Nine Masked Beasts, Tang Ya: I Am the One Who Knows Everything!

"Nine Mask Svāhā? Not bad. That's a good name!"

Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. Memories from his past life surfaced in his mind—the Nine Masked Beasts commanded by a man named Uzumaki Menma.

Form Transformation...

It bestowed each mass of energy with a unique nature and form.

With a thought from Huo Yuhao, his immense spiritual power became like invisible hands, beginning to shape those violent energies.

"Azure, White, Vermilion, Black, Void, south, north, Three, Jade!"

With every word that fell, a mass of energy underwent a qualitative change amid the light, transforming into a ferocious yet mystical beast.

[Azure Dragon]: A blue dragon dozens of meters long coiled into the air. Its mouth was slightly open, and surging streams of Chakra could vaguely be seen within.

[White Tiger]: A white ferocious tiger as large as a mountain, its muscles knotted and its sharp claws gleaming with cold light, emanating ultimate destructive power.

[Vermilion Bird]: A crimson strange bird born from flames. Its spread wings blotted out the sky, while the surrounding air twisted from the intense heat.

[Black Tortoise]: A giant turtle pieced together from countless heavy stone slabs, the symbol of absolute defense.

[Golden Snake]: A giant golden python with a long, supple body—the ultimate weapon for strangulation and restraint.

[Nantou and Beidou Immortals]: Two humanoid creatures dressed in robes and wearing Fox Masks, their staffs gleaming with the light of sealing and support.

[Celestial Maiden]: A flying maiden draped in flowing purple ribbons, beautiful yet eerie. Her body shifted between solid and illusory states, able to pass through all physical obstacles.

Lastly came the [Grim Reaper], representing harvest.

It was a purple skeletal monster wielding an enormous scythe. Soul fire burned in its hollow eye sockets, and every swing of its scythe seemed capable of cleaving space apart.

Huo Yuhao looked at the nine colossal beings and nodded in satisfaction.

This was another way to utilize the power of Tailed Beasts.

Though limited by my current cultivation, each Masked Beast only possesses the strength of a peak Soul Emperor.

But if all nine emerge together, even a Soul Saint will be unable to escape.

Moreover, the most flexible aspect of this system was...

With another thought from Huo Yuhao—

The nine Masked Beasts instantly collapsed, turning into pure streams of energy that surged into his body.

A pale-blue Soul Beast Cloak instantly covered his entire body, and his aura soared.

I can merge them at any time, activate Cloak Mode, and engage in close combat.

Huo Yuhao dismissed the Soul Beast Cloak once more, and the Nine Masked Beasts reappeared.

At that moment, Electrolux, who had been floating nearby, moved.

"Interesting... the aura of this Grim Reaper greatly suits my taste."

Electrolux transformed into a streak of light and shot directly into the body of the [Grim Reaper] Masked Beast.

Buzz!

The [Grim Reaper] turned into a masked Electrolux.

An aura of holiness and death existing side by side radiated from its body.

"Yu Hao."

Electrolux waved the scythe in his hand, his voice ringing directly in Huo Yuhao's mind:

"The potential of this technique goes far beyond this."

"For now, they are merely pure energy bodies. But in the future, you can seek contracts with eight other powerful Spirit Beasts and let the beasts' souls take residence within these masks, becoming true Soul Spirits."

"At that time, they will possess true life and intelligence."

A sharp gleam flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes.

Contracted Spirit Beasts... Soul Spirits...

If that were the case, gathering "Tailed Beasts" in the future would become much easier.

For those powerful Spirit Beasts facing the end of their lifespan, I wouldn't need to use force at all. I could talk them into it with the promise of immortality or symbiosis.

The image of his next target instantly appeared in Huo Yuhao's mind.

I've already chosen the candidate for the Two-Tails.

Watching the youth sink into thought, Electrolux fell silent for a moment before his tone turned somewhat grave.

"Child."

"You are truly very much like me in my youth..."

"Exceptionally gifted, meticulous in thought, and burdened by hatred."

"I do not oppose your revenge, nor do I oppose your pursuit of power. But I hope you can hold fast to the last line in your heart."

"Do not lose yourself in darkness. Do not fall into becoming an evil person who commits evil purely for the sake of evil."

Huo Yuhao raised his head and met those gray eyes directly.

"Mm."

He answered softly, offering no further explanation.

A bottom line?

Shrek Academy, by Sea God Lake.

The night wind swept past, bringing a trace of chill.

Tang Ya stood quietly by the lake, sensing the earth-shaking changes within her body.

Her meridians were broad and resilient, and Soul Power surged through them like a river.

If she wished, that terrifying Dark Blue Silver Tree could break through the ground at any moment and devour all life in the surroundings.

This wasn't a dream.

Tang Ya clenched her fists, her nails piercing her palms.

I have been reborn.

I am no longer that weakling who could only hide behind others and cry. I have obtained... the qualification to step into the world of the strong.

Just then, hurried footsteps shattered the stillness of the night.

"Xiao Ya!"

Beibei ran over, panting, his face filled with anxiety and concern.

"I finally found you... I was worried sick! I thought something had happened to you!"

A trace of imperceptible coldness flashed through Tang Ya's eyes as she looked at the boy before her, his face full of deep affection.

Worried?

Were you worried that I, the Tang Sect's 'puppet,' had slipped out of your control?

Beibei looked at Tang Ya, and he truly did feel relieved.

On one hand, it was because of the task assigned by Mystic Ancestor Mu En—to use emotional bonds to tie the Tang Sect deeply to Shrek.

On the other hand, Tang Ya's pure, lovely appearance and unique charm truly made his lower head control his upper head.

Public and private matters had become mixed together. Even he himself could no longer tell how much was genuine affection and how much was calculation.

Tang Ya turned around, and her face instantly shifted into a weak expression carrying some apology and a touch of relief.

"Beibei... I'm sorry for making you worry."

She lowered her head and lightly bit her lip.

"I'm fine. Just now... I was overthinking things."

"I figured it out. The academy has its own difficulties too. After all, the Tang Sect had already declined by then, and the academy couldn't exactly throw its life away for us."

"I shouldn't blame you."

Tang Ya sneered inwardly as she spoke those words.

Heh heh.

Beibei, and Shrek.

You will never fool me again.

My ancestor has already told me every truth.

Now, I am the one who knows everything!

Since you enjoy acting, then I'll play along with you to the very end. Let's see who destroys whom in the end.

Hearing this, Beibei revealed a relieved smile. He thought Tang Ya had truly been persuaded by him.

"Xiao Ya, it's wonderful that you can think this way."

He stepped forward, intending to put an arm around Tang Ya's shoulders.

Tang Ya quietly shifted aside, pretending to tidy the hair that the wind had tousled.

"Mm, it's really late. Let's head back."

Beibei's hand froze in midair, then he casually withdrew it as he thought to himself:

Looks like she's stabilized for now.

As long as she still relies on me and relies on the academy, the Tang Sect will never escape Mystic Ancestor's grasp.

The two walked side by side toward the dormitory area, each harboring their own schemes.

In the days that followed, Shrek Outer Court seemed to return to peace.

Huo Yuhao continued living the life of an ascetic.

Other than attending classes, he spent nearly all his time on Sea God Lake.

One afternoon.

Unable to hold herself back any longer, Wang Dong dragged Xiao Xiao to Sea God Lake to find Huo Yuhao.

However, when they reached the lakeshore, the sight before them made the two proud daughters of heaven directly question their lives.

Upon the broad surface of the lake—

Huo Yuhao wore that set of heavy custom-made weights on his body, yet his feet stood steadily atop the water as though walking on level ground.

And standing opposite him were four figures identical to him!

They were Wood Clones.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Five Huo Yuhaos sparred fiercely atop the lake.

Fists struck flesh, and leg shadows flew.

Every collision sent sprays of water several meters high, their movements so fast that even Wang Dong's eyes could barely keep up.

Even more terrifyingly, amid such high-intensity combat, Huo Yuhao had to constantly maintain the Chakra balance beneath his feet to keep from falling into the water.

"This..."

Xiao Xiao's mouth fell open, and the milk tea in her hand nearly dropped to the ground.

"Is that a clone soul skill? Doesn't he only have one ring? And... at this level of intensity, is he trying to kill himself?"

Wang Dong looked at the figure drenched in sweat amid the splashing water, her gaze incomparably complicated.

She recalled what Huo Yuhao had once said—"Only power is the sole magnificent sight."

Is a monster like this really the same age as us?