Sky Dream Ice Silkworm

As the two ventured deeper, more Soul Beasts attacked them. But just as Li Jun had said, most of them were Wind Baboons.

After driving off yet another Wind Baboon, Li Jun brought Huo Yuhao to a stop. They had reached the boundary between the Outer Zone and the Mixed Zone.

The trees behind them were lush and tall, but they were dwarfed by those ahead. Ancient trees towered over the forest before them, their dense canopies shutting out the sun. Only when the wind stirred the leaves did a little sunlight slip through.

"Master Huo, let's rest here for a while. We can't go any deeper. From here, we'll search along the boundary for a suitable Soul Beast for you."

As he spoke, Li Jun swung his Mountain-Cleaving Saber, felling the trees around them to clear a small patch of ground. Then he lit a fire.

Watching black smoke rise from the crackling campfire, Huo Yuhao grew uneasy. "Uncle Li, isn't lighting a fire in the Star Dou Great Forest a bit conspicuous? What if it draws Soul Beasts here?"

Li Jun waved a hand. "Master Huo, look at what I just scattered."

Huo Yuhao followed his gesture to the edge of the clearing. Rings of white powder covered the ground.

"That's Soul Beast Repellent Powder. It makes Soul Beasts under a thousand years old uncomfortable and drives them away."

They rested in the clearing for half an hour. As Li Jun had promised, no Soul Beasts disturbed them. Once they had recovered, they prepared to search along the boundary.

Suddenly, the ground shook beneath their feet. It took all they had to keep their balance, while leaves poured from the surrounding trees like rain.

"Uncle Li, what's happening?"

Li Jun looked just as baffled, though his expression was grave. "I'm not sure, but something big may be coming. Get behind me, Master Huo. I'll cover your escape."

Before either of them could move, a shockwave burst from deep underground. Li Jun had no time to dodge. It struck him head-on and sent him flying into a tree, knocking him unconscious.

"Uncle Li, wake up! This is no place to sleep!"

Boom!

The ground beneath Huo Yuhao's feet split open. From the hole came a smug-sounding male voice. "I'm so moved! After all these years, I've finally found a spirit-type Soul Master."

The hole kept widening until a massive Soul Beast over ten meters long crawled out. Its body was as thick as a barrel, with ten golden rings around it. A pair of short antennae sat atop its head, above two beady eyes.

"Is that an Ice Silkworm?" Huo Yuhao asked hesitantly. He had seen the Ice Silkworms raised by the royal family at Xu Jiujiu's place. Even the largest had been only a few dozen centimeters long. The behemoth before him stretched more than ten meters.

"What's wrong, little guy? Mesmerized by my gorgeous body? Don't be shy. It's perfectly normal for someone your age to be drawn to me."

Huo Yuhao's mouth twitched. The moment this Ice Silkworm opened his mouth, every trace of tension vanished. Huo Yuhao edged toward Li Jun.

The Ice Silkworm seemed not to notice. He went on boasting. "Back in the day, I was the most handsome man in the Extreme North. Even the Three Heavenly Kings of the Far North were hopelessly smitten with me. Such a shame—" His eyes flicked toward Huo Yuhao, who had reached Li Jun.

"Hey, little brother, don't go!"

Damn, he spotted me!

Huo Yuhao hurriedly hoisted Li Jun onto his shoulders and ran.

His vision blurred. A huge shadow loomed in front of him.

"Don't run, little brother! I'm not going to eat you. I'm here to offer you an opportunity."

Huo Yuhao watched the Ice Silkworm warily. "What opportunity? What do you want from me?"

"Want a Second Martial Soul, little brother? Want a Million Year Soul Ring?"

"You can give me those?"

"Of course!" Pride and smug satisfaction spread across the Ice Silkworm's face.

"I'm the first Soul Beast in the Extreme North to reach a million years—the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm!"

Huo Yuhao hesitated. "So... you don't want to live anymore, and you want me to kill you for your Spirit Ring?"

Tian Meng bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Do you hear yourself? Who said I don't want to live? I mean I can sacrifice myself to you. Then I can give you a Million Year Soul Ring and a Blank Martial Soul."

Boom! Tian Meng's words struck Huo Yuhao like a thunderclap. He could hardly believe such an incredible opportunity had fallen into his lap.

Holding back his excitement, he asked cautiously, "Why choose me? I'm only a level-ten Soul Warrior."

Tian Meng wagged his head and held up one of his stubby hands. "First, you're spirit-type, just like me. Second, I have a feeling we're destined to meet. Third..."

Tian Meng was still talking when—

Roar!

Thunderous roars erupted from deep within the Star Dou Great Forest. They were so loud they could be heard even in the Outer Zone.

"Damn it! Those bastards just won't leave me alone!"

Tian Meng cursed at the interruption. His body swayed, and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm pressed his enormous head against Huo Yuhao's.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's vast Origin flowed steadily through their touching foreheads and into Huo Yuhao's body.

Feeling Huo Yuhao's body absorb his Origin like a bottomless pit, Tian Meng could not help exclaiming:

"Huh? This little guy's potential is incredible. His meridians are so wide! Looks like I won't have to spend any power remaking his body."

At that moment, the sky above the clearing changed. Countless clouds seemed to be drawn together, forming a vast swirling mass over the boy and the Ice Silkworm.

An aged voice rang out from the vortex.

"I grasp the sun and moon and pluck the stars; none in this world can compare to me!"

"Hahaha! To think a remnant of my soul still lingers in this world."

A gray-white orb of light flew from the vortex, heading straight for Huo Yuhao and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

"Who are you? How dare you try to steal him from me!"

Still merging with Huo Yuhao, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm sent a portion of his spiritual power at the orb. The instant it touched the orb's surface, it vanished like a drop of water in the sea. The orb then sank straight into Huo Yuhao's mind.