Xuan Ziwen: He's Perfect for Sun Moon

Seeing Huo Yuhao control the bamboo-stick cylinder and shake it, Bei Bei asked in surprise, "Little Brother Huo, you know how to do that too?"

"It's not some impressive skill." Huo Yuhao picked up the stick he had just drawn and spoke half-jokingly.

"I know a little about this thing called luck."

"As for drawing lots, it's just something to pass the time when I'm free. Just for fun."

Among the dozens of simulated bamboo sticks, each route had sticks indicating varying degrees of fortune and misfortune: great misfortune, great fortune, more misfortune than fortune, more fortune than misfortune... Each route held many possibilities.

When he shook them, he had not deliberately controlled anything. He had simply shaken the cylinder and drawn at random.

In other words, he might draw great misfortune for the right path, but likewise, he might also draw great fortune for the right path.

Dugu Luo leaned closer to Huo Yuhao and curiously looked at the stick in his hand. She asked brightly, "Yuhao, what does it say?"

"Sister Dugu, the divination says the right path is extremely dangerous."

Dugu Luo nodded heavily. "Mm, Yuhao, then we won't take the right path when the time comes."

Of course, for people blessed with a bit of luck, this method might produce rather effective predictions.

Ordinary people were not advised to use it.

The two continued drawing sticks while eating grilled skewers, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed. But when the next two sticks came out, Huo Yuhao suddenly froze.

[Middle path, great misfortune, worst possible draw], [Left path, great misfortune, worst possible draw]

Hm? All three paths were great misfortune? Huo Yuhao's expression immediately turned serious.

What did this mean? Out of dozens of sticks, the first three he randomly drew happened to correspond to great misfortune on the left, middle, and right paths.

Could all three paths be Paths to Death?

Huo Yuhao fell into brief thought. Could taking any of them cause them to become tainted by something unclean...

Although the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well bore That Lord's handiwork, it could not possibly be this absurd, could it? The moment they went there, a God King would sense the aura of fate and make a whole series of arrangements.

Dugu Luo stared at the three great-misfortune sticks. Her lips parted slightly, and after staring blankly for a while, she slowly spoke with a teasing smile.

"Yuhao, has your luck always been this bad?"

Huo Yuhao shook his head. He did not seem nervous at all as he replied pleasantly, "To be honest, I do have a bit of luck on my side."

"Maybe these three paths really are strange." Huo Yuhao looked thoughtful.

Tang Ya, who had been listening beside them in complete confusion, asked curiously, "Yuhao, what place are you looking for?"

Dugu Luo answered for Huo Yuhao, brushing the hair by her ear as she spoke in a half-serious, half-joking tone.

"There's a problem with my martial soul, and it has caused quite a few issues in my body. I need the herbs from that place to treat me."

"Ah? Is it urgent?" Tang Ya blurted out.

"Very."

Afterward, Huo Yuhao and Dugu Luo discussed it and decided that after resting for the night, they would first scout the entrance area the next morning. At the very least, they needed to have a rough idea of where the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was located.

As they ate grilled skewers and chatted, evening soon arrived, and the conversation turned to founding a sect.

The skewer in Zhang Lexuan's hand paused. Slightly surprised, she said, "I know Tang Ya wants to rebuild the Tang Sect. Little Brother Yuhao, you want to establish a sect too?"

"I've only had the idea."

Huo Yuhao looked at Zhang Lexuan and smiled with pursed lips. "Le Xuan Jie, if I really establish a sect someday, would you be willing to join?"

Zhang Lexuan smiled softly. Naturally, she would not ruthlessly crush Huo Yuhao's dream, so she encouraged him. "Little Brother Yuhao, just work hard."

"After all, you helped your sister greatly today. If your sect is successfully established someday in the future, I would be very willing to take up a position in it."

Huo Yuhao thanked her with a smile. He had only asked casually, and receiving such an answer was already quite good. To establish a sect, the most closely related factor was nothing more than one's own strength.

As long as he was strong enough, establishing a sect would come naturally. After all, most people could not escape the pull of the strong.

At that moment, Xuan Zi, who had been coveting the grilled skewers for a long time, dragged over the corpse of the Three Soul Ghost Mantis.

"Little one, your grilling skills aren't bad. Can you roast this mantis for me?"

Xuan Zi said indignantly, "If I don't eat this beast today, I won't be able to settle my thoughts."

Huo Yuhao was taken aback and frowned slightly. "Roast a mantis? Its cultivation is too high. With my level of cultivation, I definitely won't be able to cook it through."

"No matter. After I cut it into pieces, I'll break down the energy contained within it. Just treat it like ordinary meat and roast it."

As he spoke, Xuan Zi chopped the Three Soul Ghost Mantis into dozens of pieces.

There was nothing wrong with catching a soul beast and roasting it to eat, but roasted mantis was indeed rather rare. Huo Yuhao had never grilled one before.

Seeing Huo Yuhao hesitate, Xuan Zi gave him a small pouch of Gold Soul Coins. "One hundred Gold Soul Coins. Consider it payment for your hard work roasting it. I don't need to pay extra, do I?"

Huo Yuhao thought about it and did not refuse. "All right, then."

Several disciples ran over and declared that they would go all out. Even if they had to endure their physical discomfort, they had to eat roasted mantis. Otherwise, they would not be able to swallow today's anger and might end up suffering internal injuries from holding it in.

Xuan Zi readily agreed and faced everyone. "I'm treating everyone to grilled skewers. Come eat roasted mantis later."

In truth, most of the disciples had been eyeing the grilled skewers for a long time. But seeing Eldest Sister staying with Huo Yuhao and the others, they could not bring themselves to ask whether the skewers were for sale.

With Xuan Zi and the students helping him, Huo Yuhao began grilling the mantis.

Come to think of it, this time Xuan Zi had not pursued a Five Rings Soul King. Instead, he had chased down someone stronger—a Three Soul Ghost Mantis close to a hundred thousand years old. It was enough to prove just how formidable Elder Xuan was when provoked.

After a while, the Three Soul Ghost Mantis was finished roasting. A soul beast of this level actually had excellent nutritional value, and Huo Yuhao had grilled it until it was perfect in color, aroma, and taste.

The Three Soul Ghost Mantis was quickly divided up and devoured by Xuan Zi and the disciples. Everyone kept saying how satisfying it was while also shouting about how delicious it tasted.

With a wave of his hand, Xuan Zi summoned a chicken as large as half a carriage, which flew over while supported by Soul Power.

With his back to Zhang Lexuan, he lowered his voice. "Little one, do you think my Twenty-five-thousand-year Chicken-type Soul Beast can..."

Before he could finish, Zhang Lexuan's usual cold voice sounded from behind him. "Elder Xuan, this disciple thinks Yuhao is a little tired and needs rest."

Zhang Lexuan had not objected to roasting the mantis, since the Three Soul Ghost Mantis had harmed the disciples. But this chicken had lured Xuan Zi away from the group—how could she possibly stand by and watch it be roasted?

Xuan Zi coughed lightly. "Lexuan, then you all rest well. Tomorrow, we'll continue deeper into Sunset Forest. This old man will definitely stay at the team's side every step of the way."

He then put the Twenty-five-thousand-year Chicken-type Soul Beast into his Storage Soul Guidance Device and carried his wine gourd toward the front of the group.

Zhang Lexuan looked at Huo Yuhao and smiled. "Yuhao, it's getting late. Camp with us tonight. We can look after each other that way."

"Sister Dugu, what do you think?" Huo Yuhao asked for Dugu Luo's opinion. His main purpose was to use Dugu Luo's map to learn the location of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Dugu Luo naturally agreed. "Mm, then I'll trouble Le Xuan Jie to look after us."

Before Huo Yuhao had rescued her from the Evil Soul Masters, she had always been alone. Now, traveling with such a large group did give her a greater sense of security, though that teacher who loved chicken legs looked a little unreliable.

Zhang Lexuan returned to her own tent, leaving one disciple to take turns keeping watch with Elder Xuan. The remaining disciples all returned to their respective tents.

Dugu Luo took out her tent from her storage bracelet. After she and Huo Yuhao quickly set it up, the two crawled inside.

The interior was spacious, but there was only one large bed. In one corner sat some washing supplies and blankets.

Dugu Luo hung up a candle lamp. Seeing Huo Yuhao pick up a blanket, she felt it was inappropriate to make her savior sleep on the ground. Her lips moved slightly.

"Yuhao, how about I sleep on the ground? You're younger, so your sister should take care of you. You sleep on the bed."

Holding the blanket, Huo Yuhao waved his hand. "It's fine. I'm not picky about where I sleep. Back when I was in the snowfields, I'd just dig a hole and sleep in it."

He spread out the blanket, then had Sky Dream Ice Silkworm turn its shed skin into an ice silkworm quilt. He said slowly, "It's late. Get some rest early. Tomorrow, we'll find out what exactly is going on with those three routes to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well."

Seeing that Huo Yuhao had already covered himself with the quilt and lay down flat, Dugu Luo said nothing more. Leaning against the head of the bed, she took a book from her clothes and sat upright. The title was:

"Listening to the World's Number One Poison Soul Master Tell the Story of Becoming Friends Despite Their Age Difference with Sea God Tang San"

Without question, this book had been written by Dugu Luo's ancestor, Dugu Bo. It had been passed down through the generations to her era ten thousand years later.

Dugu Luo flipped through the book and muttered softly, "Tang San, a friend despite their age difference..."

"Hey, Yuhao, if I met Ancestor Tang San, wouldn't I no longer have to worry about the buildup of toxins in my body? He must know how to solve the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison."

Naturally, Huo Yuhao would not immediately start talking about Tang God King's greatness. Dugu Luo probably would not understand anyway.

"Sister Dugu, think carefully. Starting from your ancestor Dugu Bo, your family has always had a map to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well."

"Why is it that after ten thousand years, none of your descendants have been able to find its exact location?"

Dugu Luo froze. She frowned and thought for a long while before tentatively saying,

"They couldn't possibly have been unable to read a map, could they..."

Huo Yuhao slowly replied, "I don't think so."

Dugu Luo thought so too. What Soul Master could not read a map? Thinking of that, she could not help pursing her lips in complaint.

"My ancestor Dugu Bo and Tang San were friends despite their age difference. Ten thousand years have passed, and the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well still can't be found. Yet Ancestor Tang San never gave us even a hint to help us."

Huo Yuhao's unhurried voice came from beside her.

"Tang San would most likely say that gods must not interfere with the lower realm without authorization, so he can't help you."

Dugu Luo immediately felt a little angry inside. "If Ancestor Dugu Bo hadn't given Tang San the Immortal Herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, it's not even certain he could have become a god."

If not for the troubles caused by her toxins, her talent alone was actually quite decent. At twelve, she had already reached Rank 26. Back then, relying on the Dugu family name, she had obtained a city lord-level Recommendation Letter and applied to enroll at Shrek Academy.

But because her accompanying toxins kept accumulating, Shrek Academy had no solution either. They gave her some pills to suppress the toxins, then regretfully rejected her.

After that, she could only seek a way to survive on her own, searching for medicinal herbs that might resolve the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison.

Only tonight had she suddenly realized that even with the inherited map, it might still be extremely difficult to find the exact location of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Thinking of this, Dugu Luo tightly clenched the book in both hands until her fingertips turned white.

"Yuhao, I suddenly think Tang San doesn't seem like a good person. He isn't sincere at all. He's hypocritical."

"My ancestor Dugu Bo's Immortal Herbs helped him and his friends become gods. It would have been one thing if his detoxification only treated the symptoms rather than the root cause, but now we descendants can't even find the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well for no apparent reason."

Huo Yuhao pursed his lips. Her sudden realization was remarkably accurate.

Seeing Dugu Luo's indignant expression, he chuckled and comforted her. "All right, all right, Sister Dugu. Since you met me, your toxins definitely won't flare up."

Dugu Luo's eyes immediately lit up. She asked happily, "Yuhao, why do you say that?"

"I can't completely solve your problem yet, but I can refine an Antidote Pill to suppress the spread of the toxins."

Huo Yuhao explained the flaw in this method. "But your toxins are essentially part of your cultivation. Taking an Antidote Pill directly would be equivalent to weakening your combat power."

"The toxins you painstakingly accumulate over several hours of cultivation might disappear with one Antidote Pill."

Overjoyed, Dugu Luo tossed the book onto the bed and clenched her fists. "It's fine. As long as I can live, I'll eventually find a way to completely solve the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison."

"Yuhao, you even know how to refine pills." Dugu Luo felt as if happiness had come far too suddenly.

"Mm, just a small skill I picked up in my spare time."

"You have so many little skills."

"More little skills, fewer Paths to Death."

The two chatted happily for a few more moments before they both went to sleep.

The night passed peacefully.

The next morning, the two got up and tidied themselves. Dugu Luo put away the tent, while Zhang Lexuan and the disciples had already formed up and were preparing to continue deeper into Sunset Forest.

"Yuhao, are you coming with us today?"

Huo Yuhao looked at Dugu Luo's map and found that part of their route overlapped, so he accepted the invitation.

Before long, Zhang Lexuan stopped before a broad thicket of vines.

She released several Moon Blades and cleared away the obstructing vines, leaving behind a special bluish-green vine with a translucent texture. It was tightly restrained by Zhang Lexuan's moon ring.

Tang Ya rushed over to take a look and said excitedly, "Bei Bei, look! It's a thousand-year Binding Spirit Vine. Great, I want this one."

Zhang Lexuan calmly said, "The Binding Spirit Vine possesses a life attribute, and its toughness is quite good as well. This one will do."

Then, while Tang Ya was acquiring her Soul Ring, Huo Yuhao and Dugu Luo exchanged farewells with Zhang Lexuan.

Following the route on the map, Huo Yuhao and Dugu Luo continued deeper in another direction.

Zhang Lexuan watched Huo Yuhao's departing back and wished him well. "I hope you can realize your dream."

After they had walked an unknown distance, Huo Yuhao released Mental Detection Sharing. Out of habit, he kneaded a Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus while stuffing Soul Return Pills into his mouth.

Somewhere behind them, beyond the range of Mental Detection.

"Xuan Ziwen, what are you looking at?" Xu Sheng asked in confusion.

Xuan Ziwen took off his self-made Soul Guidance Glasses and handed them to Xu Sheng, unable to conceal his excitement. "Mental Attribute, most likely an Original Martial Soul."

"And he even likes taking pills. He's simply perfect for our Sun Moon."