soul land: Huo Yuhao Inheriting Centipede Immortal

Liao Mengkai's death caused the soldiers and deputy commander of the Terrorclaw Soul Engineer Regiment to erupt in grief and fury. Their anguished roars echoed across the battlefield.

"Commander!!!"

"Damn it! You all deserve to die!"

"Kill them! Avenge the Commander!"

"Kill them!"

But before these soldiers could charge, a colossal bull-type Martial Soul True Body barreled through them, scattering them like leaves.

It was Wang Yiheng—who had gone berserk while in his Martial Soul True Body!

His Martial Soul was a bovine type, and he bore the title of Mad Bull Douluo. But now, the crazed bull had turned its horns against his own comrades.

Wherever people clustered, Wang Yiheng charged like a raging storm.

The Terrorclaw Soul Engineer Regiment wasn't the only one affected. Even the Evil Sovereign Soul Engineer Regiment and the Southern Legion suffered under his rampage.

The Southern Legion's commander, who could have stopped him, was delayed by a group of White Lotus Army Soul Douluo fanatics who threw their lives into buying time.

"White Lotus saves the world!"

"White Lotus saves the world!"

"White Lotus saves the world!"

Chanting in unison, they marched toward death with zealous expressions that chilled the Southern Legion commander to his core.

Yet, the chaos bought time for Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan to talk.

Liao Mengkai's frozen corpse plummeted to the ground, but Huo Yuhao ignored it. Instead, he rushed to Zhang Lexuan, who was covered in wounds, and asked anxiously, "Senior Sister, are you okay?"

Her injuries were all inflicted by Liao Mengkai, several deep enough to expose bone, just inches from being fatal.

Still, Zhang Lexuan merely shook her head coolly. "I'm fine."

In the next instant, her wounds began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Huo Yuhao was stunned. "Senior Sister, that's…"

"It's the power granted by the Bright King," she said calmly.

She had been suppressing this regenerative power until now. If she had healed too quickly earlier, she would've exposed herself, derailing their plan.

At this mention, the atmosphere grew heavy.

Huo Yuhao opened his mouth as if to say something, then only sighed.

He probably wanted to say that the Bright King's gift wasn't a good thing—but with that power inside Zhang Lexuan, he couldn't do anything about it.

Perceptive as always, Zhang Lexuan reassured him, "This power benefits us now. Don't worry—I've already found a way to resolve its hidden dangers."

"Really, Senior Sister?" Huo Yuhao brightened.

"Yes," she nodded, then shifted the topic. There was no time to dwell. She looked toward the berserk Wang Yiheng. "What's going on with him?"

"I used my Mirage Ice Fist to disrupt his mind. His soul tools don't defend against spiritual attacks," Huo Yuhao explained.

Unless specifically designed for it, soul tool defenses—even ninth-level ones—couldn't block mental attacks.

Zhang Lexuan, familiar with Huo Yuhao's techniques, understood immediately. Her eyes narrowed. "In that case, we can't let him off either."

…

Soldiers from the two regiments now faced a dilemma—attacking Wang Yiheng felt wrong, but letting him be wasn't an option either. And targeting Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan? They simply didn't have the strength.

Fortunately, the two regiments' deputy commanders rallied their troops.

"Follow me! Stop the Commander!"

Waking Wang Yiheng was now their priority.

Unfortunately, the two deputies were not strong enough individually to stop him. Only by working together could they barely hold him off.

"Commander Wang! Snap out of it!"

"Commander, wake up!"

They activated their own Martial Soul True Bodies, clashing against Wang Yiheng. But even two-on-one, they were struggling.

Naturally, Huo Yuhao hadn't made it easy. His strike wasn't meant to simply send Wang Yiheng into a rage—it was designed to keep him trapped in it.

Eventually, Wang Yiheng began to weaken. The two deputy commanders and a group of soldiers managed to finally hold him back.

"We did it! We stopped him!"

The Evil Sovereign Soul Engineer Regiment soldiers began to smile.

But just as they were about to subdue him and wait for him to regain consciousness, a blood-red beam entwined with a chilling aura pierced Wang Yiheng's True Body from behind.

The soldiers' smiles froze.

Wang Yiheng's True Body shattered. His corpse, chest pierced, fell from the sky. His eyes remained wide open in disbelief, as if he'd regained clarity at the last moment—only to realize, too late, how it would end.

"No!!!"

"Commander!!!"

The Evil Sovereign Regiment's deputy commander dove to catch the falling body.

The Terrorclaw deputy turned to the direction of the attack—just in time to see Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan standing side by side, having launched the joint strike.

Killing Wang Yiheng had been easier than Zhang Lexuan anticipated.

"Ah!!! You again?! I'll kill you!!!" the deputy roared.

"Avenge the Commanders!"

"Kill the enemies!"

"Vengeance!"

"Kill!"

Both regiments let out bloodthirsty shouts and activated their flying soul tools, charging toward Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan under the command of the furious deputy.

This time, no one stopped them.

Naturally, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan didn't linger.

"Retreat!" Zhang Lexuan's voice rang out across the battlefield.

The White Lotus soul masters immediately followed their lead and began a tactical retreat.

However, they had come with over two hundred members—now, barely a dozen remained.

That was because, after the earlier chaos, the Sun Moon Empire's forces had mounted a fierce counterattack. Led by the Third Prince's regiment, they joined with the Southern Legion and quickly crushed many White Lotus troops, reversing the tide.

Even the Shadow Douluo and the Celadon Douluo took action, unleashing Titled Douluo strength to slaughter White Lotus soldiers with their advanced soul tools.

The Third Prince's appearance on the battlefield was like a divine descent. He turned the battle around with overwhelming force.

"Chase them! Leave no one alive!" the Southern Legion's commander bellowed.

Their losses to the suicidal resistance of the White Lotus Army were already humiliating. Two Beast King regiment commanders had died. If they let the culprits escape, what face would the Sun Moon Empire's army have left?

Their shame demanded blood.

Only the remnants of the Beast King Regiments, the Southern Legion, and the Third Prince's regiment still had the will to pursue.

The others had been broken by the White Lotus Army's fearlessness.

Seeing they were being pursued, the remaining White Lotus soul masters quickly made a decision. They stopped, turned, and blocked the pursuers.

"Saintess, go! We'll hold them off!"

"White Lotus saves the world! Saintess shows mercy!"

"White Lotus saves the world! Saintess shows mercy!"

"White Lotus saves the world! Saintess shows mercy!"

The last dozen White Lotus soul masters shouted as they launched suicidal charges to stop the chase.

Zhang Lexuan turned back and halted midair. Even with her emotions sealed, her morals would not allow her to flee alone.

But in that moment, a powerful soul ray attack struck from the side—targeting her.

"Watch out, Senior Sister!"

Huo Yuhao cried out and threw himself in front of her, blocking the incoming beam.

In that instant, he activated his Frost Centipede Armor to absorb the brunt of the soul ray.

The powerful blast struck him head-on—followed by a thunderous explosion.

BOOM!

When the smoke cleared, Zhang Lexuan stared in shock at Huo Yuhao's tattered figure. Even without emotion, she was shaken.

Huo Yuhao spat blood, his Martial Soul forcibly withdrawn. His armor shattered, his clothes torn, and his body covered in wounds—completely disheveled.

She had never seen Huo Yuhao in such a state.

And it had all been to protect her.

She rushed to support him, wanting to strike back—but he clung to her arm, mustering his last strength to growl, "Go!"

Then he collapsed in her arms.

Zhang Lexuan instantly regained her composure. She looked in the direction of the attack, then carried Huo Yuhao and fled without hesitation.

As she escaped, she tossed five seventh-level soul bombs behind her.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Each exploded with devastating force, halting the pursuers.

A single eighth-level bomb could destroy the entire Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. Though seventh-level bombs were weaker, five detonating together still had massive power.

The chasing troops couldn't keep up—and some who failed to retreat in time were swallowed by the blast, their fate unknown.

This was Zhang Lexuan's contingency.

Meanwhile, the last White Lotus soul masters had been wiped out by the pursuing Sun Moon soldiers.

Far away, in the direction the soul ray had come from, the Third Prince lowered his soul tool and smiled.

"Now… it's time for the next act—"

"Sun Moon's revenge, White Lotus in retreat!"

As the battlefield slipped into renewed chaos, the Third Prince soared into the sky, appearing before all the soldiers. He summoned his Sun Martial Soul.

Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red—nine soul rings glowed as blazing heat blanketed the battlefield. The Sun Martial Soul captivated every soldier and commander present.

"I am the Empire's Third Prince. From this moment on, I take command of this army!"

"Who approves? Who opposes?"At the lowest point of morale and the height of chaos in the Sun Moon Army camp, the Third Prince descended like a deity—revealing all nine of his soul rings, with the ninth ring being a 100,000-year soul ring.

Instantly, everyone was stunned into silence.

The Third Prince quickly took control of all affairs in the camp. Even the commander of the Southern Legion expressed willingness to follow his orders.

There were four reasons for this:

Royal Blood and Legitimacy: As a member of the royal family, the Third Prince had the inherent right to intervene in military affairs. Opposing him could easily be interpreted as treason.

Strength and Authority: The Third Prince's own corps was largely intact, and he had demonstrated immense personal power. Even if others disagreed, he had the strength to force compliance.

Potential and Prestige: His extraordinary talent and power—possibly the first royal to break through to Title Douluo level, and wielding a 100,000-year soul ring—marked him as someone destined for greatness. Even if others wouldn't follow him, they knew better than to offend him.

Nothing Left to Lose: The situation couldn't get any worse, so letting the Third Prince take the reins couldn't hurt. If things failed, he'd be the one to take the blame anyway.

So, within less than a quarter of an hour, the Third Prince secured supreme command of the entire camp.

His first command came swiftly.

Inside the main tent—

"Leave behind only the necessary personnel to care for the poisoned and wounded. Everyone else who can still fight—soul masters and soul engineers alike—form ranks and prepare to follow me in a counterattack against the White Lotus Army. Immediately. Now!"

 The Third Prince swept his gaze across the gathered legion commanders, speaking with grim authority. Behind him stood Shadow Douluo and Porcelain Douluo.

"Your Highness, you mustn't!" one commander interjected anxiously, trying to dissuade him. "Attacking now could lead us straight into an ambush, and our forces need time to rest and recover—"

SMACK!

 Before the man could finish, the Third Prince slapped him hard across the face, silencing him by force.

The room fell into stunned silence.

All the legion commanders, regardless of their allegiance, knew this was not the time for battle. Especially the nobles—they were unwilling to let their private troops be wasted any further on this battlefield.

Tonight's losses had already been catastrophic—they couldn't afford more.

But none had expected the Third Prince to be so overbearing.

Then, without wasting breath on further arguments, the prince blasted through the tent wall, leapt into the sky, and shouted to the entire camp:

"The White Lotus Army is practically shitting on the doorstep of our Sun Moon Empire—and there are still people willing to stick their heads out to get stepped on? Not on my watch!"

"If you don't want to return to Mingdu in disgrace, remembered in history as the most pathetic losers this Empire has ever seen—then raise your soul tools and follow me! We strike back now, and make them pay for their treachery in blood!"

"For vengeance! For dignity! For the Empire!"

"Slay every last White Lotus soldier—paint your blades with their blood!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

As his words rang out, the entire camp erupted with deafening war cries.

 Morale, shattered just moments before, was suddenly and miraculously restored.

 The once-mournful, despair-filled camp was now roaring with fervor.

Even the wounded and poisoned soldiers tried to rise, their eyes burning with fury and righteous anger, their faces flushed with bloodlust.

Even the normally calm and strategic commanders found themselves swept up by the emotion, their eyes reddening.

Some commanders howled along with the troops, quickly organizing their men for battle.

They were quite literally seeing red—like madmen possessed!

The Third Prince gave a faint smile.

 He didn't need divine techniques or sacred arts—just a few dark tricks were enough to stir up the soldiers' killing intent.

After all, this battlefield had seen countless deaths. Though the souls of the fallen had been collected, the residual bloodlust and death aura still lingered. And that was more than enough to "inspire" the soldiers.

If the White Lotus Army could do it, then so could the Sun Moon Empire's soldiers!

Their bodies now wrapped in murderous aura, the soldiers thought only of slaughter—not tactics, not survival, just blood for blood.

"The army's spirit is ignited—to battle with me!" the Third Prince shouted as he turned and charged toward the White Lotus Army's encampment. Shadow Douluo and Porcelain Douluo followed close behind.

Next came the Beast King Legions—their commanders dead, their vice-commanders now led them, swearing vengeance.

Then followed the local conscripts and private troops of the nobles, all bewitched by the Third Prince's bloodthirsty charisma.

Even among the auxiliary troops made up of commoners, many chose to follow—some on foot, running just to stay with the army.

All of them now glowed red, both from their aura and their eyes, which burned with fury and madness.

Only the Southern Legion held back. Their commander still lived and had enough strength to hold the line and suppress the madness—for now.

But even he, seeing the rising bloodlust among his own troops, eventually sighed.

He ordered his vice-commander to take those who could still fight and join the Third Prince.

As for himself—he stayed behind, partly due to injuries, partly because the camp still needed a powerful presence to manage the wounded and poisoned.

Watching the tide of soldiers charging into the night behind the Third Prince, the Southern Legion's commander realized:

"This prince is not as simple as he appears."

"Maybe everything up till now was just an act."

"If he manages to win this battle… he'll become the spiritual leader of these soldiers. With the backing of the Empire's two Beast King Legions, his path to the throne won't be far off."

Even his own Southern Legion might end up joining the prince's camp.

"Siding with the Third Prince… might not be such a bad choice after all."

After all, the Hand of the Nation didn't meddle in politics, but the Six Grand Legions had no such luxury. They had to be involved, and he knew the imperial court well enough.

Compared to the unstable and hot-tempered Crown Prince, the Third Prince—who had no major flaws aside from a fondness for women—was the better option.

Most importantly, the Third Prince had both power and talent, and was not a cripple.

Meanwhile—

As the Third Prince led his forces into the darkness toward the White Lotus camp, Zhang Lexuan returned to the White Lotus Army with Huo Yuhao, where four maids were already waiting.

"Treat him!" she ordered the moment they regrouped. The maids immediately summoned healing-type soul masters to tend to Huo Yuhao.

The healers soon arrived and began treatment.

Zhang Lexuan kept the silver sigils active, with power from her false soul core still sustaining her abilities.

Only then did she begin talking with her maids.

"All the commanders and grand commanders are dead," she said bluntly—dropping a thunderclap of bad news.

Among the soul saints and higher in the White Lotus Army, only she and Huo Yuhao remained.

The four maids showed no anger or resentment. Instead, after the initial shock and grief, they wore serene, compassionate expressions.

"They gave everything for the Bright King. Their souls will ascend to paradise, and enjoy eternal bliss!"

Zhang Lexuan said nothing.

She didn't believe it, but chose to respect their faith.

Then she turned to the matter of troop withdrawal—key to her upcoming northward campaign toward Mingdu.

"How's the retreat going?"

"Reporting to the Holy Maiden: half of the elite White Lotus troops have been withdrawn. Around three thousand remain in ambush positions to guard against a counterattack," answered Jin'er.

"Proceed with the plan."

"Yes, we shall ensure the Sun Moon Empire never returns!"

Inside the military tent.

Under the healing of the support-type Soul Masters, Huo Yuhao's "injuries" quickly recovered, and he regained consciousness.

Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes.

The healing Soul Masters respectfully withdrew, leaving only Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan inside the tent. Four maids stood guard outside.

"Yuhao, are you alright?" Zhang Lexuan stepped forward to ask, her voice showing rare concern—but her tone remained cold as ever.

"Senior Sister?" Huo Yuhao snapped back to attention and hurriedly sat up, glancing around to confirm they had returned to the White Lotus Army camp. Relieved, he replied, "It looks like we made it back safely. Don't worry, I'm fine."

Then, Huo Yuhao swung his legs off the bed and stood up, urgency in his voice. "Senior Sister, what's the situation now?"

"Don't worry, everything is proceeding according to plan," Zhang Lexuan nodded.

"That's great… Then we shouldn't delay any longer. Senior Sister, let's set off," Huo Yuhao said with a smile, locking eyes with Zhang Lexuan.

Next, they would head north to Mingdu, to search for Bei Bei.

This was a plan that needed to be enacted sooner rather than later.

"But Yuhao, your body—" Zhang Lexuan still seemed worried. She clearly remembered that the blow Huo Yuhao had taken earlier was no minor attack.

"Relax, Senior Sister. My martial soul absorbed most of the impact. I'm still good for travel," Huo Yuhao patted his chest with a smile. Then he suddenly coughed twice, looking a bit embarrassed. "Though I won't be able to summon my martial soul for a while. I hope I won't slow you down."

Zhang Lexuan shook her head. "I should be the one thanking you."

Had that attack landed on her, she would have been severely injured. After all, her defense was nowhere near as strong as Huo Yuhao's, especially with his Frost Centipede Armor.

Just then, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan heard Huo'er's voice from outside.

"Your Highness, the Sun Moon Empire really did attack!"

Both Zhang Lexuan and Huo Yuhao's expressions changed slightly, but neither panicked. They had prepared for this.

To guard against a possible counterattack, the White Lotus Army had left behind three thousand soldiers in ambush, specifically to trap the Sun Moon Empire's forces.

They hadn't expected to actually use them—but it turned out to be necessary.

This only deepened Zhang Lexuan's admiration for Huo Yuhao's foresight.

"Send the order: act as the situation demands. After the ambush, don't linger—go mobile and join up with the main force. The objective is to tie down the Sun Moon Empire's forces in the southern provinces!" Zhang Lexuan swiftly issued commands.

"Yes, ma'am!"

Afterward, Zhang Lexuan and Huo Yuhao exchanged a look, nodded in agreement—they knew it was time to leave.

They were no longer suited to fight, and their mission had been mostly accomplished. As for the White Lotus Army… it was up to them now.

After all, the White Lotus Army were rebels, destined to be crushed by the Sun Moon Empire eventually. Using them one last time for strategic gain at least gave them a moment of glory.

Tonight's battle had taken down two Beast King legion commanders—a feat that would etch both the White Lotus Sect and White Lotus Army into history.

In truth, the battle tonight had exposed the martial souls of Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan. There was a real risk they'd be identified.

But as long as they weren't caught on the spot, they'd be fine—and Shrek Academy would remain uninvolved.

After all, would the Sun Moon Empire really dare storm the Sea God Pavilion to arrest someone?

Even if the Empire recognized them, it was unlikely they'd expose the truth. They still feared Shrek Academy.

Feigning ignorance would frame this as merely a rebellion suppression. But if they revealed Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan's identities, it would escalate into a direct confrontation between Shrek and the Empire—potentially sparking a continental war.

Was the Sun Moon Empire ready to respond to a full-scale Shrek mobilization?

Of course not. That was exactly the gamble.

And so, Zhang Lexuan and Huo Yuhao, along with four maids and a squad of White Lotus elite troops, quietly slipped away under cover of darkness and began heading north.

No explanations were needed. Zhang Lexuan's orders were absolute—the White Lotus Army would follow her without question.

After their departure, flames engulfed the White Lotus Army's old camp. A blazing sun hung high in the night sky, as though attempting to drive away the darkness.

From a distance, Zhang Lexuan, Huo Yuhao, and their companions watched this scene unfold.

"A sun-type martial soul… could that person be from the Imperial Family?" Huo'er murmured in awe. "It feels hotter than my flames. Even from this distance, I feel humbled."

"Could it be the Third Prince? He's that strong?" Mu'er exclaimed in surprise.

Zhang Lexuan frowned slightly, turning to Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao knew what she was asking. He shook his head. "It hasn't reached the level of Ultimate Fire—probably on par with Xiao Tao. I think that was the person who attacked me earlier."

"Alright," Zhang Lexuan nodded. As long as it wasn't Ultimate Fire. "I'll help you settle the score for that attack."

Her unexpected promise took Huo Yuhao by surprise.

But Zhang Lexuan quickly followed up, "Let's go."

"Yes!"

Under the cover of night, their group silently moved north toward Mingdu.

At the same time, back at the White Lotus Army's abandoned camp, the ambush troops were in dire straits.

Their trap had been completely exposed!

It was, of course, the Third Prince who had seen through the ambush. Using his soul tool, he rained beams of destruction on the ambush site, flushing out the hidden troops.

Without the element of surprise, the White Lotus soldiers now faced a bloodthirsty Sun Moon Empire Soul Engineer Regiment—a one-sided slaughter ensued.

The regiment that followed the Third Prince numbered just over 800—fewer than a thousand—with 300 drawn from the two Beast King legions.

Poisoning and prior casualties had drastically reduced their numbers.

The regular army was still en route.

But even so, the Soul Engineer Regiment remained terrifying. Eight hundred against three thousand—and the advantage still lay with the Empire!

Such was the power of Soul Engineers.

Influenced by bloodlust, the Soul Engineers exploded with frenzied power. Each one fought fearlessly and ferociously, venting their rage and humiliation through brutal strikes.

From above, it looked like a crimson wave swallowing a white one.

The aura of bloodlust made the Empire's troops seem bathed in a red glow.

There was no doubt—this battle would be a decisive victory.

The Third Prince smiled as he watched the scene. Hovering above him was his sun martial soul—the banner of the Sun Moon Army.

Then, he set fire to the White Lotus camp.

Using none other than Wang Yiheng's original soul tool: Flame Sky Net.

Three hundred sixty-five Sky Net Pearls revolved around the Third Prince.

Liao Mengkai's black dual blades were strapped to his back.

In his hands, he held his crossbow—now promoted to a Tier-9 soul tool—the Sun-Piercing Divine Ballista, formerly known as the Zhuge Divine Ballista.

Unlike magical artifacts, soul tools didn't require refinement. As long as the user's soul power was compatible and they understood the mechanism, they could unleash the tool's full power.

At this moment, the Third Prince was decked out in dazzling equipment.

As the White Lotus Army's camp went up in flames and their three-thousand-strong ambush force was gradually annihilated, the Third Prince burst into triumphant laughter.

Then, he shouted, "Don't stop! With me—keep killing!"

Where were the enemies?

Ahead—all of them!

Kill them all!

Numerous centipede legs bearing small flags followed the Sun Moon Army, gathering souls.

The believers of the White Lotus…

It's time to ascend to heaven!

Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan headed north. Everything went smoothly as they successfully bypassed the Sun Moon Empire's defensive line and left the southern province.

However, because they were still too close to the front lines and feared exposure, they didn't stop in any cities. Instead, they carved out a cave in the mountains to rest.

The White Lotus soul masters who accompanied them were all Soul Emperors. They stood guard outside the cave while resting.

Four handmaidens kept watch outside as well.

Only Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan were inside the cave.

Zhang Lexuan was about to remove the Silver Seal, and no one knew what would happen. The only person she could trust completely was Huo Yuhao.

Even if things got awkward, Zhang Lexuan had no choice but to keep Huo Yuhao close—just in case.

Huo Yuhao turned his back to her, facing the wall, and said seriously, "Senior Sister, with me here, you can rest assured."

He was facing the wall, of course, to avoid any misunderstanding!

Zhang Lexuan nodded, lay flat on the stone bed, and directly removed the Silver Seal.

In the next moment, a familiar sensation erupted within her body—like a dried-up ravine once again flowing with a clear spring.

A flush rose to her cheeks, and her once emotionless expression unexpectedly showed a hint of alluring charm.

The overwhelming pleasure nearly blanked out her rationality, but the realm of consciousness that enveloped her forcibly kept her calm.

It was a bizarre feeling—her body and mind split apart, amplifying her sensations countless times over. Every feeling became clearer and more intense.

In that heightened awareness, Zhang Lexuan keenly noticed a change—the realm of consciousness that had enveloped her began to crack under the impact of her desire. Eventually, it shattered completely.

Desire pierced through the realm!

The special state was gone. All the emotions that had been suppressed returned in full force, exploding forth. She couldn't suppress the cry that escaped her lips as she called out Huo Yuhao's name softly, "Yuhao~"

Her voice was sweet and tender.

Huo Yuhao shuddered at the sound, resisting the urge to turn around. He spoke in a low voice to encourage her, "Senior Sister, hold on! Don't let desire overwhelm your will!"

"No, wait!" Zhang Lexuan suddenly sat up in delight and said urgently, "Yuhao, I'm back to normal!"

The most intense wave of pleasure had passed. Though her body still felt weak, she hadn't lost consciousness. Ignoring everything else, she hurried to tell Huo Yuhao the discovery.

"What?" Huo Yuhao seemed confused.

"My emotions… they're back!" Zhang Lexuan said with joy sparkling in her eyes. She had discovered a way to break the grip of that special realm!

"Senior Sister, pardon me—I'm going to turn around!" Huo Yuhao, seemingly concerned, turned back—only to see Zhang Lexuan's flushed and radiant face, resembling the look Ma Xiaotao and the other girls had after intimacy.

More importantly, Zhang Lexuan was no longer her usual cold self. She was smiling joyfully. Huo Yuhao hadn't seen any other expression from her in a long time.

He, too, broke into a smile. "Senior Sister, you really recovered?"

"Yes, Yuhao! I really did!" Zhang Lexuan was visibly thrilled.

This meant the White Lotus Cult could no longer control her. She could now act according to her own will, no longer a cold, logical shell of herself.

At that moment, she even felt that the side effects of the Silver Seal had done her a favor—a blessing in disguise.

But then Huo Yuhao's cheeks turned red as he quickly looked away.

Because Zhang Lexuan, in her haste, hadn't noticed how revealing her appearance was. Though she was still clothed, her lower garments were soaked—clearly visible due to the white robes of a saintess she wore.

Zhang Lexuan noticed Huo Yuhao's strange reaction and finally realized her state. Her face flushed crimson, her ears burned, and she quickly pulled out another robe from her storage soul tool to cover herself. Forcing herself to stay calm, she said, "Yuhao, let's talk about this later. Go outside and rest for now."

"Alright, Senior Sister. I'll see if I can hunt something," Huo Yuhao responded quickly and left in a stiff, awkward posture, careful not to turn his neck at all.

"That's fine," Zhang Lexuan murmured softly.

After he left, she was so embarrassed she wanted to dig a hole and bury herself.

"That's the second time! At least this time wasn't as bad as the last," she muttered, trying to salvage her dignity. After steeling herself, she resumed her usual icy demeanor and called out toward the cave entrance:

"Shui'er, I need a bath."

Her voice carried out of the cave, and soon Shui'er responded and entered. Using her martial soul, she conjured water to help Zhang Lexuan bathe.

Though Shui'er was curious, she didn't ask a single question.

In truth, all four handmaidens were quite interested in Huo Yuhao—the only male follower allowed to stay so close to the saintess.

Out in the forest, Huo Yuhao found a few homeless beasts and gave them a warm new home—by filling everyone's stomachs.

After their meal, Huo Yuhao and the freshly groomed Zhang Lexuan reentered the cave for a secret meeting.

The awkward tension still lingered.

The air was thick with the scent of bath products and moist from the water vapor.

But Zhang Lexuan wasn't a child—she quickly broke the silence. "Yuhao, was what we did last night… really the right thing?"

Huo Yuhao looked at her, puzzled.

Zhang Lexuan continued, "Last night's battle caused massive casualties among the White Lotus Army. Those two hundred commanders and senior leaders… they're all gone. But we both know they were only misled by the White Lotus Cult. They were innocent, really."

Her voice lowered as she spoke.

With rationality receding and emotions returning, Zhang Lexuan saw last night's actions in a new light.

No matter what, the camaraderie in the White Lotus Cult made her feel the soldiers' deaths were undeserved.

More than that, she couldn't understand—what was she thinking at the time, believing that just the two of them could lead an assault on the Sun Moon military base guarded by Titled Douluo and Rank Nine soul engineers—and even aim to decapitate their command?

Was she always that brave when her emotions were suppressed?

Yet somehow… they had succeeded, albeit at great cost.

It felt like dancing on a knife's edge—just thinking about it now made her break out in a cold sweat.

Truthfully, she wasn't the only one confused. The Sun Moon Empire couldn't understand it either—how could the two Beast King Corps leaders have been successfully assassinated?

But Huo Yuhao shook his head and sighed. "Senior Sister, even if we hadn't acted, they still wouldn't have survived."

Zhang Lexuan looked at him in surprise.

He explained, "If the White Lotus Army had faced the fully armed Beast King Corps and Southern Legion head-on, without seizing the initiative, even ten thousand of them wouldn't have stood a chance. They would've been annihilated. Don't forget, the White Lotus Cult's two Titled Douluo weren't even on the frontlines."

"If elite Sun Moon forces were that easy to deal with, then the Star Luo Empire could've held the borders on their own. They have their own Soul Saints, Soul Douluos, and soul engineer armies—maybe even more than us. Why would they need all three nations to unite? Why call upon the deterrence of Shrek Academy?"

"Our strike last night, even if partially selfish, enabled the guerrilla tactics to succeed. At the very least, we ensured that the White Lotus Army wouldn't be wiped out in one fell swoop by the Sun Moon forces."

Zhang Lexuan was reluctantly persuaded.

"Next, we'll head to Mingdu to look for Bei Bei. If he's not there, we may need to investigate the Holy Spirit Cult."

"Yuhao, do you have any ideas?"

Huo Yuhao nodded slightly. "Perhaps… we can ask Dean Xian for help. She should be at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy!"

Zhang Lexuan's eyes lit up.

The assistance of a Super Douluo would be incredibly valuable to their cause!

As Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan were finalizing their next move, Zhang Lexuan's face suddenly twisted in pain. One hand clutched her forehead, and a fine sheen of sweat quickly formed on her smooth, pale skin.

"Senior Sister, what's wrong?" Huo Yuhao asked in alarm, his expression filled with concern.

"Yuhao…" Zhang Lexuan's voice was strained. She tried to say more, but her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by an eerie whisper that echoed through her mind. The pain was like a thousand insects trying to burrow into her brain, making her feel as if her skull might split open.

Seeing her like this, Huo Yuhao realized something was terribly wrong. His expression tightened as he said urgently, "Senior Sister, hang on! I'll go get help!"

But Zhang Lexuan grabbed his arm. Through gritted teeth, she forced out a hoarse reply, "No!"

She couldn't allow anyone from the White Lotus Sect to notice anything was wrong with her.

Because at the very moment the whispering began, she also sensed a strange disturbance in her lower dantian—the pseudo-spirit core had begun to react.

This was clearly linked to the Blessing of the Demon King!

The previously shattered Will was making a comeback, once again trying to suppress her emotions.

Zhang Lexuan understood at that moment: the force that suppressed her feelings hadn't been fully destroyed. It had only temporarily vanished. The root problem had not been eradicated.

Worse, the Will's resurgence was even more terrifying than before. Within those whispers, she could actually hear parts of the White Lotus Sect's teachings, as if her mind was being brainwashed to become just another follower.

A chill ran down her spine. Now she knew—the Blessing of the Demon King was no gift. It was poison meant to control her.

Without hesitation, Zhang Lexuan activated her Silver Mark. Sitting down cross-legged, she forced herself to calm her mind and focus all her willpower on resisting the whispers.

With the Silver Mark engaged, she slowly began to push back the invading Will. After a while, the whispers completely faded—but the cost was that her emotions were once again sealed away.

Her once gentle expression turned icy. When she opened her eyes again, they were devoid of all emotion.

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao deactivated the Spiritual Whispers effect of his skull bone.

Once the whispers disappeared, Zhang Lexuan deactivated the Silver Mark. Though the resulting reaction wasn't violent, it was enough to weaken the suppressive Will a little. The first thing she said was, "Yuhao, I need your help to resist the Blessing of the Demon King!"

This incident only strengthened her resolve to purge the Blessing from her body.

"Senior Sister, just say the word. As long as it's something I can do, I'll never refuse," Huo Yuhao said earnestly.

Zhang Lexuan had already explained some things about the Blessing and the Will to Huo Yuhao after her initial breakthrough, so he understood what she meant.

"My emotions are being suppressed because of the Will embedded in the Blessing. And the only thing that can resist a Will... is another Will," Zhang Lexuan explained calmly. Even as she spoke, the strange aura around her was forcibly subdued.

"I see," Huo Yuhao said, understanding dawning. "Senior Sister, you want me to use my King's Will to fight the Will in the Blessing?"

Zhang Lexuan nodded.

"But if I use King's Will on you… it could have some negative effects," Huo Yuhao hesitated.

"It's fine. After all, we're not enemies, are we?" she countered.

Huo Yuhao's expression turned serious. "I understand, Senior Sister."

Then, a golden aura engulfed him. Activating King's Will, he threw a punch directly at Zhang Lexuan's shoulder.

Zhang Lexuan didn't resist or dodge. She took the blow head-on, allowing the Will of King's Will to enter her body. But at that very moment—something went wrong.

Her pseudo-core trembled violently, unleashing a reactive Will that immediately countered Huo Yuhao's. The backlash sent Huo Yuhao flying, and his King's Will was shattered in an instant.

Huo Yuhao skidded across the ground, leaving deep footprints before finally stabilizing himself. His face flushed red, and he needed several seconds to suppress the turmoil in his blood.

"Yuhao, are you okay?" Zhang Lexuan asked, still expressionless.

"I'm sorry, Senior Sister. My King's Will… it's just not strong enough," Huo Yuhao apologized.

"This isn't your fault," Zhang Lexuan shook her head. She realized now that she'd overestimated what was possible.

With Huo Yuhao still at the Soul Sage level, it was unrealistic to expect him to contend with the terrifying Will inside the Blessing of the Demon King. Perhaps once he reached Title Douluo and deepened his mastery over his Will, he might stand a chance.

"Senior Sister…" Yuhao asked curiously, "how did you break the Will last time?"

Zhang Lexuan fell silent. While she had told Yuhao about the suppression of her emotions, she hadn't told him what had actually shattered the Will.

It had been… desire.

She didn't hesitate out of shyness—after all, she had no such mundane emotions now. She was weighing the pros and cons of telling him.

In the end, she spoke plainly, "It was desire. After removing the Silver Mark's attached spirit bone, I experienced a strong wave of desire—that's what shattered the Will."

Sure enough, Huo Yuhao looked awkward and immediately began apologizing again, "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's fine. Actually, thanks to your question, I've gotten an idea," Zhang Lexuan said, though she didn't reveal what that idea was. "Yuhao, let's call it a day. Get some rest. When night falls, we'll resume our journey."

Daytime travel wasn't safe for them. Once they were far away from the Southern Province, they could finally move without fear.

Although Yuhao still felt worried, he said nothing more. He simply nodded, "You too, Senior Sister. If anything happens, let me know right away."

With that, Huo Yuhao left the cave and went to rest outside.

Inside the cave, Zhang Lexuan sat quietly, cross-legged, thinking deeply about how to expel the Blessing of the Demon King.

Tackling the Will embedded in the Blessing seemed like a good first step. Since Huo Yuhao's Will couldn't help her, she would have to rely on her own means.

"Desire…"

A thought struck her.

"The White Lotus Sect is based on abstinence, right? Could it be…"

Could desire truly be the natural enemy of their methods?

But how to proceed?

Zhang Lexuan decided to activate the Silver Mark once again and test the theory.

Meanwhile…

The Third Prince led his troops in a devastating attack on the White Lotus Sect's camp, killing over three thousand enemies and claiming a major victory.

But he didn't return. Instead, he ordered the army to rest on the spot and then continued pushing deeper into the Southern Province, chasing down the remaining White Lotus forces and reclaiming lost territory.

With each battle, the Third Prince's prestige grew among the soldiers. Soon, they no longer cared about which division they had originally belonged to—they all saw themselves as his men.

Soldiers naturally rally behind a general who can win.

Those who were wounded or poisoned were left in the care of the Southern Legion's commander, who closely monitored the Third Prince's movements. When he realized the Prince was still pressing southward, he grew uneasy.

One of the greatest taboos in warfare is isolating yourself too deep behind enemy lines. And now the entire Southern Province was still enemy territory!

So, an urgent battle report was sent to Mingdu.