Facing Lin Yun's strange gaze, Huo Yuhao subtly clenched his fists.
It hadn't even been half a month since he successfully fused with the Titan Snow Demon, and he still hadn't fully come to terms with his new appearance.
The only reason he didn't stand out too much was that Shrek Academy had all sorts of bizarre martial souls—even someone like Xie Huanyue, who looked like a literal meatball, could blend in. If not for that, Huo Yuhao would have long since exploded from the strange looks he got everywhere else.
When Lin Yun brought up his appearance and gave him that odd look, Huo Yuhao's twisted pride immediately conjured up resentment.
'We both have strength-type martial souls, so why do you get to look so handsome while I have to turn into this terrifying monster?'
Even Huo Yuhao himself didn't realize he was thinking this way.
After all, Lin Yun had helped him before and was one of the few people in Shrek's outer courtyard who had never looked down on him. Compared to his arrogant roommate Wang Dong, Lin Yun treated everyone with a gentle attitude.
This made it impossible for Huo Yuhao to truly hate him.
But the psychological distortions from his trip to the Extreme North had still changed him somewhat. If even the Skydream Iceworm had earned his resentment, how could Lin Yun be exempt?
His fists tightened and loosened repeatedly as his expression darkened. Finally, he forced out an ugly smile. "I didn't want this either, Brother Yun. During the break, I went to hunt spirit beasts for my second soul ring and awakened a second martial soul. My appearance changed because of it."
"A second martial soul?" Lin Yun 'shocked,' immediately pressing further. "So you're a twin-souled spirit master now?"
"Yeah." Huo Yuhao nodded.
He had never planned to hide his twin martial souls. He had long wanted to shed the label of being the weakest waste in the academy, and since he had a good impression of Lin Yun, he saw no reason to conceal it from him.
Thus, Lin Yun became the first person in Shrek Academy to learn this news.
"That's… a bit strange." Lin Yun pretended to frown in thought, voicing his 'speculations.' "Martial souls are innate talents. Even ordinary people without soul power have them, though theirs are usually useless. All martial souls manifest during the initial awakening—changes afterward only come from evolution. There's no such thing as a second martial soul awakening later in life!"
He 'racked his brains,' seemingly unable to figure it out.
Huo Yuhao maintained a polite smile, but cold sweat formed on his forehead. The origin of his second martial soul was tied to the Skydream Iceworm—his greatest trump card. He absolutely couldn't let anyone dig into it.
'Lin Yun, you've already—'
Before he could finish that thought in his mind, Lin Yun suddenly slapped his forehead as if struck by enlightenment.
"I get it now! Maybe you did awaken twin martial souls from the start, but because your body was too weak as a child, it couldn't handle the strain. So your second martial soul remained dormant until you got your second soul ring and your physique improved enough to bear it!" Lin Yun's eyes gleamed as he enthusiastically helped Huo Yuhao patch up his backstory.
'...?'
Huo Yuhao was stunned. His 'sin worthy of death' line got stuck in his throat. He had thought Lin Yun was probing his secrets, but it turned out he was genuinely trying to find a reasonable explanation for him.
At this realization, Huo Yuhao's twisted mindset shifted slightly, and he felt a pang of guilt toward Lin Yun.
'I shouldn't have doubted him. Brother Yun has always been good to me—he's nothing like that fat worm. How could I have ill intentions toward him?'
"That must be it. My second martial soul is the Titan Snow Demon, an ice-attribute spirit beast from the Extreme North," Huo Yuhao said with a sincere smile, the earlier gloominess gone from his expression.
"That makes sense. The Titan Snow Demon is one of the top spirit beast species in the Extreme North—incredibly powerful. Your previous body definitely couldn't have handled it. My guess is probably right." Lin Yun nodded seriously.
'Yeah, Brother Yun's explanation is perfect. I can use this to justify my second martial soul to others. I really have to thank him—I'll repay him someday!'
Watching Lin Yun's earnest expression, Huo Yuhao was deeply moved and silently vowed to himself.
"Congratulations, then. You've officially joined the ranks of geniuses. Even in a place like Shrek, where prodigies gather, you'll have your own place now!" Lin Yun patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder encouragingly. "Anyway, you keep cleaning. I'm heading out to eat, so I'll catch you later. I'd love to see how strong this Titan Snow Demon martial soul of yours is!"
"Sure, Brother Yun!" Huo Yuhao scratched the back of his head again, grinning warmly.
The last traces of jealousy toward Lin Yun vanished from his heart. How could I ever envy such a good friend?
I don't deserve him!
Huo Yuhao felt that if he woke up in the middle of the night, he'd have to slap himself twice to atone for his earlier dark thoughts. Lin Yun truly was like his Golden Dragon martial soul—radiating a warm, dazzling golden light that chased away the shadows in people's hearts.
Brother Yun is just too good!
As the protector of Shrek's best big brother, I, Huo Yuhao, will not hesitate to do my duty!
Even the five-star war criminal Skydream Iceworm commented in his spiritual sea: "This kid really is something else!"
And just like that, Lin Yun's random nonsense actually convinced Huo Yuhao. His impromptu acting scored full marks, and the rising protagonist—who should have been looking down on everyone by now—had already bent the knee to Lin Yun without realizing it.
Truly, youth was a wonderful thing…
...Wonderfully easy to fool!
Even Lin Yun himself hadn't expected that he could spout such nonsense and Huo Yuhao would actually believe it. How was he supposed to keep a straight face?
But then again…
A young, inexperienced Huo Yuhao—not yet trained into a loyal dog by Tang San—paired with a fat worm who only knew how to sleep? Maybe it wasn't so unreasonable after all.
If Elaicose had been inside Huo Yuhao, Lin Yun's little speech would never have had this effect.
It was just an unexpected twist of fate.
By the time they reached the lakeside of Sea God Lake, Lin Yun's expression was still a little strange—torn between laughter and restraint.
"Great One, you're too good at bluffing. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought everything you said was true," Bing Di couldn't help but tease.
She had been utterly mesmerized by Lin Yun's performance earlier. Her admiration for him now stretched as endlessly as rolling rivers and towered as loftily as mountains!
"If all the wisdom of Douluo's spirit beasts amounts to eight dou, the Great One alone possesses ten, while the Extreme North and Star Dou each owe him one!" declared five-star critic Bing Di.
"Ah, Bing'er, that's not the right way to put it. How can this be called bluffing?" Lin Yun waved his hand, looking displeased.
This was clearly the power of charisma!
(End of Chapter)
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