Mission Accomplished

Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged as Electrolux pushed his soul power to its limit. Dugu Bo's corpse trembled faintly within the gray-gold mist. The puppet refinement had reached its final stage; it only needed the last sliver to fully take shape. Yet at this most critical moment, two violently overwhelming waves of soul power crashed in from beyond the valley like a raging storm, instantly shattering the area's tranquility.

Huo Yuhao's brow furrowed sharply as a powerful unease rose within him. This place was so well concealed—how had they found him so quickly? He immediately swept the area with his spiritual power, and his expression darkened at once. Those two Datura Snake Soul Sages had somehow secretly left a snake venom mark on him during the earlier pursuit. No matter where he fled, they would be able to track him precisely.

"Dammit!"

Huo Yuhao cursed under his breath. But the refinement had reached its final step, and if it were interrupted now, all their previous efforts would be wasted. Without the slightest hesitation, he urgently said to Electrolux, "Elder Yi, please accelerate the refinement with everything you have! I'll go hold them off!"

"Don't worry. Leave it to me," Electrolux replied steadily.

Huo Yuhao rose to his feet and strode out from the valley's hidden shelter, coming face-to-face with the two Soul Sages, whose faces were filled with murderous intent.

"Kid, let's see where you can run now!"

"You killed my brother. Today is the day you die!"

Their soul rings blazed brilliantly, their killing intent soaring into the sky. They gave Huo Yuhao no chance to speak. His gaze turned cold, and he held nothing back. With a thought, the Golden Tortoiseshell Puppet instantly appeared before him, its heavy shell emanating a steady defensive aura.

"Second skill—Bind!"

An invisible force spread out in an instant, locking the two Soul Sages firmly in place. They could not move for a full five seconds.

Seizing this opening, Huo Yuhao flipped both hands, and two pitch-black Level-Nine Fixed-Installation Soul Cannons radiating terrifying pressure appeared in his grasp. Their muzzles pointed directly at the immobilized pair, and he fired without hesitation!

The aura of the Level-Nine Soul Cannons drained the color from the two Soul Sages' faces. They erupted with all their soul power and, just before the binding dissipated, violently broke free and desperately fled in opposite directions.

Boom—!!

The two devastating blasts struck the open ground, shattering rocks and sending smoke and dust billowing everywhere. Yet the pair still narrowly evaded them. Huo Yuhao raised a hand lightly and calmly put away the two Level-Nine Fixed-Installation Soul Cannons.

The two Soul Sages landed some distance away. Seeing the smoke-filled clearing, they assumed Huo Yuhao had exhausted his methods and reached the end of his rope. Cruel sneers immediately appeared on their faces.

"Hahaha! Your attack missed! Let's see what other trump cards you have!"

"You've got nowhere left to run, and you still dare act arrogant before us? Today, we'll use your life to honor my brother's spirit in heaven!"

Their auras surged again. Clearly, they intended to unleash their strongest strike and kill Huo Yuhao on the spot.

Watching their aggressive advance, Huo Yuhao suddenly chuckled softly, his tone indifferent and composed.

"I'll warn you one last time. Run now, and you might still make it."

"You're at death's door, yet you still dare talk tough! You've got quite the mouth!"

"Die!"

The two roared as they mobilized all their power. Their Martial Soul fusion skill activated once more, and a black Flood Dragon phantom shot into the heavens, carrying an aura capable of destroying heaven and earth as it charged fiercely toward Huo Yuhao!

But at that critical instant—

A cold, tyrannical aura carrying the oppressive might of ten-thousand-year poison suddenly erupted from the valley behind Huo Yuhao!

A Jade Phosphor Snake Emperor Martial Soul, emerald-green from head to tail and radiating an overwhelming presence, shot into the sky like lightning!

It was Dugu Bo's newly completed puppet!

Dugu Bo stood suspended in the air, his gaze cold and imposing. He gave Huo Yuhao a slight bow and said in a steady, respectful voice, "Master."

Huo Yuhao nodded faintly, signaling him with his eyes.

Dugu Bo said no more. Facing the Flood Dragon-like Martial Soul fusion skill, he merely raised his hand indifferently as his ninth soul ring suddenly lit up—

Ninth Soul Skill: Medusa's Gaze!

Terrifying petrification and poison power instantly swept across the battlefield, colliding head-on with the enemy's strongest attack!

Following an earth-shaking explosion, venom and energy raged wildly. Before the absolute difference in power, the two Soul Sages' Martial Soul fusion skill instantly collapsed!

They did not even have time to scream before the surging Jade Phosphor Snake venom completely swallowed them. Their bodies stiffened and blackened, and both fell to the ground, dead on the spot.

Electrolux's voice slowly sounded. "They're all taken care of. Dugu Bo's innate poison has no cure."

Huo Yuhao let out a breath and slowly walked over to the two corpses, crouching down to carefully search for spoils.

He first collected their soul tool storage equipment. Then, at one of their chests, he found a protective mirror radiating stable defensive fluctuations. A sweep of his spiritual power made a flash of delight immediately appear in Huo Yuhao's eyes—

This was actually a sixth-level defensive soul tool. Its defensive capabilities far surpassed those of ordinary Soul Bones, making it exceptionally valuable.

He casually placed the sixth-level defensive soul tool into his own storage soul tool, then briefly cleaned up the scene and made sure no traces had been left behind.

He looked up at Dugu Bo's puppet standing in the air and sensed the terrifyingly dense soul power and poison power within him. At last, a relieved and delighted smile appeared on his face.

"Finally... it worked."

Dugu Bo bowed again, his tone incomparably respectful. "This subordinate, Dugu Bo, awaits the master's orders."

Huo Yuhao nodded lightly as he quickly considered his next destination.

It had been nearly two years in the blink of an eye since he and Ye Guyi had parted ways. He wondered how she had been faring in the Sun Moon Empire.

At that thought, a trace of tenderness appeared in Huo Yuhao's eyes.

"I won't think about anything else for now. I'm returning to the Sun Moon Empire."

"I want to see Ye Guyi and find out whether she has completed Angel God's second trial."

With those words, he put away Dugu Bo's puppet, unfolded the Ice God's Wings behind his back, and transformed into a streak of light as he sped toward the Sun Moon Empire.