After absorbing the useful information from the memories, Huo Yuhao was utterly astonished. He exclaimed without thinking, "This world truly is rich and wondrous!"
His investigation had shown him just how small the Douluo Continent was in this boundless expanse of heaven and earth-no, in the even vaster universe, it was but a single grain of millet in the ocean.
Between heaven and earth lay countless sights and innumerable planes. Though he had cultivated to godhood before, he had never come into contact with other, higher-level planes. By comparison, he was no more than an insignificant mayfly in the world.
Huo Yuhao sighed softly, then summoned Undead Fire.
Gray flames engulfed Xiao Ye's and Ling Lan's corpses in an instant, burning fiercely. As the fire devoured them, their bodies gradually turned to ash and dispersed into the world.
"I'm no good person, but I'm no villain either. Everyone is the protagonist of their own story, and I'm just an ordinary person among the countless living beings. Protagonist or not, it's hard enough just being yourself."
Huo Yuhao spoke softly, a trace of release in his voice.
"Heh, but this really is some good information."
The corners of Huo Yuhao's mouth lifted in a slight smile, though a barely perceptible chill lurked within it.
"Tang San, Tang Wulin, the Golden Dragon King's Divine Core, Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena, the Dragon God, Lan Xuanyu... Tang Wulin isn't as cunning by nature as Tang San. That must have something to do with his adoptive parents.
"If he had Tang San's nature, I'm afraid Tang Wulin would inevitably become the next Tang San."
At that thought, a calculating gleam flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes. "Gu Yuena? I remember the Silver Dragon King was part of Tang San's plan. She'd make a useful pawn. If I could stir up a conflict between the Silver Dragon King and the Divine Realm, then reap the fisherman's profit, wouldn't that be wonderful..."
So that's how it is. Huo Yuhao marveled inwardly, his thoughts surging like a tide. The Great God of the Three Altars and Sea Assemblies, Marshal of the Central Altar, Third Prince Nezha. The Heavenly Court's three notoriously rebellious troublemakers: Great Sage Equal to Heaven Sun Wukong, Yang Jian, the Erlang True Lord Who Manifested Holiness, and this Great God of the Three Altars and Sea Assemblies, Third Prince Nezha.
Only after learning all this did Huo Yuhao fully realize just how astonishing the background of the being currently residing in his sea of divine soul was.
Each of the three possessed immense divine powers and a far-reaching reputation. Back then, Great Sage Equal to Heaven Sun Wukong had wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, taking on a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals single-handedly. The battle had shaken heaven and earth, yet not one of the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals had been able to capture him.
In the end, Yang Jian, the Erlang True Lord Who Manifested Holiness, had to be called in. Only after several hundred rounds of combat had he managed to capture Sun Wukong.
And this Third Prince Nezha had captured a dragon in his youth, pulled out its tendons and stripped its skin. He was ruthless enough to carve away his flesh and bones and return them to his parents before the Four Seas Dragon Kings. No wonder Nezha had said they were alike: both had traded one life for another, and both had tragic pasts that made people sigh.
Even so, the pain and hardship Huo Yuhao had endured were nowhere near as harrowing as the Third Prince's.
Huo Yuhao could easily imagine the scene, that look of determination: sword in his right hand, Nezha first cut off an arm, then sliced open his own belly, scraped out his intestines, stripped away his bones, scattered his three souls and seven spirits, and finally gave up his life to the underworld.
Huo Yuhao had experienced the pain of a sharp sword piercing his body, but the Third Prince had watched with his own eyes as the flesh was stripped from his body piece by piece and blood poured out, with nothing but indifference on his face...
Third Prince Nezha sat at ease atop a lotus, which gave off a gentle glow that set off his cold, dignified face.
His gaze blazed like a torch as he looked at Huo Yuhao and spoke slowly. "I suppose you've learned quite a bit about our deeds by now, kid."
Huo Yuhao hurriedly answered with respect, "I have."
"Then do you need my help?" Nezha asked, getting straight to the point.
Huo Yuhao said sincerely, "Please lend me your strength, Third Prince."
"Good! In that case, I'll accept you as a disciple on Three Eyes' behalf." Nezha nodded slightly, his expression calm. "After all, I don't have any cultivation techniques suited to you, nor can I teach you very much.
"Only Three Eyes left behind a cultivation technique back then. I can't claim the title of your master."
With that, Nezha waved his hand, and a cultivation manual appeared out of thin air. Written prominently on its cover were the words: Eight-Nine Arcane Art. The book instantly transformed into a brilliant beam of golden light and swiftly entered Huo Yuhao's forehead like a shooting star.
Nezha's expression grew even more indifferent as he warned him solemnly once more, "This art must not be passed to outsiders. If you dare divulge it, neither Three Eyes nor I will ever let you off lightly. We'll cast you into the Eighteen Levels of Hell, never to be reborn! And don't tell anyone about us."
Huo Yuhao's heart tightened, and he quickly answered, "Yes!"
"Kid, you've really stumbled onto a windfall. As the saying goes, 'Master the mysteries of Eight-Nine, and roam the world as you please.' This art's power is boundless, but cultivating it is extremely difficult. You'll have to bear all the suffering that comes with it yourself."
Nezha looked at Huo Yuhao and spoke calmly.
"Xiao Ye and Ling Lan were carrying quite a fortune." Huo Yuhao looked through the money pouches and belongings he had searched from the two of them, surprise flashing in his eyes. Then the corners of his mouth rose in a faint smile, and he murmured, "This must be what they call a newbie gift pack."
For him, penniless and in urgent need of funds, this windfall was undoubtedly rain after a long drought.
After putting the valuables away safely, Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and continued wandering through the forest, relying on his vivid memories from his previous life. The forest was unusually quiet. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the dense foliage, casting golden shafts of light in which countless motes of dust danced.
The damp scent of earth filled the air, mingled with the fresh fragrance of grass and trees, perhaps because it had rained a couple of days earlier.
Before long, roughly half an hour later, Huo Yuhao finally arrived at a place that could not have been more familiar. He stopped and surveyed his surroundings, saying with certainty, "This should be the place." This was where he had first met the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm in his previous life. Although it had been a very long time ago, this should be roughly right.
Just then, there was a slight movement in the grass, followed by a rustling sound. A dark shape suddenly sprang out like lightning, accompanied by a low growl.
Huo Yuhao focused his gaze and saw that it was a Wind Baboon. It was powerfully built and covered in gray fur. Its blood-red eyes gleamed fiercely as it opened its enormous maw, baring sharp fangs at Huo Yuhao in a show of aggression.