Huo Yuhao has relationship with Spirit Ice Douluo

With the permission of Wang Hongchen, the three entered the secret chamber to examine the soul guide books and soul tools.

Lan Fuzi stood beside Huo Yuhao, her gaze involuntarily drawn to the intricate soul tools.

She had previously glimpsed the tip of the iceberg of the Spirit Pagoda's heritage, even meeting two deities. However, the treasures revealed by the Illustrious Virtue Hall now also left her secretly astonished.

There were four such forces in the Federation. This didn't even include the secret departments, the various armies, and the Holy Spirit Sect. Did the Holy Spirit Sect really have a chance?

She wasn't too concerned about the Holy Spirit Sect's fate, but her mother's situation was different.

'The key is the true stance of these two,' Lan Fuzi thought, secretly observing Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena.

Two deities could disrupt all situations. If they make a move against her mother, what should she do?

Other issues could be ignored, but not this one.

Unlike the distracted Lan Fuzi, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena were both submerged in the sea of books.

If Lan Fuzi was here by arrangement, Gu Yuena would have come by her own decision.

As the Ice Empress put it, the soul beast overlord had been influenced by Huo Yuhao, adopting many of his habits. She was indeed here to learn.

After a quick look around the outer area, Huo Yuhao moved deeper, quietly using his spiritual power to search for the books he needed.

The Principles of Soul Core Arrays and Advanced Applications

The Theory and Practice of Space-Folding Soul Tools

Soul Tool Mecha and Human Neural Interface Technology

...

After a quick glance at the titles, Huo Yuhao thought of Nana Li waiting outside. He borrowed some books and reminded Gu Yuena and the others.

"Hall Master, I'd like to borrow these books."

"Sure," Wang Hongchen nodded, looking at the books on the table. He took out three access cards.

"Take these. I've encoded the permissions to access the Illustrious Virtue Hall and the space teleportation to come here. You can use them directly to teleport to the Illustrious Virtue Hall or find books here."

Huo Yuhao took the slightly glowing access card, feeling its warm texture. The surface was covered with intricate soul tool patterns, and he could faintly feel the power of space.

"Thank you, Hall Master," Huo Yuhao said, then left.

Just as he was about to exit, Wang Hongchen suddenly spoke, "Yi said seeing you reminded him of the Spirit Ice Douluo. Now I feel the same."

Huo Yuhao's steps almost imperceptibly paused. He changed back, seeing Wang Hongchen tidying up the books, the cold light from his glasses hiding his eyes.

"You're joking," Huo Yuhao replied softly, then led the way out.

The door closed, and the three left the room. Wang Hongchen began communicating with a consciousness in his mind.

"He didn't deny his relationship with the Spirit Ice Douluo."

"Maybe he's just used to being described that way and didn't refute it."

"So, you think I'm overthinking it?"

Silence filled the room. The light cast mottled shadows on the floor, which began to twist strangely, as if stirred by an invisible force.

"..."

After a long silence, a huge shadow slowly emerged from behind Wang Hongchen.

At first, the shadow was just a blur, like mist scattered by the wind, twisting in the dim light. But soon, it began to condense, its outline becoming clearer.

It was a massive creature, five meters tall, its body like a mountain, covered in dark golden metallic armor, as if cast from molten gold. Its jagged mandibles make a metallic grinding sound as they opened and closed.

It was the Hongchen Family's heritage, a hundred-thousand-year soul spirit, the Devouring Gold Ant Emperor!

"His talent in soul tools is truly astonishing," the Ant Emperor said in a low voice. "In ten thousand years, I've only seen one other person who could compare to him."

"So, you think the same," Wang Hongchen smiled. "There are rumors that the Snow Empress took Huo Yuhao as a disciple and treated him specially. But the Snow Empress has never taken a disciple in the Spirit Pagoda in ten thousand years, which is also puzzling."

"Among the people the Snow Empress has close ties with, there are only the Spirit Ice Douluo and the second-generation Pagoda Master, Su Tong. It's not unreasonable for you to have doubts."

"But what really makes you suspicious is his martial soul and soul skills, right?" the Ant Emperor asked.

"Spirit Eyes and Spiritual Detection," Wang Hongchen's eyes flickered slightly, nodding. "After Yi told me about his martial soul and soul skills, I connected the Spirit Eyes with the Spirit Ice Douluo's title. After all, you've told me the story of the ancestor Xiao."

Most people believe the "Spirit" in the Spirit Ice Douluo's title came from the Spirit Pagoda's "Spirit," a symbol. But some always had doubts.

An ultimate ice martial soul didn't aid in learning soul tools. The second-generation Pagoda Master, Su Tong, didn't inherit the Spirit Ice Douluo's essence in soul research tools.

So, how did the Spirit Ice Douluo, who specialized in ultimate ice, achieve such success in both soul master and soul tool cultivation? Was it pure talent, or was there a secret?

For example, was the Spirit Ice Douluo a twin martial soul?

This doubt originally came from the ancestor Xiao.

The Spirit Ice Douluo, a user of ice, achieved such success in soul tools, "barely" comparable to me. He must have a secret!—Xiao Hongchen

However, although the ancestor's suspicions had some merit, they were still just unverifiable guesses. (Xiao Hongchen: "…")

But recently, Wang Hongchen saw a soul tool genius with extraordinary talent, taken as a disciple by the Snow Empress, with the Spirit Eyes martial soul. He couldn't help but think in that direction.

The three pieces of information all point to Huo Yuhao and the Spirit Ice Douluo.

"If I'm not mistaken, the Spirit Ice Douluo's 'Spirit' indeed comes from another martial soul. Then Huo Yuhao is likely the Spirit Ice Douluo's..." the Ant Emperor and Wang Hongchen both concluded, "...descendant!"

At most, a descendant. As for being the Spirit Ice Douluo himself? Impossible!

As a hundred-thousand-year soul spirit, the Devouring Gold Ant Emperor had seen the Spirit Ice Douluo. He didn't look like this, his aura was cold, and he had an otherworldly air, completely different from Huo Yuhao.

Moreover, after the battle two years ago, some of Huo Yuhao's information was revealed. His spatial power came from his second martial soul, meaning his second martial soul was spatial. If he were the Spirit Ice Douluo, where was his ultimate ice?

Was he a triple martial soul? Or had his ultimate ice evolved into spatial attributes?

Impossible, absolutely impossible.

No matter which, it conflicts with common knowledge.

Even if someone could explain these questions, there were others.

If Huo Yuhao were the Spirit Ice Douluo, able to live for ten thousand years, it meant he had become a deity ten thousand years ago. Then how to explain the commotion when he failed to become a deity?

Becoming a deity was a good thing. Why pretend to fail?

Pretending to fail will only make those who remember his kindness sad and those who hated him happy. What else would it do?

As for the Spirit Ice Douluo failing to become a deity but not dying, he could have returned to the Spirit Pagoda to recover and plan to become a deity again. Why wait ten thousand years to return?

And how did he live for ten thousand years?

In short, if Huo Yuhao were the Spirit Ice Douluo, there were too many questions. One person and one soul spirit couldn't figure it out.

"But if Huo Yuhao is indeed the Spirit Ice Douluo's descendant, there's one question that bothers me, who did that person end up with? After all, there are no clear records of his marriage."

The Ant Emperor was very interested in the Spirit Ice Douluo's gossip. "Who do you think it is? I think the first-generation members are likely."

Living long, this was the only hobby. After all, watching descendants fiddle with soul tools was really boring.

Hearing this, Wang Hongchen's eyelids twitched, shaking his head. "It's better not to speculate. It's just our guess, unverifiable."

The Ant Emperor, however, was excited, its antennae slightly trembling.

"What's the big deal? You humans gossip more than us soul beasts. The Spirit Pagoda and the Illustrious Virtue Hall used to discuss all sorts of things in their free time, even compiling related histories. The Illustrious Virtue Hall's library has..."

Halfway through, as if realizing it had said too much, the Ant Emperor returned to Wang Hongchen's body, saying no more.

"..."

Wang Hongchen's mouth twitched. "Ancestor, what did you mean by that?"

He seemed to have heard something bad.

Ancestors, what are you saying? What books are in the secret chamber?

Ancestor, answer quickly, this is important!

Wang Hongchen asked several times before finally getting an answer from the soul spirit.

"Because there are too few records of the Spirit Ice Douluo, some people specifically found those who knew the Spirit Ice Douluo, including soul spirits, to fill in some records and history. But after being passed down by others, you know the result."

Wang Hongchen frowned slightly. "You mean those records were embellished?"

The Ant Emperor: "Not just embellished. Some stories are so outrageous that the Spirit Ice Douluo himself would be stunned for three seconds. For example, some say he had a romance with the one from the Far North, and even more exaggerated, that he also had a relationship with the one from the Star Dou Great Forest... You get it.

Because the Spirit Ice Douluo's cooperation with the two major beast territories was too unbelievable, some people found many arguments to explain the Spirit Ice Douluo's achievements. As a result, many outrageous speculations were born. Some were verified by relevant people and recorded, some weren't."

"..."

Wang Hongchen was silent for a moment, then sobbed, rubbing his temples.

"Ancestor, you just said the Illustrious Virtue Hall's library has these too? Does the Illustrious Virtue Hall secretly collect the Spirit Ice Douluo's unofficial history?"

This was a bit much. If the Spirit Pagoda found out, who knows what would happen.

The Ant Emperor explained, "You're overthinking it. Without official history, unofficial history becomes official history. And the Death Messenger incident is official history. What unofficial history could be more outrageous than that?"

Some official histories are so outrageous, who can say the less outrageous unofficial histories are fake?

Maybe they're the truth?

Wang Hongchen: "..."

He was speechless.

The Shrek Academy's two generations of Seven Monsters were defeated by a soul king-level evil soul master, who escaped from a super Douluo... This is true, what else is impossible?

"Moreover, the Illustrious Virtue Hall collected these materials because they are related to the history of soul tool development. As a key figure in soul tool history, the Spirit Ice Douluo's records are naturally essential."

"Although some content is mixed with the recorder's and narrator's subjective understanding, most are presented in a subtle way. Some past Hall Masters discovered this but chose to keep it rather than clean it up."

"And, compiling the Spirit Ice Douluo's history was led by the Spirit Pagoda's Pagoda Master, so you don't need to worry."

The Spirit Pagoda did it too, led by the Spirit Ice Douluo's disciple, Su Tong. No need to worry.

...

Exiting the room, Gu Yuena looked back at the lounge, sending a message, "Yuhao, he..."

"Nothing much. At most, some guesses, but he can't confirm," Huo Yuhao replied, looking at Nana Li waiting at the door.

She smiled at them, "Thank you for your help last time. I've brought thank-you gifts and apologies."

She changed at Lan Fuzi, as if considering whether to take out the items in front of her.

"Lan Fuzi is our companion. Your Excellency need not worry," Huo Yuhao smiled.

Lan Fuzi looked at Huo Yuhao in confusion. A deity called her a companion? Scary.

Nana Li nodded, a pained expression flashing across her face as she took out two boxes from her storage ring, handing them to Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena.

"These are two ten-thousand-year Void Sea Spirit Mushrooms, rare treasures that can enhance spiritual power. They're my apologies."

If she hadn't already broken through to the Spiritual Domain Realm and couldn't use such treasures, she wouldn't have brought them out.

Treasures that can enhance spiritual power are extremely rare.

"Next is the thank-you gift. I went through a lot to get it," Nana Li took out a long sandalwood box, handing it to Huo Yuhao. "This is a hundred-thousand-year soul bone."

Huo Yuhao paused slightly but didn't refuse, accepting the gift.

Lan Fuzi: "…"

Giving a soul bone... She felt she shouldn't be here.

Gu Yuena frowned, puzzled. "Isn't this too valuable?"

The value of a hundred-thousand-year soul bone was self-evident. Even if the Spirit Pagoda helped capture the evil soul master, it wasn't necessary to use a hundred-thousand-year soul bone as a thank-you gift.

Nana Li shook her head. "Not too valuable. The super Douluo you and the Pagoda Master Snow Empress captured had a hundred-thousand-year soul bone. Moreover, that evil soul master told us an important piece of information."

If not for that, she wouldn't have used a hundred-thousand-year soul bone as a thank-you gift.

Gu Yuena looked at Huo Yuhao in surprise.

Would an evil soul master reveal secrets to the secret department? Didn't Huo Yuhao say she was under a curse and couldn't speak important information?

Thinking that only Huo Yuhao had contact with the evil soul master, Gu Yuena thoughtfully looked away.

Regardless, the information Nana Li mentioned was revealed to the secret department through the evil soul master's mouth by Huo Yuhao!