Soul Devouring Spider

While guiding Huo Yuhao's Soul Power, Bei Bei discovered that his meridians were severely blocked. The fact that he had managed to cultivate to Rank 10 was proof of how much more effort he must have put in than others.

After helping clear them, even Bei Bei himself needed over an hour to recover.

Once Tang Ya had finished absorbing her soul ring, the group returned to the stream from before. Bei Bei used an electric net to catch fish, while Huo Yuhao was in charge of grilling them.

Tang Ya gathered around Huo Yuxi. "Xixi, this spider doll is so cute. It's ugly-cute."

The moment it heard the word "ugly," the little spider could endure no more. It instantly changed forms, and the palm-sized creature stood on the back of Huo Yuxi's hand, glaring furiously at Tang Ya.

"Sister Xiaoya, this is my martial soul, the Soul Devouring Spider." Huo Yuxi tapped the spider's head to soothe it as she explained.

"Huh? This is your martial soul?" Tang Ya stared blankly. "But it's so pretty! I've never seen a corporeal beast martial soul before. Can it talk? Can I pet it?"

"Mm, it can't speak, but I can understand what it means." Huo Yuxi cradled the Soul Devouring Spider and solemnly held it out for Tang Ya to touch.

It felt fluffy to the touch. Its gradient-colored fur gleamed beneath the sunlight. Tang Ya blinked, only to find herself in a beautiful city of flowers. The floral fragrance was so rich that she could not help becoming intoxicated by it.

Here, she could cast aside all her worries. She did not need to think about anything. She only needed to lie down and rest properly.

"Spidey, you can't do that. Sister Xiaoya is a good person. She's my and my brother's friend."

Huo Yuxi's displeased voice drifted over from somewhere far away. The next second, Tang Ya abruptly withdrew her hand and reflexively tucked it behind her back. She shook her head, forcing herself awake.

"Sorry, Sister Xiaoya. Spidey just likes to play around. It didn't mean any harm."

"Er, hehehe, it's fine, it's fine. I was the one who offended it." Tang Ya carefully took Huo Yuxi's other hand and led her over to sit by the fire.

"So, Xixi, what rank are you now? I remember you already have two soul rings. You look like you're only eight or nine, right?"

At those words, Bei Bei beside them also raised his head to look at her. Her talent was simply too enviable.

"No, no. My brother and I are twins. We're eleven this year. But I had Rank 15 Innate Soul Power, and I'm already Rank 29 now."

"Rank 15 Innate Soul Power?"

"Rank 29?"

The two spoke in unison. They exchanged glances, so shocked that they forgot one needed to obtain a soul ring after reaching every tenth rank in order to continue advancing. Why had Huo Yuxi's Innate Soul Power reached such an astonishing Rank 15?

Seeing their expressions, pride rose in Huo Yuhao's heart. This was his younger sister. So what if his own talent was poor? His sister had Rank 15 Innate Soul Power and had already reached Rank 29 Soul Power at only eleven years old.

"Mm-hm." Huo Yuxi blinked her large eyes, utterly unaware of what Rank 29 at eleven years old meant.

"Right, your body is so frail. How did you manage to absorb a thousand-year soul ring as your second soul ring?"

At that, Huo Yuxi subconsciously glanced at Huo Yuhao, then let her gaze wander as she said, "I don't know either. Back then, back then, I didn't know how old the soul beast was. I just absorbed it randomly, and it worked."

Tang Ya had already imagined all sorts of miserable childhoods for the twin siblings—no one to guide their cultivation, only vague methods from books that they had clumsily taught themselves.

"From now on, we'll accompany you when you hunt for soul rings." She pulled Huo Yuxi's head into an embrace. "Little Yuhao too."

The words deeply moved both children.

The next day, the four of them casually ate something before setting off westward.

Along the way, Huo Yuhao immersed himself in cultivating the Tang Sect techniques, while Huo Yuxi continued cultivating her Soul Power alongside him. Tang Ya and Bei Bei were both moved by the siblings' diligence and hard work.

"Xixi has been cultivating this entire journey. Can her body handle it? And Little Yuhao too—I haven't seen him rest at all. It also feels like he's hiding something in his heart."

Bei Bei pinched her cheek. "Don't worry. He knows his limits. Besides, it's normal for someone to have secrets. If you think about it, how long have we known them? If they told us everything without holding anything back, then we'd have to reconsider whether the Tang Sect should take them in."

"Hmph."

Tang Ya turned away and walked over to the siblings, who had just finished cultivating. "Little Yuhao, don't keep yourself wound so tightly. Cultivation is about balancing work and rest."

"Look at Xixi. She's been cultivating alongside you the entire time. Your body may be able to handle it, but hers might not."

Huo Yuhao turned and saw Huo Yuxi looking at him with those doe-like eyes. "Sorry, Xixi. Your brother didn't think this through. Are you hungry?"

Bei Bei took out some rations at the right moment. "Have something to eat first. We're almost there."

At that moment, the Soul Devouring Spider changed forms and crawled onto Huo Yuxi's forehead. Calm as a mountain, she reached out, took a piece of ration, and bit into it. "Spidey, why did you come out again? Do you want to eat? But there are only rations. You probably don't like them."

As she spoke, she stuffed the whole piece into her mouth. Huo Yuhao handed her a water flask. "Eat slowly. There's more here."

After swallowing her last bite, Tang Ya looked at Huo Yuhao mysteriously. "Little Yuhao, I'll give you another little benefit."

"What benefit?"

Huo Yuhao found it rather strange. He had already gained quite a lot from joining the Tang Sect: a Storage Soul Tool, various cultivation techniques, and their one-on-one guidance.

"As the continent's former number-one sect, the Tang Sect has always had a good relationship with Shrek. Even though we've declined, we still retain one small privilege: every year, we have one spot that can enter Shrek Academy without taking the entrance exam."

"This sect master has decided to give that spot to you." Tang Ya smiled mischievously.

Huo Yuhao, however, did not look as happy as she had imagined. "There's only one? Then what about Xixi?"

Tang Ya explained, "You happened to catch the academy's recruitment period for new students this time. Xixi can enter the academy through the regular assessment."

"Sorry, Teacher Tang Ya, but I can't agree." Huo Yuhao looked stubbornly at the two of them. "I'm her brother. How can I take the exemption myself and let my sister face the assessment alone?"

"Besides, she's never fought in a real battle before. If I let her go alone and she gets hurt, I'll never forgive myself."

Tang Ya and Bei Bei were both stunned for a moment. They exchanged looks, then remained silent for quite some time before saying, "Little Yuhao, to tell you the truth, Shrek's admission requirements are to be under twelve years old, have at least Rank 15 Soul Power, and possess a recommendation letter from at least a main city of one of the three great empires. You don't meet the admission requirements."

"But Xixi is different. She's already Rank 29 at such a young age. Most new students are below Rank 20, while Xixi is among the few who possess two soul rings. That alone is enough for her to look down on most applicants."

"If you want to protect her beneath your wings, then you need to seize this opportunity to enter Shrek, study there, and improve your own strength."

Huo Yuhao fell silent. Sure enough, I was still too weak. I couldn't even protect my sister, so how could I talk about avenging Mother? And now, I had to let my sister take the assessment alone while I entered without an exam...

As he sank into his thoughts, a small, soft body suddenly hugged him. Lowering his head, he met Huo Yuxi's bright eyes, and his heart softened.

"Brother, I can do it. Believe in me. Didn't you say we had to grow stronger to avenge Mother? Mother said Shrek Academy is very powerful too, so let's go study there, okay?"