Seeing Huo Yuhao's discomfort, Bei Bei, ever perceptive, offered a gentle smile.
"Just asking," he said. "By the way, what are your plans? Are you going back to your... Holy Flame Meow Meow Sect?"
The mention of this brought Huo Yuhao into deep thought. After running away from home, his sole focus had been to obtain a Soul Ring. He hadn't really considered what would come next.
Zhuge Lan interjected, "The Tang Sect has a direct recommendation slot for Shrek Academy. We could have Tang Ya recommend you."
"Shrek Academy? The number one Soul Master academy on the Douluo Continent?" Huo Yuhao hesitated. "Such a precious slot..."
"At the moment, the Tang Sect only has these two members, and they're both already Shrek Academy students. The slot would just go unused otherwise."
"I see..."
Huo Yuhao lowered his head in thought, then looked up and stared earnestly at Bei Bei.
"Brother Beibei, I want to join Shrek Academy, but my Soul Power level is a bit low. Do you think there's a way?"
Excellent!
Huo Yuhao was truly a talent, and Bei Bei had been pondering how to recruit him. Now, he was practically delivering himself.
"No problem. The Tang Sect has the authority to recommend students for admission. You should come with us to Shrek Academy."
"That would be wonderful," Huo Yuhao said gratefully. "Brother Beibei, if you ever need anything in the future, just let me know. I'll do my best to help!"
"I won't hesitate to ask," Bei Bei said with a smile. "My friends could really use someone with your special abilities. When the time comes, make sure your price is reasonable."
Huo Yuhao opened his mouth, wanting to say that among friends, a free consultation would suffice. But he quickly realized this ability wasn't his to give.
"Brother Lan, what about this?"
"Just go ahead," Zhuge Lan replied. "It'll be a good opportunity to trade for some cultivation resources and save some Fortune Points."
Huo Yuhao nodded immediately.
"Brother Beibei, feel free to bring your friends. I'll share everything I know."
"That's fantastic!" Bei Bei said happily. "Whatever happens, we won't treat you poorly."
After a few more casual remarks, Huo Yuhao didn't delay. He sat cross-legged to recover his Soul Power. At only level 11, the recent battle had nearly drained him completely.
"Your level is way too low. You need to step up your cultivation," Zhuge Lan teased.
"Got it, Brother Lan."
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm could no longer contain itself.
"Zhuge, just teach me that cultivation method already!"
"Here you go."
Zhuge Lan handed over the Illusionist Apprentice First-Tier Fragment.
After briefly processing it, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm erupted in rage.
"This technique requires spiritual mental power! I don't have any of that!"
"Quick!"
"Awaken me too!"
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao immediately chimed in, "Brother Lan, I want one too!"
"No problem," Zhuge Lan replied. "An awakening costs 100,000 Fortune Points. Little Yuhao, you'll have to work hard to earn them."
Huo Yuhao felt a flicker of doubt. He glanced at his balance of 5,000 Fortune Points.
100,000 Fortune Points? Then why did Brother Lan just...
Perhaps Brother Lan's soul is inherently strong, so he spends less?
"I understand!"
"Brother Tianmeng, rest assured, I'll work hard to earn those Fortune Points!"
"Hmm..."
"Brother Lan, exactly how do I earn them?"
"Simple," Zhuge Lan said. "Focus on becoming stronger, and your fortune will naturally grow. Or, defeat powerful beings and plunder a portion of their luck."
Huo Yuhao nodded thoughtfully.
"Then I'll focus on comprehending the Muscle Transformation Manual and strive to master it as soon as possible!"
'This child is worth teaching.'
"Focus on your comprehension. My spiritual mental power will protect you."
Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao fully immersed himself in his study.
In the spiritual world:
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm shrank to the size of a silkworm larva and flew before Zhuge Lan.
With a skeptical gaze, it asked, "100,000 Fortune Points? How much did you embezzle?"
"Heh!" Zhuge Lan retorted, displeased. "It's exactly 100,000 Fortune Points! If I'm lying, my entire family will be blown up!"
The embezzlement had already been accounted for during the division of spoils, so he wasn't lying.
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm almost believed him.
"Wait!" It snapped back to its senses. "Your family will be blown up? But isn't that Huo Yuhao's spiritual world?"
"Haha, quick witted as always," Zhuge Lan chuckled. "Indeed, it's 100,000 Fortune Points. But it's just a seed; you'll need to convert your own spiritual energy if you have too much."
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm stared at Zhuge Lan for several seconds.
In the end, lacking proof, it could only drift away, half-convinced.
Zhuge Lan yanked the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm back.
"What do you want?"
"To aid my cultivation," Zhuge Lan said with a smile. "You've got so much spiritual mental power—could you spare me a billion points?"
This awakened the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's bad memories, and it violently struggled and darted far away.
Zhuge Lan shrugged.
Fine then.
If the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm wasn't willing, he'd have to use Fortune Points to exchange for it.
The Illusionist Apprentice 1st Tier Fragment didn't contain any methods to increase spiritual mental power.
To be precise, spiritual mental power naturally increased through talent alone, from the Apprentice stage all the way up to the Domain Lord level.
Once he had more Fortune Points, he could exchange for a technique to enhance the soul and spiritual power, making it usable for everyone.
'In the future, this spiritual world is going to get really lively.'
'But I can't give it away for free.'
'From now on, anyone using my techniques will have to hand over half their gains.'
'How kind of me, heh heh heh.'
[ Fate of Huo Yuhao altered +1000 Fortune Points! ]
Hm?
Where did this come from?
The spiritual mental power circulated through Huo Yuhao's body, and he understood.
His Soul Power was circulating through his meridians, dispersing into his limbs and bones, while minute impurities were expelled through his pores.
Muscle Transformation Manual!
This kid truly lived up to being the protagonist of his generation, the carefully selected target of Tang San.
His innate talent was extraordinary, daring to learn and teach. The absorption of the Soul Ring took two and a half hours.
A gray film had accumulated on Huo Yuhao's skin, consisting of impurities expelled from his body.
He scraped his arm, rolling the gray film into a small strip.
'So this is what has been hindering my cultivation all along?'
'And now the Muscle Transformation Manual can actually expel these impurities?'
'Does that mean... even someone with 0.5 Innate Soul Power, considered utterly worthless, could become a Soul Master if they comprehended the Muscle Transformation Manual?'
"Exactly," Zhuge Lan confirmed.
"In fact, the Tang Sect's Profound Heaven Art has similar effects. But that stingy wretch is too secretive. Not only is he unwilling to share, he even keeps a censored version within his own sect."
Huo Yuhao's opinion of the Tang Sect and Tang San worsened further.
"Brother Lan, then... can I spread the Muscle Transformation Manual?" Huo Yuhao asked tentatively.
"Go ahead," Zhuge Lan replied casually. "You could even print it into a booklet and distribute it for free worldwide."
'That's surprisingly generous!'
"Thank you so much, Brother Lan! All the Soul Masters of Douluo Continent thank you!" Huo Yuhao exclaimed, his voice brimming with emotion.
It was the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm who first sensed something amiss.
"Performing actions that alter others' destinies should earn a substantial amount of Fortune Points, right?" Huo Yuhao asked.
"Of course," Zhuge Lan replied matter-of-factly. "Otherwise, why would I be giving away something so valuable for free?"
Huo Yuhao fell silent.
'Ah, this...'
This is tricky.
"Little Yuhao, don't just give it away for free," the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm advised. "That wouldn't maximize your benefits."
"You have the Holy Flame Meow Meow Sect, don't you? Offer a cultivation technique as a welcome gift to new members."
"That way, their collective fortune will converge on you, the Sect Leader."
"With more Fortune Points, you can exchange them for even more cultivation techniques to distribute back to your followers."
"Call it a virtuous cycle."
Huo Yuhao nodded in understanding, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.