As the Mandala Snake fell, Xiao Xiao gazed at the Double Pupils youth before her, somewhat dazed.
She could sense that his Soul Power was actually at rank thirty-seven?
But he was barely any older than she was. Was he already close to becoming a Soul Ancestor?
Xiao Lin, meanwhile, pushed himself up and cupped his hands toward Huo Yuhao and Electrolux, speaking softly.
"Thank you both for coming to our aid."
Once Xiao Xiao came to her senses, she too hurriedly nodded her thanks.
Huo Yuhao looked at Xiao Xiao, stroking his chin as he fell into thought.
If nothing unexpected had happened, Xiao Xiao had come to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a Soul Ring for her Second Martial Soul so she could get into Shrek Academy?
The thought struck Huo Yuhao as somewhat absurd, but it was the only reason he could think of. After all, Tang San had more or less indirectly concealed the cultivation method for Twin Martial Souls.
Yet Xiao Xiao was already going to add a Soul Ring to her Second Martial Soul at this age. He could only think of that possibility.
Among the Shrek Seven Devils, Xiao Xiao could be counted as the most pure-hearted and hardworking.
Huo Yuhao waved a hand and looked at Xiao Xiao for a long moment before saying something seemingly out of nowhere.
"Sometimes you shouldn't be too hung up on things, because there are always two sides to them."
The rather baffling remark left Xiao Xiao visibly confused. She reflexively asked in a soft voice, "What are you talking about? Who are you?"
Beside her, Xiao Lin hurriedly and reflexively kept signaling to Xiao Xiao with his eyes.
Only then did Xiao Xiao realize that Huo Yuhao, standing before her, was the one who had saved her life.
"My name is Huo Yuhao... Just take it as a passing whim."
As though he had thought of something, Huo Yuhao did not continue the conversation. After all, everyone had their own destiny.
Although he had taken the original owner's place, giving her a little guidance was enough. There was no need to interfere in someone else's destiny at will.
As for Xiao Xiao, she found herself thinking of the decision she had made.
The way to cultivate Twin Martial Souls was more or less laid out for all to see, yet her father-or rather, her family-wanted him to obtain a Soul Ring for her Second Martial Soul early, so she could be sure of staying at Shrek Academy.
Was that... really a good thing?
She had already had her doubts, but they had ultimately been buried beneath her family's expectations. Huo Yuhao's words, however, had inexplicably brought the matter back to her mind.
"Goodbye."
Huo Yuhao had no intention of continuing the conversation. He merely nodded.
Then he and Electrolux turned to leave.
Their sudden departure left Xiao Xiao even more confused, and she wanted to pursue the question.
But Xiao Lin stopped her outright. Only after Electrolux and Huo Yuhao were out of sight did he turn to Xiao Xiao and scold her.
"Although they saved me, anyone can see they have things to do and don't want to talk to us much. Just remember what they did for us. Why insist on bothering them?"
Hearing that, Xiao Xiao could only nod glumly.
Elsewhere, after his brief farewell to Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao headed for the Heavenly Soul Empire.
His objective was simple: the Body Sect.
Although his Double Pupils now seemed to have put him on an invincible path, sometimes he just wanted to borrow a bone... ptooey.
The main thing was that his Double Pupils should also count as his Body Martial Soul.
As everyone knew, there was a method for the Second Awakening of a Body Martial Soul.
Although he was not sure whether his Double Pupils were already in their complete form, they were a Body Martial Soul, so he could still give it a try.
In Huo Yuhao's view, it was necessary to go and make contact with the Body Sect.
He did not have to join, but as for its cultivation method, he had to find a way to get his hands on it, whether by paying money or some other price.
Huo Yuhao and Electrolux arrived in Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
They took temporary lodging at a restaurant, but while eating in its tavern, they overheard a conversation from the next table.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Did you know? Back when the Tang Sect was wiped out, more than one little girl got away. There seemed to be another..."
"How is that possible? Why wouldn't it be? I heard that person's Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass too, and they're planning revenge..."
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Hearing that, Huo Yuhao nearly sprayed out a mouthful of tea.
Why was this so strange?
Wasn't Tang Ya the only one left of the Tang Sect in Heaven Dou City? Where had this extra person suddenly come from?
Had his attempt to escape the God King's chess game been discovered?
Was his very own dog leash chasing after him again?
As those thoughts crossed his mind, a few black lines appeared on Huo Yuhao's forehead.
He made up his mind. Since that was the case, he had to hurry and find those people from the Body Sect.
But if he exposed his Body Martial Soul in public, wouldn't that be a little too slow?
While Huo Yuhao was still wondering how to attract the Body Sect's attention,
Electrolux, beside him, quietly transmitted his voice.
"Yuhao, watch out. The person ahead is quite strong, and he's coming straight for us."
Did that dog leash get here so fast?
The thought crossed Huo Yuhao's mind, but then he shook his head. No, someone Electrolux called strong should at least be a Titled Douluo-level expert, right?
He turned his gaze in that direction.
The old man's gaunt frame was wrapped in a loose gray-black robe. Its hem was steeped in a lingering, icy black Qi, as though stained by the resentment of countless departed souls.
He looked to be over seventy, his face crisscrossed with deep furrows, his skin shriveled and gray like bark that had dried for years.
His eye sockets were deeply sunken, and his murky, dark eyes held not a glimmer of light. When he looked at people, they showed none of the emotion a living person should have, only a deathly still indifference. His cheekbones jutted high, and his thin lips were bluish and bloodless.
When he came before them, however, he sat down as naturally as could be.
That put Huo Yuhao on guard. One look was enough to tell this fellow was no good.
Had he been targeted so quickly?
No, why did this man look so much like an Evil Soul Master?
While Huo Yuhao was considering how to deal with him,
the man merely glanced at Huo Yuhao, then looked at Electrolux and spoke softly in a hoarse but courteous voice.
"Your Excellency, I feel as though we've been friends from the moment we met. Might we have a talk?"
At this, a trace of disgust and aversion appeared in Electrolux's eyes.
He could sense what seemed to be a great deal of resentment and hostile Qi on the man...
But then he thought of where they were: the Heavenly Soul Empire. Making a move on the spot might draw an even stronger presence.
Electrolux suppressed his disgust and looked at the old man. "Talk about what?" he asked coolly.
The old man was not angered. Still wearing that ugly smile, he spoke softly in his hoarse voice, his tone tinged with persuasion.
"Join us and become a member of the Holy Cult."
"Join your Holy Cult?"
Electrolux felt that the old man's words were an insult to him, and spoke with self-mockery.
The old man was not angered and continued in that beguiling voice.
"I know that for someone like you, who used to be on the righteous path, it's hard to accept all at once. But our Holy Cult is actually very accepting..."