Huo Yuhao inevitably ended up crossing paths with the people from the Tang Sect.
They exchanged a few polite words, but this time, Huo Yuhao didn't bother showing off his grilled fish skills from the original storyline. After all, the intimate scene with Zhongli Yu earlier had been far too awkward to witness, leaving Tang Ya with a rather cold impression of him.
Due to Huo Yuhao's current affiliation with the Holy Spirit Sect, his appearance and clothing were quite unlike that of a commoner. So, Tang Ya didn't extend an invitation for him to join the Tang Sect either.
Bei Bei, unable to read Zhongli Yu's background clearly, didn't dare linger too long and quickly found an excuse to lead Tang Ya away.
"They're from Shrek Academy," Zhongli Yu said suddenly with a faint smile as she watched their figures disappear into the distance. A glimmer of killing intent flickered in her beautiful eyes.
"Just a couple of insignificant bugs. Not worth worrying about," Huo Yuhao replied casually, waving his hand. He knew all too well that this woman had committed plenty of atrocities while following Zhongli Wu. The sweet, innocent act she put on was reserved solely for him.
"Come on. It's getting late. Let's head into the Star Dou Forest."
"Do you think they're heading into the Star Dou Forest?" Tang Ya asked, glancing back thoughtfully at the pair walking away.
Bei Bei shook his head. "Hard to say. I can sense that Huo Yuhao has soul power—it's well hidden. That so-called child bride of his doesn't seem simple either. She might be helping him hunt for a soul ring."
Tang Ya stuck out her tongue. "He's got soul power? Then maybe we should recruit him into the Tang Sect?"
Bei Bei gave a helpless smile. "Oh great Sect Leader Tang Ya, before you took me in as a disciple, you were the only member of the Tang Sect left. Since your ambition is to rebuild the sect, of course we should recruit talented people. But this Huo kid seems pretty refined. From his attire, he's probably from some noble family. Right now, we can only really bring in folks without much background—commoner disciples."
Tang Ya raised an eyebrow. "Well, well. Didn't know you had such a sharp eye."
Bei Bei stood up, dusting off his clothes. "It's called wisdom. Or cleverness—whichever you prefer. Let's go. That kid's got both backing and strength. Doesn't look like he needs our help."
Tang Ya followed, giggling. "Fine, let's roast some fish before we leave."
Huo Yuhao, of course, had no idea that the timeline had already been altered due to Zhongli Yu's presence. Even if he did, he'd probably cheer for it. After all, the Tang Sect had ties to that "Buddha" (Tang San), and once Huo Yuhao drew attention, things would get dangerous.
"How about it, Your Majesty? Did you sense any divine imprint from Tang San on those two Tang Sect disciples?" he asked Bibi Dong eagerly after Bei Bei and Tang Ya had left.
To his surprise, Bibi Dong's expression within the spiritual sea was unusually solemn. She gave him a sideways glance and replied coldly, "There wasn't any divine imprint on either of them. But that boy named Bei Bei… carried a faint aura of the Sea God's Light."
"Well, he is the great-grandson of the Sea God Pavilion Master. I bet he's bathed in that aura plenty of times," Huo Yuhao said, finally letting out a breath of relief. Thank goodness Bibi Dong could isolate the flow of destiny. As the new chosen child of destiny for the continent, he was bound to draw the gods' attention otherwise.
After traveling a bit further, a wooden sign caught Huo Yuhao's eye.
"Fifty li ahead lies the Star Dou Forest. Soul beasts are active. Proceed with caution."
They were on the right track—it was finally time to reach the iconic destination from the original novel. Excitement mixed with tension stirred in Huo Yuhao's chest. He patted the dagger at his waist to calm himself and stepped forward resolutely.
The air gradually turned cool—and along with the chill came a heavy atmosphere. The Star Dou Forest was like a soul beast with its jaws wide open, awaiting the arrival of a young life… offering either fortune—or death.
Fueled by excitement, Huo Yuhao instinctively quickened his pace. He could hardly wait.
Zhongli Yu trailed behind at a moderate distance, per Huo Yuhao's request. He couldn't rely on her to shield him from every danger—that would be no good for his cultivation.
As he forged ahead, a strange feeling suddenly stirred in Huo Yuhao's mind. It was as if his eyes had brushed against something unusual. He immediately funneled soul power into his Spirit Eyes.
Crimson spirals coiled around his pupils as his evolved Spirit Eyes caught a fleeting black shadow darting across the left side of the path.
His mutation-based spiritual-type martial soul gave him exceptional detection skills. Instinctively, Huo Yuhao's alertness spiked.
A black figure had just rushed past the spot where he'd been standing, slamming into the ground nearby. Up close, Huo Yuhao finally got a good look.
"Wow, it really is you—"
It was a baboon about one meter tall, covered in brownish-yellow fur. Its eyes were dark brown, arms unusually long with sharp claws, and fangs protruding from its lips. Ferocious light flashed in its eyes. Having missed its ambush, it growled deeply and lunged at him again.
No doubt about it—this was the very ten-year Wind Baboon that nearly sent the future God of Emotions to the underworld!
Even though Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes hadn't absorbed a soul ring yet, the techniques he could use far outstripped what a first ring would normally provide. As soul power surged through him, time seemed to slow—he could see the baboon's movement frame by frame.
His heart pounded faster. His breathing grew ragged. Despite two lifetimes, this was the first time he had faced a soul beast's assault head-on.
If he just focused his soul power into his left eye and activated Amaterasu, he could incinerate this creature instantly.
But killing wasn't as easy as talking about it.
As the saying goes: "Hesitate, and you lose."
While Huo Yuhao was still caught in inner conflict, the Wind Baboon had already reached him. Its elongated arms stretched out, claws digging into his shoulders. But it had sorely underestimated his physique—its claws left only faint white marks, as if scratching solid metal.
The baboon screeched, grabbed Huo Yuhao by the shoulders, and tried to use its weight and momentum to flip him and smash him into the ground.
Huo Yuhao snorted coldly.
"I was pretending to be weak, trying to play nice. But you chose violence. Alright then—I won't hold back. I'm overpowered!"
His left eye snapped open—Amaterasu, activate!
In an instant, black flames burst forth where his gaze landed. The bizarre fire caused unbearable pain. The Wind Baboon howled in agony and collapsed, rolling on the ground.
Soon after, the baboon stopped moving. A faint white glow began to emerge from its body, gradually coalescing above it into a dim, flickering soul ring. It wasn't very bright or well-formed, but as it hovered above the corpse, Huo Yuhao stood frozen in awe—it was his first time seeing a soul ring manifest.
Just as he was marveling at the wonders of nature, a voice suddenly rang out in his head—without warning.
"At last! A human with spiritual attributes! If I could cry, I'd be bawling right now!"
The ground beneath Huo Yuhao's feet began to tremble violently.
Just two meters ahead, cracks began to form in the earth, spreading and widening rapidly. Faint golden-white light glimmered from deep within.
A chill wafted out from the fissures, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet. The cracked area expanded, quickly reaching five meters in diameter.
The golden-white light finally revealed its source.
It was a large, round head—plump and smooth, over a meter in diameter. It squirmed upward, revealing a body over seven meters long.
As it emerged, Huo Yuhao could see his breath. The air grew so frigid that he shivered uncontrollably.
The creature's entire body was a translucent jade white, pristine and unblemished despite emerging from the dirt. A soft light shimmered beneath its skin, and its head sported two glittering golden eyes. Most striking of all were the ten golden rings encircling its body at regular intervals from head to tail.
Oh my god—it's here!
Huo Yuhao could hardly h
old back his tears.
Skydream Iceworm, my man! I've waited a whole year for this moment!
[End of Chapter]
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