soul land: Huo Yuhao Inheriting Centipede Immortal

The explosion in the sky above the mountaintop gradually subsided. The light and sound faded, and the night returned to an eerie calm. The mountain itself was unnaturally silent.

Zhongli Wu had long since prepared for a possible ambush.

Yet, to his surprise, no one attacked—even after the explosion had settled. Even the sounds of battle between High Eunuch Gao and the two elders had vanished.

A deep sense of foreboding crept over him.

Once the explosion completely dissipated, and he could clearly see his surroundings, Zhongli Wu was shocked to discover that the Third Prince had vanished.

Turning to search again, he spotted the Third Prince being carried by the Death God Envoy, fleeing at full speed along with High Eunuch Gao, clearly having started their escape before the explosion had fully ended.

The Third Prince, being carried, noticed Zhongli Wu watching and brazenly flipped him off—twice.

Zhongli Wu was dumbfounded.

"They ran?"

What's going on?

It wasn't until the Bone Dragon King growled a warning that Zhongli Wu followed its gaze—only to have his pupils contract and a chill pierce from his spine to the base of his skull.

Where the Bright King Divine Artifact had once been, it was now gone. In its place sat a ninth-level fixed-mount soul tool shell—already armed and counting down.

Without hesitation, Zhongli Wu urged the Bone Dragon King to flee. He had hoped to take the Crown Prince Xu Tiannan with him, only to find that Xu Tiannan had long since fled.

Also missing were the two elders. Most likely not escapees—they were probably dead.

"Despicable! Absolutely despicable!! I, Zhongli Wu, will remember this grudge!"

Though he suspected this was part of the Third Prince's scheme, Zhongli Wu didn't go after them. He was too close to the ninth-level soul cannon shell.

These things weren't toys.

It was said that the Sun-Moon Empire possessed three of the most powerful ninth-level fixed-mount soul shells, kept in top-secret vaults. Each one could rank among the top ten soul devices ever made.

Even apart from those three, the rest were still powerful enough to threaten the lives of Super Douluo.

During the tragic explosion in Mingdu, even Jing Hongchen, wearing a full set of ninth-level soul armor, had been grievously wounded and had yet to recover.

Even if Zhongli Wu could survive the blast, he had no intention of testing that theory.

Better to flee!

Zhongli Wu was also wary of being tricked again and didn't flee in the same direction as the Third Prince. He chose to escape westward.

Meanwhile—

The Death God Envoy and High Eunuch Gao were fleeing at top speed.

The Third Prince had not fled on his own, partly because he couldn't move freely before the explosion fully stopped, and partly because his soul power was nearly exhausted. As he was being carried, he was still drinking from a soul power recovery bottle.

Although the Third Prince's attack abilities were formidable—holding his own against Zhongli Wu and the Bone Dragon King and not even using his trump cards—his major weakness was insufficient soul power and slow recovery. He had yet to form a soul core.

The original plan had been for the Third Prince to fight until nearly depleted, then have the Death God Envoy and High Eunuch Gao step in. The three would then "regretfully lose" the battle.

They wouldn't abandon the Third Prince. Instead, they'd "retreat" to their legion, using it as a shield—Xu Tiannan and Zhongli Wu wouldn't dare take drastic measures in such a setting.

The price was to "lose" the Bright King Artifact to Xu Tiannan.

That had been the plan.

Inside the Bright King Artifact, Huo Yuhao had even left Xu Tiannan a gift. Xu Tiannan's Purple Radiance Dragon was still incomplete—Huo Yuhao meant to give him a push.

Letting a tiger go is called setting a tiger loose.

Letting a pig go is just free-range farming.

But Xu Tiannan delivered a massive "surprise."

 Who would have expected him to pull out a ninth-level soul shell?

Even the Third Prince had never gotten his hands on one. No wonder Xu Tiannan dared work with Zhongli Wu alone.

Actually, Xu Tianyuan also had multiple ninth-level soul shells. But he never got a chance to use them.

The shell had been set with a timer—not an immediate blast—so even Xu Tiannan had to flee.

If caught in the blast, he would be the most likely to die on the spot. He wasn't a Title Douluo yet.

Even with the Death God Envoy and High Eunuch Gao running at full speed, they hadn't escaped the mountain's range before a second explosion erupted behind them—

Heaven and earth shook.

This time, the mountain truly collapsed.

Already a small mountain to begin with, after multiple explosions it crumbled into a valley. Dirt and stone rained from the sky.

The legions guarding both the north and south were stunned. Some knowledgeable soul engineers recognized it as the detonation of a ninth-level shell and instantly grew worried for their generals.

Qingci Douluo and Moying Douluo now returned to the Third Prince's forces, restoring order and morale. They had escaped earlier via the Corpse Explosion Art, hiding underground within centipede leg clones that swallowed them and fled through the earth.

Those two would be useful later—no need to waste them here.

Meanwhile, the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Corps and the accompanying legion could no longer remain calm. They prepared to charge into the mountain to rescue the Crown Prince and their commander.

Just then, the Third Prince—battered, bloodied, and emanating his domain skill—burst from the explosion, a look of rage, sorrow, and anguish on his face, eerily similar to when Xu Tianyuan died.

He flew straight to the front of the Royal Dragon Corps and shouted:

"Xu Tiannan conspired with the Holy Spirit Cult to assassinate Commander Xu Tianyuan and myself. He detonated a ninth-level fixed-mount soul shell to silence us all!

 Thankfully, Commander Xu Tianyuan sacrificed himself to save me. Before he died, he entrusted me with his storage soul device. This is my evidence!"

He raised Xu Tianyuan's storage soul device high. His voice echoed across the camp, stunning all soldiers.

No one could believe what they were hearing.

Before anyone could ask further, the Third Prince roared,

"Commander Xu Tianyuan died to save me! I swear upon my martial soul and royal name—no matter the cost, I will avenge him!"

Far away, hidden in the dark of night, Xu Tiannan watched this scene unfold.

He crushed the armrest of his wheelchair again.

"This is just the villain crying foul first! Bullying the honest!"

Xu Tiannan's escape had been aided by an emergency soul device installed on his wheelchair, but it prioritized burst speed—not long-distance flight.

So, he was still a step too late.

In the darkness, Xu Tiannan's face twisted with rage.

"Third Brother... such scheming! I can't believe you survived!"

How he wished he could step out and expose the Third Prince. Even kill him then and there.

But he couldn't.

He knew— White Lotus Sect also worked for the Third Prince. Even if the Death God Envoy and High Eunuch Gao had died in the explosion, the blame would still fall squarely on him.

Sometimes, evidence doesn't matter.

What matters is seizing the initiative.

Xu Tiannan even suspected those two were still alive. If he showed himself, the Third Prince might kill him outright without hesitation.

As long as Xu Tiannan died, nothing else would matter.

Suppressing his fury, Xu Tiannan looked to the glowing pillar beside him—the Bright King Artifact.

It couldn't be stored in a soul device, so he had to carry it. That had slowed him down.

Now, all he could do was hope this artifact wouldn't disappoint him.

Xu Tiannan chose to leave for Mingdu. As long as he returned to the Crown Prince's Mansion, he could begin again.

"Third Brother… this isn't over!"

Crown Prince Xu Tiannan was suspected of colluding with the White Lotus Sect to plot the murder of Sun Douluo Xu Tianyuan, commander of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Regiment, as well as Third Prince Xu Tiancheng. He used a ninth-level stationary soul-guided bomb to destroy the mountain where the White Lotus Sect was located. As a result, Xu Tianyuan perished, and Xu Tiannan vanished without a trace.

The Third Prince temporarily took command of the Imperial Dragon Regiment, the Western Corps, and other related forces, and launched a pursuit of Xu Tiannan in the southern provinces.

Military reports were transmitted back to Mingdu via soul tools at top speed.

Upon reading the report, the Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire spat blood and fell unconscious on the spot. Only after emergency treatment by the Imperial Healer Douluo did he regain consciousness—yet his body was left even weaker.

After regaining consciousness, the emperor suppressed the news and did not disclose it to the court. Though he now feared the Third Prince more than ever, he no longer had the means to contain him.

In the end, the emperor could only sigh,

"The Third Prince is truly a ruler among men."

Subsequently, the emperor even allowed the Third Prince to inherit the title of Sun Douluo.

With this, the Third Prince fully took control of the southern provinces, subjugating the Imperial Dragon, Terrorclaw, and Evil Sovereign Beast King Regiments, as well as both the Southern and Western Six-Wing Corps. He also commanded numerous noble, regional, and common military units.

He had already become the most powerful military force in the entire Sun Moon Empire.

Although this had not yet been made public from within the imperial palace, Huo Yuhao already knew all about it—and naturally, so did the Third Prince.

Because Huo Yuhao was right there inside the imperial palace, witnessing the emperor's decisions firsthand. He realized then that the emperor was as good as dead. Once the Third Prince returned to Mingdu, he would become the next Crown Prince without a doubt.

Granting him the title of Sun Douluo was the emperor's clear statement.

 The three grand titles—Purple Radiance, Sun, and Silver Moon—held special significance within the imperial family, each representing not just honor, but authority and status.

Of course, this was all on the premise that Xu Tiannan never returned to Mingdu and had no trump cards left.

The fight for the throne never ends cleanly. Even if someone ascends the highest seat, they can still be pulled down.

As for Xu Tiannan—once he had stolen the artifact of the Bright King, he was like a moth caught in a spider's web, destined never to escape Huo Yuhao's grasp.

After that, Huo Yuhao stopped paying attention to the emperor. After all, he had worked tirelessly to dig a tunnel into the imperial palace—not to see some frail old man.

His real targets were the women of the inner palace.

The Third Prince had already "developed" most of the lower-ranking concubines and palace maids. Their usefulness had largely been drained. Before heading south, he had taken another "harvest," leaving those women unable to recover even now.

Only the Empress, the Imperial Noble Consort, and a few noble concubines and their close maids remained untouched.

This was a mine left for Huo Yuhao himself—each of them rich in resources and full of potential.

However, Huo Yuhao first headed to the Cold Palace.

Most of the women in the Cold Palace had already been exploited by the Third Prince. Even the eunuchs had been used for practice. He dared to do so because no one paid attention to what happened there.

Yet one of the most precious "resources" remained: Yu Manwu, the once-powerful Noble Consort, who had been cast into the Cold Palace. She still possessed phoenix aura.

Upon arriving at the Cold Palace—

Huo Yuhao used his Heavenly Dream Transformation to disguise himself as the Third Prince and entered Yu Manwu's courtyard. This spared him the trouble of explaining himself.

The courtyard remained dark, lit only by the pale reflection of moonlight off the small lake. The leaves rustled gently in the breeze. Everything seemed quiet, yet beneath the silence lurked a sense of hidden danger—just like the turmoil in Yu Manwu's heart.

Though she had withdrawn from sight, her desire for revenge had not faded—it had only grown stronger. She was the most dangerous element left in the harem.

"Third Prince? Aren't you in the southern provinces? Why have you returned?"

 Yu Manwu's voice came from behind Huo Yuhao, her appearance ghostly.

And even if she were a ghost—she would be a stunningly beautiful one.

"I came to inform you of something important, Noble Consort."

As he replied, Huo Yuhao turned around.

Yu Manwu stepped out of the shadows, bathed in moonlight. Her elegant figure looked ethereal under the light, yet her thin, plain garments could not conceal her curvaceous form. Her face was strikingly beautiful, and her long, flowing golden hair added a touch of grace.

Even without makeup, her features were exquisite. Her phoenix-like eyes held endless allure, and her mature charm only made her more irresistible.

What captivated Huo Yuhao most, however, was the phoenix aura she emitted.

Perhaps due to her time in the Cold Palace, the aura had been tinged with a faint black hue, making it seem ominous and violent—but this didn't bother Huo Yuhao.

As the saying goes:

"Whether it smells good or bad—meat is still meat once it's in your mouth."

"Oh? What matter could compel you to sneak back into Mingdu alone?"

 Yu Manwu asked with intrigue.

Though confined to the Cold Palace, she wasn't entirely unaware of the outside world—just less informed.

She hadn't heard any news of the Third Prince's return—so he must have returned in secret.

Huo Yuhao clasped his hands behind his back and dropped a thunderous bombshell:

"Xu Tiannan is dead. His body destroyed. I've avenged your son."

Xu Tiannan wasn't coming back, so he might as well be dead.

"What?!"

 Yu Manwu's expression changed dramatically.

In the next instant, she summoned her phoenix-patterned golden pen, her martial soul, and attacked Huo Yuhao.

But he simply snorted coldly and blocked her strike with ease.

His disguise used the Sun Martial Soul and exactly replicated the Third Prince's soul ring configuration.

"You're trying to kill me? Do you really think I won't kill you instead?"

 Huo Yuhao demanded coldly, knowing Yu Manwu wouldn't be that reckless.

Sure enough, she withdrew her martial soul and looked at Huo Yuhao's martial soul and rings with a complex expression.

"Just like the intel said—your ninth ring is a 100,000-year soul ring. You really are the Third Prince. You've hidden your strength well."

Clearly, Yu Manwu had doubted his identity at first. But after confirming the soul rings, she fully believed him. She had only heard about the Third Prince's strength before. Now she saw it firsthand.

Sun martial souls weren't uncommon, and there were titled Douluo with that soul, but only one had a 100,000-year ninth soul ring: the Third Prince.

From the fluctuations of his rings, it was clear they weren't fakes.

At last, Yu Manwu dropped all pretense. She laughed, then cried, then spun wildly around the courtyard, dancing with abandon—ignoring Huo Yuhao's presence entirely.

Even if she hadn't struck the killing blow herself, her vengeance had been fulfilled. How could she not be overwhelmed?

"Hahaha! Good! Dead! He's finally dead! My son's death has been avenged!!"

She did not doubt the Third Prince's words. He would not lie about something like this.

After a long time, she finally stopped, sitting down on a stone bench with a relaxed air, her elegance cast aside.

Huo Yuhao quietly watched her.

 To be honest—her wild dance had been strangely beautiful.

"Third Prince—no, Crown Prince—this is a debt I will remember. If you ever need anything, as long as I can do it, I will not refuse."

 Yu Manwu vowed solemnly.

But Huo Yuhao didn't want promises.

"Yu Manwu—I want you to help me cultivate."

"You want my life?"

Thinking of the Third Prince using others in the Cold Palace for cultivation, Yu Mandance narrowed her eyes, her gaze turning dangerous.

But then, as if realizing something, she softened, leaning defenselessly against a stone table with a smile.

"Fine. Since my son's grudge is settled, there's no point in lingering. I'll fulfill your wish, repaying your kindness. Honestly, I'm curious—what happens when an evil soul master becomes the Sun Moon Empire's emperor? Haha…"

For years, Yu Mandance had clung to life fueled by vengeance.

With Xu Tianran dead and her revenge fulfilled, she had no attachments.

Having once harmed the crown prince, she was confined to the Cold Palace, cut off from her family. Her only asset was her own strength, which wasn't formidable. Agreeing to the Third Prince's terms held little value.

Pursuing greater strength was impossible; after using drugs to reach Titled Douluo, her potential was exhausted.

Rather than dying of old age in the Cold Palace, she'd rather aid the Third Prince, repaying his favor and fostering the growth of an evil soul master.

An evil soul master ruling the Sun Moon Empire—how intriguing!

The Third Prince wouldn't likely cherish his people, and the empire would suffer, venting her years of resentment.

Yu Mandance had no fondness for the Sun Moon Empire.

She cared little for national righteousness, only for her own satisfaction. Everything else was irrelevant.

Or perhaps, after years of hateful confinement in the Cold Palace, her sanity had frayed.

Hearing her consent, Huo Yuhao didn't explain. Licking his canine teeth, he closed in, pulling Yu Mandance's graceful form into his arms.

"You said it, so I won't hold back."

Feeling Huo Yuhao's "sword hilt" press against her, Yu Mandance gave him a sultry look, teasing, "What's this? Besides using me for cultivation, you've got naughty thoughts about this faded flower?"

"No conflict there. Besides, a beauty like you, Imperial Consort—how many men wouldn't be tempted?" Huo Yuhao replied.

"I was once your father's woman."

"Doesn't that make it more thrilling?"

"Want something even more exciting?" Yu Mandance broke free, smiling. "Let me change."

Huo Yuhao waited. Her voice called from the palace, beckoning him inside.

The palace was simple, but now adorned with red gauze curtains, creating a veiled ambiance. A faint fragrance wafted through. Yu Mandance's alluring calls came from behind the curtains, drawing Huo Yuhao forward.

"Your Highness, come~"

"This consort is here~"

"Hurry~"

Her voice was captivating.

Navigating the curtains, Huo Yuhao reached her phoenix bed.

The long-dark palace was lit with red candles, their dim glow casting an intimate mood.

Huo Yuhao glanced at the candles—the fragrance came from them, harmless, even enhancing the atmosphere.

The phoenix bed, draped in gauze, vaguely revealed a reclining figure.

Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao approached, lifting the curtain. Yu Mandance lay there in a phoenix crown and embroidered robe, striking a seductive pose.

Looking at him, she smiled charmingly. "Well? Is Your Highness pleased with this consort's attire? I wore this the day I entered the palace."

Back then, despite not being the empress, Yu Mandance had been given full honors.

Perhaps playing the part fully, she reverted to calling herself "this consort," as she had as an imperial consort.

Seeing her in regal, beautiful attire, deliberately enticing, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but exclaim, "You're so seductive~"

"Giggle, first time someone's dared describe this consort so," Yu Mandance laughed. "But… this consort can be even more so~" She pulled him onto the phoenix bed.

Huo Yuhao didn't hesitate.

What followed was passionate entanglement.

Techniques Yu Mandance had honed to captivate the Sun Moon Emperor were unleashed fully on Huo Yuhao, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

The emperor had banished her to the Cold Palace; now, consorting with his son—wasn't this revenge?

Perhaps her final act of madness before "death."

She assumed Huo Yuhao would kill her for evil cultivation, but would he drain the lake to catch fish?

Huo Yuhao didn't clarify—misunderstanding made it more thrilling.

It gave him an unprecedented experience. Though her phoenix aura had darkened, Yu Mandance hadn't, retaining a youthful allure with mature charm and skill.

While indulging, Huo Yuhao siphoned her phoenix aura. Though darkened, it retained its effect, even carrying unique properties.

The extracted aura was absorbed by Xuelian, aiding its growth. The dark taint wasn't taken or discarded but stored in Xuelian's core, its purpose unclear.

A night of cultivation.

…

Morning.

Yu Mandance awoke on the phoenix bed, puzzled to find herself alive but exhausted, her tender skin marked with bruises. The bed was damp, evidence of the night's fervor.

Huo Yuhao was gone.

This baffled her.

Why hadn't he killed her for cultivation? She'd given everything, expecting to depart in bliss.

Then she noticed a letter by the bed. Lying down, she opened and read it, her expression turning peculiar.

The letter explained dual cultivation, clarifying that Huo Yuhao's "cultivation" didn't require her life—and this wasn't the last time.

Yu Mandance set the letter down, collapsing onto the bed, laughing unexpectedly.

Her mood was surprisingly buoyant.

She hadn't felt this light in years.

Perhaps it was last night's release, the lifting of her inner shadows, or the thrill of avenging the emperor.

"Dual cultivation? I'll trust you for now, Third Prince. This consort awaits you in the Cold Palace!" she mused.

Thinking of him, she felt no girlish shyness, only faint anticipation.

She had to admit, last night's sensation was unprecedented—she'd fainted unknowingly.

She sensed the audacious Third Prince would bring more surprises.

…

After handling Yu Mandance, Huo Yuhao left the palace, returning to his base before dawn.

He then vented on the four maidservants.

Yu Mandance alone, even as a Titled Douluo, couldn't satisfy him.

As for the technique, he didn't leave it with her. For now, she was merely a new, slightly precious toy.

From Yu Manwu, apart from extracting Phoenix Qi, it turns out that a portion of Phoenix bloodline could also be drawn. Clearly, her ancestral lineage is far from simple. The Phoenix bloodline is also the source of her martial soul's mutation.

This opens up another way to collect the Phoenix bloodline.

At present, the White Tiger, Dragon, and Black Tortoise bloodlines have already reached a considerable concentration. Simply increasing the quantity no longer brings much improvement — a qualitative change is now needed. Even the White Tiger bloodline provided by Dai Haoyao has become rather tasteless.

On the other hand, Phoenix bloodline has always been in short supply. Previously, it could only be extracted bit by bit from Ma Xiaotao. Even then, it couldn't be done continuously. She needed time to recover, and the bloodline had to be drawn gently using dual cultivation. Only after doing so day after day could enough be gathered to trigger changes in the Frost Centipede Armor.

Now that there's a new source, it naturally needs to be thoroughly exploited.

In the days that followed, Huo Yuhao's daily schedule changed:

It became—

At night, first head to Ghost Street's arena for a fight. After winning a match, he'd shop around the street for new arrivals. Then he'd visit the Pingfan Alliance's territory, seemingly for enjoyment, but in truth, he would quietly leave through underground tunnels to enter the imperial palace and "mine" Yu Manwu. Before dawn, he'd return via the tunnel and queue up with his four maids for a 5-man formation. While doing so, he'd also satisfy the voyeuristic Zhang Lexuan. In the afternoon, while supposedly "resting," he would actually cultivate new techniques.

Although it looked like he wasn't spending much time cultivating, in reality, everything he did was cultivation. And with Huo Yuhao's current level, even if he lay around doing nothing, fate and fortune would naturally accumulate, and his strength would rise accordingly.

As for rest and sleep?

Sleep? Who needs sleep?

Only those who don't want to become immortals would rest. A "seedling of immortality" like him is cultivating at all times!

With his current cultivation and capabilities, Huo Yuhao truly didn't need normal rest. If he felt mentally fatigued, the visualized forms of the White Tiger and others in his mind could help him recover. As for physical exhaustion, the continuous life force from Snow Lotus constantly refreshed him, keeping his body in peak condition. His kidneys and "lychees" were particularly full and strong.

Three days passed in a flash.

There was still no news from the southern provinces. Now, when the rebellion would end was completely up to the Third Prince.

Zhang Lexuan continued to keep a low profile, steadily advancing her plans. She hadn't gone further in seeking thrills, clearly not having reached her limit. Huo Yuhao could only occasionally tease her with whispers.

The four maids grew increasingly radiant. With dual cultivation, their strength approached the Soul Saint level and was about to break through.

The Lotus-Hearted Demons had firmly established themselves in Ghost Street and were growing daily, with no one yet detecting anything unusual.

Yu Manwu had been mined for three days, and Huo Yuhao had nearly drained all the Phoenix Qi she had accumulated over decades. Her body was starting to struggle. For her, this wasn't a mutual cultivation process — it was harvesting, aggressive and one-sided. This method was more efficient for absorbing Phoenix Qi. Of course, Huo Yuhao controlled his strength and didn't completely exhaust her.

After three days, when Huo Yuhao announced, in his Third Prince identity, that he was leaving Mingdu, Yu Manwu secretly breathed a sigh of relief — and yet, she also felt a sense of loss.

During these days, her attitude toward Huo Yuhao became increasingly gentle, even obedient.

Before him now, she appeared like a virtuous and demure woman, with none of the wildness or plain demeanor from the start. She began dressing up again, trying to please him.

After all, Huo Yuhao showed her what true pleasure was. Yu Manwu was genuinely being conquered. A few more days of this, and she might never be able to let go.

Simply put, she had been thoroughly enjoyed.

That said, Yu Manwu didn't come away empty-handed. Upon leaving, Huo Yuhao gave her some methods and resources in the form of blood essence seeds.

This wasn't out of affection, but because Yu Manwu had value. Huo Yuhao also implanted a method within her body. While not complete control like with Nan Shushui, it was enough to ensure she wouldn't betray him.

He left her two cultivation methods, one sorcery technique, and one martial skill:

Cultivation Manuals: The Jade Maiden Sutra and Red Spring Art, the same combo given to Nan Shushui — one for general cultivation, one for charm-based enhancement.

Sorcery: The Blood Condensing Pill Technique, a dark method that refines the blood and life force of others into pills to be consumed, replenishing energy, improving aptitude, and enhancing bloodline purity.

The blood essence seeds he gave her were to be used with this technique — enough to sustain her for a long while.

It could refill her depleted energy, restore the potential damaged by overdosing on pills, and increase her Phoenix bloodline.

This technique was easy to learn — as long as one succeeded in cultivating the Jade Maiden Sutra, and their soul power gained magical attributes, they could practice it.

The final technique was a martial skill — a mundane one, meant for the use of exotic weapons like the Judge's Brush.

Yu Manwu's martial soul, the Phoenix-Pattern Golden Brush, had taken the wrong path. It should have focused on nurturing the Phoenix bloodline. However, because her martial soul was a mutation, and perhaps influenced by her family's legacy weapon — the Refined Iron Brush — she took the path of a power-type soul master.

As a result, her attack strength was inferior even to the family's standard martial soul, and she wasted the Phoenix bloodline's potential.

Additionally, years of pampered living made her rusty in combat. She only used soul techniques in a clumsy way, relying on her Title Douluo cultivation to overpower enemies.

Learning martial arts would diversify her combat skills and improve her health, allowing her to better absorb and process resources.

Finally, the time had come for the Evil Dragon Arena—

The Tenth Day!

Nightfall, Day Ten

Huo Yuhao once again stepped onto the arena of death.

The audience stands were packed to capacity, roaring with chants of his title:

"Frost Armor Emperor! Frost Armor Emperor! Frost Armor Emperor!"

A maniac had appeared in the Evil Dragon Arena's Soul Saint-level bracket — fighting for nine days straight, nine wins, every battle a one-hit kill.

This news had already spread through all of Ghost Street.

On the tenth day, representatives of various factions, as well as thrill-seeking spectators, gathered to witness whether he would fight again — and whether he could maintain his winning streak.

What everyone really wanted to know was:

Who is this Frost Armor Emperor, really?

Many had tried to approach, recruit, or ambush him — to uncover his secrets — but Huo Yuhao gave no one the chance, nor accepted any invitations.

On such a crucial day...

Xian Liner and Zhang Lexuan had also arrived.

Disguised, they sat together, but their attention was focused not on the match — but the audience, as many had suspicious or significant identities.

"So many underground forces showed up... Even official powers are watching now," Xian Liner remarked.

She had investigated many of Mingdu's factions, and now saw some familiar faces among them.

They weren't even hiding their identities.

Everyone knew each other, so excessive concealment might only breed suspicion.

Suddenly, Xian Liner exclaimed in surprise:

"That person… why is she here too?"