Chapter 1: The Pawn of Fate Opens Its Eyes
"Useless! Get out of the Duke's Mansion and never come back!"
The cold, harsh voice, like a poisoned blade, fiercely pierced Huo Yuhao's ears. Along with these words, a thin figure was roughly pushed out of the Duke Baihu's side door by two armored guards, falling heavily onto the cold bluestone road.
"Bang!"
His forehead hit the hard ground, seeping traces of blood. However, what was more chilling than this physical pain were the disdainful and mocking gazes of the surrounding servants.
"Serves him right! A useless person who hasn't even awakened his Spirit, dares to defy the Second Madam?"
"Exactly. He doesn't even know his place; he's just a bastard born to the Madam."
"I heard his mother is seriously ill, and he wanted to beg the Second Madam to find a Spirit Master to treat her. What a pipe dream."
The discussions buzzed like flies, drilling into Huo Yuhao's ears.
He slowly climbed up from the ground, ignoring the wound on his forehead, and not looking at those gloating faces. He just raised his head, and with eyes that were deep and somewhat terrifying, unsuited for his age, he quietly looked back at the slowly closing vermilion-painted gate.
On the gate, the ferocious White Tiger totem seemed to roar silently, displaying the majesty and coldness of this mansion.
"Duke Baihu's Mansion..." Huo Yuhao silently repeated the name in his heart, a barely perceptible curve of his lips, mixed with sarcasm and sorrow.
Yes, his name was Huo Yuhao.
But not entirely.
Inside his body resided the Soul of an adult from a distant blue planet. There, he had been an ordinary person struggling at the bottom of society. An accident brought him to this World called "Douluo Continent," making him the forgotten illegitimate son of Duke Baihu Dai Hao.
For eleven whole years, he lived like a real child, trying hard to adapt to this World, relying on his equally humble and kind mother. He had once thought this would be an ordinary new life in a different World.
It wasn't until his mother fell ill from overwork and was confined to bed that he suddenly woke up.
This World was far more cruel than he had imagined. Without strength, there was no dignity, not even the right to live.
What made him even more chilling was that the deeper his understanding of this World became, a familiar yet strange name—"Tang San"—and various related "plots" began to uncontrollably surface in his mind.
Shrek Academy, Sea God's Pavilion, Tang Sect, Illusion, Wang Qiu'er... These fragmented pieces of information were like a pre-written script, foreshadowing his future Dao.
"Fate?" Huo Yuhao lowered his head, looking at his thin hands, feeling the faint spirit power fluctuations within this body, an indescribable irritation and resistance surging in his heart.
He didn't like this feeling.
It was as if his life was a chess game already set up, and he was just an insignificant chess piece. When he should move, where he should go, and even whom he would meet, and who would help him, all seemed to have been clearly arranged.
Even being driven out of the Duke's Mansion at this moment seemed to be the inevitable beginning of the "plot."
"Ridiculous..."
Huo Yuhao laughed self-deprecatingly. He raised his hand to wipe away the blood from his forehead, the confusion and vulnerability in his eyes replaced by an extraordinary calmness.
He no longer looked at the cold mansion, resolutely turned, and walked towards the Star Dou Great Forest.
His steps were not fast, but each step was exceptionally firm.
Since he couldn't choose his birth, couldn't change the beginning, then he would personally tear apart that so-called "script"!
He wanted to Awaken his Spirit, to acquire a spirit ring, to become stronger! Not to follow a predetermined trajectory, to become someone's hero, nor to prove anything to anyone.
It was only to truly hold his own destiny in his own hands... Outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The moist air was filled with the unique scent of soil mixed with plants. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled light spots on the ground.
Huo Yuhao found a relatively safe spot and sat down cross-legged.
Here, he would complete the Awakening of his Spirit.
In the Duke's Mansion, he was just a neglected bastard, naturally not qualified to enjoy the Family's Awakening ceremony. But this didn't stump him. With the "plot" knowledge in his mind, he knew how to guide the faint spirit power within him to communicate with his own Spirit.
He closed his eyes, his mind sinking into his body.
Following the method in his memory, he carefully guided that faint spirit power, letting it slowly flow through his Meridians. This process was tedious and dangerous; a slight carelessness could injure himself.
But Huo Yuhao's heart was calm.
His experiences in two lives gave him a mental resilience far exceeding that of his peers.
Time passed bit by bit.
After an unknown period, when that wisp of spirit power had circulated through the specific trajectory for cycle after cycle, Huo Yuhao's body suddenly trembled.
A strange suction came from between his eyebrows, followed by an indescribable sensation of coolness in his eyes. It was as if an invisible shackles had been opened, and the entire World, in his perception, instantly became different.
He could "see" the flow of the wind, "hear" the breathing of the leaves, and "feel" the vibration of an ant crawling a hundred meters away.
Everything, down to the smallest detail, was clear!
"Is this... the Spiritual Eye Martial Soul?"
Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes, a faint purple-gold light flashing in their depths.
He knew he had succeeded.
However, just as he was about to get up and experience this new power, a voice filled with exhaustion and terror, without warning, sounded deep within his mind.
"Who? Who will save me! I don't want to die!"
Huo Yuhao's heart tightened, his mental force instantly highly concentrated, vigilantly scanning his surroundings.
But besides the sound of the wind and insects, there was no one around.
"Is it an Illusion?" He frowned.
"It's not an Illusion! I'm here! In your mental sea!" The voice sounded again, with a hint of urgency.
Mental sea?
Huo Yuhao's thoughts stirred, and he sank his consciousness into the mental sea he had just opened up.
In that primordial Chaos space, an enormous, snow-white worm with ten golden tentacles was curled up, trembling. Its aura was extremely weak, as if it could dissipate at any moment.
"Tianmeng Ice Silkworm?" Huo Yuhao almost instantly recognized the identity of this huge creature.
In the plot, his biggest Golden Finger, a million-year Spirit Beast!
"You... you know me?" The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was stunned for a moment, asking weakly.
"No." Huo Yuhao replied expressionlessly, but a storm raged in his heart.
It's here!
The gift of fate, or rather... the arrangement of fate, was delivered so precisely to his doorstep.
"How is that possible! I am the unique million-year Spirit Beast of the Continent, the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm! You don't know me?" The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm seemed a bit unwilling.
Huo Yuhao ignored its fussing, only asking coldly, "Why did you appear in my mental sea?"
This question made the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm instantly wilt. It said with a crying voice, "I... I was being hunted. To escape my natural enemy, I burned my Origin, and my Soul Emergence, only barely escaping. But my energy consumption was too great, and I'm about to dissipate. I just happened to sense that you awakened a mental-attribute Spirit here, so I... I came in."
It looked at Huo Yuhao cautiously, saying in an almost pleading tone, "Please save me! As long as you are willing to fuse with me and become my host, I... I will give you all my power! I will make you the strongest Spirit Master on the Continent!"
A million-year spirit ring, four powerful Spirit Abilities, and an unimaginably vast mental Origin... How great a temptation was all this to a young man who had just awakened his Spirit and had nothing?
Any other person would probably agree without hesitation.
However, Huo Yuhao fell silent.
His gaze penetrated the seemingly pitiful appearance of the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, as if examining something deeper.
Was this really just a coincidence?
Why him, of all people? Why at this particular moment?
It was as if an invisible hand had calculated that he would Awaken his Spirit here, and then precisely delivered this "great gift" to him.
This feeling made him very uncomfortable.
"What are you hesitating about?" The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm grew anxious. "I can't hold on much longer! If we don't fuse soon, I'm really going to Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering! At that time, your mental sea will also collapse from being unable to bear my dissipating energy, and we... we will all die!"
Huo Yuhao still didn't speak, his brain working at high speed.
Refuse?
The consequence of refusing might really be, as Tianmeng said, both of them perishing.
Accept?
Accepting meant he would officially embark on the "arranged" Dao.
His silence made the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm feel unprecedented fear. It had never imagined that it, a dignified million-year Spirit Beast, offering itself as a spirit ring, would actually be disliked by a human boy.
Just as the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was on the verge of despair, Huo Yuhao finally spoke.
"Fusion is possible." He said faintly, "But I have a few questions."
"Ask! Don't say a few, even a hundred are fine!" The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was overjoyed, as if granted a great pardon.
Huo Yuhao's eyes sharpened, and he asked word by word: "First, who is this natural enemy you speak of? Second, why did you choose me? The Star Dou Great Forest is so vast; I'm not the only Spirit Master with a mental attribute Spirit, am I?"
His questions went straight to the core.
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm clearly choked, its eyes a bit evasive.
Huo Yuhao sneered, "It seems this 'great gift' isn't so easy to take. Is there another existence behind you?"
"I..." The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was speechless.
And at this moment, Huo Yuhao's mental sea suddenly shook, and a vast, majestic, sacred aura, as if from the Nine Heavens above, flashed by.
The aura was so fast that even the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm didn't notice it.
But Huo Yuhao caught it!
His Soul, in that instant, felt an instinctive tremor and... disgust!
It was it!
That pair of eyes that had been prying into his destiny!
Huo Yuhao understood instantly.
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was just the beginning. It was the first "beginner's gift package" given to him by the mastermind.
The corners of his mouth slowly curved into a cold arc.
"Alright, I won't ask anymore." He said to the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, "Let's fuse."
"Re... really?" The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was both surprised and delighted.
"Really." Huo Yuhao's tone was calm and unwavering, "Because I have no other choice. And..."
He paused, completing the second half of the sentence in his heart.
"...And I really want to see what kind of great chess player this chess piece of yours will lead me to."
As his voice fell, he no longer hesitated, actively opening his mental sea.
A massive surge of energy instantly poured in, and countless unfamiliar memory fragments flooded Huo Yuhao's mind—the million years of loneliness and slumber of the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm.
But within this complex torrent of memories, he also "saw" something else.
Some images that did not belong to Tianmeng, nor to himself.
It was a handsome blue-haired man, holding a trident, high above, his eyes filled with the majesty of controlling everything.
The image flashed by.
Huo Yuhao's consciousness fell into slumber.
And before he completely fainted, only one last thought remained in his heart.
"Tang San... The game begins.
Chapter 2: A Million-Year Soul Ring, A Gift from the God King?
I don't know how long it took, but Huo Yuhao's consciousness slowly awoke from a state of Chaos.
He felt as if he had experienced an incredibly long dream. In the dream, he transformed into a silkworm, sleeping for a hundred thousand years on a ten-thousand-year-old mysterious ice bed, then hiding for another hundred thousand years in the cold deep sea. Finally, in the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest, he spent hundreds of thousands of years more, living in constant dread... The million years of loneliness and fear felt so real, as if they would completely assimilate his Soul.
"Wake up! Wake up quickly!"
An anxious voice shouted in his mental sea, abruptly pulling Huo Yuhao out of that endless abyss of sinking.
He suddenly opened his eyes, and what greeted him was still the familiar forest. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, warmly shining on his body.
"Phew..." Huo Yuhao let out a long sigh of relief. The feeling of surviving a disaster left him with lingering fear.
"You're finally awake! You scared me to death!" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's voice echoed in his mind, carrying obvious lingering fear. "Just now, during our Soul Fusion, you almost got lost in my memories. Fortunately, your mental core is tough enough, otherwise, we would both be finished!"
Huo Yuhao sat up, stretched his somewhat stiff body, and looked inward.
He discovered that his mental sea had undergone earth-shattering changes. The originally chaotic and nascent space had expanded by dozens of times, and his mental force was like a vast, unfathomable ocean.
And in the center of the mental sea, a huge golden halo, emitting a soft white light, was quietly suspended.
Upon that halo, a miniature, somewhat illusory ice silkworm was coiled, which was Tianmeng.
"This is... my first spirit ring?" Huo Yuhao was somewhat shocked.
"Hehe, of course!" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm said proudly. "I am the first, and only, million-year spirit ring in the history of the continent! And, to perfectly fuse with you, I gave up becoming a physical spirit ring, instead choosing to become your 'Wisdom spirit ring'!"
"Wisdom spirit ring?" Huo Yuhao caught this unfamiliar term.
"That's right!" Tianmeng explained. "Simply put, I completely bound my Soul Origin to your Spirit, becoming a part of your Spirit. This way, I can not only bring you spirit rings and Spirit Abilities, but also retain my own consciousness. When you need it, I can help you control your Spirit, and even assist you in Cultivating!"
Huo Yuhao's heart stirred upon hearing this.
This was indeed much more Advanced than a simple spirit ring. Retaining consciousness meant that Tianmeng Ice Silkworm could become a "living database" and "auxiliary AI" on his Cultivation path.
"Sounds good," Huo Yuhao commented calmly, then asked, "What about the Spirit Abilities?"
When Spirit Abilities were mentioned, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm became even more excited: "I must tell you about this properly! Although I, your elder brother, am not great in combat, I am still a million-year Spirit Beast. The Spirit Abilities I give you are absolutely unprecedented!"
"Because we underwent Soul Fusion, I brought you four Spirit Abilities at once!"
"The first Spirit Ability is called 'Spiritual Detection'. With my mental force support, you can perform comprehensive, omnidirectional, three-dimensional detection. The range... in the Early Stage, it can probably cover an area of five hundred meters. As you continuously adapt to my power, this range will grow geometrically. Any disguise or stealth will be exposed before this Spirit Ability!"
Huo Yuhao's heart tightened. Five hundred meters! This was already an extremely terrifying range. On the battlefield, with this Spirit Ability, he would be like a mobile radar!
"The second Spirit Ability, 'Spiritual Sharing'. You can selectively share the results of your Spiritual Detection with your designated companions, allowing them to also see everything you 'see'. It's a divine skill for team combat, understand?"
Huo Yuhao nodded. The strategic value of this Spirit Ability was also immeasurable.
"The third Spirit Ability, 'Spiritual Interference'. You can launch a Soul Impact on all enemies within a designated range. At its lightest, it will make them dizzy and interrupt their Spirit Ability release. At its heaviest, it can directly knock them out or even turn them into idiots! A Sharp Weapon for group battles!"
"As for the fourth Spirit Ability..." Tianmeng Ice Silkworm deliberately kept him in suspense, chuckling, "This Spirit Ability is the essence of my million years of Cultivation, called 'Soul Impact'! This is a single-target strong control skill, ignoring physical defense and directly attacking the opponent's Soul Origin! As long as the opponent's mental force is not as strong as yours, once hit, their Soul will be instantly stunned, leaving them at your mercy! Even a Titled Douluo could fall for it if they're not careful!"
After hearing the descriptions of the four Spirit Abilities, even Huo Yuhao, who had lived two lives, couldn't help but gasp.
Too strong!
Each of these four Spirit Abilities was a divine skill! They perfectly utilized the advantages of the Spiritual Eye Spirit, maximizing the role of mental force. Control, detection, assistance, single-target attack... almost covering all aspects.
With these four Spirit Abilities, although he was currently only a One-Ring Soul Master, his actual combat power was probably already comparable to many three-ring or four-ring control system Spirit Ancestors!
"How about it? Is my big gift good enough?" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm boasted proudly.
Huo Yuhao was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "It's certainly good. So good... that it feels a bit unreal."
His tone was calm, but it made Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's proud laughter abruptly stop.
"You... what do you mean?"
Huo Yuhao did not answer directly, but instead asked, "Tianmeng, when I was unconscious, in your memories, I saw some scenes that didn't belong to you."
"What scenes?" Tianmeng's voice was a little shaky.
"A blue-haired man, holding a trident, looking very majestic," Huo Yuhao said, carefully sensing Tianmeng's emotional fluctuations.
"Blue... blue-haired man?" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's voice clearly became flustered. "I... I don't know! I've slept for millions of years, how could I remember so much!"
"Is that so?" A cold smile appeared on Huo Yuhao's lips. "Not only did I see him, but I also felt that your memories don't seem to be complete. Many parts seem to have been artificially erased or modified. For example, who exactly is the 'natural enemy' you mentioned? Why is it that in your memories, the part about it only contains endless fear, but no clear image? This is illogical."
"Also, your reason for choosing to fuse with me is too far-fetched. You said you were about to experience Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, but I just checked, and although your Soul Origin is weak, its cohesion is extremely strong, clearly protected by some kind of power. Even without me, you could have lasted at least another three to five days."
Huo Yuhao's words were like sharp knives, precisely stabbing at the loopholes in Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's statements.
These discoveries were details he keenly caught when he sorted through the complex torrent of memories after waking up.
That mastermind might be able to erase key information from Tianmeng's memory, but it couldn't erase the logical cracks in the memory itself.
"I... I..." Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was completely flustered, stammering for a long time without being able to utter a complete sentence.
Seeing its appearance, Huo Yuhao already understood in his heart.
Tianmeng, perhaps, didn't even know it was a pawn. The obsession about "finding a host" in its mind was very likely implanted by that blue-haired man—Tang San.
It was just a "beginner's gift package" with a pre-set program, whose mission was to be delivered precisely into his hands.
Thinking of this, the rebellious thought in Huo Yuhao's heart grew stronger.
He disliked this feeling of being arranged, but he also understood that before he had enough strength, forbearance and disguise were the best weapons.
So, he changed the subject, saying in a relaxed tone, "Forget it, no matter who sent you, and no matter what your purpose is. From today on, you are my spirit ring. We are now in the same boat. You'd better pray that I live a long time, otherwise, if I die, you'll also experience Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering."
His words, both soft and firm, immediately made Tianmeng Ice Silkworm breathe a sigh of relief.
"That's right! That's right! We'll be the best of brothers from now on!" Tianmeng quickly expressed his loyalty. "Don't worry, with your elder brother here, I guarantee you'll live a life of luxury, dominate the continent, and be invincible!"
"Alright, stop boasting," Huo Yuhao interrupted him. "Let's set a small goal first."
He stood up from the ground, brushed the dust off his clothes, and gazed into the distance.
"First, go to Shrek Academy."
This was the route already set in the "script."
Huo Yuhao chose to follow it, not out of resignation, but because he clearly understood that Shrek Academy, at this stage, was the safest place on the entire continent and the place where he could grow the fastest.
He wanted to go there to learn the knowledge of Spirit Masters, master the techniques of spirit tools, and meet those "destined" companions.
What he wanted to do was not to resist the plot that had already happened, but to accumulate his own power under the guise of following the plot, and to see the full picture of the chessboard.
"Tang San... you'd better arrange everything clearly for me."
A profound and sharp glint, unbefitting his age, flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes.
"Because only then, when I overturn your chessboard, will it be even more interesting."
Having said that, he identified the direction, took a step, and walked towards the legendary monster academy.
The sunlight stretched his figure long. A boy of only eleven years old, carrying a million-year spirit ring and a manipulated fate, embarked on his path of resistance.
Chapter 3 Tang Clan? What a perfectly timed encounter!
Leaving the place of his Spirit's Awakening, Huo Yuhao was not in a hurry to travel.
The Star Dou Great Forest, this paradise for Spirit Beasts, was both a dangerous place and the best training ground for him now.
He needed to quickly familiarize himself with his dramatically increased strength, especially the four Heaven-Defying Spirit Abilities.
"Spiritual Detection, activate."
Huo Yuhao silently chanted in his heart, the Spiritual Eye Martial Soul between his eyebrows glowed slightly, and an invisible mental force ripple spread out from him, silently expanding in all directions like ripples on water.
The next moment, an incredibly clear, three-dimensional model of the World was constructed in his mind.
Within a radius of five hundred meters, every blade of grass, every tree, every insect, and every ant was captured in his vision.
He could "see" a Soft Bones Rabbit with ten years of cultivation gnawing on a Clear Spirit Plant three hundred meters to his front-left; a twenty-year cultivated Iron Thread Snake coiled up and feigning sleep a hundred meters underground to his back-right; and a colorful, fifty-year cultivated Illusion Butterfly quietly retracting its wings and disguised as a withered leaf in the tree canopy above his head.
This feeling was like having a God's Eye view; the entire World held no secrets from him.
"Too…too incredible!" Even though Huo Yuhao was mentally prepared, he was still shocked by the powerful effect of this Spiritual Detection.
"Hehe, what's this!" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's smug voice rang out, "This is just the effect of the preliminary Fusion! When your spirit power increases later and your sea of mental force expands, covering an entire city with your detection range will be effortless!
By then, no enemy ambush or Heaven And Earth Treasure will escape your eyes!"
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart.
He understood that Tianmeng was right.
With just this ability, he was already in an unbeatable position.
As long as he remained vigilant, it was almost impossible for any Spirit Beast in the outer Star Dou Great Forest to pose a threat to him.
Over the next few days, Huo Yuhao continued to practice his Spirit Abilities while heading in the direction of Shrek Academy.
He tried using "Spiritual Interference" to attack those ignorant hundred-year Spirit Beasts, watching them flee in panic or even faint directly under the invisible impact, which gave him stronger confidence in his life-saving abilities.
He also tried combining "Spiritual Detection" with "Spiritual Sharing."
Although he had no companions to share with now, he could simulate projecting the detected images precisely onto a certain leaf, practicing fine control over his mental force.
As for the most powerful "Soul Impact," he did not use it lightly.
This was his trump card, and he did not want to expose it too early before encountering a true life-or-death crisis.
On this day, Huo Yuhao was resting under a large tree, roasting a fat rabbit he had just hunted.
Just then, two powerful spirit power fluctuations suddenly entered the edge of his constantly active "Spiritual Detection" range.
"Hmm?" Huo Yuhao's heart stirred, and he immediately focused his attention.
They were a young man and a young woman, appearing to be about fifteen or sixteen years old.
The girl wore a black tight-fitting outfit; her figure was petite, but her eyes showed an unyielding stubbornness.
The boy wore a blue long gown; his face was handsome, and his temperament was gentle, but there was a hint of hard-to-hide fatigue between his brows.
Both of their spirit power was not weak; especially the young man in blue, whose spirit power fluctuation was at least above rank twenty-five, making him a Spirit Grandmaster.
"Beibei, how are you? Can you still hold on?" The girl in black supported the young man in blue, asking worriedly.
The young man called Beibei shook his head and said with a wry smile, "It's nothing, Sect Leader Tang Ya.
It's just excessive spirit power consumption; I'll be fine after some rest.
It's a pity, though, that Man Faced Demon Spider still got away."
"It's all my fault!" The girl named Tang Ya blamed herself, "If it weren't for helping me obtain my second spirit ring, you wouldn't have consumed so much."
"Silly girl, why are we still talking about these things between us?" Beibei gently stroked her head, "We are the last two people of the Tang Sect; if I don't help you, who will help you?
Let's go, find a place to rest first, and then recover our spirit power."
Tang Ya…Beibei…Tang Sect…Hearing these familiar names, Huo Yuhao, who was roasting the rabbit, curled his lips into a meaningful, cold smile.
They're here.
This precisely measured, coincidental encounter was finally taking place.
If everything before was just speculation, then at this moment, he could be ninety-nine percent certain that his fate was being pushed forward, step by step, according to a predetermined script by an invisible hand.
He did not move, nor did he even turn his head; he just quietly added a piece of firewood to the bonfire, as if completely unaware that anyone was approaching.
He was waiting.
Waiting for a "reasonable" moment to intervene.
Sure enough, not long after, a shrill roar accompanied by violent spirit power fluctuations erupted from the direction where Tang Ya and Beibei were.
Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection immediately transmitted the image.
He saw a huge, pitch-black, terrifying spider with eight hideous long legs and a face strikingly similar to a human's, madly attacking the two with its fangs that glowed with a faint green light.
A Man Faced Demon Spider! And judging from the spirit power fluctuations it emitted, it was at least a thousand-year-level!
"Oh no! It's that beast from before! It actually caught up!" Tang Ya's face changed dramatically.
"Sect Leader Tang Ya, quick, go! I'll hold it off!" Beibei pushed Tang Ya away, and two spirit rings on his body suddenly lit up, one yellow and one purple, while Dragon scales appeared on his arms—it was his Spirit—the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!
"First Spirit Ability, Wrath of Thunder!"
"Second Spirit Ability, Thunder Dragon Claw!"
Beibei roared and charged towards the Man Faced Demon Spider.
But at this moment, he had already consumed a great deal of spirit power, and facing this thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider, known for its speed and potent venom, he felt powerless.
In just a few rounds, Beibei had several new wounds on his body, and his movements became sluggish.
"Pfft!"
The Man Faced Demon Spider seized an opening, and its eight spider legs shot out like spears, instantly piercing Beibei's defense, with one of them savagely stabbing into his calf.
"Beibei!" Tang Ya let out a cry of alarm.
Beibei grunted, his body staggered backward, and the calf that was stabbed turned dark black at a visible speed.
The Man Faced Demon Spider's potent venom!
"Hahahaha! Now you can't escape!" The Man Faced Demon Spider spoke human words, letting out a series of piercing, sinister laughs, "The male's flesh and Soul essence are mine, and the female's Soul will be the core of my next web!"
Saying that, it moved its eight long legs, slowly approaching the already incapacitated Beibei and the desperate Tang Ya.
The shadow of death enveloped the young man and woman.
It was also at this moment that Huo Yuhao, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally moved.
He did not rush out directly, but a purple-gold light flashed in his eyes.
"Third Spirit Ability, Spiritual Interference!"
An invisible, imperceptible mental force shockwave, like a storm, instantly swept across a hundred-meter radius.
The Man Faced Demon Spider, marching towards victory, its hideous human-like face suddenly stiffened, and its eight eyes simultaneously showed confusion and pain.
Its head felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer; the intense pain and dizziness instantly halted its movements.
Although this Spiritual Interference could only affect it for a brief one or two seconds, for true experts, these one or two seconds were enough to decide life or death!
"Now!"
Huo Yuhao's voice, like a thunderclap, simultaneously echoed in the minds of Beibei and Tang Ya.
This sudden voice startled both of them.
But Beibei's combat instinct made him instinctively seize this opportunity.
He endured the numbness brought by the potent venom and poured all his remaining spirit power into his right arm.
"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!"
Accompanied by a roar, a thick phantom of a Thunder Dragon roared out, fiercely striking the Man Faced Demon Spider's stunned human-like face.
Boom!
The violent power of thunder instantly erupted, directly shattering the Man Faced Demon Spider's head, sending green fluid and broken carapace flying everywhere.
This arrogant thousand-year Spirit Beast, without even having time to let out a scream, crashed to the ground, its life extinguished.
The crisis was resolved.
Beibei gasped for breath, looking at the Man Faced Demon Spider's corpse, his face filled with lingering fear and…confusion.
Tang Ya also looked around blankly: "Who was speaking just now?"
"It was me."
A slightly childish voice came from behind a nearby tree.
The two looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a thin young man, appearing to be only about ten years old, with black hair and black eyes, and a delicate appearance, slowly walking out, holding a golden-brown roasted rabbit leg.
It was Huo Yuhao.
"You saved us?" Tang Ya looked at Huo Yuhao, somewhat disbelieving.
Huo Yuhao shrugged, took a bite of the rabbit leg, and said indistinctly, "Sort of.
I saw you were about to die, so I just lent a hand."
His gaze, seemingly unintentionally, swept over Beibei's dark black calf, and he said lightly, "The Man Faced Demon Spider's venom, if not detoxified within thirty minutes, even a deity cannot save you.
You now have about twenty-five minutes left."
After speaking, he ignored the two, walked to the bonfire, and continued to enjoy his lunch.
This calm and detached attitude left both Tang Ya and Beibei stunned.
It was Beibei who reacted first.
He struggled to bow to Huo Yuhao, sincerely saying, "Thank you, little brother, for saving our lives!
I am Beibei, and this is my companion, Tang Ya.
May I ask for little brother's name?"
"Huo Yuhao."
"So it's Brother Yuhao." Beibei's complexion had grown worse due to the spreading venom, but he still forced himself to say, "We will never forget this kindness today.
It's just…we are currently poisoned, I'm afraid…"
"You're lucky." Huo Yuhao interrupted him, reaching into his worn backpack and pulling out a pure white Spiritual Plant that emitted a faint fragrant scent, which he tossed over.
"This is a White Jade Ginseng.
Although it's not very old, it's enough to cure the Man Faced Demon Spider's venom."
This White Jade Ginseng, of course, he had found nearby using his Spiritual Detection.
Tang Ya quickly took the Spiritual Plant, gave Huo Yuhao a grateful look, and immediately helped Beibei sit down, crushing the Spiritual Plant and applying it to his wound.
After doing all this, she walked in front of Huo Yuhao and bowed solemnly.
"Brother Huo Yuhao, thank you!
You saved us again!
I am Tang Ya, the Sect Leader of the Tang Sect.
In the future, if you need any help, just say the word, and I, Tang Ya, will never refuse!"
"Tang Sect?" Huo Yuhao looked up, a hint of "curiosity" appropriately appearing in his eyes.
"Yes! It's the Tang Sect, which once flourished and was founded by our ancestor, the Sea God Tang San!" Tang Ya spoke of the Tang Sect with pride in her eyes.
Huo Yuhao sneered inwardly.
Sea God, Tang San.
Sure enough, all clues pointed to that high and mighty God King.
He feigned surprise with an "Oh," then lowered his head, continuing to gnaw on the rabbit leg, as if completely uninterested in this Sect renowned throughout the continent.
His indifferent reaction, however, made Tang Ya somewhat at a loss.
Just then, Beibei's voice came: "Sect Leader Tang Ya, come here for a moment."
After Tang Ya walked over, Beibei whispered something to her.
A moment later, Tang Ya walked back, her face showing a hint of expectation and seriousness.
"Brother Yuhao, I see you are alone.
Where are you heading?"
"Shrek Academy." Huo Yuhao was concise.
"What a coincidence! We are also going to Shrek City!" Tang Ya's eyes lit up, "It's like this, I see you have extraordinary talent, possessing such strength at such a young age.
Are you interested in joining our Tang Sect?"
It's here.
Huo Yuhao thought to himself.
This "logical" invitation, this "fated" script.
He looked up at Tang Ya's sincere and expectant face, silent for a moment.
Then, he slowly nodded.
"Sure."
Chapter 4 God-level Grilled Fish, Those Who Are Willing to Take the Bait
"You… you agreed?"
Huo Yuhao's crisp "Alright" choked the plethora of excuses Sect Leader Tang Ya had prepared, leaving her stunned.
She and Beibei had discussed for a long time, envisioning countless possibilities. For instance, Huo Yuhao might be arrogant and disdainful of joining the declining Tang Sect; or he might make exorbitant demands, proposing various harsh conditions.
They never expected him to agree so easily, so… casually.
It was as if joining the legendary Tang Sect was as ordinary to him as a mere nod of acquaintance.
"What? Not welcome?" Huo Yuhao glanced at her, asking the obvious.
"No, no, no! Of course, welcome! A warm welcome!" Sect Leader Tang Ya finally awoke from her daze, her pretty face flushed with excitement, as she quickly waved her hands. "From today onwards, you are the third member of our Tang Sect! I am Sect Leader Tang Ya, he is Senior Brother Beibei, and you are our Junior Brother!"
Beibei, who had already been detoxified, had his complexion restored to a healthy glow under the effects of the White Jade Ginseng. He stood up, walked to Huo Yuhao, and with a gentle and sincere smile, said: "Junior Brother Yuhao, welcome to our ranks. From now on, we are family."
"Mm." Huo Yuhao nodded, as if in response.
His attitude remained lukewarm, which left Beibei and Sect Leader Tang Ya somewhat bewildered. This young man, seemingly only eleven or twelve years old, possessed a composure and calmness more seasoned than many adults. Especially those eyes, so profound they seemed to peer into the human Soul, making it impossible to discern what he was truly thinking.
Nevertheless, being able to recruit such a gifted Junior Brother was a great joy for the Tang Sect, which was now merely an empty shell.
"This is great! Our Tang Sect finally has new blood!" Sect Leader Tang Ya excitedly spun around in place. "Beibei, when we return to the academy, we must celebrate properly!"
Beibei smiled and nodded, then looked at Huo Yuhao and asked: "Junior Brother Yuhao, I see you are also heading to Shrek City. Why don't we travel together so we can look out for each other on the way?"
"Sure." Huo Yuhao replied succinctly.
This was already part of his plan.
And so, the three simply packed up and set off together towards Shrek City.
Along the way, Sect Leader Tang Ya chattered incessantly, excitedly recounting the past glory of the Tang Sect to Huo Yuhao, and their grand ambition to revive it. Beibei occasionally added a few remarks, his words filled with a sense of belonging and responsibility towards the Tang Sect.
Huo Yuhao was mostly a quiet listener, occasionally giving an "Mm" to indicate he was paying attention.
While he appeared to be listening to them recount the Sect's history, in reality, his mental force had already silently spread out, thoroughly investigating their physical conditions, and even the subtle details of their spirit power circulation.
Beibei, a Level 26 attack system Spirit Grandmaster, with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit, and a spirit ring configuration of yellow and purple, which was considered top-tier. His Meridians were tough, his spirit power abundant, and his foundation was extremely solid.
Sect Leader Tang Ya, a Level 21 control system Spirit Grandmaster, with the Blue Silver Grass Spirit, and a spirit ring configuration of two yellow. Although her Spirit was a recognized waste Spirit, her spirit power seemed to conceal a cold and domineering Qi, clearly indicating another fortuitous encounter.
These two were indeed worthy of being important supporting characters beside the "protagonist," their talent and strength far surpassing their peers.
However, Huo Yuhao also keenly noticed that whenever they mentioned "Ancestor Tang San," both of them would unconsciously reveal a heartfelt, almost faith-like reverence. That reverence had surpassed mere admiration, resembling more a fanaticism influenced by a spiritual imprint.
"Indeed… the entire Tang Sect is just a tool for him to maintain his influence, isn't it…" Huo Yuhao sneered inwardly, growing a bit more wary of the God King he had never met.
The three continued their journey and soon emerged from the Star Dou Great Forest.
That evening, they arrived at a clear stream.
"Let's rest here for tonight," Beibei suggested. "I'll go hunt some game nearby, and Xiao Ya, you start a fire."
"Alrighty!"
The two split up, while Huo Yuhao walked to the riverbank, looking at the plump river fish swimming by, and a thought sparked in his mind.
In the "script," the next crucial plot point seemed to be "grilled fish."
He needed to use his superb grilled fish technique to completely conquer the stomachs of his Senior Brother and Senior Sister, laying a solid foundation for himself to integrate into the team. At the same time, this grilled fish event also seemed to attract a certain "fated" person.
"Although I really don't want to be a cook, since it's a performance, I might as well go all out."
Huo Yuhao chuckled self-deprecatingly, then pulled out a dagger from his waist. This was the only valuable item he had taken from the Duke's Mansion when he left.
He didn't enter the water to catch fish like an ordinary person. Instead, he stood on the bank, his eyes slightly narrowed, his Spiritual Eye Martial Soul quietly activated.
The next moment, the dagger in his hand moved.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three cold flashes streaked past, almost simultaneously.
Immediately after, there were three "plop" sounds on the river surface, and three large, plump river fish, pierced precisely through their eyes, floated up belly-first.
This precise throwing technique left Sect Leader Tang Ya, who had just finished starting the fire, wide-eyed with astonishment.
"Yuhao… you… you're too amazing!"
Huo Yuhao said nothing, merely stepping barefoot into the cool river water to retrieve the three fish.
Back on the bank, he didn't rush to start cooking but began a dazzling series of preparatory steps.
Scaling, gutting, cleaning—his movements were lightning-fast, yet filled with a unique sense of rhythm. The ordinary dagger in his hand seemed to come alive, each stroke precise to the extreme.
After processing the fish, he took out several small paper packets from his travel bag.
Opening the packets, inside were various colors and flavors of seasonings: salt, pepper, cumin, and some spices he couldn't name but smelled absolutely mouth-watering.
These were all things he had collected and bought along the way, relying on his adult Soul and Life experience. All for this very moment.
When Beibei returned with two wild chickens, he saw this scene—
Huo Yuhao was sitting by a bonfire, with three grilled fish skewered on wooden sticks, sizzling over the flames, golden fat constantly dripping, splashing up tiny sparks.
And an indescribable, overwhelmingly potent aroma permeated the air, frantically invading his nostrils, stirring the gluttonous worms in his stomach.
"So… so fragrant!" Beibei couldn't help but swallow, almost dropping the wild chickens in his hands.
Sect Leader Tang Ya was already squatting by the fire, her beautiful eyes fixed on the three grilled fish, practically drooling.
Huo Yuhao ignored their reactions, his expression focused and serious, as if he wasn't grilling fish, but a rare work of art.
He methodically rotated the wooden skewers, ensuring every inch of the fish's skin was evenly heated. At the same time, his other hand, like a painter wielding a brush, sprinkled various seasonings perfectly onto the grilled fish.
As the seasonings were added, the aroma became richer and more layered.
First, the fresh scent of the fish itself, then the savory aroma of salt and pepper, followed by the spicy scent of cumin, and finally, a faint, indescribable vegetal freshness… several flavors perfectly fused, forming an irresistible temptation.
Finally, under Beibei and Sect Leader Tang Ya's eager gazes, Huo Yuhao stopped his movements.
"Done."
He handed two of the perfectly grilled, golden-brown fish, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, to them.
"Thank you, Junior Brother!"
Sect Leader Tang Ya cheered, eagerly took the grilled fish, and without minding the heat, opened her small mouth and took a big bite.
The next second, her eyes widened abruptly.
The crispy fish skin, the tender fish meat, plus the perfectly balanced seasoning… countless wonderful flavors instantly exploded on her taste buds!
Delicious!
So delicious!
She swore this was the best thing she had ever eaten in her Life!
Beibei's reaction was not much better than Sect Leader Tang Ya's. Although he ate more gracefully, his constantly accelerating eating speed betrayed his inner excitement.
Watching them devour the fish, a faint smile finally appeared on Huo Yuhao's face.
However, just then, a clear and pleasant, yet somewhat bossy and arrogant, girl's voice came from the nearby woods.
"Hey! How much for your grilled fish?"
Hearing the voice, Huo Yuhao understood.
The main character, finally took the bait.
He looked up, following the sound.
Under the moonlight, a tall girl in a pink and blue outfit, with neat short hair and a pair of brilliant blue eyes, stood with her arms crossed, looking at him with a proud expression.
The girl was extremely beautiful, even three points more so than Sect Leader Tang Ya. However, her innate pride made her seem somewhat unapproachable.
On her shoulder, a fluffy, snow-white Spirit Beast, looking like a small dog, was perched.
Wang Dong!
Or rather, Tang Wutong!
The female lead who was entangled with him throughout her Life in the "original work."
And also Tang San's other "great gift" meticulously prepared for him.
Huo Yuhao looked at her, his eyes calm and unmoving, as if looking at a stranger.
He picked up his own grilled fish, took a bite casually, and then slowly said:
"Not for sale."
"Only for the fated
Chapter 5: First Encounter, Arranged Nemesis?
"Not for sale? Only for those with predestined affinity?"
The short-haired girl with pink-blue hair, who was Wang Dong, frowned beautifully upon hearing Huo Yuhao's reply.
From childhood, no matter where she went, she was always the center of attention, surrounded by stars; if she wanted something, a mere glance would have countless people scrambling to present it to her.
This was the first time someone dared to speak to her in such an indifferent tone, and it was even when she had actively offered to "buy" something.
"What do you mean?" Wang Dong's voice grew colder, carrying the unique questioning tone of a Young Miss. "This... this young master fancies your grilled fish; that's giving you Face! Name your price, any amount of gold coins will do!"
She seemed to have intended to call herself "this Young Miss," but at the last moment, she stiffly changed it to "this young master," which sounded a bit deliberate.
Huo Yuhao chuckled inwardly, noncommittal about this little girl's disguise game.
He still didn't look at Wang Dong, only concentrating on the grilled fish in his hand, as if there was nothing more delicious in the World.
His unyielding and completely dismissive attitude thoroughly angered Wang Dong.
"Hey! What's wrong with you? Are you mute?" Wang Dong rushed to the bonfire in a few steps, glaring down at Huo Yuhao.
A faint, sweet fragrance, accompanied by the girl's anger, wafted into Huo Yuhao's nose.
He finally looked up, directly at this future "Shrek Campus Belle."
He had to admit, this Face was indeed a masterpiece of God. Her skin was fairer than snow, her features were as exquisite as a painting, especially those eyes as dazzling as sapphires; though burning with anger at this moment, they were still breathtakingly beautiful.
But Huo Yuhao's gaze was as calm as an unfathomable ancient well, without the slightest ripple.
What he saw was not the peerlessly beautiful countenance, but the extraordinary Soul hidden beneath it, wrapped in a faint golden light.
That golden light was sacred, vast, and carried an inviolable Divine Might.
It was the imprint of Divine Sense!
Huo Yuhao instantly confirmed that Wang Dong's Soul was protected by Tang San's divine force. This protection not only ensured her safety during her trials in the Lower Realm but also served as an invisible form of surveillance and... shackles.
"So that's it, even the Soul has been tampered with." Huo Yuhao understood, gaining a deeper insight into Tang San's possessiveness.
"What are you looking at?!" Stared at by Huo Yuhao's gaze, which seemed to penetrate everything, Wang Dong inexplicably felt a pang of guilt and discomfort, and her voice involuntarily rose a few octaves.
"Nothing." Huo Yuhao withdrew his gaze and said indifferently, "I just think your eyes are very beautiful."
His words were as plain as water, as if stating an objective fact, devoid of any emotional color.
But to Wang Dong's ears, it was nothing short of a thunderclap.
She... she had heard countless compliments since childhood, but never had anyone dared to praise her eyes so directly and calmly to her Face.
In an instant, Wang Dong's pretty Face flushed crimson, even her earlobes felt hot.
"You... what nonsense are you spouting!" She retorted incoherently, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, "Who... who asked you to praise me! I warn you, don't think a few sweet words will make me let you off! Hand over the grilled fish now!"
Her outwardly fierce yet inwardly timid demeanor made Tang Ya and Beibei, who were engrossed in eating nearby, burst out laughing.
"I say, classmate, aren't you being a bit too overbearing?" Tang Ya wiped the grease from the corner of her mouth, stood up to mediate, "This grilled fish was made by my Junior Brother personally. If he says he won't sell it, he naturally has his reasons. Why must you force the issue?"
"And who are you two?" Wang Dong only then noticed the two people beside her. When she saw Tang Ya's peerlessly beautiful Face, a hint of undetectable wariness flashed in her eyes.
"We are from the Tang Sect." Beibei also stood up, smiling gently, "I am Beibei, and this is my Junior Sister, Sect Leader Tang Ya. This is our new Junior Brother, Huo Yuhao."
"Tang Sect?" Wang Dong was stunned for a moment, then a look of realization and... disdain appeared on her Face.
"Oh, so it's that fallen Tang Sect." She curled her lips. "I thought it was some formidable Sect. What? Has the Tang Sect fallen so low that it needs a grilled fish kid to maintain its reputation?"
Her words were extremely cutting, instantly causing Tang Ya and Beibei's expressions to darken.
"Classmate, please show some respect!" Tang Ya's tone turned cold. "Although the Tang Sect is not what it once was, it is not for anyone to insult!"
"Insult?" Wang Dong sneered, the arrogance in her eyes becoming even more pronounced. "I'm merely stating facts. A Sect without even a Spirit Emperor, what is it if not fallen?"
"You!" Tang Ya trembled with anger.
Beibei quickly pulled her back, and said to Wang Dong in a deep voice: "Classmate, we have no grievances with you, why must you be so aggressive? We have no right to decide for Junior Brother Yuhao's grilled fish. If you truly want to eat it, perhaps you should discuss it with him properly."
"Discuss?" Wang Dong seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the World. "This young master never needs to discuss things with others!"
Before her words finished, a powerful spirit power fluctuation suddenly erupted from her body. Two dazzling yellow spirit rings rose from beneath her feet, and a sharp Aura instantly locked onto Huo Yuhao.
"I'll count to three. Hand over the grilled fish! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Twentieth level!
Feeling the spirit power fluctuation emanating from Wang Dong, both Beibei and Tang Ya were startled.
This girl, who looked not much older than Huo Yuhao, was already a Two-Ring Spirit Master! What astonishing Genius this was!
The two subconsciously wanted to step forward and shield Huo Yuhao behind them.
However, Huo Yuhao gently shook his head at them.
He unhurriedly swallowed the last mouthful of fish, then tossed the cleanly gnawed fish bones into the fire, and slowly stood up from the ground.
Facing Wang Dong's aggressive Aura, there was no tension or fear on his Face; instead, there was a playful smile.
"Want to snatch it?" He looked at Wang Dong and asked indifferently.
"So what if I do?" Wang Dong said proudly, "For an ungrateful fellow like you, fists should do the talking!"
"Alright." Huo Yuhao nodded, the smile on his Face growing wider. "Coincidentally, I also want to see just how much a Genius blessed by a Divinity truly weighs."
"What did you say?" Wang Dong was stunned for a moment, not understanding the meaning of the latter half of his sentence.
But Huo Yuhao no longer intended to give her time to think.
"As you wish."
The moment his words fell, an unimaginably vast mental force pressure, like a bursting flood, erupted from Huo Yuhao's body!
Buzz—!
The air seemed to solidify at this moment.
Wang Dong, who bore the brunt, felt as if her head had been violently struck by an invisible giant hammer. Her entire World spun, and her ears buzzed. Her proud spirit power, in the Face of this terrifying mental force pressure, was as fragile as paper, instantly shattered into pieces.
She didn't even have time to release her Spirit before she let out a muffled groan, her Face pale, and retreated repeatedly, eventually falling onto the ground.
And the seemingly harmless Light Goddess Butterfly on her shoulder let out a shrill cry of sorrow, directly knocked unconscious.
Beibei and Tang Ya, who were nearby, were also affected by this sudden mental storm. Both felt dizzy and disoriented, barely managing to steady themselves, and looked at Huo Yuhao with expressions of unbelievable shock.
This... was this truly the power a One-Ring Soul Master, who had just undergone Spirit Awakening, could possess?
The intensity of this mental force, perhaps even some Four-Ring Soul Ancestors specializing in mental force, would fall far short!
The entire scene instantly fell into a dead silence.
Only the bonfire crackled and burned.
Huo Yuhao slowly walked to Wang Dong, who was sitting on the ground, and looked down at her, his gaze still calm.
"Now, do you still want to snatch it?"
Wang Dong looked up at Huo Yuhao with a complex gaze mixed with fear, humiliation, and shock.
She had lost.
Lost completely, without any power to retaliate.
Since childhood, she had been an invincible existence among her peers; when had she ever suffered such humiliation?
A strong sense of unwillingness and anger surged in her heart. She gritted her teeth and stubbornly said, "I... I didn't lose! You just... just ambushed me!"
"Is that so?" Huo Yuhao smiled noncommittally.
He extended his hand, offering the remaining large portion of the fish he had just grilled to Wang Dong.
"I said, it's only for those with predestined affinity."
"Now it seems, you and I, we seem to have quite the affinity."
His tone carried a hint of faint teasing.
Wang Dong looked at the fragrant grilled fish in front of her, then at Huo Yuhao's lightly smiling Face, and for a moment, she didn't know how to react.
She couldn't win a fight, nor could she win an argument.
Ultimately, all her pride and unwillingness transformed into an ill-timed "grumble" from her stomach.
Her Face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple.
Under Huo Yuhao's knowing gaze, Wang Dong almost snatched the grilled fish, then took a big, fierce bite, as if venting the frustration in her heart.
However, when that unparalleled deliciousness bloomed in her mouth, all her anger was instantly replaced by astonishment.
"Mmm... delicious..."
She mumbled indistinctly, then, no longer caring about her image, began to eat in large mouthfuls.
Watching her demeanor, the curve of Huo Yuhao's lips became even more playful.
"Tang Wutong, ah, Tang Wutong, casting aside your father's halo, you are nothing more than an immature, somewhat tsundere little girl."
He murmured softly to himself.
"But this is good too. A chess piece... it's always easier to control if it's a bit more innocent."
"Whether it's by him, or... by me."
A gentle breeze blew, stirring the bonfire, and also stirring the hair of the young man and young woman.
A carefully arranged encounter and conflict thus concluded in this slightly comical atmosphere.
And a true game, spanning both the human and divine realms, had just begun to unfold