Qi Xuan perked up and hurried after the scent of grilled fish.
Sure enough, beside a small stream, a delicate-featured boy was carefully cooking fish over a grill.
It was the eleven-year-old Huo Yuhao.
"Wow, that smells amazing." Qi Xuan eagerly leaped out of the bushes, startling Huo Yuhao.
But once Huo Yuhao saw that Qi Xuan was about his age, he relaxed again.
He took a grilled fish off the rack and held it out to Qi Xuan. "Here, have some."
Though seasoned with nothing but perilla and salt, Huo Yuhao's cooking was superb. Even Qi Xuan couldn't help praising it.
After finishing the fish, Qi Xuan held out his hand to Huo Yuhao and said solemnly, "My name is Qi Xuan. Thank you for the grilled fish."
Caught a little off guard, Huo Yuhao hastily wiped his hand on his clothes. "My name is Huo Yuhao. You're welcome. My mother said that when you're away from home, you should look out for one another."
As he spoke, his eyes dimmed briefly.
Qi Xuan nodded. "Then did you come to the Star Dou Great Forest to look for a Soul Ring too?"
Huo Yuhao nodded. "Yes."
Qi Xuan slapped his thigh. "What a coincidence! I'm looking for a Soul Ring too. Let's go together."
"Huh?" Huo Yuhao had suffered bullying since childhood. He had never met anyone as enthusiastic as Qi Xuan, and hurriedly tried to wave off the offer.
Qi Xuan caught his hand and looked firmly into his eyes. "You shared your grilled fish with me the first time we met. That makes us friends already. And shouldn't friends help each other?"
Huo Yuhao blinked his Spirit Eyes, which actually grew a little moist. Only after a long moment did he say, "But... but I'm only level ten, and I need a Spiritual System Soul Beast..."
His voice grew quieter as he spoke. Spiritual System Soul Beasts were rare across the continent and seldom encountered.
Qi Xuan's expression didn't change at all. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you get a suitable Soul Ring."
Worried you won't find a Soul Ring?
No problem. One will come looking for you in a moment.
Qi Xuan had no designs on Brother Sky Dream. Neither his mental nor his ice attribute suited Qi Xuan. Even with the chance of acquiring the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion as a second martial soul, Huo Yuhao needed him more.
But he needed another fortuitous encounter-Elder Yi.
If he wanted to stand against God-King Tang, becoming a god was a road he had to take. But it would be difficult to obtain a divine seat in Douluo without attracting God-King Tang's attention.
Then he would have to find a way to achieve self-created godhood.
As luck would have it, there was a highly experienced demigod from another world here, one with top-tier combat strength-
The Holy Necromancer, the Undead Calamity, Electrolux!
Though only a wisp of his remnant soul remained, Elder Yi possessed a wealth of experience. For Qi Xuan, who had no idea where to begin with self-created godhood, that would be an enormous help.
Besides, he truly couldn't bear Elder Yi's eventual fate of having his soul scattered to oblivion.
Looking into Qi Xuan's clear eyes, Huo Yuhao felt touched. He pressed his lips together and silently bolstered his courage.
Mom, I've made my first friend!
The two packed up their belongings and headed deeper into the forest.
Not long afterward, a young man and a young woman arrived.
"It smells so good, Bei Bei. Huh? Why isn't anyone here?" A lively girl approached along the stream, followed by a sunny, refined boy.
"Xiao Ya, you're far too impatient." Bei Bei shook his head helplessly and looked around carefully. "It looks like someone was grilling fish here, but they left a while ago."
Tang Ya sighed with deep regret. "Ah, if it smells this good, it must taste delicious too."
"Wow! Both your Soul Rings are purple?" Huo Yuhao stared in shock at the two Soul Rings rising around Qi Xuan.
As far as he knew, anyone below Soul Elder could withstand, at most, a yellow hundred-year Soul Ring. For a moment, he was both astonished and envious.
Qi Xuan inwardly rolled his eyes. You've got some nerve saying that. This whole rainbow of Soul Rings started with you.
"This is the result of Thunder Method Body Tempering. Your body is too weak right now. Once you get your first ring, I'll help temper your body too. It hurts a little, but this way, you'll be able to absorb a purple Soul Ring at level twenty."
Overjoyed, Huo Yuhao clenched his fists and said firmly, "That's fine. I'm not afraid of pain!"
While the two were talking, an immense mental pressure descended upon them, accompanied by a jubilant cry:
"I finally found a human with a mental attribute! Too bad I can't cry, or tears would be streaming down my face!"
A wave of mental energy spread outward. The temperature plummeted, and the ground slowly cracked open as a pure-white silkworm emerged.
Because Huo Yuhao had a mental attribute, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was exceedingly careful with him. Qi Xuan wasn't so lucky. The mental assault backed by the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's million years of cultivation made him bleed from all seven orifices, nearly knocking him unconscious.
Of course, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had intended to knock Qi Xuan out in the first place. He didn't particularly care whether Qi Xuan lived or died.
But as a transmigrator, Qi Xuan possessed mental strength beyond that of ordinary people and could just barely withstand the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's mental pressure.
To keep the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm from hitting him with another assault, Qi Xuan smoothly collapsed to the ground and pretended to have passed out.
"You're saying you're a million-year Soul Beast, and you want to become my Soul Ring?" Huo Yuhao's gaze was dazed. This truly shook his understanding of the world.
Though Qi Xuan's two Thousand-Year Soul Rings were astonishing, they were at least within Huo Yuhao's understanding. A million-year Soul Beast, however, was something he had never even heard of.
"You're lucky, kid. I've been driven into a corner with nowhere left to turn. Otherwise, would I become your Wisdom Soul Ring?"
Huo Yuhao turned to look at Qi Xuan, who lay sprawled on the ground. "What did you do to Brother Qi?"
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm bobbed his head. "He probably just passed out. He isn't a Spiritual System type, after all."
Huo Yuhao ran to Qi Xuan's side and checked his breathing. Only after confirming that his life wasn't in danger did he look back at the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.
"I can accept you as my Soul Ring, but you have to heal Brother Qi first."
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm grew exasperated. "Come on, man, we're short on time! A million years! A Wisdom Soul Ring! Is that something I can casually reveal in front of someone else? Besides, have you two even known each other for half a day?"
Huo Yuhao remained firm. "Wake him up first, or there's nothing to discuss."
For a moment, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was choked speechless. He could only reluctantly release a gentle wave of mental energy to soothe Qi Xuan's mind.
"He's fine now. He'll wake up naturally in an hour. Happy?"
Watching Qi Xuan breathe steadily, Huo Yuhao made up his mind. "I'm sorry, Brother Qi. I'll make it up to you for the injury you suffered."
Seeing Huo Yuhao nod, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He began repeatedly reinforcing the seals on himself, preparing to merge into Huo Yuhao's body.
Just then, the sky, which had been perfectly clear a moment earlier, suddenly darkened. A thunderous boom rang out high above, and a gray stream of energy hurtled straight toward Huo Yuhao's brain.
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm flew into a rage. "What dares steal my human?"
An immense surge of mental energy instantly rushed out, attempting to block the gray stream.
Unfortunately, the gray stream remained completely unaffected.
Just as it was about to enter Huo Yuhao's mind, Qi Xuan struggled to lift his head beside him and haltingly uttered a name.
"E... lec... tro... lux."
And within Qi Xuan's Sea of Consciousness, a majestic voice resounded like thunder:
"How does a little child like you know my name?"
Before you continue