Titan Snow Demon Clan!

The ghosts within the Ghost Banner Spirit are all of a dark and sinister nature, making them vulnerable to forces of light or purification. Even fire-attribute powers can suppress and weaken them to some extent.

They have weaknesses.

Unless Huo Yuhao is willing to use his fortune to empower the ghosts, reducing the suppression these opposing attributes impose on them, the inherent vulnerabilities remain.

Since the weaknesses are known, the next step is to find ways to compensate for them.

If the ghosts' attributes and weaknesses cannot be altered, then alternative or supplementary forces must be sought.

Huo Yuhao's chosen method?—raising an army of spectral soldiers!

This "raising an army" isn't about spending money to recruit soldiers or buy horses—though the concept is similar.

Raising an army is a technique used by cultivators, where the "soldiers" recruited are not humans but rather special or spiritually attuned entities gathered through esoteric rituals.

This allows cultivators to gain assistance in battles, ensuring they no longer fight alone. These spectral soldiers can also help with tasks such as exorcism, sealing, dispelling curses, suppression, escorting, combat, protection, and guarding.

Righteous cultivators, demonic cultivators, and rogue cultivators all typically employ similar methods, though the targets and purposes of their recruitment differ.

Generally, spectral armies can be divided into three categories:

Heavenly Soldiers and Generators—such as celestial troops or immortal soldiers.

Mountain and Wild Spirits—such as the Five Fierce Troops or shamanic spirit soldiers.

Underworld Ghosts and Souls—such as the Five Directions Yin Soldiers.

Of course, these are broad classifications, with many finer distinctions. Different types of spectral armies vary in strength and abilities, but generally, the more powerful the entities forming the army, the greater their combat prowess.

However, in the Douluo Continent, many types of spectral armies cannot be raised by Huo Yuhao.

For example, celestial troops or immortal soldiers—Huo Yuhao simply has no way to contact them.

As for armies composed of underworld ghosts, they share the same vulnerabilities as the ghosts within the Ghost Banner Spirit. Moreover, the edicts used to summon underworld soldiers are ineffective in the Douluo Continent.

Don't ask how Huo Yuhao knows they don't work—he once considered summoning any potential underworld soldiers from the Douluo Continent to bolster his Ghost Banner Spirit.

In simple terms, he wanted to lure ghosts in and capture them.

The Ghost Banner Spirit would essentially be a ghostly "KK Park" (a notorious scam hub).

But nothing came. At most, he could gather the souls of recently deceased creatures nearby, none of which had any real strength.

The environment of the Douluo Continent simply doesn't allow for the natural birth of wild underworld soldiers!

And don't ask why Huo Yuhao doesn't train the ghosts in his Ghost Banner Spirit into underworld soldiers. To qualify as underworld soldiers, ghosts must possess some level of intelligence, and training them would also require an immense amount of time.

Thus, Huo Yuhao could only choose to raise an army composed of mountain and wild spirits.

The centipede spirit beasts of Shrek Academy had already proven that spirit beasts could become spirits.

Moreover, Huo Yuhao wasn't planning to have the Titan Snow Devil Clan learn cultivation from scratch. Instead, he intended to extract their souls directly, refining them into spirit-like entities akin to shamanic familiars, giving them a foundation to be forged into spectral soldiers.

Though the Titan Snow Devils would lose their physical bodies, they would retain most of their power and gain the potential for further growth.

An army formed this way wouldn't be composed of dark, sinister ghosts, meaning they wouldn't fear light or purification attributes and could maintain their combat strength even in sunlight.

Their weakness? Techniques targeting the soul.

No existence is perfect, and no spectral army is flawless—but Huo Yuhao could compensate for these shortcomings in the future.

For now, they would be more than enough to deal with the armies of the four great empires.

If necessary, he could always refine a batch of Dao Soldiers later.

As for why he didn't use this method on other spirit beast clans? Simple—they weren't qualified.

...

Refining a spectral army required certain materials, but Huo Yuhao lacked none of them.

After preparing everything, he had his Mutant Frost Centipede Spirit take the form of the Titan Snow Demon King and summon the five 100,000-year Titan Snow Devils into the mountain range.

Though he called all five at once, Huo Yuhao had already laid an inescapable net throughout the mountains.

The Titan Snow Demon King wanted to personally persuade its clansmen.

Given that the Titan Snow Demon King had already agreed to join, Huo Yuhao granted it this opportunity.

At first, the five 100,000-year Titan Snow Devils were shocked by the Titan Snow Demon King's condition. Fortunately, the King's authority remained intact, and it managed to suppress their reactions before explaining the situation.

Wisely, the Titan Snow Demon King didn't mention being ambushed by Huo Yuhao. Instead, it claimed that it had found a path—one that could lead to becoming a follower of a god, or at the very least, a retainer of the Plane's Will. In any case, the future promised high status and eternal life. As their leader, it wanted to secure this opportunity for its people and asked if the five 100,000-year Titan Snow Devils would join.

Some were skeptical, others eager—their reactions varied.

But ultimately, the 100,000-year Titan Snow Devils needed a convincing reason to comply.

The simplest way to persuade these giants? Beat them into submission.

The 100,000-year Titan Snow Devils challenged Huo Yuhao to one-on-one fights.

So Huo Yuhao fought all five at once.

Even without enhancements, his near-Limit Douluo-level physique, mental power, and soul power (amplified by over 100%) were more than enough to overpower the five 100,000-year Titan Snow Devils.

In the end, all five submitted and chose to join.

If even the 100,000-year Titan Snow Devils yielded, what chance did the ordinary Titan Snow Devils have?

Soon, the entire Titan Snow Devil Clan returned to the mountain range, ready to join Huo Yuhao's grand family.

Huo Yuhao was somewhat surprised by this and couldn't help but remark, "I thought this would turn into a bloodbath."

The Sky Dream Iceworm, feigning profundity, replied, "Brother Hao, this is just how spirit beast clans are."

Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes.

What "how spirit beast clans are"? It was only because Huo Yuhao was strong enough and the future he painted was enticing enough!

Without wasting time, Huo Yuhao began the refinement process.

All the Titan Snow Devils sat cross-legged on the ground, most visibly nervous. Huo Yuhao stood atop the Titan Snow Demon King's former throne, setting up an altar and performing the rites.

Since this world operated differently, Huo Yuhao didn't adhere strictly to formalities—he wore only ordinary cold-resistant clothing.

But the effects were undeniable.

After a series of incantations and rituals, Huo Yuhao gazed at the Titan Snow Devil Clan and said softly, "Don't resist. Take a deep breath—dizziness is normal. I'll be quick… Seize!"

A jade-like bone token, forged from his own rib, levitated from the altar, emitting a peculiar energy that acted upon the souls of all the Titan Snow Devils. Golden light of fortune erupted, drawing their souls forth.

(The token had been hastily refined using Huo Yuhao's rib, accelerated by fortune. The Snow Lotus had already regenerated the missing rib, though it was still fragile—but a future infusion of Extreme Ice Divine Crystal would reinforce it.)

Every bit of fortune used had been harvested from the Titan Snow Devil Clan itself.

Truly, taking from the people to use for the people.

In the next instant, under the token's pull, the souls of most Titan Snow Devils were forcibly extracted from their bodies, achieving soul separation.

A few resisted.

Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes.

The Mutant Frost Centipede Spirit moved in to finish the job—soon, the remaining Titan Snow Devils also experienced soul separation.

The Titan Snow Demons, now in a state of soul projection, did not lose their consciousness or rationality. Their souls were enveloped in a layer of light—a manifestation of their soul power, corresponding to their respective abilities.

Most of them emitted an icy blue glow, indicating their proficiency in ice-based powers.

A smaller number radiated a black hue with a metallic sheen, signifying their greater strength-based attributes.

There were no other colors.

The fact that they could release their soul power also indicated that these Titan Snow Demons had undergone a transformation, having been preliminarily converted into spirits.

The more powerful Titan Snow Demons had already sensed this change.

The sensation of soul projection was a novel experience for them.

Huo Yuhao did not waste any time. With a hand seal, he muttered a low incantation:

"If you do not return now, when will you?"

Following this command, the floating token erupted with a powerful suction force, drawing all the projected souls of the Titan Snow Demons into it.

Huo Yuhao then grasped the token and, slashing his arm open, embedded it into his right arm.

"Titan Snow Demon King, I have placed your clan's soldiers near the bone where your soul resides. Once you become the bone spirit of this soul bone, you will command your clan's forces. Do not disappoint me!"

As the token merged into his right arm, Huo Yuhao's wound healed instantly without shedding a single drop of blood. However, no additional bone resembling the token appeared in his arm. Instead, a tattoo of the token materialized on his shoulder, with the words "Titan Snow Demon" etched at its center.

Originally, the token bore no inscriptions.

The words "Titan Snow Demon" served as the banner of this force.

"Understood!" the Titan Snow Demon King replied with a mix of excitement and reverence.

He had witnessed the entire process clearly and could distinctly sense the presence of his clansmen within the token.

His people had not lost their minds!

Huo Yuhao then summoned all the Titan Snow Demon soldiers. Even the youngest among them appeared no different from when they were alive, save for the glow of their soul power and their now spirit-formed bodies.

In terms of strength, they had weakened somewhat—a normal occurrence, as they had been artificially refined into spirits.

But they would soon cultivate their way back to their former power.

Huo Yuhao allowed the Titan Snow Demon King and his clansmen to communicate among themselves while he busied himself with processing the remaining corpses of the Titan Snow Demon clan.

To be precise, these were "the shed remnants left by the immortal beings."

There were no soul rings.

The soul rings, corresponding to their cultivation, had already fused with the Titan Snow Demons.

This was different from ghosts.

Ghosts could unleash their former strength without soul rings by relying on soul power, but they could not grow stronger.

The Titan Snow Demons, however, had transformed their soul rings into the cultivation base of spirits. Their combat prowess now depended on this cultivation, and they retained the potential for further growth.

As for the remaining flesh essence and soul bones, they were all collected by Huo Yuhao.

First, there were five 100,000-year Titan Snow Demon soul bones.

Next, five Titan Snow Demon soul bones ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 years, along with one below 50,000 years.

It had to be said—the Titan Snow Demon clan's quality was exceptionally high, with a soul bone drop rate far surpassing that of other soul beast races.

Finally, from an 80,000-year-old adult Titan Snow Demon, Huo Yuhao obtained an external soul bone—a right scapula!

Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao fused with this external soul bone. It granted him an ability called "Titan's Hand."

Simply put, it allowed him to summon an additional arm from his right scapula, which could also be used to execute combat skills.

However, mastering its flexible use would require some training.

"Now I really have a third hand!" Huo Yuhao found it quite novel.

Weird or not, as long as it was useful, it didn't matter.

This extra arm would allow Huo Yuhao to unleash a third combat skill from a third direction during battle—certainly catching enemies off guard.

Even his avatar's phantom now bore the shadow of a third arm!

As for the corpses, they had all been absorbed by the snow lotus. The flesh essence Huo Yuhao couldn't immediately digest was condensed into snow lotus seeds.

The only thing left in the Titan Snow Demon clan's territory was a 100,000-year Titan Snow Demon left arm.

This was reserved for Ling Luochen.

After sealing the left arm in ice and storing it properly, Huo Yuhao finally had time to rest.

It was only then that the Titan Snow Demon King brought his clan before Huo Yuhao.

"Thank you, Brother Hao!" the Titan Snow Demon King said gratefully.

The Titan Snow Demons behind him also bowed respectfully, shouting in unison, "Brother Hao!"

It resembled a gang paying respects to their leader.

But the title "Brother Hao" was uttered with genuine sincerity.

After thorough communication with his clansmen, the Titan Snow Demon King realized that Huo Yuhao had indeed not deceived him.

Thus, some of his earlier reservations were temporarily set aside.

These reservations, of course, referred to the fact that there were still Titan Snow Demons outside the clan who had not returned—among them, nearly ten 100,000-year-old Titan Snow Demons!

In truth, the Titan Snow Demon clan had more than ten 100,000-year-old members. This time, Huo Yuhao had only subjugated five.

The Titan Snow Demon King had been wary of being tricked. If he had been deceived, even if he lost the clansmen here, those outside would still have the strength to ensure the clan's survival.

Life might have been harder, but it wouldn't have meant the end.

Now, however, the Titan Snow Demon King had a different idea: "If I rally the entire clan to support Brother Hao, perhaps he will achieve even greater heights in the future, and every member of my clan will have a brighter destiny!"

Even serving as a mere guard at the gates of a divine hall would be more glorious than being a king in the Extreme North!

Thinking this, he acted immediately.

The Titan Snow Demon King voiced his thoughts.

Huo Yuhao glanced at him sideways. Did he really think Huo Yuhao didn't know?

During the Titan Snow Demon King's Heavenly Dream Illusion transformation under the influence of the Mutant Frost Centipede martial soul, Huo Yuhao had accessed his memories. He was fully aware of the Titan Snow Demon clan's situation, including how to summon all its members back.

Now that the Titan Snow Demon King had spoken up voluntarily, it proved his genuine submission. The next step of Huo Yuhao's plan could begin.

What if the Titan Snow Demon King hadn't spoken up?

Well… he would have learned what true cruelty meant!

Satisfied, Huo Yuhao said to the Titan Snow Demon King, "Since you've made your decision, go and call your clansmen back."

"As for your current clansmen, let them rest inside the token for now. Having just been transformed into spirits, it's best not to keep them outside for too long."

The Titan Snow Demon King sighed in relief—Huo Yuhao hadn't punished him for withholding information. He immediately turned to summon the remaining clansmen.

But then, his body suddenly froze. He turned back and said to Huo Yuhao,

"Brother Hao, our Titan Snow Demon clan has two hybrid branch races—the Snow Demon clan and the Ice Titan clan. Though they are not as strong as us, they are still top-tier major clans with numerous members, including 100,000-year-old leaders. Would you be interested in them?"

Huo Yuhao: "..."

If the Darkgold Terrorclaw Bear had branch races, it made sense that the Titan Snow Demons did too.

But he hadn't expected the Titan Snow Demon King to not only bring his own clan to submit but also drag his relatives along.

Such enthusiasm was a bit unfamiliar to Brother Hao.

But… why refuse?

"Your enthusiasm has moved me!" Huo Yuhao replied solemnly.

"Hmm, I'm a bit full~"

Huo Yuhao let out a satisfied burp.

After devouring three major tribes—a total of eighteen hundred-thousand-year soul beasts and over six hundred powerful, blood-rich soul beasts—even Huo Yuhao was feeling somewhat overstuffed.

The Snow Lotus had also condensed a large number of flesh-and-blood essence seeds.

Most of the fleshly essence could only be temporarily stored for future cultivation.

However, consuming it bit by bit wouldn't provide much benefit to Huo Yuhao. It was better to accumulate it all and, in one go, use the sheer quantity to trigger a qualitative breakthrough, allowing him to overcome his physical bottlenecks.

Both Huo Yuhao's spiritual power and physique had reached a level where only a qualitative transformation could lead to further improvement.

Level 99 wasn't just the limit of soul master cultivation on the Douluo Continent—it was also the stage where soul masters underwent their divine metamorphosis!

He had also collected some additional soul bones, including eighteen unassigned hundred-thousand-year soul bones and over thirty soul bones below the hundred-thousand-year level. However, no additional external soul bones appeared. These soul bones were reserved to enhance the strength of the Titan Snow Demon King's right arm bone.

After all, these soul bones were of the same origin.

Once the soul bone's age reached two hundred thousand years, Huo Yuhao discovered that the conversion rate for absorption was no longer one-to-one but had dropped to two-to-one.

This made sense.

There was already a clear difference between two-hundred-thousand-year soul beasts and hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, and the same logic applied to soul bones.

In the future, if the soul bone were to advance to three hundred thousand, four hundred thousand, or even higher, the conversion ratio might further decrease to three-to-one, four-to-one, and so on.

This, too, had entered a stage where quantity needed to trigger a qualitative leap.

A rough estimate suggested that even if all the soul bones from the three tribes were fused into the Titan Snow Demon King's right arm bone, it would only elevate it to just over five hundred thousand years.

Moreover, Ahui's situation had made Huo Yuhao realize that bone spirits undergoing breakthroughs had to endure heavenly tribulations, just like soul beasts. Thus, caution was necessary.

There might not be a second Titan Snow Demon King around to help withstand the heavenly tribulation.

But that didn't mean he couldn't find a way to make other fierce beasts "lend a hand."

Beyond this, the most significant improvement was the massive enhancement to his army's combat strength.

The Titan Snow Demon army now included the Snow Demon tribe and the Ice Titan tribe, with the Titan Snow Demon King remaining as their leader.

These two tribes had surrendered quite easily.

After all, they had always followed the Titan Snow Demon tribe's lead.

If their big brother said it was fine, then it was fine.

The two tribes could be considered subspecies of the Titan Snow Demon tribe. The Snow Demon tribe specialized in ice attribute control and even gained the ability to manipulate wind and snow, making them more mage-oriented. The Ice Titan tribe was said to have reawakened the bloodline of the Titan Giants, granting them immense physical prowess. Their close-combat strength was second only to the Titan Giant Ape, making them pure melee warriors.

In truth, the Titan Snow Demon tribe had a few other subspecies or mutated variants, but none had inherited both the ice attribute and the powerful physique—the two defining traits of the Titan Snow Demon bloodline. Their bloodlines were also too diluted, so they weren't accepted by the Titan Snow Demon tribe.

Most importantly, none of those subspecies had members reaching the hundred-thousand-year level, and even those above fifty thousand years were rare.

Thus, when the Titan Snow Demon King brought his family to join Huo Yuhao, he hadn't bothered bringing them along.

As for why the Titan Snow Demon tribe had so many subspecies—enough to form entire tribes—well, let's just say the Titan Snow Demon tribe's mating habits were… expansive.

As branch tribes of the Titan Snow Demon tribe, the Snow Demon tribe and the Ice Titan tribe were far inferior in overall strength, but they were still formidable.

Though neither was a super soul beast, they had reached the level of high-tier soul beasts. Moreover, while possessing unique skills, they also had the advantage of numbers.

In terms of tribal strength alone, these two tribes were among the upper echelons of the Extreme North, second only to the Ice Bear tribe led by the Ice Bear King, Xiao Bai.

Each tribe had a hundred-thousand-year leader.

The Snow Demon tribe had over two hundred members.

The Ice Titan tribe had over three hundred members.

Combined with the fully mobilized Titan Snow Demon tribe, Huo Yuhao's army now numbered over six hundred. With eighteen hundred-thousand-year combatants and the two-hundred-thousand-year Titan Snow Demon King as their leader, their strength was overwhelming.

Excluding the weaker cubs, there were still around five hundred battle-ready soldiers.

Even the cubs, while weaker, weren't completely helpless—a newborn Titan Snow Demon cub, standing ten meters tall, could still punch a typical Soul Elder to death.

Such combat power was enough to crush the conventional armies of the original three Douluo nations, as their forces weren't heavily composed of soul masters. Soul soldier units and soul tools were reserved for elite troops.

As for the Sun Moon Empire's army, their technological edge allowed them to equip their standard legions with what the three nations reserved for elites. Thus, a direct confrontation was still unwise.

The only current limitation of this army was that, having just taken shape, the soldiers were still adjusting to their new state. They needed time to acclimate and grow before they could be deployed effectively.

But Huo Yuhao wasn't in urgent need of this force yet, so he was willing to give them time to develop.

After settling the three tribes, Huo Yuhao scavenged their territories, collecting ores, herbs, prey, and even stockpiled soul bones before packing everything away.

Soul beasts also made use of soul bones.

Creatures like the Bone-Melting Ice Catfish could directly consume them, while others could slowly absorb the energy within.

Of course, some, like the Tyrant Dragon, simply hoarded them as trophies—and there were many of those.

The three tribes fell into the former category. Given the Extreme North's resource scarcity, they couldn't afford to waste anything. Thus, few soul bones remained, and the higher-quality ones had already been partially drained by their members, diminishing their quality.

But Huo Yuhao wasn't picky.

Half a month after Huo Yuhao departed with the three tribes, the Snow Empress and Ice Empress finally sensed something amiss.

Though the three tribes were large and numerous, they were still insignificant in the vast expanse of the Extreme North.

Moreover, the tribes typically stayed within their own territories. Without deliberate surveillance, their absence was hard to notice.

The Snow Empress and Ice Empress, growing uneasy, sent the Ice Bear King, Xiao Bai, to investigate the Titan Snow Demon tribe—partly to gauge the Titan Snow Demon King's stance.

If the Titan Snow Demon King truly intended to act, Xiao Bai could at least escape and report back, after which the Snow Empress and Ice Empress would personally intervene.

Instead, Xiao Bai was shocked to find the entire Titan Snow Demon tribe gone!

It was as if they had moved away, taking all their stored supplies with them!

But that couldn't be, right?

Unfortunately, half a month of Extreme North blizzards had erased all traces.

Xiao Bai found no further clues.

Later, the Snow Empress and Ice Empress discovered that the Snow Demon tribe and Ice Titan tribe—the Titan Snow Demon King's vassals—had also vanished.

Not a single Titan Snow Demon remained in the Extreme North!

Not even their closest subspecies relatives!

This forced the Snow Empress and Ice Empress to consider the worst.

Tensions in the Extreme North rose once more.

Yet no matter how thoroughly they searched, they found no trace of the three tribes.

Finally, three months later, the Ice Bear King, Xiao Bai, ascended to the position of Heavenly King, filling the vacancy left by the three great kings. Officially titled the "Ice Bear King," he took over the Titan Snow Demon King's former territory, bringing the matter to a close.

The Extreme North returned to peace.

And the Titan Snow Demon tribe became a legend of the Extreme North. Perhaps in the distant future, some diluted subspecies would reawaken their bloodline and restore the tribe's former glory.

By the time Huo Yuhao and Wei Na retreated to the safe zone and reunited with Ma Xiaotao and Zhang Lexuan, they had already exceeded the agreed-upon time by nearly a full day.

The delay was mainly due to the time spent coordinating the three clans and handling the affairs of their members.

As a result, both Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao were extremely worried about Huo Yuhao and Wei Na's safety. The two had even ventured out to search for them, and if not for Zhang Lexuan holding her back, Ma Xiaotao might have charged straight into the core area.

When Huo Yuhao and Wei Na finally returned, Ma Xiaotao immediately flung herself into Huo Yuhao's arms in excitement. Zhang Lexuan stood nearby, visibly relieved.

However, as she watched Ma Xiaotao and Huo Yuhao embrace, she couldn't help but recall the peculiar sounds she had accidentally overheard on certain nights—sounds of Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao's… interactions.

This caused Zhang Lexuan's gaze to drift slightly, her thoughts wandering.

Wei Na stood to the side with a gentle smile. Her memories had once again been subtly altered by Huo Yuhao, so she didn't notice anything unusual.

Huo Yuhao secretly observed the reactions of Ma Xiaotao and Zhang Lexuan.

Ma Xiaotao's behavior was no surprise to him. By now, she had mistaken cultivation for love—though, to be fair, her affection for Huo Yuhao had indeed reached the level of genuine love, bordering on undying devotion.

This was just the usual state of a lovestruck fool.

Zhang Lexuan, on the other hand, remained as composed and detached as ever, displaying only slight awkwardness without any further distractions.

The flames of desire Ma Xiaotao had ignited weren't ineffective—they were simply suppressed by Zhang Lexuan's cultivation and mental fortitude.

Huo Yuhao mused: Zhang Lexuan, you're one tough cookie.

Most women, after spending this much time around Huo Yuhao and the others, would have already succumbed to deeper influences. They might have ended up like Ling Luochen, finding some plausible excuse to surrender to their desires and sink into Huo Yuhao's embrace.

But Huo Yuhao felt no particular frustration.

No rush, let's play with her~

Ma Xiaotao quickly snapped back to reality, remembering Zhang Lexuan's presence. She hastily pulled away from Huo Yuhao, pretending as if nothing had happened while discreetly wiping the moisture from the corners of her eyes.

Zhang Lexuan watched Ma Xiaotao's forced composure and couldn't help but smirk slightly, thinking to herself, Xiaotao has changed.

Ma Xiaotao's demeanor was indeed different from the Ma Xiaotao she once knew.

The old Ma Xiaotao had been fiery-tempered, impulsive, and, most notably, chaste. The current Ma Xiaotao appeared dignified and elegant, yet emotionally expressive and somewhat… liberated?

Still, the underlying impulsiveness hidden beneath the surface allowed Zhang Lexuan to sense a familiar trace of the old Ma Xiaotao.

Is this the power of love? Has love truly changed Xiaotao so profoundly? Zhang Lexuan pondered, sighing inwardly.

Despite being the senior sister of the inner court, she was still a young woman in her twenties, with her own yearnings.

Seeing that Zhang Lexuan wasn't staring at her, Ma Xiaotao relaxed and quickly changed the subject, asking Huo Yuhao with concern, "Junior Brother Yuhao, why were you two so late? Did something happen?"

Huo Yuhao and Wei Na exchanged glances, both wearing expressions of excitement. "Xiaotao, we obtained an ice-attribute left arm bone!"

"What?!" Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao exclaimed in unison.

Without wasting words, Huo Yuhao directly produced the 40,000-year Ice Thorn Snake left arm bone.

In Wei Na's rewritten memories, the two of them had hunted down a 40,000-year Ice Thorn Snake, ultimately killing it and acquiring its left arm bone.

There were two reasons for presenting this soul bone now.

First, Huo Yuhao had taken away the Titan Snow Demon clan and its two subordinate races, and he wasn't sure what changes would occur in the Extreme North afterward.

Even if nothing happened immediately, there was no need for him to remain in the Extreme North any longer.

A wise man does not stand beneath a crumbling wall!

As the saying goes, strike when the iron is hot, but retreat when danger looms—never let greed cloud rational judgment.

Collecting beast souls could wait for another time; it wasn't an urgent priority.

Huo Yuhao's next visit to the Extreme North would be when he could withstand the pressure of a 400,000-year soul ring and return to claim his eighth soul ring!

The second reason was that once this soul bone healed Ling Luochen, it would eventually return to Huo Yuhao's possession.

Because Huo Yuhao planned to replace Ling Luochen's arm—with the frozen 100,000-year Titan Snow Demon left arm.

Ling Luochen's current value justified a 100,000-year Titan Snow Demon left arm. Moreover, this would serve as an experiment.

When the time came to sever Ling Luochen's left arm, the soul bone would naturally return to Huo Yuhao.

In short, there was no loss.

Unaware of these plans, Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao stared at the left arm bone in Huo Yuhao's hand, their excitement palpable.

"Junior Brother Yuhao, put the soul bone away quickly!" Zhang Lexuan urged, worried that its energy fluctuations might attract other soul beasts or malicious soul masters.

There were still soul masters active in the outskirts of the Extreme North.

Huo Yuhao complied, swiftly storing the soul bone.

Zhang Lexuan then addressed the group. "Since we've obtained the soul bone, we should return to the academy immediately. The longer we delay, the worse Luochen's condition will become. The sooner she recovers, the less likely she'll suffer lasting effects."

The other three agreed without hesitation.

The four of them then made their way out of the Extreme North as quickly as possible.

Without the need to search for soul beasts, they focused solely on retreating in one direction. Under Zhang Lexuan's lead, it took them just over a day to exit the Extreme North.

After a brief half-day rest in a border town, the four set off day and night for Shrek Academy.

They didn't conceal their movements, drawing the attention of some observers. Soul masters active in the border towns soon learned of their departure.

A few individuals were tempted.

They knew Huo Yuhao's group had previously sought soul bones before entering the Extreme North to hunt for them. Now, with the group leaving the Extreme North and heading south without further inquiries, it was clear they had succeeded in obtaining what they needed.

In other words, the four were carrying at least one soul bone!

Soul bones stirred greed in men's hearts, and a few desperados quietly tailed Huo Yuhao's group.

Most, however, didn't dare act.

The reason was simple: the four had openly identified themselves as members of Shrek Academy!

Those capable of venturing into and out of the Extreme North were no pushovers.

Who in their right mind would dare target Shrek Academy's people?

As for the few who followed Huo Yuhao's group, they met predictable ends—devoured by the centipede-leg clones Huo Yuhao had left behind.

At least they served as a light snack.

Though their numbers were few, leaving Huo Yuhao slightly disappointed.

But such minor incidents couldn't even ripple the surface of the entire Douluo Continent.

The journey back was uneventful.

Ten days later, the four arrived at Shrek City.

By the time they reached the city, Wei Na's face was pale—a sign of severe exhaustion in both soul power and stamina.

Even Ma Xiaotao felt a faint weariness.

Only Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan remained in relatively good condition.

Zhang Lexuan's resilience came from her formidable strength.

As for Huo Yuhao's performance, Zhang Lexuan could only label him a "monster."

"Let's head back to the academy," Zhang Lexuan said softly.

Huo Yuhao gazed at Shrek City in the distance.

Shrek, your Brother Hao has returned!

Huo Yuhao: I am the dawn of Shrek!

Time to stir things up—this return to Shrek is all about sending Elder Mu on his final journey.

Huo Yuhao and his group returned to Shrek Academy in just over a month, far sooner than anyone had anticipated.

Yet this unexpected early return filled everyone with excitement.

Because arriving on time didn't necessarily mean they had obtained what they needed—but returning early often meant they had succeeded!

Shrek Academy, Sea God's Island.

In a meeting room within the Sea God's Pavilion—not an official Sea God meeting, just a regular gathering—the academy's resident high-ranking members had assembled.

Present were deans such as Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, Cai Mei'er, and Xian Lin'er. Wang Xian'er and the Star Shattering Douluo also sat at the table, their seats second only to Mu En's.

Huo Yuhao placed the forty-thousand-year Ice Thorn Serpent left arm bone on the table and respectfully stepped back, standing alongside Zhang Lexuan and the others.

Those around the table couldn't contain their excitement upon seeing the soul bone.

"It really is an ice-attribute left arm bone!"

"Judging by the soul power fluctuations, it's around forty thousand years in age!"

"Luo Chen is saved!"

Voices rose in excitement, but more than that, there was joy.

Because this meant Ling Luochen's left arm could be restored!

Shrek Academy wouldn't lose a talented soul master.

Mu En turned to the seated Medical Immortal Douluo, Wang Xian'er, and asked, "What does the Medical Immortal think?"

Compared to a month ago, Wang Xian'er's complexion had noticeably improved, clearly benefiting from her stay in the Sea God's Pavilion.

As for the two Title Douluo assigned to protect her, only the Star Shattering Douluo remained—the other had already returned to the Star Luo Empire.

"This old woman needs to examine it carefully," Wang Xian'er replied cautiously, not giving an immediate answer.

The Star Shattering Douluo, sitting beside her, quickly stood up, took the soul bone, and handed it to Wang Xian'er for inspection.

In truth, even the Star Shattering Douluo felt a surge of excitement as he held the soul bone.

Faced with a soul bone—especially a ten-thousand-year one—even a Title Douluo couldn't remain entirely calm. Not every Title Douluo possessed a full set of soul bones or ones perfectly suited to them.

The Star Shattering Douluo himself didn't have a complete set!

But he was a rational man. After a brief moment of excitement, he handed the bone to Wang Xian'er without showing any unusual reaction.

Taking the soul bone, Wang Xian'er's expression grew serious. She channeled her soul power into the bone, carefully examining its properties.

After a while, she nodded in satisfaction and set it down.

"This soul bone likely comes from a soul beast with both ice and poison attributes. Though it carries poison, the ice attribute is pure enough to treat that child."

With Wang Xian'er's confirmation, the others grew even more delighted.

Zhang Lexuan's lips curled slightly, while Ma Xiaotao and Wei Na couldn't hide their joy.

Huo Yuhao, too, put on an act of barely contained excitement, respectfully adding, "Senior's insight is remarkable. This soul bone comes from a forty-thousand-year Ice Thorn Serpent, possessing both poison and ice attributes, each of considerable strength."

Mu En also smiled, his gaze sweeping over Huo Yuhao, Ma Xiaotao, Wei Na, and Zhang Lexuan.

Thanks to this mission, Wei Na had earned the privilege of entering the Sea God's Pavilion—though it was more of a temporary pass.

The same went for Ma Xiaotao.

Only Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan had permanent access.

Still, it was enough to thrill Wei Na, though it also left her feeling somewhat out of place.

Even as a princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire, facing a room full of unfamiliar Title Douluo was an intimidating experience.

"You've all worked hard, children," Mu En said kindly, his smile warm. His eyes lingered on Huo Yuhao for a moment, noting that he had already obtained his sixth soul ring and advanced to Soul Emperor. His satisfaction grew.

"Elder Mu, this is my responsibility as the senior sister of the inner court. I couldn't bear to see Luo Chen crippled," Zhang Lexuan replied first, her tone cool but earnest.

Ma Xiaotao quickly nodded in agreement. "Exactly, Grandteacher. Luo Chen is like a sister to me—I couldn't just stand by."

"I... I feel the same," Wei Na chimed in politely, maintaining the dignity befitting a princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire.

Huo Yuhao was the last to speak. "Teacher, this is what I should do."

Though brief, his words carried a firm resolve, showcasing a man's sense of responsibility.

Mu En's smile deepened.

"Good, good. You're all fine children!"

Truthfully, Mu En hadn't expected Huo Yuhao's group to actually obtain an ice-attribute left arm bone—let alone that Huo Yuhao himself had acquired it.

Not only had this saved the academy resources, but it also proved Huo Yuhao's extraordinary luck.

The Heavenly Soul Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and Shrek Academy had all been searching for a suitable ice-attribute left arm bone, yet it was Huo Yuhao who succeeded first.

With such fortune and the blessings of his ancestors, coupled with his talent, Huo Yuhao's chances of reaching that pinnacle had grown even greater.

After praising the four, Mu En turned back to Wang Xian'er, his tone earnest. "Medical Immortal, we entrust Luo Chen to your care. Please do your best."

His demeanor made it seem as though Ling Luochen were his own beloved junior, further reinforcing his image as a kind and approachable elder.

Even the nervous Wei Na found her admiration for Mu En growing.

When they had returned from the tournament, her first impression of Mu En had been that of an unassuming, kindly old man. Now, witnessing his concern as a mentor, her respect deepened.

Even Huo Yuhao had to admit—Mu En was truly a good man.

Wang Xian'er smiled gently and waved a hand. "Dragon God Douluo, you flatter me. This old woman will naturally give her all and ensure the child's full recovery."

Ling Luochen sat alone by the window, gazing blankly at the scenery of the Sea God's Pavilion, her thoughts clearly adrift.

Due to her left arm's condition, she couldn't engage in strenuous activity or even leave the Sea God's Pavilion.

Day after day, she could only sit by the window, waiting in silence.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Xian Lin'er stepped in first, smiling. "Luo Chen, look who's back?"

Hearing the voice, Ling Luochen turned in confusion—only to see Huo Yuhao, Ma Xiaotao, Wei Na, and Zhang Lexuan standing at the door.

For a moment, she froze.

Zhang Lexuan hesitated, then quietly took a step back.

Huo Yuhao studied Ling Luochen, while Ma Xiaotao and Wei Na both smiled warmly.

Seeing her again, it was clear Ling Luochen had grown much more haggard, her figure noticeably thinner. She wore a plain white dress, her face pale save for a faint redness on her lips. Her eyes were slightly red-rimmed, carrying a quiet sorrow.

Such a beauty, yet her charm was marred by the frozen, shattered left arm—only deepening others' pity.

Why was this beauty so grief-stricken?

Perhaps it was the pain, or perhaps it was her worry for her beloved.

But now, the one who could soothe her sorrow had returned.

"Luo Chen, we're back!" Ma Xiaotao's voice was light.

"Luo Chen, we're back," Wei Na added softly.

"Luo Chen, we're back," Huo Yuhao murmured gently.

"Yuhao!"

Ling Luochen could no longer hold back. With light steps, she flew into Huo Yuhao's arms, tears streaming down her face, soaking his clothes.

Xian Lin'er and the others, witnessing such a touching scene, smiled and quietly withdrew, leaving the two alone.

Xian Lin'er: Now this is true love!