Opening

Huo Yuhao explained his skill to everyone and voiced his speculation.

"Judging from the soul skill I obtained, an Imprinted soul skill cannot be changed before it is used. That means the first soul skill that soul beast used just now was most likely Imprinted recently! If we search nearby, we can find the owner of that soul skill!"

Tang Ya could not help growing excited upon hearing this. That jade-glowing soul skill had not only been exceptionally good, but had also been perfectly suited to her martial soul's attributes. Its plant-controlling effect even seemed capable of helping her avoid some of the martial soul suppression suffered by plant-type martial souls! It was killing three birds with one stone!

"But we don't know what that soul beast looks like." Bei Bei rationally poured cold water on Tang Ya. After all, the greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment.

Huo Yuhao remained silent. He had already recognized that first soul skill as belonging to a Jade Sea Spirit Ape, but he could not say so. That was already beyond the knowledge of the original Huo Yuhao. If Xu Zihuang noticed something wrong with his identity, he would be in grave danger.

"Do not worry, you two. I recognized that first skill. It should belong to a Jade Sea Spirit Ape. This soul beast is jade-green all over, with dark-green pupils. It feeds on Jade Spirit Fruits. As long as we find Jade Spirit Fruits, we will certainly find it nearby."

Xu Zihuang, who had been standing by and watching the show, suddenly spoke up. Huo Yuhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had not expected this ominous figure to offer help. This way, Tang Ya would not miss out on a Soul Ring so suited to her.

"Really?" Tang Ya, who had been dispirited moments ago, excitedly slapped Bei Bei. "I want this one! Let's go find it!"

The group began searching the area. After driving back several waves of soul beasts, they actually found a Jade Spirit Fruit tree. They had already prepared themselves to wait for several days, but the food-protective Jade Sea Spirit Ape charged at them directly.

"Careful. The Jade Sea Spirit Ape has fed on Jade Spirit Fruits year-round and developed a mouthful of Jade Spirit Poison Mist. It is quite troublesome."

Upon hearing this, Bei Bei took out antidote pills and handed them to everyone. Having already experienced that skill once, Tang Ya did not repeat her mistake. Rather than use her martial soul, she fought with hidden weapons.

Bei Bei had already seen the Jade Sea Spirit Ape's soul skills, and the two of them no longer needed to conserve Soul Power while searching for other soul beasts. Under Bei Bei and Tang Ya's thunderous assault, the Jade Sea Spirit Ape could not hold out. It died and turned into a purple Soul Ring.

"Hahaha, look at my new soul skill—Every Plant a Soldier." Tang Ya proudly showed off after absorbing the Soul Ring. Jade light spread through the surrounding plants and could even be transmitted through Blue Silver Grass. This soul skill made Tang Ya's attacks far more unpredictable and difficult to defend against.

"Thank you both for allowing Xiao Ya to obtain such a compatible Soul Ring." Bei Bei spoke with sincere gratitude.

"N-No, I should be thanking you for helping me hunt a Soul Ring! Besides, Brother Yu was the one who recognized that soul skill." With Xu Zihuang still present, Huo Yuhao had to keep acting like a shy young man for a while longer, which left him rather exhausted.

"It was nothing. I merely mentioned it. Finding it was your good fortune." Xu Zihuang smiled faintly.

"By the way, Xiao Yutong, now that you have a Soul Ring, what are your plans for the future?"

"Plans?" Huo Yuhao already knew what Tang Ya was thinking, but he still put on a bewildered expression.

The following conversation between them was almost copied directly from the script. Huo Yuhao naturally joined the Tang Sect—albeit under the name Huo Yutong.

Huo Yuhao was now alone in the world, so joining the Tang Sect did not matter much. It was also a good chance to see the Tang Sect's ultimate arts, which had dominated the Douluo Continent for tens of thousands of years. During the time Huo Yuhao had lived in the White Tiger Duke's Estate, he had lacked sufficiently nutritious food, so all his cultivation could only focus on Soul Power and spiritual power. Although he had achieved some results, and his self-created spiritual combat technique was also a product of his cultivation, it ultimately lacked a proper framework. Having the Tang Sect's ultimate arts to reference could not have been better.

Xu Zihuang was invited as well, but he casually declined. Tang Ya and Bei Bei could only let the matter drop in disappointment.

Under Bei Bei's instruction, Huo Yuhao systematically studied the various Tang Sect techniques. The more he learned, the more absurd he found them.

These techniques had dominated the Douluo Continent for tens of thousands of years?

The external ultimate arts were somewhat impressive, and the methods for using Soul Power made Huo Yuhao click his tongue in wonder. But their foundation, the Mysterious Heaven Skill, was not profound in the slightest aside from being more complicated.

Of course, that was also because, during his previous life's adolescent delusions of grandeur, this Huo Yuhao had loved studying Daoist texts and all manner of occult classics. With the aid of those classics and the insights gained through cultivation in this life, he naturally found the Mysterious Heaven Skill disappointing.

What? You asked why someone in the throes of adolescent delusions of grandeur would study Daoist texts and occult classics? The author could not explain it either. Only those who had suffered from such a phase would understand. The author had a friend—really, a friend—who had even learned Latin because of it.

However, the soul masters of the Douluo Continent had not failed to make breakthroughs in cultivation techniques because they were stupid. Rather, researching martial souls and soul skills was far more cost-effective. Compared with the boost to combat strength provided by martial souls and soul skills, the boost offered by cultivation techniques was simply too small.

Violet Demon Eyes was still the ultimate art best suited to Huo Yuhao. It not only helped him improve his original method of training spiritual power, but also gave his self-created spiritual combat technique considerable range and power. It even inspired him to come up with ideas for several other spiritual combat techniques.

"Xiao Yutong learns so quickly!" Bei Bei was secretly astonished, guessing that this was one of the advantages of a spiritual-type martial soul. Yet Huo Yuhao was still not satisfied with this speed. It was not only far inferior to Xu Zihuang's, but would even struggle to surpass the original Huo Yuhao's.

Uh... speaking of which, who was stronger, Xu Zihuang or the original Huo Yuhao?

Along the way, Bei Bei was also very satisfied with Huo Yuhao's temperament. Rather than saying Huo Yuhao was diligent and hardworking, it would be more accurate to say that he was somewhat obsessed with cultivation.

Of course, that might have been difficult for people born on the Douluo Continent to understand. But for a transmigrator from Blue Star, simply being able to cultivate and possess supernatural abilities was enough to make anyone excited.

"...Xiao Yutong, are you listening?"

As they neared Shrek, Tang Ya began introducing Shrek's circumstances. But why would Huo Yuhao, who had read the original work, be interested? He gave a perfunctory response as though he were listening attentively, then continued deducing combat techniques.

"Then let me test you. What is Shrek's school motto?"

"Only cultivate monsters, not ordinary people."

If I route it through this meridian, it seems I can save a little Soul Power output...

"What departments does the Outer Academy have?"

"The Soul Engineering Department and the Martial Soul Department. The Martial Soul Department is further divided into several branches according to the type of soul master."

If I compress the Soul Power here, I can increase the power at the smallest possible cost...

"Am I pretty?"

"Not bad... huh?"

Huo Yuhao immediately received a rap on the head, and the blow made his scalp sting.

Tang Ya waved her fist in embarrassment and anger. Whether she was angry at Huo Yuhao's perfunctory attitude or his "not bad," Huo Yuhao suddenly felt guilty and began obediently listening to Tang Ya's lesson.

Xu Zihuang had been far too quiet along the way, making Huo Yuhao's heart prickle with unease. He suspected that Xu Zihuang might have noticed something. In truth, Huo Yuhao was overthinking it. The real reason was that Xu Zihuang considered Huo Yuhao, without Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, to be an untalented commoner whose lifelong limit would probably be no more than a Three-Ring Soul Elder. Speaking to him would lower Xu Zihuang's standing, while the Tang Sect was merely a small, insignificant sect.

Only an academic powerhouse like Shrek was worth his attention.

"Yutong, I will definitely find you... and avenge Master... Holy Spirit Cult!"

A red skylark stood on the young man's shoulder, chirping as though echoing its master's fury.

"Shrek... this will be where everything begins."

"Elder Yi, this junior will certainly help restore your body someday."

In the forest, a gray-robed youth spoke resolutely, yet no one stood beside him.

"Hehe, Elder Yi does not know this, but the Child of Fortune of this great world will also be going there."

"The enrollment period seems to be approaching. Is it time to set out?"

The young girl flicked her great spear, shaking the beast blood from its shaft.

"Wang Dong'er, let's see how you beat me this time."

"As long as I avoid Emotions Valley of Heaven and Earth from here on, there should basically be no danger."

"Hehehe, watch carefully. This is how the power of the principal wife is used!"