Huo Yuhao's thoughts were in turmoil all night. Only when morning light broke through the window and brushed across his brows did he finally return to his senses.
The road ahead was now clear.
He had to depart immediately for the Yin Yang Love Querying Valley.
Only by improving his strength there and absorbing the power of the Ancient Golden Tree could he heal his teacher—and also… question his own heart.
After washing up and eating—
He went straight to Shrek Academy.
He had intended to seek out Bei Bei in the inner courtyard, but along a forest path in the outer courtyard, he spotted two familiar figures.
"Bei Bei, why won't you let me leave Shrek?" Tang Ya's face was pale, her brows carrying an exhaustion that would not fade.
These days—
She had been cultivating almost to the point of obsession.
Yet limited by her innate talent—
She ultimately could not catch up to the prodigies of her generation. "The gap between me and you all is too big. I can't enter the inner courtyard."
Bei Bei clasped her hand, his expression tender yet resolute.
"Xiao Ya, you can. Yuhao said so himself."
His voice softened.
"Yuhao is now the number one genius on the continent, able to contend with top-tier powerhouses. Don't you trust his words?"
"…Yuhao?"
Tang Ya froze slightly, complex emotions shimmering in her eyes.
The name Huo Yuhao was now thunderously renowned. His battles with figures like Jing Hongchen and Long Xiaoyao had spread across the entire continent.
"Why would he help me?"
Bei Bei gently wiped away her tears and sighed.
"I don't know either."
"But I've always felt that Yuhao treats you and me somewhat differently."
"If it were anyone else acting like this, I'd be wary. But with him, I find myself trusting him completely for no reason."
Their conversation drifted into Huo Yuhao's ears.
He stood beneath the shade of the trees, a gentle smile tugging at his lips.
Fate was mysterious.
Even after living a second life—
Certain bonds were still formed in the unseen, impossible to sever.
At the thought—
Wang Dong's figure surfaced in his mind.
In his previous life—
After meeting her within the rift of time and space—
If events had followed their predetermined course—
The one he would have met upon returning—
Would have been the memory-lost Wang Dong… or rather, the God King's daughter, Tang Wutong.
Those futures that had not yet occurred—
He had only glimpsed as an observer.
Thus, he could not muster even the slightest sense of closeness toward "Tang Wutong."
But Wang Dong…
Huo Yuhao suppressed the stray thoughts for now and stepped out from the shadows.
"Brother Bei Bei, Sister Tang Ya."
Since he had not joined the Tang Sect or Shrek formally, this form of address was most appropriate.
Seeing the blue-robed youth approach—
Bei Bei broke into a smile, while Tang Ya unconsciously grew somewhat restrained.
The young man before her—
Was someone even stronger than the Shrek Academy's headmaster.
Though she did not understand why he treated her with such warmth—calling her "Sister" no less—it left her at a loss.
"Yuhao, can we go to that treasured place you mentioned?"
Bei Bei stepped forward, tension in his voice.
Earlier—
When Huo Yuhao admitted that the note saying "Let Tang Ya remain at Shrek" had been written by him—
He had also promised to take them to a place that could transform Tang Ya's talent.
"That's right."
Huo Yuhao nodded with a smile.
"Let's go find Sanshi and Caitou as well."
Bei Bei's expression brightened. Pulling along the still-distracted Tang Ya, he hurried after him.
Before long—
The three arrived at the inner courtyard.
Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Jiang Nannan, and Xiao Xiao gathered one after another by the shores of Sea God Lake.
The water shimmered gently—
Reflecting the laughter and chatter of the young men and women.
Naturally, their conversation revolved around yesterday's earth-shaking battle.
"You're way too fierce, Yuhao—you actually fought a Limit Douluo!"
"Right now, all the students in the academy are treating you as their goal!"
"Yuhao, when are you planning to go challenge the Darkness Holy Dragon over that ten-move promise?"
Facing the crowd's burning gazes—
Huo Yuhao thought for a moment and said,
"It shouldn't be too long."
"By the way, Yuhao, why did you call us here today?"
Xiao Xiao looked around curiously.
"Are we waiting for someone else?"
No sooner had she spoken—
Than from the direction of the girls' dormitory, three slender figures approached gracefully. It was Zhang Lexuan, Ma Xiaotao, and Wang Dong.
Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up. She sweetly greeted the two senior sisters, then affectionately linked arms with Wang Dong.
"Dong'er, I called you this morning and you didn't answer. I thought you weren't coming."
Wang Dong shook her head and lifted her gaze toward Huo Yuhao.
At that very moment, he happened to look back.
Their eyes met.
The complicated emotions surging within her reddened eyes were like a needle, suddenly piercing his heart and bringing a sharp pang.
For some reason…
He felt that the Wang Dong before him was somewhat different.
"Junior Brother."
"Junior Yuhao."
Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao stepped closer, smiling softly as they looked at him.
"Everyone's here."
Huo Yuhao steadied himself and swept his gaze across the group.
"I invited everyone today because of a treasured place called the 'Yin Yang Love Querying Valley.'"
"As its name suggests, it is a place that tests true feelings and questions one's heart. Though there are opportunities within the valley, there are also risks."
"I'll tell you everything I know, but I can't guarantee absolute safety."
He paused slightly before continuing:
"So whether you go or not is entirely your own decision."
This Yin Yang Love Querying Valley had been arranged by that God King Tang.
In his previous life—
They had been deeply trapped within it, barely surviving through repeated brushes with death.
Wang Dong had even resolutely sacrificed herself for him, and afterward… she had become Tang Wutong.
Whether to step into this setup again should rightfully be their own choice.
For a moment, Sea God Lake fell silent.
Zhang Lexuan, Ma Xiaotao, and Wang Dong said nothing—because their hearts were already decided. They would go no matter what.
"Yuhao, is this the opportunity you mentioned that could change my talent?"
Tang Ya exchanged a glance with Bei Bei, their hands tightening together.
"I'm going!"
Xu Sanshi slapped He Caitou on the shoulder and grinned.
"We're going too!"
"A place that tests true feelings?"
"Since Sea God's Fated Blind Date didn't work out, maybe we can continue it there!"
Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao blushed slightly and nodded as well.
"Alright."
Huo Yuhao said no more.
Behind him, a pair of ninth-level golden-winged soul tool wings suddenly unfolded.
With a sweep of his wings, a roaring gale rose, lifting his companions as they shot toward the horizon.
"Set out for the Yin Yang Love Querying Valley!"
...
The Valley lay at the border between the Star Luo Empire and the Sun Moon Empire.
Traveling at full speed, Huo Yuhao arrived in less than half a day.
Before them stretched a vast primeval forest, its canopy blotting out the sky, endless and boundless.
Occasional roars of Spirit Beasts echoed through the trees, shaking the forest into rustling waves and sending fallen leaves fluttering.
Huo Yuhao took the lead, the others following closely behind.
Though dangers lurked within the woods—
None of them felt much tension.
With Huo Yuhao—someone capable of contending with Super Douluo-level powerhouses—such a forest posed little threat.
"In my previous life, we mistakenly entered the Valley after participating in the second Spirit Master Tournament in the Sun Moon Empire."
"Crown Prince Xu Tianran and Holy Spirit Cult Leader Zhongli Wu attempted to ambush Shrek. We were forced into the Valley."
Memories flashed through his mind.
Leading the group westward—
About the time it took for an incense stick to burn—
A strange fluctuation suddenly crashed into the range of his spiritual detection.
He halted and looked ahead.
In the shadowy depths of the forest—
A golden tide surged forward, illuminating the mottled tree shadows…