He Caitou also returned to the Vast Emperor Banner to quickly recover his soul power.
Huo Yuhao needed him to manufacture more Heavenly Creation Divine Cigars in order to further research their effects.
Sisters Lan Luoluo and Lan Susu successfully completed the absorption of their seventh soul rings. Both of them gained precious 100,000-year seventh soul rings and officially became Soul Sages.
By absorbing both soul rings and soul bones simultaneously, their soul power levels jumped directly to Level 75.
Although the level boost didn't appear overwhelmingly large, their physical constitutions improved significantly. The sacrifices of two 100,000-year Beast Kings not only boosted their soul power but also enhanced them in other aspects.
This was due to the fact that they received the sacrifices rather than forcibly absorbing the soul rings on their own. Unlike Zhang Lexuan back in the day who was severely injured by such an attempt, the sisters gained multiple benefits and advancements.
In terms of soul bones:
Lan Luoluo received the 100,000-year Four-Horned Tyrant Deer torso bone.
Lan Susu received the 100,000-year Five-Colored Dragon Sheep head bone.
A 100,000-year soul ring, when serving as the seventh soul ring, typically only grants the Martial Soul True Body as the seventh soul skill unless under special circumstances.
However, regardless of its age, the seventh soul ring often influences the martial soul, causing it to mutate or even evolve.
This is likely because the Martial Soul True Body is a form of metamorphosis, and the seventh soul ring can affect the very essence of a martial soul.
Both Lan Luoluo and Lan Susu experienced such a transformation — their Ice Crystal Jade Hair martial souls evolved with new abilities.
Lan Susu's hair acquired elemental control identical to that of the Five-Colored Dragon Sheep, allowing her to control the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Her hair now changes color accordingly: gold, green, blue, red, and yellow. This ability was named Five-Colored Hair.
Lan Luoluo's hair, influenced by the Four-Horned Tyrant Deer, became tougher, more elastic, and capable of hardening into various weapon shapes — stronger than steel. This ability was named Overlord Hair.
Afterward, Huo Yuhao didn't rush back. Instead, he began planting attribute seeds in the two sisters.
Now under his control, the sisters were at his mercy.
Even though they were siblings, they each offered different experiences.
Afterwards…
Lan Susu acquired the Kindness Attribute.
Lan Luoluo acquired the Evil Attribute.
This divergence was likely due to their contrasting personalities, and the fact that they were twins made it necessary for their attributes to exist in complementary opposition.
The Kindness Attribute made Lan Susu's elemental control more fluid and natural.
The Evil Attribute made Lan Luoluo's hair significantly more lethal.
"Lan Luoluo's Evil Attribute needs to be hidden," Huo Yuhao thought. "Otherwise, people at the Academy will start to suspect she's fallen."
Next, Huo Yuhao experimented with He Caitou's ninth soul skill on the two sisters.
To ensure the Heavenly Creation Divine Cigar's effects were perfectly demonstrated, Huo Yuhao even manually enhanced the sisters' luck.
As a result, within a single day, the sisters underwent a dramatic transformation—
Lan Susu:
First Martial Soul: Five Elements Divine Hair, Kindness Attribute
Second Martial Soul: Five-Colored Dragon Sheep
Hair has elemental control abilities
Soul Power Level: 77
Lan Luoluo:
First Martial Soul: Overbearing Demon Hair, Evil Attribute
Second Martial Soul: Four-Horned Tyrant Deer
Hair has shaping and solidifying abilities
Soul Power Level: 77
Not only did their first martial souls evolve, but both sisters awakened a second martial soul.
What made this unique was that these second martial souls weren't born from the twins' own potential, but rather from the lingering remnants of the Beast Kings' souls within their respective soul bones.
This type of awakening was similar to how Huo Yuhao awakened his third martial soul, Holy Necromancer, in the original series.
"As expected, only through experimentation can one discover the truth," Huo Yuhao mused. "The second martial soul awakening brought by the Divine Cigars isn't just about tapping potential — it can be artificially induced. That makes this far more manipulable."
Additionally, the sisters' Martial Soul Fusion Technique transformed as well. No longer a net of icy strands, they now merged into a long-haired goddess of battle — one thought divine, the other demonic — with their hair possessing terrifying combat potential.
Huo Yuhao named it: Dance of Divinity and Demon!
Naturally, Huo Yuhao tested it himself — and confirmed that goddess and demoness did indeed offer new, more thrilling experiences.
Afterwards…
Huo Yuhao personally helped disguise the sisters, reverting their martial souls back to their original Ice Crystal Jade Hair appearances and concealing both their Kindness and Evil Attributes.
He even implanted a subconscious command in them — only use their second martial souls as a last resort.
After all, just possessing a 100,000-year seventh soul ring was enough to shock the Academy. If their transformations were too drastic, and without Huo Yuhao's reputation to shield them, they could easily become targets of suspicion.
Having come this far, Huo Yuhao had no intention of simply killing two Beast Kings and returning.
He spent several days lurking in the Star Dou Forest but noticed that none of the ferocious beasts in the core region came out — not even the Scarlet King left the area.
After some thought, he came to a sudden realization:
"So the other Jin Qiu'er is no longer wandering around. That's why the Scarlet King doesn't have to come out anymore. I waited for nothing!"
Frustrated, Huo Yuhao hunted three more Beast Kings overnight.
Only then did he reluctantly leave the Star Dou Forest.
If the Evil Soul Masters were targeting Beast Kings, it couldn't just be the Four-Horned Tyrant Deer and the Five-Colored Dragon Sheep.
With five Beast Kings now gone, even a resource-rich Star Dou Forest was starting to feel the loss. The number of Beast Kings still roaming was dwindling.
Huo Yuhao did consider infiltrating the core region in disguise.
But after discussing with the Sacred Feathered Serpent, he abandoned the idea. Right now, they could push the limits of the beasts — but crossing the red line would be disastrous.
If something happened in the Star Dou Forest, it would once again bring them into conflict with Shrek Academy. And currently, Shrek lacked the strength to go head-to-head with the beasts. If the Academy fell, the continent would fall into chaos.
That said, while he couldn't touch the core region, Huo Yuhao could still raid the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Time for the Compassionate Demon to return to the world," he thought.
This vacation was just the right opportunity.
Huo Yuhao then hurried back to Shrek Academy with the Lan sisters, the three of them appearing battered and disheveled.
His first action upon returning was to report the incident: "Evil Soul Masters are plotting against the Beast Kings of the Star Dou Forest!"
The Sea God Pavilion was once again shaken.
On one hand, the Lan sisters received heightened attention and were accepted as personal disciples of the Pavilion Elders.
On the other, Xuan Zi immediately traveled to the Star Dou Forest to speak with Di Tian, aiming to prevent misunderstandings and another potential beast horde.
Huo Yuhao had already set up a scene in the Star Dou Forest in advance.
When Di Tian and Xuan Zi found traces of the Evil Soul Masters at the battle site, their expressions turned grim and serious.
This meant the Evil Soul Masters had the ability to bypass both Shrek and the beasts, and had secretly hunted five Beast Kings — successfully capturing three of them. That would further inflate the Evil Soul Masters' strength.
There were already two Limit Douluo in the Holy Spirit Sect — would there now be a third?
"Damn those Evil Soul Masters!" Xuan Zi cursed.
Di Tian narrowed his eyes, his killing intent fully visible. He understood — it was time for the beasts to act.
He had promised not to leave the Star Dou Forest, but with enemies now coming to their door, not retaliating would only make them appear weak.
On this issue of hunting Evil Soul Masters, Shrek and the beasts formed a subtle alliance.
Shrek Academy, along with the Three Kingdoms of Douluo, had yet to resolve the conflict with the Sun-Moon Empire. But instead of pursuing that path immediately, they turned their focus onto the Evil Soul Masters.
After all, the matter of the Great Star Dou Forest needed to be addressed promptly for the sake of the fierce beasts. It was an urgent issue that couldn't be delayed. Otherwise, before the Sun-Moon Empire even launched an attack, the fierce beasts might break out from the forest again—causing even greater trouble for Shrek Academy and the Three Douluo Kingdoms.
Targeting the Evil Soul Masters also served as a means to shift public attention.
Shrek Academy and the Three Kingdoms had been unable to get a satisfactory explanation from the Sun-Moon Empire, so by taking action against the Evil Soul Masters, they could at least give some closure to the factions who had lost their outstanding disciples.
To be fair, it was the Evil Soul Masters who had massacred the tournament teams. No members of the Sun-Moon Empire had been seen during the incident.
More importantly, recently, Evil Soul Masters had been unusually active throughout the Three Kingdoms, with many even declaring allegiance to the Holy Spirit Sect. Whether they were serious or just boasting, they had essentially walked into the crosshairs.
And so, Evil Soul Masters across the Douluo Continent began suffering a wave of relentless persecution.
When a problem cannot be solved, shifting the problem becomes a viable strategy.
After all, solving a problem doesn't always require the "correct" answer—sometimes, an answer people can accept is enough.
To this end, Shrek Academy dispatched the heir to the Sea God Pavilion, Huo Yuhao, to personally lead a team to hunt down Evil Soul Masters and restore peace to the continent.
Accompanying Huo Yuhao were Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Meng Hongchen, Jiang Nannan, Xu Sanshi, and Cao Jinxuan.
Except for Meng Hongchen, all others were members of the current generation of Shrek's Seven Devils. With Weina having returned to the Heavenly Soul Empire, Meng Hongchen filled the gap.
Though they lost a support-type soul master, they gained a powerful control-type battle soul master—making the team even more formidable.
These particular individuals were chosen because they were at the academy and strong enough for the mission, while also needing combat experience outside the school.
Most of the other inner court disciples were already out on inspection missions and unavailable. Those who remained at the academy were resting and recovering from injuries.
This team setup was strong enough to pursue and eliminate even Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Masters with minimal risk.
Since they had vowed to bring peace to the continent, they couldn't just put on a show or limit their operations to a single empire.
Using intelligence from the Inspection Corps and the Treasure Pavilion, the Sea God Pavilion selected three particularly difficult missions related to Evil Soul Masters in the Star Luo, Heavenly Soul, and Dou Ling Kingdoms.
These missions had originally been scheduled for after the current inspection tasks were completed, but now they were handed over to Huo Yuhao's team.
The team's first stop was the Heavenly Soul Empire, simply because it was the closest. Their mission location: the northwestern region of the empire.
Now, the situation in the northwestern region of the Heavenly Soul Empire was drastically different from ten thousand years ago.
Records show that ten thousand years earlier, the northwestern region of what was then the Heaven Dou Empire (now the Heavenly Soul Empire) was known as the Wasteland.
Despite its proximity to the sea, the land was mostly barren, with complex terrain and infertile soil—lacking vitality. The area became a haven for fugitives and exiled criminals.
Imperial laws and governance barely extended into the region, and civilization never took root. Primitive and savage customs still reigned.
As it brought no economic benefit, the feudal Heaven Dou Empire saw no reason to invest manpower or resources to develop it.
Even the sea beyond this region was chaotic and lawless, dominated by pirates and raiders, avoided even by merchants.
When the Sun-Moon Continent collided with the Douluo Continent, the sea around this northwestern region formed a bay, separating the two continents with only a narrow sea channel.
To safeguard against future threats, the rulers at that time paid a heavy price to finally reclaim control of the northwest.
However, due to the harsh natural conditions, the region's development remained minimal.
On the bright side, the complex and treacherous terrain became a natural defense barrier—making it easier to defend against the Sun-Moon Empire.
Even the Sun-Moon Empire itself would avoid attacking from this direction unless absolutely necessary. Launching a massive army invasion through the northwest was impractical.
Just look at the current friction between the Sun-Moon Empire and the Three Kingdoms—it's most intense along the Star Luo Empire border, despite being separated by mountain ranges and soul beast forests. They've never launched a large-scale amphibious landing into the northwest of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
Huo Yuhao had read all this in the library and shared it with the team on their journey.
Everyone listened with great interest and was surprised by the region's history.
Even those from the Heavenly Soul Empire were unfamiliar with their own empire's northwest. The area was too remote and known only as a savage wasteland. Moreover, being on the frontline against the Sun-Moon Empire made it extremely dangerous—no one would venture there without reason.
That remoteness also made it a perfect refuge or hideout. Many outcasts of society continued to dwell there to this day.
If even the Ming Dou Mountains at the Star Luo–Sun-Moon border could hide a group like the Death God Envoys, it was no surprise that the northwestern region of the Heavenly Soul Empire harbored Evil Soul Masters.
Sparse in population but rich in hiding places, the region was ideal for those looking to vanish.
And normally, unless absolutely necessary, the empire wouldn't bother sending troops deep into the area to hunt anyone down.
However, recently, some Evil Soul Masters hiding in the region had taken advantage of the chaos to attack and slaughter several villages—then retreated back into the wilderness.
That could not be tolerated.
This mission to hunt Evil Soul Masters in the wasteland was actually chosen by Huo Yuhao himself. Because, according to records not found in the regular Shrek archives, this region held another secret.
The site of the legendary Slaughter City was hidden there!
Though the Slaughter City had been destroyed by the God King Tang San, its ruins should still exist—and might contain clues about the Asura God and the Rakshasa God.
Even if nothing remained, a bloodbath in the wasteland would earn them fame and allow them to recruit valuable human resources.
After all, in any era, talent is the most precious resource.
Traveling from Shrek Academy to the northwest of the Heavenly Soul Empire—even at full speed—still took several days.
Luckily, they didn't need to hide their movements, so at night, instead of camping in the wild, they stayed in towns and rested in warm inns.
That evening, in the dining hall of one such inn, the seven members of the team sat around a table. The meal was neither exquisite nor delicious—but it was warm and satisfying.
Huo Yuhao sat with Cao Jinxuan, Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and Meng Hongchen squeezed together on one side, and Xu Sanshi had taken a seat beside Jiang Nannan. The fourth side of the table was pushed against the wall.
The atmosphere at the table was a bit subdued.
Everyone's eyes kept drifting toward Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan. It was obvious to anyone that the air between them was awkward.
Xu Sanshi tried to be friendly with Jiang Nannan, but she ignored him. If there had been another open seat, she would have moved away from him.
Even so, Jiang Nannan quickly finished her bowl of rice, put down her chopsticks, and walked upstairs.
"I'm done eating. Going to rest now."
"Nannan…" Xu Sanshi tried to call out, but hesitated, lowering his outstretched hand in defeat.
Huo Yuhao's team situation was quite complicated.
Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao both developed some feelings for Huo Yuhao due to their experiences during the Qian Kun Wenqing Valley trial. However, Xiao Xiao's affection had already blossomed into love, while Wang Dong'er was still in her tsundere phase.
The two were aware of each other's feelings. Fortunately, Wang Dong'er's earlier crossdressing hadn't caused a major rift between them. They now interacted as close girlfriends and competed fairly over Huo Yuhao. But how solid that friendship was… remained to be seen.
Meng Hongchen also had a favorable impression of Huo Yuhao, mainly because of his performance during the competition. However, it hadn't developed into affection yet.
What concerned Meng Hongchen more was how she could get Huo Yuhao to help her resolve the hidden issues with her martial soul.
That said, Meng Hongchen's personality was quite pleasant. Coupled with her intent to form friendships, she was quickly accepted by the group and became good friends with several of the girls.
Jiang Nannan regarded everyone, including the newcomer Meng Hongchen, simply as teammates.
As for Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan didn't mind being in the same team, but she had no interest in his other intentions. In fact, she found his attempts at closeness revolting.
Moreover, Jiang Nannan was now wholly focused on cultivating, hoping to complete her god-level trial as soon as possible and obtain greater power so she could help the academy overcome its crisis and seize control of her own destiny.
Huo Yuhao's stance remained unchanged: he neither rejected nor accepted anyone, and took no responsibility.
Cao Jinxuan was merely watching the drama unfold.
After Jiang Nannan left, Xu Sanshi sighed, informed Huo Yuhao briefly, and then left on his own—not to rest, but to find a place to drown his sorrows.
He had long since broken his promise to Jiang Nannan about quitting drinking.
Watching the dejected Xu Sanshi, Cao Jinxuan sighed. "Ah, it's tough for Senior Sanshi."
"Tough? He brought this on himself!" Wang Dong'er said with displeasure, her tone tinged with frustration. "He had a good hand, and he ruined it all on his own."
Xiao Xiao nodded in agreement and said fairly, "Back during the Sea God's Fate Festival, Sister Nannan had already laid down the rules, and he did make a lot of progress. But during the competition, because of her, he almost caused a disaster. And now he's trying to shift all the blame to Sister Nannan? Did he even think about the consequences? Who would dare entrust their future to someone so unreliable?"
These remarks highlighted the crux of the conflict between Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi:
Xu Sanshi's irresponsibility and impulsiveness.
Jiang Nannan realized she had become his burden. If she chose to stay with him, any irrational decisions he made in the future could lead to catastrophic outcomes—something she couldn't afford to bear.
Just like how historical tyrants such as King Zhou of Shang or King You of Zhou had their misdeeds partially blamed on their women, Jiang Nannan didn't want to end up in a similar position.
Did he really think that "love conquers all" would move someone so easily?
Anyone with a working brain would feel immense pressure from a pursuer like him—and would keep their distance.
Moreover, Jiang Nannan already had reservations about Xu Sanshi, and she wasn't a weak woman who couldn't survive without a man.
Cao Jinxuan scratched his head awkwardly after Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao's remarks, his face red. When he glanced at Huo Yuhao, he saw him grinning and enjoying the show.
With no other way out, Cao Jinxuan punished himself by downing three cups, and the issue was dropped.
Meng Hongchen looked confused. She wasn't too familiar with the history between Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi, but after a bit of thought, she decided not to dig further.
Prying into others' pain only invites resentment.
Instead, she figured it was better to study Huo Yuhao's preferences and look for ways to get him to help her with her martial soul problem.
In truth, Meng Hongchen had already noticed that Huo Yuhao had a genuinely good character and was sincere toward his comrades. Given their current relationship, if she asked, he might actually help.
But she knew not to rush things. It would be better to complete the current mission, earn some merit, and then ask—she'd have more confidence that way.
After Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi left, the mood at the table noticeably lightened. The remaining group enjoyed a pleasant meal before heading back to rest in their rooms.
Huo Yuhao, however, was still concerned about Xu Sanshi and decided to accompany him.
At a tavern, Huo Yuhao found Xu Sanshi and shooed away a few female soul masters with questionable intentions. Despite his haggard state, Xu Sanshi was still attractive with his sharp looks and broad build—more than enough to draw female attention.
Men liked youth, and older bulls liked tender grass all the same.
Then, Huo Yuhao sat down beside Xu Sanshi with a drink in hand—juice for himself, liquor for Xu Sanshi. They took turns sipping.
"Yuhao… my heart is bitter. My clan's gone… my brothers are gone… my love is gone… I have nothing left. I'm a useless failure… wuuu…" Xu Sanshi broke down crying in Huo Yuhao's arms.
Huo Yuhao could only pat his back and comfort him, "It's alright, Brother Xu. Brother Beibei is back, and you still have us! From now on, Shrek Academy is your home, and we are your family!"
"Yuhao, I'm so glad… My parents and family in the afterlife must be happy I met a brother like you," Xu Sanshi said emotionally.
"Yeah, yeah…"
Soon after, Huo Yuhao got Xu Sanshi thoroughly drunk and carried him back to his room.
"Look at how responsible I am… Anyone who sees this should say: Yuhao is a righteous bro!" Huo Yuhao thought to himself.
Truthfully, Xu Sanshi had it rough. If he had chosen to awaken his bloodline instead of pursuing Jiang Nannan back then, he might've already completed his divine beast bloodline awakening. He wouldn't have suffered such emotional setbacks either.
After all, many female soul masters wouldn't be able to resist the young master of the Xuanming Sect. Even if they had to become concubines, many would be willing.
Looking at the unconscious Xu Sanshi, who was still murmuring about his mother in his sleep, Huo Yuhao could imagine how much grievance he had endured all these years.
So that night, Huo Yuhao decided to go check on Xu Sanshi's mother.
Xu Sanshi's mother was a princess of the Dou Ling Empire and a soul master herself. Though her strength wasn't high, she maintained her beauty well and still retained her charm.
Unfortunately, her soul power wasn't strong, and after becoming a spirit, she had lost most of her self-awareness and hadn't regained her memories.
One Xu Sanshi's mother wasn't enough for Huo Yuhao. He also brought out Zi Ji, Jin Qiu'er, and the Blue Silver Empress to cultivate with him.
After Jin Qiu'er and the Blue Silver Empress fell into deep sleep, Huo Yuhao began studying Zi Ji.
"Zi Ji, Snow Empress, and Ice Empress have been under tight control for so long—it's limiting their potential. Maybe I can try releasing their consciousness and using new methods to restrain them. That way, they can do more for me, and create more value."
He didn't have the ability before, but things were different now.
Recently, the Holy Spirit Serpent had taught Huo Yuhao some new techniques—
Methods from another planetary plane, capable of controlling a target completely while preserving their self-awareness. Extremely dark and sinister… but perfect for cultivating subordinates.
It was said that someone once used this method to control an entire empire, plunging a whole plane into chaos—until a divine envoy descended from the God Realm and ended it with overwhelming force.
"That method… I think it was called 'Witchcraft: Seed of Corruption.'"
What is the easiest thing to cause a person's downfall?
The answer is: pleasure.
The physical euphoria brought by pleasure can even be addictive.
But often, pleasure is also an invisible blade.
Even a mighty succubus of the Han race couldn't resist it. When faced with pleasure, they too would choose to keep playing music and dancing.
This method, known as the "Seed of Corruption," works by guiding its target through pleasurable emotions, gradually breaking down resistance until the target fully abandons their moral boundaries and drowns in indulgence—eventually giving up everything.
This technique was originally called the "Seed of Ecstasy," but after it caused a large-scale disaster, its name was changed.
There are many ways to induce pleasure, but what makes the Seed of Corruption so infamous—and why it was specially recorded by the predecessor of the Holy Spirit Feathered Serpent—is because it's extremely difficult to defend against or remove.
Anyone afflicted by the Seed of Corruption goes through three stages:
Joy – At this stage, the corruption can still possibly be removed. Possibly, not guaranteed.
Indulgence – Even if the victim still retains self-awareness, the seed can no longer be removed by conventional means.
Ecstasy – The final stage, where the seed has fully matured. Not even a deity can save the victim at this point—it's irreversible.
The Seed of Corruption originates from a magical system on a certain planetary world known as the "Witchcraft System," which relies on rituals, incantations, and emotions for its power.
While the witchcraft system's techniques aren't known for brute strength, they are uniquely insidious. Many emotion-based techniques within it have one or two absolute trump cards—and the Seed of Corruption is the cream of the crop.
Back when the Holy Spirit Feathered Serpent was explaining the various knowledge systems across the universe to Huo Yuhao, the witchcraft system came up. The Serpent specifically mentioned the Seed of Corruption, and Huo Yuhao made a mental note to remember it.
With the idea in mind, that very night, Yuhao sought out the Holy Spirit Feathered Serpent to learn the method for condensing the Seed of Corruption.
"The method to condense the Seed of Corruption isn't actually that difficult. With your strong spiritual power, you can learn it. But note—it places some requirements on the user. You need to be cautious. If you use it on the Douluo Continent, almost no one there would be able to resist its influence."
After giving this warning, the Holy Spirit Feathered Serpent taught Yuhao the technique and even gave him some pointers.
"This technique shares similarities with the ones you already possess, such as your 'conversion' techniques. Try integrating and adapting them."
Afterward, the Serpent returned to the Realm of Wisdom to continue instructing the younger generation—like the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor. Even Electrolux could discuss cultivation with the Serpent.
It's no exaggeration to say that the former God of Wisdom was beyond the realm of a mere walking encyclopedia.
Especially for Tianmeng Iceworm, who made rapid progress after receiving guidance on how to better use spiritual power. Tianmeng's enthusiasm for cultivation surged like never before. He was just waiting for the day he could go out and beat up Di Tian and make the other soul beasts pay for their crimes.
Tianmeng Iceworm: "Thirty thousand years east of the river, thirty thousand years west of the river—don't underestimate a humble worm!"
Naturally, Huo Yuhao also absorbed the spiritual cultivation insights passed down from the Serpent—since his own knowledge of spiritual application was limited to his martial spirit's use, the inheritance from Pudu Cihang, and Tianmeng's teachings.
But compared to the ancestral knowledge from a true innate Ultimate Spiritual Attribute being like the Feathered Serpent, it was worlds apart.
And since Yuhao also had the Ultimate Spiritual Attribute, these insights were particularly suitable for him.
Let's just say—Yuhao felt that once he fully mastered his spiritual attribute, he'd be even more confident in fighting Tang Old Deng.
The next morning.
Yuhao's team set out once again.
Xu Sanshi had sobered up, though the strong smell of alcohol still clung to him. This made Jiang Nannan keep her distance. Even the usually gentle Xiao Xiao wrinkled her nose from the smell.
Thankfully, Xu Sanshi hadn't completely collapsed or become a walking corpse. After all, besides love, he still had revenge for his family driving him forward. Yuhao's advice last night had also helped him recover some strength.
Those with keen perception noticed that Xu Sanshi's gaze had changed—there was a sharp glint in his eyes again.
Cao Jinxuan couldn't help but murmur, "What kind of 'mind-control soup' did Captain Yuhao feed Senior Xu last night? He's like a new man today."
Curious, Cao Jinxuan privately asked Xu Sanshi. Xu didn't hide anything.
"Last night, I dreamed of my family again. I saw my parents. I saw my mother groaning in pain, begging me to save her…"
"So I've made up my mind—I can't stay stuck in place. I must grow stronger! I can't let the academy down. And I definitely can't let my family's grudge go unanswered!"
"Compassionate Demon… he destroyed the Xuanming Sect. Until I kill him, I absolutely won't fall!"
Xu Sanshi spoke with seriousness, and a killing intent shimmered in his eyes.
They didn't speak in secret, so anyone with ears could hear.
Naturally, the rest of the group was drawn into their conversation.
"But I heard that Compassionate Demon is really powerful. Some seniors fell victim to him before. Even the elders of the academy failed to catch him," Cao Jinxuan said with a frown.
Students of the Inner Court were no strangers to the academy's bounty list. Taking down targets on that list was a key duty of the Monitoring Corps.
Compassionate Demon currently held the top spot on the list of most wanted—followed by the Death God Envoy, and then the Holy Spirit Sect Leader, Zhongli Wu.
All three were evil soul masters.
Huo Yuhao, who had been eavesdropping, blinked.
Two out of those three were him, and the third was basically his pawn.
What are the odds?
"Evil soul masters are popping up all over the place now, and righteous forces are rallying to hunt them down. I don't believe Compassionate Demon can stay hidden for long!" Xu Sanshi declared, filled with conviction.
"If I can kill Compassionate Demon and avenge my family, then I'll dedicate the rest of my life to chasing after Nannan. If I die trying, then at least no one will bother her again—she'll be free."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nannan, walking in front, trembled slightly—but she didn't turn back.
Huo Yuhao immediately spoke, "Brother Xu, if there's any news about Compassionate Demon, call on me. I'll act with you!"
"Me too," Wang Dong'er chimed in. "Evil soul masters deserve to be wiped out!"
"Count me in!" said Xiao Xiao.
Cao Jinxuan smiled, "Senior Xu, even though I'm not as strong as the others, I won't sit back while my friends take risks. Remember to call me too—my space-time ability counters most soul masters."
Meng Hongchen smiled faintly. "I was sent to Shrek Academy because of evil soul masters. I've no love for them. If you need help, just ask."
Last came Jiang Nannan.
She didn't turn her head. She simply said:
"Killing evil soul masters is the duty of a Shrek Monitoring Corps member."
She hadn't explicitly committed—but her words were commitment enough.
Yuhao took the opportunity to wink at Xu Sanshi.
Xu Sanshi paused for a moment—then his eyes lit up, and he looked at Yuhao gratefully.
"Yuhao's helping me get closer to Nannan. Yuhao… it's so good to have you…"
Huo Yuhao's group didn't spend much time or effort before smoothly entering the northwestern region of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
This region was covered in barren desert and wastelands, sparsely populated and desolate to the extreme. Anyone who set foot here could feel the sheer bleakness of the land.
In fact, the Douluo Continent had many unique terrains and landscapes, but such a harsh environment was something most people had never encountered before.
"The last time I was in such a hostile environment was when I went soul hunting in the desert with my clan elders. But even in the desert, there were traveling merchants, desert soul beasts, and even oasis supply stations deep within. This place, however, feels even more lifeless than the desert," Cao Jinxuan remarked with a sigh.
Looking around, though there were trees, not a single moving creature was visible—not even the chirping of insects or birds.
It was as if all life had been wiped out.
And just standing on this land gave an eerie, unsettling feeling—as if some hidden danger lurked beneath the surface.
The crimson-red soil looked as though it had been stained by blood.
"This place was already desolate to begin with. Add to that the presence of evil soul masters, and naturally the atmosphere of the environment is affected," Huo Yuhao said. He then warned everyone, "Stay alert. We're about to enter territory frequented by evil soul masters. Danger could come at any moment. Our battle plan is simple: eliminate every evil soul master we encounter!"
The group all acknowledged with determination, tightening the robes of the Shrek Enforcement Division they wore.
These robes were not just a symbol of identity—they were specially crafted.
Thanks in part to Huo Yuhao. The robes, soaked in herbal infusions he developed, were not only more durable and resistant to damage, but also offered some protection against toxic mists and hazardous gases.
They also helped mask one's presence and soothe tension.
These enhanced robes were now standard among the Enforcement Division.
With everything Huo Yuhao had done for Shrek Academy, anyone would agree—he was a worthy successor to Shrek's legacy.
Wherever people exist, there will be a jianghu—a world of strife and survival.
Though the northwestern part of the Heavenly Soul Empire appeared barren, it was no different.
There were unspoken rules here as well.
Some soul masters banded together in small groups and divided up territory. Most of the time, they hunted within their own lands.
But when resources ran dry, these groups either raided outsiders or turned their blades on each other.
This time, a few such raiding groups had caught the attention of the Shrek Enforcement Division, prompting a mission to be issued.
Multiple groups had plundered several villages. Though they didn't gain much in terms of valuable loot, the thrill was enough for some, and they did obtain supplies to live comfortably for a while.
Some evil soul masters also harvested significant cultivation resources.
Inside a mountain stronghold where one group had taken residence, loud and boisterous laughter rang out.
They were clearly celebrating.
No one here planned long-term survival. After all, in a place like this, you never knew when someone next to you might suddenly kill you. So they chose to live in the moment.
As the revelry continued, someone suddenly sensed something wrong—the laughter was growing louder.
Laughing during a celebration was normal, but this laughter began to spiral into madness, filled with pain and fear.
Those laughing grabbed at one another—not in joy, but in desperation for help.
But everyone was laughing, even those who realized something was wrong. They couldn't stop themselves and burst into uncontrollable fits of laughter.
Amid the laughter, faint whooshing sounds cut through the air.
The next moment, someone clutched their throat, eyes filled with terror, laughing even as they collapsed to the ground.
Some soul masters managed to react in time, dodging or deflecting the attack and surviving.
Those who survived examined what had attacked them and found strange, nail-like hidden weapons.
They were under attack!
The remaining soul masters gritted their teeth through the laughter and armed themselves to face the enemy.
But next, three enormous cauldrons descended from the sky, smashing into them.
Soft flute music followed—elegant and flowing—but it had the power to slow down the survivors.
Behind the cauldrons came several figures charging into battle.
Xu Sanshi, Wang Dong'er, Jiang Nannan, Meng Hongchen, and Cao Jinxuan rushed into the enemy ranks, mowing down the vile soul masters like reaping wheat.
The poisoned laughter had already weakened them, followed by the crushing force of the cauldrons and the slowing flute.
Under such conditions, how could a group of soul masters with only six spirit rings at most resist these five?
When the battle was over, Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao finally arrived from the rear.
Meng Hongchen glanced at the corpses still wearing disturbing smiles even in death and shuddered. She asked Huo Yuhao curiously, "Yuhao, what poison did you use?"
As a fellow poison user, she hadn't expected this from him—especially since he'd never used such a toxin in the arena.
"This is a poison I concocted myself, the 'Poison of Laughter.' It causes uncontrollable laughter, damages the heart, and in some cases leads to heart failure during the laughing fit," Huo Yuhao explained with a smile.
Everyone gasped in shock, instinctively distancing themselves from Huo Yuhao—and even from the corpses.
"Don't worry. This poison is under my control. It won't harm our own people," Huo Yuhao reassured them with a grin.
"Good thing we're on your side, Yuhao. Otherwise, I'd be terrified to go on missions with you," Xu Sanshi joked.
More laughter followed—this time genuine.
In truth, this Poison of Laughter was a technique Huo Yuhao had developed while studying the Seed of Corruption.
It was an application of the emotion of joy.
Soon, he would fully master the Seed of Corruption and combine it with his own methods—developing new techniques that could even subdue powerful beings like Zi Ji, Snow Empress, and Ice Empress.
Wang Dong'er, however, was more focused on the hidden weapons Huo Yuhao had used.
"Yuhao, were those hidden weapons? Tang Sect's?" she asked excitedly.
"That's right. I received a legacy in hidden weapons. And before this mission, I got Brother Bei Bei's approval. Now, I'm allowed to use Tang Sect's secret arts and hidden weapons outside the academy," Huo Yuhao admitted.
But Tang Sect's hidden weapons were a bit of a letdown.
Even though Huo Yuhao had only used a fraction of their potential, they hadn't wiped out the entire group—only a few were killed. Had he used soul tool cannons instead, one volley would likely have left no survivors.
But the moment Wang Dong'er heard "Tang Sect hidden weapons," her eyes lit up.
"Can I learn them?" she asked eagerly.
If she couldn't use soul tools, then Tang Sect hidden weapons would do.
Besides, she had grown up hearing legends of the Tang Sect and had always yearned to be a part of it.
Now that the opportunity was here, she didn't want to miss it.
Back in the Soul Master Tournament, the Sun Moon Xu Clan team had used hidden weapons with impressive results.
Wang Dong'er felt that if she could master Tang Sect hidden weapons, she wouldn't be any weaker than them.
"Well…" Huo Yuhao hesitated. "Truthfully, I'm not a full successor of the Tang Sect. Brother Bei Bei is. If you're serious, once we're back at the academy, I can take you to him. If he agrees to take you in, he'll teach you the Tang Sect's secret arts and hidden weapons."
"Really? That's great!" Wang Dong'er was delighted.
Even Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nannan were tempted.
Xiao Xiao didn't want to be left behind by Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er.
Jiang Nannan, on the other hand, wondered if the legacy of the first Tang Sect master—who once became a god—might help her pass the divine trial.
Xu Sanshi had no such thoughts. He knew exactly how strong the Tang Sect's legacy was—or wasn't. If it were truly powerful, Tang Ya would've already soared through the Outer Court.
Cao Jinxuan wasn't interested in Tang Sect hidden weapons either.
Nor was Meng Hongchen. She knew the hidden weapons used by the Sun Moon Xu Clan team were actually soul tool hidden weapons—a category of soul tools, not traditional hidden weapons.
As for the Tang Sect's transition NPC Bei Bei, he was currently sealed within the Golden Ancient Tree. Not discarded, but under guard—with his strength suppressed.
Clearly, Sea God's Pavilion didn't want to go too far.
They hadn't released Bei Bei because they still hadn't figured out how to handle him.
At the very least, they couldn't let him appear in public again.
Even Huo Yuhao had to get Xuanzai's approval before visiting Bei Bei.
"Alright, this was just the first one. Let's clean up the battlefield quickly. My spirit has already located the next camp of evil soul masters!" Huo Yuhao's smile vanished as he addressed the group seriously.
And thus began—the hunt!