With Shrek's new term not far off, Huo Yuhao hurried back without stopping after making his agreement with the Snow Empress.
As his Martial Soul nourished him, his bearing grew increasingly clear and composed.
Seeing the sky gradually darken, Huo Yuhao found a clearing and prepared to meditate until morning before continuing his journey.
Ever since gaining his ice-type Martial Soul, Huo Yuhao had simply frozen his food and other supplies before putting them straight into his storage pouch.
Huo Yuhao thawed a few fish. He had to admit that, preserved by Ultimate Ice, they no longer ran any risk of spoiling.
Just as he was about to place the fish on his homemade grill, Huo Yuhao sensed roughly twelve people approaching.
Observing them through his Spirit Eyes, he saw both men and women, all brimming with energy and high spirits.
The oldest looked to be only in her twenties, and he seemed to have seen her before. Was that... Sister Lexuan?
Then the others were probably Shrek students too.
Sensing someone ahead, Zhang Lexuan and her group also stopped.
As Huo Yuhao moved a little closer, everyone looked over and discovered that he was a boy of around eleven, with delicate, adorable features.
But why was he here alone?
Zhang Lexuan's pleasantly surprised voice broke the brief silence. "Yuhao? I never expected to meet you here!"
"Sister Lexuan, long time no see!"
With that, Huo Yuhao walked a little farther forward, and Zhang Lexuan approached him as well.
Everyone looked between Zhang Lexuan and Huo Yuhao, their thoughts unknown, while several students immediately began imagining things.
Well, well, our upright, respectable senior sister! Who would have thought you knew such an adorable little boy outside the academy? No wonder you always turned down everyone's confessions. So this was your type.
Of course, entertaining the thought was enough. No one was foolish enough to say it aloud.
"Your cultivation seems much stronger than it was back then."
"Yes, thanks to your Mystic Water Pill, Sister Lexuan. I'm almost at rank twenty now."
Ten ranks in such a short time? Zhang Lexuan was somewhat stunned. She had never expected Huo Yuhao to rise ten ranks in so little time. It seemed the Mystic Water Pill's constitution-improving effects had indeed helped him greatly.
A Mystic Water Pill? Had senior sister already started keeping this boy?
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Huo Yuhao led Zhang Lexuan and her group to the clearing.
At a word from Zhang Lexuan, the others swiftly took out their tents and pitched them.
"Um, senior sister, do we still need to notify Xuan Zi?"
"Don't worry. With Xuan Zi's strength, he can certainly come and go as he pleases in this forest, as long as he isn't surrounded by Ferocious Beasts."
"All right."
"Little Yuhao, would you like to come with us tomorrow? We could help you obtain your Second Soul Ring while we're at it."
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "No, thank you, Sister Lexuan. I still want to hunt for myself. That would give me more of a sense of accomplishment, wouldn't it?"
Naturally, Huo Yuhao would not agree. Otherwise, if they really caught something for him, how would he explain it to Sister Lexuan?
That he was actually a super genius, and had only hidden his breakthrough of more than ten ranks in such a short time because he was afraid of making people envious?
"All right, then. Be extra careful after we leave tomorrow, understood?"
"Mm-hmm."
Zhang Lexuan and the others took Shrek's specially made dry rations out of their storage spaces. All one could say about these rations was that their nutrition was excellent, and their flavor was heartbreaking.
Left a little longer, eating them felt like chewing reinforced concrete. A little water perfectly solved the problem of Shrek students being unable to swallow the dirt they were eating.
Suddenly, the aroma of grilled fish drifted over on the wind, lingering beneath everyone's noses.
After returning to his spot, Huo Yuhao had started grilling fish again. Sprinkled with a little of the seasoning he carried, it was something he simply never tired of eating.
But why did he feel as though he was being watched? Sensing something amiss, Huo Yuhao turned his head and discovered that the people on the other side were staring wide-eyed at the grilled fish in his hands. Even Zhang Lexuan unconsciously swallowed.
"..."
"Sister Lexuan, have these. I can't eat so many."
Huo Yuhao walked over with the grilled fish and handed them to Zhang Lexuan.
"No, there's no need..."
Realizing she had lost her composure, Zhang Lexuan felt the tips of her ears grow hot. She wanted to refuse outright, but her hands accepted the fish quite willingly.
"..."
"...Thank you."
The corner of Huo Yuhao's mouth twitched. Without saying anything, he went straight back.
Looking at the others staring fixedly at the grilled fish in her hands, Zhang Lexuan said helplessly, "Share these among yourselves."
"But what about you, senior sister?"
"I'm fine."
With that, Zhang Lexuan distributed the grilled fish. Then she discovered that, after a single bite, everyone wolfed down the rest.
"Senior sister, you're really going to be blessed in the future!"
"Exactly, exactly! Grilled fish this delicious..."
What on earth are you all talking about?
Everyone looked so blissful. Was it really that delicious? Had she known, she would have saved some for herself. How could she possibly ask for another now?
The moonlight was rich, and everyone else had gone to rest. Zhang Lexuan was keeping watch.
Thinking about what had happened earlier, Zhang Lexuan idly nudged the pebbles on the ground with a twig. Suddenly, a piping-hot grilled fish appeared before her.
"Little Yuhao? What are you..."
Huo Yuhao blinked and said, "I saw that you didn't get any, Sister Lexuan, so I thought I'd grill you another."
"You don't need to go to so much trouble. I really don't mind-"
Before Zhang Lexuan could finish, her stomach betrayed her with a rumble. It sounded less like hunger and more like craving.
"..."
Zhang Lexuan's cheeks instantly flushed red. Merely catching sight of the slightly upturned corners of Huo Yuhao's mouth made her lower her head. She no longer wanted to see what expression he was wearing.
My image in his eyes should still be fairly dignified, right?
Huo Yuhao opened his eyes. Beneath his feet lay a boundless expanse of golden light, gentle yet vast.
He instinctively activated his Spirit Eyes to investigate his surroundings, but they failed to appear, as though they had stopped working.
"Sister Tian Meng? Ice Empress?"
Huo Yuhao tried to contact the others in his Sea of Consciousness, but his messages sank like stones into the sea, receiving no reply.
Suddenly, an indistinct voice came from all directions, gentle yet carrying an unquestionable weight, as the golden light enveloped Huo Yuhao.
"My child... the entire continent... only you can..."
Huo Yuhao's brows abruptly furrowed, and his eyes snapped open inside his tent. A thin layer of sweat already covered his back.
He raised a hand to his chest, where the throbbing from a moment ago seemed to linger.
"Child? Continent?"
Huo Yuhao murmured to himself, profound shock flashing in his eyes. Had everything just now merely been a dream, or...
"Yuhao, what's wrong?"
Awakened by Huo Yuhao's movements, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm cracked his eyes open and scratched his tangled hair.
"Nothing, Sister Tian Meng."
Before you continue