"Snow Empress, you're severely injured. So stay in my second spiritual sea for now." Huo Yuhao said with a serious expression. He had since changed into black robes and looked quite dashing.
He didn't say anything nor glance at the Immortal Herbs. He swiftly used Daikokuten to toss them into it.
Snow Empress nodded in agreement.
Even though she looked mostly fine outwardly now, her vitality was dropping due to burning her soul cores and life force. By her own estimation, she would die in a couple of days if she doesn't receive treatment.
Huo Yuhao's second spiritual sea would be the most ideal place for her to recover. It was where his Life Gold was stored in after all, the immense life energy within it would help accelerate her recovery by a hundred fold than any other ordinary methods of treatment.
"It would've been much better if there was a Manifold Mysterious Ice Cavern..." She wistfully muttered, shaking her head.
Unfortunately, the one she found in the Extreme North had long since been dried out by a certain worm.
Snow Empress turned into a flash of blue light and swiftly disappeared into Huo Yuhao's Eye of Destiny. She didn't want to waste any time and immediately focused on healing herself.
Because she knew, even though today was extremely stressful and overwhelming, it was only the beginning.
After all, who they faced wasn't any simple enemy. It was Tang San!
That man had once dominated an era and had many connections. Who's to say he didn't have any other plans in case Huo Yuhao survived that final attack?
Huo Yuhao knew that as well and didn't want to stay much longer.
What if there was another divine-level explosive attack? Heck, what if he would actually send down another Heavenly Punishment?
Many would call him paranoid and cowardly, but after what just happened? This was valid! This was the third time Tang San had actively went his way to make sure Huo Yuhao would die.
Heavenly Punishment. The Apostle. And now using a clone?
If Huo Yuhao doesn't do something to change the situation, the next time would certainly be the end for him.
"Yuhao, what's our next move?" Skydream appeared beside him with a worried expression.
Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment and replied,
"For a while, I don't know how long, I won't be able to predict any disasters or fortune. The power of luck and fate in my Eye of Destiny is completely spent, like a dried up well.
It's no surprise. I should've died, no, we should've all died at that moment. I wasn't anywhere near completing the evolutionary process of my second martial soul. It should've taken at least two days.
Yet, at that moment when Tang San threw that destructive spear at me, the process had miraculously completed."
"Damn! I knew having good luck was bullshit but this feels way too much! Ah. If I had such luck..." Skydream groaned and pouted like a child.
"You actually have the nerve to say that? You? Who cultivated to a million years just by sleeping?!" A cold voice sounded out and a harsh hand slapped hard behind Skydream's head.
Instead of being hurt or angry, a moment after being hit, Skydream turned around with a lovestruck expression.
"Kyaaa! Bing'er! You look so much more gorgeous than ever before! Aah... Aaah... I can't, my heart is throbbing so much!"
"Hmph!"
Standing beside him was the cold beauty, Ice Empress, now exuding a much majestic aura than before. Her long emerald-green hair cascading like flowing jade, tied into an elegant scorpion braid that accentuated her slender neck. Her skin was soft and flawless, white as freshly fallen snow from the Extreme North, glowing with a translucent, icy luster.
A pair of short, crystalline dragon antlers protruded gracefully from her forehead, adding an exotic nobility, while diamond-shaped dragon scales shimmered like emeralds on the corners of her eyes, along her graceful neck, and across her collarbones. Her dragon pupils were vertical slits of piercing emerald, cold and profound, exuding ancient dignity and untamed wildness.
Huo Yuhao's second martial soul was still innately tied to Ice Empress. Obviously a transformation to her appearance and soul would occur in the event of evolution of the martial soul.
She rolled her eyes, "Ugh. Perverted worm. I suppose expecting a normal conversation from you was a pipe dream."
Though she said those words, there was a hint of appreciation at the corner of her slightly curved lips.
Skydream sharply noticed it and quickly doubled down on his fawning.
By going on his knees and arms raised, he started bowing.
"Oh my majestic Goddess! Your beauty truly knows no bounds!
Those short dragon antlers glowing like carved jade on your forehead. The diamond-shaped emerald scales shimmering along your snow-white skin, and those piercing dragon pupils that could freeze any beast's soul!
These eyes of mine are unworthy! Oooh!!"
"Y-You...!" Ice Empress flustered and stammered. She didn't expect he was this shameless! She did the first thing that entered her mind.
Bam!
She kicked him. His spiritual body was sent flying to the sky.
But as Huo Yuhao's wisdom spirit ring, he quickly reappeared beside her with a dopey smile.
"Hehehe~ Bing'er kicked me~ Oho, her leg felt so nice~"
"Skydream!"
"..." Jianxin appeared as well but didn't say anything. This was the first time she saw their interaction, and suffice to say, she was utterly confused.
Huo Yuhao didn't pay them attention anymore and pondered, 'Yeah. Luck certainly played a great role in our survival, but could that all explain this? What is this uneasy feeling? As if...an outside force had helped me at that moment?'
He didn't understand why, but something in his gut was telling him that something had intervened at that moment.
Could it have been his so-called self-proclaimed ancestor, Masashi?
He looked up, feeling as if someone was looking at him at that moment.
"...."
"Tsk. Stop being all so serious and broody. It's all depressing after what we've through." Skydream walked up to him after Ice Empress had enough of him and quickly went back to the spiritual sea.
As expected of the million year old spiritual-type soul beast, he quickly changed face.
Huo Yuhao glanced at him and was a bit startled. For before Ice Empress returned to his spiritual sea, she had left behind a gift in the form of a black eye on Skydream!
He wanted to say something but stopped himself after seeing the strange look on Skydream's face.
'Ah. It's no good. This guy is beyond saving' His expression remained unchanged and said, "Well isn't it more strange to be happy after what happened? And I know you want answers, but this isn't the right place. Let's talk on the way."
Skydream and Jianxin nodded in agreement. They both quickly entered back into his spiritual sea.
"Tang San... what are you planning?" Huo Yuhao muttered before disappearing in a silver flash of light.
Although he didn't have his prophetic abilities for now, his mind was still sharp and cunning. He could imagine a few theories on what Tang San's next move would be.
Heavenly Soul Empire, Heaven Dou City.
A figure dressed in black with a bamboo hat covering half of his face naturally moved through the ancient street.
It was midday now and the bustling streets of Heaven Dou City were filled with the lively clamor of merchants and citizens.
Huo Yuhao kept his presence low and unremarkable, blending seamlessly into the crowd like a shadow.
After a while of pondering, Huo Yuhao decided to gather information from the locals from the nearest city. Coincidentally, Heaven Dou City was the closest and it had quite the history with Tang San.
Not only the fallen Tang Sect headquarters was stationed here, but Tang San was also once the Imperial Teacher of the Emperor of his era. He'd likely have a trump card stored there and Huo Yuhao wanted to figure out what it was.
Of course, he had already sent out clones to every place where the people he cared about was; Shrek Academy, Great Star Dou Forest, and the Akatsuki headquarters.
He was most worried about his friends in Shrek Academy but he didn't want to recklessly charge in without any information beforehand.
He pushed open the door of a modest noodle shop tucked away in a quiet alley. The aroma of rich broth and hand-pulled noodles immediately greeted him.
Choosing a corner table with his back to the wall, Huo Yuhao ordered a simple bowl of beef noodles and sat down quietly.
As he ate in silence, his sharp senses picked up the animated conversation from the table beside him.
"Did you hear? The Clear Sky Sect's disciples have suddenly appeared again after disappearing for so many years!"
"No way! After being hermits for so many years, I'd thought they had quietly went extinct."
"After I saw them being near the royal palace just a while ago? They're pretty much alive and kicking."
"You saw them?! Wait. How'd you know it was actually them?"
It was a valid question. Since it's been centuries since the Clear Sky Sect had made any public appearances. It was to the point that many civilians and even some soul master households have forgotten about them.
"They said their identities out loud and the guards didn't hesitate to let them in. If they were frauds, I'm pretty sure they would've been thrown out or beaten up."
'As expected. He mobilized the Clear Sky Sect,' Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes and continued eating.
Tang San truly didn't want to let him off so easily. While he had gone straight to kill him in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, he had also sent out his subordinates to wipe out Huo Yuhao's forces and diminish his influence from other empires.
'He knows about the Akatsuki. I suppose the reason he sent out the Clear Sky Sect here is because he figured out the headquarters is around this area. Tsk. I hope my clone can reach the headquarters first.'
Huo Yuhao didn't worry. With his Absolute Domain, as long as his clones get enough information, he would quickly teleport to transport his friends and plan out a counterattack against Tang San.
"Yo, didja hear the rumor? There's a new imperial teacher of the royal family!"
"What? What happened to Grand Imperial Du?"
"He abdicated. As far as I've heard, it was because he felt that it was time for him to retire."
"Hmm. Well, he is old. I suppose he wants to enjoy what remaining time he has to himself. Alright then, what can you tell me about this new imperial teacher of ours?"
"Not much, I'm afraid. He's quite young and handsome from what I've heard. Although... I also heard he's a little eccentric. He prefers people call him... Grandmaster."
"Grandmaster? Hah! Who does he think he is? The Grandmaster from ten thousand years ago? Great Ancestor Tang San's teacher, Yu Xiaogang?"
The bowl in Huo Yuhao's hands shook a little, as a brief look of shock appeared in his eyes.
'That can't be a coincidence!'
Just as he was listening intently to the gossip, the door of the shop was harshly opened up. A young man, sweating profusely with wide eyes, quickly said out loud before the owner could scold him.
"The alliance between Shrek Academy and the Great Star Dou Forest has broken down! Taotie Douluo has attacked and severely injured Di Tian! In response, the soul beasts launched a beast tide upon Shrek City!"
Everyone went silent.
Not because of the shocking news.
But because of the bone chilling cold emanating from Huo Yuhao.
He stood up and walked towards the young man who shouted the news, who now trembled in fear from the terrifying pressure he was experiencing.
"Those words. Tell me everything that you know," Huo Yuhao calmly said, six eyes openly stared at the trembling young man.
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AN: Dun dun duuuuun!!
Heyo! Sorry for the late update, I was lost in the path of life.
Basically, I was binge watching and reading some anime, mangas/manwhas, and novels. I wanna refresh my mind on some things, especially on Naruto jutsus.
See y'all soon!