Infiltrating Shrek

After leaving the Rakshasa Secret Realm, Huo Yuhao did not immediately return to the town where Ye Guyi was staying.

He landed on an unnamed hill beyond a hundred miles of barren mountains, standing silently in the biting mountain wind for a long while.

The words spoken by the Rakshasa God before she dissipated echoed repeatedly in his mind—"For me, and for Bibi Dong as well."

And even further back, there was everything he remembered about Tang San from the memories of the transmigrator from Earth.

Huo Yuhao slowly clenched his fist.

"Tang San... the God Realm..." he murmured. "Both must be dealt with cautiously."

In his Spirit Sea, Tianmeng Ice Worm's lazy voice rang out. "Little Yuhao, what are you brooding over now?"

Huo Yuhao fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking. "I'm wondering whether my current strength is enough."

"Enough for what?"

"Enough to stand against everything I want to stand against."

For once, Tianmeng Ice Worm did not crack a joke. He merely sighed softly.

Ice Empress's chilly voice picked up the conversation. "Although the Gold and Silver Dragon King and the Ice and Fire Dragon King have merged into one, and the Dragon God has begun to take shape, it is still missing the seven Dragon Kings before it can regain the complete Dragon God position and Dragon God power."

Snow Empress said softly, "Your current strength is already formidable. Bibi Dong is a First-Level God, Dugu Bo is a Title Douluo, and although Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo have been sent to protect Ye Guyi, they can be summoned at any time. The Undead Demi-Plane contains an endless army of undead, and the Golden Tortoiseshell Puppet was repaired long ago."

"And there's us." Tianmeng Ice Worm chuckled. "All of us are here with you: Ice Empress, Snow Empress, Ice Bear King, Eight-Angle, and that girl Three-Eyed Golden Lion."

A golden glow flickered gently within the Spirit Sea, and Three-Eyed Golden Lion's tender voice came through. "Yuhao, no matter what you intend to do, we'll be with you."

The corners of Huo Yuhao's lips lifted slightly.

"And then there are the ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest," Tianmeng Ice Worm continued. "Ditian, Bi Ji, Bear Lord, Red King, Myriad Demon King... every ferocious beast acknowledges you as their master and sleeps within your Spirit Sea. Once awakened, each of them can destroy heaven and earth."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

A level-seventy-five Soul Sage; four partners with Extreme Ice; a Dragon God formed from the fusion of the Gold, Silver, Ice, and Fire Dragon Souls; an endless army of undead in the Undead Demi-Plane; the Golden Tortoiseshell Puppet; Bibi Dong and Dugu Bo, two major combat forces—with Bibi Dong even being at the level of a First-Level God—plus every ferocious beast of the Star Dou Great Forest sleeping within his Spirit Sea.

This power might still leave some uncertainty in crushing the Holy Spirit Cult, but in a head-on battle, he had nothing to fear.

But his enemy was not merely the Holy Spirit Cult.

It was Tang San.

It was the God Realm.

It was the mastermind who had schemed for ten thousand years and treated the entire continent as a chessboard.

"No rush," Huo Yuhao said slowly. "The matter of the Holy Spirit Cult can be considered at length. Right now, I need to do something else."

Tianmeng Ice Worm became interested. "What is it?"

A glint flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes. "Go to Shrek."

"Shrek?" Tianmeng Ice Worm froze. "What are you going there for?"

"In the original story, the second Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament will begin soon," Huo Yuhao said. "As the continent's number one academy, Shrek will undoubtedly send its strongest lineup. And as far as I know, Dragon God Douluo Mu En and Taotie Douluo Xuan Zi are both at Shrek."

He paused before continuing. "Mu En is a level-ninety-nine Ultimate Douluo. He possesses a Dragon Core, a supreme treasure of the dragon race. If I can obtain it, it will greatly aid the Dragon God's recovery. More importantly, the blood of the Radiant Sacred Dragon flows through his body—that is also one of the dragon race's most supreme bloodlines. If I can devour and refine it, my Dragon God Power will surely advance further."

"And while Xuan Zi is only a level-ninety-eight Super Douluo, a trace of the bloodline of the Primordial Ferocious Beast Taotie flows through him." Huo Yuhao's eyes gleamed. "If I can seize and refine it, perhaps I can gain the devouring attribute. By then, whether in cultivation or battle, I will have another trump card."

Everyone within the Spirit Sea was startled.

"You intend to make a move against both of them at once?" Ice Empress's voice carried a note of gravity. "Those are two peak-level powerhouses."

"No rush." Huo Yuhao shook his head. "I'll infiltrate first and learn the situation. If an opportunity arises, I'll take it. If not, I'll wait. The waters of Shrek run deep, and it is the perfect place to stir up trouble."

Tianmeng Ice Worm chuckled. "Kid, you're getting more and more devious."

Huo Yuhao ignored his teasing. Raising his hand, he quietly activated Tianmeng Ice Worm's Simulation soul skill.

His spiritual power had long reached the Demigod Realm, and his mastery of this soul skill was already flawless. Moments later, his features began to change, and his build adjusted slightly until he became a handsome young man.

His black hair turned pale blue, and his brows and eyes gained a touch of cold severity. He looked like a youth of ice and snow who had emerged from the Far Northern Land.

"From now on, my name is Xuelian," Huo Yuhao said softly. "I'm sixteen years old, and my Martial Soul is the Extreme Ice Snow Lotus."

After one last look at the distant horizon, his figure flashed and vanished into the night.

Shrek City, home of the continent's number one academy.

Huo Yuhao stood outside the academy's main gate, looking at its grand entrance as complicated emotions rose within him.

In the original story, this place should have been his home. Yet now, he was merely a disguised infiltrator with ulterior motives.

"Who goes there?" a gate guard stepped forward and asked.

Huo Yuhao raised his head and said calmly, "My name is Xuelian. I'm sixteen years old, and I'm here to apply for the Inner Academy."

The guard looked him over and snorted. "You? A sixteen-year-old brat? What's your Martial Soul?"

"Extreme Ice Snow Lotus," Huo Yuhao said. "Dual attributes: assault and control."

The guard froze, then laughed even louder. "Snow lotus? Isn't that a food-type Martial Soul? Assault and control? Kid, I'm afraid you don't even know what a Martial Soul is."

He waved a hand impatiently. "Stop causing trouble here and get lost."

Huo Yuhao's expression did not change. "I am a level-sixty-two Soul Emperor."

The guard's laughter abruptly stopped. His face immediately darkened. "Kid, are you messing with me? Level sixty-two? You?"

He stepped forward, his tone already threatening. "I'll give you one last chance. Get lost before I lose my temper."

Huo Yuhao did not move.

He merely raised a hand and released his spirit rings.

One yellow, two purple, two black, and one red.

Six spirit rings shone brilliantly beneath the sunlight. In particular, that scarlet Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring radiated a chilling aura that made hearts tremble. The surrounding temperature instantly plummeted, and a thin layer of frost even formed over the ground.

The guard's smile froze completely on his face.

"Th-this..." His mouth hung wide open, but he could not utter a single word for a long time.

At that moment, a fiery-red figure descended from the sky and landed before Huo Yuhao.

She was a young woman dressed in fitted red attire, with a voluptuous figure and an innate pride between her brows. Her aura blazed like fire, faint flames rising around her body. She was clearly a level-sixty-seven Soul Emperor.

"So cold..." The moment she landed, the chill made her shudder. Then her gaze fell upon the spirit rings around Huo Yuhao, and her pupils suddenly contracted.

"Extreme Ice? A Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring?" Her voice was filled with disbelief. "Y-you... who are you?"

Huo Yuhao looked at her and immediately understood.

Ma Xiaotao. A Shrek Inner Academy student, whose Martial Soul was the Fire Phoenix and who bore the poison of evil fire.

He said calmly, "Xuelian, sixteen years old, level-sixty-two Soul Emperor. My Martial Soul is the Extreme Ice Snow Lotus. I'm here to apply for the Inner Academy."