Return Journey: Metamorphosis

Far North Ice Field.

Afternoon.

Quan Cangtian helped Huo Yuhao to stand up.

Huo Yuhao's legs were weak.

Yet Quan Cangtian held him steady.

"Hold on."

"Mhm."

Quan Batian summoned the Nine Heavens Thunder Roc.

A silver-white flying soul tool.

Everyone boarded.

Zixiao stood beside Quan Cangtian.

She said nothing.

She merely watched.

Quan Batian looked deep into the Far North.

His gaze was complex.

The Ice Emperor's voice rang in Huo Yuhao's mind.

"Let's go."

Quan Batian nodded.

He boarded the flying soul tool.

The Nine Heavens Thunder Roc took off.

They left the Far North.

Huo Yuhao looked out the window.

The Far North Ice Field grew increasingly distant.

Dazzling white.

Boundless.

He closed his eyes.

He was tired.

Inside the flying soul tool.

Huo Yuhao closed his eyes to rest.

The Ice Emperor's voice rang in his head.

"How do you feel?"

"Tired."

"Normal. Merging with my power almost killed you."

Huo Yuhao said nothing.

"Still, you endured. Not bad."

"Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for? I'm your soul ring."

Huo Yuhao fell silent for a moment.

"You... won't you fade away?"

"No. That fellow Tianmeng has a way to let me retain my spiritual consciousness."

"I am a Wise Soul Ring, not an ordinary soul ring."

"A Wise Soul Ring?"

"Right. Tianmeng is the first Wise Soul Ring, and I am the second."

"Neither of us will fade away; we will always stay with you."

Huo Yuhao fell silent.

"Thank you."

"Stop thanking me. Cultivate properly and don't waste my power."

"Mhm."

Tianmeng's voice rang out as well.

"Little fellow, congratulations."

"You now have three martial souls."

"Thank you, Brother Tianmeng."

"Stop thanking me. Cultivate well from now on, and don't waste me and Bingbing's power."

"Mhm."

Huo Yuhao opened his eyes.

He looked out the window.

His heart was complex.

The Ice Emperor...

Tianmeng...

They wouldn't fade away.

They would always stay with him.

The flying soul tool continued its flight.

Evening.

Wang Dong looked at Huo Yuhao.

"Yuhao, did you really obtain a third martial soul?"

"Mhm."

"The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion... Ultimate Ice..."

Xiao Xiao was nearby.

"Yuhao, you'll be even stronger from now on."

"Thank you."

Quan Cangtian looked out the window.

He said nothing.

Zixiao walked over.

She stood beside him.

Quan Cangtian looked at her.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to stand next to you."

Quan Cangtian smiled.

"Alright."

Zixiao said nothing further.

She simply stood beside him.

Xiao Xiao watched this scene.

Her gaze was complex.

Yet she said nothing.

She merely turned her head to look out the window.

Night.

Quan Batian walked over to Quan Cangtian.

"Grandfather."

"You did well on this trip to the Far North."

"I just wanted to help Yuhao."

"I know. You care a lot about Yuhao."

"He's my brother."

Quan Batian nodded.

"Mhm. What are your plans for next?"

"Return to the Quan Family first, and let Yuhao stabilize his third martial soul."

"And then..."

"And then?"

"Then go to the Star Dou Great Forest."

Quan Batian's gaze sharpened.

"The Star Dou Great Forest?"

"Mhm. Yuhao needs his second and third soul rings."

"The Spirit Eye is a mental-attribute martial soul, so it needs mental-attribute soul beasts."

"The Star Dou Great Forest has the Mutated Twin Cyclops, top-tier mental-attribute soul beasts."

Quan Batian nodded.

"The Mutated Twin Cyclops... indeed suitable for the Spirit Eye."

"A 3,000-year second soul ring, a 6,000-year third soul ring."

"Millennium soul rings? Yuhao is only rank 30; he'll burst from the pressure."

"He won't. I have the Abundance Martial Soul."

"The Abundance Power can protect his meridians and nourish the soul ring fusion process."

Quan Batian's eyes lit up.

"Abundance Power... Right, you're right."

"And Sister Zixiao."

"She has reached rank 40 and needs a fourth soul ring."

"Zixiao's fourth soul ring..."

"A 20,000-year thunder-attribute sub-dragon species."

"The core area of the Star Dou Great Forest has the Thunder Vein Sub-Dragon, whose bloodline is close to a true dragon."

"20,000 years? Zixiao ate a fairy herb and her physique was strengthened; she should be able to absorb it."

"Mhm. Furthermore, I can use the Abundance Power to help her."

Quan Batian nodded.

"Good. The Thunder Vein Sub-Dragon is indeed suited for Zixiao Divine Thunder."

"Grandfather, are you coming with us?"

"Of course. The Star Dou Great Forest is dangerous, so I'll protect you all."

"Thank you, Grandfather."

Quan Cangtian smiled.

Quan Batian patted his shoulder.

"Get some good rest. Tomorrow we return to the Quan Family."

"Mhm."

Late at night.

Above Tianhun City.

The Nine Heavens Thunder Roc flew over Tianhun City.

Huo Yuhao looked at the city below.

It was brightly lit.

He sighed with emotion.

"This trip to the Far North... yielded huge gains."

"Mhm."

Huo Yuhao looked at Quan Cangtian.

"Eldest Brother, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"You helped me a lot on this trip to the Far North."

"You're my brother. Helping you is only right."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

He spoke no further.

The Nine Heavens Thunder Roc landed.

Quan Batian looked at Quan Cangtian.

"We've arrived."

"Mhm."

Quan Family Residence.

Late at night.

Everyone disembarked from the Nine Heavens Thunder Roc.

Quan Batian looked at Huo Yuhao.

"Yuhao, you rest first."

"Stabilizing your third martial soul takes time."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

"Yes, Elder Quan."

Quan Batian looked at Quan Cangtian.

"Cangtian, take Yuhao to the guest room."

"All right."

Quan Cangtian helped Huo Yuhao walk toward the guest room.

Zixiao followed behind.

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao followed as well.

Quan Batian watched their backs.

His gaze was complicated.

He turned around.

He walked toward his own room.

The Quan Family Residence.

Quan Batian's room.

He sat down.

He closed his eyes to rest his mind.

Suddenly—

His gaze sharpened.

He sensed something.

An unfamiliar aura.

Near the Quan Family Residence.

He stood up.

He walked to the window.

He looked out the window.

The night was deep.

He muttered in a low voice.

"Dark Soul Cult..."

He did not make a move.

He only watched.

That aura quickly vanished.

Quan Batian's gaze was complicated.

"They have come."

He turned around.

He sat down.

He continued to close his eyes and rest.

Yet his hand tightened into a fist.

The guest room.

Quan Cangtian helped Huo Yuhao inside.

"You rest first."

"Mm."

"Tomorrow, we begin stabilizing the third martial soul."

"Good."

Quan Cangtian turned to leave.

Huo Yuhao called out to stop him.

"Big Brother."

Quan Cangtian looked back.

"What is it?"

"Thank you."

Quan Cangtian smiled.

"Don't thank me. Rest well."

He turned around.

And left.

Huo Yuhao watched the back of him leaving.

Warmth filled his heart.

Big Brother...

He lay on the bed.

He closed his eyes.

The Ice Emperor's voice sounded.

Rest well. Starting tomorrow, you must adapt to my power.

"Mm."

Tianmeng's voice sounded as well.

Little fellow, sleep. Bingbing and I will guard you.

Huo Yuhao smiled.

"Mm."

He fell asleep.

Zixiao's room.

Zixiao lay on the bed.

She thought about today's events.

Quan Cangtian supporting Huo Yuhao.

Quan Cangtian telling Huo Yuhao "you are my brother".

Quan Cangtian smiling.

She closed her eyes.

He...

Was still that same him.

Quan Cangtian's room.

Quan Cangtian lay on the bed.

He thought about today's events.

Huo Yuhao obtained his third martial soul.

The Ice Emperor became a Wise Soul Ring.

The Star Dou Great Forest Plan.

Huo Yuhao's second and third soul rings.

Zixiao's fourth soul ring.

Starting tomorrow, they would be busy again.

He closed his eyes.

And fell asleep.

Quan Batian lay on the bed.

He thought about today's events.

Quan Cangtian's growth.

Huo Yuhao's third martial soul.

Zixiao's fourth soul ring.

And...

The Dark Soul Cult.

He opened his eyes.

He looked out the window.

The night was deep.

He muttered in a low voice.

"Dark Soul Cult..."

"If you dare to come..."

"I dare to kill."

Late at night.

Near the Quan Family Residence.

A dark figure stood on a rooftop.

Looking at the Quan Family Residence.

Murmuring in a low voice.

"The Quan Family..."

"Heavenly Fire..."

"We have arrived."

The dark figure vanished.

[Envoy of Elation Bullet Screen]: The Dark Soul Cult is here! Quan Batian: If you dare to come, I dare to kill!