were

 

extremely sharp, and it was plain that he wanted to tear Huo Yuhao’s right leg to pieces.

“Ah…..” a soft exclamation sounded from afar.

Chapter 419: Beating Up the Blood Tiger

Dai Luoli was shocked. He swept his tiger claws in front of him, but didn’t manage to hit anything. Following this, he felt a pain in his belly, and crashed to the ground.

After this, a strong force transmitted from below his waist, and he was lifted up. He was being lifted by Huo Yuhao’s left leg, and Huo Yuhao gave him a kick to his belly with his right leg, sending Dai Luoli flying away.

Dai Luoli wasn’t concerned about the pain he had suffered.

Instead, he shouted, “Who’s there?”

The person who had exclaimed didn’t run away, but emerged from the darkness. She was in disbelief as she looked at Huo Yuhao and Dai Luoli, who was crawling up from the ground. It was the beautiful battalion commander, Xu Yun.

Dai Luoli’s expression immediately changed greatly when he saw Xu Yun. He blushed, and became extremely embarrassed. He couldn’t wait to find a hole to hide in. Huo Yuhao walked

 

towards Xu Yun in a well-behaved manner and greeted her, “Battalion commander.”

Xu Yun quickly came in front of the two of them. She took a look at Dai Luoli before turning to Huo Yuhao. She was shocked as she asked, “You, you are unable to beat an ordinary soldier? Dai Luoli, you are regressing.”

Dai Luoli turned his head to one side. It was the truth that he couldn’t beat Huo Yuhao. However, the utter embarrassment he was subjected to after the goddess in his heart learned about this truth caused him to feel extremely tormented in his heart.

Huo Yuhao smiled and said, “Battalion commander, you can’t put it this way either. We were only sparring. Furthermore, martial souls aren’t everything. That doesn’t mean that a person without a martial soul can’t be strong!”

Xu Yun twisted her lips, “This means that you think you are one of those who are strong even without a martial soul? Bullshit. Without a martial soul, how can you be strong? Dai Luoli is just weak.”

 

Huo Yuhao gently shook his head and said, “He isn’t strong, but he isn’t the first person with a martial soul to lose to me. He won’t be the last either. I don’t think you can beat me either.”

Xu Yun hadn’t expected Huo Yuhao to talk to her in such a manner even though he was only a mere small team leader, and after he knew her identity. Her expression changed immediately. She was about to burst out in anger, but suddenly thought of something, and said, “Alright. I’d like to try then. I’d like to see how you can defeat me without a martial soul. Dai Luoli, watch carefully. Don’t throw the face of soul masters in the future.”

Before Xu Yun finished speaking, Huo Yuhao lifted his right leg and kicked her belly. Xu Yun’s forte wasn’t her strength. While her cultivation was greater than Dai Luoli’s, she wasn’t as strong as he was. She was immediately kicked more than ten meters back, and bent her waist in excruciating pain. She squirmed in place and retched repeatedly.

“What are you doing?” Although Dai Luoli was embarrassed, he kept on stealing glances at Xu Yun. Seeing that Xu Yun had been kicked by Huo Yuhao, he was immediately frantic. He

 

couldn’t be bothered with anything else, and quickly rushed to her side to help her up.

Huo  Yuhao  looked  innocent  as  he  said,  “The  battalion commander asked me to try! Should I not have attacked?”

Huo Yuhao had kicked Xu Yun quite hard. She wasn’t wearing any armor right now, and only felt cramping pain coming from her belly. Her face was pale as she struggled to stand up.

She had always been pampered since she was young. Since when had she been beaten to such a state? She was completely furious because of her pride and the pain she had suffered.

“Go to hell!”  Xu Yun pushed Dai Luoli away, and her body started to shine brightly. Following this, her forehead also lit up, and a dazzling crown surfaced on her head. Beneath her feet, two yellow and two purple soul rings quickly rose.

Her cultivation was indeed greater than Dai Luoli’s. She was a four-ringed Soul Ancestor. Considering the fact that she

 

looked younger than Dai Luoli, it was already pretty impressive that she possessed such a cultivation.

Huo Yuhao was slightly stunned when he saw her cultivation. He had seen such a martial soul before, and it indeed had some form of significance.

It was a Starcrown, the strongest martial soul in the imperial family of the Star Luo Empire. Only those who had the direct bloodline of the imperial family could possess such a martial soul. Her surname is Xu, which means that she’s a member of the imperial family? No wonder Dai Luoli is so obsessed with her. She’s actually a princess. Perhaps this Xu Yun is Xu Jiujiu’s younger sister?

However, her identity as a princess was unable to affect Huo Yuhao’s current plan.

Xu Yun unleashed her martial soul, and the pain she suffered in her belly lessened significantly as she adjusted her soul power. However, her face was still pale, and she pointed her finger at Huo Yuhao. Her second soul ring instantly shone, and her Starcrown slowly rose. Streaks of starlight shot towards Huo Yuhao.

This was her second soul skill, Starlight Shine.

Xu Yun didn’t believe that an ordinary person could resist a soul master. This fellow actually dared to kick me when I wasn’t paying attention. He can’t be spared!

However, she revealed the same look of astonishment as Dai Luoli when he first fought Huo Yuhao!

She was shocked to discover that her Starlight Shine failed to take effect on Huo Yuhao, even though it was supposed to be able to lock onto her opponent. It failed to lock onto Huo Yuhao and Huo Yuhao avoided her streaks of starlight as he quickly shifted his body. At the same time, he was also rapidly inching closer to her.

Huo Yuhao was a little stunned when he saw Xu Yun’s soul skill. This Starcrown is indeed the strongest martial soul of the imperial family of the Star Luo Empire. The cultivation path that Xu Yun has chosen is different from Xu Jiujiu. Xu Jiujiu is a control-type soul master, while Xu Yun seems to focus on long-range attacks. In terms of talent, she’s slightly weaker

 

than Xu Jiujiu. However, it’ll be difficult to tell who’s better once she cultivates to her higher standard.

While he thought of this, Huo Yuhao didn’t have any intention of going easy on her. As he charged forward, his spiritual power also engulfed Xu Yun.

It was very relaxing for him to deal with Dai Luoli even without unleashing his martial soul and using his soul skills. However, Xu Yun was adept at long-range attacks, and her Starcrown was stronger then his mutated White Tiger. In addition, she also had four rings. It was thus much more difficult to deal with her.

Seeing that her Starlight Shine was ineffective, Xu Yun pointed her right hand towards the sky. Her Starcrown immediately gathered a ball of light with a diameter of over almost half a meter. It was as if a star had descended upon the mortal world.

“Yun’er, you can’t harm him!”  Dai Luoli weakly reminded her. However, Xu Yun was infuriated, and diddn’t heed his advice. She pointed her right hand at Huo Yuhao, and her third soul skill, Starburst, flew towards Huo Yuhao.

It was a pure offensive soul skill, and it was extremely powerful. Once it blew apart, the explosive force generated could even compare to a ten thousand year soul skill. Its destructive strength was also rather great.

Even against her Starburst, Huo Yuhao was still fearless. He had his Spiritual Detection to support him. No matter what soul skill Xu Yun used, she wouldn’t be able to escape his detection.

Seeing the ball of starlight flying towards him, Huo Yuhao’s eyes flashed mysteriously, and Xu Yun suddenly felt giddy. At this instant, Huo Yuhao pointed his right hand at the ball of starlight, and it immediately flew forward even faster. Following this, he made a slashing gesture. An invisible force severed the connection between Xu Yun and the ball of starlight just like that.

Huo Yuhao didn’t let the ball of starlight touch him either. He deftly moved it through the air with his hands, guiding it to go around his body.

 

Xu Yun was shocked when she saw this scene. She had no idea how a person without a martial soul, or rather one who didn’t unleash his martial soul, was able to resist her Starburst in such a manner. How was this possible?

In the next moment, her ball of starlight suddenly enlarged. Instantly, he returned her Starburst. He was returning to her what she had tried to inflict on him. It was tit for tat!

Xu Yun didn’t have much fighting experience. Huo Yuhao’s guess was right. She was the youngest princess of the Star Luo Empire, and was doted on by her brothers and sisters since she was young. She didn’t have any significant fighting experience! She came to be a soldier at her own request, as she wanted to contribute to her empire. Xu Jiujiu had no choice but to deploy her younger sister to the reserves. In her opinion, as long as Xu Yun didn’t have to go onto a battlefield, she would return after she got tired of military life.

However, who knew that Xu Yun would love being in the military, and had spent several months in the military already. She had no intention of returning. The reserves were extremely safe, and thus Xu Jiujiu wasn’t worried about her younger sister’s safety, and left her to her own devices.

 

Right now, Xu Yun was stunned in place after witnessing the miracle Huo Yuhao performed. The Starburst she had unleashed earlier was now in front of her.

“Yun’er, be careful!” Dai Luoli was alarmed when he saw this, and quickly unleashed his White Tiger’s Vajra Transformation. After this, he leaped and blocked for Xu Yun.

Huo Yuhao silently shook his head. Silly kid. He should have pinned her to the ground. Since he was going to sacrifice himself to save her, he should have taken the opportunity to get closer to her.

After spending some time with Dai Luoli, he still quite liked him. Although he was a little stubborn, he was a kind person.

Just as Xu Yun’s Starburst was about to hit him, it was suddenly lifted into the air and exploded, releasing a golden halo.

Xu Yun reacted only at this point. When she saw Dai Luoli using his arms to block her, she seemed slightly moved. This fool...

At this point, she suddenly saw Huo Yuhao turning around before fleeing. In the blink of an eye, he had already run several dozen meters away. His voice also sounded from afar, “Aren’t you going to run considering the huge commotion that we’ve just caused? Aren’t you afraid of being dealt with by those from the Military Law Department?”

Dai Luoli also reacted. He turned around and looked at Xu Yun with a complex look before chasing after Huo Yuhao.

Xu Yun was the only one standing in place as she remained in a daze. What had happened tonight was a huge blow to her. If not for Dai Luoli earlier, would her own Starburst have struck her? She was most familiar with the power of her attacks. The strength of her Starburst was great enough to leave her critically hurt. Who was that person just now? Why was he able to detonate my Starburst?

After returning to his bunk, Huo Yuhao silently crept up to his bed and under his blanket. His face wasn’t red, and he wasn’t out of breath.

Dai Luoli returned a bit later. However, he didn’t return to his berth, but came to Huo Yuhao’s bed instead.

“Thank you.” Looking at Huo Yuhao, Dai Luoli struggled to say these two words.

Huo Yuhao glanced at him, “What are you thanking me for?

For beating you up?”

Dai Luoli was embarrassed as he whispered, “You know I’m not talking about that.”

Huo Yuhao chortled, “Quickly, return and meditate so that you can defeat me faster and rid yourself of me.”

“Okay.” Surprisingly, Dai Luoli didn’t retort. Perhaps he had forgotten about it, but he just returned to his berth, where he sat cross-legged on his bed.

 

Huo Yuhao slid into his blanket and made himself comfortable before he entered deep meditation.

He wasn’t afraid of Xu Yun reporting him. By reporting him, she would expose Dai Luoli, too. Moreover, he hadn’t exposed his cultivation as a soul master. Even if she was a battalion commander, she had to be reasonable, too.

Dai Luoli sat in a daze on his bed, unable to focus for half the night. As he recalled what had happened, he suddenly realized that what had happened earlier was the best outcome.

He was thrashed by Tang Dong, and lost face in front of Xu Yun. However, Xu Yun also lost to Tang Dong with her four- ringed cultivation. This meant that he wasn’t that weak. This was the first time he felt that Tang Dong wasn’t so irksome,especially after Tang Dong controlled Xu Yun’s Starburst from striking him. Otherwise, he and Xu Yun would have been hurt even though he unleashed his White Tiger’s Vajra Transformation, and even though Xu Yun had a four- ringed cultivation.

Yun’er, am I getting further and further away from you?

 

-------

The night went on silently, and training began as usual the next day. Indeed, Xu Yun didn’t report Huo Yuhao. Everything carried on as normal. All the new recruits were extremely tired as they trained for the entire day. The intensity of this three- month training kept on increasing.

Seeing that the sky had already turned dark, Dai Luoli proactively came over to tell Huo Yuhao, “Let’s go.”

“Oh? What’s with you today? Why are you anxious?”

Dai Luoli’s face turned red, and he softly asked, “Are you coming or not?”

Huo  Yuhao  smiled  as  he  said,  “It’s  a  good  thing  when someone wants to be beaten up. Let’s go.” As he spoke, he stood up and walked out with Dai Luoli.

After leaving their bunk, Dai Luoli looked around, but didn’t discover anything. He was immediately disappointed.

Huo Yuhao wore a crafty look on his face as he softly asked, “Did you know the battalion commander before yesterday?”

“Yes,”  Dai  Luoli  laughed  bitterly.  “Our  families  are  close. Only, she’s a legitimate child, while I’m a bastard child. There’s a great difference in our statuses. I’ve liked her for as long as I can remember. However, I’ve no great talent. No matter how hard I try, my cultivation can’t catch up to hers.”

Huo Yuhao laughed, “You’re rather honest.”

Dai Luoli was embarrassed, and glared back at him. He said, “I knew you would laugh at me. I know that it’s impossible for us to get together. In terms of abilities and status…”

“Are you this useless?” Huo Yuhao said disdainfully.

Dai Luoli suddenly clenched his fist. “What can I do if I come from an inferior background?”

 

Huo Yuhao glanced at him coldly, “If you have such an attitude, you’ll never have any hope in your entire life. Go back, useless trash. I can’t be bothered to beat you up anymore.”   After  he  finished  speaking,  he  quickly  turned around and walked back towards his bunk.

“You!”  Dai Luoli quickly stepped forward and stopped Huo Yuhao. He shouted, “I’m not useless!”

“Aren’t you considered useless if you give up on yourself?” Huo Yuhao said scornfully. “A true hero’s background doesn’t matter. So what if you’re a bastard son? Let me ask you a question. If you become a Titled Douluo, or even a Transcendent Douluo, who would care if you’re a bastard? Everything’s not going well for you because of one issue: you’re not working hard enough!”

Dai Luoli was stunned. Yes! If he were a Titled Douluo, or even a Transcendent Douluo, who would still look down on him? Who would care that he was a bastard? However, could he really become a Titled Douluo?

“Have you thought it through?” Huo Yuhao asked calmly.

 

Dai Luoli suddenly looked very determined, “I’ll do my best to defeat you first!”

Huo Yuhao nodded and said, “Good. As long as you can defeat me, I’ll take back what I said about you being useless trash. Otherwise, you’re still a piece of useless trash! Let’s go!”

After he finished speaking, he turned around and walked towards the military drill grounds. It wasn’t an easy thing to teach his own younger brother! However, Huo Yuhao felt quite delighted for some unknown reason. Ever since he had joined the army after Wang Dong’er and Wang Qiu’er met with mishaps, he had felt much better.

---

Very soon, the two of them reached the military drill grounds. Dai Luoli was surprised, because Xu Yun was actually waiting there. There was a dominating look in her eyes, and she looked very cold.

“Yun’er.”  Dai Luoli called out in joy when he saw her, and quickly ran over to her.

Xu Yun glared at him and said, “How many times must I tell you not to call me Yun’er? Only my elder siblings can call me that!”

Dai Luoli paused for a moment before helplessly saying, “Alright, Xu Yun.”

Xu Yun recalled how he had blocked her attack without any hesitation yesterday, and the look in her eyes turned gentler. She said, “Do the two of you come here to train every day? What’s with him? He’s not a soul master. How is he so strong?”

Dai Luoli laughed bitterly. “If I knew, I wouldn’t be beaten up by him every day.”

Xu Yun snapped, “Useless. Let me go again. I was too careless yesterday. I’ll take care of him today.” As she spoke, she walked in front of Dai Luoli towards Huo Yuhao.

Dai Luoli touched his nose and remembered how he had used this same excuse after he lost to Huo Yuhao the first time. However, he had already lost for a month straight now.

As she spoke, Xu Yun walked towards Huo Yuhao. While she sounded like she didn’t care about this, it was evident from the look in her eyes that she regarded this fight very highly. After losing to Huo Yuhao yesterday and almost suffering serious injuries, she felt that she had been greatly humiliated. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come to find him today.

Huo Yuhao revealed a cold look on his face. He crossed his arms and mocked, “I hope you won’t need a human shield to protect yourself today.”

“You!” Xu Yun was furious. She wanted to say something, but Huo Yuhao suddenly moved. He suddenly stepped on the ground with his left foot before he charged towards Xu Yun like an arrow. He was extremely quick.

Xu Yun was a little stunned. She had suffered yesterday because she was taken by surprise, and her belly was still aching slightly. When she saw Huo Yuhao suddenly moving, she immediately retreated quickly. At the same time, she unleashed her Starcrown.

 

Streaks of starlight shot out from her Starcrown towards Huo Yuhao. However, she felt dejected, because Huo Yuhao seemed to be naturally immune to her starlight. No matter how concentrated her attacks were, he was still able to avoid them. It was as if he could predict where her starlight would hit before she even shot it out. The gap between them was quickly shrinking.

What did soul masters who were adept at long-range attacks fear? Their opponent getting closer to them!

Furthermore, Xu Yun had challenged Huo Yuhao today after pondering over it for an entire day. She was very clear about Dai Luoli’s abilities. It was definitely not a coincidence that Dai Luoli lost so heavily to Huo Yuhao. Although she discovered it by accident, it was obvious that Dai Luoli wasn’t beaten up by Huo Yuhao just once or twice. While Dai Luoli’s White Tiger wasn’t pure, his abilities weren’t weak. He was a close-combat assault-type soul master! Although she had four rings and Dai Luoli had three, she knew that she couldn’t compare to Dai Luoli’s physical strength if both of them unleashed their martial souls.

As a result, she would definitely be unable to handle Huo Yuhao at close range if even Dai Luoli couldn’t do so. She had

 

made up her mind to not let Huo Yuhao get close to her no matter what. Otherwise, she would definitely lose!

Under such circumstances, she immediately made a decision. Her third soul ring shone brightly, and she unleashed her Starburst once again.

After Huo Yuhao used his Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to control her Starburst yesterday, she didn’t fling it directly towards him today. Rather, she flung it towards the ground not far in front of him. At the same time, her body shone brightly with golden light. Her three soul rings flashed slightly, and it was difficult to tell which soul skill she was using.

Her Starburst immediately exploded violently on the ground. The tremendous boom and the following shockwave immediately engulfed the path that Huo Yuhao had to cross to reach her.

Xu Yun only wanted to do one simple thing: widen the gap between her and Huo Yuhao before slowly dealing with him!

 

Given Huo Yuhao’s abilities, he could guess what Xu Yun wanted to do the moment she threw her Starburst out. He stopped and leapt to one side when her Starburst exploded. He rolled on the ground and dodged the core of the explosion. After he rolled, he leapt towards Xu Yun once again,

minimizing the influence of the explosion.

Seeing that her Starburst had exploded, Xu Yun was about to heave a sigh of relief. However, she suddenly saw Huo Yuhao charging towards her from the side. She was shocked once again. This guy’s reactions are too quick!

Her fourth soul ring instantly shone. She couldn’t be bothered with concealing her abilities anymore. She drew streaks of starlight in front of her with her hands and they formed a strange image. This image was obviously a Starcrown. This Starcrown started to move towards Huo Yuhao.

It was her fourth soul skill, Soulcrush Starcrown. This was a single-target offensive and control-type skill. It was also the strongest soul skill that Xu Yun could unleash right now.

 

Once engulfed by this Soulcrush Starcrown, one would suffer from agonizing cuts unleashed by the streaks of starlight that made up this Starcrown. Even if one could resist these cuts, the streaks of starlight would still turn into a barrier and trap them. This soul skill was extremely powerful!

Xu Yun was still unable to tap into celestial power to strengthen herself, but her control of her Starcrown was already pretty good. Furthermore, she was extremely focused this time. She knew that she had to lock Huo Yuhao down in order to defeat him.

While her idea was good, it was a pity that reality was cruel.

Her Starcrown was about to reach Huo Yuhao, but his figure suddenly turned illusory. His pace doubled, and he managed to escape Xu Yun’s lock on as he moved his body in some unknown way. At the same time, he leapt forward once again, and gestured towards Xu Yun, palm turned toward himself. Xu Yun suddenly felt a suction force pulling her towards her opponent.

In such a critical moment, Xu Yun’s reaction was rather commendable. She grit her teeth and another of her Starbursts ignited. Aren’t you trying to pull me over? Alright, I shall deliver a Starburst to you, then. She was already prepared to perish alongside Huo Yuhao. In fact, her Starcrown could assimilate some of the abilities that she unleashed. This meant

 

that Huo Yuhao was bound to face a greater explosive force if her Starburst blew apart, and they were standing the same distance away from it.

Huo Yuhao revealed a slight smile on his face. His right palm suddenly shook a few times before Xu Yun’s Starburst started to shake, too. Once again, it broke free from Xu Yun’s control, and Huo Yuhao flung it into the air. Huo Yuhao kicked at her as she exclaimed in shock. He hit the same spot he had yesterday.

He didn’t even bother with being gentlemanly. With one kick, Xu Yun flew away.

It was so quick that Dai Luoli couldn’t make it in time to save her even if he wanted to. He watched helplessly as Xu Yun flew through the air.

As he leapt up, Dai Luoli immediately charged to Xu Yun’s side, “Yun’er, no. Yun’er, are you okay?”

She felt an excruciating pain in her belly, and her internal organs seemed to have been ripped from their positions. Xu Yun grit her teeth, and the hatred in her eyes seemed as if it

 

could turn into sharp blades and cut Huo Yuhao to pieces. However, she couldn’t speak because she was in too much pain.

Dai Luoli glared at Huo Yuhao and shouted furiously,“How can you be so hard on her? She’s a girl! Don’t you know how to be gentlemanly?”

Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, “On a battlefield, do you think your enemies will let you off just because you’re a girl? Furthermore, she’s hurt not because of me, but you.”

Dai Luoli was stunned. “Me? You were the one who hurt her.

Why am I to be blamed?”

Huo Yuhao scornfully said, “You like her, right? Since you like her, you should treat her like your woman. When she was hurt, what were you doing? You can’t even protect your own woman. Don’t you think you’re a useless piece of trash?”

“You!”  Normally, Dai Luoli was already used to how Huo Yuhao tried to agitate him. However, it was different today. He agitated him in front of Xu Yan! Moreover, Huo Yuhao had already hurt Xu Yun. Suddenly, Dai Luoli’s eyes turned red, and

 

he roared furiously. He unleashed his White Tiger and charged towards Huo Yuhao without regard for anything else.

Three seconds later...

Bang! Dai Luoli crashed forcefully to the ground a short distance away from Xu Yun.

“A piece of trash is a piece of trash. If I want to kill your woman or do anything to her now, what can you do? You can only watch helplessly.” He became even more scornful. He even placed his hands behind his back and revealed a disdainful look on his face.

“I’m going to fight it out with you!”  Dai Luoli’s eyes had turned completely red by this point. He leaped forward again and charged towards Huo Yuhao.

Another three seconds passed...

Bang! Dai Luoli crashed forcefully to the ground not far in front of Xu Yun again.

This time, Dai Luoli quickly climbed up without Huo Yuhao needing to agitate him. After this, he charged towards Huo Yuhao once again like a crazed tiger.

A smile appeared in Huo Yuhao’s eyes. At the same time, he also noticed that there was something different about the look in Xu Yun’s eyes right now.

Of course, all this didn’t stop him from beating Dai Luoli up again and again. Three seconds passed, then passed again. Dai Luoli had been thrown to the ground more than ten times. This time, Huo Yuhao was more violent against him. Not only was Dai Luoli’s shirt torn, but there were even injuries on his body.

However, Huo Yuhao had clearly agitated Dai Luoli a lot this time. Every time Dai Luoli was thrown to the ground, he would crawl up crazily and proceed to attack Huo Yuhao with all his strength.

When Dai Luoli was thrown onto the ground in front of Xu Yun another time, and his mouth was already oozing blood, Xu

 

Yun couldn’t help but shout, “Stop fighting! You’re not as good as him. Stop fighting!”

“No, I have to protect you. I must protect you.” Dai Luoli suddenly turned his head back. When Xu Yun looked into his eyes, she saw a hysterical and crazed look. Within this craziness, she could see a slight mania in it. Dai Luoli was persistent.

After he finished speaking, Dai Luoli charged towards Huo Yuhao once again.

Huo Yuhao nodded silently in his heart. This was because he could clearly tell that the part of Dai Luoli’s martial soul that possessed spiritual power was slowly being awakened. His spiritual power was increasing at a shocking speed as he was in this crazy state.

Yes, this was the true essence of his mutated White Tiger!

Right now, Dai Luoli’s attacks were obviously much more ferocious than before. Furthermore, he would form some white shadows around him as he charged towards Huo Yuhao.

 

On a closer look, one would see that these shadows were shaped like White Tigers.

Dai Luoli’s speed and strength were both increasing as he released spiritual undulations. The white lights around his body also became much stronger than before.

Feelings stimulated one’s heart and spiritual power. Huo Yuhao wanted Dai Luoli to enter a realm that was similar to the one he entered when he yearned for Wang Dong’er and created his Three Ultimate Haodong Skills.

Why did he kick Xu Yun in the same place on both occasions? Did he really not know what it was to be a gentleman? Would he really attack a woman so freely? Of course not. What he was trying to do was make Dai Luoli think that he couldn’t protect the woman he loved. This was why he suddenly used actions and words to agitate Dai Luoli.

They were indeed very effective. Dai Luoli had gone berserk now. His soul and spiritual power greatly increased in such a state.

 

Finally, even Dai Luoli couldn’t keep count of the number of times he was thrown to the ground by Huo Yuhao. As he collapsed once again, he tried his best to crawl back up. However, the pain that he suffered stopped him from doing so, even though his soul power kept on recovering.

Right now, there were injuries all over his body, and his uniform was already torn and tattered. However, he still seemed very persistent. Even though his body was greatly hurt, the look in his eyes was still burning strongly.

“Stop fighting, stop fighting.” Tears flowed down Xu Yun’s cheeks. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to stop Dai Luoli or help him. It was just that an unknown force was restraining her as Dai Luoli kept on charging crazily towards Huo Yuhao. She could see and hear everything, but she couldn’t move. She tried her best to struggle, but she couldn’t even gather a shred of her soul power. She could only watch helplessly as Dai Luoli charged towards Huo Yuhao time and time again, and failed time and time again.

Devil. Huo Yuhao was like a devil in her eyes, whereas Dai Luoli’s persistence and determination caused her to be moved once again.

 

Are you doing this because of me?

“Luoli, give up. Stop fighting him. You are inferior to him.

Don’t…”

After hearing Xu Yun’s voice, Dai Luoli seemed to have taken a stimulant, and supported his body with his trembling arms. Right now, he looked very scary. His body was already bloodstained, and his eyes were particularly bright. There seemed to be an extra blood-red pupil beside his black pupils too.

He peered into the sky and roared. His back shone brightly with white light, and this white light seemed to be stained by the blood-red on his body, and slowly turned red, creating a projection of a Blood Tiger.

Dai Luoli slowly lifted his hands up beside his body. The sharp blades of light above his claws also slowly turned blood- red. He twisted his head and looked at Xu Yun with his weird- looking eyes. He said, word by word, “I can definitely protect you. I will protect you.”

 

After he finished speaking, he charged towards Huo Yuhao once again. His speed was even faster than what it was at his peak state. He turned into a blood-red whirlwind and swept towards Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao nodded slightly. Right now, Dai Luoli’s fighting strength was already beyond what a four-ringed Soul Ancestor was able to achieve. His potential was finally being realized.

A spiritual-type soul master, or rather a soul master with a martial soul that had some spiritual components, would indeed find it more difficult to improve his cultivation. However, the mutation of their martial soul would only truly be completed after the spiritual components in their martial soul had been triggered. Only then would they become stronger than ordinary soul masters!

Dai Luoli’s White Tiger was indeed mutated, but this mutation didn’t have to be a negative one.

Even an experienced teacher from Shrek Academy wouldn’t be certain of this point. However, Huo Yuhao was different. He probably possessed the strongest spiritual-type martial soul in

 

the world right now. After one month of interaction with Dai Luoli, he was very clear about Dai Luoli’s condition!

Chapter 420: Dai Luoli's Awakening

Dai Luoli’s greatest problem was that the spiritual power of his martial soul wasn’t active when he cultivated.

Even though there were experts in the Duke’s Mansion who discovered this problem, they didn’t know what to do. After all, one’s spiritual power was related to his soul. Souls were very magical. If Dai Luoli walked the wrong path, he might suffer from side-effects, which would cause him harm. As a result, Dai Luoli continued to remain in his current state. No matter how hard he tried, he could only unleash half the strength of his martial soul. Naturally, he couldn’t catch up to Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin.

Huo Yuhao was using a very simple method to stimulate his martial soul: tapping into his feelings for Xu Yun! Using love as stimulation was very difficult, and it might lead to repercussions. Of course, the prerequisite was that this love could be fulfilled after Dai Luoli’s martial soul was stimulated.

As a result, Huo Yuhao completely stimulated Dai Luoli’s spiritual power to its extreme, enabling him to enter a state of craziness. Indeed, the spiritual components of his martial soul

 

were completely stimulated, and his soul power rose by two ranks in just a short period of time. Dai Luoli didn’t sense it himself, but he would immediately discover the significant changes to his body after he recovered.

Seeing that the Blood Tiger projection was about to reach him, Huo Yuhao smiled and quickly shifted his footsteps. In an instant, he was already behind Dai Luoli. While Dai Luoli charged ferociously, the gap between him and Huo Yuhao was simply too huge.

Furthermore, he was only relying on his courage to sustain himself now. Huo Yuhao smacked his palm against Dai Luoli’s neck, and Dai Luoli shook slightly before he fell to the ground.

At this point, the restraints on Xu Yun suddenly disappeared. She almost fell down, as she was unbalanced. After realizing she could move, she quickly rushed towards Dai Luoli.

The way Dai Luoli had looked at her just now was already deeply etched in her mind. She couldn’t forget the determination and fearlessness in his blood-red eyes. For me, he…

 

At this moment, Xu Yun was only feeling very sad. She quickly helped Dai Luoli up and cried out, “Luoli, Luoli, wake up. You can’t die! Wake up.” As she cried out, tears were already flowing down uncontrollably. She hugged Dai Luoli, who was already covered in blood, tightly.

Huo Yuhao didn’t stand too far away. He smiled as he looked at them. He knew that at least his brother had found a place inside this princess’s heart. As for how they were going to develop in the future, it was going to be much simpler. Luoli, I’ve already done quite a bit for you. You’ll have to count on yourself from now on.

“I’m going to kill you!” Xu Yun suddenly lifted her head and glared at Huo Yuhao furiously, “You aren’t an ordinary person. Tell me. Who are you? You must be a spy, a spy from the Sun Moon Empire! I’ll get someone to kill you!”

Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes and said, “Your Highness, let’s not even talk about whether I’m a soul master first. Just from how you are screaming like that, who can you get to kill me if I kill you and him first?”

 

Xu Yun was stunned. Yes! Only the three of them were here. Why weren’t there any guards patrolling this place even though they had made such a huge commotion? It was because she had told them not to disturb her in her cultivation.

Right now, she was the only one who could fight Huo Yuhao!

What could she do?

Huo Yuhao slowly walked towards her. While Xu Yun was a soul master, she was more like a little girl. She lacked fighting experience, and looked very terrified now. As she hugged Dai Luoli tightly, she lost her voice and said, “You, you, don’t come over!...”

Huo Yuhao calmly smiled and said, “He’s not dead yet. Tell you what, let me kill him first. Then you can swear not to divulge my identity. I’ll spare you then. What about that?”

“Impossible.” Xu Yun carried Dai Luoli as she suddenly stood up. There was a fierce look in her eyes, and she glared at Huo Yuhao. “I’m from the imperial family of the Star Luo Empire. I can only be a princess who dies in a fight, but not a princess who lives humiliatingly. If you want to kill him, then you better kill the both of us.”

Huo Yuhao nodded in his heart. My younger brother has good taste! While this princess is a little overbearing and unreasonable, she has her principles. Furthermore, he discovered that Xu Yun seemed to be thinking of a solution of how to escape from his fingertips.

He smiled and his eyes flashed with a trace of dim purplish- gold. Xu Yun suddenly felt a weird spiritual undulation appearing. In the next moment, she became giddy before she fainted.

Huo Yuhao walked forward and supported her body. After that, he took Dai Luoli from her arms and placed her on the ground.

“Commander Xu has fainted!”  Huo Yuhao shouted. Then, carrying Dai Luoli, he transformed into an illusory projection before disappearing.

------

 

When Dai Luoli woke up from his deep sleep, it was already the next morning. He opened his eyes wide, and the sky was already slightly bright.

Dai Luoli only felt that his body was very warm and comfortable. His soul power surged strongly in his body and an unprecedented sense of strength filled his entire body. More strangely, he was stunned to realize that his feeling of everything around him was not a result of his visual perception of them, but because there seemed to be another pair of eyes helping him to survey his surroundings.

This was…

As he opened his eyes, Dai Luoli sat up in his bed. The recruits from the First Bunk also woke up at this moment, and quickly donned their uniforms before washing up. After this, they went for breakfast.

Everything that had happened last night played itself out in Dai Luoli’s head. When he looked at his own body, he discovered that there weren’t any injuries. Furthermore, he was dry and clean. His uniform was placed neatly to one side, as if he had never worn it before.

Was everything last night a dream? Dai Luoli was in disbelief. Was I really dreaming? No, I couldn’t be. How could it be so painful in my dream? Yes, it was him!

He twisted his head to look at Tang Dong. Tang Dong had just changed into his uniform, and was lazily stretching his waist. It seemed like he could sense Dai Luoli looking over, and immediately turned his head to look back. After this, he revealed a kind smile.

Dai Luoli was too curious, and couldn’t take it anymore. He quickly got up from his bed and put his uniform on before going to find Tang Dong.

Dai Luoli was confused as he asked, “Tang Dong, what happened to me last night? Why do I remember that I was being beaten up very tragically by you?”

Huo Yuhao chortled, “Is that so? If you think that’s the case, then that’s the case. However, do you really not remember what happened? Come on, let’s go have breakfast. I’ll tell you as we eat.” As he spoke, he dragged Dai Luoli to go freshen up.

 

Dai Luoli looked at him with an abnormal expression, and was even more confused. However, it wasn’t very appropriate for him to question Tang Dong with so many recruits around.

---

After freshening up, the two of them went to have breakfast. In the canteen, they squatted down at one side to have their breakfast.

“What exactly happened last night?” Dai Luoli couldn’t help but ask.

Huo Yuhao smiled and said, “Let’s not talk while we eat. Let’s talk after we finish eating.”

Dai Luoli felt as if a ball of fire were slowly rising in his chest. If not for the fact that he couldn’t beat Huo Yuhao, he would have whacked him by now.

It was a pity that this was only a thought in his head. He knew he didn’t have any chance of winning against someone as

 

perverted as Huo Yuhao. He could only continue eating. After he quickly finished his breakfast, he turned his attention towards Huo Yuhao again.

Huo Yuhao said, “Come, let me show you something.” As he spoke, Huo Yuhao grabbed his shoulder.

At the start, Dai Luoli wasn’t very used to Huo Yuhao doing this. However, he started to become more accustomed to it after a month. Anyway, he couldn’t beat Huo Yuhao in a fight.

However, it was different this time. When Huo Yuhao grabbed his shoulder, Dai Luoli suddenly sensed everything around him changing. The originally bright sky turned dark, and daytime turned to nighttime.

Before he exclaimed, Huo Yuhao’s voice already sounded in his mind, “Don’t be shocked. Take a closer look. Don’t you want to know what happened last night?”

Yes, it was nighttime. It was nighttime in their military camp, and they were on the military drill grounds.

 

Very soon, Dai Luoli saw himself charging towards Huo Yuhao like a mad tiger. However, he was flung back every single time.

It wasn’t an illusion. Everything that had happened last night was true. It wasn’t an illusion! Furthermore, he watched how anxious he was as a bystander. However, he didn’t know why Xu Yun was unable to move. When he saw the expression on Xu Yun’s face, Dai Luoli subconsciously clenched his fist.

“Take a look at yourself.” Huo Yuhao’s voice sounded again.

Dai Luoli subconsciously turned his attention towards his own body. Suddenly, he realized there was something different about him.

When he saw the Blood Tiger projection behind him and sensed the powerful spiritual undulations that he released, he was in a daze.

Is that really me? But why am I so different? Since when was my spiritual power so great? Did my soul power increase today because of…

Just as he was wondering about a lot of things, he saw himself being thrown to the ground by Huo Yuhao once again before he lost consciousness.

After this, he saw Xu Yun charging to his side and hugging him tightly. She was crying for him. She even mentioned how she was willing to die with him when Huo Yuhao claimed that he wanted to kill him.

After this, Xu Yun fainted. Huo Yuhao then shouted before leaving with him. He found a water vat near the canteen and cleaned him up before stealing a new uniform from the military store.

The illusory nighttime disappeared, and it was daytime again. Everything returned to normal.

“What do you feel?” Huo Yuhao’s voice sounded once again.

Dai Luoli twisted his head to look at him as if he were looking at a monster.

 

Huo Yuhao smiled and asked, “I’m asking you about your feelings after seeing what I’ve shown you.”

Dai Luoli subconsciously said, “It would have been great if I was conscious when Yun’er hugged me.”

Huo Yuhao was speechless as he smacked his forehead and said, “I knew it. You emotional creature! I was asking you how you felt when you erupted last night. Didn’t you realize that your martial soul has become different?”

Dai Luoli was very wary as he looked at Huo Yuhao and said, “Who are you exactly? What’s with that illusion just now? Also, how did you know Yun’er was a princess?”

Huo Yuhao laughed, “It seems you’re not that dumb after all. I’m Tang Dong. I’m only Tang Dong. You just need to know that. You should have felt that you’ve gained something over the past month. You must work hard for your Yun’er, though. This is all that I can do for you.”

After he finished speaking, he turned around and walked towards their bunk. They still had some time to rest before

 

their training started.

Dai Luoli seemed very uncertain as he watched Huo Yuhao leaving.

Who is he exactly? No matter how slow he was right now, he could still sense that Huo Yuhao wasn’t an ordinary person. He had three rings, but he couldn’t defeat an ordinary person? He was very doubtful about this. Even Xu Yun was also weaker than him, even though she had four rings. It seemed like they were both very far off from him.

I should have thought that he was a soul master. I just don’t know what type of soul master he is. However, what’s he doing in the military?

He’s right. I can sense it.

Dai Luoli calmed down and carefully recalled everything that had happened between him and Tang Dong over the last month. While he was beaten up every day, he was surprised to realize that his cultivation had slowly increased. It was something that had never happened before. Even when his

 

father took some time to guide him, the improvements he made couldn’t compare to what he had achieved over the last month.

The weirder thing was the state he was in last night…

He said that my martial soul has changed?

He shut his eyes and silently sensed his martial soul. Very soon, he was surprised, and immersed in this delightful surprise.

Yes, his martial soul had indeed changed. In fact, it had grown stronger, which was beyond his imagination. He felt as if he had been reborn.

Tang Dong, who are you? Did my father send you to help me? However, he clearly looks like he’s around the same age as me! Why is he so strong? Who exactly is he?

As he carried these doubts with him, Dai Luoli continued to sense his martial soul. The spirituality of his martial soul had

 

finally been awakened. Everything had changed, and become very beautiful.

Chapter 421: Rumbles from Afar

Today’s training was on fighting together as a team.

The recruits were separated into several rows, and some held up shields, while others grasped spears. The shields were placed in front, while the spears were held in preparation behind the shields. The recruits were required to do everything neatly and in synchronicity with every step they took.

The equipment they were using for training had been specially enhanced – It was twice as heavy as their regular equipment, and was used to train the recruits’ bodies and stability.

“Go!” Zhuang Tian hollered at the recruits.

The soldiers holding shields took a step forward in unison and raised their shields. They were adjusted to uniformity after today’s training. Formations were very effective in a war, and an army which had gone through disciplined training

 

could rely on formations to fight against scattered soldiers with numbers multiple times their own.

The recruits holding spears quickly stepped after the recruits holding shields and pointed their spears forwards as they aimed at the cracks between the shields. They moved as if they were about to lash out at any moment.

Every time Zhuang Tian shouted loudly, the formation shifted one step forward as a whole. The formation followed his various commands, and different recruits moved at different speeds and with different footwork.

Small Team One’s movements were the neatest amongst the teams. Small Team One’s leader, Tang Dong, was holding a spear, while vice-team leader Dai Luoli was holding a shield. They lead their entire small team, and they made sure that every action was done properly.

After today’s observation, Zhuang Tian was sure that he would make sure that these two people were promoted to actual small team leaders after their basic military training was over. Soldiers of such quality were few and far between!

 

At this moment, a horseman came riding towards them from a distance. Dai Luoli was fully concentrated on completing his training when his frame suddenly froze as he saw this rider’s figure. He subconsciously glanced at Huo Yuhao behind him.

This rider moved very quickly, and arrived in the blink of an eye.

“Attention!” Zhuang Tian hollered at everyone.

The recruits holding shields withdrew their shields in front of their chests, while the soldiers holding spears planted their spears vertically on the ground as they stood up straight.

“Battalion  commander,  ma’am!”  Zhuang  Tian  saluted  the rider. The little princess, Xu Yun, was the one who had ridden here.

Xu Yun could see Dai Luoli and Huo Yuhao with one look because they were standing in front of their group. She had just woken up after she had fainted, and she realized that the sky was already bright when she woke up, while she was back in her own tent. If waves of pain hadn’t been coming from her

 

abdomen, she would have actually thought what happened yesterday was all just a dream. However, that dream was just too real.

When she saw with her own eyes that Dai Luoli was standing in formation in perfect condition, she heaved a big sigh of relief. However, her eyebrows went vertical when she saw Huo Yuhao.

Of course, what happened last night couldn’t possibly be a dream. Up until now, her abdomen was still throbbing agonizingly after being kicked twice last night.

Xu Yun was instantly infuriated when she saw Tang Dong standing solemnly within the formation. This bastard really knows how to pretend! Shall I expose him?

Xu Yun immediately extinguished this thought as soon as it appeared in her head. The reason for that was simple; both Dai Luoli and Tang Dong were both standing in formation perfectly. She thought back to everything that had happened last night, and she really wasn’t sure why Tang Dong had joined the military. If he was a spy, he would have killed Dai Luoli and her a long time ago. If that was the case, how could

 

Dai Luoli continue his military training with his body in perfect condition!

Xu Yun nodded in Zhuang Tian’s direction as thoughts spun in her head. “Large Team Leader Zhuang, how is the recruits’ training going?”

Zhuang    Tian    answered    respectfully,    “The    recruits’ performance is alright. Small Team One’s performance is especially outstanding among them. They all have good potential.”  Zhuang Tian was never stingy with compliments about his outstanding subordinates.

“Oh? They’ve only been training for one month, and you’re describing them as outstanding? Seems like they’re quite impressive, after all. Soldiers can improve best when they are in actual combat. Why don’t we do this... let my personal bodyguards accompany them for a practice battle. Shi Shuo, call my bodyguards.”

Shi Shuo hesitated for a moment, and glanced at Zhuang Tian. Even though they didn’t know where Xu Yun was from, they could faintly guess that this beautiful battalion commander came from an aristocratic family, and she was

 

likely here to gilt her family. Therefore, the few of them were only respectful on the surface this entire time.

Letting her personal bodyguards have a practice battle with recruits... did the battalion commander actually think of that?

Battalion commanders had their own personal bodyguards. One medium team was assigned as a battalion commander’s bodyguard, and they usually comprised the most outstanding soldiers in the battalion.

“What? Were my words not clear enough?” Xu Yun frowned deeply, and a formless pressure was unleashed from her body.

Zhuang Tian glared at Shi Shuo, and Shi Shuo hurriedly answered respectfully before jogging away.

Only then did Zhuang Tian turn towards Xu Yun with some hesitation in his expression. “Battalion commander… your personal bodyguards are all the best of the best. Don’t you think they’re a little overqualified for combat practice with these recruits? Why don’t we let these recruits spar amongst themselves?”

Xu Yun waved her hand and said, “I want to show them how big the gap is between them and real soldiers. Don’t worry, my bodyguards know their limits.”

In the military, even a difference of one rank meant the lower-ranked officer would have to listen to orders. Zhuang Tian was feeling a little dispirited inside, but he couldn’t say anything against her wishes.

It didn’t take long before a squad of fifty soldiers jogged over neatly. These soldiers all seemed like they had wide waists and large arms, and everyone had a shield in their left hand, a long knife strapped to their waist, and was wearing leather armor. They were all Privates First Class, and in addition to the fact that their rows were very neat, they seemed very intimidating.

“Reporting,  ma’am.  Your  personal  bodyguards  are  all  in position.”  The medium team leader of Xu Yun’s bodyguards was a youth that looked especially tough and muscular. His eyes sparkled, and there were clearly some other things besides respect in his eyes as he stared at Xu Yun.

 

Xu Yun nodded and said, “The recruits that Zhuang Tian is responsible for have performed excellently. Wang Yue, pick thirty people and have a practice fight with Small Team One from the recruits. Your knives cannot leave their sheaths, and nobody can get hurt. Do you understand?”

Wang Yue’s eyes sparkled as he shouted, “Understood!”  He didn’t need Xu Yun to instruct him. The battalion commander’s decision to allow her bodyguards to have a practice fight against these recruits means one of two things: either she wants to teach the large team leader a lesson, or there are some troublemakers among the recruits who have made her angry. We’ll just teach them a lesson.

“Small Team One, Two, and Three! Step out!”  Wang Yue hollered at the top of his voice, and thirty guards swiftly jogged out and arranged themselves in one line.

Zhuang Tian came up beside Huo Yuhao and whispered, “Tang Dong, I’m not sure why the battalion commander wants to have a practice fight like this, but you have to be careful, and focus on defense. These fellows from her team of bodyguards are very rough and violent. Make sure you keep your formation in order. I’ll ask the battalion commander to stop after you guys have held on for a little while.”

“Yes,  sir,”  Huo  Yuhao  acknowledged,  but  he  was  a  little amused. This little princess is so childish! She wants to target me, but too bad for her, I am Small Team One’s team leader. But is there any meaning to this? Does she think that her personal bodyguards can force me to release my martial soul?

“Listen  up,  Small  Team  One.  Take  three  steps  forward together and separate into two rows. Prepare for battle!” Huo Yuhao shouted at his team.

Small Team One’s recruits stared at those bodyguards who had backs like tigers and waists like bears, and their faces turned yellow with fear. But strangely, after Huo Yuhao shouted at them, they all felt galvanized and invigorated, as if they had been injected with stimulants. They didn’t seem afraid of the opponents in front of them anymore, and everyone took three broad steps forward with their chins raised. Those who were holding spears turned their spears around at the same time. They were having a practice fight after all, and using their spears’ handles prevented anyone from getting hurt.

Xu Yun waved her hand and said, “Begin!”

 

Wang Yue personally joined the formation, and eyed the recruits in front him mockingly as he shouted, “Shields, up!”

The guards raised the shields in their left hands, their right hands grasping long knives that were still sheathed. These long knives were different from those of normal foot soldiers. Foot soldiers’ knives didn’t have sheaths, but these bodyguards had long knives that came with sheaths, and their blades were made of steel. The sheaths made them more than twice as heavy as normal knives, and one needed a certain standard of strength to wield one.

“Charge!” Wang Yue shouted at the top of his voice, and the thirty bodyguards charged furiously and in unison at the recruits.

There were only thirty soldiers, but these bodyguards had been through much training and were cherry-picked. Their fighting strength was far superior to normal soldiers, and they pushed forward with large strides at incredible speed while maintaining their formation at the same time.

“Shields, bow stance; spears, barricade stance!”  Huo Yuhao hollered. He didn’t intend to use his abilities to affect this

 

practice combat. Instead, he wanted to use the things he had learned today in his training. After his shout reignited the other recruits’ will to fight, he didn’t intend to use any soul power or spiritual power.

The recruits in the front row held their shields with both hands as they took a bow stance and placed their shields in front of them. They used a stance that was meant to barricade against a charge, and spears protruded through the gaps between two shields. The spears’ tips were planted diagonally onto the ground, as if they were repelling cavalry. The shields in a bow stance, in addition to the spears in a barricade stance, were normally used against cavalry, but Huo Yuhao still commanded them to use this tactic against the bodyguards who were rushing at them. Of course, the spear tips were supposed to be pointing forward in normal situations.

Wang Yue was a little stunned, but immediately recovered and ordered, “Slow down, draw your blades and slash them!”

The bodyguards instantly slowed down when they were less than ten meters from the recruits. They raised their knives with their right hands and prepared to attack. Right at that moment, Huo Yuhao suddenly shouted, “Charge at full speed!”

 

The recruits holding shields in a bow stance instantly charged forward at full speed, while those who were holding spears followed closely behind. Huo Yuhao himself was holding a spear, and rushed right towards Wang Yue. Furthermore, he deliberately made sure that he was moving a little faster than his comrades, and he ran forward shoulder-to-shoulder with Dai Luoli. He whispered something in Dai Luoli’s ear there.

Dai Luoli didn’t really feel much about this contest, but his eyes instantly became sharp when he heard Huo Yuhao’s words. Dai Luoli suddenly erupted with speed as he bolted forward and went straight for Wang Yue.

Wang Yue swung his long blade disdainfully against his sudden burst of speed, and sliced down with his sheathed blade at Dai Luoli.

A dull sound could be heard as Wang Yue felt a huge force hit him, and his knife was bounced away as he slashed at the shield. Furthermore, the shield crashed heavily into him, sending him hurtling through the air.

Dai Luoli charged the fastest, so his clash with Wang Yue was naturally the first to take place. Wang Yue was the one sent flying through the air, and this unexpected outcome caused the bodyguards to be a little dazed, but lifted the spirits of the recruits.

A sudden change in morale was enough to affect the entire situation in a close-quarters battle! Furthermore, the recruits were the ones charging forward, and they received a great morale boost, while the bodyguards were demoralized as they clashed violently.

Bam, bam, bam…

The sounds of combat rang out. The recruits’ formation had two layers, while the bodyguards only had one.

Initially, Wang Yue thought the bodyguards would have no problem dealing with the recruits, given their quality, even if they were one layer against two. However, under Huo Yuhao’s ingenious command, the recruits’ dual-layered formation’s advantage was immediately unleashed.

The recruits’ strength was quite a far cry from the bodyguards. However, the recruits weren’t at a disadvantage when they clashed, because of their forward momentum. Both forces were presented as comparable to one another, and the spearmen in the second row lashed out at this moment. They jabbed the blunt end of their spears like poisonous snakes sticking out their forked tongues. The bodyguards had formidable fighting strength, but they were still sent into disarray.

The bodyguards who didn’t clash directly with the recruits because of their single-layered formation wrapped around from the side. However, there was someone anchoring down the recruits’ flanks… Small Team One’s team leader, Huo Yuhao!

Huo Yuhao swung the blunt end of his spear as he smacked a bodyguard and sent him flying through the air. Huo Yuhao

 

looked like he was very focused on trying to control the spear in his hands, and there didn’t seem to be anything especially powerful about him, but the bodyguards on the flanks just couldn’t cross his line. Furthermore, the recruits weren’t surrounded thanks to Huo Yuhao’s agile movement and

footwork.

Dai Luoli’s fighting strength had been unleashed at this point. He held his shield and charged through the bodyguards’ ranks like a tiger running through a flock of sheep. He sent bodyguards flying through the air with his shield, one after another. His teamwork with Huo Yuhao was stellar; Huo Yuhao barricaded the flanks, while he helped the other recruits deal with the bodyguards. They already had twice as many people, and in addition to the fact that he was a soul master who was hiding his abilities, the gap between the two forces was pulled even closer. More than half of the bodyguards had collapsed to the ground by the time Wang Yue got to his feet somewhere nearby, and the recruits’ confidence was greatly boosted as they began to reinforce Huo Yuhao.

Zhuang Tian’s eyes were open wide, and his jaw hung slack as he watched the battle’s transformations. Not in his wildest dreams did he think that these recruits could reach such a standard under Huo Yuhao’s command. Furthermore, Huo

 

Yuhao and Dai Luoli’s individual fighting strength was presented as finely as they could be.

Shi Shuo was a medium team leader, and directly in charge of Small Team One. He felt a little dazed as he muttered, “They… they won? What’s happening?”

The contest was over when the last bodyguard was surrounded and knocked to the ground.

Xu Yun stared coldly at Huo Yuhao, and then at Dai Luoli beside him. She suddenly exclaimed, “Small Team One’s leader and vice-leader, step out and come in front of me.”

Dai Luoli was momentarily stunned, and only then did he realize that he had gone a little overboard. He had knocked down the largest number of people, and he didn’t hold back his strength at all. Huo Yuhao had barricaded the bodyguards and stopped them from flanking the recruits, but his performance was clearly a lot more normal compared to Dai Luoli’s performance. Dai Luoli couldn’t help but feel great regret in his heart.

 

But how could he have held himself back? What Huo Yuhao said to him was far too provoking. Huo Yuhao’s sentence was simple… he secretly told Dai Luoli that the bodyguards’ team leader was his rival in love.

Rivals in love would be especially filled with anger when they met each other, so…

Dai Luoli glanced at Huo Yuhao, but Huo Yuhao was already casually walking towards Xu Yun.

Dai Luoli had no choice but to follow behind him, and walked towards Xu Yun as well.

They came up before Xu Yun and stood at attention. Dai Luoli lowered his head, but Huo Yuhao saluted Xu Yun very normally.

Xu Yun stared at them coldly and said, “The two of you are in cahoots, am I right?”

 

Dai Luoli raised his head. He responded with an astonished look on his face, “What cahoots?”

Xu Yun laughed coldly and said, “You still want to act? The two you of are clearly in cahoots, and your father has sent him here to protect you, except I am being kept in the dark. He’s here to work together with you so that you can gain my sympathy, right?”

“No, no, it’s not like that,” Dai Luoli blurted with a stunned look on his face, “We weren’t acquainted before this.”

Xu Yun’s eyes sparkled furiously. “You aren’t acquainted with him? If you didn’t know him before this, how can the two of you work together with such chemistry even after he gave you such a painful beating yesterday?”

“I…” Dai Luoli suddenly realized that there was no way he could explain himself, because even he suspected that the White Tiger Duke had sent Huo Yuhao, let alone Xu Yun.

Huo Yuhao felt a little speechless as he stood to one side. “Shouldn’t the two of you find somewhere else to talk about

 

this? We’re on a military drill ground. Are you two trying to publicize your identities?”

Xu Yun’s eyes focused. Wasn’t that true? All the soldiers around them and even the officers were all looking at them. Even though Xu Yun had deliberately lowered her voice, there was no way she could hide her expression!

“The two of you, follow me,” Xu Yun said loudly before she turned around and jumped back onto her horse. She turned the horse and cracked her whip as she galloped into the distance.

Dai Luoli glared at Huo Yuhao and said, “You’ve created so much trouble for me.”

Huo Yuhao put on an innocent look and replied, “Then you should create some trouble for me, too. You raised your soul power two or three ranks in one go. I want something as good as that.”

Dai Luoli was also rendered speechless. He tugged on Huo Yuhao’s sleeve and said, “Hurry and follow me so we can

 

explain  ourselves.  Otherwise,  I’m  finished.”  He  pulled  Huo Yuhao after Xu Yun as he spoke.

Huo Yuhao had no choice but to follow. Dai Luoli asked him as they jogged, “Are you really sent by my father?”

Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes and replied, “Of course not. I don’t like your father at all.” That was definitely the truth.

Dai Luoli looked at him in confusion and asked, “You don’t like my father? He’s a national hero!”

Huo Yuhao’s mouth twitched, but he said nothing.

Dai Luoli was getting worried. “What should we do? Yun’er has misunderstood me. How am I supposed to explain myself?”

Huo Yuhao turned around to look at him. “Will you listen to me if I give you a suggestion?”

Dai Luoli was momentarily stunned. “Uh…”

Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes and said, “Let me tell you, there’s no way you can explain yourself at a time like this. She will think that you’re just trying to cover everything up no matter what you say, and she has already made up her mind that you pulled a trick by injuring yourself so you could gain her sympathy and get closer to her. Furthermore, you seemed as energetic as could be today. What resemblance was there to how you were almost beaten to death last night?”

“Isn’t that your fault?” Dai Luoli answered angrily, “So, what should I do, exactly?”

Huo Yuhao said, “Why are you asking me if you are unwilling to listen to me? You can think of a solution yourself.”

Dai Luoli pulled a long face and muttered, “Alright, big brother. You should stop being angry with me for nothing. Quick, teach me... I’ll listen to you, alright?”

Huo Yuhao felt his heart quiver subtly when Dai Luoli called him  “big  brother”.  Dai  Luoli  was  his  biological  younger brother, after all! Furthermore, Huo Yuhao had no problems with him, like he did with Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin. Huo

 

Yuhao’s heart softened as he heaved a faint sigh and said, “You are confused because you are too concerned. You should…”

Huo Yuhao whispered something in Dai Luoli’s ear. Dai Luolii’s eyes grew bigger by the second, and his eyes were completely wide and his jaw hung slack when Huo Yuhao was finished.

“Are you sure this will work, boss? Don’t play me! I could die from this.” Dai Luoli’s cheeks were starting to spasm.

Huo Yuhao said plainly, “It’s up to you whether you want to believe me. What I told you is what you should do to deal with that arrogant princess.”  Huo Yuhao wasn’t experienced with courting girls, and neither was he a flirt, but from his experience with Dong’er and Qiu’er as examples, and with the Tang Sect’s various relationships’ twists and turns, along with the fact that he was older than Dai Luoli by quite a bit, he had a deeper understanding about the romantic feelings between guys and girls.

Xu Yun had already stopped in her tracks not far from them. The two of them were coming closer, and Dai Luoli couldn’t think of a good solution by himself. He gritted his teeth and

 

said, “Alright, I’ll trust you this once. If I succeed, then you’ll be my older brother.”

Huo Yuhao was the one who twitched his mouth this time. He thought to himself, I am your older brother in the first place!

They quickly arrived in front of an indignant Xu Yun. Huo Yuhao patted Dai Luoli on the back, and Dai Luoli immediately understood what he was trying to say. His expression changed swiftly. All his anxiety and worry from before disappeared, and he became very calm.

Xu Yun didn’t get down from her horse. She turned her horse around to face them and said, “Don’t you want to explain? Explain  then.  I  want  to  hear  what  you  have  to  say.”  This sentence was clearly meant for Dai Luoli.

Dai Luoli said nothing. His expression was still plain and calm, and he grabbed his shirt’s collar as he suddenly lifted his hands and took his shirt off.

“Ah!” Xu Yun screamed as she hurriedly covered her eyes.

“Don’t you want an explanation? You can see for yourself,” Dai Luoli muttered plainly.

Xu Yun’s astonishment was temporary. She peeked at him through the cracks of her fingers when she heard his words, and she drew a cold breath in the next moment. She lowered her hands subconsciously in the next moment.

There were dozens of intertwining wounds all over Dai Luoli’s body. Some had already formed scabs, while others were still oozing with fresh blood. His appearance seemed unnaturally frightening.

Dai Luoli slowly turned around and turned his back to Xu Yun. His back had the same number of wounds.

“If you think I am injuring myself to gain your sympathy, then so be it. I can stand here today because some of my martial soul’s special abilities have been unleashed, and my martial soul has sublimated. That is all I have to say, and you can believe whatever you want to.” He put his shirt back on after he finished his sentence. He then turned and walked back towards where the recruits were training.

Xu  Yun  called  out  subconsciously,  “Come  back  here,  Dai Luoli!”

Her words weren’t so effective this time. Dai Luoli seemed like he didn’t hear her at all as he continued striding back toward the other recruits.

Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh, and he just stood there as he muttered under his breath, “You’ve really hurt his heart!”

Xu Yun turned and glared at him. “How have I hurt his heart? What about me? What about my heart?”

Huo Yuhao said plainly, “Your appearance was unexpected in the first place. You will know whether not I am a spy if you calm down and think about it. You’ve changed your opinion, and now you think I have been sent by the White Tiger Duke. This proves that you understand in your heart that I cannot possibly be a spy. I can tell you very frankly that I have no connection at all to the White Tiger Duke, and I even hate him. As for Luoli, I only think that he has a martial soul with huge potential and talent, but he hasn’t been able to unleash it, so I decided to help him a little. Let me ask you a question, princess.”

“What?” Xu Yun asked doubtfully.

 

Huo Yuhao continued, “There’s strength hidden within his martial soul, and this strength hasn’t appeared after almost twenty years. Do you think it’s that easy to draw out this strength? I’ve beaten him for more than a month. Why have I only beaten that strength out of him yesterday? Have you

thought about that? Alright, you can think about that yourself. However, I advise you not to try and reveal my identity. Otherwise, I will leave this place. I only have one aim in joining the army, and that is to defend my empire. You don’t have to think too much about my identity, and you can just think of me

as a soul master who cultivates independently.”

Huo Yuhao turned and left after he finished his sentence, and he didn’t give Xu Yun any chance to talk.

Dawdling explanations would only make this princess even angrier. In the state she was in, she couldn’t possibly think rationally or accept anything that Dai Luoli would have said to explain himself. Huo Yuhao could only use this method of “playing it cool”, and throw a hit back at her to achieve any effect at all. Furthermore, Huo Yuhao’s words were all true, and Dai Luoli did trigger his martial soul’s true strength because he wanted to protect Xu Yun.

 

A contemplative look flowed from Xu Yun’s eyes as she watched them leave. Everything that had happened last night played again and again in her mind... she couldn’t forget Dai Luoli’s eyes yesterday. Yes! How could he possibly fake an expression like that?

“Luoli, I’m sorry... I have blamed you wrongly.” Xu Yun muttered under her breath. She wanted to chase after him, but couldn’t get over her own pride, and she just watched Huo Yuhao and Dai Luoli return to their ranks as they followed the recruits back for training.

“He has so many wounds on his body. How painful must that be?”

The two of them returned to the recruits. All those recruits, along with the other team leaders, stared at them with a completely different expression from before.

The bodyguards had slunk away. The two of them had just returned when they were immediately surrounded by the recruits and tossed into the air in the next moment.

 

The two of them had led Small Team One’s recruits to defeat the bodyguards. That battle made the blood in these fellows’ hearts burn with passion, while Huo Yuhao and Dai Luoli immediately became like heroes to them.

Just as the recruits were hollering excitedly and tossing them up and down, Huo Yuhao’s mood was originally very high when he suddenly felt his heart tense up for no particular reason. In that moment, he felt as if the world had become black and white, and an indescribable fear instantly spread across his entire body.

This sense of fear didn’t come from a person or a living being. Instead, it became from an entire region of space. There seemed to be some force from the dark that was suppressing his heart and made him shudder with a fright that came from deep within his soul.

This unprecedented situation turned his face ghastly pale in an instant. Something had happened, and something big was about to happen. After Wang Qiu’er sacrificed herself, Huo Yuhao controlled the power of destiny, and this sudden fear gave him an extremely ominous feeling.

 

His eyes seemed to be guided by a mysterious wave of the power of destiny, and he gazed into the distance as he was still being tossed up and down through the air.

The sky suddenly seemed to brighten far into the horizon right at this moment. The flash that suddenly appeared was very intense, and even though it was extremely far away, it managed to catch the attention of all the recruits. Their frolicking stopped, and everyone turned and gazed in that direction.

Everyone could see an incandescent sphere of light flickering far beyond the horizon. This radiance was hemispherical, and it gradually expanded outwards while its light was very intense and dazzling. Many people couldn’t help but shift their eyes away after staring straight at the flash for a moment, and nobody dared to continue staring right at it. Only Huo Yuhao’s eyes were fixed on that flash from the beginning to the end.

Yes, something had happened.

The earth trembled faintly in the next moment, and booming sounds that resembled dull thunderclaps rolled forth and caused the entire army camp to quiver violently.

The recruits began to feel waves of dizziness, and some recruits who were relatively weaker even fell down on the ground from all those tremors.

Zhuang  Tian  murmured  to  himself,  “What’s  happening? That direction… that direction seems to be where the Northwestern Field Army is stationed! That…”

Huo Yuhao and Dai Luoli were back on the ground, and their expressions changed at almost the same time.

Dai Luoli applied strength to his legs and was about to charge forward when Huo Yuhao pulled him back.

“Where are you going?”

Dai Luoli’s voice was quivering a little. “I want to take a look. That… that’s where the Northwestern Field Army is stationed. My father is there! That… that seems like…”

 

Huo Yuhao grabbed his shirt and dragged Dai Luoli in front of him. “Everything has already happened. What can you do even if you head over right now? From this moment onwards, you’re not allowed to leave my side. We’ll wait until we have more accurate intel before we do anything.”

Right at this moment, shrill and ear-piercing whistling sounds could be heard ringing out hysterically from the entire Sixth Reserve Legion. This was the whistle for an emergency assembly!

Large numbers of reserve troops swiftly came out of their tents and assembled from every camp, and the officers got into their respective positions. The entire reserve legion was mobilized, and even though they were just the reserves, the quality they displayed was impressive.

The order came down very quickly. All reserve troops were to prepare for battle, and that included recruits. Everyone was to pack up and get ready for battle at any moment.

Xu Yun was a battalion commander, and her battalion consisted almost entirely of recruits. Huo Yuhao and the three hundred recruits were her newest additions. Their battalion of

 

recruits had twice as many people as normal battalions, at nine hundred soldiers in total.

Xu Yun was standing in front of everyone, and her expression was exceptionally black. Huo Yuhao and Dai Luoli could guess what had happened, and she naturally could as well.

Xu Yun hollered, “Tang Dong, Dai Luoli, step out.”

Huo Yuhao pulled Dai Luoli and they took a few steps forward and saluted her.

Xu Yun lowered her voice and said, “From now on, the two of you are promoted as my bodyguards, but your ranks will remain Private First Class. Stand behind me.” She couldn’t care about military rules anymore at a time like this. The recruits hadn’t even finished their basic military training, and they were officially not allowed to become bodyguards for a battalion commander. She was distraught with anxiety and confusion, however, and she needed a mainstay at a time like this. What she didn’t know was that this order that she had just given was the wisest decision she had ever made in her entire life.

 

Huo Yuhao and Dai Luoli stepped behind Xu Yun. At a time like this, Huo Yuhao wasn’t worried about Dai Luoli making a move by himself. Xu Yun’s presence was enough to calm him down a little.

Xu Yun continued giving orders, “Everyone, return to your bunks, pack and organize your things. Come back and assemble at the military drill ground afterward, and stay where you are to rest. After that, wait for further orders. Disperse!”

The soldiers returned to their respective destinations, but she kept Huo Yuhao and Dai Luoli behind.

“The Sun Moon Empire... the Sun Moon Empire must have made  their  move,”  Xu  Yun  spoke  as  she  fumed  with  rage between gritted teeth.

Dadi Luoli didn’t have to pretend. His expression was black, and  he  nodded  forcefully.  “They’ve  invaded  us  without declaring war. Furthermore, they’ve used soul tools which possess great power. I wonder how the frontlines are doing. My father…”

 

Xu  Yun  interjected,  “The  White  Tiger  Duke  is  a  Titled Douluo, so he’ll be fine. I wonder what class those soul tools are to give us such sensations… My only wish now is that the front lines haven’t suffered excessively heavy losses. The army has already sent scouts to find out what’s happening, and they should return quickly with definite intel.”

Huo Yuhao’s expression was solemn. Dai Luoli and Xu Yun weren’t knowledgeable enough, and they didn’t know enough to judge how forceful that explosion was. He was a gifted student from Shrek Academy’s Soul Tool Department, so how could he not be able to judge? The feeling he got from that explosion’s force could only be achieved with one type of soul tool.

That soul tool could only be a Class 9 stationary soul cannon shell. They were almost three hundred kilometers away from where the explosion had occurred, and they could still clearly see, hear, and feel the explosion’s effects from such a distance away. Huo Yuhao had only seen an explosion like this once before, and that was when he had triggered an explosion in that underground warehouse within Radiant City. That apocalyptic spectacle was deeply imprinted in his memory.

 

This meant the explosion that had just occurred didn’t come from just a single Class 9 stationary soul cannon shell. It was likely that more than one had been used. The Sun Moon Empire had held themselves back for more than half a year. Were they about to launch a full-scale invasion? The timing of

their invasion was at least six months earlier than Huo Yuhao had predicted.

The Star Luo Empire became the Sun Moon Empire’s first target after launching an invasion.

Huo Yuhao heaved a faint sigh inside. He felt very helpless and exasperated. The Star Luo empire was too far behind the Sun Moon Empire in terms of their research with soul tools. Otherwise, with the intense energy undulations that Class 9 stationary soul cannon shells gave off, those shells should have been intercepted at the border. However, it seemed the Star Luo Empire were unsuccessful at intercepting those shells, and the Sun Moon Empire managed to detonate their stationary shells near the armies stationed near the Star Luo Empire’s borders. The Star Luo Empire had probably sustained heavy losses this time!

Dai Luoli wasn’t the only one concerned about the White Tiger Duke...

They didn’t have much to pack. Their personal belongings were all stored inside storage-type soul tools that they kept on their bodies all the time, while they were wearing all their military equipment, such as their uniforms, leather armor, number plates, and weapons. As for other items like their

bedsheets and whatnot, they did not pack those burdensome things.

The booms that resembled dull thunderclaps continued ringing out in the distance. Even though the light wasn’t as bright as before, everyone could hear those dense explosions from several hundred kilometers away. It wasn’t hard to imagine how intense the battle at the border was…

Chapter 422: Huo Yuhao's Assistance

The entire Sixth Reserve Legion fitted themselves out within an hour, and everyone waited on the military drill ground. Even their tents and whatnot had been packed, and everyone was prepared to support the front lines at a moment’s notice.

Scouts streamed in and out of the army camp continuously, and everyone could tell from their anxious and worried expressions that the battle wasn’t going very well.

The officers who were at least battalion commanders were quickly called up for a meeting, while Xu Yun brought Huo Yuhao and Dai Luoli, who had become her impromptu bodyguards, along with her.

Xu Yun had no experience on the battlefield at all, and she was overcome with anxiety and confusion at a time like this. She wasn’t just a battalion commander, she was also a princess! This war was connected to her nation’s safety and survival, so how could she not be worried?

 

Huo Yuhao and Dai Luoli arrived at the corps commander’s tent, but they were only bodyguards, so they could only wait outside. Huo Yuhao was worried, but he didn’t use his spiritual power to sense what was happening inside. If there was a powerful soul master inside, he would be in trouble if that soul master discovered his spiritual undulations.

The meeting was strangely very brief, and Xu Yun hurriedly rushed out after less than ten minutes.

“Quick, follow me back to the battalion.” She quickly got onto her horse as she spoke, and her two bodyguards could only jog along as they followed behind her.

“Yun…  battalion commander.”  Dai Luoli was about to call her “Yun’er”, but Huo Yuhao glared at him, and only then did he recall the method that Huo Yuhao had taught him. Dai Luoli hurriedly adjusted his expression, and put on a very serious appearance.

Xu Yun snapped around and stared at him. She didn’t wait for him to ask, and said straightforwardly, “The front lines have been utterly crushed… the Northwestern Field Army has given the order for us to enter the city immediately, and to

 

build our defenses around Imperial Radiant City. We are to wait for the retreating army and rendezvous with them.”

“What?  The  front  lines  have  been  crushed?”   Dai  Luoli blurted out. The Star Luo Empire had spent thousands of years developing their defenses at the western borders! They had relied on the Ming Dou Mountain Range as a natural stronghold, and their fortifications could be said to be impenetrable.

Xu Yun’s pretty face was a little pale. “Yes, the front lines have been decimated. The Sun Moon Empire’s invasion came without warning, and they detonated several Class 9 stationary soul cannon shells on the relatively weaker regions of the Ming Dou Mountain Range, and created an enormous gap. They mobilized four soul engineer legions to launch continuous assaults on our army. The soul engineer legions’ continuous blanketing onslaught forced the Northwestern Field Army back, and led the Sun Moon Empire’s great army to charge through the gap in the mountains. One Class 9 stationary shell landed in the Northwestern Field Army’s central region, and the soldiers on the front lines have sustained heavy losses, with many lives lost and many more injured. We can’t hold on any longer, so we’re retreating.”

 

“What about my father?” Dai Luoli asked worriedly.

Xu Yun answered, “Marshal Dai is leading the Field Army to defend against the invaders with their full strength, but the Sun Moon Empire’s assault is very ferocious. Their invading army isn’t very large, but they’ve mobilized three out of the five fingers of the Hand that Protects the Nation. They’ve come too quickly and too suddenly, and they’re way too destructive.”

Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and asked, “Battalion commander, how many soldiers are stationed along our western borders?”

Xu Yun replied, “The Northwestern Field Army is the main defense for our western borders, while the Western Field Army supports them. The Northwestern Field Army controls eleven legions, while the Western Field Army consists of eight legions. Our fighting strength stands at eighty thousand soldiers. Other than that, we have two hundred thousand auxiliary soldiers, and our total strength is almost four hundred thousand. Seven cities contain reserve legions behind the borders, and our reserve legions have about two hundred thousand soldiers.”

 

Huo Yuhao understood the situation as he listened to her. The Star Luo Empire's western borders had about six hundred thousand soldiers stationed there, and of them, there were about three hundred thousand fighting soldiers. It was a very large number. Furthermore, the two Field Armies stationed at

the western borders undoubtedly possessed the greatest fighting strength within the entire military, while they also had the best equipment. In the end, the Sun Moon Empire was the Star Luo Empire’s greatest enemy. At least the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons that the Star Luo Empire had purchased from the Tang Sect had been transferred to the western front...

Under such circumstances, war had suddenly erupted at the borders, yet the Star Luo Empire’s defenses were still torn apart. The Star Luo Empire’s strongest army, the Northwestern Field Army, had been utterly crushed. It wasn’t hard to imagine how shocking the Sun Moon Empire’s blow was.

The Sixth Reserve Legion was quickly mobilized, and they swiftly entered Imperial Radiant City, along with their armaments.

Intel streamed in continuously back and forth from Imperial Radiant City and the front lines. The city’s gates were

 

immediately sealed after the Fourth and Sixth Reserve Legions entered the city, and everyone was on high alert. Many soldiers were deployed to protect the city’s most important granaries and armories. The atmosphere was unprecedentedly tense, and the air was so heavy and dense that it seemed as though it

could drip with water.

Huo Yuhao and the others belonged to the Third Battalion of the Sixth Reserve Legion, which was part of the Seventh Division. They were arranged on the eastern side of the city. They had too many recruits, so if the fighting did reach the city, the western front would be the first place to be assaulted. Therefore, the recruits were deployed near the eastern side of the city.

Xu Yun went for another meeting before she returned to her provisional battalion with a gloomy face, while she arranged for Huo Yuhao and Dai Luoli to wait inside the room with her.

“What’s  the  situation,  battalion  commander?”   Dai  Luoli asked worriedly. This matter was closely related to his father’s safety, so there was no way he couldn’t be anxious.

 

Xu  Yun’s  face  was  filled  with  concern  and  anxiety.  “The situation is terrible. The number of dead or injured at the front lines is still unclear, but we know that the White Tiger Duke has led his personal soldiers to cover the rear so that most of his army can withdraw from the Sun Moon Empire’s range. The front lines have sustained severe losses, while the Western Field Army has been hit with a destructive assault at the same time. The Sun Moon Empire has used another Class 9

stationary soul cannon shell, as well. Our conservative estimate is that the Sun Moon Empire has used more than six Class 9 stationary cannon shells this time.”

Huo Yuhao drew a cold breath when he heard her words. Because he knew how powerful stationary soul cannon shells were, he could understand how frightening their destructive power was.

Dai Luoli’s face was ghastly pale, but his eyes suddenly became determined and resolute. “I’m going to look for my father. I’m leaving, Xu Yun.” With that, he turned and began to walk out.

Huo Yuhao grabbed his shoulder and heartlessly pulled him back. “You’re not going anywhere. It’s useless even if you go, so you’re going to stay here and do nothing. Do you think that

 

you, a Soul Elder that doesn’t even have four soul rings, can turn the tide even if you go to the front lines?”

Dai Luoli’s eyes were bloodshot. “I can’t just wait here! My father is fighting with his life for our country’s survival. I am his son, and even if I have to die, I will bleed with him and die valiantly on the battlefield! We have enlisted in the army to defend our nation! I am a soul master, so what will I be if I wait here with the recruits?”

Huo Yuhao slapped Dai Luoli right across his face and sent him crumpling to the ground. He said coldly, “Your intentions are good and you’re very brave, but that’s brainless bravery. So what if you’re a soul master? Do you really think you can get out of the city when the city gates are sealed shut? Or are you intending to expose your identity as the White Tiger Duke’s son, and embarrass your father at the same time?

“You should hate yourself because you’re not strong enough, and can’t help him at a time like this. If you have sufficient determination, you should use that on cultivation! Imperial Radiant City is positioned behind the front lines, and once they can’t hold on any longer, the army will have to retreat through Imperial Radiant City. Do something you can afford to do with

 

your strength, and is far better and more useful than throwing away your life like that.”

Perhaps Dai Luoli was used to being beaten by Huo Yuhao, but he wasn’t furious because of this slap. He got back to his feet, his expression grave and stern, but he said nothing.

Xu Yun sat down on a chair by the side. Her eyes were scattered, and she was beside herself with panic. Faced with an all-out war of such a scale, the little princess was completely lost with worry and panic.

Huo Yuhao glanced at the sky outside. He lowered his voice and said, “The two of you, stay here and cultivate. I’ll take a look at the front lines, and bring first-hand intel back to you guys.”

“You’re going?”  Dai Luoli and Xu Yun stared at him at the same time.

Huo Yuhao walked up before Dai Luoli, and his cold eyes suddenly became warm. He patted him on the shoulder and said, “Call me your older brother.”

“Older brother!” Dai Luoli called out subconsciously,

Huo Yuhao smiled faintly and said, “Stay here and don’t go anywhere. I’ll come back to look for you very soon.” With that, Huo Yuhao vanished into thin air soundlessly in front of Dai Luoli.

“You…” Dai Luoli stared at the space in front of him with widened eyes and slack jaw. He didn’t feel any soul power undulations from Huo Yuhao, and only his martial soul, which had finished its mutation, seemed to feel something.

Xu Yun’s eyes were equally frozen. “Now I firmly believe that he wasn’t sent by your father.”

“Why?” Dai Luoli asked subconsciously.

Xu Yun answered, “If your father had sent him here, he wouldn’t have beat you so cruelly. However, you seem to be a lot stronger than before he beat you up.”

 

“……”

------

Huo Yuhao surged into the sky in a flash after he left the army camp. He unleashed his Imitation, and his entire being seemed to integrate into the air. His spiritual power spread out in all directions like an enormous web, instantly blanketing the entire city.

Huo Yuhao possessed spiritual power that astonished even the Beast God, Di Tian! Only spiritual power at such a level could possess such prowess.

Huo Yuhao couldn’t help but shake his head when he made a brief survey of the city. Imperial Radiant City didn’t have a single aerial surveillance soul tool, and there were only several soul power detectors on the battlements. Imperial Radiant City’s defenses were a far cry from the Sun Moon Empire’s Sunrise City back then, the result of the Star Luo Empire lagging behind in industrial standards. He didn’t know how much longer the Star Luo Empire could hold on this time.

 

He continued contemplating as he started to move, transforming into a beam of flowing light and surging towards the west.

Huo Yuhao left Imperial Radiant City’s borders and put his Butterfly Wings on, his speed rising exponentially as he infused soul power into his wings.

Huo Yuhao quickly saw the defeated soldiers who were retreating from the front lines. They were truly and utterly crushed! Large amounts of soldiers were retreating from the western front with their heads hanging dispiritedly, crestfallen, while many others were injured. Even their formations seemed a little messy and disorganized.

How did this happen? Huo Yuhao could tell from his training that the Star Luo Empire had very solid foundations, and even their recruits were controlled with strict military discipline. Why were the defeated soldiers so dispirited?

Huo Yuhao landed quietly on the ground and merged himself into the defeated army. He was dressed like a normal soldier in the first place, and he discovered from the other soldiers that the Sun Moon Empire’s sudden assault was a lot more ferocious than he had imagined.

The Star Luo Empire’s aerial surveillance was simply too weak, to the point where the Sun Moon Empire managed to transport powerful individuals through their western borders in different batches. They assaulted the Star Luo Empire in full force, and after their Class 9 stationary soul cannon shells wreaked havoc with their frightening power, these powerful individuals rushed into the army camps that were sent into disarray. They focused on killing officers and creating even more chaos, and they caused the entire Northwestern Field Army to descend into utter chaos and confusion.

 

If not for the White Tiger Duke’s strict handling of his soldiers, and the fact that he had formidable prowess at controlling his army, the Northwestern Field Army would have sustained even heavier losses. The front lines had already lost about seventy thousand people.

According to the defeated soldiers, beams of powerful light rained down from the sky continuously after that terrifying explosion occurred, and decimated the Star Luo Empire’s stronghold on the mountaintop. Afterward, large numbers of soul engineers flooded into the Ming Dou Mountain Range and massacred everyone.

This was clearly a fighting style where top-tier fighting strength was used to open a path. Furthermore, with the soul engineer legions’ ability to fly, the Sun Moon Empire’s aerial army had an absolute advantage. The Sun Moon Empire had complete air supremacy, and they had used it to great advantage.

The Star Luo Empire always knew that they were lagging behind the Sun Moon Empire in terms of soul tools, but only after this all-out war had erupted did they understand how big this rift was.

 

Yes, this rift was truly far too big.

------

Huo Yuhao returned to his journey after obtaining that information. He understood that with the frightening power of soul tools, the defense mechanisms in traditional wars of the past were far from enough to withstand the Sun Moon Empire’s assault. The Sun Moon Empire had come prepared, and the Star Luo Empire was in deep trouble after they lost the Ming Dou Mountain Range, which was their first line of defense. This defeat was likely to be impossible to turn around!

Huo Yuhao didn’t take long to fly over two hundred kilometers. Huo Yuhao could sense intense soul power undulations that were rippling and exploding from a distance. The sky was beginning to darken, and flashes of varying colors that bloomed and flickered continuously on the borders were thus even more obvious.

He quickly noticed what had happened to the Ming Dou Mountain Range.

 

There was an enormous gap in the Ming Dou Mountain Range. This gap had a very strange, extremely sinister shape, and was burned black. It was evidently caused by the frightening explosive force of Class 9 stationary soul cannon shells bombarding the mountains. Huo Yuhao could see from a long distance away that large numbers of soldiers from the Sun Moon Empire were streaming into the Star Luo Empire’s

borders through this gap.

The Star Luo Empire’s defensive perimeter had been utterly crushed on all fronts. But what about the White Tiger Duke and the others? Could it be that the White Tiger Duke and his personal guards had been slaughtered?

The remnants of the Star Luo Empire’s armies were battered and bruised. Voluminous aerial surveillance and land surveillance soul tools dotted the sky roughly ten kilometers away, while soul tool fronts and positions constructed by soul engineers were gradually taking shape on the ground. Brilliant flashes that flickered from time to time slowly disappeared at the same time.

The Northwestern Field Army’s front had been completely lost after just half a day.

 

Huo Yuhao gulped as he hovered in midair; even he was a little lost.

That was the Star Luo Empire’s most formidable fighting strength! Were they actually crushed that simply?

Huo Yuhao couldn’t tell which soul engineer legions were stationed beneath him, and he closed his eyes as he withdrew every inch of spiritual power that he had let out.

He was under the cover of Imitation, and even aerial surveillance soul tools couldn’t detect his presence. Only thermal detectors could possibly discover his presence.

A rose-gold vertical eye gradually surfaced behind Huo Yuhao’s back, and his head glowed at the same time as a rose- gold wheel of light appeared behind his head. The aura of destiny undulated outward at the same time.

His Spiritual Detection’s range was ultimately limited, and his spiritual power wasn’t as powerful as that of the Evileye Tyrant King, who could reach five hundred kilometers away with Spiritual Detection. When Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual

 

Detection reached a range of ten thousand meters, his accuracy would be greatly reduced. Furthermore, the battlefield at the border was so large, it was clearly impossible for him to find the White Tiger Duke with Spiritual Detection. Therefore, he opted for another method. He wanted to try a method that he felt he could have used a long time ago, but had never tried before. He wanted to try to use destiny to guide him.

This wasn’t a soul skill. Huo Yuhao possessed the power of destiny, and he was using his heart to feel, sensing for palpitations that stemmed from destiny.

The vertical eye behind Huo Yuhao was withdrawn after a moment, and his eyes turned towards the north. Something in the dark was guiding him, that the White Tiger Duke should be to the north.

He turned around and sped up once again, racing towards the north.

The Northwestern Field Army was not just stationed at the western borders; they were also near the Heavenly Soul Empire at the same time. They could reach the Heavenly Soul Empire’s borders if they traveled less than five hundred

 

kilometers north from their position. The White Tiger Duke was actually taking what was left of his forces and retreating towards the north. Why was he doing that?

Huo Yuhao flew forward rapidly with some doubts in mind. His thoughts were slowly ironed out, and his expression immediately grew ugly. However, traces of admiration tinged his eyes.

The White Tiger Duke didn’t retreat toward the east, but toward the north. There could only be one reason for that. The White Tiger Duke was one of the main targets for the Sun Moon Empire’s sudden onslaught. The Sun Moon Empire would attempt to take him down at all costs, so their most formidable fighting strength should have been directed at him. He retreated to the north to draw this force away to give the Star Luo Empire’s defeated armies time to retreat. The Sun Moon Empire’s soul engineer legions were still flying through the air, and the threat and damage they could cause to normal soldiers were far too heavy and severe.

Even though the hatred that Huo Yuhao felt towards the White Tiger Duke wasn’t reduced by much, he still admired the White Tiger Duke’s bravery and heroism. He was the marshal, but he wasn’t the first to retreat, and he placed

 

himself in grave danger so that he could buy time for his armies to retreat. This deed wasn’t something that normal people could perform.

Huo Yuhao released his spiritual power at the same time as he continued flying towards the north. Indeed, there were many scars and traces of battle left behind on the ground. Some were left behind by soul tools, and others were left behind by soul masters and the armies. Huo Yuhao saw corpses from time to time, and he could tell from these traces that the battle was violent and vigorous, but there weren’t that many people fighting. The total number couldn’t be more than ten thousand people, but this group had to be the most elite members from both sides.

The Star Luo Empire had few soul engineers and soul tools, but their numbers of true soul masters wasn’t something the Sun Moon Empire could compare to. There was at least one soul master legion in the Northwestern Field Army, with at least a thousand people that consisted entirely of true soul masters. Even though they weren’t the White Tiger’s personal guards, they only listened to the White Tiger Duke’s orders and commands.

 

The Star Luo Empire had a total of ten such soul master legions. Unfortunately, these soul master legions were far too powerful, to the point where the Star Luo Empire’s royal family didn’t dare to hand them over to the White Tiger Duke for him to command. The entire Northwestern Field Army had only been assigned one such soul master legion.

Huo Yuhao couldn’t fly that quickly because he was surveying the traces of battle on the ground, but the good thing was that he knew he was going in the right direction. The further he flew, the more he understood how much the Sun Moon Empire wanted to kill the White Tiger Duke.

Huo Yuhao could tell from the corpses on the ground that there were at least two soul engineer legions chasing down the White Tiger Duke and his soldiers. Furthermore, these two legions were members of the Hand that Protects the Nation. Huo Yuhao had seen one of them before; that legion had trapped Huo Yuhao and the others, which had ultimately resulted in Wang Qiu’er sacrificing herself for him. That legion was the Evil Tyrant Legion, and from what the soul engineers who had been killed were wearing, the other legion should be the Terrorclaw Soul Engineer Legion.

 

These two legions had top-tier equipment; they were beast- ranked soul engineer legions! They were equipped with large amounts of top-tier soul tools, and their average fighting strength was equal to that of a Class 4 soul engineer or higher! Furthermore, they were exceptionally adept at teamwork and cooperation.

Huo Yuhao flew for another hour before he could faintly see waves of flickering light in the distance.

These lights were flickering at an incredible rate; it wasn’t hard to see that the battle was extremely intense.

Huo Yuhao found the right direction, so he no longer had to determine his destination. He hurriedly accelerated as much as he could and flew in that direction.

He could see shadows and figures flickering with beams of light in the air over the horizon. This group was mainly split into two groups: the first group belonged to the Evil Tyrant Soul Engineer Legion, whose flying-type soul tools sparkled with blue light, and the other group belonged to the Terrorclaw Soul Engineer Legion, whose flying-type soul tools flickered with dark golden light.

These two soul engineer legions were spread out in midair, and were maintaining their soul engineer front in the air just like that. A blue dome protected the Evil Tyrant Legion, while a dark gold dome protected the Terrorclaw Legion. Huo Yuhao could see that the soul power from these domes came from a spike-shaped soul tool at the tips of their flying-type soul tools. Everyone was releasing soul power from this soul tool, and

their soul power congregated and transformed into these enormous domes.

The ratio of corpses that Huo Yuhao saw on the way here was heavily in favor of soul engineers. There were far too few soul engineers who had perished, that number stood at a little over ten, while the Star Luo Empire had left behind far too many corpses. The White Tiger Duke’s personal guards had suffered heavy losses and injuries, and many individuals who should be powerful soul masters were killed in action.

The two soul engineer legions that were hovering in midair were firing thick soul rays towards the ground, again and again. They weren’t firing among themselves or at their own discretion, the soul tools they were using seemed to have a combined effect. Three to five people formed one team, and every soul ray they fired would cause intense explosions on the ground beneath them.

The situation on the ground was far more tragic and disastrous compared to the soul engineers. Huo Yuhao possessed necromantic abilities, and as he reached out with his spiritual power, he could already feel many spiritual undulations on the ground. Those spirits belonged to the dead!

Compared to the two distinct domes in the sky, there were also domes on the ground, and they were also used for defense, but they could only be described as multicolored.

There were almost a hundred different kinds of light, and the situation seemed very scattered and disorganized. It was clear that the soul masters were the main defensive force on the ground.

The White Tiger Duke’s personal guards couldn’t do much in a battle at this level, and most of those who died on the ground consisted of the White Tiger Duke’s personal guards.

There were seven or eight people hovering amongst the two soul engineer legions in the sky. These people didn’t unleash any attacks, and were just watching the battlefield coldly. They were inside the protective barriers, but Huo Yuhao could still feel how powerful and frightening these people were.

Huo Yuhao had seen three of them before. They were judges for the Radiant City Elite Soul Engineer Tournament in the Sun Moon Empire’s Radiant City, and the person he was most familiar with was this group’s leader. Wasn’t he the Starsky Douluo, Ye Yulin, who had given him the Sunmoon Divine Needle back then? At this moment, a Class 9 Sunmoon Divine Needle was hovering above his head. Furthermore, there wasn’t just one... there were two!

Huo Yuhao didn’t have to ask to faintly guess that the Starsky Douluo’s appearance here probably had something to do with the Sunmoon Divine Needle that he had given the White Tiger

 

Duke back then. At this moment, one of the two Sunmoon Divine Needles above his head was likely to be the one that Huo Yuhao had given Dai Hao back then.

These formidable individuals, who were some of the strongest soul engineers in the Sun Moon Empire, were undoubtedly holding down the fort here so that they could eradicate whatever resistance there was on the ground.

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, and calmed and steadied himself as much as he could. Even though he was far stronger than he was last time, his strength was still far too small and weak on a battlefield such as this.

Huo Yuhao was the only finished product from the Ultimate Soldier Plan, and he knew that he had to use every possible resource he could to turn the fight around, and those resources didn’t just comprise strength and abilities.

Huo Yuhao lowered his altitude and moved his spiritual power towards the Star Luo Empire’s soldiers. Right now, he wasn’t even sure if the White Tiger Duke was still alive.

 

The situation quickly became clear.

The Star Luo Empire had less than two thousand soldiers left. The White Tiger Duke’s personal guards made up about thirteen to fourteen hundred of these two thousand soldiers, and they relied on about five to six hundred soul masters defending with their full strength to barely maintain the current situation.

None of these soul masters were weak, and some had stronger soul power than the two soul engineer legions in the sky. Their soul rings sparkled on their bodies, and even the weakest of them had five soul rings.

The Star Luo Empire’s royal family still strongly supported the Northwestern Field Army. This soul master legion comprised the best of the best soul masters in the Star Luo Empire. Even though they had lost quite a few people, they were the reason why the White Tiger Duke could still hold back the Sun Moon Empire’s soul engineer legions so that the Northwestern Field Army could retreat.

However, these soul masters’ faces were filled with fatigue, and everyone wore solemn and grave expressions.

None of them would be afraid of the soul engineers in the sky if they were one against one, and there were even four Titled Douluo among these soul masters. The White Tiger Duke was still among this group, but he seemed like he was in a bad state

– half his body was scorched black, and he was supporting himself with a yard-long knife as he commanded the battle. He had sustained severe injuries.

The other three Titled Douluo spread out and continuously cooperated with other soul masters to defend the group. They seemed like they had expended a lot of their soul power as well!

The White Tiger Duke was panting with heavy breaths. His eyes were still as resolute as ever, but they were already flowing with determination and a grim resignation to fate. He had been suppressed on this hill for almost two hours, and reinforcements couldn’t possibly come for them, no matter what happened. Even though the Sun Moon Empire’s army had entered the Ming Dou Mountain Range, the White Tiger Duke and his army would probably be eliminated today if he didn’t make a decision soon.

 

Dai  Hao  lowered  his  voice  and  growled,  “Invite  the  Big Dipper Douluo here.”

Dai Hao’s eldest son was standing beside him. Dai Yueheng, who had graduated from Shrek Academy. Five years had gone by, and Dai Yueheng was now a powerful seven-ringed Soul Sage. He was just twenty-five years old, and he was definitely considered an elite among the younger generation. He could represent Shrek Academy in battle as their vice-team leader back then, which sufficiently displayed his talent.

“Yes.”  Dai Yueheng acknowledged, and he quickly called an elderly man who was in his seventies over to Dai Hao. This man was one of the three powerful Titled Douluo in the soul masters’ formation.

This elderly man came beside Dai Hao, and suddenly arched his eyebrows as he pointed towards the sky with his right hand. A silver-white beam of light surged into the sky, and this light beam webbed out as it transformed into an enormous umbrella more than fifty meters in diameter. This umbrella blocked the soul rays and whatnot that were raining from the sky, and some of these attacks even included attacks from Class 8 soul engineers.

 

These soul rays and soul cannons didn’t just land on the umbrella’s surface. These attacks seemed like they were immediately dispelled when they touched the silver-white radiance on the umbrella’s surface, and they were parsed and consumed by countless thin and fine spaces in the air.

Therefore, no explosions rang out.

This elderly man was the commander of the Star Luo Empire’s First Soul Master Legion, the Big Dipper Douluo, Xuan Ji. He was one of the Titled Douluo who belonged to the older generation within the Star Luo Empire, and his real name had long been forgotten, so he had always been called Xuan Ji. His soul power stood at Rank 94, and his martial soul was a Big Dipper Umbrella. He was very good friends with the last generation’s White Tiger Duke, and one generation older than Dai Hao. The previous generation’s White Tiger Duke had pleaded with him to protect the White Tiger lineage, and he was one of the strongest core forces in the White Tiger Duke’s camp.

“Duke.” The Big Dipper Douluo’s face looked a little pale as he blocked the attacks that rained down from the sky. His expression was also extremely grave at this moment. The Sun Moon Empire had clearly planned and schemed their sudden ambush for a long time, and the ferocity of their assault exceeded everyone’s expectations. The Sun Moon Empire

 

didn’t send their forces swiftly into the Star Luo Empire. Instead, they sent their strongest fighting strength against the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, which clearly meant that they had planned this. The White Tiger Duke was the Northwestern Field Army’s marshal, and he was also the mainstay for the Star Luo Empire’s western defense perimeter. Once he died, the Northwestern and the Western Field Armies would be dealt an unprecedentedly large psychological blow. This result would be exceptionally beneficial for what the Sun Moon Empire wanted to do next.

Furthermore, Dai Hao wasn’t the invaders’ only target. They were also going after the Star Luo Empire’s First Soul Master Legion, because this legion represented ten percent of the soul masters that the royal family controlled. Soul masters were inferior to soul engineers on the battlefield if legion fought against legion, but if these soul masters were used or deployed in another fashion, their impact and force would be comparable to that of a soul engineer legion. The First Soul Master Legion was also the strongest legion overall amongst the Star Luo Empire’s ten great soul master legions.

From the sudden bombardment from those Class 9 stationary soul cannons until now, the First Soul Master Legion had lost about one-third of their soul masters. This painful price was paid in exchange for an opportunity for the

 

remnants of the Northwestern Field Army to retreat. The Big Dipper Douluo had requested the White Tiger Duke to lead his army in retreat a long time ago, but Dai Hao had insisted otherwise. He led his personal guards to cover the rear, and worked together with the Big Dipper Douluo’s First Soul

Master Legion to do so. If he hadn’t done that, the First Soul

Master Legion would probably have been destroyed by now. However, if their current circumstances were allowed to persist, they would still be unable to escape their fate of eradication and complete defeat.

“Duke.” The Big Dipper Douluo came beside the White Tiger Duke, and heaved a faint sigh when he saw the wounds all over Dai Hao’s body.

The White Tiger Duke’s most severe injury came from the Starsky Douluo’s Sunmoon Divine Needle. Initially, the White Tiger Duke had had a Sunmoon Divine Needle of his own, but the Starsky Douluo took his Sunmoon Divine Needle away as soon as he appeared, and even used this Sunmoon Divine Needle to heavily wound Dai Hao. If the White Tiger Duke hadn’t had several defensive soul tools on his body, and if not for the fact that his martial soul was powerful, he would probably have died from that hit.

 

Dai Hao raised his hand, and a layer of white light was released from his hand. This white light encompassed himself and the Big Dipper Douluo within it.

Dai Hao’s eyes were still as bright as ever. He clenched his fists tightly and said, “Uncle Xuan Ji, we can’t continue on like this. We can’t escape our fate of losing every single solder if this goes on.”

The Big Dipper Douluo stared at him and said, “What are your plans?”

Dai Hao lowered his voice and said, “I am their target. After a while, I will order my personal guards to charge out and scatter in all directions to create an illusion that I want to charge out. I will run by myself towards the north to attract the enemy’s attention. You will take the First Soul Master Legion and break through towards the southeast. Run as far as you can, and preserve as much life and strength as possible, Preserve your strength so that we can retaliate in the future.”

“No,” The Big Dipper Douluo’s expression changed drastically as he retorted angrily, “What nonsense are you spouting? Your father has given me the task of protecting the

 

White Tiger’s lineage. How can I just leave you behind and run away? If I did that, how could I face your father in the afterlife?”

Dai Hao said calmly, “Uncle Xuan Ji, now is not the time to talk about sentiments. My decision is for my empire’s future. It’s meaningless if everyone dies in battle here today, and right now, there’s no way we can deal any conceivable or effective damage to those fellows in the sky. Their collective defensive soul tool formation is too powerful, and even Transcendent Douluo probably couldn’t break through. You have to go, and you’ll take Yueheng away. He will take over as the White Tiger Duke after my death. Time is of the essence, Uncle Xuan Ji, so you must listen to me. Only I will remain to draw their attention and create an opportunity for you guys to survive. It won’t be that easy for them to kill me either, and I will try my best to survive as long as a chance exists. We can’t unleash our full strength if we stay together.”

The Big Dipper Douluo’s chest puffed heavily in and out. He understood in his heart that the White Tiger Duke’s solution was the best one for now. But how could he abandon Dai Hao when he had watched Dai Hao grow up since he was a child?

 

“Uncle Xuan Ji, please make a move while everyone still has soul power. The plan has been decided, and I will be at ease handing Yueheng over to you.”

He dispelled the soundproofing barrier that he had just released as he spoke. He turned to Dai Yueheng beside as he lowered his voice and said, “You will follow grandpa Xuan Ji, and we will break out in two different groups. You will listen to grandpa Xuan Ji’s orders after breaking out. Do you understand?”

Dai Yueheng hesitated for a moment and asked, “What about you, father?”

Dai Hao muttered coldly, “I will break out from another direction. Only in this way will we have a higher chance of breaking out. Go… it’s up to you now, uncle Xuan Ji.”

The Big Dipper Douluo heaved a long sigh as he stared at the deep determination and resolve in Dai Hao’s eyes. He grabbed Dai Yueheng as he turned and left.

Chapter 423: The White Tiger's Crisis

There couldn’t be any more delays. Every soul engineer of the two large soul engineering legions of the Sun Moon Empire brought along Milk Bottles that corresponded to their rank, each having at least two. However, the Star Luo Empire’s soul master legions weren’t equipped in the same way. Among the three empires of the Douluo Continent, the Star Luo Empire was the most traditional. They were the ones who disregarded the development of soul tools the most. As there were too many traditional sects in the Star Luo Empire that discriminated against soul tools, the imperial family wasn’t able to advertise the use of soul tools on a large scale.

It was only after Princess Jiujiu interacted with the Tang Sect that they decided to start using Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons. It was just that the Sun Moon Empire had managed to completely destroy the cannons on the Western Border before they could even unleash their full strength. Only some of the cannons in the military camp were able to have some effect.

Seeing that the Big Dipper Douluo was about to take Dai Yueheng away, the White Tiger Duke revealed a gentle expression on his determined face. While Dai Yueheng was a

 

slightly haughty person, he had become much better after following his father for a few years. Furthermore, his cultivation talent even exceeded the White Tiger Duke’s. With both Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin around, the White Tiger Duke’s lineage would definitely last beyond him. However, whether this national crisis would…

Dai Hao lifted his head again after sighing silently. He had already made his decision. Hecould only make a choice now, and it was only by sacrificing his White Tiger bodyguards and himself that he could save those soul masters. War was brutal. As a commander, he had to be decisive.

“White Tigers, listen to my command!” Dai Hao shouted.

If the First Soul Master Legion retreated, his defense here would immediately disappear. When that happened, his White Tiger bodyguards were likely to be killed by the attacks of the aerial soul tools even though their individual fighting strength could compare to either a one or two-ringed soul master.

As he clenched his lips tightly, Dai Hao took a deep look at all the brothers and comrades that had followed him for years. He tried his best to hold back his tears. After this short half a day’s

 

worth of war, there were only slightly more than a thousand of his White Tiger bodyguards left.

My brothers, I’ve let all of you down!

All the commanders among the White Tiger bodyguards quickly gathered in front of Dai Hao to receive their orders. These commanders were also soul masters, and their cultivations were quite high, too.

Dai Hao said, “Later, we’ll need to cover the First Soul Master Legion as they retreat towards the north.”

One  of  the  leading  commanders  asked,  “Marshal,  are  we creating a diversion?”

“Yes.” Dai Hao nodded.

This bunch of commanders kneeled down on the ground at the same time, “Marshal, please retreat along with the First Soul Master Legion.”  They understood the White Tiger Duke

 

very well. They could naturally see the determined look in the his eyes.

Dai Hao smiled and lifted his hands. A strong force lifted these loyal commanders to their feet. “Do you think those guys from the Sun Moon Empire will let me off if I’m among those who are trying to escape? More people can escape if I’m the bait. White Tigers like us cannot be cowardly, given that we lead the Northwestern Field Army. Are all of you willing to die with me?”

“Marshal!” All of them exclaimed sorrowfully. They weren’t afraid of death, and were willing to sacrifice their lives for the White Tiger Duke. It was just that they couldn’t watch helplessly as the White Tiger Duke perished along with them!

“We don’t have much time left. This is an order. All of you should understand that no one can change my course after I’ve made up my mind. Go and prepare! After I make my move, all of you shall follow me! Quick!”

This bunch of commanders held back their tears as they turned around. Dai Hao’s tears finally flowed as he watched their backs. He lifted his head to look into the sky and

 

muttered to himself as he watched the soul rays that were coming from the sky, “If there’s a next life, I’m willing to be brothers with all of you again. I’m sorry that I can’t protect all of you.” He clenched his fist, and the veins on his arms became very obvious. His aura started to rise rapidly, and nine soul rings rose from beneath his feet. The aura that he released was extremely wild, and even the Starsky Douluo Ye Yulin and the other strong individuals could sense it clearly.

---

Ye Yulin said coldly, “The White Tiger Duke is going to go all- out. Be prepared to unleash all of your strength.” As he spoke, his body also shone brightly. A large amount of soul power was poured into his Sunmoon Divine Needle. He only had one goal… kill Dai Hao! As long as this White Tiger Duke was dead, all the defenses on the western side of the Star Luo Empire would be compromised. Of course, he didn’t think that the White Tiger Duke’s presence could affect the big picture that much either way. Whether it was the Star Luo Empire, the Heavenly Soul Empire or the Dou Ling Empire, he believed that they were on the cusp of annihilation. This world already belonged to soul tools. While these three empires had started to realize this in recent years, they were still a little too late.

 

Just as things got tense between both sides and the battle was about to reach its end, a strange aura suddenly filled the entire place.

A rose-gold vertical eye suddenly opened in the sky without any warning. It appeared between the two soul engineering legions in the sky and the remaining White Tiger bodyguards on the ground.

When it appeared, the soul rays that shot towards the ground would instantly be diverted away by some strange force when they came within a hundred-meter diameter from it. These soul rays were then unable to pose any threat.

Rose-gold sunray patterns slowly spread out. Under the influence of these magical patterns, everything in the area turned weird.

The White Tiger Duke heard a familiar voice in his head. “Aren’t you going to carry out your plan? What are you waiting for?”

 

When he heard this voice, Dai Huo was first shocked. After this, he immediately recalled something, and revealed a delighted look in his eyes. He shouted, “White Tigers, follow me. First Soul Master Legion, retreat!”

The White Tiger Duke was the first to move, and he led his bodyguards towards the north. He led the charge, and quickly burst into the distance. He intentionally ran very quickly, and widened the gap between him and his bodyguards. He knew that he was his enemies’ most important target. The closer his men were to him, the faster they would die!

On the other side, the Big Dipper Douluo was already tearing up. Dai Yueheng, who planned to save his father, led the First Soul Master Legion towards the southeast. Figures rose roughly five meters from the ground and flew in that direction using flying-type soul tools they had already prepared. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to protect the White Tiger bodyguards and flee so far. Without the White Tiger bodyguards to burden them now, they were able to flee much more quickly.

Dai Hao flew forward with all his speed. Given his abilities as a Titled Douluo, his speed was very high even though he wasn’t an agility-type soul master. However, he found it very strange

 

that the soul engineers in the sky didn’t unleash their all-out attack against him even though he was fleeing at top speed. Even if the Starsky Douluo’s attack could cover a huge region, was he really so self-confident?

However, the White Tiger Duke didn’t know that all the soul engineers, including Ye Yulin, were seeing things quite differently. Just as Dai Hao heard that mysterious voice, the Starsky Douluo and every soul engineer heard that mysterious voice as well.

“I come from the Holy Ghost Church, and I was tasked by my leader to assist all of you. I’ll use a secret technique to freeze all of them below. After that, you can attack them with all your might and destroy them.”  A cold voice sounded in everyone’s head. Even the Starsky Douluo was moved, even though he was normally a proud person.

They were in a defensive formation formed by several hundred soul engineers working together. Even a Transcendent Douluo wouldn’t be able to breach this formation easily. It was a combination of the strength of a few hundred soul engineers. Although this huge protective barrier wasn’t completely impenetrable, it should be able to resist a few attacks from an Ultimate Douluo. This was also the

 

strongest trump card of the five soul engineering legions of the Sun Moon Empire’s Hand that Protects the Nation.

However, the person with that mysterious voice was still able to transmit his spiritual intent even under such conditions. It showed how strong his spiritual power was.

Furthermore, Ye Yulin felt a very familiar feeling when he heard that voice, although he couldn’t recall where he had heard it before.

However, he still chose to believe that mysterious voice as he had no other choice, given what happened below.

The light released from the scarlet-gold vertical eye engulfed the entire area below, and the entire White Tiger Duke’s remaining army was hugely affected. All of them were disoriented, and their defense against aerial attacks weakened significantly.

Ye Yulin wouldn’t forgo such an opportunity. He immediately pointed  his  right  hand  downward  and  shouted,  “All-out attack!”

Soul rays immediately rained down. His Sunmoon Divine Needle that had just been fully charged unleashed a streak of golden-silver light towards Dai Hao, who had exposed himself.

Suddenly, there was a bloody scene below. Along with the coordination of the rose-gold vertical eye, there was a massacre. Patches of bloody light shone, and lives were quickly taken. Only the defenses of some soul masters were still effective. Even so, they were still completely annihilated after some time.

After Ye Yulin unleashed his Sunmoon Divine Needle, he immediately retrieved a Milk Bottle to recover his soul power. While his Sun Moon Divine Needle was strong, it greatly drained his soul power. He had already used it twice today. As a soul engineer, he knew that he had to keep himself at his peak in enemy territory. He didn’t continue attacking. The White Tiger Duke would definitely be unable to hold on for much longer!

As he recovered his soul power, Ye Yulin monitored the situation beneath him. When he saw the White Tiger bodyguards and the soul engineers of the Star Luo Empire’s First Soul Master Legion being killed, he felt something wasn’t right. The vertical eye had appeared at a very weird time. If he was sent by His Majesty, why didn’t he show himself immediately? Furthermore, why didn’t he discuss it with us before he appeared?

After he thought of all this, Ye Yulin was suddenly shocked. He shouted, “Stop!” His voice was transmitted through a sound amplifying soul tool. The soul engineers from the Terrorclaw Soul Engineering Legion and Evil Tyrant Soul Engineering Legion could hear him clearly.

Soul engineer legions were very disciplined. They needed to coordinate extremely well within their ranks in order to unleash their greatest fighting strength. All the soul engineers stopped instantly, and the entire place went silent.

Things didn’t seem amiss below. Tragic screams and sorrowful cries could be heard. The remaining White Tiger

 

bodyguards quickly gathered.

The White Tiger Duke had already disappeared under the attack of Ye Yulin’s Sunmoon Divine Needle and there was only a huge crater in the ground where he had been standing. Everything seemed to be very normal. However, Ye Yulin felt that something wasn’t right.

“Remove the barrier,” Ye Yulin ordered.

The two soul engineer legions trusted him. After all, it seemed like everything had been decided. It wasn’t possible for those on the ground to attack them or fly into the sky. The two huge protective soul barriers were quickly retracted and turned into streaks of lights that fused with the soul tool behind every soul engineer’s back.

When these protective soul barriers were retracted, Ye Yulin’s expression suddenly changed, and he shouted furiously, “No! It’s an illusion!”

Yes, he could immediately sense intense spiritual undulations the moment the barriers were retracted. If not for the fact that

 

he was wary, he might not have noticed these spiritual undulations at all. However, these spiritual undulations weren’t aimed at the ground.

They were clearly engulfing the airborne legions. If that person earlier was helping them, why would his spiritual undulations be engulfing them?

While a joint protective soul barrier was very strong, there was still one problem: it completely isolated the outside world. As a result, they weren’t able to sense the strong spiritual undulations earlier.

Once he discovered that something was wrong, Ye Yulin couldn’t be bothered with conserving his soul power anymore. His Sunmoon Divine Needle immediately turned and faced the rose-gold vertical eye before firing an intense beam of light.

This beam of golden-silver light immediately turned illusory and disappeared when it got close to that rose-gold vertical eye. Instantly, everything within the view of all the soul engineers completely changed.

 

There was no longer a bloody scene below. Yes, there were many holes that were blown apart in the ground. However, there wasn’t even a single corpse.

The First Soul Master Legion had already vanished. After such a long time, they had already flown more than five kilometers with their flying-type soul tools.

The White Tiger Bodyguards had also disappeared from their line of sight. The White Tiger Duke was nowhere to be seen. What left Ye Yulin even more depressed was that he didn’t know who had released the rose-gold vertical eye. Given how strong that illusory soul skill was, it had to be at least the work of a Titled Douluo who possessed great spiritual power.

“Chase  them!  The  White  Tiger  Duke  won’t  forsake  his bodyguards. He must be over there.”  As he spoke, Ye Yulin quickly activated his flying-type soul tool and chased after the White Tiger bodyguards.

------

 

Just as Ye Yulin and the others were attacking with all their strength, Dai Hao discovered that something was wrong. He could hear tremendous booms behind him. As he turned, he saw the countless soul rays that were raining down on them, but these soul rays were still striking the original spot they were in.

They didn’t chase after them. The rose-gold vertical eye was still flashing brightly in the sky.

This was…

His doubt instantly turned into extreme delight. He understood that someone must have used some method to misdirect the two soul engineer legions, and made them think that they were still in their original spot.

When he heard that voice earlier, he could tell that it was a familiar one. It sounded like the guy who gave him the Sunmoon Divine Needle before.

After he realized all this, Dai Hao didn’t bother running far away anymore. If he wanted to escape, he had a lot of

 

opportunities to do so right now. No matter how strong Ye Yulin was or how magical his Sunmoon Divine Needle was, it wasn’t a problem for him to escape the detection range of Ye Yulin’s Sunmoon Divine Needle given his abilities.

However, he still turned back without any hesitation. This was because he had to leave with his brothers even if he wanted to escape. They would either survive together or die together!

Dai Hao returned to his White Tiger bodyguards and shouted at the top of his voice, “White Tigers, run with all your might! Don’t care about what’s happening behind! This is our only chance!” He just hoped that the powerful individual would be able to delay Ye Yulin a bit longer. While he knew that it would be very difficult to escape with so many White Tiger bodyguards, he had no choice right now. At this moment, he saw a beam of light penetrating the rose-gold vertical eye in the distance, and the aerial attacks on the ground had already ceased. After this, he heard Ye Yulin roaring furiously before the two soul engineering legions attacked again. They flew extremely quickly towards them.

Are we still unable to escape in the end? Dai Hao revealed a lost look in his eyes. However, this was already the best result

 

they could achieve. At least those from the First Soul Master Legion had left. There was still a glimmer of hope for the empire.

Dai Hao wasn’t cowardly, and there was a determined look in his eyes. Just as he was about to fly up to fight his enemies, that mysterious voice sounded again. In addition, his voice now reached every White Tiger bodyguard.

“White Tigers, continue to run forward and enter the black doors in front of you. When you enter, don’t act recklessly no matter what you see. This is your only chance to survive. Quick! Or else it’ll be too late.” At the end, that voice sounded very anxious.

Dai Hao was stunned and quickly turned around. He was shocked to discover that several pitch-black doors had risen behind him. There were twelve of these doors. Every door was around three meters wide and ten meters tall. They gave off a very mysterious feeling.

The magnificent demonic patterns around these doors revealed a sinister aura.

 

At this point, Dai Hao’s decisiveness was revealed. He didn’t hesitate and immediately gave an order.

“Enter  those  black  doors  in  order.  There  must  be  no confusion.”  The best way to enter those doors wasn’t just by running towards them. The White Tiger bodyguards had to adopt a strict and neat formation.

The White Tiger bodyguards were already prepared to die. However, how could they not be delightfully surprised now that they were offered a glimmer of hope? If they could live, who would be willing to die?

Instantly, the fit White Tiger bodyguards sprinted towards those twelve black doors. However, they tried their best to maintain their formation as they charged, and weren’t messy as they made their escape.

Dai Hao didn’t leave. He rose into the sky. He had already calculated very clearly that during this short period of time they were offered, his White Tiger bodyguards would be within the attacking range of the two soul engineering legions before they entered the black doors. He was not going to leave until the last White Tiger bodyguard was safe.

How could the White Tiger Duke be ordinary, given that his subordinates were willing to risk their lives for him?

He heard a sigh and subconsciously turned his head to one side. He only saw a black figure floating not far away from him.

This person was completely covered in black and he was even wearing headgear that concealed his appearance. From his body shape, it seemed like he was a slender man.

“White Tiger Duke, why aren’t you leaving?”  This man in black had evidently altered his voice. He sounded low-pitched and hoarse right now.

Dai Hao replied, “I’ve never forsaken any soldier under me.

Even if we have to retreat, I have to be the last man.”

The man in black asked, “Don’t you think that’s very foolish? You can only protect the lives of more citizens of the Star Luo Empire if you are alive.”

 

Dai Hao laughed. His laughter sounded very free and easy, “Of course I know how foolish it is. However, this is what White Tigers believe in. Even if I’m foolish, I have to stay true to this belief. I have descendants, so what if I die? Thank you, Sir. You must be the one helping us. You must be the same guy from before, am I right?”

The man in black remained silent for a moment before answering, “Are you really planning to be the last to leave?”

“Yes.” Dai Hao answered his question and his nine soul rings flashed.

“Alright, I’ll stay with you, then.” The man in black sounded like he was in a bit of a dilemma. However, he also sounded very relieved when he finished speaking.

“Sir, you don’t have to do this. You’ve already helped us enough.”

“Stop talking nonsense and prepare to receive our enemies. I hope that your subordinates can run faster.” As he spoke, the man in black vanished into thin air.

After a few seconds, a rose-gold vertical eye appeared a thousand meters away in mid-air and blocked the advance of the soul engineer legions.

Initially, Ye Yulin could have fired his Sunmoon Divine Needle immediately, as Dai Hao was within range. However, he was greatly drained after firing his Sunmoon Divine Needle twice. He had already started preparing other soul tools, which were still very threatening in his hands!

However, the rose-gold vertical eye reappeared before he could lock onto the White Tiger Duke. Furthermore, everything in front of him turned blurry the moment it appeared. The White Tiger Duke and his bodyguards immediately became very unclear. If they were so unclear, how could Ye Yulin lock onto Dai Hao?

He wasn’t the only one who felt that way. All the soul engineers had the same feeling.

“Idiot,  you  are  courting  death!  Turn  him  into  waste!”  Ye Yulin shouted. Countless soul rays instantly streamed towards the golden vertical eye.

When these soul rays were still dozens of meters away from the vertical eye, the vertical eye instantly transformed into bubbles and disappeared.

However, its appearance had also caused the two soul engineer legions to stop. Before the soul engineers were even

 

able to react, the rose-gold vertical eye silently appeared again in mid-air after the soul rays passed through it.

What’s going on? Even if this is an illusion, it has to be created by a soul master! Why is it able to vanish on its own just as it’s about to be attacked, and reappear after that? What kind of ability is this?

Naturally, they didn’t know that this was what Huo Yuhao was capable of after his spiritual power reached the concrete- material realm.

The rose-gold vertical eye was created by Huo Yuhao, but it wasn’t just an illusion. As long as Huo Yuhao was willing, he could make it real. In fact, all the illusions that had affected them earlier were created by this vertical eye.

The greatest difference between the concrete-material and concrete-immaterial realm was that spiritual power in the concrete-immaterial realm could only spawn a spiritual avatar that could detect and survey things, but not do anything concrete. Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power in the concrete-material realm was an extension of his own body. Within a certain region, this extension of his body possessed some of his

 

powers. Huo Yuhao could retract this extension with just a thought. As he released and retracted this extension, he managed to slow the advance of the two soul engineer legions.

Huo Yuhao couldn’t possibly beat the Starsky Douluo in a duel. However, he was able to use all sorts of confusing tactics through his spiritual power and Spirit Eyes. On such a huge battlefield, capturing him would be very difficult. As long as Huo Yuhao didn’t risk his life, it would take a Transcendent Douluo to lock onto him with his spiritual power.

Others might be afraid of Ye Yulin’s Sunmoon Divine Needle, but Huo Yuhao wasn’t. His Sunmoon Divine Needle couldn’t lock onto Huo Yuhao unless the Evileye Tyrant King was helping Ye Yulin accurately target him. The best way of targeting Huo Yuhao was a powerful area of effect attack or a soul tool, and would also depend on one’s own cultivation. However, Huo Yuhao could predict things. Even in the face of such situations, he could still choose to flee. While his fighting strength wasn’t anything much on a battlefield, his survival skills were much better than most Titled Douluo.

However, using his spiritual power in the concrete-material realm was still quite draining. After all, Huo Yuhao was the only one apart from Ultimate Douluo and those with the same

 

spiritual cultivation who could use his spiritual power to unleash a soul skill. In terms of spiritual cultivation, Huo Yuhao could compare to an ordinary spiritual-type Titled Douluo.

As the rose-gold vertical eye appeared once again, things turned blurry in front of the Starsky Douluo yet again. His expression also turned serious, and his fury grew.

Given his experience, how could he not tell that this person didn’t want to fight it out with him? They wouldn’t have performed so many tricks if otherwise. Given the two soul engineer legions he had with him, he was confident of fighting an Ultimate Douluo!

Ye Yulin snorted and said, “Blow up the entire region straight ahead and between five hundred and a thousand meters away. Make sure the angle covered is a hundred and eighty degrees. Find that guy!”

Under his command, all the soul engineers started to move. They changed their soul rays to soul cannons, and explosive shells quickly filled the air.

 

Ye Yulin revealed a cold smile. I don’t believe I can’t blow this entire place up and make you appear. You have to be within range in order to use your soul skill. The region he had ordered the soul engineer legions to cover was extensive.

The tremendous booms that ensued turned the sky completely red. The energy storm generated from the explosions raged out, and terrifying lights flashed. Every time they flashed, the air would start to distort furiously.

Huo Yuhao had already turned back and fled the moment Ye Yulin ordered the two soul engineer legions. Ye Yulin was simply too vicious, and Yuhao couldn’t possibly handle such an attack. Once he was stuck in the explosions, his Imitation was bound to be overcome. Given the abilities of Ye Yulin and all the Class 8 and 9 soul engineers with him, Huo Yuhao would be wasted by their advanced soul tools the moment his position was exposed.

He had no choice but to flee.

As the explosions ensued, seven to eight figures also quickly flew out from the two soul engineer legions. They advanced in

 

different directions as they pursued the retreating White Tiger bodyguards.

These soul engineers were some of the strongest in the Sun Moon Empire. Naturally, they understood what the most effective way to deal with an illusion was. They had caught a fleeting glimpse of the black doors earlier. Although they didn’t know what those doors were, they could roughly guess that their pursuit would be unsuccessful once these White Tiger bodyguards entered those doors. They had to stop them from retreating.

Huo Yuhao didn’t return to the White Tiger Duke’s side. Under such circumstances, he knew that they could only prevail by surprise, and delaying the incoming soul engineers.

The White Tiger Duke was fearless even against the handful of soul engineers that were advancing towards them. He flew into the sky, and his third and fifth soul rings shone brightly, bringing up his White Tiger’s Vajra Transformation and White Tiger’s Devilgod Transformation. His body instantly grew to more than three meters in height, and his muscles bulged. His dominating aura, along with his strong killing intent, welcomed the incoming soul engineers.

 

Among the seven soul engineers, three of them were Class 9 soul engineers, including Ye Yulin. The remaining four were Class 8 soul engineers. If these soul engineers weren’t equipped with soul tools, they wouldn’t be able to compare to the White Tiger Duke given the strength of their martial souls. Even if the White Tiger Duke couldn’t challenge all of them, his strength was still close to their combined abilities. Advanced soul engineers devoted their energy towards soul tool research, and thus their individual fighting strength was pretty weak.

Ye Yulin flew at the center of the group. The Sunmoon Divine Needle above him had also already started charging. He knew that the White Tiger Duke wasn’t going to be easy to deal with. Without his destructive Sunmoon Divine Needle, they wouldn’t be able to kill Dai Hao quickly. If the others were able to stall Dai Hao and he dealt the fatal blow, things would be settled. As for the hidden enemy, his position would immediately be revealed the moment he dared to appear. He would also be killed. Right now, both Sunmoon Divine Needles were charging!

Ye Yulin didn’t know that this strategy would get him into huge trouble.

 

A figure was silently creeping up on him. In terms of soul tools, Ye Yulin was one of the strongest in the entire continent. However, his senses weren’t any better than an ordinary Titled Douluo, while the person who was creeping closer to him was the Eye of the Asura, whose spiritual power had shocked even the Beast God, Di Tian!

Huo Yuhao knew the goal of these soul engineers. As long as Dai Hao was still around, they wouldn’t give up their attacks on him. To save the White Tiger Duke, the best way was to fight!

Right now, Huo Yuhao was following behind Ye Yulin. He didn’t use any soul tools to aid him in flying, but his own cultivation. While Ye Yulin was flying very quickly, he still flew behind the other soul engineers, as he needed to charge his Sunmoon Divine Needle and locate Dai Hao. He was the rearmost point of their encirclement.

Huo Yuhao estimated his spiritual power. Under the effect of his Imitation, he believed that he wouldn’t be discovered even if he got within fifty meters of Ye Yulin. If he inched any closer, however, he was unsure of what would happen. Furthermore, he also believed that Ye Yulin had already taken precautions against him.

The Starsky Douluo posed the greatest threat to him and the White Tiger Duke of all these soul engineers. The offensive power of the Starsky Douluo’s Sunmoon Divine Needle was simply too scary. Many Titled Douluo were unable to handle the power of even a single strike from his Sunmoon Divine Needle. They only had a chance of escaping if they settled the Starsky Douluo first.

When Huo Yuhao was fifty meters away, he stopped inching closer. Instead, he silently followed the Starsky Douluo as he drew closer to Dai Hao.

In order to not draw fire on his subordinates, Dai Hao had already flown into the sky. These soul engineers had no issue with the White Tiger bodyguards escaping. They were content as long as the White Tiger Duke was killed. As the soul engineers drew closer to Dai Hao, Ye Yulin’s Sunmoon Divine Needle was about to finish charging.

The other two Class 9 soul engineers and four Class 8 soul engineers acted at almost the same time. Without any exceptions, their soul tools were all control-type. Light nets and powerful soul paralysis rays were unleashed towards the White Tiger Duke.

Dai Hao’s eyes lit up as he witnessed the incoming attacks. White sparks instantly flashed from his body. As his body shook in mid-air, he unleashed his seventh soul skill, his Martial Soul True Body. Just as he was about to risk his life, something weird suddenly occurred.

In an instant, that huge white tiger vanished in thin air, while the Starsky Douluo sensed a huge threat at that moment.

Two figures appeared behind Ye Yulin at the same time. One of them was Dai Hao, who was already in his White Tiger form now. The other figure was Huo Yuhao, who was still dressed in black. It was too sudden, and Ye Yulin was unable to react in time!

Chapter 424: Sparing Nothing for the Rescue

When they appeared behind Ye Yulin, all the soul engineers were stunned. How is this possible? Since when was the White Tiger Duke able to use Instant Teleportation? Furthermore, there isn’t any known Instant Teleportation skill with that kind of range!

Of course, Instant Teleportation couldn’t teleport someone so far away, and neither did the White Tiger Duke possess such a skill. However, Huo Yuhao did. More accurately speaking, it was Xu Sanshi that possessed such a skill.

Wang Qiu’er had once taken Huo Yuhao to the Great Star Dou Forest to attain a strange soul skill. Huo Yuhao rarely used this soul skill. However, it was able to turn the tides every time it was used. This soul skill was called Duplication.

Before Huo Yuhao’s spiritual cultivation reached such a high level, his Duplication had limited effects. There were some powerful soul skills that he couldn’t duplicate. However, his spiritual power was at the concrete-material realm now! No matter how strong a martial soul was, he was able to duplicate

 

all its soul skills. Of course, the strength of the soul skills he duplicated corresponded to his cultivation when he unleashed them.

Before leaving Shrek City, he had found Xu Sanshi and duplicated Xu Sanshi’s evolved fourth soul skill, Xuanwu Displacement. From afar, his opponent or partner could be instantly shifted in front of him. It wasn’t just a displacement, it was more like a summoning. The skill should have been called Xuanwu Summoning instead.

In fact, Huo Yuhao used two soul skills at once. His first soul skill was his Instant Teleportation, a skill from his soul bone. Instantly, he crossed the fifty-meter gap between him and the Starsky Douluo and appeared behind him. He wasn’t restricted by distance when he unleashed his soul skills. However, such a distance was undoubtedly more suitable for the White Tiger Duke to launch an attack!

After he used his Instant Teleportation, he unleashed his Xuanwu Summoning. Both he and Dai Hao unexpectedly appeared behind the Starsky Douluo.

 

Purplish-gold light flashed, and Huo Yuhao’s linked third soul skill also took effect. He didn’t open his Eye of Destiny earlier to control his aura, and right now, they didn’t have much time left, so he used his normal Spiritual Shock.

However, it was important to note that Huo Yuhao already had a seven-ringed cultivation! Along with his immense spiritual power, his Spiritual Shock could even affect someone as strong as Ye Yulin.

However, Ye Yulin demonstrated his strength as a Class 9 soul engineer. When Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Shock was about to reach him, a black headband suddenly shone on his forehead. On this headband was a silvery-white gem, which was crushed instantly. As he moved slightly, everything in front of him turned black. However, he wasn’t greatly hurt by Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Shock.

However, this momentary delay was still enough, because he was delayed just as Dai Hao was being teleported over.

The White Tiger Duke was very experienced. While he was shocked by the fact that he was suddenly behind Ye Yulin, he

 

still hated the Starsky Douluo greatly. How would he show any mercy?

Streaks of blinding white light instantly shone behind Ye Yulin. It was the White Tiger Duke’s sixth soul skill, White Tiger’s Extermination. He unleashed it on the Starsky Douluo while he was in his Martial Soul True Body.

Ye Yulin couldn’t even turn around right now, but he still managed to smack his right hand against his chest, and something strange happened. Countless spots of golden light shone on his body. These golden lights were like stars in the night sky. When Dai Hao’s attack landed on Ye Yulin’s body, these spots of lights immediately joined together and formed a web. This web of light blocked Dai Hao’s attack.

For Titled Douluo, Invincible Barriers didn’t have much effect anymore, because there was a limit to the class of an Invincible Barrier. The strongest Invincible Barrier that existed as of now was only Class 7, and could only able to resist one strike from an assault-type Titled Douluo. For someone of Ye Yulin’s standards, it didn’t offer much protection.

 

The protective soul tool that Ye Yulin owned and had just unleashed was called the Starsky Barrier. It was his strongest defensive soul tool at Class 9.

There were no soul engineers that weren’t concerned about their own defense. They knew about the gap between them and higher-tier soul masters in terms of physical strength.

When the White Tiger Duke’s all-out attack collided with Ye Yulin’s Starsky Barrier, Ye Yulin exploited its momentum to unleash his soul thruster and widen the gap between him and Huo Yuhao and Dai Hao. However, he still groaned and spat out blood when he was struck. Huo Yuhao had a fantastic and rare opportunity in front of him. How could he possibly give it up? With the Starsky Douluo around, they practically had no chance to escape!

When Ye Yulin’s Starsky Barrier lit up, Huo Yuhao had already started making his move. His Eye of Destiny opened, and a strange halo instantly landed on the Starsky Douluo’s body. The sixth soul ring of Huo Yuhao’s Spirit Eyes shone. This rose-gold soul ring was covered in a magical glow. He had unleashed one of the two soul skills of this soul ring that Wang Qiu’er had given him, Spiritual Reaving.

 

Instantly, Ye Yulin felt a little dizzy. The headband that he had specially created to resist spiritual-type attacks didn’t have any reaction. One of the three silvery-white gems on his headband was already crushed, but the other two gems didn’t react at this moment.

An indescribable sense of crisis turned Ye Yulin pale at this moment. His reaction was on point. The light from his flying- type soul tool and soul thruster were instantly extinguished. He even gave up his control of the two Sunmoon Divine Needles in the air. His body immediately crashed toward the ground, as if he were in freefall.

After Huo Yuhao unleashed his Spiritual Reaving, he followed it with an all-out strike of his Spiritual Shock.

Boom, boom!

The two remaining gems on Ye Yulin’s forehead instantly blew apart. His headband, which was roughly as strong as a Class 8 soul tool, was completely destroyed at this moment. Not only that, but he also groaned as blood started flowing from his pores.

 

After being struck by Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Reaving, his defense against spiritual attacks became effectively useless! This was the most effective attack Huo Yuhao could use on powerful soul masters and soul engineers. Of course, the prerequisite had to be that his opponent wasn’t prepared for it.

Dai Hao wanted to chase Ye Yulin, but he was immediately stopped  by  Huo  Yuhao.  “Quick,  rise  into  the  sky  and  take control of his Sunmoon Divine Needles.”

Dai Hao immediately understood what he was trying to do. Following this, he felt a streak of spiritual power linking with him. Everything around him was presented mentally through Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection.

Right now, almost all the White Tiger bodyguards had successfully escaped. The last wave of bodyguards was entering the twelve black doors right now. Under such circumstances, their escape plan would be perfect as long as the two of them were able to flee successfully.

Under the guidance of Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power, the two of them quickly rose into the sky. As the Starsky Douluo’s spiritual sea had been hurt, and he was afraid that the White

 

Tiger Duke would chase him, he was rapidly descending at this moment. It was too late for him to stop Huo Yuhao and Dai Hao. In addition, the rest of the soul engineers were still attacking in the direction Dai Hao was earlier. As they regained awareness, they only managed to relocate Dai Hao at this point.

Everything happened too quickly. Seeing that Huo Yuhao and Dai Hao were rising into the sky, streaks of light shot towards the both of them. All the soul engineers believed that the two of them were trying to escape.

The distorted rays flashed around Huo Yuhao and Dai Hao. Huo Yuhao used his Spiritual Interference Domain. He had already demonstrated the strength of his Spiritual Interference Domain earlier. Not even a Titled Douluo could see through it. Suddenly, the rays weren’t able to lock onto them and struck nothing.

“Area of effect attack.” Ye Yulin managed to stabilize his body at this point and flew up once again. Right now, he looked very pale, but he was also very angry. He had been subjected to a sneak attack. Not only was a Class 8 soul tool destroyed, but he was also seriously hurt. At this moment, he was suffering from a splitting headache. If not for his Class 8 headband, he would

 

be half-dead. He put on another soul tool that defended against spiritual power and flew up again.

However, Huo Yuhao and Dai Hao had a much greater head- start. As they flew at their quickest speed, they were already inching close to the two Sunmoon Divine Needles.

Dai Hao had used a Sunmoon Divine Needle before. Naturally, he knew how to control it, and immediately used his soul and spiritual power to complete his connection to one of the two Sunmoon Divine Needles. Furthermore, the Sunmoon Divine Needle that he had used before was given to him by Huo Yuhao. While Huo Yuhao wasn’t strong enough to use this Class 9 soul tool in the past, he did research it before! Thus he wasn’t unfamiliar with its controls, either. The two of them quickly controlled the two Sunmoon Divine Needles. In addition, both these needles had been charged up by the Starsky Douluo earlier.

“Ye  Yulin,  you  can  have  a  taste  of  the  strength  of  your Sunmoon Divine Needles, too. We shall blow you apart!” Huo Yuhao shouted.

 

Ye Yulin almost wet his pants. He had invented these two Sunmoon Divine Needles and understood how powerful they were. His Starsky Barrier could defend against other attacks, but he was bound to be evaporated from the face of the earth if the attacks of two Sunmoon Divine Needles hit him.

Instantly, he descended again without any hesitation. At the same time, a Class 7 Invincible Barrier also rose up, and streaks of defensive soul rays were continuously being unleashed.

He only had one life. He wasn’t going to gamble with it!

Just as Huo Yuhao spoke, the two Sunmoon Divine Needles had already been unleashed. However, they weren’t fired towards the Starsky Douluo.

Dai Hao was startled while Huo Yuhao was speaking. This was because his Sunmoon Divine Needle was being aimed through Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power, but the target wasn’t Ye Yulin!

Two streaks of golden-silver light formed two thin beams of light in the air. The most terrifying thing about a Sunmoon Divine Needle was that it could compress a huge amount of energy into a wisp. The destructive power of a single streak of light unleashed by a Sunmoon Divine Needle was extremely terrifying.

Dai Hao had resisted one strike today, and all his defensive soul tools were crushed. He was even badly scorched.

Right now, the two Sunmoon Divine Needles were aimed at the other two Class 9 soul engineers.

Huo Yuhao had shouted very loudly before. Naturally, these two Class 9 soul engineers heard him. However, hearing him and seeing what was going on were two different things. From the looks of it, those two beams of light were about to shoot towards them!

 

These two Class 9 soul engineers couldn’t be bothered with their image anymore. Both of them screamed, and different- colored protective barriers flashed wildly. It was more important for them to save their own lives, no matter the cost of the defensive soul tools they had to use!

Two tremendous booms resonated across the sky. Two golden-silver suns seemed to have lit up the sky.

“Quickly, flee!”  Huo Yuhao shouted at Dai Hao and quickly unleashed his Imitation, which engulfed both of them. At the same time, they flew diagonally downward. However, they weren’t flying towards the twelve black doors.

While Huo Yuhao’s Imitation could conceal them, they would still be revealed if they were struck by an area of effect attack. Huo Yuhao couldn’t possibly take any risks right now.

The two soul engineer legions had already chased after them, and all the soul engineers could naturally tell what was happening. They also possessed a wealth of experience and instantly unleashed area of effect attacks using their soul tools. The area that they covered included the route that Huo Yuhao and Dai Hao had to take to reach the twelve black doors.

If Huo Yuhao’s earlier choice had been wrong, they wouldn’t have been able to escape in the face of this barrage of attacks.

Dai Hao’s back broke out in a cold sweat as he watched the patches of light descend from the sky.

Right now, he and Huo Yuhao were flying towards the two soul engineer legions, aiming for the space beneath them.

At times, the most dangerous place was the safest place. The carpet attacks that they unleashed would certainly not target the region they were in.

---

Ye Yulin had risen into the sky again, and the other two Class 9 soul engineers were well-prepared. Before they entered the Star Luo Empire this time, they had made rich preparations, and thus managed to preserve their lives even when facing attacks from the two Sunmoon Divine Needles.

 

What left Ye Yulin pale was that Huo Yuhao didn’t just tap into the power of his Sunmoon Divine Needles, but also disappeared with them as he and Dai Hao vanished. Those were Class 9 soul tools! Their value couldn’t be measured in terms of money! Furthermore, they were Sunmoon Divine Needles that possessed immense destructive strength. He only had one Sunmoon Divine Needle left with him now!

The twelve black doors quickly shut after the last White Tiger bodyguard entered.

All the soul engineers were furious and charged towards those twelve black doors after they failed to locate Huo Yuhao and Dai Hao.

However, it was a pity that these doors that came from Huo Yuhao’s spectral demiplane weren’t real entities. Soul rays and cannon shells were unable to enter through or damage the doors. Only living creatures and specters were able to cross through them.

By the time the soul engineers reached the doors, they had already shut and disappeared.

 

---

Huo Yuhao had already fled far away, along with Dai Hao. It was already too late for the two soul engineer legions to use their thermal detectors and aerial surveillance soul tools. Thermal detectors could only operate within a limited range. It was impossible for them to locate Huo Yuhao and Dai Hao anymore!

Huo Yuhao was panting heavily now. While he had only fought for a short time earlier, he had put everything he had into that fight. Not only were his soul and spiritual power greatly drained, but his energy was also expended. Both he and Dai Hao had faced many powerful soul engineers earlier. If they had made even one mistake, they would have died!

Dai Hao put the Sunmoon Divine Needle away in his storage- type soul tool and said sincerely, “Thanks. You’ve saved me once again.”

He had already resigned himself to the fact that he was going to die today, but hadn’t expected this miraculous person to appear and save not just his subordinates, but himself as well! He knew how dangerous things had been earlier. Right now,

 

his back was still covered in cold sweat. However, this person in front of him didn’t care about anything else and saved him. In addition, this person also demonstrated all sorts of strange abilities. It seemed like he would appear every time he was in danger. Who exactly was he?

Huo Yuhao glanced at Dai Hao, and a complicated look flashed across his eyes. He only shook his head and didn’t say anything else.

The two of them flew close to fifty kilometers before Huo Yuhao led Dai Hao to a remote area.

“White Tiger Duke, I’ll only be with you until here. Your White Tiger bodyguards have been sent into another dimension. I’ll lead them out now. Quickly, take them and leave.” As he spoke, Huo Yuhao recited a few incantations and a black door opened.

There was only one door this time. Opening twelve doors at once was extremely draining on his soul power. If not for the fact that he wanted the White Tiger bodyguards to escape as quickly as possible earlier, he wouldn’t have opened so many doors.

Huo Yuhao had thought out his plan to save the White Tiger Duke in a very short period of time. First, he unleashed his Spectral Doors at a distant location before making them invisible in the air. At the same time, he dispelled all the undead at the entrances of his Spectral Doors as he entered his spectral demiplane. They wouldn’t get close to the entrances

for a while. In this way, the White Tiger bodyguards wouldn’t

easily uncover the secret of his demiplane.

Next, he returned to the battlefield and told the White Tiger bodyguards that they could make their move. After that, he rose into the sky.

When he came up with this plan, Huo Yuhao had devised it according to the orders that the White Tiger Duke gave. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been so many coincidences!

Following this, he had unleashed all the abilities of his Spirit Eyes to their fullest. When he devised his plan, Huo Yuhao had clearly delegated himself a role. His role was to pester, and not to attack or fight. Given his individual strength, it was impossible for him to resist so many soul engineers. Fighting was a surefire way to die. He only had a chance by using his spiritual-type soul skills to pester his opponents.

Indeed, they were very effective on the battlefield. He eventually completed his rescue mission, an almost impossible task. He had performed a miracle. Whether it was the White Tiger Duke or the Starsky Douluo, they still weren’t able to figure out his true identity.

The White Tiger Duke started tearing up when he saw his White Tiger bodyguards streaming out from the black door. If not for this person in front of him, all of his brothers would have died on the battlefield!

“Benefactor, can you let us see your true appearance? You’ve saved us twice. I have to repay these two favors. In the future, I’ll help you fulfill any requests you have unless they betray my own principles and beliefs.”

Dai Hao would never say something like this if Huo Yuhao had only saved him. However, Huo Yuhao had saved the lives of both him and his bodyguards on two different occasions. Given what he had done, Dai Hao couldn’t help but make this heavy promise.

 

Huo Yuhao was slightly stunned, and replied, “Alright, remember what you’ve said today. As for my appearance, I won’t reveal it. You’ll get to see it one day.”

Dai Hao was stunned for a moment. He noticed the slight surprise in Huo Yuhao’s tone of voice. Don’t tell me I know this man? However, he had no impression of this man, whether it was in terms of his voice or his figure.

Soon, the thirteen-hundred-plus White Tiger bodyguards had walked out of the Spectral Door and gathered around Dai Hao.

Huo Yuhao nodded at Dai Hao and said, “It’s not safe here. Those soul engineers can fly. I estimate that they’ll be searching this place soon. Quickly, retreat and mount your defenses.”

“Benefactor,  why  don’t  you  follow  us  back  to  our  camp?

Given your abilities…”

Huo Yuhao interrupted him by rising up and flying into the distance. In the blink of an eye, he had assimilated with the

 

darkness and disappeared.

The White Tiger bodyguards all knelt as they watched as Huo Yuhao leave. He was their benefactor! Although the White Tiger Duke didn’t kneel, there was a strong look of gratitude in his eyes.

Huo Yuhao’s body shook a little after flying to a point where the White Tiger Duke and the rest couldn’t see him anymore. Then, he spat out a mouthful of blood onto the black scarf he had used to mask his face.

His Butterfly Wings opened up, and he managed to stabilize himself.

Huo Yuhao’s face was very pale as he pulled the black scarf down. There was a lost look in his eyes and he muttered, “Why? Why did I risk everything to save him? Aren’t I supposed to hate him? However, I feel so relieved after saving him. This is… why…”

------

 

Dawn. The sun slowly rose.

A bright sunrise was an indication that the weather would be good, and good weather always lifted one’s spirits.

However, today was an exception. Even though the weather was good, those from the Star Luo Empire weren’t in a good mood.

The defense of their Western Border had broken down, and news of this had quickly spread through various channels to the entire continent. The imperial family of the Star Luo Empire was shocked. As they dispatched their military, they requested aid from the Dou Ling and Heavenly Soul Empires.

No one had expected the Sun Moon Empire to make a move so quickly, and even come in such a ferocious manner. All three empires had expected the Sun Moon Empire’s fighting strength to be great. However, they found out that their estimations were still too low when this terrifying crisis occurred. The Sun Moon Empire was much scarier than they had expected. The influence of soul tools on war had also exceeded their expectations.

A few soul engineer legions teamed up together to launch a lightning assault, and completely overwhelmed the Star Luo Empire’s Northwestern Field Army. Disregarding the fact they had Class 9 stationary soul cannon shells to open the way for them, they still managed to demonstrate the strength of soul engineer legions.

Suddenly, the entire continent was in an uproar.

The Sun Moon Empire didn’t launch any attacks on the neighboring Heavenly Soul Empire but deployed several soul engineer legions at the border.

After learning that the Sun Moon Empire had attacked the Star Luo Empire, the Heavenly Soul Empire deployed the Body Sect to lead a bunch of strong soul masters to launch a surprise attack the next day. However, they were intercepted by the Holy Ghost Church. Given the number of strong evil soul masters in the Holy Ghost Church, as well as the strength of their evil abilities, the Body Sect was forced to return without making any advances. If they didn’t retreat, they might have

 

been encircled by soul engineer legions, which would have made it difficult for them to flee.

On the other side, at the Star Luo Empire’s Western Border, the Sun Moon Empire’s military had already made their way into the Star Luo Empire’s territories through the huge gap they had made. However, they didn’t rush to attack, but quickly took control of several forts that had belonged to the Northwestern Field Army at the border. They consolidated their gains and strength at the border. Even so, everyone knew that they weren’t going to stop attacking.

Ever since the Sun Moon Empire’s Crown Prince Xu Tianran had ascended the throne, the three other empires on the continent knew that this war was unavoidable. However, there had been a huge explosion in the Sun Moon Empire’s Radiant City, causing the empire to suffer huge losses. The hostages that they had held captive were also freed. In everyone’s opinion, the Sun Moon Empire should be laying low for some time. However, they made their move before half a year was up. They were irresistible!

A storm was brewing over the continent, and a war of survival and destruction was about to begin. However, Huo Yuhao still returned to Imperial Radiant City that night.

------

When he returned, it was almost midnight. However, Dai Luoli and Xu Yun were still waiting for him. Although they didn’t know what Huo Yuhao’s exact cultivation was, they knew that his abilities should be quite good, given that he could completely suppress them. Since he was able to sneak out to explore, he should be able to bring back some news.

Right now, the Star Luo Empire’s military had sealed all information very tightly, so there wasn’t much news leaking out.

“Tang Dong, how is it?” Dai Luoli quickly went up and asked Huo Yuhao after seeing him sneak in through a window and change into his military uniform.

Huo Yuhao replied, “The defense of the front line has indeed fallen. However, our troops seem to have successfully retreated. From afar, I saw that the White Tiger Duke’s flag has already  been  withdrawn.  He  should  be  fine.”  He  naturally wasn’t going to tell Dai Luoli everything. It would be contradictory to his plan.

After hearing that the White Tiger Duke was fine, Dai Luoli heaved a sigh of relief. “It’s great that my father is fine. Do you know where he retreated to?”

Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, “I’m not sure, but I’m certain he’s within our territories. As for which city he retreated to, I’m not sure. Don’t harbor any thoughts of finding him now. To you, the thing you should be focused on is to perform well in the defense of Imperial Radiant City. Once our enemies arrive, we’ll go all out to kill them. The White Tiger Duke can’t take care of you right now.”

After Huo Yuhao pinpointed what he wanted to do, Dai Luoli turned red and nodded. He replied, “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

Xu Yun, who had been standing to one side without making a sound, suddenly stood up and said, “Since the White Tiger Duke is fine, I’m relieved too. I’ll go and find some more news. The two of you can rest first.” After she finished speaking, she walked out.

Huo Yuhao directly sat cross-legged on his bed and entered deep meditation. To him, it had been an exciting night!

The room they were in right now had been allocated to them by Xu Yun. Xu Yun lived right beside them. The two of them had a room all to themselves. Even though they were bodyguards, this was already very good treatment.

------

When Huo Yuhao awoke from his deep meditation, it was already the evening of the second day. Dai Luoli wasn’t in the room. After he grabbed a bite to eat, he returned to his bed and sat down.

While it was a close shave yesterday, he managed to gain a new understanding of the control of his spiritual power. After getting his Martial Soul True Body, unleashing his soul skills through it had provided him with valuable experience.

Huo Yuhao discovered that he couldn’t use his avatar to directly unleash the powerful soul skills he had, given his cultivation. However, it was much easier for him to use some auxiliary-type soul skills. For example, he could use his Imitation, Spiritual Interference Domain, and Mass Enfeeblement.

As his cultivation increased, his spiritual power gave him abilities that were similar to his avatar. Although his avatar didn’t possess the abilities of his actual body, the greatest benefit to having an avatar was that it could be forsaken at any time!

This was the greatest enhancement in terms of his spiritual cultivation. It was a pity that he wasn’t able to divide his attention, given how great his spiritual power was. He couldn’t control both sides perfectly at the same time. This was the next step he was trying to achieve.

Ever since he had crossed Rank 70, his soul power had improved at a faster rate. Even though he didn’t have the Haodong Power anymore, he was still likely to become an eight-ringed Soul Douluo within five years, given his current speed. This included the assumption that he didn’t meet with any favorable circumstances.

He wasn’t even twenty years old yet. In five years, he would only be around twenty-four years old. When he was thirty, he might even be close to becoming a Titled Douluo.

 

Furthermore, he wasn’t any ordinary soul master. He was a soul master with an Ultimate martial soul.

A simple example would be last night’s fight. If Dai Hao had possessed an Ultimate martial soul, he would have been able to inflict significant casualties on the two soul engineer legions, given his cultivation, even against their formidable defenses. Furthermore, a Titled Douluo with an Ultimate martial soul wouldn’t be afraid of the Sun Moon Divine Needle, either!

Huo Yuhao thought of something. Yes! I brought back a Sunmoon Divine Needle yesterday. That Starsky Douluo has suffered great losses this time. Not only did I get back the Sunmoon Divine Needle that I gave the White Tiger Duke the last time, but I even got an additional one for free. I indeed have great fate with this Starsky Douluo.

It was very difficult for Huo Yuhao to use a Sunmoon Divine Needle, given his current cultivation. However, he had twin martial souls. His overall soul power was much greater than other soul masters of the same rank. Furthermore, his soul power was also much purer, given his Ultimate martial soul. If he unleashed his full strength and risked everything, he might be able to unleash an attack from the Sunmoon Divine Needle once. This was because he still had one more advantage, his

 

immense spiritual power! He didn’t have to drain too much of his soul power to accurately aim a Sunmoon Divine Needle.

Of course, only a nine-ringed Titled Douluo could unleash the true strength of a Sunmoon Divine Needle. He had managed to unleash that strike yesterday because he was fortunate. After sneaking in an attack against the Starsky Douluo, he had gained control over a fully-charged Sunmoon Divine Needle. His spiritual power wasn’t inferior to a Titled Douluo, and thus aiming and firing it that time didn’t pose much of a problem.

At this moment, Dai Luoli returned. He looked quite frantic.

“You’re  back?  How’s  the  situation  outside?”   Huo  Yuhao looked at Dai Luoli. He was already much calmer compared to yesterday after he learned about the invasion and saved the White Tiger Duke.

Dai Luoli looked very gloomy as he said, “It’s bad. They’ve already calculated the losses that we’ve suffered. More than seventy thousand soldiers from the Northwestern Field Army are dead. Among them, more than fifty thousand were combat troops. They all died from soul tools. There are also more than

 

twenty thousand people who are injured, and ten thousand people missing. I’m afraid that those missing are unlikely to be alive. This means that more than eighty thousand of our soldiers were killed after the Sun Moon Empire’s surprise attack yesterday.”

After he finished speaking, Dai Luoli’s eyes had already turned red. He punched a wall beside him hard enough to crack it.

Huo Yuhao also turned gloomy. The Sun Moon Empire was too vicious. They had used Class 9 soul tools against ordinary soldiers. This was very rare in the history of the continent. This time, the Star Luo Empire had finally seen how terrifying soul tools were.

Class 9 soul tools were threatening to Titled Douluo, but this wasn’t absolute. It depended on the Titled Douluo’s cultivation. However, the destructiveness of a Titled Douluo could not compare to that of a Class 9 stationary soul cannon shell.

This wasn’t to say that Titled Douluo couldn’t cause mass destruction, but time was required for them to do so. However, Class 9 stationary soul cannon shells didn’t need any process.

 

Once they blew apart, they could wipe out a huge amount of lives. They were too scary.

“What’s  next?  What’s  the  situation  now?”   Huo  Yuhao suppressed the rage in his heart and tried to stay calm.

Dai  Luoli  painfully  said,  “What  else  can  we  do?  We’ve requested help from the capital and the other two empires. At the same time, we’ve tightened our second line of defense and deployed all our resources there.

“My father has indeed returned. However, he didn’t come to Imperial Radiant City, but went to Dawn City instead, which is a hundred kilometers away. That city is about as large as this one. The Northwestern Field Army has also changed their strategy and expanded their area of defense so that the Sun Moon Empire can’t use soul tools to break down their defense again. My father has also submitted a script of penitence to His Majesty, expressing his wish to fight to the death in Dawn City. Right now, the orders are that we have to delay the Sun Moon Empire’s military with all our might to buy some time for reinforcements to arrive. We can’t let them gain any further ground.

 

“The Northwestern Field Army has operated here for years. Whether it’s in terms of city defense or military strength, this city is better than the interior cities. Once our line of defense here is breached, our enemies will charge forward without any obstacles. I’m afraid they’ll be unstoppable. I estimate it’ll take half a month for any military reinforcements to arrive. However, a few soul master legions have been deployed to assist us.”

Huo Yuhao nodded. This was probably the best that could be done for now. In their current situation, the Sun Moon Empire could still be resisted once the Dou Ling Empire’s reinforcements arrived, given the deep foundations of the Star Luo Empire. After all, the Star Luo Empire was the strongest of the three native empires on the Douluo Continent. The Star Luo Empire also had the greatest number of soul masters in the entire continent, including the Sun Moon Empire. There were more than ten thousand soul masters in ten soul master legions, a force that couldn’t be ignored.

Chapter 425: Brothers Acknowledge Each Other

However, Huo Yuhao felt that something wasn’t right for some reason. It was like some aspect had been miscalculated.

This was what the power of destiny was telling him. However, it was very unclear. He only felt something, but he couldn’t think of what was wrong.

------

The Sun Moon Empire didn’t seem to be in a rush to attack. In the blink of an eye, three days had passed, and the Sun Moon Empire still seemed to have no intention of invading further. All surveillance at the borders was performed using aerial surveillance soul tools, and the Sun Moon Empire’s soul engineering legions filled the airspace completely. This meant that any surveillance attempts by the Star Luo Empire against the Sun Moon Empire’s forces would be futile.

The White Tiger Duke did send some powerful individuals to survey the situation, but there was a high concentration of

 

aerial surveillance soul tools and thermal detectors over the Sun Moon Empire’s forces. If they got close to a certain region, they would immediately be discovered. Once discovered, they would be attacked by powerful soul tools.

What exactly is the Sun Moon Empire doing? Even if they just wanted to consolidate their borders, wouldn’t three days be enough? Since they started this war, they should have completed their preparations and been ready to launch an all- out attack now! However, why aren’t they doing anything? Why did they give the Star Luo Empire enough time to gather and deploy their military?

Huo Yuhao had been thinking about this for many days, and the discomfort he felt grew more intense

However, this was obviously an advantageous situation for the Star Luo Empire. The longer their enemies delayed, the closer their reinforcements would be.

Within these three days, six soul master legions, the Northwestern Field Army, and the Western Field Army had already gathered. Along with the original soul master legion, there were now eight other soul master legions. This already

 

comprised eighty percent of the Star Luo Empire’s fighting strength! Even though the First Soul Master Legion had suffered great losses, they still possessed fighting strength.

The current lineup showed the determination of the Star Luo Empire. Princess Jiujiu personally led the front line forces and had already met up with the White Tiger Duke in Dawn City. She was also the commander of all six soul master legions that had arrived as reinforcements. After all, she couldn’t just hand over such great authority to the White Tiger Duke.

Xu Yun also received news that the Dou Ling Empire’s reinforcements had arrived in the Star Luo Empire’s territory. They split into two waves with the Star Luo Empire’s own reinforcements and were rushing to the front line now.

It seemed like the situation was slowly stabilizing. In slightly more than ten days, all the reinforcements would have arrived. Adding in the Star Luo Empire’s preparations, the Sun Moon Empire wouldn’t find it easy to succeed in their invasion.

------

 

Huo Yuhao idled over these few days. After becoming Xu Yun’s bodyguard, and as war was about to break out, he didn’t need to train every day. He just needed to follow Xu Yun as she attended meeting after meeting. However, he and Dai Luoli couldn’t listen in on the exact details, given their status. Huo Yuhao spent more of his time on his own cultivation. As for his identity, Xu Yun stopped probing. Whether it was her or Dai Luoli, they treated him as someone sent by the White Tiger Duke. Otherwise, how could they explain the conditions

surrounding Dai Luoli’s White Tiger Awakening?

After Dai Luoli’s martial soul Awakened, his cultivation improved by leaps and bounds under Huo Yuhao’s guidance. He was about to reach Rank 40. Once he obtained four soul rings, he could become a Soul Ancestor. He was also very hardworking. Unless Xu Yun summoned him, he would remain in his room to cultivate.

Huo Yuhao was also very reassured that his little brother was so hardworking. At least he hadn’t wasted his energy teaching him!

------

 

In the blink of an eye, another three days passed. The first batch of reinforcements from the Heavenly Soul Empire, consisting of thirty thousand soldiers, had already arrived. Furthermore, they brought twenty Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons along, which came from the Tang Sect.

The Star Luo Empire had been attacked by the Sun Moon Empire, and Shrek Academy naturally knew about this. After the Academy discussed it with the Tang Sect, the Tang Sect decided to supply all types of soul tools to the Star Luo Empire first, especially their Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons. The effective range of such a cannon was impressive, which made it very useful for defensive purposes. This theory had been tested against the beast tide from the Great Star Dou Forest.

---

“Why has there been no movement yet? This is weird.” Dai Luoli sat on his bed and muttered. He had just eaten his dinner. At this time every day, he would ask Huo Yuhao for guidance.

Huo Yuhao looked outside and saw that it had already turned dark. He agreed, “Yes! It has been seven days since the war has

 

started. Even if they were consolidating their foundations, the Sun Moon Empire’s next attack should have started already.”

Dai Luoli said, “The most hateful thing is that those fellows completely cut off all our surveillance of them. We have no news of what’s happening at the border. I really don’t know what they want. Soul tools are too despicable. Extensive surveillance has already been performed on the borders of our Star Luo Empire and the Heavenly Soul Empire. It was already very difficult to find out what the Sun Moon Empire was up to back then. Those fellows are too mysterious. I don’t know what intentions they’re harboring.”

After hearing Dai Luoli’s words, Huo Yuhao’s body suddenly shook. “Mysterious and sealing all surveillance? Don’t tell me there’s some kind of scheme? Luoli, continue your cultivation. I’ll go out and take a look.”

Dai Luoli was stunned for a moment. “Brother Dong, what are you doing? Are you going to the front line? It’s different now than before. The sky is filled with their aerial surveillance soul tools. Once they discover you, it’ll be difficult for you to come back. Don’t take the risk!”

 

Recently, the two of them had drawn closer to each other, especially after the war started. Huo Yuhao stopped beating him up, and even passed down all types of cultivation methods and experiences to him without holding back anything. To Dai Luoli, Huo Yuhao was both a mentor and a friend right now. Naturally, he didn’t want Huo Yuhao to do anything reckless.

Furthermore, he and Xu Yun already treated Huo Yuhao as

someone sent by the White Tiger Duke.

Tang Dong was definitely not a spy. If he were a spy, there wasn’t any use for him to be a lowly soldier, given his abilities. He would at least be part of a soul master legion for him to be of any use, and to obtain useful information. However, he stayed in the recruits’ camp, and only guided Dai Luoli every day. Whoever it was, they would certainly think that Huo Yuhao was an instructor the White Tiger Duke had especially found to guide Dai Luoli. The only problem was that he was a little too young.

As for his violent teaching methods, it was probably because he had been beaten into a martial soul evolution. Dai Luoli didn’t hate him for using such a method. He felt that his improvement seemed to be slower now than when he was being beaten up by Huo Yuhao.

 

Huo Yuhao smiled and shook his head before saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’m just going out to take a look.”

“Let me follow you then,” Dai Luoli said, a little impulsively.

Huo Yuhao was stunned for a moment. “You?”

Dai Luoli nodded determinedly. “I’m about to go crazy being cooped up in this city every day.” In fact, he wasn’t the only one who thought that way. Almost all of the Star Luo Empire’s military felt the same way. They were extremely tense waiting for the war to continue. The Sun Moon Empire’s military had yet to arrive, but they were still under great psychological pressure. Under such circumstances, all of them were under great stress.

Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment before saying, “Alright, I can bring you along. However, you must keep everything that you find out along the way a secret. You can’t even tell Xu Yun, or your father when you see him in the future. If you promise me this, I’ll bring you along.”

 

Dai Luoli was stunned. He looked at Huo Yuhao’s serious face and was puzzled.

“So serious? Weren’t you sent by my father? Why can’t I tell him?”

Seeing the doubt on his face, Huo Yuhao said after remaining silent for a moment, “Let me show you something.”

After these few days of interaction, he had gained a deeper comprehension of Dai Luoli’s character. After weighing the pros and cons, he made a decision.

Huo Yuhao quickly rubbed his face a few times. Very soon, a thin mask was removed from his face, revealing his true appearance.

The original thick-skinned youth had changed completely.

Dai Luoli was shocked as he looked at the graceful and slightly handsome-looking Huo Yuhao. He sat where he was for some time.

“You…”

Huo Yuhao didn’t say anything but retrieved a small bowl from his storage-type soul tool. He poured in some clean water before mixing it with some fluid.

“Water and silver ink. Isn’t that what you’d use to see if someone is related to you? What are you doing?” Dai Luoli was stunned as he looked at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao smiled and lifted his head. He looked at him and said, “Didn’t you just describe what I’m doing?” As he spoke, he retrieved a needle and poked his finger, dripping a drop of his blood into the bowl.

His blood didn’t consolidate into one drop as it entered the inky silver water but drifted in it. It seemed completely independent.

Huo Yuhao passed the needle to Dai Luoli and said, “It’s your turn, now.”

 

Dai Luoli was in disbelief as he looked at him and asked, “You, you’re trying to test if you’re related to me? We, we…”

Huo Yuhao interrupted him, “Drip your blood in first.”

Dai Luoli took a few deep breaths and tried to calm down. Gritting his teeth, he took a few steps to the bowl. He poked his finger with the needle, and a drop of his blood entered the bowl of water.

Both drops of blood drifted independently in the water. They were like two ruby pearls.

Huo Yuhao gently shook the bowl, and the two drops of blood drifted closer to one another. Dai Luoli watched the bowl closely. He knew that he was related to Huo Yuhao if the two drops of blood fused together. If they weren’t related, the two drops of blood would remain separate.

The two drops of blood were drawing closer. Dai Luoli subconsciously clenched his fist. He was an intelligent person and naturally knew that Huo Yuhao wasn’t doing this test for no reason. However, he was still in disbelief.

The two drops of blood finally fused with one another. Initially, they only gently touched each other before they bounced away, like two rubber balls. Just when Dai Luoli heaved a sigh of relief and thought this had all been a meaningless game, he suddenly realized that there was a trace of blood connecting the two drops. Before he could react, the two drops fused together rapidly, turning into a bigger drop of blood.

“Ah!”  Dai Luoli was shocked, and snatched the bowl away from Huo Yuhao. He brought the bowl up to his eyes, and was in a daze when he saw that there was only one big drop of blood left in the bowl.

Huo Yuhao sat on the bed next him and revealed a bitter smile. “Yes, I’m just like you. We are both sons of that guy, it’s just that our mothers are different. I was born one year earlier than you, so I’m your biological elder brother. It’s a pity that I’m similar to you in another aspect, as I’m also a bastard child. Furthermore, my mother’s status is even lower than your mother’s. She was only the maid of that person before.

 

“When I was small, I also lived in the Duke’s Mansion. Your mother took great care of my mother. If not for her initial support, I might not even have survived. My mother was always very grateful to her. Even just before she died, she still didn’t forget how good your mother was to her.

“My mother passed away, and I was forced to live with the servants in the Duke’s Mansion. I lived a treacherous life. It took her great pains to raise me. After that, she contracted a serious disease, and never got up after she was kicked by Dai Huabin once. That year, I was only ten. I can’t even remember things clearly anymore, because that memory was one of the darkest in my life.

“After that, I left the Duke’s Mansion and roamed around on my own. Fortunately, my martial soul is mutated like yours. However, I didn’t inherit that person’s White Tiger, but got my martial soul from my mother, instead. My martial soul is my eyes.”

Huo Yuhao looked at the shocked Dai Luoli and revealed the dim golden light of his Spirit Eyes. Dai Luoli could clearly see the pupils in Huo Yuhao’s eyes slowly split into two pupils. One pupil was purplish-gold, while the other was rose-gold. It was extremely strange.

Polycoria. This was the greatest peculiarity of the White Tiger’s lineage!

“I hate almost everyone from the Duke’s Mansion, not including you and your mother. Your mother was the benefactor of me and my mother. This was why I decided to help you after I discovered your identity.”

Dai Luoli took in a few deep breaths again, and his chest shook tremendously.

“You, are you really my elder brother?”

Huo Yuhao pointed at the bowl he was holding. “That proves it.”

“Did you join the military because of me? When did you find me?” Dai Luoli asked.

Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, “No, I didn’t join the military because of you. I’m also from the Star Luo Empire. I

 

won’t admit that I come from the Duke’s Mansion, but I belong to the Star Luo Empire. Since the empire is in trouble, I have a responsibility as a citizen. I became a soldier to protect my nation. I chose to start as a recruit because I want to prove to him that I’m not inferior to him. When I manage to achieve a high ranking in the military through my own merits, I’ll personally get everything that the White Tiger Duke owes me.”

Dai Luoli placed the bowl he was holding to one side and walked a few steps closer to Huo Yuhao. The two of them didn’t look exactly alike. Huo Yuhao’s facial lines were gentler, while Dai Luoli’s looked colder. He resembled the White Tiger Duke more.

“You, you want to deal with dad?” Dai Luoli’s voice sounded very uncertain.

A lost look flashed across Huo Yuhao’s eyes, but he soon regained his determination. “When this crisis is over, and I’m strong enough, I will do so. I’ll return to the Duke’s Mansion and demand justice for my mother.”

Dai Luoli sat down beside Huo Yuhao and softly said, “Elder brother.”

Huo Yuhao’s body trembled a little after Dai Luoli called him that. Even with his strong willpower, he wasn’t able to control his emotions at this moment. His eyes suddenly turned red, and his tears flowed uncontrollably.

Huo Yuhao stretched his hand out and grabbed Dai Luoli’s shoulder. He bit his lips tightly.

How much time had passed since he had left the Duke’s Mansion? All these years, he had no relatives, and treated the Tang Sect and Shrek as his family. However, everyone shared a blood relationship with someone else. Right now, the person sitting beside him and calling him ‘elder brother’ shared a blood relationship with him!

Dai Luoli’s eyes turned red when he saw the tears on Huo Yuhao’s face. Huo Yuhao’s earlier description had sounded very plain. However, he could tell that Huo Yuhao had suffered a lot. A ten-year-old child roamed the world on his own. How did he manage to survive all these years? Soul masters have to hunt and kill soul beasts. He handled all those dangers by himself!

 

“Elder  brother,  how  did  you  manage  to  survive  all  these years?” Dai Luoli asked curiously.

Huo Yuhao shook his head gently and said, “There are some things I can’t tell you yet. You’ll find out later. I told you about our relationship because I want you to trust me completely. From now on, you need to follow me. I’ll make you stronger as quickly as possible. At the very least, you mustn’t be worse than Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin!”

“Yes!” Dai Luoli nodded. He didn’t have a close relationship with Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin. Both of them were legitimate children, and went to Shrek Academy when they were young. They didn’t really interact with him. On the contrary, it was Huo Yuhao’s tears that left him moved.

Huo Yuhao wiped his tears away and put his mask back on. He said, “I’m Tang Dong here. Don’t tell anyone about my identity or background, especially that person. If you reveal anything, you won’t be able to see me again. Do you understand?”

Dai  Luoli  was  stunned  and  said,  “Elder  brother,  you  and father…”

Huo Yuhao waved his hands and said, “I don’t want to make him sound bad in front of you. That’s why you shouldn’t mention him in front of me.”

Dai Luoli laughed bitterly. “Alright, don’t worry, I’ll keep this a secret for you. Elder brother, are we still going out?”

Huo Yuhao said, “Yes. I’ve been feeling a little uncomfortable these past few days. Something must be about to happen. It has been almost ten days since the Sun Moon Empire breached our border, but they haven’t done anything since. This is completely abnormal. Almost all our reinforcements have arrived. Are they trying to fight us in our peak state? Why didn’t they exploit the opportunity when we were weaker? This is too weird. It doesn’t fit military strategy. Follow me.”

As he spoke, Huo Yuhao left with Dai Luoli and headed towards the city wall.

Right now, the sky had already turned dark. After dinner, the city was filled with a rare, relaxed atmosphere. It was just that the defenses at the top of the city wall were still very tight, as

 

enemies could arrive at any time. This was especially true for the western side of the city wall.

Dai Luoli whispered to Huo Yuhao after looking at the soldiers at the top and bottom of the city wall, as well as the surveillance soul tools. “Elder brother, how do we leave? The defense is very tight now to prevent enemies from sneaking in.”

Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, “Compared to the Sun Moon Empire, our Star Luo Empire is far inferior in terms of surveillance soul tools. Such a level of surveillance is completely useless in preventing our enemies from spying on us. Let me tell you, there’s a super-high aerial surveillance soul tool three thousand meters above Imperial Radiant City right now.”

“What?” Dai Luoli was shocked. “A surveillance soul tool three thousand meters in the sky?”

Generally speaking, even a Titled Douluo couldn’t fly more than a thousand meters into the sky. The higher one flew, the greater he would be drained. Even with a clear sky, it was impossible to see three thousand meters into the sky. It was

 

already quite commendable if the Star Luo Empire’s ground- based surveillance soul tools could even see five hundred meters into the sky.

Huo  Yuhao  sighed,  “This  is  an  industrial-level  difference! Otherwise, why would the Sun Moon Empire be daring enough to attack three empires? They are extremely powerful!”

Dai Luoli asked, “Doesn’t this mean that they can monitor our every movement?”

Huo  Yuhao  replied,  “Just  about.  However,  it’s  also  very difficult to create a high-altitude aerial surveillance soul tool. There aren’t many of them in the Sun Moon Empire, and each of them is very costly to produce. This is why they can only keep an eye on some important locations, and the clarity of their surveillance isn’t going to be very good.”

Xuan Ziwen had once discussed high-altitude aerial surveillance soul tools with Huo Yuhao before. As they were too far away, it was very difficult to control them. If any mistakes were made, one might immediately lose control of a high-altitude aerial surveillance soul tool. Furthermore, they were located too far from the ground, and thus lost

 

effectiveness when night fell. They were still considered to be in the experimental stage. Evidently, the Sun Moon Empire wanted to use this war to test these soul tools.

Of course, a high-altitude aerial surveillance soul tool was still able to track any large military movements on the ground, even though it wasn’t very precise. This was already very useful in a war.

Even a Titled Douluo wouldn’t be able to detect a high- altitude aerial surveillance soul tool from the ground. It was a pity for the Sun Moon Empire that Huo Yuhao wasn’t any ordinary person.

Naturally, it was very difficult for Huo Yuhao to fly three thousand meters into the air, but height didn’t affect his Spiritual Detection! Whenever he was free in the city, he would use his Spiritual Detection to scan the city for any anomalies. His unidirectional detection had an effective range of five kilometers even without his Eye of Destiny. When he scanned the sky, he was able to detect that high-altitude aerial surveillance soul tool!

“Should we inform the military? They can think of a way to bring that surveillance soul tool down.” Dai Luoli said.

Huo Yuhao shook his head and replied, “There’s no need too. We can do it ourselves. Haven’t you flown before? I’ll let you experience what it’s like to soar in the sky.”

Dai Luoli didn’t even have four rings yet, and couldn’t use flying-type soul tools. Naturally, he hadn’t flown before. Before he could even react, Huo Yuhao placed one hand under his armpit, and Dai Luoli felt the light around him distorting slightly. He and Huo Yuhao rose up, and quickly flew into the sky.

He almost shouted because it was too sudden.

“Elder brother, you are too brazen. We’ll be shot down!” Dai Luoli tried his best to suppress his voice as he spoke to Huo Yuhao. He was shocked when he turned around to look at Huo Yuhao. This was because there was no flying-type soul tool on

 

his back. This meant that Huo Yuhao was propelling them through his own soul power.

What did this mean? It meant that Huo Yuhao was at least a Soul Sage!

“Elder brother, are you really only one year older than me?” Dai Luoli was almost speechless. A nineteen-year-old Soul Sage. This… is too unbelievable.

Huo  Yuhao  smiled  and  replied,  “Yes!  Didn’t  you  see  my original appearance? Do I look that old?”

Dai Luoli’s eyes brightened. “Elder brother, you’re a genius.”

Huo Yuhao recalled Shrek’s motto and answered, “No, I’m a monster!”

At this point, Dai Luoli realized that there wasn’t any reaction from Imperial Radiant City. There was no sign of any attacks directed towards the sky. However, he didn’t know why nothing was happening.

“I specialize in spiritual power. My martial soul is my eyes. It’s spiritual-type martial soul. I have a soul skill that can conceal me. It’s like cloaking my body. I’ve already cloaked us and hidden our auras. They won’t discover us,”  Huo Yuhao patiently explained to his younger brother.

Dai Luoli was enlightened. He looked down, and realized that the city was becoming smaller and smaller from their point of view. However, he couldn’t sense any air currents flowing against him. It was very exciting!

“It feels really good to fly! I must work harder. Once I obtain four rings, I can finally use flying-type soul tools!”  Dai Luoli said excitedly.

Huo Yuhao chortled, “It’s exciting, right?”

“It’s very exciting. The feeling of flying is extremely good!” Dai Luoli replied sincerely.

Huo Yuhao said, “There are even more exciting things. I’ll tell you about them later.” As he spoke, he opened his Butterfly

 

Wings and flew even higher into the sky.

They were already beyond the region that the surveillance soul tools in Imperial Radiant City could detect. It was fine for Huo Yuhao to use his flying-type soul tool now. Given his abilities, it was impossible to fly up to three thousand meters in the air, especially since he was carrying another person right now.

Details of Imperial Radiant City had become extremely tiny by now. In the dark, they even slowly disappeared. Everything around them was pitch black now. They didn’t feel any air flowing against them, either. Dai Luoli felt like everything was a bit unreal. It was like he had entered another world under Huo Yuhao’s guidance.

It took some time to fly three thousand meters into the air. Huo Yuhao discovered that his soul power was being drained more and more after he crossed the thousand-meter mark. Fortunately, he had the help of his flying-type soul tool. However, the soul power in his flying-type soul tool would also be greatly drained the higher he went. With the help of a few Milk Bottles, Huo Yuhao managed to keep up with the amount of soul power that was being drained. However, they rose at a slower speed because of it.

Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power had long locked onto that high- altitude aerial surveillance soul tool. The complexity of this soul tool meant it qualified as a Class 8 soul tool. It could be controlled from afar, and remain in the air for surveillance at an extremely high altitude. This was definitely the future developmental direction of surveillance.

After more than ten minutes, Huo Yuhao finally brought Dai Luoli in front of this surveillance soul tool, which was the current highest technological standard.

This high-altitude aerial surveillance soul tool was like a huge ball. The bottom was made using synthetic quartz, while there were four metal sails on the top of it, which helped to balance it in the air. There were twelve Milk Bottles installed into these four sails.

These Milk Bottles were used to replenish the soul power being drained by this soul tool. When this soul tool flew along, these sails were retracted. After it reached its location, these sails would then open up to balance it. In addition, this soul tool could even adjust its angle and position in the air to deal with inclement weather. The Sun Moon Empire had taken many years to research this, and only completed it after the

 

Sealed Milk Bottles were invented. Otherwise, it couldn’t be used long-term.

Huo Yuhao smiled, and golden light shone in his eyes. Dai Luoli immediately saw tremendous, distorted undulations around this surveillance soul tool.

This surveillance soul tool didn’t emit any light, and thus was almost invisible at night. However, these distorted rays were a dim gold, which made them extremely obvious. Right now, Dai Luoli could clearly see what this high-altitude aerial surveillance soul tool looked like. Its diameter was only around two meters.

It started to shake slightly as the distorting rays appeared, as if it were struggling. It was a pity for it that Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power had reached the concrete-material realm, and he was using his Spiritual Interference. This soul tool’s struggle was futile.

Huo Yuhao quickly rushed forward. As he dragged Dai Luoli with one hand, he used his other hand to quickly tap the surveillance soul tool a few times. The Sealed Milk Bottles were quickly pulled from the soul tool, and Huo Yuhao put

 

them in his storage-type soul tool. After all twelve Sealed Milk Bottles were taken out, the soul tool lost power. All soul power undulations disappeared, and it only managed to remain in the sky because of its sails.

Huo Yuhao pulled out his Starlight Sapphire storage-type soul tool. The sapphire flashed brightly before the entire high- altitude surveillance soul tool was stored away in his storage- type soul tool.

Dai Luoli mouth was gaping. He thought to himself, What did my elder brother do? Not only is his cultivation shocking, but even his familiarity with soul tools is astounding. He had no idea how to react. He would have attacked the surveillance soul tool and destroyed it.

Huo Yuhao couldn’t bear to destroy it. It was a technologically-advanced Class 8 soul tool. He would take it back for Teacher Xuan to research it. By researching it, they could expedite their research into their own high-altitude aerial surveillance soul tools by ten years!

Huo Yuhao hadn’t been wasting time over these past few days. From the city, he had scanned this surveillance soul tool

 

with his Spiritual Detection a few times. He had also discovered the key points about it. If he hadn’t used his Spiritual Interference to break its connection to the Sun Moon Empire, it would have been able to automatically release a Class 7 protective soul barrier to protect itself. When that

happened, it would most certainly shrink rapidly before escaping.

It wasn’t that the Sun Moon Empire’s protective measures weren’t tight or secure enough, it was just that they had met someone like Huo Yuhao, who could use his Imitation to hide from them.

“Elder  brother,  why  did  you  keep  it?”   Dai  Luoli  asked curiously.

Huo Yuhao said, “For research purposes, of course. I’m not just a soul master, I’m a soul engineer too. Oh yes, didn’t you think that flying was very exciting earlier. Do you want something even more exciting?”

Dai Luoli was excited as he asked, “What’s more exciting?”

 

“This.” Huo Yuhao smiled and relaxed his grip on Dai Luoli’s armpit. Before Dai Luoli could even react, he was already free- falling.

“Ah!...”  Everything  happened  too  suddenly,  and  Dai  Luoli wasn’t prepared at all. His tragic screams echoed in the sky, and he was extremely frightened as he felt a strong sense of weightlessness.

Huo Yuhao continued to drift where he was, and wore a smile on his face. He muttered to himself, “Oh, not bad. The strength of his spiritual power soars when he’s fearful. This has further increased the mutation of his martial soul.”

The feeling of free-falling was extremely exciting. It was so exciting that Dai Luoli tightened his lower abdomen, and felt he was about to wet his pants.

He unwittingly unleashed his martial soul. The strands of white fur on his body were exuding a dim red glow, while the ‘king’ on his forehead turned blood-red. His tragic screams stopped as he unleashed his soul power with all his might, hoping to reduce the speed of his descent.

 

After he lost Huo Yuhao’s protection, he truly understood why it was so dangerous to be so high up in the sky. The temperature in the sky was much lower than on the ground. The sinister chill and unknown darkness left him terrified. More importantly, he had no way of reducing the speed of his descent. Given his current cultivation, he couldn’t control his soul power to reduce the impact of his fall.

Why? Why do you have to harm me like this?

Why? Dai Luoli revealed slowly revealed a desperate look in his eyes. He hadn’t expected this to be the way he was going to die.

Just as his mind was going completely blank, he felt his body becoming lighter, and the strong air currents rushing against him as he descended disappeared. The intense chill that he felt also vanished. A hand had grabbed his armpit and he was drifting in the sky once again.

“Exciting?” A gentle voice sounded in his ears. Dai Luoli turned his head, and saw Huo Yuhao, smiling slightly.

 

Dai Luoli was furious as he roared, “You, were you trying to kill me!?”

Huo Yuhao smiled and replied, “Didn’t you say you wanted to try something exciting? You’re still around a thousand meters from the ground, but you can’t take it anymore? If I caught you just before you hit the ground, wouldn’t you even be more unable to handle it?”

Chapter 426: The Sun Moon Empire's Marshal, Ju Zi!

Dai  Luoli  said  angrily,  “That’s  excitement?  I  might  have died!”  Even though he had already stopped moving through the air, his butt was still quivering as his legs shook uncontrollably. He was still panting heavily.

“Look at your fur,” Huo Yuhao pointed out to him.

Dai Luoli looked down subconsciously, and was surprised to see that his white fur had become a faint red after he unleashed his martial soul. Furthermore, he wasn’t in the hysterical state that he was in back then!

“Do you know what this means? The spiritual element in your martial soul is fusing with your original martial soul, the White Tiger’s element. When your fur is entirely blood-red in color when you release your martial soul under any circumstance, it means the evolution of your martial soul is complete. When that happens, your martial soul should be stronger than typical White Tigers, and any offensive soul skills should contain spiritual elements.”

 

The corner of Dai Luoli’s mouth twitched as he listened to Huo  Yuhao’s  explanation.  “Are  you  really  my  biological brother?”

“Of course,” Huo Yuhao said seriously.

Dai Luoli forced a laugh and said, “Can we not use such methods where I’m frightened to death next time!? Do you know that I really thought I was going to die just now?"

Huo Yuhao chortled and said, “This will only work if you feel such sensations. Otherwise, how can your martial soul’s mutations be entirely triggered and released? If your mutations were so easily released, why haven’t you been able to do so over the past ten years? Intense excitement is the best way to accelerate that release. However, I’ve already used this method before, so it won’t be as effective and inspiring next time. Let’s go.”

------

He activated his flying-type soul tool, and Huo Yuhao brought Dai Luoli into the air once more. He kept them at

 

roughly a thousand meters in altitude as they flew west.

Huo Yuhao had already used his spiritual power to survey everything as far as he could around them, and had not detected any other high-altitude aerial surveillance soul tools.

The sky was limitless. Even though he could cover quite a large area with his spiritual power, he couldn’t possibly search every inch of the sky. Of course, Huo Yuhao had his plans. These high altitude aerial surveillance soul tools would only appear in locations of substantial strategic importance. For example, they would only appear over cities responsible for frontier defense, or at important travel routes. He should have an easier time if he searched for those soul tools in those kinds of places. They were all Class 8 soul tools! Such soul tools would be very useful in the future...

However, Huo Yuhao had to take a look at the western front before all that. He had to see what the Sun Moon Empire had in mind, since they hadn’t launched another invasion for such a long time.

Huo Yuhao flew towards the west, and quickly covered two hundred kilometers. However, he started to slow down after

 

about a hundred and fifty kilometers.

“Impressive...  the  Sun  Moon  Empire  has  really  invested everything into this! There are aerial surveillance soul tools everywhere. They are covering every single corner like a carpet. There aren’t any blind spots at all.” Huo Yuhao paused in midair and couldn’t help but marvel at the sight.

Dai Luoli’s vision wasn’t that good, but he had support from Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection. He could see masses of aerial surveillance soul tools in the three-dimensional spiritual world of Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection. Within that range, there were more than fifty such soul tools, and there were even more further from their position.

“Elder brother, do you think you can conceal us from those things?” Dai Luoli asked nervously. After flying for a period of time, his emotions had settled down from being scared shitless just now. He knew that Huo Yuhao was doing everything for his own good, and after his martial soul’s mutation accelerated with that episode, he clearly felt that his soul power had risen further, and he was about to break into Rank 40.

 

Huo Yuhao said, “I can’t conceal us from every single type they have out there, but my Spiritual Detection’s area of effect is large enough. We just have to avoid those specific types.”

There were several aerial surveillance soul tools among those in the sky that were specifically meant to detect spiritual power. However, these spiritual power detectors had relatively smaller ranges, and the level of spiritual power they could detect was limited in the end. Huo Yuhao concealed his own spiritual power exceptionally well, and he wasn’t afraid of these soul tools discovering him. However, he would be discovered if he used Imitation and entered those spiritual power detectors’ areas of effect. Those were the soul tools that Huo Yuhao had to avoid.

They proceeded forward slowly, Huo Yuhao continuously avoiding the aerial surveillance soul tools that could detect them as they gradually neared the Ming Dou Mountain Range.

Huo Yuhao marveled in silence as he flew. The Sun Moon Empire’s fighting style was so much more advanced than the Douluo Continent’s three native empires.

 

The Sun Moon Empire emphasized aerial surveillance, and would use soul engineer legions to initiate blitz attacks. These soul engineers executed accurate and precise attacks and decapitation strikes. In addition to the fact that the Sun Moon Empire’s industrial standards were far superior to those of the Douluo Continent’s three native empires, the victor in this war was truly hard to predict!

Huo Yuhao had to make judgments and evade surveillance soul tools continuously, so he was flying at a much slower speed than normal. It took fifteen long minutes before he finally got past where those large swathes of aerial surveillance soul tools reached. The Ming Dou Mountain Range came into view far on the horizon underneath the night sky.

Huo Yuhao didn’t fly too close. Instead, he stopped when they were about ten kilometers away from the Ming Dou Mountain Range, and opened the Eye of Destiny on his forehead.

His rose-gold Eye of Destiny opened, and Dai Luoli was overcome with astonishment once more. He felt as if his spirit were about to be sucked out of him as he stared at that peculiar vertical eye. Fortunately, his martial soul’s spiritual elements had been Awakened, and he had certain foundations in

 

spiritual power. He hurriedly turned his gaze away when Huo Yuhao reminded him.

The combined effects of Huo Yuhao’s Eye of Destiny and his Skull of Destiny allowed him to reach a maximum distance of ten kilometers with his Spiritual Detection in a single direction. Of course, doing so would consume a lot of spiritual power.

Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power touched the Western Mountains in the distance, and he gradually started sweeping the area horizontally. Afterwards, he surveyed the base of the Western Mountain, where the Star Luo Empire’s army camps were originally located. Huo Yuhao’s expression gradually became extremely grave and solemn.

Dai Luoli didn’t make a single sound. He didn’t even dare to take deep breaths. There were aerial surveillance soul tools all over the place, and one mistake could likely expose their location. He was very intelligent, so he hadn’t said a single word ever since they entered this region. He allowed Huo Yuhao to lead him, and all he did was survey and observe his surroundings.

 

---

Huo Yuhao continued surveilling for more than ten minutes. He didn’t say anything at all when he was done, but turned around and carefully flew back the way they had come.

Dai Luoli realized that his elder brother’s expression was as black as could be. Evidently, Huo Yuhao had realized something important, but even though he was worried and anxious, he couldn’t open his mouth to ask! He could only wait quietly until they flew out of this region.

They flew more quickly on the way back, since they had prior experience. Huo Yuhao didn’t attempt to destroy the aerial surveillance soul tools when they left the region which was under heavy surveillance. Instead, he hurriedly sped up and flew towards Imperial Radiant City.

“Luoli.”

“Yes.” Dai Luoli hurriedly acknowledged when he heard Huo Yuhao call his name.

 

Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and said, “I’m afraid you can’t continue concealing your identity. You will look for your father immediately after you return, and I will take you and fly into that city. You’ll find someone to reveal your identity to, and tell him an important piece of intel. The Sun Moon Empire is playing a large and deadly scheme this time. Everyone has been tricked.”

“Ah?” Dai Luoli felt the fine hair on his neck stand on end when he heard his words.

“What are you talking about, elder brother? What scheme is that?”

Huo  Yuhao  lowered  his  voice  and  said,  “The  Sun  Moon Empire isn’t planning to attack the Star Luo empire at all. We are not their targets.”

“Wait, wait a minute,”  Dai Luoli was a little confused as he said, “Why won’t they want to invade the Star Luo Empire? They’ve used Class 9 soul tools and forcefully blasted open a path, and they’ve also utterly crushed our Northwestern Field Army!”

 

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, and a thread of fear flashed beneath his eyes. He only felt how terrifying the Sun Moon Empire was when war truly broke out . No wonder they had to seal the Star Luo Empire’s surveillance so tightly and strictly! They were actually using a double bluff strategy.

“Do you know what I discovered just now? Let me tell you, the Sun Moon Empire took over the Northwestern Field Army’s camp, but there isn’t a single soldier from the Sun Moon Empire in that place, or anywhere in its vicinity. There are only voluminous defensive soul tools set up on the Ming Dou Mountain Range, and they’ve built the Ming Dou Mountain Range into something like a fortress.”

“I  still  don’t  understand!”   Dai  Luoli  muttered  a  little exasperatedly.

Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and said, “That means the Sun Moon Empire never had any intentions to invade us. They mobilized their great armies to launch an all-out attack before this, but everything was an illusion, and they did that so that they could deceive us into thinking that they are launching a great invasion against us. Their soldiers haven’t crossed the mountain range, so how are they going to launch a great invasion? Those who started this war were those highly mobile

 

soul engineer legions, and their rearguard entered the Ming Dou Mountain Range after them and placed large amounts of defensive soul tools on our side to form a defensive front, as well as an aerial surveillance front.”

“They’ve done all that so that they can sever all information and surveillance from the Ming Dou Mountain Range, so that we are unsure about what their true circumstances or situation is.”

Dai Luoli asked, “How are these actions beneficial for them?”

Huo Yuhao’s expression was frighteningly grave and stern. “Their   actions   are   beneficial   for   them   because   they’ve managed to conceal their true aim in this war. They never intended to invade the Star Luo Empire with their full strength. Damn it, I should have thought about this a long time ago. If I had been the one launching an invasion, and if I really wanted to invade the Star Luo Empire, I would definitely do everything in one go; how could I pause in the middle like that?

“I would have gone all the way to destroy the Star Luo Empire’s second defense perimeter, and I would have ruined

 

the granaries and all military supplies and stores, or I would pillage and loot the cities. Afterwards, I would consolidate and stabilize defenses in the areas that I have conquered, and wait for more soldiers to arrive. I wouldn’t stop my invasion right at the border!”

“Their other goal is to attract the entire continent’s attention with this assault. They want everyone to think that they’re making a move against the Star Luo Empire. What will that do? This will mobilize the Star Luo Empire’s main forces, and this will concentrate those forces along the western front. The Dou Ling Empire will mobilize reinforcements as well, and the Heavenly Soul Empire’s reinforcements may even be deployed to our western front. After all has been said and done, their true intentions will be revealed. If my guess is correct, their true target isn’t the Star Luo Empire, but the Heavenly Soul Empire!” Huo Yuhao was resolute and decisive when he uttered his final sentence, but there was a lot of pain and agony among all that resolution.

Dai Luoli finally understood, and he drew a cold breath as he said,  “Elder  brother,  your  guess  is  just  too  frightening. However, isn’t the Sun Moon Empire paying an excessively heavy price for this? They’ve mobilized several elite soul engineer legions, and they’ve expended several Class 9 soul tools! Why would they turn around and attack the Heavenly Soul Empire when they’ve already made a breakthrough here?”

 

Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and said, “The war has already begun, and the situation can change at any time. The Sun Moon Empire has their reasons for this choice.

“First, the Star Luo Empire has the longest history amongst the three native empires; we have been around for ten thousand years. Back then, the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Dou Ling Empire were still one, and they were called the Heaven Dou Empire. The Heaven Dou Empire’s national strength was comparable to ours back then.

“As of now, even though the Star Luo Empire’s strength can’t be said to be stronger than the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Dou Ling Empire combined, we are still much stronger than any of the two by themselves, and our foundations are deep and solid. Class 9 soul tools are fearsome, and they forcibly tore a hole through our defenses.

“However, the Northwestern Field Army and the Western Field Army are still in place; even though we have sustained heavy losses, our losses can’t be considered fatal. When an all- out war erupts, the Sun Moon Empire can’t be using Class 9 stationary soul cannon shells every day, can they? They have limited numbers of those things, and one use means one less in their stores. They are intended to be used as strategic

 

existences, while the Star Luo Empire will definitely receive full support from the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Dou Ling Empire. In that case, it’s hard to say who will emerge as the final victor. The Star Luo Empire’s foundations are definitely the strongest and deepest in terms of national strength.”

“Comparatively,   the   Heavenly   Soul   Empire’s   national strength is considerably inferior to ours. Furthermore, judging from the Sun Moon Empire’s borders, the Heavenly Soul Empire’s borders that connect with the Sun Moon Empire are about the same length as our borders with the Sun Moon Empire. If you had to choose, who would you choose to attack?”

“This misdirection is truly scheming and cunning, and I have to admit it’s quite spectacular! First, they invade our borders, and they blew open a gap so that their armies could be brought in from the Sun Moon Empire at any time. Afterwards, they took the Ming Dou Mountain Range. The mountain range in our hands means different things than when the mountain range is in their hands. The Sun Moon Empire is famous for their soul tools, and in addition to the Ming Dou Mountain Range’s fantastic topography, the Sun Moon Empire has an absolute advantage with their surveillance soul tools. Even if we had two more field armies on our side, we might not be able to take down their defenses on the mountain range. They just

 

have to leave a few elite soldiers behind to cooperate with their soul engineers to defend the gap that they have created in the Ming Dou Mountain Range, and that will be enough. With this gap around, the Star Luo Empire will not dare to mobilize too many soldiers to reinforce the Heavenly Soul Empire, because we have no idea when the Sun Moon Empire will attack us.

“In the future, if the Sun Moon Empire achieves a conclusive victory on the battlefield against the Heavenly Soul Empire, they can still attack us through the gap in the Ming Dou Mountain Range if and when they want to. First, they obtain an absolute advantage and restrain us, and then they turn their forces against the Heavenly Soul Empire. This series of tactics has been ingeniously planned, and we have been kept in the dark because they’ve blocked all of our reconnaissance and surveillance efforts. Nobody will think that they are changing targets when they’ve already obtained an absolute advantage. Therefore, you have to report all of this to the White Tiger Duke as quickly as possible, so that he can pass the news to the Heavenly Soul Empire, so the Heavenly Soul Empire can be careful, and he also has to request that the Dou Ling Empire reinforce the Heavenly Soul Empire.

“The Sun Moon Empire is waiting for all our reinforcements to concentrate over here. When that happens, they will launch

 

another invasion against the Heavenly Soul Empire, and our reinforcements will be unable to reach them in time.”

Dai Luoli’s back was soaked with sweat as he listened to Huo Yuhao’s analysis. Not in his wildest dreams did he expect such a situation. If everything was as Huo Yuhao had predicted, the Heavenly Soul Empire was truly in danger!

“Brother, is there a chance that your guess is wrong? Perhaps the Sun Moon Empire doesn’t have that in mind at all, and they haven’t considered starting an all-out war at all?”

“Childish!”   Huo  Yuhao  grunted  coldly  and  said,  “Don’t dispute and deny the situation just because it’s disadvantageous. Are you trying to be a coward? My guess has almost a ninety percent chance of being correct. Just relay everything to the White Tiger Duke, and he will understand.

“Don’t mention me, just tell him that you thought about everything yourself. Tell him that you snuck over to the border, and there were coincidentally no aerial surveillance soul tools in a particular region, so you took a look, and surmised all these possibilities afterwards. You have to say everything with sincerity and honesty, because time waits for

 

no man! The Heavenly Soul Empire’s defeat will spell disaster for us in the future!”

Dai Luoli gulped as he felt the pressure coming from Huo Yuhao’s body. He nodded and said, “I understand, I will definitely explain everything to my father clearly. Elder brother, you’re really a genius! If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t have been able to calculate anything at all.”

Huo Yuhao forced a laugh and said, “Genius? How can I be a genius if I’ve only realized what’s happening after everything’s been said and done? The person from the Sun Moon Empire who plotted this scheme is a true genius. Right now, I can only hope that their movements are a little slower, so that we can have a little more time. However, I’m afraid…”

------

There was an enormous tent inside the army camp. This tent was different from other tents, because it was made entirely from leather, and it was actually dark red, as if it had been painted over with blood.

 

Lights and lanterns lit up the entirety of this large tent. Soldiers walked in and out continuously, and even though it was already late at night, everyone still seemed extremely busy.

“Eh? A super-high aerial surveillance soul tool has gone missing?”  rang out a voice tinged with astonishment inside this tent.

“Yes, marshal,” the messenger spoke respectfully as he knelt on one knee.

There was a fair and graceful figure standing within the commander’s tent. She was clad in red armor, which perfectly brought out her elegant frame. She had a rose-gold cape draped behind her, and a picture of heroism and valor. A picture of a fiery-red phoenix was painted on her chest, its wings outstretched as if it were about to soar into the sky.

Her skin was extremely fair and tender, and seemed like it had been formed from frozen water crystals, and water would be squeezed out if one pinched gently on her skin. Her face was beautiful, but she seemed a little haggard, and her eyebrows were tightly knit together as a contemplative look came over her face.

Huo Yuhao would have been astounded if he saw her, because this person, whom the messenger had addressed as “marshal”, was the Sun Moon Empire’s current empress, and also someone that Huo Yuhao was very familiar with... Ju Zi!

Ju Zi stood up and started to pace inside her tent. After a few moments, she stopped and lowered her voice as she said, “Pass on my orders immediately, and as quickly as possible – increase our surveillance lockdown against the Star Luo Empire at their western border. Don’t allow even a fly to come over. We have to sever every possible surveillance method they possess.”

“Yes!”  The messenger bowed, then immediately turned and left.

There were several tall officers standing on either side of the tent. They all had looks of admiration and respect on their face as they watched Ju Zi.

The Sun Moon Empire’s emperor, Xu Tianran, had appointed Ju Zi as the commander-in-chief of their three armies. When that was first announced, almost every military general and every non-military official thought he was joking.

How could a girl only about twenty years old be commander- in-chief? The emperor was clearly appointing people from favoritism!

However, Xu Tianran was too overbearing. With the Holy Ghost Church supporting him, he quickly suppressed every voice who objected against his decision, and insisted that Ju Zi be appointed the three armies’ commander-in-chief. Shortly afterwards, the war quietly entered its preparation stage.

Was Xu Tianran appointing someone because he was biased towards that person? Yes, he was, but he had seen this person’s abilities, and this person was worth supporting at all costs.

Xu Tianran had never doubted Ju Zi’s loyalty and commitment. In other words, Ju Zi was the one who he trusted the most among everyone beside him.

If he hadn’t had Ju Zi all those years ago, Xu Tianran would have died from an assassination attempt by his younger brothers when they were trying to claim the status of crown prince. Ju Zi had always been beside him and served him for so many years.

However, Xu Tianran wasn’t just biased towards Ju Zi enough for him to have so much faith in appointing her commander-in-chief of his three armies. More importantly, he approved of her abilities.

Many years ago, he had allowed her to join the military. In the beginning, he just wanted her to be trained and tempered in the military, but he had never expected her to have an extraordinary talent for military affairs. Ju Zi had achieved exemplary results when she led her troops to put down several revolts, and managed to suppress the rebellions with the lowest possible casualties, and within the shortest possible time.

Xu Tianran was always surprised whenever Ju Zi reported the various strategies and plans that she had used in battle. Ju Zi was simply too talented in military affairs, and the battle strategies and tactics that she used were always different each time. Her ideas were bold and imaginative, yet they were stable and grounded in rationality at the same time. Xu Tianran knew that she was better than he was at such things.

Ju Zi had gradually established her own reputation and prestige within the military within a few short years. Xu

 

Tianran had given direct command of the Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion, one of the five great soul engineer legions that formed the Hand that Protects the Nation, over to her.

He had contemplated long and hard about his decision to appoint her as commander-in-chief of his three armies. He only made up his mind after she devised a scheme and proposal for the coming war.

Ju Zi was now executing that plan, and had already completed the first step in her proposal. Everything was proceeding according to her strategy.

This time, the Sun Moon Empire’s mobilized army was smaller than the Star Luo Empire had imagined; they only had two hundred thousand soldiers. However, they were all the sharpest and most elite soldiers. Six of the Sun Moon Empire’s ten great soul engineer legions were participating in this war, and three of them belonged to the Hand that Protects the Nation: the Fire Phoenix, the Evil Tyrant, and the Terrorclaw Soul Engineer Legions!

The Evil Tyrant Legion and the Terrorclaw Legion were responsible for attacking the Star Luo Empire. Ju Zi deeply lamented the fact that they couldn’t kill the White Tiger Duke, who was rescued by someone from a hopeless situation. If the White Tiger Duke was dead, Ju Zi believed that her plan would have been one hundred percent successful!

 

The Star Luo Empire’s western forces would be sent into disarray without the White Tiger Duke in command, and would be messy and chaotic for a long period of time. She could then execute and complete her strategy casually.

She was surprised that the White Tiger Duke wasn’t killed, but she still stuck to her plan, relying on their formidable surveillance. The Sun Moon Empire’s control over the borders was simply too strong. They were watching every single move the Star Luo Empire was making.

Just as Huo Yuhao had guessed, Ju Zi was waiting for the best opportunity!

The Starsky Douluo, Ye Yulin was among those inside the tent. This tent wasn’t at the Star Luo Empire’s borders. Instead, it was located not far from the Heavenly Soul Empire’s borders.

After the Starsky Douluo missed his chance to kill the White Tiger Duke Dai Hao, he immediately brought his two soul engineer legions back within the Sun Moon Empire’s borders and rendezvoused with Ju Zi as fast as he possibly could.

 

Only the handful of powerful individuals inside this tent truly knew Ju Zi’s battle strategy and plans.

The Evil Tyrant Legion’s commander, Wang Yiheng, lowered his  voice  and  asked,  “Marshal,  are  we  going  to  continue waiting?”

Ju Zi lowered her voice and said, “We can’t wait any longer, and the time is almost right. One of our high altitude aerial surveillance tools has been discovered, and that is quite ominous. I’m afraid that problems may arise if we continue waiting. The Dou Ling Empire’s reinforcements for the Star Luo Empire are in position there, and our plan is starting to take shape. We don’t need to seek perfection, so we can make a move on our side. Master Ye, may I trouble you to inform the Holy Ghost Church so that they can cooperate with us? We will make a move at daybreak tomorrow. Generals, go back and get ready. We have to do everything in one breath this time. We have to break through all the way to Heaven Dou City!”

“Yes!”

These generals and powerful individuals were more than a little unconvinced of Ju Zi in the beginning, but they had done

 

everything according to her plan, easily destroying the Star Luo Empire’s border defenses, and almost killing the White Tiger Duke. They were now starting to be convinced, especially by Ju Zi’s baffling style of deploying and mobilizing their soldiers. Many times, these generals were still confused, when they had already achieved the goals of their battle strategies. The intel that they had received from the front lines confirmed that the Star Luo Empire was being pulled along in the way that they wanted, and even the White Tiger Duke, who was a reputable marshal across the entire Continent, didn’t discover their plan!

Ju Zi placed a lot of emphasis on surveillance. This time, she had deployed almost every single surveillance soul tool in the empire, and even mobilized the aerial surveillance soul tools that the empire’s cities used for defense. Her reasoning was simple: if they used these surveillance soul tools at the borders, why would their cities need those surveillance soul tools for defense, as long as their borders weren’t broken through?

Ju Zi got to her feet. Lights flickered in her beautiful eyes. Xu Tianran wasn’t very mobile and because of his status, she was practically battling on Xu Tianran’s behalf. He trusted her more than anyone else. Her revenge had begun, and even though the Heavenly Soul Empire wasn’t the Star Luo Empire,

 

destroying the Heavenly Soul Empire was a prelude to decimating the Star Luo Empire.

War is about to break out on all fronts. Where is that fellow?

What is he doing? I hope I don’t meet him on the battlefield.

------

Huo Yuhao quietly returned to Imperial Radiant City and went back to the room that he shared with Dai Luoli. Obviously, Dai Luoli wouldn’t be coming back for quite some time. Huo Yuhao had sent him off to the city that the White Tiger Duke was stationed in before he discreetly returned to his room. He had exhorted Dai Luoli again and again before they separated to not not reveal anything about him.

“Why are you standing there, princess?” Huo Yuhao saw Xu Yun standing next to the window once he came in .

Xu Yun turned around and glared at him. “Do you two still have the awareness that personal guards should have? Where did the two of you go for the entire night?”

 

“Uh…” Huo Yuhao shook his head exasperatedly as he stared at Xu Yun’s indignant expression. Xu Yun was different from Dai Luoli. She was part of the Star Luo Empire’s royal family, and she couldn’t know about the things that Dai Luoli knew.

“Dai Luoli has disappeared. I was looking for him in the city just now, but I didn’t find him even after searching for a long time. I was just about to find you and ask you where he’d gone.”

“He’s disappeared?” Xu Yun was momentarily stunned as she heard Huo Yuhao’s words. “When did he disappear?”

Huo Yuhao answered, “He disappeared not long after dinner! I don’t know where he’s disappeared to. He said nothing as he left in the cover of the night, and he hasn’t come back since then.”

Xu Yun frowned tightly and said, “The city’s gates have been sealed. Where could he possibly be? Let’s go, we’ll go search for him again.”

She turned and walked out as she spoke, and Huo Yuhao could only follow her.

They searched the city for a while, but how could they possibly find any trace of Dai Luoli? Eventually, a whistle that signaled an emergency assembly rang out. The sun was about to peek out over the horizon, and Xu Yun immediately shivered coldly when she heard this whistle. She blurted, “Is the enemy here?”

Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and said, “Calm down, don’t be worried. Let’s gather our people first and await orders.”

“Alright.” The astonished look on Xu Yun’s face faded away at Huo Yuhao’s reminder, but she was still breathing heavily. After all, this little princess hadn’t participated in a war before. She couldn’t help but feel her heart beat faster when she thought that the Sun Moon Empire’s army might have crossed over to her side.

Every soldier stationed in the city swiftly assembled, and every officer that was ranked battalion commander or higher was summoned for a conference.

Huo Yuhao followed Xu Yun to the military headquarters. Xu Yun went in for the meeting, and he waited outside. He didn’t

 

even need Spiritual Detection to eavesdrop on this meeting for him to imagine that this emergency meeting had nothing to do with the Sun Moon Empire invading them. The Sun Moon Empire didn’t even have soldiers at the Star Luo Empire’s borders, so how could they launch an invasion? This meeting

probably happened because the news that he had instructed Dai Luoli to pass on to the White Tiger Duke was taking effect.

Xu Yun came out after a few moments, and her expression was clearly a lot more relaxed than before.

“We’re not being invaded,” she told Huo Yuhao softly.

“Oh? Then what was the meeting about?” Huo Yuhao asked obligingly.

Xu Yun was very excited. “The White Tiger Duke has come up with a plan: we’re preparing a counterattack on the Ming Dou Mountain Range, and we will attack as soon as possible. This time, our reserve troops will also participate, and we will be responsible for providing support. Recruits will be all the way at the back, so no harm should come to them, and we will treat this as a training exercise. But no matter what, the

 

recruits are still going to an actual battlefield! Come, let’s hurry back.”

They’re counterattacking at the Ming Dou Mountain Range? Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned when he heard the news, but he understood immediately afterwards.

The White Tiger Duke... he lives up to his name as one of the most reputable marshals of his generation!

It seemed the White Tiger Duke had believed the intel that Dai Luoli conveyed to him. At a time like this, the Star Luo Empire couldn’t support and reinforce the Heavenly Soul Empire in time, even if they wanted to. Furthermore, that could only happen on the basis that Dai Luoli’s conjecture was true.

With the White Tiger’s Duke’ intelligence, his decision should be a probing attack, so that he could observe and find out how the Sun Moon Empire was deploying its armies by attacking the borders. If the situation was what Dai Luoli had said, then the Star Luo Empire’s best choice would be to use their full strength to take back control over the Ming Dou Mountain Range. Afterwards, they would invade past the Sun

 

Moon Empire’s borders, putting pressure on the Sun Moon Empire so that they wouldn’t dare use their full strength against the Heavenly Soul Empire.

This decision was far better than reinforcing the Heavenly Soul Empire directly. The Dou Ling Empire’s reinforcements should be used directly against the Ming Dou Mountain Range. They were only several hundred kilometers away, and were much further from their destination if they were to travel towards the Heavenly Soul Empire. They were too far away to save the Heavenly Soul Empire, so the best choice was to attack the invaders and draw their forces away from the Heavenly Soul Empire.

Hopefully this decision will be effective, Huo Yuhao sighed to himself. At the same time, he asked himself, If I were the marshal, what would I have done? Could I have been like the White Tiger Duke, and made such an immediate and decisive choice?

He definitely would have made the same choice, but Huo Yuhao knew that he wouldn’t have been as decisive as the White Tiger Duke. Huo Yuhao was more confident in dealing with the Sun Moon Empire, because nobody could do better

 

than him at targeting and destroying the Sun Moon Empire’s surveillance soul tools.

The Star Luo Empire’s reserve troops were mobilized, but the situation should be like Xu Yun had said; they were to treat this like a training exercise. The White Tiger Duke was probably leading his most elite troops into battle in a situation like this, but he still hadn’t forgotten to train his soldiers. At the very least, he intended the urgency of this war to temper his soldiers so that he could better control the entire situation.

Imperial Radiant City’s four gates quickly opened wide. The armies would be a lot quicker if they exited from all four gates at the same time, while their lines and progress would be staggered if they all had to leave through the same gate. Huo Yuhao and the other recruits were furthest away from the battlefield, so they were naturally placed behind everyone else.

“Battalion commander!” Huo Yuhao followed Xu Yun out of the city, and called out to her from beside the horse she was riding.

“Yes?”  Xu Yun glanced at him. Xu Yun had always had her doubts about Huo Yuhao, but because she had absolute faith in

 

Dai Luoli, in addition to the fact that Huo Yuhao might be from the White Tiger Duke’s Mansion, she had forced herself to accept him. Furthermore, Huo Yuhao had given her reminders at crucial moments in several instances. She didn’t even realize it, but she was subconsciously starting to rely on this “Tang Dong”.

“I want to take a look at the situation in front, and then I will bring back firsthand news for you. How’s that?” Huo Yuhao whispered.

“You want to go to the front lines?” Xu Yun exclaimed softly.

Huo Yuhao tilted his head slightly.

Xu Yun was hesitant. “That’s too dangerous, no?”

Huo Yuhao chortled and said, “How dangerous can that be? I’m just going to take a look from far away. Furthermore, you’ve forgotten that I’m also a soul master! Don’t worry, I’ll come back to find you very quickly.”

Chapter 427: Battle in the Ming Dou Mountain Range

Xu Yun thought for a moment, then said, “Alright, you can go. But be careful... that’s weird, I wonder where Dai Luoli is? He’s been gone for a long time.”

Huo Yuhao said, “He mentioned the Duke before this. Could he have gone to find the Duke? Maybe he couldn’t stand the loneliness here anymore.”

Xu Yun was momentarily stunned. “And he didn’t bring you along?”

Huo Yuhao forced a laugh and replied, “Maybe he’s afraid of my beatings?”

Xu Yun’s face became a little strange. “But he seems to be improving very quickly recently...”

Huo Yuhao looked up, and a mischievous grin appeared at the corner of his mouth. “Why, do you want to try?”

“No!”  Xu Yun exclaimed almost instantaneously. There was no need to mention being beaten like Dai Luoli was. Her stomach still throbbed painfully when she remembered Huo Yuhao punching her in her abdomen.

Huo Yuhao shrugged. He sounded a little disappointed as he said, “If you are willing to participate, I believe he will work even harder. I’m going to leave now, and if he comes back, make sure he doesn’t go anywhere!” He began to walk faster as he spoke, and ran off to one side before swiftly disappearing into the darkness.

Xu Yun’s other personal guards were following behind her, and were confused about what he was doing, but Xu Yun said nothing, so naturally none of them dared to ask.

---

Huo Yuhao used Imitation to merge into the night sky, and flew towards the Ming Dou Mountain Range. He thought to himself as he flew, I haven’t been back for long, and now I’m going back... what a hassle! I wonder what the White Tiger Duke will achieve with this counterattack?

Huo Yuhao stretched his Spiritual Detection out like a web in all directions as he rose into the sky, and quickly discovered the large armies of the White Tiger Duke moving forward on the ground. The Star Luo Empire had brought out their full strength… however, he could only see legions formed by

normal soldiers at this moment.

According to what Xu Yun told him, eight of the Star Luo Empire’s ten great soul master legions had reached their western borders under Princess Jiujiu’s command. Huo Yuhao thought to himself, They should be all the way in front of everyone else, because normal soldiers will only be massacred if they go up against soul tools. But can the Star Luo Empire’s soul masters break through the Sun Moon Empire’s defenses?

Huo Yuhao was still thinking to himself when a place in the Ming Dou Mountain Range ahead suddenly glowed, and large patches of light flickered again and again.

The battle has already begun?

Huo Yuhao contemplated calmly for a moment before picking up his pace once more. He didn’t fly directly towards

 

where the battle was happening, instead taking slight detour, and proceeding towards the edge of the battlefield.

Huo Yuhao wasn’t sure how much strength both sides had invested in a battle as intense as this. He would probably be treated as an enemy by both forces if he ventured forward brashly and was discovered.

The flashes became increasingly clear as he drew closer. Furthermore, most of those flashes were flickering in the sky, and powerful lights were being released continuously as rays of light flowed and circulated in the sky.

---

Huo Yuhao arrived at his destination in fifteen minutes. He carefully reached out with his Spiritual Detection, sweeping it towards the battlefield.

The most intense parts of the battle were happening in the sky. Countless beams from soul rays and soul cannons waltzed left and right through the air, and large patches of energy storms were sweeping up into the sky. Huo Yuhao could reach

 

out with his Spiritual Detection, and only observe the battle from afar. Otherwise, he ran the risk of being torn to pieces.

This battle was clearly one between thousands of soul masters and soul engineers. Such a vast spectacle could be said to represent a contest between the entire Continent’s strongest and most top-tier forces.

Huo Yuhao continued observing from the distance as he carefully approached the Ming Dou Mountain Range from one side. He could see with greater clarity if he was closer, and he had already opened his Eye of Destiny fully to reduce the interference brought about by thee intense soul power undulations.

Astonishment gradually appeared in Huo Yuhao’s eyes. The Sun Moon Empire’s defenses that they had deployed in the Ming Dou Mountain Range truly surprised him.

Huo Yuhao could see only a little bit when he was observing the battle earlier. However, because he was observing from far away, and even when there were no soul power undulations from soul tools, he couldn’t possibly see everything. In this moment, the soul tools’ powers were on full display, and Huo

 

Yuhao could see more than three thousand assault points were firing continuously. These assault points consisted mainly of soul cannons, with soul rays supporting them.

Soul rays were a lot more accurate than soul cannons, and they were easily adjusted and a lot more penetrating. However, their range couldn’t compare to that of soul cannons, and both weapons had their own advantages and were complementary to one another. Soul cannons were responsible for bombarding at a distance, while volumes of soul rays swept out horizontally at any soul masters who managed to break through within a certain area.

The Sun Moon Empire had actually set up so many soul tools at the Ming Dou Mountain Range. There were probably more soul tools on the Ming Dou Mountain Range than every single soul tool within the Douluo Continent’s three empires added together.

Huo Yuhao felt fortunate. If he hadn’t triggered an explosion in that massive warehouse, there would probably be twice as many soul tools here today!

 

There were so many soul tools, and naturally, there were many soul engineers controlling them. The Sun Moon Empire had absolutely made sufficient preparations. With the support of sealed Milk Bottles, even low-level soul engineers could unleash the power of mid-tier soul tools. They could continue

operating higher level soul tools as long as there were enough Milk Bottles, and their destructive and offensive capabilities were naturally exponentially boosted.

The Ming Dou Mountain Range was like a giant porcupine at this moment. This “porcupine”  continuously straightened its pricks, and didn’t let anyone near.

Huo Yuhao discovered at the same time that the aerial surveillance soul tools in the air had evidently been withdrawn inside an area that the Ming Dou Mountain Range’s firepower could protect. These soul tools were still carrying out their reconnaissance tasks, except their areas of coverage were smaller than before.

As for whether there were high altitude aerial surveillance soul tools much higher in the sky, Huo Yuhao couldn’t detect any for now. He had to concentrate and sweep region by region at such altitudes, and he currently didn’t have the time for

 

that. Protecting himself and making sure that he wasn’t discovered was more important right now.

The Sun Moon Empire’s defenses were strict and tight, but the Star Luo Empire’s battle strategies and tactics were also exceptionally appropriate.

The Star Luo Empire had mobilized at least five thousand soul masters this time, but there were less than five hundred people participating in this assault. However, even the weakest of these soul masters were Soul Sages.

Five hundred soul sages... what kind of frightening power was that? If this fight was one against one, even if there were three times as many Class 7 soul engineers in a fixed area, those soul engineers would be no match for these Soul Sages.

Most soul masters couldn’t be threatened by average and typical soul tools after they became Soul Sages, and only soul tools that were incredibly powerful, or many soul tools trained on them at the same time, could hurt them. Furthermore, these soul masters weren’t blindly committing to the assault. Instead, they attacked in probes, expending the Sun Moon

 

Empire’s inventory of Milk Bottles as they waited for the right opportunity to strike.

This was undoubtedly the best fighting method. The soul masters ground their opponents down continuously, while they relied on their strength as Soul Sages to minimize their own consumption as much as possible. If this was allowed to continue, the time would come when the Sun Moon Empire’s soul engineers would be whittled down to nothing. Furthermore, the soul masters would also launch surprise attacks on the aerial surveillance soul tools in the sky. Each one of these things destroyed would reduce the Sun Moon Empire’s vision by a little bit.

Huo Yuhao didn’t have to guess that the White Tiger Duke and Princess Jiujiu had discovered from their probing attack that Dai Luoli’s conjecture was correct. The Sun Moon Empire hadn’t sent their armies into the Star Luo Empire’s borders, and had only taken the Ming Dou Mountain Range, which they had then rebuilt into a defensive front. In that case, since the Sun Moon Empire had already made their move, what was their main target? There was no question that the Sun Moon Empire was heading towards the Heavenly Soul Empire.

 

All the Star Luo Empire could do now was work on breaking the Sun Moon Empire’s lockdown on the Ming Dou Mountain Range. Afterwards, the Star Luo Empire could directly threaten the Sun Moon Empire’s own territories in a bid to reduce the pressure on the Heavenly Soul Empire.

The Sun Moon Empire had probably predicted this, except they probably didn’t guess that the Star Luo Empire’s reaction would be this quick. However, based on how strong the Sun Moon Empire’s defenses looked, they had deployed at least three soul engineer legions to defend the mountain range. At the same time, they had also mobilized large amounts of low- level soul engineers to support those legions. They had also made use of the Ming Dou Mountain Range’s topography, and the Star Luo Empire faced quite a challenge if they really wanted to advance all the way through the mountain range.

Huo Yuhao could tell that this battle would continue for quite some time without an clear victor from how both forces were fighting. The Star Luo Empire’s great armies were gradually bearing down on their borders, and with the White Tiger Duke’s love for his soldiers, he probably wouldn’t charge forward by using human wave tactics.

 

Individual strength had become irrelevant and minute on a battlefield of such scale. The Sun Moon Empire had definitely activated every one of their surveillance soul tools, and Huo Yuhao didn’t have any confidence at all in infiltrating their camp. He could only observe the front lines and see where the battle was going from afar, and pray in silence for the Star Luo Empire.

The Star Luo Empire almost didn’t use any soul tools at all to retaliate against the Sun Moon Empire’s soul tools. A soul master’s range was very limited most of the time, and this was true even for powerful Titled Douluo. Soul Engineers had an advantage in this regard.

The Star Luo Empire had to suffer because they were not as advanced! With the Star Luo Empire’s national strength, if they had focused on developing soul tools as much as possible after the Sun Moon Empire had launched their first Holy War back then, the situation today wouldn’t have been so bad. The Star Luo Empire’s ideology that soul masters were invincible didn’t change because of that war. Instead, the ideology was further strengthened.

Hopefully, this war would allow the Star Luo Empire to wake up a little earlier. Even though it was delayed, if the Star Luo

 

Empire could win this war, then it wouldn’t be too late.

After some time, the bombardment from the soul cannons and soul rays that were firing from the Ming Dou Mountain Range gradually began to weaken. Sealed Milk Bottles couldn’t sustain them indefinitely, after all. Soul tools that were strong enough to threaten seven-ringed Soul Sages consumed a lot of soul power. After such a long time, the Sun Moon Empire had consumed an uncountable number of Milk Bottles, and their soul engineers had consumed far too much soul power.

The Star Luo Empire naturally realized that the Sun Moon Empire’s defenses were starting to weaken, and they began pushing forward gradually to put more pressure on their opponents.

The Sun Moon Empire’s soul cannons and soul ray attacks suddenly strengthened a little, and forced the Star Luo Empire’s soul masters back. However, after this resurgence, they seemed to have consumed the last ounces of their strength, and their firepower weakened even further.

The Star Luo Empire seemed to have gained the upper hand completely. In the end, they had thousands of soul masters

 

who hadn’t joined the battle yet. Once their top-tier soul masters achieved an unambiguous and decisive advantage, then their regular soul masters should have no problem charging down the Ming Dou Mountain Range’s defensive perimeter. The mountain range’s topographical advantages were nothing much to these soul masters.

However, Huo Yuhao was still observing the battle from afar when he suddenly felt a little stifled. He kept having this feeling that something was wrong, and he even felt a faint ominous sensation.

The Star Luo Empire’s soul masters were pushing forward once more, while the Sun Moo Empire’s resistance was conspicuously weaker this time. The soul masters were slowly pushing forward to the point where they could use long-range soul skills to attack the Ming Dou Mountain Range’s defensive front, where the soul engineers were stationed.

Is my premonition wrong? It seemed like the Sun Moon Empire had no strength left to continue resisting, and strong lights were starting to flicker on many of the Star Luo Empire’s top-tier soul masters. The circles of light from soul rings were even more glaring in the night sky, a sign that these soul masters were about to unleash long-range attacks. There were

 

so many seven-ringed Soul Sages that as long as even a third of them could unleash their offensive capabilities, it would be a great blow against the Sun Moon Empire. The Sun Moon Empire would have almost no chance to turn the tides of battle when that happened.

Huo Yuhao was still thinking to himself when he suddenly grunted, and plummeted from the sky.

An indescribable fear coursed over his body in an instant. The Spiritual Detection he had released was shattered, and he felt as if the entire world was being annihilated in that moment. He hurriedly activated his soul power to control his body, but his terror made him quiver and tremble uncontrollably.

That… what is that…?

He had only felt an aura as apocalyptic as this once before, when the Beast God, Di Tian, erupted in uncontrollable fury above Shrek City, as he prepared to decimate Shrek City, whatever the cost.

 

But back then, Di Tian’s strength wasn’t released in the end.

This frightening aura that suddenly appeared in this moment was spreading out quickly. A ray of white light burst out from one of the Ming Dou Mountain Range’s tall peaks without any warning at all.

This white pillar was as thick as a water tank, but it didn’t feel or seem very powerful at all. It was ghastly white in color, and transformed into a pillar several thousand meters long as it appeared in the sky and swept outwards horizontally.

What kind of light was that!? Time itself seemed to freeze in the moment that this pillar appeared, and all space was sliced open wherever it crossed. However, the typical phenomenon that would happen when air was being torn apart, where immense suction forces were produced, didn’t occur. It felt as though space in another world had been completely frozen and intimidated by this pillar.

It was too quick, to the point where nobody had the time to react.

 

The top-tier soul masters that were suppressing the Ming Dou Mountain Range were a lot more compact than before, and this white pillar swept across the people that were packed close together.

Emptiness!

After this white pillar swept across them, the first feeling that everyone else felt was emptiness!

Chapter 428: Light of the Death God

Just like a piece of cloth sweeping across the sky, all life was wiped out wherever it passed.

There were more than five hundred soul masters who were at least Soul Sages there. They had already unleashed their martial souls, and many of them were even preparing to unleash powerful soul skills. However, more than two hundred of them were killed as this ray of white light swept past. No trace of them was left behind.

Huo Yuhao opened his mouth. He hadn’t expected the ominous feeling to precede such a terrifying catastrophe. What was that ray of white light that flashed before disappearing? It was extremely terrifying. It was so frightening that he was unable to react in time, even with the strength of his spiritual power.

Hee would have ended up in the same state as those Soul Sages if that ray of white light had swept in his direction. He wouldn’t have been able to react in time, and would have been obliterated, just like that.

 

Not only this, but the soul rays and soul cannon shells that had dimmed earlier were now unleashed with greater firepower than before. They were ferociously attacking the high-tier soul masters from the Star Luo Empire, who were all stunned at this moment. Instantly, the five-hundred-man soul master legion collapsed, and they all fled frantically. The sky was immediately cleared.

Huo Yuhao hadn’t expected this. He was only observing the situation at the Ming Dou Mountain Range. As for the Star Luo Empire, they were likely to be in an even worse situation.

The Star Luo Empire had been tricked once again. The soul cannon shells and soul rays had weakened twice earlier, but it was all part of a ploy to trick the Star Luo Empire.

The Star Luo Empire didn’t have any experience fighting soul engineers. They didn’t have any opportunity or experience in resisting a defensive front that was completely formed using soul tools! After being drawn over, more than two-fifths of the Star Luo Empire’s strongest soul master legion was wiped out by an attack from their opponent’s transcendent soul tool. This was a huge blow to the Star Luo Empire!

 

How difficult was it to nurture a Soul Sage? In just an instant, more than two hundred Soul Sages had been killed. They didn’t even manage to hurt their enemies at all. This wasn’t very difficult to understand, but it was very difficult to accept.

Huo Yuhao opened his mouth wide, but wasn’t able to say anything. An indescribable fear had risen in his heart. It wasn’t his first time feeling that he was close to death, but his previous few experiences always came with a process. However, he didn’t feel that there was any process when that ray of white light swept across earlier. Fortunately that ray of white light hadn’t swept in his direction. Otherwise, he would have been killed before he was able to think of anything.

After a momentary daze, he started to pant heavily. He regained his thinking ability, and the fear in his eyes slowly turned into astonishment.

Perhaps the soldiers of the Star Luo Empire weren’t able to guess what that ray of white light was, but he could. This was because he had a teacher called Xuan Ziwen, who was once the chief researcher of the Sun Moon Empire’s Illustrious Virtue Hall.

 

Xuan Ziwen had once told Huo Yuhao about the strongest soul engineers in the Sun Moon Empire. Among them, Huo Yuhao had faced the Starsky Douluo Ye Yulin before. In terms of overall abilities, he was ranked third in the Sun Moon Empire. He was a powerful existence that even a Transcendent Douluo might not even be able to defeat.

However, there were still a few soul engineers in the Sun Moon Empire that were close to Ye Yulin. They included the Hallmaster of the Illustrious Virtue Hall, Jing Hongchen.

There were two other soul engineers ranked higher than Ye Yulin. Their abilities were unrivaled by any other Class 9 soul engineers. Even Ye Yulin was extremely respectful to both of them when he saw them, and called them Seniors whenever he greeted them.

Why was the Sun Moon Empire daring enough to associate themselves with the Holy Ghost Church? Xuan Ziwen had once come up with a theory: it was because the Sun Moon Empire was very confident in their abilities. Or rather, it was because the Sun Moon Empire was very confident in their soul engineers. Those two soul engineers were the true stabilizing force of all the soul engineers in the Sun Moon Empire.

 

The number one soul engineer was already more than a hundred and eighty years old. Only the Sun Moon Empire’s Emperor and Crown Prince knew where he lived, and were qualified to see him. He was only loyal to the imperial family. He had been the Hallmaster of the Illustrious Virtue Hall two generations ago. Even Xuan Ziwen had never seen him. However, he had heard of him before in the world of soul engineers in the Sun Moon Empire.

He was recognized as the person closest to becoming a Class 10 soul engineer. In the hearts of soul engineers, a Class 10 soul engineer was almost equivalent to a god!

He possessed the strongest soul tool in the Sun Moon Empire, and thus the entire Douluo Continent. He spent thirty- two years creating that soul tool. It had enabled him to ascend to the peak of soul engineers, and made him extremely respected among them. Through this soul tool, he established himself in the supreme position in the Sun Moon Empire’s world of soul engineers. As long as he was alive, he remained the Chief Soul Engineer of the Imperial Court.

The soul tool that he possessed was called Death God. When the Death God appeared, all light was lost!

 

This soul tool only had one effect, which was to unleash a streak of light, the Light of the Death God. Its effective range was five thousand meters, be it in the sky or on the ground.

Once the Death God appeared, there was no living creature or material that continued to exist after this Light of the Death God swept past it.

This was why this Light of the Death God was also called the Light of Eternal Obliteration. No one knew what the Death God looked like, and no one was aware of what the Death God Douluo, the owner of the Death God, looked like when he unleashed the power of his Death God. Some soul engineers in the Sun Moon Empire even wondered whether the Death God really existed.

However, he had always been the Chief Soul Engineer of the Imperial Court.. Those in the Sun Moon Empire also replaced his name with Death God, and respectfully called him Lord Death God.

The Light of the Death God came in the form of a pale white light.

 

Other than the Light of the Death God, Huo Yuhao couldn’t think of any other soul tool that could produce such great power. It wasn’t just Soul Sages that would perish against the Light of the Death God, even a Titled Douluo might not be able to survive.

As for Transcendent and Ultimate Douluo, Huo Yuhao was unsure if they could resist the Light of the Death God. However, his Spiritual Detection was crushed by the aura released by the Light of the Death God earlier, and his spiritual sea had been shaken. If not for the power of destiny protecting him, his spiritual sea would have been crushed.

The Light of the Death God wasn’t just a simple soul power attack. It contained a very weird spiritual intent. Its strength was already far beyond what Huo Yuhao could comprehend. The feeling earlier was etched in his mind, but he didn’t dare to think about how it felt.

It was deservedly recognized as the number one soul tool on the continent! Huo Yuhao hadn’t expected the Sun Moon Empire to invite the Death God Douluo out to hold the fort at the Ming Dou Mountain Range.

 

Xuan Ziwen only knew a little about the Death God, and no one else knew more than him. No one knew what kind of price one had to pay in the face of the Death God, and no one knew how many times it could be unleashed. Even what it looked like was a mystery. However, Huo Yuhao had now personally witnessed how destructive it was.

It was too frightening, it was simply beyond belief. Huo Yuhao was still shaking slightly even now.

The Star Luo Empire’s attacks had ceased now. The Star Luo Empire’s military was already in position below, but they didn’t make a move. They had no intention of advancing further.

Without even asking, Huo Yuhao could guess that the Star Luo Empire must be in a state of chaos right now. More than two hundred Soul Sage or stronger soul masters had died. This was too huge of a blow to them. More importantly, the Star Luo Empire’s attacking momentum had been stopped by the Light of the Death God. No matter how strong their confidence, they couldn’t possibly resist the Light of the Death God. Huo Yuhao didn’t have any confidence in doing so, and he didn’t think the Titled Douluo of the Star Luo Empire had any confidence, either.

The Sun Moon Empire was indeed scheming and astute! Given this strategy, they must have had thought of everything, down to the tiniest details.

They weren’t afraid of the Star Luo Empire seeing through their scheme. Their scheme had already been completed when the Star Luo Empire sent reinforcements. After that, it only depended on how long the Star Luo Empire would remain tricked. The Sun Moon Empire had set up their front very early on, and the fort was personally held by the number one soul engineer on the continent.

If the Star Luo Empire had an Ultimate Douluo, they might be daring enough to continue trying. However, did they have one? They didn’t. The number of Ultimate Douluo on the continent could be counted on one hand. Among them, only the Dragon Emperor Douluo was a true Ultimate Douluo. Du Busi and Elder Xuan were only close to becoming Ultimate Douluo.

After the Star Luo Empire was dealt such a huge blow, the Ming Dou Mountain Range became a territory that they couldn’t cross anymore. They couldn’t advance any further.

 

What about the other side? What about the Heavenly Soul Empire?

Huo Yuhao slowly shut his eyes. He seemed to see the Heavenly Soul Empire being overrun by the Sun Moon Empire. Once the Heavenly Soul Empire was destroyed, the Sun Moon Empire would attack the Star Luo Empire from two fronts, and further fulfill their goal of ruling the entire continent.

The Sun Moon Empire’s planning was indeed ingenious!

They had fully tapped into the advantages of soul tools!

After seeing the Light of the Death God, Huo Yuhao realized that he couldn’t do anything. He could only pray in his heart, and hope that the Death God Douluo wasn’t a Class 10 soul engineer.

The Sun Moon Empire was already supported by the Holy Ghost Church. If the Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao teamed up with a Class 10 soul engineer, would the three empires of the Douluo Continent still have a future?

Huo Yuhao knew that he couldn’t continue being a trooper. No matter how much he liked being in a military camp and guiding his own younger brother, the safety of the continent was more important than his own wishes.

He had to return and tell the Academy about the situation here right away, so that the Sea God’s Pavilion could make a decision. This concerned the future of the Douluo Continent. Shrek Academy definitely couldn’t sit and watch as everything unfolded. It was just that he didn’t know whether the Spirit Pagoda had been fully constructed. Fortunately, it seemed like

 

there wouldn’t be any action taken by the Great Star Dou Forest for the moment.

After taking one more deep look in the direction of the Ming Dou Mountain Range where the Light of the Death God had been unleashed from, Huo Yuhao bit his lip forcefully before turning around and quickly flying to the east.

There wasn’t any need to watch the fighting here. The Sun Moon Empire didn’t need to attack. They just needed to guard the Ming Dou Mountain Range, and they would achieve victory. As for the Heavenly Soul Empire, it was probably too late for any news to be sent to them. The Sun Moon Empire’s attack should have already started.

What Huo Yuhao could do now was immediately return to the Academy and recount everything he had witnessed so that the Academy would know how to prepare. At the same time, they could make a decision.

He couldn’t be bothered to tell Xu Yun as he rushed back. To him, every second and minute was now extremely crucial. After crossing the Star Luo Empire’s military camp, he rapidly flew across Imperial Radiant City. After he passed the entire

 

region covered by the military, he activated his flying-type soul tool and increased its speed to the maximum.

The view beneath him changed continuously, and the night air was very clear. It was also slightly damp. One would normally feel refreshed after taking in a deep breath. However, Huo Yuhao only felt very cold and anxious inside.

After the Sun Moon Empire started their attacks, they were actually so terrifying. It was something no one had expected. Even though they fought on two fronts, it was likely that they would still be able to suppress two empires at the same time. What should they do?

------

The Star Luo Empire’s temporary commander’s tent...

The White Tiger Duke Dai Hao looked very grim right now.

Beside him was Princess Jiujiu, wearing a suit of white armor.

 

Xu Jiujiu look equally grim, and her expression was also a little pale.

The fighting had already stopped, but the hazy Ming Dou Mountain Range seemed to epitomize the gloom that hung over the Star Luo Empire right now. When the Light of the Death God swept across earlier, she felt as if her heart had been torn apart. Two hundred soul masters who were at least Soul Sages had been killed! The number included more than ten Soul Douluo. This was an unprecedently huge blow to the Star Luo Empire.

More importantly, they weren’t able to hurt their enemies at all, even after they suffered such heavy casualties. This was completely unacceptable.

She was the one who had devised their strategy. After all, all the soul master legions were under her control.

The White Tiger Duke’s original plan had been to send some strong individuals to destroy the Sun Moon Empire’s blockade in the air before thinking of a way to make a breakthrough.

 

However, Xu Jiujiu was a little confused when she heard that the Sun Moon Empire hadn’t kept anyone on the border. She was fully aware that the Star Luo Empire would be in a crisis if the Heavenly Soul Empire fell. It was why she insisted on sending soul masters that were at least Soul Sages to probe and

drain the Sun Moon Empire’s defenses. After that, they could take them down in one fell swoop.

However, the final result mercilessly proved that her strategy was a mistake. Leading the soul master legions as a princess of the Star Luo Empire, she had only brought huge losses and casualties to them. Right now, all the commanders of the soul master legions were present. All of them looked very dismal, and the way they looked at Princess Jiujiu was very different from before.

After taking a deep breath, Xu Jiujiu stood up and bowed. She wasn’t a person who shirked her responsibilities. “Today’s defeat is on me. I was the one who made the decision, and my incorrect strategy brought us heavy losses. Marshal, I’ll account to His Majesty myself. At the same time, I’ll fully coordinate with all of you from now on, and listen to all of your arrangements.”

 

Xu Jiujiu was an important member of the imperial family. She was fully aware that the most important thing for the Star Luo Empire right now was resisting the Sun Moon Empire. She put down her face as a princess and admitted her mistake to the White Tiger Duke.

Dai Hao stood up and walked over to Xu Jiujiu’s side. He made a lifting gesture, and lifted her up with his soul power. “Your Highness, you don’t have to act like this. Our failure this time cannot be attributed to you alone. As a marshal, I’m not blameless, either. Furthermore, things happened beyond our expectations. The Sun Moon Empire unleashed that ray of white light from the Ming Dou Mountain Range. We don’t even know what it is. However, I can clearly sense that even a Titled Douluo wouldn’t have been able to resist it.

“Our priority now is to find out what the strength of that ray of white light is, as well as what price the Sun Moon Empire has to pay to unleash it. We’ve already alerted the Heavenly Soul Empire. I suggest that we let the reinforcements from the Dou Ling Empire enter the Heavenly Soul Empire’s territories to aid them, and also send some of our reinforcements to support them. I’m afraid it’ll be very difficult for us to breach the Ming Dou Mountain Range temporarily.”

 

While Dai Hao was extremely displeased with Xu Jiujiu’s decision earlier, he also understood what it meant to look at the big picture at the right time. Their priority now wasn’t putting the blame on anyone, but how they could turn things around on the battlefield.

They were already in a very disadvantageous situation. The Sun Moon Empire had demonstrated the edge soul tools possessed in this battle. With that terrifying ray of white light threatening them, how could it possibly be easy to breach the Sun Moon Empire’s defenses? It was a completely irresistible attack! Furthermore, it wasn’t that ray of white light that dampened their chances the most, it was the lack of surveillance.

According to the White Tiger Duke’s original plan, he had wanted to attack before the Sun Moon Empire discovered them, and invite all the Titled Douluo to move at the same time to destroy the surveillance soul tools of the Sun Moon Empire. This would allow them to retrieve some control over the air, as well as reduce the Sun Moon Empire’s surveillance on them.

However, Xu Jiujiu’s impatience had lost them this opportunity. The Sun Moon Empire’s surveillance soul tools

 

had already been pulled back within their defensive perimeter. It would be much more difficult to destroy them now. With the presence of that ray of white light that could even threaten a Titled Douluo’s life, which Titled Douluo would be willing to take action now? It was equivalent to courting death!

Under such circumstances, they were completely unaware of the Sun Moon Empire’s troop deployments in the Ming Dou Mountain Range. In addition, they were completely under surveillance over here. How were they going to fight? They didn’t stand any chance of breaching the Sun Moon Empire’s defenses.

They could only be content with an alternative option right now, and use the stupidest methods to aid the Heavenly Soul Empire. The effect wasn’t going to be very good. At the same time, the Star Luo Empire’s northern defense line had to be strengthened.

Xu Jiujiu didn’t continue. After she expressed her full support for the White Tiger Duke, she quickly returned to her position and sat down.

 

She was dealt the heaviest blow this time after their defeat. She was initially still a little unconvinced by the White Tiger Duke. However, she now realized that she was lost in the face of this crisis, while the White Tiger Duke was still able to seek opportunities in the midst of it. He neatly disseminated orders to his subordinates.

It was only at dawn the next day that the White Tiger dispersed the military conference. The commanders all left, while Princess Jiujiu remained where she was without moving at all.

“Your Highness, you’ve also toiled an entire night. Go back and rest,” Dai Hao said to Xu Jiujiu.

Xu Jiujiu’s body jerked a little, and she was a little lost as she looked back at Dai Hao. She stood up and walked in front of him. Suddenly, her knees fell to the ground with a thud, and she knelt in front of Dai Hao.

“Duke, I was wrong. I was the one who caused the empire to suffer such heavy losses. I…”

 

Dai Hao hurriedly lifted her up and furrowed his brow as he said, “Your Highness, why do you have to do this? I mentioned that you can’t be solely to blame for our failure. No one expected the Sun Moon Empire to possess such a terrifying soul tool.”

Xu Jiujiu shook her head mournfully and said, “No, I know that it’s my fault. If I had followed your original plan and destroyed the enemies’ surveillance soul tools first, we wouldn’t be so passive now. No matter how strong that ray of white light is, it can only cover a certain region. If not for my impatience and concentration of all the soul masters, we wouldn’t have suffered such huge losses. Duke, save the empire...”

Dai Hao sighed and said, “Your Highness, the empire is also my home. As long as I’m still alive, I won’t allow any invaders to destroy my home. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best. However, please help me tell His Majesty that our northern defense line needs to be strengthened. In addition, we can’t stop resisting the Sun Moon Empire’s attacks here. We must put pressure on them. This is the greatest help we can give the Heavenly Soul Empire. At the same time, I’ll need you to think of a way to send a batch of outstanding soul masters to try to sneak into the Sun Moon Empire. Without any surveillance and intelligence, we can’t win this war.”

“Alright, I’ll do my best to coordinate with you.” Xu Jiujiu left in a hurry. She couldn’t possibly rest!

After watching Xu Jiujiu leave, Dai Hao said, “Someone call Luoli over for me.”

“Yes.”

It was not long before Dai Luoli was led into the tent by the White Tiger’s bodyguards. After arriving at the front line, the White Tiger Duke had arranged for Dai Yueheng to temporarily look after Dai Luoli and stop him from running about.

When Dai Hao saw Dai Luoli last night, he was also stunned. The defense around the city he was in was very strict. He didn’t know how Dai Luoli had entered without being spotted.

After that, Dai Luoli shocked him by telling him everything he knew. He didn’t have the time to probe any further then, and had immediately called for a conference before the military set out.

Things had finally settled down, and he had time to call Dai Luoli over.

Dai Yueheng came over with Dai Luoli. He didn’t ostracize his younger brother, but wasn’t close to him, either. After all, they had the same father, but different mothers. Dai Yueheng even treated Dai Huabin, who shared the same parents as him, as his competitor. As for Dai Luoli, he hardly felt any kinship with him at all.

“Marshal.” Dai Luoli addressed Dai Hao as Marshal instead of father. At the same time, he performed a military salute.

Dai Hao furrowed his brow as he noticed Dai Luoli was dressed like a small team leader. “How did you enter the city? Did you join the military?”

Dai Luoli nodded. “I’m the small team leader of a group of recruits from the Sixth Reserve Legion. I’m a Private First Class. No one knows I’m a soul master, though. When I was doing my recruit training, I was promoted to a bodyguard of the battalion commander. As for how I entered the city, I’m afraid I can’t tell you right now.”

 

Dai Hao’s face turned gloomier. “Tell me. If you don’t, you’ll be punished as a spy.”

Dai Yueheng hurriedly said, “Father, the information Luoli is offering is very important. Don’t you think…”

Dai Hao glared at him and said, “There are no families in the army. There are only superiors and subordinates. What did you call me?”

“Yes,  Marshal.”  Dai  Yueheng  quickly  changed  the  way  he greeted Dai Hao. Dai Hao was very stern towards all his sons.

Dai Hao returned his attention to Dai Luoli, who appeared very persistent. He said, “Luoli, the information that you have brought us this time is indeed very important. However, the source of your information is also very important. If you’re being used by an enemy, the entire Northwestern Field Army will be killed along with you. This is why you must report the source of your information and how you managed to enter the city. I can only judge it accurately if you tell me this.”

 

After listening to his father’s words, Dai Luoli seemed to waver  a  little.  However,  he  still  resisted,  “Marshal,  I’m confident that the person who told me all this information isn’t an enemy. His information is definitely accurate.”

Dai Hao was already fatigued after an entire night spent in a military conference. He wasn’t in a good mood now, and thus shouted, “Who is he!?”

Dai Luoli said, “He’s, he’s my master.”

“Master?” Dai Hao was stunned. “Since when did you have a master?” He asked doubtfully.

Dai Luoli had already expected his father to interrogate him. He had also promised Huo Yuhao that he wouldn’t reveal his identity. This was why he thought of a way to talk his way out of this interrogation. The clever thing about him was that he didn’t say everything the moment he appeared in front of Dai Hao. Instead, he revealed everything slowly. This enabled him to gain his father’s trust more easily.

 

“He only became my master a short while ago. He was also the one who allowed me to join the military, as he thinks that the military is a good way to train myself. He’s normally absent, and will only appear when he’s teaching me. He managed to find out that there aren’t any soldiers from the Sun

Moon Empire at the Ming Dou Mountain Range before he proceeded to inform me. He knows my relationship with you, and thus he asked me to travel the entire night to deliver this information to you. As for how I entered the city, my master has a special ability that allows him to conceal himself. He brought me into the city by concealing both of us.”

After hearing the word ‘conceal’, Dai Hao twitched visibly. He hurriedly asked, “Is your master’s martial soul a spiritual- type?”

“How did you know that?” Dai Luoli was the shocked one now. Just because he possessed the ability to conceal himself didn’t mean that his martial soul was spiritual-type. Some special martial souls possessed such an ability, as well.

Dai Hao paused for a moment, then asked, “Is his height around one meter and ninety centimeters, and he has a slender and proportionate figure?”

 

“What?” Dai Luoli became more and more shocked. Dai Hao was describing Huo Yuhao!

From the look on Dai Luoli’s face, Dai Hao guessed his answer. He also looked much friendlier now. “I might know who he is. If he’s the one, the information should be fine. How did he take you as a disciple? What did he teach you?”

Dai Luoli replied, “I met him when I was cultivating outside the Duke’s Mansion for the first time. He was alone then, and he wore a mask. I couldn’t see him clearly. He didn’t say he wanted to teach me at the start, but suddenly attacked me. I retaliated as I was attacked, but he managed to take me down without even using his martial soul. After that, he kept on provoking me and making me furious so as to make me keep fighting him. It was only when I couldn’t get up anymore that he left.

“Ever since then, he has kept on appearing. Every time he appears, he beats me up very badly.” As he spoke until this point, Dai Luoli’s true emotions started to flow. During those days, every day had seemed very long!

 

Dai Yueheng was doubtful as he asked, “He always beats you up? Why did he become your master then?” From the look in his eyes, he was hinting that Dai Luoli deserved to be beaten up by accepting the person who had beaten him up as his master.

Dai Luoli was not very close to his brother, and so snorted, “Yes,  he  beats  me  up.  However,  he  has  helped  to  greatly increase my abilities. Father, I’m already at Rank 40. I’ll be a Soul Ancestor once I obtain my soul ring.” The moment he talked about this joyous matter, he couldn’t be bothered to address Dai Hao as ‘Marshal’ anymore.

“Oh?” Dai Hao’s eyes brightened. He hadn’t had much expectations for Dai Luoli. After all, he had improved much slower than Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin even though he cultivated tirelessly because of the mutation of his martial soul. He had not even qualified to enter Shrek Academy. He was only at Rank 30 not long ago. In a just a few months, he was now Rank 40. This rate of increase wasn’t achievable by just any ordinary soul master.

The mysterious guy Dai Hao was thinking of was naturally the masked man who had saved him twice and given him a Sunmoon Divine Needle. He was indeed very grateful to that guy. Not only did that guy save him twice, but he even saved his

 

bodyguards. If that guy was Dai Luoli’s teacher, everything would make sense.

“How did your cultivation increase so quickly? Did you master make it happen for you?” Dai Hao asked.

Dai Luoli laughed bitterly. “You could say that. My master said that while my martial soul is mutated, it’s not a bad mutation. It’s because the mutation was incomplete, and the strength of my martial soul wasn’t stimulated. He beat me up to intensify the mutation of my martial soul under extreme emotional conditions so that the strength of my martial soul would be completely unleashed.

“I myself don’t understand what happened. However, my soul power has increased very quickly, and my martial soul seems to have changed too.”

After hearing his words, both Dai Hao and Dai Yueheng couldn’t help but be shocked.

The mutation of a martial soul wasn’t very uncommon in the continent. However, most mutations of martial souls were for

 

the worse. After these mutations, the original pure bloodline became much weaker. Only a few martial souls became stronger after mutating.

Dai Yueheng also came from Shrek Academy. However, he could recall that the Academy had expended a lot of effort on research into mutated martial souls. Even so, the results that they achieved weren’t ideal. If it was possible to alter the level of mutation of a soul master’s martial soul, then this mysterious guy could be considered the best in his research of mutated martial souls.

Dai Hao said, “Alright. Unleash your martial soul for me to see.”

“Alright.” Dai Luoli acknowledged, and also heaved a sigh of relief. From the looks of it, he had managed to scam his way through!

Lights shone, and three soul rings slowly rose from beneath his feet. At the same time, he became much taller, and white fur started to grow from his body. Just like before, there weren’t any black stripes that were special to White Tigers. Rather, his body was completely white.

However, Dai Hao and Dai Yueheng were both astonished.

After Dai Luoli’s martial soul had been completely unleashed, his soul power started to change. Dai Luoli seemed to become illusory in their eyes. After this, the fur on his body also exuded a dim blood-colored glow.

This blood-colored glow didn’t have any unclean aura, but was instead filled with elegance. It even carried strong spiritual undulations within it.

Dai Hao suddenly lifted his hand and grabbed towards Dai Luoli’s chest.

Dai Luoli’s body subconsciously flashed, and he squatted down towards his side. At the same time, he reached out against his father’s palm with his tiger claws. He was extremely quick.

Dai Hao withdrew his hand and was impressed as he said, “It’s indeed different. Your reaction speed is far beyond your

 

cultivation! How do you feel after your martial soul has mutated?”

Dai Luoli said, “Master said that my martial soul should be called a Blood Tiger after this mutation. Under certain circumstances, it can enter a berserk state on its own once stimulated. However, my cultivation is still lacking now, and my spiritual power isn’t strong enough yet. Once it’s stronger, I can become much calmer even when I go berserk. What my master means is that my spiritual and soul power can fuse with each other perfectly after I go berserk, which enables me to unleash a fighting strength that is beyond my original abilities. It’s just that I can’t be in that state for very long, but that duration will increase along with my cultivation.”

Dai Hao seemed to be thinking of something. Dai Yueheng was doubtful as he asked, “Don’t tell me you’ll develop some innate skill after your mutation is completed? Isn’t this something only soul beasts possess?”

Dai Luoli was unhappy as he asked, “Who said so? Elder brother, I can’t believe that you’re a scholar from Shrek Academy. My master said that this is similar to the Body Sect’s Second Awakening of body souls. This is because the strength of all my soul skills will increase after I enter a berserk state.”

Dai Hao was suddenly enlightened after he heard Dai Luoli drawing a comparison to the Body Sect. “Yes, it’s a Second Awakening, just like what happens in the Body Sect. I didn’t expect it, I really didn’t expect it! Where is your master now?”