Beibei and Tang Ya both nodded. Tang Ya looked at the young boy she had only recently met with a hint of pity and said,
"Xiao Yuhao's cultivation level is so low, yet he followed us deep into the Star Dou Forest. It's normal for him to be tired. Xiao Yuhao, take a good rest. Beibei and I will take the night watch."
Huo Yuhao nodded, leaned against a large tree beside the campfire, and entered a meditative state. He began recovering the soul power and spiritual energy he had lost earlier, using meditation to cultivate instead of sleep.
It wasn't because he fully trusted Tang Ya and Beibei that he dared to meditate in the wilderness,rather, he had the protection of the Tianmeng Iceworm within his body. If anything, the Tianmeng Iceworm was far more reliable than the two of them.
With his eyes closed, Huo Yuhao, assisted by the power of the Spirit Eye, had already learned how to freely enter and exit his spiritual sea.
As he entered it, he immediately "heard" a faint snoring sound. Looking at the Tianmeng Iceworm snoring away inside his spiritual sea, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but be covered in black lines.
It seemed he had trusted too early,this big bug was clearly not as reliable as he thought.
"Brother Tianmeng? Brother Tianmeng! Wake up!" Huo Yuhao called repeatedly, but the Tianmeng Iceworm remained motionless, sleeping soundly.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao decided to take action. Using his spiritual power, he simulated the state Beibei had shown earlier when fusing with his martial soul.
He found that even within his spiritual sea, his spiritual body could still use the power of the Spirit Eye without having to activate his martial soul.
When he first entered his spiritual sea, he hadn't realized this because he was still absorbing the original host's memories.
With the Spirit Eye's analytical ability, Huo Yuhao saw within the Tianmeng Iceworm's enormous body several areas of varying colors. Using the Spirit Eye, he could distinguish these color blocks as representing different energy intensities,thus identifying the creature's weak points.
Then, on Huo Yuhao's spiritual right hand, an energy dragon claw appeared,just like the Thunder Dragon Claw Beibei had used earlier. Even the martial soul transformation was imitated vividly.
This wasn't a simple illusion shaped by mental power,it was a skill created by simulating, through spiritual force, the energy changes he had observed in Beibei's body using the Spirit Eye.
However, since it was only a simulation of the energy flow and not the real thing, the dragon claw had form but little power, far weaker than its real-world counterpart.
But this was Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea,when the Thunder Dragon Claw struck the Iceworm's weak point, the Tianmeng Iceworm jolted as if electrocuted and sprang awake from its sleep.
"Who is it?! Who dares attack me? Who dares disturb my beautiful dream?!" the Tianmeng Iceworm roared furiously.
"It's me. I just went out for a bit, and you're already asleep? Aren't you worried something might happen to me?" Huo Yuhao asked, pretending to be angry.
"Hey, I set up spiritual power on your body. If you were in danger, I'd wake up. How was I supposed to know you'd come find me here…" The Iceworm's voice grew smaller, as if realizing something.
"I told you before,once I finished outside, I'd come talk with you. Did you forget that, Brother Tianmeng?"
"Ahem… of course not! It's just that the wait felt long, that's all. Anyway, let me start from the beginning."
The Tianmeng Iceworm quickly tried to regain his dignity, putting on a mysterious air.
As a transmigrator, Huo Yuhao naturally knew what kind of creature he was dealing with, but he didn't interrupt the Iceworm's boasting.
After the Tianmeng Iceworm finished rambling about his lazy early life and miserable later years, Huo Yuhao clapped perfunctorily and said,
"Alright, alright. So your million years of cultivation came from eating and sleeping on repeat, and in the end, you got eaten yourself? That's pretty tragic."
The Tianmeng Iceworm looked embarrassed. "Well, I may not be good at fighting, but my million-year cultivation is the real deal! With my help, even if your body is weak, you'll definitely complete my god-making plan!"
Huo Yuhao nodded. "Brother Tianmeng, you said you've already found a target for my second martial soul,the Ice without a soul. Can I ask who the target is?"
The Iceworm was puzzled. In his mind, a second martial soul was something human soul masters would celebrate,why was Huo Yuhao questioning it?
"Ahem, of course the best ice-type soul beasts are in the Extreme North,that's my old home! I've already picked the perfect one for you: the ultimate ice attribute, absolutely top tier!"
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow. "But you know that cultivating an ultimate attribute is extremely slow, right? And the Extreme North is incredibly dangerous. With my current level, going there is basically suicide."
"Don't worry! With me around, you'll be fine. I was once a ruler of the Extreme North!"
"Brother Tianmeng, let's put that plan on hold for now," Huo Yuhao said seriously. "At least until I'm ready. Since you're so confident, a little delay won't matter, right?"
Although Huo Yuhao knew the Iceworm's chosen target was the Ice Empress,and that it would eventually succeed in the original story,he had no intention of rushing into danger. Charging into the Extreme North as a two-ring Soul Master? That was asking for death.
He wasn't that reckless. While he did want to gain the Ice and Snow Empresses' powers someday, now was not the time.
"Alright, Brother Tianmeng, enough about that. Now it's my turn to talk." Huo Yuhao straightened up, his tone serious.
"Oh? Go on, Xiao Yuhao." Perhaps feeling guilty about hiding his thoughts on the Ice Empress, the Tianmeng Iceworm sat upright and listened carefully.
"Since you've been sleeping for so long, it's time you got some exercise," Huo Yuhao said with a smile. "You gave me four soul skills, right? That means you can use them too?"
"Of course," the Tianmeng Iceworm replied proudly. "I _am_ your soul ring, after all. Naturally, I can use the skills."
"Good. What I need you to do from now on," Huo Yuhao continued, "is regularly expend your spiritual power origin,maintain a state of mental sharing with me. I'll share my martial soul energy with you in return."
"Eh? Share my mental power with you? Why?" the Iceworm asked, confused.
"You'll understand soon."
Within his spiritual sea, Huo Yuhao activated his Spiritual Detection and shared his deep internal view with the Iceworm.
"These… what are these things?" the Iceworm gasped.
"No need to worry about that," Huo Yuhao said. "Just look closely."
He pointed to several lines visible in the shared vision. "I've compressed my Spiritual Detection range to only cover my body. Because my mental power and martial soul come from the same source, I can perceive these lines directly with little energy cost.
"These lines show the paths where my spirit guides my soul power during cultivation and meditation. Normally, no human or soul master could perceive this deeply."
"I want you, Brother Tianmeng, to use your immense spiritual power to assist me in my cultivation through this shared vision."
The Iceworm froze for a moment, then his eyes widened. "Wait,you mean you want me to train for you while you slack off?!"
Huo Yuhao laughed and shook his head. "Assist, not replace. I'm still using my own soul power,it'll just cost you a bit of mental energy. Besides, I won't be idle while you help me. We're in this together, right? If you help me become a god one day, you'll have plenty of time to sleep again.
"But if I fail, well… humans live barely a century. That'd be just a blink of an eye to you."
The Tianmeng Iceworm frowned in thought. He had enough spiritual power to help Huo Yuhao, but he didn't like wasting it on what he saw as trivial work.
Huo Yuhao, however, thought differently. The Iceworm was one of his greatest advantages, and spiritual power was most valuable when used to gain strength as quickly as possible. Resources that aren't converted into power are meaningless,leave them unused, and in the end, you just get turned into Tang San's pet.
Speed was everything.
"Fine, fine," the Iceworm sighed. "I'm so pitiful. Finally escaped, only to become your laborer again…" Though reluctant, he still agreed.
And thus, Huo Yuhao's "Tianmeng Automatic Cultivation Device 1.0" was officially activated.
He then began working with the Iceworm on the details of soul power circulation.
"Hey, Brother Tianmeng, focus a bit more," Huo Yuhao muttered. Through his martial soul, he could see the soul power occasionally veering off its proper path under the Iceworm's control.
"Ahem, it's my first time cultivating, okay?" the Iceworm said awkwardly. "I never really practiced before. I finally reached a million years of cultivation, and before I could enjoy it, I got hunted and eaten."
Huo Yuhao sighed, covered in exasperation. Still, as the Iceworm grew more skilled, things began to improve. With his immense spiritual foundation, the flow of Huo Yuhao's soul power soon stabilized.
Under the Iceworm's guidance, Huo Yuhao's once-narrow and blocked meridians gradually expanded at a steady pace.
Though the spiritual energy wasn't perfectly compatible, its high quality nourished the meridians damaged by the earlier soul power impacts.
This method wasn't sustainable long-term, but for now, it was enough. With some restorative resources, he could recover fully later.
"Alright, Brother Tianmeng, you've got the rhythm now. I'll turn off the spiritual detection and stop sharing for now,just keep following that pattern."
"Don't worry," the Iceworm replied smugly. "I'm the best at hiding things. Even if you use soul skills right in front of others, they won't notice a thing."
Huo Yuhao glanced at the still-slumbering consciousness of Electrolux nearby within his spiritual sea and thought helplessly, _I'll need to find something to nourish his soul soon._
Though Electrolux's fragmented spirit has damaged his memory, his knowledge as a god-tier mage is invaluable. If I can adapt it to this world, it'll be a complete game-changer
Compared to the martial soul system that depends on compatibility, magic might suit me better.
I can already mimic others' soul skills using soul power,but unlike magic, soul skills lack system and structure. They can't form a true framework of power.
One step at a time, he thought, as he withdrew from his spiritual sea.
When he opened his eyes again, the sun was already rising above the horizon.
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