Return and the Paradise's Leap

Finally shook off those troublesome guys.

Li Hao wove through the forest, his heart set on returning home.

The harvest from this trip could be called perfect.

His soul power had soared to level thirty-five.

He had obtained a third soul skill that could be called a bug.

He had also picked up an External Soul Bone of extremely high quality for free.

By the way, he had also used three poles to teach the future Vice Dean of Shrek a lesson.

Thinking of Zhao Wuji rubbing his head, that bear-like expression of terror and doubt about life, Li Hao's mood became inexplicably pleasant.

That's for yelling at me.

That's for not letting me go home.

Serves you right.

Passing through the familiar forest area, the outline of Holy Soul Village was already in sight.

He did not enter the village, but instead circled to a deserted hillside. After confirming no one was around, he moved his mind.

An illusory door quietly unfolded before him.

The scent of home rushed toward him.

Almost the moment the door opened.

Two figures, one pink and one purple, rushed out from inside eagerly.

"Daddy!"

A small pink figure with a tearful voice crashed into his arms.

It was Xiao Wu.

Her small hands gripped Li Hao's clothes tightly, her whole body trembling slightly as she buried her little face in his chest, sobbing muffledly.

"You finally came back... Xiao Wu was so worried about you..."

On the other side, Medusa also appeared before him.

She was still that cold and noble figure, but those snake eyes, usually as still as an ancient well, were now filled with obvious concern and relief.

Her shoulders, which had been tense the whole time, finally relaxed slightly after seeing Li Hao safe and sound.

"Master, you have returned."

Li Hao held the little cotton-padded jacket in his arms and looked at the queen bodyguard before him, a warm current surging in his heart.

Social anxiety is real.

But the welcome of family is also truly reassuring.

"I'm back."

He patted Xiao Wu's back and comforted her softly.

"It's okay, look, aren't I perfectly fine?"

Xiao Wu lifted her little face, which was hung with teardrops, sniffled, and carefully examined Li Hao. Only after confirming there were no wounds on him did she break into a smile through her tears.

"Daddy has become so much stronger!"

She felt the soul power surging several times over within Li Hao and cheered happily.

Li Hao smiled and moved his mind.

Yellow, purple, purple.

Three soul rings rose from beneath his feet.

Especially the third one, a purple soul ring so deep it seemed to contain the starry sky, exuding a powerful aura far exceeding that of an ordinary thousand-year soul ring.

"Wow! It's purple!"

Xiao Wu's eyes were sparkling.

Medusa also carefully sensed the energy fluctuations emitted by that soul ring and nodded slightly.

"Congratulations, Master."

Her congratulations were always so concise.

Li Hao dissipated the soul rings, then, as if performing a magic trick, took out a seed wrapped in a soft green light from his bosom.

"Look, I also brought back a new partner."

The moment that seed appeared, the auras of Xiao Wu and Qiluo remaining in the Paradise Space reacted simultaneously.

A pure life energy caused the entire Paradise Space to emit a joyful hum.

"This is... the life core of the Illusion Dream Tree Demon."

Medusa recognized the source of this aura.

"Hmm, a poor fellow who failed his tribulation."

Li Hao brought them back to the Soul Beast Paradise.

He walked to the front of the small wooden house, to the center of the herb garden that Qiluo kept in perfect order.

He crouched down, dug a small hole in the soft soil with his hand, and carefully placed the seed of the Illusion Dream Tree Demon inside.

Then, he extended his finger, and a drop of golden blood containing his soul power and spiritual energy dripped onto the seed.

Hum!

The seed seemed like a life being awakened, instantly erupting with a brilliant green light.

It quickly took root in the soil, and a tender green sprout broke through the surface, growing rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Branches sprouted, leaves unfurled.

In just over ten seconds, a small sapling half a person's height stood gracefully before everyone.

It was emerald green throughout, every leaf appearing as if carved from the finest jade, radiating a strange ripple that soothed the mind and brought peace and tranquility.

As this ripple spread, the air throughout the entire Soul Beast Paradise became fresher, and even the space itself seemed to stabilize significantly.

Li Hao looked at this vibrant little sapling, then looked at his home, which was cozy but slightly monotonous.

There was only a small wooden house, a hot spring, and a herb garden.

It was too small.

And too crude.

An unprecedented idea welled up from the bottom of his heart.

His soul power had now reached level thirty-five, his spiritual energy far exceeded that of his peers, and his perception of space had risen in tandem with the awakening of the Karma Rod.

Perhaps...

He could make this place better.

A world truly worthy of the name "Paradise."

He acted as soon as he thought of it.

Li Hao took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.

He stood in the center of the paradise, immersing his entire mind into this portable world that belonged to him.

He thought, there should be mountains here.

Rumble!

Before the words even faded, the flat ground in the distance began to tremble violently; soil churned and rocks broke through the surface.

A majestic mountain peak rose from the ground under his will!

Xiao Wu and Medusa both watched this scene in shock.

This was no longer a simple soul skill.

This was... creation!

Li Hao did not stop.

"Mountains should have undulations, stretching on endlessly."

Following his intent, more mountain ranges rose from the earth, staggered in height, forming magnificent peaks.

"Where there are mountains, there must be water."

He cast his gaze toward a depression.

Soul power surged out, transforming into the purest water element, gathering in the center of the depression into a clear spring.

The spring water gushed out continuously, gradually accumulating to form a sparkling lake.

"Water should flow."

The lake water overflowed, and under his guidance, it carved out a winding riverbed that coiled around the newborn mountains and ran through the entire space.

Looking at the skeletal framework of this world taking shape, Li Hao opened his eyes.

Doing it alone was still too slow.

He looked at Xiao Wu and Medusa beside him.

"Let's do it together; let's build our home into the way we want it to be."

Xiao Wu was the first to respond, cheering as she activated Martial Soul Possession with her Soft Bone Rabbit.

She ran to the barren mountain range, pressed her hands against the ground, and vigorous life force surged from her body.

Greenery spread rapidly with her as the center.

Grass, wildflowers, shrubs, forests...

The barren mountains were quickly draped in a vibrant green coat.

Medusa moved as well.

She flew into mid-air, a vast surge of soul power erupting from her to manifest as invisible giant hands, stabilizing the newborn earth and reinforcing the riverbeds to make this nascent world increasingly solid and secure.

The three of them joined forces.

One created the mountains and rivers.

One bestowed life.

One solidified the foundation.

Over the next few days, the Soul Beast Paradise underwent a heaven-defying transformation.

The monotonous space, originally only a few miles in circumference, was expanded dozens of times over.

It now boasted cloud-piercing peaks, rushing rivers, vast lakes, and boundless forests and grasslands.

Under the will of Li Hao, the sun, moon, and stars began to hang in the sky, rotating in turn.

A true, complete, and vibrant paradise had begun to take shape.

On this day.

Li Hao, accompanied by Xiao Wu and Medusa, stood atop the highest peak in the paradise.

He looked down at the magnificent landscape that belonged to him, watching the soul beasts running through the forests and the schools of fish playing in the lakes, his heart filled with an unprecedented sense of achievement and satisfaction.

This was home.

This was the laid-back life he had always wanted.

Just as his heart surged with emotion.

[Ding--!]

An unprecedented, dazzling golden light erupted violently from within his body!

It was not the system's notification sound.

Instead, it was a grand bell toll that seemed to originate from the very source of the world, resounding throughout his entire mind!