Chapter 9: The Big Worm, Tianmeng
This aura was like an invisible furnace. It did not suppress the nether power; instead, it quietly incinerated the violent impurities within it, leaving behind only the purest essence—the source power that resonated with Huo Yuhao's bloodline. Simultaneously, it protected his heart and sea of consciousness, ensuring he would not collapse under the impact.
Time passed bit by bit. The aura on Huo Yuhao's body shifted from violent fluctuations to a deep, condensed state.
Dark silver and abyssal black light flickered alternately beneath the skin of his left arm before finally receding inward. A wave of soul power, far stronger than before and carrying an icy, sharp edge, radiated from his body.
"Whew..."
Huo Yuhao snapped his eyes open. Deep within his pupils, the phantom of a white tiger seemed to flash by for an instant.
He felt the explosive power contained in his left arm and the surging, abundant soul power within his body—the massive boost brought by fusing a soul bone.
"Master! I succeeded!" Huo Yuhao looked at Lin Yu excitedly, his eyes filled with wild joy and infinite reverence for his master. He knew deep down that without his master's seemingly casual yet vital protection, he never could have fused this top-tier soul bone so "smoothly."
"Mhm, barely passable." Lin Yu finally opened his eyes, his tone remains flat. "This is just the starting point. If you want to settle scores, this level of strength is far from enough."
He stood up, brushed off non-existent dust, and turned his gaze toward the north. His vision seemed to pierce through layer upon layer of mountains, reaching the eternal frozen domain at the end of the continent.
"Master, where are we going next?" Huo Yuhao stood up as well, following his master's gaze, but he saw only a dense darkness and the unknown.
The corner of Lin Yu's mouth curled into an imperceptible arc, carrying a certainty that came from controlling the grand scheme and a hint of playfulness toward the "tool" he was about to acquire:
"North. I'm taking you to catch a 'big worm.' And while we're at it... I'll collect some interest and find a few 'little brothers' who can hold down the fort."
"A big worm? Little brothers to hold down the fort?" Huo Yuhao looked dazed, completely unable to understand the meaning behind his master's words.
"You'll know when we get there."
Lin Yu offered no explanation. He simply set off, his silhouette appearing exceptionally tall and mysterious in the night. As he walked, he calculated in his heart:
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. A perfect match for Huo Yuhao's spiritual-type martial soul. The million-year soul ring package is a core resource that must be secured.
This lazy worm's mental power is a key pivot for many future plans.
Moreover, tricking him into joining us is essentially planting a super-bugging device right next to Tang San's future son-in-law. Just thinking about it is exciting.
The Three Great Heavens of the Far North: Snow Empress, Ice Empress, and the Titan Snow Devil King. These three are the true targets of this trip. The uncrowned kings of the Far North, powerful and untamable.
The Silver Dragon King has her crew of savage beasts in Star Dou; I, the Golden Dragon King, naturally must have a force capable of rivaling them.
Subduing them will not only secure Huo Yuhao's future soul rings and bones—especially the Ice Empress's torso bone and the Snow Empress's embryo—but it is also the first step in building my own 'God-King Avengers.'
With the bloodline suppression of the Golden Dragon King and my future status as the Dragon God, plus a bit of 'physical persuasion' and shared interests, I'm not afraid they won't bow.
As for Tang San's possible prying from the Divine Realm?
Heh, let him find out after his old nest has been hollowed out.
"Keep up."
Lin Yu's voice drifted back, interrupting Huo Yuhao's thoughts.
In the mixed zone of the Star Dou Great Forest, the life force was so dense that it flowed through the trees like literal mist.
Ancient trees reached for the sky with gnarled branches intertwined. Sunlight struggled to penetrate the thick canopy, casting mottled spots of light on the ground.
The air was terrifyingly still, with only the occasional low roar of a distant beast signaling the danger of this place.
Huo Yuhao followed closely behind Lin Yu, his steps so light they were nearly silent. After fusing the Netherworld White Tiger Left Arm Bone, his physical strength and control over soul power had improved significantly. However, standing in the heart of this legendary paradise for soul beasts, he still felt a massive pressure born of instinct, as if countless eyes were watching him from the shadows.
He couldn't help but look at the figure strolling ahead. Master Lin Yu acted as if he were walking through his own backyard; that invisible pressure originating from a higher level of life seemed to naturally disperse any nearby stalkers.
"Master, where exactly are we going to find that 'big worm'?" Huo Yuhao couldn't help but whisper.
Lin Yu stopped, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. His gaze pierced through the heavy fog, precisely targeting a cold, damp cave deep within the forest.
"Him? We don't need to find him. Once he catches the scent of your 'monk's meat,' he won't be able to wait to deliver himself to our door."
Just as he finished speaking, a mental power so massive it was hard to describe erupted from deep underground like a collapsing dam! This mental power carried an indescribable greed, longing, and... a hint of lecherous excitement?
"Wahahahaha! Has Brother's luck finally come? After waiting a million years, I've finally found a human with a mental attribute! And such a pure prototype for a Sea of Consciousness! Heaven does not want me, Brother Tianmeng, to die!"
Along with this extremely exaggerated and incoherent mental roar, Huo Yuhao felt as if his brain had been struck by a heavy hammer. With a loud buzz, his consciousness instantly went blank. His body froze in place, unable to move even a finger.
He could only "see" a brilliant, snow-white light adorned with ten golden patterns. Like tangible mental energy, it was rushing frantically toward him, intending to completely submerge and fuse with him!
It was the million-year soul beast—the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm!
Just as that vast, sea-like mental power was about to touch the space between Huo Yuhao's eyebrows, a slender palm, as if piercing through the barriers of space, casually blocked the way in front of Huo Yuhao.
There was no earth-shaking energy explosion, no dazzling light. Lin Yu simply blocked it effortlessly.
Boom—!
The terrifying mental impact, enough to make a Titled Douluo's mind collapse instantly, slammed into a point one inch in front of that palm. It felt as if it had hit an invisible, intangible, yet indestructible wall of sighs!
The violent mental torrent was instantly forced into a state of solidification and stagnation. Then, like waves crashing against a cliff, it scattered in all directions, causing the surrounding ancient trees to sway wildly, yet it could not advance another fraction of an inch!
"Wha... what the hell is that?!"
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's exaggerated mental roar came to an abrupt halt, replaced by unbelievable shock and fear. Its massive mental energy, like the tentacles of a startled snail, snapped back by more than half. It looked "uncertainly" at the human who had suddenly appeared and blocked its "gourmet meal."
Facing this person, the massive mental energy it had accumulated over a million years actually felt... tiny?
Like a drop of water trying to drown the entire ocean? How was this possible?!
Only then did Huo Yuhao recover from the terrifying impact, gasping for air with lingering fear, his back completely soaked in cold sweat.