—The match begins.
The referee shouted loudly and quickly retreated. Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi simultaneously unleashed their martial souls.
Just a moment ago, the stands were boisterous and noisy, but in an instant, a strange silence fell. Everyone focused their gaze on the two figures in the arena. Both were renowned figures in the outer court, so their matches always stirred people's hearts. All the students loved watching them battle. Some even secretly placed bets with each other.
Blue lightning slowly converged toward Bei Bei's right arm. The blue electricity swirled around him, and his martial soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, was released.
On the other side, Xu Sanshi was not to be outdone. His body slowly expanded, stretching his uniform taut. A massive shield, the Xuanming Shield, appeared in his right hand.
The two circled each other, taking slow steps, their eyes locked. Soul power surged from them, one black, one blue, shining brilliantly.
Outwardly, the two were evenly matched. Both were above rank thirty and possessed three soul rings, powerful Soul Masters at the Soul Venerable stage. From their martial souls, it was easy to discern that Bei Bei was a Power Attack-type Battle Soul Venerable, while Xu Sanshi was very likely a Defense-type Battle Soul Venerable.
One side wielded the powerful offensive martial soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, while the other possessed a mutated martial soul with terrifying defensive power, the Xuanwu. At this moment, it was difficult to say who would gain the upper hand.
At this moment, Wang Dong seemed to have forgotten the earlier incident with Huo Yuhao. He focused intently on observing the match, not uttering a single word. Huo Yuhao was the same; both were spontaneously excited by the match before them.
After unleashing his martial soul, Bei Bei's gentle demeanor instantly turned sharp. Xu Sanshi, on the other hand, was solemn and calm, like a towering mountain.
Just as Xu Sanshi reached the position closest to where Huo Yuhao was sitting, Bei Bei suddenly roared. A bolt of blue lightning shot straight toward Xu Sanshi.
Xu Sanshi's heart jolted slightly. He clearly hadn't revealed any openings, and this wasn't even a good opportunity, was it? Why was Bei Bei so impulsive today?
Although Xu Sanshi thought this, he dared not underestimate his opponent. He was all too aware of Bei Bei's formidable attacking power.
Bei Bei dashed forward, and when he was about five meters from Xu Sanshi, he suddenly leaped up. He swung his right arm, striking directly at Xu Sanshi, his Dragon Claw enveloped in blue lightning, ready to unleash a soul skill at any moment.
Xu Sanshi showed no fear. He took half a step back with his left foot, lowered his stance, and brought the shield in his right hand forward. Simultaneously, black soul power surged forth with the appearance of the Xuanming Shield, both vaguely forming a massive black ring of light that completely enveloped his body.
—Boom!
Bei Bei's Dragon Claw struck the Xuanming Shield with great force. Both bodies simultaneously shuddered. Bei Bei spun and landed back on the ground, while Xu Sanshi was pushed back about a meter.
The first yellow, hundred-year soul ring among Xu Sanshi's three soul rings suddenly flashed. The black light on the Xuanming Shield immediately doubled in intensity and spread outward, covering a range of over ten meters, accompanied by a low, rumbling roar.
Xuanming Tremor—Xu Sanshi's first soul skill.
This was a skill that caused a shockwave within a certain range, carrying a stunning effect. If an opponent's cultivation was inferior to his, they would certainly be dazed by this shockwave.
However, Xu Sanshi never expected that the moment he activated his first soul skill, Beibei's second and third soul rings would light up simultaneously.
The first to flash was his third soul ring, a purple, thousand-year soul ring. A roar erupted from Beibei as blue lightning crackled across his entire body. The blue scales on his arms gradually spread toward the right side of his chest, and his aura surged dramatically.
Lightning Fury.
His second soul ring flashed, and with Beibei at the center, countless snake-like streaks of lightning instantly burst outward.
By combining his second and third soul skills to counter Xu Sanshi's first soul skill, Xuanming Tremor, Beibei unleashed an attack that even Xu Sanshi, renowned for his defensive power, could not withstand.
A gap quickly tore open in the black energy barrier. Ignoring the turbulent flow of black energy, Beibei charged straight through.
Xu Sanshi was startled, but his movements were by no means slow. His second and third soul rings lit up in quick succession. He was all too familiar with Beibei's abilities and possessed absolute confidence in his own defense. Although he wasn't sure if he could defeat Beibei, if he focused solely on defense, Beibei would stand absolutely no chance!
However, just as he activated his second and third soul skills, his mind suddenly felt as if it were being pricked by needles. His consciousness blurred for a split second, causing a slight lag in his soul skills and preventing them from being unleashed.
At this critical juncture, Beibei unexpectedly executed the Tang Sect's ultimate technique, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, his figure instantly turning into an illusory blur. Crouching low, he slid along the ground, grabbed the edge of the Xuanming Shield with one hand, and swung his entire body around, slipping right behind it. By now, even if Xu Sanshi wanted to unleash his soul skills, it was too late—Beibei had already bypassed his shield.
Beibei swept his right leg forward, kicking Xu Sanshi's thigh. The residual power of Lightning Fury crackled, causing Xu Sanshi's entire body to seize up. Immediately after, Beibei's dragon claw, heavily wreathed in blue lightning, clamped down on Xu Sanshi's shoulder. The victor was decided.
This first match ended far quicker than anyone had anticipated. Some spectators hadn't even clearly registered what had happened. All they knew was that Beibei had bypassed the defense of the Xuanming Shield, subdued Xu Sanshi, and won.
—Beibei wins.
The referee's voice announced the result, and he did nothing to stop Beibei from sweeping Xu Sanshi to the ground.
As the lightning dissipated, Xu Sanshi shakily climbed to his feet and stammered:
—You... you... cheated.
Although he didn't know what trick Beibei had used, the brief moment of dizziness he had experienced earlier was definitely this guy's doing. Furthermore, how could Beibei have targeted his weakest defensive point so precisely?
—Cheated, my ass! If you're willing to bet, you'd better be willing to lose. Where's the Xuanwater Pill? Hand it over.
Bei Bei smiled. His Dragon Claw subtly injected a trace of lightning power into Xu Sanshi, causing the tall youth's body to tremble.
How could Xu Sanshi have known that, in order to help Bei Bei defeat him, someone in the spectator stands was already pushing themselves to the limit?
The sudden, sharp pain in Xu Sanshi's head just as he was about to unleash his second and third soul skills was precisely due to Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Shock, combined with his spiritual power, attacking him. One must not underestimate Huo Yuhao despite his weak cultivation; when these two abilities merged, even though the attack lasted only an instant, it was something even Xu Sanshi could not withstand.
The distance between Huo Yuhao and Xu Sanshi was roughly thirty meters, which was just within the range of his soul skills.
Furthermore, Huo Yuhao had also used his Spiritual Detection Sharing earlier to help Bei Bei pinpoint Xu Sanshi's opening.
Although everything had unfolded in the blink of an eye, Huo Yuhao had successively unleashed his third soul skill and his secret technique, the Purple Demon Eyes.
Before the match began, Bei Bei had signaled Tang Ya, asking her to have Huo Yuhao assist him. Tang Ya had already informed Bei Bei of the range of Huo Yuhao's soul skills, which was why their opening attack had been executed so flawlessly.
This victory could be attributed entirely to the cooperation between the two brothers.
Aside from Tang Ya and Bei Bei, who were down on the arena floor, only Wang Dong was aware of what had happened. When Huo Yuhao unleashed his soul skills, although he had tried his best to suppress his soul rings from manifesting beneath his feet, how could the sudden fluctuation of soul power escape the notice of Wang Dong, who was sitting right next to him?
Wang Dong had clearly seen a golden glow flicker in Huo Yuhao's eyes. The light grew increasingly intense before merging with a deep purple light from within his pupils. An instant later, Huo Yuhao lost consciousness and slumped toward him. Just as a startled Wang Dong caught him, the match below came to an end.
"He... what happened to him?"
Wang Dong asked, alarmed.
Tang Ya was also startled to see Huo Yuhao faint. She quickly rushed over to examine him, only letting out a sigh of relief a moment later.
"It's just exhaustion of his soul power. He'll be fine. Let's go."
Having pulled off their scheme, it was best to make a quick getaway.
At this moment, Tang Ya’s heart was filled with a mixture of shock and awe. She had never expected Huo Yuhao’s soul skill to be this powerful. Bei Bei had only asked Xiao Hao to lend a small hand to help him gain the upper hand, but who could have anticipated this outcome?
Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were evenly matched in cultivation, making the outcome of their duel highly unpredictable. No one could have expected the match to end so decisively in a single strike.
In truth, Huo Yuhao was utterly drained. He had endured grueling physical training all day, and the consecutive use of his soul skills had completely depleted his spiritual power, forcing his body into a deep slumber. It would be difficult for him to wake up anytime soon; this was merely his body’s natural self-preservation instinct.
Tang Ya and Wang Dong carried Huo Yuhao back to the dormitory. By the time they arrived, Bei Bei had already caught up with them. He channeled a stream of soul power into Huo Yuhao to help stabilize his condition, then retrieved a porcelain vial, poured out a pill, and slipped it into Huo Yuhao's mouth.
"Little brother, please look after my junior brother for a bit."
Senior students were not allowed into the freshmen's dormitories; this was a strict school regulation. Consequently, Bei Bei could only ask Wang Dong for help.
The moment Wang Dong saw the pill Bei Bei was feeding Huo Yuhao, he froze. Coming from an illustrious background, he was highly knowledgeable. The pill was a deep, dark green, about the size of a small cherry, with faint white patterns swirling across its surface. The instant it had been taken out of its porcelain bottle, a refreshing fragrance had filled the air, accompanied by a light mist. Just inhaling the scent brought a wave of comfort that penetrated deep into his bones.
"Could that be... a Profound Water Pill? No way..."
Not only was Wang Dong shocked, but even the old man in charge of the dormitory, who usually lay there half-asleep, cracked his eyes open slightly.
Tang Ya looked at Wang Dong and said,
"Little brother, when Xiao Hao wakes up, remind him not to forget to sell fish tomorrow. I'll go prepare the ingredients for him in a bit."
Bei Bei said exasperatedly,
"All you ever think about is eating! You almost got our junior brother killed today."
Tang Ya snorted. "Come on, stop pretending. Isn't this exactly what you've wanted all along? That guy is so dense; not only does he keep falling into your traps, but he even hands you the opportunities on a silver platter."
Bei Bei put on an innocent face. "He came looking for me of his own accord, what was I supposed to do? Still, our junior brother is quite fortunate. Let's go, we still have to cultivate. If I remember correctly, someone promised me a kiss if I beat Xu Sanshi. I wonder when I'll get to collect?"
Tang Ya stuck her tongue out at him. "I said you had to beat him until he was bedridden! Did you do that? Fine, let's go cultivate, cultivate!"
Wang Dong spoke up suddenly, "Senior Sister Tang Ya, please think about it. I really do want to join the Tang Sect..."
Tang Ya nodded and waved goodbye to him. Bei Bei gave Wang Dong a meaningful, thoughtful smile before pulling Tang Ya away.
Wang Dong helped Huo Yuhao back to their room and laid him down on his bed. The image of Bei Bei feeding Huo Yuhao the pill kept replaying in his mind. Shaking his head gently, he glanced at the unconscious Huo Yuhao and muttered under his breath,
"Looking at things you shouldn't see will give you styes one day, just you wait. Sleep on this hard bed, it serves you right."
With that, he turned to his own bed, sat cross-legged, and began to meditate. Today's physical training had actually benefited him greatly.
Huo Yuhao's sleep was exceptionally comfortable. Ever since joining the Tang Sect, he had diligently cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Method every single night. Tonight was the first time he had truly slept, deep and dreamless.
Wang Dong had only been meditating with his eyes closed for a short while when he suddenly opened them in surprise. He stared at Huo Yuhao on the opposite bed, sensing a dense wave of soul power fluctuating around him.
Sure enough, the soul power was emanating from Huo Yuhao. Night had fallen, and in the dim room, Huo Yuhao's body was emitting a distinct blue glow. A layer of mist could be seen swirling around him, releasing a wonderfully refreshing fragrance.
Wang Dong leaped down from his bed, walked over to Huo Yuhao, and squatted to observe him closely. He noticed a subtle ripple across Huo Yuhao’s skin, with tiny wisps of impurities escaping from his pores. Meanwhile, a faint blue mist was continuously being drawn into his body through those same pores. As time ticked by, the layer of mist gradually darkened, and the refreshing fragrance began to fade.
"A Profound Water Pill! I can't believe it's that ten-thousand-gold elixir. Why would Senior Brother Bei Bei give him such a precious pill? Could he have given him the wrong one by mistake?"
Wang Dong startled himself with the thought, then fell into silent contemplation. Just as he was about to return to his own bed, something occurred to him. With a trace of annoyance, he walked back over to Huo Yuhao, gave him a light poke with his fist, and let out a soft snort.
"Making it so I can't even sleep in my own bed... just you wait!"
With that, he retrieved a few items from his storage pouch and quietly slipped out of the dormitory.
Not long after Wang Dong left, the fragrance surrounding Huo Yuhao's body gradually turned putrid. The mist darkened to a grayish-black, while Huo Yuhao's breathing grew steadier and calmer.
Huo Yuhao was fast asleep when a foul stench suddenly assaulted his nostrils, forcing a sneeze out of him.
"Ugh, what is that awful stench?!"
Huo Yuhao rolled over and sat up, instinctively turning his gaze toward Wang Dong's bed.
But the bed was empty; Wang Dong was nowhere to be seen.
Outside, the night was pitch-black, yet everything in the room was clearly visible to him, his vision entirely unimpeded by the darkness.
He had been capable of this before, but it had always required him to channel his soul power to activate his Spirit Eyes martial soul. This time, however, he wasn't using a single shred of soul power!
Looking down at himself, he saw that his uniform had turned a dark gray and was emitting a terrible odor. Beneath the fabric, his skin was coated in a layer of thick, sticky grime, making him feel as though he had just rolled around in a mud puddle.
"Does Wang Dong really hate me that much?"
Huo Yuhao muttered to himself. As he stood up, he noticed that even the wooden planks of his bed were coated in a filthy, black film.
What on earth had happened?
The stench clinging to him was truly unbearable. Huo Yuhao quickly scrambled out of bed, threw the window wide open, and dashed straight to the washroom.
The layer of grime on his skin felt incredibly uncomfortable. It took him over half an hour of vigorous scrubbing to wash his clothes and clean himself up.
Returning to his room, Huo Yuhao scratched his head in confusion...
"Forget it, I'll just ask Wang Dong in the morning. He'll probably know. It's already past midnight anyway, so I might as well use this time to meditate and cultivate..."
He immediately sat down cross-legged, channeling his soul power to circulate according to the Mysterious Heaven Method.
Barely three seconds later, Huo Yuhao's eyes snapped open in sheer disbelief.
"Am I dreaming?"
Dazed, he closed his eyes once more to try again.
Three seconds later, his eyes flew open again, his face alight with pure joy.
Something incredible had happened. As he meditated and channeled his soul power, he felt an extraordinary sensation. If his soul power's circulation speed had been like a snail's crawl before, it was now as if that snail had turned into a steed; the current speed was at least three to five times faster. His soul power itself had also been significantly bolstered, flowing through his meridians without the slightest obstruction.
As his soul power circulated, the wonderful sensation became even clearer. All his meridians seemed to have been cleared, and his limbs and pores felt expanded and incredibly comfortable.
Huo Yuhao closed his eyes once more, finally believing that it was all real. Previously, a single cycle of the Mysterious Heaven Method would take him at least half an hour. Yet now, he completed it in less than a quarter of that time. The growth rate of his soul power was several times greater. This was no mere increase; it was an evolution.
During his meditation, Huo Yuhao also discovered that his meridians had expanded. The previously narrow and weak pathways had become spacious, and their elasticity had greatly increased. Now, even if several times his current soul power surged through them, he wouldn't face any danger or difficulty.
Could he really have undergone such a complete transformation overnight?
He didn't want to overthink it. Having cultivated since the age of six, this was the first time he had experienced such a direct leap in power, and he refused to let this opportunity slip away. He fully mobilized his soul power, and the circulation speed of the Mysterious Heaven Method subtly increased even further, while his meridians, soothed by the technique, felt a renewed sense of comfort.
He lost track of how many cycles he completed. By the time he finally emerged from his meditative state, the sky had brightened, and the first rays of sunlight were appearing on the horizon.
His legs didn't feel stiff at all despite sitting cross-legged all night. Moving slightly, he stood up and walked to the window, looking toward the east. Channeling his soul power to his eyes, he began cultivating the Purple Demon Eye.
As he gazed intently toward the east and channeled his soul power, Huo Yuhao felt as if a barrier in his mind had suddenly shattered. His eyes seemed to generate an invisible pull, drawing in the morning light.
His eyes felt warm, his pupils clear and bright. At this moment, Huo Yuhao's spiritual power unfurled in all directions, quickly surpassing his previous limit and only stopping after extending more than forty meters. His deep gaze, his essence, energy, and spirit were completely transformed from the day before.
He exhaled a long breath. As his cultivation of the Purple Demon Eye concluded, the surrounding scenery became incredibly clear. With a simple thought, his soul power retracted and his eyes returned to normal, though a faint blue glow still lingered deep within them.
He knew his body had undergone a profound change; even half a year of ordinary cultivation might not have yielded such a massive leap.
Just as Huo Yuhao's mind was filled with questions, the dormitory door creaked open.
Wang Dong pushed the door ajar and poked his nose in to sniff. Only after confirming there were no strange odors did he push the door wide open and step inside. He tossed his bedding onto his bed, then turned to look at Huo Yuhao, saying irritably:
"You're really something. Thanks to your transformation, I was actually afraid to come back to my own room. Hmph, you're buying breakfast today."
Huo Yuhao asked blankly:
"Wang Dong, what exactly happened? I don't understand why I woke up covered in dirt, but my cultivation has increased quite a bit. I really do feel completely reborn, just like you said."
Wang Dong slipped an ancient golden bracelet off his wrist and tossed it to Huo Yuhao.
"Check and see what level your soul power has reached. This soul tool of mine can test soul power from level ten to level thirty. Just channel your soul power into it."
"Okay."
Huo Yuhao agreed, picking up the bracelet and channeling his soul power into it.
The metal bracelet began to glow with a golden light that gradually deepened and spread outward. Faint characters appeared on its surface; at first, it displayed the number eleven, which then subtly shifted to twelve. The golden light continued to intensify, and the number twelve trembled slightly, but that was as far as it went. No matter how much more soul power Huo Yuhao tried to channel into it, the number remained unchanged.
Astonishment flashed across Wang Dong's face.
"As expected of the Profound Water Pill! In just one night, it helped your cultivation rise by nearly two levels. You're currently at the peak of level twelve, just a hair's breadth away from level thirteen."
Huo Yuhao asked, startled.
"Really? And what is a Profound Water Pill?"
Wang Dong took the golden bracelet back from Huo Yuhao's hand, let out a soft huff, and said:
"My device is incredibly accurate; why would I lie to you? You should go thank Senior Brother Bei Bei. Wait, what exactly is your relationship with him? How could he just casually give you a Profound Water Pill worth ten thousand gold coins? I suspect he might have made a mistake."
Seeing Huo Yuhao's bewildered expression, Wang Dong continued to explain.
"The Profound Water Pill is an incredibly miraculous elixir. It's said to originate from a specific sect with water-attribute martial souls, though I don't know which one. To refine a single Profound Water Pill, one needs the blood of over ten different types of water-attribute soul beasts and ten different water-attribute herbs, which then undergo a highly complex refining process."
"Water has a cleansing nature, so the Profound Water Pill is not only a great tonic that boosts soul power, but its medicinal properties are also extremely gentle. Soul masters of any level can safely absorb its nutrients. For those below level twenty, it can increase their soul power by at least one full level. But its most precious attribute isn't just that—it is also an elixir that cleanses your meridians and purges your marrow."
"Normally, when we bathe, we can only wash away the dirt on the surface of our bodies. The Profound Water Pill, however, cleanses impurities from the inside out. That's why it is useful to anyone. For those with outstanding innate talent, it is like adding flowers to brocade; but for those with ordinary aptitude, it is even more critical, as it helps purge impurities and expand the meridians."
"A single Profound Water Pill can, at the very least, help an ordinary soul master increase their Innate Soul Power by one level. In other words, if your Innate Soul Power was at level one when it awakened, it would now be raised to level two. This is a fundamental transformation that alters your innate talent and future potential."
Wang Dong had no idea that his casual example had hit the nail right on the head—Huo Yuhao's Innate Soul Power was indeed only level one!
Huo Yuhao, however, did not think so. He could clearly feel that after consuming the Profound Water Pill, the change was far more than just a single-level increase in his Innate Soul Power; his cultivation speed had also quadrupled! Although he still could not compare to the likes of Wang Dong or Bei Bei, he was now at least on par with an ordinary soul master, no longer forced to struggle as painstakingly as before.
"Senior Brother..."
Huo Yuhao’s eyes grew slightly moist. His senior brother had given him yet another priceless Profound Water Pill. He would remember this kindness for the rest of his life.
Huo Yuhao’s luck was indeed remarkable. Normally, the effects of the Profound Water Pill were exactly as Wang Dong had described, but what Huo Yuhao had gained went far beyond that. The previous day, he had pushed his body past its limits countless times during his day-long training, allowing his meridians to be thoroughly tempered and nurtured by the Mysterious Heaven Method multiple times.
Today, Huo Yuhao had overexerted his spiritual power and fallen unconscious before receiving the Profound Water Pill. As a result, his body had absorbed its medicinal energy purely out of instinct, achieving a flawless integration. Furthermore, the Profound Water Pill was water-attributed, and thanks to the Skydream Iceworm, his second martial soul was ice-attributed, providing him with the most ideal conditions for absorption.
Following the reconstruction of his body, a crack appeared on the first of the ten golden seals set by the Skydream Iceworm. The energy sealed within seeped through the fissure and merged into Huo Yuhao's body, causing his spiritual power to surge far more than his soul power cultivation. This was the true reason his spiritual detection range had expanded from thirty meters to forty meters.
At this moment, both his meridians and his physical constitution had undergone a qualitative leap. The benefits for his future growth were boundless, and even his Purple Demon Eyes had advanced to the next level.
The Purple Demon Eyes consisted of four realms: Survey, Detail, Mustard Seed, and Vastness.
Using his Spirit Eyes to cultivate the Purple Demon Eyes already allowed Huo Yuhao to achieve twice the result with half the effort. Now, the origin energy released from the Skydream Iceworm's seal had merged with the purple qi he absorbed daily, propelling his Purple Demon Eyes directly into the Detail realm. It was safe to say that in the history of those who cultivated the Purple Demon Eyes, his breakthrough speed was unprecedented, even surpassing that of the Tang Sect's founder, Tang San.
Huo Yuhao did not yet fully comprehend the immense benefits brought by this breakthrough. First, his control over spiritual-attribute soul skills had been vastly enhanced. Second, the consumption of soul power required to activate his soul skills had significantly decreased.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's eyes redden, Wang Dong patted him on the shoulder and said:
"Come on, let's go grab an early dinner. I want two portions today."
Huo Yuhao chuckled. "Alright, four portions it is."
Wang Dong glared at him. "I'm not a pig!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, both of them burst into hearty laughter. The lingering awkwardness from their previous embarrassment vanished completely. They were, after all, still young, and their thoughts and feelings remained wonderfully simple and pure.