Douluo Continent: Peerless Fusion Evolution

"Didn't you ever think of asking the academy for help?" Huo Yuhao asked. "The Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy is the premier academy in the Sun Moon Empire, and the Mingde Hall holds a pivotal position within the empire." Nana gave a bitter smile, a flash of hatred crossing her eyes. She raised her head, her tone filled with resentment and helplessness: "Of course I thought of it. But it wouldn't have mattered anyway."

She clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her flesh. "Because they're completely in cahoots! I'm certain Mingde Hall is colluding with the Holy Spirit Cult." Nana took a deep breath, struggling to suppress her anger. She raised her head, her gaze fixed intently on Huo Yuhao, and said, word by word, "Because once, I personally witnessed a masked elder of the Holy Spirit Cult enter Mingde Hall in the dead of night!" Huo Yuhao's pupils contracted slightly, and his brows furrowed even more. Things were more complicated than he had imagined; figuring out the intricacies would be no easy task.

A silence fell over the room, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects outside the window. Nana's eyes were filled with both hope and despair as she stared intently at Huo Yuhao, afraid to miss a single expression on his face. Huo Yuhao remained silent for a moment. He could sense the deep pain and helplessness in Nana's heart, which strengthened his resolve to help her. Suddenly, Nana stood up and walked to the window. Moonlight bathed her thin frame, making her appear exceptionally forlorn. She took a deep breath, turned around, and looked at Huo Yuhao with unwavering determination, her eyes filled with resolve: "I hate the Holy Spirit Cult, I hate this academy, I even hate this corrupt country."

She walked up to Huo Yuhao, took a deep breath, and said firmly, "Huo Yuhao, as long as you can help me release my parents' souls, I will willingly serve you as a slave or servant." Huo Yuhao looked at the thin yet strong girl before him, his heart filled with pity. He gently shook his head. "I don't need you as a slave or servant." Nana's body stiffened. She lowered her head, tears blurring her vision again, her voice filled with sorrow:

"Then...then...just pretend I was never here." With that, she turned and walked towards the door, her steps unsteady, as if she might fall at any moment. Seeing this, Huo Yuhao quickly stood up, strode to Nana's side, and grabbed her arm. "I said I didn't want you as a slave, but I never said I wouldn't help you!" Huo Yuhao's voice was warm and firm. Nana stopped and turned to look at him, puzzled. Huo Yuhao looked into Nana's eyes...

His tone was sincere and firm: "I am an orphan like you, and I understand how you feel. I can't guarantee success, but I will do my best." He paused, then continued, "However, you must first tell me what you know about the Holy Spirit Cult."

Nana asked in a trembling voice, "You...you really want to help me?"

Huo Yuhao sighed softly and said, "Actually, what I want to ask is, why do you trust me so much?"

Nana stared at him with slightly red and swollen eyes. "Based on your shyness last time and my own intuition, I can't stand this oppressive life anymore. I have no will to live in this world. Even if there's only a sliver of a chance, I'll fight for it. Among the people I know, there are many stronger than you. But none of them understand the power of the soul. I know that even if they wanted to help me, they couldn't. But you are different. That day when I used the Resentful Soul Technique, you easily controlled my soul. After so many days, you not only didn't harm my soul, but you made it even stronger. This control over the soul is the strongest I've ever known."

"That's why I thought of asking for your help." Nana lowered her head, her tone pleading, her hands nervously twisting together, her fingertips turning white. She bit her lower lip, seemingly struggling to find the right words, "I have nothing to offer you, only myself." She raised her head, her gaze fixed firmly on Huo Yuhao.

"I keep my word. As long as you help me rescue my parents' souls and free them from their suffering, I'll do anything you ask of me in the future." She took a deep breath, as if making an important decision, straightened her back, and awaited Huo Yuhao's reply. Huo Yuhao listened quietly. He could feel the sincerity and determination in Nana's tone, and he could also feel the sadness and pain deep in her heart. He gently shook his head and said, "You don't need to promise me anything, and I don't want anything from you. I just hope to help your parents' souls rest in peace." As he said this, his eyes couldn't help but warm up, and his eyes reddened slightly. His mother's gentle smile appeared in his mind. If his mother were still alive, seeing him become a Soul Master at the Soul Grandmaster level...

She'd even entered Shrek Academy's inner courtyard! How happy she must be! A warm feeling welled up inside him at the thought, but it was quickly replaced by a deep sorrow. He couldn't help but think of that man, the man who had brought his mother endless pain. His eyes hardened, his fists clenched unconsciously, and he silently vowed: Mother, I will fulfill your unspoken wish, and I will avenge you!

Nana gently shook her head, her long, flowing silver hair swaying slightly with her movement, rippling in the firelight. Her once bright, star-like purple eyes were now filled with confusion and bewilderment, and a hint of worry lingered on her delicate face. "I don't understand what 'Spirit Ascension' means either," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "I asked the elder about it once." At this point, Nana frowned slightly, as if recalling something unpleasant. "He had deep, dark eyes, always cold and sharp, sending chills down one's spine. He was tall and always wore a long black robe embroidered with dark gold patterns I couldn't understand. He exuded a mysterious and dangerous aura." She paused, then continued, "He said it was a sacred ritual that made us holy servants incredibly powerful." Huo Yuhao looked at the beautiful yet mysterious girl before him, a pang of pity rising in his heart. His deep black eyes were now filled with worry and concern. "Since it's called a religion, what are the doctrines of this Holy Spirit Religion?" he asked, his tone gentle and steady. Nana looked up at Huo Yuhao, a hint of gratitude flashing in her purple eyes. She gently bit her lower lip and said, "The doctrines are very abstract, just two sentences: 'Let the holy light shine on the earth, let the Holy Spirit descend upon the world.' The elders said that once I pass the Ascension Ceremony, I can release my father's and mother's souls." At this point, Nana's voice became low, and a shadow fell over her eyes. "But I can feel that if I really pass that ceremony, I'm probably not myself anymore. I might end up like I was with you before, my soul imprisoned. I'm not strong enough for them right now, so they haven't attacked me yet, have they?"

"Where are your parents' souls sealed?" Huo Yuhao asked, his tone tinged with worry and doubt. Nana sighed softly, a hint of sadness in her eyes, and whispered, "In the branch's altar." She paused, seemingly recalling some painful experience, her brows furrowing slightly, before continuing:

"That place is eerie. Every time I go, I feel a chilling aura, as if countless wronged spirits are whispering, sending shivers down my spine." Huo Yuhao's heart skipped a beat, and he pressed, "A chilling aura? Could it be..." Nana nodded, her voice heavy, "The souls sealed there aren't just my parents'. It seems there are many other souls there, wailing and struggling, unable to escape." Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment, gathering his thoughts, and tentatively asked, "So you mean, take me to this altar, and I'll rescue your parents' souls, right?" Nana looked up, her eyes burning as she gazed at Huo Yuhao, nodding repeatedly, her voice filled with hope: "Yes, although I've seen my parents' souls there, I can't get close to that place at all. The moment I get close, I feel like my own soul is being torn apart, that feeling..."

"It's worse than death." Her voice choked as she spoke, tears welling in her eyes. She looked at Huo Yuhao with a pitiful expression, pleading, "Can you? Do you have a way to save my parents?" Huo Yuhao, faced with Nana's expectant gaze, was also moved. He thought carefully for a moment before cautiously saying, "I can only say I'll try my best. After all, I know nothing about the Holy Spirit Cult, nor do I know their methods." He paused, then asked, "But, as an outsider, can I even get close to the altar? Won't I alert them?" Nana quickly explained, "My status among the saints is relatively high, because my cultivation is almost at level sixty, making me a quasi-Holy Spirit disciple." She said with a hint of pride, "Plus, they know I can't liberate my parents' souls, so they aren't very wary of me."

"The elders have recently returned to the main altar, leaving only two Holy Spirit disciples stationed at our branch. It's almost time for my bi-monthly meeting with my parents' souls, so they generally won't be too wary of me, as many Holy Servants are in similar situations." A sly glint flashed in Nana's eyes as she leaned closer to Huo Yuhao and whispered, "If you can disguise yourself as a Holy Servant, we'll have a good chance of sneaking in." She added, "If all else fails..." At this point, a cold glint appeared in Nana's eyes, and she said firmly, "With your strength to defeat the Sword Maniac Ji Juechen, plus me, dealing with those two sixth-ring Holy Spirit disciples isn't without a chance." Huo Yuhao nodded slightly and calmly said, "Alright, let's discuss the plan carefully."

His decision to help Nana was largely driven by sympathy for her plight, and also by the mysterious Holy Spirit Cult. This religion, primarily composed of Soul Masters, was entangled with the Mingde Hall and shrouded in secrecy. According to Nana, the branch elders already possessed the strength of a seven-ringed Soul Master. Therefore, the leader of this sect-like organization should be a Title Douluo-level powerhouse. Any sect capable of producing a Title Douluo can be considered a major sect. Their actions were so dark and despicable; this matter must be reported to the academy. He would investigate first. As an Extreme Individual Soldier trained under the Extreme Individual Soldier Program, he was originally trained for individual combat; sometimes, strength isn't just reflected in battle.

Nana felt her shadow sway slightly, and then a tall, imposing figure emerged from it. At first, the figure was blurry, just a rough outline, but soon, details began to appear. Dark skin, like a curtain of night, reflected no light; a large, bald head stood out starkly in the dim light; broad shoulders seemed to hold boundless power.

It was as if he could carry the entire sky on his shoulders. Looking closer, it was indeed He Caitou. He had completely broken free from Nana's shadow and stood silently beside her. Nana covered her mouth in surprise, almost gasping, but she quickly lowered her voice and whispered, "This...this is truly amazing. Huo Yuhao, you didn't use up too much soul power, did you?" Just as she finished speaking, another voice came from the shadows on the other side of her.

"No, my mental control is much stronger now. Let's go, let's finish our business quickly and come back." The voice was deep and calm, carrying a reassuring power; it was Huo Yuhao's voice. Nana then realized that Huo Yuhao had also separated from her shadow and was standing beside her, only he was more concealed, almost blending into the darkness. Nana wasn't the only one who came from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy; Huo Yuhao and his fellow disciple He Caitou also did. Today was the day Nana would meet her parents' spirits.

To be on the safe side, Huo Yuhao also brought out He Caitou to ensure a successful attack. The qualitative change in his Sea of ​​Spirit had led to significant improvements in several of Huo Yuhao's mental-type soul skills, including the powerful simulation soul skill. He was now using his immense mental power to forcefully distort and simulate his own form, and even He Caitou's, making them both appear as Nana's shadows. Only with very close observation could one notice occasional double images of Nana's shadows; under normal circumstances, they were completely imperceptible.

Concealment and infiltration are essential skills for elite solo fighters. With the support of Han Hai's boundless spiritual sea, Huo Yuhao can now use this ability for extended periods. He Caitou remained silent, simply giving Nana a thumbs-up to indicate he was ready to act at any time. Then, he once again merged into the shadows and vanished, as if he had never been there. (End of Chapter)