Although the Shrek Academy battle team had already left, the cheers from the audience hadn't ceased. Rather than cheers, it had become a frenzied celebration.
It was the adoration of the strong!
The dueling platform had been blown apart, and the match had to be paused so that professionals could repair the stage.
Though they said "repair," they were essentially rebuilding it from scratch. Fortunately, the materials were readily available, and thanks to the productivity of soul engineers, a brand-new platform was quickly assembled.
During the wait, as the stage was being rebuilt, the remaining two academies began to discuss the earlier performance of Huo Yuhao and Jin Qiu'er.
Their expressions were grim.
Some were even… discouraged.
How the hell are we supposed to fight that?
Even an Invincibility Shield couldn't hold out!
Their martial soul fusion technique had a sustained attack—one that could last for a full minute—while the Invincibility Shield only lasted three seconds!
Fortunately, the instructors and team members of the two academies were still elites. They hadn't lost all hope.
If Invincibility Shields won't cut it, then we'll just use other kinds of defensive barriers!
We're a soul engineer academy! We have soul tools—there has to be something that works… probably.
Besides, Huo Yuhao and Jin Qiu'er's martial soul fusion technique wasn't without flaws.
"They must've expended an enormous amount of energy to unleash an attack like that. From what I observed, they're severely drained and likely unable to fight again anytime soon," said Elder Ma, analyzing the situation.
Xiao Hongchen's eyes lit up. "So you're saying… if we can survive the attack, we might be able to win?"
"Exactly. And their team captain is still injured. Most of their remaining members are just reserve team members with average strength…" Elder Ma trailed off.
Because by now, everyone had been reignited with confidence.
They believed again.
Granted, they still had to survive that terrifying minute of the martial soul fusion technique.
Only Meng Hongchen remained silent: My handsome guy has a fusion skill with another girl… I'm not happy!
Back at the hotel.
Jin Qiu'er was sent to her room to rest.
Huo Yuhao was placed in Ma Xiaotao's room—his own room had been destroyed in the battle.
The victory had everyone buzzing with excitement. As expected, the Star Luo team decided to forfeit the individual matches.
Facing Huo Yuhao one-on-one?
For soul masters under the sixth ring, none of them felt confident enough to win.
Even if Huo Yuhao was heavily drained today, no one from the Star Luo team believed they could beat him in tomorrow's individual matches.
This meant Shrek Academy was advancing to the finals!
And barring any surprises, their only worthy opponent would be the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
The match had ended by late morning.
By the time the city lights began to glow, Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes.
Casually, he brushed aside the slender jade-like arm resting on his chest.
Ma Xiaotao, Wei Na, and Ling Luochén were all sprawled across the bed, asleep and satisfied, like three lazy kittens.
He scratched Wei Na's chin; she instinctively tilted her head upward and sensually twisted her waist in response.
Without much expression, Huo Yuhao got up. A single thought activated his technique, cleansing all remaining marks and odors from his body.
Once dressed, he looked perfectly composed—no signs of weakness at all.
His earlier frailty had been an act.
But the gains he'd made today were very real. The dragon energy from Xu Jiuyou, as well as a hefty portion of the luck and fortune from everyone present, had all been drawn into Huo Yuhao's grasp.
That's right. Many of Shrek's members had been affected by the collateral damage during the battle, leaving their destiny and fortune unstable—and Huo Yuhao had seized the opportunity to siphon a large share.
"After this period of training, my soul power is already at a critical point. I'm not far from breaking through to Rank 70," Huo Yuhao thought to himself, feeling the increasingly condensed soul power of his current Rank 69.
With just half a month of diligent cultivation, he could reach Rank 70!
Something most soul masters couldn't even dream of.
Breaking through from Rank 69 to Rank 70 often took ordinary soul masters years of effort. For those with weaker talent, it could take a lifetime.
Rank 70 marked a qualitative leap—it was the line that separated advanced soul masters from the average.
Only true geniuses could reach that point in under a year.
Of course, there was also the shortcut—like Ma Xiaotao had taken: using external aids, such as soul bones, to advance.
But where could you just casually find a soul bone?
And to ensure a successful breakthrough in one go, the soul bone had to be at least 50,000 years old.
Ma Xiaotao had only broken through by absorbing a 50,000-year-old fire-element torso bone.
Not everyone had a teacher like Yan Shaozhe, nor access to the resources of Shrek Academy.
That bone had been specially requested by Yan Shaozhe from the academy for Ma Xiaotao.
She only received it after resolving the problem of her evil fire and showing greater potential, standing just one step away from becoming a Soul Sage.
Otherwise, even Yan Shaozhe wouldn't have been able to get her that soul bone.
But Huo Yuhao had no intention of quietly training for two weeks.
Have you ever seen an evil cultivator who trained honestly?
Silently, he slipped out of the room.
Night had fallen.
With Jin Qiu'er no longer dragging everyone out to play, Wang Dong and the others had returned to their rooms early.
Huo Yuhao, on the other hand, had silently entered Jin Qiu'er's room without alerting anyone.
He wanted to check on her condition.
After all, doctors always check on their patients after surgery.
Jin Qiu'er was still sleeping soundly, but her condition had mostly recovered—thanks to her powerful physique.
But Huo Yuhao's eyes suddenly flickered.
He noticed a faint trace of light blue beginning to emerge at the roots of her hair.
Interesting.
Still, Huo Yuhao didn't act rashly. He simply raised his hand, and a glimmer of pseudo-Buddha light put Jin Qiu'er into an even deeper sleep. She wouldn't wake up again until the tournament was over.
She now slept even more sweetly.
"It's her first time using a martial soul fusion technique at full power. Sleeping a bit longer to recover is perfectly reasonable, right?" Huo Yuhao said with a smile.
Because that martial soul fusion technique was just too powerful, and Huo Yuhao wouldn't allow such a ridiculous force to exist in the arena—not even if it came from his own teammate.
Mainly because he wasn't the dominant partner in the fusion—the one who drew attention was Jin Qiu'er.
In the final match against the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, there would be an opportunity to draw a great deal of positive public attention, and therefore, accumulate even more fortune.
Huo Yuhao would not miss that chance.
Afterward, he quietly left Jin Qiu'er's room and used the cover of night to enter Star Luo City.
Star Luo Royal Soul Master Academy.
A lakeside villa.
It belonged to Zhu Lu.
Zhu Lu sat cross-legged on her bed, performing her daily soul power cultivation.
She couldn't do anything about what had happened during the day, and her mood was in turmoil. Only through meditation could she find some peace. In this quiet environment, cultivation helped her feel calm.
Just then—
The sound of her bedroom door creaking open startled her.
Zhu Lu immediately stopped her cultivation and snapped her eyes open—only to find Huo Yuhao standing right in front of her, his face leaning in close.
His expression carried a dangerous, wicked smile—completely different from the gentlemanly demeanor he had shown earlier that day.
"Huo Yuhao, how did you—mmph!" Zhu Lu tried to raise her voice in protest, but was instantly silenced as Huo Yuhao captured her lips.
Her eyes widened in shock.
A strange fragrance entered her nose, and slowly, her body began to feel warm.
Zhu Lu was entranced, feeling as if two fiery dragons were roaming her body, drawing her into a haze of indulgence.
She didn't know what was happening or why Huo Yuhao was in her room. All she felt was overwhelming comfort, wanting only to revel in it.
Until a cool sensation at her waist snapped her back to reality, a glimmer of clarity returning to her eyes. She quickly clamped her long legs together.
Pushing against Huo Yuhao's body with both hands, Zhu Lu panted, "No, we can't! I'm Dai Huabin's fiancée! We can't…"
Huo Yuhao didn't force her. Instead, he looked down at her with a wicked smile. "Why not?"
"If I lose my purity… the White Tiger Duke's Mansion and the Zhu family won't let us off…" Zhu Lu's face was still flushed, but her eyes held a serious, resolute glint.
"But your body seems to disagree," Huo Yuhao teased, leaning close to her ear, his hands mischievously moving again.
"No, we can't!"
"But I'm all fired up right now!"
"I-I…" Zhu Lu bit her lip, her voice barely a whisper. "I can… help you like last time…"
Then she couldn't say any more.
Huo Yuhao burst into laughter, sitting boldly on her bed. "Since my sister-in-law says so, how can your little brother refuse? But first, I hope you'll help me clean up."
He extended a hand toward her.
"Don't call me sister-in-law!" Zhu Lu refused to acknowledge the title, her face stern.
But she still brushed her hair behind her ear.
Huo Yuhao's smile didn't falter.
"As they say, nothing's more fun than a sister-in-law. Zhu Lu is *very* interesting!"
Happy times are always fleeting.
A shout from outside the villa suddenly made Zhu Lu tense.
"Zhu Lu! I'm here for you!"
It was Dai Huabin's voice.
But in such a short time, Huo Yuhao wasn't done. Zhu Lu looked up at him pleadingly.
"Go send him away~" Huo Yuhao patted her slightly puffed cheeks.
Zhu Lu lowered her eyes but didn't refuse.
Whether it was her own strength or the sensations in her body, she knew she couldn't resist Huo Yuhao.
As long as he didn't take the final step, it wouldn't affect her future marriage into the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. She could let him have his way.
Dai Huabin didn't wait long before Zhu Lu's bedroom window opened. She poked her head out and asked, "Huabin, what's the matter?"
"Zhu Lu, I'm planning to mingle with some noble prodigies. Some are women, so I need you to come with me," Dai Huabin said.
Clearly, he wanted Zhu Lu to help him connect with female noble prodigies.
In the past, prodigies flocked to Dai Huabin, the White Tiger Duke's heir, but he didn't always care for them.
Now, he had to actively seek allies, even bringing his fiancée to help with the women.
His reputation and situation no longer attracted enough high-quality followers, so he needed to rebuild his influence.
Zhu Lu's heart tightened. She knew she had to go. Refusing to help Dai Huabin would raise suspicions.
Even the White Tiger Duke's Mansion and the Zhu family would be displeased.
She was still a pawn linking the two families.
But…
"Huabin, give me a moment."
Zhu Lu hurriedly said, ignoring his response, and quickly closed the window. Panicked, she turned toward the bed.
Then she froze.
Huo Yuhao was gone.
"Did he leave?" Zhu Lu felt an inexplicable sense of loss, but also a touch of relief.
"That guy knows his limits. He didn't push me too far… Let's call it a transaction. He'll keep it secret."
She quickly cleaned up the traces on her body, donned attire suitable for socializing, and left the villa.
Seeing Zhu Lu emerge, Dai Huabin's furrowed brow relaxed.
He'd been slightly annoyed by her earlier attitude, but since she was just changing, it was fine.
She was still obedient.
Under the moonlight, Dai Huabin caught sight of Zhu Lu and was stunned.
Bathed in moonlight, she looked like a night elf. Her elegant dress accentuated her alluring figure. Perhaps because she'd just woken up—or for some other unknown reason—her eyes still held a lingering spring-like charm, making her irresistibly captivating.
Dai Huabin's throat bobbed, his gaze growing heated.
"Huabin?" Zhu Lu called softly, snapping him out of it.
She noticed the desire in his eyes but, for some reason, felt repelled.
Her body and martial soul had tasted something better.
Though she'd never been intimate with Dai Huabin, she could sense his allure paled compared to Huo Yuhao's.
Huo Yuhao made her body burn with just a glance, while Dai Huabin elicited only indifference, even diminishing the excitement she once felt.
But she was still his fiancée.
She knew what she should and shouldn't do.
"Ahem…" Dai Huabin coughed awkwardly to mask his lapse, though his interest was piqued.
Zhu Lu would be his eventually—sooner or later didn't matter.
"Let's go. The carriage is waiting outside the academy," he said warmly, with a touch more gentleness than usual.
"Okay," Zhu Lu nodded flatly, not noticing his newfound softness. Her mind was on whether Huo Yuhao had left safely, hoping no one would spot him.
If he were caught, it'd be trouble.
Not just for Huo Yuhao, but it could implicate her too.
Neither she nor Huo Yuhao should face any issues.
Her thoughts were a mess.
Unbeknownst to her, as she left with Dai Huabin, Huo Yuhao was perched atop the villa, watching their departing figures.
"Heh, Dai Huabin's here? This just got more interesting~"
He'd sensed Dai Huabin's return to the academy, which is why he didn't force Zhu Lu further.
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's True Sight was incredibly useful!
But that didn't mean he'd let Zhu Lu off.
She could wait, but his strength couldn't.
"Since Dai Huabin's here, let's make him part of my cultivation too~"
With that, Huo Yuhao's figure slowly vanished from the villa's roof, leaving no trace.
His simulation soul skill's stealth and escape abilities were formidable.
Blending into the surroundings was like partial invisibility. Combined with the 10,000-year Phantom Evasion Ghost's cloaking, no non-mental-specialized soul master below Titled Douluo could detect him.
After a busy half-night, Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu concluded the banquet. The event was a success, with Zhu Lu effectively bonding with several female noble prodigies.
Dai Huabin's reputation also saw some improvement, as he once again attracted a circle of noble prodigies to form the foundation of his future entourage.
This made Dai Huabin quite pleased.
After the banquet, instead of returning to the academy by carriage, Dai Huabin suggested they take a walk through the city.
The carriage and guards trailed far behind.
Huo Yuhao, secretly following, grew intrigued.
Star Luo City was still bustling at night. Though a curfew existed, it only applied to key areas. The commercial and entertainment districts remained brightly lit, teeming with crowds and lively energy.
Dai Huabin led Zhu Lu through the throng, with her quietly following. There was no romantic atmosphere between them; a gap separated them, like a river dividing their paths.
Dai Huabin didn't notice.
In truth, he was a bit nervous.
Having been captivated by Zhu Lu earlier, his thoughts had stirred. During the banquet, he frequently glanced at her, realizing that among a group of attractive noble girls, Zhu Lu's beauty still stood out as exceptional.
Only Princess Xu Jiujiu might surpass her in appearance.
But Dai Huabin knew marrying Xu Jiujiu was impossible. Generationally, she was his aunt, and the White Tiger Duke's Mansion wouldn't allow another royal princess to become its matriarch.
With his position unstable, Dai Huabin had no room to overreach.
But Zhu Lu was already his, bound by their engagement.
At thirteen, Dai Huabin was mature enough, older than Huo Yuhao, and certain impulses had begun to surface.
So tonight, he decided to take Zhu Lu for a walk.
Leaving such a beautiful fiancée untouched seemed like a waste.
"Zhu Lu, want to grab something to eat?" Dai Huabin flashed a gentle smile, a departure from his usual arrogance, showing concern for her.
Zhu Lu keenly sensed the shift in his demeanor, making her suspect he had ulterior motives.
With her emotions no longer clouding her judgment, her intelligence took over.
Recalling Dai Huabin's past betrayals of teammates, she instinctively grew wary of his change in attitude.
"Is he planning something?" she wondered, unable to pinpoint his intentions but hoping it wouldn't drag her into trouble.
As his fiancée, Zhu Lu maintained a poised smile and replied, "Huabin, I am hungry. You choose—I'm fine with anything."
"How can that do?" Dai Huabin, encouraged by her response, exuded warmth and charm, asking, "Lulu, what do you like to eat?"
His use of the nickname "Lulu" was more intimate.
But it made Zhu Lu frown.
The nickname was the same as Huo Yuhao's former teammate, creating a sense of dissonance.
Why call another woman's name during a date?
She didn't show it, though. She had to play the part of Dai Huabin's fiancée and stay dutiful.
So, Zhu Lu kept smiling, responding to Dai Huabin's words with laughter, making their relationship appear warm.
It seemed their bond was heating up.
Dai Huabin subtly reached out to put an arm around her, but Zhu Lu stepped back half a pace, dodging his hand.
He froze.
Was that half-step retreat deliberate?
The old Zhu Lu wouldn't have done that.
But seeing her shy expression, he suddenly understood, breaking into an excited smile. "She's just shy! Looks like I'll get some 'meat' tonight!"
To him, a girl's shyness came in two phases: early acquaintance or right before taking things further.
This was clearly the latter.
In his excitement, he didn't notice that Zhu Lu's shyness lacked a blush.
Instead, her downcast eyes held a trace of panic.
Her dodge had been instinctive.
Thankfully, she reacted quickly, feigning shyness to avoid exposure.
Fortunately, Dai Huabin didn't press further or force contact.
"What's wrong with me? Why is my body rejecting Dai Huabin?" Zhu Lu's thoughts were tangled, and she grew increasingly distracted, her responses to Dai Huabin turning perfunctory.
She just wanted this date to end so she could take a cold shower, crawl into bed, and cool off!
But when she snapped out of it, she realized she'd followed Dai Huabin into a dark, deserted alley.
Her alertness spiked.
Looking at Dai Huabin, she saw his eyes red, his breathing heavy. He said in a low voice, "Zhu Lu, through this alley, there's a hotel. I want you."
Zhu Lu stared at him, stunned. She hadn't expected things to escalate this far, but she quickly processed it.
Bitterly, she thought, "I should've seen this coming…"
But she couldn't refuse.
Resigned, she closed her eyes, not shy but calm, and replied, "Fine."
As long as Dai Huabin didn't make further mistakes, his position as heir would hold, and she would inevitably become the White Tiger Duke's wife. There was no escape.
*Thud~*
Something hit the ground.
Then a soft breath drew near.
Zhu Lu's lashes trembled as she started to open her eyes, but a cool, jade-like hand covered them.
She was pulled into an embrace, and the other hand reached for a dangerous area.
Startled, Zhu Lu grabbed the hand with both of hers.
Surprisingly, she didn't resist being held.
But to do *that* here…
"No, we can't!" she said urgently. Did Dai Huabin think so little of her?
Then she froze, realizing the hand she held didn't feel right!
It wasn't Dai Huabin's rough, calloused hand from years of training but a smooth, jade-like one—one she'd touched earlier that night!
"You're not Dai Huabin!" Zhu Lu's face paled in shock, struggling to break free.
Her first thought: *I've been exposed!*
She couldn't escape the embrace, but the hand covering her eyes lifted. Then she saw Dai Huabin collapsed on the ground.
And someone was holding her from behind.
A voice, tinged with a chuckle, whispered in her ear.
"Sister-in-law, don't look back. I'm your brother!"
Zhu Lu's pupils shrank, and she struggled fiercely but didn't dare scream. "No! Are you insane? Let me go, or if someone outside finds out, we're both done for!"
"Don't worry, no fourth person will enter this alley tonight. And… sister-in-law, you don't want this getting out, do you?"
Zhu Lu gritted her teeth, then resignedly closed her eyes, collapsing into the embrace. "Despicable! I'll make you pay for this someday!"
"I love that attitude, sister-in-law. Curse me more—it gets me going!"
Zhu Lu felt like a doll, toyed with in his hands, stripped of all defenses. In this dark, damp, filthy alley, she was robbed of her most precious, purest possession.
Her hands were forced against the wall, propping her up, as if supporting the last shred of her dignity.
Fearing her voice would carry, she bit her lip hard.
But soon, she let out a whimper.
"Why are you doing this to me…" Tears of pain and sorrow slid from her closed eyes, mingling with blood as they fell.
Her fiancé lay unconscious on the filthy ground nearby.
At the alley's entrances, the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's spirit and the Golden Tortoise's ghost stood guard.
After a night of cultivation—
With Zhu Lu assisting in his cultivation, Huo Yuhao managed to save half a month's worth of effort and successfully broke through to Rank 70.
Now, all he needed was a single soul ring to become a Soul Sage.
The results were remarkable!
Despite Zhu Lu only having a three-ring cultivation base, she proved to be—as expected—a top-tier furnace vessel. Moreover, it was her first time, and her vital yin remained intact. Combined with her special bond with Huo Yuhao, the effectiveness of the session was extraordinary.
However, due to the immense gap in their cultivation levels, Zhu Lu was left weakened for quite some time after that night.
Naturally, Huo Yuhao cherished this top-tier furnace vessel. Not only did he pass her a significantly better cultivation method—far superior to the Jade Nourishing Technique he'd previously given to other girls—but he also fed her a drop of Snow Lotus Dew to aid in her recovery.
A single drop of Snow Lotus Dew was enough for Zhu Lu to recover swiftly and even greatly benefit her cultivation.
That's the value of a derivative treasure from a hundred-thousand-year plant-type spiritual treasure!
As a furnace vessel, Zhu Lu was worth the investment.
Still, Huo Yuhao also applied a more potent form of control—planting a golden centipede deep within Zhu Lu's soul and martial soul to ensure she could never escape his grasp.
The cultivation technique he passed to her was called the Nether Jinhua Technique.
This technique was a derivative of the feline-exclusive method Jinhua Technique, originally based on the mystical abilities of the Golden Flower Cat—a divine feline species. It had circulated widely among cat demons and was later collected by the great demon Pudu Cihang.
When a cat demon cultivated the original Jinhua Technique, they could transform into a human form—turning into a handsome man when meeting women and into a beautiful woman when meeting men. They would corrupt and absorb human vitality to quickly evolve from spirit to demon and eventually into a great demon.
It was an advanced harvesting and devouring type of cultivation technique.
Far more dangerous than the seductive fox demons who simply absorb human essence.
Ordinary monsters could be driven away by monks or Taoists chanting scriptures, thereby neutralizing their influence over mortals.
But if a mortal were targeted by a cat demon trained in the Jinhua Technique, their fortune and essence would be slowly drained until the cat demon absorbed it all, enhancing its own cultivation.
Even cultivators weren't necessarily immune.
The only way to counter such a cat demon was to consume its blood and flesh.
Despite its power, the technique was widely practiced among cat demons.
This was because the method greatly defied the natural order, and those who progressed quickly often didn't survive long enough to transcend tribulations.
Heavenly, earthly, and human tribulations—one of them would always bring them down.
Even powerful beings like Pudu Cihang met their end during the human tribulation—struck down by cultivators in his moment of weakness.
The Jinhua Technique was only suitable for feline cultivation. Huo Yuhao spent an entire day using the Eye of All Laws to adapt it into the Nether Jinhua Technique, optimized for Zhu Lu's cultivation.
The modification was relatively easy because he intentionally downgraded the technique's tier.
Though it still qualified as a high-level demonic technique—barely "excellent" by general standards—for a soul master with the Nether Spirit Cat martial soul, it was a perfect fit.
This method allowed rapid advancement by consuming the blood and soul power of humans or soul beasts. It added the unique effect of "Nine Lives of the Spirit Cat, Ghostly Passage through the Underworld," which significantly enhanced the Nether Spirit Cat's underworld attributes—at full mastery, even evolving it into a top-tier martial soul!
It might even awaken divine abilities corresponding to the technique.
In the Douluo Continent, this sort of cultivation method was without a doubt one used by evil soul masters. However, this version didn't carry the karmic backlash or tribulation risk. Nor would the practitioner risk losing themselves or suffering from impure soul power, thereby dooming their future breakthroughs.
Thanks to the "Nine Lives of the Spirit Cat, Ghostly Passage through the Underworld" enhancement, it actively strengthened the martial soul.
Any technique that could enhance one's martial soul was the most suitable and precious for soul masters!
Put simply, it gave you the cultivation speed of an evil soul master, but without any of the backlash or bottlenecks—on the contrary, it boosted talent and spirit.
With full mastery, innate soul power or not, one was guaranteed to become a Titled Douluo!
Since it was a downgraded version, getting someone to Titled Douluo was already more than enough. What more could you ask for?
When Zhu Lu learned the effects of the technique, she was utterly shocked. She realized that for the Zhu Clan, this was equivalent to the Haotian Nine Techniques for the Clear Sky Sect—perhaps even more important!
After all, the Haotian Nine Techniques couldn't enhance martial souls.
With this method alone, the Zhu Clan could continually grow stronger, eliminating the possibility of decline. One day, they could break free from the Dai Clan's control—or even leave the Star Luo Empire entirely!
In the end, Zhu Lu didn't reject the technique. She left with it, full of conflicted emotions—and took Dai Huabin along with her.
The guards noticed Zhu Lu walking strangely and Dai Huabin in a deep sleep. They exchanged ambiguous glances but dared not speak and quickly escorted them away.
Zhu Lu, however, didn't dwell on that. She broke away mid-route and rushed back to the Zhu Clan.
Despite the technique's promise, it was undeniably of demonic origin. She wavered—should she cultivate it? Should she share it with her clan?
Huo Yuhao didn't object to her sharing the technique. In fact, he subtly hinted that with the clan's help, her cultivation would progress even faster.
Faced with such a tempting technique, could the Zhu Clan really resist?
"Brother Hao, you're really okay with letting the technique spread like this?" the Skydream Iceworm asked curiously.
"Haha, Brother Tianmeng," Huo Yuhao chuckled. "The tastier the bait, the sharper the hook!"
Skydream Iceworm laughed too. "Only you, Brother Hao."
There were three things Huo Yuhao didn't tell Zhu Lu about the technique.
First, the Nether Jinhua Technique was far more effective for women. He'd only studied the martial soul and bodies of female Nether Spirit Cats, so the technique naturally worked best for them.
Second, in cultivation, pure yin doesn't flourish. Female practitioners would need yin-yang balance to break through bottlenecks.
But the specific method to harmonize yin and yang and guide the technique? Only Huo Yuhao knew! Even if they sought men elsewhere, they'd never succeed in breaking through!
Meanwhile, male Spirit Cat soul masters, having innate yang energy, could break through—but their yang would gradually deplete. Over time, they'd grow increasingly feminine. The whole clan would turn into sisters.
Third, the technique had weaknesses, and Huo Yuhao—its creator—knew every last one.
If he wished, he could develop a counter-technique.
When the time came, every Nether Spirit Cat soul master who cultivated the Nether Jinhua Technique would be at his mercy—his personal nourishment!
In fact, he didn't just intend to do this—he was already working on it.
"The Spirit Cat is itself yin and yang. True harmony lies in balance. Only with both can the technique reach perfection…"
Huo Yuhao licked his lips, still savoring the taste of his sister-in-law.
All of the furnace vessels he'd chosen had proven delicious—and each carried some kind of treasure.
Each had their own charm.
Then, Huo Yuhao quietly vanished from Star Luo City and slipped back into the Starlight Grand Hotel.
After a busy night, he could finally rest and recover during the day.
Huo Yuhao opened his little notebook to tally up his current gains.
Cultivation Furnaces: Zhu Lu, Ling Luocheng.
Body Refinement Furnaces: Ma Xiaotao, Nan Shuishui.
Phoenix Qi Furnaces: Wei Na, Tu Xijun.
These were all women Huo Yuhao had used, each offering a unique experience. He was even tempted to write reviews for each of them.
There were still targets he must take down — women from the Zhu clan, royal ladies from various nations, and also Xiao Xiao.
As for Jin Qiu'er and Wang Dong, they remained undecided.
The girls in the academy were ordinary fortune and cultivation furnaces — nothing exceptional, but all had decent talent and cultivation, so they couldn't be overlooked. Huo Yuhao planned to groom them a bit more and use them when he needed to break through to Rank 80.
If he wanted to continue down the path of dual cultivation and essence harvesting, he would need to find more powerful and high-quality furnaces.
But the true value of dual cultivation wasn't just in everyday training or body refinement. It lay in absorbing unique fates and fortune, and in breaking through bottlenecks at critical stages.
To expect to rapidly grow stronger through essence harvesting alone was unrealistic — unless Huo Yuhao captured a goddess and mined her endlessly, or collected thousands of furnaces and indulged recklessly day and night.
But the former was out of his reach, and the latter didn't align with his cultivation path either.
After reaching Rank 70, the soul power cultivation rate of an Ultimate Attribute Soul Master returned to normal. However, Huo Yuhao sensed that his own speed might decline instead.
The higher his level, the more and better-quality resources he needed.
Only flesh and blood from soul beasts over 50,000 years old could satisfy his current needs.
Compared to other soul masters, his cultivation speed was still blazing fast — but compared to his own past, it had noticeably slowed.
And Huo Yuhao had no interest in spending decades in bitter cultivation.
If he wanted to maintain his pace, he had to find more rare resources.
"The effects of the Blood Medicine Technique are weakening. If I want to keep speeding up, I either burn fortune or acquire more resources. I must investigate those special resource points."
After this tournament, Huo Yuhao would make his move.
He released his centipede-leg clones.
Their purposes were twofold:
To scout those key resource points for Huo Yuhao.
To search for poison-attribute soul beasts over 100,000 years old.
And the search wouldn't be on land — but in the sea.
Two days later
Star Luo City
The city was packed once again.
Every street was overflowing with people.
Today marked the Finals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament!
Ever since the semi-finals ended, lines had been forming outside Star Luo Square.
Some had been waiting in line for two whole days and nights.
All just to witness the grand spectacle of the tournament finals with their own eyes.
Watching a final once was enough to fuel conversations for five years.
It could even become a lifetime memory.
Such was the influence of the Soul Master Tournament Finals.
The final would include team battles, individual elimination, and two-two-three format matches.
And all of it — packed into one single day!
It would be an incredible spectacle — and a massive challenge for both sides.
To maintain order in the imperial capital, the Star Luo Empire urgently deployed an additional 10,000 elite soldiers to the city. All businesses were ordered to extend their operating hours.
To accommodate the sudden influx of people, resources from surrounding major cities were also urgently dispatched.
In no time, the prosperity of Star Luo City had reached unprecedented heights.
Huo Yuhao, amid this prosperity, smelled a sweeter scent.
Standing atop the Starlight Grand Hotel, overlooking the crowd below, he felt his mouth water. Crimson, feral light glinted in his eyes, reflecting off the crystal window, giving his face an eerie red glow.
His Destiny fate was constantly at work, pushing his fortune ever higher.
But it was not enough — far from enough!
"Blood food…"
His growing resource demands only fed his greed. The greater the appetite, the more ravenous the hunger.
"Yuhao Shishu, it's time for us to head out!"
At that moment, Ma Xiaotao called him to go. They needed to head to the arena to await the final's start.
"Alright!"
When Huo Yuhao turned around, his face was once again smiling and handsome, as gentle as ever.
No one noticed the strange change in him.
The prosperity Star Luo City was enjoying brought the empire unprecedented profits.
This was why all four great empires took the Soul Master Tournament so seriously. The revenue from one tournament could fund a decade or more of a nation's budget.
But for the finalists, what they sought wasn't money — it was the glory of being champion!
The weather on the day of the final was gloomy, not bright and sunny. The air was thick with humidity — as if foretelling an incoming storm.
Two teams, about to face off in the ultimate clash, were walking toward Star Luo Square.
The final showdown: Shrek Academy versus Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy — both representing the pinnacle of power on the continent.
This year's tournament was particularly riveting — thanks to Shrek Academy's unusual circumstances, the private rumors, and the overwhelming strength of Huo Yuhao and Jin Qiu'er.
All eyes were on them.
Along the route, soldiers stood guard, holding back the roaring crowd calling out the contestants' names.
Those unable to enter the square had gathered along the streets to catch a glimpse of the two teams.
And without a doubt, the most popular person — was Huo Yuhao.
He led the team at the front as always.
But one other popular contestant, Jin Qiu'er, was nowhere to be seen.
Shrek Academy's atmosphere felt heavy.
During the last spirit fusion technique, Jin Qiu'er had fallen into a coma — and hadn't woken up in time for the finals.
It was like Shrek had lost an arm.
Now, everything depended on Huo Yuhao.
As for Ling Luocheng, who had recovered some strength, everyone knew she lacked the decisive power to turn the tide. At most, she could relieve some pressure for Yuhao.
Shrek Academy's lineup:
Huo Yuhao, Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luocheng, Wei Na, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Jiang Nannan.
Xu Sanshi was supporting from the sidelines.
Just eight people. A thin lineup.
Jin Qiu'er remained unconscious in the hotel.
Ma Xiaotao's strength hadn't returned, but she had to stand in — to complete the seven-person team and preserve Shrek's honor.
In contrast, the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy had fourteen members from both main and reserve squads, plus three instructors, including Elder Ma — a total of seventeen, clearly outnumbering and outpowering Shrek.
Elder Ma and others quickly noticed Ma Xiaotao had joined the lineup — but Jin Qiu'er was missing.
"What's going on?" Elder Ma frowned.
But with the match about to begin and countless eyes watching, they had no chance to pry into Shrek's situation.
Within the Sun and Moon team, both Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen had their eyes locked on Huo Yuhao.
Even proud Xiao Hongchen clenched his jaw, his gaze brimming with battle intent.
"Huo Yuhao, today you'll get a taste of my strength! Our true battle is five years from now — and I will surpass you then!"
Meng Hongchen, on the other hand, blushed slightly:
"Huo Yuhao looks even more handsome now…"