soul land: Huo Yuhao Inheriting Centipede Immortal

Nightfall.

To express her gratitude, Tang Ya invited Huo Yuhao to a banquet. It was also a strategic move to draw him closer and earn his trust.

The location wasn't some luxurious hotel, but rather the secluded courtyard where Tang Ya had once taken refuge. The atmosphere was somewhat desolate, the surroundings far from lavish—but the meal was personally prepared by Tang Ya herself. And one more person joined them:

The Evil Dragon Saint Son—Bei Bei!

Although Bei Bei had previously suffered serious injuries at the hands of the True Body Clone, by now he had largely recovered. At least, outwardly, no signs of those wounds remained.

He had been recuperating during this period.

After arriving in Mingdu, through the Holy Spirit Cult's cooperation with the Sun Moon Empire, Tang Ya had even summoned an imperial physician soul master to help heal Bei Bei.

As expected, when Huo Yuhao saw Bei Bei, his typically cold demeanor shifted visibly. He was clearly stirred.

Tang Ya smiled to herself. Everything was going according to her plan—perfect control.

Perhaps out of consideration for Tang Ya's presence, Huo Yuhao chose to remain silent, simply sitting beside Bei Bei on the stone bench in the courtyard, the two of them saying nothing.

Unexpectedly, it was Bei Bei who first spoke.

"You… feel familiar to me," he said.

After his martial soul was corrupted, Bei Bei had inevitably suffered its influence. Fortunately, his willpower was strong enough to remain conscious.

Later, Long Xiaoyao, trusting Ye Xishui's advice, returned Bei Bei to the Holy Spirit Cult to be mentored. However, Ye Xishui betrayed that trust and handed Bei Bei over to Zhongli Wu, who subjected him to a ritual.

While the ritual didn't reach the level of control Zhongli Wu once had over Tang Ya and Ma Xiaotao, it still caused Bei Bei to forget many things and made his personality more distant.

Long Xiaoyao discovered this.

Still, Bei Bei had gained better control over his Evil Dragon martial soul, and his strength had improved significantly. No longer did he fear losing his mind to the martial soul's influence. Moreover, Ye Xishui promised that Bei Bei's memories would slowly return.

Long Xiaoyao had no counter to that.

He even sometimes thought perhaps it was a blessing for Bei Bei to forget certain things—at least it spared him pain.

But this caused an unintended consequence—Bei Bei remembered Tang Ya, but forgot their feelings for each other. Tang Ya remained unaware that he had undergone the ritual and simply thought Bei Bei no longer loved her.

This created a rift between them. Tang Ya tried to rekindle their relationship, but Bei Bei didn't respond.

Huo Yuhao had also been forgotten by Bei Bei.

The deeper the bond, the likelier it was to be erased during the ritual.

Bei Bei didn't forget Tang Ya—probably because he forgot the Tang Ya of the Tang Sect, not the current Holy Spirit Cult's Blue Silver Saintess.

Perhaps Ye Xishui was right—Bei Bei's memories would return. And now, upon meeting Huo Yuhao again, something stirred within him—a familiarity he couldn't explain, prompting him to speak.

Bei Bei's words drew the attention of both Huo Yuhao and Tang Ya.

Tang Ya thought to herself, Is Bei Bei finally breaking his silence with the Armor Emperor? Is he trying to send a message?

Still, she didn't plan to stop it.

If she dared to arrange this meeting, she had already prepared for all outcomes. She didn't believe Shrek Academy would dare barge into Mingdu and snatch Bei Bei away.

In fact, if this led to war, to bloodshed—it would greatly benefit the growth of the evil soul masters.

However, to Tang Ya's disappointment, Huo Yuhao backed off.

"Perhaps you're mistaken," Huo Yuhao said coldly.

Bei Bei nodded slightly and said no more, sinking into silence and thought.

Since his injury, he'd been experiencing strange flashes—scenes and figures that felt both foreign and familiar, flickering through his mind.

Though he could still maintain his composure, they clearly affected him.

"Alright, enough talking—come eat! I still have faith in my cooking," Tang Ya said with a smile, calling them to the table.

Thus, the three of them began their meal, chatting casually as they ate.

Tang Ya brought out a bottle of fine wine—allegedly a royal exclusive—and poured for all three of them.

Huo Yuhao, in truth, hadn't drunk any alcohol since arriving in this world—not because he couldn't, but because he simply didn't like it.

Once nerves and consciousness are dulled, a person becomes vulnerable.

This time was no different. As the wine slid down his throat, it froze instantly. Snow Lotus inserted a root tendril into his stomach and absorbed all the frozen alcohol.

After a few drinks, Tang Ya grew more talkative. Though Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei remained cold, she kept chattering away.

It wasn't that Tang Ya couldn't hold her liquor—she just had too much pent-up emotion, with no one to confide in.

So she used this method, cloaked in casual speech, to vent her feelings—though she still wore a false smile.

"Who would've thought I'd one day become an evil soul master? I once just wanted to be a normal soul master. Even if my talent was lacking, I could work hard… But alas… heh. Some people destroy others' dreams so easily, without paying any price."

Her bitterness was evident. She spoke vaguely, naming no specific people, forces, or events—but Huo Yuhao, who knew the whole truth, could decipher every word.

Bei Bei, in contrast, was confused, and simply assumed she was drunk.

But as Tang Ya went on, Bei Bei's mood also changed. He began to feel an odd pang of sympathy.

And in his mind, more fragments of memories began to surface—like something had triggered them. He was starting to remember.

The feeling was uncomfortable, and his expression grew increasingly pained.

Seeing his beloved Bei Bei in such anguish, Huo Yuhao set down his glass, and with a subtle gesture under the stone table, he tapped the air.

Bei Bei's eyes immediately rolled back, and he drifted into a peaceful, baby-like sleep.

As if he were simply drunk.

And in his dreams, a boy named Bei Bei met a girl named Tang Ya at Shrek Academy. Their story began…

Tang Ya glanced at Bei Bei, puzzled. She didn't remember his alcohol tolerance being so weak. Still, she reached out, concerned, to check on him.

She didn't notice that Huo Yuhao, standing behind her, was watching her intently.

Having left the Tang Sect and joined the Holy Spirit Cult—becoming its Saintess—Tang Ya's fate and fortune had changed.

So had Bei Bei's.

As Saint Son and Saintess, both bore great destiny tied to the Holy Spirit Cult.

"If I steal their fortune," Huo Yuhao thought, "then when the Holy Spirit Cult is weakened, part of that destiny will transfer to me. Even if they rise again and threaten the continent, I'll still have leverage over them."

"Sorry, Brother Bei Bei… Sister Xiao Ya… In the future, let's not share meals again…"

Meanwhile, Ye Xishui noticed that both Tang Ya and Bei Bei were absent from the compound, and used her means to track them down—arriving at the secluded courtyard.

But when she saw the scene before her, even she was momentarily dazed.

Outside, Bei Bei lay slumped over the table in a drunken sleep.

From inside the room… came some inappropriate noises.

This moment, just like that moment.

Ye Xishui almost thought she had traveled back to the past.

Though unclear on the details, Ye Xishui pieced together her own version of events, bursting into a twisted laugh.

"Who'd have thought! Blue Silver Saintess Tang Ya, was it? I underestimated you. To think you'd go this far!" Ye Xishui began to see potential in Tang Ya, viewing her as moldable talent.

Because she resembled her!

Ye Xishui assumed Tang Ya, under the guise of drunkenness, had sacrificed her body to seduce Huo Yuhao, betraying Beibei.

Though the love triangle differed from her own past, the maneuver mirrored Ye Xishui's.

Back then, Ye Xishui had gone further—Tang Ya was merely Beibei's ex-girlfriend, but Ye Xishui had been Mu En's fiancée.

She glanced pityingly at the unconscious Beibei.

Mu En was like this back then, and now Beibei followed suit. Radiant Holy Dragon? More like Green-Glow Dragon.

With a glint in her eyes, Ye Xishui sent a pulse of power to rouse Beibei, then concealed herself, eager to watch the drama unfold.

A plot without a bystander at the door was incomplete.

Beibei woke groggily, disoriented, as the "dream" felt too vivid, blurring the line between reality and illusion, like Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly.

Then, soft, melodious sounds from the room seized his attention. His heart clenched, and he instinctively hurried toward the door.

But at the threshold, Beibei froze.

Despite missing memories, he retained common sense. How could he not recognize what was happening?

The Blue Silver Saintess and the Armor Emperor? How could they…

A voice urged him to burst in, stop them, fueling his rage and grief.

Yet Beibei remained outside.

What right did he have to barge in?

As the Blue Silver Saintess's lover? Wasn't that just a dream?

Reality mocked his dream of love with Tang Ya as a fleeting fantasy.

"Me and the Blue Silver Saintess, lovers? Impossible. What a ridiculous dream. If she can win over the Armor Emperor, it benefits the Holy Cult. Her sacrifice is worthwhile," Beibei convinced himself.

Hidden, Ye Xishui nearly cackled.

Fascinating, utterly fascinating!

Inside the room, Huo Yuhao, busy, sensed Ye Xishui and Beibei but didn't act, feigning ignorance.

"Is Ye Xishui using her blood soul clone again? Tsk, her true body's still elusive. My clone scoured Mingdu's surroundings and found nothing. She must be hiding a secret."

"As the only female Limit Douluo with twin martial souls, she'd make an excellent vessel. But is she still fertile? What's her physical condition?"

"When I find her, she's in for a rough time!"

Frustrated, Huo Yuhao intensified his efforts, making Tang Ya's voice soar.

Tang Ya, beneath him, was clearly abnormal—not drunk or unconscious, but with pink mist clouding her eyes, gazing at Huo Yuhao with deep affection.

Huo Yuhao had unleashed the Lotus Heart Demons' power, manipulating emotions to ignite her love and desire.

For tonight's banquet, he brought two of the most mature Lotus Heart Demons, secretly targeting Tang Ya.

Her appearance, restored and enhanced by the Holy Spirit Cult's methods, was far from unappealing.

This was temporary control, but prolonged exposure could make it permanent.

Permanence didn't matter—controlling Tang Ya long-term risked exposing flaws.

A drastic shift in personality or preferences would raise suspicions, especially in the Holy Spirit Cult, rife with mind-manipulating techniques.

Finally, Huo Yuhao reluctantly released the unconscious Tang Ya.

He'd claimed all the Holy Spirit Cult's luck from Beibei and Tang Ya, giving him leverage over the cult.

Beibei's was taken effortlessly; Tang Ya's came through her manipulated devotion.

Now, Huo Yuhao could leave Mingdu with peace of mind.

As the destined antagonist of the Peerless Era, who knew if the Holy Spirit Cult might pull a deus ex machina? Their top powerhouses remained alive.

Compared to this luck, Tang Ya's primordial yin was trivial.

When Huo Yuhao exited the room, Beibei was gone, vanished.

Tang Ya awoke at noon, free of the Lotus Heart Demons' influence, oblivious to their manipulation.

Realizing her defilement, her mind reeled. In a daze, she recalled her frenzied desire to spite Beibei, seducing a "drunken" Huo Yuhao, and then…

Ignoring her disheveled state, she bolted from the room, only to find Huo Yuhao and Beibei gone.

"Beibei must know! No! No! No!"

Pale and trembling, Tang Ya collapsed to her knees.

Rage, shame, murderous intent, and regret tangled within her, erupting violently.

"Ah!!!"

Her eyes bloodshot, dark power surged, tinged with crimson.

Unlike the gradual influence used on Zhang Lexuan and Xian Lin'er, the Lotus Heart Demons' manipulation wasn't gentle, jarring Tang Ya's volatile, youthful temperament.

This shock advanced her Dark Blue Silver Grass, making it more fearsome.

Misery, like a forest beast, preys on those who wander into its domain.

All suffering and trials would ripen into evil fruit, awaiting the day to repay the world.

…

Tang Ya alone couldn't sate Huo Yuhao, so he ventured to the Sun Moon harem that night, barely venting his urges under the Empress, Imperial Consort, and four consorts.

The downside of his robust physique was evident.

Exposure wasn't a concern. With the Third Prince's return, Kong Deming and the elders had ceded power. The Third Prince now acted as regent, overseeing court and palace affairs.

His men controlled the palace.

He'd even moved into the emperor's chambers, sending the emperor to the imperial hospital for "treatment," with no one daring to object.

With a nod, he could claim the throne without waiting for the emperor's recovery.

Ruling the palace, the Third Prince grew bolder, making cultivation with consorts and beauties more convenient.

Of course, he left Huo Yuhao's share untouched.

Those premium resources were meaningless to him.

His dual cultivation with women mainly balanced his conflicting internal energiesHuo Yuhao had come to the Sun Moon Empire's harem not just to mine one last time, but with another purpose in mind.

In an unoccupied side hall...

The Third Prince appeared quietly with a figure in tow—an unconscious Sun Moon Emperor.

Huo Yuhao was already waiting there.

"I told them I was taking him to a famous physician for treatment and snuck him out of the Imperial Medical Court. No one else knows where he went," the Third Prince said with a grin.

"That's a pretty flimsy excuse," Huo Yuhao couldn't help but comment.

A famous physician?

The most renowned doctors in the Sun Moon Empire were in the Imperial Medical Court, some even powerful Titled Douluo. Who would believe that the emperor was being taken out for treatment?

"Who's going to stop me?" the Third Prince smirked.

"Well, you are the uncrowned king of the Sun Moon Empire now."

The two locked eyes and burst out laughing. After all, both the Third Prince and Huo Yuhao were being controlled by Huo Yuhao's own consciousness.

Everyone in the Imperial Medical Court—and eventually anyone who heard about this—would suspect that the Third Prince intended to eliminate the Emperor.

But no one would stop him.

Because the Third Prince was stronger, more capable, and the Sun Moon Empire couldn't afford further upheaval.

If the Third Prince didn't act, someone else likely would have—ensuring the Emperor never woke up again.

Announcing the Emperor's death would cause unrest in the already fragile empire. Letting him live might lead to a power struggle between the Emperor and the Prince.

Don't underestimate the Emperor's ambition. Power is not something easily relinquished.

Once a usurper himself, the Emperor now found himself in a tragic position.

Huo Yuhao wasn't interested in the Emperor for political reasons—he wanted his body.

"Well then, time to dig in!"

The bloodline of a Titled Douluo-class Purple Radiant Heavenly Dragon was of great interest to Huo Yuhao. Xu Tianran had already given his share to the Third Prince and the Frost Centipede Spirit. Huo Yuhao would consume the Emperor alone.

Despite being sick and weak, the Emperor's bloodline power remained intact.

If he'd awoken, he could've possibly unleashed full strength in a last-ditch effort.

But that chance never came.

Huo Yuhao devoured the Emperor's flesh and bloodline with his own, while his Holy Eye Martial Soul consumed the Emperor's soul and spiritual power.

From the Emperor's soul, he learned some imperial secrets—not especially useful, except to help the Third Prince consolidate power.

What was important was the enhancement of the Holy Eye. The fourth eye, the Eye of Annihilation, evolved—its "annihilation" attribute upgraded to "destruction."

The Eye of Annihilation became the Eye of Destruction, and its beam evolved into Destructive Black Light, which could now not only erase matter and shatter the mind, but also obliterate energy—including elements, even time and space.

Huo Yuhao's pupils turned black-red, patterned like intricate kaleidoscopic runes.

Unexpectedly, the Purple Radiant Heavenly Dragon bloodline didn't merge with his existing Heavenly Dragon bloodline. Instead, it rejected and attempted to devour it.

Eventually, it formed an independent bloodline within him.

"Interesting," Huo Yuhao mused.

"White Tiger bloodline, Black Tortoise bloodline, Heavenly Dragon bloodline, Phoenix bloodline, Behemoth bloodline… and now Purple Radiant Heavenly Dragon bloodline. Six coexisting bloodlines already."

"Creating the Four Divine Beasts or the Four Celestial Spirits is becoming unbalanced. But I don't want to discard any of them. Maybe I can merge these bloodlines with my Demon-Buddha techniques and achieve a new evolution."

He had found a new cultivation direction.

—

Devouring the Sun Moon Emperor also granted Huo Yuhao a huge amount of dragon energy, allowing him to fully awaken the snake-tail aspect of the Black Tortoise in his spiritual sea.

The Xuan Serpent Guardian was born—appearing like a black snake tattoo on his skin. It could move freely (though not detach from his body), expand in size, and fight enemies.

As a phenomenon, it held unique abilities—but its core function was to act like a divine protector, guarding Huo Yuhao.

Not just that—his visualization of the Heavenly Dragon also changed, with its scales becoming clearer. The dragon scale patterns on his shoulder and arms were nearly complete.

After devouring the Emperor, Huo Yuhao felt invigorated—and rather aroused.

Possibly due to the Serpent Guardian, his desires had intensified—another sign of growing vitality.

But the Empresses were all too exhausted now.

Fortunately, he remembered someone he'd nearly forgotten in the Cold Palace: Yu Manwu.

He headed straight there—disguised as the Third Prince, seeking a thrill.

Yu Manwu, deep into her cultivation and largely indifferent to physical desires, had poured herself into revenge and training. She studied techniques like Jade Maiden Sutra, Spring Crimson Technique, and Blood Condensation Elixir Art, along with the martial art Judge's Pen.

Her progress was astonishing.

She'd broken through to Level 92—indicating her internal Phoenix blood had strengthened, restoring her talent and potential.

If news of this spread, countless soul engineers in the Sun Moon Empire who had stagnated due to overuse of medicine would go wild.

Even the Titled Douluo elders of the Worship Hall would be shaken.

There were no Super Douluos in the Worship Hall—not because they didn't want to advance, but because they couldn't.

Yu Manwu's techniques gave them new hope.

Naturally, she was thrilled by Huo Yuhao's arrival. She had made progress in her dual cultivation techniques and challenged him provocatively:

"Scoundrel, you haven't come see me for so long. Afraid I'd suck the marrow out of your bones?"

After Huo Yuhao left, Yu Manwu lay trembling, using her last ounce of strength to say:

"You... beast... don't come back for a year… I will get my revenge..."

And then she passed out.

Huo Yuhao stood refreshed at the palace entrance, scoffing:

"Who says there's no such thing as overworked land? That's because they haven't met the Bull Demon King! I'm the Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"

—

Time passed slowly. Huo Yuhao no longer sought out Tang Ya and disappeared completely from her world, leaving her frustrated and thinking he was "fleeing from guilt."

All his arrangements in Mingdu were completed smoothly.

Even Juzi and Nana, under the Third Prince's secret support, began sweeping up the remaining hostile forces that couldn't be openly purged.

The Holy Spirit Sect also became quiet.

The Sun Moon Empire seemed peaceful once again.

The Third Prince's reputation soared.

Huo Yuhao's three clones were all occupied:

The Third Prince stayed to oversee the empire and its key figures.

The main body explored the continent for opportunities and people like Ye Xishui.

The Death God Envoy, after handing the White Lotus Sect to Chief Eunuch Gao, crossed into the Star Luo Empire—to spark rebellion there.

There were only two days left before the scheduled return to Shrek Academy.

Xian Lin'er came again to meet with Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan to finalize evacuation plans.

As exchange students, they had the Empire's protection—but not Huo Yuhao or Zhang Lexuan, although Xian Lin'er wasn't too worried.

When Huo Yuhao was helping Zhang Lexuan cultivate in the bath, Xian Lin'er pushed the door open—and was shocked by what she saw.

Then, for some reason...

She joined in.

The exchange program had officially come to an end!

The exchange team from Shrek Academy had packed up their gains and luggage, ready to return to Shrek.

Similarly, the team from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, who had been studying at Shrek, was also due to return to the Sun Moon Empire.

What was unclear, however, was how this team would react upon returning home—only to find that their alma mater was no more.

Currently, the original faculty and students of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, as well as the elite engineers from Mingde Hall, had all been redistributed across various soul engineer academies in Mingdu. Various factions—including nobles and the royal family—had also made efforts to win them over.

In particular, the Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy, second only to the former Sun Moon Royal Academy, had absorbed a vast number of talented individuals from both that academy and Mingde Hall. The institution was now basking in newfound prestige—its headmaster reportedly waking up laughing in his sleep multiple times.

There was even talk that the Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy might be granted the title of "Royal" in the near future.

The collapse of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and Mingde Hall was truly the fall of a giant whale that fed a thousand creatures.

On the surface, all factions had grown stronger—but they had lost Mingde Hall, the cradle of soul engineers. Even if the engineers remained within the empire, the rapid advancement of soul tool technology would now be nearly impossible.

To rebuild Mingde Hall would require decades of national effort, perhaps even several generations of commitment. It would undoubtedly drag down the empire's development.

Still, despite knowing this, each faction remained focused on immediate gains.

Offering resources to recruit soul engineers? Fine!

 Funding the reconstruction of Mingde Hall? No way!

The faculty and students who had been reassigned and lost the support of their former institution were feeling particularly insecure. For those of noble birth, the transition was easier, but those from commoner backgrounds were left directionless and anxious.

This, in turn, created a prime opportunity for recruitment.

Nana seized this chance to help Juzi gather a large number of talented individuals. Beyond providing them with excellent benefits and resources, she promised them protection.

With Nana leading the initiative, many former students and faculty from the Sun Moon Royal Academy—and even from Mingde Hall—were willing to band together for mutual support, most of them commoners.

The royal family and major noble houses also sought to recruit these individuals.

However, the biggest winner in this talent war was none other than the Third Prince. That was because he successfully recruited Jing Hongchen, the most prominent figure among soul engineers. Despite his past mistakes, Jing still had the love and respect of many faculty and students. A significant number of engineers from Mingde Hall chose to follow him.

Those who had experienced the devastating war knew full well that the destruction of the academy and Mingde Hall was not Jing's fault. The enemy had simply been too powerful.

Now, with the Third Prince poised to become the next emperor, Jing's status was unshakable—possibly even destined to rise further. For those looking toward their own future, aligning with him brought far more security.

Even special talents like Ji Juechen had been brought into the fold by the Third Prince. Ji was even highly regarded by Huo Yuhao, who had passed down several sword techniques to him, eager to see just how far Ji could go.

Other factions were envious of the Third Prince's gains but were powerless to stop them. If anything, this only made it more evident how unassailable the Third Prince's position had become.

Legitimacy of birth, support from the military, recognition from elders, a deep talent pool—and incredible personal strength.

The Third Prince was now virtually invincible.

Under the respectful farewell of the Sun Moon Empire, Xian Lin'er and Fan Yu, along with the rest of the exchange team, departed Mingdu, personally escorted by Jing Hongchen himself, beginning their journey back to Shrek.

Not a single member of the Shrek Academy exchange team was missing—and most had gained something from the experience.

Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan, accompanied by four maidservants, had also traveled in secret. Moreover, Xian Lin'er had entrusted them with a special mission:

They were to travel to a designated location, pick up a group of people, and bring them back to Shrek Academy.

Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan naturally accepted without hesitation.

Following the map, they arrived at the location and successfully met with the people waiting there.

There were over a dozen individuals. Leading them was a man in his thirties, flanked by a young man and woman. The remaining people were mostly teens—boys and girls in their early adolescence.

After verifying the contact password, the man visibly relaxed and stepped forward to introduce himself:

"I am Xuan Ziwen, former chief researcher of Mingde Hall. These two behind me are also soul engineers from Mingde Hall. The others are former students of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy."

"We have already joined Shrek Academy. Please escort us there safely. On behalf of everyone here, I sincerely thank you."

Xuan Ziwen was humble and respectful in his demeanor. After all, Xian Lin'er had already told him who would be coming: a titled Douluo from Shrek and the current Deputy Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion—its future successor.

Even if Xuan Ziwen had a proud nature, he had to show deference to someone of such stature.

After all, he didn't have a powerful ex-girlfriend who could afford him the luxury of arrogance.

Huo Yuhao was a bit surprised by Xuan Ziwen's identity. He hadn't expected that, without any effort on his part, Xuan would still end up getting convinced to join Shrek Academy.

Even better, he had brought along two Mingde Hall engineers and a bunch of former academy students.

Most likely, the destruction of their institutions had left them in difficult situations—so Xian Lin'er and Fan Yu had seized the opportunity.

Every faction was trying to recruit talent. And since Xian Lin'er and Fan Yu were already focused on revitalizing Shrek's soul engineering program, how could they pass up such a golden opportunity?

Shrek's soul tool capabilities might be lacking—but the academy had one major advantage: money. With deep pockets and generous offers, it was hard for even the proudest to resist.

For those not fanatically loyal to the Sun Moon Empire, Shrek offered a compelling alternative.

Had it not been for the need for secrecy, Xian Lin'er and Fan Yu might have recruited even more. But landing someone like Xuan Ziwen, a future Rank 9 Soul Engineer, was already an incredible win for Shrek.

Since Xuan Ziwen had been respectful, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan responded in kind. Huo Yuhao greeted him with a smile.

The atmosphere was immediately warm and pleasant.

This made Xuan Ziwen feel respected—and that Huo Yuhao was someone worth working with. Perhaps, with Shrek Academy's support, he truly could realize his dreams and build a better future.

Thus, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan led Xuan Ziwen and the others in secret, following the exchange team from a distance. They crossed the border and began heading toward Shrek City.

To avoid any risk, both teams agreed not to meet until they reached the city.

This time, neither the exchange team nor Huo Yuhao's group encountered any attacks.

After all, no one in the exchange group had displayed any particularly alarming talents, and Xuan Ziwen's departure had been conducted in complete secrecy.

The Sun Moon Empire had no reason to stage an interception.

On the other side, Elder Song personally came to receive them.

Once both exchange groups had completed the swap, the entire exchange program could finally be considered a resounding success.

Many of the participants were even reluctant to part ways—and hoped for similar opportunities in the future.

After several more days of travel, Shrek City finally appeared on the distant horizon.

"Yuhao, we're home," Zhang Lexuan said softly, her voice tinged with emotion, like a traveler returning to their homeland.

Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement.

"Yeah… we're home."

Shrek—your Brother Hao is back!

After Huo Yuhao and his team returned to Shrek Academy alongside the exchange student group, the Sea God Pavilion meeting was promptly convened.

Huo Yuhao, Zhang Lexuan, Xian Lin'er, and Fan Yu all attended this meeting.

The meeting was presided over by Yan Shaozhe.

Although he was currently acting as the Pavilion Master, he still sat in his usual seat rather than the central one.

Cai Meier and other elders were present, making the lineup relatively complete—though Xuanzi was noticeably absent. No one brought up Xuanzi's status, so it was unclear whether his breakthrough had been successful.

Cai Meier, however, cast several glances at Xian Lin'er, frowning slightly. She noticed that Xian Lin'er looked noticeably younger and more vibrant than before. Even Qian Duoduo, sitting beside Xian Lin'er, couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Could it be that Xian Lin'er discovered some kind of beauty secret in Mingdu that's making her look younger?" Cai Meier speculated to herself.

Because of Yan Shaozhe, Cai Meier always subconsciously compared herself to Xian Lin'er. Now seeing her rival seemingly reversing time, she couldn't help but feel a little frustrated.

Still, only Cai Meier and Qian Duoduo were focused on Xian Lin'er's appearance. The other elders were more interested in her spiritual power, and Elder Song nodded approvingly.

The elders had all noticed that Xian Lin'er was very close to breaking through to Super Douluo. They simply assumed her youthful glow was a result of cultivation progress—something not uncommon.

"She must have had a great encounter. Once she breaks through, it will be a blessing for Shrek." Elder Zhuang sighed inwardly.

At that moment, Xian Lin'er noticed Qian Duoduo's gaze and shot him a fierce glare. He hurriedly looked away and shrank into his seat.

However, she didn't look at Huo Yuhao, maintaining the same natural demeanor as always—like nothing had ever changed.

"Ahem…" Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Yan Shaozhe cleared his throat and announced:

"The Sea God Pavilion meeting is now officially in session!"

He first welcomed everyone back.

Then Xian Lin'er and Fan Yu began their report.

They explained the gains of the exchange program and how they managed to "bring back" Xuan Ziwen and others.

It turned out that Xuan Ziwen, due to his personality, not only rejected recruitment attempts but also offended a powerful noble from the Sun Moon Empire. The noble retaliated, and to avoid dragging his students down with him, Xuan Ziwen went into hiding—yet his enemy wouldn't let him go.

The noble even sent assassins to kill him.

Just when Xuan Ziwen was desperate, Fan Yu and Xian Lin'er—having already noticed his situation—intervened and rescued him. As a result, Xuan Ziwen agreed to defect to Shrek Academy.

Later, Xuan Ziwen brought along several other talented but underappreciated soul tool researchers and students to Shrek.

Huo Yuhao muttered inwardly:

"So that's how it happened."

When he first saw Xuan Ziwen, Yuhao had grown curious and asked the Third Prince to investigate. The only info he got was that Xuan had offended someone and then disappeared—how Shrek recruited him remained unclear.

Ironically, Juzi had once recommended Xuan Ziwen to the Third Prince, but by the time the prince sent people to find him, Shrek had already stolen him away.

"Tch, letting Shrek snatch up such real talent... strengthening my enemies? That noble has clearly signed his own death warrant!"

Huo Yuhao immediately messaged the Third Prince:

"Your Highness, I feel like eating fish."

Yan Shaozhe and other top leaders from the martial soul department valued Xuan Ziwen, though not overly so.

So, all personnel matters regarding him and the others were handled by the Soul Tool Department.

Under Xian Lin'er's proposal, Xuan Ziwen was appointed Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department, while the other soul engineers and students were incorporated as well. The academy promised sufficient resources to support their growth.

In recognition of the exchange team's efforts, resource allocation to the Soul Tool Department was increased.

This visibly relieved Xian Lin'er and Fan Yu. They had feared Xuan Ziwen would be brought directly into the Sea God Pavilion—but that proposal was rejected by Yan Shaozhe and the elders on grounds of "unverified loyalty," even though both Lin'er and Fan Yu vouched for him.

Still, Xuan Ziwen wasn't someone who cared about status. As long as he received the resources promised, he had no complaints.

As for the future—Xian Lin'er already had a plan.

During her time in Mingdu, she frequently went out to investigate and witnessed firsthand the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool tech and industrial development. She planned to emulate it and establish an economic division within the Soul Tool Department to generate income and expand its resources.

Having seen the might of the Sun Moon Empire's system, Xian Lin'er was now more determined than ever to build Shrek's Soul Tool Department into the continent's best, surpassing even the Sun Moon Empire.

She also reported her investigations—though she found no clues about who sabotaged Jin Qiu'er, she submitted intel related to the Holy Spirit Cult, including details of the destruction of Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy and Mingde Hall.

This caught the Sea God Pavilion's full attention.

"I didn't expect such a powerful evil soul master organization to be hiding on the continent!"

"Super Douluo-level evil soul masters? If they go on a rampage, it'll be catastrophic!"

"Hmph! The Sun Moon Empire tolerated their growth—this proves they're just as evil and must be guarded against!"

"That mysterious powerhouse who destroyed both institutions and defeated the Holy Spirit Cult's expert—that's who we should really be watching. If we can recruit them…"

The Sea God Pavilion was happy to see Mingde Hall destroyed, but they understood the real threat lay in the hidden powers of the Sun Moon Empire.

Although the academy and hall were destroyed, top engineers like Jing Hongchen and many students and staff remained unharmed.

The Sun Moon Empire's national strength was still immense.

"At the very least, Mingde Hall's fall should buy us a few decades of peace. In the short term, they won't dare invade again—even the ongoing conflict with Star Luo Empire in the Mingdou Mountains has eased. That's good news," said Elder Lin.

This meant Elder Lin's Treasure Pavilion could resume trade routes with the Sun Moon Empire. In recent years, the standoff had greatly disrupted operations and cut Shrek's revenues—not just from business, but also from reduced student training opportunities.

In the end, this exchange program could be deemed a resounding success. It brought back key intel and reinvigorated the Soul Tool Department's future.

Qian Duoduo was practically grinning from ear to ear.

Huo Yuhao, however, had his eyes on Fan Yu.

"Shrek doesn't need two soul engineers with potential to reach Rank 9. The one more loyal to Shrek—Fan Yu—can be removed."

Thinking this, Huo Yuhao turned to Fan Yu with a warm smile.

Fan Yu smiled back.