Three days later.
On a remote country road in the Star Luo Empire.
A handsome, black-haired, black-eyed boy with a tall, straight figure and plain clothes walked along at an unhurried pace.
"Yuhao, since you're still planning to go to that Shrek Academy, why didn't you just agree to those two a few days ago? Wouldn't that have been more convenient?"
In Huo Yuhao's mind, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm asked in confusion.
"Brother Sky Dream, the Tang Sect was founded by Sea God Tang San, who ascended to the Divine Realm ten thousand years ago. Joining the Tang Sect would mean inheriting his karma."
"Don't forget, you worked yourself to the bone to escape their clutches so you could live freely, without anyone holding you back. Do you really want us to fight tooth and nail to ascend to the Divine Realm, only to be toyed with by someone else and turned into their tools all over again?"
"Fate should be in our own hands," Huo Yuhao said calmly.
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm recalled the days when those bastards deep in the Star Dou Great Forest had treated him like a portable power bank, using him however they pleased and leaving him without an ounce of insect rights. He couldn't help shuddering.
"Yuhao, you're right. I don't want to live like that again, without an ounce of freedom."
"But Yuhao, with the power of origin I've accumulated over a million years, plus your powerful and mysterious teacher, not to mention your incredible Martial Soul, I think our chances of becoming gods are simply unmatched! Hehe."
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm chuckled.
Over the past three days, he had witnessed the incredible abilities of Huo Yuhao's Sharingan Martial Soul with his own eyes, and his confidence in his "God-Making Plan" had soared once again.
After giving the Sharingan its first Spirit Ring, the panel in Huo Yuhao's mind had unlocked a new stage.
Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao had put it to use, and the panel in his mind had changed again.
[Soul Power: Level 15]
[Template: Sasuke (Team 7 era)]
[Martial Soul: Two-Tomoe Sharingan]
After fusing with the million-year First Soul Ring from the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, Huo Yuhao's Soul Power had risen to level 15.
Huo Yuhao's ninjutsu and Taijutsu had been greatly enhanced, and even his Sharingan had advanced to the Two-Tomoe state.
After following Huo Yuhao for the past few days and witnessing his incredible Martial Soul, Tian Meng was completely dumbfounded.
Tian Meng was certain that, in his million years of life, he had seen plenty of powerful Martial Souls, even if he'd spent most of that time asleep.
But he had never seen a Martial Soul as extraordinary as Huo Yuhao's.
Even with only one Spirit Ring, it could unleash all sorts of abilities no less powerful than Soul Skills.
It had everything from clones and transformations to spitting fire.
"Oh, right, Yuhao. The Second Martial Soul I gave you only has Ultimate Ice attribute for now, and it doesn't have a physical form yet. Once your Soul Power reaches level 20, I'll take you to the Far North to obtain your Second Martial Soul. Hehe, with a Second Martial Soul of Ultimate Ice, we'll really take off! Wahaha!"
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's eyes darted around as he said this with a grin.
At that, Huo Yuhao stopped walking. After a moment's silence, he said, "Brother Sky Dream, since we're bound together by fate, be open with me about any plans you have from now on. You must have a very important friend in the Far North, right? There's no need to hide it from me. But don't make decisions for me without asking, and don't think about manipulating me. Do you understand?"
Huo Yuhao gave the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm a mild warning, his tone a little stern.
In the Spiritual Sea, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's chubby body jolted. He said in disbelief, "Yuhao, h-how did you know?"
After his shock, he hurried to explain. "No, Yuhao, I didn't mean to hide it from you. It's just... Bingbing. I really can't let Bingbing go, Yuhao. I was wrong. It won't happen again. I won't hide anything from you from now on."
By the end, he was even crying. "Bingbing, Bingbing, I can't live without her!"
Looking at him like that, Huo Yuhao sighed to himself.
Tian Meng was such a typical Fei Yangyang.
The Snow Empress was sprawled on the Ice Empress. The Snow Empress was out of energy, so Sky Dream still had to give her a push.
He said helplessly, "All right, all right. It's not that I'm against going to the Far North to find your friend and make her my Second Martial Soul. I just don't like being manipulated. I promise: once I reach level 20, we'll go to the Far North. How's that?"
Hearing Huo Yuhao say this, Tian Meng immediately turned from sorrow to joy. "Really, Yuhao? I love you so much!"
"Yuhao, I'm sleepy. I'll take a nap. Just wake me when you get to that Shrek Academy, okay?" After crying his heart out in Huo Yuhao's mind, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm seemed exhausted. He curled his chubby body into a ball and slowly fell asleep.
Huo Yuhao nodded.
He didn't know how long he walked alone after that.
The clop-clop of hooves came from behind Huo Yuhao.
A carriage approached from farther down the road, heading slowly in his direction.
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. He had no idea how far Shrek was, so why not hitch a ride?
He raised his hand and tried to flag the carriage down.
At the same time, two stunning women seated inside the carriage were chatting.
The woman on the left wore a white dress and had a cool, distant air about her. A faint smile played on her exquisitely beautiful face as she listened quietly to the woman across from her chatter away, occasionally covering her mouth to let out a laugh like a silver bell.
The other woman had delicate features and a gentler air about her, but at that moment she was looking at the woman across from her with a reproachful expression.
"Senior Sister, you're still laughing? I almost got hurt this time, and you didn't even step in sooner."
Han Ruoruo gave Zhang Lexuan a reproachful look.
Zhang Lexuan smiled gently and reassured her, "All right, all right. The important thing is that we completed the surveillance mission safely. But Ruoruo, how many times have I told you? Don't let your guard down before you've assessed the enemy. Luckily, I was keeping an eye on you from the shadows. Otherwise, that Spirit Emperor-level Evil Spirit Master would have given you a nasty surprise."
A hint of lingering fear flashed through Han Ruoruo's eyes, but she still stubbornly retorted, "How was I supposed to know that the leader of that Evil Spirit Master organization had such a bizarre cultivation method? He could raise his strength so much in such a short time. If he'd been a normal five-ringed opponent, I wouldn't have been afraid."
"You really are..." Zhang Lexuan said, her face showing a trace of helplessness.
She was about to keep lecturing her careless junior sister.
"Whoa!"
Just then, the carriage suddenly came to a stop.
"Hey, young man. What do you need?"
"Hello, sir. I want to go to Shrek City. It looks like you're heading there too. Could I hitch a ride? I can pay the fare."
Outside the carriage, a coachman was talking with a youthful voice. It sounded like a boy.
"Young man, we are headed to Shrek City, that's right. But this carriage has already been hired. You'll have to find another one."
Inside the carriage, Zhang Lexuan and Han Ruoruo exchanged a glance. Zhang Lexuan gave an almost imperceptible nod.
"It's all right, sir. Let the boy outside come in. We can give him a ride. He doesn't need to pay."
Han Ruoruo spoke up.
Outside, when Huo Yuhao heard the carriage's owner agree to let him aboard, he didn't hesitate. He stepped up into the carriage, lifted the curtain, and entered.
As soon as he got inside, Huo Yuhao saw two beautiful women, each with her own distinctive charm, staring at him with curious expressions.
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