"Come—"
Xu Sanshi, his martial soul's seal now broken, wiped the frivolous smile from his face. His muscles bulged, his frame grew taller and more imposing, and a faint green light shimmered through his short hair.
Standing motionless in the wind and snow, he resembled an insurmountable peak.
As his voice faded, the dense dark-green energy around him surged violently, thick waves of emerald power churning as the overwhelming aura of a divine beast erupted without restraint.
With his Xuanwu bloodline fully awakened, despite only possessing four soul rings—two yellow and two purple—his presence far surpassed that of an ordinary four-ringed Soul Ancestor.
Bolstered by the divine beast's mark enhancing his soul skills, he felt no fear even against an opponent with a crushing advantage in soul ring quality.
Xue Di allowed him to complete his amplification, remaining utterly composed.
Xu Sanshi's current strength had undoubtedly reached the level of a high-tier Soul King.
Yet, in Xue Di's eyes, the young man before him was merely not bad.
The opposing auras clashed fiercely on the stage, leaving the inner courtyard disciples in awe.
Not only had Xu Sanshi been forced to unleash his Xuanwu bloodline, but the bone-chilling domain of the Snow Empress also left them stunned.
Was this truly just a battle between Soul Ancestors?
"It's the bloodline of a divine beast."
Qiu'er watched the fight with keen interest, her fingers twitching with anticipation.
Such a sturdy turtle shell—what a shame not to test its limits.
She wondered just how many punches it could withstand.
Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement. "Senior Xu's defense is indeed formidable—exceptionally durable."
As they spoke, Xu Sanshi finally moved.
Thanks to the concealment effect of the Snow Dance Domain, the Snow Empress's figure was completely obscured.
Among all present, only a handful could track her movements—and Xu Sanshi was certainly not one of them.
Though his soul power and skills had surged due to his bloodline awakening, his mental power had seen little improvement.
Even if he wanted to use Xuanwu Replacement to forcibly teleport his opponent to him, he lacked the means.
For now, he could only defend.
But as a seasoned fighter, he wouldn't panic. Assessing the situation, he braced for a counterattack—a defensive soul master's most reliable strategy.
With a roar, Xu Sanshi's third purple soul ring blazed to life.
"Third Soul Skill: Xuanwu Power!"
Under the influence of his awakened bloodline, his strength nearly doubled in an instant.
Moreover, this amplified Xuanwu Power didn't just enhance him—it affected the entire battlefield.
Dark-green energy erupted, summoning vast water elements that formed the rudiments of a domain.
Within this embryonic Xuanwu Domain, enemies would be severely hindered, while Xu Sanshi moved like a fish in water.
Unfortunately, it was no match for the Snow Empress's true Snow Dance Domain.
Most of the water-laden Xuanwu power crystallized into ice, leaving Xu Sanshi struggling to maintain a 30-70 split.
Frowning, he sensed the impending crisis.
So, he raised the Xuanwu Shield.
Then, something astonishing happened—his first three soul rings merged into one, transforming into a black ten-thousand-year soul ring that pulsed with terrifying energy.
The dark-green serpent on the Xuanwu Shield stirred, its tongue flickering, crimson eyes gleaming.
A colossal tortoise-serpent phantom rose behind Xu Sanshi.
"Divine Beast Bloodline Talent – Soul Ring Fusion!"
His first three soul skills—Xuanwu Quake, Xuanwu Shield Formation, and Xuanwu Power—combined into one, unleashing the might of a ten-thousand-year soul ring!
"Ten-Thousand-Year Fusion Soul Skill – Xuanwu's Roar!"
The Xuanwu Shield expanded violently, blocking and devouring enemy attacks while draining their soul power. Simultaneously, the roar disoriented nearby foes, leaving them dazed and trapped as if in a viscous swamp.
Xu Sanshi had once tested this on his close friend Bei Bei—even at full strength, Bei Bei had been immobilized for at least three seconds.
What Xu Sanshi didn't know, however, was that the Snow Empress, hidden within the blizzard, was already contemplating how to hold back while still showcasing her prowess.
The appearance of the auspicious beast had inexplicably stoked her competitive spirit.
But she also knew she couldn't cause trouble for Yuhao.
As a transformed soul beast, she had to remain cautious despite the protection of the Secret Crossing Immortal Gu.
After a brief deliberation, seeing Xu Sanshi fully committed to defense, she struck.
"Empress Palm – Great Cold Without Snow!"
This was no ordinary soul skill.
Like the Xuanwu's Roar, it was a fusion of soul rings.
Due to her current low soul power, she relied on this technique to replicate the legendary might of her past life.
An endless chill gathered in the Snow Empress's right palm.
As she materialized before Xu Sanshi, his black soul ring flared.
The Xuanwu Shield swelled under the dark light, instantly reaching three meters in diameter.
The Snow Empress's palm, now glowing an eerie blue, descended without fanfare—no overwhelming force, no crushing pressure.
A light touch.
Then separation.
A spike of danger shot through Xu Sanshi's heart.
The delayed roar of the Xuanwu finally echoed across the arena.
Like the awakening of a divine beast, the soundwave radiated outward, leaving every Soul Sage below the seventh ring momentarily stunned.
Except for Huo Yuhao, Di Qiu'er, and the Snow Empress.
"Crack—"
Before the crowd could recover, Xu Sanshi, who had endured that gentle palm, felt his shield arm go numb.
Frost spread rapidly, devouring the protective dark waves around him.
In moments, the once-proud Xu Sanshi stood frozen—an ice sculpture.
Silence.
Then, deafening cheers erupted.
Compared to the brutal beatdown of the previous match, the Snow Empress's elegant domination was a spectacle to behold.
The inner courtyard disciples roared in amazement, their excitement lingering long after.
…
Elsewhere…
"Ah—ah-choo!"
"Damn, what kind of monsters has the academy recruited this time…?"
Xu Sanshi shuddered, recalling the nightmare he'd just endured.
Every one of them started with thousand-year soul rings, wielded top-tier martial souls, and possessed monstrous combat prowess!
Beside him, Bei Bei—one-half of the Twin Stars of the Inner Court—sighed.
"The new generation surpasses the old."
Though sympathetic to his friend's defeat, he understood.
While he currently outclassed Xu Sanshi in combat, that was only because the latter's Xuanwu bloodline hadn't fully awakened.
At full power, even Bei Bei—with his stabilized Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon—would struggle to subdue him.
Xu Sanshi's talent was among the best in Shrek's recent history. The only ones who surpassed him were freaks like Wang Dong'er with her twin martial souls or outright anomalies like Di Qiu'er and Xue Di.
And then there was Huo Yuhao—a monster among monsters.
Facing Xue Di, Bei Bei knew he stood no chance.
As for Di Qiu'er?
A five-ringed Soul King with the Golden Dragon martial soul—just her aura alone made his scalp tingle. Against her, he'd struggle to muster half his strength.
If judging purely by martial soul quality, Bei Bei privately believed Huo Yuhao's title of Shrek's Greatest Genius should go to Di Qiu'er.
"If not for Yuhao dispelling the ultimate ice in time, I'd have met my ancestors just now!" Xu Sanshi muttered, still shaken.
His recent complacency had nearly cost him dearly. 'Humility and caution—that's what I need.'
Bei Bei glanced at the trio chatting amicably nearby and mused, "Something's off about their relationship…"
Xu Sanshi rolled his eyes. "No kidding. I'd have believed the one who fought me was Yuhao's sister."
"Not quite." Bei Bei shook his head, then sighed as his gaze drifted to Zhang Lexuan speaking with Du Weilun.
"We need to work harder."
"Work harder at what?" Xu Sanshi blinked.
Bei Bei shot him a look. "At not disappointing Xiaoya and me."
"Tch. Worrying like a eunuch while the emperor stays calm." Xu Sanshi scoffed. "Like Yuhao says—everything in moderation. You're overthinking it."
Bei Bei: "..."
After a pause, Xu Sanshi added, "By the way, what's the deal with the Spirit Pagoda we joined?"
"You're asking me?" Bei Bei spread his hands. "The Tang Sect's been absorbed, we've signed up—what more is there to say?"
"Just wondering if you've heard anything special." Xu Sanshi shrugged. "Not my curiosity—my family's."
Bei Bei's expression turned serious. "This isn't some small-time faction like the old Tang Sect. This is an organization backed by the Sea God Pavilion."
He'd only gleaned fragments from Tang Ya and Xuan Zi, but even those hints were electrifying.
The Spirit Pagoda would redefine the continent's future.
"Getting in early—investing in it—is definitely the right move." That was all Bei Bei could say.
…
Meanwhile…
With the assessment concluded, Di Qiu'er and Xue Di had no further concerns. The only remaining question was whether Yan Shaozhe or Xian Lin'er would recruit (or poach) them.
But the outcome was inevitable.
No one expected these two soul beasts to care about soul tools.
A moment of silence for the Soul Tool Department's impending defeat.
As for dormitory arrangements, they'd have to wait until Zhang Lexuan finished her duties.
Being transfer students who'd skipped straight to the inner courtyard, their resource allocation required discussion.
After parting ways, Huo Yuhao led the two toward his dorm.
There, they spotted two familiar figures waiting.
"Wang Dong'er? Xiao Xiao? What are you doing here?"
At the sound of his voice, the girls perked up.
Xiao Xiao grinned. "Hehe, Dong'er said we're here for free food!"
Wang Dong'er shot her a look before turning to Huo Yuhao, her eyes faintly accusing.
He suddenly remembered—he'd promised a barbecue after helping Tang Ya reclaim her sect's territory.
'Ah. Oops.'
With everything that happened afterward—the Snow Empress's request, his month-long absence—it had slipped his mind.
Even Tang Ya had returned to Shrek ahead of him, spearheading the Spirit Pagoda's development.
Truthfully, Huo Yuhao had laid the groundwork long ago. His senior sister had established the Pagoda's framework, teaching select members specialized meditation techniques.
Though small, it was fully functional.
Even without Tang Ya's recent donations, he wasn't worried about attracting talent.
The Soul Contract alone was an irresistible offer—one even soul beasts would champion.
Unlike the original timeline, Huo Yuhao had no intention of letting the Spirit Pagoda become a public welfare entity overseen by the three empires.
No—he would keep it firmly in his grasp.
Using Shrek as a springboard, he would spread its influence across the entire Douluo Continent!
"Yuhao," Wang Dong'er finally asked, her voice tinged with unease, "who are they?"
The moment she'd seen Di Qiu'er, an inexplicable pang had struck her heart.
But the feeling vanished as quickly as it came.
Now, all she felt was urgency.
'Why are there so many rivals?!'
After a brief introduction, Huo Yuhao smoothly shifted the topic to the long-awaited barbecue.
Wang Dong'er exhaled.
'Since things have come to this… let's eat first.'
...
Night fell.
On Sea God Island, a cluster of flickering flames suddenly appeared. Before long, a rich aroma spread, permeating the mist near Sea God Lake.
Around the crackling bonfire, several girls—already entranced by the delicious scent—sat in a circle, their eyes fixed on the fish Huo Yuhao kept turning in his hands.
Even Xue Di, who had never tasted grilled fish before, felt a long-lost craving stir within her.
Fortunately, Huo Yuhao's mental power was formidable, allowing him to multitask flawlessly.
He grilled six fish simultaneously without compromising quality—otherwise, satisfying these little gluttons would have been a challenge.
Soul masters possessed enormous appetites.
In truth, they had long surpassed ordinary humans, becoming extraordinary beings.
At lower levels, soul masters could rely on soul power to accelerate digestion, optimizing their growth. The higher their cultivation, the more efficiently they absorbed energy from food.
This might also explain why people on Douluo Continent matured early.
At a certain level, soul masters could even practice fasting, shedding their dependence on grains and instead sustaining themselves with the energy of heaven and earth or specialized pills.
Of course, they were still human—with human desires.
And the craving for good food was one of those desires.
High-level soul masters didn't spend less on food—not just for cultivation, but also for taste.
Take the Shrek Academy Inner Court's canteen, for example. Under the guidance of high-level food-system soul masters and using premium ingredients, it provided immense support for the students' rapid advancement.
Huo Yuhao's grilled fish, however, satisfied both aspects at once.
Not only was it delicious, but thanks to the high-quality ingredients from Sea God Lake and a touch of Yuanshi, it also offered significant benefits for cultivation.
For three-ring soul masters like Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao, who were still in their developmental stage, it was a rare cultivation resource.
This was partly because Huo Yuhao's meditation technique had improved, no longer requiring vast amounts of Yuanshi. As a result, he had plenty to spare—using some for himself wasn't a bad idea.
Another whiff of fragrance drifted through the air. Throats bobbed in anticipation. Perhaps out of boredom from waiting, Wang Dong'er turned to Zhang Lexuan beside her.
"Big Sister, if Xiao Xiao and I want to enter the inner court early, what level do we need to reach? Can you tell us?"
Xiao Xiao: Meow meow meow? Why drag me into this...
Aside from Wang Dong'er and the others, Zhang Lexuan had come to distribute dormitory keys and necessities for this little gathering. Coincidentally, it was a group of six.
Wang Dong'er's ambush earlier hadn't been accidental—Huo Yuhao's fame meant he was easily spotted the moment he set foot in Shrek.
Especially since he'd returned with a stunningly beautiful girl. Naturally, rumors spread like wildfire among the students and even teachers.
Soon, the news reached Class 1, Grade 2—and Wang Dong'er.
Thus, this scene unfolded.
Officially, it was to fulfill their old promise of grilled fish. But in reality, Wang Dong'er had come with a mission.
Wang Dong'er: Let me see who this thief is!
When she saw Huo Yuhao and the others, her internal alarms blared.
In her eyes, three factions within Shrek currently had their sights set on Huo Yuhao.
The strongest was the group led by Ma Xiaotao—seniors with overwhelming advantages, including the home-ground benefit of living on Sea God Island.
Since Huo Yuhao's enrollment, countless seniors had taken notice of him, but only four stood out: Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, Ma Xiaotao, and Ling Luochen.
Among them, Ma Xiaotao had progressed the fastest—already tasting victory.
Her success stemmed from three factors:
She clarified her feelings first and took the initiative.
Dean Yan's support.
The evil fire excuse.
Under the perfect alignment of circumstances, she achieved what others couldn't replicate.
Wang Dong'er believed the evil fire played a key role—but it wasn't something she could mimic.
Moreover, now that Ma Xiaotao's martial soul had evolved into Ultimate Fire, she'd become Huo Yuhao's favorite. Direct confrontation was unwise.
Similarly, under Ma Xiaotao's watch, the other seniors who hadn't yet confessed posed no immediate threat.
The second faction was Wang Dong'er herself and her loyal strategist Xiao Xiao.
But Xiao Xiao was timid—at best, she could only play a supporting role.
'The advantage is mine!'
However, with the emergence of Di Qiu'er and Xiao Xue, Wang Dong'er's advantage was slipping.
Xiao Xue's relationship with Huo Yuhao seemed purely platonic—for now.
But Wang Dong'er's instincts screamed that Di Qiu'er, whose beauty rivaled her own, would become a formidable rival.
Especially after learning Di Qiu'er had entered the Shrek Inner Academy, the threat felt even more real.
Now, Wang Dong'er's only remaining edges were: Being Huo Yuhao's former roommate and their martial soul fusion skill.
But the latter didn't seem to interest Huo Yuhao much.
'This is a crisis!'
Hence her question.
"Ah."
Zhang Lexuan blinked, then cast a strange glance at Huo Yuhao—who sat calmly, focused on grilling fish while Di Qiu'er teased him.
'This kid really knows how to charm women.'
With a sigh, she explained softly:
"Honestly, you'd need at least four rings—Soul Ancestor level. Even with twin martial souls, early entry isn't simple."
She then briefly outlined the inner court's system and assessment requirements, offering Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao some advice before concluding:
"Anyway, Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, don't rush. With your talents, steady practice will get you into the inner court within two years."
"Alright." Wang Dong'er responded dully.
'Two years? By then, it'll be too late!'
Xiao Xiao, however, pumped her fist. "I'll train hard, Senior Sister!"
As they chatted, Huo Yuhao announced, "Ahem, the fish is ready. Let's eat."
"Finally!" Di Qiu'er, closest to him, grabbed the first skewer. "It's been months—I've missed this!"
"Thank you," Snow Empress nodded.
"Thanks, Monitor!" Xiao Xiao eagerly accepted her share, passing two to Wang Dong'er and Zhang Lexuan.
Huo Yuhao chuckled. "Calling me Monitor makes me feel guilty. I've troubled you a lot, Xiao Xiao."
"No trouble at all!"
With that, the six began their meal, the conversation lively and warm.
Wang Dong'er nibbled delicately, her eyes narrowing in pleasure. Watching her, Huo Yuhao fell into thought.
Her advances were obvious—he wasn't oblivious.
A lively, lovely girl like her? Of course, he felt something.
If she were just an ordinary young mistress of the Haotian Sect, he might've considered it.
But she was tied to Tang San—Douluo's biggest schemer.
So despite his flickering feelings, Huo Yuhao suppressed them.
Moreover, Wang Dong'er's two greatest weapons had been nerfed in this timeline:
The Goddess's Radiance martial soul fusion skill was gone.
Haodong Power, one of the original story's biggest cheats, no longer existed.
Thus, his fondness for her was limited—especially since she was the playful, flirtatious type.
Right now, he saw her more as a little sister.
If possible, he'd help where he could.
Besides, Huo Yuhao wasn't ruled by lust.
'Cultivation and necromancy research are more fulfilling.'
Romance was just a spice—strength was the foundation.
He refused to regret weakness one day because he'd slacked off.
Unless a method for dual cultivation appeared, he wouldn't invest much time in relationships.
Ever since the fragment of Tang Wutong's soul consciousness shattered, things had seemed calm.
But Huo Yuhao knew—the storm was coming.
Earlier, Wang Dong'er mentioned her fathers urging her to return to the sect. She'd postponed it until the semester break, and they'd agreed.
She'd even invited Huo Yuhao.
Recalling the original plot, he knew it was a trap.
But he didn't refuse outright.
'We'll see.'
With Fixed Immortal Travel Gu in hand, he had an escape route—he could go anywhere.
Plus, his growing strength meant he could handle the Haotian Sect.
Perhaps he could even turn Wang Dong'er against Tang San.
If the truth about split soul came to light—something Tang San hid even from Xiao Wu—it would deepen the rift between him and the already-displeased Niu Tian and Tai Tan.
'Now that would be fun.'
Huo Yuhao had been cautious when investigating the Auspicious Beasts' attributes.
He'd even asked Electrolux to record evidence of the Sea God's crimes. With some… creative editing, it might prove useful.
Of course, the plan needed refinement.
Soon, the conversation shifted to the hottest topic lately—the Spirit Pagoda, founded by Huo Yuhao.
Of the six present, Di Qiu'er was busy eating, and Snow Empress rarely spoke, mostly listening.
So the discussion was led by the others.
Wang Dong'er asked curiously, "Yuhao, what exactly is the Spirit Pagoda you created?"
Huo Yuhao saw no need to hide it.
His rapid establishment of the Spirit Pagoda was partly to benefit Snow Empress, the Auspicious Beast and the Star Dou Forest's beast kings.
"To understand the Spirit Pagoda, we must first talk about souls."
"Souls?" The other five echoed in unison.
Even Zhang Lexuan was intrigued. Despite helping found the organization, this was her first time hearing of it.
Huo Yuhao hadn't kept it from her intentionally.
When pitching the idea, he'd focused on meditation techniques, barely mentioning souls.
His custom Void Sutra—derived from the Mysterious Heaven Technique—was already revolutionizing cultivation.
Unlike Tang San, who'd relied on the Mysterious Heaven Technique for full innate soul power, ordinary folks often suffered from poor nutrition, limiting their potential like the original Huo Yuhao.
The Void Sutra solved this.
By allowing pre-awakening training, it helped talents shine.
Of course, it didn't guarantee full innate soul power—just that one could reach their natural limit.
For some, it was a chance to defy fate.
But soul masters were still a minority. Most awakened with pitifully low soul power due to weak bloodlines.
The Void Sutra could mitigate this—hence Huo Yuhao's Soul Master Popularization Plan.
Yet this posed a problem: more soul masters meant fewer soul beasts.
Huo Yuhao's goal was to resolve the conflict, not worsen it.
Thus, the key lay in the Soul Method—a more reliable solution than artificial soul rings.
…
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