...
Time flies, and the days pass like an arrow.
When Xuan Hao slowly opened his eyes again from the Yin-Yang Well of Sunset Forest, judging by the dates, the highly anticipated All-Continent Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies should be about to begin.
He timed his exit from customs perfectly.
However, after waking up from the extremely rich spiritual energy of heaven and earth, Xuan Hao did not rush back to Tian Dou City.
Instead, he patted the water off his body and slowly walked to the outer edge of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eye.
He planned to have a good heart-to-heart talk with Ah Yin first.
After all, once this Soul Master Tournament is over, he'll be taking his people on a journey across the entire continent.
Did A-Yin intend to go out with him to see the world, or did she intend to stay in this deep mountain forest and just sit there in a daze?
This problem needs to be addressed.
As Xuan Hao approached, a vibrant Blue Silver Emperor swayed gently, and with specks of blue-gold light, Ah Yin's noble and gentle phantom slowly coalesced into form.
"I'm actually quite happy staying here; nothing's bothering me."
Looking at the increasingly unfathomable young man before her, Ah Yin's tone was tinged with helplessness and confusion.
"Besides, I just don't understand why you insist on keeping a close eye on me?"
"What's there to doubt?"
Xuan Hao replied matter-of-factly, "Because I'm a lecherous wretch! You're so beautiful and have such a great presence, isn't it only natural that I'm attracted to you?"
"Didn't you already know? I've been thinking about you for a long time."
Upon hearing these blatantly vulgar remarks, Ah Yin's expression froze, and a hint of shame and anger flashed across her illusory face: "You... I've already become like this, without even a physical body, and you still care about me?"
"It's not like you can't be resurrected. Besides, I have plenty of ways to help you rebuild your body and achieve a perfect resurrection. Why can't I keep my sights on that?"
Xuan Hao pursed his lips, "Of course, don't worry. I value mutual consent the most, and I definitely won't force you to be with me."
"However..."
"You won't have any other choice but me. If you dare choose anyone else, I'll be jealous, angry, and resentful.
And then... I'll crush that man to pieces and kill him right in front of you!"
Seeing that Ah Yin seemed about to argue, Xuan Hao directly raised his hand to interrupt her:
"Don't talk to me about worldly principles! This is how the world works!
Might makes right, and all rules are built on that foundation!"
"Before, I wasn't strong enough, and I had to put on a show and play by the rules set by others.
But from now on, everything in this world should operate according to my will!"
"I don't really have any grand ambitions to save the world.
To be honest, everything I do is just to make myself happy."
"I'm willing! That's the fundamental logic behind all my actions!
If I'm unhappy or find something objectionable, even if it means destroying some rules or ruining some people, it's all perfectly justified!
After all, this is the underlying rule that everyone in Douluo Continent has subconsciously come to accept!"
Ah Yin was utterly speechless after hearing his arrogant yet irrefutable robber logic.
She sighed: "With your current strength and status, what kind of stunning woman can't you get?
Why do you have to waste so much effort on me?"
"Am I the kind of person who does things casually?" Xuan Hao asked back.
"Put your hand on your heart and think about how many years I've been thinking about you.
Who was it that risked everything to dig you out of that dark, dilapidated cave?
Over the years, I've also used my own life essence to nourish you and replenish your vital energy.
I've given so much, and you still don't know how I truly feel about you?"
Xuan Hao was too lazy to waste any more words and directly issued an ultimatum:
"Anyway, this is the only way I've shown you the path, you choose for yourself."
"I'm going back to Heaven Dou City first. I'll come back after the Soul Master Competition is over, and then you'll have to give me a clear answer."
"If you really don't want to leave, then I'll just plant you directly below the spring of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
The energy there is the most violent, but also the purest.
You'll recover much faster there than you are now."
After saying that, Xuan Hao turned around decisively and prepared to leave.
"etc--"
Just as Xuan Hao took two steps, Ah Yin's gentle voice suddenly came from behind him, calling out to him.
Ah Yin watched his retreating figure, her eyes flickering slightly, and said softly:
"Um... I've never seen the Soul Master Competition before. Could you... could you take me out to see it?"
Xuan Hao paused in his steps.
He turned around and glanced at Ah Yin with some surprise. Then, a triumphant smile appeared on his lips.
Whoosh!
A soft sonic boom rang out. Xuan Hao's figure vanished from his spot in an instant, and the next second he teleported in front of Ah Yin's phantom.
Before Ah Yin could react, Xuan Hao stretched out his arms and swept her blue-gold illusory figure up in his arms!
"ah!"
Ah Yin was startled by this sudden action and instinctively let out a cry of surprise.
Then, her eyes widened suddenly, her face filled with disbelief:
"You... I'm clearly just a phantom formed from a spiritual entity right now! How could you possibly touch me?!"
What shocked and even alarmed her even more was that when Xuan Hao embraced her, she didn't feel any energy contact at all, but rather the real, tangible warmth of a man's body and the feel of his solid muscles!
This sensation was completely real?!
Seeing Ah Yin's expression as if she'd seen a ghost, Xuan Hao chuckled and bounced the weight in his arms.
"Have you been here too long and made yourself dull? Have you forgotten what's on me?"
"Arou's 100,000-year-old soul bone possesses powerful mental illusions and materialization abilities.
In addition, I also have the Ice Dragon King's dragon soul within me, which is also a top-tier spiritual body.
My spiritual power has long been materialized, and I can always use my spiritual power to truly touch you as if you were touching a physical object."
Upon hearing this explanation, Ah Yin's expression instantly became extremely unnatural, and even her illusory ears blushed.
She bit her lip, her eyes darting away, and asked softly, "Since you've always been able to touch me... then why... have you never touched me before?"
In the past, when Xuan Hao came to visit her, he would at most sit and chat with her or sprinkle her blood on her, but he never crossed any boundaries.
This led her to believe that there was an insurmountable physical chasm between them before their physical bodies were reconstructed.
Upon hearing this, Xuan Hao asked in return with an innocent expression:
"You won't let me touch you."
"You've always been wary of me and wouldn't let me touch you.
I already said I value mutual consent above all else.
If you don't agree, I can't just force myself on you, can I?"
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