"My Lord, shall we kill it?"
A violent glint flashed through Di Tian's golden eyes as he raised his right hand, eager to strike.
'This damned turtle only realizes its mistake when death is at its doorstep?'
'What was it doing all these years?!'
'Playing the long game, huh?'
If it had the guts to admit its faults earlier—for the sake of the Golden Hawksbill Turtle Clan—perhaps Di Tian might have spared its life.
But no.
This wretched creature had the audacity to sneak into the Lake of Life and steal a fragment of Life Gold from beneath his very scales.
'It deserves death!'
Gu Yuena shook her head. "Since it has cultivated for 100,000 years, let it live for now. The experiment I'm about to conduct requires a soul beast as a test subject."
"Thank you for your mercy, my Lord! I swear to cooperate fully!"
The Golden Hawksbill Turtle kowtowed frantically, practically burying its head into the ground.
'Survival is all that matters!'
Even if the Lord hadn't caught it this time, the parasitic Green Metal would have drained it dry within a few years.
This was its only chance at redemption—it had to comply.
Without another word, Gu Yuena grasped the Life Gold before her and channeled her energy.
In an instant, a brilliant green radiance erupted from the stone-sized fragment, unleashing a torrent of life energy so dense it felt tangible.
The overwhelming vitality washed over the gathered beasts, its restorative warmth seeping into their bodies. Even Di Tian and the others couldn't help but absorb this rare essence.
The energy released by Gu Yuena's activation of the Life Gold far surpassed that of the Lake of Life's waters—even exceeding what the Skydream had once absorbed.
But for the Golden Hawksbill Turtle, the sensation was different.
The stolen fragment embedded in its body for years now resonated violently, sending chills down its spine.
Yet, as Gu Yuena raised her other hand in command, the Life Gold was slowly extracted from the turtle's body.
Tears welled in the turtle's eyes.
The thorn in its flesh was finally gone.
Its body rapidly expanded under the green light's infusion, its shell gleaming gold as its 100,000-year cultivation was restored.
"My Lord, I pledge my life to you!"
Joy flickered in the turtle's eyes.
Not only had its torment ended, but it now had a chance to atone—perhaps even rise to greatness like Di Tian, leading its clan to dominance in the Star Dou Forest.
But the arrogant turtle was dead.
In its place stood a diligent servant.
Peace and safety were happiness enough.
The Golden Hawksbill Turtle kowtowed again, swearing absolute loyalty.
Gu Yuena commanded, "Red King (Scarlet King), take it away for now."
"Understood."
The Red King seized the prostrate turtle and vanished.
Gu Yuena tossed the larger Life Gold back into the Lake of Life's spring, then purified the extracted fragment in the waters before retrieving it.
She turned to the remaining beasts. "We begin now. Relay my words to Red King upon his return."
"Understood!"
Gu Yuena then explained the Soul Contract and Transmission Spirit Tower she learned from Huo Yuhao, issuing orders:
"From now on, seek out dying or gravely injured soul beasts in the forest. Preserve their lives when possible—you may draw upon the Lake of Life if necessary."
…
Huo Yuhao had come to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well for three purposes:
To awaken Qiu'er's martial soul.
To collect immortal herbs.
And to replenish the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings' divine legacy using the Eat Strength Immortal Gu.
The first two tasks were complete. Now, only the third remained—a process similar to his previous Deluxe Ice-Fire Body Refinement.
Though repeated refinement yielded diminishing returns, Huo Yuhao could now utilize the Immortal Gu with the Golden Ancient Tree's aid. Even if exhausted, he could replenish it later—or even seek Gu Yuena's help.
This time, he planned to enhance the process with immortal herbs.
Under Qiu'er's worried gaze, Huo Yuhao consumed the clones of the 200,000-year-old Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Black Ice Grass.
Fortunately, these herb spirits—nurtured by the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well—possessed robust cultivation bases. Extracting clones for refinement wouldn't harm their main bodies.
But this was a one-time opportunity. Another extraction would cost them 100,000 years of cultivation.
Infernal Delicate Apricot: 'Damn it, I'm tapped out.'
Octagonal Black Ice Grass: 'Take it. It's all yours.'
The herbs melted in his mouth, their energy flooding his body with an intoxicating fragrance.
Within moments, the effects manifested.
Extreme cold and heat clashed beneath his skin, alternating between crimson and azure.
And then agony followed.
Though activating his Ice Soul Body would nullify the pain, Huo Yuhao resisted—this refinement was meant to evolve his martial soul, not just temper his body.
Patience was key.
Besides, with his near-invulnerability, he feared nothing.
If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger.
Once the herbs power peaked, Huo Yuhao plunged into the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Not a ripple disturbed the surface.
The waters soon stilled, their milky-white and fiery-red hues starkly divided.
Yet beneath the calm, Huo Yuhao's body churned like a vortex, absorbing the springs' energies alongside the herbs' potency.
This gradual absorption—far slower than the Eat Strength Immortal Gu's instant effects—would still take days if left unchecked.
As the herbs resonated with the springs, Huo Yuhao's body became a crucible of opposing forces.
Now, he awaited the perfect moment to activate the Eat Strength Immortal Gu...
Suddenly, the Silver Dragon Scale in his pocket trembled, emitting prismatic light.
A dazzling silver radiance—akin to heavenly power—descended.
Qiu'er blinked in confusion. 'The Lord has arrived?'
A spatial rift tore open before her, and Gu Yuena stepped through.
Her violet eyes swept across the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, instantly discerning Huo Yuhao's intent.
"Need help?" Her tone was solemn.
"Yes." Huo Yuhao's mental voice replied. "It might get rough later."
"I don't care."
Gu Yuena nodded, unleashing the Silver Dragon King's aura without restraint.
The valley quaked as if the earth itself shuddered.
The twin springs boiled, their energies intensifying exponentially.
Yet around Huo Yuhao, the space remained tranquil—Gu Yuena's control funneled the rampant energies into him for steady absorption.
Soon, two draconic apparitions—one white, one crimson—materialized before Di Qiu'er.
Her throat tightened instinctively.
She could feel the dragon souls within.
'Such a feast… Can Yuhao truly absorb it all?'
As if sensing her doubt, Gu Yuena reassured, "It's fine. If he can't, I'll take the excess. Saves trouble for later."
With that, she guided the dormant dragon souls—drawing from the Ice and Fire Dragon King's remains at the springs' depths—and condensed their essence into two thumb-sized orbs: one red, one white.
The dragon souls retreated into Gu Yuena, while the orbs floated into Huo Yuhao's palms.
"Thank you!"
Huo Yuhao resumed cultivation, now channeling the Dragon Pills' power to refine the herbs' energy—far more efficiently.
"Mm."
Gu Yuena watched his movements silently.
She hadn't expected these dragon souls to linger. It was an unforeseen boon.
But after this, the valley would never be the same.
Originally, Huo Yuhao planned to use the Eat Strength Immortal Gu to forge a 100,000-year Fire Dragon King soul ring, subtly altering his martial soul.
Now, with Gu Yuena's aid and the Dragon Pills, his Ice Soul Body's evolution was almost guaranteed—an 80% success rate.
The Eat Strength Immortal Gu activated!
As the storm raged within, Huo Yuhao's formidable mental power maintained the delicate ice-fire equilibrium, guiding their fusion...
Gu Yuena observed silently, a flicker of awe in her eyes.
'Is this…what he was talking about?'
Even for her, this was revelatory.
Perhaps the future she envisioned was closer than she thought.
She anticipated it.
As time passed, the red and blue hues on Huo Yuhao's skin faded.
Then—a golden radiance erupted behind him.
Gold-level Second Awakening!
Huo Yuhao physique and soul power surged, his Ice Soul Body evolving into something greater.
Ice and fire merged. Yin and yang unified.
Now, Huo Yuhao wielded Ultimate Ice and Ultimate Fire—in perfect harmony.
Calling it the Ice Soul Body no longer sufficed.
Chaos Body was more fitting—though it hadn't yet reached true chaos, the potential was undeniable.
Even Gu Yuena was stunned.
While god-kings often pursued singular extremes, Huo Yuhao's path—broadening his attributes—was undeniably superior, especially for ice-based abilities.
She almost saw the Dragon God's shadow in his martial soul.
…
"Thank you, Gu Yuena." Huo Yuhao emerged from the springs, dressed and smiling.
"How do you feel?"
"Incredible."
Huo Yuhao's soul power had leapt from Level 56 to the threshold of Level 60—a monumental stride.
His physical prowess had more than doubled.
'Could he now kill a Titled Douluo with a single punch?'
The Silver Dragon King's power was undeniable.
Of course, the Eat Strength Immortal Gu, Power Doubler Gu, and Hope Gu had all played their parts.
Handing the remaining Dragon Pills to Gu Yuena, Huo Yuhao said, "There's residual energy here. Might it aid your recovery?"
Gu Yuena accepted them, her violet eyes glinting.
"The ice-fire energies are useless to me, but the dragon souls helped."
She didn't question how he knew of her injuries. Instead:
"Qiu'er mentioned you possess the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's 70,000-year Evil God Pearl?"
"Yes. If it helps you, take it." Huo Yuhao summoned the dark orb.
After absorbing the Evil God's Wing Bone, the pearl still brimmed with energy.
He'd originally planned to use its time-space attributes to ease soul core condensation.
But now, with his progress, he no longer needed external aids.
If Gu Yuena required it, he'd gladly offer it—a fair exchange.
Yet what happened next stunned him.
"Wait."
Gu Yuena took the pearl, and prismatic light erupted.
Channeling the Dragon Pills' power, she refined the Evil God Pearl into something transcendent—a multi-colored Divine Dragon Pearl!
"What is this?!"
"My Lord!"
The once-dark orb now shimmered with rainbow brilliance.
As it returned to Huo Yuhao's hand, Gu Yuena's voice—noticeably weaker—spoke:
"Done."
Huo Yuhao stared, speechless.
The debt he owed her had just grown much larger.
…
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