Heading to the Far North

Cao's Rice Bowl!

"What? You're going to the Far North? Come on, Yuhao, we can just go to the Star Dou Great Forest for a soul ring. The Far North is much more dangerous than the Star Dou Great Forest right now." When Strawberry heard what Huo Yuhao planned to do next, the words that spilled from her mouth were practically a shout.

After a year and a half of growth, coupled with the fact that soul masters matured earlier than ordinary people, Huo Yuhao, at just eight years old, already reached Strawberry's chest, standing only a head shorter than her.

His build was also sturdier than when he had been thin and small. His face, once considered cute among ordinary people, had gradually matured in this healthy environment. Though he had not become particularly handsome, he was certainly easy on the eyes.

Even his bearing had undergone an earth-shaking transformation.

Compared with when he first arrived at the Cao household two years ago, Huo Yuhao had changed so much that probably no one would think they were the same person.

"Mainly, I have this feeling that something in the direction of the Far North seems to be calling me." As Huo Yuhao spoke, he raised his right hand, and a wisp of cold air spread from his palm.

Though it was not particularly cold, it was enough for Strawberry to notice the problem.

"That cold air is ice-attribute, but aren't you mental-attribute? Wait, do you have twin martial souls?"

"I don't know either. I only felt it recently, when my cultivation broke through to rank twenty. It seems like this martial soul of mine hasn't fully awakened yet. And after I reached rank twenty, I felt as though something in the Far North was calling me. I think there might be something there that can fully awaken my martial soul," Huo Yuhao said.

This was the explanation he had come up with for himself. After the last incident, Huo Yuhao knew that if he dared sneak out again like last time, he would absolutely die a miserable death.

Besides, his trip to the Far North this time was precisely to awaken his martial soul.

"Wait here. I'm going to find Sister Lexuan." Knowing that she really could not make the decision on something like this, Strawberry promptly left Huo Yuhao with those words and departed the restaurant.

Watching her dash away in such a hurry, Aunt Lan was quite curious. "What's gotten into that girl? She's all grown up, yet she still rushes around like that."

"She's going to discuss something with Sister Lexuan-finding me a soul ring," Huo Yuhao said.

"There's no need to be in such a rush, though. Still, you're already rank twenty. That's so fast. Back then, Strawberry only reached rank twenty when she was almost ten. Compared with you, that sister of yours falls far behind." Aunt Lan could not help sighing with feeling as she spoke.

Huo Yuhao smiled without continuing the conversation. As for reaching rank twenty, he had already done that a year ago. This entire year had been spent building his foundation.

"Speaking of which, she's almost twenty-one this year, and she still hasn't found herself a partner at this age. Yuhao, you mustn't take after her." Aunt Lan continued grumbling to Huo Yuhao.

Ever since the Continental Advanced Soul Master Soul Fighting Tournament had ended, Huo Yuhao had heard words like these from Aunt Lan hundreds, if not thousands, of times.

Huo Yuhao had not gone to watch that tournament, but he had heard about it. Shrek had won with an overwhelming advantage, thanks to Zhang Lexuan, a Soul Saint. Strawberry had even complained about Sister Lexuan at the time, saying she had barely gotten to experience taking the stage.

It showed just how little suspense there had been in that tournament. Zhang Lexuan had swept through the entire competition like an autumn wind scattering fallen leaves.

And once the tournament officially ended and Strawberry reached this age, what awaited her was undoubtedly her parents' pressure to marry.

For the sake of their daughter's future, Uncle Cao and Aunt Lan were now worrying themselves sick over this matter, constantly nagging in Strawberry's ear. As a result, Strawberry had recently been afraid to come home. Today, Huo Yuhao had only managed to bring her back by saying he had broken through to rank twenty and needed to find a soul ring. Once she understood the situation, she had immediately left, refusing to stay at home a moment longer for fear that her family would latch onto her.

"Yes, I promise I won't take after Sister Strawberry." Every time Aunt Lan said this, Huo Yuhao could only agree from the sidelines and state his position.

Then he promptly put it out of his mind. Right now, all he cared about was cultivating, cultivating, and cultivating some more. He wanted to grow stronger.

"Ah, I've worried myself sick over this. Here I am, saying all this to a child. Anyway, just remember it. Oh, right, I just spoke to your Uncle Cao. The restaurant will close tonight so we can celebrate your breakthrough to rank twenty. What would you like to eat?" Aunt Lan sighed and patted Huo Yuhao's head.

"I'm not picky. I like everything Uncle Cao and the others cook," Huo Yuhao said.

"You certainly make things easier for us. You're much better than your Sister Strawberry, always being picky about everything. Then go sit wherever you like and rest. We'll call you when dinner's ready." With that, Aunt Lan patted Huo Yuhao's head again, then turned and went to work in the kitchen.

"Let me help too." Huo Yuhao followed her as he spoke.

The restaurant's business had grown better and better over the past few years. As before, Huo Yuhao still served as its grilled fish chef. At the same time, out of curiosity, he occasionally practiced cooking techniques with Uncle Cao and the others during his breaks.

As it turned out, Huo Yuhao seemed to be a born chef. After only a few attempts, his cooking was as delicious as that of Uncle Cao and the other veteran chefs who had spent decades working in the kitchen.

Today, however, Uncle Cao and Aunt Lan had not wanted Huo Yuhao to help, but they could not stop him from keeping himself busy.

By the time Strawberry returned with Zhang Lexuan, Huo Yuhao had practically cooked up an entire Manchu-Han imperial feast.

"There's nothing wrong with your body or your meridians, and your soul power is exceptionally substantial. Reaching this level at your age-it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call you a monster. I certainly wasn't at your level when I was your age. You really are a little monster." Zhang Lexuan first examined Huo Yuhao's physical condition and found that his body was so healthy he hardly seemed like a soul master who had just reached rank twenty. She even compared him against herself and found that, when she was rank thirty, she probably could not have matched the strength of his meridians or the depth of his soul power.

"Isn't being a little monster perfect? Shrek specializes in taking in monsters. Once Yuhao's old enough to join Shrek, he's guaranteed to evolve straight from a little monster into a big monster," Strawberry teased with a smile.

Zhang Lexuan smiled without disagreeing. In their eyes, Huo Yuhao would join Shrek sooner or later, because as far as they were concerned, not joining Shrek with his talent would simply waste all his gifts.

"Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere right now?" Zhang Lexuan continued asking Huo Yuhao how he felt.

"I'm fine. It's just that my head feels a little buzzy, and it keeps feeling like something far away is calling me," Huo Yuhao said.

"Although I don't know what's happening with you, normally, if you have twin martial souls, both should awaken during your martial soul awakening. The academy really has no record of a case like yours. But you don't need to worry. Martial souls come in all sorts of strange forms to begin with. The fact that your body is fine is the best proof." Zhang Lexuan first reassured Huo Yuhao, then said to Strawberry, "From the look of things, we'll have to take Yuhao to the Far North. You and Yuhao should pack over the next couple of days. I'll go to the academy and find teachers to escort and protect us."

"No problem." Strawberry nodded.

"Oh, right, Sister Lexuan. Uncle Cao and Aunt Lan said they're holding a celebration dinner tonight for my breakthrough to rank twenty. You should join us too. Bring Sister Xiaotao and the others," Huo Yuhao invited.

Over the past year and a half, Ma Xiaotao and the others had occasionally come to the restaurant to eat. As time passed, Huo Yuhao had grown familiar with them.

"Sure. Then I'll head back to school and find them." Zhang Lexuan did not refuse.

That evening, everyone gathered for a celebratory feast. With delicious food, family, and friends all there, it was the warmth of everyday life in the mortal world.

In a valley near the Far North, Bo Yunxiu brought someone wearing a black cloak before Bo Yunjie.

"Big Brother, Bing'er has broken through to three rings and met the requirements."

"Mm." Bo Yunjie nodded and looked at the figure in the black cloak with a kindly smile. "Bing'er, I'm sure you know your mission. Lord Sea God has secured an opportunity for you to become a god. This is your good fortune, and your honor. I hope you will fulfill your mission and gain the recognition of the Ice God's Divine Seat for the family and Lord Sea God."

"Understood." An extremely cold female voice came from beneath the cloak. Like a world of ice and snow, it merely stated a fact, without any emotion at all.

Early one morning, another day.

Huo Yuhao and Strawberry packed their things first thing in the morning and came to the restaurant entrance.

Uncle Cao, Aunt Lan, and all the restaurant staff came out to see them off. Aunt Lan reminded them over and over, "Be careful on the road, especially once you reach the Far North. Yuhao, stay close to Sister Strawberry. Don't stray from the group."

"I know, Mom. My ears are practically growing calluses. I'll take good care of Yuhao, and we've invited teachers from school to come with us, so don't worry. We're leaving." As Aunt Lan repeated her reminders, Strawberry spoke while pulling Huo Yuhao away.

"We're off, everyone." Huo Yuhao followed, looking back to say goodbye to the others.

"Stay safe on the road." Aunt Lan waved, her eyes filled with worry she could not set aside.

Beside her, Uncle Cao patted Aunt Lan's shoulder, signaling for her not to worry.

The troubles of parting lingered in everyone's hearts. They did not know whether, after this separation, they would next see a stronger Huo Yuhao, or whether this would be their final farewell.

Finding soul rings and becoming a soul master had never been a safe path. When was a trip into a gathering place of soul beasts ever free of dangers lurking on every side? No one dared say they could definitely bring someone back.

Far, far too many such things happened in the Soul Master World.

Huo Yuhao and the others had agreed to meet at Shrek Academy's north gate. From there, they would head north all the way to the bitterly cold Far North.

When Strawberry and Huo Yuhao arrived, Zhang Lexuan and the others had already been waiting there for some time.

Apart from the three of them, there were two others beside Zhang Lexuan on this trip.

One was a rather ordinary-looking old man dressed in white, with a very gentle bearing. Compared with the old man in white, the other person had a distinctly extraordinary presence.

She was a woman who looked to be around 1.7 meters tall, in her fifties, with a very capable appearance. Though she was getting on in years, it was still clear that she must have been an exceptional beauty in her youth.

Zhang Lexuan had brought only these two along, making it clear that their identities were far from ordinary.

Sure enough, upon seeing them, Strawberry quickly walked over and greeted them. "Hello, Deans."

Deans.

As far as Huo Yuhao currently knew, there were only two people in Shrek who were called deans: the dean of the Martial Soul Department and the dean of the Soul Tool Department in the Shrek Outer Court. As for the Inner Court, its dean was the master of the Sea God Pavilion, and people generally did not address them that way.

"This is my younger brother, Huo Yuhao. These two are Yan Shaozhe, dean of the Martial Soul Department, and Xian Lin'er, dean of the Soul Tool Department, from our Shrek Academy's Outer Court!" Strawberry introduced Huo Yuhao and the two to each other.

"Greetings, Your Excellencies." Huo Yuhao bowed to them. On the Douluo Continent, everyone weaker than a Titled Douluo respectfully addressed them as "Your Excellency." If they knew the title, they would add it before the honorific. If not, "Your Excellency" alone would do.

"Hello there, little Yuhao. I heard from Lexuan. We went back and looked into it earlier, and discovered that Shrek Academy has no records of a situation like yours, but it does bear some resemblance to a martial soul's second awakening. Precisely because there are no records, we should document it all the more. We'll protect you throughout the journey ahead." Yan Shaozhe's voice was gentle, giving Huo Yuhao the impression of an easygoing elder.

But this Yan Shaozhe was the Bright Phoenix Douluo whom Huo Yun had told Huo Yuhao about before. His martial soul was the Bright Phoenix, and he was a womanizer who flirted with other girls even while he had a girlfriend.

Despite his easygoing manner, he was actually an old fox. When dealing with him, one should not readily believe anything he said.

"Thank you very much." Huo Yuhao nodded lightly.

"Enough talk. Let's set off." Xian Lin'er clearly belonged to the practical, action-oriented sort.

The party of five soon departed.

Huo Yuhao's strength was relatively low, and although Strawberry's cultivation was not low-she was already a Soul Emperor-her speed clearly could not keep up with Zhang Lexuan, much less a Titled Douluo.

Thus, Yan Shaozhe carried Huo Yuhao, while Xian Lin'er carried Strawberry. As a Soul Saint, Zhang Lexuan could not keep up with Titled Douluo either, but Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er deliberately slowed down to wait for her.

The group flew like this for nearly two hours, without even stopping to rest along the way, before arriving at the outskirts of the Far North.

Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er had no trouble keeping up, but Zhang Lexuan had consumed a considerable amount of soul power following them the whole way and needed to rest and recover.

The group simply found a suitable clearing on the outskirts and stopped for a rest.

While they rested, Xian Lin'er watched Yan Shaozhe keep his gaze fixed on Huo Yuhao. She could not help frowning slightly and transmitted her voice through soul power to ask, "What are you looking at? Why do you look so sleazy?"

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