Could the Hōgyoku Do That Too?

Body Sect, council hall.

"Oh? Song Que, you want this?"

"Do you know what it is?"

Du Busi studied the crystal on the table, looking puzzled.

It was ice-blue and perfectly translucent, with a faint, cold blue glow flowing across its surface.

"Yes, Sect Master Du. This should be Ice Extreme Divine Crystal. Strictly speaking, it's a kind of rare metal."

"It isn't Ultimate Ice."

Du Busi looked a little disappointed. "What a shame. I thought it was something good. I was going to give it to Yuhao."

Song Que picked up the Ice Extreme Divine Crystal and examined it in his palm.

From within his Zanpakutō, the Hōgyoku sent him a sudden, powerful surge of longing.

Song Que's lips curved. "It is something good. It just won't do much for Yuhao."

"Ice Extreme Divine Crystal and Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow seem to form together. If this crystal formed there, there's a good chance the marrow is hidden nearby."

"And Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow would be a tremendous boost for Yuhao right now."

"Where did you find this crystal, Sect Master Du?"

Du Busi thought for a moment, then answered casually, "That old fellow Jinpeng stumbled across it near Dragon City, on the border of the Heaven Dou Empire."

"I thought it was some rare ice-attribute treasure. Turns out it's just a lump of metal."

"I've no use for it, so you can have it. Metals and Soul Tools have never interested me."

Delighted, Song Que cupped his hands. "Thank you, senior."

"When we have time, I'll take Yuhao to Dragon City and try our luck. We might actually find Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow."

"Fine." Du Busi turned to Huo Yuhao, his voice growing more serious. "I've spent the past few days teaching you the essentials of cultivating your Body Martial Soul."

"From now on, follow the Body Sect's methods to cultivate your Spirit Eyes. Aim to complete your silver-level second awakening as soon as possible."

"I'd hoped to find you a treasure that could raise your cultivation a few levels before the tournament, but it seems that won't happen."

Huo Yuhao answered respectfully, "Thank you for your careful guidance, teacher. Even without a treasure, I'll train hard. I won't let you down."

Song Que cut in with a smile. "All right. Vena's arranged a place for us to stay. Let's go get settled."

"Once Xu Sanshi gets back, we'll need to report to the academy we're joining and prepare for the tournament."

Huo Yuhao nodded. "Senior Bei Bei and the others should still be at the training ground. Let's go get them."

Song Que nodded, and the two rose. After bidding Du Busi farewell, they headed straight for the training ground.

A short while later, they arrived and joined Tang Ya and Wang Dong.

"Yuhao! Senior Song Que! You're here!"

Wang Dong's eyes lit up. She hurried over, took Huo Yuhao by the hand, and led him to a seat beside the arena.

Song Que gave Wang Dong an amused look and shook his head helplessly before turning toward the arena.

Bei Bei was fighting Long Aotian on the platform.

Song Que called out, "Bei Bei, stop holding back."

"The Soul Master Tournament is about to start. We don't have much time left to train."

"You won't find a better sparring partner than Long Aotian. Draw on your bloodline with everything you've got and let loose!"

Bei Bei glanced at Song Que outside the arena and sighed.

"Yeah, I know."

"I'll be weak for ages afterward."

He drew a deep breath, and his gaze suddenly sharpened.

Roar!

A deep dragon's roar rang through the training ground.

The blue-purple lightning around him instantly turned brilliant gold, while dazzling golden light gathered above his head.

The blue dragon scales of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon covering Bei Bei's right arm rapidly turned gold. His entire presence transformed.

Across from him, Long Aotian froze. Staring at Bei Bei's changed form, he instinctively stopped attacking, shock written across his face.

At the same time, deep within Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, the long-dormant Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Ice Empress appeared together. At the sight of the golden dragon's image above the arena, both cried out, "Golden Sacred Dragon!"

Song Que watched, thinking to himself:

Bei Bei's current state is probably similar to Gangzi's martial soul fusion. His awakening isn't complete.

But Bei Bei has real talent. Unlike Gangzi, he didn't awaken a Farting Pig and have to rely on martial soul fusion to unlock his potential.

Unfortunately, this form doesn't seem complete either. If I remember right, it took Mu En's help and a Soul Spirit for him to achieve his final, stable evolution.

I wonder if I can find a chance to speak with Electrolux inside Yuhao and figure out how to bring the Soul Spirit system into the world early.

That Ranked Engraving Knife made from Living Gold should be in the Star Luo Empire right now.

I'll have a chance to see it at the tournament. If I can get my hands on it, it'll help Electrolux and Yuhao enormously.

At that thought, the Hōgyoku sent out another pulse.

Song Que paused, then didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.

This Hōgyoku really wants to absorb everything.

It was a supreme treasure in the world of the Shinigami. How did it end up like this in my hands?

He sighed softly.

Well, I'll let it absorb this Ice Extreme Divine Crystal first and see what happens.

With that, Song Que took out the Ice Extreme Divine Crystal Du Busi had just given him and placed it in his left palm.

With a thought, his Zanpakutō appeared in his right hand.

None of the people beside him noticed what he was doing.

They were completely absorbed in the battle raging on the platform.

With his martial soul's spiritual consciousness evolved, Bei Bei's power and presence had risen dramatically.

Long Aotian began taking him seriously and gradually brought out his true strength to meet him head-on.

At the edge of the arena, Song Que narrowed his eyes and made his attempt.

How does this work? Do I just bring them together?

The instant the Ice Extreme Divine Crystal touched the blade of his Zanpakutō, it melted away and vanished.

Song Que raised an eyebrow. The Hōgyoku can do that? I don't remember the original Hōgyoku having this ability.

Does that mean my Zanpakutō can swallow other kinds of rare metal in the future? Maybe even Soul Tools?

Excitement stirred in Song Que as he considered the possibilities.

Then the Zanpakutō in his hand began to glow faintly.

Song Que's third Soul Ring slowly appeared and lit up.

Here it comes. Senbonzakura!

As the words left his mouth, pink light shimmered along his Zanpakutō, and countless ghostly petals seemed to bloom from the blade.

It worked! Hahahaha!

I finally did it before the tournament.