Do Gods... Get Afraid Too?

The clamor of the Soul Fighting Zone continued unabated.

After putting away the Soul Bone, Long Yaochen walked straight toward the edge of the Soul Fighting Platform.

There, Wang Dong had just climbed out of the pit. Her school uniform was covered in dust, her hair was a mess, and she looked utterly bedraggled.

Long Yaochen looked at her sorry state, held it in for a long while, but ultimately could not stop himself from laughing.

"What are you laughing at?!"

Wang Dong was already full of pent-up anger. When he laughed at her, she immediately bristled. "Don't you usually act all gentle and friendly? Why is it that the moment there's a match, you go all out on your dear roommate?"

"If I didn't go all out, would you realize just how weak you are?" Long Yaochen walked up to her, his tone thoroughly punchable. "Your martial soul was beaten back. Wang Dong, your performance today has really disappointed me."

"I'm weak?! You—"

Wang Dong was truly furious this time.

Who could possibly beat a freak like Long Yaochen?!

She had decided. When she got back, she would throw a fit and make Big Uncle and Second Uncle figure out why themselves!

They were always saying she was invincible among her peers.

"See? You're getting worked up again." Long Yaochen smiled as he pointed at Wang Dong's bristling appearance.

"Long Yaochen!"

Wang Dong gritted her teeth, wishing she could pounce on him and bite him.

But in the next instant, a hand had already pressed down on her shoulder first.

At some point, Ma Xiaotao had walked over. She narrowed her eyes at Wang Dong, her tone carrying a hint of danger.

"Long Yaochen wasn't even serious, yet you hit him that hard... Do you think I don't exist?"

Wang Dong's expression immediately stiffened. She had been aggressive just moments ago, but now she somehow felt guilty and instinctively looked toward Long Yaochen's cheek.

The wound there had long since vanished.

"I-I didn't do it on purpose..." she said, feigning calm.

"You injured him without meaning to. What would happen if you had meant to?"

Ma Xiaotao crossed her arms, her gaze growing increasingly unfriendly.

Wang Dong's mouth twitched.

Could this awful woman at least be reasonable?!

"Enough." Long Yaochen reached out and stopped Ma Xiaotao. "It had nothing to do with Wang Dong. Mainly, Huo Yuhao timed his Spirit Shock well."

Ma Xiaotao snorted coldly and said nothing further.

She had only been taking this opportunity to put that brat who was always going against her in his place.

You were a grown man... Why were you competing for Long Yaochen's attention?

At the mention of Huo Yuhao's name, Wang Dong's expression darkened as well.

Xiao Xiao had even fainted trying to protect him.

And he was still stubbornly refusing to admit defeat.

Thinking of this, Wang Dong could not help frowning as she asked, "How is Xiao Xiao?"

"The medical teacher examined her. She only fainted due to Soul Power backlash and the Spirit Shock. Her foundation was not harmed."

Zhang Lexuan's voice sounded from nearby.

"Huh? Senior Sister, you don't need a wheelchair anymore?" Wang Dong asked in surprise.

Zhang Lexuan smiled gently. "My external injuries have mostly healed. Besides, it wasn't convenient to bring a wheelchair up here, so I simply got down and walked around."

"Sigh... It's good that you're all right, Senior Sister." Ma Xiaotao sighed, no longer carrying the intimidating air she had used on Wang Dong earlier.

"You should rest well after returning. Don't force yourself to cultivate today." Zhang Lexuan's gaze first fell on Long Yaochen before shifting back to Wang Dong.

Wang Dong immediately looked dejected and said softly, "Got it..."

"You did very well too." Zhang Lexuan patted Wang Dong on the shoulder reassuringly.

To be honest, Long Yaochen's performance had shocked her as well. She knew the boy was strong, but she had never expected him to be this strong.

Moreover, his martial soul gave her an elusive, indistinct feeling...

"Work harder next time. Try to let me fire a few more shots." Seeing her expression, Long Yaochen laughed again.

"Damn it! Once my cultivation is complete, just watch how I pin you to the ground and beat you!" Wang Dong shot him a vicious glare.

"Sure." Long Yaochen waved lazily. "Just don't let me beat you until you cry again."

Wang Dong was so angry she nearly pounced on him on the spot.

Watching the two of them, Ma Xiaotao narrowed her eyes slightly.

She suddenly felt that she should not have let Long Yaochen, her outrageously pretty little roommate, off the hook earlier.

He really was an eyesore...

Elsewhere, Huo Yuhao stood alone in the open space.

"Old Tang, why didn't you respond to me then?!" he demanded deep within the Sea of Spirit.

Before, whenever there was anything going on, Old Tang would tell him how great he was and how he could help him reclaim everything.

But now...

When faced with Long Yaochen's unstoppable shot, he had actually become unreachable immediately?!

If he had seized the opportunity then, perhaps the outcome would not have been this.

Could gods... be afraid too?

"Sigh... That boy has taken too many of your opportunities." Old Tang's gentle voice rang out, carrying a trace of helplessness. "If you continue staying at Shrek, I'm afraid you won't even be able to catch up to his shadow..."

Huo Yuhao said nothing more as scene after scene flashed through his mind.

His mother had been murdered... his opportunities had been stolen... his teammates had abandoned him... even Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Old Tang, his greatest opportunities, had been unwilling to act at the critical moment.

Did everything... truly have to rely on himself alone?

But had he not worked hard enough?

Huo Yuhao closed his eyes helplessly.

Old Tang's comforting words continued to echo in his ears, but he no longer wanted to listen.

Dormitory 108.

After returning to the dormitory, Long Yaochen immediately took out the exquisite red pouch.

Wang Dong had been lying facedown on her bed, pretending to be dead. Upon hearing the movement, she immediately sat up.

"Is that the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone?" she could not help asking.

"Mm."

Long Yaochen casually opened the red pouch.

In the next instant, a right arm bone, entirely jade-white with faint golden patterns flowing within it, appeared before them.

A dense aura of light instantly filled the entire dormitory.

Wang Dong's Light Goddess Butterfly martial soul almost instinctively trembled.

It feels so comfortable...

She stared at the Soul Bone without realizing it, unable to tear her eyes away.

Long Yaochen glanced at her, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, but said nothing. He merely closed his eyes and sank his consciousness into the Sea of Spirit.

"Elder Yi, can I absorb this Soul Bone?"

Within the Sea of Spirit, Electrolux's figure slowly emerged.

He merely took one look at the Soul Bone's aura before shaking his head.

"I do not recommend it."

Long Yaochen raised a brow. "There's a problem?"

"There is no problem with the Soul Bone itself. In fact, it is exceptionally good." Electrolux spoke slowly. "Its light is pure, and its demon-breaking intent is quite rare. If an ordinary light-attribute Soul Master absorbed it, it would certainly be a rare opportunity."

"But you are different."

Electrolux raised his head toward the Tower of Heaven and slowly said:

"The light and holiness within your body are already powerful enough to become unbalanced. If you absorb a pure-light, demon-breaking Soul Bone like this, then even with me suppressing it, the tower will continue tilting to one side.

"In the short term, it may increase your combat strength.

"But in the long run, it will allow your Divinity to erode you faster."

Long Yaochen fell silent for a moment.

As expected.

He had already had that premonition.

The Light Demon-Breaking Right Arm Bone truly suited his attributes, but it did not suit his current body.

"However..." Elder Yi's voice continued, "you can keep it for now. When you split your martial soul in the future, it may come in handy."

Long Yaochen nodded. In any case, he did not lack combat strength right now.

If he accidentally gained another level of Soul Power after absorbing it, he would be driven mad trying to hold himself back afterward.

He slowly opened his eyes, only to discover that Wang Dong was still secretly looking at the Soul Bone.

Seeing him open his eyes, Wang Dong immediately looked away as if nothing had happened.

Long Yaochen chuckled and put the Soul Bone away.

Wang Dong asked in surprise, "You're not using it?"

"It's not the right time." Long Yaochen shook his head, looking unfathomable.

Seeing that he had no intention of explaining, Wang Dong muttered:

"Charlatan..."