"Alright, that's enough."
A deep and resonant voice echoed from within the Clear Sky Fortress.
Immediately following it, a tremendous pressure descended like gravity, shattering the ice that had imprisoned Tang Bin—but without harming him in the slightest.
This alone showed the immense strength of the person who intervened, as well as their precise control over their soul power.
Freed from his icy prison, Tang Bin shivered violently. He glanced at Huo Yuhao, still filled with lingering fear, before quickly averting his gaze, not daring to say another word.
At this point, Tang Bin no longer dared to challenge Huo Yuhao. He was terrified that Huo Yuhao would literally slap him into the ground.
This young man... not someone to provoke. Not at all.
Fortunately, Huo Yuhao had no intention of continuing the confrontation. He knew that this test of strength had already reached its conclusion.
Retracting his Dragon Spear, Huo Yuhao returned to his usual gentle smile, though his eyes remained cautiously fixed on the Clear Sky Fortress.
One must still show the proper attitude.
After all, Tang Dog was watching.
One can be powerful, but not invincible.
One can act with confidence, but not with arrogance.
All the elders and disciples of the Clear Sky Sect became visibly respectful the moment that voice rang out.
The voice spoke again:
"Dong'er, bring the guest in. Everyone else, you may go."
The elders nodded and departed with their disciples. None had any intention of returning to the fortress immediately—they simply didn't want to see Huo Yuhao's face again so soon.
Wang Dong'er stuck out her tongue at Huo Yuhao, who rolled his eyes in response.
Seeing that he wasn't angry, Wang Dong'er's mood brightened. Excited, she took Huo Yuhao's hand and pulled him up toward the Clear Sky Fortress.
Huo Yuhao could clearly feel that Wang Dong'er's perception and attitude toward him had significantly improved.
One step closer to harvesting the fruit.
As the two approached the fortress gate, its massive doors had already opened. Two figures stood at the entrance—one in white and one in gray, both dressed in form-fitting martial attire—awaiting Wang Dong'er's arrival.
"Uncle! Second Uncle!" Wang Dong'er called out cheerfully, letting go of Huo Yuhao's hand and leaping into the arms of the man in white like a bird returning to its nest.
Following behind, Huo Yuhao scrutinized the two men. There was no doubt—they were Niu Tian and Tai Tan.
In their human forms, they appeared as tall and imposing middle-aged men, exuding strength and dominance. Their clothes fit so tightly that they resembled second skins.
Niu Tian had long, teal-colored hair draped over his shoulders. His eyes, also teal, looked plain at first glance but carried a depth that was hard to describe—an aura of uncontrollable power seemed to ripple beneath the surface.
Tai Tan was even more physically imposing. With spiky, steel-like hair and sharply carved features, his eyes glinted with a golden hue. His powerful muscles nearly tore through his outfit, radiating raw dominance.
Then Huo Yuhao observed their fate and fortune.
Both were men of immense destiny and remarkable fate, protected by the auspicious clouds of the Clear Sky Sect's flourishing power.
Such fortune and fate were rare. Huo Yuhao had seen it only a few times before.
But what annoyed him was the presence of ocean-blue energy interwoven in their fate—a sign that everything about them was closely tied to Tang Dog.
Of note were their spirit avatars—Niu Tian's was the Skyblue Bull Python, and Tai Tan's was the Titan Giant Ape.
This meant neither had yet reached the god level, only quasi-divine at most.
When Niu Tian truly ascended to godhood, his spirit would evolve into the Skyblue Divine Dragon. While not of true dragon lineage, it would rival a pure-blooded dragon in strength.
Tai Tan's Titan Giant Ape, however, would undergo little change upon godhood. In fact, in terms of raw power, it was even stronger than the Skyblue Bull Python.
At equal levels of cultivation, the Titan Giant Ape would win in a fight.
After all, the Skyblue Bull Python was still a sub-dragon, far inferior to the likes of the Violet Destruction Dragon.
But within the Clear Sky Fortress, backed by the hidden methods of Tang Dog, their power could temporarily surpass god level.
From the fleeting pressure in Niu Tian's eyes, Huo Yuhao could tell that he was on the verge of a breakthrough—he could step into godhood at any moment.
However, once he did, he could no longer hide in the mortal realm. The God Realm still repressed beast gods, making them reluctant to ascend.
Perhaps Niu Tian was suppressing his power intentionally, building up momentum for a more powerful transformation in the future.
As Huo Yuhao studied the two, Tai Tan also scrutinized him. It had been Tai Tan who shattered the ice with gravity, while the voice had come from Niu Tian.
Niu Tian cared for Wang Dong'er, but Tai Tan was watching Huo Yuhao like a hawk.
Though Huo Yuhao's appearance was striking, Tai Tan still found him extremely displeasing—like a pig who had barged into his precious garden.
They both doted on Wang Dong'er immensely. She was the child of their beloved Xiao Wu, and they spoiled her dearly.
Now, with a potential suitor appearing, they were naturally determined to test him.
"Young man," Tai Tan said bluntly, "I hear you're pretty cocky. Want to spar with me?"
"No." Huo Yuhao replied flatly.
"You scared?" Tai Tan's eyes widened, releasing pressure toward Huo Yuhao.
Unshaken, Huo Yuhao calmly responded, "Your sect's tests have already been sufficient. I come as a representative of the Sea God Pavilion, not to provoke or create enmity with the Clear Sky Sect."
"Well said," Niu Tian interjected, setting down Wang Dong'er. Unlike Tai Tan, he wasn't so impulsive. Smiling at Huo Yuhao, his gaze held a trace of admiration.
Then his tone deepened: "However, if you want to take our Clear Sky Sect's little princess, there are still trials you must face!"
Wang Dong'er's face turned bright red, and she waved her hands wildly. "Uncle! What are you talking about? Who said I'm leaving with that jerk?! Huo Yuhao, don't listen to him. He's been drinking fake tea again!"
Niu Tian: "…"
Tai Tan: "…"
Huo Yuhao smiled and replied, "Senior, you must be joking."
Suddenly unembarrassed, Wang Dong'er glared at him, shocked. "What? You don't like me?!"
Huo Yuhao was speechless.
Say yes and she's not happy. Say no and she's mad.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's helpless expression, Wang Dong'er realized she had revealed a bit too much and fled into the fortress, shouting, "I'm not! I didn't! Whatever, I'm ignoring you all!"
This left Huo Yuhao, Niu Tian, and Tai Tan in awkward silence.
Eventually, they still welcomed Huo Yuhao into the Clear Sky Fortress—after all, he was invited.
More precisely, the invitation came from Tang Dog in the God Realm.
Niu Tian and Tai Tan were deeply reluctant to let this blue-haired flirt take Wang Dong'er. But at the very least, they respected Huo Yuhao's strength.
When they recalled Tang Dog at Huo Yuhao's age, he was nowhere near this powerful.
Wang Dong'er had already vanished from sight.
Unbothered, Niu Tian and Tai Tan led Huo Yuhao to a reception room inside the Clear Sky Fortress.
Within, Huo Yuhao got his first look at its interior. Though lacking the opulence of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or the sanctity of the Sea God Pavilion, it radiated a resolute, iron-blooded aura that stirred the soul.
Seated together, the two men introduced themselves:
"I am Niu Tian, Grand Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect."
"I'm Tai Tan, Second Sect Master."
Huo Yuhao nodded, "Huo Yuhao, Vice Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion."
Niu Tian wasted no time and got straight to the point:
"This time, we didn't invite you here because the Clear Sky Sect had business with you. Rather…"
"We have a Divine Oracle to deliver to you!"
"Divine Oracle?!"
Huo Yuhao repeated the key words, a shocked expression appearing on his face.
Niu Tian nodded solemnly and explained, "You should already have some understanding. Among the original Shrek Seven Devils of your Shrek Academy, one was from the Clear Sky Sect. Before ascending to the Divine Realm, he left behind some safeguards within the sect to protect the Douluo Continent. Not long ago, those safeguards were triggered—among them, a divine oracle passed down by that person."
"Could it be... Ancestor Tang San?"
Huo Yuhao's eyes widened, looking even more astonished.
"That's right, Sea God Tang San!" Titan confirmed.
To be honest, Niu Tian and Titan didn't hold that much reverence for Tang San. If Tang San weren't the husband of their sister Xiao Wu, they wouldn't have thought any more of him than any other stranger.
Even as a Divine King, in their eyes, he couldn't compare to Sister Xiao Wu or Wang Dong'er. Privately, they had even called Tang San heartless more than once.
Did he even understand how rare a 100,000-year beast who'd devoted herself to him truly was?
At present, Niu Tian and Titan's attitude toward Huo Yuhao was largely influenced by Wang Dong'er's feelings toward him.
Of course, they also acknowledged Huo Yuhao's strength and believed he was qualified to speak to them as an equal.
Still, it was a bit hard to take seriously that the Titan Giant Ape had given himself the name "Titan," which was also the name of Tang San's servant from ten thousand years ago.
Good thing Titan himself seemed unaware of this.
And old Tang hadn't reminded him either.
After a while, Huo Yuhao seemed to recover from his shock and asked, puzzled, "But why would Ancestor Tang San's divine oracle be meant for me?"
"Perhaps because of your identity. Once you hear the oracle, you'll likely understand," Niu Tian said.
Titan waved his hand dismissively. "You're the Vice Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion, with unmatched talent, the person most likely to become a god in this era. That's probably why you were chosen. You passed the earlier test of strength with ease—just confirms it for us. You're the one."
"I see." Huo Yuhao nodded thoughtfully, seemingly convinced.
"Since you understand the background now, I'll explain the contents of the divine oracle," Niu Tian said.
"I'm all ears," Huo Yuhao said, sitting up straighter, face serious.
Niu Tian cleared his throat and began:
"Now that an Evil God's inheritance has descended and the world stands on the brink of chaos, though I wish to descend and eliminate the evil, I am bound by Divine Realm rules. Thus, I have chosen the Tang Sect descendant, Huo Yuhao, to eliminate evil in my stead and safeguard the peace of the Douluo Continent."
"We did some investigation and confirmed that you're likely the Huo Yuhao mentioned in the oracle. After all, you're the only well-known Huo Yuhao on the continent," Titan said loudly.
"At first, we weren't sure. The oracle specifically said 'Tang Sect Huo Yuhao.' But after searching, it's clear you're the best fit. So, kid, are you really from the Tang Sect?"
Huo Yuhao hesitated a moment before replying, "In a sense, yes. I inherited the Tang Sect legacy by chance, so I count as a half-Tang Sect disciple."
As he spoke, Huo Yuhao revealed his Purple Demon Eyes.
Seeing the same purple light in his eyes that Tang San had ten thousand years ago, Niu Tian and Titan felt even more certain. Smiles appeared on their faces.
To be chosen by that person meant Huo Yuhao would enjoy many blessings. Perhaps he could even become a god in the future.
That would also make him a better match for their Dong'er.
Huo Yuhao, however, was still thinking about the oracle.
"It mentioned me by name... Clearly, Old Tang has a new plan. I wonder what prompted this decision."
"There's no doubt about it now—Old Tang is playing another hand. And he wants to bind me to the Tang Sect."
He could understand why the Tang Sect was chosen. The Clear Sky Sect and Shrek Academy weren't purely Tang San's territory, but the Tang Sect had been founded by Tang San himself.
"But what's this about an Evil God? Is it referring to Xu Tiancheng? Or has something truly changed in Douluo Continent? Did Old Tang plant something else here? Is he trying to recreate the divine war of ten thousand years ago? Would the Divine Realm even allow that?" Huo Yuhao pondered.
For a time, all parties fell silent, deep in thought.
Fortunately, it didn't last long.
Niu Tian came back to himself and spoke gently, "Besides the oracle, that person also left behind three strands of Asura Divine Sense. The Asura God is the enforcer god of the Divine Realm, with the duty of punishing Evil Gods. These three divine senses can help you in future battles against the inheritors of evil."
Huo Yuhao was stunned by this sudden surprise.
To deal with Old Tang, he knew he needed to obtain Sea God's divine sense, divine power, Asura divine sense, and Asura divine power.
And now—he was only missing the Asura divine sense!
He never expected Old Tang to personally deliver it.
Three strands, no less!
At this moment, Huo Yuhao could truly say:
"Tang San, your death star is shining bright!"
And very quickly, Huo Yuhao understood what Tang San was up to.
The Divine Realm prohibited gods from meddling in the mortal realm. But if an Evil God appeared, the Asura God—as an enforcer—had a legitimate reason to act.
What the Sea God couldn't do, the Asura God could.
And by planting the Asura Divine Sense in Huo Yuhao, it was like leaving a backdoor—an insurance policy. Tang San could control him if needed.
If, one day, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er ascended to the Divine Realm together, he'd feel immense gratitude because of this act.
Tired of the covert plays, Tang San was now using open strategy.
"Thank you, Ancestor Tang San, for your guidance. Thank you, Asura God, for your gift," Huo Yuhao said sincerely.
Though he never gave outsiders his true feelings, this time, he meant it—even if the other party was his greatest enemy.
Seeing Huo Yuhao so appreciative and respectful, Niu Tian and Titan were even more impressed.
These days, being a genius wasn't enough. A good investment needed to be grateful too.
"Since the continent is heading toward chaos, and you are the chosen one, the Clear Sky Sect will fully support you. Let's restore peace together," Niu Tian said with a smile.
Titan laughed heartily. "If you need anything, just ask. I want to see what this so-called Evil God inheritor is made of!"
Suddenly, a figure rushed into the guest room.
"Me too! I'll help as well! As the Clear Sky Sect's young master, it's my duty!"
It was Wang Dong'er. She had been eavesdropping at the door—though Huo Yuhao, Niu Tian, and Titan had all known for a while. Niu Tian had even left the door slightly ajar for her.
Huo Yuhao took on a solemn expression, stood up, and bowed deeply toward Niu Tian and Titan.
"I ask you to support Dong'er and me!"
Niu Tian and Titan exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.
He even included Wang Dong'er. This Huo Yuhao—he's a good kid.
And just like that, Huo Yuhao greatly improved his standing in their hearts.
After finishing the discussion about the Divine Oracle, Niu Tian handed three strands of Asura Divine Sense to Huo Yuhao.
Wang Dong'er showed great curiosity about the Asura Divine Sense. However, the moment she saw it, it was as if something stirred inside her. Her eyes gradually lost focus as she stood blankly to the side.
Niu Tian and Tai Tan, who had been paying close attention to Wang Dong'er, both noticed this. They exchanged glances but said nothing.
Still, in their hearts, they had already started silently cursing Tang San.
The three strands of Asura Divine Sense had been stored within Niu Tian's body, appearing like three crimson misty wisps.
As Huo Yuhao reached out to touch them, the strands seemed to be attracted to him and burrowed directly into his body, eventually settling in his Sea of Spiritual Consciousness.
This made Huo Yuhao laugh in disbelief.
Well, well, diving straight into the spiritual sea—what else could they possibly be planning?
Not even pretending, huh? Tch, despicable!
It was like tossing a lighter into a gunpowder store—ready to explode at any moment.
If it were an ordinary person—or even Huo Yuhao from the original storyline—those three strands of Asura Divine Sense in his spiritual sea would have allowed Tang San to detonate it at will.
Unfortunately for them, they encountered this Huo Yuhao.
In a flash—whap!—his envisioned White Tiger pounced, pinning the Asura Divine Sense, then chomp chomp, swallowed them down.
Perhaps the strands knew Huo Yuhao had powerful spiritual strength, so they behaved obediently and refrained from probing his Sea of Spiritual Consciousness.
That gave the envisioned White Tiger a perfect opening.
By the time the Asura Divine Sense reacted, they were already in the tiger's stomach, completely sealed away.
Huo Yuhao then used his camouflage ability to mimic the state of the Asura Divine Sense still being present in his sea of consciousness. As long as Tang San didn't forcibly try to sense it, he'd never know the truth.
And if Tang San could sense across worlds and through Huo Yuhao's body into his spiritual sea… well, Huo Yuhao would have to admit defeat.
Though divine senses can carry divine power, they aren't overwhelmingly strong by themselves.
Just like the Sea God's divine sense earlier—its power was only just above the hundredth level, far from reaching a third-class god's strength. Still, it was enough to deal with Limit Douluos and newly-born deities.
At this time, Tang San hadn't fully mastered the power of the Asura God. To wield it completely, he needed Asura Sword Sheath Xiao Wu's cooperation.
Having dealt with the Asura Divine Sense, Huo Yuhao's expression remained calm, without a trace of change. Then he "suddenly remembered" to show concern for Wang Dong'er.
"Dong'er, are you alright?" Huo Yuhao asked with concern.
Wang Dong'er snapped back to reality, shook her head, and said, "I'm fine, it's just…"
Then, suddenly realizing something, her face flushed and she glared at Huo Yuhao, "Don't call me that so intimately—it gives me goosebumps!"
"Eh? What's wrong with using nicknames between friends? You can call me Yuhao, I don't mind," Huo Yuhao replied casually.
"I mind!"
With that, Wang Dong'er ran off again.
Perhaps it was because she was home, but Wang Dong'er displayed a more girlish side, lacking the composure she usually showed at the academy.
Just as Huo Yuhao was about to chase after her, he suddenly found himself lifted off the ground—Tai Tan had picked him up like a sack of rice.
Tai Tan had had enough!
"Kid, since you said our Clear Sky Clan would help you, let's not delay. Time to put you through some real training!" Tai Tan grinned savagely.
"Senior, noooo~!"
"Be good—train with me!"
"I don't want to!"
"You don't have a choice!"
Boom—
That day, thunderous battle sounds echoed across the mountain peak.
...
Huo Yuhao disguised himself as an eight-ring Soul Douluo, displaying combat power equivalent to a Super Douluo, to withstand Tai Tan's "special training."
Though Tai Tan seemed like he wanted to beat some sense into Huo Yuhao, he also demonstrated things that Shrek Academy couldn't teach—or even had no record of.
Of course, just because the academy didn't teach it didn't mean Huo Yuhao didn't know.
For example—Spiritual Domain.
The Spiritual Domain is a special ability of those who have reached the Spiritual Region Realm and is the foundation for stepping into the demigod level.
Normally, without guidance, forming a Spiritual Domain is very difficult and takes a long time and special encounters.
That's why, even over ten thousand years, only a few true demigods emerged on the Douluo Continent. Many soul masters whose soul power reached the requirement still failed to break through due to neglecting their spiritual strength or lacking means to improve it.
"Quasi-demigod" was the ceiling for most Limit Douluos.
Even Shrek Academy had no records on the matter.
In truth, Elder Mu's spiritual power that enveloped Shrek City was already a form of Spiritual Domain—he just didn't realize it and never summarized or passed on the cultivation experience.
Huo Yuhao, of course, understood Spiritual Domains, and had already formed his.
However, his domain didn't have any fancy effects—it simply and directly enhanced his control over spiritual power, a pure and essential attribute enhancement.
Simple, fundamental—but far from weak.
In fact, it greatly boosted Huo Yuhao's overall strength.
Not only did it make his techniques more powerful, but it also elevated his control over his own power to a higher level.
Though many Spiritual Domains have different effects, for a cultivator—whether it be physical or mental—natural and harmonious growth suited to oneself is always best.
Tai Tan demonstrated his own Spiritual Domain to Huo Yuhao and revealed its secrets.
In Tai Tan's view, Huo Yuhao was destined to become a god—mastering a Spiritual Domain was only a matter of time.
Tai Tan's domain was called "Beast Domain."
It could manifest countless beastly figures—projections of the soul beasts he remembered from his time as a Titan Giant Ape in the Star Dou Forest. These beastly images could carry power and fight.
However, according to Tai Tan, the domain's greatest use wasn't fighting others, but enhancing other domain-type abilities.
If a soul master already had a domain, then infusing it with Spiritual Domain power would transform it into a true microcosm—a small world fully under the soul master's control.
Tai Tan had merged his Gravity Control Domain with the Beast Domain, allowing Huo Yuhao to experience it firsthand.
Huo Yuhao tested it—despite his Super Douluo-level strength, he found it difficult to break the domain's seal. Even his power of Ultimate Ice was suppressed. This had never happened before.
However, with Huo Yuhao's own domains, he could achieve this kind of effect with ease—like eating or drinking.
Beyond domain powers, Tai Tan also engaged in a direct fight with Huo Yuhao, relying on his raw strength and defense.
Though Tai Tan didn't use any soul skills, his attacks were as formidable as many self-created techniques.
From the battle, Huo Yuhao's biggest takeaway was a clear understanding of Tai Tan's combat style and trump cards.
Previously, he would've needed overwhelming power to defeat Tai Tan.
Now, with equivalent strength, Huo Yuhao had a 90% chance of defeating Tai Tan in under ten moves.
The remaining 10%? Not failure—just humility.
Huo Yuhao didn't rush back to Shrek Academy. Instead, he stayed at Clear Sky Fort, training with Wang Dong'er under Niu Tian and Tai Tan's guidance.
In just one night, Wang Dong'er adjusted her mindset, reverting to their competitive dynamic.
But Niu Tian and Tai Tan could see she cared excessively for Huo Yuhao.
Her so-called competition seemed to mask something deeper.
Initially, Wang Dong'er viewed Huo Yuhao as a rival, not disliking him but envying his prodigious talent. They were both foes and friends, like bickering partners.
This mirrored Jin Qiu'er's past rivalry with Huo Yuhao, marked by constant sparring.
After Qiankun Love Valley, where Wang Dong'er revealed her female identity and faced trials with Huo Yuhao, her feelings began to shift.
Learning Huo Yuhao sacrificed his memories of love with others to save her and Xiao Xiao left her unsettled, feeling indebted.
She intended to help him reclaim those loves, but hesitated when the time came. Seeing Xiao Xiao pursue Huo Yuhao, she realized she could offer herself too.
Xiao Xiao, seemingly pure and kind, could be startlingly bold.
With no love left between Huo Yuhao and others, and the academy's laissez-faire stance, if others could pursue him, so could Wang Dong'er!
She began seeing Huo Yuhao as a potential lifelong partner.
Yet, she soon found him too exceptional.
Returning to Clear Sky Sect with him, Wang Dong'er felt joy and other emotions.
Joy, because she had a chance to connect with him alone, perhaps confirming her feelings.
Frustration, because Huo Yuhao attracted women effortlessly, already entangled with others in such a short time.
Anxious, Wang Dong'er felt her strength and talent paled compared to his, making her self-conscious. She sought to highlight her value, like her family background.
Sadly, she realized her background was her only asset.
When Huo Yuhao earned Sea God Tang San's approval and the God of Asura's blessing, the pressure intensified.
Even Niu Tian and Tai Tan valued him highly, making Wang Dong'er hesitant to reveal her feelings.
Neither Niu Tian nor Tai Tan, inexperienced in love and only openly pining for Xiao Wu, grasped Wang Dong'er's inner turmoil.
Niu Tian only saw her hesitation to express her feelings, which frustrated him.
He approved of Huo Yuhao and thought him a perfect match for Wang Dong'er. Her indecision risked repeating their own failures from ten thousand years ago, missing the race entirely.
Tai Tan, noticing her concern for Huo Yuhao, grew annoyed and doubled Huo Yuhao's training intensity.
Seeing Huo Yuhao train harder, Wang Dong'er refused to lag, gritting her teeth to join in.
Tai Tan couldn't bear to push Wang Dong'er too hard, but her relentless effort left her exhausted daily.
This worried Niu Tian further.
How could she win Huo Yuhao with such training?
In short, Niu Tian, Tai Tan, and Wang Dong'er were all discontent.
Only Huo Yuhao was delighted.
Staying at Clear Sky Sect, with Tang "Old Man" not constantly watching, gave Huo Yuhao chances to siphon luck.
In just over ten days, he drained a twentieth of Clear Sky Sect's luck!
The sect lacked treasures to anchor their fortune.
No wonder they declined after ten thousand years.
During these days, Huo Yuhao trained with Niu Tian, Tai Tan, and Wang Dong'er by day.
By night, he sneaked into the Rakshasa Secret Realm for other endeavors.
In the Rakshasa Secret Realm, now furnished like a bedroom with five potted immortal herbs by the wall, changes were evident.
Bibi Dong and Zi Ji were unbound, though their powers remained sealed, as their taming showed initial success.
The process took time because the Seed of Depravity clashed with Huo Yuhao's cultivation system. Without his strength and diverse methods, success was uncertain.
Moreover, Bibi Dong and Zi Ji weren't ordinary.
The effect was slower, not weaker. Joyful emotions would seep into their souls, rendering them unable to resist, leading to complete depravity.
Bibi Dong, the first to be tamed, showed early progress. Her gaze toward Huo Yuhao held less hatred, often blank as if introspecting or losing the will to think.
Zi Ji, weaker and influenced by her dragon nature, struggled to resist and was nearing full taming.
As Huo Yuhao entered, Zi Ji, seated, rose and knelt before him, her gaze complex but devoid of hatred.
Her kneeling accentuated her perfect figure, the purple gauze clinging to her curves, displayed fully before Huo Yuhao.
Bibi Dong merely glanced at him, then returned to staring at the wall, lost in thought.
Clad in similar purple gauze, Bibi Dong exuded a different allure—Zi Ji was a worldly beauty, Bibi Dong a demonic succubus.
"Rise," Huo Yuhao said, casually stroking Zi Ji's smooth cheek.
An unnatural flush colored her face, a flicker of joy in her eyes, quickly suppressed.
She resisted, but barely.
Huo Yuhao didn't begin his "cultivation" immediately, instead approaching the immortal herbs, bound in their pots.
He scattered golden light, bathing them in Buddhist radiance, lending them a serene glow.
This was a Buddhist conversion technique.
Testing revealed that combining it with the Seed of Depravity yielded potent results. The five herbs were now fully tamed.
However, this conversion was imperfect, forcibly altering the target's power to carry Buddhist traits and leaving mental vulnerabilities.
Enemies could exploit these, potentially turning allies into foes.
Thus, Huo Yuhao avoided using conversion on high-value targets.
After tending the herbs, he pulled Bibi Dong into his arms, indulging freely.
Bibi Dong struggled but couldn't resist. Her eyes grew more clouded, yet a new spark seemed to form within.
Watching Huo Yuhao and Bibi Dong, Zi Ji's breathing quickened. Unable to hold back, she joined them.
Her fleeting hesitation gave way to embracing the pleasure.The support the Clear Sky Sect provided to Huo Yuhao wasn't limited to Titan's special training—it also included many combat techniques and resources.
In this era where combat skills were becoming increasingly popular, the Clear Sky Sect had naturally accumulated a fair number of them. However, most were hammer techniques, and truth be told, they weren't especially refined.
What Huo Yuhao benefited from the most was actually the Random Cloak Hammer Technique and the practical experience related to it. Niu Tian personally passed this technique on to Huo Yuhao, along with detailed notes on its usage. One could say the gesture was filled with sincerity.
As for the explosive ring technique and the Great Summeru Hammer, there was no chance Huo Yuhao would even be allowed to glimpse them—those weren't even mentioned.
That was the Clear Sky Sect's bottom line.
Among the younger generation, the only one qualified to inherit the explosive ring technique and the Great Summeru Hammer was Wang Dong'er.
Regarding soul tools, there were none in the Clear Sky Castle. The Clear Sky City had some, but they were merely purchased for practical use.
The sect didn't have many soul engineers, nor were they particularly advanced, because the Clear Sky Sect never placed much emphasis on developing soul engineers.
Fortunately, the sect possessed many treasures and was willing to let Huo Yuhao use them, which brought him great comfort.
Like the Sea God's Pavilion, the Clear Sky Castle had many rooms—not just for living, but also for cultivation. These cultivation rooms were filled with various treasures, forming simulated environments for soul masters to train in.
During his time in the Clear Sky Castle, Huo Yuhao could freely choose which rooms to use.
One of those rooms included the Ice Jade Room that appeared in the original work.
In the original story, because Niu Tian and Titan didn't have a favorable impression of Huo Yuhao, he was only allowed into an Ice Jade Room, where Electrolux ended up vanishing.
Now, for Huo Yuhao, his first stop was also the Ice Jade Room. He wanted to see what the deal was.
At the very least, the Ice Jade Marrow itself was quite valuable.
When Huo Yuhao went to cultivate in the Ice Jade Room, Titan followed out of curiosity. He was becoming more and more intrigued by Huo Yuhao.
After spending time with him, Titan realized Huo Yuhao's physical constitution and spiritual power far surpassed that of most Title Douluos—even though his soul power was still at the Soul Douluo level. Titan could only imagine how powerful Huo Yuhao would become once his soul power reached Title Douluo level.
He wanted to see whether the Ice Jade Room could help Huo Yuhao take another step forward.
Wang Dong'er also followed out of curiosity.
As soon as Wang Dong'er entered the room, she saw Huo Yuhao taking off his clothes. His upper body was already bare, revealing a muscular, well-defined physique. His lower body revealed half of a snow-white butt.
Wang Dong'er's face instantly turned as red as a tomato. She spun around and shouted in surprise, "Huo Yuhao, what are you doing!?"
Huo Yuhao looked innocent. "Taking off my clothes, of course. I can withstand the cold, but my clothes and soul tools can't. Plus, being naked helps me better sense the ice element—it's good for cultivation. How was I supposed to know you'd suddenly barge in?"
Titan didn't care who was in the right—he thought Huo Yuhao was trying to seduce Wang Dong'er. Furious, he sent Huo Yuhao flying with a kick onto the Ice Jade Marrow Bed.
"It's just clothes and soul tools, isn't it? Our Clear Sky Sect has plenty! If you dare pollute Dong'er's eyes again, I'll cut you up!" Titan yelled.
Lying on the bed, Huo Yuhao protested, "Hey! Be reasonable, will you? She's the one who saw me! You're as crude as a gorilla!"
"You little brat… just wait till you come down, I'm definitely going to teach you a lesson!" Titan fumed. If it weren't for the freezing cold of the Ice Jade Marrow Bed, he'd already be on it punching Huo Yuhao into the ground.
Huo Yuhao and Titan actually got along decently now—they could banter like this.
Rolling his eyes, Huo Yuhao yanked off the pants that had frozen to his body and sat down in a cross-legged position to cultivate.
Titan's face darkened. "Turn around! Don't face us!"
"Such a nag," Huo Yuhao muttered, then turned to face the wall, back toward Titan and Wang Dong'er, and resumed his cultivation posture.
Just being faced with Huo Yuhao's front gave Titan a sense of crisis, like a Level Nine soul tool cannon was aimed at him.
Still, Titan motioned for Wang Dong'er to turn back—it was okay to look at Huo Yuhao now.
In the end, Wang Dong'er didn't run away.
Maybe she was curious about Huo Yuhao's cultivation… or maybe she was just curious about his body.
Even though she couldn't see his front, just looking at his back made Wang Dong'er blush furiously.
Huo Yuhao's back was still flawless. While his clothed figure appeared lean and graceful, stripped down, he had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, clearly defined muscles, and a perfect inverted triangle physique. Maybe because he was an ice-type soul master, his skin was like polished jade—smoother and more radiant than most girls'.
His back didn't seem real—it looked more like a sculpture carved from icy jade by a master artist. Only an artwork could look so flawless.
Wang Dong'er subconsciously swallowed.
Why did she suddenly want to lick it?
Watching her reaction, Titan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
If their genders were reversed, Titan would have tied Huo Yuhao to Wang Dong'er's bed that night. But in this case, Wang Dong'er would be the one to suffer, so that idea was out.
In the end, Titan chose silence.
Wang Dong'er was only able to stay in the Ice Jade Room because Titan was shielding her with his soul power. But even he only dared stay on the edges—he couldn't remain close to the Ice Jade Marrow Bed for too long, or he'd start to feel like he was freezing solid.
That's why neither Niu Tian nor Titan ever used the Ice Jade Marrow Bed for cultivation.
As for the sect's other soul masters, even those with ice attributes could only briefly feel its energy from the perimeter before retreating from the unbearable cold.
Someone like Huo Yuhao, stripping naked and sitting directly on the bed to cultivate, could only be described as "perverted" in Titan's eyes.
But Huo Yuhao ignored both Titan and Wang Dong'er and focused entirely on cultivating.
There was no denying—the Ice Jade Marrow Bed was truly something.
The power it contained was massive. It was a rare and invaluable treasure.
Even for the current Huo Yuhao, it was still highly beneficial.
There was a similar room in the Sea God's Pavilion, with a Ten Thousand Year Ice Jade Bed used to suppress Ma Xiaotao's evil fire. Huo Yuhao had tried lying on it a few times, but it felt like chicken ribs—tasteless but hard to throw away.
This Ice Jade Marrow Bed was different.
A faint ice-blue light rose from Huo Yuhao's body—his cultivation aura. His Variant Ice Jade Centipede Martial Soul emerged on its own, crawling onto his back and enveloping him.
Red, purple, black, black, black, black, red, red—eight soul rings floated around the martial soul, slowly rotating.
Though Huo Yuhao's soul rings were unusual, they were still within Titan's realm of comprehension. This was one reason Titan hadn't been overly suspicious or guarded against him.
In the original story, Niu Tian and Titan had seen Huo Yuhao's 400,000-year Ice Empress soul ring and suspected he was hiding a major secret—possibly being manipulated by other soul beasts—which led to their mistrust.
As Huo Yuhao cultivated, he began resonating with the Ice Jade Marrow Bed beneath him.
Soon, a pale ice-blue mist rose, and the bed began to glow with a translucent jade-like luster. Within it, one could vaguely see a thick, flowing liquid.
The Ice Jade Marrow Bed didn't just contain powerful ice-elemental energy—it also held rich natural energy.
In the next second, Huo Yuhao began absorbing the cold and the world's energy from the bed like a whale drinking water.
A golden glow suddenly burst forth from his body.
"Second Father, what's happening to Huo Yuhao?" Wang Dong'er exclaimed in surprise.
Titan focused his gaze.
For a moment, he couldn't be sure. "He's probably… just really enjoying his cultivation?"
Wang Dong'er: "???"