Spiritual Detection Sharing and the Ceasefire Domain

Huo Yuhao's story truly stunned Xu Jiujiu. She finally understood why the one chance she had ever used to make a prophecy had pointed to him.

The gifted boy she had brought home six months ago had become an unparalleled genius.

"Yuhao! Your sister really found a treasure. Come, give me a hug."

Xu Jiujiu spread her arms and pulled Huo Yuhao into an embrace.

Her sudden move left the young boy's face burning red.

"S-Sister Jiujiu, could you let go of me first?"

Only then did Xu Jiujiu realize how intimate her pose was. She released Huo Yuhao as though nothing had happened, but her steadily reddening earlobes betrayed her turmoil.

"Ahem. So... Yuhao, can you tell me about your first Soul Skill and your Second Martial Soul?"

To break the awkward silence, Xu Jiujiu steered the conversation back to what Huo Yuhao had gained from this Soul Hunt.

"Sure, but Sister Jiujiu, don't resist my spiritual power in a moment."

"What? Why so mysterious?"

No sooner had Xu Jiujiu spoken than she felt a powerful spiritual force enter her mind. Its cool touch made her instinctively want to summon her own spiritual power to repel the intrusion. Remembering Huo Yuhao's warning, however, she forced herself not to resist.

In an instant, she realized she could see what was behind her.

No—that wasn't right! She could observe every blade of grass and every tree in all directions. She could even make out the ants crawling over the bushes by the courtyard gate.

Seeing Xu Jiujiu's astonishment, Huo Yuhao asked with a hint of pride, "Well, Sister Jiujiu? Impressive, isn't it?"

"How incredible! This is practically a divine support skill!"

Once Huo Yuhao withdrew his Spiritual Detection Sharing, Xu Jiujiu forgot her embarrassment and grabbed his wrist.

Her violet eyes shone as she stared into his. "Yuhao, what's the maximum range of this Soul Skill?"

"Range?" Huo Yuhao frowned in thought.

"Right now, it covers a radius of fifty meters."

"Right now? You mean its range will keep growing?" Xu Jiujiu had caught the key phrase immediately.

"Yeah. Why, Sister Jiujiu?"

At his almost boastful reply, Xu Jiujiu's mouth twitched. Was the little rascal showing off?

Looking at his cheeky face, Xu Jiujiu reached out with both hands. She pinched his cheek with one and seized the chance to stroke the horns on his head with the other. She had wanted to touch them ever since she first saw them. At last, she had her chance.

"Sister Jiujiu!!! Don't... don't touch there! It tickles."

As Xu Jiujiu stroked his horns, a strange tingling sensation spread from the top of Huo Yuhao's head. Even his earlobes turned red beyond his control.

Only after she had thoroughly kneaded his face did Xu Jiujiu stop.

"Hmph. Let's see if you dare show off like that again."

Huo Yuhao could only beg for mercy. "I was wrong! I was wrong! Sister Jiujiu, I'm sorry."

Xu Jiujiu gave a soft huff. "As long as you know. What's your Second Martial Soul?"

"Well, my Second Martial Soul is the Soul Beast I absorbed. He didn't quite look like a qilin or a dragon, but he didn't look like a deer or a xiezhi either. So I named him Four-Not-Like."

As he spoke, Huo Yuhao used Martial Soul Possession to show Xu Jiujiu his Second Martial Soul.

Xu Jiujiu studied him with her pale-violet eyes. Golden scales covered his hands, turning them into a pair of dragon claws. Horns rose from his head, and golden scales adorned the corners of his eyes, making him look even more handsome.

"Mm, you look quite dashing. And it seems to be a Power Attack System Martial Soul!"

Watching Huo Yuhao grin foolishly, Xu Jiujiu clicked her tongue in wonder.

"Yuhao, is there magic in that mouth of yours? Before the Soul Hunt, you said you wanted more attack power. Then you went out for a Spirit Ring and came back with a Power Attack System Second Martial Soul."

"That must be a coincidence."

Xu Jiujiu waved a hand. "All right, I've seen everything. I won't disturb you and Aunt Huo any longer. I'll be going."

Just as Xu Jiujiu turned to leave, Man Yi, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly called out to her.

"Your Highness, the Huo boy's Second Martial Soul seems to have a domain as well."

"A domain?"

Huo Yuhao and Xu Jiujiu froze at the same time.

"How come I didn't know I had a domain? Senior Man Yi, could you have sensed it wrong?"

"These old senses of mine weren't mistaken. Neither you nor Her Highness noticed because it's a passive domain. Her Highness also hadn't summoned her Martial Soul, so she couldn't feel it."

At Man Yi's words, Xu Jiujiu immediately summoned her Martial Soul. A blue-and-gold crown studded with gems slowly appeared above her forehead, and three Spirit Rings—two yellow and one purple—rose beneath her feet.

"Hmm?"

As soon as Xu Jiujiu used Martial Soul Possession, she felt the suppression of Huo Yuhao's domain. She had a hunch that offensive Soul Skills would be weakened inside it.

She turned to Man Yi with that suspicion in mind. Man Yi gave a slight nod, confirming it.

Xu Jiujiu drew a sharp breath. A domain that suppressed attributes—and an innate domain at that. He was blessed beyond belief.

The heat in Man Yi's and Xu Jiujiu's gazes made Huo Yuhao's skin prickle.

"Senior Man Yi, Sister Jiujiu, what does my domain do?"

Xu Jiujiu bit her lip, full of envy. Still, she explained what she had felt.

"Yuhao, this domain of yours is extraordinary. When I used Martial Soul Possession just now, I felt your Martial Soul suppressing my offensive Soul Skills."

Seeing Huo Yuhao's puzzled expression, she added, "It weakened them by a full forty percent!"

"It's that powerful?"

Huo Yuhao could hardly believe it at first. Then he remembered that Teacher had used a tenth of Brother Sky Dream's Origin to create his Second Martial Soul. An effect like this was probably only natural.

Seeing Huo Yuhao fall silent, Xu Jiujiu asked gently, "Yuhao, what are you going to call this domain?"

Huo Yuhao thought of the legends Teacher had told him about Four-Not-Like, then considered the effect Xu Jiujiu had described. At last, he softly spoke two words.

"Ceasefire."

"Ceasefire?"

"Yes, Ceasefire. Since my domain can suppress offensive Soul Skills, it's like putting an end to fighting. That's why I'm calling it Ceasefire."

"A fine name!"