In truth, the Heavenly Soul Empire's visit this time was executed in two waves—one overt, one covert.
Openly, it was a royal delegation led by senior members of the imperial family, presenting themselves as a relief group. They came with generous supplies to support Shrek Academy and even brought an engineering team to help rebuild the city. Everything appeared above board on the surface.
But in the shadows, members of the Body Sect had arrived—led personally by Undying Poison himself!
However, Undying Poison did not investigate Shrek Academy in secret, nor did he seek out Huo Yuhao. Instead, he summoned Wei Na.
The Heavenly Soul Empire had long since placed spies around Huo Yuhao, so if they needed intel, asking Wei Na directly would suffice.
The two met in secret in a private room at a tavern in Shrek City.
Only the two of them were present.
Undying Poison sat boldly at the dining table, having ordered a lavish spread, and was eating heartily on his own.
Wei Na entered and stood respectfully to the side, bowing to him. "Disciple Wei Na greets the Sect Master!"
"Mm... Huh? Why has your strength increased so much?" Undying Poison immediately sensed her current level the moment she entered, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
Wei Na's soul power had astonishingly reached level 55!
And the fluctuations of her soul power were unstable—clearly the result of a recent and significant breakthrough. Fortunately, her condition didn't show signs of overdrawn potential.
Undying Poison clearly remembered that Wei Na's soul power used to be lower than Long Aotian's. Yet now Long Aotian had just barely broken through level 50, while Wei Na had pulled ahead by at least four levels.
What's more, Wei Na was a healing-type soul master—normally slower to cultivate.
Her rapid rise to level 55 was the result of multiple factors.
After absorbing her fifth soul ring, she had reached level 52. Then, through dual cultivation with Huo Yuhao, she rose to level 53. After receiving a reward from Shrek Academy—two ten-thousand-year soul bones suited for her legs—she advanced two more levels, reaching her current state.
"Reporting to the Sect Master: my rapid growth is entirely due to absorbing multiple soul bones," Wei Na explained modestly, crediting the soul bones, "Right now, I've collected five ten-thousand-year soul bones—everything except the torso bone."
"Shrek really is ridiculously wealthy." Undying Poison muttered under his breath. Still, Wei Na could detect the envy in his tone.
The Body Sect didn't rely on soul skills or soul bones for combat, but soul bones were still extremely valuable for improving physical attributes, which were vital to their cultivation. For Body Sect cultivators, blood vitality and physical strength were paramount.
Ten-thousand-year soul bones were priceless for them. Even among elders, few possessed as many as Wei Na did.
Soul bones couldn't just be obtained through strength—they required rare opportunities as well.
Wei Na quietly stood by and didn't explain the full origin of her soul bones.
Undying Poison didn't press further but still gave her a reminder: "Wei Na, don't forget the true philosophy of our Body Sect. The Snow Lotus martial soul is only transitional. In the future, your focus must shift to your second martial soul. Soul bones are useful, but they make your power unstable. If you don't take time to settle your cultivation and refine your soul power, and only chase speed, you'll hit a bottleneck—and possibly never become a Title Douluo."
"Thank you for the reminder, Sect Master. I'll keep it in mind," Wei Na quickly and respectfully responded.
Actually, Huo Yuhao had told her the same thing.
But she didn't need to worry too much—she didn't even need to intentionally refine her soul power. During their dual cultivation, Huo Yuhao would naturally help her compress and refine it more efficiently.
At that thought, a blush crept up Wei Na's ears.
Undying Poison didn't pay attention to her minor reaction. He nodded with satisfaction, confirming that Wei Na hadn't been corrupted by Shrek Academy's honeyed temptations.
Wei Na might have been acting, but Undying Poison trusted his eyes. He believed Wei Na held no deep loyalty toward Shrek.
Strong individuals often had sharp mental strength and insight.
—Except for Xuanzi.
"Sit. Tell me everything about the recent beast tide, and how things are progressing between you and Huo Yuhao," said Undying Poison, signaling for her to take a seat and getting down to business.
Wei Na sat respectfully and began recounting recent events.
After hearing of Huo Yuhao's performance during the beast tide, Undying Poison praised him repeatedly, clearly pleased.
But when he heard of Elder Mu En's death, he let out a long sigh, as if he regretted never having the chance to fight him. Still, that news also brought him joy—Mu En, the man who killed his brother, was finally dead. His emotions were a conflicted mix of sorrow and relief.
Wei Na also informed him about Xuanzi's condition. Hearing that Xuanzi didn't have much time left, Undying Poison narrowed his eyes, as though already scheming.
Just like that, Shrek Academy's weaknesses were all exposed by Wei Na.
After all, if Shrek's flaws didn't get exposed, how would they attract the wolves to come circling?
Undying Poison now believed even more strongly that Wei Na remained loyal to the Empire and the Sect.
Finally, after learning everything about the beast tide, Undying Poison's expression grew solemn—his concern was the Star Dou Great Forest.
The Body Sect's forced closure years ago had also been due to a beast tide from the Star Dou Forest. That had left them with a lasting grudge.
Thus, the Body Sect held grudges against both Shrek Academy and the Star Dou Forest.
But they were still human. Their hatred toward the soul beasts was even deeper—they'd never held goodwill toward them.
"Di Tian? Savage Beasts? Hmph! One day, we'll settle the score!"
With a cold snort, Undying Poison pushed those feelings aside, then smiled as he asked more about Wei Na's relationship with Huo Yuhao.
This time, Wei Na stopped playing it cool. She blushed and talked about her "sweet romance" with Huo Yuhao.
Listening to this, the perpetually single Undying Poison practically ground his teeth in envy.
He was genuinely jealous this time!
"All right, all right, I get it—you two are doing great," Undying Poison interrupted, then his tone turned serious again. "Wei Na, Huo Yuhao is now the heir to the Sea God's Pavilion. Our sect's and the Empire's plans are already more than halfway complete. From here, your only task is to stay by his side and deepen your relationship. Once he leads the Pavilion, our plan will begin to bear fruit."
"You might think this is all a bit calculating, but remember—Huo Yuhao's not going to only have one woman. He may have more in the future. If you want love and happiness, you need to take the initiative. The Sect and the Empire will support you fully."
"When you begin cultivating your second martial soul, the Sect and the Empire will help you obtain soul rings of the highest possible years to enhance your strength. You must be able to keep pace with Huo Yuhao. And don't forget—the Sect and the Empire are your true roots!"
Though Undying Poison was often brash and arrogant, as the Body Sect Master, he was far more cunning than Xuanzi. He had considered Wei Na's feelings and didn't simply command her. He reminded her that everything she did would benefit her own future and happiness as well.
Blushing, Wei Na nodded.
Then she asked curiously, "Sect Master, aren't you planning to meet Yuhao yourself?"
"No." Undying Poison shook his head. "Right now, Shrek Academy is undoubtedly watching him closely. If I show up near him now, it'll only raise suspicion. There's no rush to meet him—and it can't happen on Shrek's turf."
Frankly, with Xuanzi half-dead, even if Undying Poison forcibly abducted Huo Yuhao, no one could stop him.
In the past, he might've done exactly that. But now, Undying Poison believed that sticking to the plan would benefit the Sect more.
With Wei Na around, they could win over Huo Yuhao whenever they chose.
Plus, knowing Wei Na had received so many soul bones sparked greed in him. Now he was considering whether other disciples of the Body Sect could also go to Shrek Academy and "benefit" from it.
No need for many soul bones—just one per person would do. Even a thousand-year one, or a hundred-year one—nothing was too low.
"When the time comes, bring Huo Yuhao back to the Heavenly Soul Empire. I'll meet him in Heavenly Soul City and help him fully awaken those special eyes of his—bring him back to the Sect!" Undying Poison said at last, his expression deadly serious.
"Yes, I understand!" Wei Na accepted her new mission and nodded solemnly.
With everything settled, Undying Poison left quietly, and Wei Na also slipped away unnoticed.
No one detected their secret meeting.
After seeing off the Heavenly Soul Empire's elder, representatives from the Star Luo Empire arrived.
This time, it was Princess Xu Jiujiu and Nebula Douluo Man Yi.
Huo Yuhao treated them with impeccable courtesy, strictly business-like. His smile was professional, and he spoke no unnecessary words, showing no intent to deepen ties.
It gave the impression he still held a grudge against the Star Luo Empire.
Man Yi was equally displeased. They were here to aid Shrek Academy, and not only was there no gratitude, but Huo Yuhao's blatantly perfunctory attitude irked her.
Handing over vast resources to Shrek Academy might not even make a ripple.
Yet, Man Yi didn't dare show Huo Yuhao any attitude. He represented Shrek Academy.
Disrespecting him was disrespecting Shrek Academy. If she acted against him, they might not leave Shrek City alive.
So, Man Yi maintained a cold expression throughout, silently conveying her discontent.
Xu Jiujiu, however, seemed unbothered, treating Huo Yuhao with notable warmth and clear intent to curry favor.
She aimed to mend ties between the Star Luo Empire and Shrek Academy.
No matter how wary the Star Luo Empire had been of Shrek Academy before, with the Sun Moon Empire poised to strike, they still needed Shrek's strength.
Meeting again, Xu Jiujiu looked haggard, her face pale, lips drained of color, exuding a fragile beauty that made one want to hold and comfort her.
She'd clearly been overworked lately, investigating Dai Hao, Wang Xian'er, and Starbreaker Douluo's affairs while countering the Sun Moon Empire's looming threat.
The entire Star Luo Empire was stretched thin, with no spare energy for other matters. Even Princess Xu Jiujiu was working tirelessly, let alone Emperor Xu Jiawei.
Her visit was to deliver resources, exchange brief pleasantries with Huo Yuhao, build rapport, and subtly hint that the Star Luo Empire hoped for Shrek Academy's aid against the Sun Moon Empire.
Seeing Xu Jiujiu's red-rimmed eyes and weary face, a typical hot-blooded youth might have agreed on the spot.
But alas, Huo Yuhao feigned ignorance. As long as she didn't explicitly ask, he wouldn't commit.
Despite the Sun Moon Empire's looming threat, the Star Luo Empire could hold its own and wasn't yet desperate for Shrek's intervention.
The two nations hadn't even formally clashed.
If Huo Yuhao softened and agreed, given his current status, Shrek Academy would have to act, diverting already scarce manpower.
Even sending one or two strong representatives would signal Shrek's involvement, prompting the Sun Moon Empire to back off, as they hadn't fully committed to war.
This would spare the Star Luo Empire much trouble, freeing them to address other issues, like the disappearance of Dai Hao and others.
But Shrek's aid wouldn't earn gratitude from the Star Luo Empire. At most, Xu Jiujiu might gain some favor.
After all, she was the one asking, not Emperor Xu Jiawei.
What could a princess offer Shrek Academy? At best, they'd "gift" Xu Jiujiu to Huo Yuhao.
In essence, the Star Luo Empire would freeload off Shrek's support.
The only sacrifice would be Xu Jiujiu.
And what could Shrek Academy, self-proclaimed champions of justice, do to her? They'd ensure her basic dignity and survival, though she'd likely lose power and freedom.
Xu Jiujiu was mentally prepared.
She wasn't some naive princess who, after enjoying the empire's resources and status, demanded true love and freedom. For her, the empire and royal family's interests trumped everything, including her own life.
Love was a pursuit, but if it conflicted with the empire's interests, she'd choose the latter.
Between a penniless boy offering true love and a marriage candidate who could aid the empire, she'd pick the latter.
Seeing Huo Yuhao wouldn't bite, she couldn't be more direct. Xu Jiujiu knew her plan had failed.
After a brief exchange, she left with Man Yi.
Once, Xu Jiawei had hoped Xu Jiujiu could grow close to Huo Yuhao, even marry him.
But with everything that had happened, Xu Jiujiu felt she and Huo Yuhao were fated to miss each other.
Missing out on such a genius youth was a great pity. Having seen the grandeur of peaks, how could she be drawn to mere hills?
…
Lastly came the Dou Ling Empire's representatives, arriving latest due to the greatest distance.
They brought ample resources, including vast quantities of herbs, as the Dou Ling Empire's eastern coast was rich in medicinal plants.
The delegation consisted of two: Crown Prince Xue Hui and, surprisingly, Tu Xijun.
From Shrek Academy's pre-prepared dossier, Huo Yuhao learned that Tu Xijun's family was a prominent noble clan in the Dou Ling Empire, known for producing prime ministers and renowned for their "wisdom."
Much like the Nara Clan of Konoha.
It wasn't surprising that Xue Hui brought Tu Xijun along.
The dossier also noted that Xue Hui was pursuing Tu Xijun, who was the top candidate for crown princess. However, Tu Xijun and her family maintained an ambiguous stance toward Xue Hui and the royal family.
As for Xue Hui, the Dou Ling Empire's crown prince bore the Xue surname and inherited the Swan martial soul.
It gave the impression that the Dou Ling Empire's royal family was the true successor to the Heavenly Dou Empire.
But that wasn't the case.
The Dou Ling Empire wasn't founded by a splintered Heavenly Dou royal family. Instead, it was established by outdated noble factions, defeated in power struggles, who fled to Ling Dou City and propped up a figure with Heavenly Dou royal blood.
The Dou Ling Empire's own records didn't say this, of course.
But Shrek Academy and the Heavenly Soul Empire documented it as such.
Huo Yuhao's status granted him access to these Shrek records.
Without their potent bloodline and martial soul, which consistently produced strong soul masters, and the Heavenly Soul Empire's inability to subdue them due to the Sun Moon Empire's pressure and internal strife, the Dou Ling Empire wouldn't have been established.
This origin left the Dou Ling royal family relatively weak, with old noble factions holding greater sway.
Only recently had the royal family gained traction, bolstered by new nobles and soul tool advancements, which eroded the old nobles' dominance.
Thus, despite Tu Xijun's powerful family, Xue Hui pursued her without fear of over-empowering her kin, only concerned they might not sufficiently strengthen the royal family.
Tu Xijun's family, as new nobles, naturally clashed with the old guard.
Interestingly, the reestablished Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was also in the Dou Ling Empire, though the original Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was outside Heavenly Dou City.
The Clear Sky Sect and Heavenly Dragon Sect remained in the Heavenly Soul Empire.
As Shrek Academy's representative, Huo Yuhao met Xue Hui and Tu Xijun, both young, in a relaxed atmosphere.
Xue Hui wasn't overly calculating. The Dou Ling Empire kept a low profile, rarely stirring continental affairs—not for lack of desire, but lack of power.
For Xue Hui, this visit's greatest purpose was bonding with Tu Xijun, whose innate charm deeply captivated him.
Tu Xijun acted naturally, as if merely accompanying Xue Hui to advise him, showing no special attitude toward Huo Yuhao.
As a Dou Ling representative, Tu Xijun wore elegant attire, exuding nobility and grace, yet it couldn't diminish her allure.
After delivering the resources, the two decided to stay in Shrek City for a few days of leisure, making them the most relaxed imperial delegates.
Night fell.
Huo Yuhao sauntered to a hotel room. Earlier that evening, a letter had been delivered, inviting him to meet there.
*Knock~ Knock-knock~ Knock-knock-knock~*
Following the letter's rhythm, Huo Yuhao tapped the door. It swung open instantly, and a hand swiftly pulled him inside.
The door slammed shut and locked.
Then, a fiery, delicate figure pinned him to the bed.
It was the poised and elegant Tu Xijun from earlier!
Now, she wore sheer gauze, radiating seduction, her charm dialed to the max.
By the bed stood a tall, curvaceous figure—Tu Xijun's follower, Taylor. She stood like a guard, though her expression was uneasy, her gaze darting.
Before Huo Yuhao could speak, Tu Xijun whispered breathily in his ear.
"Fill me up~"
"And her?" Huo Yuhao glanced at Taylor, puzzled.
Did Tu Xijun enjoy an audience?
Tu Xijun rolled her eyes at him.
"You're naughty. Do you even need to ask? Fill us both up~"
Afterwards.
The first light of dawn filtered in.
Huo Yuhao held the exhausted Tu Xijun in his arms, his hand wandering idly over her small, soft pet. Tu Xijun lay with eyes half-closed, still basking in the afterglow. Meanwhile, the equally worn-out Taylor wrapped her arms around Huo Yuhao's head, pulling him into her well-endowed chest, gently massaging his scalp to help him relax.
The hierarchy between them was clear.
In the world of Douluo, master-servant relationships had long existed, especially within noble clans or sects. The degree of control varied. Some arrangements were lenient—servants could still pursue their own lives—while others were strict, binding followers in lifelong servitude. Such bonds could even supersede sect or family ties.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, for example, offered more freedom. If Ning Tian chose a spouse, Wu Feng wouldn't necessarily have to follow. But if Wu Feng was unwilling to part and Ning Tian agreed, she could still marry Ning Tian's husband as a concubine.
Tu Xijun's family, however, followed a stricter system. Taylor wasn't just her loyal follower—she would eventually become Tu Xijun's dowry maid.
Unless Tu Xijun released her or her family needed an heir, Taylor would follow her mistress in marriage—though always remaining loyal. Betrayal would mean enmity, possibly even a fight to the death.
Now that events had reached this point, Taylor was, in effect, already part of Tu Xijun's dowry.
These varying expectations of loyalty often reflected power dynamics.
Ning Tian, backed by a massive sect, could easily find protectors and didn't need to place heavy demands on Wu Feng. But Tu Xijun's situation was different—though her family was top-tier, even the clan head couldn't decide everything. She needed to build her own inner circle, making trusted subordinates all the more vital.
As Tu Xijun slowly recovered her senses, she opened her eyes and gazed blankly at Huo Yuhao's handsome profile. For a moment, she was utterly entranced.
Why didn't it feel this good last time?
Ah, right—last time, she had been the one in control. That explains it~
There was no denying it—she was thoroughly satisfied. She really liked it.
And it made her realize the "gap in strength" between them.
"Yuhao, little brother," she giggled, "I thought you were just a little puppy I could toy with. Who knew you were a hidden big bad wolf? This little fox... has been gobbled up, hasn't she?"
She laughed softly.
The more time she spent with Huo Yuhao, the more she realized—he was far from the pure, kind soul he appeared to be.
They'd all been fooled!
"How am I a wolf?" Huo Yuhao chuckled in return. "I'm a dragon."
That reply made Tu Xijun laugh even harder, while Taylor's face flushed bright red. Ironically, the quietest of the three was the most well-behaved.
Tu Xijun lifted her soft, delicate hand and began teasing Huo Yuhao again, prompting him to glance at her, silently marveling at her natural charm physique.
Not only was she captivating, but her body constitution was extraordinarily unique.
Any ordinary woman would've lost consciousness after being "handled" by him like that. How was she still alert, still in the mood to play?
This had only been her second time, after all.
Even Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luocheng, and Wei Na—his more experienced companions—would be unable to stay conscious under such conditions.
Clearly, for most people, facing Tu Xijun would lead only to being drained dry—perhaps even without being able to satisfy her.
Taylor remained conscious partly because she was a power-attack type Soul Master, naturally strong in body, and partly because she had only played a supporting role last night. Tu Xijun had been the main "target."
Yet even as she flirted and teased Huo Yuhao, Tu Xijun didn't lose herself in pleasure. She began talking about her recent return to her family and the thoughts she'd had since.
Upon returning, she had held discussions with the clan elders. She expressed her desire not to enter the imperial palace, but to join Shrek Academy instead.
At first, her family strongly opposed this.
But when they heard her target was Huo Yuhao—disciple of the still-living Dragon God Douluo—they quickly changed their stance.
The Douling Empire's royal family was growing in strength, yes, but it wasn't strong enough to guarantee future power.
Still, her clan decided to continue observing the situation.
That's how high-ranking noble families operated—call it prudence or call it greed—they always sought more leverage before committing.
As a result, both Tu Xijun and her family maintained a somewhat ambiguous attitude toward Xuehui and the royal faction.
She shared all this with Huo Yuhao, hoping he could also provide some bargaining chips to help sway her clan.
Tu Xijun alone didn't carry enough weight.
She also briefly introduced the status and strength of her family within the Douling Empire.
In addition to their noble title and political clout, they controlled vast commercial interests—most notably, over thirty percent of the empire's medicinal herb market.
Though it sounded like a small portion, this made them the most dominant player in the field—even surpassing the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in medicinal trade.
She mentioned this to highlight the value of winning over her clan—especially since Huo Yuhao was a poison-attribute Soul Master, who, by nature, would have extensive knowledge of herbs.
Huo Yuhao understood her intentions well.
Access to more herbs would indeed benefit him. After all, one couldn't eat meat all the time—some vegetables were needed for a balanced diet.
Currently, apart from Shrek Academy's top brass and key figures in the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Body Sect, most powers were still unaware of Mu En's passing.
But whether Mu En had died or not hardly mattered anymore—Huo Yuhao's status and influence were now well-established.
He smiled casually. "I'm the heir to the Sea God Pavilion. The day I break through to Titled Douluo will be the day I become the next Pavilion Master."
Tu Xijun froze.
Her hand stopped in mid-motion, eyes widening in disbelief as she stared at him.
Even Taylor, who was massaging him, looked utterly stunned.
They both knew full well what that title meant.
It was a position more exalted than any emperor!
"Seriously?" Tu Xijun sat up abruptly, her voice trembling. She was clearly afraid Huo Yuhao was joking.
"Why would I lie? How else do you think I'm able to officially represent Shrek Academy and host your group?" Huo Yuhao replied with a grin.
Tu Xijun let out a soft squeal, her excitement lighting up her entire face. A blush spread across her cheeks as her joy became impossible to conceal.
If not for her proper upbringing, she might have screamed on the spot.
Empress? Who cares!
She wanted to be the Sea God Pavilion Master's wife!
For a moment, Tu Xijun didn't know how to face Huo Yuhao—so she chose the most direct and enthusiastic approach.
—The Golden Bowl traps the Golden Cudgel!
Tu Xijun: Taylor, help push me—I'm out of strength.
The room grew lively once more.
Huo Yuhao activated his abilities again, drawing more Phoenix essence from Tu Xijun into the snow lotus within him.
As more essence flowed in, the snow lotus began to stir—until a powerful force, bathed in seven-colored light, began to coalesce.
It was unmistakably—the prototype of a domain.
Xue Hui and Tu Xijun only stayed in Shrek City for a single day.
To be precise, they spent the whole day with Taylor and Huo Yuhao together in a triple cultivation session in a private room.
Afterwards, Tu Xijun found an excuse, claiming that her cultivation had encountered problems and she felt unwell. She cancelled her original sightseeing plans and said she needed to return to her clan immediately to recover.
Eager to court her, Xue Hui immediately played the warm and attentive gentleman, agreeing to everything she requested.
Indeed, when she finally emerged from the room, Tu Xijun's aura was weak, clearly unwell—her body showed signs of being drained, with dry, cracked lips and a severe look of dehydration.
It all lined up perfectly with the claim of a cultivation mishap.
Taylor didn't fare much better. The once-vigorous girl had almost been worn down into a frail beauty.
In the end, Xue Hui reluctantly bid Huo Yuhao farewell and led his team back to the Douling Empire. He had felt a good vibe with Huo Yuhao and had originally hoped to befriend him.
But beauty came first, so he had to leave with regrets.
Huo Yuhao, who saw them off, was as radiant as ever.
Neither Tu Xijun nor Taylor appeared again—both were resting in their carriage. After the last two days, walking was likely out of the question for them.
Tu Xijun indeed had an extraordinary physique, but unfortunately, it harmed both herself and others. Her unique body type could easily provoke indulgence in others, and even she herself struggled to control her impulses.
If not for the fact that she had started bleeding, she might never have realized how serious the situation was.
She was eager to return to the Douling Empire not out of fear, but because she couldn't wait to inform her clan's elders of Huo Yuhao's current status.
Once they knew, not only would the clan support her union with Huo Yuhao, they would fully back her development!
Her position within the clan would skyrocket overnight.
What? Huo Yuhao already had other women around him?
No problem!
She didn't care how many women were by his side—only that she could be one of them. She would naturally compete for his favor and become the one he cherished most.
After all, she was once prepared to enter the imperial palace. Tu Xijun was mentally strong and well-prepared.
Before parting, Huo Yuhao gave her and Taylor each two cultivation techniques.
Tu Xijun received The Jade Maiden Sutra and Bathing Ritual of the Sacred Pool.
The Jade Maiden Sutra was a powerful and aggressive furnace technique, practiced only by Nan Shuishui until now, due to her high cultivation. Tu Xijun, however, could cultivate it thanks to her unique innate "alluring body" constitution.
This body type is extremely suited for furnace or seduction techniques, and can even negate many of the techniques' inherent drawbacks.
Bathing Ritual of the Sacred Pool was a charm-based cultivation method involving soaking in medicinal baths. It also incorporated anti-aging elements. Among various seduction techniques, it ranked among the finest.
Its side benefits—enhanced beauty and longevity—were secondary to its real strength: boosting potential and cultivation base.
It was resource-intensive, requiring rare herbs, but these could all be found on the Douluo Continent.
Thanks to her alluring body, Tu Xijun would be able to practice it with half the effort and double the results.
As one of the most precious potential furnaces, she deserved these techniques.
Taylor's situation was different. Her yin essence had already been taken by Huo Yuhao, and her value as a furnace was significantly lower. She was more like a bonus that came with Tu Xijun.
Thus, Huo Yuhao gave her Golden Whip Technique and Might of the Lion and Tiger—one for cultivators and one for martial artists.
Golden Whip Technique was a standard metal-element technique for spiritual cultivators. It boosted cultivation while teaching a whip-based martial art. Common among wandering cultivators, it was decent but unremarkable—suitable for those with the right aptitude.
Might of the Lion and Tiger was a martial artist's internal energy technique practiced through medicinal baths. It strengthened the body, and at higher levels, allowed one to unleash the roar of lions and tigers to intimidate enemies. It had a low entry barrier and delivered fast results with enough dedication and resources.
Both techniques suited Taylor's Golden Saber-Toothed Tiger spirit and would help her improve her combat strength.
He didn't give her any evil or furnace-type techniques because she wasn't worth the effort of customizing anything for her, and she couldn't practice evil arts without harming herself—her yin essence was already harvested.
With her low value, Huo Yuhao simply tossed her a couple of basic techniques for general development.
In the future, she might grow into a Super Douluo and help manage one of his planes. That would be enough. If she did well, maybe he'd even give her a shot at breaking past Rank 100.
In truth, Taylor wasn't so different from the other girls Huo Yuhao kept in the outer court. The difference was that those girls still retained their yin essence and could be cultivated further.
Their futures would probably mirror Taylor's path. While directly harvesting them wasn't as efficient, it would be a waste to discard them outright.
So, some basic cultivation and keeping them around for later use wasn't a bad option.
After seeing off the Douling Empire delegation, Huo Yuhao finally had time to relax. His recently acquired power and physique were now fully under his control.
Great power wasn't the goal—control over great power was.
It had been nearly a month since the beast tide ended, and Shrek Academy was back to its normal operations. Shrek City was recovering fast. The new southern city wall was still under construction, but it would be taller and sturdier than ever.
Huo Yuhao's life now settled into a consistent rhythm:
Mornings: Combat training with inner court students—cultivating relationships and "seizing fortune."
Afternoons: Cultivation in the Centipede Garden—raising spirit beasts and refining Gu insects.
Evenings: Studying in the inner court's secret library—quietly accumulating the Academy's millennia-old fortune.
Nights: Dual cultivation with Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochan, and Wei Na. Through these sessions, the women grew faster than through any techniques alone.
Huo Yuhao's own cultivation was woven into his morning and afternoon activities.
For him, cultivation was no longer a hindrance.
He didn't need to sit down and meditate anymore—unless he was comprehending something profound.
Even walking or standing, Huo Yuhao was constantly cultivating, refining the blood essence seeds within him.
Occasionally, he'd visit the outer court to bond with the girls he was training. These girls were no longer just his fangirls—they had organized a full-fledged support club and even recruited other talented and beautiful girls.
A mature furnace knows how to find more furnaces for her master.
Not all new recruits received techniques, however. Only those who passed certain tests could join the core group and earn techniques. It was a tightly kept secret.
Huo Yuhao was considering whether to create a low-requirement furnace technique to spread more widely—placing furnaces throughout the world.
After all, Nurturing Jade Technique required jade stones—not something everyone could afford.
This fan club made Xu Sanshi incredibly jealous. Fortunately, Jiang Nannan hadn't joined, so he felt some relief.
Now, everyone at the Academy knew Huo Yuhao was the most popular male student among the girls—making other guys green with envy.
The ones most annoyed by him were Wang Dong and Wu Feng.
Wang Dong disapproved of Huo Yuhao's flirtatious ways and didn't join the fan club, pulling Xiao Xiao and others along. She had her own fan base and ranked just behind Huo Yuhao among male students.
Wu Feng, however, was furious because Ning Tian had joined Huo Yuhao's club for reasons unknown. She wasn't a core member yet, nor had she received any techniques, but Wu Feng was already boiling with rage.
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao found time amid his busy schedule to visit Zhu Lu and Nan Shuishui, who had come to Shrek City.
He replenished Zhu Lu's Yin-Yang Golden Harmony Technique, allowing her to help female cultivators in her clan break through bottlenecks.
Nan Shuishui was there simply to claim rewards, bringing Huo Yuhao the Extreme Ice God Crystal as a gift.
And so, another half month passed.
Centipede Garden – Secret Chamber
Huo Yuhao had finished adjusting his state.
"My Zen Master Realm is fully stabilized. It's time to start cultivating divine abilities."
He looked down at his left hand, then conjured a razor-sharp ice blade in his right.
Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao slowly pressed the blade against his left palm, slicing downward.
His body, strong enough to absorb a 400,000-year spirit ring, still wasn't invulnerable. Huo Yuhao easily cut through his own defense.
Bit by bit, the skin of his palm peeled away. Yet Huo Yuhao's expression remained calm and focused.
Huo Yuhao tore the skin off his own left hand completely, revealing the vibrant flesh and muscles underneath. Yet, not a single drop of blood fell. Faint golden blood could be seen coursing through the veins, making the muscles twitch—an utterly eerie sight.
But Huo Yuhao remained completely unfazed.
This was a necessary process for cultivating a divine ability. And tearing off a bit of skin? It was nothing worth mentioning.
For the sake of cultivation, far more extreme and deranged methods were not unheard of. As long as the gains were worth it, Huo Yuhao wouldn't shy away.
Next, Huo Yuhao took out the well-preserved remnant shell of Tianmeng.
That's right—the divine ability he was about to cultivate required the power of Tianmeng's shed remains!
Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao pressed the remnant shell directly onto his skinless left hand, wrapping the entire hand with it.
The Tianmeng shell was of exceptional quality. After being refined by Tianmeng Ice Silkworm over countless years, it had become comparable to a magical artifact. If Tianmeng had known how to cultivate it properly, the shell could have become his life-bound artifact and even given rise to formidable divine abilities.
Even if Tianmeng's bloodline wasn't particularly outstanding and his racial talent mediocre, with a million years of cultivation and divine techniques, he could've still easily overwhelmed Di Tian.
Let's be real—a pig that cultivates for a million years can fly!
But unfortunately, this was the Douluo Continent.
Here, no matter how long you cultivated, if your bloodline was weak, it was nearly impossible to alter your destiny. Rising from weakness to strength was little more than a fantasy here.
The Blue Silver Grass that became a god? It won't tell you that it actually possessed the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline, making it the prince of the Blue Silver lineage by birth! Not to mention it also had the Clear Sky Hammer bloodline, giving it formidable combat potential. And it had cultivation methods that went beyond the Douluo system altogether!
Even someone like Huo Yuhao, the chosen child of fate, carried the powerful White Tiger bloodline, no weaker than the Clear Sky lineage.
Some things, if you weren't born with them, you might never get them in this lifetime. Those who manage to defy the odds and "fly" are not relying solely on wit or intelligence—but on the tide of the era.
The multitudes swept along by the secular tide can only strive to grow stronger so that when the next wave comes, they can rise to the top.
Huo Yuhao's method was straightforward.
The shell simply wrapped around his left hand—it wouldn't fuse with his flesh on its own. Huo Yuhao had to employ his own techniques to complete the fusion.
He sat cross-legged on the ground, activated the Demonic Buddha Technique, and chanted softly. His cultivation power flowed into his left hand, guiding the fusion between the shell and his flesh.
During his breakthrough to the Monk level, Huo Yuhao had an epiphany and further refined the Demonic Buddha Technique, merging in the Medicine Blood Art. This made the technique better suited to his physique and enhanced its body-tempering effects.
Naturally, this also elevated the quality of the Demonic Buddha Technique. Though the modification didn't change its core nature, the cultivation method was still referred to as the Demonic Buddha Technique.
But now, Huo Yuhao used it with much greater ease and potency.
Monk, Adept, Zen Master, Arhat—
These four realms represented distinct stages of cultivation, each with its own abilities.
The Monk stage offered only rudimentary means—tools and methods so basic they weren't even classified as spells. Most didn't require spiritual energy to activate and depended entirely on the user's sacrifice. In gaming terms, a Monk was a blank slate—no skills yet, but finally able to use system items.
The Adept stage marked the real beginning of cultivation. At this level, one could learn actual spells and comprehend cultivation techniques. It's like your character leveling up and unlocking skills. But without a mentor or natural talent, some might only ever master a handful of basic skills and never advance further.
The Zen Master stage meant true cultivation success. It was a critical transitional phase—between mortal and divine. At this point, one's life essence began to transform. Cultivators could start developing and understanding divine abilities, delving into their personal Dao and the world's Great Dao. These divine abilities would be born from that understanding and serve as a bridge to greater power.
In game terms, a Zen Master had a full skill tree, capable of devastating combos, and was ready for their second class change. Divine abilities were like ultimate moves—either immensely powerful or imbued with mystical effects.
The Arhat stage was that second class change—opening up new realms of experience and power. But reaching it wasn't easy, and even Huo Yuhao didn't fully understand the process.
Before reaching the Arhat stage, most cultivators couldn't grasp divine abilities unless they were born with supernatural traits.
Those with innate divine anomalies—such as third eyes or dual pupils—could often grasp divine abilities early. Therefore, before reaching Zen Master, these cultivators had far superior combat strength compared to their peers.
Once they became Zen Masters, these gifted cultivators could easily develop their innate powers further, sometimes even stepping directly onto the path of Dao.
Breaking through to the Arhat stage would be a breeze for them.
Which is why cultivators born with divine anomalies were almost always extraordinary.
But did that mean they had no drawbacks?
Well… looking creepy counts, doesn't it?
While they gained power easily, they often missed the joy of exploring different cultivation paths and the hard-won understanding that comes from laboriously developing divine abilities.
In truth, the divine abilities of cultivators were quite similar to those of demon beasts.
Both were rooted in unlocking one's inner potential and evolving a certain technique or ability.
Divine abilities weren't just combat tools—they were reflections of a cultivator's journey and compass for the future.
Demon beasts typically gained divine abilities earlier through innate talents, derived from unique bloodlines. The tradeoff was that they faced more tribulations in later stages than human cultivators.
Even human cultivators with innate gifts didn't awaken their divine abilities fully at birth—they still required later development and enlightenment.
For normal cultivators, there were generally two ways to gain divine abilities:
Self-comprehension — upon reaching the Zen Master realm, they would meditate on their Dao and give rise to a divine ability. It's highly random and difficult.
Learning from others — also requiring a certain realm, but easier. However, the divine ability learned would likely be weaker than the original. Still, it's more reliable than self-comprehension.
But, as always, some people want shortcuts—they want powerful divine abilities without the effort or compromise.
For example, obtaining a divine ability before reaching Zen Master, or mastering the strongest ability to crush everything.
Thus, a third path emerged:
The very path Huo Yuhao was now taking—
Borrowed Power!
Power borrowed without the intention of returning it!
Someone with a divine anomaly or a beast with a special bloodline? Extract it. Fuse it into yourself. Make your own postnatal divine anomaly.
And this method… it actually works!
The catch? Power that isn't yours will never fully align. If you aren't suited to the path of that divine ability, don't expect much long-term success.
But luckily, there are no rules saying you can't have multiple divine abilities—or take multiple cultivation paths.
As Huo Yuhao proceeded—
The remnant shell fully unfurled and seamlessly fused with the flesh of his left hand, becoming his new skin!
The color gradually shifted until it was indistinguishable from the rest of his body.
But within Huo Yuhao's left hand—
A mighty power was quietly taking form.