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Only three months remained until the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. Inside Shrek Academy, Gu La's team representing the academy's main branch and Huo Yuhao's team representing the Tang Sect were engaged in intense sparring matches.
On the arena platform, Gu La held a Sun Holy Sword condensed from light and flame. His figure moved like lightning, having already easily defeated four members of the Tang Sect team—Jiang Nannan, He Caitou, Xiao Xiao, and Bei Bei.
He hadn't even used any soul skills, relying solely on exquisite swordsmanship and overwhelmingly superior soul power level to make his opponents unable to withstand him.
For the fifth match, Xu Sanshi rolled up his sleeves, ready to take the stage, but Captain Bei Bei grabbed his arm.
Bei Bei smiled bitterly at Huo Yuhao beside him: "Yuhao, you should go next. This Gu La... he's too strong. Our attempts at rotating challenges aren't providing any real training effect—we're just getting crushed."
His tone was filled with helplessness, placing his hopes on Huo Yuhao creating a miracle.
Huo Yuhao nodded gravely and leaped onto the arena platform.
Vice Dean Yan Shaozhe, serving as referee, announced loudly: "Fifth match, begin!"
Without any preamble, Gu La raised his hand and slashed with his sword. A scorching, brilliant sun sword energy tore through the air, heading straight for Huo Yuhao.
Pale golden light flickered in Huo Yuhao's eyes as his spiritual detection fully activated. He narrowly dodged to the side at the last moment.
The sword energy grazed past his body, landing on the specially designed arena platform, leaving a charred scorch mark.
When his first attack missed, Gu La charged forward. His Sun Holy Sword swept horizontally with irresistible force.
Huo Yuhao didn't dare block directly. He instantly unleashed Group Weakness and Spiritual Interference, followed by an invisible spiritual shockwave, attempting to disrupt Gu La's mental focus.
However, Gu La's forward momentum didn't falter in the slightest. His face even carried a leisurely composure, as if strolling in a garden.
Speaking calmly, his voice clearly reached Huo Yuhao's ears: "I told you before, my second martial soul is spiritual. Your spiritual techniques have little effect on me."
Huo Yuhao smiled bitterly inwardly. He knew Gu La had a second martial soul, but he hadn't expected the other's spiritual resistance to be so ridiculously high.
He speculated privately: "Could it be... he's already added soul rings to his second martial soul? That's why he broke through to Soul Saint? But his first martial soul's soul ring configuration is already that terrifying, could his second martial soul possibly..."
A frightening thought flashed through his mind, startling even himself. He shook his head to dismiss it: "Impossible, there aren't so many hundred-thousand-year soul beasts..."
In the blink of an eye, Huo Yuhao switched to his Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion martial soul. The Permafrost Domain instantly expanded, causing the entire arena's temperature to plummet as if transformed into the polar north.
The angel wings behind Gu La gently vibrated as even more scorching, brilliant holy light spread out, standing equally against the Permafrost Domain. Even Ultimate Ice could only slowly melt before Ultimate Light.
Not daring to hesitate, Huo Yuhao summoned his Snow Maiden spirit soul. Together, they unleashed one of Snow Empress' Three Ultimate Techniques: Empress' Palm—Snowless Glacier!
As the palm wind passed, even the air seemed to freeze.
Facing this fierce attack, the vertical mark on Gu La's forehead quietly appeared—opening the Eye of Fate.
Simultaneously, he secretly overlaid his Appraisal Eye ability onto it.
This was a clever use he had recently discovered, allowing the Eye of Fate to temporarily reach divine level within a short time, enabling him to perceive more high-level information.
Wave power moved at will, transforming freely.
In an instant, Gu La seemed to see through all the ice laws and power techniques contained in Huo Yuhao's palm strike.
He also pushed out a palm, striking first despite being last. His palm contained violently compressed, condensed-to-the-ultimate flames, yet not a trace of energy leaked out.
Palm met palm!
Boom—!!!
Ice and fire, two ultimate attribute powers collided violently, creating a fierce explosion. The shockwave shook the protective barrier at the arena's edge, making it hum loudly.
Gu La used the explosion's force to lightly retreat, landing steadily without a scratch.
Huo Yuhao, however, was shaken with churning blood and qi. He staggered backward several steps before stabilizing himself, his face filled with astonishment.
He lowered his head dejectedly: "I've lost."
Looking at Gu La's forehead where the mark had already disappeared, he asked curiously: "That third eye just now... is that your second martial soul?"
Gu La shook his head, keeping it mysterious: "No. You'll have the chance to see it later."
Huo Yuhao left the arena. Xu Sanshi immediately took the stage, but the result was without suspense—he still couldn't withstand even one move from Gu La.
In the end, Gu La accomplished the feat of defeating all seven opponents single-handedly.
Coming to the sidelines beside Yan Shaozhe, he stated directly: "Dean, I'm not providing any training value here. Let them refine their coordination among themselves. With the soul devices I provided them, once they're familiar with them, their internal sparring can achieve evenly matched results. I need to take leave to go out and meet some friends."
Yan Shaozhe looked at Gu La. Though he disliked the other's excessive emphasis on soul devices, remembering Elder Mu En's final command and seeing that Gu La hadn't neglected his own cultivation—in fact, his strength had skyrocketed—he didn't say much more and readily approved the leave.
Gu La left Shrek Academy and directly used his spatial ability to teleport away.
His destination was the Dou Ling Empire.
Two years ago, his avatar Ming Baixue, assisted by clones, had established a sect called "Natural Sect" in this nation where noble forces were deeply entrenched and the royal family was weak.
By controlling a local noble, they had easily obtained official recognition. The name "Natural Sect" was chosen to align with his identity as a child of nature, gaining unseen fortune blessings to avoid being exposed too quickly.
When Gu La's main body arrived at Natural Sect's rather shabby mountain gate—which was essentially just an empty shell—Ming Baixue and the clone had already sensed his arrival and came to meet him.
The moment the three drew close, memories and insights automatically synchronized.
Gu La nodded: "Having an official identity is good too. This time, the Sun Moon Empire allowing sects to participate is likely trying to probe the hidden forces of the three Douluo nations. The three Douluo nations probably agreed under pressure, but since they agreed, they surely want to show their strength."
Ming Baixue's cool voice sounded: "But during the tournament period, you'd better stay with our team. If someone unscrupulous makes a dirty move, the seven of us might not be able to withstand a Super Douluo without revealing our Battle Armor."
Gu La smiled: "Don't worry. I'll certainly prioritize our own people. I'll stay here most of the time—a clone is enough to handle daily matters at Shrek. However..."
A mischievous smile appeared on his face. "When our two teams meet on the competition stage, I'll have to take the field in person."
A flicker of eager anticipation also appeared in Ming Baixue's eyes. She too wondered whether seven avatars working together could defeat her original body in normal condition.
After making arrangements, Gu La travelled back to the Legend of the Dragon King timeline, bringing back the other six avatars—Bai Yuan, Yin Wansheng, Mu Yi, Liu Niandao, Qing Liuli, and Bo Xi.
They had already taken long leaves from their respective forces and could temporarily detach themselves.
After settling the six avatars at Natural Sect, Gu La's main body returned to Shrek Academy.
However, the moment he returned to the academy, he heard a piece of news: Wang Dong'er had suddenly fallen into a coma.
Huo Yuhao was extremely anxious. Remembering the brocade pouch Wang Dong'er had given him before, he opened it.
Only then did he learn that Wang Dong'er's origins were extraordinary—her soul rings weren't obtained from hunting soul beasts, but were "retrieved" sealed powers of her own.
When obtaining her fifth soul ring, a loophole had appeared in the seal, causing her body to be unable to withstand it and fall into a coma.
The pouch also contained a map pointing to a place called the "Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well," where it was said immortal herbs existed that could save Wang Dong'er.
Not daring to delay, Huo Yuhao had already left hastily with the map.
By the time Gu La learned of this news, it was already the next day.
He went to check on Wang Dong'er's condition. Indeed, it was a self-protective coma caused by her body being unable to withstand the enormous energy.
"But... this is very strange..."
Gu La stroked his chin, a flicker of doubt passing through his eyes. "Could Tang San predict the future? Preparing the brocade pouch in advance, calculating that only Huo Yuhao, the protagonist blessed by fate, could obtain the immortal herb to save his daughter? This feels more like a test targeting Huo Yuhao, especially targeting the 'Yearning Heartbroken Red'..."
He looked out the window, a meaningful smile curving his lips.
"But Tang San... I'm afraid you've miscalculated."
"I emptied the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well... back in my first year in this timeline."
...
Huo Yuhao, guided by the map and driven by a determination not to rest until Wang Dong'er woke up, flew day and night toward his destination.
Without Wang Qiu'er's guidance and assistance, he had already spent considerable time and energy just finding the correct path through the vast soul beast forests.
When he finally reached the valley shrouded in poisonous mist according to the map's instructions, and struggled inside relying on his Ultimate Ice martial soul's strong toxin resistance, the sight before him struck him like lightning—he was completely stunned.
In the center of the valley, the legendary Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well still existed—half ice-blue, half crimson-red. Spring water bubbled, emitting strange energy fluctuations.
However, around the spring eye... where countless exotic flowers, rare herbs, and immortal herbs should have grown, there was only emptiness!
Not to mention immortal herbs—even decent spirit grasses were gone, leaving only some ordinary weeds stubbornly growing at the spring's edge.
"No... impossible..."
Huo Yuhao murmured to himself, his face instantly turning deathly pale. "Could Dong'er's father have remembered the wrong place? But this environment... is clearly the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well!"
"Where are the immortal herbs? Where did all those immortal herbs go?! Could... someone have gotten there first?!"
Thinking of Wang Dong'er still comatose at Shrek Academy with weakening life energy, Huo Yuhao felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife.
He forced himself to calm down, his hands clenched so tightly that his nails nearly embedded into his flesh. He desperately thought of solutions.
"The Hao Tian Clan! Yes, the Hao Tian Clan!"
A glimmer of hope reignited in Huo Yuhao's eyes. "Dong'er is the Hao Tian Clan's Young Clan Master. Clan Masters Niu Tian and Tai Tan have unfathomable strength—they must have other ways to save Dong'er."
He didn't even take time to catch his breath. Immediately turning around, dragging his exhausted body, he soared into the sky again, flying desperately toward the Hao Tian Clan.
After several more days of non-stop travel, Huo Yuhao had visibly thinned, his eye sockets sunken, his lips cracked, but the anxiety and determination in his eyes remained undiminished.
When he finally reached the Hao Tian Clan, after notification, he met Niu Tian and Tai Tan. Using his last strength, he spoke of the changes at the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well.
"What?! The Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well has been emptied?! Even the Yearning Heartbroken Red is gone?!"
Tai Tan had a fiery temper. Hearing this, he immediately exploded, his voice like a great bell. "That thing isn't supposed to be pluckable except by someone with utmost sincere love! Who could possibly take it easily?!"
Huo Yuhao nodded dumbly. By now, a faint suspicion had also risen in his heart—everything seemed too coincidental.
But thinking of the Yearning Heartbroken Red's strict harvesting conditions, he felt he might be overthinking it. Perhaps some deeply in love person had coincidentally plucked the immortal herb.
Niu Tian's expression was equally grim, but he was much more composed than Tai Tan. Suppressing the turbulent emotions in his heart, he said gravely: "Since the immortal herbs are gone, we'll think of other methods. Heaven always leaves a way."
"Are there other methods?" Huo Yuhao asked urgently, grasping at straws.
Niu Tian shook his head without answering directly. Instead, he signaled to Tai Tan with his eyes: "Second brother, guard the clan. I'll be back soon."
With that, his figure flashed as he flew toward the "Ascension Pavilion" in the Hao Tian Clan's forbidden area.
Inside the Ascension Pavilion, Niu Tian activated a secret formation, attempting to contact Tang San in the God Realm. God Realm rules forbade easy interference with the lower realm.
The two of them had been revived by Tang San as hundred-level divine officials—a kind of "smuggling" into the lower realm to guard the Hao Tian Clan and Tang Wutong. Contacting once was troublesome and risky.
After a full day of waiting, the formation finally glowed faintly. A majestic yet distant voice slowly came through, carrying slight displeasure:
"Da Ming, what's so urgent? I told you not to contact me unless necessary. The Destruction God King has been watching me—he can't get any ammunition against me."
Niu Tian's face showed bitterness. He bowed deeply: "Sea God, something has changed. Dong'er followed your plan and fell into a coma at the right time, meant to test that Huo Yuhao. But..."
"But when we sent him to the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well to find the Yearning Heartbroken Red, we discovered... someone had gotten there first! All the immortal herbs have vanished without a trace! Dong'er is now critically ill—what should we do?"
"What?!"
On the other side of the formation, Tang San's voice suddenly rose, filled with shock. "The Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well has been emptied? How is this possible?!"
He immediately tried to sense the hidden divine thought he had left at the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well. Indeed, it was like a stone sinking into the sea—no response at all.
Tang San's heart instantly surged with towering rage and a trace of suspicion: "Damn it! Who could it be? Who could hide from my perception, silently erase my divine thought, and empty the immortal herbs?! It must be someone from the God Realm working against me!"
His first suspicion fell on the Destruction God King, who had always disagreed with his philosophy, but he immediately dismissed it:
"No, if the Destruction God King had discovered my little moves, he would surely use it to make trouble—impossible for things to remain so calm..."
Tang San forcibly suppressed his doubts and anger, recalling the brief power interference he had sensed in the lower realm that had blocked his vision. He became even more certain that a god was secretly scheming against him.
He sneered inwardly: "Whoever you are, daring to ruin my plans—you've already earned your death!"
After pondering for a moment, he asked: "When Huo Yuhao went to the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, was there a transformed soul beast accompanying him? You might not be able to tell, but with careful perception, you should detect some clues."
He suspected the Imperial Auspicious Beast Three-Eyed Golden Lion had transformed, with fate power mysteriously disrupting his plans.
Niu Tian shook his head: "Huo Yuhao came alone—he hasn't mentioned anyone accompanying him."
Tang San's expression grew even darker. Indeed, his carefully laid plans had been disrupted. "Truly infuriating!"
Just as he was rapidly considering which deity might be working behind the scenes and how to remedy the situation, Niu Tian couldn't help but urge again:
"Sea God, Dong'er is still in a coma, her energy growing weaker by the moment. Is there really no other way to save her?"
A barely perceptible impatience flashed in Tang San's eyes.
He had sent his daughter Tang Wutong with sealed memories to the lower realm under the guise of "re-cultivation"—actually a three-birds-with-one-stone plan:
To let his daughter establish a solid foundation in the Douluo Continent, a potential-rich plane, rather than being an immortal "idler" without a divine position in the God Realm—his daughter, without a divine position, how could she match his status?
At the same time, he would bind this plane's fate-blessed, god-king-talented Huo Yuhao as his son-in-law, and use Huo Yuhao to revitalize the declining Tang Sect.
However, as a god king, he knew no plan was foolproof. Tang San quickly regained composure, his mind racing.
"The plan... hasn't completely failed yet."
Tang San's voice returned to calmness, even carrying a hint of profound mystery. "Since the path of Immortal Herbs is cut off, we'll change methods. Da Ming, listen carefully..."
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