Inside the dark red temple, blood mist swirled, and a chilling atmosphere permeated the air.
The Asura God stood before the divine throne, his scarlet eyes piercing through layers of clouds, gazing at the familiar yet strange aura in the lower realm.
"That murderous aura..."
He murmured softly, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the armrest of the throne, a rare flicker of emotion flashing in his eyes.
Pure and sharp, yet carrying a hint of untamed arrogance.
--Just like myself back then.
"Hmph, Rakshasa God certainly has good taste."
He let out a cold laugh, his voice echoing in the empty temple.
"They actually beat her to it and sent her successor to that kid's side."
Although unwilling to admit it, the Asura God knew very well—
That young man named Huo Yuhao was perhaps the most suitable candidate for his Godhood in millions of years.
However, the problem is --
How can we get him to willingly step into the Slaughter City?
The Asura God narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts racing.
The Slaughter City a trial ground and a prison.
Only those with bloodstained hands and evil intentions will be drawn to that place.
But this guy...
Although he possessed a murderous aura, he harbored no ill intentions.
"Hehe, but there's no need to worry too much. As long as he wants to pursue power, he will inevitably come to the Slaughter City."
The soft morning light streamed through the window and fell onto the bed. Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes, his pupils reflecting the familiar ceiling. He remained half-sitting, his slender fingers unconsciously stroking the bedding, as if he were still immersed in a long dream.
The chirping of birds outside the window could not rouse him from his wandering thoughts.
Ice Empress rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at Huo Yuhao Huo Yuhao. She had been watching over him closely for the past few days, but now that she saw him suddenly wake up and look so absent-minded, she couldn't help but tilt her head, her emerald green eyes full of confusion.
"Hey, you idiot?" Ice Empress waved her slender finger in front of his eyes, the ice crystals at her fingertip refracting a rainbow of light. " Huo Yuhao? Has someone bewitched you?"
Deep within the Sea of Consciousness, a vast mist drifted slowly. The phantom of Electrolux stood with his hands behind his back, his grey robes fluttering even without wind. The old man's wise gaze pierced through the layers of mist, landing on his disciple's dazed figure.
"Still thinking about that girl from that time?" Electrolux's voice carried a gentle warmth honed by years of experience. " Luo Dong... it's a good name."
Huo Yuhao's spirit curled up in the Sea of Consciousness, burying his face in his hands. "Teacher, please stop teasing me. In her eyes, she only knows Hao Yi, not Huo Yuhao. Besides, we are not from the same time at all. There will be no future for me and her." His voice grew softer and softer, and the last few words almost turned into a sigh.
Electrolux gently patted his disciple's trembling shoulder, a warm white light emanating from his palm. "Time is indeed the most ruthless law, but some things even time cannot erase." The old man's gaze drifted into the distance, seemingly piercing through countless dimensions. "Cherish every moment you have now; that is the best way to combat time."
Huo Yuhao looked up and suddenly noticed the fleeting sadness in his teacher's eyes. "Teacher, you've been teaching me about dealing with emotions lately. Did you have a secret past when you were young?"
"That's all ancient history." Electrolux withdrew his gaze from the distance, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "Let bygones be bygones. When you become a little stronger, I will tell you this secret I've kept hidden."
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up, and he deliberately put on an exaggerated expression. "With your demeanor, teacher, you must have been a handsome man who captivated countless girls back then, right? Maybe even more popular than I am now?"
"You little rascal! Always trying to flatter yourself," Electrolux chuckled, playfully patting his disciple on the back of the head, causing ripples to spread through his Sea of Consciousness. Amid the old man's laughter, fragments of deeply buried memories appeared and disappeared in the mist.
Huo Yuhao's eyelashes fluttered slightly as he slowly opened his eyes. Before him lay a delicate face so close to his— Ice Empress was leaning in to observe him closely, their noses almost touching. He could even clearly count the individual strands of her long eyelashes. The girl's warm breath gently brushed against his cheek, carrying a faint, refreshing fragrance of snow. His reflection was mirrored in her emerald eyes, their warm breaths mingling together.
The moment their eyes met, Ice Empress jerked back as if electrocuted, her fair cheeks instantly flushing crimson, even the tips of her ears turning a lovely pink. "W-what are you doing?!" She frantically retreated to the bedside, Ice Empress's voice eight octaves higher than usual, her hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt. "You suddenly closed your eyes and then suddenly opened them, were you trying to scare me to death?"
Seeing her flustered appearance, Huo Yuhao unconsciously smiled gently. "Sorry, I just went back to the Sea of Consciousness to take care of some things." He propped himself up on his arms, stretched his stiff neck, and his joints, which had been working for many days, made a slight cracking sound.
Ice Empress secretly tried to calm her racing heart, but her gaze couldn't help but fall on him.
"Hmph!" She turned her face away, the ice crystals at the ends of her hair swaying gently with the movement. "You've been in seclusion for seven days. How much has your cultivation improved?"
Huo Yuhao gazed thoughtfully at the swaying shadows of the trees outside the window, sunlight casting dappled golden spots in his eyes. "Just a little," he said, his gaze suddenly becoming distant, his voice lowering. "I had a very long dream, experiencing many things in it... It was quite an interesting journey."
Ice Empress looked him over suspiciously. "You've been acting strangely ever since you woke up. Could it be that you've gone mad from practicing cultivation?" She suddenly floated to the table, her slender fingertips tapping on the five stacked food boxes. "Instead of this, why don't you explain these things?"
Huo Yuhao then noticed the exquisite lacquered wooden food box on the table, with a pink sticky note attached to the top. He frowned in confusion. "Have you been going to the cafeteria these past few days...?"
"I didn't!" Ice Empress huffed, crossing her arms. "It was your five 'good friends' who took turns bringing you food." She deliberately emphasized the words "good friends." " Ma Xiaotao's braised lion's head meatballs, Jiang Nannan's jade shrimp dumplings, Xiao Xiao's honey-glazed ham, Ling Luochеn's ice lotus soup... and the crystal cake that Miss Ning Tian specially brought from her sect." With each dish name, her voice rose a notch.
"Hmph!" Ice Empress suddenly turned his face away angrily, "These past few days, different girls have been bringing you food every day. Don't you even remember all the romantic entanglements you've had?"
Ice Empress replied coolly, their emerald eyes narrowing into a dangerous arc, "Is someone feeling quite smug?"
Huo Yuhao could almost picture the awkward scene of the five girls meeting in front of their dormitory, and he couldn't help but rub his forehead and smile wryly, "This really is..."
The troubles of being too popular?
"Stop admiring yourself!" Ice Empress grabbed his arm and dragged him outside, shimmering ice crystals spreading beneath her feet. "Now that your training is over, hurry up and cook! I'm already tired of those homemade bento boxes!"
As Huo Yuhao was being dragged along, he noticed that the girl's emerald eyes were flashing with a dangerous light when she said those words.
"Well"
"You've been messing with too many girls, haven't you? I told you I'd keep an eye on you for Xue'er!" Before Ice Empress could finish speaking, a series of urgent knocks suddenly sounded on the door.
" Yuhao? Yuhao, are you there?" Jiang Nannan's gentle yet urgent voice came from outside the door.
As Huo Yuhao opened the door, a figure in pale yellow, carrying a faint floral scent, rushed into his arms. Jiang Nannan hugged his waist tightly, her cheek pressed against his chest. "You've finally come out of seclusion... for a full seven days..."
Huo Yuhao's body stiffened slightly as he keenly sensed the Soul Power fluctuations of the girl in his arms—level 40? It seems Senior Sister Nannan has come...
"Do you want my help to obtain Soul Ring?" he asked gently, lightly placing his hand on Jiang Nannan's shoulder.
The girl looked up, her eyes still slightly moist. She released one hand, unconsciously twirling a strand of hair behind her ear. "Hmm... that's part of the reason..." Her voice trailed off, a blush rising on her fair cheeks, "But mainly... you've been in seclusion for too long, I... I miss you so much..."
Sunlight streamed in slantingly from the doorway, elongating the shadows of the two embracing. Jiang Nannan's pale yellow skirt fluttered gently in the breeze, and the bow in her hair was slightly loose, indicating that she had clearly run all the way here.
Ice Empress stood behind, arms crossed, and snorted, "Another one." But when she saw Jiang Nannan's reddened eyes, she stopped rolling her eyes halfway through.
Huo Yuhao noticed the bits of grass clinging to Jiang Nannan's skirt and her slightly trembling shoulders—it seemed she had rushed over as soon as she sensed his emergence from seclusion. A warm feeling welled up in his heart, and he reached out to straighten her disheveled hair ornament. "I'm sorry for making you worry. About the Soul Ring..."
"I can wait!" Jiang Nannan suddenly interrupted him, then lowered her head shyly, "I mean... you should rest first after you just came out of quarantine..."
Huo Yuhao replied, "No need, let's go now. Um, Bing-kun???"
Ice Empress gave a soft hum, her slender fingers twirling the ends of her emerald green hair. She turned her face slightly to the side, her long eyelashes casting dappled shadows in the sunlight.
"I'll go too, but I'm not doing this for your safety." Her voice still carried a hint of arrogance, but her tone had softened considerably. "It's just... I've been cooped up in the dorm for so many days, it's good to get some fresh air."
Huo Yuhao gazed at her slightly reddened earlobes, a warm smile appearing in his eyes. He knew this seemingly contradictory partner all too well—as the ruler of the Far North, she should have despised the act of hunting Soul Beast. But at this moment, she was willing to set aside her prejudices for him.
"I understand," Huo Yuhao said softly, reaching out to brush away non-existent dust from her shoulder. "Thank you, Ice Empress."
Ice Empress abruptly turned her head, a hint of panic flashing in her emerald eyes. "S-Stop being presumptuous!" She floated into the air, looking down at Huo Yuhao, "Those guys in the Star Dou Great Forest have nothing to do with our Far North, I won't feel sorry for them!"
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but chuckle, but still nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes, our Ice Empress is the most generous."
"Hmph!" Ice Empress turned her face away, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly. "Aren't you going to hurry up? It'll be dark soon if you dawdle any longer."
(It's gotten dark by the time we got here, guys, that's just an adjective.)
P. S.: Thank you to user 1896450088018104302 for the monthly pass donation. Thank you for your support...