Nightmare Ant, Huo Lei's Fiery Golden Eyes

Tang San clutched his right foot with both hands and spun in place in pain.

Seeing Tang San's embarrassing state, Dugu Bo grew curious and looked down at the ground. There, he spotted a pitch-black ant three inches long—a ten-year Nightmare Ant.

Dugu Bo stepped forward and crushed it beneath his foot, letting out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha~"

Tang San stopped spinning and looked at Dugu Bo while enduring the pain. He demanded irritably, "Old Monster, is it really that funny?"

"Of course it is. Hahaha!"

Only when Dugu Bo saw that Tang San seemed angry did he stop laughing. "Nightmare Ants truly live up to their name. Even you, Tang San, can be left with a nightmare by one."

"Little Monster, sit down and rest for a while! Luckily, it was only a ten-year Nightmare Ant, so it was not too powerful. With your strength, the pain should fade after about fifteen minutes. If a hundred-year one bit you, it would hurt for at least two hours."

Tang San sat cross-legged on the ground, circulating his Soul Power to neutralize the poison and resist the pain. At the same time, he asked Dugu Bo in confusion, "Old Monster, it's only a ten-year Nightmare Ant. How can it be this powerful? Although I'm only in my thirties in terms of level, my strength and body can rival a Soul Ancestor or even a Soul King."

"What Nightmare Ants release is a mixed poison, not a single toxin, so it is naturally stronger. On the other hand, some soul beasts cannot be judged solely by their cultivation age. Many have low cultivation, yet can unleash combat power far beyond what their age suggests. You could say they are exceptionally gifted—just like you, Little Monster."

Dugu Bo patiently explained the mysteries behind it to Tang San.

"Oh! So that's how it is! Old Monster, don't tell anyone about what just happened, or I'll be laughed to death."

Tang San looked at Dugu Bo with a pleading expression.

"Do I look like someone who likes to gossip? Don't worry, I won't tell your companions about this. Hahaha~" Dugu Bo laughed triumphantly, as though he had caught Tang San by the tail.

"Old Monster, you..." Tang San was speechless.

Luckily, only Dugu Bo was here. He won't tell anyone about this. If those two, Oscar and Ma Hongjun, had been here, they definitely wouldn't have been able to keep it secret.

Tang San felt a wave of relief in his heart.

Fifteen minutes later, Tang San was surprised to find that, just as Dugu Bo had said, the pain had faded. He glanced at Dugu Bo and a thought arose in his mind. This Old Monster knows so much about Nightmare Ants. Could it be that he was bitten by one too?

"Little Monster, if you're better, get up and continue on the road! I don't want to spend the night in here."

Dugu Bo calculated that the time was about right and urged Tang San onward.

"Old Monster, you're even more anxious than I am?" Tang San stood up and glanced at Dugu Bo.

"Of course! I'm in a hurry to find a Soul Bone for my granddaughter! Do you think Soul Bones are so easy to find?"

Dugu Bo retorted, leaving Tang San unable to respond.

All he could do was say helplessly, "Old Monster, you're right. Let's keep moving."

Dugu Bo and Tang San said nothing more as they walked side by side into Death Grand Canyon.

Three days later.

Huo Lei and his group had already returned to Blazing Fire Academy. On their way back, they passed through Red Rock City and exchanged most of the soul beast corpses they had collected for Gold Soul Coins. They only kept a few of the higher-aged ones and sent them to the academy cafeteria, improving the students' meals and earning some goodwill.

Night fell, and Huo Lei returned to his room. He dove onto the soft bed and let out a long sigh. "Ahh—! Nothing beats being home! No golden nest or silver nest is as good as one's own doghouse."

Huo Lei rolled over and sprawled out like a starfish, staring at the ceiling above. Though somewhat tired, he was not sleepy in the slightest. His thoughts began to wander through his mind.

The Soul Ring produced by the Golden-Eyed Fire Eagle gave me a soul skill that can see through illusions. It's extremely useful. The Soul Master Tournament is full of talented people, and all kinds of martial souls will surely appear. This soul skill undoubtedly makes up for one of my greatest weaknesses. But it seems it can only see through illusions of the same rank or lower. When I tested it against Lin Yin, I couldn't see through his concealment. He's a full ten levels above me, so it's not embarrassing that I couldn't see through it, but it still annoys me.

Right! I nearly forgot. There's still a stalk of Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew in the Wishful Treasure Pouch that I haven't consumed. The original work mentioned that consuming it could cultivate Fiery Golden Eyes, granting the ability to see through countless wondrous things.

Huo Lei sprang up from the bed and landed directly on the floor. He took out the Wishful Treasure Pouch from his Storage Ring. With a stir of his thoughts and an infusion of Soul Power, he instantly retrieved the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.

An unremarkable-looking medicinal herb appeared before Huo Lei. It was entirely emerald green. Strangely, three snow-white leaves grew at its center, with several droplets of water in the middle of those leaves, like morning dew left behind at dawn.

Huo Lei smiled excitedly, put away the Wishful Treasure Pouch, and held the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew before him. Tilting it slightly, the few transparent droplets immediately fell into his mouth. The instant those droplets completely left the leaves, the entire herb withered in Huo Lei's hand, turning to dust in the blink of an eye and scattering from his palm.

Huo Lei immediately sat cross-legged on the ground and began cultivating.

The night quickly passed.

The next morning.

Huo Lei awakened from cultivation. When he opened his eyes, golden light burst forth, bathing the entire room in gold.

His eyes had originally been violet. After absorbing his fifth Soul Ring, they had already turned golden-violet. Now, after consuming the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, they had evolved once more, transforming completely into gold.

Huo Lei looked around the room and was stunned to discover that he could even see the clothes hanging inside the wardrobe. Excited, he swept his gaze across several other places, all with the same result.

As time passed, the light in Huo Lei's eyes gradually faded, and they soon returned to normal.

When I channel Soul Power into my eyes, I can see through the true nature of things. I wonder how much my fifth soul skill has changed after consuming the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew? I'll go find Lin Yin and test how effective my Fiery Golden Eyes are.

After making up his mind, Huo Lei snapped back to his senses, sprang up from the ground, and rushed outside.

"Knock, knock, knock! Lin Yin, open the door." Huo Lei stood outside and called while knocking.

The door opened. "Young Master Lei, so early?" Lin Yin greeted him lazily. Then his mouth fell open in surprise. "Young Master Lei, why have your eyes turned golden?"

"Have they? Hurry and bring me a mirror." Huo Lei was shocked and confused. He had no idea that his eyes had already transformed.

Lin Yin handed him a mirror. "Young Master Lei, please look."

Huo Lei examined himself in the mirror and found that his eyes had indeed turned gold. Perhaps it's because I consumed the immortal herb, he guessed inwardly.

"Last night, I ate a medicinal herb and began cultivating. When I woke up today, I felt that my eyes had improved greatly. I didn't expect them to turn gold. Lin Yin, I came to find you because I want to test my new ability." Huo Lei briefly explained what had happened and stated his purpose.

In a small grove within Blazing Fire Academy, Huo Lei and Lin Yin walked side by side.

The corners of Huo Lei's lips lifted as he said, "Lin Yin, use your strongest concealment ability. Let's see whether I can see through it."

Lin Yin nodded slightly and walked toward a large tree. At the same time, he activated his martial soul, and a yellow Soul Ring pulsed into view. "Young Master Lei, I'm starting now. First soul skill, Perfect Unity."

Lin Yin pressed his body against the trunk. The color of his entire body instantly shifted, and in the next moment, his figure had vanished.

The ability was truly miraculous. Every time Huo Lei saw Lin Yin use his concealment ability, he could not help but marvel.

Huo Lei called toward the front, "Lin Yin, you can change positions however you like, as long as you don't leave this little grove. Then I'll tell you exactly where you are."

Lin Yin did not answer Huo Lei. Instead, he quietly changed positions.

"Lin Yin, hide properly. I'm starting."

After giving the warning, Huo Lei began to act. He circulated Soul Power into his eyes and softly shouted, "Fiery Golden Eyes."