The weight of loss was too heavy

"If it really comes to that, let Tian Meng take my place."

"Y-you, what are you saying? Do you realize that even if you go over there, you might not be able to save him? If he doesn't come back and you die too, which of you is going to avenge Huo Yun'er?"

At the mention of her mother, Huo Yuyao's expression shifted.

"R-right. I have to avenge Mom. If Brother Xiao Mo is gone, and I'm gone too, who will avenge her? No, I have to get revenge. But Brother..."

Seeing Huo Yuyao caught in her dilemma, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was about to speak when he suddenly sensed a familiar fluctuation of spiritual power. Surprise gave way to relief on his face.

"All right, Little Yao. Go back out first."

"No."

Huo Yuyao pouted like a disobedient child.

"Hehe, you don't have a choice. Don't worry. Once you're out, you'll see the person you want to see."

Before Huo Yuyao could finish listening to the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, she was ejected the next instant.

"Waaah!"

When she opened her eyes again, the girl saw a familiar face looking at her.

"..."

Huo Yuyao still hadn't quite registered what was happening. All she heard were the delighted voices around her.

"Ah, Lin Mo! You're awake!"

Meng Hongchen's voice was so loud that it rang clearly throughout the arena. Xiao Xiao and Jing Ziyan, who were closest to her, along with the newly awakened Lin Mo, were left dazed by the sound.

Lin Mo suffered most of all. Having only just woken up, he nearly passed out again at that shout.

"Sorry for worrying everyone."

Lin Mo sat up and scratched his head awkwardly.

He was just about to get up when Ji Juechen pressed him back down.

"Wait for the doctor to examine you again. Dean Jing said you needed a checkup after waking up."

Forced to lie back down, Lin Mo looked at Huo Yuyao beside him, who was also being examined.

There was something strange in her gaze, but her reddened eyes and undried tear tracks made the pain she had just endured plain to see.

"Sorry, Little Yao. I made you worry."

Lin Mo reached out and gently stroked Huo Yuyao's head. She said nothing, merely looking at him with a trace of hurt before nodding.

The three other girls exchanged glances at the sight, then simply gave meaningful smiles.

After a series of examinations, the medical staff confirmed that nothing was wrong and left the competition platform. Meanwhile, Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen arrived on the platform one after the other.

Seeing Lin Mo and Huo Yuyao chatting with everyone, they finally breathed a little easier. These were two extraordinarily special geniuses, after all, and Jing Hongchen certainly didn't want either of them coming to harm.

After asking some questions and confirming that there were no serious problems, Jing Hongchen and Kong Deming asked Lin Mo to demonstrate his second Soul Skill.

"Actually, my second Soul Skill is pretty similar to my First Soul Skill."

As he spoke, Lin Mo summoned his Mystic Sword Martial Soul.

The ancient-looking Mystic Sword hadn't changed much in appearance, except that its edge was even sharper.

Light shone beneath Lin Mo's feet, and two extremely unusual Soul Rings slowly emerged. Although everyone had already expected this, they were still shocked at the sight.

The first to rise was Lin Mo's First Soul Ring. Its pure white light actually soothed everyone's initial shock, an effect his first ring hadn't possessed before.

The ring that rose next was pitch-black as ink. A single glance was enough to stir traces of fear in those with lower Soul Power.

"Sure enough, another unusual Soul Ring."

The black Soul Ring hovering around Lin Mo was not the color a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring on the continent should have been, nor did it bear any patterns.

"Even their names are similar. My First Soul Skill is called Extreme Yang, while my second Soul Skill is called Extreme Yin."

[Extreme Yin]: Activates the yin power within the sword. While this Soul Skill is active, perception and speed increase by 30%.

At the same time, it can create a physical Puppet Clone with 50% of the user's strength to fight.

Furthermore, after activating this Soul Skill, attacks against sacred, angelic, and supreme yang Martial Souls and Soul Skills have double the effect.

After hearing Lin Mo's explanation, everyone understood why he had said the two Soul Skills were both similar and opposite.

"Yin and yang?"

Kong Deming seemed to be murmuring to himself.

"Yin and yang, huh."

Inside Huo Yuyao's Sea of Consciousness, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Yanmasa stroked their chins in thought.

"Tian Meng, do you know about it?"

Huo Yuyao looked at the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm somewhat sheepishly. After all, that incident had only just happened.

"Hmm? Little Yao, you seem awfully shy."

"Ugh..."

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm immediately floated behind Huo Yuyao and draped an arm around her shoulders, wearing a mischievous grin.

Huo Yuyao's little face flushed crimson, and she couldn't find any words. Thinking back on her impulsive behavior just now, she wished she could find a crack to crawl into.

"The term yin and yang rarely appears on the continent. Almost every known reference to it comes from Di Tian."

"Di Tian? That Beast God?"

"Yes, Beast God Di Tian, the strongest being on the continent at present. While humans at his level can only cultivate dual Soul Cores, he created his own method called yin-yang complementary dual Soul Cores. The two Soul Cores rotate in opposite directions, balancing and depending on each other to raise his upper limit."

"Balancing and depending on each other, yet opposing each other... Hmm, that sounds like Brother Xiao Mo's two Soul Skills. They enhance him in different directions, too. Extreme Yang is especially effective against evil Soul Masters, while Extreme Yin is especially effective against Soul Masters with sacred powers."

"Now that you mention it, they really are alike."

After a little more conversation with Jing Hongchen and Kong Deming, everyone finally left the arena.

Xiao Xiao walked near the front beside Huo Yuyao, her arm linked through Huo Yuyao's, while Lin Mo followed half a step behind.

"Are you two really going to the Far North?"

"Yes. I need to obtain my Second Soul Ring."

Indeed, that was what Lin Mo had just discussed with Jing Hongchen and Kong Deming. Of the three youngsters, Xiao Xiao and Lin Mo had now made their breakthroughs in succession, leaving only Huo Yuyao stuck at level 20.

Jing Hongchen had intended to take this opportunity to send someone with Huo Yuyao to hunt a Mental Attribute Soul Ring, but Lin Mo had stopped him.

Lin Mo had originally planned to find a chance to speak with Jing Hongchen in private, but after some thought, he decided to explain the situation right then.

After several rounds of discussion, they finally decided that Kong Deming would send a Titled Douluo to accompany the two of them. However, that person would wait for them in the town closest to the Far North and would not interfere with their acquisition of a Soul Ring.

"You're going to leave me behind? Boo-hoo-hoo..."

Xiao Xiao's "crying" was truly "heartbreaking."

"Xiao Xiao, you're exaggerating. We'll be back in a month."

Huo Yuyao gently stroked Xiao Xiao's head, making Lin Mo laugh as he followed them.

After absorbing her Second Soul Ring, Xiao Xiao was already 170 centimeters tall, while Huo Yuyao was only 152. With an eighteen-centimeter height difference between them, Xiao Xiao even had to bend at the waist while holding Huo Yuyao's arm.

The sight of the shorter Huo Yuyao patting Xiao Xiao's lowered head made the scene even more amusing.

The three reached their dorm rooms while chatting and laughing, and Xiao Xiao finally released Huo Yuyao's arm.

"Be careful on the road tomorrow, then. Come back soon."

Lin Mo had originally planned to leave in another couple of days, but the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's constant urging had forced him to move their departure up to tomorrow.

"Mm-hmm. We'll come find you first thing when we get back."

Huo Yuyao waved goodbye to Xiao Xiao as well. Only after the girl closed her door did Lin Mo breathe a sigh of relief.

"Are you really going, kid?"

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm assumed a human spiritual form and hovered in the air, looking at Lin Mo with a complicated expression.

"Of course. Little Yao is my little sister. Honestly, I don't really want her too far away from me, especially somewhere so dangerous. At the very least, I want to stay nearby so we can look out for each other."

"Oh, come on. We're going to the Far North. That's my home, and the one we're looking for is a good friend of mine. You really don't need to worry."

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm hadn't concealed anything about the Ice Empress, instead telling them everything without reservation. The two were so extraordinarily close that keeping it secret wouldn't have served much purpose anyway.

Besides, he knew about Electrolux inside Lin Mo. If Electrolux wished, he could even search someone else's Sea of Consciousness without them noticing.

Yet after hearing his explanation, Lin Mo had unexpectedly insisted on going with them.

"That's different. Besides, I've discussed it with my teacher. We need to make a trip to the Far North too."

"Well..."

At Lin Mo's serious expression, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm pulled a sour little face.

"Do you take me for an idiot? Couldn't you come up with a better excuse?"

"Ahaha."

With his excuse exposed, Lin Mo could only scratch his head awkwardly.

"That's right, Brother Xiao Mo. Just stay at school. I don't want you going somewhere so dangerous."

Huo Yuyao's words were so direct that even Lin Mo, oblivious as he was to romance, felt something inexplicable stir.

"If it's dangerous, then I have even more reason not to let you go alone. My teacher didn't actually tell me we needed to go to the Far North, but he did agree to it. He also said he'd help if we ran into danger."

"Well..."

Upon hearing that Electrolux would intervene, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said nothing more and zipped back into the Sea of Consciousness.

"Brother Xiao Mo."

Huo Yuyao pouted unhappily. She thought her brother was far too stubborn.

"With Tian Meng there and a Titled Douluo protecting us on the road, I'll be fine. Please don't come to the Far North with me."

After what had happened that day, Huo Yuyao was ten thousand times more unwilling to let Lin Mo do anything dangerous again. She didn't even want him going anywhere that was relatively dangerous.

She never wanted to experience that feeling of someone important nearly disappearing before her eyes a second time.

"Mm, no. I actually do have something to do in the Far North, but that's my own business. Don't worry. I'll take care of myself, and I'll protect you too."

As he spoke, he reached out and patted Huo Yuyao's head, just as he always did.

Sure enough, life at school has really helped Little Yao.

Recalling the timid, shy, introverted little girl she had once been, Lin Mo watched her grow prettier and more outgoing by the day, and truly felt as though his little girl was blossoming into a young woman.

Her expressions are getting livelier too. So cute.

"Ugh, didn't I tell you? Tian Meng will protect me too."

The girl pursed her lips and replied with some dissatisfaction, but she didn't dodge Lin Mo's hand.

"Tian Meng is Tian Meng, and I'm me. If I were strong enough, I wouldn't even want you going anywhere dangerous. I'd just want you to grow up happy."

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Huo Yuyao hurriedly shook her head.

"No. I want to get stronger too. Strong enough to avenge Mom, and strong enough to protect you."

"Really? Then give it a try. Let's see whether you can become stronger than me."

"Hmph, once I get my Second Soul Ring, I'll challenge you, Brother Xiao Mo."

"Oh? Issuing me a challenge? All right, I'll accept. Let's see whether a little squirt like you can beat me."

The two smiled at each other, and Lin Mo withdrew his hand.

"All right, let's leave it there. Get some rest early tonight. We officially set off tomorrow."

"Ah? Mm... Mm."

Seeing her nod in agreement, Lin Mo swiped open his own dorm room door first.

"Good night, then."

After entering his room, he was about to close the door when Huo Yuyao reached out to stop him.

"W-wait, Brother. Wait, wait!"

Seeing that Lin Mo was about to close the door, Huo Yuyao immediately pressed her hand against it.

"What's wrong?"

Realizing what she had done, Huo Yuyao scratched her head awkwardly.

Why is this happening? Why do I instinctively think of what happened this morning whenever I see Brother Xiao Mo closing his door?

Determined not to trouble Lin Mo, Huo Yuyao had intended to say it was nothing and leave. Yet for some reason, her mouth and body made a different choice.

"I-I'm a little scared. Could I sleep with you tonight, Brother?"

"Huh?"

Watching the girl blush as she said those words, Lin Mo's first reaction was utter bewilderment.

"Because... because if you close the door, I'll instinctively think about what happened to you this morning. I won't be able to sleep."

At a loss for what to do, she could only pour out everything on her mind.

After listening to her explanation, Lin Mo thought it over for a moment, then nodded.

"All right, but just this once. You're already this old, after all."

Seeing that Lin Mo showed no disgust or any other negative emotion, and had instead agreed so quickly, she relaxed.

Huo Yuyao nodded repeatedly in delight.

"Th-thank you, Brother Xiao Mo. I-I'll go back to my room and take a bath first, then come over."

After saying that, she took the initiative to close his door this time, then returned to her own room.

Lin Mo didn't think much of it after she closed the door. Her age was what it was, after all. He first went to the bathroom to take a bath, then sat cross-legged on his bed.

This breakthrough didn't just give me a stronger body. Even my spiritual power advanced by leaps and bounds. With my physical strength alone, it seems I could put up a fight against a high-level assault-type Soul Elder.

As he thought, he entered a state of cultivation and waited quietly.