Back aboard the aircraft, Lin Mo cheerfully watched Ye Guyi meditate and tend to her injuries.
Ye Yulin and Huo Yuyao both noticed this. Ye Yulin had originally thought Lin Mo was helping the academy recruit talent, but the smile on his face suddenly made him wonder if he had been overthinking things.
This fellow... could he just be chasing a pretty face?
Like Ye Yulin, Huo Yuyao was also watching Lin Mo.
As the girl looked at the smile on her brother's face, disappointment unconsciously crept onto hers. She did not know why, either, but seeing Lin Mo smile at Ye Guyi made her unhappy.
She could not help recalling what had happened in the Far North, then lowered her head to look at herself.
"Waaah."
Sensing Huo Yuyao's emotions, the Ice Empress woke from her slumber. Seeing the girl's forlorn expression and what had just happened, she immediately understood. She was about to speak when the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm stopped her.
"Mmph! Y-you, what are you doing, Little Dream?"
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, who had awakened at some point, slid off the Ice Empress and made a shushing gesture.
"You silly Bingbing. Were you about to tell her to take what she wanted if she liked it?"
After shooing the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm away, the Ice Empress smoothed her hair and said matter-of-factly,
"What else? Can't you tell Little Yao likes that Lin Mo?"
"Oh, you only just got here, so you don't know."
Unlike in the original story, the Ice Empress now existed as a soul spirit rather than a Wisdom Soul Ring. As a result, she could not see past events and naturally knew nothing of what had happened between the two before.
"Actually, blah blah blah, yada yada yada..."
"So the two of them are technically brother and sister now?"
"Mm-hmm. With something like this, it's better to let them gradually figure it out themselves. Especially since Little Yao might not even understand what these feelings she's experiencing are."
"That won't do. What if it holds up her cultivation?"
"Oh, emotions are part of cultivation, too."
After hearing the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's words, the Ice Empress stared straight at him.
"W-what is it, Bingbing?"
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm felt there was something strange about her gaze, but he could not put his finger on it. Then he simply gave in.
"Oh, Bingbing, you'll make me blush if you keep looking at me like that."
"...You're a girl, at least. Have a little dignity."
The Ice Empress looked at Tian Meng speechlessly, then turned her gaze away.
"But you're right. Let those two sort out their own affairs."
With that, she vanished from the surface of the sea.
Once his dear friend had left, his gaze turned to the scene outside.
"Come to think of it, ever since Bingbing arrived, Little Yao's and Lin Mo's soul power seems to have grown much closer. Could it be...?"
Tian Meng was not the only one thinking this. In the other Sea of Consciousness, Electrolux held his scepter as he searched the entire sea, trying to find clues that would let him investigate beneath its depths, but found nothing.
"Ever since that scorpion signed a soul spirit contract with Huo Yuyao and became her second martial soul, their soul power has been merging to a certain extent."
"But this world's principles of Martial Soul Fusion Skills and cultivation clearly state that fusion requires matching qualities-or at least a matching number of martial souls. After all, Huo Yuyao's soul power is more complex because she possesses two martial souls. Yet that complexity actually matches Little Mo's current soul power."
Indeed, this was why Electrolux had remained in seclusion all this time. He had been investigating nonstop.
Those silver eyes beneath the sea had shaken him too deeply. Even now, he could not forget them. Of one thing he was certain: the strength of the divine sense within those eyes exceeded his by more than double.
"As I thought, this child, Lin Mo..."
After giving Ye Guyi every healing medicine he had on him, Lin Mo returned to Huo Yuyao's side.
But seeing that his younger sister beside him seemed to be in low spirits, Lin Mo felt puzzled.
"What's wrong, Little Yao?"
Before she could answer, however, Ye Yulin leaned over.
"Hey, Little Mo. At first I thought you wanted to lure her into the academy, but now it looks like you want to lure her home as your wife."
Lin Mo stared at him in disbelief upon hearing this, while Huo Yuyao gave a little shudder at the word "wife."
"Senior Ye, what on earth are you talking about? I just want to bring her to our academy."
"Then why were you smiling so sleazily, giving her this and that?"
"I was..."
Lin Mo was momentarily at a loss for words. He really did not know how to answer that question. He had forgotten there were other people around.
"Senior Ye, think about it. Ye Guyi looks only fourteen or fifteen. Despite living as a wanderer all on her own, she's still managed to become a rank 41 Soul Master. That's no ordinary talent."
At Lin Mo's reminder, he immediately noticed it as well.
A girl who looked only fourteen or fifteen had, by her own account, wandered alone after her family was slaughtered. Not only did she have to earn her living, she also had to cultivate and hunt Evil Soul Masters.
Despite being so busy, she had managed to reach rank 41, and her soul rings were an ideal configuration. It was almost unbelievable.
"And do you know what her martial soul is? It's the Holy Angel."
At the words "Holy Angel," Ye Yulin's eyes widened slightly.
"The Holy Angel? Don't tell me it's that one from ten thousand years ago."
"I asked her, and it is. They're descendants of a branch of the Qian Family, so her martial soul isn't the Six-Winged Angel, but the Holy Angel. The Holy Angel martial soul is the bane of Evil Soul Masters. Not only do its soul skills have powerful effects that counter Evil Soul Masters, it also has a special property: killing Evil Soul Masters provides feedback-in other words, an increase in soul power level."
"You mean someone with the Holy Angel martial soul can increase their soul power by killing Evil Soul Masters?"
Lin Mo nodded emphatically.
"So think about it. If someone this gifted joins the academy, with her temperament and talent, she'll definitely reach the Super Douluo realm in the future, perhaps even higher."
"Besides, isn't the empire short on martial soul experts? Train her, and you'll have an expert for the next generation."
Of course, words were just words. He would never actually let the Sun Moon Empire take such a promising seedling. He was only saying this to improve Ye Yulin's impression of her and clear up the current misunderstanding.
I definitely have to keep a promising seedling like her around and recruit her into my own faction someday.
Since they were already on the border between the two nations, the Soul Guidance Aircraft, bolstered by a Titled Douluo's power, successfully brought them to Mingdu in less than half a day.
They did not stop, flying straight over the academy.
Looking at the academy, whose entirety she could not make out even from the air, Ye Guyi could not help exclaiming in amazement.
"Heavens, this academy is enormous!"
Her curious gaze wandered around the academy, which was filled with buildings.
"Of course. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy is the Sun Moon Empire's central academy. It's about the size of a small city."
"That's incredible."
"Have you given it any thought, Miss Ye Guyi? With your talent, you're more than qualified to join our academy as a transfer student. And with the talent you've shown, the dean will definitely give you additional rewards."
"Additional rewards?"
"Uh, to be precise, if you're very talented or have a lot of accomplishments, the academy increases your monthly allowance. For example, an ordinary second-year student might only receive ten Gold Soul Coins and a small amount of metal each month. That's fixed. But if you're talented and demonstrate it, the academy adds to that amount. Little Yao and I, for example, receive a four-figure sum of Gold Soul Coins every month."
"F-four figures? That much?"
Ever since her family had been wiped out, Ye Guyi had lived as a wanderer. Her everyday expenses were mostly paid in copper and silver coins, and only occasionally did she buy anything with Gold Soul Coins.
Hearing of so many Gold Soul Coins for the first time, the girl stared wide-eyed. Having spent so long wandering, she understood their purchasing power better than anyone.
"Well? Have you made up your mind? Incidentally, the academy won't dictate where you go in the future, either. Whether you want to stay and teach, go somewhere else, or roam the world on your own, it won't restrict you."
Lin Mo's words were not entirely accurate, but whatever the case, he would promise her the world for now.
"Thank you. I'll take it into consideration."
While they chatted, the four of them arrived at Jing Hongchen's office.
When they pushed open the office door, Kong Deming, Jing Hongchen and his two grandchildren, and Xiao Xiao were already waiting inside.
As for why, of course, the moment they entered Sun Moon territory, someone had begun relaying the news through short-range soul guidance communication devices.
"Little Yao, Brother Little Mo! Haha, you're back! I was worried sick!"
Xiao Xiao's reaction was the most exaggerated. The moment the two came through the door, she leaped in front of them and gave them both a huge hug.
Then she sidestepped over to Huo Yuyao and examined her from left to right, top to bottom.
"What's wrong, Xiao Xiao? I'm not hurt."
"Mm-hmm. You're fine... That's good. You scared me to death."
"Welcome back, you two."
"Long time no see."
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen greeted them as well, but perhaps because Kong Deming was present, they were not as lively as usual.
"Heavens, everyone's here except Ji Juechen and the others. Oh, come to think of it, I think the senior-year assessments are today."
The reason so many had gathered was that, before they left, Lin Mo had told Kong Deming that this journey was to seek an opportunity for Little Yao. If they found it, her future would undergo a qualitative leap, and it might even have an enormous impact on the future of the entire continent.
Indeed, this had been his greatest backing when he pleaded again and again for permission for the two of them to travel to the Far North alone.
That seemed to be why everyone had gathered so completely. Even Kong Deming, who handled countless affairs every day, had come.
"Although I know this is rather rushed, you promised us this dangerous journey was to obtain an important opportunity. Can Little Yao show us now?"
There was a hint of reproach in Jing Hongchen's words. As dean, he naturally did not want two of his talented students going somewhere dangerous without protection.
"Of course, of course. Then the stage belongs to Little Yao."
Lin Mo chuckled, then pulled Xiao Xiao over to a seat. The others also cleared a space for Huo Yuyao to demonstrate.
Ah, what a pity. I don't get a part in such a wonderful, satisfying reveal.
"Th-then I'll demonstrate my second soul skill first."
Being the focus of so many people's attention left her somewhat embarrassed. After composing herself, she released her martial soul.
As she closed and opened her eyes, brilliant gold light spilled from her pupils.
Her Spirit Eyes martial soul activated, and two soul rings slowly rose from beneath her feet. This newly acquired second soul ring left everyone present somewhat stunned.
A violet Thousand-Year Soul Ring slowly emerged beneath her feet and circled around her.
"A Thousand-Year Soul Ring!"
"What the hell?"
"Little Yao, you're amazing!"
"Hmm?"
"A thousand-year second soul ring?"
Ye Yulin was the most astonished, and upon hearing him, the others all turned their eyes toward him.
After all, in their eyes, Ye Yulin had accompanied the two for almost the entire journey. How could he not have seen it, or at least asked?
Noticing everyone's gazes, Ye Yulin hurriedly waved his hands.
"I-I was in such a rush to get back that I forgot to ask. I figured we'd find out once we returned anyway. I never expected it to be this shocking. Hehe."
"A thousand-year second soul ring is certainly astonishing, but that hardly rises to the level of affecting the entire continent, does it?"
Jing Hongchen looked at the two in puzzlement.
"Oh, Dean, look at you. Getting impatient again."
Lin Mo spoke with a grin.
Then Huo Yuyao began demonstrating her second soul skill.
As her Thousand-Year Soul Ring lit up, she transformed into Xiao Xiao before everyone's astonished eyes.
"Huh? Why is there another me?"
"Is it shapeshifting?"
"This is my second soul skill. It's called Simulation."
Indeed, the second soul skill Huo Yuyao had obtained was exactly the same as in the original story, except its age was much higher. Likewise, its simulation range was greater, and its potential for growth was higher.
As she spoke, she transformed into Meng Hongchen, then conjured a Lin Mo beside herself.
"Wow, that's so incredible."
"That's absurd. It can even simulate someone's aura."
Standing beside Meng Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen reached that conclusion after examining the two with his soul power.
Unlike everyone else's astonished expressions, Lin Mo's mood was much calmer, even somewhat disappointed.
Ah, what a shame. I thought Little Yao would show off a little first.
Indeed, in this scene in the original story, Huo Yuhao had first displayed two simulated Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings with his Simulation Soul Skill before explaining.
"The second one's done, too. Now only the last one remains."
"There's more?"
Before you continue