Di Tian brought the conversation back on track. "Enough. We can speak of old matters and old wounds later. Huo Yuhao, speak plainly. What do you need, and what can you offer us?"
Huo Yuhao said seriously, "First, I need a safe identity, a foothold in this world, and time to recover. In my current state, I need to make a living from scratch. The human world today cannot function apart from the Spirit Pagoda system. They monopolize the granting of Soul Spirits and qualifications for the Ascension Platform. I have no money, influence, or identity, so it is even more impossible for me to purchase a Soul Spirit from them or obtain official Soul Master certification."
"And so?" Di Tian waited for him to continue.
"And so, I want to blend in from the very bottom, in the most inconspicuous way possible. For example, I could use forest specialties to open a grilled fish shop in a human city. It would serve as both a livelihood and a cover." Huo Yuhao said, "I need initial Gold Soul Coins, as well as a stable and secret supply of ingredients."
"In exchange," he said, raising his wrist to display the silver-gray, intricately constructed bracer unit, "this is an 'All-State Spiritual and Soul Tool Auxiliary Wrist Unit,' which I refined. It integrates multiple functions, including detection, communication, and information processing. One of its most important core modules is the 'Multilayer Composite Energy Shielding Field Generator.'"
His fingers lightly brushed several concealed nodes along the side of the wrist unit. Accompanied by faint clicks and flowing light, an independent module was detached from within. It was roughly palm-sized and as thick as a copper coin, covered in Soul Tool circuits like miniature carvings, with a strange crystal at its core that steadily emitted a faint glow. Without this module, the wrist unit's overall luster seemed to dim slightly, and some of its complex functions would inevitably be restricted.
"This is it." Huo Yuhao held the independent shielding module in his palm as it emitted stable, restrained fluctuations. "After calibration and anchoring, it can establish a small but lasting energy shielding field at specific locations around the outer perimeter of this area's core. It can effectively interfere with and weaken the Spirit Pagoda's conventional wide-range Soul Power fluctuation detection, life-sign scans, and energy tracking. Its effect against high-intensity targeted detection or attacks is limited, but in daily life, it is enough to create a relatively 'quiet' area for your rest and the young beasts' activities, one less exposed to prying eyes."
This concrete proposal and demonstration of the real object truly moved the ferocious beasts. They had endured the feeling of living inside a transparent cage for far too long. Hope filled Bi Ji's eyes. "If there could be a truly peaceful place to raise the young, even if it were only a small one..."
Di Tian stared intensely at the shielding module. "You are willing to part with this? It should be of great use to you as well."
Huo Yuhao answered frankly, "My foremost goal now is concealment and recovery. If I am active in human cities, overly powerful active detection and shielding would instead draw attention. Keeping the basic detection and communication functions will be enough. This item can create greater value if it remains here, and it is also my way of showing sincerity and making amends for my guilt." He paused. "I will leave behind the complete Soul Tool formulas for calibration, anchoring, maintenance, and emergency shutdown, so you can control it safely."
Di Tian pondered. This transaction was tangible enough. Gold Soul Coins and ingredients were no great difficulty for soul beasts, but the brief peace brought by this shielding module was priceless. "The deal is made. I can provide Gold Soul Coins, ingredients, and even medicinal materials from forest specialties. As for this module, you must ensure its safety and leave behind complete knowledge of how to operate it." His gaze turned profound as he looked at Huo Yuhao. "Furthermore, since you intend to integrate into the human world and recover your strength, your eyes and ears will be limited if you act alone. I need to know the true movements of the outside world, especially the deeper movements of the Spirit Pagoda, as well as... any clues possibly related to the Silver Dragon King."
Huo Yuhao immediately understood. "Senior Di Tian, you wish to send a trusted clansman who can assume human form and conceal herself to travel with me? She can assist me while also serving as your eyes and ears."
"Correct." Di Tian swept his gaze across those behind him. "Demon Spirit."
The girl hiding behind a tree trembled and timidly stepped out. "Uncle... Uncle Di Tian?"
"Your thoughts are comparatively pure. You excel at concealment and sensing emotions, and your transformed form is the most stable, making you less likely to be seen through by human experts." Di Tian instructed her, "Follow Huo Yuhao into the human world. Listen to his arrangements, learn the rules of human society, observe the Spirit Pagoda, and watch for any clues that may be related to our liege. Unless it is a matter of life and death, you must not expose your identity or strength."
Demon Spirit looked at Huo Yuhao, then at Di Tian. In the end, she obediently nodded. "Yes... Demon Spirit understands."
"As for you, Huo Yuhao," Di Tian said at last, his tone solemn, "Demon Spirit will accompany you as both a partner and a supervisor. You must teach her human knowledge and keep her safe. In return, she will be an aid as you establish yourself. Once you have recovered somewhat, I need you to investigate the Spirit Pagoda more deeply, especially... what exactly they are extracting and researching through that wall and the Ascension Platform! This may concern the very foundation of the soul beast race's survival."
"The Ascension Platform..." Huo Yuhao memorized the key term and nodded gravely. "I understand. Investigating the Spirit Pagoda's truth was already something I intended to do. As for knowledge..." He glanced at Demon Spirit, who was looking around curiously, then at the other ferocious beasts. "If you do not mind, I can share some basic understanding of the nature of energy, the foundational principles of Soul Tools, and even certain simple rules I observed in the Divine Realm when the opportunity arises. Perhaps it may help you better understand your enemy, or even... find a way to save yourselves."
This promise carried more weight than Gold Soul Coins or the shielding device. Even the Myriad Demon King's eyes brightened slightly. Di Tian looked deeply at Huo Yuhao and slowly nodded. "Very well."
An initial agreement was reached beside the Lake of Life. A fallen god and a group of trapped ferocious beasts had crossed paths once more because of an old pact from ten thousand years ago and their shared predicament. Huo Yuhao left behind the wrist unit and began teaching Bi Ji and the Myriad Demon King how to connect to and maintain it. Although Bear Lord was still somewhat displeased, the prospect of the shielding device and Huo Yuhao's account of the Golden Dragon King's fate had left him with no temper to spare.
Not long afterward, Huo Yuhao prepared to depart with a small pouch of Gold Soul Coins provided by Di Tian, a map of secret supply routes, and Demon Spirit, who had transformed into a girl in a green dress. Although the unit on his wrist had simplified functions after its main shielding module was removed, its basic functions—spiritual power enhancement, environmental detection, information recording, and disguised identity support—remained intact, more than sufficient for his initial needs.
Before he left, Di Tian said one final thing. "Remember the agreement. Demon Spirit is both your aid and the eyes of my race. Keep her safe, and fulfill your promise to investigate."
Huo Yuhao nodded and boarded the Realm Patrol with Demon Spirit, who was both afraid of and curious about the new world. The Soul Tool vehicle activated its concealment mode and silently departed this forest sanctuary, trapped by towering walls yet still tenaciously alive, heading toward the bustling Eastsea City.
His new identity—a humble grilled fish shop owner—was about to go live. And the undercurrents had already begun to stir.
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