Bibi Dong's expression shifted unpredictably. She could indeed sense the divine presence emanating from the mutated Ice Jade Scorpion martial soul — it was powerful, even more powerful than the God Position of the Rakshasa God.
Moreover, the Rakshasa God's divine position had already been stripped from her, likely now in Huo Yuhao's possession.
This meant that soon, Huo Yuhao would wield the power of two First-Rank Gods. However, how could even that be enough to oppose the Divine Kings of the God Realm?
Although Bibi Dong had never been to the God Realm, the abilities Tang San displayed back in the day revealed just how terrifying a Divine King could be.
Still, Bibi Dong knew she had no choice. She had to do everything she could to seize any opportunity for survival.
After all, charging the God Realm meant certain death — she might as well take a gamble. Perhaps there was a sliver of hope.
"You return the Rakshasa God Position to me, and I'll help you. I can even help you search for the Angel God's divine position — that one is also a First-Rank God. But I won't allow you to leave a mark on me."
"To rebel against the God Realm, you'll need allies. I'm willing to help you, but I demand respect."
Huo Yuhao gave her a sidelong glance.
Trying to get something for nothing, are you?
Besides, this isn't really a negotiation meant for you — it's aimed at Snow Empress and the others. You're just the monkey in this circus.
Seeing that Huo Yuhao didn't respond, only giving her that glance, Bibi Dong snorted coldly.
She knew the chances of him agreeing were slim.
If he had any intention of agreeing, he would've done so long ago when he captured her remnant soul.
She closed her eyes and refused to cooperate any further. At this point, she wasn't even afraid of death — what other means could he possibly use to threaten her?
The others, however, were far less composed than Bibi Dong.
Each harbored their own thoughts.
Zi Ji wanted to agree the most — after all, rebelling against the God Realm had always been the soul beasts' dream. Plus, they still had their Master. But she was unwilling to betray her kind and didn't trust Huo Yuhao.
"Let me return to the Star Dou Forest. I must go back before I decide," Zi Ji said.
Huo Yuhao shot her a sideways glance but said nothing. Zi Ji grew angry and turned her head away with a cold snort.
If it weren't for the risk of alerting the God Realm, he would've already attacked the Star Dou Forest.
And she wanted to return there for help?
Ridiculous.
But the Silver Dragon King and the other Ferocious Beasts wouldn't be safe for long. The script he had prepared for them — with the help of the Holy Spirit Feathered Serpent — was nearly complete.
At that moment, Snow Empress spoke, her voice still icy cold. "I'm willing to help you. You can leave your mark on me. But I demand at least a First-Rank God Position in the future. Swear it upon your own divine position."
"Xue'er?!" Ice Empress cried out in shock. The others were also stunned.
"I have no choice," Snow Empress sighed. "I can already feel that there's something different between us — our fates are now linked. If he thrives, I thrive. If he falls, I fall."
While the others were focused on Huo Yuhao, Snow Empress had already inspected her own condition. Not only had she broken through a cultivation bottleneck, but she had also discovered a unique connection between herself and Huo Yuhao.
As one of the main soul of the Hao Emperor Banner, even though she had become the main soul while under control, she was now incapable of resisting him.
Ice Empress glared at Huo Yuhao, her voice full of venom. "Despicable!"
Huo Yuhao ignored her and turned to Snow Empress with a faint smile. "I won't swear for your sake. Once you choose to follow me, you must give everything. As for divine positions, once we reach the God Realm, a mere First-Rank God will mean nothing. Even the throne of Divine King could be within reach."
"Fine. I agree." Snow Empress nodded decisively.
"Xue'er?! Why would you agree to this?" Ice Empress was both shocked and desperate.
"I can feel it — he won't lie to me," Snow Empress said calmly. Then she looked at Ice Empress with complicated eyes. "Bing'er, you'll have to decide your own path. I can no longer help you."
Ice Empress stomped her foot in frustration. "If even you've submitted, what choice do I have left?"
In the end, Snow Empress and Ice Empress stood behind Huo Yuhao.
Even Huo Yuhao hadn't expected anyone to willingly follow him — he wondered whether they would come to regret it.
When he said "give everything," he didn't mean just life — he meant their personality, dignity, and identity.
Next were the immortal herbs.
The Nine Great Immortal Herbs were not united — some were wavering, others resolute.
In the end, four of them chose submission:
Fragrant Silk Beauty Immortal
Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower
Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass
Earth Dragon Golden Melon
The Fragrant Silk Beauty Immortal feared Huo Yuhao, but also respected him as a deity, like her predecessors had.
The Phoenix Sunflower and Earth Dragon Melon were drawn to the phoenix and dragon blood within Huo Yuhao.
The Mysterious Ice Grass was attracted by Huo Yuhao's ultimate ice.
Even immortal herbs must choose their master wisely.
Their decision did not surprise Huo Yuhao.
"Later, all of you will take female human forms and train under me," Huo Yuhao instructed them.
Plant-type soul beasts generally don't have gender, so their human form is a choice — like Blue Silver Emperor.
Originally, Huo Yuhao's Blue Silver Emperor had wanted to take a male form, but under Huo Yuhao's "dominance," she realized being female was more appropriate.
In the original story, most immortal herbs transformed into men.
That, Huo Yuhao thought, was a problem.
After the four herbs submitted, Fiery Apricot Scorch Blossom cursed them as traitors.
Those who still refused included:
Bibi Dong
Zi Ji
Beautiful Silk Tulip
Fiery Apricot Scorch Blossom
Strange Mushroom Chrysanthemum
Obsidian Divine Bamboo
Primal Origin Immortal Grass
Bibi Dong shut her eyes, prepared for death.
Zi Ji stared coldly at Huo Yuhao.
"Go ahead, kill us! Even if you do, I won't submit!" Fiery Apricot roared defiantly.
"Better to die shattered than live on bended knee," Obsidian Divine Bamboo even recited poetry.
Perhaps due to absorbing human spiritual memories, the herbs were surprisingly cultured.
"Dream on if you think I'll submit!" growled Strange Mushroom Chrysanthemum — defiant, even without bones.
"I just hope you treat our companions kindly," said Primal Origin Grass, who didn't submit, but cared about those who did.
Finally, their leader — Beautiful Silk Tulip — spoke. "You're indeed impressive, but you're not on the righteous path. I hope you reflect on your actions."
"Kill you? Why would I?" Huo Yuhao smiled. "I said I'd make you willing to submit."
Boom!
A terrifying force descended on those who hadn't yielded, forcing all beasts, herbs, and people to their knees.
"Even if you try to coerce us, we won't submit!" Beautiful Silk Tulip shouted through gritted teeth.
Huo Yuhao simply shook his head and strolled up to Bibi Dong.
Despite her fearless expression, he raised a finger, from which emerged a mysterious seed glowing with a strange pink light.
Bibi Dong's eyes widened in horror as she looked at him with hatred and dread. "You wouldn't dare!"
"You tell me — do I dare?"
Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao pressed the seed into her forehead.
Bibi Dong's body began trembling uncontrollably, overcome by her most feared memories.
"No... no! You can't do this to me!"
The others watched in stunned silence.
The herbs were utterly shaken.
"Shameless!" Ice Empress cursed.
Snow Empress closed her eyes, unwilling to see more — she finally understood.
Zi Ji gritted her teeth, shutting her eyes as well, but the enchanting aura disturbed her deeply. To her horror, she felt her body reacting.
"What... why would I feel this way over something done by a human...?"
Bibi Dong recalled her past shame and humiliation.
But this time was different. Back then, the aftermath left her with soul-crushing pain, an unforgettable wound that nearly drove her to death.
Now, she found herself endlessly savoring the moment, her body and mind awash in pleasure, as if she could forget everything. Only now did she realize that such things could be joyful.
Yet, with her divine soul's formidable willpower, Bibi Dong quickly suppressed the elation, knowing her state was due to Huo Yuhao's manipulations.
Far viler than Qian Xunji ever was!
Huo Yuhao: *Curse me more, it's thrilling~*
In the Rakshasa Secret Realm, a stone bed had appeared.
Huo Yuhao, dressed and standing by the bed, gazed at Bibi Dong. Her eyes blazed with boundless killing intent as she glared at him. With a wicked smirk, he patted her shapely form, stoking her murderous rage.
Snapping his fingers, Bibi Dong's body was cleansed, and she was clad in a luxurious gown, as if the Martial Soul Empress had returned.
"That's enough for today. This place will serve as your secret~ detention~ chamber from now on," Huo Yuhao chuckled.
"Damn you! Damn you! DAMN YOU!!!" Bibi Dong erupted into madness.
Huo Yuhao sneered dismissively.
Hao Bro paused—not because he was sated, but because dawn was near.
*Next time, you'll witness Hao Bro's true power!*
The Rakshasa Secret Realm, steeped in the Rakshasa God's power, easily stirred base desires. Without her divine position, Bibi Dong couldn't resist its influence.
How long could she hold out with the Seed of Depravity planted in her?
Huo Yuhao bound Bibi Dong, Zi Ji, and the five immortal herbs before leaving with the others.
As they departed, Snow Emperor glanced back at Bibi Dong and Zi Ji with a complex expression. Bibi Dong's eyes radiated killing intent, her face crazed, while Zi Ji's expression flickered, clearly guessing her impending fate.
Snow Emperor could only sigh, powerless. She and Ice Emperor faced a similar fate, just a matter of time, though they wouldn't be bound.
But Huo Yuhao had left measures on them, preventing even suicide.
The difference was like slave versus concubine—but both were playthings.
Perhaps concubines fared slightly better.
Snow Emperor's apologetic gaze met Ice Emperor's panicked eyes and pale face.
In the end, Snow Emperor only squeezed Ice Emperor's hand, silent. Ice Emperor leaned into her, emotions in turmoil.
Trailing Huo Yuhao, both women stared at his back, their gazes unfocused.
They recalled their first meeting with Huo Yuhao, when Tian Meng Ice Silkworm invited them to join him as partners, promising shared godhood and immortality.
Yet, driven by greed, they attacked Huo Yuhao.
In just a few years, Huo Yuhao not only achieved godhood but captured them and razed the Far North.
Their status compared to Tian Meng Ice Silkworm was worlds apart.
They wondered: if they'd accepted Tian Meng's offer, would their fate be different?
…
Leaving the Rakshasa Secret Realm, the four surrendered immortal herbs were sent to the Wisdom Secret Realm for nurturing. Huo Yuhao used water and fire powers to simulate a Yin-Yang Eye of Ice and Fire environment for them.
The herbs felt anything was better than awaiting death in the Rakshasa Secret Realm. Was that place fit for decent beings?
Besides, following Huo Yuhao just meant transforming into women.
For godhood, they'd become demonesses if needed!
Snow Emperor and Ice Emperor were returned to the Hao Emperor Banner's fifth soul ring. The recent events were too overwhelming for calm.
Among all main souls, Snow Emperor's loyalty was lowest, though not negative or zero.
After all, the Far North was destroyed, but its soul beasts' spirits resided with her in the fifth soul ring's realm, sparing her the pain of separation.
Huo Yuhao glanced at the calm fifth soul ring, his expression unreadable, sighing and shaking his head.
His sigh wasn't for Snow Emperor or Ice Emperor, but for Tian Meng Ice Silkworm.
Before targeting Snow Emperor and Ice Emperor, Huo Yuhao had asked Tian Meng again if he wanted Ice Emperor gifted to him.
It wasn't the first time Huo Yuhao urged Tian Meng to enjoy Ice Emperor.
If you can't win the heart, take the body—didn't the original story go that way?
*Time breeds affection, right?*
But this time, Tian Meng firmly refused, declining to meet Ice Emperor and insisting she was Huo Yuhao's to handle, urging him not to let her affect his grand plans.
Huo Yuhao sensed something was off.
Very off—nine parts out of ten!
As a mental attribute soul master, his perception was razor-sharp, and Tian Meng was never adept at hiding.
After investigating, the Holy Spirit Feathered Serpent offered a guess.
Recently, Tian Meng had trained in mental power with the serpent, making progress. His first mental soul skill? Severing his own memories.
Shocked, Huo Yuhao rushed to the Wisdom Secret Realm, thoroughly inspecting Tian Meng inside and out.
He confirmed Tian Meng had indeed erased his love for Ice Emperor.
Thankfully, Tian Meng hadn't harmed himself, easing Huo Yuhao's fears.
Huo Yuhao had worried Tian Meng's recklessness might lead to a fatal misstep, like severing a vital artery.
But Tian Meng proved surprisingly reliable.
Afterward, Tian Meng explained. After witnessing the Qiankun Love Valley trials with Huo Yuhao, he realized love wasn't as sacred as he'd thought.
Seeing how Tang "Old Man" manipulated love, Tian Meng deemed it unworthy.
Inspired by Tang's memory erasure, Tian Meng decided to learn a memory-severing technique to end his fruitless love.
He'd hesitated, having loved Ice Emperor for hundreds of thousands of years, but ultimately acted.
After reading Bibi Dong's story, Tian Meng realized he couldn't distinguish whether he loved the Far North's Ice Emperor or the idealized Ice Jade Empress Scorpion who sustained him through suffering.
A white moonlight is always most perfect in memory.
Tian Meng understood that with Huo Yuhao and other companions, love was no longer essential.
This incident left Huo Yuhao with mixed feelings about Ice Emperor, though complexity didn't mean sparing her.
"Hmph, it's all the fault of those ferocious beasts in Star Dou Forest. I'll make them pay for Tian Meng Bro! Starting with Zi Ji!" A red glint flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes.
Though he knew Zi Ji inside and out, a silent doll and a struggling, warm toy offered different thrills.
Besides, Zi Ji must contribute when he moves against Star Dou Forest and the dragon clan.
Still, Huo Yuhao couldn't ignore Tian Meng's love life. He'd arranged with the Holy Spirit Feathered Serpent to find a goddess suited for Tian Meng when they stormed the God Realm.
A million-year-old, elegant goddess—better than a mere 400,000-year-old, rigid Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, right?
Other companions needed arrangements too.
Eating meat while brothers watched? That's inhuman!
Hao Bro was always loyal. With rice in his bowl, he'd never let his brothers eat chaff.
Huo Yuhao: *Tian Meng Bro, you're the real savage!*
Dawn broke.
It was the third and final day of Huo Yuhao and his team's rest in Tiandou City.
As Huo Yuhao and the others rose, Qin Baobao, Xing Nianci's daughter, visited again.
This time, she wasn't inviting Wang Dong'er and the other women to tour Tiandou City. Instead, she came on her mother's behalf to invite Huo Yuhao to their residence for a talk.
At twenty, Qin Baobao inherited Xing Nianci's beauty and figure, exuding the gentle, approachable charm unique to life-attribute soul masters. Unlike her mother's universal compassion, she radiated youthful vibrancy. Though less seasoned than Xing Nianci, she had her own distinct allure.
Huo Yuhao didn't refuse Xing Nianci's invitation. After informing his teammates, he followed Qin Baobao to her mother's residence.
The others, unconcerned about his safety, didn't object or follow.
Though an imperial physician, Xing Nianci didn't solely treat royalty in the palace. The Nine-Heart Begonia clan's heritage wasn't just their martial soul but also advanced medical skills, requiring study and practice to master.
Even if the martial soul didn't pass down within the clan, their medical traditions endured, fully preserved.
Coupled with the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul's uniqueness, their contributions over millennia earned them special favor from the Tian Hun royal family.
Thus, Xing Nianci spent most of her time at a city clinic.
She also had a residence granted by the royal family.
Learning that Xing Nianci closed her clinic to host him, Huo Yuhao knew she had something significant to discuss. Yet, he couldn't pinpoint what about him had caught her interest.
Xing Nianci wasn't a widow, was she?
Along the way, Huo Yuhao chatted with Qin Baobao. With his looks, charisma, and eloquence, she didn't hold back, giving him deeper insight into her and her mother.
Far from annoyed, Qin Baobao found Huo Yuhao lived up to his reputation as a refined gentleman—witty, humorous, and approachable, worth befriending.
Most importantly, he was the handsomest man she'd met, with a charming voice. His "Sister Qin" address made her heart flutter.
Learning Qin Baobao's father was a Tian Hun Empire earl with the Fierce Fire Wolf martial soul sparked thoughts in Huo Yuhao.
Surname Qin, Fierce Fire Wolf martial soul—he seemed to glimpse an "old friend."
Ten thousand years ago, Shrek Academy's Qin Ming had the Fierce Fire Wolf martial soul. Among beast martial souls, it was formidable, excelling in breaking defenses.
The Fierce Fire Wolf and Evil Fire Phoenix martial souls were similar—both mutated martial souls that stabilized through inheritance, ensuring high quality.
They arrived at a serene area, not remote but restricted to commoners, as it housed nobles and officials.
Xing Nianci's residence was here.
The plaque didn't read "Xing Residence" or "Qin Residence" but "Nine-Heart Garden."
Entering Nine-Heart Garden, Huo Yuhao found no grand or solemn opulence, nor ostentatious luxury. Instead, it was a garden-style estate, lush with medicinal herbs, their faint aroma wafting through the air.
Pavilions by water, rockeries by ponds, verdant greenery—a natural, refreshing ambiance.
No servants or attendants were visible, enhancing the tranquil beauty.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's curious gaze, Qin Baobao explained with a smile, "Nine-Heart Garden was built by the royal family for Nine-Heart Begonia inheritors. Mother dislikes noise, and many rare herbs need careful tending, so there are no servants. We care for all the plants ourselves. Even Father rarely visits."
A gentle laugh came from behind, continuing Qin Baobao's words. "The herbs here are complex, and some combinations can be toxic. Letting those ignorant of herbology enter risks poisoning. But I doubt Nine-Heart Garden's toxins could affect you, Yuhao, right?"
Huo Yuhao and Qin Baobao turned to see the estate's mistress, Xing Nianci.
Nearby, a stone pavilion held a teapot on its table, indicating she'd been waiting.
"Aunt Xing!"
"Mommy~"
Qin Baobao skipped forward, affectionately hugging Xing Nianci's arm. Xing Nianci smiled, tapping her daughter's forehead with a jade-like finger.
She then turned to Huo Yuhao, smiling. "Since you're here, Yuhao, why not explore the garden with me?"
"I'd be honored," Huo Yuhao replied with a nod, a golden glint flickering in his eyes.
Thus, Huo Yuhao delved into Xing Nianci's garden.
And then into Qin Baobao's.
The vibrant peony in full bloom and the freshly ripened paeonia each had their unique charm, their fragrance intoxicating and lingering.
Unsated by Bibi Dong, Xing Nianci and Qin Baobao served as a substitute.
At Level 85 and Level 55, respectively, they'd offered themselves, and Huo Yuhao had no reason to refuse.
They were powerless to resist him.
Surprisingly, their Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul could host two attributes—life and destruction, related yet opposing.
Learning why Xing Nianci invited him, Huo Yuhao formed some guesses.
She'd sought him to discuss poison attribute expertise, tied to the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul's mutation.
The clan's heritage included extensive poison research—medicine and poison were intertwined. After a poison attribute mutation in the martial soul, their poison studies deepened.
They possessed advanced poison knowledge, even by Douluo Continent standards, giving them confidence to discuss it with Huo Yuhao.
Moreover, Huo Yuhao's power had triggered the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul. If he could aid its evolution, all the better.
As inheritors, their goal wasn't just stabilizing the martial soul's mutation but mastering both poison and life attributes.
Perhaps the Nine-Heart Begonia held unique potential. Such a rare martial soul heritage was uncommon on Douluo Continent.
"Since you're so sincere, I'll lend a hand," Huo Yuhao said, curious about its potential.
He produced two Heaven and Earth Creation Sacred Cigar, infusing them with luck for the women.
Without 100,000-year soul beast remnants, he wanted to see if their second martial souls would awaken smoothly.
Such awakenings would likely be random.
By midnight, Xing Nianci and Qin Baobao, having gained the cigars' first three effects, completed their transformation.
They were reborn!
Huo Yuhao: *In the little garden, dig, dig, dig~*
Huo Yuhao was not disappointed.
Just the first Heaven and Earth Creation Sacred Cigar awakened a second martial soul in both mother and daughter. Unlike the Lan sisters, Xing Nianci and Qin Baobao both awakened new martial souls from their bloodlines.
Xing Nianci awakened the Swan Martial Soul, and Qin Baobao awakened the Fiery Cinderwolf Martial Soul.
Both their second martial souls originated from their father's side.
Through Xing Nianci's explanation, Huo Yuhao learned that her father had royal blood and had awakened the Swan Martial Soul passed down from the Heavenly Dou imperial family from ten thousand years ago.
However, her parents never returned after going out to hunt soul beasts. Later, she was nurtured by the Heavenly Soul royal family, which shaped who she became today.
The Swan Martial Soul may not seem powerful at first glance, but its origin matters. Some Swan Martial Souls possess great potential.
Within the inner courtyard of Shrek Academy, there were inheritors of the Swan Martial Soul.
Xing Nianci's Swan Martial Soul was not ordinary either. It carried the light attribute—not quite enough to be called a Light Swan, but its strength was on par with high-level martial souls.
In the past, the Heavenly Dou royal family, which inherited the Swan Martial Soul, ascended to the throne relying on both their martial soul and strength. Unfortunately, the decline of their descendants led to the martial soul's regression and even degradation.
Qin Baobao's Fiery Cinderwolf Martial Soul naturally came from the bloodline of the Qin family of the Earl's Manor and was also considered high quality.
As a result, besides their original life and destruction attributes, they could now respectively cultivate light and fire attributes.
Interestingly, while both second martial souls were high-grade, their original martial soul, the Nine-Hearted Begonia, was top-tier, seemingly defying the rule that twin martial souls should be of equal quality.
Perhaps their second martial souls still held untapped potential.
The second Sacred Cigar further transformed their twin martial souls.
To facilitate this transformation, Huo Yuhao infused large amounts of light and fire soul power into them.
Their first martial soul, Nine-Hearted Begonia, evolved. It gained both life and destruction attributes, adding poison-based combat capabilities to its original healing nature.
Huo Yuhao named the new martial soul: Nine-Hearted Samsara Begonia.
The Nine-Hearted Samsara Begonia exceeded ordinary top-tier martial souls—it could be considered a super martial soul.
It even awakened a Martial Soul Domain, named Nine-Hearted Samsara Domain. The domain was filled with colorless, odorless pollen that could heal or kill based on the soul master's intent. Anyone who inhaled the pollen and couldn't expel it could be rendered helpless—caught between life and death. It was terrifyingly effective.
Their second martial souls also evolved to top-tier.
The Swan Martial Soul evolved into the White Swan Martial Soul, fully acquiring the light attribute, pure white in color. Though still leaning toward support and healing, it now had a unique inspirational ability that boosted the morale and bravery of allies.
The Fiery Cinderwolf evolved into the Fiery Cinderwolf King Martial Soul, with intensified flames, now a top-tier offense-type martial soul. Its flames had a special armor-piercing effect.
The third Sacred Cigar helped both mother and daughter break through their bottlenecks. With Huo Yuhao's god-granted spirit rings, they both ascended an entire rank.
Xing Nianci reached Rank 91, becoming a Titled Douluo, with the title Nine-Heart. Her ninth spirit ring, under Huo Yuhao's help, was condensed into a 100,000-year ring.
Qin Baobao reached Rank 68, becoming a Soul Emperor. She had already decided on her future title: Samsara.
That night, Huo Yuhao was very satisfied. Xing Nianci and Qin Baobao were also content.
Only He Caitou ended up completely drained of his soul power—six times over!
Even with the help of the Hao Emperor Banner to aid recovery, He Caitou looked deathly pale—paler than ever before.
At dawn, Huo Yuhao finally got dressed with the help of Xing Nianci and Qin Baobao.
"Aunt Xing, Sister Qin, I'll head back now," Huo Yuhao said.
"Still calling me Aunt Xing? Call me Sister Ci," Xing Nianci replied softly.
Qin Baobao also chimed in, blushing, "Just call me Baobao."
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that... inappropriate?"
"You've already done that with us. What else can we do?" Xing Nianci rolled her eyes charmingly.
Qin Baobao felt like she was in a dream. She didn't know why she'd fallen for him—but since even her mother had given in, what could she do?
Huo Yuhao maintained a solemn expression:
"I am a man of integrity and dignity. I have a clear conscience about what happened last night, Sister~"
"You scoundrel!"
Xing Nianci playfully pinched his waist, then sighed.
"For saving us, we have nothing to offer in return. We only ask that you visit us more often in the future."
"How could I not? Am I, Huo Yuhao, an ungrateful man? Wait for me in Heaven Dou City. I'll return often, and one day, I'll let you stand beside me in the open, without shame."
"Rogue~"
"Yuhao~"
If Huo Yuhao's will weren't so firm, the clothes he had just put on might have come off again.
Finally, he left the Nine-Hearted Courtyard.
As for the changes in Xing Nianci and Qin Baobao, they knew how to conceal them. How to explain it wasn't Huo Yuhao's concern.
But when he returned to the hotel, he was met with Wang Dong'er's suspicious gaze, scanning him up and down, even sniffing near him.
But other than the scent of herbs, she didn't detect anything suspicious.
"What?" Huo Yuhao feigned confusion.
"You didn't come back all night. I thought some vixen had lured you away~" Wang Dong'er huffed.
The others couldn't help but laugh.
"Absolutely not!" Huo Yuhao panicked. "I was with Aunt Xing and Sister Qin at their mansion, exchanging knowledge all night. We gained a lot and even helped me recover from my injuries. Please don't question my character like that!"
Wang Dong'er rolled her eyes.
"Everyone knows what kind of guy you used to be~"
"Hmph! You'd better behave!" she said angrily.
Xiao Xiao came to Huo Yuhao's side with a gentle smile.
"Captain Yuhao, as long as you're okay, I'm relieved. You must be tired after staying up all night—want to rest a bit?"
Wang Dong'er: "???"
Wait, what?
What have you been learning lately?
Xiao Xiao (thinking): Sorry, Dong'er. In love and war, all is fair!
Xu Sanshi and Cao Jinxuan were watching the drama unfold with great excitement.
Meng Hongchen also watched with keen interest.
Eventually, Jiang Nannan couldn't bear it anymore. She stepped in between Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao and addressed Huo Yuhao seriously:
"Captain Yuhao, since you're back and mostly recovered, shouldn't we head to the Douling Empire to carry out our next mission?"
"Ah, yes, yes, we should head out." Huo Yuhao nodded repeatedly, wiping nonexistent sweat from his forehead.
At that moment, Huo Yuhao could feel immense pressure.
The others sighed in disappointment.
Xiao Xiao: I have evolved!
The target of the mission within the Dou Ling Empire was an evil soul master with Spirit Douluo-level strength who had been committing crimes while evading capture. He was highly skilled at escaping.
According to intelligence reports, this evil soul master was originally just a Soul King and used to act in concert with other evil soul masters. After the rise of the Holy Spirit Sect's reputation, he stopped hiding and began to act more openly.
However, after surviving a few purges by the Dou Ling Empire, not only did he escape, but he grew stronger with each encounter. After several such incidents, he eventually became a Spirit Douluo.
His rapid increase in power shocked the Dou Ling Empire. Without dispatching a Titled Douluo, it would be very difficult for them to eliminate him. However, having a Titled Douluo spend time chasing a Spirit Douluo seemed like overkill.
Ultimately, the matter was reported to Shrek Academy, hoping to gain the support of the Shrek Inspectorate.
Thus, Huo Yuhao and his group arrived.
Using the clues provided by the Dou Ling Empire and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Huo Yuhao's group quickly located the target and eliminated the evil soul master.
The reason the evil soul master had been able to escape so easily turned out to be his martial soul, which was particularly adept at tunneling underground—unfortunately for him, he ran into the even more specialized Huo Yuhao.
His rapid growth was also due to discovering valuable resources underground while digging tunnels—resources that had now been depleted.
After the mission, Huo Yuhao's group was invited to stay in Nine Treasure City for a short rest.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Huo Yuhao used the unique furnace constitution of Ning Tian's cousin, Ning Zhirou, along with her embedded stability attribute, to further enhance his own stability attribute.
During this time, Huo Yuhao didn't forget about Bibi Dong and the others in the Rakshasa Secret Realm. Though he hadn't completely subdued them yet, he used them as furnaces in combination with certain celestial herbs to refine pills, achieving a minor breakthrough.
His physique advanced from Priest-level strength to Level-3 Divine strength.
The breakthrough in his stability attribute allowed for a more harmonious relationship between his soul and body.
Although not as flashy as other attributes, stability was arguably the most essential—like the foundation of a skyscraper, the stronger it was, the higher the structure could safely rise.
At present, the only attributes that had undergone transformation were water, fire, and stability.
Water and fire attributes had transformed through the inheritance of the Water and Fire Dragon Kings, condensing into the Life-Origin Water and Life-Origin Fire respectively.
The stability attribute had transformed through the help of a special furnace and its internal stability energy, causing Huo Yuhao's body and soul to stabilize and resulting in dragon mark imprints on his golden core. He also gained the ability to control gravity.
The gravity control ability paralleled the True Dragon Powers of the Life-Origin Water and Fire.
As for the other five attributes—earth, wind, light, darkness, and life—they had all reached the brink of transformation.
If these five could successfully transform, and with the assistance of celestial herbs, Huo Yuhao could potentially break through to Level-2 Divine strength.
In high spirits, Huo Yuhao returned once again to the Rakshasa Secret Realm. Looking at the immobilized Zi Ji and Bibi Dong, he licked his lips.
"What shall we play today?"
What followed, however, was a torrent of curses from Zi Ji and Bibi Dong—though their bodies betrayed their words, clearly prepared to welcome Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao hadn't acted on Xue Di or Bing Di, but each time he disciplined Zi Ji and Bibi Dong, Xue Di and Bing Di were brought in to "observe," watching step by step how Zi Ji and Bibi Dong descended into degradation.
In truth, the Dou Ling Empire had already been infiltrated by Huo Yuhao to a shocking degree.
The Death God Envoy had long hidden within the empire, secretly developing an army of undead. It appeared as though there weren't many evil soul masters within the empire, but in reality, many had already been captured and turned into undead by the Death God Envoy.
Many noble families that formed the backbone of the empire had also been infiltrated via Huo Yuhao's furnaces and brought under his control.
The most significant sect, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, had already largely fallen under the control of Huo Yuhao's furnaces, led by Ning Tian.
Only direct manipulation of the royal family to control the Dou Ling Empire remained infeasible; otherwise, it could've become another Sun-Moon Empire.
The final stop: the Star Luo Empire.
Compared to the Heavenly Soul and Dou Ling Empires, the Star Luo Empire was far more chaotic.
The Heavenly Soul Empire had Shrek Academy and the Body Sect—two of the Three Great Factions—within its borders. Despite its proximity to the Sun-Moon Empire, it had not seen major conflict, so both internal and external situations were relatively stable.
The Dou Ling Empire had support from various sects and noble houses. On the surface, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect provided protection; in the shadows, the Death God Envoy operated discreetly. It was far from the Sun-Moon Empire and seemed relatively safe.
The Star Luo Empire was another matter.
It spanned a vast territory, with the largest number of hidden evil soul masters. Coupled with active conflict against the Sun-Moon Empire and issues in the Duke White Tiger's Mansion, it was riddled with both internal and external threats.
A full-scale war hadn't broken out yet mainly because the Sun-Moon Empire hadn't made a move, and Shrek Academy was keeping things in check. External pressures were the only things preventing chaos.
As the second most powerful empire on the continent, the Star Luo Empire was like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.
Shrek Academy had provided substantial aid to the Star Luo Empire.
Zhang Lexuan led most of the Inspection Team operating within the Star Luo Empire.
Even so, Huo Yuhao's group was assigned a significant mission.
This mission, commissioned by the Star Luo royal family, involved tracking evil soul masters who had infiltrated from the Sun-Moon Empire and were now attempting to recruit their counterparts within the Star Luo Empire for unknown purposes.
Huo Yuhao accepted the mission and immediately led his team to wipe out the intruders. After gathering intelligence, they struck directly at the enemy's stronghold and achieved a decisive victory.
After completing the mission, Huo Yuhao didn't meet privately with Xu Jiujing. However, all her movements were within Huo Yuhao's grasp.
Although Xu Jiujing didn't reveal any connections to Huo Yuhao, she did try to persuade Xu Jiawei to side with him. Yet, Xu Jiawei remained hesitant.
Clearly, more pressure needed to be applied to the Star Luo Empire.
After more than two months, Huo Yuhao and his team completed three missions—essentially making a circuit around the Three Empires.
Though the continent failed to enter a new season of open warfare due to careful manipulation from all sides, the tensions gradually began to ease.
But that didn't affect Huo Yuhao and his team.
Over this journey, each member experienced significant growth and breakthroughs, especially in their mindset, spirit, and presence.
Indeed, slaughter is the fastest path to growth.
Naturally, Huo Yuhao reaped immense rewards.
Along the way, he took every opportunity to visit furnaces encountered on the road, offering them Divine Creation Holy Cigars to enhance their quality, engaging in dual cultivation, and harvesting attribute energy from their bodies.
Through the furnaces from the Dou Ling Hai Clan and the Star Luo Zhu Clan, Huo Yuhao's Light and Darkness attributes completed their transformation, condensing into the Life-Origin Light and Life-Origin Darkness respectively.
These life-origin powers were not just elemental transformations, but akin to divine techniques—advanced applications of power beyond raw attributes.
As for the Earth and Wind attributes, they too had reached the threshold of transformation, needing only a final trigger—perhaps a high-quality furnace.
Just as Huo Yuhao's team returned to Shrek Academy and had barely reported their journey to Sea God's Pavilion…
Unexpected guests arrived at the academy gates.
Wang Dong'er: "Yuhao, people from my family are here—they want to meet you!"
Huo Yuhao: "Huh?"