Huo Yuhao looked at the scale in his hand, momentarily silent.
The Silver Dragon King's Reverse Scale — a Divine Artifact — containing the Silver Dragon King's creation power.
Its function: if the holder encounters danger, Gu Yuena can sense it and use this item to rush to their side. In terms of functionality, it matched Star's Favor quite well. It could indeed be considered an exchange of courtesies...
Come to think of it, the person who was supposed to give me a Reverse Scale originally was Emperor Tian, right?
Huo Yuhao's thoughts veered off for a moment. He shook his head inwardly to clear them, then looked up in Gu Yuena's direction only to find that she had already become encrossed in playing with Star's Favor, not paying attention to this side.
Given this state, it would be hard to give it back.
Huo Yuhao's expression was complicated and complex. He put away the Reverse Scale.
He wanted to be alone. Don't ask him who "alone" was.
Hmm?
Just as he was about to put away the Reverse Scale, Huo Yuhao suddenly noticed that the bloodline whirlpool in his body had rippled because of the Reverse Scale. Just the aura emitted by the Reverse Scale was causing the Silver Dragon King's bloodline within it to feel a kind of boiling.
Clearly, the Reverse Scale, containing the power of creation, would be quite beneficial to the growth of the bloodline whirlpool.
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow. He didn't conduct any research. He directly stored the Reverse Scale in the Eye of Life.
He was still hesitant about whether to use it, but he always had to take good care of something Gu Yuena had given him with sincerity.
In the Sea of Spirit, looking at the new Divine Artifact that had taken Star's Favor's place, Skydream, in the form of a young boy, the corner of his mouth twitched.
"It's over. Can't repay it anymore."
A dragon's Reverse Scale, of all things... Gu Yuena had given this to Yuhao. Giving Star's Favor was practically giving it away for free.
"Skydream, do you think it's possible that she's wise but appears slow?" Ice Empress stroked her chin, her expression somewhat serious. "How does she always manage to hit just the right spot every time?"
Outsiders didn't know, but they, having been with Huo Yuhao all along, knew how many times his attitude toward Gu Yuena had changed. It could be seen from his actions.
The first time was when Gu Yuena covered for him, concealing the Ice Empress martial soul. Huo Yuhao had her call him "Yuhao" and treated her as an ordinary friend to be wary of.
The second time was when Gu Yuena sincerely studied forging and asked Huo Yuhao if he was satisfied with the Spirit Transmission Tower.
When Gu Yuena was asked in return and replied that she did not dislike this era, Huo Yuhao had already transformed her from someone to be wary of into a kindred spirit. The idea of shielding himself with her had also disappeared — at most, he would silently tease her.
After that, Huo Yuhao's attitude toward Gu Yuena was that of a good friend. In Ice Empress's view, Yuhao sometimes even spoiled her quite a bit.
The third time was yesterday, when Gu Yuena had come out of concern for Huo Yuhao's safety.
As for her original intention — Huo Yuhao's character wouldn't place too much weight on that. What mattered was that she had come when he might have been in danger. Someone willing to share hardships was rare and precious. Naturally, Gu Yuena's status in Huo Yuhao's heart would rise.
Afterward, when Huo Yuhao asked Gu Yuena why she had come, Ice Empress knew that Gu Yuena's feeling had been correct — Huo Yuhao had truly been angry. Angry at himself.
And today, Ice Empress thought, might become the fourth time.
That was a dragon's Reverse Scale. Its symbolism was not ordinary.
"I think naturalness defeats cunning."
Skydream, hearing this, recalled a phrase he had recently learned online and quipped.
A moment later, the members of Class Zero also arrived at the training ground. Huo Yuhao walked over to Wang Jinxi and handed him a soul tool.
"This is a Bloodline Suppressor. It can suppress bloodline elevation. Before you decide on your future path, you can wear this to avoid the influence of Wulin's bloodline aura."
He had made this soul tool using the Blood Source Pivot Crystal. The design blueprint had been developed and created by a certain researcher at the Spirit Transmission Tower.
"Thank you." Wang Jinxi showed a smile and nodded to Huo Yuhao.
He didn't want to give up the Combination Martial Soul Technique with Yangzi. It was a symbol of their friendship.
"Yuhao, thank you! Wulin, thank you!" Zhang Yangzi also thanked Huo Yuhao and Tang Wulin, who was standing nearby.
Tang Wulin quickly waved his hand. "It's all Yuhao's doing."
"Without the bloodline you provided, I couldn't have made this soul tool." Huo Yuhao shook his head, then asked: "Wulin, how's Jinyu?"
Tang Wulin smiled. "I followed your suggestion and went to the Spirit Elevation Platform. It's already recovered."
While the boys were communicating on one side, on the other side, Xu Xiaoyan approached Gu Yuena. Seeing the bracelet she was playing with, she was somewhat curious.
Star's Favor, under Gu Yuena's control, had now lost its starlight brilliance. It looked like just a pretty accessory. But Xu Xiaoyan still sensed an aura close to her.
"Na'er, what's this?"
"Yuhao gave it to me." Gu Yuena's eyes were as soft as water, carrying a smile.
Xu Xiaoyan's eyes widened. Her eyes lit up. She lowered her voice. "Tell me in detail?"
"Ahem." A light cough sounded. Luo Yanglu and Wu Changkong walked in, dashing Xu Xiaoyan's hopes of hearing gossip.
"It's the end of the term already. In three days, the Riot Spirit Elevation Platform will open. That will also be your final exam. Everyone, work hard."
Luo Yanglu's gaze swept over the group. "The riot phenomenon of the Spirit Elevation Platform originally stemmed from the instability of its internal energy. With technological progress, the riot period has become controllable."
"During the riot period, the spirit beasts within the Spirit Elevation Platform become more active, their numbers increase, and the danger level rises. Each time during the riot period, each of the Eighteen Heavenly Pillars has three hundred entry quotas. This time, you can obtain five of those three hundred quotas."
"Five?" Xie Xie was somewhat confused.
"That's right only five. The ones entering do not include Yuhao and Gu Yuena."
Luo Yanglu looked at Xie Xie, a cold smile appearing on his face, making the latter's whole body shiver. "Student Xie Xie, you were thinking of completing the Virtual Battlefield assessment by teaming up with Yuhao, weren't you?"
"Uh, but Boss Yuhao didn't agree last time either."
A faint flush spread across Xie Xie's face as he gave an embarrassed smile.
After learning that teaming up was an option, he had briefly considered clearing the trial alongside Huo Yuhao, basically getting carried to an easy win. But once he found out that the team mode calculated individual contributions, he quickly gave up on the idea.
"Having that kind of thought in the first place is not right." Wu Changkong said coldly from the side. "This time, I won't give you that opportunity."
The Riot Spirit Elevation Platform assessment was his proposal. The gap between Gu Yuena, Huo Yuhao, and the others was off-level. They couldn't be allowed to overly rely on the two and develop bad habits.
"Confident? The Riot Spirit Elevation Platform's limit is Level 39. That is to say, you may encounter opponents at the peak of Spirit Elder." Luo Yanglu asked.
The five exchanged glances. Smiles appeared on their faces.
"Yes!"
Three months had passed. Now, Xu Xiaoyan was Level 22. Xie Xie, Wang Jinxi, and Zhang Yangzi were Level 23. Tang Wulin was Level 16.
In just three months, each of them had about two levels. Before entering Class Zero, none of them would even have dared to think it.
And this was without them even taking some of the pills — otherwise, the boost would have been even greater.
As for practical combat experience — with Wu Changkong's teaching and months of fighting against the numerical freaks in the Virtual Battlefield — they had confidence in themselves.
Leaving aside monsters like Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena for a moment — even against someone at the Spirit Elder level, by working together, they were not without a chance.
***
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