When discussing the evilization ritual, we must first explain the origins of Evil Martial Spirits.
The full term for these is Evilized Martial Spirits.
Generally, there are two main ways they are born: awakening and transformation. Awakening can be further divided into innate and acquired awakening.
However, if we categorize Evilized Martial Spirits based on the source of their evilized power, there are two types: inborn potential and external interference.
Inborn potential refers to martial spirits that inherently carry dark genes. Whether through innate awakening or later transformation, the evilization results from activating these genes, turning the martial spirit into an evil one.
Examples include:
Zhong Liwu's Death Puppet Martial Spirit,
Tang Ya's Dark Blue Silver Grass,
Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix,
And even Huo Yuhao's original Spirit Eyes, which were all born with potential for evilization.
Zhong Liwu's martial spirit awakened naturally; Tang Ya's did so later; and Ma Xiaotao, under Huo Yuhao's influence, has now stepped onto a new path of destiny.
Huo Yuhao's original Spirit Eyes indeed had evilization potential—something even Feng Ling, the Vice Leader of the Holy Spirit Sect in the original story, admitted. The fact that the White Tiger Spirit could mutate into a Blood Tiger, and also fuse with the dark-attribute Netherworld Spirit Cat to form the Netherworld White Tiger, speaks volumes.
Now, Huo Yuhao's Evil Eyes martial spirit has far surpassed the level of a mere Evil Martial Spirit—it is far more sinister and terrifying.
Almost all martial spirits that involve darkness, evil, blood-sucking, or poison attributes contain some dark genes and have evilization potential. Soul masters with such spirits are more likely to become evil soul masters.
Because of this, in the current era on the Douluo Continent, soul masters with dark, evil, or blood-related spirits are automatically labeled as evil soul masters and face persecution.
Even poison-attribute spirits aren't completely spared. If not for the close relationship between medicine and poison, they too would be targeted heavily.
Only those with great talent or a strong background can avoid such discrimination.
In other words—commoners without backing are most prone to persecution.
Back in the original Douluo Trilogy, even someone like Nana, with her ghost-type martial spirit, found it hard to even sit at the dinner table with others—let alone attend school.
But in truth, not all martial spirits of this type will necessarily be evilized or lead their masters to fall into depravity.
Power influences people, but people must also control power. It all depends on which is stronger.
External interference, on the other hand, typically refers to acquired transformation.
This is where the Holy Spirit Sect has done the most research. They possess a mature evilization ritual—the former Elder of the Mingdu Sub-Sect once promised Nana and the others that if they passed the assessment, they could undergo an evilization ritual, become evil soul masters, join the sect, and rescue their loved ones' souls.
This is the Holy Spirit Sect's recruitment method.
They're not like the Body Sect, searching across the continent for evil soul master disciples.
The Holy Spirit Sect simply finds soul masters with unique martial spirits—preferably talented ones—and then converts them into disciples.
Thanks to this, the Holy Spirit Sect has amassed a huge number of disciples, and its headquarters has gathered many high-level evil soul masters. They've even cultivated a number of Titled Douluo among the evil soul master ranks.
Key point: The Holy Spirit Sect's devotees, including Long Xiaoyao, are not evil soul masters. Their martial spirits merely have evil potential. They were persecuted by other factions and thus sought refuge with the Holy Spirit Sect.
With their talent and strength, they had no need to become evil soul masters to gain faster cultivation. Doing so would actually lower their future potential.
In fact, not just dark-gene martial spirits can be evilized. Based on known martial spirits, the Holy Spirit Sect's technology can successfully evilize most types.
They can even further enhance already-evil martial spirits through deeper corruption.
Their technology is truly far ahead of its time.
Those living under the sun engage in petty scheming, while those in the shadows make breakthrough after breakthrough.
Even dogs would shake their heads in disbelief.
For ordinary soul masters, martial spirit evilization is a stroke of luck—because it greatly accelerates cultivation speed. That's why so many power-hungry soul masters pursue it.
But for those filled with aggression and hostility, it's also a curse.
Because the increase in power also leads to the spirit's corruption. If they lose control, these evil soul masters may:
kill indiscriminately,
despise light and crave darkness,
or become consumed by negative emotions.
This becomes the norm for evil soul masters.
Only a few can maintain sanity while undergoing evilization. These individuals often rise higher and become stronger.
But even then, they face limitations.
Because they rely on external power, lack purity, don't have advanced cultivation techniques like Huo Yuhao's, and lack high-level bloodlines to support them, their ceiling is ultimately lower than conventional soul masters.
...
To perform the evilization ritual, the Mingdu Sub-Sect had the necessary materials. The former Elder wasn't lying to Nana and the others about that.
However, the ritual at the sub-sect was limited in effectiveness. It couldn't compare to the transformation rituals that Tang Ya and Ma Xiaotao went through in the original story. Trying to transform Beibei would be extremely difficult, given that his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit naturally carries lightning—which repels evil—and holds the Holy Light Dragon bloodline.
At most, the ritual could evilize the martial spirit, but without significant power increase.
But Huo Yuhao would never disappoint Beibei. His array formation skills made up for this shortcoming.
The path of evil cultivation has its own techniques too!
"Don't worry, Brother Beibei. I'll give you the very best!"
After a full half hour, Huo Yuhao's requested items were finally hurriedly delivered by An Litong himself.
"L-Lord, I'm late. Please forgive me."
"Leave the items and go."
"Yes, yes, of course…" An Litong didn't dare linger. The items he had prepared looked far too ominous—he wouldn't stick around.
Huo Yuhao carefully inspected everything and confirmed it was all correct:
Bells made of gold, silver, copper, and iron,
Corpses of five Soul Kings with the five elements: gold (metal), wood, water, fire, and earth,
A coffin made from a millennium-old evil locust tree,
Blood and souls of forty-four individuals.
Everything was in place.
The long prep time was needed for gathering all these rare items—some were even made on the spot.
The five Soul King corpses still felt warm, showing they'd been freshly killed.
Huo Yuhao then combined the evilization ritual with evil cultivator techniques. He selected a square sealed stone chamber, hung the four bells in each corner, and removed a key organ from each Soul King to represent the five organs (heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys), arranging them around Beibei's body.
Beibei, unconscious, was placed in the coffin. Long nails dipped in cinnabar sealed it shut. The coffin was placed in the room's center. The five corpses were placed in the five directions corresponding to their element.
The forty-four corpses were nailed to the chamber's four walls and ceiling in a precise pattern, and forty-four souls were sealed within them. Blood was used to paint intricate runes across the walls.
After all remaining materials were positioned, the chamber was sealed.
Outside the chamber, Huo Yuhao personally activated the evilization ritual.
"Alright, let's all leave this place. Three days later, leak the location to the Xishui Alliance."
"Yes, Brother Hao~" replied Eunuch Gao, without asking questions.
He had originally thought Huo Yuhao wanted to control Beibei, but it was clear now that Yuhao had another plan. All he needed to do was obey.
Everyone else evacuated the base. Huo Yuhao, controlling the Death Envoy, was the last to leave. He took one final glance at the sealed stone room.
"Good luck, Brother Beibei~"
Work hard in secret—and amaze everyone later.
Within the chamber, faint ghostly wails echoed.
The appearance of a Super Douluo's aura outside the Third Prince's residence didn't directly affect the Third Prince himself. However, the guards outside his mansion were significantly reinforced, mainly by city defense troops.
The official reason given for deploying city guards was to prevent an assassination attempt on the Third Prince—a prodigy of the Empire.
The real reason was to avoid further incidents. Otherwise, every senior officer in the city defense force would be held accountable. Losing their posts would be the least of their worries—being made scapegoats could lead to far worse consequences.
As for what the guards inside the prince's mansion were doing, don't ask. If you did, they'd say they were providing close protection to the prince.
Fortunately, the night passed without incident.
The Third Prince may have been safe, but trouble was brewing for the Xishui Alliance.
When Tang Ya heard that Bei Bei had been taken by a mysterious powerhouse and had gone missing, she panicked and became furious, ready to storm the Third Prince's mansion to demand answers.
Yes, she directed her anger at the Third Prince.
She suspected that someone under the Third Prince's command was responsible. Only someone familiar with the local terrain could have escaped so swiftly, even evading a Super Douluo's pursuit. The attacker might have hidden inside the prince's estate, which would explain why the enforcer couldn't find them.
To be fair, her analysis wasn't baseless.
But it did raise more questions—why target Bei Bei specifically?
Could it be they had discovered his true identity?
How did they find out?
One question after another—but none of that mattered to her.
All Tang Ya knew was that she had to find Bei Bei, fast!
Fortunately, the Nightmare Elder stepped in to stop Tang Ya from doing anything rash.
The Holy Spirit Sect couldn't openly oppose the Empire just yet, so they couldn't directly assault the prince's residence. At most, they could investigate in secret. Moreover, Long Xiaoyao was already en route, and once he arrived, they were confident he could rescue Bei Bei.
"The attacker must have a specific reason for abducting the Blue Silver Knight," the Nightmare Elder analyzed. "It's unlikely they mean to kill him. If that were the case, they'd have done it on the spot. Why bother taking him alive?"
With the backing of Long Xiaoyao, an Ultimate Douluo, and the Nightmare Elder's calm reasoning, Tang Ya composed herself and chose to begin an investigation first.
They wouldn't just investigate the Third Prince's mansion.
The Xishui Alliance would also look into the entire underground network, especially the Aodu Chamber of Commerce, since the underground passage system technically fell under their jurisdiction.
This wasn't a secret among the underground factions.
Neither the Enforcer nor the Nightmare Elder objected.
The Enforcer wanted to find the eunuch Gao to settle an old score. Though not an evil soul master, he certainly wasn't a good person either.
The Nightmare Elder continued to play the role of a "loyal" senior, aiming to earn Tang Ya's trust and pull her further into the elders' faction within the Holy Spirit Sect.
The situation inside the sect was more complicated than Tang Ya, Bei Bei, or even the Death God Envoy realized. Only high-ranking members like the Nightmare Elder knew parts of the real picture. That's why they were eager to bring Tang Ya into their camp.
If not for Bei Bei's presence catching Long Xiaoyao's attention, the elders might have already used other methods to control Tang Ya, just like in the original storyline.
After all, tools without self-awareness are the easiest to use and control.
The Xishui Alliance moved that very night. With pressure from two Titled Douluo, even those within the alliance who didn't accept Tang Ya's leadership had to act.
Some even began to reconsider. If their new leader had two Titled Douluo backing her, perhaps it wasn't so bad to submit.
What's that saying?
"A wise man submits to circumstances."
The underground factions descended into chaos due to the Xishui Alliance's mobilization. Fortunately, the alliance knew where to draw the line and didn't disrupt Mingdu's public order.
But even so, they found no useful clues.
The night slowly passed.
Early the next morning—
The Third Prince received a summons from the palace.
Exiting his training chamber, Huo Yuhao shuddered slightly, dispelled the lingering blood scent on the prince, wiped his mouth, changed into clean clothes, and boarded the royal carriage bound for the Sun Moon Imperial Palace.
While the Death God Envoy was refining Bei Bei on his end, Huo Yuhao was "fertilizing" the Third Prince on his.
The "fertilizer," of course, being the captured spies detained in the prince's residence.
No interrogation—just straight to the secret chamber.
All of them were soul masters. The strongest only had five rings, but together, their power was enough for the prince to use in one session.
Their souls were used to enhance his Yin Claw technique, while their blood and essence boosted his cultivation.
After a night's cultivation, the prince broke through to Rank 87. The spies were drained completely.
However, blood scent disperses easily—but temperament lingers.
It was the prince's first time using soul masters' flesh and blood to cultivate. His aura had turned somewhat sinister. Although his appearance hadn't changed, a careful observer could notice a blood-colored shadow in his eyes.
Luckily, unless someone stared closely, the changes were subtle. And since few were familiar with the prince personally, few would notice.
Moreover, the prince's martial soul hadn't been corrupted, so even if something seemed off, people wouldn't suspect him of being an evil soul master.
The only ones to notice the change were Qingci Douluo and Moying Douluo. But both were entirely under Huo Yuhao's control, so they naturally wouldn't say a word.
The roads of Mingdu were wide, and the royal carriage moved swiftly.
Before long, they arrived at the palace.
The Third Prince disembarked at the palace gates and was led by palace attendants to meet the Sun Moon Emperor, his biological father, in the emperor's private chambers.
The current Sun Moon Emperor had not taken the throne through legitimate means. The rightful heir was He Caitou, descendant of the Xu family. The current emperor had seized power by assassinating the previous ruler's line, leaving only He Caitou as a survivor.
Such a method of ascending the throne naturally led to a period of political instability.
Fortunately, the current emperor was capable. He stabilized the Empire and rapidly expanded its strength.
In truth, so long as the majority's interests were preserved, the grievances of a few didn't matter. Nor did anyone really care about what constituted "justice."
That included the royal clan.
After all, no matter who sat on the throne, the Xu family still held royal blood. That was enough.
Historically, any usurper who could successfully take and keep the throne was considered a powerful ruler.
However, perhaps it was karma—
Or perhaps the father set a bad example.
All of the emperor's sons had developed ambitions for the throne, ignoring tradition and propriety.
It was just like Sima Zhao murdering his lord and inspiring future generations.
The first to make a move was the Second Prince—and he's long gone.
Every time internal affairs of the Sun Moon Empire were discussed, the deceased Second Prince was dragged out for a posthumous beating.
As the saying goes: Some people die, but they're never truly gone.
With one son dead and another crippled, the emperor finally realized the seriousness of the situation and feared that he might be the next assassination target.
Just as he began trying to solidify his rule, he suddenly fell gravely ill—leaving him powerless.
The struggle for succession only intensified.
Now, the Sun Moon Empire may seem stable on the surface, but in truth, it is a powder keg waiting to explode.
Huo Yuhao: "This is what they call 'a son following in his father's footsteps!'"
"Your son greets the Emperor!"
Huo Yuhao gave a slight bow, considered a proper show of respect.
The Sun Moon Emperor, lying on his bed, waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities."
The Sun Moon Empire did have court etiquette, but it wasn't strict.
This was one of the reasons the original three Douluo nations looked down on the Sun Moon Empire. They called it uncivilized and rude.
Moreover, the Sun Moon Emperor currently had little energy to deal with such formalities. Even imperial court sessions had been reduced to once every seven days. At the last court meeting, the Third Prince was absent due to participating in the eighth-level soul engineer assessment. The next session was still days away.
Huo Yuhao quietly watched the Emperor on the bed.
This wasn't his first time seeing the Emperor. The last time had been during the fallout of the Mingdu explosion incident, when he and the other princes had met the Emperor together. This was the first time they were meeting in private.
Now, the Sun Moon Emperor was leaning against soft cushions, looking a bit sluggish. His skin was the Sun Moon Empire's signature noble dark tone, and his features were imposing. But from the odd color of his lips and his sunken eyes, it was clear he was gravely ill. Still, his presence retained the dignity of an emperor and a powerful expert.
The Emperor himself was a Titled Douluo!
In his youth, he was a strong and vigorous man.
Huo Yuhao quietly activated his Qi-Sensing Technique.
Floating above the Emperor's head was the projection of his martial soul: the Purple Radiant Sky-Extinguishing Dragon—and its aura was even stronger than Xu Tiannan's more dormant one. However, now it seemed feeble.
Dragon Qi coiled around him, already formed into the shape of a full dragon—massive and oppressive. The Dragon Qi seemed to notice Huo Yuhao's observation and turned its gaze on him, ferocious and watchful.
Yet Huo Yuhao felt no fear.
Because the golden dragon shadow was covered in dark, mottled spots—more like disease or a curse than a typical illness.
Even the Emperor's luck projection was tinged with ominous blackness.
This was no ordinary illness—
And certainly not simple poisoning.
There was clearly some hidden cause to the Emperor's condition, which—fortunately—worked in Huo Yuhao's favor.
If his real body were present, he might have seized the moment to strike. Unfortunately, this body of the Third Prince wasn't yet capable.
The Emperor also sensed Huo Yuhao's gaze. He didn't scold him. Instead, he spoke with praise:
"I heard you passed the eighth-level soul engineer exam and even developed a new type of soul tool that can arm our troops and strengthen our military might. Hall Master Hongchen speaks very highly of you."
His voice was calm, yet carried the natural authority of a ruler.
"Hall Master Hongchen praises me too highly," Huo Yuhao replied.
"You, the qilin child of our royal family, are our kingdom's blessing," the Emperor said with a faint smile, then added, "Since you have such talent in soul tools, from now on, work with the Crown Prince to manage the affairs of Mingde Hall. You two can discuss the details privately."
Huo Yuhao paused, then smiled and bowed. "Thank you, Father. I will not disappoint you."
"Mm. Go visit your mother consort—she's missed you," the Emperor nodded slightly and waved his hand.
"Your son takes his leave!" Huo Yuhao wisely withdrew.
This meeting was very brief.
It was due to the Emperor's poor health. Since falling ill, he avoided spending too much time alone with any prince. As a Titled Douluo, he was holding on—but without that strength, he might already be dead.
Still, his time was clearly limited.
Not necessarily because of the illness, but because Xu Tiannan (the Crown Prince) might not wait much longer.
After all, who ever heard of a Crown Prince waiting 30 years?
This arrangement—assigning the Third Prince to help Xu Tiannan—seemed like a reward, but it was actually a move to balance and suppress both princes.
Because the Emperor gave them overlapping responsibilities with no clear division, the ambitious Third Prince would surely push his boundaries, and the Crown Prince wouldn't yield his authority. Conflict was inevitable.
And in their struggle, both sides would suffer losses.
The one who stood to benefit was, of course, the orchestrator—the Emperor.
He weakened both princes' influence, thereby solidifying his own position.
Perhaps he sensed something brewing, which prompted this maneuver. If he truly intended to abdicate, he would've done so already in his current condition.
Huo Yuhao had no particular comment. Mingde Hall was never his main goal.
His true target had always been the imperial clan. Mingde Hall was secondary, and now that he had his eyes and ears in place, it was enough.
"Sun Moon Emperor, royal clan, Crown Prince Xu Tiannan, Holy Spirit Sect, Blue Silver Saintess… Looks like I've pissed off quite a few factions now. Just missing a spark."
Huo Yuhao grinned.
What did the enemies of the Death God's Envoy and the Third Prince have to do with him, Huo Yuhao?
But then a thought struck him, and he changed direction—toward the harem.
Since the Emperor had mentioned his mother consort, of course he had to visit. The Sun Moon Empire placed great importance on filial piety.
Before, he could use his soul engineer exams as an excuse, but if he kept delaying, it would become suspicious.
The imperial harem was also an important battlefield in the fight for the throne. Many consorts had strong backgrounds. The former Second Prince had dared to strike at the Crown Prince because his mother consort was favored and backed by a powerful maternal family. After the Second Prince's death, she was thrown into the Cold Palace and never heard from again.
In memory, the Third Prince's mother was no ordinary figure either. Though not Empress, she held the position of Noble Consort. Her beauty and talent were outstanding. Coming from nobility, many women in her family had married into the royal clan—this was how the Third Prince secured their support.
As Huo Yuhao approached the harem, he raised his gaze to examine its luck.
To his surprise, a portion of the palace's fortune had been diverted to the harem, concentrated around various palaces. There were even faint phoenix cries echoing—hinting that some mysterious, powerful entities were hidden within.
This made Huo Yuhao pause—then smile cryptically.
"Looks like I've unlocked a new map!"
...
The Third Prince's meeting with his mother consort went smoothly.
She wasn't some weepy, sentimental woman—she too harbored ambitions for the throne. After praising her son, she gave him plenty of support and even had him stay for lunch.
While the Third Prince played his palace power game—
Huo Yuhao's main body, along with Zhang Lexuan and the three girls including Ma Xiaotao, had entered a new major city: Tianlong City!
This was where the Heaven Dragon Gate and Earth Dragon Gate were based.
Since this was a training journey, they naturally had to observe and engage with the major factions—maybe even spar with their disciples.
Moreover, Tianlong City was part of Huo Yuhao's plan.
The Earth Dragon Gate's Ice Cavern—Brother Hao is here!
Tianlong City!
This is the city where the Heavenly Dragon Sect, inherited from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, resides. Though it's still a city under the control of the Heavenly Soul Empire, it can also be seen as an autonomous city managed by the Heavenly Dragon Sect.
In the original Douluo Three Kingdoms, cities controlled by sects like this were not uncommon. After all, the original Three Kingdoms had their own unique political landscape. The difference lies in the degree of control the empire has over these cities — which varies from case to case.
Typical examples include Tianlong City, managed by the Heavenly Dragon Sect, and Jiubao City, controlled by the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. These two cities are almost fully autonomous. Fortunately, it's just these two — something the empire can still tolerate.
Both sects trace their heritage back to the top three sects from ten thousand years ago. Even though few still mention the ranking of the Seven Great Sects, these two sects still carry great prestige and power.
In Tianlong City, it's impossible to avoid the influence of the Heavenly Dragon Sect. Most industries in the city are either directly related to the sect or depend on it to survive.
Thankfully, the city's mayor is still an official appointed by the Heavenly Soul Empire. But whether this official is still loyal to the empire is questionable.
In truth, whether Tianlong City still belongs to the Heavenly Soul Empire depends entirely on whether the Heavenly Dragon Sect remains loyal.
As of now, the Heavenly Dragon Sect is indeed loyal — mainly because the empire is growing stronger, and the gap between them is widening.
The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect shares a similar situation.
As for the last of the original top three sects — the Clear Sky Sect — they have long since gone into complete seclusion. Very few know their whereabouts.
Originally, the Tang Sect could have enjoyed similar prestige, but due to the shock of soul tool development and the sect's inability to adapt, it has now been swept into the dustbin of history. A certain someone is currently trying hard to fish that torn toilet paper out of the trash and polish it up like a treasure.
Regrettably, Huo Yuhao is the "white glove" chosen to retrieve that piece of used tissue.
But let's not talk about that for now.
Huo Yuhao and his companions arrived in Tianlong City and began exploring, looking for a place to stay.
Their destination? A hotel.
If the Douluo Continent had a large hotel chain, then with all the places they've stayed recently, Huo Yuhao and his group would surely have earned a platinum membership card by now.
Tianlong City had been developed into a thriving metropolis by the Heavenly Dragon Sect. Even though it's geographically close to the extreme north, the city remained bustling and vibrant.
From the locals, they learned that the best hotel in Tianlong City was — the Tianlong Hotel.
However, upon reaching the entrance of the Tianlong Hotel, the group fell silent. Directly across from it stood another hotel of similar height and decoration — the Dilong Hotel.
So much for there being only one best hotel?
The way Tianlong Hotel and Dilong Hotel faced each other felt like two forces in direct opposition.
This was the reality of Tianlong City.
Though the city was under the Heavenly Dragon Sect, another sect also resided here — the Earthdragon Sect, which had split off from the Heavenly Dragon Sect.
The two sects had long experienced friction. However, the stronger Heavenly Dragon Sect had never gone out of its way to suppress the Earthdragon Sect. It was evident even to outsiders: despite the split, the two were still "family."
Their leaders may bear different surnames, but their martial spirits were both dragon-type.
Recently, Nan Shuishui had advanced to Title Douluo, which elevated the Earthdragon Sect's strength to near parity with the Heavenly Dragon Sect. Still, no one believed the Heavenly Dragon Sect was declining — if anything, they thought the Heavenly Dragon Sect could gain support from the Earthdragon Sect.
And indeed, the Earthdragon Sect had not tried to challenge the Heavenly Dragon Sect. The two sects continued their long-standing tradition of friendly rivalry within Tianlong City, never breaking into open conflict.
"Senior Sister, should we stay at the Tianlong Hotel or the Dilong Hotel?" Huo Yuhao asked Zhang Lexuan.
Zhang Lexuan thought for a moment and said, "Let's go with the Tianlong Hotel."
Staying at the Tianlong Hotel while in Tianlong City — fair enough.
"Is the Dilong Hotel not good enough for you?" a young girl's voice suddenly called out behind them.
Everyone turned to see a young girl walking quickly toward them, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Huo Yuhao. When she clearly saw his face, she exclaimed in surprise and delight, "Huo Yuhao! I knew I wasn't mistaken — it really is you!"
Huo Yuhao returned an appropriately surprised expression. "Nan Qiuqiu?"
The girl was none other than Nan Qiuqiu, someone he hadn't seen in a long time.
As she approached, Huo Yuhao took the initiative and greeted her with a smile. "Nan Qiuqiu, it's been a long time."
"Yes, it's been years," Nan Qiuqiu nodded softly, her tone tinged with a faint sense of grievance.
As she stood in front of him, her eyes remained locked on Huo Yuhao, as if she couldn't get enough of him. This immediately caused the expressions of Zhang Lexuan, Ma Xiaotao, and the other women to change subtly. None of them were slow-witted — they could all see it clearly: Nan Qiuqiu liked Huo Yuhao!
Weina felt a sense of pride. Of course, my man is outstanding. (Her brain is basically unsalvageable at this point.)
Ling Luocheng was curious about Nan Qiuqiu and Huo Yuhao's attitude, but emotionally unmoved — she was already fully "trained."
Ma Xiaotao scrutinized Nan Qiuqiu — evaluating whether she was qualified to "share the same root" with them.
Yeah... These women had all become a bit warped under Huo Yuhao's "guidance." Not that you could tell from their appearances.
Only the ever-rational Zhang Lexuan stood quietly at the side, enjoying the unfolding drama.
Waiting for a possible emotional showdown.
Unfortunately, none came.
Huo Yuhao spoke again. "Nan Qiuqiu, what brings you here?"
His voice pulled her back to reality. Realizing her earlier behavior had been a bit impolite, she blushed and quickly averted her eyes, though she still answered politely, "Our Earthdragon Sect is based here in Tianlong City, and the Dilong Hotel is one of our properties. I came today to take care of some things — didn't expect to run into you."
As she spoke, Nan Qiuqiu felt a surge of emotion — as if it truly was fate that brought them together.
After all, she didn't come to the hotel every day. If she hadn't come today, she might not have met Huo Yuhao — and he would've gone straight into the Tianlong Hotel.
Wouldn't that mean they'd have missed each other?
It was fate that brought them together!
Her heart began to race.
But when she glanced away and saw the figures standing next to Huo Yuhao, her racing heart abruptly skipped a beat.
Because she saw four women beside him. And truth be told, in terms of appearance and figure, they were at least on par with her — maybe even better.
Nan Qiuqiu remembered seeing Weina during the beast tide at the Extreme North. Seeing her again now, Weina seemed to exude a more refined and alluring aura.
This triggered a sense of crisis in Nan Qiuqiu's heart.
"Huo Yuhao, these ladies are...?" she asked, trying to sound calm.
Before Huo Yuhao could answer, Ma Xiaotao responded first: "We're Yuhao's classmates. We're traveling the continent together for training. I'm Ma Xiaotao."
"Ling Luocheng."
"Weina."
The three introduced themselves, but none of them said anything overtly possessive.
Zhang Lexuan, slightly surprised, still calmly added, "I'm Zhang Lexuan, Senior Sister at Shrek Academy. I'm in charge of overseeing Yuhao and the others during their journey."
"So, they're just traveling companions," Nan Qiuqiu thought to herself with a sense of relief.
If they're only companions, it's natural to be a bit close.
I still have a chance!
Huo Yuhao introduced Nan Qiuqiu to the group. "This is Nan Qiuqiu, the young sect master of the Earth Dragon Sect. We fought side by side against the beast tide in the Far North. She's an exceptionally talented soul master."
"No, no, I'm far from Huo Yuhao's level. I was just training under my elders' guidance back then. Huo Yuhao is way stronger," Nan Qiuqiu hurriedly waved her hands, but her face lit up with joy at his praise.
She quickly changed the subject, worried she might let slip an unladylike expression.
"Y-Yuhao, are you looking for a place to stay?" Nan Qiuqiu mustered her courage, boldly addressing him by name.
Huo Yuhao showed no discomfort, nodding with a smile. "Yes, we just arrived in Heavenly Dragon City and plan to stay for a while, so we're looking for a hotel to settle in."
"In that case, since you're in Heavenly Dragon City, let me play the host. Stay at our Earth Dragon Sect," Nan Qiuqiu said with a smile, her eyes sparkling. His acceptance of her calling his name boosted her mood further.
"Is that… appropriate?" Huo Yuhao feigned hesitation.
"No problem at all! Our Earth Dragon Sect disciples are eager to exchange with outstanding soul masters from the continent," Nan Qiuqiu persuaded.
Huo Yuhao glanced at Zhang Lexuan.
After a moment's thought, Zhang Lexuan nodded. "It works out well. I can also pay a visit to Senior Nan."
She'd grown curious about the dynamics between Huo Yuhao and the girls. Regardless, Shrek's people wouldn't come out at a disadvantage.
Her mention of visiting "Senior Nan," meaning Nan Shuishui, was sincere.
Nan Shuishui had broken through to Titled Douluo in the past two years, and Zhang Lexuan hoped to gain insights from her to accelerate her own breakthrough.
Shrek Academy needed her strength now, and she was eager to grow stronger.
With Zhang Lexuan's agreement, the others had no objections. Nan Qiuqiu was thrilled and eagerly led the way. "Come with me, quick!"
Thus, the group followed Nan Qiuqiu to the Earth Dragon Sect.
Located in a bustling part of Heavenly Dragon City, the Earth Dragon Sect was impressive, with considerable strength.
Its soul masters all possessed dragon-type martial souls, specifically sub-dragon (earth dragon) ones. While not true dragons, these were still superior to most ordinary martial souls.
Unless the martial soul mutated.
Earth dragons weren't necessarily inferior to true dragons, depending on the type. Tyrant Dragons, for instance, were earth dragons but surpassed most true dragons in strength and potential. The sect master's lineage, with their Rouge Dragon martial soul, carried a dangerous annihilation attribute, boasting remarkable destructive power.
Every Earth Dragon Sect master might not reach Titled Douluo, but at least became a Soul Douluo, a respectable feat on the Douluo Continent.
With Nan Shuishui's recent breakthrough to Titled Douluo, the sect's standing on the continent had risen further.
Guided by Nan Qiuqiu, the group entered the sect smoothly and met the sect master, Nan Shuishui.
More precisely, Rouge Douluo, Nan Shuishui.
She had preemptively claimed the title Nan Qiuqiu would likely take in the future.
Seated on a high chair, Nan Shuishui wore a rouge-red qipao with gold-threaded dragon patterns, draped in fox fur, exuding nobility and grace. Her voluptuous figure was radiant, her mature beauty brimming with charm. A natural allure in her eyes seemed to captivate hearts, and her wavy, fiery red hair blazed like a bonfire, drawing all attention.
The allure of a mature woman was embodied perfectly in Nan Shuishui, amplified by her status as sect master and Titled Douluo, making her charisma nearly irresistible.
Like a proud empress, unyielding to all.
If the Rainbow Dragon was the most beautiful dragon, the Rouge Dragon was the most seductive.
Having reached Titled Douluo, Nan Shuishui seemed to age backward, resembling Nan Qiuqiu's sister more than her mother.
"Greetings, Your Excellency Rouge!"
"No need for formalities."
Huo Yuhao and the others respectfully saluted Nan Shuishui, who responded warmly without airs. After a brief exchange, she entrusted Nan Qiuqiu with arranging their stay.
This suited Nan Qiuqiu perfectly.
Nan Shuishui didn't linger with them, and the group tactfully took their leave. A Titled Douluo sect master had already shown courtesy by receiving them; expecting her to entertain further was unreasonable.
Besides, being around elders often felt stifling.
Weina mused that during the Far North beast tide, Nan Shuishui had nearly died from an evil soul master's attack. Yet, in just a few years, she'd become a Titled Douluo.
But she only marveled.
The women held a favorable view of Nan Shuishui. Female Titled Douluos were rare on the Douluo Continent, making each a role model for female soul masters, especially one as charismatic as Nan Shuishui.
In the face of maturity and allure, cuteness and innocence seemed to lose some luster.
Nan Qiuqiu settled the group into the sect's guest rooms, of which there were plenty.
With a touch of scheming, she placed Huo Yuhao in the guest room closest to hers, followed by rooms for Zhang Lexuan and the others.
She then took them to explore Heavenly Dragon City's local culture, returning to the sect at sunset to rest.
Time passed slowly.
Soon, it was the dead of night.
In Nan Qiuqiu's room:
"Nan Qiuqiu, you can do this!" Dressed in pajamas, Nan Qiuqiu psyched herself up.
Then, shyly clutching her blanket, she rolled around on her large bed.
Her self-encouragement was, naturally, about pursuing Huo Yuhao!
This might be her only—and best—chance in life!
In truth, the last time she saw Huo Yuhao was nearly two years ago at the Soul Master Tournament, but she'd only watched him shine from the audience.
Their real interaction, with actual conversation, was three years ago during the Far North beast tide, when Huo Yuhao saved her life.
Yet, even after years, Nan Qiuqiu couldn't forget him, nor the unparalleled grace he displayed while saving her.
—Clad in ice-crystal armor, ice-blue hair flowing, his combat prowess unmatched!
Back then, she knew she might never meet another man like Huo Yuhao.
At the age of budding romance, his image pierced her heart, unforgettable ever since.
A maiden's heart is always poetic!
Coupled with this fateful reunion, Nan Qiuqiu felt Huo Yuhao was the perfect match destiny had arranged for her.
That night, the girl's thoughts were many.
Meanwhile, the boy she pined for was enjoying the blessings of companionship.
Though Ma Xiaotao and the others rested in their rooms, Huo Yuhao wasn't alone.
The proud empress from the daytime was now humbly striving. After a while, she slowly raised her head, swallowing the "treasure" in her mouth.
Huo Yuhao leaned against soft cushions, gently stroking Nan Shuishui's hair as if petting an animal. Nan Shuishui knelt obediently by his bedside, utterly compliant, her face content.
The girl couldn't imagine that the boy she hadn't seen in ages was someone her mother visited regularly.
Even today's "fated" encounter was orchestrated by Nan Shuishui under Huo Yuhao's orders, guiding Nan Qiuqiu to the Earth Dragon Hotel to ensure Huo Yuhao's arrival at the sect.
The purpose of coming to the Earth Dragon Sect was singular.
"I'll be cultivating in your sect's forbidden grounds for a while. Arrange it," Huo Yuhao instructed.
"As you command, Lord Ming Wang," Nan Shuishui replied without hesitation.
"Let me inspect your progress with the Jade Maiden Scripture and Red Spring Art."
"Please inspect, Lord Ming Wang~ Ah~"