Departing for the Sun Moon Empire

Chapter 48: Departing for the Sun Moon Empire

Outside Huo Yuhao's bedroom.

A strange look filled Dugu Luo's Jade Eyes. Nan Nan Jie was neither in Auntie's room nor in her own.

Had she slept with Yuhao all night?

Dugu Luo's lashes trembled slightly as all sorts of strange images filled her mind. Her cheeks flushed faintly. Yuhao was still so young, yet judging solely from the outline beneath Nan Nan Jie's collar, hers seemed a little bigger than Dugu Luo's.

Unable to suppress her curiosity, she wanted to crack the door open and sneak a peek. Yet she feared seeing something a young girl should not see, leaving her deeply conflicted.

Inside the bedroom, beneath the covers of the soft, large bed.

"Mmm... hn..."

Jiang Nannan lay on her side against the pillow, exhaling warm, fragrant breath as she murmured and slowly opened her eyes.

Huo Yuhao had long since awakened, but the soft body holding him had left his head quietly buried in her embrace. He had not made any noise, lest he wake the sleeping Jiang Nannan.

His cheek felt soft and squishy. Only when he noticed Jiang Nannan gradually waking did he speak. "Nan Nan Jie? Didn't you hold me a little too long last night?"

"Hm? Oh... It's already light out..."

Still drowsy, Jiang Nannan propped herself up.

She first glanced out the window, then lowered her gaze to Huo Yuhao and smiled gently.

"Yuhao, did you sleep well last night?"

Jiang Nannan wore thin orange sleepwear that exposed her fair, jade-like collarbones. Beneath the loose collar, a noticeably full outline swayed before Huo Yuhao's eyes.

His earlobes reddened slightly. "P-Pretty well."

Seeing his slightly shy expression, Jiang Nannan felt an unusual emotion rise within her. This little brother suddenly seemed even more adorable.

She tucked her hair behind her ear with her fingers, picked up the rabbit-ear hair ornament from the bedside table, and put it on.

Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly heard a faint creak from the door.

The bedroom door had been opened a crack.

Beyond the gap, Dugu Luo's emerald eyes looked toward the large bed with a mixture of caution and curiosity.

The bedroom still retained lingering warmth.

??

Oh my god, these two really...

Jiang Nannan wore a pair of white rabbit ears, her cheeks rosy as she supported her upper body and gazed down tenderly.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao was also rising from her embrace.

Jiang Nannan did not panic. They had not done anything, after all. Smiling naturally, she asked, "Sister Dugu, do you need something?"

Huo Yuhao also looked toward the crack in the door, meeting those emerald eyes with a questioning look.

Upon seeing the scene inside, Dugu Luo's face immediately reddened. She quickly shut the door again. "Nothing, nothing. You two continue."

They vaguely heard Dugu Luo let out a soft sound of surprise. "Yuhao is still so young, and Nan Nan Jie really..."

Her voice faded into the distance. Dugu Luo walked to the living room and sat on the sofa, a strange feeling inexplicably arising in her heart.

Hearing Dugu Luo muttering, Jiang Nannan blinked. She quickly realized that the other girl had definitely misunderstood something.

Huo Yuhao also felt it necessary to explain things to Dugu Luo. "Nan Nan Jie, let's get up quickly. Otherwise, Sister Dugu will think we've been having an affair for a long time."

After getting up and washing, the two came to the living room, where Huo Yuhao explained what had happened the night before to Dugu Luo.

Dugu Luo's gaze shifted between Huo Yuhao and Jiang Nannan. "So, you only slept while hugging each other last night and didn't do anything else bad?"

Jiang Nannan nodded slightly. "Mm... I stayed with Yuhao last night and accidentally fell asleep. We didn't do anything. Don't misunderstand."

Dugu Luo still felt something was off. "Then why were you hugging?"

"I hadn't seen Yuhao for a long time, so I was expressing my affection. The kind of love an older sister has for her younger brother." Jiang Nannan replied calmly and slowly.

"Oh." Dugu Luo slowly nodded, her eyes turning as she took Jiang Nannan's hand and pulled her into her bedroom.

Jiang Nannan saw that she seemed to have something to say, so she did not refuse. She was only curious what could not be said in front of Yuhao.

Once inside Dugu Luo's bedroom, a strange light flashed through her eyes. In a mysterious whisper, she said, "Nan Nan Jie, Yuhao is so outstanding."

"If you like him, it wouldn't be bad to start building your relationship now. We can't let Yuhao get snatched away by other girls in the future, or I'd feel like such a loss."

If Huo Yuhao truly got tricked away by another girl in the future, Dugu Luo did not know how she would feel. Most likely, she would feel an emptiness in her heart and be unable to accept it.

"Yuhao is still growing, but kissing and hugging should be fine." Dugu Luo laughed awkwardly.

Jiang Nannan raised her brows slightly, finding her train of thought rather lively. "Sister Dugu, Yuhao saved my mother, and he also helped you suppress your poison. Could it be that you... hm?"

As she spoke, Jiang Nannan's expression remained gentle, but her soft tone rose by several degrees.

Dugu Luo calmly shook her head and sighed.

"Ah, Nan Nan Jie, compared to romance, I want to completely resolve the danger within my body more."

"Once I am completely free of the danger of my poison erupting, at least I won't have to constantly worry about suddenly dying one day. Then I can live for myself, pursue my ideals, and seek the things I like."

Before the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison was fully resolved, Dugu Luo could never feel at ease no matter what she did. It was as though a blade capable of taking her life at any moment hung above her head.

All of her energy had previously been devoted to surviving. That was also her greatest pursuit at present.

Jiang Nannan frowned slightly and pondered for a moment. "If every generation of your family thought like you, wouldn't the line have ended before it reached your generation?"

"That's why... if I can't completely solve the poison problem, then I'll be the last generation!"

Dugu Luo used her firmest tone to speak of the worst possible outcome.

Both of her parents had Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Souls. Only the two of them remained from their generation. After discovering that they ultimately could not suppress the eruption of the poison within their bodies, they chose to leave behind a child before their deaths—Dugu Luo.

After caring for Dugu Luo for several years and leaving behind the Gold Soul Coins and medicinal herbs they had saved, her parents passed away one after the other.

Jiang Nannan comforted her. "Don't be too pessimistic. Even if it can't be cured in the future, with Yuhao's pills, the poison won't erupt."

"With a Soul Master's lifespan, living for yourself for seventy or eighty years won't be a problem at all."

Dugu Luo felt that Jiang Nannan's words made sense and nodded firmly. "Mm, I understand, Nan Nan Jie."

The two returned to the living room, where Huo Yuhao was refining pills.

Before leaving, he intended to refine more Antidote Pills for Dugu Luo, ensuring that she could neutralize any excess Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison in her body at any time.

He refined pills in the morning. At lunch and dinner, just as before, everyone watched Xiao Wu's battle footage while chatting happily and eating together.

When it was time to sleep, Jiang Nannan used the excuse, "You're leaving in two days, so your sister should spend more time with you."

The two slept properly.

Just like that, two days passed quickly.

Huo Yuhao had also refined enough Antidote Pills. He placed all the pills into a fairly large porcelain bottle and handed it to Dugu Luo.

"Sister Dugu, these pills should be enough for you to use for a year."

Huo Yuhao thought briefly. "It probably won't take me a year to cultivate to level thirty. When I return during break, we'll go to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well."

"Mm-hm, thank you, Yuhao." Dugu Luo thanked him joyfully and accepted the pills he handed her.

Huo Yuhao nodded slightly and looked at Jiang Nannan. "Then I'm leaving. I'm going to the place Teacher Xuan told me about."

Jiang Nannan revealed a gentle smile. Since Huo Yuhao had already made his decision, she did not try to persuade him otherwise. She tucked a strand of hair by her ear. "Yuhao, we'll see you off."

Inside a room somewhere in Heaven Dou City, Xuan Ziwen and Xu Sheng were waiting for Huo Yuhao to arrive.

As he still had not appeared, Xu Sheng anxiously paced around the table. Somewhat uncertain, he asked, "Old Xuan, do you think Yuhao might have changed his mind?"

Xuan Ziwen shook his head. "No. From our conversations, I can tell that he has his own set of standards for judging things."

"He seems to care nothing for Shrek's title as the 'Number One Academy on the Continent,' nor does he think much of Shrek's ten-thousand-year-old Soul Master training methods."

Based on those two points alone, Xuan Ziwen could be certain that between Shrek Academy and their academy, Huo Yuhao would definitely choose the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, which suited him better.

He did not know exactly what kind of training methods Shrek Academy's ancestors had left behind.

However, if Huo Yuhao could not even muster the slightest interest in Shrek's absolute advantage, then he could not possibly choose Shrek Academy.

As Xuan Ziwen and Xu Sheng spoke, a knock sounded at the door.

Xu Sheng's face immediately brightened. "I'll get it."

When he opened the door, he saw the Huo Yuhao whom he and Xuan Ziwen had been waiting for.

"Yuhao, you're finally here. Have you made your decision?"

Huo Yuhao nodded. Looking at Jiang Nannan and Dugu Luo, who had accompanied him, he smiled. "Nan Nan Jie, Sister Dugu, this is far enough. You can head back now."

Jiang Nannan gave a soft hum, stepped half a pace forward, raised her arms, and hugged Huo Yuhao.

Seeing this, Dugu Luo considered it for a moment. "Yuhao, once you start school, we won't see each other for a long time. Let's hug too."

Jiang Nannan glanced at Dugu Luo. So you know how to do that too.

A gentle smile hung on Huo Yuhao's face as he hugged Dugu Luo as well and patted her back.

"Don't let the pressure of preventing the poison from erupting weigh on you too heavily. Once we enter the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, this problem won't be difficult to solve."

After the three exchanged a few reminders, Jiang Nannan and Dugu Luo returned home.

Xuan Ziwen strode over to Huo Yuhao, excitement shining in his eyes. "Yuhao, you have made an incomparably correct decision. If you have nothing else to do in Heaven Dou City, shall we leave now?"

"Mm, let's go, Teacher Xuan." Huo Yuhao nodded.

Several days later, Ming Dou Mountain Range.

"Yuhao, beyond this mountain range lies Mingdu, the capital of the Sun Moon Empire."

"Unless necessary, we do not take the initiative to enter another country's airspace, as that could easily cause panic. So we'll fly over through the Ming Dou Mountain Range."

As he spoke, a circular device appeared on Xuan Ziwen's back. A halo then spread from it, forming a pair of bionic wings with a metallic sheen.

"This is called a Flight Soul Tool."

Xuan Ziwen introduced it to Huo Yuhao. "The Sun Moon Empire's research into Flight Soul Tools is unrivaled across the entire continent. No other power has mastered this bionic technology."

With a turn of his palm, a pair of small cyan metal wings appeared above Xuan Ziwen's hand.

"This is a third-class Flight Soul Tool I made in my spare time."

"Yuhao, I can see that your physical strength is quite good."

"And you seem to have no shortage of Soul Power at all."

Xuan Ziwen handed the small metal wings to Huo Yuhao. "Inject Soul Power into it and try putting it on. Consider it getting used to Flight Soul Tools in advance."

Huo Yuhao recalled the Earth Tier High Flight Dou Technique, Purple Cloud Wings.

This was the perfect opportunity to practice it.

He came up with an explanation. "Teacher Xuan, although my Martial Soul is not a flying Beast Martial Soul—"

"I have a special ability that lets me condense a pair of wings from Soul Power, granting me the ability to fly. It can be considered a Self-Created Soul Skill."

"I never practiced it when I only had one ring because of my physique. Now, I want to give it a try."

"If I can gain a basic grasp of it, its flight speed definitely won't be lower than a third-class Flight Soul Tool."

Xuan Ziwen and Xu Sheng were both stunned. The Fire Lotus Huo Yuhao had released before, along with his unique Alchemy Art, had already shocked them.

Yet he could actually create his own Soul Skill—and one that allowed him to fly.

According to records in some academy books, there had been quite a few cases of Self-Created Soul Skills in the history of the former three Douluo nations.

However, the Soul Engineers of the Sun Moon Empire favored taking pills, resulting in weaker physiques. Their chances of creating Soul Skills were minuscule.

Xu Sheng patted his chest. "Yuhao, go ahead and practice that self-created flight Soul Skill of yours. With us here, nothing will happen to you."

Huo Yuhao nodded. He had already grasped the principle behind the Soul Power circulation path of Purple Cloud Wings. Now, it was time to put it into practice.

He attempted to guide his Soul Power along Purple Cloud Wings' circulation route, and a faint purple glow gradually appeared on his back.

After an unknown amount of time and thousands of attempts, Huo Yuhao finally succeeded once. His Soul Power smoothly traveled through Purple Cloud Wings' route.

A pair of purple feathered wings appeared on his back. With a thought, the purple wings slowly flapped.

The next instant, Huo Yuhao rose into the air and shot forward at astonishing speed. At the same time, his Soul Power began depleting frantically.

Just as he was about to take a Soul Return Pill, Electrolux's voice sounded in his mind.

"Yuhao, this Flight Dou Technique requires you to push your body to its limits. Like the extreme pressure of high altitudes and deep seas forcing one into a desperate situation, it continually unlocks your potential. Only then will your flight ability have greater room to improve later."

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao did not take the Soul Return Pill. Instead, he increased his limit tolerance by exhausting his Soul Power.

Xu Sheng stared wide-eyed from the ground. "Xuan Ziwen, he really flew! He's so much faster than a third-class Flight Soul Tool! Hey, why is Yuhao falling again?"

Sun Moon Empire, Mingdu.

Outside Mingde Hall.

Jing Hongchen stood with his hands behind his back, gazing toward the Ming Dou Mountain Range with the air of an expert.

He was constantly ready to welcome a precious treasure.

"Meng, are you free today? Come with Grandpa to meet a genius."

The silver-haired girl beside him lounged leisurely in a Soul Guidance Chair, a section of her fair calf beneath her skirt swinging casually. At his words, she lowered the storybook that had been covering her face—The Rich Young Lady Falls in Love with a Handsome Young Man.

Her beautiful aqua-blue eyes blinked. "Grandpa, what genius?"