Chapter 8: Striving to Be the one in charge
Tang Ya, who was absorbing the spirit ring at this moment, let out a muffled groan. Her calm expression began to twist in pain, her features slightly contorted, and her red lips pressed together, turning pale.
Bei Bei's heart leapt into his throat. He desperately wanted to channel the Mysterious Heaven Skill to help Tang Ya ease her suffering. However, this was a critical moment of spirit ring absorption; recklessly introducing external spirit power could very likely lead to Qi Deviation.
Huo Yuhao also grew worried. Logically, absorbing a Thousand Year Spirit Beast's spirit ring at the third ring position shouldn't be a problem. It was likely the lingering ferocity of the spirit ring impacting Tang Ya.
The Heavenly Eye between his brows glowed, perceiving that Tang Ya's internal spirit power was being mobilized towards her brain for defense. Huo Yuhao could faintly see the shadow of a long snake writhing within Tang Ya's forehead. A centipede dies but never stiffens.
Even in death, the Datura Snake was still causing trouble, clearly unwilling to submit.
Huo Yuhao's pupils calmed. The Heavenly Eye between his brows locked onto the Datura Snake, and a wisp of divine aura, carrying a purifying power, penetrated Tang Ya's forehead.
The formless spiritual purification divine force seemed to take the shape of Huo Yuhao's three-pointed double-edged spear, striking down and obliterating the Datura Snake's remnant soul, scattering it to the winds.
After the remnant soul was destroyed, Tang Ya's expression gradually eased, no longer in such agony.
The frantic Bei Bei didn't notice Huo Yuhao's actions. Even if he had seen the glowing Heavenly Eye, he wouldn't have known what Huo Yuhao was doing.
This was unrelated to spirit ring abilities; it was an innate ability of the Heavenly Eye itself: Insight into Essence, Purification Divine Force. As his Rank increased, these abilities would continue to strengthen or even give rise to new ones.
After about two or three minutes, Tang Ya opened her lively, large eyes, blinking. She turned her gaze towards Huo Yuhao. Intuition told her an external force had helped her absorb the spirit ring. Bei Bei didn't possess such a skill, so the only possibility was Huo Yuhao.
That fleeting sharpness... Could Yuhao, with just one ring, really directly annihilate a remnant soul through the Sea of Consciousness?
Just now, the Datura Snake's remnant soul assaulted my Sea of Consciousness. If I hadn't defended successfully, I could have turned into an idiot, or worse, died.
Tang Ya looked up at the sky, expressionless. Was it my parents' Spirits in heaven protecting me? Or perhaps the lingering blessings of the Tang Clan ancestors who Ascended to godhood?
The dazed Tang Ya just stared at the sky without speaking, thoroughly frightening Bei Bei. He crouched down, waving his hand back and forth in front of her eyes, firing off a rapid string of questions, "Xiao Ya, what's wrong? Say something! Were you scared by the Datura Snake? Was the spirit ring absorption smooth? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"
"Yeah, yeah, I was scared silly. I need to eat lots of delicious food to recover, especially Little Yuhao's grilled fish. It can nourish the body and help the brain recover," Tang Ya said mischievously, winking and making faces.
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this. Why did this 'dog food' taste so natural?
Bei Bei gave Tang Ya a sharp flick on the forehead, exclaiming angrily, "Are you trying to scare me to death?"
"Ouch! Stupid Bei Bei, scaring you to death would be great. If you were gone, I'd find someone else. Yuhao seems quite nice," Tang Ya cried out in pain. She felt warmed by Bei Bei's concern but wanted to tease him. She liked seeing him worried and jealous for her; it made her feel cared for.
"Yuhao is still a child. What nonsense are you talking?" Bei Bei knew Tang Ya was just talking nonsense, but he still felt a twinge of jealousy.
"Sister Xiao Ya, Brother Bei Bei, you two showing off your affection like this is a huge shock to my young heart," Huo Yuhao chimed in with perfect timing, adding fuel to the fire.
Upon hearing this, both their faces flushed red. They glanced at each other, and as their eyes met, sparks seemed to fly in the air. Like startled deer, they turned their heads away in unison, the atmosphere thick with ambiguity.
Bei Bei awkwardly stood up, scratching his head shyly. "Well, since you're fine, Xiao Ya, let's leave the Star Dou Great Forest quickly. The commotion just now was significant; it's safer to leave as soon as possible."
"Mm, let's go," Tang Ya murmured, lowering her head.
The team resumed its original formation. Huo Yuhao was quite satisfied with his earlier comment; finally, he wouldn't have to endure the 'dog food'.
The three maintained their formation as they retreated towards the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Tang Ya took the initiative to speak to Huo Yuhao, "Yuhao, is this skill of yours very taxing? It seems like you've had it active for a long time. The Spirit Beast hunt is complete. With Bei Bei and me working together, safety in the outskirts is manageable. If it consumes too much, you should stop using the Spirit Ability."
"It's alright. This Spirit Ability is mainly sustained by my mental force; the spirit power consumption is negligible," Huo Yuhao replied. Besides, he was only maintaining a hundred-meter range; he could keep it up for ten hours without issue.
Hearing this, Bei Bei shot him a sidelong glance, inwardly shocked. Gathering vision for surveillance, slowing movements, automatic calculation, detecting weaknesses... Such a powerful skill with minimal consumption? Unbelievable. He must read up when they got back. He felt the Spirit Master knowledge he'd learned his whole life was being overturned.
"Mm, remember, don't push yourself. You saw Bei Bei's fight earlier, right? The steps he used to dodge the venom are the Tang Sect's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Your Heavenly Eye Spirit's support abilities are formidable, but your first Spirit Ability lacks offensive power, leaving self-defense a bit lacking. If you learned the Tang Sect's secret techniques and used spirit power to execute them, you could protect yourself very well. Are you really not considering joining us?"
Tang Ya stopped walking, looking at Huo Yuhao with sincere eyes. After a brief pause, she threw out another temptation she believed he couldn't refuse.
"You also know the Tang Sect is a famous great Sect. Although it's declined now, Shrek remembers the contributions the Tang Sect has made. Every year, there's one spot that allows unconditional entry to study at Shrek. You don't look like you have the money for tuition. Sect Leader Xiao Ya can find a way to help you get in through the back door, you know~"
After speaking, Tang Ya wore a mischievous grin, like a little demon tempting a child. Little Yuhao's grilled fish was just too delicious; she had to make him hers!
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow slightly. This was indeed a problem. Without money, he didn't even have travel funds. Shrek was so close; there was no need to seek distant alternatives.
Later, he would absorb the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion. twin spirits were shocking enough; Three Lives Martial Soul... he dared not imagine. A tree that stands out in the forest will be blown down by the wind.
For safety's sake, he could hide the three-pointed double-edged spear. Exposing twin spirits only after obtaining the Scorpion would be more secure. By then, he would also receive Shrek's resource cultivation.
Plus, he genuinely found Tang Ya quite likable. Not romantic love, but simply a fondness for her innocent, pure-hearted, and warm-hearted nature.
Ever since his Spirit mutation, the Heavenly Eye Spirit had immediately detected Tang San's gaze spying on him. He had never exposed the three-pointed double-edged spear under that gaze.
Only after the gaze disappeared would he let it out for a brief 'face-to-face' meeting.
To defeat the lofty God King, without some tricks, winning would be truly difficult... But the harder it was, the more challenging he found it. He must rise to meet the challenge!
Huo Yuhao slightly raised his head. The midday sun was fierce. He hesitated no longer, his expression turning solemn and serious. "Disciple Huo Yuhao pays his respects to Teacher Tang Ya!"
After a solemn Ritual of paying respects to a master, Huo Yuhao chose to join the Tang Sect.
Which faction he belonged to wasn't important. What mattered was possessing the means to grow stronger. Everything that could help him achieve his goals could be utilized. Striving to be the one in charge—only by standing at the very top would he represent the strongest faction!
The will of the douluo continent sensed this scene and actively parted the concealing mist.
In the God Realm, Tang San was trying to find a way to disperse the obstructing barrier. Little did he expect he could see the Douluo Continent again.
Just in time for him to witness Huo Yuhao's act of paying respects to a master. The corners of his mouth lifted into an inscrutable, cunning smile of satisfaction, as if his clever scheme had succeeded.