soul land: Huo Yuhao Inheriting Centipede Immortal

Behind the opened Door of Inheritance was a separate secret realm, containing the final gifts left behind by the God of Wisdom for the inheritor.

As the wielder of the rare Frost Centipede martial soul, Huo Yuhao naturally accepted these gifts on behalf of his spirit.

Passing through the Door of Inheritance, he entered a dreamlike space, enveloped in auspicious clouds. Walking through it felt like treading on clouds. Suspended above were three enormous multicolored bubbles, each containing a unique gift.

As Huo Yuhao approached, the three bubbles slowly descended, eventually landing in front of him, awaiting his acceptance.

Upon touching all three, Huo Yuhao obtained three items — thirteen multicolored feathers, a drop of golden blood, and a stone tablet.

From the inherited memories, he quickly understood how extraordinary these items were.

The thirteen multicolored feathers were the most precious feathers of the Sacred Feathered Serpent, each containing the core inheritance of the creature. They could either be used to craft a divine weapon or be absorbed as external spirit bones. These feathers held the Sacred Feathered Serpent's most powerful abilities: Elemental Immunity and Interstellar Travel.

What's more, the Sacred Feathered Serpent had recorded within these feathers thirteen divine techniques it had created — left for the inheritor to learn.

The drop of golden blood was a bloodline legacy of the Sacred Feathered Serpent, with two uses. It could strengthen another's bloodline, or it could be merged with a serpent egg to resurrect the Sacred Feathered Serpent.

Once revived, the Sacred Feathered Serpent would belong to the same race as the God of Wisdom. It could be raised as a pet or companion, and once fully grown, would be a formidable ally.

Of course, nurturing such a creature would require considerable resources.

The final item, the stone tablet, was none other than the Divine Tablet of Wisdom — the God of Wisdom's divine artifact!

It wasn't a combat-type artifact, but a support-type one. Its effects, however, were anything but ordinary, with two major functions:

Wisdom Engraving – in simple terms, imprinting and recording. It could copy text to preserve knowledge, or even replicate abilities. More astonishingly, it could imprint the powers of gods, analyze and comprehend them, and eventually absorb them!

Wisdom Enlightenment – an enhanced version of the Eye of All Laws. Empowered by the divine artifact, one's insight and comprehension would skyrocket, greatly enhancing cultivation, learning, and creation as though aided by the divine.

Additionally, the stone tablet also had excellent defensive capabilities. After all, it was still a divine artifact — sturdy enough to block divine attacks.

Huo Yuhao quickly made plans for all three items.

The thirteen multicolored feathers would be absorbed as external spirit bones rather than used to forge a divine weapon. Weapons could be lost or destroyed, but when one achieved eternity, weapons became mere embellishments — even without them, one could remain invincible.

Moreover, fusing them as external spirit bones would instantly grant a substantial boost in power, without affecting his ability to study the divine techniques recorded within them.

As for the Sacred Feathered Serpent's bloodline, Huo Yuhao could use it to strengthen his own, but ultimately, he chose to resurrect the Sacred Feathered Serpent.

Gratitude must be repaid.

Huo Yuhao never claimed to be a good person, but he could always face his conscience. In cultivation, the greatest taboo is a flawed heart.

Besides, there were plenty of resources on the Douluo Continent to enhance bloodlines. The serpent's bloodline wasn't irreplaceable.

As for the divine artifact, it couldn't be stored in a soul tool, so Huo Yuhao left it inside the secret realm. Since the secret realm was housed within the giant serpent statue — which could be stored — the secret realm would accompany him wherever he took the statue.

"Compared to the three gifts, this secret realm is the most valuable thing to me right now," Huo Yuhao said with a smile as he looked around the realm.

Because this place could block the perception of the Divine Realm!

Once the Door of Inheritance opened, Huo Yuhao's true body could enter this space. Since the Divine Realm's perception couldn't reach here, it gave Huo Yuhao far more freedom.

"But now isn't the time to deal with all this."

Returning his consciousness to his body, Huo Yuhao opened his eyes again and casually stored the giant serpent statue.

The Evil God Spear had not yet finished absorbing the blood pool. While he waited patiently, Huo Yuhao curiously began examining the divine techniques on the thirteen multicolored feathers.

There were thirteen divine techniques in total. Unlike the Sea God's Golden Thirteen Tridents, these were not a single combo set — they were thirteen independent techniques.

Their attributes were all different, and their effects varied wildly.

They corresponded to:

 Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Light, Darkness, Space, Time, Stability, Kindness, Evil, Destruction, Life.

Their effects included offense, defense, support, healing, and more — a truly comprehensive set.

After reviewing all the techniques, Huo Yuhao found these thirteen attributes fascinating.

"The nine Dragon Kings' attributes... plus the four Divine Kings'...?"

"As expected of the God of Wisdom — truly insightful. What he left behind is extraordinary."

"But there's no Shura God's power here… coincidence? Or something more?"

The only explanation for the God of Wisdom creating techniques of thirteen different attributes was his divine artifact, the Divine Tablet of Wisdom. By imprinting other gods' powers, then analyzing and understanding them, he was able to create entirely new divine techniques.

Had the God of Wisdom survived, the Beast Gods might have seen a new future. He might even have achieved the status of Divine King or ascended to the Dragon God level.

After all, the power of the Dragon God could be imprinted and analyzed!

Of course, learning and mastering the thirteen divine techniques wasn't easy. There were requirements: one had to control each of the thirteen elemental forces to a certain level before they could begin training the corresponding technique.

Under normal circumstances, this was almost impossible for mortals — even gods would struggle. Even the Silver Dragon King only mastered seven elements.

Fortunately, the God of Wisdom had already left behind a solution.

Each of the thirteen multicolored feathers contained a corresponding elemental seed. The inheritor could directly absorb these to cross the initial threshold of controlling that element.

Further development and mastery, however, had to be achieved by the inheritor themselves. The God of Wisdom's inheritance contained detailed cultivation methods for each element — enough to guide the user to the level required to learn divine techniques.

Additionally, the inheritance taught methods to condense elemental seeds.

So in the future, if Huo Yuhao wished to master other elements, he'd have to condense their seeds himself.

Alternatively, he could also graft different bloodlines into his body to gain access to those elemental powers.

In truth, even without absorbing any seeds, Huo Yuhao already met the requirements to learn some of the divine techniques.

These were: Water, Fire, Light, and Life.

These were elements he had already deeply mastered and developed.

"To activate a divine technique, one must circulate the corresponding elemental force in a specific way, condensing a divine mark. Once this mark revolves around the source of power, the technique is considered mastered. As the elemental force grows stronger, the divine technique's power grows as well."

"What an incredible system. These divine techniques are no different from divine powers."

"But… my source of power… does my Golden Core count?"

A new day began with waking up in the Holy Spirit Cult.

Huo Yuhao awakened in the palace, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

"Now that's what I call a good time~"

When you're in a good mood, everything seems good.

After all, the rewards from last night were simply overwhelming—he had obtained a divine seat, and even the inheritance of the God of Wisdom, both of which were exceptionally precious.

Compared to that, the 18 Evil God Blood Rings added to the Evil God Spear, and the fortune he siphoned from the Holy Spirit Cult, seemed almost trivial.

Indeed, the accumulated resources of the Holy Spirit Cult couldn't possibly compare to a divine seat.

Just having a divine seat meant that hisVariant Ice Jade Centipede Martial Soul could break through the level 100 barrier without relying on fortune, granting it the potential to ascend to a First-Level God.

What was lacking now was merely the accumulation of power.

TheVariant Ice Jade Centipede Martial Soul could now begin condensing divine rings.

The residual energy left in the inheritance site of the God of Wisdom could assist in condensing the initial divine rings for the Centipede, allowing it to grow rapidly. However, it wasn't sufficient to complete all seven divine rings and instantly achieve full First-Level God status.

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner had also advanced after absorbing all those souls. Its power had become significantly stronger, now unquestionably at the level of a divine artifact.

Thanks to the fortune gathered through the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, it was now even more powerful than most divine artifacts.

As is well known, artifacts tied to merit and fate occupy their own special category of rankings.

Huo Yuhao stepped out of the palace to find several maids waiting outside. They cast him deeply resentful looks.

They had been assigned by Tang Ya to serve him, but Huo Yuhao had rejected them outright. They ended up spending the night outside his palace, thinking to themselves that he was completely clueless and overly proper.

But don't think they were forced into this role. In the Holy Spirit Cult, not even dogs could be judged by normal standards.

These maids were all Evil Soul Masters, equipped with techniques to consume others' essence to boost their own strength. Their role in the cult was specifically to "serve" people—usually just taking less from the higher-ranking members.

Entertainment was scarce in the Holy Spirit Cult, so vices like gambling, lust, and drugs were rampant, and filth lurked in every shadow.

That's not to say there were no morally upright people in the cult—there were, but very few. And they usually had much higher status, giving them alternate forms of entertainment.

These maids could tell that Huo Yuhao's body was overflowing with vital energy—a prime target for essence extraction. Unfortunately, they never got the chance.

Huo Yuhao ignored them entirely and strolled through the Holy Spirit Cult at his own pace. Like stubborn glue, the maids stuck close, pretending to accompany him while constantly trying to entice and provoke him.

They didn't believe for a second that he was truly indifferent.

But Huo Yuhao remained utterly unfazed.

If you can't even control your desires, what's the point of cultivating at all?

In truth, he had also sensed someone covertly watching him. Still, he didn't care—probably one of Tang Ya's spies.

And he was right. One of Tang Ya's people was monitoring him in secret, confident in their stealth, unaware that Huo Yuhao had already noticed them. Everything Huo Yuhao did was quickly reported back to Tang Ya.

As she prepared to lead her followers to Mingdu, Tang Ya smiled faintly when she received the report, not particularly surprised.

In her mind, Huo Yuhao was merely trying to find Beibei.

"Maybe… as long as I keep Beibei close, he'll serve me loyally," she mused.

Huo Yuhao only stayed one day in the Holy Spirit Cult, getting a taste of its "culture," before setting off under Tang Ya's lead—heading back to Mingdu.

A few nights later—

Huo Yuhao, Zhang Lexuan, and Xian Lin'er were reunited at their base in Mingdu. The atmosphere was tense, and none of the three knew quite what to say.

"Ahem, Yuhao—fill us in on the details," Xian Lin'er finally broke the silence.

"Sure thing, Senior Sister Xian." Huo Yuhao cleared his throat and recounted what he had seen and heard over the past few days.

Mainly, it appeared internal strife had erupted within the Holy Spirit Cult. Tang Ya and the elders' faction had been exiled to Mingdu. The cult had aligned with the Sun Moon Empire, and their elite forces had secretly entered the city, lurking near the imperial palace.

Zhang Lexuan asked, "So how many people did the cult bring this time?"

"Apart from Tang Ya, there's Elder Youming Douluo and five Worship Elders—two of whom are Super Douluo. The rest are below Title Douluo level, mainly Evil Soul Masters at the Soul Emperor, Soul King, and Soul Ancestor levels. Total count is around 300."

Huo Yuhao had done thorough reconnaissance on the personnel.

The number wasn't small, but it didn't reflect full support from the Holy Spirit Cult. Tang Ya had brought all her own subordinates and the elite of the elder faction with her.

You had to admit, Tang Ya was quite capable—she had built up a 300-strong force at the cult headquarters.

While traveling to Mingdu with the elders and Worship Elders, Huo Yuhao learned about the current state of the cult's leadership.

Previously, two elders had mysteriously died while accompanying Zhongli Wu on a mission. Under pressure, Zhongli Wu had used the cult's internal resources to forcibly elevate two elders to Title Douluo to replace them.

But the replacements and most of the original elders died in the assault on Mingde Hall.

That operation, launched by Zhongli Wu and led by Tang Ya, had succeeded in retrieving humanoid soul tools—but this time, Zhongli Wu didn't bother appointing new elders.

Instead, he exiled Tang Ya and Youming Douluo to Mingdu.

The elder faction no longer had the strength to pressure him.

Only two elders remained: the Grand Elder and Youming Douluo.

Huo Yuhao had never met the Grand Elder. Even Tang Ya admitted she had only seen the Grand Elder once, when she became the Saintess.

The Grand Elder hadn't shown up even during their exile, as if silently approving it.

Huo Yuhao was particularly curious about the Grand Elder because rumors said that she had discovered the Demon Emperor and brought them into the cult.

Not seeing the Grand Elder likely meant she was now at the Demon Emperor's side. In fact, the Demon Emperor and the Grand Elder represented another hidden faction within the cult, acting as a counterbalance to the others.

Very few people even knew of the Demon Emperor's existence—only the Grand Elder, the Supreme Elder, the Chief Worship, and the Cult Leader.

So, perhaps finding the Grand Elder would lead to the Demon Emperor.

Of the cult's original twelve Worship Elders, two Super Douluo had been lost. Only ten remained, and this time, five had been dispatched.

The Worship Elders rarely took part in the cult's internal politics. They were enforcers—wherever they were needed, they'd go.

Now that Tang Ya and Youming Douluo were out of the way, the cult headquarters had fallen entirely under Zhongli Wu's control.

Never before had he held such total authority.

Back to the matter at hand—

"What about Beibei? Any leads?" Zhang Lexuan asked, a hint of tension in her voice.

This time, Huo Yuhao nodded.

"Yes. It seems that Big Brother Beibei was taken in by the Chief Worship of the Holy Spirit Cult… as a disciple!"

Good news: Beibei is safe.

 Bad news: Beibei has become the disciple of the Holy Spirit Sect's Chief Consecrator!

"Who is the Chief Consecrator of the Holy Spirit Sect?" Xian Liner asked urgently.

Huo Yuhao replied, "I'm not entirely sure. But from what I've heard, the Consecrators of the Holy Spirit Sect aren't strictly considered evil soul masters. Their martial souls are naturally dark and bloody, so they were persecuted and joined the sect seeking protection. Normally, they don't interfere with the sect's day-to-day affairs."

"Then that's good, that's good." Xian Liner finally relaxed.

She had been afraid that Beibei had been taken in by an evil soul master and led down that path. Fortunately, it was the Chief Consecrator who took him as a disciple. Not only would that keep him from becoming an evil soul master, but he'd also have powerful protection. She figured that in the Holy Spirit Sect, Beibei likely wouldn't be in real danger.

Huo Yuhao (inwardly): Exactly. Because all the danger comes from the outside. I've already arranged everything for Brother Beibei!

Because of Beibei, Xian Liner couldn't help but develop a bit of goodwill toward the Consecrators of the Holy Spirit Sect. She sighed and said, "They're also a group of pitiful people. If one day they're willing to abandon the darkness and come into the light, Shrek Academy would be willing to clear their names and offer them shelter. Yuhao, if you get the chance, try to make contact with them."

Since the Consecrators had protected Beibei, Xian Liner wanted to return the favor by helping to rehabilitate their reputation. Besides, Shrek Academy was in need of talent, and if they could win over a few Consecrators, it would strengthen their overall power.

According to Huo Yuhao, the Consecrators of the Holy Spirit Sect were all at least Titled Douluo, some even Super Douluo.

"I understand, Senior Sister Xian," Huo Yuhao nodded.

Still, his emotions were complicated, and he ultimately said nothing more.

After all, wasn't Shrek itself the most ruthless persecutor of people like them? For instance, Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng had been personally beaten down by Mu En. When he realized Zhang Peng wasn't an evil soul master, he let him go. Zhang Peng had been so terrified he fled to the Sun Moon Empire that very night, never daring to reappear while Mu En was still alive.

In the end, as long as Xian Liner was happy.

Moreover, neither Xian Liner nor Zhang Lexuan had realized that the evil dragon soul master who had been rescued that day from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy—was actually Beibei.

After all, not only had Beibei's martial soul changed, but even his appearance and demeanor were drastically different. He also now wore an iron mask that concealed his face.

Even someone who had once known him intimately might not recognize him now.

The three of them then began to plan their next move.

Now that Huo Yuhao was back in Mingdu and the exchange program was nearly over, they needed to consider what to do next.

"Since Beibei is safe, there's no rush to bring him back. Honestly, we don't have the means to do that right now," Xian Liner said.

She felt that letting the Holy Spirit Sect help train Beibei wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Zhang Lexuan remained silent. For some reason, her original urgency to bring Beibei back had faded.

Huo Yuhao, on the other hand, reacted strongly. He stood up abruptly, anxiously saying, "How can we leave things like this? I came here to bring Brother Beibei back! Now that we know where he is, how can we let him stay trapped in the Holy Spirit Sect?"

Xian Liner thought to herself that Yuhao was still a bit naive. She patiently explained, "Yuhao, we don't have the strength to take someone from the Holy Spirit Sect right now. The Chief Consecrator who took in Beibei is at least a powerful Super Douluo. If we expose ourselves, we'll just put Beibei in more danger."

"Besides, I believe Beibei still has Shrek in his heart. When he becomes strong enough to leave the sect on his own, he'll return."

"…How did it come to this?" Huo Yuhao slumped back into his seat.

With their decision made, their next steps became clear.

Zhang Lexuan and Huo Yuhao could remain in Mingdu until the exchange program ended. Then they would return to Shrek Academy with Xian Liner and the others. When Shrek's elites arrived, they would be much safer.

Jin'er, Mu'er, Shui'er, and Huo'er—the four maids—would also return with them, as Zhang Lexuan had confirmed that they were now completely loyal to Huo Yuhao and no longer had any ties to the White Lotus Cult.

As for the remaining White Lotus members, they had to be abandoned. Once back at Shrek, there would be no more association with the cult.

Let the Sun Moon Empire worry about the White Lotus Cult.

Huo Yuhao could also begin to gradually withdraw from the Holy Spirit Sect. He only needed to keep Tang Ya at bay and not arouse suspicion.

The exchange program had not been called off, even after the destruction of Mingde Hall and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy—because there was less than a month remaining anyway.

All the teachers and students from the Academy had been redistributed to various other academies throughout Mingdu. The Sun Moon Royal Academy was gone, but the other schools in Mingdu gained a wealth of excellent teachers and students.

It had a kind of melancholic beauty—like a whale fall.

Some of Mingde Hall's core members were placed under royal protection within the palace.

Shrek Academy's exchange students were transferred to Mingdu Soul Engineering Academy—the top academy after the Royal one, and the one where Xu Tianran had once studied.

On the third day after Huo Yuhao returned to Mingdu, the Third Prince also came back early, bringing with him a portion of his elite army—causing quite a stir.

Given the current state of the Sun Moon Empire, the Third Prince was the hope of the people. He was the only one capable of stabilizing the situation.

Not only because he was the undisputed heir, but also because of his personal strength and control over military forces.

Sure enough, with his return, the atmosphere in Mingdu calmed significantly. Even surveillance eased—there was no more fear of accidents.

But that didn't mean everything was settled.

Because with the Third Prince's return came the next round of power reshuffling.

Though the White Lotus Cult in the south hadn't been eradicated, the Third Prince's "efforts" had effectively suppressed them for now.

The southern provinces seemed to return to imperial control; the unrest appeared to have subsided.

That, of course, was credited to the Third Prince. In just a single day, his name spread through the streets—people were already calling him the "God of War."

Clearly, someone was orchestrating a campaign behind the scenes to elevate his image.

As for the man himself, the Third Prince was in his manor receiving a visit from Jing Hongchen.

In the past, it had always been the Third Prince who had to go see Jing Hongchen—and even then, he might not be granted an audience. But now, Jing Hongchen had to visit in person and bow deeply.

Because only the Third Prince could now save Jing Hongchen. Only he could save the Hongchen family!

Even though Kong Deming had once ordered Jing Hongchen to redeem himself through merit—and Jing had done much to stabilize Mingdu—his crimes weren't so easily forgiven.

The reason he hadn't been tried was because they were waiting for the return of the Third Prince—the imperial heir.

It was the Third Prince who would decide whether Jing Hongchen and his family would be used… or forever carry the shame and be nailed to the empire's pillar of disgrace.

The Third Prince looked down at the kneeling Jing Hongchen. He didn't humiliate him for fun—he went straight to the point.

"Lord Hongchen," he said, "you don't want your entire family to be erased from history, do you? I hear your grandchildren are quite gifted—full of potential."

Jing Hongchen understood what he meant. He lowered his head deeply and solemnly declared, "Your Highness, from this day forth, I and the entire Hongchen family shall follow only your lead!"

"Hahahaha!" The Third Prince burst into hearty laughter.

Xu Tianran had failed to win over Jing Hongchen and the Hongchen family. Now, they were offering themselves up to him.

It was like watching your rival fail to win over a goddess—only for her to fall into your arms instead!

Most importantly, by securing Jing Hongchen and the Hongchen family, he was also gaining control over half the soul engineering forces in the empire. Combined with the support of the royal family and three of the four "Hands of the Nation"…

He could easily walk up to Kong Deming tomorrow and say:

"Old man, I want the throne!"

Even if the current emperor wasn't dead yet, the Third Prince could claim it in record time.

But he wasn't in a rush.

After all, once he became emperor, there wouldn't be many chances left to further strengthen himself or leave the capital.

 The Third Prince's return delivered a strong dose of morale to Mingdu, reminding everyone that the Sun Moon Empire still had a future. It dispelled much of the panic that had followed the destruction of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy and Mingde Hall.

But where there is joy, there is also anxiety.

Those most concerned, of course, were members of the Crown Prince's faction. At the behest of the Crown Prince's advisors, his supporters gathered discreetly at his residence for a private meeting.

News of Xu Tiannan's death still hadn't spread.

Partly because the only insider in the palace who knew—the Empress—was too preoccupied with internal palace strife. She was currently locked in a fierce power struggle with the Imperial Consort.

With the Third Prince's return, the Empress's side had gradually fallen into a disadvantage. Realizing her downfall was inevitable, she had no intention of surrendering to fate. Instead, she was determined to go down fighting—not to save herself, but to avenge Xu Tiannan. What she was plotting remained a mystery.

Like Yu Manwu years ago, the Empress had gone mad after losing her son.

On the other hand, the secrecy was also intentional on the part of Kong Deming and his allies. Their goal was to draw the remaining Crown Prince loyalists together—only to eliminate them all at once.

The Sun Moon Empire could no longer afford another major upheaval. With the Third Prince set to inherit the throne, all destabilizing elements had to be crushed decisively, leaving no loose ends.

As the meeting at the Crown Prince's residence concluded, it was obvious that attendance was sparse compared to the past. Many had already distanced themselves from the Crown Prince's faction.

Too long without word from Xu Tiannan had led to low morale and wavering loyalty.

Still, those who left were not from the inner circle, so the damage to the faction's strength wasn't catastrophic.

Fortunately, this meeting reignited hope among the remaining loyalists.

The Crown Prince's advisors produced a handwritten letter from the Prince himself. The letter outlined detailed instructions, and even revealed that the Crown Prince had broken through to Titled Douluo level and was currently training in seclusion.

Most importantly, the Prince's official seal on the envelope was verified as authentic.

With newfound confidence, the Crown Prince's followers departed to lay low and await Xu Tiannan's triumphant return.

Once everyone had left, the advisor who hosted the meeting dropped his disguise.

In an instant, the handsome man transformed into a sweet-looking woman—Juzi.

Now alone in the study, Juzi was soon joined by a figure emerging from the shadows—a woman known as Nana.

Juzi hadn't given up on recruiting Nana, and Nana had accepted her offer. She was now part of Juzi's private force.

To earn Nana's loyalty, Juzi revealed part of her true identity—her powers and ambitions.

"Senior Juzi, the forged letter has stabilized things for now, but it's not a long-term solution. What's the next step?" Nana asked curiously.

In Nana's eyes, Juzi was a pawn Xu Tiannan had placed long ago—but clearly, a restless and ambitious one.

"Don't worry. I already have a new plan," Juzi said with a smile. "For now, just keep recruiting outstanding students from the academies in Mingdu and gathering information. That's enough."

Nana had quickly gained Juzi's trust. Her talents had already brought in many former elites from the defunct Royal Soul Engineering Academy and uncovered hidden intel from all over Mingdu.

More importantly, Nana was smart—she knew when to keep her mouth shut.

"Understood." Nana nodded without asking further.

Recruiting and intelligence gathering were her specialties. After learning several secret techniques granted by the Messenger of Death, she could now move through shadows like a ghost, making espionage easier than ever. With techniques targeting the soul, she could even manipulate others' perceptions, gaining loyalty with little effort.

After their exchange, Nana silently vanished once more.

Juzi remained alone, lost in thought.

In truth, Juzi hadn't told Nana everything.

The letter was real.

Xu Tiannan had indeed returned briefly in secret—but met only with her. He didn't stay long, leaving only the letter, some plans, and his official seal before departing again.

Even during that short meeting, Juzi confirmed Xu Tiannan had become a Titled Douluo.

What lingered most in Juzi's mind were his parting words—when he rose again, he would return as a king, with strength that surpassed all others.

"Power beyond all others…" Juzi murmured.

She wasn't concerned whether Xu Tiannan would rise again—what mattered was whether he had the strength to return and seize the throne.

Because if Juzi was to exact her revenge on the Star Luo Empire, she needed someone in power—on the throne—to back her.

But then she recalled the terrifying strength her true self had once unleashed.

Suddenly, Juzi lost some faith in Xu Tiannan.

So she needed a backup plan. She had to command her own power—and Nana was just the beginning.

And now that she had the Crown Prince's seal—this letter was genuine—any future letter could also be genuine.

The desire for power burned in Juzi's eyes.

Following the Third Prince's return and the restoration of order in Mingdu, he launched a massive operation. His target: the underground forces.

With tensions and resentment boiling in the city, something had to be purged. And the criminal underworld—seen as innately evil—was the perfect outlet.

First in line was Ghost Street.

The City Guard stormed Ghost Street, sweeping through every known underground group. Members were either killed on sight or thrown into prison. Seized assets were split 70/30, with the Third Prince taking 70%.

Who would dare object?

Go ask the Third Prince's army if objections are welcome.

Fortunately, since there was still profit to be made, most factions kept their complaints to themselves.

More importantly, the Third Prince wasn't playing favorites—he even went after the Holy Spirit Cult's Xishui Alliance and Yage Pavilion, as well as the royal-affiliated Pingfan League.

Some members of the royal family did object, but their protests never left their inner circle. The prince who oversaw the royal household crushed all dissent with force.

Tang Ya wanted to save the Xishui Alliance and Yage Pavilion, but against the power of the Sun Moon Empire, she was helpless.

Fortunately, as the second-generation leader of Xishui and the first head of Yage, she remained untouched. Her subordinates even managed to retreat with a portion of their resources beforehand.

To many people's surprise, not only did the Xishui Alliance's leader avoid capture, so did the Pingfan League's leader.

Shangguan Wei'er, head of the Pingfan League, had also escaped early with a large sum of resources—possibly even more than Tang Ya's group.

So, when the remaining Pingfan leaders were holding an emergency meeting on how to hunt her down… the City Guard stormed in and arrested them all in one sweep.

While the Third Prince was busy ransacking the underground world, Huo Yuhao was busy as well.

He had less than a month left in the Sun Moon Empire—time to start harvesting some gains.

First up: Side Quest 1 — Stir Chaos in the Harem!

 All four imperial consorts had already been "claimed."

And so, that night, Huo Yuhao made his way to the palace of the Imperial Noble Consort.

The Imperial Consort, second only to the Empress, mother of Princess Tianzhen, Xu Tianzhen, held a prestigious status with deep connections and considerable cunning. Amid the escalating feud between the Empress and the First Consort, she remained unshaken, calmly holding her ground.

Neither the Empress nor the First Consort dared to cross her.

Due to recent unrest in Mingdu, Xu Tianzhen was kept in the palace for protection, staying with the Imperial Consort tonight.

An unexpected presence in the Imperial Consort's palace posed potential risks. Should Huo Yuhao retreat?

He decisively ignored the risks.

"I said I wouldn't let you go, and I meant it. Brother Hao plays for real!"

Compared to Nan Shuishui and Nan Qiuqiu's mother-daughter pair, the Imperial Consort and Xu Tianzhen were of far higher caliber.

Nan Shuishui's strength was cultivated through Huo Yuhao's efforts, but the Imperial Consort, with her innate talent and the Sun Moon Empire's resources, had long broken through to Titled Douluo.

Moreover, her luck far surpassed Nan Shuishui's, and she possessed phoenix aura!

Huo Yuhao couldn't help but marvel at the Sun Moon Empire's dominance among Douluo's four nations, capable of facing three alone and even challenging Shrek Academy. This was evident in many aspects, such as the emperor's harem, which boasted several women with phoenix aura.

Heirs nurtured by such women ensured the empire's growing strength.

As for Xu Tianzhen, her aptitude outshone Nan Qiuqiu's. Her royal status endowed her with dragon aura, making her an excellent cauldron.

Huo Yuhao wasn't truly lustful; his focus was cultivation. Cauldrons just happened to be necessary for his path.

Deep in the night, Huo Yuhao's power forced open the Imperial Consort's palace doors. Stepping through icy mist, he stormed inside.

His arrival instantly alerted the Imperial Consort and Xu Tianzhen. As soul masters, they were far from defenseless.

On the phoenix bed, the Imperial Consort activated her martial soul, shielding Xu Tianzhen, who summoned her own martial soul and soul rings. They eyed Huo Yuhao warily. Undaunted, the Imperial Consort demanded sharply, her voice regal, "Who dares trespass in my chambers? Seeking death?!"

Her years of cultivated nobility lent her an air of authority even in danger.

Her loud voice seemed intended to summon guards and maids, but the palace exterior was eerily silent, devoid of light.

Inside, only Huo Yuhao faced the mother and daughter.

The palace was entirely under his control.

Huo Yuhao didn't respond, instead sizing them up. The two shared similar features—one mature, one youthful—both rare beauties. In light sleepwear, their skin was faintly visible, alluring.

But Huo Yuhao focused on their destinies and qualifications.

Both were undeniably noble, with equally exalted destinies.

Acquiring women of such destinies brought great benefits. Given Huo Yuhao's own superior status, they'd only enhance his power.

Beyond destinies, Xu Tianzhen's dragon aura was second only to the former Third Prince. If both the Crown Prince and Third Prince fell, she could potentially become empress. Her Sun martial soul was highly pure, not the Purple Radiance Heaven-Destroying Dragon, but its fiery intensity rivaled Extreme Fire.

The Imperial Consort, with her phoenix aura, had an equally impressive fire-element martial soul, no less potent than Ling Luochen's former ice element. Xu Tianzhen likely inherited her bloodline's influence.

Her talent was remarkable. Unlike those who used pills to reach Titled Douluo, she hadn't exhausted her potential and wasn't stuck at Level 91. With palace resources, she'd reached Level 93.

Rumor had it, in her youth, she was a main member of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's team, entering the palace directly as a consort.

No need for pretense. Huo Yuhao cut to the chase. "Imperial Consort, Princess Tianzhen, I need you to aid my cultivation!"

"Audacious fiend! Die!" The Imperial Consort struck decisively.

She sensed something was amiss—no aid came from outside, suggesting everyone was dead. Only someone of extraordinary strength, perhaps a Super Douluo, could achieve this in the harem!

To protect Xu Tianzhen, she attacked, hoping to cause a commotion and draw other palace powerhouses, giving them a chance to survive.

But as she moved, Huo Yuhao pointed, his figure seeming to warp space, appearing before her. His finger tapped her forehead, sealing all her power.

In disbelief, the Imperial Consort collapsed onto the phoenix bed, powerless.

"Mother!" Xu Tianzhen cried, teeth gritted, ready to attack in fury.

But Huo Yuhao's finger felled her too.

Footsteps sounded at the door. The four consorts entered, standing together, each with distinct charms.

Hope flared in the Imperial Consort and Xu Tianzhen's eyes, only to shatter as they saw the consorts in shameless attire, serving Huo Yuhao intimately.

Knowing the duo wouldn't comply, Huo Yuhao had summoned the four consorts to assist.

Time was short. Cultivation began!

The Imperial Consort and Xu Tianzhen's gazes shifted from anger to fear, then sorrow, numbness, and finally surrender. Satisfied smiles appeared, their eyes glinting with faint gold.

A good deed a day, enlightening the world.

Join my fold, share in bliss.

…

Huo Yuhao crossed the Imperial Consort and Xu Tianzhen off his hunting list.

Cauldron cultivation not only boosted strength but stabilized cultivation post-breakthrough.

Unfortunately, most cauldrons in the Douluo Continent were subpar for Huo Yuhao. Lacking quality, he relied on quantity.

After absorbing the Imperial Consort's phoenix aura, Xuelian's domain neared completion, needing only a final step.

"Just a bit more luck?" Huo Yuhao murmured, his target clear.

The Empress, with the richest phoenix aura!

But time was tight; the Empress could wait until tomorrow.

Once she was taken, the Sun Moon harem would be his, a vital phoenix aura resource.

Time to go. Huo Yuhao left the harem, stopping by the Holy Spirit Cult's base to check in.

Mainly to let Tang Ya know he was still around.

Even if he planned to leave, he couldn't just vanish.

Unexpectedly, Tang Ya sought him out, asking for help.

The Holy Spirit Cult was stationed near the Sun Moon Palace, not out of trust but suspicion, keeping them under the empire's watchful eyes.

The Hall of Consecration's elders closely monitored them. With the Third Prince's return, the empire could deploy troops to "guard" them.

Thanks to Tang Ya's arrangements, the cult had remained stable, avoiding conflict with the empire. Resources were delivered on time, and both sides were in a honeymoon phase.

But Tang Ya knew this wasn't sustainable. They were surveilled and restricted—no external expansion or strengthening of the cult was allowed.

The Third Prince hadn't contacted her, leaving her uneasy about the future heir's stance.

Ambitious, Tang Ya didn't want to be tethered to the cult forever.

She needed someone to handle tasks she couldn't, and her choice was Huo Yuhao.