First Soul Skill: Time Freeze

Huo Yuhao was an opportunist—once he seized a chance, he never let go, and right before him lay a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Sunset Forest.

With Huo Yuhao, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, and two mysterious guards protecting them, the group of four slowly advanced toward the core area of Sunset Forest.

Compared to the desolate state of Sunset Forest ten thousand years later, ten-year and hundred-year soul beasts were everywhere on its outskirts now. The aura released by the two black-robed guards kept powerful soul beasts from daring to approach easily.

"I'm Huo Yuhao, from the Star Luo Empire," Huo Yuhao introduced himself.

"Little Brother Huo is from the Star Luo Empire. Then what did you mean earlier by the Heaven Dou Empire splitting?" Xue Qinghe frowned slightly as he asked.

The two guards' gazes also locked onto Huo Yuhao, killing intent seeping from their eyes.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, I don't know how to explain this to you, but everything I've said is true. You can think of me as someone from the future."

"Someone from the future?" Xue Qinghe couldn't help but laugh, and the two guards behind him snorted in derision.

"Kid, since you're from the Star Luo Empire, luring His Highness here to Sunset Forest—are you planning to make a move on him?" one guard said darkly.

As soon as these words were spoken, the smile faded from Xue Qinghe's face.

"What bad intentions could a one-ring, Level 11 soul master have?" Huo Yuhao spread his hands helplessly.

"There are plenty of soul beasts in Sunset Forest. If this were ten thousand years from now, I wouldn't need two experts to escort me, but unfortunately, soul beasts haven't gone extinct in this era yet."

Since the development of soul masters, hunting soul beasts for soul rings had become the norm—deeply rooted and impossible to change.

As for Huo Yuhao's future invention of soul spirits, given Electrolux's current condition and Huo Yuhao's own soul power cultivation, it was still too early.

"Are you really from ten thousand years later?" After walking for a while, just as they were about to step into the core circle of Sunset Forest, Xue Qinghe suddenly asked.

"Your Highness, be careful!"

The two black-robed men moved swiftly. A flash of black light passed, and a Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor covered in black spots appeared before them.

The Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor had sturdy limbs, dark red eyes full of killing intent, and sharp fangs dripping with foul, sticky saliva.

"A thirty-thousand-year Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor. It seems choosing to enter Sunset Forest with Little Brother Huo was the right decision." Xue Qinghe showed no panic, because the two men before him were Titled Douluo. Though Huo Yuhao couldn't tell what their martial souls were, the Two Yellow, Three Purple, Four Black soul ring configuration beneath their feet said it all.

The Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor let out a low growl, its limbs swift as the wind, its toes barely touching the ground without a sound.

"The Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor relies most on speed. We can't let it reach its peak velocity—attack together!" One of the black-clad men flashed with lightning in his hand, and a gleaming golden Snake Lance shot out.

At the same time, the other black-robed man's muscles bulged, dark red light flooding every part of his body. His frame suddenly expanded, covered entirely in dark red spikes.

The Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor was also extremely fast, moving with ease under the combined assault of the two Titled Douluo. Its black leopard shadow darted through the woods, astonishingly quick and dazzling to the eye.

From their martial souls and soul rings, Huo Yuhao quickly identified the two men, indirectly confirming that the calm and collected Crown Prince Xue Qinghe beside him was Qian Renxue—no doubt about it.

"Xiao Yuhao, didn't I tell you to train hard and raise your soul power to Level 20 early? I didn't say to put yourself in danger!" The battle between the two Titled Douluo and the thirty-thousand-year Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor soon woke Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

"Brother Tianmeng, do you know about the Ice Fire Yin Yang Eye?" Huo Yuhao communicated with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm through mental power.

"Ice Fire Yin Yang Eye? What's that?" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm asked.

"The Ice Fire Yin Yang Eye is a treasure land that seizes the wonders of heaven and earth. It was formed when the legendary Fire Dragon King and Water Dragon King fell to the mortal world. It nurtures many immortal herbs that enhance physical fitness. Taking just one could not only transform my body but also raise my soul power by several levels."

"Then what are we waiting for!" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was unusually excited. The stronger Huo Yuhao became, the more beneficial it was for its God Creation Plan.

With two Titled Douluo joining forces, even a fifty-thousand-year soul beast could be fought. The Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor's body was riddled with transparent holes, and the Snake Lance in the black-clad man's hands was already drenched in blood.

Once a soul beast's cultivation exceeded ten thousand years, its intelligence could match or even surpass that of humans.

Seeing the two black-clad men closing in, the Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor set its sights on Huo Yuhao and Xue Qinghe.

"Roar—"

A deep roar rang out. The Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor, barely alive and covered in blood, opened its blood basin mouth and lunged at the two at incredible speed.

"Beast! How dare you!" The black-clad man with the Snake Lance and the other middle-aged man covered in red spikes leaped into the air.

"Xiao Yuhao, let them see the power of your first soul skill," Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said with a chuckle.

Xue Qinghe clenched his fists, ready to step in and end this farce, when his expression shifted slightly.

The flow of time around them slowed. The Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor, claws bared and spittle flying, froze mid-air. This astonishing sight left the two Titled Douluo utterly astonished.

A white soul ring lit up beneath Huo Yuhao's feet. Any sharp eye could tell it was a ten-year soul ring, yet this very ten-year soul ring played a crucial role.

"Two Excellencies, hurry! I can only stop time for two seconds!" Huo Yuhao said rapidly.

The Snake Lance pierced through the Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor's body. A massive pufferfish fell from the sky, smashing its head, splattering red and white everywhere.

Seeing the Ghost Shadow Leopard Emperor dead, Huo Yuhao collapsed to the ground. Using that soul skill had already drained him. He gasped for air, his head throbbing like needles.

"Little Brother Huo, are you alright?" Xue Qinghe had personally experienced the series of changes just now and looked at Huo Yuhao with newfound respect for the first time.

"I'm fine. I just exhausted all my soul power. I'll be okay after resting a bit." Huo Yuhao shook his head and smiled. Gaining Xue Qinghe's trust was crucial.

The Ice Fire Yin Yang Eye was the place where Tang San and the Shrek Seven Devils rose to prominence. Since heaven's will had brought him to ten thousand years ago, while Dugu Bo was in the palace, he might as well take what he could before leaving.

"Kid, what was that soul skill of yours just now?" the black-clad man with the Snake Lance asked.

"That's my first soul skill, called Time Freeze. It can stop time within a fifty-meter radius for two seconds."

The other black-clad man drew a sharp breath. "Are you sure that's something your ten-year soul ring can do?"