Thinking of how the Tang Sect had brought an end to that glorious era, Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, Sister Xiaoya, but I already have an affiliation and can't join the Tang Sect."
"Huh?" Tang Ya exclaimed anxiously. "Little Yuhao, which sect did you join? Our Tang Sect is truly amazing! If you don't believe me, just watch!"
She immediately began demonstrating her techniques.
But the more Huo Yuhao watched, the quieter he became, because...
'Hand Training: Profound Jade Hand—palm hardened like steel!'
Zhuge Lan: "The Muscle Transformation Classic's first level grants inherent full-body defense, complete with a protective aura!"
'Eye Training: Purple Extreme Demon Eye!'
Zhuge Lan: "What's that? I've got plenty of eye techniques—Byakugan, Sharingan, Rinnegan, Copy Eye, Demon God Eye... I could even plaster my face with Fortune Points to get them all!"
'Grasping Technique: Crane Control, Dragon Capture!'
Zhuge Lan: "Ever heard of Tai Chi? Or the Dragon-Seizing Hand? Or the Great Shift of the Universe?"
'Lightness Skill: Ghost Shadow Traceless!'
Zhuge Lan: "That's barely even Lightness Skill—it's just basic footwork. I've got the Lingbo Microstep, Phoenix Dance Six Illusions, Spiral Nine Shadows, Carefree Ascension Step!"
'Secret weapon techniques!' Zhuge Lan scoffed, "Outdated by at least a major version, and it's been censored and stripped of its most valuable parts—the Classic of Medicines and Classic of Poisons. It's not even worth a soul tool."
'Internal Cultivation Manual: Profound Heaven Art!'
Zhuge Lan continued, "The first stage of the Muscle Transformation Classic alone could annihilate this. And it's been censored too—the key section on the Eight Extraordinary Meridians was cut by that little weasel."
With Zhuge Lan's commentary, how could Huo Yuhao possibly be tempted?
The illusion was instantly dispelled.
Tang Ya, drenched in sweat, stopped and looked at Huo Yuhao with eager anticipation.
"Xiao Yuhuo, have you changed your mind?"
Huo Yuhao felt trapped.
'What excuse could he possibly give to refuse without hurting Sister Xiao Ya?'
"Simple," Zhuge Lan suggested. "Just pull her into your sect."
"Huh? I have a sect?"
"You do now," Zhuge Lan replied with a mischievous grin. "Just repeat after me..."
Having grown to trust Zhuge Lan completely, Huo Yuhao repeated without hesitation:
"Sister Xiaoya, I really do have a sect now."
"Our sect's motto is—"
"Holy Flame, blazing bright, Holy Flame, shining light, All our disciples, meow, meow, meow, meow..."
"..."
Huo Yuhao mentally roared in frustration. 'What kind of ridiculous motto is that?!'
But since he'd already committed to the act, he couldn't just back down now, could he?
Huo Yuhao steeled himself and pressed on, "So, Sister Xiaoya, I've already joined the Holy Flame Meow... the Holy Flame Meow Meow Sect. The Martial Soul and Soul Skill mutations were all provided by the sect."
"Joining the Tang Sect would be considered apostasy, and I'd be hunted down."
"But..."
"The Holy Flame Meow Meow Sect definitely has a way to resolve your Martial Soul evolution issues. Why don't you just join us? Rest assured, our sect values inclusivity. We don't restrict our disciples from being members of other sects, but once you join, you can't join any others."
Tang Ya and Bei Bei exchanged bewildered glances.
'Holy Flame Meow Meow Sect?'
'That doesn't sound like a proper sect at all!'
Yet the prospect of resolving their Martial Soul evolution issues was incredibly tempting.
"Wait!" Tang Ya snapped back to her senses. "Didn't I drag you into the Tang Sect? How did it become us joining the Holy Flame Meow Meow Sect?"
Huo Yuhao scratched his head with a sheepish grin, offering no explanation.
But his stance was clear.
"Alright, Teacher Xiaoya," Bei Bei interjected, mediating the situation. "Since the sect rules prohibit it, let's not force the issue. Our immediate priority is to help you acquire your third Soul Ring."
Tang Ya sighed dejectedly, her spirits dampened.
Seeing her dejection, Bei Bei reached into his own belt, pressed a hidden mechanism, and retrieved a pitch-black belt inlaid with a circular white jade ornament. He offered it to Huo Yuhao.
"Little Yuhuo, this is a replica of the Storage Belt 'Twenty-Four Bridges, Moonlight Night,' originally designed by Tang San, one of the Tang Sect's ancestors. It has 24 storage spaces, each with a half-meter side length."
"This is a token of gratitude from a friend, thanking you for guiding me towards the evolution of my Martial Soul."
"Additionally, there are 1,000 Gold Soul Coins in the belt. I'd like you to help Teacher Xiaoya find a suitable third Soul Ring..."
"And grilled fish!" Tang Ya's eyes sparkled.
"Little Yuhao, you'll be in charge of the grilled fish on this entire journey!"
Huo Yuhao, feeling embarrassed and unworthy of such generosity, tried to demur.
Bei Bei forcefully fastened the Twenty-Four Bridges, Moonlight Night belt around Huo Yuhao's waist.
"Stop being so timid, you man! We're going to help Teacher Xiaoya find a Soul Ring together."
With that, he turned and left.
Tang Ya waved at Huo Yuhao, gesturing for him to walk in the middle while she took the rear.
The "deal" was sealed. As they walked, Huo Yuhao turned to Zhuge Lan.
"Brother Lan, can you explain the Fortune Points now?"
Zhuge Lan glanced at the system notification:
[ Rewrite Huo Yuhao's fate: +100,000 Fortune Points! ]
Refusing to join the Tang Sect grants 100,000 Fortune Points?
'Outrageous!'
But then again...
The first step in Tang San's "God-training" method was to tether Huo Yuhao to the Tang Sect, forcing him to contribute to its resurgence.
By severing the chains at their source, Huo Yuhao was now free to roam the vast skies and seas.
100,000 Fortune Points? That was barely a drop in the bucket.
"Little Yuhao, do you believe in fate?"
Huo Yuhao's gaze drifted for a moment before hardening with resolve.
"I don't believe in fate!"
"If fate decrees my doom, then I'll defy heaven and change my destiny!"
"With Brother Lan and Brother Tianmeng by my side, I know we can do it!"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm let out a smug hum, 'Not bad, kid. You know how to talk.'
"Exactly," Zhuge Lan said calmly. "Defy heaven and change your destiny."
"To rewrite your fate, increase your own weight in the world, and become the chosen one of this era."
"Whenever you act in your own best interest, your fortunr will increase, and I'll convert it into Fortune Points."
"For example, when you made Tang Ya abandon the Mandala Snake Soul Ring, that was worth 10,000 Fortune Points."
"Refusing to join the Tang Sect? 50,000 Fortune Points."
Zhuge Lan took a direct cut, pocketing the extra Fortune Points in his private stash.
'What system doesn't skim off the top?'
Even so, Huo Yuhao and the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm were stunned.
"The Tang Sect is worth 50,000 Fortune Points?" Huo Yuhao exclaimed dramatically. "My first-stage Muscle Transformation Classic only yielded 5,000!"
Huo Yuhao could see his system interface, so he naturally noticed the changes in his Fortune Points.
Of course, that was only what Zhuge Lan wanted him to see.
"Xiao Yuhao, shouldn't you be paying more attention to..." Tianmeng Ice Silkworm reminded him. "Your Fortune Points skyrocketed after refusing to join the Tang Sect!"
Huo Yuhao froze.
A chill ran down his spine!
50,000 Fortune Points!
Wouldn't that skin him alive and tear out his tendons?
Did that mean he'd been dancing with death?
He stared at Bei Bei in front of him, frowning in thought.
"Brother Lan, this..."
"This has nothing to do with these two. Someone has been manipulating your fate," Zhuge Lan said vaguely.
"I can't reveal the details, but suffice it to say, they were using you as a pawn. Refusing the Tang Sect was like escaping the chessboard."
Huo Yuhao's heart grew heavier.
He asked, puzzled, "I'm just an ordinary person. Why would any entity bother scheming against me?"
"Little Yuhao, with me and Zhuge by your side, you're far from ordinary," Tianmeng Ice Silkworm puffed up. "And in your spiritual world, there's that mysterious gray figure—equally enigmatic."
"Indeed," Zhuge Lan agreed. "Tracing your lineage, you're the descendant of the God of War and the Goddess of Speed."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"