Invest Everything You Have

When Ning Tian asked about the effects of his soul skills, Huo Yuhao fell silent for a moment. "It's hard to explain the soul skills of my second Martial Soul, and they won't have much impact on the team. It's enough for you to know the soul skills of my first Martial Soul."

As he spoke, Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eye lit up, and his spiritual power spread toward Ning Tian and Wu Feng. "My Spirit Eye's first soul skill is Spiritual Detection Sharing. At this stage, it can detect everything within five hundred meters. You can try experiencing it."

Feeling the godlike perspective brought by Spiritual Detection, Ning Tian's hand suddenly trembled. She instinctively looked toward the buildings on the eastern side of the plaza. Though layers of people stood in the way, she could clearly "see" the gray pigeon perched on the third-floor windowsill of the tower—even the bits of grass stuck to its claws were visible in perfect detail.

"This soul skill's effect! How could it possibly be a first soul skill?!"

Ning Tian excitedly grabbed Huo Yuhao's hand. "Is the five-hundred-meter range fixed? Can the distance increase?"

Ning Tian could hardly be blamed for her excitement. The effect of Huo Yuhao's soul skill was simply monstrous. It was as though he had a second brain helping process information. She could even sense the paths of soul power within the surrounding students, allowing her to predict their next moves. Forget five hundred meters—even if the range were only one hundred meters, this skill would already be absurdly powerful.

With this soul skill, even if Huo Yuhao remained a one-ring Soul Master for the rest of his life, he would still be an unquestionable battlefield commander.

Huo Yuhao's hand was beginning to go numb from Ning Tian's grip, but he did not pull away. He merely looked at her astonishingly bright eyes and said calmly yet firmly, "It isn't fixed."

He raised his eyes toward the clock tower at the far end of the plaza, golden light gently flickering in his Spirit Eye. "The more condensed my spiritual power becomes, the farther my detection range extends, and the greater its accuracy becomes. It's five hundred meters now, but as my spiritual power grows, that range will continue to increase."

He paused, and ripples spread through his spiritual power again. This time, Ning Tian and Wu Feng not only "saw" their surroundings, but also clearly "sensed" the paths of soul power circulating through the bodies of several students a hundred meters away—who was secretly circulating soul power to warm up, whose soul ring was quietly gathering strength, and even whether they belonged to the assault or control type.

"It can also synchronize the sensing of soul power flow," Huo Yuhao added. "In actual combat, you'll know in real time when an opponent releases a soul skill and in which direction they release it."

"Hiss—" Wu Feng sucked in a cold breath. "Doesn't that mean we can predict even when they're about to fart?!"

Her words were crude, but the logic was not. Ning Tian's fingertips trembled with excitement. Huo Yuhao's soul skill had completely redefined the word genius for her. "With this soul skill, our team coordination can improve by at least double! Forget other teams being unable to surpass us on paper—even teams stronger than us can be beaten if we use your soul skill to seize the initiative."

"What about the consumption? How much soul power does this soul skill use?" Ning Tian eagerly asked.

"This soul skill consumes my spiritual power. In fact, most of my Spirit Eye Martial Soul's consumption comes from spiritual power. If I keep Spiritual Detection active, my recovery speed is basically equal to its consumption speed."

Ning Tian's eyes shone like fire-tempered glazed glass. She abruptly seized Huo Yuhao's wrist, gripping even tighter than before. "Your recovery speed equals your consumption speed? Doesn't that mean... you can keep detection active the entire time?"

"In theory, yes." Huo Yuhao nodded, looking at the joints of her fingers, white from excitement. "But using other skills also consumes spiritual power. Still, maintaining it for an entire battle definitely won't be a problem."

"Enough. With your skill, we already have an innate position of invincibility."

The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda at Ning Tian's fingertips suddenly blossomed with dazzling seven-colored radiance. Its three tiers were clearly visible, each flowing with a different light. "My first soul skill, Power Boost, increases the target's strength by thirty percent. My second soul skill, Negative Effect Removal, can remove the negative effects carried by an opponent's soul skill. My third soul skill, Speed Boost, was specifically prepared for you. It can increase your speed by thirty percent."

She paused. The pagoda slowly rotated, and its radiance enveloped Huo Yuhao and Wu Feng. "Following your plan, in actual combat, I'll first add my first soul skill to you, ensuring that your attack power is enough for an instant kill. When we face stronger teams later and Wu Feng needs to attack, I'll add speed and power—those two boosts stacked together will be enough for Wu Feng to contend with an ordinary Soul Elder for the duration."

The phantom of Wu Feng's Flame Dragon Martial Soul emerged. "Every strike from my first soul skill, Dragon's Fire, carries the scorching heat of dragon fire. My second soul skill, Dragon's Fury, is a boosting soul skill that greatly enhances my offense and defense, while also amplifying all my other soul skills."

Huo Yuhao looked at the seven-colored glow flowing around Ning Tian's fingertips, and his Spirit Eye flickered slightly. "Negative Effect Removal? That skill came at the right time. Shrek Academy students have all kinds of bizarre soul skills, and we may encounter abilities we don't know about. With me, we can anticipate the enemy. With you, we won't have to worry about being controlled."

"Then there's no need to make any plans for now. With our abilities, we can practically crush our way through the early stages."

Ning Tian still looked somewhat concerned. "What if we run into Dai Huabin's team first?"

Huo Yuhao smiled. "We won't. The academy won't let teams with Soul Elders encounter each other in the early stages. That way, they can select Core Disciples with greater value to the highest degree."

Ning Tian nodded. "All right, we'll listen to you in everything. We still have some things to handle. Wu Feng and I will wait for you by Sea God Lake tonight. Remember to come." As she spoke, Ning Tian hurriedly led Wu Feng toward the academy gates.

The farther she walked, the more excited she became. They had truly backed the right person in Huo Yuhao. Even if his talent ultimately only made him an ordinary Titled Douluo, he would still be a strategic asset to any faction. Not to mention, Huo Yuhao possessed Twin Martial Souls. She had to inform the sect to increase its investment in him.

Ning Tian pulled Wu Feng briskly through the academy gates, the communication jade talisman at her fingertips already beginning to heat up. Wu Feng staggered from being dragged along and could not help muttering, "Young Mistress, why are you in such a hurry? The message won't run away if you send it a little later."

"You don't understand." Ning Tian turned and shot her a glare, but her pace did not slow. "There isn't a second talent like Huo Yuhao's anywhere on Douluo Continent. Twin Martial Souls and monstrous Spiritual Detection—if we don't hurry to win him over now, countless factions will compete for him once he becomes established." She pressed her fingertip down, and glazed patterns lit up across the jade talisman. "If the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect wants to secure its footing among the new generation, we need an ally like him."

Wu Feng scratched her head, still somewhat confused. "But didn't he say he doesn't want to join a faction?"

"Not joining doesn't mean he can't cooperate with us." Ning Tian gave a soft snort. A seven-colored streak of light burst from the talisman and shot into the sky. "Give him the best resources and make him owe us a favor—Huo Yuhao should be carrying a great grudge. He won't reject an ally who treats him sincerely for no reason."

Only after sending the message did she slow down and look toward the mist-shrouded mountain range in the distance. "Once the assessment ends, I'll ask Father to come personally. Resources for cultivating Huo Yuhao's spiritual Martial Soul and Ice Martial Soul are things our Nine Treasures Glazed Sect can acquire."

Wu Feng nodded as if she understood, then suddenly remembered something. "So tonight by Sea God Lake, are we going to talk to him about this?"

"Don't mention it." Ning Tian knocked her lightly on the head. "Build the relationship first. Tonight, we'll just talk about assessment tactics and, while we're at it... let him try the iced fruit wine specially supplied by our sect. We'll say it's thanks for helping us formulate our tactics."

As they spoke, they had already reached the academy entrance. Ning Tian led Wu Feng quickly toward the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect's Shrek Academy outpost.

Standing where he was, Huo Yuhao kept Spiritual Detection active, precisely tracking Ning Tian and Wu Feng's movements. He vaguely sensed the hurried fluctuation of soul power when Ning Tian sent her message, carrying the unique glazed aura of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect.

A faint smile curved Huo Yuhao's lips. He could more or less guess Ning Tian's intentions. But he did not dislike them—in this continent where strength reigned supreme, a cooperative partner with goodwill was better than being alone.

Still, he would ultimately have to walk his own path. The debt owed by the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, the promise of the Northernmost Land, and... that wager with Wang Dong all had to be settled step by step.

Huo Yuhao was still considering how he could trade resources with the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect. Temporarily using Snow Empress's cultivation had become his greatest trump card at this stage, and apart from certain special places on the continent, he could indeed now move about as though no one could stop him.

An arm appeared within Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection and came down heavily toward his shoulder.

A smile tugged at Huo Yuhao's lips. He sidestepped the blow and reached out with his right hand, gripping the newcomer's wrist.

"Ow, ow, ow! Huo Yuhao, let go already!"

"Wang Dong, have you forgotten what my Martial Soul is? You still wanted to sneak attack me?"

Wang Dong's wrist went numb in his grip. Her pink-blue eyes widened round like those of a startled little beast. "Who was sneak attacking you? I was greeting you! Greeting you, understand?" She jerked her arm free, and Huo Yuhao let go accordingly, his fingertips still retaining the warmth of her wrist.

Wang Dong rubbed the reddened spot where he had gripped her and hopped half a step back. The phantom wings of the Light Goddess Butterfly flickered behind her, stirring up a fragrant breeze. "Your lousy Spirit Eye is active all day long like a searchlight. Who could possibly sneak attack you?" Though she complained, the tips of her ears quietly reddened—when she had lunged at him just now, she had wanted to startle Huo Yuhao, only to be caught red-handed.

Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with a searchlight? At least it lets me 'see' certain people trying to knock me out from behind."

"You're the one trying to knock people out!" Wang Dong kicked at a pebble with puffed cheeks. "I came to introduce you to my two teammates. You're much smarter than I am, so I wanted you to help us make a set of tactics."

As soon as Wang Dong finished speaking, two figures emerged from behind her.

A petite girl skipped up to Huo Yuhao. "Hello, Classmate Huo!"

Seeing Xiao Xiao's energetic appearance, Huo Yuhao smiled as well. "Long time no see, Xiao Xiao."

A sturdy young man beside her scratched his head and stepped forward. "Hello, Brother Huo. My name is Zhou Ming. My Martial Soul is Azure Sky Vine, and I'm a two-ring control-type Battle Soul Master."

As soon as Zhou Ming finished speaking, Xiao Xiao rose onto her toes and patted his arm. "Zhou Ming's Azure Sky Vine is amazing! It can stretch thirty meters to bind opponents. During practice last time, he even tied up Wang Dong while she was flying in the air!"

Wang Dong folded her arms and gave a soft hum, though she could not help edging closer to Huo Yuhao. "See? Zhou Ming handles control, I'm the main attacker, and Xiao Xiao..." She paused and glanced at the cauldron-shaped Martial Soul phantom in Xiao Xiao's hand. "Xiao Xiao's Three-Life Soul-Calming Cauldron can knock people unconscious, so she counts as half a control-type too. Think it over for us—how should we fight tomorrow's opponents?"

Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eye flickered gently as his gaze swept over the three of them. "Zhou Ming's Azure Sky Vine focuses on area control. Xiao Xiao's Soul-Quelling Cauldron excels at breaking through defenses at a single point. Wang Dong, you're the assault core... But Xiao Xiao, come over here first. I want to ask you something."

Though Xiao Xiao was confused, the one calling her was Huo Yuhao, the new male idol! Almost instantly, she eagerly followed Huo Yuhao toward a corner of the plaza.

"Xiao Xiao, you have Twin Martial Souls, don't you?"

Xiao Xiao suddenly stopped, turning around like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on. Her eyes widened. "H-Huo, how did you know?!" She instinctively extended her hand. Hidden there was the second Martial Soul she had never revealed to outsiders—a lustrous white jade flute.

Huo Yuhao looked at her reddened ears and nervous expression, and the golden light of his Spirit Eye softened. "Your soul power fluctuations are very special. Besides the heaviness of the Soul-Quelling Cauldron, there's also a clear, soaring current of air, like... the sound of a flute." He paused. "Twin Martial Souls are rare even at Shrek Academy, and one that can handle both control and support is even rarer."

Xiao Xiao's cheeks grew even hotter. Twisting the hem of her skirt with her fingers, she muttered softly, "I-I haven't fully mastered it yet... The Nine-Phoenix Ceremonial Flute doesn't have a soul ring yet, so it's useless. I was planning to add one for the Freshman Assessment first, so I could prepare for it."

Before she could finish, Huo Yuhao reached out and pressed a hand onto Xiao Xiao's shoulder. "Xiao Xiao, I could tell from your spiritual fluctuations that you were thinking this, but I need to tell you... no matter how important the Freshman Assessment is, it only affects your treatment for a while. Adding soul rings to your second Martial Soul is something that affects your entire life."

"Don't sacrifice your future talent just to strengthen your present self. The loss outweighs the gain."

The hand on Xiao Xiao's shoulder felt as scorching as a ball of fire. When she looked up, she met Huo Yuhao's serious eyes. There was no teasing in those blue eyes, only a steadiness that did not belong to someone his age, like an icy lake in the Northernmost Land—clear, yet concealing unfathomable foresight.

"Affects... my whole life?" she repeated softly, unconsciously stroking the lustrous white jade flute. The phoenix patterns on its body scraped faintly against her fingertips. It was not as though she had never considered the dangers of hurriedly adding a soul ring, but she watched the surrounding students grow stronger and stronger, watched Wang Dong repeatedly adjust their tactics for her sake, and the spark of impatience in her heart could not help flaring higher.

Huo Yuhao withdrew his hand and lightly tapped her Soul Tool. "The greatest taboo for Twin Martial Souls is being greedy for speed. Your Soul-Quelling Cauldron is already a top-tier control Martial Soul. If the Nine-Phoenix Ceremonial Flute is to reach its greatest potential, you must at least wait until your soul power breaks through to Soul Saint before adding a soul ring of fifty thousand years or even one hundred thousand years. If you casually attach any soul ring now, you won't be able to replace it later."

Xiao Xiao's eyes suddenly reddened slightly, and the fingers clutching the jade flute loosened.

No one had ever told her this before. Even her family wanted to sacrifice her talent just to make her more important at Shrek Academy and secure the position of Core Disciple.

Huo Yuhao paused, the golden light of his Spirit Eye sweeping over Wang Dong and Zhou Ming in the distance as they gestured through tactics. His voice softened. "If Wang Dong and Zhou Ming knew you were wronging yourself just to win the assessment, they would probably get angry with you."

Xiao Xiao's nails dug deeply into her palm, and the jade flute's chill spread from her fingertips into her heart. Her family's words suddenly echoed in her ears—"Xiao Xiao, attach a soul ring to the Nine-Phoenix Ceremonial Flute during the Freshman Assessment. As long as you become a Core Disciple, even if your talent is a little worse in the future, the family can still pave the way for you." At the time, she had only thought it was the expectation of her elders. Now that Huo Yuhao had exposed it, she finally realized what kind of calculation lay hidden beneath those expectations.

"They... they said it was for my own good." Her voice carried a sob, like a fledgling soaked by rain. "They said Shrek Academy's competition is too fierce, and if I don't reveal my trump card early, I'll be eliminated sooner or later..."