Intercepting Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was the most crucial step in his plan, and also the riskiest, with the most variables. Because Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was not being forced—it had chosen to sacrifice itself voluntarily.
It had chosen Huo Yuhao partly because Huo Yuhao had a spiritual Martial Soul and possessed Necromancy, but the deeper reason was likely Huo Yuhao's special fate as the "child of destiny" and his future potential. Sky Dream Ice Silkworm wanted to use Huo Yuhao to become a god and thereby gain eternal life.
"Although I carry the Dual God King Inheritance and my luck is not bad either, my Martial Soul is not of the spiritual attribute. Sky Dream Ice Silkworm may not choose me."
Zichuan analyzed calmly,
"It is different from the Immortal Herbs of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Those herbs had nowhere left to go and no path ahead. When they saw me, the 'son of a God King,' it was like grasping a lifeline. But Sky Dream Ice Silkworm still has choices. What it values is Huo Yuhao's future 'potential,' that fated 'affinity' and 'luck' ordained by the unseen."
"Besides," Zichuan paused, his tone somewhat helpless,
"The reason the Immortal Herbs were willing to sacrifice themselves before was mainly the attraction of the residual aura of the Goddess of Life, along with their own despair. Forcing a Soul Beast with a million years of cultivation and spiritual power unrivaled across the continent, like Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, to sacrifice itself... that is not very realistic.
"If it refuses and focuses on hiding or fleeing, then with its terrifying spiritual power, it will be difficult for us to catch it, let alone force it."
God of Destruction fell silent for a moment, admitting that Zichuan had a point. At his peak, crushing Sky Dream Ice Silkworm would have been as easy as crushing an ant. But now... a tiger fallen to the plains, a dragon stranded in shallow waters.
"Then what do we do? Are we just going to watch this Million-Year Soul Ring fall into the hands of the son-in-law Tang San arranged for?" God of Destruction was unwilling to accept that.
Zichuan did not answer at once. He stood where he was, his gaze flickering as his mind raced. The plot of the original story flashed rapidly through his mind—how Huo Yuhao met Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, how it sacrificed itself to him, how he obtained his first Soul Ring...
Suddenly, his eyes lit up!
"I've got it!" A cunning curve appeared at the corner of Zichuan's lips.
"There is an important prerequisite for Sky Dream Ice Silkworm choosing Huo Yuhao—Huo Yuhao has a spiritual attribute, and at that time, he does not have a first Soul Ring. His body is 'empty,' allowing him to perfectly contain its Million-Year Soul Ring and origin! But what if... Huo Yuhao already has his first Soul Ring?"
God of Destruction was taken aback, then immediately understood what Zichuan meant. "You mean..."
"That's right!" Zichuan's eyes gleamed. "No matter how formidable Sky Dream Ice Silkworm is, its sacrifice still depends on Huo Yuhao being able to absorb it!
"If Huo Yuhao has already absorbed a Soul Ring, even if it is only a Ten-Year Soul Ring, his body and soul will have already established a stable connection with that Soul Ring.
"If Sky Dream Ice Silkworm tries to sacrifice itself to him then, there will be conflict and rejection. The risk will be enormous, and it may even fail!
"With Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's cautious, deathly afraid nature, it will never take that risk! At that point, it will either give up on Huo Yuhao and seek another target, or..."
"Or it can only settle for the next best thing and choose you, who also has a powerful spiritual attribute and an 'empty' Soul Ring slot!"
God of Destruction took over, his voice full of excitement,
"Brilliant, kid! Pulling the rug out from under them! Cutting off Huo Yuhao's path means cutting off Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's greatest hope! Then it will have no choice. Your conditions are excellent enough—won't it have to submit obediently? At the very least, the initiative in negotiations will be in our hands!"
"Exactly!" Zichuan clenched his fist, a determined smile appearing on his face. "Come on, Old Zi. Sense where that kid Huo Yuhao is right now. Let's go 'give' him a Soul Ring!"
One man and one god immediately sprang into action.
Although God of Destruction had barely any divine power left, the essence of his Divine Sense was still extremely high. Carefully searching this area for a youth with weak Soul Power but a distinctive aura was not too difficult.
Especially since Zichuan also knew the approximate location where the plot took place—the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, near a stream.
Before long, God of Destruction locked onto a target.
"To the northeast, around three li away, there is a kid with very weak Soul Power fluctuations but somewhat unusual spiritual power. He is fighting a Ten-Year Wind Baboon... uh, struggling desperately?"
Zichuan: "..."
He did not waste another moment. His figure turned into a wisp of smoke as he raced in that direction.
At the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, near a clear stream.
A skinny youth who looked only eleven or twelve years old, dressed in coarse patched clothing, gripped a rusty dagger as he leaned against a large tree, his face full of tension and determination.
His face was somewhat pale, and his lips were pressed tightly together, but his deep blue eyes were exceptionally bright, filled with unyielding stubbornness.
It was Huo Yuhao, who had just escaped from the White Tiger Duke Mansion after the recent death of his mother, determined to grow stronger and seek revenge.
His luck was not bad. Soon after entering the forest, he had encountered a lone Ten-Year Wind Baboon.
This Wind Baboon was not particularly strong offensively, nor was it especially fast. It was the ideal target for his first Soul Ring. However, actual combat was far more difficult than he had imagined.
The Wind Baboon was agile and had sharp claws. He was only a Soul Scholar without a Soul Ring. After several exchanges, several bloody cuts had appeared on his body, and he had expended a great deal of strength.
Yet he did not retreat. His eyes remained locked on the Wind Baboon opposite him, which bared its fangs and continually tested him.
He knew this was his chance, the first step on his path to becoming a Soul Master. No matter what, he had to kill this Soul Beast and obtain its Soul Ring!
"Roar!" The Wind Baboon seemed to have lost its patience. It kicked off with its hind legs and pounced fiercely at Huo Yuhao amid a foul gust of wind, its sharp claws digging straight for his heart!
Huo Yuhao's pupils contracted. His spiritual power focused to the extreme as he rolled to the side, barely evading the attack. At the same time, he drove his dagger toward the Wind Baboon's ribs with a backhanded stab!
However, the Wind Baboon reacted even faster. Its tail lashed out like an iron whip and struck his wrist!
"Clang!" The dagger flew from his hand. A sharp pain shot through Huo Yuhao's wrist, and his heart went cold. It was over!
At that critical moment.
"Whoosh!"
A black figure slipped between him and the Wind Baboon like a ghost! The newcomer did not even look at the charging Wind Baboon. He merely threw out a casual punch.
"Bang!"
A dull impact rang out. The savage Wind Baboon was like a beast that had been struck head-on by a charging bull, not even having time to cry out.
Its entire body was sent flying backward even faster than it had charged in. With a "Rumble!" it smashed through seven or eight small trees as thick as bowls before finally slamming into a rock and sliding limply down. It was clearly dead.
Huo Yuhao stared blankly at the scene, his mind completely empty. The Wind Baboon he had fought desperately against and nearly died to had just... been killed with one punch? Who was this person?
He dazedly raised his head and looked at the person who had saved him.
It was a black-haired youth who looked only a few years older than him, yet was tall and powerfully built, dressed in fitted black clothes.
The youth had handsome features and clear eyes. As he withdrew his fist, he looked at Huo Yuhao with a gentle smile.
"Th-thank you." Huo Yuhao came back to his senses and hurriedly thanked him. His voice still trembled slightly, but it was full of sincere gratitude.
"My name is Huo Yuhao. Just now... I really have you to thank! Otherwise, I would have..."
"You're welcome." Zichuan waved his hand, his tone casual.
"My name is Zichuan. I was just passing by. It was nothing."
His gaze swept over the dead Wind Baboon, then the surrounding trees that had been knocked down. As if only then realizing he had used too much force, he scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.
"Oh, I think I hit a little too hard just now... Did I crush a whole group of Wind Baboons?"
He pointed beside the Wind Baboon's corpse, where several Ten-Year or Hundred-Year Wind Baboons had also been killed by the fallen trees.
Following his finger, Huo Yuhao indeed saw several more Wind Baboon corpses. His heart shook even more. The force of a single punch had actually reached such a level? This Brother Zichuan was incredibly powerful!
"Go pick one that suits you and absorb it as your first Soul Ring."
Zichuan pointed at the Wind Baboon corpses and made the suggestion naturally,
Before you continue