Chapter 38: Zhuge Lan Comes Online, A Demigod Patron!

"Well..." Huo Yuhao added, "The soul bone skill of the Jade Spirit Phantom Pupil head bone is to store mental energy. It can hold about 14 times my peak state, and it can also be infused into our soul fusion skill."

"Damn!" Ma Xiaotao cursed, "Doesn't that mean even a seventh-ring Soul Saint wouldn't be able to dodge it and would be controlled?"

"I don't know," Huo Yuhao shook his head.

"Wait here! I'm going to get some help!"

Leaving those words behind, Ma Xiaotao flew off in a rush. Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were left staring at each other.

Ten seconds later, Huo Yuhao took out a Profound Water Pill and a Soul Ascension Pill, using his mental energy to levitate them toward Wang Dong.

"These are for you. Find some time to absorb them."

"A Profound Water Pill? Are you sure you're giving this to me?" Wang Dong asked, surprised.

"Of course. I've already taken three, so I've developed a resistance," Huo Yuhao replied truthfully.

Wang Dong clutched the ceramic bottle, his heart filled with complex emotions. A few seconds later, he said, "Then I won't stand on ceremony! Back home, my Great Uncle and Second Uncle never let me take pills; they said it would affect my foundation."

Huo Yuhao didn't say much else and raised his hand toward Wang Dong. They pressed their palms together to practice the Yijin Jing. Before they had even recovered a tenth of their energy, a gentle, warm current flowed in, and their depleted states and soul power were replenished within a single breath.

Opening his eyes, Huo Yuhao saw Elder Zhuang withdrawing the branches and leaves of his martial soul, with Ma Xiaotao standing beside him, looking expectant.

"Although Elder Zhuang is a healing-type, he is still a level 95 Super Douluo," Huo Yuhao thought.

"Don't worry, just unleash your full power!" Elder Zhuang nodded with a smile, signaling them to have no reservations.

"My own mental energy hasn't recovered yet, so the power will be slightly reduced," Huo Yuhao said. As he spoke, the emerald head bone appeared on his forehead, shining as dazzlingly as a crown.

As they activated their soul fusion skill, he triggered the soul bone skill 'Mental Storage,' and a massive amount of mental energy poured into the blue-purple eyes behind them. This process lasted for a full forty seconds, and the mental energy was still not fully infused—controlling this super-scale soul fusion skill was incredibly taxing!

"Here it comes!"

With a roar, a three-colored beam of light shot out. It expanded more than ten times in length, width, and height, forming a golden thoroughfare nearly a thousand meters long and dozens of meters wide.

As the aftermath dissipated, Elder Zhuang could be seen with his head protected by his vine martial soul, but everything from his neck down was covered in a golden luster. About two breaths later, cracks began to spread, and the golden shell shattered.

"It's incredible!" Elder Zhuang exclaimed. "I am a healing-type, so my defense is slightly lacking. The power of this move... it could roughly trap a seventh-ring Soul Saint who hasn't activated their Soul Avatar for about a second. During that time, the connection between their body and their martial soul is severed, making it impossible to activate the Soul Avatar. Even if they had already activated it, it could still restrain them for at least a split second. As for sixth-ring Soul Emperors and below, the fight would essentially be over for anyone hit by it, even Ma Xiaotao."

Ma Xiaotao held her forehead, feeling like she was listening to a fantasy. Wang Dong was equally stunned. Only Huo Yuhao remained calm.

"With a charge time of over 40 seconds, it's almost impossible to execute in a normal situation," Huo Yuhao noted. "Moreover, the attack trajectory of this soul fusion skill is straight, so it's not hard to dodge if predicted. It takes me at least ten days to fully charge the mental energy in the Jade Spirit Phantom Pupil head bone. Therefore, theoretically, this move can only be used in battles involving fourth-ring Soul Ancestors."

This rational analysis earned Elder Zhuang’s approval. "Very good. Xiaotao here doesn't like to use her brain and is always charging in headfirst. With the addition of little Yuhao and Wang Dong to this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, you will truly be like a tiger with wings."

Ma Xiaotao looked a bit sullen at the side, but she didn't refute Elder Zhuang's words. Elder Zhuang activated his healing soul skill again to restore their state. "You two continue; I have things to attend to."

"Elder Zhuang, wait for me! I need to head back to the inner courtyard—I have to train hard for a day!"

"Goodbye, Sister Xiaotao!" the two boys chorused.

Watching them leave, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong exchanged a look. They sat cross-legged in tacit agreement, pressed their palms together, and began their daily dual cultivation.

...

Since the day of the soul fusion skill test, time seemed to have been set to fast-forward. Over a month flashed by. Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had both consumed the pills, and their levels had each risen to 19 and 24, respectively. Their second soul fusion skill had also been developed, and they could now control its basic power without being drained every time.

That night, while Huo Yuhao was practicing dual cultivation with Wang Dong, Zhuge Lan’s voice emerged.

"It’s time to show off to the people at Shrek."

Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes and looked at the person he was cultivating with. "Brother Lan, won't this be discovered?"

"1 Luck Point sustains five minutes of dual cultivation, which is perfect for creating an alibi."

"Alright, what do I need to do?"

"Log out and let me log in!"

Huo Yuhao nodded, his eyes dimming. Then, they lit up with a ghostly blue luster. He stood up, his features shifting into those of a different, wickedly handsome young man. He took a step back, but a 'Huo Yuhao' remained in place, continuing the dual cultivation.

[-1 Luck Point]

Electrolux emitted his presence at the right time—gray and dusty, yet tinged with golden light, the perfect combination of necromancy and light elements. He looked very mysterious.

*Whoosh.*

Zhuge Lan teleported to the sky above Shrek Academy.

[-500 Luck Points]

His mental energy surged to support his hovering figure. Electrolux no longer hid his aura; the pressure unique to a god-level remnant soul swept across all directions.

"Who goes there!"
"Insolent!"
"How bold!"

A series of roars erupted, and several figures flew up from Sea God Island, each surrounded by nine rotating soul rings. Soul Douluos? Electrolux's aura, which was at least that of a demigod, was so intimidating that they couldn't even maintain their flying soul skills. Familiar faces appeared: Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Qian Duoduo...

*Roar—*

The Radiant Sacred Dragon appeared once more. Mu En slowly ascended, his aged body containing terrifying power. In terms of aura, he could vaguely stand toe-to-toe with Electrolux—but only vaguely; he was ultimately a fraction weaker.

"To visit Shrek in the middle of the night, Your Excellency, may I ask for what purpose?" Mu En asked in a deep voice.

Zhuge Lan didn't speak. He took out a fiery red stone and tossed it casually; it exploded into black and red fireworks. Yan Shaozhe’s brows twitched at the sight! But he didn't dare speak rashly and sent a sound transmission to Mu En.

"This is Xiaotao's soul power signal flare. Where did you get it, Your Excellency?" Mu En asked.

"Didn't little Yuhao say she wanted to see me?" Zhuge Lan tilted his head. "And you all seem very interested in my Holy Fire Meow Meow Cult. It's a perfect time to meet you all at once."

The Shrek side was shocked! What on earth? This Holy Fire Cult that had suddenly popped up actually had a demigod in charge? That was absolutely absurd!

Wait!

"Your Excellency, are you the 'Brother Lan' that little Yuhao mentioned?" Mu En asked, puzzled. "But didn't little Yuhao say you were just an attendant?"

No way! An attendant is a demigod? What kind of heaven-defying organization is this?

"Oh, I just made up a title at the time," Zhuge Lan said casually. "The 'Holy Fire Meow Meow Cult' was also just something I said on the fly. I just didn't expect little Yuhao to be so capable, running to Shrek Academy to poach talent."

Good grief! He just made it up on the fly?