Huo Yuhao, Why Did You Become So Ugly?
"You defeated them all?!" Wu Tian gasped.
Hu Gan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Where's the Earth Demon Old Ghost? He's Eight-Star Dou Zong!"
Huo Yuhao stood up, pulled the ice sculpture out from under his buttocks, and presented it to Su Qian and the other two.
Inside the ice, the withered and twisted face of the Earth Demon Old Ghost was still vividly depicted, and even his powerful aura as an Eight-Star Dou Zong was still present. The faint pressure emanating from him made Hu Gan and Wu Tian turn pale.
Su Qian and the other two stared at the ice sculpture of a Dou Zong before them, then at the valley full of "spoils of war," and were so shocked they were almost speechless: "This—"
This is impossible!
Huo Yuhao suddenly remembered and added, "Oh, they're still alive. Bringing them back to the academy like this might be risky if something unexpected happens on the way and they break free of the ice."
Having said that, he raised his right hand and gently pressed his long, slender index finger against his brow.
In an instant, the void behind him twisted, and an enormous, golden vertical eye phantom with seven-colored pupils suddenly appeared! The same seven-colored divine light also flickered in Huo Yuhao's pupils.
[The Asura Three-Eyed God-Sealing Curse]!
A condensed, seven-colored beam of light shot out from the vertical eye phantom, precisely enveloping all the ice sculptures in the valley! The beam of light lasted for a moment, the seven-colored light seeping into the ice layer like flowing water, and finally dissipated.
After the beam of light dissipated, a strange scene unfolded. The powerful auras sealed within all the ice sculptures rapidly diminished like a deflated balloon, fading to almost nothing in the blink of an eye.
Huo Yuhao clapped his hands and said easily, "Alright. Even if something unexpected happens now, and they break through the ice sculpture seal, they can at most unleash the strength of Dou Zhe). They can't turn the tide."
Su Qian's lips twitched, and he said speechlessly, "Elder Huo—why are you taking them back?"
Huo Yuhao smiled, pondering to himself: With his current abilities, he should be able to begin helping his teacher revive. However, in terms of physical body, the Earth Demon Old Ghost might not be qualified, after all, his teacher was Peak Dou Zun in life, while his body is only Eight-Star Dou Zong.
However, I have obtained quite a few inheritances from that Dead Silent Plane. That plane is mostly focused on body refinement, and it contains many methods for strengthening and modifying the body, which I can study and refer to.
Huo Yuhao didn't explain in detail, simply saying, "I have some thoughts, let's talk about them when we get back."
Immediately afterward, Huo Yuhao took out several storage rings, weighed them in his hand, and said with satisfaction, "This Demon Flame Valley is truly wealthy. With these resources, the renovation of the Inner Academy can begin."
Upon hearing this, Hu Gan's eyes lit up. After searching among the ice sculptures for a moment, he immediately picked up two ice sculptures, strode up to Huo Yuhao, and said with a malicious smile, "Chief! You can't show favoritism! Look, these two are from the Black Emperor Sect! This one is called Qi Shan, and he's a Sixth Grade alchemist!"
"Their stronghold, Black Emperor City, also runs an auction house. Over the years, they've accumulated far more valuable items than Demon Flame Valley!"
Seeing Hu Gan's anxious expression, Huo Yuhao chuckled and said, "That makes sense. Then I'll trouble the three elders and Xue Protector to take my spoils back to the academy. Be careful not to kill them. I'm going to check on the Black Emperor Sect."
"Hey, Elder Huo----" Su Qian was about to say something when a slight spatial fluctuation flashed by, Huo Yuhao's figure vanished without a trace.
Immediately afterwards, Xue Protector appeared carrying Han Feng's ice sculpture, staring wide-eyed at Hu Gan, who was also carrying the ice sculpture.
"This Storage Ring can't hold it all, how are we going to take it back?"
Wu Tian quickly counted them. "With this number, each of us will have to carry at least ten!"
Within Huo Yuhao's spiritual world, the consciousness of the Guardian Mirror was rolling around on a patch of grass. "No wonder your soul abilities are so strong! I never imagined you had such a wonderful thing within you!"
It clearly sensed that its damaged consciousness was being nurtured by this spiritual world, and it would soon be able to return to its peak.
"I've been a disciple for so long, and you're only telling me now? That's really not fair!" The Guardian Mirror's voice was full of dissatisfaction as it fiercely plucked a few blades of grass from the ground and threw them at Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao's consciousness hovered Spiritual Sea, gazing at the countless souls who had temporarily settled there after their revenge. After a moment of silence, he replied, "I only just discovered it myself."
The Guardian Mirror's consciousness twisted and transformed into Huo Yuhao's appearance, arms crossed, glancing at him sideways. "Really?"
Huo Yuhao met those scrutinizing eyes, seemingly conjured from a mirror, and a barely perceptible hint of embarrassment crossed his face. "It's true."
The Jia Ma Empire, Misty Cloud Mountain.
--
Xiao Yan, Hai Bodong, and Xiao Yi Xian stepped onto the stone steps leading to the Misty Cloud Sect's mountain gate.
At the mountain gate, an elderly man with white hair and beard was on duty with several disciples. He was Elder Ge Ye, who had accompanied Nalan Yanran to the Xiao Clan earlier.
"Gentlemen, this is the Misty Cloud Sect's mountain gate. May I ask what brings you here?" Elder Ge Ye's gaze swept over the three men, lingering for a moment on Hai Bodong, who had the appearance of a child but an extraordinary demeanor, before finally landing on Xiao Yan, who was at the head of the group, as he routinely inquired.
Xiao Yan stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Elder Ge Ye, I am Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan. The reason I've come here is—"
"Xiao Yan?!" Elder Ge Ye's eyes widened suddenly, his voice rising several octaves, directly interrupting Xiao Yan's words.
His expression instantly shifted from calm to a complex mix of surprise and panic. "You—you wait a moment! Please wait in the side hall for a moment, I'll go and inform them!"
Before he could finish speaking, Elder Ge Ye, as if his pants were on fire, didn't even wait for Xiao Yan's response. He transformed into a blurry green shadow and sped away into the depths of the Misty Cloud Sect without looking back. His speed was so fast that he was clearly using some kind of Dou Technique. Xiao Yan's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. "What... what's going on?"
Hai Bodong scratched his head, somewhat puzzled, and said, "I remember— the Misty Cloud Sect wasn't like this before, was it? Most of their elders looked down on people—"
The three had barely sat down in the side hall, and the tea was still warm, when a familiar figure burst in. The newcomer was dressed in an alchemist's robe, exuding an extraordinary air—it was none other than the Pill King Gu He!
"Brother Gu He!" Xiao Yan quickly stood up to greet him.
"Why did you suddenly show up here? What, you've finally come to your senses and are planning to join the Misty Cloud Sect?" Gu He smiled gently as he spoke, his gaze naturally sweeping over Xiao Yan and the other two.
Xiao Yi Xian hadn't changed much, but her strength had increased rather quickly, already reaching the Dou Ling level. Gu He nodded slightly to her.
But when his gaze fell on Hai Bodong, who was sitting in a chair, swinging his short legs, and with a stern face, Gu He's eyes suddenly stopped!
That gaze, filled with intense research and incredulous astonishment, as if it had discovered some rare elixir, swept back and forth across Hai Bodong's young but displeased face, making Hai Bodong feel extremely uncomfortable, his skin crawling with goosebumps.
Just as Hai Bodong could no longer contain himself, his icy aura overflowing as he prepared to reprimand this impudent fellow.
"Hiss"
Gu He gasped sharply, pointing at Hai Bodong, his voice filled with shock and certainty. "Huo Yuhao?! What kind of ancient poisonous insect bit you?! How did you become like this—like this?!"