Dawn was just breaking, and the sea breeze carried a crisp chill. Huo Yuhao, Di Tian, and Demon Spirit had long since hidden at the street corner across from Eastsea Academy, their gazes seemingly casual as they swept over the school gates.
Di Tian accepted the grilled fish Huo Yuhao handed him and took a bite, but his sharp gaze remained fixed on the two small figures Tang Ziran and his wife had escorted to the gate. It lingered especially long on the silver-haired, violet-eyed girl. Chewing the tender fish, he frowned slightly. "Her aura is strange... The mark of the Silver Dragon Spear follows her like a shadow, yet I can barely detect the vast primordial fluctuations of elemental dominion that my lord should possess. It is as though they have been deliberately sealed away or diluted." He paused and looked at Huo Yuhao. "Your previous judgment was correct. This girl is indeed highly unusual."
After Tang Wulin and Na'er disappeared into the campus, the three's "breakfast observation meeting" shifted into a more relaxed barbecue gathering. Charcoal crackled, and the fresh seafood quickly became fragrant delicacies in Huo Yuhao's hands.
"We certainly need to keep a close eye on them." Di Tian picked up a skewer of charred, aromatic squid tentacles and said gravely, "Be careful that my lord's target may be Tang San's son. The Divine Core of the Golden Dragon King within him is an immense threat to us, but to my lord... it may represent another possibility." He sensed the two concealed protective auras around Tang Wulin in the distance, auras that even made him wary. "Still, the protection Poseidon Tang San left behind, along with the backup measures you secretly planted back then, are no mere decorations. Now that we have found a new path, I have no desire to stir up trouble again unless absolutely necessary."
Huo Yuhao turned the skewers in his hand as sparks drifted away on the wind. He said calmly, "The spiritual mark I left behind is more for warning and mediation. If that moment truly comes, the key may lie in Tang San's arrangements and in the child himself. As for the Silver Dragon King... let us wait and see."
"Yes. If we can coexist peacefully, that would naturally be best." Di Tian took a swig of wine. "Seeing Bi Ji, Zi Ji, and the others find their own joys now—living, creating, even being accepted and loved by humans like real people... the feeling is better than I expected."
Huo Yuhao skillfully handled the freshly caught octopus tentacles and nodded. "Indeed. The emergence of the Soul Spirit system is a turning point. In the long run, the Artificial Soul Spirit research promoted by the Spirit Pagoda may fundamentally ease the conflict. Of course, there is still a long road ahead."
"The root of the conflict lies in soul rings, in the struggle for survival resources." Di Tian watched the leaping flames, his eyes complicated. "If power could be gained without relying on the slaughter of soul beasts... that would be a revolutionary change. I only hope this path can be walked."
After enjoying this unusually meaningful breakfast, the three temporarily parted ways. Di Tian continued his "great stone-hunting endeavor," while Huo Yuhao took Demon Spirit on a genuine tour of the city by the East Sea.
The commercial district was bustling and lively. Demon Spirit's eyes suddenly lit up, and she pointed at the display window of an elegantly decorated shop in the distance. "Brother Yuhao, look! Those are clothes designed by Aunt Bi Ji!"
Inside the window, a mannequin wore a dark green gown called "Emerald Court." Its design followed a classic Western court style, with layered skirts rolling like the surface of a rippling lake. Slightly lustrous silk and gauze were used, the bodice fitted close, while the cuffs and collar were adorned with delicate lace and emerald-colored crystal fragments that looked naturally formed. The whole piece was magnificent without losing its natural spirit, as if a condensed forest lake had been draped over the wearer.
Beside it, the display window of "Violet Dragon Pavilion" featured a velvet-textured formal dress in a completely different style. It used a more fitted, modernized Chinese qipao silhouette, with a standing collar and diagonal front. Deep violet-black formed the base, embroidered with Dark Gold threads depicting Dragon Runes soaring through clouds and auspicious cloud patterns. The cuffs featured exquisite wide-edged frog buttons, while slits ran up the sides of the skirt. It was elegant, yet carried an air of mysterious majesty and power.
"These two..." Huo Yuhao looked at the neighboring top-tier shops, whose styles were so sharply opposed, and shook his head with a helpless smile. Both stores were packed with customers, showing just how popular they were. He led the excited Demon Spirit inside.
The stores were filled with dazzling merchandise. From dresses and bags to shoes, hats, and scarves, the two brands covered nearly every category. Their designs were all exceptionally outstanding, attracting countless customers to browse and choose.
Demon Spirit eagerly tried on several outfits. In the end, Huo Yuhao picked out a light green, elven-style short jacket from Emerald Court for her, decorated with vine embroidery and full of lively charm. He also chose a dark red brocade mamian skirt from Violet Dragon Pavilion, its exquisite hidden patterns blending classical and modern elements perfectly. Huo Yuhao bought two pieces for himself as well: a dark blue casual suit from Emerald Court, sharply tailored with natural textures in the details; and a black Chinese-style top from Violet Dragon Pavilion with a standing collar, crisp fabric, and only simple cloud patterns outlined in Dark Gold thread at the cuffs, calm and understated.
Carrying their newly bought clothes, they took the elevator to the cosmetics section on the third floor. The moment they stepped out, an elegant fragrance that was fresh without being overpowering curled around their noses. In the most prominent spot stood the flagship store of Three-Headed Spirit Scent.
The fragrances inside were rich in layers, yet did not clash at all. Scarlet King's perfumes were truly ingenious. There was none of the heavy, overpowering scent of cosmetics; most evoked natural freshness, like grass after rain, morning dew, orchids in secluded valleys, and wind through cedar forests, as though the spiritual essence of heaven and earth had been bottled up.
"Wow, look at this! It's a collaboration between Uncle Scarlet King and Uncle Myriad Demon King!" Demon Spirit pulled Huo Yuhao toward another display area. It held personal care products, branded "Three-Headed Spirit Scent x Forest Life Chronicle." Their focus was on natural herbal extracts, and the packaging brimmed with vitality. The description stated that the ingredients came from plants personally cultivated or selected by Myriad Demon King, containing gentle botanical essences.
Huo Yuhao carefully smelled several samples before finally selecting a light perfume based on snow lotus from the Northernmost Land blended with crisp pine needles. Its scent was cool and far-reaching, fitting his tranquil temperament. He also chose a matching set of body wash. Demon Spirit fell in love with a product combining dawn roses, peaches, and a faint tea fragrance. Sweet yet fresh, she immediately took the perfume and body lotion from the same line.
Their shopping bags multiplied again as the two arrived at the mall's basement level. The elevator doors had barely opened when a vigorous, highly provocative advertising broadcast came rushing toward them:
[Dark Gold Mountainforge Workshop] Core Forging Materials · Secret Announcement...
A massive holographic projection displayed various materials gleaming with dim metallic luster, along with the astonishing performance they displayed after being forged into weapons and armor components during testing—withstanding immense impacts without deforming in the slightest, with absurdly high Soul Power conduction efficiency. The advertising copy was extremely enticing, making full use of words like "strength," "supremacy," and "ultimate choice."
"...We do not sell cold metal. What we provide is a blueprint of strength tailored specifically to you. Strength should be silent as a mountain, and erupt like a landslide."
"Wow! Uncle Bear Lord is amazing! Those ad lines are so domineering!" Demon Spirit stared at the Dark Gold metal ingot in the projection, which seemed capable of absorbing light itself, her eyes sparkling.
The auction area ahead was already packed with people. The host's voice rang out through a soul-guided loudspeaker. "Attention! The auction has officially begun! Yesterday's presales were a tremendous success. Only 108 treasures are available today, and the highest bidder wins! Masters, please consider your finances carefully and bid rationally!"
The forging masters, mecha masters, and Battle Armor Masters gathered below had long been itching to begin, their bids rising one after another. Huo Yuhao and Demon Spirit exchanged a glance and decided not to join the excitement.
Just as they were preparing to leave, Demon Spirit caught sight of a relatively quiet area at the edge of the mall, decorated in a completely different style. "Brother Yuhao, there's more over there!"
When they walked over, they found high-end household products on sale, ranging from cookware and tableware to small appliances and home decorations. The design style was uniform, presenting a cool, premium sense of technology. The brand logo consisted of four powerful characters—Deep Space Dragon Domain.
Seeing them stop to look, a saleswoman immediately approached with enthusiasm. "Is this your first time seeing products from our brand? This shipment only arrived recently. They are truly revolutionary designs!"
She pointed to the displays and introduced them. "Look, all of our products share a unified visual language: deep matte black as the main color, accented by subtle Dark Gold patterns like dragon scales, with absolutely cool and smooth lines. In terms of operation, we have abandoned cumbersome buttons. They support gesture recognition, powerful spiritual-intent control, or simple taps in specific rhythms—for example, tap twice to power on, or tap five times to directly summon after-sales service."
She paused, pride written across her face. "The most special feature is our 'Dragon Attendant Contract' after-sales service. Once a product is activated, you receive lifelong top-tier service. Whenever maintenance is needed, our Dragon Attendant engineers will appear before you at the fastest speed, almost without a sound, and solve the problem."
Di Tian? Uncle Di Tian? Listening to this description, especially "Dragon Attendant Contract" and "silent doorstep service," Huo Yuhao and Demon Spirit immediately pictured Di Tian's always slightly stern face, the face of someone who silently worried about everyone. The two could not help exchanging amused looks. As expected of the lord of soul beasts—even his home appliances carried that style of "hidden protection."
To support this "old father's" business, Huo Yuhao purchased a portable miniature air conditioner from Deep Space Dragon Domain. It was only the size of a palm, a matte-black oval cylinder with faint Dark Gold flowing patterns along the side. It was said to use a unique soul-guided microcirculation technology, capable of quickly regulating the temperature in a small area while remaining extremely quiet. Demon Spirit chose a Microdomain Dragon-Scale Thermostatic Cup instead. Its surface was covered in dense microstructures like dragon scales, giving it a unique texture. Not only could it instantly adjust any liquid poured inside to a preset temperature, it could also maintain that temperature precisely for up to twelve hours. For someone like her who enjoyed slowly savoring her drinks, it could not have been more suitable.
Time slipped by quietly during their fulfilling outing. In the afternoon, they took a walk along the shore before heading to the coastal reef area where they had agreed to meet Di Tian at dusk.
Huo Yuhao leaned against a smooth reef and gazed toward the horizon. The setting sun was slowly sinking below the sea, dyeing the endless clouds and waves in brilliant gold and crimson. The shimmering water looked as if it had been scattered with fragments of gold. The sea breeze was gentle, carrying fishermen's songs from boats returning in the distance.
As he watched the magnificent yet tranquil sunset, a sincere, grounded happiness spread through Huo Yuhao's heart. He thought of everything he had seen today. Emerald Court and Violet Dragon Pavilion each dominated the fashion world in their own way. The fragrances of Three-Headed Spirit Scent had conquered countless noses. Forest Life Chronicle's natural philosophy had taken root in people's hearts. The forging techniques of Dark-Gold Heavy Peak made human powerhouses flock to it. And there was Deep Space Dragon Domain, with its meticulous "protection" bearing Di Tian's personal style... Soul beasts had truly opened up a brand-new, vibrant world for themselves within this human-dominated society, in their own way. They were no longer simply hiding or resisting. They had truly integrated, even becoming leaders in certain fields.
This integration was not submission. It was creative interaction and contribution to human civilization while preserving their own traits and pride. The solid ice of hatred might still remain, but at least a hopeful path toward a future of coexistence was becoming clear beneath their feet. More than the victory of any war, that filled Huo Yuhao with relief and anticipation.
He gently patted the bags beside him, filled with today's "spoils," and the smile on his lips deepened. He could hardly wait to see what amusing expression Di Tian would wear when he saw the products they had bought, especially that Deep Space Dragon Domain air conditioner and cup.
Thinking of this, Huo Yuhao looked toward the final molten-gold rays of the setting sun and laughed softly. His laughter drifted away with the sea breeze, light and joyful, filled with beautiful hopes for the future.
Before you continue