While Bei Bei was grilling fish for Tang Ya, Huo Yuhao had already entered the Star Dou Great Forest. Soul beasts grew increasingly numerous, but with the extraordinary perception of his Spirit Eyes Martial Soul, he easily avoided them every time. Just then, as though by heaven's will, Huo Yuhao spotted a Wind Baboon in a tree ahead, and the Wind Baboon happened to look up, meeting his eyes.
The moment the Wind Baboon saw Huo Yuhao, its ferocity flared. With strange, cackling cries, it leaped down from the tree and attacked Huo Yuhao, brandishing its sharp claws.
Huo Yuhao paled in fright and hurriedly fumbled with the soul tools on his body. In little more than a second, defensive soul tools had wrapped him up tightly from head to toe.
The Wind Baboon's sharp claws struck, sending Huo Yuhao flying. He only stopped when he crashed into a large tree behind him. His whole body hurt, but fortunately, the defensive soul tools were remarkably effective. The Wind Baboon had not breached his defenses at all; he was only sore from being knocked flying and taking a fall.
Huo Yuhao immediately activated his offensive soul tool. With the enhancement of his Spirit Eyes Martial Soul, his aim was exceptionally accurate. Just as the Wind Baboon leaped up again, ready to deliver another swipe, a Soul Guidance Ray shot out.
The Wind Baboon let out a strange cry in midair, then hit the ground hard with a thud and twitched incessantly. In less than half a minute, its twitching stopped, and a white soul ring slowly floated out of its corpse.
Huo Yuhao slumped to the ground, drained of strength, and sighed. "That was close! These soul tools really are incredible." Only as he put the soul tools away did he notice that they all bore two engraved characters: Feng Luan.
Who was Feng Luan? The soul engineer who made these soul tools, or the organization selling them? Huo Yuhao wondered.
As he sorted out his soul tools, he suddenly felt the world spin, and he could barely keep his footing. Immediately afterward, an enormous worm burrowed out of the ground and said, "At long last, I've found a human with a mental attribute. Too bad your big brother can't shed tears, or they'd be streaming down my face."
With that, the enormous worm began sacrificing himself to Huo Yuhao. More than ten kilometers away, Qian Chen watched, dumbstruck. What? This was the son of destiny? An Ice Silkworm, ten golden markings, a million-year age-and he just sacrificed himself to Huo Yuhao like that?
Just as Qian Chen was marveling at the treatment a son of destiny received, space suddenly shattered into a rift. A remnant soul shot out of the rift, heading straight for Huo Yuhao. "A remnant soul from another world!" Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue exclaimed inside Qian Chen's Sea of Consciousness.
While Huo Yuhao was obtaining his great opportunity, Bei Bei finally finished grilling the fish. Feeling a little guilty, he brought it to Tang Ya. Tang Ya took a bite and found it a little prickly in her mouth-it had been burned. She turned it over and took another bite, only for juices to burst out. It had not cooked through at all.
The fishy stench of the undercooked fish flooded Tang Ya's mouth, and she immediately began vomiting violently. Bei Bei hurried over and patted her back. "Teacher Xiao Ya, are you all right? I know my grilled fish was a little lacking. Next time-next time, I'll definitely do better!"
Tang Ya knew that Bei Bei was now her sole support, so naturally, she would not be too harsh on him. Instead, she said gently, "It's all right, Bei Bei. As long as you made it, I like it. It doesn't matter whether I eat grilled fish or not."
Bei Bei said, "How about this? That little brother from earlier really did have a knack for grilling fish. He seemed to be going to hunt for a soul ring. I'll help him kill a soul beast, then ask him to grill fish for you. Besides, Teacher Xiao Ya, you need to hunt for your third soul ring too. We can head farther into the Star Dou Great Forest."
Tang Ya nodded and said, "Bei Bei, I'll follow your arrangements."
Hearing Tang Ya's words, Bei Bei felt strength fill his entire body. Taking Tang Ya with him, he chased in the direction where Huo Yuhao had disappeared.
By then, Huo Yuhao was gradually waking up. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Qian Chen standing before him and hurriedly called out, "Teacher, I..."
Qian Chen raised a hand and said, "There's no need to explain. I saw everything that happened just now. A million-year soul beast sacrificed himself to you, and a remnant soul from another world entered your body. You've had quite an opportunity."
Inside Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm paled in fright and asked in shock, "Little Yuhao, th-this... this is your teacher? He actually discovered our secrets?"
"Yes, Teacher. A million-year soul beast sacrificed himself to me and even helped me open up my Sea of Consciousness." Ignoring the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, Huo Yuhao first answered Qian Chen honestly.
"He opened up your Sea of Consciousness for you? Is that soul beast still conscious? I'll speak with him," Qian Chen said.
"Teacher, how will you talk to him? This million-year soul beast is called the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. He's in my Sea of Consciousness now, and I don't know how to let him out," Huo Yuhao said helplessly.
"That's simple." Qian Chen immediately called out within his Sea of Consciousness, "Xiao Jin, stand guard outside. If any soul beasts or humans approach, report immediately."
"Yes!" The soul of a giant eagle flew out of Qian Chen's body, spread his wings, and circled overhead on guard.
Then Qian Chen turned to Huo Yun'er in his Sea of Consciousness and said, "Madam Huo, your child, Huo Yuhao, has opened up his Sea of Consciousness. Would you like to go over and reunite with him?"
Hearing that she could reunite with Huo Yuhao, Huo Yun'er said excitedly, "Qian Chen, is that really possible?"
Qian Chen nodded. "Yes."
"I'd like to!"
"All right."
In the outside world, Qian Chen looked at Huo Yuhao and said, "Yuhao, don't be nervous, and above all, don't resist. I'll enter your Sea of Consciousness and speak with that Sky Dream Ice Silkworm in detail."
With that, Qian Chen pressed his forehead against Huo Yuhao's. The next moment, he activated his powerful spiritual power, instantly opening a passage to Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness. Holding Huo Yun'er's hand, Qian Chen appeared inside Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness.
As soon as they entered Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness, Qian Chen released Huo Yun'er's hand and said, "Madam Huo, I only did that to bring you here. Pardon the impropriety."
Huo Yun'er lowered her head and said a little bashfully, "It's all right, Qian Chen. Thank you."
Huo Yuhao suddenly heard his mother's voice in his Sea of Consciousness. He hurried inside to look, only to find that his teacher had brought his mother there. Overcome with excitement, he broke into a run and rushed up to Huo Yun'er, wanting to throw his arms around her.
"Mom! How did Teacher bring you into my Sea of Consciousness? Mom, I've missed you so much!" Huo Yuhao cried excitedly.
Huo Yun'er also hugged Huo Yuhao tightly and said, "Yuhao, I've missed you so much too. Back then, I was controlled by the evil god Tang San and refused to leave the Duke's Mansion no matter what. In the end, the duchess tortured me to death. After I died, that evil god Tang San even tried to seize my soul. Your teacher saved me. Today, you formed your Sea of Consciousness, so your teacher brought me back. From now on, we mother and son will never be separated again."
After hearing this, Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth and said, "Tang San!"
Then Huo Yuhao knelt before Qian Chen again and knocked his head against the ground several times with resounding thuds. Huo Yun'er did not stop him either. She felt that this was a debt Huo Yuhao ought to repay.
Qian Chen stepped forward and said, "Yuhao, these are all minor matters. Remember to protect your mother. Also, when you're outside, never speak ill of the evil god Tang San. He's a god and can monitor the entire world. If he discovers that you hate him, he'll act against you."
Huo Yuhao nodded firmly and asked, "Teacher, why would the evil god Tang San target me?"
"Because you're special. You have the blessing of the Douluo Continent's fortune. Otherwise, why would this big worm have sought you out?"
Then Qian Chen turned to the enormous worm and asked, "Big worm, tell me your plan."