Huo Yuhao looked at the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm dancing and gesticulating before him, his face alight with excitement, and was utterly speechless. What is all this? How did I never notice Tian Meng could make such a fuss before? His whole style is so absurd. And who did he learn that spiel from?
Still, complaints aside, Huo Yuhao couldn't refuse. Without hesitation, he said, "All right, I promise."
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's laughter stopped abruptly. He had expected Huo Yuhao to hesitate, and hadn't imagined he would agree so readily. He froze for a moment, then grew smug again. "Sure enough, no one can resist my charm!"
The fusion that followed was even simpler than expected. Following the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's instructions, Huo Yuhao slowly extended his right hand and gently touched his body.
The instant they made contact, an incomparably vast surge of spiritual power swept through the entire forest like a raging tide, with the two of them at its center.
For a moment, the wind howled and the trees swayed.
The space not far from Huo Yuhao and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was suddenly torn violently apart, and a shocking fissure appeared.
In an instant, a gray presence poured out like a flood, spreading through the forest. It carried an eerie pressure that made even the surrounding air grow heavy.
Before the gray presence could spread unchecked through the forest, however, it was drawn along as if by an enormous invisible hand, surging at tremendous speed toward Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness.
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, still immersed in the joy of fusing with Huo Yuhao, caught sight of the gray presence out of nowhere. He instantly flew into a rage and cursed, "Damn! Where the hell did this thing come from?!"
He felt as though someone had stabbed him viciously in the back, and his heart was full of anger and astonishment. "I've been around the Douluo Continent for so many years, and I've never seen anything so brazen as to come barging in and snatch my territory!"
He shouted furiously while waving his round body about, trying to vent the fire in his heart.
"Damn it, do you think I'm easy to bully? I'm warning you, so listen up! I'm the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, the first Hundred-Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast on the Douluo Continent! This is the host I chose, and you don't get a share."
"If you know what's good for you, get the hell out of here, and stay far away! Otherwise, I really won't hold back!" the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm threatened at the top of his lungs, his eyes wide and fixed on the gray presence, as though he could force it back with his gaze alone.
"Did you hear me? Did you hear me?" he repeated, his voice echoing through the Sea of Consciousness.
But the gray presence seemed not to have heard the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's cursing at all. It made no sound, and the silence was almost eerie.
The silence made the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm feel even more like a fool, putting on a one-man show all by himself. "Wait, it didn't hear me?" He froze for a moment, then was completely enraged. "Damn it! Take this, Tian Meng Light Wave!"
He let out a loud shout, launching the light wave in an extremely comical fashion, just like Action Kamen firing his Action Beam in "Crayon Shin-chan." He puffed out his cheeks, a light flashed atop his head, and a golden wave condensed from spiritual power shot toward the figure formed by the gray presence.
However, just as the seemingly powerful "Tian Meng Light Wave" was about to strike the gray figure, the figure casually raised a hand to block it. The wave vanished instantly, without doing him any harm.
"What?" The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's eyes widened in shock, and his mouth fell open wide enough to fit an egg. "He blocked my Tian Meng Light Wave that easily? How is that possible?!" His face was filled with disbelief, and his heart with frustration.
Just then, the gray figure slowly spoke. His voice sounded exceptionally aged, yet carried a sacred presence. "With the sun and moon in my grasp, I pluck the stars; in all the world, there is none like me. I never imagined a wisp of my remnant soul would survive and descend upon this world."
The gray figure seemed not to regard the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm at all, speaking to himself. When he had finished, he paid no further attention to the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's cursing. Instead, he transformed the presence emanating from him into a ball of light and floated toward Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness, where he settled.
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm trembled all over with anger, his round body wriggling nonstop as he muttered all sorts of complaints, though his voice involuntarily grew quieter.
The power that gray presence had just emitted was far too terrifying. Even as a Hundred-Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, he didn't dare underestimate it in the slightest.
"Hmph, it's not like I'm unreasonable. With one more person around, maybe we'll have more help in the future. I'll reluctantly accept you staying. It's not like I'm afraid of you!" the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said stubbornly, trying to find a way to save face.
Naturally, Huo Yuhao had heard the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's complaints and seen the arrival of the mysterious gray figure-Electrolux-with perfect clarity.
But he didn't immediately react. He neither stepped forward to stop the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's impulsive behavior nor revealed himself to Electrolux.
He simply watched it all in silence. Once he had confirmed that his teacher was safe and well, a great stone finally fell from his heart.
A faint smile appeared on his face. I'd better hurry and find the Gold of Life. Only then can I buy more time for Teacher's recovery. I just don't know how long Teacher will sleep this time...
"Brother Sky Dream..." Huo Yuhao murmured under his breath without thinking, his call carrying a sense of endless vicissitudes. Once, he had been naive and enthusiastic, full of hope for himself and his companions.
But along the way, he had endured far too much sorrow and hardship. Those painful moments of parting in life and death had been like blades, gradually wearing away his former innocence and enthusiasm.
Now, his old high spirits were gone, replaced by the composure and calm of one who had seen a thousand sails pass. He smiled self-mockingly and thought, Forget it, that's too much trouble. I'll just call you Tian Meng.
When the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm heard Huo Yuhao suddenly change how he addressed him, he was immediately displeased. "Kid, what do you mean by that? Why have you suddenly stopped calling me Brother and started calling me Tian Meng?" he asked sulkily, staring straight at Huo Yuhao, his face full of discontent.
Huo Yuhao merely replied indifferently, "Mm-hmm, Tian Meng."
Seeing how little he cared, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm felt even more aggrieved. "Kid, how are you just like that old fellow from earlier, ignoring me like this?!" he shouted angrily, but Huo Yuhao paid him no further attention, sinking into thought about his plans for the future.
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm stood there dumbfounded in Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness, with nowhere to vent the fire in his heart. All he could do was rage helplessly. "Hey, kid! Don't ignore me! Hey!"