In the outside space.
Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue had already finished their assessments. Xie Xie only passed the first stage, while Tang Wulin barely made it through the second stage. Gu Yue, the most outstanding among the three, made it all the way to the final stage of the high level difficulty, but unfortunately stopped at the ultimate assessment.
Xie Xie, with a bruised and swollen face, leaned toward the solemn looking Tang Wulin and asked, "Hey, why hasn't Yuhao come out yet? Do you think he can pass that ultimate assessment?"
Tang Wulin shook his head and didn't answer. He hadn't even passed the high level assessment, so he couldn't imagine what the ultimate assessment was like. Both of them simultaneously turned their gazes toward Gu Yue. She was the only one who had experienced the ultimate assessment, so perhaps her judgment would be more accurate.
However, at this moment, Gu Yue seemed to be miles away. She stood there quietly, her dark eyes losing focus and appearing somewhat vacant; she clearly hadn't heard Xie Xie's question. In her mind, the figure from the ultimate assessment kept flashing back. That person... his appearance was actually seventy to eighty percent similar to Huo Yuhao!
Just then, a figure appeared out of thin air, slightly stumbling; it was Huo Yuhao. Unlike the bruised and swollen Xie Xie and Tang Wulin, Huo Yuhao had no obvious physical injuries. However, his brow was furrowed, and those eyes that were always clear and calm were now filled with a lingering layer of sadness and confusion, as if he had just personally experienced a heart wrenching parting of life and death.
Wu Changkong's figure flashed, and he was already by Yuhao's side. After a brief examination, his brow relaxed slightly. His mental force consumption was excessive, but his foundation was undamaged, and there were no serious internal injuries.
"Yuhao," Wu Changkong called out, but Huo Yuhao didn't respond, seemingly still immersed in his own emotions. "Yuhao!" Wu Changkong raised his volume on the second call.
Huo Yuhao jolted, his scattered gaze gradually focusing as if waking from a dream. He looked around at the concerned gazes, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible hoarseness: "I'm fine."
Under Wu Changkong's control, the space fluctuated once more. Amidst the flashing light, everyone found themselves in a simply styled office. After they were seated, Wu Changkong's cool voice rang out, explaining their recent experience.
"The opponents you encountered in the Hall of Heroes were not imaginary; they are all projections of Spirit Masters who truly existed in history."
Huo Yuhao had no heart to listen right now; his mind was entirely filled with that final punch from the trial! To investigate the trajectory of the future, Huo Yuhao had read all the historical records related to the Spirit Ice Douluo, which naturally mentioned the self created ultimate skill, the Hao Dong Three Wonders.
However, the historical records were vague, only stating that this was a spirit ability the Spirit Ice Douluo created for his wife, the Dragon Butterfly Douluo Tang Wutong. It contained extreme emotional power, and it was precisely because of this that he was able to obtain the God Position legacy of the God of Emotions! He had once been curious about just how powerful these legendary Hao Dong Three Wonders were. He never expected that today he would take a solid punch from himself and experience it firsthand!
He had to admit, that punch was very strong. Emotion, spirit power, and mental force blended perfectly, penetrating all defenses and striking the softest part of the heart. The Hao Dong Three Wonders were indeed extraordinary.
"Yearning for Dong Punch, the fist intent is lingering, thoughts gushing like a spring!"
However, when he recalled this sentence now, besides the lingering grief and longing in his heart, an indescribable sense of embarrassment crept over him, making him want to curl his toes in shame. But he remembered that in historical records, these Hao Dong Three Wonders should have been spirit abilities he created after becoming a Spirit Emperor. How did his Spirit Ancestor self use it just now in the Hall of Heroes?!
Just as his mind was wandering and his expression was subtle, he suddenly felt someone nudge his arm. Huo Yuhao turned his head and saw Gu Yue, who was sitting beside him, inconspicuously nudging him with her elbow. Meeting Huo Yuhao's puzzled gaze, a very complex emotion flickered in Gu Yue's dark eyes.
She tilted her head slightly and lowered her voice to remind him, "Teacher Wu is asking if you want to join the Tang Sect."
Huo Yuhao looked up and met the expectation hidden in Wu Changkong's icy blue eyes. Ten thousand years ago, he had been the key figure in the Tang Sect's revival. Now, ten thousand years later, he was being invited to join the Tang Sect by a descendant of the sect.
Should he join? The answer was naturally no. The Huo Yuhao of ten thousand years later was Leng Yaozhu's disciple, so he was naturally a member of the Spirit Pagoda! Huo Yuhao could only shake his head gently at this Tang Sect descendant from ten thousand years later.
"I'm sorry, Teacher Wu, I won't be joining."
"Huh?" Tang Wulin and Xie Xie simultaneously let out sounds of surprise. Tang Wulin couldn't help but ask, "Yuhao, you and Gu Yue aren't joining the Tang Sect?"
Huo Yuhao responded frankly, nodding. "I have already joined the Spirit Pagoda."
As he spoke, Gu Yue, sitting beside him, also spoke softly, though her thoughts were unclear. "I have also joined the Spirit Pagoda; the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo is my teacher." She paused, her gaze shifting slightly. "Yuhao is my Senior Brother."
The faint light in Wu Changkong's eyes dimmed, a trace of disappointment crossing them. He had intended to bring these two peerless geniuses into the Tang Sect, but unexpectedly, they had already joined the Spirit Pagoda. After a moment of silence, he suppressed his emotions and said, "Her Excellency Heavenly Phoenix is a four word Battle Armor Master. Being able to study under her is indeed an excellent opportunity for you."
"A four word Battle Armor Master?!"
Hearing this, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie almost simultaneously gasped, their eyes full of shock and disbelief. A four word Battle Armor Master was an existence standing at the peak of the continent! They never expected that the classmates they trained and sparred with every day had already become disciples of such a powerful figure.
After the surprise, a deep look of envy surfaced uncontrollably in their eyes. Xie Xie couldn't hold back anymore, his voice involuntarily rising: "Wow! Such a big deal, and you two kept it completely secret! And here I thought we were best friends!"
Huo Yuhao temporarily suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his mind and chuckled upon hearing this, explaining in a relaxed tone, "It wasn't intentional to keep it from you; I just didn't think it was necessary to mention it specifically. Well, I've told you now."
Xie Xie snorted but didn't say anything else; after all, he wasn't truly angry. The test ended, and Tang Wulin and Xie Xie ultimately chose to join the Tang Sect. Although Wu Changkong didn't recruit the two prodigies, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue, on this trip, he had injected fresh blood into the Tang Sect, so he didn't return empty handed.
Afterward, the group returned the way they came, boarded the soul guidance bus, left the suburban technology park, and returned to Donghai City. The end of the Hall of Heroes trial also marked the official conclusion of this semester's classes. Next, a vacation lasting over a month awaited everyone.
After parting in the city, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue naturally returned directly to the Donghai Spirit Pagoda. Returning to her quiet room on a high floor within the tower, Gu Yue did not rest. She closed the door behind her, walked to the window, and took out her soul guidance communicator. After a brief wait, a deep and powerful voice came from the communicator.
"Lord."
Gu Yue's expression changed completely in an instant. The youthful calmness of a young girl faded away, replaced by a nobility and solemnity originating from the depths of her bloodline and soul. Her voice also became calm as she asked, "Di Tian, when can you arrive in Donghai?"
That's right, the one communicating with her now was the co-lord of the spirit beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, the Golden Eyed Black Dragon King—Di Tian. Today in the Tang Sect Hall of Heroes, after witnessing the projection of the Spirit Ice Douluo who looked so much like Huo Yuhao, she couldn't wait for Di Tian to come and take a look at her Senior Brother.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communicator, and then Di Tian's steady voice rang out again: "I can arrive tomorrow."
Upon receiving the definite reply, a silver light flickered in Gu Yue's eyes, and she nodded slightly. "Good, I'll be waiting for you!"
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion