Tempering Huo Yuhao's Body

Huo Yuhao stood behind Shen Zhou, witnessing the entire process of Qian Daoliu slaughtering the five Evil Soul Masters.

He was not afraid.

When those five Evil Soul Masters had appeared, he had felt the malice emanating from them. That feeling was ten thousand times more terrifying than anyone in the Duke Mansion who had ever bullied him.

It was pure, unreasonable evil.

"Master, are they bad people?" Huo Yuhao asked, looking up.

"They are." Shen Zhou nodded. "They are scum among Soul Masters, improving themselves at the cost of devouring the lives and Soul Power of others.

"The growth of every Evil Soul Master is accompanied by the blood of countless innocent people."

Huo Yuhao fell silent for a moment, then clenched his fists.

"Master, I want to be like that lord in the future too. I want to kill Evil Soul Masters and protect good people."

A surge of gratification welled up in Shen Zhou's heart as he looked into his disciple's clear, resolute eyes.

"Good. I'll teach you."

Huo Yun'er stood to the side, watching her son's face gradually become more determined. Her eyes reddened slightly.

She recalled that night ten years ago, Dai Hao's cold back, and all the grievances and suffering she had endured over the years.

Now, it was all over.

Her son would become a true powerhouse.

Not for fame or profit, not for revenge, but to protect those who needed protection.

"It's cold outside. Let's go in first."

Azure Luan Douluo walked over and spoke gently.

Huo Yun'er nodded. She glanced once more at the Evil Soul Master corpses that had already turned to ash, silently offering a prayer in her heart.

She hoped the world would become a better place because of Spirit Hall's return.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao's foundation was simply too poor, so Shen Zhou brought him to the academy's Body Tempering Pool.

Steam curled through the air. The entire pool was circular, roughly thirty meters in diameter. Its waters were milky white and gave off a faint medicinal fragrance.

The bottom of the pool was engraved with dense formation patterns that flowed with a gentle radiance.

This was one of the core facilities included with the Academy Construction Card, specially used to temper the bodies of beginner Soul Masters.

Huo Yuhao stood beside the pool wearing only a pair of shorts, exposing his frail body.

His ribs were clearly visible, his arms were as thin as reeds, and his skin was so pale that it was nearly bloodless.

Years of malnutrition had left his body far behind that of others his age.

"Get in."

Shen Zhou stood by the pool, his tone calm.

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and stepped into the pool.

Hiss—

Intense pain instantly spread from the soles of his feet throughout his entire body, as though countless needles had pierced into his bone marrow.

The medicinal power drilled into his body through his pores, madly scouring his meridians, bones, and muscles.

"Ah—!"

Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth. Veins bulged on his forehead, but he did not cry out.

He walked toward the center of the pool one step at a time. With every step, the pain intensified.

By the time the water reached his waist, his legs had already begun to tremble.

"Keep walking."

Shen Zhou's voice came from the shore, devoid of emotion.

"Walk to the center of the pool, stand there, circulate your Soul Power, and let the medicinal power seep into every cell."

Huo Yuhao nodded and continued forward.

The water rose past his chest, past his shoulders, and finally stopped at his chin.

He closed his eyes and began circulating the cultivation method Shen Zhou had taught him.

It was the Spirit Eye cultivation method optimized by the system. It was several times more exquisite than the method from the original work and had been specially designed for eye-type Martial Souls.

The milky-white medicinal power began flooding madly into his body. The meridians that had been scoured gradually widened under its nourishment, while his atrophied muscle fibers began to tear, reorganize, and grow.

A quarter of an hour passed.

Half an hour passed.

An hour passed.

Huo Yuhao's face changed from pale to flushed, then from flushed to bright red, like a cooked shrimp.

Sweat mixed with pool water and slid down his face. His lips had been bitten open, and blood dripped from his chin into the pool.

Yet he did not make a sound.

Shen Zhou stood on the shore with his hands behind his back, his gaze never leaving his disciple.

"Eighth Brother, this child has a good temperament."

Qian Daoliu appeared beside the pool at some unknown point and spoke softly.

"Mm."

Shen Zhou nodded. "His talent is good too. His physical foundation is just too poor.

"During those years in the Duke Mansion, he could not even get a full meal, much less cultivation resources."

"How much can the Body Tempering Pool help him recover?"

"At the very least, it can bring him up to the level of an ordinary child his age.

"If he wants to become stronger, he will have to rely on himself."

Another two hours passed.

The milky-white color of the pool water had noticeably faded. Most of the medicinal power had been absorbed by Huo Yuhao.

His body had undergone visible changes. Though he was still thin, he was no longer sickly and emaciated. A faint luster flowed beneath his skin, and his arms had gained some flesh as well.

"Come up."

Huo Yuhao opened his eyes and slowly walked out of the pool.

His steps were much steadier than when he had entered, and his back was noticeably straighter.

"How do you feel?"

Shen Zhou handed him a clean robe.

Huo Yuhao took the robe and draped it over himself. Feeling the abundant strength in his body, his eyes were filled with excitement.

"Master, I feel full of energy all over!

"I used to get out of breath whenever I ran, but now my breathing feels much smoother!"

"This is only the beginning."

Shen Zhou patted his shoulder. "Use the Body Tempering Pool once every three days. After a month, your body will reach its optimal state.

"Only then can you attach a Soul Ring and withstand the burden it brings."

"A month?"

Huo Yuhao froze. "Master, I'm already Rank Ten. Can't I attach a Soul Ring first?"

"No."

Shen Zhou shook his head.

"Attaching a Soul Ring places an enormous strain on the body, especially a Soul Ring over a hundred years old.

"With your current physical condition, attaching a Hundred-Year Soul Ring would rupture at least thirty percent of your meridians."

"Then... doesn't that mean I'll have to wait a long time?"

"There's no rush."

Shen Zhou smiled. "Sharpening the axe does not delay the chopping of wood.

"This month, you will not only temper your body. You will also learn the basics of Martial Souls, combat techniques, and the use of Soul Power.

"Once you are done with the Body Tempering Pool, we will head to the Star Dou Great Forest. I will personally hunt a suitable soul beast for you."

Huo Yuhao nodded heavily, his eyes filled with anticipation.

One month later.

Before the main gates of Spirit Hall Academy, Shen Zhou, Huo Yuhao, and Er Ha stood ready to depart.

Over the past month, Huo Yuhao's transformation had been nothing short of complete rebirth.

He had grown several centimeters taller. His formerly gaunt body had become well-proportioned and sturdy. Though his skin remained fair, it now carried a healthy glow.

The most obvious change was his bearing—he was no longer the timid boy who walked with his head lowered, but someone who held his chest high and looked ahead with resolute eyes.

The ten soaks in the Body Tempering Pool had not only strengthened his body, but also opened many blocked meridians within him.

Though his Soul Power was still only Rank Ten, its circulation was nearly twice as fast as it had been a month ago.

Shen Zhou had also taught him several basic fist techniques and movement techniques. Though they were still far from useful in actual combat, he was no longer utterly helpless.

"Master, are we really going to the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Huo Yuhao stood beside Shen Zhou with a small bundle on his back, containing dry rations and a change of clothes.

His voice trembled slightly, but not from fear. It was excitement.

The Star Dou Great Forest—the paradise of soul beasts, a place countless Soul Masters longed for and feared.

For Huo Yuhao, it was where he would obtain his first Soul Ring.

"Mm."