Star Dou Forest, Outer Area
The ragged commoner boy struggled to stand up from the damp forest grass, baring his teeth as pain shot through his body.
What… am I now?
Huo Yuhao stared blankly at his thin, immature hands and the coarse clothes covering his body, his mind completely thrown into chaos.
Wasn't I killed by Tang San?
Why am I here?
And my cultivation—
He raised his head and looked toward the quiet forest ahead. Dense ancient trees towered skyward, their leaves exuding mottled blue-green light. Thick vines twisted around the trunks, and spirit energy faintly surged in the air. Not far in front of him, a Wind Baboon leapt back and forth, crouched low in a combat stance.
A Wind Baboon?
Could it be that I—
Before the thought could finish forming, a streak of gray light shot from the depths of the forest and struck Huo Yuhao directly between the eyebrows. His pupils instantly lost all color.
...
Sea of Spirit
"Holding the sun and moon in my hands, plucking the stars from the heavens—there is no one like me beneath the sky."
Huo Yuhao gazed at the gray bead condensing within his Sea of Consciousness. His eyes instantly reddened, his emotions surging uncontrollably.
"Yi Lao… you're finally back."
His voice trembled, thick with suppressed sobs.
"…You recognize me?"
The weak, ancient voice carried unmistakable confusion.
"Of course!" Huo Yuhao replied excitedly. "My undead magic, the Gate of the Undead—they were all given to me by you!"
"…Haochen?"
The voice hesitated, uncertain.
"I am Yuhao."
Huo Yuhao hastily wiped the tears from his face. "Yi Lao, I can't explain everything right now, but please don't fall asleep yet. I will find ways to nourish your soul and repair it."
Electrolux fell silent. His weakened consciousness carefully observed this strange, young boy shrouded in gray mist.
"In my current state… it won't be long before I fall into a deep slumber on my own…"
"I won't let that happen."
Huo Yuhao's tone was firm, filled with resolve. "I won't keep you waiting too long."
Electrolux did not respond further, tacitly accepting his words.
...
Reality
Color gradually returned to Huo Yuhao's pupils.
The Wind Baboon was already gnawing madly at him, its sharp teeth unable to break through his passive spiritual defense no matter how hard it tried.
Huo Yuhao instinctively grabbed the baboon by the neck, intending to throw it aside—but his wrist nearly slipped due to his unfamiliar strength.
Startled, the Wind Baboon shrieked and fled into the forest.
Huo Yuhao lowered his head, examining his thin frame.
Tenth-level soul power… no soul ring.
Am I… reborn?
He clenched his fists, slowly adapting to this frail, underdeveloped body.
In his previous life, he had already reached the peak, standing at the threshold of God Kinghood—yet now he had fallen back to the very beginning.
Fortunately, what he lost was only his god-level physique and divine strength. His soul origin remained intact, as did the vast knowledge accumulated over countless years.
More importantly—
Yi Lao had returned.
That alone was a priceless gift.
But… what about Brother Tianmeng?
Huo Yuhao scanned the forest anxiously.
Logically speaking, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm should have appeared together with Yi Lao.
He waited in place for an entire afternoon.
He neither saw Tianmeng popping out to shamelessly draw pies for him, nor did he encounter Sister Xiaoya or Senior Brother Beibei.
As the sun slowly set, crimson clouds染ed the sky.
Gululu.
Huo Yuhao clutched his rumbling stomach.
Although he was worried about Brother Tianmeng, night was approaching. With his current strength, dealing with even ten-year soul beasts would be extremely dangerous.
"Brother Tianmeng… I can only let you suffer a little longer."
He murmured softly. "I'll come and get you later."
The cloth-clad boy turned his back to the setting sun and slowly walked out of the forest.
...
Wilderness Mountain Forest
Huo Yuhao caught several fish by the stream and crudely roasted them over a fire. There was no salt, no pepper, no perilla leaves to remove the fishy smell—but for someone already starving, it was more than enough.
He sat beside the campfire, warming his hands, gazing up at the bright moon before lowering his head, his thoughts becoming calm and clear.
In his previous life, he had ascended to become a first-rank god in the God Realm. Yet at the critical moment when he was about to challenge the position of God King, Tang San stabbed him from behind.
The luck of the Douluo Plane was forcibly stripped from his body, and he died on the spot.
Tang Wutong had been there as well.
She merely watched—cold and indifferent.
Only then did Huo Yuhao finally understand.
Everything had been a long-planned conspiracy.
From the very beginning, Tang San's target had always been him.
When he first entered the Star Dou Forest, he met Sister Xiaoya and Beibei and joined the Tang Sect.
Then came Shrek Academy… and Dong'er.
The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eyes.
The binding of fairy herbs.
The so-called trial in Qiankun Wenqing Valley—it had been a death trap. Had he not been extremely lucky, he would have perished long ago.
That was also when the hidden dangers were planted within his body.
The real Dong'er had already died inside Qiankun Wenqing Valley.
Later, Qiu'er's death also carried Tang San's shadow.
The Tang Wutong who appeared afterward was merely a puppet, pieced together by Tang San using his memories.
To seize his fortune—and that of the Golden Dragon Qiu'er—Tang San did not hesitate to split his own daughter's soul in two and forcibly interfere with fate.
According to the laws of the God Realm, gods are forbidden from interfering with the evolution of lower planes without special cause.
Yet Tang San ignored the rules, descended personally, threatened innocent lives, forced Orange to retreat, and strangled the rising dragon of the Sun and Moon Empire.
He nurtured Huo Yuhao into a god—
Then hunted him like livestock.
Tang San… so this was your true purpose.
A bone-chilling coldness flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes.
As for why he was reborn—
Perhaps even the heavens could not tolerate it anymore.
He looked down at his palm and fell silent.
This rebirth was different from before.
This time, he did not meet Sister Xiaoya or Senior Brother.
He did not meet Brother Tianmeng either.
This led to two major deviations.
First, his first soul ring was still empty, and he had not unlocked his second martial soul.
Second, since he never joined the Tang Sect, he naturally had no quota to enter Shrek Academy.
Thinking of the Tang Sect, he sneered inwardly.
Who would have thought that the so-called Tang Buddha who "saved all sentient beings" was, in truth, a Shura who drank blood behind the scenes?
The tragedy of his previous life had been destined the moment he joined the Tang Sect.
In this life, he would still treat Sister Xiaoya and Senior Brother kindly—
But he would never enter the Tang Sect again.
As for repairing Yi Lao's soul… the materials existed.
They were in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eyes.
Those fairy herbs had long since gained sentience, possessing hundred-thousand-year cultivation levels.
With his current strength, barging in forcefully would be extremely dangerous.
If he borrowed a portion of Yi Lao's power, however… it might just be possible.
With these thoughts, Huo Yuhao spent the night alone in the cold mountain wind.
Perhaps when he woke—
Everything would feel real.
...
The Next Morning
Huo Yuhao picked some wild berries, wrapped them in cloth, and set off.
He followed the winding mountain road from dawn until the sun hung high overhead. After walking nearly twenty kilometers, a city finally came into view.
Clearwater City.
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
He had never heard of this city in his previous life.
Yet the architectural style felt strangely unfamiliar—
As if something about it didn't belong to the Douluo Continent he remembered.
But for the moment—
He couldn't tell what was wrong.