Chapter 46: Now Then—Enjoy This Magnificent Explosion!
To avoid alarming the Three-legged Golden Toad and forcing it to dive deep beneath the Heavy Gold Marsh, the trio once again laid out a careful plan.
Fortunately, the Starlight Ring gifted to Huo Yuhao by Kong Deming possessed not only concealment but also a sealing effect.
Although this ability couldn't directly kill the Three-legged Golden Toad, it was enough to temporarily suppress it—long enough for them to drag it away from the marsh.
As always, Yuhao's Concealment, combined with his Spiritual Interference Domain, proved decisive. He had already tricked countless soul beasts using this same method.
Once he approached within range, the Starlight Ring flared—and the 25,000-year-old Three-legged Golden Toad was instantly sealed inside.
The beast didn't even have time to react before it was swallowed whole by the ring's power.
Time was limited. Without hesitation, Yuhao immediately signaled retreat, and the three dashed toward the forest outskirts with their prize.
Not long after they vanished, Jing Hongchen's figure flickered into sight. He lingered silently, eyes fixed on the Heavy Gold Marsh as if deep in thought, before disappearing again.
—Jingyang Forest Outskirts—
First, he activated the Eternal Frozen Domain, transforming the environment of this area entirely into the extreme ice attribute, causing the temperature throughout the environment to drop to an extreme. Only then did Huo Yuhao release the Three-legged Golden Toad.
Only then did he release the Three-legged Golden Toad.
"Guuuuh!!"
The instant it emerged, the enormous beast let out a guttural, echoing croak. At once, the metallic elements in the atmosphere surged violently, and even the flow of soul power in the area turned sluggish and chaotic.
"Retreat!"
Yuhao triggered his Spiritual Interference Domain again, cloaking the trio's aura and simulating them as plants. Without delay, they sprinted far away.
This was no ordinary opponent—the Three-legged Golden Toad commanded absolute control over metal. Even Xiao Hongchen, with all his strength, would find it impossible to wrest control of the surrounding metals from this creature.
But Yuhao had prepared a trump card long beforehand.
Beside the toad lay a frozen corpse encased in thick ice—the Scarlet Flame Ice Python Meng Hongchen had slain earlier.
Inside Yuhao's Spiritual Sea, the Ice Empress curved her lips into a rare smile.
"Yuhao, you truly intend to use the Ice Explosion Technique on this soul beast?"
"Of course. I've been waiting to see just how destructive the Ice Explosion Technique really is."
Beside her, Tianmeng squirmed with sycophantic excitement.
"Heh, my dear Bingbing's ability? Obviously the strongest in existence!"
"Shut up, Tianmeng! You disgust me!"
"Eh? But I'm your little snack, right? Hehehe, Bingbing really is the best~"
Yuhao ignored their antics. From the moment he released the toad, he had already filled the python's corpse with dense Extreme Ice energy, locking it in place like a primed bomb.
All that remained was for the Three-legged Golden Toad to unleash its power—then Yuhao would trigger the explosion. Combined with the Eternal Frozen Domain, the resulting chain reaction would be catastrophic.
By the time the three of them had retreated to the peak of a mountain over a kilometer away, Meng Hongchen frowned in confusion.
"Yuhao, why did we pull back so far?"
Xiao Hongchen looked equally puzzled.
Yuhao only smiled faintly, standing tall at the mountaintop. The wind tousled his hair, and a cocky grin curved across his lips—unrestrained, confident, arrogant.
"Because…"
He spread his arms wide.
"…it's time for you both to witness the magnificent explosion I've prepared."
At that very moment, the golden elemental energy condensed to its peak. Yuhao triggered the Ice Explosion Technique.
BOOM!!!
A deafening detonation shook heaven and earth. The Scarlet Flame Ice Python's corpse erupted like the core of an icy nuclear blast. Amplified by the Eternal Frozen Domain, the explosion's range expanded severalfold.
Even from a thousand meters away, the trio could feel the overwhelming shockwave battering the mountainside. The thunderous roar deafened the ears, and countless razor-sharp shards of crystalline ice stormed outward in every direction.
"This… what in the world?!"
Meng Hongchen was utterly dumbfounded. Her eyes widened at the sight of the already-dead Three-legged Golden Toad, obliterated alongside a colossal crater at least five hundred meters wide carved into the earth.
"Yuhao, this was you?! How did you even do that?!"
Xiao Hongchen was shaken to his core. Not only by the terrifying, destructive force—but also by the way Yuhao had unleashed it with such casual flair.
Damn it! Why couldn't he ever act this cool? This show-off was perfected—effortless, natural, devastatingly effective.
Yuhao smirked, hands tucked into his pockets.
"The Ice Explosion Technique scales with the strength of the target. The more powerful the material, the greater the detonation. I… just added a little something extra to it. That's why it triggered a chain explosion."
Shua!
At that moment, Jing Hongchen arrived on scene, face pale with shock. Seeing the three safe and sound, he patted his chest, his heart nearly leaping from the fright.
"You reckless brats! Do you realize what you've done? You nearly scared this old man to death!
You're the Empire's greatest hope—if anything had happened to you three, how would I explain it to your elders?!"
Cough, cough. Yuhao scratched his head awkwardly. "Dean, this was actually my first time using Ice Explosion. I… might have lost control a little, haha."
He quickly explained—though he deliberately concealed certain details about the ability.
Jing Hongchen didn't pry further. Yuhao was Kong Deming's personal disciple, after all—some secrets were best left to their master's judgment.
"Fine. Enough talk. The Three-legged Golden Toad is dead. Yuhao, are you certain you can absorb its soul ring?"
Yuhao nodded. His teacher had already confirmed his body could handle it.
"Good. Then begin. I'll stand guard. If anything goes wrong, I'll intervene immediately."
Without hesitation, Yuhao walked to the massive corpse and began the absorption.
Just as he had planned, he first activated [Strong Luck]—its echo confirming he would indeed obtain the skill he sought. Only then did he allow the soul ring to merge with him.
(Unlike the first echo, future echoes are only audible to Yuhao himself—unless he wills otherwise.)
Meanwhile, Jing Hongchen, unable to resist, decided to "loot the body" as well. His hands searched along the toad's limbs—until his eyes lit with surprise.
"A… soul bone?"
His gaze flickered with awe as he pulled out a dark gold leg bone.
Meng Hongchen gasped. "It's the Three-legged Golden Toad's right leg bone!"
Xiao Hongchen froze for a moment, then smiled.
Jing Hongchen concealed his emotions but spoke solemnly.
"Xiao, this soul bone belongs to Yuhao. Its ownership is his decision to make."
Before he could finish, Xiao Hongchen raised his hand confidently.
"Grandfather, you misunderstand. Yuhao is my greatest brother. Even if this soul bone is a perfect match for me—it's nothing compared to what Yuhao deserves.
Besides, I barely contributed to this battle. The treasure belongs with him."
Meng Hongchen blinked in disbelief. Her elder brother was never this selfless. Yet, at this moment, he seemed… handsome.
"Brother… you're showing off, but this time, it's actually really cool!"
Xiao Hongchen's grin nearly split his face. His sister's praise filled him with glee.
(Yuhao: …My father-in-law praised me again. I'm so happy. Hoh, spit—what the heck am I even thinking?)
Indeed—staying close to Yuhao meant learning the art of show-off without effort. And it was, without question, the deadliest art of all.
Jing Hongchen looked at his grandson anew, deeply gratified.
"Xiao, the fact that you can say such words proves you already have the makings of a top-tier powerhouse.
You've made me proud."
—
End of Chapter