For the next half month, Huo Yuhao devoted himself entirely to cultivation.
The champion's reward from the Freshman Assessment, along with the Concentration Grass, Purple River Cart, and other spirit-nourishing treasures Gu Yuan had prepared especially for him—
with these top-tier resources piled high, his Soul Power rose at rocket speed.
His Soul Power had already been close to level 26. Over the next half month, he broke through one level after another, first reaching level 28, then level 29. Finally, on a clear morning half a month later, he steadily broke through to level 30 and officially crossed the threshold into the rank of Soul Elder.
The moment his level-30 Soul Power began circulating smoothly through his meridians, Huo Yuhao trembled with excitement.
He had become a Soul Elder at just ten years old! There had been very few people like him in the entire history of the Douluo Continent.
The instant he broke through to level 30, the plump figure of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm sprang into view in his Spiritual Sea. His eight pairs of stubby legs wiggled as he beamed with excitement. "That's wonderful, Yuhao! You broke through to level 30 so quickly! We can begin our plan."
Huo Yuhao's consciousness sank into his Spiritual Sea. He looked at the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, his eyes brimming with anticipation. "Brother Sky Dream, can we start the plan you mentioned to forge an Ultimate Ice Second Martial Soul?"
"That's right!" The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm nodded firmly, his voice full of confidence.
"You've reached level 30, and the Million-Year Soul Ring and countless heavenly treasures have nourished your body. You're already far stronger than Soul Masters of the same rank, so you can absolutely withstand the power of an Ultimate Ice Martial Soul!"
"To forge an Ultimate Ice Second Martial Soul, we have to go to the Far North."
Tian Meng didn't reveal the entire plan, afraid of frightening Huo Yuhao. To be honest, Tian Meng himself had been startled when he first heard Gu Yuan's arrangements. But since the revered one had arranged it that way, he would simply do as instructed.
Huo Yuhao's heart began pounding wildly.
After his excitement subsided, he couldn't help frowning, worried. "But, Brother Sky Dream, the Far North is at the very northern end of the Heaven Dou Empire, tens of thousands of miles from Shrek Academy. If I just leave like this, Brother Yuan and the others will definitely worry."
He was afraid that leaving without a word would make Gu Yuan and the others worry.
He was even more afraid that his trip to the Far North might bring trouble to Gu Yuan and the others. But he couldn't tell Gu Yuan the truth about this, either.
After all, the fewer people who knew about it, the better. He didn't want to drag Gu Yuan and the others into this storm because of him.
"What are you worried about? With me here, I'll keep you safe all the way!" The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm thumped his chest, then gave a sly grin.
"If you don't want to tell them the truth, just make up a reason! Say you're going away to train for a while. That'll do, won't it? You've just reached level 30, so you need to go out and obtain your Third Soul Ring. It's the perfect excuse!"
Tian Meng had no idea how Gu Yuan would react to such a flimsy excuse. He only hoped the revered one wouldn't burst out laughing.
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up, but he hesitated again. He had never lied to Gu Yuan, let alone made up an excuse to deceive him. But after turning it over in his mind, this was the only way.
He gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind. To become stronger, to live up to Gu Yuan's expectations, and to avenge his mother with his own hands, he had to make this trip to the Far North.
That evening, in the courtyard, Huo Yuhao shuffled over to Gu Yuan. His fingers twisted the hem of his clothes, and he looked as if he wanted to speak but couldn't.
Gu Yuan was sitting at the stone table, drinking tea with Gu Yuena. Seeing Huo Yuhao's hesitation, he couldn't help smiling. "What's wrong, Yuhao? If you have something to say, just say it. You don't need to be shy with us."
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked at Gu Yuan. Stammering, he gave the flimsy excuse he had prepared. "Brother Yuan, I... I broke through to level 30. I want... I want to go out and train for a while, and get my Third Soul Ring. While I'm at it... I'd also like to visit the White Tiger Duke Mansion and see where my mother used to live, and pay my respects at her grave."
After saying this, he lowered his head, not daring to meet Gu Yuan's eyes. His cheeks burned.
Even he knew how flimsy his excuse was.
Gu Yuan and the others could easily help him get his Third Soul Ring. There were suitable spirit-type Soul Rings in the Star Dou Forest. And his mother's grave wasn't even at the White Tiger Duke Mansion. He had moved it elsewhere long ago, and had already told Gu Yuan about it.
He thought Gu Yuan would see through his lie and press him about where he was really going. He was so nervous that his palms were already sweating.
But to his surprise, Gu Yuan didn't expose him. He merely smiled and nodded, then asked in an even tone, "How long are you planning to be gone?"
Huo Yuhao froze for a moment, then hurriedly looked up, hardly daring to believe it. "A-about one or two months? I'll come back as soon as I can!"
"Good." Gu Yuan gave a slight nod, took a storage pouch from his Storage Soul Tool, and handed it to him.
"There are plenty of Gold Soul Coins in here, along with some healing and cold-resistant pills, and a few Soul Tools for self-defense. Be careful out there."
At those words, Huo Yuhao froze, and the storage pouch nearly slipped from his hand.
Brother Yuan... Brother Yuan knew he was going to the Far North?
That flimsy lie of his had been completely transparent to Gu Yuan. Gu Yuan had seen through his intentions, yet hadn't called him out. He had even guessed that he was going to the Far North and prepared cold-resistant pills for him.
In Huo Yuhao's eyes, Gu Yuan's figure seemed to grow even taller.
Huo Yuhao's eyes reddened. Guilt and warmth welled up inside him, and his nose stung so badly he nearly burst into tears. "Brother Yuan, I... I didn't mean to lie to you. I just..."
"I know." Gu Yuan smiled and interrupted him, reaching out to ruffle his hair. His voice was gentle.
"You have your own road to walk and your own opportunities to pursue. I won't stop you. Having your own ideas and secrets is a good thing."
"Take care of yourself, and come back safely."
Gu Yuena looked at him, her expression softening a little, and spoke slowly. "If you run into something you can't handle, crush this. A powerful expert will arrive at once."
As she spoke, she handed Huo Yuhao a silver Dragon Scale Token engraved with delicate dragon patterns. It gave off a faint aura of life.
Huo Yuhao took the token and the storage pouch, his fingers trembling. In the end, he couldn't hold back his tears.
He bowed deeply to Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena, his voice choked with emotion. "I promise I won't let you down. I'll come back safe and sound!"
Jin Ruiqiu, who had been standing off to the side, had already pouted. She tugged on Huo Yuhao's clothes and said reluctantly, "Yuhao, are you leaving? Can you take me with you? I can protect you!"
As she spoke, Jin Ruiqiu waved her little fists as if to prove how capable she was.
Huo Yuhao crouched down and smiled as he ruffled her curls.
"I'll be back soon. I'll bring you something delicious, okay?"
"Really?" Jin Ruiqiu's eyes lit up at once, but then she pouted again and clung to Huo Yuhao's arm, refusing to let go.
"Then you have to come back soon! Don't stay away too long!"
"Okay, I'll come back soon," Huo Yuhao replied with a smile, his heart warm.
As the group said their goodbyes, a pink figure stood outside the courtyard gate.
Wang Dong was holding a box of Huo Yuhao's favorite pastries. She had come to congratulate him on breaking through to level 30, but when she reached the gate, she heard their conversation and learned that Huo Yuhao was leaving Shrek to train somewhere far away.
Wang Dong stood at the gate, her feet as heavy as lead. She couldn't bring herself to step inside.
Watching Huo Yuhao laugh with Gu Yuan and the others, while Jin Ruiqiu clung to his arm, reluctant to let go, Wang Dong felt a sudden, indescribable pang of bitterness. It was as if something had lodged in her chest, leaving her heavy and miserable.
She had only just met Huo Yuhao. They had won the championship together, and she had only just begun to know this gentle, resilient boy. Yet now he was leaving.
She didn't even have the right to ask him to stay. She and Huo Yuhao were only classmates. What reason did she have to stop him from going out to train and become stronger?
Wang Dong gripped the pastry box tightly, her fingertips turning pale. The bitterness in her heart grew stronger, and even her breathing felt heavy.
Just then, Huo Yuhao spotted her at the gate and waved with a smile. "Wang Dong, what brings you here? Come on in!"
Wang Dong came back to herself, forced a smile, and walked into the courtyard. She handed Huo Yuhao the pastry box, her voice a little hoarse. "I heard you broke through to level 30, so I came to congratulate you. Just now... I heard you're going away to train?"
"Yeah." Huo Yuhao nodded with a smile.
"I'm going out to get my Third Soul Ring and train a little."
"Then... when will you be back?" Wang Dong looked at him, her peach-blossom eyes full of reluctance and a trace of unease she herself hadn't noticed.
"Probably in a month or two," Huo Yuhao said.
"Okay." Wang Dong nodded firmly. Her throat felt clogged, and though a thousand words crowded at the tip of her tongue, in the end she could only say one thing.
"Then... travel safely, and take care of yourself."
"Thanks, Wang Dong." Huo Yuhao smiled, feeling reluctant to leave as well.
After fighting side by side these past few months, he had long since come to regard Wang Dong as his best teammate.
As night deepened, Huo Yuhao left Shrek Academy with his pack on his back. The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had already mapped out a route to the Far North in his Spiritual Sea. Human and silkworm set off under cover of darkness, beginning their journey north.
Watching Huo Yuhao's figure disappear into the night, Jin Ruiqiu continued waving and muttering that he had to come back soon.
Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena stood at the courtyard gate. They exchanged a glance and couldn't help smiling.
"That child couldn't even come up with a convincing excuse. It was so flimsy," Gu Yuan said with a smile and a shake of his head.
"Indeed," Gu Yuena said calmly.
"Electrolux's divine consciousness is in his Spiritual Sea, and you've been nourishing Tian Meng for two hundred years. No one in the Far North can hurt him."
"I know." Gu Yuan nodded and looked north, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.
"I wonder if Yuhao will find that opportunity."
After a pause, he turned to Gu Yuena and Jin Ruiqiu and said with a smile, "Yuhao's gone to walk his own road. It's time for us to set out, too. It's been two hundred years. We should go see Douluo Hall."
Two hundred and forty years ago, Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue had placed the first piece on the continent in the name of Douluo Hall.
Two hundred years had passed, and Douluo Hall had grown into a colossal power standing alongside Shrek. Yet he, the true mastermind behind it all, had never once set foot in Douluo Hall's headquarters.
Now that Huo Yuhao had gone to the Far North and things at Shrek were quiet for the moment, it was time to see what fruit the plans he had laid over these two centuries had borne.
At the mention of going to Douluo Hall, Jin Ruiqiu's eyes lit up at once. She bounced excitedly and said, "Wonderful! Let's go to Douluo Hall! I've wanted to see what the Douluo Hall you mentioned is like for ages, Your Excellency!"
Gu Yuena gave a slight nod, a faint ripple stirring in her heart. It was only right that they go and take a look now.
At dawn the next morning, while the sky was still dim, the three of them left Shrek Academy without disturbing anyone. They became three streaks of light and sped toward the Douluo Hall headquarters in the northern part of the Heaven Dou Empire.
The wind howled past their ears, and the mountains and rivers rushed by beneath them. Gu Yuan gazed at the distant horizon, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint smile.
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