Rebuilding Spirit Hall

Huo Yuhao activated Ice God's Wings, turning into a streak of icy blue light and descending directly into a secluded forest on the outskirts of Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy. After confirming that no one was watching nearby, he gathered the aura of Necromancy at his fingertips and gave a light wave. The hollow, deathly still Puppet Dugu Bo was summoned from space, standing stiffly at his side, devoid of life yet concealing terrifying power.

"Follow me," Huo Yuhao ordered flatly.

Dugu Bo gave no response. He merely moved his legs mechanically and followed Huo Yuhao toward the academy's main gate.

Upon reaching the gate, Huo Yuhao stepped forward and calmly addressed the guard. "I wish to see Dean Jing Hongchen."

The guard frowned and blocked him impatiently. "Do you think you can see the dean whenever you want? Leave immediately if you have neither an appointment nor prior notice!"

Huo Yuhao's gaze turned slightly cold. He did not waste any more words, merely tilting his head in a signal.

The next instant, Puppet Dugu Bo's soul power erupted!

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black!

A full nine soul rings slowly rose beneath his feet—two yellow, two purple, and five black—arrayed neatly around him. The cold, heavy radiance of the rings instantly enveloped the entire gate area. At the same time, the crushing pressure of a Title Douluo spread without restraint, weighing down the air until it nearly froze solid.

The guard's expression changed abruptly. His legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to his knees as his voice trembled in terror. "A-A Title Douluo! This junior failed to recognize a great person! I'll take you to see the dean at once!"

Before his words had faded, a figure streaked through the air. His aura was hurried but steady—it was none other than Jing Hongchen, dean of Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy. He landed before the two of them, his grave gaze sweeping over Dugu Bo and the soul rings around him before turning to Huo Yuhao. "Please remain calm, young friend. You have brought a Title Douluo powerhouse here. What is your purpose in seeking me out?"

Huo Yuhao looked at Jing Hongchen and spoke calmly. "Dean Jing, it's me, Huo Yuhao."

Jing Hongchen landed before them. Once he recognized the visitor, he immediately relaxed and smiled as he cupped his hands. "Oh, so it's young friend Huo. It has been a long time."

Huo Yuhao looked at him and spoke calmly. "Dean Jing."

Jing Hongchen glanced at the cold-auraed Dugu Bo beside him, then looked back at Huo Yuhao and asked casually, "What is it? Did you come here specifically to visit Ye Guyi? She is within the academy."

Huo Yuhao nodded. "I did come to visit Ye Guyi, but there is another matter I wish to discuss with you."

Jing Hongchen was slightly taken aback, then said, "Oh? What matter? Please, go ahead."

Huo Yuhao's tone was steady as he spoke slowly. "Ye Guyi and I come from Spirit Hall, which was destroyed ten thousand years ago. Today, I would like to ask you for help in introducing me to the emperor of the Sun Moon Empire. I intend to rebuild Spirit Hall."

Jing Hongchen's expression shifted slightly, clearly startled by the news. He pondered for a moment before raising a hand in invitation.

"This matter is of great importance. This is not the place to talk," Jing Hongchen said. "Let us go inside and discuss it in detail. We can wait for Ye Guyi to arrive as well."

Jing Hongchen's expression grew slightly solemn as he stared at Huo Yuhao and asked seriously:

"Young friend Huo, is that truly true?"

Huo Yuhao's expression remained unchanged, his tone composed:

"Of course it is true. I am willing to explain the matter to you in detail."

Jing Hongchen was shaken, his thoughts racing.

This boy is so young and has neither sect nor faction, yet he dares speak of something as earth-shaking as rebuilding Spirit Hall. He even has a Title Douluo-level powerhouse at his side. His confidence far surpasses that of ordinary people. He is certainly not acting on impulse; he must have planned this for a long time. Spirit Hall has been gone for ten thousand years, and its reappearance now will involve enormous consequences. If handled poorly, it could bring great disaster. But if I can truly help him succeed, it will be unimaginable support for both me and the Sun Moon Empire. I should first hear him out before making a decision.

Huo Yuhao looked at Jing Hongchen, his voice calm yet resolute:

"I carry Spirit Hall's inheritance of ten thousand years. I must do this." Huo Yuhao understood very clearly that only by persuading the man before him to introduce him to the emperor of the Sun Moon Empire and help him rebuild Spirit Hall could he obtain an official identity in the Sun Moon Empire. That would make it easier for him to gather resources and make arrangements in secret, no longer remaining unaffiliated and restricted at every turn as he was now.

Jing Hongchen gazed at him, his expression gradually turning serious as he slowly asked:

"You have no small ambitions. But what foundation do you have to dare undertake such a thing?"

Facing Jing Hongchen's doubtful gaze, Huo Yuhao answered indifferently:

"If Dean Jing is worried about my foundation, there is no need. Aside from the Title Douluo guard by my side, I can also tell you this—within my sect, there is a rank ninety-nine Ultimate Douluo, a rank ninety-eight Peak Douluo, a rank ninety-seven Super Douluo, a rank ninety-six Super Douluo, and a rank ninety-five Super Douluo. And these five are merely mid-to-high-level combat forces within my sect."

After hearing that succession of terrifying soul power ranks, Jing Hongchen's heart first churned like a raging sea. But on second thought, he felt that something was off. Five Title Douluo, including a rank ninety-nine Ultimate Douluo, were supposedly only mid-to-high-level combat forces within the sect. That was far too exaggerated to be easily believed. His brows furrowed slightly, and his gaze toward Huo Yuhao gained a few more traces of scrutiny. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Young friend Huo, are you truly discussing this with me sincerely, rather than making a joke at my expense?"

Huo Yuhao offered no further explanation. He merely raised one hand calmly and activated his Martial Soul, Void.

The next instant, vast and boundless spatial power quietly spread out before him.

Jing Hongchen felt his vision blur as an indistinct spatial rift slowly opened. A figure stepped out from within. The man wore black robes and possessed an aura of supreme majesty. Though he was humanoid, the aura emanating from his body was like that of an ancient ferocious beast descending upon the world. Terrifying pressure crashed down like a mountain, bearing straight toward Jing Hongchen.

That was pressure only a rank ninety-nine Ultimate Douluo could possess!

There was not the slightest falsehood in it—utterly clear, utterly crushing.

Jing Hongchen's expression changed dramatically. His pupils contracted violently, every hair on his body standing on end as his mind was completely awed. Having lived for so many years, his discernment was exceptional. He could not possibly have sensed it wrong—this was undeniably the aura of an Ultimate Douluo! All his prior doubts, disbelief, and hesitation instantly vanished before that tangible pressure.

Huo Yuhao said indifferently, "Return."

The man in black bowed slightly, his voice low and respectful:

"Yes, my lord."

Huo Yuhao waved a hand, and a Space-Time rift opened once more. Ditian stepped inside, and the rift slowly closed behind him. Space returned to calm, as though that terrifying existence had never appeared at all.

Jing Hongchen stood where he was, unable to recover for a long while. His face was filled with shock and reverence.

He took a deep breath. When he looked at Huo Yuhao again, his tone had changed completely:

"Young friend Huo... I will introduce you."