Chapter 2: The Million-Year Revelation
The sun cast long shadows through the dense canopy of the Star Dou Great Forest as Huo Yuhao moved with a caution born of two lifetimes of memory. The system's interface hovered at the edge of his vision, a translucent blue panel showing the live stream.
[Current Viewers: 7]
[Chat Activity: Low]
"So this is the famous Star Dou Forest," Huo Yuhao murmured, more for the stream than himself. He kept his Spirit Eyes active, the pale blue glow illuminating his pupils as he scanned for threats. The spiritual detection range was modest—about fifty meters—but it was enough to avoid the decade and hundred-year spirit beasts that prowled the outskirts.
A notification pinged in his mind.
[System Alert: Passive Skill 'Fate's Glimpse' activated.]
Suddenly, a flash of imagery—a massive, jewel-like caterpillar with ten golden rings, bursting from the earth. Himself, standing frozen, then warmth flooding his body. The vision lasted only a second, but it left him breathless.
"That's the meeting," he whispered. "Tianmeng Iceworm."
A chat message scrolled across his vision.
Multiverse_User_Alpha: Wait, he can see the future? Is that part of his Spirit Eyes?
Cultivation_Enthusiast: In the original work, Huo Yuhao had occasional prophetic flashes but never this systematic. The Black Book must have enhanced it.
Huo Yuhao ignored the chatter, focusing on the path ahead. According to his memories—both sets—he needed to reach a specific clearing where the earth was softer, where underground ice veins came close to the surface. That's where Tianmeng would emerge.
Three hours of careful travel brought him to the place. He recognized it instantly—the peculiar silvery moss on the trees, the faint chill in the air despite the afternoon sun.
"Here," he said aloud, setting down his pack. "According to what I... remember, this is where it happens."
He built a small fire, more for comfort than necessity, and roasted one of the fish he'd caught earlier that morning. The aroma filled the clearing. As he ate, he addressed the stream.
"For those new to the stream, I'm Huo Yuhao. I was born in the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, but I left after my mother passed. I'm here to get my first spirit ring." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "And to change a story that was written wrong."
Dao_Seeker: He speaks with such conviction for an eleven-year-old.
Soul_Land_Expert: Remember, he has Ayush's memories too. That's essentially an adult consciousness in a child's body.
Just as Huo Yuhao finished his meal, the ground trembled.
Cracks appeared in the earth, spider-webbing out from the center of the clearing. A brilliant golden-white light erupted from below, followed by a wave of cold so intense it snuffed out his fire in an instant.
"Finally! A human with spiritual attributes! And after all this time!"
The voice boomed in Huo Yuhao's mind, cheerful and desperate all at once. The earth split open, and a colossal, translucent white caterpillar wriggled into view. It was enormous—over seven meters long—with ten shimmering golden rings along its body. Its eyes were like polished amber, currently fixed on Huo Yuhao with unnerving intensity.
The live stream exploded.
[Viewers: 47]
Multiverse_User_Alpha: IT'S HIM! THE MILLION-YEAR SPIRIT BEAST!
Cultivation_Enthusiast: Look at the size! Those golden rings—each represents a hundred thousand years of cultivation!
Soul_Land_Expert: This is the moment! The start of everything!
Huo Yuhao stood his ground, though every instinct screamed to run. He remembered this scene from the novel, but experiencing it was different—the pressure, the raw power emanating from the creature was palpable.
"Who are you?" Huo Yuhao asked, playing his part.
"Me?" The Tianmeng Iceworm wriggled proudly. "I am the one and only million-year spirit beast on the Douluo Continent! The paragon of wisdom and beauty, the Tianmeng Iceworm! You can call me Brother Tianmeng!"
Huo Yuhao fought to keep a straight face. The creature's ego was even more pronounced in person. "A million years? That's impossible. The heavenly tribulations..."
"Ah, details!" Tianmeng waved a stubby appendage dismissively. "I have my methods! More importantly, little human, what's your name?"
"Huo Yuhao."
"Well, Huo Yuhao, how would you like to become the most powerful spirit master in history?"
Here it comes, Huo Yuhao thought. The sales pitch.
"I want to become your wisdom spirit ring," Tianmeng said without preamble. "Not just any spirit ring—an intelligent one! I'll fuse with you, but my consciousness will remain! Together, we'll climb to the peak of power! What do you say?"
Huo Yuhao pretended to consider. "What's in it for me? Besides a spirit ring?"
"Ah, a negotiator!" Tianmeng sounded delighted. "I like you! Well, for starters, your first spirit ring will have not one, not two, but four spirit skills! Four! Unheard of!"
"And?"
"And... I can give you a second martial soul! An ice attribute one!"
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow. "Just the attribute? No form?"
"Form comes later! When you're strong enough, I'll take you to get the perfect form! Trust me!"
The chat was scrolling rapidly.
Cultivation_Enthusiast: He's driving a hard bargain! In the original, Huo Yuhao just accepted.
Soul_Land_Expert: He knows what's coming. He's negotiating from position of strength.
"What about a soul bone?" Huo Yuhao asked pointedly. "A million-year spirit beast should leave a soul bone, right?"
Tianmeng Iceworm froze. "Well... that's complicated. My energy has been... depleted over the years. By those brutes in the core region! But! I can give you an external soul bone! My... skin, essentially! It'll be fantastic! Flight! Stealth! Temperature regulation!"
Huo Yuhao nodded slowly. This was the moment. In the original timeline, Tianmeng's external soul bone became a cloak. But with the Black Book's influence, with the stolen treasures sleeping in his consciousness...
"Show me," Huo Yuhao said.
The Tianmeng Iceworm glowed brighter. "First, we need to fuse! Don't worry, it won't hurt much! Probably!"
Before Huo Yuhao could respond, the massive caterpillar surged forward, dissolving into a river of golden-white light that poured into his body.
Agony.
It was like being dipped in liquid nitrogen and set on fire simultaneously. Every nerve screamed. Huo Yuhao collapsed to his knees, his body convulsing as Tianmeng's immense spiritual power flooded his system.
System Alert: Host's body undergoing radical transformation. Black Book stabilization protocols engaged.
A warmth spread from the depths of his consciousness—the Black Book, maintaining the integrity of his soul as Tianmeng's power reshaped his very being. The process should have killed him. Should have torn apart a mere 11-year-old with level 10 spirit power.
But he wasn't just that.
He was Ayush, who had raged against an unjust story.
He was Huo Yuhao,born of suffering and determination.
And he was something new—something with a reader's perspective and a protagonist's destiny.
[Viewers: 103]
Multiverse_User_Alpha: *HE'S H