The Second Martial Soul: Four-Not-Like

Tian Meng was furious now. Those ten orbs of light held a million years' worth of his Origin. Each contained energy comparable to a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and that old man had used one without so much as a word.

"You rotten old man, you—mmph!"

Before he could finish, Jiang Ziya waved his Whisk again, sealing Tian Meng's mouth.

"Why are you in such a rush, big bug? I haven't even told you where I used that energy."

Only when Tian Meng finally stopped writhing did Jiang Ziya explain the orbs to them.

"Big bug, didn't you give Yuhao a blank Martial Soul? I used part of your Origin to make one for him."

At Jiang Ziya's words, Tian Meng struggled wildly again. This time, he broke the chains covering his mouth.

"Old man, you've already fixed his Martial Soul? I was saving that for Bingbing!"

Tian Meng was so angry that his entire silkworm body turned as red as a boiled shrimp.

"Enough, big bug. I don't know what Soul Beast you had in mind for Yuhao's Martial Soul, but I'm confident the one I made suits him."

Tian Meng nearly laughed in exasperation. "Old man, I had a 390,000-year-old Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion lined up for Yuhao! That's an ultimate Martial Soul. How many Martial Souls in this world can compare?"

Jiang Ziya merely stroked his beard. "Big bug, have you ever heard of an Auspicious Beast?"

"An Auspicious Beast?"

Tian Meng froze. "Old man, do you mean the kind that brings good fortune to those around it?"

"What else?"

At that, Tian Meng's shrimp-red face changed at once. Smiling broadly, he walked up to Jiang Ziya and rubbed his little hands together. "Elder Jiang, you really are incredible! You made an Auspicious Beast Martial Soul just like that. You're a true god walking the earth!"

Huo Yuhao stared, dumbfounded, at Tian Meng's sudden change of face. So much for everything he had said a moment ago.

"Teacher, you said you made me a Martial Soul. What kind is it?"

"Heh. The Martial Soul I made for you is called Four-Not-Like. He was once my junior fellow disciple and my partner. Legend says he was born from a dragon and a qilin. You'll see when you go out."

Tian Meng chimed in, though he had no idea what a Four-Not-Like was. "Yuhao, Elder Jiang made you an extraordinary Martial Soul. It's an Auspicious Beast! With it, you'll face far fewer dangers on your path of cultivation."

After hearing them both, Huo Yuhao could hardly wait.

"Then how do I leave, Teacher? I want to see my Second Martial Soul."

"Calm your mind and focus your spiritual power. That's all."

When Huo Yuhao woke in the clearing again, he immediately sensed that his body had changed.

The moment he opened his eyes, his head felt strangely heavy. He slowly reached up. Instead of his scalp, his hand found a pair of horns.

He stood and activated his Second Martial Soul. Scales grew beside his eyes, then spread across his young hands until they formed a pair of sharp claws.

Strangest of all, cloudlike wisps began circling his feet. At a thought, they lifted him straight into the air.

"Teacher, Brother Sky Dream, look! I can fly! I can fly!"

Huo Yuhao was only six and a half. Life at the Duke's Estate had forced him to grow up early, but it had not erased the child in him.

"Hahaha! Those are Auspicious Clouds beneath your feet. One day, they'll carry you across mountains and rivers. You'll be able to go anywhere."

Tian Meng cut in again. "All right, Yuhao, stop showing off. We have to go. If we wait much longer, we won't get away."

"Why, Brother Sky Dream?"

"Didn't I tell you? Those fellows in the Star Dou Great Forest have been looking for me. Now your Martial Soul has turned into an Auspicious Beast, too. To them, we're irresistible. If we don't run now, we won't get another chance."

Huo Yuhao did not hesitate. He took a stretcher from his bracelet, put the still-sleeping Li Jun on it, then stepped onto his Auspicious Clouds and flew toward the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest with him.

Meanwhile, in the Core Zone of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Several enormous Ferocious Beasts rested beside the Lake of Life, which constantly radiated life energy. Terrifying auras rolled off their bodies.

On the shore lay a three-eyed lion more than three meters long, with golden fur and dragon claws. It suddenly opened all three eyes and looked toward Huo Yuhao.

"Auspicious Beast, did you sense it?"

A massive black dragon beside the lion spoke in a rumbling voice.

"I did, Di Tian. It felt like one of my kind."

Before Di Tian could respond, a giant bear with enormous claws rushed off in the direction Huo Yuhao had gone.

A cool voice stopped the bear just as he was about to leave.

"Wait, Xiong Jun."

Xiong Jun halted reluctantly. He disliked the order, but he did not dare defy its owner.

Di Tian transformed into a dignified middle-aged man in black imperial robes. He strode to the shore of the Lake of Life and spoke respectfully.

"Master, why stop Xiong Jun from pursuing the newly born Auspicious Beast? I also sensed that the big bug who escaped earlier went in the same direction."

Ripples spread across the still lake, and the cool voice came from below once more.

"That newly born Auspicious Beast appears to be human. It seems the big bug sacrificed himself to the boy and awakened his Auspicious Beast bloodline."

"A human?"

The Ferocious Beasts on the shore were stunned. Until now, Emperor Auspicious Beasts had only been born among Soul Beasts. Yet the second Auspicious Beast was a human.

"Master, why don't I bring him back? We can have him pass on his bloodline first."

"There's no rush, Di Tian. I sense there's more to that boy than meets the eye. Besides, you're already too late to catch him. He's human, so he'll have to return to the Star Dou Great Forest for Spirit Rings someday. We can wait until then."

With their orders given, the restless Ferocious Beasts on the shore settled down. They returned to the Lake of Life and fell asleep in its life-filled waters, waiting for Huo Yuhao to come back for a Spirit Ring.

The Auspicious Beast watched the Ferocious Beasts who had always cared for her enter the lake, then gave a few disgruntled growls.

"What's wrong, Auspicious Beast? Are you upset?"

A pale hand rested on her head and gently stroked it.

"Sister Bi Ji, I want to meet the other one of my kind!"

Behind the Auspicious Beast stood a woman in a dark green dress. At those words, she fondly smoothed the little one's fur.

"You'll have another chance. The Master said he's human. When he comes for a Spirit Ring, you can meet him then."

Comforted by Bi Ji's touch, the Auspicious Beast gave a few soft grumbles before reluctantly agreeing.

"All right, fine!"