Chapter 223: Spar with Mu En?

"This is..." Huo Yuhao softly muttered, slowly standing up from his spot. For a moment, a cold and mature air radiated from him before a surprised expression donned his face.

He could feel tremendous energy coursing throughout his body and mind, more than triple the amount he had before he entered his deep meditation!

'What's going on? I was just absorbing my past lives' memories. How did it suddenly increased my cultivation by several folds?!" He blinked and looked down at himself.

"And why am I naked?!"

There wasn't much change to Huo Yuhao's appearance, with the exception of his muscles being slightly more defined and his jade-white skin radiated a faint crystalline sheen. It was as though his body had been refined by the Gods!

Any remaining boyish features were now gone, his face exuding a mature and dignified charm that almost any girl his age would certainly be infatuated—some older women would even become interested.

His piercing, icy-blue eyes shimmered with a depth that seemed to reflect boundless wisdom and power, giving him a look that could captivate and intimidate in equal measure. His slim frame had gained a layer of lean muscle, his hard eight-pack abs looked as if you could carve diamonds on them, and his shoulders carried a broader, more imposing build.

"What the heck happened?" Huo Yuhao retrieved new clothes from the Twenty Four Moonlight Bridges and looked around him.

The once beautiful meadow and the tree he was meditating beneath in was now utterly transformed. The grass, once vibrant and lush, was withered and charred, ashes and black ice crystals shards scattered across the ground.

The tree that had once provided him shade and comfort was now a lifeless husk, its bark blackened and cracked, with a large black ice spike protruding from its center, towering ominously and radiating a chilling aura.

"You're finally up. And you're the one who caused this whole mess."

"Ah, Elder Mu!" Huo Yuhao hurriedly placed his hand over his chest and politely bowed towards the elder. Though he showed a confused expression.

First from what Elder Mu had said, and secondly that the withered old man who had trouble walking was standing before him with his entire body shimmering in golden light.

Elder Mu sighed deeply. "I am a spiritual avatar, one of the some abilities one has when reaching a high realm of spiritual power. It's an ability that lets a person's soul separate from their physical body and act independently; I mainly use it to act freely without my illness wearing me down. Though the further Spiritual Avatar moves from the original body, the more spiritual power it drains."

"But I will teach you more of the many techniques and theories I comprehended with spiritual power later. Yes. This devastation in the cultivation room? It was your doing."

"I-I did all of this...?" Huo Yuhao's voice trembled, his face paling. "How?! How could I have—?"

He took a step forward subconsciously and the ground beneath his foot shattered into fine dust, sending a small wave of ash and black ice shards scattering.

Huo Yuhao froze, shocked and in awe of the sudden uncontrollable surge of his physical strength. With an increase of his physical capabilities without his knowing, Huo Yuhao obviously didn't have control over his strength.

"What in the..."

Elder Mu stroked his long white beard, deep in thought. "As expected. You truly don't understand what had happened, do you?"

Huo Yuhao hurriedly shook his head.

"I see. Well, during your deep mediation, you had suddenly achieved a sort of enlightenment that caused a sort of evolution to your Sharingan, because I saw a third eye with similar appearance and aura to your two eyes appearing above. From my observation, some sort of innate ability of your 3rd eye activated and a strong absorption force emerged, pulling in both soul power and spiritual power..."

Huo Yuhao's eyes widened in disbelief.

Elder Mu continued, "However absorbing a tremendous amount of energy without stopping would've resulted in an inevitable destruction of your body. Just as I was about to step in to aid you, a mysterious force within your body erupted and enveloped you in Ultimate Ice and... Ultimate Fire!"

"Ultimate Fire!" A look of recognition appeared in Huo Yuhao's eyes.

Elder Mu noticed it and inwardly nodded, the speculations that he had about Huo Yuhao's situation was somewhat answered and his curiosities was somewhat satisfied enough.

"The extreme heat and extreme cold of both Ultimate elements had forged your body into anew, increasing your physical capabilities and thus accommodating the large amount of energies you were taking. The land before you was the result of the dual Ultimate elements clashing in perfect harmony during the forging process.

The balance between Ultimate Ice and Ultimate Fire created a phenomenon that reshaped not only your body but also the environment around you, leaving behind this desolation."

Mu En placed a comforting hand on Huo Yuhao's shoulder and said. "You hold many secrets, Yuhao. As an elder, I will not pry into your matters. Everyone has their secrets, and no one has the right to force them out. What matters is how you choose to carry those secrets and the actions you take moving forward."

"I understand, Elder Mu." Huo Yuhao cupped his hands and bowed politely.

Mu En nodded in approval.

"....Elder Mu. Is it possible to test my newfound strength against you?" After a brief moment, Huo Yuhao asked, his icy-blue eyes gleaming with a mix of determination and curiosity.

Mu En was surprised for a moment before nodding in agreement.

He understands Huo Yuhao's eagerness for a spar. Anyone would be when achieving a breakthrough in their cultivation; wanting to test out the strength they had gained.

From what he had observed, the boy's physical prowess was at a level that only senior Inner Courtyard Students and some elders could match. And that wasn't adding his soul skills and his so-called 'Jutsus' into the equation. He might be able to get a drop on some average Titled Douluos!

Right now, Mu En believed that Huo Yuhao was invincible under the cultivation realm of Titled Douluo.

"Thank you, Elder Mu!" Straightening his posture, Huo Yuhao went into a fighting stance and his right hand raised into a fist.

If he were alone, Huo Yuhao would've heaved a sigh of relief.

He had of course faked his entire reaction to Mu En. Huo Yuhao had been conscious for a couple days now and knew about his situation. He had spent that time consolidating his cultivation and thinking of a plan to throw off Mu En about Amaterasu, a flame on the level of Ultimate Fire.

Amaterasu's origin was tied to his, the Sharingan and his identity as a reincarnated soul. And considering Shrek Academy's ties to several Gods....

Until he gains enough strength to equal a God or know about their true intentions, Huo Yuhao would only keep his secrets to himself and his closest aides.

Huo Yuhao's acting easily fooled the eyes of the old and powerful Mu En because he had absorbed the memories of his past lives, which included skills in deception, strategy, and social manipulation. These memories granted him unparalleled composure and the ability to mask his true thoughts and emotions flawlessly from anyone.

Mu En might be old and experienced a lot in his lifetime, but he wouldn't be able to measure up to centuries of clan politics.

His past lives in the Uchiha Clan wasn't all being battle hungry shinobis; fighting against the reincarnations of Asura, but ones steeped in the intricate webs of political intrigue, alliances, and betrayals.

Some lived like him; starting out as an illegitimate child, an orphan, or someone cast aside by the clan, only to rise through sheer willpower, intellect, and talent. Almost all became the Clan Head, but some would die out before they could even see Asura.

'Let's see what centuries of fighting experience can do...' Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and calmly breathed out.

Swish!

In a blink of an eye he disappeared from his spot and reappeared right at Mu En's face and lashed out with several kicks, elbow, punches, then accompanied by the intense feeling of extreme cold and heat.

Mu En nonchalantly blocks his strikes with a single hand. Without moving from his spot, he perfectly parried each attack, his golden aura absorbing the fluctuations of Ultimate Ice and Ultimate Fire.

The clash of opposing elements created a dazzling display of frost and flame, but Mu En remained unshaken, his expression calm and composed.

Huo Yuhao continued on with his assault, steadily familiarizing himself with his strength.

His attacks became fluid and precise, each movement carrying a blend of finesse and unpredictability. The strikes transitioned seamlessly between bursts of Ultimate Ice and Ultimate Fire, the ground beneath had cracked and shattered.

Huo Yuhao's movements grew faster, sharper, and more unpredictable with each passing second.

Mu En, however, was like an unmovable mountain. His single hand effortlessly deflected each strike, his movements minimal but perfectly timed.

'As I had expected. The child's attack is on par with an attack-type Soul Douluo, moreover, with his physique being an Ultimate Ice-Fire I don't think regular Ultimate attributes would be able to resist against his attacks.'

'Hm. Let's see about his defense. I can sense that his spirit and body isn't completely in balance yet.'

"Careful Yuhao. I will counterattack now." Mu En said.

Before Huo Yuhao could reply, he felt a strange chill in his heart.

'What is this...? It's Spiritual Power!'

Mu En raised his hand over his head, the artificial sky in the cultivation room parted and a golden palm manifested in the air, radiating an overwhelming pressure that seemed to freeze Huo Yuhao in place.

The golden palm was vast, glowing with ancient, refined spiritual power that seemed to resonate with the very fabric of the world around them.

"This technique, Yuhao," Mu En said, his voice calm but commanding, "is a manifestation of pure spiritual power. A complete domination through one's will and control over another."

Huo Yuhao's eyes widened as he felt the immense weight of the golden palm descending toward him. He raised his right arm over his head as the large golden palm slowly descended upon him.

The pressure wasn't just physical—it bore down on his very soul, trying to crush it.

Blood started seeing out of his orifices, black flames and black ice crystals appeared all over Huo Yuhao's body. His wide eyes narrowed, the Sharingan appeared.

'No!' He quickly shook his head, closing his Sharingan. 'This might be a test. Mu En must want to pressure me and bring out the full potential of my new physique, yet...Why use an attack made of spiritual power? There might be something more to this than I would think.'

His muscles bulged and strained, blood continuously dripping down from his body but he would quickly heal his wounds.

Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes and pulled back his arm, he focused on the energy coursing throughout his body and pulled on it.

An icy black-white flame enveloped his hand as it clenched into a fist. His eyes narrowed.

"Break!"

A torrent of energy erupted from Huo Yuhao's body as he punched upward with all his might.

The icy black-white flame surged around his fist like a hurricane, clashing directly with the golden palm. The impact was cataclysmic, sending shockwaves rippling throughout the cultivation room.

The golden palm trembled upon contact, its radiant Holy Light energy colliding with the chaotic force of Ultimate Ice and Fire.

But it remained strong and firm. In just under a minute, the golden palm pushed down harder, forcing Huo Yuhao to his knees and the ground beneath him cracked and caved, forming a crater as the immense pressure bore down on him.

The Ultimate ice and fire dissipated, causing even more pressure to descend upon Huo Yuhao. He could feel his bones now begin to creak and crack.

'I...I can't hold on...!'

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AN: Took a while to post these chapters because of personal stuff IRL.

4/4 chapters of the week