Chapter 5: Chapter 4 Thunder Beibei
Bei Bei looked at him with a hint of surprise, "Little Brother Huo, you must think this through. Joining the sect is no small matter. Although the Tang Sect has declined, it has once been the number one sect in the world. If you regret it in the future and want to betray the sect, neither Tang Ya nor I will let you off easily."
Huo Yuhao nodded, "Big Brother Bei, I have thought it over. I have no family left, and I'm still young. It was only on this trip to Xingdou Forest that I realized how dangerous the outside world can be. I want to stand out and become a powerful Soul Master, and joining the Tang Sect is undoubtedly a shortcut to that end. Not only can I enter Shrek Academy, but I can also receive guidance from you. Moreover, I trust you. You were willing to disclose all the difficulties facing the Tang Sect, and I can feel your sincerity towards me. I am willing to work with you to create a glorious future for the Tang Sect."
"Good, very well said," Tang Ya said excitedly as she hugged Huo Yuhao.
Bei Bei also nodded slightly at him. Just as he felt, Huo Yuhao was far more mature than his peers. Although he had gained his first soul ring after the age of ten, he could become accomplished through effort. Moreover, he was a rare possessor of a Spirit Martial Soul. It seemed the Tang Sect had caught a lucky break.
The faint fragrance from Tang Ya made Huo Yuhao's face turn red, and he stood there without daring to move, standing obediently in place.
It was Bei Bei who broke the awkwardness, "Teacher Xiao Ya."
Tang Ya then let go of Huo Yuhao, looking at him with a smile. She looked more than satisfied. Of course, she would never admit that her initial desire to have Huo Yuhao join the Tang Sect was because of the deliciously grilled fish he made…
"Little Yuhao, time to take me as your teacher. Our Tang Sect is small, so we don't have many formalities. You just need to kowtow once and address me as 'Teacher', and from then on, you'll be part of the Tang Sect," Tang Ya said seriously.
Huo Yuhao nodded, and with a plop, he knelt in front of Tang Ya, "Disciple Huo Yuhao pays respect to Teacher."
Tang Ya stood still, letting him bow three times before helping him up.
"Very good, Yuhao, from now on, you are my second disciple. Meet your elder brother," she said while pointing at Bei Bei beside her.
"I pay my respects to elder brother," Huo Yuhao bowed again to Bei Bei.
Bei Bei gave a slight smile, saying, "Little junior brother, don't be too formal. From now on, we're family."
Tang Ya looked relieved and said, "Yuhao, from now on, you should call me Teacher Xiao Ya like Bei Bei does, but don't follow him in being too casual. Understand?"
"Yes, Teacher." After becoming a disciple, Huo Yuhao naturally acted more reserved, but the emptiness in his heart also stabilized a lot. Joining the Tang Sect had given him a sense of security that he had not felt for a long time.
Xiao Ya flipped her hand, seemingly producing a book from nowhere, and handed it to Huo Yuhao, "Little Yuhao, this is a copy of 'Mystic Sky Records,' which contains the ultimate techniques of our Tang Sect. Among them, the Mystic Sky Method is fundamental, and meditation upon it will definitely speed up your cultivation. You are just starting, so switching to Mystic Sky Method won't affect you in any negative way. Bei Bei and I will guide your cultivation later on. Apart from the Mystic Sky Method, 'Mystic Sky Records' also includes five ultimate techniques, which are: Mystic Jade Hands to practice hands, Purple Demon Eyes to practice the eyes, capturing technique of Controlling Crane and Capturing Dragon, lightness technique of Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and the method of Hidden Weapons Hundred Solutions for hidden weapon use. Our Tang Sect is most famous for hidden weapons, but you must build a solid foundation before starting that cultivation. What you need to do now is to start practicing the first five techniques, and later I'll teach you about hidden weapons."
"I mentioned earlier that there was one Tang Sect ultimate technique that is particularly well-suited to you, and that's the Purple Demon Eyes. Purple Demon Eyes is a method to practice the eyes. When cultivated to a certain level, it can unleash a very powerful attack. Your Martial Soul is your eyes, so there should be nothing more suitable for you than this technique. You must practice it diligently," she added.
Receiving the 'Mystic Sky Records' from Xiao Ya, Huo Yuhao carefully tucked it into his chest, "Thank you, Teacher. I will definitely work hard at my cultivation."
Bei Bei pressed a button on his own belt, revealing a black belt inlaid with round white jade pieces.
"Little junior brother, this belt, modeled after the Soul Guidance Device 'Twenty-four Bridge Moonlit Night' possessed by our Tang Sect ancestor Tang San, is my gift to you as a welcoming present. With it, carrying certain items will become much more convenient," while speaking, Bei Bei fastened the 'Twenty-four Bridge Moonlit Night' belt around Huo Yuhao's waist and explained how to use it. It turned out that the twenty-four jade pieces on the belt each had a half-meter cubed space to store various items. They could be manipulated with soul power, making them quite precious Soul Guidance Devices.
Yuhao wasn't particularly gifted physically, but he was extremely intelligent. After a few tries, he was able to easily control the 'Twenty-four Bridge Moonlit Night'. However, manipulating it consumed a not-insignificant portion of his already meager soul power.
"Little Yuhao, your elder brother and I came out to hunt soul beasts to increase our soul rings. You just follow us for now. After I've completed the hunt, I'll take you back to Shrek Academy," Tang Ya said.
"Yes, Teacher," Huo Yuhao hurriedly replied respectfully.
Tang Ya chuckled, "Although you've become a disciple, you don't need to be so tense. With just the three of us in the Tang Sect, what's the fun in being too stiff?"
Bei Bei said with a touch of annoyance, "With a teacher like you, it'd be weird if the disciple could be reserved. The sky is getting dark; we should hurry on our way. Let's hope we get lucky and find a suitable soul beast to hunt on the outskirts of Xingdou Forest."
"Mhm," Tang Ya nodded and said, "Let's set off."
Tang Ya led the way while Bei Bei held Huo Yuhao's hand from behind, and the three of them sped up towards Xingdou Forest.
Huo Yuhao could clearly feel his cultivation improving, especially his physical condition, which made it much easier for him to travel. But compared to Tang Ya and Bei Bei, there was still a significant gap in speed. A gentle soul power came from Bei Bei's hand, almost carrying him as they ran, so Huo Yuhao hardly needed to expend any effort.
As they walked, Bei Bei said to Huo Yuhao, "Little junior brother, our Tang Sect's Mystic Sky Method is one of the best cultivation methods on the continent. If you practice diligently, you will definitely reap rewards. Let me tell you the intricacies of how to operate Mystic Sky Method. Make sure to remember them."
"Okay." Huo Yuhao nodded, listening intently to Bei Bei's explanation.
Not only was Bei Bei elegant in appearance, but he also had a very mild and meticulous temperament. When explaining the Mystic Sky Method's cultivation technique to Huo Yuhao, he patiently detailed every aspect. Whenever Huo Yuhao didn't understand something, Bei Bei could explain it in a way that was both straightforward and easy to grasp. Huo Yuhao quickly became immersed in the extraordinary cultivation method.
Tang Ya, walking in front, couldn't help but stick out her tongue, because she was absolutely certain that if it were her explaining to Huo Yuhao, she definitely wouldn't have been as methodical as Bei Bei. She really was an unqualified Sect Master of the Tang Sect.
With Bei Bei explaining and Huo Yuhao listening, time had unknowingly passed, and nearly two hours had gone by.
The main road had disappeared, and they were surrounded by dense woods. The air became fresher, yet a somber aura faintly emanated from deep within the forest.
"The basic method of cultivation is like this, but you'll have to try it yourself and slowly figure it out. If there's anything you don't understand, just come and ask me," Bei Bei said to Huo Yuhao.
"Thank you, Big Brother Bei." Huo Yuhao's respect for Bei Bei continued to rise with his explanation, naturally leading him to behave more respectfully.
Just then, Xiao Ya, who was walking ahead, suddenly huffed coldly. Her steps became elusive as her body flickered and she pounced towards a large tree to the left. Huo Yuhao barely caught glimpses of cold light flashing by, and one of the Wind Baboons that had almost killed him before fell from the treetop.
Xiao Ya said irritably, "These Wind Baboons are the most annoying, always launching attacks and preferring to ambush."
Huo Yuhao, who had not used his Spirit Eyes just now, didn't see how Xiao Ya had made her move, "Teacher Xiao Ya, was that a soul skill you used just now?"
Xiao Ya replied with some pride, "It wasn't a soul skill, but a combination of our Tang Sect's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and hidden weapons. Impressive, huh? Practice well, and you'll be able to do it too in the future."
"Xiao Ya, be careful." Bei Bei's expression suddenly changed. He violently raised his right hand, making a clawing gesture towards Tang Ya. They were obviously accustomed to cooperating. Xiao Ya tapped the ground with the tip of her foot, her body floating up as if weightless, being pulled over by the pulling force in Bei Bei's hand.
A dark shadow instantly landed with a soft "puff" sound. Right after, a thick sweet scent assailed their senses.
Huo Yuhao felt dizzy for a moment, but then a cold current surged from within his body, sealing his mouth and nose. A wisp of cold fog was faintly expelled from his mouth and nose, expelling the sweet poison he had inhaled back into the air.
Ice property, my second Martial Soul? Huo Yuhao immediately thought of the origin of the cold current. However, he clearly hadn't been the one controlling it just now.
As he marveled at the effect of his second Martial Soul, Xiao Ya had already been pulled close by the pulling force in Bei Bei's palm. She pushed down on Bei Bei's shoulder with her right hand, coiled her body, and flipped over to land behind him.
Two rings rose from under Tang Ya's feet, the bright yellow pulsing up and down. Both of her soul rings were actually at the Centennial level.
Streaks of blue vines rapidly unfurled from Tang Ya's body in that instant. One of them wound around Huo Yuhao's waist while many more spread far and wide into the distance.
In comparison to Tang Ya, it was the sight of Bei Bei that truly shocked Huo Yuhao.
All this time, in his mind, this Big Brother Bei had always been gentle and refined. Bei Bei, standing next to Tang Ya, was always accompanied by a mild smile, giving off an approachable vibe. But now, he had become entirely different.
As Xiao Ya soared over his head, a dazzling blue light shone from Bei Bei's forehead. The light spread instantaneously, covering his entire body from his brow to his feet. Streams of blue-purple lightning, like tiny snakes, erupted and swirled around his body. At a glance, Bei Bei's changes didn't seem to be major, except for a blue lightning mark on his forehead and the transformations of his body due to the Martial Soul attachment.
Yet, it was this sole transformation that gave Huo Yuhao a whole new understanding of Soul Masters.
The change was in his right arm. The sleeve on his right side had burst into ashes due to the arm's swelling, and the arm had grown about six inches longer. The entire arm was very thick and covered in blue-purple scales. His hand became claw-like, sheathed in the same scales. Each joint on the hand became extremely bulky. Blue-purple lightning, coiling around him, constantly converged and flitted across his arm. The three soul rings of two yellow and one purple didn't circle his body like those of other Soul Masters; instead, they revolved around the specially mutated arm.
Three rings, Soul Venerable level - Huo Yuhao was stunned to discover that Big Brother Bei, who was only four to five years older than himself, was already a Soul Venerable above level 30. Moreover, his soul rings were of the highest combination: two Centennial and one Millennium soul rings.
In the hierarchy of soul rings, white stands for 10 years, yellow for a hundred years, purple for a thousand years, and the higher black represents ten-thousand years. A hundred-thousand-year soul beast, like the one that had once persecuted the Skydream Ice Silkworm, would have a red soul ring if it transformed.
Huo Yuhao had previously inquired about it; both Bei Bei and Tang Ya were fifteen, with Bei Bei being slightly older by months. To reach the Soul Venerable level at such an age with three soul rings of this caliber was more than enough to describe Bei Bei as a prodigy. By cultivation level, he was already far beyond Teacher Tang Ya, a Grand Soul Master above level 20.
"Quack, quack—" Amidst the strange cries, the shadow that had landed on the ground bounced up, lunging straight at Bei Bei.
Bei Bei let out a cold snort, a layer of purple glint appearing in his eyes. His bulky right arm swung horizontally, casting a dense net of electricity in the air, blocking the path of the shadow.
"Crack—" Amid thunderous roars, the shadow ricocheted back, and Bei Bei staggered three or four steps backwards, his expression slightly changing, clearly the strength of his opponent had exceeded his expectations.
"It's a Datura snake. Wow, Millennium level, perfect. Bei Bei, I want this one," Tang Ya said, her voice high with delight rather than fear.
Huo Yuhao could now see what had attacked them more clearly. It was a large snake over three meters long with a peachy red body and a small raised section on its forehead shaped like a flower.
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Bei Bei clearly did not share Tang Ya's excitement; his face was solemn. Although he was already at the level of a Soul Venerable, facing a thousand-year soul beast still did not assure him an easy victory, and this was only because his Beast Martial Soul was strong enough. If it were an ordinary Soul Venerable-level Soul Master facing a thousand-year soul beast, the only option might be to turn tail and run.
"Xiao Ya, protect Yuhao well," Bei Bei shouted lowly, and at the same time, the first soul ring on his right arm shone brightly. Under the intense fluctuation of soul power, a blue-violet lightning dragon claw with a diameter of about one foot was rapidly conjured and shot out towards the Datura snake.
Thunder Dragon Claw, Bei Bei's first soul skill.
The Datura snake was extremely cunning. Having been coiled on the ground just before, the moment Bei Bei launched his attack, it suddenly leaped up into the air. Its long tail whipped violently through the air and instantly turned into a streak of pink light, lunging towards Bei Bei.
Bei Bei did not retreat but advanced instead, swiftly ducking his body and stepping on the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, flashing quickly. The Thunder Dragon Claw he had previously launched in the air unexpectedly curved, chasing the Datura snake from behind. At the same time, the second soul ring on his right arm lit up as well, with countless snake-like lightning bolts intensifying to form a net of lightning arrows in the air, creating a Thunder Net that enveloped the Datura snake from above.
The previous Thunder Dragon Claw was just to get the Datura snake moving, while the net formed by the second soul skill, Thunderous Rage, was the real trap. As long as the snake was covered by the electric net, the Thunder Dragon Claw coming from behind would, even if not seriously wounding the Datura snake, at least give him the upper hand.
However, the strength of a thousand-year soul beast was not so simple to deal with. Just as the electric net was about to close, a cluster of pink fog sprayed from the mouth of the Datura snake, emitting an aroma ten times more potent than before and spreading in all directions.
Tang Ya quickly retreated with Huo Yuhao, afraid of even the slightest contamination, and for the first time, a look of concern appeared on her pretty face.
The lightning arrows created by Thunderous Rage were doused by the pink toxic fog as if splashed with water. While their power remained, they dissolved into a myriad of small fragments in an instant.
The Datura snake showed its staunchness, stiffening its body in mid-air and crashing head-on into the electric net. It miraculously opened a gap in Thunderous Rage and, while flying out, flicked its tail. The tip shone with a bright pink light, striking the oncoming Thunder Dragon Claw and shattering Bei Bei's first soul skill.
However, Bei Bei's attacks were not completely ineffective. As one of the strongest Beast Martial Souls, his attacking power was among the very top of his peers. Although the Datura snake was formidable and had broken through two thunderous soul skills, a fine layer of electric light appeared on its body, preventing it from continuing its attack upon landing.
Bei Bei did not pursue either, as the pink poison fog spread through the air, and he dared not touch it in the least. As he quickly retreated, he produced a porcelain bottle from his hand, took an elixir for himself, and then threw the bottle towards Tang Ya.
Tang Ya caught the porcelain bottle, poured out two elixirs, ate one herself, and put the other into Huo Yuhao's mouth.
"Bei Bei, let me help you," Tang Ya said while taking the medicine.
Bei Bei shook his head and said, "This guy is tough; we might need to prepare for a drawn-out battle. There might be other soul beasts around. You focus on protecting us; I'll deal with it myself. Also, keep Yuhao safe."
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This was already the second time Bei Bei reminded Tang Ya to take good care of Huo Yuhao. Huo Yuhao felt a warm current surge through his heart. Aside from his mother, it was the first time someone had treated him so well, and he couldn't help but become excited.
I must help Big Brother. I am not a useless person.
Huo Yuhao quickly stimulated his Soul Power and channeled it into his spirit eyes. The soul skill he had just acquired flashed in his mind for the first time.
In his deep blue eyes, a faint golden glow emerged once more, and a white Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet.
On the surface, there were no other signs of change, but in the next moment, both Bei Bei and Tang Ya shuddered, their eyes showing shock.
Under their gaze, it seemed as if time had slowed down. Everything around them became extremely clear, and a massive amount of information appeared in their minds wherever their sight fell. When Bei Bei focused on the Datura snake, the distance between him and the snake and even the strength changes in each muscle on the snake's body appeared in his mind. All the minute details were clearly presented in the depths of his mind.
Not only that, but within a thirty-meter radius, there was no need to use their eyes to see, as all the scenery presented itself in three dimensions within their minds. Any slight change in the surroundings was immediately reflected in their brains.
Is this...
Both Bei Bei and Tang Ya immediately thought of Huo Yuhao. Was this Huo Yuhao's first Soul Skill? How could it be so miraculous? With this detection assistance, dealing with any enemy would be much easier. Especially against soul beasts like the Datura snake, which were adept at speed, it allowed them to anticipate the enemy and act first. For Bei Bei, who had sufficient attack power, no assistance could be more effective than this.
A skill provided by a 10-year Soul Ring was so powerful, and the auxiliary capability was so exceptional—it really lived up to the rarity of a spiritual mutant attribute!
Huo Yuhao naturally didn't know that Bei Bei and Tang Ya attributed the magic he showed to his mutant Martial Soul. In reality, what he was using was not one skill, but two.
The million-year Soul Ring came with the first soul skill, Spiritual Detection, along with the second soul skill, Spirit Share.
Both skills were of the auxiliary type, and it was Huo Yuhao's first time using them. Although he had not fully comprehended the mysteries of these two soul skills, they still played a tremendous role.
With his current physical strength, the power of the soul skill provided by the Skydream Ice Silkworm's Soul Ring was comparable to that of a four-hundred-year-old soul beast. Therefore, both the range of Spiritual Detection and Spirit Share were around a thirty-meter diameter. However, with his present strength, he could share his Spiritual Detection ability with at most three targets at the same time. Anymore would be beyond his capacity.
Both soul skills didn't consume much of Huo Yuhao's Soul Power, but they did require a certain amount of his Spiritual Power. It could be said that he was supporting these two abilities with both his Spiritual Power and Soul Power. With his current state of cultivation, supporting it for at least a quarter of an hour was no problem. How long it could last would have to be determined through trial.
A deep rumbling sound suddenly erupted from Bei Bei's body, his entire body emitting dense blue-purple lightning. The scales on his right arm quickly spread across his body, covering his right chest as well, and his aura surged in an instant. His purple third Soul Ring also shone brightly at this moment.
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Millennium Soul Ring Technique, Thunderous Rage.
As the owner of a beast Martial Soul with the most potent attack ability, this third soul skill, Thunderous Rage, instantly boosted Bei Bei's soul power attack effect by over fifty percent, with the electric attribute increasing several-fold. Although this wasn't a direct attack skill, it elevated Bei Bei's condition to an extremely fearsome state. Even some Soul Ancestors with four soul rings, if their Martial Souls were weaker, wouldn't be his match.
Although Bei Bei was young, his battle experience was exceptionally rich. With Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection and Spirit Share support, he knew his opportunity had come. Unsure how long Huo Yuhao could hold on, he went all out from the very start, unleashing his full strength.
In his transformed right hand, the claw now wreathed in bluish-purple lightning, a Thunder Dragon Claw, twice as large as before, formed anew. But this time, Bei Bei didn't send it out immediately. Instead, his figure flashed as he lunged towards the thousand-year Datura snake.
The Datura snake was also cunning. A thousand years of cultivation had granted it a certain level of wisdom. The aura emanating from Bei Bei made it feel a significant threat. Ignoring any further attempts to harm its foe, it spat out a cloud of poison fog at Bei Bei and then turned tail to flee.
"Hmph!" Bei Bei snorted coldly, his eyes gaining added depth. A layer of fine lightning burst from him, forcibly dispersing the poison fog, and at the same moment, his right hand's Thunder Dragon Claw reached into the air to his left.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection fully revealed its effect. Because he shared his Spiritual Detection with Bei Bei, Bei Bei could anticipate the enemy's movements. As the Datura snake leapt, it happened to flee towards Bei Bei's left, and a powerful suction force appeared on its inevitable path. It was as if the snake had delivered itself into Bei Bei's hands. The immense pulling force disrupted the snake's charge and dragged it towards Bei Bei.
Faced with a life-and-death crisis, the Datura snake erupted in desperation. Intense pink light shone from its head and, with a "hiss" of a scream, the flower-like protrusion on its head burst open, sending a pink blood arrow flying straight at Bei Bei.
Once again, Bei Bei had anticipated and reacted accordingly. Just as the flower-like protrusion burst, his right hand's Thunder Dragon Claw had already ferociously struck out and hit the Datura snake the instant its protrusion exploded.
The pink blood arrow had barely flown out a few inches before it was blasted apart. Yet, Bei Bei broke into a cold sweat as he realized that the Thunder Dragon Claw, upon contact with the pink blood, had turned the same color. Had he not anticipated the enemy's move, being contaminated by that blood arrow could have spelled serious trouble.
With a flash of movement, Bei Bei surged forward. This time, the thousand-year Datura snake had no means left to resist. Bei Bei's right claw precisely grabbed it at its vital seven-inch section. It tried using its body to entangle Bei Bei, but he unleashed an irresistible force of Thunderous Wrath that electrically stunned the snake into unconsciousness.
The thousand-year Datura snake was known for its formidable physical strength and lightning-fast speed, but in the hands of Bei Bei, who possessed a formidable Martial Soul, its defenses were of no consequence. Under the state of Thunderous Rage, Bei Bei's dragon claw exerted force ruthlessly, making cracking sounds as if its skull could shatter at any moment.
"Xiao Ya," Bei Bei called out sharply.
Xiao Ya certainly wouldn't miss such an opportunity. She rushed over to the Datura snake's side with Huo Yuhao, a long knife of about half a foot appearing in her hand, which she thrust into the opened snake's mouth to end the life of the thousand-year Datura snake.
The radiance of lightning subsided, and Bei Bei finally breathed a sigh of relief as a purple Soul Ring slowly formed and took its place above the Datura snake's head.
Tang Ya excitedly looked at Bei Bei, and Bei Bei nodded at her, "Let's start quickly. I didn't expect to encounter a thousand-year soul beast at such the edge of the Xingdou Forest. The quality of soul beasts in this forest is really getting higher and higher."
With a giggle, Tang Ya said, "I didn't think it would go so smoothly, help me with the defense." As she spoke, she quickly sat down cross-legged next to the Datura snake, and a glimmering blue light shone from her right hand. She gently raised her hand and lightly touched above the purple soul ring of the Datura snake, immediately attracting the soul ring with the blue light from her hand, integrating it into her body.
The smile on Tang Ya's face faded as she concentrated on absorbing the soul ring. It was then that Huo Yuhao realized that Tang Ya had also reached the level 30 bottleneck. She and Bei Bei had probably come to the Xingdou Forest to find a suitable third soul ring for her. But what was Teacher Xiao Ya's martial soul? Blue vines?
"Xiao Ya's martial soul is Bluesilver Grass," Bei Bei said gently, as if he saw the confusion in Huo Yuhao's mind.
"Bluesilver Grass? Just like the legend from the Tang Sect?" Huo Yuhao asked in surprise.
Bei Bei nodded, "A ten-thousand years ago, the first-generation Sect Master of the Tang Sect created the glorious history of the Tang Sect with the Bluesilver Grass Martial Soul. Later, when he ascended to godhood, he did not leave any descendants in the Tang Sect. To honor him, the descendants of the Tang Sect have persistently considered the Bluesilver Grass as their glory and diligently cultivated soul masters with the Bluesilver Grass Martial Soul. Unfortunately, facts have proven that not everyone can unleash the powerful capabilities of the Bluesilver Grass. Ever since the departure of that legendary figure, the Tang Sect has not seen another strong Bluesilver Grass martial soul stand at the peak of the continent again. However, the tradition has continued and no one has been able to change it. Xiao Ya's talent in Bluesilver Grass is already quite good, hopefully, she can make a breakthrough."
Filled with curiosity, Huo Yuhao asked, "Big brother, if the Tang Sect was really as powerful as the legends say, why did it decline?"
Bei Bei smiled slightly, "You will gradually understand this question when you reach Shrek Academy. There are many internal and external reasons. The fact that only a few of us from Tang Sect remain may not be a bad thing; at least some of the constraints are unlikely to affect us anymore. As for you, little brother, you really gave me a big surprise!"
Huo Yuhao naturally understood that Bei Bei was referring to the soul skill he had just used, and he scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, "I was just trying it out, I'm glad it worked."
"Worked? The thousand-year soul beast is something I'm not even sure I could deal with. If it hadn't been for your peculiar spiritual ability to assist me, I'm afraid I wouldn't have come out unscathed just now," Bei Bei said seriously.
Earlier, when he faced the critical moment against the Datura snake, he was able to accurately predict the movements of the Datura snake every time, thanks to Huo Yuhao's shared spiritual detection. Not only that, but the most crucial moment occurred when the Datura snake exploded its crown. At that moment, in the world of spiritual detection, Bei Bei clearly felt a sense of the snake crown lighting up, which he couldn't see with his own eyes; it was entirely a sensation from the three-dimensional world of Huo Yuhao's spiritual detection. That's why he was able to react instinctively in the first place. Otherwise, just a touch of that toxic blood would have meant he couldn't have escaped without harm.
This made Bei Bei realize just how significant Huo Yuhao's ability was in battle. He conservatively estimated that if he had Huo Yuhao's ability to assist him while contending with an enemy, it would at least increase his strength by twenty to thirty percent. That was a remarkable improvement! And this was just Huo Yuhao's first ability.
Huo Yuhao said with lingering fear, "That snake just now was really powerful, big brother, what soul beast is it?"
"It's called a Datura snake, with extremely strong poison. It has not only a paralyzing effect but also does great damage to the nerves, and is one of the most terrifying presences among poison attribute soul beasts. Its body is extremely tough, resistant to ordinary swords and blades, with only the mouth and eyes as its weak points. However, the Datura snake is very good at protecting these two areas and is incredibly fast. The most frightening thing is its aggressiveness. Once it has targeted its prey, it rarely gives up," Bei Bei explained.
Chapter 6: Chapter 5 A Glimpse of the Pathway
"Because of their innate strength and toxicity, Datura snakes have few natural enemies. Before reaching a thousand years of cultivation, their bodies are dark green, growing one meter every hundred years. As they approach a millennium of cultivation, they can reach nearly ten meters in length. Once they break through the thousand-year mark, they undergo a concentration of their own power and shed their skin continuously. Not only does their body color change from dark green to pink, but their length also shrinks back to one meter before growing one meter every hundred years again. After two thousand years of cultivation, they not only draw back in size but their pink color deepens as well. Judging by the color and size of the Datura snake we just saw, it should have over thirteen hundred years of cultivation. If it weren't for your help, I'm afraid it would've cost me to kill it."
Of course, what Bei Bei did not mention was that without Huo Yuhao's help, he and Tang Ya working together could have also killed the Datura snake, otherwise they would not have dared to venture into Xingdou Forest.
Listening to Bei Bei's explanation, Huo Yuhao gained more knowledge, "So the Datura snake is really so magical. Does it transform again when it reaches ten thousand years of cultivation?"
Bei Bei nodded, saying, "A ten-thousand-year Datura snake turns yellow, and that is truly a terrifying existence. Even a level 50 Soul King wouldn't dare to provoke a ten-thousand-year Datura snake without caution, it would take at least a level 60 Soul Emperor to ensure victory."
"Little junior brother, while Xiao Ya is absorbing her soul ring, tell me about your soul skill. What's the name of the skill you used just now, and how long can you sustain it? This is very important."
Huo Yuhao had been warned by the Skydream Ice Silkworm not to reveal anything about it and, after a moment's thought, said, "Big brother, the skill I used just now is called Shared Spiritual Detection. As you've felt the range, it can currently work within a diameter of about thirty meters. As my soul power increases in the future, this range should be able to increase. I don't know how long I can maintain this for, but it seems that this skill doesn't consume too much soul power."
"No way," Bei Bei said, stunned, "Such a powerful skill and the soul power consumption is not even high? Your Spiritual Eyes Martial Soul seems to be way too strong, and your soul ring was even acquired from a ten-year Wind Baboon. This is really hard for me to understand. Our Soul Masters in Soul Land have been researching martial souls for over ten thousand years, but in all the books I've read, I've never seen a case like yours. It's truly unimaginable."
Huo Yuhao lowered his head, saying, "I also don't know what's going on."
Bei Bei thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Little junior brother, you don't have to think too much. A powerful soul skill is always a good thing. With this skill as a foundation, in the future, any Soul Master would probably be willing to work with you. However, little junior brother, as a Soul Master with a spiritual attribute, are you planning to take the path of an Auxiliary type Soul Master or a control-class Battle Soul Master?"
Huo Yuhao was taken aback, "I don't know."
Bei Bei said, "Choosing your cultivation path is important, as it relates to your future choices of soul ring skills and cultivation tendencies. Your spiritual attribute, even though it has only just acquired its first soul ring, has already shown its great potential. If it's just for pure assistance, I feel like it's a bit of a waste. Although I also don't know what kind of spiritual attribute skills you might gain in the future, I'm more inclined to make you a control-class Battle Soul Master. Put more effort into spirit control. If everything goes smoothly, maybe in the future you could become the core of a team."
"A team? Does a Soul Master always need a team?" Huo Yuhao asked curiously. Since he was young, he had always relied on himself for cultivation, groping his way through on his own without anyone teaching him anything. Now that he had joined Tang Sect, the big brother before him was even more important to him than a teacher. In less than half a day, he had taught him a lot.
Bei Bei patiently explained, "Our profession as Soul Masters has developed over the years, but the team model was fully formed ten thousand years ago under the influence of a legendary great power from Tang Sect. At that time, he and his companions were called the Shrek Seven Monsters, seven individuals each with their own powerful abilities. When combined together, they could exponentially unleash tremendous combat power. Since then, cooperation between Soul Masters has become a necessary part of their development. After all, the power of an individual is always limited. For example, your earlier cooperation with me made my battle much easier. Xiao Ya and I also have some ways of cooperating. Generally speaking, a Soul Master team usually does not exceed ten people. It includes defensive battle Soul Masters, offensive direct-attack class battle Soul Masters, and command and control role control-class battle Soul Masters, which are the most important roles in a team; there are also auxiliary Tool Soul Masters, food-class Soul Masters, agile-attack class Soul Masters, etc., each with different roles in a team."
Huo Yuhao suddenly said, "So, big brother, are you a direct-attack class battle Soul Master?"
Bei Bei nodded with a smile, "My Martial Soul is the Blue Electric Overlord Dragon, which is quite powerful among beast Martial Souls. I'm good at direct attacks. And Xiao Ya's Martial Soul is the Bluesilver Grass, which makes her like that legendary figure from the Tang Sect, a control-class Battle Soul Master. But her control mainly manifests through the Bluesilver Grass. If you can also become a control-class Battle Soul Master, combining your mental control abilities with Xiao Ya's Bluesilver Grass, we could lead a powerful soul master team even without an auxiliary-type Tool Soul Master."
Huo Yuhao nodded seriously, "Big brother, I'll listen to you. Then I'll work towards becoming a control-class Battle Soul Master. It's just that my talent isn't very good, and I'm progressing slowly..." At this point, he couldn't help but lower his head. Compared to either Bei Bei or Tang Ya, he was indeed rather untalented, having only just acquired his first soul ring at the age of eleven.
Bei Bei patted Huo Yuhao's head and smiled, "Talent is only part of success. No one has guided your cultivation before, and you haven't had suitable methods to practice. It's already remarkable that you've managed to get this far on your own. Besides, your Martial Soul itself is quite good, and it has a lot of potential for future development. So, there's no need for self-pity. You could use this time to cultivate more. As long as you can break through to level 30 before you're twenty, you have a chance of becoming a strong Soul Master. Both Xiao Ya and I will help you as much as we can."
"Thank you, big brother," Huo Yuhao's face was filled with gratitude.
Bei Bei gently patted his shoulder, "Meeting you might also be lucky for Xiao Ya and me, as we were able to resolve her advancement issue so quickly. Once she finishes absorbing the soul ring, we can return to the academy. This place isn't suitable for cultivation. You can first recall the Mystic Sky Method's cultivation techniques I told you about, and you can start practicing once we reach a safe place."
"Yes," Huo Yuhao replied respectfully. In his heart, he actually saw Bei Bei as a teacher, perhaps even more so than Xiao Ya.
"Oh, by the way, little brother, didn't you say you're not sure how long your abilities can last? Why don't we test it out? This relates to our coordination in future battles, and it will also help you better understand your abilities and get familiar with the new skills you've acquired."
Under Bei Bei's suggestion, Huo Yuhao once again released his Shared Spiritual Detection. A faint golden light flickered in his eyes as the three-dimensional image of everything within thirty meters appeared once again in his and Bei Bei's minds.
Spiritual Detection was pervasive, capable of discerning even the slightest nuances. As Huo Yuhao immersed himself in understanding these two abilities, Bei Bei also felt the benefits of his amplified spirit.
The deeper the experience, the more astonished Bei Bei became. The Shared Spiritual Detection wasn't merely for auxiliary detection; it was as if he had gained another brain that could judge. Everything within a thirty-meter diameter was revealed with crystal clarity, leaving no blind spots. Having this ability was like having countless eyes observing from all angles!
What surprised him even more came later. Huo Yuhao, while using his soul skill, appeared to do so effortlessly, showing no signs of exhaustion. Within their Shared Spiritual Detection, they could even sense the subtle changes in Tang Ya's body as she merged with the soul ring.
Tang Ya's figure seemed to have become even more slender, and her aura was strengthening at an astonishing rate. Her skin had become more lustrous, and her vitality more robust.
In the blink of an eye, fifteen minutes had passed, and Huo Yuhao's complexion had only turned slightly pale.
Bei Bei was inwardly impressed. With such a prolonged period of Spiritual Detection, it was more than enough for a battle. Furthermore, Little Yuhao's ability wasn't just for combat; it had many other uses, such as exploring and searching for soul beasts on an adventure. It was an exceptionally useful ability! If it could expand in range with increased cultivation as he had said, then it truly would be a magical skill.
Finally, after nearly half an hour of maintaining his abilities, Huo Yuhao could hold on no longer. His body swayed as he ended the Shared Spiritual Detection. He felt intense pain in his brain and a strong dizziness that nearly made him collapse. He quickly sat down cross-legged to meditate, trying to recover his depleted soul power and spiritual energy.
This was the first time Huo Yuhao had experienced the agony of spiritual exhaustion, that feeling of his brain turning into a blank void was anything but comfortable.
Bei Bei had been silently observing him. When Bei Bei saw that, instead of falling over from exhaustion, Huo Yuhao managed to sit down cross-legged and began meditation, a slight smile appeared on his face, and he nodded quietly. Compared to talent, what he valued more was temperament. Without a doubt, this little junior brother had passed the test in his mind.
The absorption of a thousand-year soul ring took quite a long time. Bei Bei scattered some soul beast repellent that he had brought with him around the perimeter. They were also quite lucky. Throughout Tang Ya's cultivation process, only a few ten-year and hundred-year soul beasts appeared, all of which were driven away by Bei Bei. They did not encounter any Millennium level existences again, so it all ended without misadventure.
"Hmm..." Tang Ya exhaled a long breath and slowly opened her eyes. A sharp light was shining in her bright eyes, and there was a significant improvement in her spirit, essence, and energy.
In a Soul Master's cultivation process, level 30 is an essential threshold. Those who could cross this hurdle and enter the Soul Venerable realm were truly strong Soul Masters, with limitless futures. Yet many Soul Masters with lesser talent could spend their entire lives without being able to break through the level 30 bottleneck.
"I made it," Tang Ya exclaimed excitedly as she leaped to her feet. With the surge of soul power, two yellow and one purple soul rings rapidly rose from beneath her feet. The most eye-catching was naturally the Millennium level purple soul ring, which released an aura of nobility in its vibrant purple. From this moment on, Tang Ya's strength had completely advanced to another level.
Bei Bei smiled and said, "Xiao Ya, congratulations."
Tang Ya cheered and threw herself into his arms for a big hug, "Bei Bei, thank you."
Bei Bei, holding her petite form, had a smile on his face tinged with indulgence. "I promised to help you achieve your dream, and I will always fulfill my promise."
Leaning into Bei Bei's embrace, Tang Ya inadvertently noticed a pair of large eyes looking at her in astonishment. She quickly remembered there were others present and hastily wriggled out of Bei Bei's arms, somewhat embarrassedly saying to Huo Yuhao with his spirit eyes twinkling, "What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a teacher-student romance before?"
Huo Yuhao honestly replied, "I haven't, indeed!" Watching Bei Bei and Tang Ya embrace, a sense of inexplicable envy rose in his heart, but not a trace of jealousy. The eldest brother and Teacher Xiao Ya, they really seemed like a good match.
Bei Bei coughed and said, "Alright, now that you have absorbed your soul ring, let's hurry and leave this place. Over the years, more and more Soul Masters have had accidents in the Xingdou Forest. Since there are Millennium soul beasts even in these outer areas, it's best to leave early."
Tang Ya nodded and said, "Let's go."
By now, the sky had darkened, but camping out in the Xingdou Forest was clearly not a good idea, so the three of them, regardless of their fatigue, quickly made their departure.
With his energy now recovered, Huo Yuhao once again activated Shared Spiritual Detection, which gave them an extra layer of security as they left the Xingdou Forest, even allowing them to avoid a thousand-year soul beast that was unlikely to attack without provocation.
Two hours later, after rushing back, they finally returned to the creek where they had eaten grilled fish before. They were now dozens of miles away from Xingdou Forest, and the danger had essentially been left far behind.
Huo Yuhao was naturally conscripted once again, and under Tang Ya's insistent demands, he resumed his role as the fish-grilling chef. However, this time he was not required to catch the fish.
Bei Bei simply reached his right hand into the creek, and with a flash of blue-purple lightning, more than a dozen green fish that were stunned by the electricity floated belly-up to the surface, after which he used the skill of Controlling Crane and Capturing Dragon to directly pull them to the bank. They immediately had food.
Tang Ya also took out some food carried with Soul Guidance Devices, and the three of them sat down together for a lavish dinner.
Tang Ya was in high spirits and ended up eating a bit too much. After the meal, she leaned against a large tree by the bonfire and slept. Huo Yuhao, who had actually gained much more from the experience, did not succumb to sleep, despite his physical and mental exhaustion. He asked Bei Bei to instruct him on how to begin his first cultivation of the Mystic Sky Method.
Bei Bei thoroughly appreciated Huo Yuhao's diligence. After covering Tang Ya with his outer garment, he reiterated some key points of the Mystic Sky Method cultivation and assisted Huo Yuhao in starting his meditation.
The route that the Mystic Sky Method took during cultivation was much more complex than Huo Yuhao's basic meditation technique, involving at least ten times more meridians. Many of the meridians had never even had Soul Power flowing through them before.
To ensure Huo Yuhao's safety during his cultivation, Bei Bei sat cross-legged behind him, pressing his hands against Huo Yuhao's back, and slowly infused his own Soul Power into Huo Yuhao's body, guiding his Soul Power through the first cycle of cultivation.
No sooner had the guidance begun than Bei Bei's expression turned grave. Huo Yuhao was very perceptive and intelligent. However, he truly did lack talent in physical areas. Upon entering Huo Yuhao's body, Bei Bei discovered that his meridians were quite narrow, some even being fragile and thin, and certainly could not be forced open with brute strength. In places where several meridians converged, there even appeared to be some disorder.
It was only then that Bei Bei realized how difficult it must have been for Huo Yuhao to cultivate to his current level and to obtain his first soul ring. His meridians were still so fragile despite the improvements that usually came with acquiring a first soul ring, which indicated just how poor his innate physical talent was, perhaps even worse than some ordinary people who had never experienced the awakening of Soul Power. What kind of willpower did it take to cultivate Soul Power to level 10 and become a Soul Master?
Bei Bei was steady in character, and the problems he identified did not cause him to be disappointed in Huo Yuhao. If anything, he gained even more admiration for him. Given Huo Yuhao's age, such firm determination showed promise, and despite his lackluster natural talent, he still might achieve great things in the future.
After assessing the state of Huo Yuhao's body, Bei Bei speculated that the power of Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Eyes Martial Soul must be linked to its mutation, and though the mutant Martial Soul was strong, it had also greatly harmed his body during his younger years. Without proper care, that had led to his talent becoming what it was now. If he had been treated with medicinal interventions immediately after birth, perhaps his junior brother would have been a prodigy.
Bei Bei's speculations were only half-accurate. Huo Yuhao's physical frailty was indeed a consequence of his mutant Martial Soul and a lack of proper care afterward, but the power of his spirit eyes owed more to the addition of the Million-Year Wisdom Soul Ring from the Skydream Ice Silkworm.
When the dark sky gradually turned to dark blue, and a pale light began to emerge from the east, Bei Bei slowly withdrew his palms, exhaling a long breath, his pale face unable to hide his fatigue.
He took a whole night to clear Huo Yuhao's meridians, guiding him through the first cycle of the Mystic Sky Method. The process was extremely difficult, but for Huo Yuhao, the benefits were immense.
"Wow—" A trickle of stagnant blood spurted from Huo Yuhao's mouth, and he also opened his eyes simultaneously.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao felt as though all 36,000 of his pores were wide open, experiencing a level of comfort throughout his body that he had never known before. That mouthful of stagnant blood was the impurity in his body's meridians, caused by the stagnation of breath and blood. Thanks to Bei Bei's guidance and unblocking effort throughout the night, these meridians were at last unobstructed. Even though they remained thin and fragile, at the very least, they could now allow the flow of soul power, which would nourish them during Huo Yuhao's future cultivation. This could be said to have changed his constitution to a certain extent.
Even though Bei Bei was an outstanding individual among his peers and a Soul Venerable level expert, he was extremely exhausted after having completed the guidance and unblocking for Huo Yuhao.
"Little junior brother, stand up and look towards the east. Follow my guidance to perform the technique, focusing your energy on your eyes," Bei Bei said, struggling against fatigue, while placing his hands on Huo Yuhao's shoulders.
At this time, Tang Ya, who had been sound asleep until now, also woke up, bounced up, and came to Bei Bei's side.
All three of them opened their eyes wide and gazed towards the east, where amidst the gradually brightening white belly of dawn in the distance, it seemed as if a faint hint of purple qi dashed past—if one did not possess an extraordinary vision and utmost concentration, they would certainly fail to notice its presence.
The emergence of the purple qi completely focused the trio's spirits, and they even stopped breathing out, inhaling only lightly and slowly while steadfastly staring at that fleeting touch of purple.
The purple qi didn't linger for long. As the white belly of dawn in the east gradually gave way to the rising colors of the morning sun, the purple qi had completely vanished.
Only then did the three of them slowly close their eyes and exhale a long breath of turbid air from within them.
Both Bei Bei and Tang Ya exhaled a stream of white qi from their mouths like a strand of silk, which after several cycles of breathing, finally dispersed slowly.
Although Huo Yuhao's cultivation was far below that of his Teacher Xiao Ya and elder brother, at that precise moment, his shock was the most intense.
When he saw that hint of purple in the far east, it was as if a thick warmth was flowing through his spirit eyes into his mind, providing an unprecedented nourishment to his eyes. They became so clear that everything he looked at was extremely distinct, even without the infusion of soul power, and it felt as though his field of vision had expanded instantly.
And when he closed his eyes, the purple qi slowly seeped into his eyes even with his eyelids in the way, and his spirit eyes naturally led his internal soul power to merge with this purple qi. The warmth slowly turned into a faint coolness, which was indescribably comfortable.
Purple Demon Eyes, this was what Teacher Xiao Ya said was the most suitable for his cultivation! This was only his first attempt at cultivating, and yet the effects were already so significant. Huo Yuhao felt that the soul power he had improved over several months of cultivation, upon being infused into the spirit eyes, was nowhere as effective as this burst of purple qi from the east that had just merged with him.
It took a full quarter of an hour for the cool sensation to gradually fade. When Huo Yuhao reopened his eyes, a barely discernible hint of purple light could be seen deep within his clear deep blue eyes.
"It seems the effect is indeed quite good!" Tang Ya said, looking at Huo Yuhao with satisfaction.
Huo Yuhao quickly got up and said respectfully, "Thank you, Teacher, thank you, elder brother."
The purple qi in Bei Bei's eyes gradually faded, and his face was still pale. He patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder and said, "From now on, we are family, no need for thanks. I need to rest a while longer, so we might have to delay our departure. Teacher Xiao Ya, please prepare some food. Little junior brother, you should practice the Mystic Sky Method again to solidify the memories from last night."
"Yes," said Huo Yuhao, with growing respect for his senior brother. Upon hearing the instruction, he immediately sat down and began to channel his soul power in accordance with the Mystic Sky Method.
With the vivid memory from the previous night and Bei Bei's unblocking, Huo Yuhao found it much easier to stimulate his soul power. The soul power that he had obtained through meditation, after being refined through the Mystic Sky Method, gradually turned a faint white, and some impurities were clearly being refined during its circulation.
Two hours later, Bei Bei was the first to awaken from his cultivation, his powerful cultivation base having already swept away his fatigue.
Tang Ya passed some dry food to Bei Bei and asked in a soft voice, "How is it?"
Bei Bei smiled slightly and replied, "This time you were right. The little junior brother is indeed a promising talent. His physical condition may not be strong, but he has good perception and can endure hardship, and his mind is sufficiently calm. He's a good seedling. And, the Mystic Sky Method itself has health-preserving effects, which, with long-term cultivation, will help repair the meridians in his body. It can be said to be the most suitable method for him. As for how far he can go in the future, that will depend on his own efforts and opportunities. What we can do for him is to open a door; how far he walks through it is up to him."
Tang Ya said softly, "Thank you."
Bei Bei laughed, "What's gotten into you? You rarely thank me like this. Is it because of the little junior brother? I hope I haven't trained a love rival."
Tang Ya punched him unhappily, "You know what I'm thanking you for, don't play dumb."
Bei Bei hugged Tang Ya into his arms with a wide stretch, "Xiao Ya, I admit, when I initially agreed to join Tang Sect, it was because I fell for you at first sight. But as I cultivated the Tang Sect's techniques, I've come to realize more and more the profound heritage of our Tang Sect. Even though Tang Sect has declined, if we can revive it with our own strength and make it flourish again, wouldn't that also be an interesting thing? So now, it's not just because of you that I contribute to the Tang Sect but also for the sect itself."
Tang Ya blinked her large eyes and said, "Does that mean, even if I stop liking you, you will still work hard for the future of Tang Sect?"
Bei Bei's expression changed suddenly, somewhat agitated, "Be normal."
"Hehe." Tang Ya laughed, "I just love seeing you show your true colors. You always act so righteous and virtuous. Doesn't it tire you out?"
Bei Bei flicked her on the head, "That's called having good manners. Not everyone is like you, with everything written all over their face."
Tang Ya grabbed his hand, her face full of grievance, "Don't flick my head again, that's disrespectful to a master. By the way, do you think Little Yuhao will be able to stick it out at the Academy?"
Bei Bei shook his head, "Hard to say. It's really up to him. All I can say is, if he really does hang in there and manages to stay at the Academy for twelve years, his future achievements might even surpass mine."
Tang Ya was surprised, "I didn't expect you to rate him so highly."
Bei Bei smiled slightly, "The mutation of Little Junior Brother's Martial Soul is quite extraordinary. Let me give you an example, then you'll understand. There was already a difference between the first and second time he used the Shared Spiritual Detection. That is to say, his mastery of this skill is still not proficient, but it has already greatly enhanced our capabilities. Moreover, just as he said, this skill seems to be capable of evolving. If each of his future soul skills could be of this caliber, he could become a top-notch spirit control class Battle Soul Master."
Tang Ya added, "The only downside is his self-protection ability, which is a bit lacking, at least until he reaches a certain level of cultivation."
Bei Bei corrected her, "No, you're wrong. He doesn't need to protect himself at all, because, with just the soul skill he currently possesses, it's destined that he won't lack for companions by his side."
Huo Yuhao's training session lasted even longer than Tang Ya and Bei Bei had imagined, continuing all the way until noon before it finally concluded. In the meantime, Bei Bei had checked the operation of the Mystic Sky Method several times, finding it flawless. It could be said that after this training session, Huo Yuhao had truly entered the beginner stage.
After he emerged from training and had some food, the three of them set off westward.
Most of the Xingdou Forest lay within the territory of the Xingluo Empire, with only a small part in the Sky Soul Empire. Shrek Academy was located to the northwest of the Xingdou Forest and was not too distant from it.
The reason Tang Ya and Bei Bei had entered the Xingdou Forest from the south was that the direction had relatively fewer powerful soul beasts and was thus somewhat safer. The soul beasts near the direction of Shrek Academy, on the other hand, were the strongest.
Since students from Shrek Academy often went into the Xingdou Forest to hunt soul beasts, they were deeply loathed by the powerful beasts there, and there had even been major incidents where a large number of soul beasts stormed out of the forest to attack Shrek Academy.
Therefore, in the Academy, it was prohibited for anyone below the level of Soul King to enter the Xingdou Forest from the front. Even Soul Kings had to be led by the faculty to be allowed entry.
Taking detours to avoid the Xingdou Forest, the journey to Shrek Academy was hardly swift for Huo Yuhao and company, stretching close to a thousand miles.
On the way, Tang Ya and Bei Bei taught him all the Tang Sect ultimate techniques. Huo Yuhao grasped the Mystic Sky Method and Purple Demon Eyes the most, while he only gleaned the basics of Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Mysterious Jade Hands.
Huo Yuhao's diligence deeply impressed both Tang Ya and Bei Bei. At only eleven years of age, he did not forget to cultivate even while traveling, and after hearing from Bei Bei that constantly using soul skills could slightly increase Soul Power, he used Shared Spiritual Detection continuously as long as he could bear it. Once they stopped to rest, he would immediately start cultivating the Mystic Sky Method. While on the move, he would multitask by contemplating the techniques of Phantom Steps, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, and Mysterious Jade Hands.
It was precisely because Huo Yuhao often entered meditation for long periods while practicing the Mystic Sky Method that their travel to Shrek Academy was delayed. But neither Bei Bei nor Tang Ya rushed him; instead, they even increased their own cultivation time under his influence.
"Xiao Ya, if you were half as diligent as Little Junior Brother, with your talent, you might have already surpassed me," Bei Bei said as he watched Huo Yuhao, who sat in meditation under a big tree, focused and earnest.
Tang Ya pouted, "Are you diligent? As if you can compare to Little Yuhao. But it seems like he's got something on his mind. It's his emotions that are driving him to work so hard. I'm not sure if that's good or bad."
Bei Bei smiled, "Having a goal is always better than not. Besides, he is still young. Under our subtle influences, any knots in his heart will eventually untie. Right now, the most important thing for him is to break through to level 30 before the age of twenty."
At that moment, Huo Yuhao also woke up from his meditation. A faint white breath flowed from his nose and mouth, and as he opened his eyes, a golden light sparkled in his clear pupils, making his spirit eyes seem even more transparent.
Huo Yuhao's effort in cultivating was indeed to stand out, but more importantly, it was the completely different experience after starting to practice the Mystic Sky Method.
With the help of Bei Bei and Tang Ya, his physique had improved to some extent. The Mystic Sky Method was indeed an excellent technique. They had been on the road for four days, and Huo Yuhao had been practicing the Mystic Sky Method for just as long. Over these four days, his Soul Power had been fully transformed to that of the Mystic Sky Method. As this change took place, his previously impure Soul Power gradually became purer. After each cultivation session, his body would feel warm and incredibly comfortable, an effect even better than sleeping for recovery.
Although his total Soul Power had not increased much, after replacing it all with the pure Mystic Sky Method's Soul Power, Huo Yuhao could distinctly feel changes in his body's functions and the enhanced endurance of his Soul Power.
This evident progress was a first in his cultivation history, so how could he not be assiduous?
"Little Yuhao, you cannot always be so tense, you should rest when you need to. Otherwise, in the long run, wouldn't you become a wooden person?" Tang Ya said seriously.
Huo Yuhao nodded, "Yes, Teacher Xiao Ya."
Tang Ya burst into laughter, "Can't you be a bit less earnest and obedient? It's no fun. Let's go; we're almost at the Academy. You've been so engrossed in cultivating these past few days, I haven't had the chance to talk to you about the necessary precautions for the Academy. Now's a good time to rest and relax your mind, listen to me for a bit."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
7 Power
stone 
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