soul land: Huo Yuhao Inheriting Centipede Immortal

To divert Huo Yuhao's attention, Zhang Lexuan had him collect the soul bones.

If Huo Yuhao kept fixating on the misunderstanding, Zhang Lexuan would find it hard to remain calm. She also needed something to distract herself—then let time smooth over the awkwardness.

Soon, Huo Yuhao returned with three soul bones:

A 70,000-year Magic Cannon Beetle's External Soul Bone (Cannon-type)

A 75,000-year Silver-patterned Ghost Panther's External Soul Bone (Skin-type)

An 80,000-year Shadow Lion-Tiger Beast's Torso Bone

That's right—the Magic Cannon Beetle also dropped an external soul bone, and it was the cannon barrel it used for attacks.

Soul beasts usually drop external soul bones from their most defining or primary attack parts.

When Huo Yuhao handed over the three soul bones, Zhang Lexuan only took the Silver-patterned Ghost Panther's skin-type external soul bone.

"Senior Sister?" Huo Yuhao asked in confusion.

Zhang Lexuan smiled and said, "That insect-type soul beast was originally killed by you—its soul bone should belong to you. As for the other one, consider it a reward for rescuing me."

"But…"

"Alright, no need to be so polite with me," Zhang Lexuan smiled. "The other two soul beasts' attributes don't suit me, so neither do their soul bones. This one external soul bone is more than enough for me. I'm already content. Besides, absorbing too many external soul bones can actually slow down my cultivation, since nurturing them also consumes soul power."

The growth of external soul bones also consumes a soul master's energy. As soul masters cultivate, their external soul bones grow with them. It's like sharing experience points—what goes to the soul bone is not used for the soul master's own growth.

However, in truth, even nurturing two external soul bones wouldn't be a burden for someone like Zhang Lexuan. She was already a top-tier genius, and the soul bones themselves were of high quality.

Reaching the 100,000-year level wouldn't be hard.

Theoretically, external soul bones can grow indefinitely. But in reality, 100,000-year external soul bones are exceedingly rare.

That's because once an external soul bone fully merges with the user, it cannot be removed—it won't be passed down like other soul bones. A soul bone's growth ends with its owner's death.

Thus, the earlier a soul master absorbs an external soul bone, the greater its eventual growth. Also, the higher its initial age, the more likely it is to reach 100,000 years.

Zhang Lexuan said all this just to make Huo Yuhao feel comfortable keeping the soul bone.

Seeing her so insistent, Huo Yuhao reluctantly nodded and accepted it.

Zhang Lexuan gave him a gentle smile.

Huo Yuhao was, after all, the heir to the Sea God Pavilion. It was essential for him to become stronger and grow quickly. Zhang Lexuan believed that this external soul bone would be a great help to him.

To be honest, Huo Yuhao wasn't particularly impressed with any of the three soul bones.

So what if they were external? They were just extra abilities and parts for his avatar. Huo Yuhao didn't care about age or type—only whether a soul bone was suitable and necessary.

"Let's get out of here first," Zhang Lexuan said. "Although our fight scared off the common soul beasts, strong ones might be attracted now that it's over."

"Okay!" Huo Yuhao nodded quickly.

They stored the soul bones and left together, putting distance between them and the battlefield.

During this time, Zhang Lexuan recovered some strength and soul power—just not enough to fight yet.

The battlefield was left with three still-flickering soul rings and the corpse of the Magic Cannon Beetle, eroded by icy poison.

Having spent time in the Extreme North, Huo Yuhao had little interest in ordinary soul beast corpses.

What Zhang Lexuan didn't notice was the eerie stillness in the forest—there wasn't a single soul beast around, only countless dry corpses, completely drained of blood and essence.

Yep, Huo Yuhao had eaten them as snacks—to prevent them from disturbing Zhang Lexuan's battle.

A foraging rodent scurried by and brushed against a soul beast corpse. The next second, the corpse turned to ash before its eyes.

The rodent, utterly terrified, bolted as fast as it could from the creepy area.

"Squeak! That scared the mouse pee out of me!"

Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan didn't leave the Ming Dou Forest. Instead, they found a mountain hollow nearby, confirmed it was safe, and decided to rest there.

Zhang Lexuan planned to immediately absorb the external soul bone, using its remaining soul power to recover faster and further strengthen herself—she needed to be at full strength to search for Bei Bei.

Otherwise, even leaving the forest would be difficult for her.

Indeed, Zhang Lexuan had no intention of turning back.

As for Huo Yuhao, she had no choice but to bring him along. She knew she couldn't convince him to return alone, and he'd been worried about Bei Bei all along.

So, she might as well take him on a training trip through the Sun Moon Empire.

The Sun Moon Empire wasn't quite a "no-return" zone yet. Worst case, they could loop around via sea to return to the Dou Ling Empire, then head back to Shrek Academy.

"Senior Sister, go ahead and absorb it—I'll guard you," Huo Yuhao said confidently, patting his chest.

"Alright!" Zhang Lexuan accepted the offer without hesitation.

Huo Yuhao dug out a small cave for her. Zhang Lexuan sat inside and began the soul bone absorption. Huo Yuhao kept watch outside.

Inside the cave, Zhang Lexuan sat cross-legged and used her soul power to communicate with the skin-type external soul bone. It melted like a liquid and flowed into her body, attaching itself to her skin.

Zhang Lexuan gained insight, "So that's how it is—the true form of the external soul bone isn't the skin, but the silver patterns!"

With that realization, she focused fully on the absorption.

The silver lines moved like living things, flowing across her skin, forming ever-changing patterns according to her body's condition.

But she didn't notice—

A tiny golden centipede, hidden within the soul bone, silently crept into her body.

These soul bones had passed through Huo Yuhao's hands—how could he not have done something?

It was easy for him to hide such a creature inside.

But this centipede wasn't like those he used to control Nan Shushui or threaten Zhu Lu. This one was meant to silently influence Zhang Lexuan.

The soul bone just gave him the perfect opportunity.

Two hours passed. As the sun began to set, a wave of soul power emanated from the cave.

Zhang Lexuan had successfully absorbed the external soul bone—and even advanced in level, getting one step closer to becoming a Titled Douluo!

When she came out, Huo Yuhao hurried to greet her. He saw that Zhang Lexuan's appearance had changed.

The most noticeable difference: a silver crescent mark had appeared on her forehead. Not just there—other areas of exposed skin now had dazzling, mysterious silver patterns that made her look even more ethereal and beautiful, like a moonlit elf.

"Senior Sister, how do you feel?" Huo Yuhao asked eagerly.

Zhang Lexuan smiled, clearly pleased with the results. She didn't hide it and said directly:

"This external soul bone gave me a new ability—I call it the Soul Power Surge State. When activated, all my attributes are boosted, my combat ability increases significantly, and soul skill power is doubled, with no side effects."

"However, the true form of this external soul bone isn't the skin itself—it's the silver patterns on the skin. So I've decided to name it the Silver Pattern External Soul Bone!"

This soul bone's name… kind of spicy, huh!

Huo Yuhao nodded repeatedly, clearly approving. Zhang Lexuan responded with a smile, as if pleased by his recognition.

Very soon, Zhang Lexuan withdrew her external soul bone. The silver markings weren't like tattoos that remained visible all the time—they could be hidden when not in use.

After all, something like this couldn't just be flaunted around casually. You had to reveal it at just the right moment to really set the mood.

Next, it was Huo Yuhao's turn to absorb a soul bone.

External soul bones were best absorbed as early as possible. The longer they were cultivated, the easier it became to raise their age.

That said, Huo Yuhao didn't really need to follow that rule. He had the unique ability to actively nurture his external soul bones, channeling more power into them to speed up their growth—or even halt their development if necessary.

For example, he had deliberately never cultivated the Left Shoulder Blade War Wind Ape's Secret Art Soul Bone, keeping it at 9,000 years.

Only after reaching the level of Ultimate Douluo did he start cultivating his external soul bones, and in a short time, that bone had already risen to 20,000 years and was still rapidly growing.

Being able to do this was thanks to Huo Yuhao's advanced mastery over his own strength.

Now, he intended to bring all his external soul bones up to the 100,000-year level before working on other powers.

...

Huo Yuhao entered a cave, took out a sitting mat from his soul tool, and settled down before examining the soul bone in his hand—a 70,000-year-old Magic Cannon Beetle's External Soul Bone!

Oh, by the way, the mat was sewn from Xiaobai's fur—cool in summer, warm in winter.

The soul bone resembled a miniature soul cannon, about the length of an adult's forearm and as thick as a baby's arm.

The question was—where would this soul bone fuse?

Unlike traditional soul bones, external soul bones didn't fuse at fixed spots but attached to wherever best suited the soul master.

Spider legs and wings went on the back, arms to the shoulder blades, tails to the coccyx.

But this soul bone came from the Magic Cannon Beetle's butt, so there was a chance… it would fuse into Huo Yuhao's butt.

"It's not gonna turn my chrysanthemum into a cannon, right?" Huo Yuhao shuddered at the thought.

The image was… too much.

More likely, it'd create a bug-like cannon structure extending from behind him.

Since Zhang Lexuan was standing guard outside, it'd be weird if he didn't at least try to absorb the bone. So Huo Yuhao decided to give it a shot.

If it fused in an awkward spot, he'd just remove it later and merge it into another soul bone.

After all, as long as an external soul bone hadn't completely fused, it could still be extracted—and Huo Yuhao wasn't afraid of a little pain.

He began the fusion process.

This particular bone had a rare corrosion attribute, though not particularly powerful. Corrosion was more of a side effect than the main damage type.

When the Magic Cannon Beetle hit Zhang Lexuan, it only corroded her clothes. The real damage came from the soul-powered light cannon impacting her martial soul avatar.

Luckily, it struck the avatar—otherwise, things might've gotten… revealing.

Still, the soul-powered light cannon packed a punch.

Even though the Magic Cannon Beetle had the lowest spirit age, its offensive power was the highest, especially paired with its sturdy carapace. It was the toughest enemy Zhang Lexuan had faced.

Just as expected, once the soul bone entered Huo Yuhao's body, it moved downward—and then, unexpectedly, it turned!

It didn't head back—it went forward!

Turns out, Huo Yuhao's back slots were already full!

The Ice Jade Scorpion Spine Bone, with its attached scorpion tail, occupied his coccyx. As the external soul bone approached, the scorpion tail pointed at it like, "No vacancy," and it rerouted.

The Magic Cannon Soul Bone found a new path—forward—because hey, there's another "cannon" up there!

Huo Yuhao's expression changed instantly.

"It actually… fused there?!"

Wait… what?

In disbelief, Huo Yuhao deliberately stalled for an hour and a half before calming his soul power to pretend that the fusion was done.

He even faked a breakthrough after the fusion to make it look more believable.

Huo Yuhao: Now Level 75!

After all, absorbing a 100,000-year soul ring or bone often raised one's level. For Huo Yuhao, skipping levels wasn't unusual, and those around him were already used to it.

Not all soul bones boosted soul power upon fusion, but new ones often did—especially when lower-level soul masters absorbed high-grade soul bones.

Once the fusion finished, Huo Yuhao immediately pulled down his pants to check on his "little brother."

"Hey buddy, how you doing?"

Little Brother: Never felt anything like this before!

No problems detected—and oddly, it seemed… larger. Most importantly, it didn't feel like a bone embedded in flesh.

Then Huo Yuhao activated the soul bone's power—and his eyes widened in shock.

Half an hour later, he emerged from the cave wearing a strange expression—not quite satisfied, not fully embarrassed, somewhere in between. He'd also changed his pants.

"Yuhao, how was it?" Zhang Lexuan asked curiously.

"Ahem," Huo Yuhao coughed awkwardly, then forced himself to explain. "I named it the Magic Cannon External Soul Bone. It lets me fire highly concentrated soul power cannons, and the power depends on how much energy I pour in. If I get stronger, it could theoretically match a Grade-9 soul cannon. Plus, it costs way less soul power than operating one. The best part? The blast can even track enemies."

Zhang Lexuan blinked—her eyes practically said, Show me!

But Huo Yuhao played coy and quickly changed the subject. "Um, Senior Sister, are you hungry? I'll go make dinner."

And off he ran.

It was already nightfall.

Watching his flustered retreat, Zhang Lexuan remembered the Magic Cannon Beetle's firing posture and couldn't help but giggle as the realization hit her.

"If the firing posture is like that…"

Her face flushed as she murmured, "That soul beast wasn't decent, and the bone it left is just as awkward. Looks like Yuhao won't be using it often."

"But it's fine. At least it's a 70,000-year external soul bone. Gaining one level and saving months of training is totally worth it."

"And who knows—maybe someday, it'll come in handy and catch an enemy off guard."

Even she had to laugh at the thought. Seeing the usually composed Huo Yuhao act like an embarrassed boy—it gave her a playful sense of mischief.

I wonder if Ma Xiaotao or the others have seen this side of him.

By the time Huo Yuhao returned with fish, Zhang Lexuan had already lit the fire and resumed her usual calm demeanor.

Neither mentioned the soul bone again, and they enjoyed Huo Yuhao's grilled fish dinner in peace.

After a night of rest, early the next morning, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan resumed their journey toward the Sun-Moon Empire, continuing along their route.

They hadn't spent the previous night in silence. Zhang Lexuan had shared the intelligence she'd gathered about the Death God Envoy and her related suspicions with Huo Yuhao, explaining why she had come to the Sun-Moon Empire in the first place.

Huo Yuhao, in turn, reaffirmed his decision to help Zhang Lexuan search for Bei Bei and investigate clues related to the Death God Envoy. He showed extraordinary determination in the search for his dear brother Bei Bei, even more eager than Zhang Lexuan herself. When it came to the Death God Envoy, he gritted his teeth with hatred, seemingly ready to tear him apart.

Zhang Lexuan understood this well. Huo Yuhao, like her, had found a new family in Mu En and Bei Bei after losing his original family.

After thinking it over for a night, Zhang Lexuan finally made a decision.

 "Yuhao, I'll take you with me—but no matter what, we'll only search for Bei Bei for up to six months. After that, we return to Shrek Academy. And during this time, if anything unexpected happens—like rising tensions between the two nations—I'll end the search early and take you back to Shrek immediately!"

It wasn't that she didn't want to keep searching for Bei Bei until he was found. But she couldn't allow Huo Yuhao to be dragged into this indefinitely.

Huo Yuhao was not only the successor of the Sea God's Pavilion, but also Mu En's disciple and Bei Bei's brother. If something happened to him while he was out adventuring with her in the Sun-Moon Empire, even dying a hundred times wouldn't atone for her guilt.

It would be a tremendous loss to Shrek Academy.

And a hundred years later, she wouldn't have the face to meet Mu En in the afterlife.

Under her firm insistence, Huo Yuhao finally nodded and agreed to her terms.

"Six months it is. That's enough time. I will catch the Death God Envoy and bring Brother Bei Bei back!"

From Ming Dou Forest, they headed west, gradually approaching the Sun-Moon Empire.

The soul beasts they encountered in the forest became weaker, and no longer posed any threat.

But rather than relax, both of them grew even more alert. What lay ahead was the Sun-Moon Empire's blockade line—they could encounter vanguard forces at any moment.

If their identities were discovered, the Sun-Moon Empire would definitely pursue them with full force.

Thanks to the Soul Master Tournament, both had become somewhat famous. Huo Yuhao's identity as the Sea God's Pavilion heir was also known. Naturally, the Sun-Moon Empire would keep a close watch on them. If given the chance, the Empire wouldn't hesitate to send Titled Douluo-level powerhouses to eliminate Shrek's geniuses and heirs.

Besides, they had entered the Empire illegally—by Sun-Moon law, their deaths would be justified.

To Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan, the Sun-Moon Empire was like a hell-level dungeon.

Extreme caution was necessary.

Huo Yuhao didn't plan on causing any unnecessary trouble. Regular border soldiers were no match for Zhang Lexuan, but Titled Douluo were too strong. Challenging a Soul Douluo might attract stronger enemies or provoke a military response.

If even Titled Douluo avoided being surrounded by troops, how could Soul Douluo-level Zhang Lexuan fare better?

In short—no unnecessary risks.

Eventually, they left Ming Dou Forest and soon spotted a Sun-Moon military camp stationed outside.

They chose to detour around it—longer, but safer.

But as they began circling around the camp, Huo Yuhao couldn't help glancing its way.

And surprise—it turned out the camp contained people loyal to him!

He sensed them through the imprint of the Demon Buddha technique: five individuals bearing his mark—submitted, not under direct control.

And he quickly identified them—An Litong and his four comrades, who had rejoined the military under new names and identities.

They hadn't been placed in any of the five main corps, but thanks to their Soul Douluo-level strength and years of service, each had earned command of a small independent unit.

Most of their troops were ordinary soldiers, but even so, commanding a unit meant holding some real power within the military.

It was symbolic—an investment in future influence.

Their example also encouraged others in the army to work harder.

Unlike other factions, the military emphasized strength. The strong thrived, the weak followed.

These five had been stationed on the forest's edge—a harsh and dangerous assignment, keeping watch for soul beasts and illegal trespassers.

It felt like exile—used, but not fully trusted.

Perhaps it was to keep them out of the public eye until they proved themselves worthy of promotion.

After all, their past ties to the underworld were murky.

Still, they had clean official records, and as long as they performed well, the military wouldn't hold them back forever.

Now, they had gained some stability.

As they passed by the camp, Huo Yuhao silently dispatched a ghostly wraith carrying items to the camp.

Night fell.

An Litong was alone in his tent. With little entertainment on the border, he passed time reading, cultivating, or sipping wine.

He dared not engage in any misconduct—like bringing women into camp—since he was still under scrutiny.

Though granted command, he and his group were still on probation. They had already drawn envy from others, and one slip could end it all.

And if that happened, he could only return to civilian life as a rich man.

But the "Master" had commanded them to infiltrate the army and act as spies. If they were kicked out and became useless—well, the Master would devour them. Literally.

Just as An Litong was lamenting another dull night, a chill wind swept through his tent.

Before he could react, a ghostly voice whispered:

"Compassionate One descends~ Compassionate One descends~ Compassionate One descends~"

An Litong's face changed instantly. He peeked outside, confirmed no one was nearby, then dropped to his knees and responded devoutly:

"The King of Light is born!"

A cold laugh echoed—it was the correct code phrase.

Then, without seeing anyone, a jade box dropped from the air. Inside were ten blood-red seed-like items, their fragrance making An Litong instinctively swallow and crave them.

"These are blood-qi seeds, heavenly treasures from a 100,000-year-old snow lotus. These ten seeds will be enough for you to break through to level 90. Once you do, I will take you to hunt a soul ring. Then, you can serve the Master even better."

Blood-qi seeds from a 100,000-year-old snow lotus?

Break through to level 90?!

An Litong trembled with excitement. Was such a treasure really meant for someone like him?

Thanks to the White Lotus Sect's cultivation techniques, he had long since pledged his loyalty. With them, his soul power had already skyrocketed to level 86—something he never dreamed of before.

And now—he could break through even faster?

At that moment, An Litong wished he could offer the Master everything.

"Thank you, envoy! I, An Litong, will not fail you!" he cried, kowtowing fervently.

The same scene was playing out at the tents of the other four elders.

The ground cracked open.

The mutated Ice Jade Scorpion Martial Soul poked its head out from beneath the earth. After scanning the surroundings and confirming there was no one nearby, it crawled out first, followed closely by Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan.

Climbing out from underground, both of them were covered in some dirt, looking a bit disheveled. But in truth, they weren't injured—just had been underground for a long time.

After bypassing An Litong's stationed area, they encountered a much tighter blockade up ahead. With soul tool surveillance in place, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan were temporarily unable to pass.

Unexpectedly, Huo Yuhao had the mutated Ice Jade Scorpion dig a tunnel underground, leading them into the Sun Moon Empire's territory.

Now, the two were inside Sun Moon territory—though they had no idea exactly where.

"Yuhao, I didn't expect your martial soul to have this kind of ability," Zhang Lexuan remarked in amazement. Even Soul Masters with tunnel-digging martial souls wouldn't be able to dig this far in one go.

Rather than a martial soul, the Ice Jade Scorpion seemed more like a soul beast.

Huo Yuhao patted the scorpion's head and grinned proudly. "My scorpion is a unique martial soul, one of a kind on the continent. Of course it's got special abilities."

Zhang Lexuan chuckled.

"All right, we've officially entered the Sun Moon Empire. The immediate danger is gone, but we still have to stay cautious. Let's find a city nearby and get a sense of the situation."

"Got it, senior sister."

The two picked a direction and began exploring.

In Mingdu, inside the Third Prince's Mansion, secret chamber—

"The true body has arrived?"

The Third Prince opened his eyes and murmured.

In fact, his consciousness was still Huo Yuhao's—just being split and controlled remotely.

Quite some time had passed since Huo Yuhao returned from the Extreme North and trained in the Dou Ling Empire. The Third Prince had grown stronger too.

His strength had stabilized at Rank 94, and he was swiftly approaching Rank 95. Don't underestimate the advancement speed of someone cultivating a sinister technique with innate Rank 9 soul power.

In fact, one could say his talent was closer to Rank 9.5.

But problems had begun to appear.

Balancing the forces of yin and yang brought conflict between them. At each shift between day and night, the Third Prince would experience intense pain and loss of soul power control.

So, Huo Yuhao had to be extra cautious during this period, living even more reclusively.

Currently, the dominant force was the Solar Martial Soul.

Huo Yuhao could only accelerate his cultivation of the Yin Claw technique, devouring more yin souls to rebalance the power and ease the symptoms.

After almost depleting his reserve of yin souls, the balance slowly returned, and the symptoms eased.

But this made the Third Prince an even bigger powder keg—a balloon inflated to the brink, ready to burst at any moment.

Siphoning energy from his harem was a way to stabilize the explosion, but doing so also enhanced his strength and potential, strengthening the Solar Martial Soul—necessitating a rise in Yin Claw cultivation to maintain balance, making the hidden danger worse.

A vicious cycle.

Feeling the stinging pain within, Huo Yuhao suppressed the raging energy, letting his slightly swollen body return to normal.

"Maybe Rank 95 is the limit for this body unless I can make the two powers mutually reinforcing. Otherwise, breaking through to Rank 95 could be this body's end." Huo Yuhao laughed at his own thoughts.

Achieving that balance would require massive investment of fate energy, hoping to spark a unique transformation.

But there might be another way—

To make the "balloon" more durable.

"There's not much time left for the Third Prince. He could break through to Rank 95 at any moment. So…"

"It's time to advance the Nine Death Divine Art to the second level."

But first, Huo Yuhao planned to gather some materials to enhance the effectiveness of the next stage.

He rose and exited the secret chamber.

Shadow Douluo and Porcelain Douluo appeared behind him, bowing with deep respect—even reverence.

Both had also improved, breaking through to Rank 93 thanks to Huo Yuhao's resources, cultivation methods, and guidance.

They practiced complementary techniques—yin and yang, ice and fire.

Porcelain Douluo cultivated the fiery True Flame Qi, while Shadow Douluo practiced the icy Cold Ice Qi. These techniques were more like martial arts, converting one's energy into ice and fire for attacks.

After training, their true qi merged with their soul power, granting it fire and ice attributes—and surprisingly, their martial souls began manifesting those elemental powers as well.

They had never seen anything like this.

Calling it divine, they admired Huo Yuhao even more—not as a monster, but as a god.

Porcelain and Shadow Douluo: "You are our god!"

But these techniques weren't without side effects. Their hair and beards began turning red and blue respectively, and their temperaments became more explosive and cold.

Still, the real power boost outweighed the changes—they even wanted more.

They boarded a carriage and left the prince's mansion. Night had fallen.

Earlier, Huo Yuhao had suppressed the Third Prince's internal turmoil at dusk. Now that night had fully set in, the disturbance had subsided, and he could go out freely.

The carriage swayed gently, heading toward the royal palace.

Tonight, the Third Prince was going to pay his respects to the Emperor once more!

The Third Prince's personal cultivation was going smoothly, but his political faction wasn't doing as well.

During this time, Xu Tiannan had further consolidated control over the Sun Moon Empire, suppressing and dividing the other princes' factions.

The Third Prince's supporters were mostly royal family members. Xu Tiannan couldn't openly crush them, but his pressure caused many to distance themselves from the Third Prince.

Fortunately, the prince overseeing the royal family's internal affairs still supported the Third Prince, keeping his base intact—unlike the other princes, who fared worse.

But making a comeback was still tough.

Especially since, in the public's eyes, the Third Prince seemed to be placing his hopes on the long-unconscious Emperor of Sun and Moon.

At first, people believed the Emperor might help the Third Prince regain power. But as time dragged on, doubts grew—some even wondered if the Emperor was on the verge of death.

Huo Yuhao knew: the Emperor was just cursed. Death was still far off.

Following procedure, Huo Yuhao paid his respects, confirmed that the Emperor was still peacefully asleep, and returned to his palace.

At midnight, Huo Yuhao transformed into a "rooftop gentleman," masking his presence and flying toward the imperial harem—but instead of lingering there, he headed straight to the Cold Palace.

There, he entered Yu Manwu's residence and lifted his concealment.

But at that moment, a golden brush, glowing with phoenix-like energy, shot toward his face.

Though it looked soft, the brush bristled with countless sharp energies—like a barrage of iron nails flying toward his face.

Faced with the sudden attack, Huo Yuhao remained calm and unhurried, as if he had anticipated it. A scorching brilliance suddenly flared from the Third Prince's body, radiating flames in a circular shield, making him appear as if he stood within the heart of the sun.

The incoming golden calligraphy brush was instantly deflected by the blaze.

The attacker, forced back more than ten steps, finally managed to steady herself.

It was none other than the deposed Imperial Consort, Yu Manwu, who had launched the attack.

In her hand, she wielded a magnificent calligraphy brush, half a meter long and etched with phoenix patterns. The brush gleamed gold—it was her martial spirit: Golden Phoenix Brush.

Despite her somewhat disheveled state, Yu Manwu did not attack again. Nor did she show concern for her own condition. Instead, her expression shifted rapidly between emotions as she stared at the Third Prince, clutching her martial spirit tightly, suspicion flashing in her eyes.

"You broke through to Titled Douluo? Was it because of what happened last time?"

Yu Manwu's shock was understandable. The last time they met, the Third Prince had only been a high-level Soul Douluo. Yet in such a short time, he had broken through to Titled Douluo.

Even overdosing on pills wouldn't yield such fast results!

Moreover, he hadn't even used his martial spirit but had effortlessly blocked her ambush—and radiated an aura that sent chills down her spine. Clearly, he was no ordinary Titled Douluo.

She recalled how all the Cold Palace residents listed on that roster vanished after the prince's last visit. Yu Manwu suspected he had used them to power his advancement.

Facing such a monster who devours humans for strength, for once, Yu Manwu felt unsafe.

She hadn't gotten her revenge yet. She couldn't die now!

"Yes," Huo Yuhao nodded lightly with his hands clasped behind his back, offering no denial. He even smiled and added, "I have to thank Your Highness for your help back then."

Yu Manwu snorted coldly. "So what if you've become a Titled Douluo? What you've done is enough for the Empire to wipe you out completely!"

"Don't worry, Your Highness," Huo Yuhao replied casually, "Only you and I know about that incident. After all, we're in the same boat."

Yu Manwu was clearly trying to threaten him—saying that no matter how powerful he was, the Empire would kill him for his crimes. But Huo Yuhao had no intention of turning against her.

After all, even a chicken in a cage that clucks loudly must be butchered at the right time.

Seeing that Huo Yuhao had no hostility, Yu Manwu shrank her Golden Phoenix Brush back to its normal size and put it away.

In a flash, she restored her elegant appearance—poised, graceful, now seated on a stone chair in her simple white gown, which couldn't conceal her noble aura. She questioned him again, "You haven't made a move against Xu Tianran. I hear he's doing quite well. In fact, it's you who's been suppressed."

"Don't be impatient. The time isn't right yet. You want revenge, I want the Empire. Xu Tianran must go, but if the Emperor and Crown Prince both die now, the Sun Moon Empire will fall into chaos."

Huo Yuhao calmly withdrew his spirit power, walked over to the stone table, poured himself tea, and took a sip.

Hmm, bitter.

Yu Manwu clearly didn't lack luxury, yet chose to drink bitter tea. She understood the meaning of enduring hardships to avenge humiliation.

Or perhaps she was just embracing the metaphor of "Cold Palace Tea Tasting."

Yu Manwu suddenly chuckled, seemingly mocking Huo Yuhao—or perhaps just doubting him. "The Empire will never allow an evil soul master to ascend the throne!"

"I have my ways."

"If that's the case, when do you plan to kill Xu Tianran? I just want him dead!" Yu Manwu's obsession with Xu Tianran was intense—now that she saw hope, she clung to it.

"You're a Titled Douluo now—one with immense talent and power. If you can kill Xu Tianran in one strike and show your strength without revealing your identity as an evil soul master, the court officials will back you. I'll also contact my father. He won't refuse to support someone like you."

Seeing hope, Yu Manwu wanted to place her bet.

The Sun Moon Empire yearned for a powerful soul master. And the Third Prince showed that potential. Initially, she suspected he held back to avoid exposing his identity, but now she wasn't so sure.

Then what was he waiting for?

For Xu Tianran to become a Titled Douluo too?

Or for him to ascend the throne?

But Huo Yuhao was simply waiting for his true self to arrive.

"Less than two years from now, the next Soul Master Tournament will be held," Huo Yuhao suddenly changed the subject. "And it will be hosted in Mingdu. It's going to be a grand occasion."

He paused, then added in a mysterious tone, "By then…"

"You'll kill Xu Tianran at the tournament?" Yu Manwu interjected, eager-eyed, thinking he planned something spectacular.

"No." Huo Yuhao set down the teacup and stood up, exuding an overwhelming aura. "I will ascend the throne and become Emperor!"

Yu Manwu was stunned, staring at him blankly, suspecting he might be drunk.

But her tea had no alcohol.

Did he drink before arriving?

"Get out!"

"Then see you next time~"

…

Letting the Third Prince ascend the throne in two years was certainly possible—but unnecessary.

Doing so would mean not only winning over the court but also dealing with the Holy Spirit Cult. In the end, the Sun Moon Empire would become nothing more than a puppet gutted by Huo Yuhao.

Usable, but with limited value.

Puppets have limits. Only greed, profit, and hatred can push the Sun Moon Empire to its fullest potential.

The Holy Spirit Cult didn't care who sat the throne—only that the person favored them.

And right now, their choice was Xu Tianran.

Because Xu Tianran had sworn allegiance… by taking a godmother.

Still, letting the Third Prince seize control of the empire two years later wasn't a bad plan either. Since the Holy Spirit Cult would support a prince, better to choose one of their own kind. Compared to the rebellious Xu Tianran, the similarly "evil" Third Prince seemed more suitable.

Besides, Huo Yuhao's true self was now in the Sun Moon Empire—he wasn't leaving empty-handed.

His variant Frost Centipede martial spirit still lacked wings and needed the right dragon bloodline to awaken.

The night was not yet over—there was still the second half.

And Huo Yuhao didn't stay in the harem that night either.

He found Prince Guosheng, one of his supporters, and received a list.

"This list contains all the imperial clansmen who no longer wish to support you, along with their current locations," Prince Guosheng said respectfully.

Although he had great power over the royal family, he couldn't control everyone's beliefs.

Holding this "Life-and-Death Register," Huo Yuhao said nothing—and acted immediately.

Tonight, the moonlight was especially gentle.

So was Huo Yuhao's method.

Gently, he hollowed out a noble's organs, stuffed the body with dry grass, and stitched it up with thread, all while chanting softly.

The nobleman stood up again, moving like a living person.

Huo Yuhao smiled with satisfaction.

The dragon aura around the Third Prince grew stronger, now tinged with black-red demonic energy—as if a demon dragon was about to be born!