Douluo Continent: Peerless Fusion Evolution

The skeleton, which had originally exuded a nauseating aura of the dead, had now been completely purified by Huo Yuhao. It stood there silently, two eerie blue flames flickering in its empty eye sockets, like a messenger from the depths of hell. Although this black skeleton had lost its flesh and blood, it retained the formidable offensive and defensive capabilities of the Second Holy Spirit.

Controlled through a purified soul, Huo Yuhao even imbued it with a touch of divinity. He left a trace of his own soul aura within the black skull's soul fire. With just a thought, he could control its actions. Although it couldn't unleash any skills, in actual combat, it was a powerful ally comparable to a Soul Emperor. The Second Holy Spirit's cultivation had essentially been used to benefit Huo Yuhao. Moreover, given the Holy Spirit Cult's evil deeds, Huo Yuhao felt no guilt in taking it as a secret weapon.

Life at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy continued day after day. Huo Yuhao could hear the distant roar of soul tool experiments every day, and occasionally catch a faint smell of gunpowder in the air. He flipped through the books on soul tool theory in his hands, but his gaze would frequently drift to the window. The news of the destruction of the Holy Spirit Cult's branch altar was like a pebble, creating ripples on a calm lake before disappearing without a trace. In Shrek Academy's reply, Dean Yan said that the Shrek inspection team had searched almost the entire Sun Moon Empire but found no trace of the Holy Spirit Cult. On the surface, everything remained calm at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, but Huo Yuhao and He Caitou were both on guard.

They secretly observed everything around them. Every morning, they would conduct their routine physical training on the training ground, sweating profusely as they honed their soul power and combat skills. In the evening, as the afterglow of the setting sun bathed every corner of the academy, they would go to the academy cafeteria to enjoy a steaming hot dinner with their classmates.

After dinner, they would stroll along the tree-lined paths of the academy, enjoying the night view and exchanging cultivation insights. Time passed day by day, and in the blink of an eye, Huo Yuhao had been at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy for over a year and nine months.

Like Shrek Academy, Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy also has a month-long vacation, only a few days later than Shrek Academy. Recalling how he was in a deep meditative state during last school year's vacation, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but stretch. This school year, he could finally relax a bit. However, he had no intention of resting; after all, he came to Sun Moon Academy to study, and he didn't want to waste a single second.

In the academy, quite a few people shared his thoughts. Looking back, he had been quite high-profile during that exchange and sparring competition, attracting considerable attention. However, after that, he entered a state of deep meditation that lasted for half a year. Coupled with his deliberate efforts to maintain a low profile, his interactions and learning with other students became much smoother. He eagerly absorbed knowledge about soul tools, diligently cultivating while delving into their mysteries.

As the sun and moon alternated, time quietly slipped away amidst fulfillment and tranquility. Unbeknownst to him, Huo Yuhao was gradually undergoing the changes expected of a teenager during puberty. Now seventeen, he had grown taller, but not particularly muscular; rather, he exuded a vibrant and energetic spirit.

"Junior Brother." A gruff voice came from outside the door, startling Huo Yuhao from his meditation. He slowly opened his eyes, his deep pupils seemingly containing the vastness of the stars and the sea, though he skillfully concealed his sharpness. Huo Yuhao stretched his limbs, feeling the abundance of soul power within his body; his soul power had improved considerably during his cultivation these past few days. He stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open. A breath of fresh air rushed in, carrying a faint floral fragrance that was refreshing and invigorating. In the distance, the bright sunlight shone on the buildings of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, reflecting a golden light. Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and turned to walk towards the door. "Second Senior Brother, what brings you here?" he said, opening the dormitory door. Standing outside was He Caitou, looking excited. He was burly, like an iron tower, his rugged face radiating undisguised excitement. "Junior brother, I have a surprise for you." He Caitou said in a deep voice, deliberately lowering his voice, his mysterious manner making Huo Yuhao even more curious. "A surprise? For me? Have you successfully researched some new fixed-installation soul tool?" Huo Yuhao looked at him with surprise.

He Caitou clicked his tongue impatiently, slamming the book he was holding onto the table with a dull thud. He turned to look at Huo Yuhao, his brows furrowed, his thick eyebrows almost forming a knot. "I'm telling you, all you do is cultivate all day long, you're practically a bookworm! Dormitory, Mingde Hall, just the same two points, can't you do something else?" He abruptly stood up, walked to Huo Yuhao's side, and slapped him hard on the shoulder, his tone laced with exasperation. "Don't you understand the importance of work-life balance? You're too tense, you'll cause problems sooner or later!"

Huo Yuhao was startled from his reverie by He Caitou's words. His words struck him like a thunderclap, resonating deep within his heart. He paused slightly, his gaze drifting blankly to the pages of the book on the table. The once clear words seemed veiled in a thin mist, becoming blurred. He sighed softly, and an image involuntarily surfaced in his mind—a handsome face always bearing a faint smile.

It felt like a gentle spring breeze. He had mentioned He Caitou's words to him more than once, his tone filled with concern and worry. That person was Wang Dong. Since arriving at Shrek Academy, he hadn't seen Wang Dong again. The occasional letters from his friends were his only solace in relieving his longing. But Wang Dong had never sent him a single letter, as if he had vanished into thin air. Thinking of this, Huo Yuhao felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, and his eyes dimmed slightly. He lowered his head, his gaze falling on his pale fingertips...

He muttered to himself, "Wang Dong, how are you now? Do you still remember me?" "Hey! I'm talking to you, what are you daydreaming about?" He Caitou's annoyed voice pulled Huo Yuhao back from his reverie. He looked up at his burly, rugged-looking companion and forced a smile. "Sorry, I was spacing out. What did you say?" He Caitou glared at him irritably and said gruffly, "I said, can you stop being such a wooden post all day? Have some energy, okay? Come on, let's go for a walk and relax."

Huo Yuhao shook his head, politely declining his offer. "No, I have some things to attend to." "What is it? Cultivation?" He Caitou looked at him suspiciously. Huo Yuhao didn't explain, only nodded slightly. "Alright, you really are a cultivation maniac!" He Caitou sighed helplessly, turned and walked out of the room. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned back to ask, "By the way, have you received any news from the Holy Spirit Cult recently?" Huo Yuhao shook his head and said in a serious tone, "No, they seem to have completely disappeared, without a trace." He Caitou frowned, his thick fingers tapping irritably on the door frame. "Damn it, these persistent ghosts! I really suspect that you were..."

"Either you saw an illusion, or they hid too well. Alright, stop dawdling and come with me. I'll take you to the school gate." He Caitou said, reaching out to pull Huo Yuhao. Huo Yuhao was holding a piece of rare metal, concentrating on controlling his soul power output with his mental energy, inscribing the patterns on the core magic circle. He was almost finished and didn't want to be interrupted at this crucial moment. "I'm not going. I'm working on this core magic circle at a critical point, almost done." Huo Yuhao refused He Caitou's suggestion without looking up, while continuing to carefully control his soul power output.

Seeing that Huo Yuhao had rejected his suggestion, He Caitou became somewhat displeased. He frowned and feigned anger, saying, "So all I told you was a waste of time? Let me tell you, this is a golden opportunity! You won't find another chance like this! Hurry up, stop dawdling, or you'll regret it!" As he spoke, He Caitou didn't wait for Huo Yuhao's reply, grabbed his wrist, and ran outside without another word. Caught off guard, Huo Yuhao stumbled and almost fell, his nearly completed core magic array ruined by the fluctuation of his soul power.

He inwardly groaned, helplessly being dragged along by He Caitou, yet too embarrassed to refuse He Caitou's kindness outright. After all, his second senior brother was doing it for his own good, and he trusted that He Caitou would never harm him. However, at this moment, he was in no mood for any surprises. His mind was completely focused on researching the core magic array, and he didn't believe that he could expect any surprises other than a breakthrough in cultivation. This was the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, not the cheerful Shrek Academy. On the playground, bright sunlight streamed down, and the air was filled with the scent of grass. Huo Yuhao was pulled along by He Caitou, the wind whistling in his ears.

He could only vaguely hear the laughter and chatter of the surrounding students, but he had no time to pay attention to anything else, his mind still preoccupied with the core magic array that had been interrupted earlier. Soon, Huo Yuhao was dragged by He Caitou to the wide training ground. He staggered a few steps, finally regaining his balance, and couldn't help but say, "Second Senior Brother, don't pull me anymore, I'll go with you." Huo Yuhao rubbed his wrist, which was slightly red from being pulled, and ultimately had to give in. Hearing this, He Caitou released his hand, stopped, and looked at him with a strange expression, saying, "Alright, don't force yourself. If you don't want to go, you can still go back now. But don't blame me if you regret it later."

As he spoke, he released Huo Yuhao's hand, turned, and walked away with firm steps, without the slightest hesitation. Huo Yuhao watched He Caitou's departing figure, a sudden unease rising in his heart. He recalled He Caitou's mysterious demeanor earlier and his words, "You'll regret it if you don't go," and couldn't help but hesitate. Finally, he gritted his teeth and decided to chase after him. He ran a few steps quickly, catching up with He Caitou, and said with a forced smile, "Second Senior Brother, don't be angry! I'll go with you. You're right, I really need to get a brain refreshed, otherwise my brain is practically turning into a core magic array." Seeing Huo Yuhao catch up, He Caitou finally smiled. He laughed heartily and said, "You brat, I wouldn't be angry with you. I'm just feeling sorry for some people! Hahaha..."

As he spoke, he patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder, his tone tinged with teasing and smugness. Just as the two brothers were talking, they ran into two acquaintances. "Hey, isn't this our busy man Huo Yuhao and Caitou? What are you two brothers up to?" a familiar voice called out, its tone playful and teasing. Huo Yuhao and Caitou looked up and saw a still-attractive woman smiling as she approached them. She wore a long purple dress, her figure full-figured, her face beautiful, though the corners of her eyes and brows bore the marks of time, adding to her mature charm. Beside her followed a tall, stern-faced middle-aged man, dressed in a blue robe, carrying a long sword, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes.

With an imposing presence even without anger, it was none other than the sword fanatic Ji Juechen. Upon seeing these two, Huo Yuhao's expression immediately stiffened. He subconsciously glanced at He Caitou, as if asking, "Second Senior Brother, is this your surprise for me?" If there was one person Huo Yuhao feared most at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, it certainly wasn't Jing Hongchen, the head of the Mingde Hall, but these two before him. Ever since Huo Yuhao awakened from deep meditation and displayed astonishing mental and soul power control, he had been targeted by Ji Juechen. Add to that Jing Ziyan, who had lost to Huo Yuhao in the freshman assessment but was extremely resentful. These two were a perfect match, constantly seeking out Huo Yuhao for sparring.

Once or twice would be fine. But after so many times, how could Huo Yuhao not be annoyed? These two don't care about time or place, especially on several occasions when he was pondering how to create a core magic array and had just gotten an idea, they would interrupt him.

In a fit of rage, Huo Yuhao used his "Ruling the World" skill too aggressively. Without anyone using other soul skills or relying solely on pure soul power to overwhelm others, Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan were severely beaten by Huo Yuhao.

After that incident, the two of them quieted down for a few days. However, they soon returned like glue, and Ji Juechen even told Huo Yuhao that after being beaten up by him, his understanding of sword intent had deepened. (End of Chapter)