Chapter 279: Zhang Lexuan Reaches Level 90, Xuanzu Gets Kicked Out
"Mom! I've grown stronger again. If your spirit could see me from the heavens, you'd surely be proud and happy..."
Huo Yuhao muttered softly to himself.
He remembered that just a year ago, killing a mere ten-year-old Wind Baboon was a life-or-death struggle.
Now, he could single-handedly hunt a thousand-year soul beast!
Even though the iceworm was weak, it was still a thousand-year soul beast!
This improvement—all of it—was thanks to his own hard work.
Huo Yuhao felt confident that even without a second martial soul, he was no weaker than anyone else.
"Yuhao, what are you dawdling for? Hurry and absorb it," Tianmeng Iceworm urged impatiently.
"Okay!"
Huo Yuhao nodded with a beaming, excited face.
He failed to notice the hint of sadness in Tianmeng Iceworm's eyes.
At this moment, Tianmeng Iceworm was unbelievably frustrated.
He'd imagined being killed by the Snow Empress, or successfully persuading her to become Huo Yuhao's second martial soul.
He'd also thought of the Snow Empress, in a fit of rage, storming Shrek City to kill Ye Chen, rescue the Ice Empress, and let her become Huo Yuhao's second martial soul instead...
The only thing he hadn't considered was that the Snow Empress just wouldn't be home...
It was maddening.
Tianmeng's aura could stretch for hundreds of kilometers. Though the Far North was vast, he'd nearly blanketed the whole place with his presence.
If the Snow Empress was in the Far North, she'd surely be drawn by his aura.
To have sensed nothing—there was only one answer: she had left the Far North for some reason.
It was unlikely, but not impossible.
Maybe it really was just bad luck.
Either way, this time was a loss.
They'd just have to try again when Huo Yuhao reached level 30.
…
Because he had eaten the root of the hundred-thousand-year Snow Lotus, Huo Yuhao's body had been significantly strengthened.
And since the iceworm's ring was inherently weak, Huo Yuhao required only two hours to fully absorb the thousand-year ring and gain a hundred-year soul skill—Mimicry.
This ability allowed him to disguise himself as any object within a three-meter range.
He couldn't imitate an object larger than three meters in any dimension.
Additionally, the skill could change the color of his own soul rings for camouflage.
"Brother Tianmeng! I did it! My level even jumped to 22!" Huo Yuhao cheered with delight.
"Of course. It's a thousand-year ring, plus the power from that root you ate. Naturally, your level would jump by two," Tianmeng Iceworm said matter-of-factly.
Huo Yuhao tested his new ability, then sighed, "Brother Tianmeng, this Mimicry doesn't have any attack power. I have my exam next semester. It's useful for survival, but it won't help much for my test..."
"Hmph, that just means you don't know how to use it. You've seen various ten-thousand-year soul beasts these days. If you use Mimicry to emit a ten-thousand-year beast's aura, even thousand-year soul beasts will flee in terror."
Tianmeng Iceworm scoffed.
"Right! Why didn't I think of that?"
Huo Yuhao brightened instantly and began experimenting.
His second, purple soul ring rapidly darkened in color, while a frightening beastly pressure burst outward.
"No, no, that's the aura of the ten-thousand-year Icefield Beast we saw. It isn't a top predator. You should mimic that ten-thousand-year Ice Wolf's aura!"
Tianmeng Iceworm frowned.
"Ice Wolf..."
Just thinking of that fearsome wolf, Huo Yuhao shuddered.
He'd seen it rip an Ice Bear apart in under a minute.
Thank goodness Tianmeng Iceworm had kept him hidden, or he'd have ended up as the wolf's dinner.
As he remembered, the aura of his second soul ring changed again—still a ten-thousand-year ring, but now wild and fiercely terrifying.
"Much better~"
Tianmeng nodded. "It's a pity you've never seen the Ice Empress or Snow Empress at their peak. If you could mimic just a fraction of their aura, even Title Douluos would be scared stiff."
Mention of the Ice Empress and Snow Empress made Huo Yuhao wilt.
"Brother Tianmeng, is there really no hope without the Ice Empress or Snow Empress?" he asked obstinately.
"You have my support. Even without them, you'll never be weaker than soul masters at your level," Tianmeng said seriously.
"Really?"
Huo Yuhao seemed encouraged and smiled again.
"Of course," Tianmeng assured him.
Though in his heart, he added silently, "You'll just be outpaced by your peers..."
With Yuhao's poor talent—no Soul Ascension Pill, no Mysterious Water Pill to help—he'd have needed two or even three years just to hit level 20.
By then, most in his age bracket would already be far ahead.
Even now, after the Snow Lotus root, his aptitude was only good—but not exceptional.
With a million-year soul ring as his foundation, Huo Yuhao was guaranteed a strong future, but to become a god...
That was pure fantasy.
He'd be lucky to make Title Douluo before a natural lifespan ended.
…
After helping Huo Yuhao obtain his second ring, Tianmeng Iceworm didn't rush away; still determined, he led Huo Yuhao on a continued search for the Snow Empress in the Far North.
With so much time passed, the academy had already gone on break. There was no rush to return.
With his improved strength, survivability, and cold resistance, Huo Yuhao could linger longer here—maybe, just maybe, the Snow Empress would come back if they waited a few more days.
…
…
Meanwhile—
Ye Chen, reaping massive rewards, returned to the Tang Sect headquarters and arranged for the Snow Empress and Ice Empress to reside directly within the Sect.
Before, when Ye Chen was weak, he needed the Ice Empress near for security.
But now, with his strength, even if neither soul spirit was present, he'd be fine.
He could safely leave both Empresses at Tang Sect and roam freely. If anyone picked a fight, he could teleport back, pick up the Empresses, and instantly return for revenge.
He'd planned on spending a few days with the Empresses, bonding and raising affection—but time didn't allow it.
Because he received a message from Zhang Lexuan.
After arduous effort, Zhang Lexuan had just condensed her soul core and reached level 90, and wanted to go to Star Dou Forest to hunt for a soul beast.
She'd expected Xuanzu to lead the team and let Ye Chen gain some experience too.
Upon hearing this, Ye Chen flipped.
Now that he was virtually invincible, he had to seize the moment to show off.
Showing off to strangers was pointless—he had to do it in front of those closest to him.
Zhang Lexuan was perfect for this grand display.
As for Xuanzu...
Completely useless. Ye Chen decided to find an excuse to get rid of him.
After all, Ye Chen and Zhang Lexuan were a loving pair—there were certain things they had to do...
Having that old bachelor Xuanzu tagging along would just be awkward.
(END CHAPTER)
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