Snatching It Away

Huo Yuhao's pounding heartbeat rang clearly in his ears, and his breathing noticeably quickened. This was the first time in his life he had faced an enemy—and an attack from a soul beast at that.

The palm gripping the White Tiger Dagger was already slick with sweat, and he was at a complete loss as to how to respond.

Crack!

A sharp whistle split the air without warning. The Wind Baboon that had nearly solo-killed the Emotion God finally swayed and collapsed, and a milky-white soul ring floated up.

Only then did Huo Yuhao see that a Double-pointed Spear had been embedded in the soul beast's back.

The brush was pushed aside, and one man and two women slowly emerged. It was clear that the man was their leader.

They were Lu Xueling, Sirin, and Bella in human form.

Lu Xueling appeared quite friendly and took the initiative to help Huo Yuhao up. "Kid, are you all right?"

"I... I'm fine."

Huo Yuhao gathered himself and calmed his terrified heart before answering.

Then he took a step back and gave Lu Xueling a deep bow. "Thank you for saving my life."

Lu Xueling waved a hand and pointed at the two women behind him. "If you want to thank someone, thank that white-haired sister. She was the one who acted."

Huo Yuhao turned back around and deeply bowed to Sirin again. "Thank you, Sister, for saving my life."

Sirin gave a soft "Mm," then raised her hand and recalled the Subspace Spear before folding her arms.

Lu Xueling looked Huo Yuhao over and asked, "You've got some nerve. You only have level 10 Soul Power, yet you dared come alone to the Star Dou Great Forest. Where are the adults in your family?"

Family?

Having just run away from "home," Huo Yuhao felt utterly stifled. The moment he heard that word, he thought of his mother, and an indescribable sorrow rose in his heart.

At the same time, a flash of hatred passed through his eyes. Though he hid it well, Lu Xueling and the others were all experts, and it did not escape their notice.

"I... don't have any." Huo Yuhao's voice trembled slightly.

Lu Xueling put on a regretful expression. "I'm sorry. No wonder you came alone to the Star Dou—"

Crack—

The sound of breaking earth abruptly interrupted Lu Xueling. When they turned around, they saw Bella had punched through the ground and reached underground. Faint golden-white light glimmered from the crack.

"W-Whoa! We can talk this out! Let go of me, bro!"

Expressionless, Bella pulled a large silkworm that was struggling with all its might out of the ground with one hand.

Its round head looked plump and fleshy. It was over a meter in diameter and more than seven meters long. Its entire body was jade-white, crystalline and smooth, with not a trace of dirt on its skin. Light flowed beneath its surface, and there was even a pair of tiny, gleaming golden eyes on its head.

Most peculiar of all, beginning half a meter below its head, golden bands circled its body at intervals. From head to tail, there were ten such golden bands.

"How long have you been eavesdropping? Too scared to come out?" Bella asked coldly, holding the giant bug aloft in one hand.

The powerful aura of a Judgment-class Honkai Beast terrified the little silkworm so badly that it sweated profusely. It desperately twisted its body in struggle, but Bella's arm seemed forged of steel. No matter how hard it tried, it could not break free.

Lu Xueling revealed a knowing smile. "Bella, bring it over."

Bella gave a soft "Mm" and dragged the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm over to Lu Xueling and Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao stared dumbfoundedly at the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm before him. For a moment, he had nearly lost the ability to think. He pointed at it, then at himself. "F-For me?"

"Mm."

Lu Xueling casually patted the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's fleshy head. "Actually, this little silkworm has been waiting for you. Bella, let it go."

Waiting for me?

Eleven-year-old Huo Yuhao felt like his CPU was about to burn out.

Bella released it, and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm hit the ground as though granted a pardon. It hurriedly crawled away and hid behind Huo Yuhao.

That scared the life out of me. Luckily, these people did not seem to bear me much ill will. I thought I'd escaped a tiger's den only to enter a wolf's lair.

Heaven truly did not disappoint those who persevered. At last, it had found a human boy with a spiritual attribute.

"Um... you are...?" Huo Yuhao turned to look at the trembling little silkworm and asked hesitantly.

Seeing that Lu Xueling and the others had made no further move, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm quickly got into character and nodded at Huo Yuhao. "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Brother won't hurt you."

Sensing not the slightest hostility from the enormous silkworm, Huo Yuhao's taut nerves relaxed somewhat.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm continued its introduction. "First, ahem, let me introduce myself. I am the incarnation of heroism and chivalry, the king among soul beasts blessed with both wisdom and beauty, an unparalleled powerhouse who cultivated for a million years and set the record for the longest lifespan in Douluo Continent—the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm! Mm, you can call me Brother Sky Dream."

Huo Yuhao's eyes instantly went blank. "A-a million-year soul beast?"

Still young, he did not know how vast heaven and earth were, nor how great the world was. His understanding was far too limited.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said smugly, "Surprised? Excited? There aren't more than three humans in this world who have seen this great being's true body."

Huo Yuhao asked blankly, "Then what are you going to do?"

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice suddenly turned solemn. "Brother is going to become your soul ring—the first Wisdom Soul Ring in the history of Douluo Continent."

"Ah???"

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm warily looked toward the Star Dou Great Forest, then turned back to Huo Yuhao. "I'm starting now. Don't worry, I'll be gentle. It won't hurt too much."

"Y-You..." Before Huo Yuhao could voice an objection, an icy aura instantly caused him to lose consciousness. He only vaguely saw a white blob rush toward him. The next moment, all ability to think left him.

The ten golden rings on the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's body seemed to come alive and began to pulse. That white blob Huo Yuhao had seen was actually the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm extending its head and pressing it against his forehead.

The ten golden rings swiftly enveloped Huo Yuhao's thin body, while the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm itself transformed into streams of white radiance that continuously flowed into him.

Outside, as Lu Xueling watched the fusion between Huo Yuhao and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm begin, his expression changed. He made a gesture to Sirin behind him.

Her orange-gold pupils glimmered faintly as Sirin activated her Herrscher Authority and searched through the void for something.

"Found it☆" The Queen's lips curled up as she suddenly clenched her hand!

A gray stream of air seemed to be caught by an enormous suction force as it descended from the sky. In just an instant, it landed in the Herrscher of the Void's hand.

Lu Xueling stepped closer, poked the thing still struggling madly in Sirin's palm, and revealed an Otto-esque smile. "Hao, Electrolux is too deep for you to handle. Better leave him to Brother Ling."