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Chapter 58 — The World Is Not Beautiful
Orange-gold and crimson—two utterly contrasting lights—flooded Jiang's vision.
The Eternal Frozen Domain had shattered the ceiling's fixtures, and the dazzling colors in the dim room were almost hypnotic. Yet, in this moment, Jiang's heart was as cold as ice.
A two-ring Spirit Grandmaster… how could he possibly have a Spirit Ring that was one hundred thousand years old?!
And that orange-gold Spirit Ring—what on earth was that!?
The fine scales extended all the way to Huo Yuhao's shoulders before stopping, their white and blue shimmering in the moonlight spilling through the window, radiating an ethereal, almost dreamlike glow.
Those silver-white vertical pupils overlooked everything on the ground like a deity from above.
There was not the slightest trace of gentleness, not a hint of mercy.
Only a chilling, bone-deep indifference.
In an instant, a dragon-scaled hand clamped down on Jiang's right wrist, preventing the crimson light from forming even the smallest fraction.
Feeling the overwhelming power of his opponent, disbelief flashed in Jiang's eyes once more. Though his own Martial Spirit wasn't one built for brute strength, it still shouldn't have been something a Spirit Grandmaster could rival.
What kind of Martial Spirit was this?
A dragon?
Huo Yuhao, of course, did not answer. As the orange-gold Spirit Ring glowed, his forearms seemed to be sheathed in a shimmering, crystalline layer of frost.
First Spirit Skill — Ice Empress's Claw.
Before Jiang could even react, Huo Yuhao's already intensified arms twisted with all their might. The sound of bones cracking echoed through the room, followed instantly by Jiang's stifled groan of pain.
Unable to maintain the crimson orb in his hand, Jiang's expression contorted in agony. Huo Yuhao, his face calm and expressionless, yanked Jiang's wrist downward with his left hand.
Caught completely off guard, Jiang tumbled forward, colliding with Huo Yuhao's sharply raised knee.
Bang!
The impact crushed his face. His nose bridge caved in, and two blood-streaked teeth shot from his mouth, landing on the floor. Jiang's body went rigid as he fell backward uncontrollably.
It wasn't just pain. Jiang's tear glands seemed to have been struck as well, streaming uncontrollably down his face, mixing with the blood from his nose, tracing the twisted contours of his battered visage. The ferocity that had once marked his expression was gone.
Footsteps approached, and his body trembled. Gritting his teeth against the agony, he whispered shakily:
"Please… spare me…"
The only reply was the cold, indifferent silver-white gaze of Huo Yuhao.
"Those words… I imagine you've heard them plenty of times while torturing others, haven't you?"
Huo Yuhao's voice was calm, almost clinical. "Tell me… how did you do it?"
Jiang opened his mouth, trembling, but no words came. He didn't know how to answer.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao let out a soft sigh. The Spirit Ring, symbolizing a hundred thousand years, blazed with a sinister blood-red light.
From his hand, a gorgeous, ice-blue lotus bloomed, surrounded by a creeping white chill.
It was Huo Yuhao's first time using this Spirit Skill. He observed the snow lotus carefully, then plucked a single petal and placed it in his mouth.
The petal was icy-slick, smooth, almost like holding a shard of pure ice. Beyond a refreshing fragrance, there was no distinct taste. It felt as if a piece of frozen water had been placed on his tongue.
As it gradually melted into a delicate, silky liquid, Huo Yuhao hesitated a moment before swallowing every drop.
Instantly, he could feel a noticeable amplification of his ice attribute. His eyes gleamed involuntarily.
His Martial Spirit's already extraordinary quality meant the boost wasn't massive, but judging by how quickly the lotus melted, the effect would last for roughly twenty minutes.
Moreover, it wasn't just a boost to his ice attribute—his mind felt clearer under the lotus's aroma, almost like it could counteract disorienting effects or control.
In his previous life, Ning Tian, the owner of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, had a Spirit Skill capable of breaking control—but it was one-time use. Huo Yuhao's technique, however, maintained its effect as long as the petal remained in his mouth, making it extraordinarily potent—even for non-ice attribute Spirit Masters.
Returning his gaze to Jiang, Huo Yuhao spoke softly:
"To be honest, I've dealt with many Evil Spirit Masters. I understand your situation. But some actions…"
He paused, his tone cold and firm.
"…once done, you must be prepared to bear the consequences."
As the blood-red Spirit Ring glowed again, the snow lotus in his hand transformed from crystalline blue to pure, flawless white.
Huo Yuhao released it. The lotus fell gracefully, like a leaf drifting in autumn wind.
The half-open petals accelerated their bloom, layer by layer, until they burst outward.
The seemingly soft petals now cut like razor-sharp blades, mercilessly slicing through every person in the room—every single one except Huo Yuhao—including the shadowy man.
Even after piercing their bodies, the bloodied petals embedded themselves like skewered tofu, sinking deep into the walls.
When the petals dissipated, the previously clean walls were covered in frost, riddled with holes, and splattered with blood, turning the room into a vision of hell itself.
After surveying the silent, devastated room, Huo Yuhao exhaled softly, retracting his Martial Spirit as he approached the door of the young man's room.
He pushed it open and found five trembling civilians inside, along with the young man. Calmly, he stepped aside.
"You may go home now."
A brief silence, then the civilians' eyes lit with hope. They rushed toward the door, eager to escape. The young man at the back shuddered at the horrific scene inside.
This… a Spirit Grandmaster did this?!
He instinctively looked at Huo Yuhao but couldn't reconcile the seemingly harmless boy before him with the carnage.
"What's the matter? Not leaving yet? Planning to avenge them?"
"I—"
The young man hesitated. Huo Yuhao lowered his gaze, nudging a corpse with his foot.
"Actually, what he said isn't wrong. Sometimes, weakness itself is a sin. In many situations, you have no choice."
"Everyone loves stories of heroes. Everyone wants to be the hero. But most people… most people exist only as scenery for the hero, or as the trigger for the hero's anger through their deaths." {T/N: Thumbs up, Author}
"Other than that… there is no choice."
Huo Yuhao paused, his voice calm but unwavering.
"Because this world is not beautiful."
The young man bowed his head slightly, trembling.
"But I feel—"
Huo Yuhao's eyes turned to the moonlight outside the window. His voice softened.
"—If you deny everything you've stood for just because of this, then all the value of your past efforts becomes meaningless."
"I saw everything you did. Even in the end, you never let yourself fall."
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly, patting the young man on the shoulder before turning toward the door.
"You are truly remarkable."
Creak—slam.
The iron door closed.
Not far from the exit, Huo Yuhao stopped and spoke with mild exasperation:
"Following a boy in the dead of night… not exactly a good habit."
"You agree, don't you, Sister Lexuan?"
(End of Chapter)