Guided by Destiny

"Wow, this little guy's body is pretty strong. He's quite sturdy, too."

"His meridians are pretty resilient, too. Looks like I can carefully pick out my Soul Skills!"

"Hahaha!"

The moment Sky Dream Ice Silkworm merged with Huo Yuhao, a powerful, invisible wave of Spiritual Power spread across hundreds of miles.

"Wahahaha! From now on, the sky's the limit! To all you guys who wanted to eat me, bye-bye!"

The fusion of Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Huo Yuhao reached its final stage. Huo Yuhao's entire body turned into a human sculpture carved from jade.

Once the Spiritual Power that had spread through the area dissipated, a platinum Soul Ring slowly appeared, then merged into Huo Yuhao's body.

Inside a dreamlike white jade space, Huo Yuhao opened his eyes. In front of him, a plump little silkworm was staring at him.

"Human, you finally woke up." Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice was filled with delight.

"What is this? Where are we?" Huo Yuhao asked, pretending to be completely bewildered.

"This is the mental space inside your brain, also known as your Sea of Consciousness. Yours was just too small, so I very generously helped you expand it."

"No need to thank me. This is what I should do as the first Wisdom Soul Ring with consciousness on the entire continent."

"So? Are you smitten with me yet?"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm wiggled her several plump little hands, looking rather pleased with herself.

Sis? Had Sky Dream Ice Silkworm turned into a woman? Looking at the smug little silkworm, Huo Yuhao continued pretending to be bewildered. "Then who are you, exactly?"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm tilted her little mouth. "That's a good question."

"I already introduced myself out there, but things were urgent at the time. Here, listen carefully."

"...And that's my story of striving for greatness. So? Inspiring, right?"

"Wait, Sister Tianmeng, I have a question." Huo Yuhao raised his hand.

"Go ahead." Lost in her own self-admiration, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm remained caught up in her little world.

"You're already so powerful. So what did you come to me for?" Huo Yuhao asked.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm instantly turned serious. "That's a very good question."

"I told you, didn't I? I'm already a million-year Soul Beast. But I can't get through that final Heavenly Tribulation. My Origin is almost completely dried up."

"And I chose you to fulfill my ultimate goal—to create a god."

"Create a god!"

"That's right. As the first million-year Wisdom Soul Ring, do you know how much I've given you?" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm lifted her round head high.

"As for the Soul Skills from your Soul Ring, I've given you four in total, and I picked every one of them especially for you."

"More importantly, I also bestowed upon you an intangible Ice Martial Soul."

"To put it simply, I laid the foundation for you to awaken a Second Martial Soul. Once you've reached Two Rings, come with me to the Extreme North, and you'll understand completely."

"Little guy, you have good talent. With my help, you'll be like a dragon swimming in the sea."

"All right, I'm exhausted from helping you fuse with my Spiritual Origin today. You can go now."

Before Huo Yuhao could react, he felt the world spin around him.

Huo Yuhao held his forehead as he got up from the ground. He shook his head to clear it.

Looking around at the silent surroundings, Huo Yuhao helped Uncle Mo up from the ground.

"Um, you're Huo Yuhao, right?" A voice suddenly spoke in his mind.

With Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's guidance, Huo Yuhao had successfully made contact with her.

"How do you know my name? I don't remember introducing myself."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice sounded a little embarrassed. "Um, I forgot to tell you—I made a copy of your memories from the past six years."

Huo Yuhao paused. Six years... It seemed his memories from his previous life hadn't been exposed. Good.

"What's wrong, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm? Did you call me for something?"

"Um, could you call me Sister Tianmeng? I'm so much older than you, after all." Her voice held a note of hopeful anticipation.

"Sure, Sister Tianmeng. So what did you want?" Huo Yuhao asked.

"Pick up that white skin beside you. Yes, that's the one. It's my Molted Skin, and it has powerful concealment and defensive abilities."

"Take it with you. We'll need it when we go to the Extreme North."

Huo Yuhao picked up Sky Dream's Molted Skin. It was a treasure, and he would have taken it even if Sky Dream Ice Silkworm hadn't told him to.

He helped Uncle Mo up, then put Sky Dream's Molted Skin into his Storage Belt.

Huo Yuhao's Cheap Old Dad had given the Storage Belt to him and his brothers after returning victorious from a battle.

Apart from that man's Remnant Soul not coming along, the trip to Star Dou had gone rather well.

Huo Yuhao helped the unconscious Uncle Mo up, preparing to leave the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Go farther in!"

What was that? Huo Yuhao looked around, but there was no one there—not even a Soul Beast.

"Go farther in!"

His heart suddenly gave a violent thump, and a powerful urge to head for the deepest part of the Star Dou Great Forest rose in Huo Yuhao's mind.

Huo Yuhao fought the urge, but found himself overwhelmed by an intense sense of loss.

Could it be...? Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth. After getting Tianmeng's consent, he wrapped Uncle Mo in Sky Dream's Molted Skin and hid him in a clump of grass.

Huo Yuhao ran deeper and deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Hey, Yuhao, that's not the way out of the Star Dou Great Forest! What are you doing?"

After nearly three minutes of running, Huo Yuhao reached a clearing surrounded by towering trees, where the light was dim.

The feeling inside him grew stronger and stronger. Something here was drawing him in.

Just then, a nimble figure sprang from a patch of dense grass in front of him.

It was a Soul Beast, standing over three meters tall. Her entire body was covered in dazzling, crystal-like golden fur.

Her overall shape resembled a lion. She stood on all fours, her paws shaped like dragon claws. Golden flames flickered beneath each one.

The Soul Beast had two golden eyes, and a red vertical eye on her forehead, giving her an eerie appearance.

"Three-Eyed Golden Lion! Yuhao, run! Otherwise, we're both done for!"

Huo Yuhao didn't respond to Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. The instant his eyes met the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's, he became dazed.

His body moved toward the Three-Eyed Golden Lion against his will.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was no better off. She strode toward Huo Yuhao on her long legs.

When their senses returned, Huo Yuhao and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion realized their foreheads were pressed tightly together.

The instant their foreheads touched, a strange golden power rose from their bodies and began to intertwine.

Huo Yuhao felt a tickling sensation on his forehead, as if something were growing there.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion felt a little dizzy. How could this human have the same Power of Destiny as her?