The Valley of Love and Fate, ranked first among the Three Great Treasure Pools, surpassing even the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Huo Yuhao was very curious—could it be that the world of the Tang God King's homeland also had a Valley of Love and Fate? Otherwise, why would it be ranked among the three great treasure pools?
Either the Valley of Love and Fate exists in other worlds as well, or the book that recorded it originated from another world.
Since Tang God King was able to travel to the Douluo Continent, it's reasonable to assume that artifacts or records from other worlds could appear in his home world too.
And considering that a single technique like Xuan Tian Skill could be used from beginning to end, and hidden weapons could kill gods, it's plausible that the Tang God King's original world might be on par with the Douluo Continent in terms of world level.
It's just that Tang God King didn't really observe the world properly, so he doesn't know much about his original home.
Maybe his homeland wasn't a mere martial arts world—but rather a xianxia (immortal cultivation) or mystical martial realm.
Of course, there's also the possibility that Tang God King altered the heritage and forcefully inserted the Valley of Love and Fate into the ranking, in order to attract future chosen ones of destiny.
But that's all irrelevant now. The important thing is—what can Huo Yuhao gain from the Valley of Love and Fate?
To study the Valley, Huo Yuhao brought together Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, Electrolux, and others to discuss.
"Legend has it that the Valley of Love and Fate was formed after the fall of the Goddess of Love. It's extremely dangerous and very difficult to gain benefits from. But from the artifact Moon Intent we acquired earlier, and the clues from the Goddess of Love's inheritance, the legend is likely true,"
"The Valley isn't just a treasure trove. It's a place where gods have fallen—and also a place for divine inheritance."
Electrolux was laying out the facts.
Among Huo Yuhao's crew, none of this was a secret.
"So, if someone obtains the inheritance of the Goddess of Love, could one of us receive a god position too? Like how the Centipede Martial Soul worked?" A'Hui asked excitedly.
After all—who doesn't want to become a god?
"Goddess of Love, huh? That divine position seems fated to me~" Jin Qiu'er made a rare appearance, full of confidence.
"If we're basing it off that Centipede Martial Soul case, the inheritance might go to the Martial Soul most aligned with it. I think the Healing Angel Puppet Martial Soul is a better match—it's sentient," guessed the Golden Xuanwu.
Jin Qiu'er instantly took offense.
"Hey! Are you looking down on me, the Noble Beast!?"
Golden Xuanwu replied calmly,
"Think what you want."
Everyone assumed that the inheritance of the Goddess of Love was a sure thing—and already began discussing how to divvy up the spoils.
But Huo Yuhao wasn't so sure he could obtain the inheritance.
Because—he didn't understand love.
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, uncharacteristically serious, studied the original story's plot and finally offered his take:
"First, the Valley of Love and Fate is under the control of people from the God Realm. We can't get the inheritance through normal means."
"Second, for that reason, the three trials of the valley—Truth of Heart, Risk for Love, and Truth of Heart through Risk—are probably not the actual Goddess of Love's legacy trials. We can't use them as reference."
"Third, the Valley can create many bizarre effects—even gender transformation. I suspect that's all fueled by the Goddess of Love's divine power. Just like other god inheritance tests that grant miraculous powers. Once the trials are done, who knows if any power will be left behind."
Tianmeng's reasoning was solid, silencing the group with intrigue.
He concluded:
"In short, we can let Hao-ge's replica—disguised using the Centipede—go through the storyline with Wang Dong first. That way, the gods watching from above will stop paying attention to the valley."
"Then we sneak in later. Even if the Goddess's power is depleted, we can at least investigate the divine position and any remaining artifacts."
"If we get nothing in the end… pretend I said nothing."
Clap clap clap…
The group applauded lightly.
"Tianmeng-ge, you've grown," praised Huo Yuhao.
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm proudly lifted his head.
Then everyone looked to Huo Yuhao.
Because ultimately—it was his call.
"My replica using the Centipede can act as a near-perfect copy of me, plus it's shielded by fate. Even if the Valley is spent, the replica will get something out of it. Guaranteed loot," Huo Yuhao explained.
"And no need to worry. Even if the Valley is destroyed, some residue will remain—including the divine position. The God Realm can't just retrieve everything remotely without alerting the God Realm Committee. Remote control is already their limit."
"This is recorded in the inheritance from the God of Wisdom. That committee was created after Wisdom's fall, but the way the God Realm functions hasn't changed."
"In fact, unless someone with Dragon God-level strength intervenes, the God Realm's systems won't change. And there are many loopholes we can exploit."
Hearing that they wouldn't come back empty-handed—and might really secure a divine position—the group was thrilled.
Even if they didn't get it this time, as long as their team grew stronger, when they eventually stormed the God Realm, divine seats would be theirs to assign.
"So, if a god position really is there, how will you pass the trial and claim it?" Electrolux asked, cutting to the heart of the matter.
Huo Yuhao smiled.
"The inheritance of the Goddess of Love will definitely revolve around love. But I don't understand love."
"However, the God of Wisdom's legacy taught me that all inheritance trials, no matter how unique, require divine power as fuel."
"As long as that divine power is exhausted, the trial won't activate. Then, we can try to skip the trial and directly claim the god position and its legacy."
"Only two issues remain—compatibility with the god position and inheriting the divine skills. But those are secondary. All we need is the position. The rest can be rebuilt from scratch."
Electrolux nodded.
"Since you have a plan, I'll do my best to support you. My divine soul has recovered a bit more, so even if I burn it all, I'll just fall asleep again—not shatter."
"Then Elder Yi, do you want the Goddess of Love's god position?" Huo Yuhao suddenly asked with curiosity.
"After all, it's a first-class divine seat. It might even be able to evolve into a God King."
Electrolux's face turned green.
He stormed back into the Hao Sovereign Banner in frustration.
The Goddess of Love had fallen because of a betrayal by her lover. Electrolux, too, had been betrayed by someone he loved. That kind of god position? No thanks!
Huo Yuhao, however, thought their past experiences were similar and they might actually be highly compatible. But clearly, Electrolux didn't see it that way.
Shrugging helplessly, Huo Yuhao led his crew to encircle West Mountain, waiting for the Valley's opening.
"I've invested several chess pieces this time, all properly prepared. Let's hope we get something worthwhile."
Time passed slowly.
Finally, the moon set.
Golden rays of the sunrise lit the horizon.
Huo Yuhao snapped his eyes open and looked toward the West Mountain range.
A formless energy began to stir in the mountains.
The Valley of Love and Fate—was truly opening!
The members of Shrek Academy's team passed the night in relative peace, allowing both their bodies and minds to recover.
Yet despite the uneventful night, worry lingered on every face.
None of them knew what kind of inescapable trap had been set outside during the night. Still, if they wanted to return to the academy, they had no choice but to leave the forest.
Before dawn broke, the team rose hastily. After a quick meal to replenish their energy, they continued their journey.
"We're moving out," Xian Lin'er said.
Under the protection of several Title Douluos, the group began moving under the cover of darkness toward the mountain's edge.
But they soon noticed something strange—no matter which direction they went, they couldn't escape the forest.
Every path they took led them back to their starting point.
Bai Shanshan retrieved the red thread she'd used to mark their trail, looking helplessly at the others. Everyone had similarly grim expressions—some deep in thought, others visibly anxious.
"Rest here. Cai Meier, come with me to scout the area," Xian Lin'er decided.
Cai Meier nodded, fully alert.
The two women, both powerful Title Douluos, took to the skies and ground to investigate. Despite their efforts, they found no traces of soul skills.
They then summoned a few Soul Engineers to join the investigation.
Still, they found nothing—no evidence of a soul tool formation. The engineers agreed based on their experience that this wasn't the effect of any soul tool array.
"If it's neither a soul skill nor a soul tool formation, could it be natural?" Cai Meier murmured thoughtfully.
As a dean, Cai Meier had read extensively and recalled descriptions of unusual geography. She suspected they might have stumbled into such a rare phenomenon.
Zhang Lexuan looked to the sky. "If we can't get out by land, maybe we can break through from above."
At that moment, the first rays of dawn pierced the horizon, bathing the mountain in warm light.
Misty vapor rose from the forest.
Dew dripped from the leaves, but as it neared the ground, it suddenly froze mid-air, as if pulled by an invisible force preventing it from touching the earth.
None of the Shrek members noticed this phenomenon. Their attention was elsewhere, drawn to a surge of golden and silver light flooding toward them from the distance.
"Defend!" Xian Lin'er shouted.
Xian Lin'er, Cai Meier, and Zhang Lexuan immediately created a soul power barrier to shield the others. Everyone else activated their personal defense soul tools, preparing for impact.
Zhang Lexuan attempted to repel the light with her moonlight attack, but the golden and silver radiance was unstoppable. "This doesn't seem like the work of an evil soul master," she judged.
Everyone's expressions turned grim.
The unknown was the most terrifying of all.
Soon, the group was engulfed in the golden-silver light, each of them feeling a strange force pulling on their bodies.
The fog thickened rather than dissipated, becoming a dense mist.
"Hold hands! Don't get separated!" Cai Meier yelled urgently.
But in that instant, the light enveloped them entirely. The fog obscured everything, and all of them were dragged away into the distance.
When the Shrek team next regained awareness, they found themselves in the Valley of Love's Inquiry.
Their eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before them—like something out of a dream.
A vast lake stretched out, nestled among surrounding mountains. Its waters were crystal clear, shimmering in gold and silver hues that radiated out across the peaks and into the distance.
This was the very source of the mysterious golden-silver light.
At the heart of the valley, the golden lake formed a perfect circle, glowing like the sun and emanating warmth.
Surrounding it was a crescent-shaped silver lake, cold and quiet, with a gentle, luminous glow.
The sun and moon lay beside one another, golden and silver light blending together in breathtaking harmony. It was as if the sun and moon had descended upon the world in unity.
The Sun and Moon formed a lake—Heaven and Earth ask of love.
True love takes risks. Ultimate emotion conquers all.
This was Yin Yang Love Querying Valley.
The scenery alone was worthy of being called a place where gods could fall.
Just as confusion began to set in among the group, they vanished once more.
After a swirl of disorienting motion, they reappeared—submerged in the lake, surrounded by bubbles.
Even the ice coffin was sealed off in a separate bubble.
"What's going on?!"
"This is bad—it's a trap!"
"Calm down! Wait for orders from the elders!"
The relentless string of bizarre events pushed many to the edge. Even the most composed could barely maintain their calm.
They could face enemies head-on—but this kind of psychological torment from unseen forces was far more taxing.
Xian Lin'er, Cai Meier, and the other strong cultivators remained calm, scanning their surroundings.
Each person was isolated in an individual bubble, and at the center of them all was a mystical gold-silver platform.
Many noticed it and guessed that it would play a key role in what was to come.
Sure enough, a mighty voice echoed.
"Valley of Love's Inquiry begins!"
Though the voice was vast, its tone was calm—neither male nor female.
At that same moment, outside the mountain range, Huo Yuhao's eyes turned into dual pupils. He frowned slightly.
"An inquiry about love? Isn't this supposed to be a trial of true-hearted risk? And… everyone has been dragged in?"
Though not physically present, Yuhao could see everything clearly, thanks to his disguised pet frost centipede, which wasn't truly asleep. He had left a technique on it that let him monitor its surroundings.
In the original story, only those with love in their hearts would be pulled into the valley. But this time, everyone had been brought in.
Combined with the change in the nature of the trial, Yuhao realized that things had diverged greatly from the original plot.
"Of course… There's no romantic development between Wang Dong and me anymore. If it went like in the original, it would've ended in death for both of us."
"Heh. Let's see how you plan to run this now."
Yuhao had prepared to sacrifice all his pieces to investigate Yin Yang Love Querying Valley.
To him, death wasn't the end—as long as the soul could ascend.
So he didn't fear change—he was more intrigued by what it would bring.
At the bottom of the valley, the game began.
It started from the weakest, proceeding in order of strength.
The first to go was a Level 4 Soul Engineer.
His bubble descended to the platform and burst, revealing a dry surface rather than one filled with water.
Trembling, the Soul Engineer stood up and looked around in despair.
"Why me?!"
A voice asked:
"Question one: Do you have someone you love?"
"N-no…" he stammered.
The voice replied:
"Loveless one."
A moment later—boom!
The Soul Engineer exploded into a mist of blood on the platform.
Everyone watching had their pupils constrict in horror. Fear spread across their faces.
The first person to step onto the platform instantly died, causing everyone's hearts to sink. Many were completely overwhelmed by fear.
Next, the second person landed on the platform. He was also a Rank Four Soul Engineer, but he was so terrified he couldn't even stand. Kneeling on the ground, his lips trembled uncontrollably.
This soul engineer wasn't from Shrek Academy, but rather from another faction who had escaped alongside the Shrek team.
The mysterious voice echoed once again with the same question:
"Question one: Do you have someone you love?"
"Yes! Yes! I do!" the Rank Four Soul Engineer hurriedly shouted.
The voice responded:
"Liar!"
Boom!
The second person also exploded into a mist of blood.
Even people like Wang Dong couldn't help but swallow nervously.
Wang Dong was now panicking—because she didn't have anyone she liked either!
"Big Dad, Second Dad, where are you? Please save me…" Wang Dong was on the verge of tears.
Yet the questions and trials continued.
The third person stepped onto the platform and faced the same question. Completely at a loss, he finally gritted his teeth and refused to answer.
As a result, after a minute passed without a response, he also exploded into blood mist.
"You can't say yes, you can't say no, and you can't not answer. They want us all dead here!"
Cao Jin Xuan shouted angrily, pounding on the bubble enclosing him. But it didn't budge.
Although not the strongest, Cao Jin Xuan was courageous. He had long completed missions for the inspection team.
"I'd rather fight to the death with Evil Soul Masters than die such a pathetic death in here!" he roared.
The worst part was—he didn't know if he liked anyone.
Unfortunately, each person was trapped in an individual bubble, unable to communicate, only able to watch the horrifying scene unfold.
One by one, people stepped onto the platform—and one by one, they died in terror.
So far, no one had figured out a fourth possible answer, nor found the key to surviving.
Until something changed.
"Question one: Do you have someone you love?"
The voice asked again.
The man on the platform looked in a specific direction—where a woman was trapped in a bubble. She watched the scene unfold, sobbing uncontrollably.
The man smiled gently toward her and then shouted,
"Yes! I have someone I love! Even if I die, I won't deny it! Come, kill me!"
But—he didn't explode.
The voice evaluated:
"True love."
"Question two: Who is your lover?"
The man was stunned, as were the others.
Did he just… pass the first question?
Suddenly, many people's eyes lit up—they seemed to realize the way to survive.
But others wanted to cry.
Because… they really didn't have anyone they loved.
Not everyone is into romance. For those devoted to cultivation, talking about love is unfair!
What—so if I don't date or marry, I deserve to die?
Back on the platform, both the man and the woman looked delighted.
Faced with the second question, the man quickly came to his senses—he couldn't hesitate. Those who had failed to answer had been blown to bits.
Without delay, he pointed at the bubble the woman was in and shouted,
"It's her, my lover, Yuzhu!"
As soon as he spoke, the woman's bubble floated down and landed on the platform.
The moment she touched the ground, she ran to him, and he rushed toward her. They embraced tightly.
Reunited in the face of death, they hugged each other and wept with joy, unwilling to let go—as if trying to merge into one.
Then the voice sounded again:
"Question three: Do you wish to continue the trial?"
"If you pass the next test, you'll receive a reward that can help you break through to Title Douluo.
Fail, and you die.
Refuse, and you may leave."
"Please answer individually."
Just as the couple tried to discuss it, a mysterious force separated them. They could no longer see or hear each other.
A sheet of paper and a pen appeared before each of them. They had to write their answers.
"This is a test of their synchronicity," Hua Yao muttered seriously.
Such a test was sinister—because even the closest lovers couldn't always think alike, and different choices meant death.
A minute passed quickly.
The man and woman, trembling with fear, submitted their answers.
Man: Do not continue!
Woman: Do not continue!
Their answers matched. They'd had enough of this constant fear. They just wanted to leave—together.
Upon seeing the matching answers, both lit up with joy. The force separating them vanished, and they embraced again.
"Then, please leave."
The voice echoed.
A bubble enveloped the couple and floated upward, disappearing into the lake, never to be seen again. They may have truly left.
"So the third trial is one of synchronicity. And as long as you answer three questions correctly, you can leave?"
Hua Yao mused, then sighed.
The problem is—how many actual couples are there in Shrek Academy's main and reserve teams?
Huo Yuhao, the guy with the most girlfriends, was still unconscious.
Xiao Xiao had a one-sided crush on Wang Dong.
Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan were a mess.
With one couple gone, the questions and tests continued.
Faced with these tricky questions, the next participants were emotionally collapsing.
"Question one: Do you have someone you love?"
"Screw it. We're gonna die anyway. I'm done with this sh*t! I love your mom—bleep you—bleep bleep #%￥@…"
The man on the platform launched into a full-blown tirade of profanity before finally yelling:
"I love no one! I only love cultivation!"
Surprisingly, the voice responded:
"Seeker of the Dao."
"Then, please leave."
A bubble appeared, wrapping around the stunned man and sending him away.
Everyone else was stunned too.
Wait… that worked?
Just cussing someone out lets you leave? Weren't all the others who died before completely wronged?!
Cai Meier's eyes lit up:
"I get it now!
The first question is actually a test of your heart!
Whether it's love for a person or for cultivation—it's about expressing your true feelings.
As long as you speak your truth, you pass!"
"I just hope others realize it too."
Someone else caught on.
When they landed on the platform, they copied the previous guy—cursing wildly, then saying,
"I love cultivation!"
But this time, the voice said:
"False-hearted."
Boom!
Another puff of blood mist appeared on the platform.
Everyone immediately grew more cautious.
They finally understood the trick, and their answers became more careful. As a result, the death rate dropped significantly.
Those without lovers revealed their true passions.
Some Soul Masters said they loved cultivation.
Some Soul Engineers said they loved soul devices.
They were all allowed to leave.
It turned out cultivation and soul tools weren't the only answers—
Any true passion would do.
The first question wasn't so much about declaring love as it was about speaking your truth.
Some participants confessed unexpected truths:
One man admitted he loved crossdressing.
One woman confessed she loved… playing with beans.
Another revealed he loved his brother's wife.
They were all allowed to leave.
But though they left alive—socially, they were dead.
A true "social death."
Finally, it was Shrek Academy's main and reserve teams' turn.
The first to step up was Ou Ou, the reserve team member with the lowest soul power.
"Question one: Do you have someone you love?"
Ou Ou replied seriously:
"Yes!"
Ou Ou passed the first question.
"Second question: Who is your beloved?"
"Huo Yuhao!" Ou Ou replied without hesitation.
The bubble enclosing the ice coffin descended and landed on the platform. Ou Ou rushed to it and stood protectively beside the ice coffin.
Those inside the bubble were surprised by Ou Ou's answer, though it wasn't entirely unexpected.
After all, anyone could see that all the reserve team members from the Huo Alliance were little fans of Huo Yuhao.
But no one had expected it had reached the level of love.
At that moment, Hua Yao's expression changed subtly—an anxious look appeared on her face. She suddenly realized: Huo Yuhao is just one person, but those who love him? More than one.
Could it be that in the end, Huo Yuhao would have to be "divided up"?
And what about the questions to come? How would the unconscious Huo Yuhao cooperate?
Though it seemed Huo Yuhao had multiple "girlfriends," he might be the most dangerous one left.
Everyone began to sense something was wrong. Ou Ou had boldly declared her love—what about the rest of the reserve team? What about Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luocheng? What about Wei Na?
Xian Lin'er and Zhang Lexuan's expressions darkened, realizing that they too might not escape this ordeal.
Now, it wasn't just a question of whether Huo Yuhao was "enough" for all of them. It was whether they'd get a chance to use Huo Yuhao at all!
Previously, people had suffered social death by revealing secrets. If their relationships with Huo Yuhao were exposed, even if they made it out alive—how could they ever return to Shrek Academy with their dignity intact?
Unfortunately, those within the bubbles couldn't communicate. They could only passively listen to the questions and answers on the platform.
The questioning continued.
"Third question: If your beloved were in mortal danger, would you be willing to sacrifice yourself for a chance to heal them?"
"The question changed?!" Wu Ming exclaimed in shock.
"Could it be... there really is a way to heal Yuhao? But at the cost of Ou Ou..." Xiao Xiao murmured anxiously.
Cai Meier and Xian Lin'er began weighing the pros and cons.
Whether it was Huo Yuhao, the future of Shrek Academy, or Ou Ou, a top student—they didn't want to lose either.
But if they had to choose—saving Huo Yuhao would clearly be better for Shrek's future.
In fact, anyone could be sacrificed, even Title Douluo.
As long as Huo Yuhao returns to Shrek, Shrek still has a future.
"I'm willing!"
Ou Ou's response came firm and without hesitation.
Hua Yao, Wu Ming, and Cai Meier were all moved. None had expected Ou Ou would be willing to die for Huo Yuhao.
Was this true love?
Outside the Valley of Love's Trials, Huo Yuhao was observing everything through his spirit beast "Frost Centipede."
He had already realized the change in the last question was due to interference from the God Realm.
After all, the luck above the valley had turned an ominous ocean blue.
"So that's the plan—sacrifice those with close bonds to me to heal my injuries. Not only would that eliminate all rivals, but it would also give Wang Dong a chance."
"With every new question, all women related to me will be sacrificed. Only Wang Dong will survive. Then when I awaken, I'll be riddled with guilt—and Wang Dong will seize the opportunity."
"Not only that, the guilt would tie me to Shrek Academy permanently. And I still carry the Tang Sect's legacy. That would ensure the Tang Sect's revival."
Burn all the roots of past love, plant a new seed, and let that seed take all the nourishment for itself.
Why can Huo Yuhao guess this so well? Because—if it were him, he'd do the same.
"Very clever, Tang God King," Huo Yuhao said.
But unfortunately, the Tang God King didn't realize—the one in the ice coffin was just a decoy.
All the women connected to Huo Yuhao were merely furnaces, tools to be sacrificed.
Their lives and bodies might perish, but their souls and consciousness would return to the Hao Emperor Banner, eventually ascending with Huo Yuhao to enjoy eternal bliss.
Their souls had been marked by him long ago. None would be lost; they would automatically navigate their way back to the Hao Emperor Banner.
Even those who exploded into blood mist—they died physically, not spiritually. Their souls were intact.
So, even if this helped the Tang God King's scheme, once Wang Dong took root and bloomed, she would find that the soil she grew from was poisoned.
A poisoned soil only breeds poisoned fruit.
"But you know what? I like saying 'no' to those who think they're in control."
"Tang God King—let Hao-ge show you how it's really done!"
"I'm the one who's a step ahead!"
Back on the platform in the Valley of Love's Trials...
Just as Ou Ou finished answering, before the results were revealed, a powerful shout rang out:
"NO!!!"
It was none other than Huo Yuhao's voice.
But—he hadn't awakened.
Instead, a spiritual projection in his image emerged from the ice coffin.
"Yuhao!"
"Young Brother Yuhao!"
"Captain?!"
Everyone was stunned. No one had expected Huo Yuhao to show up now.
But something was off.
Facing the shocked and overjoyed Ou Ou, Huo Yuhao explained:
"This is a method I developed using the mental properties of my Frost Centipede spirit—a spiritual projection. A technique my teacher once mentioned, a way to utilize spiritual power."
"I'm sorry. My body still can't awaken, but my consciousness can perceive the outside world. I can't get out of the coffin to save you. I can't do anything."
Huo Yuhao's spirit projection wore a guilty expression. Then he gave a bright, sunny smile.
"Ou Ou, thank you. Thank you for loving me. I've always known. And to all of you—thank you for your feelings. I've never regretted any of my choices. Being loved by you all makes me incredibly happy."
"So—I must not let you down!" Huo Yuhao said to Ou Ou, deeply emotional.
"That's why—I won't let any of you die. I won't let you sacrifice yourselves for me!"
He looked up, as if gazing toward the hidden forces speaking from above—as if staring across worlds to the God Realm.
"I know... If someone's beloved isn't here, they're allowed to leave immediately."
That had happened earlier.
Only two questions were needed to leave.
"Rather than let my beloved die for me, I'd rather die first!"
"As long as I'm alive, I won't let my beloved get hurt!"
"If my death can save them—then I'll gladly die, and feel blessed doing so!"
Everyone now realized what Huo Yuhao was planning.
Their expressions changed dramatically.
They all began shouting, desperately.
Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luocheng, and others pounded the bubble's barrier in frustration. If they could use their martial souls, they might've risked breaking the bubble with their soul skills.
"No!!!" Ou Ou cried out, lunging toward the ice coffin.
But a brilliant light burst from within, blasting her away. The ice coffin floated up, trembling violently.
"Lightburst Technique!"
Outside the Valley of Love Trials, Huo Yuhao's lips curled into a smirk. Every word spoken by the spiritual projection he controlled was a dagger aimed straight at Tang san's heart.
Today, he was setting an example for Tang san—this is what it truly means to love someone so deeply you'd die for her.
God-King love? What a joke! Can you really die for love? This is what it means to be a true Child of Fate: self-detonation. God-King of the Divine Realm? Even you wouldn't dare die! All you can do is watch helplessly as your Brother Hao dies! This is strength, understand? Got it, Tang san?
"Come on! If you've got the guts, try stopping me!"
He'd gone all in now—
The Child of Fate self-destructed.
Old man, all your schemes were useless in the end!
As for the current technique he used—Light Explosion Technique—it was a derivative evolved from the principles of Ice Explosion and Corpse Explosion. It allowed light-elemental power to be detonated. Similar explosive techniques included Poison Explosion and Flame Explosion.
Huo Yuhao had demonstrated this move while training with others and had even generously shared its principles so that others could learn from it.
Unfortunately, no one else had been able to replicate it so far.
Even the self-detonation of the mutant Frost Centipede wasn't stopped. Amid the fierce explosion, the ice coffin was blown to pieces.
"Noooo!!"
Many of the women nearly fainted from despair.
But at that moment, Cai Meier exclaimed,
"Look! Yuhao's okay!"
The others quickly turned to look—sure enough, amidst the blast, Huo Yuhao's body was not shattered. Instead, it was enveloped in a golden and silver glow.
It was clearly the power of the Valley of Love Trials protecting him.
Then, a voice resounded:
"True love witnessed by heaven and earth. For sacrifice in love, the Love God grants protection!"
"You have received the Love God's recognition. You may proceed to the next trial. Failure will result in teleportation out of the Valley."
"However, your love is not pure, and so you are unqualified to take the final test. You are not eligible for the Love God's Divine Trial."
Clearly, this was not Tang san's intervention. It was Huo Yuhao's decisive act of self-sacrifice that triggered a mechanism within the Valley of Love Trials.
He had even earned the chance to continue participating in the trials!
It could be compared to the Sea God's Trials on Sea God Island from ten thousand years ago—though at best, he could earn an eight-tier red trial, never the full nine-tier Sea God Trial. Even with sufficient talent, he wouldn't qualify.
Because Huo Yuhao's love wasn't pure.
Someone openly building a harem wanting to take the pure Love God's divine trial? He was lucky just to qualify. To aim for godhood—dream on.
Of course, this situation was all thanks to Huo Yuhao's current fate and destiny.
Right now, Huo Yuhao was "Heaven's Mandate." Anything on the Douluo Continent would naturally be influenced by the will of the plane itself to favor him.
His destiny ran through the entire world.
No comparison could be made to the original protagonist.
Even if someone tried to make a sinister move against Huo Yuhao, the will of the Douluo plane would intervene like a giant hand, holding back the attack and providing him a hidden route.
Even someone like Huo Yuhao—openly keeping multiple lovers—shouldn't qualify for the Love God's trial. But fate still gave him a backdoor. Who could argue with that?
Unless Tang san risked destabilizing the entire continent to act directly.
But Tang san didn't dare.
All his moves against the Child of Fate were made in secret. He wouldn't risk exposure. If he was found out, the other God-Kings on the Divine Realm's council would never let him off lightly. He'd lose everything.
Huo Yuhao could already imagine Tang san fuming in the Divine Realm.
If Huo Yuhao had been allowed to take the final divine trial and inherit the Love God's position, it would've completely upended Tang san's carefully laid "dog-training" plans.
At that moment, everyone around the platform stared in utter disbelief, shocked as they looked at Huo Yuhao on the stage.
Cai Meier cried out,
"Love God Trial?! This is actually a divine trial site?! There's really a divine inheritance here?!"
"The academy's records were true. There really are divine inheritances and god trials!" Xian Lin'er murmured.
Even with Shrek Academy as a precedent ten thousand years ago, many still considered god positions and divine trials to be mere legend.
After all, no one had touched a god inheritance in the last ten thousand years. Countless Limit Douluos had been stuck at level 99, ending their lives in regret.
And now, at such a moment of divine opportunity, Huo Yuhao—blessed with extraordinary talent and enhanced by immortal herbs—was still disqualified from the Love God's position due to his impure relationships.
It was... a pity. A real shame.
Then, the voice rang out again:
"You have activated the Love God's trial. All those who love you will be tested. Based on the depth of their love, they will receive trials of different qualities."
"Only after the trial concludes may you leave."
The next second, most of the remaining bubbles surrounding the platform descended—all related to Huo Yuhao. All were women who had fallen in love with him.
The seven girls from the "Seven Jades" group landed on the platform:
Bai Shanshan, Jin Yu, Huyan Xue, Dantai Jiayao, Sha Huayan, Wang Qian, and Ou Ou.
From the main team, Wei Na joined.
From the entourage, Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luocheng.
And then—Zhang Lexuan and Xian Lin'er.
Twelve women in total—leaving everyone speechless at the scope of Huo Yuhao's romantic escapades.
Xu Sanshi and Cao Jinxuan shouted,
"What a beast!"
Wang Dong was stunned,
"Brother Yuhao is a legend. No one can top this."
Jiang Nannan stayed silent.
Xiao Xiao muttered,
"What a mess…"
Cai Meier stared in disbelief at Xian Lin'er and Zhang Lexuan on the platform.
Zhang Lexuan made sense—Yuhao was outstanding, and they had shared close time infiltrating the Sun-Moon Empire. Feelings developing was understandable. Even Shrek Academy supported it.
But Xian Lin'er?
Wasn't she married to Qian Duoduo?
Wasn't she the one who most despised philanderers?
She used to judge even Huo Yuhao's character as flawed.
So why is she down there?!
It wasn't just Cai Meier. Even Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luocheng, Bai Shanshan, and the others stared in shock at Xian Lin'er.
They had no idea she was… wait, is "sister" still the right word?
In a bubble, Wu Ming muttered to herself,
"Am I seeing this right? Dean Xian… also got involved with Yuhao? Just how thick is his leg?!"
Hua Yao was so shocked she couldn't close her mouth.
While everyone stared, Zhang Lexuan remained calm, composed even under pressure.
Xian Lin'er, however, was blushing one moment, pale the next, wanting to bury her head in the ground. No—she even contemplated suicide.
She heard nothing now—just shame, ringing ears, and regret.
Thankfully, the awkward moment didn't last long. Golden and silver light flared across the platform as the divine trial activated.
Golden light entered Huo Yuhao's body, forming a golden sun mark on his forehead.
Silver light entered each woman, marking their foreheads with silver moon emblems.
Then, a wave of information surged into everyone's minds.
Huo Yuhao began analyzing his trial.
Love God Red Trial
Trial Requirement: Be nourished by the love of all your lovers and make the Flower of Love God bloom.
Rewards: Fully heal all injuries, acquire one Love God divine skill of your choice, and receive one god-bestowed soul ring.
Huo Yuhao was surprised.
"Only one trial?"
"No… this isn't like the Sea God Nine Trials. Red represents difficulty and quality—not the number of trials. And the reward looks pretty good too."