The final, thunderous applause for the "heroes" of the stage faded into the general murmur of the dispersing crowd. The air, which had been thick with manufactured emotion and righteous fervor, slowly returned to the normal, chaotic hum of Dragon City.
Huo Yuhao and his companions descended from the teahouse balcony, melting back into the flow of humanity on the streets below. The experience had left a strange, lingering aftertaste in his soul, like the bitterness at the bottom of a cup of overly steeped tea.
"Well, that was… loud," Jin Xi commented, her veiled ruby eyes scanning the plaza with a renewed interest now that the play was over. She stretched her arms above her head with a feline grace. "All that shouting and posturing. And the story was terribly predictable. Of course, the handsome one with two souls wins. It's always the way in these human tales."
"The narrative structure was effective in eliciting an emotional response from the masses," Xue Nu observed, her voice a calm, analytical counterpoint. She gazed at the now-empty stage, her sky-blue eyes holding a detached curiosity. "They presented a simplified moral framework—absolute good versus absolute evil. It is an effective tool for social cohesion and, I suspect, for soliciting these… donations."
Jin Xi let out an unlademonlike snort. "A tool for taking their shiny metal circles, you mean. Still," she conceded, linking her arm through Xue Nu's with a newfound sense of camaraderie, "it has given me an idea. All that talk of glorious treasures and divine artifacts… it has made me want to see more of what this city has to offer. There is a district on the map, the one with all the high-end weapon and armor shops. I think we should go there next!"
As his companions chattered animatedly, their minds already on the next adventure, Huo Yuhao's consciousness descended, sinking into the familiar, shimmering expanse of his own Spiritual Sea. The world outside faded to a distant, muffled hum.
He stood in the ethereal space, the silent orbs representing his three Martial Souls pulsing with their unique energies—the shimmering blue of the Spirit Eyes, the cold jade-green of the Ice Jade Scorpion Empress, and the quiet, sorrowful grey of the Necromancer.
He had a question. A single, desperate, world-altering question that had been ignited by the lies he had just witnessed on stage.
'Teacher,' he projected, his mental voice resonating with a rare, trembling urgency.
The grey orb of his third soul pulsed gently, and the spectral, ancient form of Elder Yi materialized before him. The necromancer's deep, wise eyes held a quiet understanding, as if he had already sensed the turmoil in his disciple's heart.
'You seem troubled, my disciple. The tale of the Sea God has stirred something within you.'
'It has, Teacher,' Huo Yuhao admitted, his voice tight with a hope so fierce it was almost painful. 'The play… it was full of lies. But there was one part… they said that Tang San was able to revive his lover, Xiao Wu, even after she had sacrificed herself to become his Soul Ring and Soul Bone. And the book… the book of fate my future self left me… it said that in that timeline, Tang San was able to revive my mother, Huo Yun'er, in the Divine Realm.'
He took a deep, shuddering mental breath, his gaze fixed on his teacher's ancient, spectral face. "He found her soul, even after she had been dead for so many years. Teacher… is such a thing truly possible? Can I… can I do the same? Can I bring my mother back?"
The question hung in the vast, silent sea, heavy with the weight of a lifetime of grief and a sudden, terrifying flicker of hope.
Elder Yi was silent for a long moment. His wise eyes seemed to gaze into a distance beyond the confines of the Spiritual Sea, his ancient mind processing the profound implications of the question. He did not offer a quick, easy answer. He gave the question the respect and gravity it deserved.
Finally, he spoke, his voice a calm, steady anchor in the storm of Huo Yuhao's emotions.
'When I first arrived in this world, my disciple,' he began, his tone contemplative, 'and when we first opened the gateway to my Spectral Demiplane in the northern valley, my soul sensed something. It was a faint, distant echo, another realm brushing against the edges of my own. It felt… ordered. Ancient. A place of finality. It was likely the natural Underworld of this realm, a place where mortal souls go to await their final disposition.'
Huo Yuhao's spirit trembled with a violent, ecstatic hope. It was real. A place where souls went. A place where she might be.
'So… her soul… it could still exist?' he pressed, his voice barely a whisper.
'It is possible,' Elder Yi confirmed, his calm voice a tempering force against Huo Yuhao's rising excitement. 'If this world possesses such a realm, then it is highly probable that your mother's soul resides there, awaiting its next turn on the great wheel of reincarnation. The Sea God, with his divine power and access to the laws of his realm, would certainly have the means to locate and retrieve a single soul from such a place.'
The hope in Huo Yuhao's soul bloomed, a brilliant, sun-like flower in a field of sorrow.
But Elder Yi raised a calming, spectral hand. 'However, disciple, you must understand the immense difficulty of such a task. I am but a remnant of my former self. My power has not yet recovered to the point where I could safely breach the walls between realities, navigate a foreign Underworld, and retrieve a specific soul without alerting its guardians or becoming lost in its depths myself. To attempt such a thing now would be suicide, for both of us.'
The brilliant flower of hope wilted slightly, its petals curling with the frost of reality.
'What do you need, Teacher?' Huo Yuhao asked, his excitement tempered now into a cold, hard resolve. 'Tell me what you need to recover your power. I will get it for you. No matter the cost.'
A faint, pleased smile touched Elder Yi's ancient lips. 'Your determination is a fine quality, disciple. The path to my recovery is difficult, but not impossible. The key lies in acquiring a treasure of immense, pure life essence.'
His gaze turned thoughtful. 'The piece of Life Gold that was used to forge your Life Guardian Blade was a catalyst that stabilized my soul. To truly recover the divine essence I have lost, to regain the power necessary to challenge the laws of life and death, I would need more. A great deal more.'
He paused, letting the weight of the requirement sink in. 'And even with the Life Gold, my recovery would be a slow, arduous process. My soul would need to be constantly nourished by a rich, ambient life force. An environment like the Core Region of the Star Dou Great Forest, near the Lake of Life, would be ideal. I would need you to stay there, to act as a conduit, absorbing the life essence of that place to fuel my restoration.'
The path was laid out. Difficult. Demanding. But it was a path. A tangible set of steps leading to the single greatest goal he could ever imagine.
'Life Gold,' Huo Yuhao thought, his mind racing, instantly cross-referencing this new, vital piece of information with the vast library in the book of fate.
Two sources immediately sprang to mind, two opportunities his future self had encountered.
'The Soul Devouring Engraved Knife,' he recalled with perfect clarity. 'The one that was auctioned at the Starlight Auction House in the Star Luo Empire. The book said it contained a piece of Life Gold within its hilt, a treasure that my future self had acquired after a fierce bidding war. That auction takes place during the Continental Advanced Soul Dueling Tournament… which is still five or six months away.'
Then, the second memory surfaced. A more immediate, more accessible opportunity.
'The Golden Tortoise,' he thought, a spark of excitement igniting in his mind. 'The ancient beast in the Star Dou Great Forest. The book said it had accidentally swallowed a piece of Life Gold from the Lake of Life itself. The immense life energy was too much for its own core to handle, and it was causing its own life force to rapidly drain away, a slow and agonizing death. My future self had helped it by absorbing the Life Gold and letting it become Xu Sanshi's Soul Spirit.'
A wide, determined grin spread across Huo Yuaho's face. This was it. This was the first step. Finding that tortoise was a task he could undertake as soon as they returned to the forest.
But the auction… that was still a vital opportunity. Another source of the precious metal. He couldn't afford to ignore it.
A new problem presented itself. 'The Starlight Auction House… it's the most exclusive auction on the continent. The book said my future self only got in because he was representing Shrek Academy as a member. They don't just let anyone with money in. They require status, backing, an invitation from a recognized power. How will I get in?'
The question hung in his mind, a future obstacle to be overcome. For now, it was enough. The path was clear. The despair that had haunted the edges of his soul for years had been replaced by a bright, burning, and beautiful hope.
'Thank you, Teacher,' he projected, his voice filled with a gratitude so profound it made his very soul hum. 'Thank you for showing me the way.'
'Rest, my disciple,' Elder Yi's voice was a gentle comfort. 'Hope is a powerful fuel, but it can burn you out if you are not careful. Be patient. Your time will come.'
With a final, reassuring nod, the necromancer's form faded back into the quiet, grey orb, leaving Huo Yuhao alone with his newfound purpose.
His consciousness resurfaced. The teahouse, the chattering crowd, the two beautiful women sitting with him—it all rushed back into focus. Only a few seconds had passed in the real world.
Jin Xi and Xue Nu were looking at him, their conversation having trailed off as they noticed his deep, introspective silence.
"Yuhao? Are you alright?" Xue Nu asked, her sky-blue eyes filled with a quiet concern. "You seemed very far away."
Huo Yuhao looked at them, at the faces of his new family. A brilliant, genuine smile, brighter than any they had seen from him before, lit up his face. It was a smile of pure, unadulterated hope.
"I'm better than alright," he said, his voice ringing with a new, vibrant energy. He stood up, his earlier weariness completely gone, burned away by the fire of his new resolve. "I'm hungry. Ravenously hungry. Come on," he said, his smile widening. "It's time for a magnificent feast."
Jin Xi's ruby eyes lit up. "Now you're talking! I know just the place! The Scaled Goblet! They say their roasted dragon-wing mushrooms are a delicacy beyond compare!"
She grabbed his arm, her own good mood infectious, and pulled him along, with Xue Nu following gracefully in their wake. The weight of the world, the schemes of gods, had not vanished. But now, it was a weight he could bear. It was a mountain he now had a clear path to climb.
The Scaled Goblet was the pinnacle of Dragon City's culinary scene. The interior was a study in opulent, draconic taste. Great pillars carved to look like dragon's necks held up the high, vaulted ceiling. The lanterns were shaped like glowing dragon eggs, and the seats were upholstered in a deep crimson leather that resembled shed dragon hide.
They were shown to a secluded, private booth, curtained off with heavy velvet drapes. Once seated, and after ensuring no one was watching, the two women removed their veils.
The feast that followed was truly magnificent. Course after course of exotic, expertly prepared dishes arrived at their table. There were skewers of savory Flame-Lizard meat, bowls of fragrant, steaming Ginseng soup, and the famous Roasted Dragon-Wing Mushrooms, which were so tender and flavorful they melted in the mouth.
Jin Xi ate with a boisterous, unrestrained delight, her initial regal table manners quickly giving way to a pure, unadulterated enjoyment of the food. Xue Nu ate with her customary elegant precision, savoring each new taste with a quiet, appreciative grace. Huo Yuhao ate with the hunger of a boy whose heart was finally, truly full.
It was as they were enjoying a dessert of sweet, iced cloud-berries that the velvet curtain to their booth was swept aside.
A young man stood there, flanked by two other disciples in the fiery red and gold of the Heavenly Dragon Sect. The man in the lead was tall, handsome in an arrogant, predatory way, with sharp, hawk-like features and eyes that seemed to constantly assess and dismiss everything around him. His aura was potent, the barely contained power of a Soul King humming around him.
He had clearly been passing by their booth, had chanced a glance through a gap in the curtains, and had been struck dumb by the sight within.
His gaze swept over the table, lingering on the breathtaking, unveiled faces of Jin Xi and Xue Nu. A look of pure, covetous avarice, the look of a dragon finding a new treasure for its hoard, flashed in his eyes. His gaze then shifted to Huo Yuhao, the handsome but clearly much younger boy sitting with them, and it curdled into one of immediate, disdainful jealousy.
"Well, well," the young man said, his voice a smooth, confident baritone that dripped with condescension. He stepped into their private booth as if he owned it, his followers smirking behind him. "It is a rare and wondrous sight to see two celestial fairies gracing such a humble establishment. The city is truly blessed by your presence."
He completely ignored Huo Yuhao, his full, charismatic attention focused on the two women.
Jin Xi paused, a spoonful of cloud-berry ice halfway to her lips. She slowly lowered it, her ruby eyes narrowing with a look of profound, regal annoyance. "Humble? I found it merely adequate," she replied, her voice as sweet as honey and as cold as ice. "And you are interrupting my dessert. This displeases me. Go away."
The young man was momentarily taken aback by her blunt, dismissive tone. He was used to fawning admiration, not cold rejection. A flicker of anger crossed his face before he masked it with a charming, confident smile.
"Forgive my intrusion," he said smoothly, ignoring her command. "But beauty such as yours should not be wasted in a dark corner. You should be seated at the head table, where all can admire your radiance." He gestured dismissively at Huo Yuhao. "And surely, you can find better company than this… guy."
Xue Nu, who had been watching the interaction with the detached curiosity of a scientist observing a particularly loud insect, now spoke. Her voice was soft, but it carried an inherent, chilling authority. "We find the company to be perfectly to our liking. And you are still here."
The young man's smile tightened. His patience was wearing thin. He decided to play his trump card, the one that always worked.
He drew himself up to his full height, puffing out his chest. "Perhaps you do not know who I am," he declared, his voice full of a pride that bordered on arrogance. "I am Yu Tianji, inner-sect disciple of the great Heavenly Dragon Sect, and heir to my father, the third elder. My Martial Soul is the legendary Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."
He said the name with a flourish, expecting gasps of awe, immediate respect, perhaps even a swoon.
Jin Xi just blinked. "Blue Lightning what now? Never heard of it. Is it tasty?"
Yu Tianji's face turned a shade of crimson. "It is the top grade attack-type Beast Martial Soul on the continent!" he snapped, his composure finally cracking.
He took a deep breath, reining in his temper. He looked at the two stunning women, his desire overriding his anger. "Ladies," he said, his voice now a low, commanding purr. "Enough games. Leave this boy. Come with me. I will show you what true power and status look like. You will want for nothing."
Huo Yuhao, who had been silently enjoying his dessert throughout the entire exchange, finally set down his spoon. He looked up at Yu Tianji, his blue eyes calm and clear, but with a cold, hard glint deep within them that the arrogant disciple was too self-absorbed to notice.
"I believe the ladies have made their choice of company quite clear," Huo Yuhao said, his voice quiet, yet carrying an unshakable firmness. "Perhaps you should return to your own table now, before you cause a scene and embarrass both yourself and your esteemed sect."
The quiet, calm dismissal from a boy he considered nothing more than an insignificant gnat was the final straw. Yu Tianji's handsome face contorted with a furious, ugly sneer.
"You dare speak to me, you little whelp?" he snarled, his Soul Power beginning to flare around him. "You think you can hide behind these women? I will teach you your place!"
He raised a hand, a crackle of blue lightning already beginning to form around his fingertips. He was going to strike, right here, in the middle of one of the city's finest restaurants.
His pride, his arrogance, and his desire had made him foolish. He had made a very, very big mistake.