As the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm worked to merge himself into Huo Yuhao, his body jolted from the impact of the gray current, and he immediately roared in anger.
"What the hell dares to steal someone from me? Isn't there a good prospect over there? Why didn't you go after him?!" As he spoke, his immense spiritual power surged forth, attempting to drive the gray energy out of Huo Yuhao's body.
Yao Shi, who had been pretending to sleep nearby, was speechless when he heard Tian Meng. "What, just because you can't get in, you want someone else to do it? If you can't win over the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion someday, do you need me to win her over for you too?"
The gray current also released spiritual power in resistance. Two powerful energies clashed inside the mind of a mere level-ten Soul Scholar, and blood began seeping from Huo Yuhao's seven orifices.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's condition, Tian Meng sighed. "Forget it. I won't fight you over him anymore, or I'll lose my home again."
As he spoke, the two spheres of light calmed down and entered Huo Yuhao's body together.
"Damn it. I finally found two humans with spiritual attributes, but I couldn't get into one of them, and some bastard is fighting me for the other. Is heaven jealous of genius? I'm so pitiful!"
After entering the Sea of Spirit, Tian Meng began grumbling.
Once the two light spheres entered Huo Yuhao's body, a white ring appeared around him. It was the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's million-year soul ring, as well as the first intelligent soul ring.
The sky cleared once more, and the surrounding environment returned to normal.
Yao Shi lay on the ground and let out a breath. "It's finally over. I'll lie here a little longer and wake up after he does."
Inside Huo Yuhao's Sea of Spirit.
"Where is this?"
Huo Yuhao opened his eyes and found himself floating in midair.
"This is your Sea of Spirit."
Tian Meng's voice came from nearby. His bloated body had shrunk, and he floated before Huo Yuhao.
"Where did this fat silkworm come from?"
Huo Yuhao jumped in fright at the silkworm that had suddenly appeared before him.
"You're the fat silkworm!"
Tian Meng retorted. Then he cleared his throat. "Let me introduce myself first. I am the embodiment of heroism and chivalry, the Soul Beast King who possesses both wisdom and beauty, a peerless powerhouse who cultivated for a million years and set the longevity record of Douluo Continent—the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. You can call me Brother Sky Dream."
"A... a million-year Soul Beast?" Huo Yuhao stared blankly.
"Are you shocked? Excited? You're the first human to see my true body, and now I've even become your first soul ring." Tian Meng looked enormously pleased with himself, but his tone soon turned disappointed.
His spiritual power took on a human form. Pointing at Huo Yuhao's nose, he complained unhappily, "Too weak, too weak! I'm so pitiful! Do you know how many seals I had to place on myself just so your weak little body could withstand my powerful origin essence?"
Huo Yuhao asked, "Then why did you still choose to become my soul ring, Brother Sky Dream?"
"Ah, that makes me angry. I originally wanted to choose that beautiful girl outside, but I simply couldn't enter his Sea of Spirit. That was why I had no choice but to choose you."
Tian Meng put on an exaggerated expression and pretended to wipe away tears with a handkerchief.
Huo Yuhao thought for a moment before suddenly asking, "A girl? Brother Sky Dream, are you talking about Big Brother Yao? Is he all right?"
Tian Meng said indifferently, "He's fine. When I first appeared, I failed to rein in my Soul Power, so the fluctuations I released knocked both of you unconscious. Your bodies should be fine, though."
That was not right!
Tian Meng suddenly came to his senses. "What did you say? Big Brother Yao Shi? He... he's a man?"
"Y-Yes." Huo Yuhao was startled by his dramatic reaction.
"Hiss, I misjudged him. His looks are nearly comparable to Bing Bing's. Tell me, can boys really be that beautiful?"
As Huo Yuhao listened to Tian Meng mutter to himself, he thought, Brother Sky Dream, there seems to be something wrong with you.
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm ignored him and briefly explained his own experiences, why he had become a soul ring, and how he would improve Huo Yuhao's aptitude and give him an additional Martial Soul in the future. Then he conjured a hammer.
"All right, you've slept long enough. It's time to wake up. Now it's my turn to sleep. Off you go—"
With that, he swung the hammer and knocked Huo Yuhao out of the Sea of Spirit.
Outside, Huo Yuhao's eyelids twitched as he slowly opened his eyes. He found that his vision seemed to have improved. Then he noticed the unconscious Yao Shi beside him and hurried over to check on him.
"Big Brother Yao, are you all right?!"
Yao Shi knew it was time for him to wake up as well, so he slowly opened his eyes and looked around in feigned confusion.
"What happened to me? How did I suddenly pass out?"
Huo Yuhao was just about to reveal the secret of the million-year Soul Beast when Tian Meng immediately reminded him in his mind not to expose what had happened. Only then did he make up a lie.
"It was like this, Big Brother Yao. It seemed that a powerful Soul Beast appeared nearby just now. We were probably knocked unconscious by the pressure it released."
"I see. Fortunately, it didn't come over here. Otherwise, it might have eaten both of us."
Yao Shi naturally knew the truth, but he did not expose Huo Yuhao's lie and simply went along with him.
Then he added, "By the way, Yuhao, you came here to obtain a soul ring, right? What is your Martial Soul? Do you need my help? Free of charge."
"Thank you, Big Brother Yao. My Martial Soul is Spirit Eyes." As Huo Yuhao spoke, the white soul ring lit up around him. Then he continued, "But there's no need to hunt a Soul Beast anymore. I've already absorbed that wind baboon's soul ring."
Yao Shi pretended to be shocked. "What?! You absorbed that ten-year soul ring? If I remember correctly, Spirit Eyes should need a spiritual-attribute soul ring. The wind baboon's wind attribute definitely isn't compatible with your Martial Soul, and it was only a ten-year one too... Ah."
His voice trailed off, and he put on an expression of regret.
Seeing Yao Shi like this, Huo Yuhao was moved and immediately said, "It's all right, Big Brother Yao. I'm already very satisfied just to become a Soul Master." He felt helpless inside. I can't exactly tell Big Brother Yao that my first soul ring is a million-year one. No one would believe it.
"By the way, Yuhao, now that you've obtained your soul ring, what are you planning to do next?"
Yao Shi probed Huo Yuhao about his destination while wondering inwardly, Strange. In the original story, Bei Bei and Tang Ya should have arrived before Huo Yuhao woke up. Why are there only the two of us here now?
Huo Yuhao froze at the question. Ever since leaving the White Tiger Duke's Estate, his first priority had been obtaining his first soul ring and becoming a Soul Master. Now that he had his first soul ring—and an unprecedented million-year soul ring at that—he was still too weak to return to the White Tiger Duke's Estate for revenge. Penniless as he was, he truly had not considered where to go next.
His gaze dimmed, and he said in a dejected tone, "Big Brother Yao, I don't know where I should go next either. I came here to obtain a soul ring and never considered where I would go afterward."
"Then follow me from now on. Since you've called me Big Brother Yao, I'll look after you from now on."
Before you continue