"Aotian!"
"Thief, what did you do to Aotian?!"
Seeing Long Aotian collapse, the two Body Sect Soul Douluos were shocked, then furious. Their Soul Douluo auras surged toward Huo Yuhao.
Yazi Douluo reacted, stepping in front to shield Huo Yuhao from the pressure. But his expression darkened.
*Two mere Soul Douluos dare act so brazenly in Sky Dou Palace!*
He'd tolerated them long enough!
The Heavenly Soul Emperor spoke calmly, "Please, both of you, stay calm. Sky Dou Palace has top-tier healing soul masters to ensure Aotian's safety."
Though his words were polite, the emperor was displeased. Body Sect's arrogance showed no regard for him.
Only out of respect for Poison Undying did he hold back.
Long Aotian's sudden attack had already challenged imperial authority, and the two Soul Douluos had done nothing, even signaling others not to interfere.
Now, with Long Aotian down, they were the ones panicking.
Did they think Mu En, behind Huo Yuhao, was a pushover?
And Long Aotian, a standout of Body Sect's new generation, a potential future heir.
But wasn't Huo Yuhao the Heavenly Soul Emperor's prospective son-in-law?
Seeing the Variant Frost Centipede easily defeat Long Aotian, with its outrageous soul ring configuration
The emperor decided Huo Yuhao was his son-in-law! Not even Mu En could stop him! His word!
Yazi Douluo grabbed the frozen Long Aotian, checked his condition, and sighed in relief. He reported to the emperor, "Your Majesty, Long Aotian's just poisoned with cold toxin, body frozen. No serious harm."
"Good." The emperor nodded with a smile.
Cold toxin wasn't unique to the Variant Frost Centipede, so both Yazi Douluo and the emperor knew it wasn't incurable or instantly lethal.
"Your Excellency Yazi, take Aotian to the Imperial Hospital personally. Have the physicians detoxify him," the emperor instructed.
"Yes!" Yazi Douluo had no objections.
"A Soul Ancestor losing to a Soul Elder is no shame. I only hope Aotian learns from this, trains diligently, and doesn't waste his talent or Body Sect's teachings," the emperor added, his tone laced with sarcasm.
The two Soul Douluos flushed, realizing their impulsiveness.
Unable to stay, they bid the emperor farewell and chased after Yazi Douluo to tend to Long Aotian.
But as they left, they glared at Huo Yuhao, still lying on the floor.
Huo Yuhao was *terrified*.
A mere Soul Ancestor provoking the mighty Body Sect—what to do?
"Guess I'll have to take you all out later!"
After Body Sect left, Huo Yuhao looked at the emperor with a pitiful expression.
The emperor felt a pang of frustration.
*Though… but… still…*
"Yuhao, wise… nephew, how about getting up? The floor's cold at night," the emperor said with a forced smile.
Huo Yuhao stayed silent.
The Heavenly Soul Empress stepped in, saving the emperor.
"Your Majesty, today's banquet can't continue. Shall we discuss matters with Yuhao tomorrow?"
"No choice then." The emperor nodded, declaring the banquet over.
No one objected. They all noted Huo Yuhao, marveling at Mu En's disciple's prowess.
Huo Yuhao: "???"
*Fine, playing it like that…*
The banquet ended.
Huo Yuhao returned to his palace.
"Tomorrow, I'll strike at the Heavenly Soul Empire's main artery, or I'll throw a fit back at Shrek!"
Hao-ge was mad—no good loot, no calming him down.
Pissed, he cultivated!
Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged in the palace, training.
With hidden watchers, he avoided using the Pan Sheep soul beast corpse for cultivation.
But
In the dead of night, a palace maid quietly approached him.
"Young Master Huo, this is a letter from Princess Wei Na." She placed it down and hurried off, not waiting for a reply.
Huo Yuhao, puzzled, picked up the letter from the table and opened it.
It was a partial map of Sky Dou Palace, limited in detail, guiding him to a marked destination.
"Wei Na's asking me out? Even gave me GPS?" Huo Yuhao mused.
His first thought: *Is this a trap?*
Princess invitations weren't always good—Shield Hero would agree.
As he considered discarding the letter, he recalled his Evil Eyes martial soul's earlier reaction.
The Evil Eyes, the complete form of the Spirit Eyes, stemmed from the White Tiger bloodline's unique potential. Linked to part of his brain tissue, it naturally wielded mental power.
But its core was the eyes.
Each enhancement to the Spirit or Evil Eyes mainly boosted vision, with mental power as a byproduct.
In the original story, Huo Yuhao's martial soul's secondary awakening still centered on vision.
"Could the Evil Eyes' longing be onto something? Maybe Wei Na's Brain martial soul could push my Evil Eyes further!" Huo Yuhao's eyes narrowed.
Yet, the hidden watchers didn't see him leave the palace.
---
**Empress's Chambers**
The Heavenly Soul Emperor and Empress gathered, awaiting the shadow guard's report.
But the report stated Huo Yuhao stayed in his palace, cultivating, with no activity.
"What? Wei Na's charm didn't work at all? They have a martial soul fusion skill!" The emperor was floored.
His princess being ignored stung.
Before, it was about profit; now, it was pride.
Yes, that letter was the emperor and empress's scheme.
With a fusion skill and Wei Na's beauty, if Huo Yuhao reached her chambers, leaving wouldn't be easy.
A hint of scandal, and tying Huo Yuhao to the empire's chariot would be simpler.
But the plan died before it began—Huo Yuhao didn't bite!
*You're eleven or twelve, not chasing love, and training so hard for what?*
As the emperor fumed, the empress offered a different view. "Your Majesty, this shows Huo Yuhao's resolve. With such determination, barring accidents, he'll become a continental powerhouse."
"I know, my dear. But if tonight's plan failed, recruiting Huo Yuhao will be harder," the emperor sighed.
The empress smiled. "You're too close to see clearly, Your Majesty."
"Oh? What's your idea?" the emperor asked, surprised.
"Whether Huo Yuhao joins us doesn't matter—Dragon God Douluo won't let him leave Shrek easily. What matters is that his future partner is from our empire! That'll tilt him toward us," she said.
The emperor caught on, though not fully certain. "You mean…"
"The Heavenly Soul Empire could influence Shrek Academy!"
"Brilliant!" The emperor's eyes gleamed. "With Huo Yuhao's talent and status, he might lead Poseidon Pavilion. If he favors us, we can use Shrek's resources to train stronger soul masters for our empire! And if we face trouble, Huo Yuhao won't stand idly by!"
"Borrowing the hen to lay eggs—brilliant! My dear, you're my greatest asset!"
Wasn't this like nobles meddling through royal marriages?
"You're too kind, Your Majesty. It's your fortune that brought this chance," the empress said, showcasing her tact.
"Hahaha… excellent!"
The emperor laughed heartily, then shifted gears. "But, my dear, you'll need to guide Wei Na. She seems taken with Huo Yuhao but likely hasn't thought this far. I'll handle Body Sect."
Wei Na, both a princess and Body Sect disciple, might face resistance from the sect about marrying into Shrek.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. Wei Na's a clever girl," the empress said with a smile.
As Wei Na's mother, she was confident pairing her with a prodigy like Huo Yuhao.
At least he seemed stronger than Long Aotian.
And the empress saw Huo Yuhao as emotionally dense, explaining his indifference tonight. Such a man, once committed, would be loyal, never straying.
Wei Na would be his only one.
What woman doesn't dream of lifelong devotion?
---
While the emperor and empress schemed
In a palace garden, the ground bulged, then split open. The Variant Frost Centipede poked its head out.
It opened its mandibles, and Huo Yuhao peeked out, finding the princess's garden serene.
"No ambush, looks like." Huo Yuhao climbed out of the centipede's maw, eyeing Wei Na's chambers ahead.
"Tianmeng-ge, let's go!"
**Within the Princess's Chambers**
Wei Na, now in a nightgown, lay on her bed, her damp hair proof of a recent bath.
Recalling the banquet hall incident, her face flushed red. With a *whoosh*, she buried her head in the blankets.
But moments later, she cautiously peeked out, glancing around to ensure no one was near. Her hand slipped between her thighs, long legs rubbing restlessly.
Some sensations were too tempting to resist.
Just as her hand moved, Wei Na shuddered and lost consciousness.
Huo Yuhao stared at her, exasperated.
"Such a young age, and already misbehaving, generating sparks alone in bed—shameless!"
Outside Wei Na's chambers, guards stood watch, but with Electra's concealment, Huo Yuhao slipped in silently.
The defenseless Wei Na fell to his tactics.
Electra sighed wistfully. Once a scourge of necromancy who ravaged the continent, now he was aiding Huo Yuhao in sneaking into a girl's room for mischief.
*My prestige, shattered!*
Huo Yuhao, however, wasn't fazed.
After knocking Wei Na out with a finger tap
He placed his hand on her head.
He wasn't here for a rendezvous. For Hao-ge, business came first, women second.
Unless women *became* the business.
His Evil Eyes martial soul activated, and his mental power probed Wei Na's brain, sensing her Brain martial soul.
As the Evil Eyes activated, his eyes transformed.
First, they turned icy blue, with distinct snowflake patterns at their depths.
Then, they shifted to one red and one blue pupil, radiating an eerie glow.
These two forms corresponded to the two powers his Evil Eyes had developed.
Eyes of Ice and Snow!
Eyes of Evil!
The Evil Eyes' essence remained Huo Yuhao's eyes. As its potential grew, the martial soul evolved, and his pupils changed accordingly.
Huo Yuhao: *Call me the contact lens warrior!*
During their earlier close contact, the Evil Eyes had shown longing. Now, activating it to closely examine Wei Na's martial soul, the reaction intensified.
A force surged from the Evil Eyes, shooting into Wei Na's brain.
Her Brain martial soul was activated by the Evil Eyes' power!
Their martial souls began resonating.
"It's not quite a martial soul fusion, but it's somewhat similar," Huo Yuhao mused, sensing the resonance.
As the resonance deepened
His Demonic Buddha Technique activated automatically. Golden pseudo-Buddha light radiated from him, spreading to Wei Na.
The golden light enveloped them, and they merged into one.
Huo Yuhao and Wei Na vanished, replaced by a two-meter-tall golden humanoid silhouette.
Its form was indistinct, transparent, with only a golden glow outlining it.
But its eyes and brain were strikingly solid. The eyes shone gold, devoid of joy, sorrow, emotion, or gender.
The silhouette didn't last long, soon shattering. Huo Yuhao reappeared, holding the unconscious Wei Na.
"What was that?!" Huo Yuhao exclaimed, shocked. "A Dharma Form?!"
Dharma Form and Dharma Body, terms rooted in Buddhism, had been adopted by other cultivators, demons, and spirits.
Their meanings had warped, now simply denoting cultivation and ability.
First, the Dharma Body.
As cultivators practiced, their techniques refined their bodies, sparking mystical changes, achieving divine resilience and resisting decay after death.
In short, embedding techniques into their DNA, fundamentally altering their aptitude—like a boar evolving into Marshal Tian Peng.
But it was demanding.
It required advanced technique mastery, at least the Zen Master realm above the Mage realm, to form a complete Dharma Body.
Then, the Dharma Form.
When a cultivator's realm reached a certain level, with profound mastery of their path, they could manifest an external Dharma Form.
Simply put, at that stage, they could pilot a Gundam. Stronger ones could pilot multiple.
The divine ability *Heaven and Earth Manifestation* was one such Dharma Form technique.
*Buddha has no form* meant Buddha had many Dharma Forms, appearing differently to each beholder.
Pudu Cihang's past Tathagata Golden Body was a pseudo-Dharma Form.
It was "pseudo" because forming a true Dharma Form required at least the Arhat realm!
In other words, Dharma Forms were standard for immortals.
Mortals often crafted statues based on these forms for worship.
If Pudu Cihang could manifest a true Dharma Form, it wouldn't be a demon and wouldn't have been raided for loot.
This realization hit Huo Yuhao.
"That was a pseudo-Dharma Form! Not even a proper one—its shape wasn't fully formed!"
He knew he'd overthought it.
If Dharma Forms were that easy, every cultivator would go mad.
If he could form a complete pseudo-Dharma Form upon godhood, he'd be thrilled.
But even this incomplete pseudo-Dharma Form was immensely helpful.
Huo Yuhao sensed his Evil Eyes had drawn unique power from Wei Na's Brain martial soul, extending into his own brain.
Activating this power, he didn't form a golden silhouette. Instead, his eyes turned gold, emotionless and rational.
In this state, his mind became supremely logical, his soul skill control more precise. He felt he could rapidly comprehend and even adapt techniques.
"Since it aids technique cultivation, I'll call these eyes the Eyes of All Laws. That golden silhouette, tied to the Ontology martial soul, I'll call—Ontology Incarnation!" Huo Yuhao decided.
He glanced at his luck aura.
Within the Evil Eyes' projection, another white potential dot vanished.
The Eyes of All Laws and Ontology Incarnation were the awakened abilities from this potential. But the recent gain wasn't enough to fully form the Ontology Incarnation.
The Eyes of All Laws were an extension of the incomplete Ontology Incarnation, manifesting only in his eyes.
In this state, Huo Yuhao realized how to perfect the Ontology Incarnation.
"I need contact with more Ontology martial souls!"
He placed Wei Na back on the bed, pressing his hand to her head again, examining her Brain martial soul.
This time, in the Eyes of All Laws state, he could manipulate her Brain martial soul.
And he discovered something extraordinary…
The next moment
Huo Yuhao became a golden streak, entering Wei Na's brain.
Wei Na, previously unconscious, snapped her eyes open, glowing with the same golden light as the Eyes of All Laws.
"Truly… remarkable!" Her voice carried an androgynous timbre.
*(End of Chapter)*
Huo Yuhao got to work without needing Wei Na awake.
He quickly figured out how the Ontology Incarnation grew and its effects on Ontology martial soul masters.
To grow, the Ontology Incarnation required contact with Ontology martial souls, drawing their origin power from different body parts.
The catch? The Ontology soul master couldn't resist.
"In other words, Body Sect is my key resource hub."
An Ontology martial soul that had its origin collected didn't change but entered a "tamed" state under the Ontology Incarnation.
This allowed Huo Yuhao to forcibly control their martial soul.
Note: *control the martial soul itself*!
If the soul master was strong enough, their martial soul could "escape" or even backlash against Huo Yuhao.
Like capturing Pokémon.
However, even if a "tamed" Ontology soul master died, it wouldn't affect Huo Yuhao or the Incarnation, and the collected origin remained.
"So, I can subdue defiant Ontology martial souls, forcibly 'tame' them, then eliminate the soul master."
For tamed Ontology soul masters, Huo Yuhao could possess their martial soul, achieving a fusion-like state, enhancing the martial soul's abilities.
While possessing, he could control their body and still use his own abilities.
"Even summoning martial souls is possible?"
"Wei Na," with her Eyes of All Laws glowing, raised both hands, activating soul marks.
The Variant Frost Centipede and Snow Lotus martial souls were summoned simultaneously.
"Hao-ge, is this possession?" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm asked, stunned.
"Not quite. But this state is… workable."
The expressionless "Wei Na" suddenly thought of something and dismissed the Variant Frost Centipede.
She then channeled Ultimate Ice soul power into the Snow Lotus martial soul, making it intensely cold and stronger, its petals turning gold.
The golden Snow Lotus gave Wei Na a majestic, sacred aura, like a descended Bodhisattva.
"Martial soul fusion skill, Golden Lotus Treasure Form!"
Of course, it was entirely artificial.
Huo Yuhao used Ultimate Ice to enhance the Snow Lotus, added a touch of 100,000-year Snow Lotus aura for flair, and sprinkled in pseudo-Buddha light.
Thus, the "Golden Lotus Treasure Form" was born.
It combined Ultimate Ice's power, Snow Lotus's healing, and pseudo-Buddha light's versatile offense and defense.
Soul power fused? (Thanks to the 100,000-year Snow Lotus's compatibility)
Huo Yuhao and Wei Na fused? (He entered her)
Wei Na and her Snow Lotus got stronger? (Huo Yuhao's strength and Ultimate Ice boost)
New ability emerged? (Ultimate Ice and pseudo-Buddha light)
Who'd dare say this wasn't a martial soul fusion skill?
As the fusion's master, Huo Yuhao could hide his other powers, leaving even Wei Na, the fusion partner, clueless.
Combat-wise
It matched Huo Yuhao's peak strength.
Taking on a Soul Emperor? No problem.
"Oh, one flaw."
"Wei Na" spoke.
Her golden eyes faded, reverting to normal, her face regaining its usual gentle expression.
"Now it's flawless."
Her voice became Wei Na's.
Huo Yuhao was controlling Wei Na's body, requiring a disguise. If he returned control to Wei Na, no disguise was needed.
For now, Wei Na's consciousness slept.
Inside her Brain martial soul, Huo Yuhao sensed her mental fluctuations. After a moment's thought, he delved deeper.
"Since I'm here… might as well set some things up."
…
Wei Na woke groggily on her bed, recalling her earlier actions, feeling discomfort below.
Her face burned with shame.
"Ugh, I passed out from pleasure? How could I do that? No, no one can know—I need to clean up…"
As she moved to rise someone knocked on her window.
"Oi~"
Huo Yuhao slipped into her palace.
"Eek!" Wei Na yelped, clutching her blankets, about to call for help.
Huo Yuhao darted to the bed, covering her mouth.
"Shh!" he hissed. "Princess Wei Na, don't shout—I'm a good guy!"
Wei Na felt dizzy.
*Too close!*
It wasn't just her innocence. As a princess with dual Heavenly Soul royalty and Body Sect status, she'd received elite training from both, making her more mature and cunning than her peers.
But Huo Yuhao's unique aura triggered an involuntary reaction, overwhelming her.
Seemingly oblivious, Huo Yuhao said, "Princess Wei Na, you felt it too, right? That we might have a martial soul fusion skill! That's why I came to try!"
"Huh?" Wei Na blinked.
*You broke into my room for that?*
Footsteps of patrolling guards echoed outside.
"Princess, pardon me."
Huo Yuhao dove into her blankets, hugging her from behind.
"No time to explain—fuse with me now!" He began channeling soul power into her.
"N-no…" Wei Na blushed. She didn't get why Huo Yuhao was rushing. *Scared of the guards?*
Under the medicinal qi in his soul power, her body softened, powerless. She clamped her legs, hands guarding below, fearing he'd touch something embarrassing.
This left her upper body defenseless.
As their soul powers fused
Wei Na's Snow Lotus martial soul emerged, blooming gold.
Martial soul fusion skill, Golden Lotus Treasure Form!
Born!
Congratulations~
Wei Na, awestruck, forgot her shyness, sitting up to feel the fusion skill's effects.
Ultimate Ice, versatile golden light, healing, and the Variant Frost Centipede's poison…
"Too comprehensive!"
As the fusion's "host," Wei Na began noticing Huo Yuhao's secrets.
Like his Ultimate Ice attribute.
And…
"Yuhao, do you have a second martial soul?"
"Huh? No way."
"But I sense something in you…"
Wei Na fell silent, understanding.
Huo Yuhao had an unawakened second martial soul—an Ontology Eye martial soul!
She probed his past, and he didn't hide it.
The usual tale: family dead, flawed martial soul.
Learning he was an orphan with a defective martial soul, Wei Na realized why his second martial soul hadn't fully awakened.
After ending the fusion and Huo Yuhao left, Wei Na decided.
"I must tell Father and the Sect Leader!"
"But I can't let Yuhao's twin martial souls leak, or Shrek won't let him go."
"But as an Ultimate attribute soul master, Shrek won't release him anyway."
"How can we get Yuhao to join the Heavenly Soul Empire?"
"Maybe I could hide my Body Sect status, join Shrek, and influence him…"
Lost in thought, the girl drifted to sleep, forgetting to clean up.
…
Huo Yuhao stood by Wei Na's bed, watching her sleep, the gold in his eyes fading.
*This* was reality!
Having entered Wei Na, he couldn't leave without planting some memories.
He gained plenty: Snow Lotus martial soul cultivation insights for his 100,000-year Snow Lotus, and basic Body Sect martial techniques.
With the Eyes of All Laws, developing these techniques was feasible.
"Time to go…"
But before leaving
He sent a wisp of medicinal qi into Wei Na.
Soon, she reacted.
"Yuhao, Yuhao…" Wei Na murmured, lost in a dream, seemingly about him.
…
She sank deeper into sleep.
"Now, no flaws."
Satisfied, Huo Yuhao left her chambers.
Another lamb had joined his flock.
Huo Yuhao stealthily returned to his palace, crawling out from a tunnel beneath the bed.
Astonishingly, another Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged on the bed, cultivating.
The real Huo Yuhao waved his hand, and the bed's Huo Yuhao vanished, a ghost silently returning to his Ghost Banner martial soul. No one noticed.
The hidden guards watching were all outside.
The bed's Huo Yuhao was a decoy, using a ghost as its core to create an illusion.
Ordinary illusions were mere shells, but with a ghost, it mimicked cultivation's soul power fluctuations, hard to detect. The decoy could even move.
As long as it didn't fight, its true nature stayed hidden.
Of course, it couldn't speak.
Back in the palace, Huo Yuhao resumed cultivating.
This time, not soul power, but martial techniques, heading eagerly to the training room beside the palace.
Built for soul masters, the palace included a spacious training room with large metal ingots for testing soul skills.
The hidden guards noted Huo Yuhao's actions but couldn't record what happened inside.
The training room was well-sealed, blocking external spying.
The guards marveled at Huo Yuhao's diligence.
Not sleeping, training soul power, then soul skills at night?
Does he not sleep?
They felt tired just watching.
They also understood why the emperor valued him.
Receiving the guards' report, the Heavenly Soul Emperor had the Crown Prince, residing in the Eastern Palace, woken to train two extra hours that night.
…
Huo Yuhao's martial techniques were the basic Body Sect skills copied from Wei Na's mind.
Martial techniques, or combat skills, were self-created soul skills infused with vital energy.
Wei Na had learned three, all replicated by Huo Yuhao:
- **Quick Fist**: Combining soul power and vital energy for faster punches.
- **Leap Step**: Combining soul power and vital energy for long-distance jumps.
- **Mental Barrier**: A specialized mental defense for mental-attribute soul masters.
Vital energy tied to physical strength, and Huo Yuhao, tempered by the *Medicinal Blood Technique*, had abundant vital energy, surpassing Body Sect peers due to his tailored cultivation method.
With the Eyes of All Laws, his robust physique, and mental prowess, Huo Yuhao quickly mastered the three skills.
He skipped novice stage, reaching proficiency.
Then, he felt a pang of frustration.
Quick Fist, a basic Body Sect body-tempering skill, strengthened the body and laid foundations. Stronger combat skills existed.
Leap Step and Mental Barrier were Wei Na's choices as a support soul master for self-preservation.
"Quick Fist and Leap Step are too basic. Only soul masters below level 30 see clear benefits. They're useless to me."
"Mental Barrier, learned after level 30, requires high mental power quality. Its strength depends entirely on the soul master's mental power, not the skill."
In summary, the skills had some value, but not much.
By difficulty and power, Quick Fist and Leap Step were low-tier. Mental Barrier barely qualified as mid-tier.
The road was rough, but Huo Yuhao was capable!
Fully activating the Eyes of All Laws, he drew on Pudu Cihang's rudimentary martial arts memories, his own strength, and abilities to refine the three skills.
The Eyes of All Laws' full activation was extraordinary.
It cleared desires and distractions, focusing entirely on the goal. His mind became hyperactive, ideas flowing freely, easily breaking through cultivation barriers.
It felt exhilaratingly unstoppable!
But soon, Huo Yuhao stopped, rubbing his temples.
"Hiss, the Eyes of All Laws drain mental power heavily."
Indeed, it consumed mental power. With his current reserves, he could sustain it for three minutes max.
"Hao-ge, why'd you stop? I was *this* close to mastering Pudu Cihang's clone divine art!" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's dissatisfied voice echoed in his mind.
"Huh?" Huo Yuhao blinked.
Tianmeng drifted out from the spiritual sea.
The Visualized White Tiger and Black Tortoise popped up too.
"Hao-ge, when you fully activated the Eyes of All Laws, we benefited too," the Black Tortoise said in Golden Tortoise's voice. "I was *this* close to a new soul skill."
"Roar~" The White Tiger spread its wings proudly, showing off. It performed a *Meow Meow Fist* set.
Strong or not, it was a complete technique.
"Nice try, but don't try again," Huo Yuhao facepalmed.
Why was the White Tiger copying Tianmeng, punching while standing?!
And that Meow Meow Fist was useless to him.
Finally, Tianmeng said, "Hao-ge, that state felt like an epiphany. In those three minutes, I nearly mastered Pudu Cihang's clone art. One more go, and I'd nail it."
"Wait till my mental power recovers," Huo Yuhao sighed. "Looks like I need to focus on mental power training too."
Tianmeng's mental power could boost his, but it couldn't merge to fuel the Eyes of All Laws' state.
Huo Yuhao's mental power wasn't weak. With the White Tiger and Black Tortoise's enhancements, it neared Soul Sage levels.
It surpassed his physical strength.
Without the White Tiger bloodline's boost, his body would lag behind his mental power.
After all, he was fundamentally a mental-attribute soul master.
Yet, he could only sustain that state for three minutes, showing its immense mental drain.
But keeping the Eyes of All Laws lightly active for calm and rationality consumed little, allowing continuous use.
The high cost brought great rewards.
Huo Yuhao tested the new combat skills developed from the three, using the Eyes of All Laws.
Before the metal ingot
"Quick Fist's advanced skill—"
Huo Yuhao punched, sparkling ice crystals forming, creating a hazy beauty. Instantly, ten fist marks appeared on the ingot.
One punch, but ten strikes!
As a new skill, future mastery would allow more simultaneous punches.
He named it
"Ice Haze Fist!"
It combined Ultimate Ice soul power, vital energy's boost, and mental interference.
A trinity of essence, energy, and spirit.
Not fully fused, it merely unleashed all three at once. Against true experts, flaws were clear.
But it sufficed for combat.
And the fist technique could evolve, growing stronger.
When essence, energy, and spirit truly merged, its power would rival Mu En's *World Domination*!
"Next, Leap Step's advanced skill—"
Huo Yuhao stepped back, then leaped with overwhelming momentum and force.
*Boom!*
He landed before the ingot, the shockwave and force nudging it back slightly, denting the metal floor.
A heavy ingot shifted—if it were a person, they'd be flung away or injured. Landing on someone? Blood, brains, and worse would spill.
*One butt could kill!*
A fleeing Leap Step was now an explosive offensive skill.
If enemies closed in, escape was futile—Huo Yuhao would turn and crush them.
It relied on the *Medicinal Blood Technique*'s physical enhancement. His body, vibrating at a specific frequency with soul power, unleashed multiple times the force.
The skill's power would grow with his physical strength and soul power.
"Feels a bit like *Awe-Inspiring*."
Thus, he named it
"Heavy Leap Suppression!"
Finally, Mental Barrier
Incorporated the principle of Mental Freeze, blending soul power and mental power.
With his remaining mental power, Huo Yuhao formed a palm-sized shield, resembling ice.
It could block soul skills, physical attacks, and mental assaults.
A youthful Golden Heart Mirror.
As a combat skill, it could be further developed.
"Call it Ice Crystal Barrier. Compared to Mental Barrier, its hardness and defense are leagues better."
Then, Huo Yuhao dispelled the Ice Crystal Barrier.
Rubbing his temples, he left the training room.
"Can't go on—mental power's drained. That's it for combat skills today…"
"Back to soul power cultivation."
Sleep?
Only those worthless to the continent slept!
Despite mental exhaustion, Hao-ge's body was still robust!
To be safe and leave no traces, he cultivated normally.
His true soul power was level 46.
After a night's cultivation
He quietly broke through to level 47.
This was influenced by Wei Na's soul power—the least of his gains from her.
Huo Yuhao: *Finisher incoming!*
**The Next Morning**
By dawn, Huo Yuhao had recovered most of his mental power, no longer hindering normal activities or combat.
Without visualization techniques, ordinary soul masters, without external aid, couldn't recover mental power so quickly.
But while Huo Yuhao rested, the Visualized White Tiger and Black Tortoise worked all night.
They were busy scavenging unclaimed luck in the palace!
Sky Dou City was the luck hub of the Heavenly Soul Empire, and Sky Dou Palace was its core.
Even if harvesting luck here was tough, the yield far exceeded past efforts.
The luck from yesterday's soldiers and last night's palace haul was nearly enough to advance the Visualized Black Tortoise to its next stage.
Back at Shrek Academy, he'd let it evolve.
Huo Yuhao summoned a maid to prepare breakfast, then packed it up and headed to the Imperial Hospital to visit Beibei.
Beibei was awake and mobile. Seeing Huo Yuhao unharmed, he relaxed and gratefully ate the breakfast Huo Yuhao brought.
After breakfast
"Little Brother Huo, they… didn't make things hard for you, right?" Beibei couldn't help asking.
Huo Yuhao thought, then shared what happened yesterday daytime and at the banquet—only the shareable parts.
Beibei listened, thoughtful.
Before he could ponder further, Huo Yuhao dropped a bombshell.
"Princess Wei Na of the Heavenly Soul royal family might have a martial soul fusion skill with me."
"What?!"
Beibei thought his ears were playing tricks.
"I said, we *might* have a martial soul fusion skill!" Huo Yuhao repeated earnestly.
Beibei stared, conflicted, hesitating to speak.
"Little Brother Huo, is Princess Wei Na… good-looking?" Beibei asked, frowning.
"Uh, yeah, pretty. Same league as our outer court's Jiang Nannan," Huo Yuhao replied, unsure why he asked.
Beibei *got it*.
Sighing, as if resolving something, he said, "Don't worry, Little Brother Huo. Big Brother Beibei won't put you in a tough spot."
Now Huo Yuhao was confused.
What was Beibei imagining?
Huo Yuhao only shared the news, no schemes involved. A martial soul fusion skill was big enough to inform "one of his own."
If he couldn't figure it out, he let it go.
Huo Yuhao stayed with Beibei at the hospital.
"Long Aotian's at the hospital too." Huo Yuhao wanted to find him, mock him face-to-face, and maybe tamper with his Ontology martial soul.
But inquiries revealed Long Aotian, after recovering last night, was whisked away by the two Soul Douluos, likely back to Body Sect.
"Are they fetching reinforcements?" Huo Yuhao wondered.
It was something Body Sect would do.
Polite term: protective.
Harsh term: shameless!
But would Hao-ge fear them?
Laughable. Unless the emperor lost his mind, Huo Yuhao wouldn't be in danger.
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm told him his hidden escorts today tripled from yesterday.
No longer for surveillance, but protection.
Even Yazi Douluo was secretly nearby.
Yazi Douluo's Yazi martial soul, one of the Dragon's Nine Sons, and his Yazi bloodline intrigued Huo Yuhao.
Sadly, he had no chance to act against Yazi Douluo.
…
Near noon, the emperor sent for Huo Yuhao and Beibei to meet at a palace.
Later than Huo Yuhao expected.
Clearly, the emperor spent the morning deliberating. Likely, Wei Na had told him about the martial soul fusion skill.
Huo Yuhao wasn't worried about revealing he'd evaded guards to sneak into Wei Na's chambers.
That wasn't an issue—getting caught red-handed would be.
The key was keeping his "suspected unawakened second martial soul, an Ontology Eye" under wraps.
Especially from Shrek Academy.
Huo Yuhao wasn't concerned.
As long as the emperor wasn't aligned with Shrek, it wouldn't leak.
Wei Na would handle other issues and inform Body Sect about him.
Problems Wei Na couldn't solve would be handled by the Heavenly Soul Empire and Body Sect behind her.
To them, Huo Yuhao was a must-have.
The empire wanted a soul master with Limit Douluo potential.
Body Sect valued his Ontology martial soul.
Walking through the palace
"Hao-ge, are you jumping ship to the Heavenly Soul Empire or Body Sect?" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm asked curiously.
"Nah, not until I get Shrek's Golden Ancient Tree," Huo Yuhao replied.
The Golden Ancient Tree was non-negotiable. If he couldn't seize it by force, he'd become Poseidon Pavilion Master—eventually, it'd be his.
He continued, "I'm doing this so when I make waves on Douluo Continent, someone's always there to hand me tissue. The empire and Body Sect are just the first, not the last."
"What about the Star Luo Empire and White Tiger Duke's Mansion?" Tianmeng asked.
"Heh." Huo Yuhao smirked. "I'll be the one making waves over *their* heads!"
The White Tiger Duke's White Tiger bloodline was non-negotiable.
The Star Luo Empire wouldn't spare Huo Yuhao for targeting the Duke's Mansion.
So, they'd both have to vanish.
No deep grudges—just driven by interests.
…
Soon, Beibei and Huo Yuhao were led to a side hall.
The Heavenly Soul Emperor and Yazi Douluo awaited them.
Just the two.
Two chairs were prepared for Huo Yuhao and Beibei.
Clearly, a private meeting.
The emperor introduced Yazi Douluo to Beibei.
Then, smiling warmly, he said, "Nephew Yuhao, Beibei, come sit."
Beibei blinked, sensing the emperor's excessive warmth… and that he was the tag-along!
Why "nephew" for Huo Yuhao, but "classmate" for him?
Still, he sat.
Before the emperor could speak, Beibei clasped his fists. "Your Majesty, we were reckless yesterday, causing trouble for the empire. Please forgive us."
Emperor: "?"
Yazi Douluo: "?"
Huo Yuhao: *Beibei, you good?*
A golden chance to extort, and Beibei apologized first?
Is that what Shrek taught you?
Huo Yuhao wasn't alone—the emperor and Yazi Douluo thought the same.
They recalled Huo Yuhao nearly extorted at the banquet.
Could… their ideas be misaligned?
Not just misaligned—they were completely off!
Beibei signaled Huo Yuhao with his eyes, hoping he'd catch on.
Beibei: *For my brother to win the beauty, what's a loss to me? This is all I can do!*
The emperor probed Huo Yuhao. "About compensation…"
"No need!" Beibei interjected, righteous. "The empire and Shrek are allies. Yesterday was a misunderstanding. Consider it our training."
Huo Yuhao: "???"
The emperor and Yazi Douluo exchanged serious glances.
*Oh no, we've beaten Mu En's heir silly!*