Chapter 424: The Bond of Grilled Fish, Part Three
Just as Tianmeng Iceworm was pouring itself into Huo Yu´er's spirit, a sudden shock overtook it. Two small golden eyes rolled upward, and the creature shivered with terror, staring at the darkening sky, bewildered.
At that moment, a swirl of gray mist descended as if pulled by an invisible force, swirling down from the sky and piercing into the back of Huo Yu´er's head.
"Who dares try to snatch my host?!" Tianmeng Iceworm roared, unleashing a torrent of mental energy to expel the intruding force from Huo Yu´er's body.
A faint, shadowy figure appeared briefly behind her, projecting a calm but commanding presence. In a voice laced with immense dignity, the figure uttered, "Grasp the sun, seize the stars, for none may surpass me. How strange that a remnant of my soul yet lingers."
Ignoring Tianmeng's assault, the shadowy figure disappeared into Huo Yu´er's mind.
Tianmeng Iceworm was left flabbergasted, metaphorically flailing its nonexistent arms in helplessness. "What just happened?"
Meanwhile, in the background, Ye Wen observed the scene with detached amusement. "My little disciple now has two cheats at her disposal a mischievous spirit beast and an old man in her head. A bit odd, but it'll do."
With the entry of both beings into Huo Yu´er's body, the celestial disturbance began to fade. Ye Wen, noticing that Huo Yu´er had fainted, stepped forward, calmly picking up the crystalline remnant left by Tianmeng.
For a spirit beast as powerful as a million year soul beast even one as hapless as Tianmeng this residual crystal, essentially a "soul bone," was an invaluable mental artifact.
"If Huo Yu´er had inherited a mental soul bone like this from the start, she wouldn't have had to struggle through so many hardships later on," Ye Wen muttered, a hint of disdain in his tone. "Useless."
While Electrolux's otherworldly abilities were intriguing, Tianmeng's selfish intentions were less welcome. Ye Wen decided he would rid Huo Yu´er of Tianmeng if it caused any trouble.
A groggy Huo Yu´er slowly regained consciousness, shaking her head to clear her vision. Seeing her master beside her, she immediately relaxed, standing to bow respectfully. "Master."
"Hmm." Ye Wen nodded, studying her closely. With the energy from Tianmeng's sacrifice coursing through her, Huo Yu´er had grown visibly taller, reaching about 1.6 meters. Her formerly frail frame had filled out, giving her a healthy appearance that hinted at her newfound strength.
But Ye Wen's eyes narrowed as he glanced at Tianmeng. "There's no place for a parasitic creature in my disciple's mind," he muttered.
"Come here, Yu´er," he said softly.
Though unsure of his intent, Huo Yu´er trusted him implicitly and walked toward him. With a familiar fondness, he ruffled her hair.
Huo Yu´er took this as a silent acknowledgment of her progress, a reward for her determination, and smiled brightly.
Meanwhile, in her spiritual sea, Tianmeng had begun securing his essence, confident he would be safe within his intricate mental shields.
"Nothing can stop me now," he gloated. But just as he finished the thought, he felt an incredible pull as his soul was forcibly yanked out of her mental space.
"Huh?" Huo Yu´er looked on, puzzled, as her master held a radiant, white energy in his hand. "Master, where did that come from?"
Before she could process it, an outraged mental voice echoed within both of their minds, "What do you think you're doing? Do you know who I am?!"
Ye Wen's expression darkened. Even in this weakened state, Tianmeng's mental energy could harm a novice like Huo Yu´er.
"Silence, worm," he said icily, his voice imbued with a command that resonated deep into Tianmeng's spirit, suppressing any resistance.
Huo Yu´er, still feeling slightly dazed, asked, "Master, what just happened?"
Ye Wen explained patiently, recounting the true nature of Tianmeng Iceworm's intentions to use her as a mere stepping stone toward divinity. Huo Yu´er's eyes widened in shock.
"That's… horrible! He wanted to use me as a tool?" she stammered, feeling betrayed.
Tianmeng tried to justify himself. "You humans believe that effort yields reward! What's wrong with expecting some help in return for my gift to you?"
Her values firmly shaped by her mother's teachings, Huo Yu´er was at a loss. She had always believed in fair exchange but was repulsed by Tianmeng's manipulation. Ye Wen saw her hesitation and cut in.
"You're a foolish creature," he scoffed at Tianmeng. "There's no guaranteed return for effort alone. Your power was a stroke of luck, not something you earned. Your so called 'gift' to my disciple only came about because you stumbled upon her; her natural luck granted her that."
Huo Yu´er's confusion cleared as she understood her master's words. She wasn't indebted to Tianmeng she'd inherited his power only because fate had aligned it to be so.
But she quickly noticed that, despite everything, her spirit power hadn't risen at all. "Master, you mentioned his power, but I'm still only at ten spirit power."
Satisfied that she had seen through Tianmeng's manipulations, Ye Wen silenced the Iceworm completely. "I'll handle this parasite," he said reassuringly, "but be prepared once this remnant is purified, his energy will help you advance."
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