Tang Ya, Beibei, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm

At dusk,

in a small grove near the Star Dou Great Forest,

a Blue-Haired Boy carried a small bundle on his back, his clothes soaked through with sweat.

"I should be close to the Star Dou Great Forest. I should rest for a while."

Although Huo Yuhao had never experienced Soul Hunting,

he had heard about some of its dangers. Since he was alone, it was more suitable to rest first before entering the Star Dou Great Forest.

Before long,

he used fallen branches and leaves to build a fire, then caught several fish from a nearby stream.

The aroma of Roasted Fish wafted through the air.

For someone who had barely eaten anything good since childhood, this was already a rare delicacy. Even at the Duke's Mansion, he had to secretly go to the back mountain to catch fish and fill his stomach.

"Wow, that smells so good!"

A surprised, sweet cry rang out.

Huo Yuhao looked toward the voice and saw a boy and a girl walking along the stream. They both appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen.

The girl had large, lively phoenix eyes. Her nearly perfect oval face was filled with surprise, her gaze fixed directly on the Roasted Fish in Huo Yuhao's hands. Her figure was beautifully curved.

The boy had a proper bearing and handsome features, with a gentle smile on his face.

"Little brother, are you selling that Roasted Fish?" Tang Ya walked up to Huo Yuhao and greeted him warmly.

Huo Yuhao's little face flushed red.

As an adolescent, he had never had such a beautiful girl approach him before. Coupled with his somewhat self-effacing, people-pleasing nature, he blurted out in a panic, "I... I'll treat you."

"Hehe, little brother, you're quite shy. Then I won't stand on ceremony!"

Tang Ya sat beside him and began eating with gusto, finishing both fish Huo Yuhao had originally prepared for himself.

Beibei was somewhat helpless. Just as he was about to say something, rustling came from the nearby grass.

A White-Haired Youth emerged. The corners of his eyes tilted slightly upward, his handsome features flawless. He wore a fitted purple-black outfit, and his figure was tall and straight.

Beibei was already considered handsome, but there was no doubt that this newly arrived youth completely overshadowed him.

Tang Ya's beautiful eyes widened slightly.

It was not that she was some lovestruck girl who could not move when she saw a handsome man,

but Zi Yao's appearance was so stunning that it was difficult not to wonder whether such a perfect creation could truly exist in the world rather than being an illusion from a dream.

She could not be blamed for that.

The superior genes of Destructive Life spoke for themselves. On top of that, the Blue Silver Emperor, known for her miraculous ability to refine appearances, had blended handsome and breathtakingly beautiful features together. He was simply flawless.

"Roasted Fish boy, it seems we're quite fated. We've met again."

Zi Yao spoke calmly.

He had no intention of supporting Huo Yuhao. After all, the other party was a Child of Destiny. The plane itself would look after him, so he would never lack opportunities.

But he could not simply watch Huo Yuhao join the Tang Sect.

Who knew whether this foolish child would end up following Tang San because of it?

After all, according to the original story, his mother's soul was still with Tang San at this point, just waiting for the right opportunity to use the emperor to command the lords.

He could do without a Child of Destiny, but he could not aid the enemy.

"You are... the customer whose Roasted Fish I burned before?"

Huo Yuhao asked in surprise.

With Zi Yao's distinctive appearance, it would have been hard for him not to remember him.

Of course, part of the reason was that he had burned the fish.

"That's right. I happened to be returning from Soul Hunting in the Star Dou Great Forest. I didn't expect us to run into each other again."

Zi Yao said with a faint smile, pointing at the pile of fish beside the fire.

"Grill two fish for me. Is the price still the same as before?"

"It's fine, I'll treat you."

Huo Yuhao felt embarrassed about treating people differently.

But in truth, he had spent half a day catching only those fish, which he had originally planned to save as rations for the road.

"I don't have a habit of eating for free. I'll trade you my dry rations instead. You should still be traveling later, and they're easy to carry."

Zi Yao proposed an exchange.

The honest Huo Yuhao held it in for a long time before finally squeezing out a thank you.

Tang Ya, sitting nearby, felt uneasy. Looking at the second fish in her hand, which she had eaten halfway through, she quietly said to Beibei, "We should take out some dry rations too."

"Teacher Xiao Ya, where would we get money to buy dry rations? Didn't you say we should live off the land?"

Beibei sighed helplessly and said apologetically to Huo Yuhao, "Sorry, little brother. I'll help you catch more fish later as compensation."

"It's fine, it's fine."

Huo Yuhao waved his hands.

He felt even more grateful toward Zi Yao. At the very least, he would not have to worry about food along the way.

As the group ate their Roasted Fish,

Huo Yuhao had a good impression of Zi Yao and took the initiative to ask, "Zi Big Brother, did you come Soul Hunting alone? That little gi—"

"Ahem, I came Soul Hunting alone. I've already absorbed my third Soul Ring and was just preparing to leave Star Dou."

Zi Yao knew the Ice Empress was nearby and hurriedly interrupted Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao was somewhat surprised.

Judging from Zi Yao's appearance and clothing, he did not look like a commoner at all. Why would he, like Huo Yuhao, come Soul Hunting alone and risk his life?

Could his family have fallen into ruin?

No matter what,

the miserable, thick barrier between the two of them was finally broken at that moment. Huo Yuhao also understood that Zi Yao was not a spoiled young master like Dai Huabin.

"Third Soul Ring?"

Tang Ya became interested and licked the grease from her lips.

At Zi Yao's age, being able to hunt a third Soul Ring made him a genius anywhere.

If she could recruit him into the Tang Sect...

She coughed twice and said seriously,

"Little brother, would you be interested in joining a force with a history of over ten thousand years, one that once produced a Deity and still possesses first-rate cultivation methods of the continent?"

Beibei, seated beside her, felt embarrassed.

He knew the Tang Sect's current situation. They simply could not attract true geniuses and could at most recruit commoners with mediocre talent.

"Not interested."

Zi Yao replied blandly.

Tang Ya was momentarily speechless. After a pause, she continued, "At your age, you should be looking for an academy, right? As it happens, our Tang Sect has one Shrek Outer Court student slot every year. If you join us..."

"I'm not interested in Shrek either."

Zi Yao added.

Even Beibei was surprised by such a decisive refusal.

Shrek Academy was now truly the Number One Academy Under Heaven. Many City Lords across the continent had been cultivated step by step by Shrek Academy.

It could be said that Shrek Academy's influence over the continent was no less than that of Spirit Hall ten thousand years ago.

When Huo Yuhao heard the name Shrek, however, he felt a yearning rise within him.

If he met the admission requirements, he naturally hoped to enroll there. It would surely help with his great mission of revenge.

Having hit a wall, Tang Ya shrank back and lowered her head, focusing on eating her Roasted Fish.

The four of them finished all ten-odd grilled fish.

Beibei used lightning to help Huo Yuhao catch another ten or so fish, then said farewell and left.

Huo Yuhao also slung his pack over his back and walked step by step toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Ice Sister, we just need to stay ahead of Huo Yuhao."

Zi Yao instructed the Ice Empress.

The Ice Empress carried Zi Yao through the air. After Huo Yuhao truly entered the Star Dou Great Forest, they finally saw a huge, plump Ice Silkworm wriggling rapidly forward.