First Encounter

Star Dou Great Forest

"If I only need to alter the original plot, then all I have to do is talk Huo Yuhao around. I have ways to change much of what comes later, so I won't have to remain an outsider."

Ye Qingchen walked through the forest, deep in thought. His divine sense continuously swept the surrounding area as he searched for Huo Yuhao's exact location. Before long, he found him—but Huo Yuhao's situation was not looking good. At that moment, he was fighting a ten-year Wind Baboon.

Although Huo Yuhao was weak, his reactions were quite fast. He swiftly rolled to the left, sprang back up, and raised the White Tiger Dagger before his chest. Having missed twice, the baboon flew into a rage. It fiercely pounded its chest with both fists and let out a roar, shooting a ball of white light straight at Huo Yuhao.

The baboon did not stop there. It leaped through the air as well, and this pounce was precisely what caused the baboon—originally capable of killing Huo Yuhao—to die without a burial place.

Huo Yuhao instinctively raised the White Tiger Dagger in his hand and was struck head-on by the ball of white light. The baboon grabbed his shoulders, its powerful body flipping once through the air as it prepared to viciously slam Huo Yuhao to the ground.

But at that moment, a streak of white light flashed beneath the baboon. Its body instantly stiffened. Huo Yuhao, who should have been smashed into the ground, was instead flung away, while the baboon rolled across the ground and lay motionless.

"I should head over too, or someone else will beat me to it." In the next second, Ye Qingchen appeared near Huo Yuhao.

Ye Qingchen saw the ground beneath Huo Yuhao suddenly begin to tremble, while a crack appeared in the earth two meters in front of him.

The crack gradually widened, and threads of golden-white light could be seen gleaming from within. If his body had not been so weak and limp, Huo Yuhao would likely have run away immediately.

The moment Ice Silkworm Skydream appeared, invisible spiritual waves spread in every direction. Everywhere enveloped by those waves instantly fell silent.

Just as Ice Silkworm Skydream was striving to merge itself into Huo Yuhao's body, the sky suddenly darkened. An immense pressure descended from above. At that very moment, a wisp of gray airflow poured into Huo Yuhao's body. The two forces struggled against each other before ultimately compromising and coexisting.

The phenomenon naturally caused by their struggle would have drawn the two from the Tang Sect here long ago if Ye Qingchen had not sealed off this space.

"You're getting off easy. I even have to stand guard for you." Ye Qingchen sat beside Huo Yuhao and closed his eyes to rest.

"Mm..." With a soft groan, Huo Yuhao slowly opened his hazy eyes.

"You're awake." Ye Qingchen spoke when he saw Huo Yuhao open his eyes.

Huo Yuhao only felt that his mind was in chaos. He steadied himself before gradually becoming clear-headed. The memory of his earlier conversation with Ice Silkworm Skydream remained vivid, and he could not help muttering to himself, "Was I really not dreaming?"

The pale golden glow quickly faded from Huo Yuhao's eyes. He came back to his senses and excitedly jumped up. "I succeeded! I really succeeded! I'm a Soul Master!"

"Little brother, let's get acquainted. My name is Ye Qingchen." Ye Qingchen said with a kindly smile.

"Hello, Ye-dage. My name is Huo Yuhao," Huo Yuhao said as he looked at the silver-haired youth before him.

"Yuhao, you dared to enter the Star Dou Great Forest alone to obtain a soul ring? Aren't you afraid?" Ye Qingchen asked.

"Afraid? Of course I'm afraid. But what choice do I have? I'm an orphan. Without strength, I can't survive..." Huo Yuhao lowered his head as he spoke.

"Yuhao, do you want to become stronger?" Ye Qingchen asked.

"Of course I do, but I've only just become a Soul Master. My martial soul is only my eyes, and it has no offensive ability." Huo Yuhao shook his head.

"Someone once said that there are no useless martial souls, only useless Soul Masters. Poor talent can be made up for through hard work. If others are walking ahead of you, then you run. Yuhao, are you willing to join my sect?" Ye Qingchen nodded as he spoke.

"A sect?" Huo Yuhao asked doubtfully.

"Yes. My sect is called the Cold Sect. Its legacy has lasted for ten thousand years, but there is only me in the sect now. As for why, I'll explain it to you in detail later. For now, Yuhao, are you willing?" Ye Qingchen paused before asking.

"Mhm, Ye-dage." Huo Yuhao nodded, sensibly reading the situation.

Ding. The host has prevented Huo Yuhao from joining the Tang Sect, altering the plot. Reward: Enhancement Points ×3, God Slaying Spear, Academy Admission Notices ×2, Three Thousand Thunder Illusory Body...

"God Slaying Spear and Three Thousand Thunder Illusory Body aren't bad. System, enhance them."

Congratulations, Host. Enhancement successful. Current enhancement level: 3. Physical body and bloodline have been tempered.

"System, learn Three Thousand Thunder Illusory Body." Ye Qingchen looked at the movement technique martial skill as he spoke.

Learning successful. Three Thousand Thunder Illusory Body (Mastery)

"Yuhao, you're my little brother now. Big Brother will give you a movement technique martial skill." Ye Qingchen gave Huo Yuhao the Three Thousand Thunder Illusory Body provided by the system.