Chapter 25: The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm (Part 2)
Huo Yuhao felt as though he had sunk into a warm, golden sea. A gentle force cocooned his entire body, so comfortable he almost didn't want to wake. The heart-stopping, terrifying pressure from before had vanished without a trace, replaced by an unprecedented sense of safety.
"Heh heh, kid, time to wake up!" A languid yet slightly smug voice rang out directly in his consciousness.
Huo Yuhao's spirit jolted, and he "looked" toward the source of the voice. There, floating before him, was a round, plump, crystalline giant silkworm, its bright, large eyes studying him with curiosity—none other than the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. But its size had shrunk considerably, shedding much of its oppressive aura and instead appearing almost... cute?
"Where is this?" Huo Yuhao looked around in bewilderment and found himself standing in a void-like space suffused with a faint golden glow.
"This is your spiritual sea," the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm explained, wriggling its chubby body. "Simply put, it's the depths of your consciousness, the place where your spiritual essence resides. Every soul master has a spiritual sea—only the size and strength differ. Yours has expanded quite a bit thanks to my arrival!"
"My... spiritual sea?" Huo Yuhao looked down at his faintly translucent hands, feeling out this wondrous space. Here, he could clearly perceive every thought, every emotion, as if his entire consciousness had become transparent.
"That's right! I've temporarily stored my source power here." The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm wriggled its plump body proudly. "So, didn't lie to you, did I? Your Spirit Eyes martial soul has evolved, and you got four soul skills for free! Especially Spiritual Detection and Spiritual Sharing—that's a match made in heaven. You'll come to understand their wondrous uses soon enough!"
Huo Yuhao focused his perception and indeed found his visual senses had transformed completely, his mind now brimming with streams of profound, intricate information. He steadied himself and asked the most critical question: "Brother Tianmeng, are you really a million-year soul beast? Why did you choose me?" Though he craved power, he didn't believe he possessed anything particularly special—aside from this rare spiritual attribute.
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm sighed on a spiritual level and began pouring out its grievances. "Don't even get me started! This million-year cultivation of mine sounds impressive, but I'm basically just a walking tonic! Hunted in the Far North, I fled to the Great Star Dou Forest only to be penned up like livestock by those hundred-thousand-year soul beasts... I had to find someone to rely on! Humans with spiritual attributes are one in a million. Now that I've finally run into one with compatible talent like you, how could I not seize the chance?"
It leaned closer, its tone turning conspiratorial. "Truth be told, my combat ability is indeed nothing special, but my spiritual power is the genuine article—truly formidable! If we join forces, we'll surely carve out our own place in the world. I help you become a god; you help me escape this wretched fate as everyone's favorite supplement. How about it?"
Huo Yuhao listened, completely dumbfounded. This million-year soul beast was nothing like the majestic, awe-inspiring figure he'd imagined. Yet, this honesty actually put him somewhat at ease—far better than those people in the Duke's manor who wore kindly faces while scheming behind one's back.
"Then... what was that gray energy that entered my forehead?" Huo Yuhao recalled the icy, deathly aura from before he'd lost consciousness, and worry crept into his voice. "It felt deeply unsettling."
At this, even the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm seemed somewhat troubled. "Ah, that... I haven't fully figured it out either. It appears to be an exceedingly pure spiritual essence, but its attribute is particularly strange—thick with the aura of death. It forced its way in on its own. I meant to block it out, but its quality was too high, and I'd just completed the fusion with you. In a moment of carelessness, I failed to stop it..."
Its tone carried a note of apology. "But don't you worry! I've already used my source power to temporarily seal it in a corner. It won't be stirring up any trouble. Once I've recovered some strength, I'll slowly study exactly what it is. Who knows... it might even turn out to be an opportunity?" This last line came out somewhat feebly.
Huo Yuhao's heart remained uneasy. Was this a buy-one-get-one-free deal? And the bonus gift came from an unknown source. But for now, he had no other choice—he could only place his trust in the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. At least for the moment, this giant worm seemed to mean him no harm.
"Alright, alright, don't overthink it!" The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm perked up again. "First, get familiar with your new abilities. I need to rest for a bit—sealing that gray orb took quite a toll. That young lady outside and your... rather special companions are all watching over you. You're perfectly safe. Call me if you need anything!"
With that, the golden glow around the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm gradually dimmed, as if it had sunk into slumber.
Huo Yuhao's consciousness slowly returned to his body. His head still felt somewhat muddled, but the surging spiritual power within him was undeniably real. He opened his eyes slowly, and the first thing that greeted him was Furina's concerned face.
"Finally awake? How do you feel?" Furina visibly sighed in relief seeing him stir. "You were out for quite a while. It's almost dark."
Huo Yuhao sat up and rubbed his temples. "Sister Furina, I think I really did gain a million-year intelligent soul ring—and four soul skills." He attempted to activate Spiritual Detection, and everything within a radius of several dozen meters instantly presented itself in his mind with crystalline clarity—the veins of leaves, the squirming of insects in the soil, every detail laid bare! This wondrous experience temporarily pushed his earlier worries aside, and a look of delighted surprise spread across his face.
Furina knew perfectly well what had happened, but she played along, putting on a suitably astonished expression. "Really? A million-year soul ring! Quick, tell me—what soul skills did you get?"
Huo Yuhao briefly recounted his exchange with the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm and the effects of the four soul skills, also mentioning that "gray energy" which still troubled him.
The moment Furina heard "gray energy," she inwardly rejoiced: It's Electrolux, just as I thought! But outwardly, she maintained a contemplative front, rubbing her chin. "That does sound rather strange... but didn't the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm say it could keep it under control? Since it chose you, it should help you handle it. Besides, you're not feeling any discomfort now, right? Don't dwell on it too much—focus on getting familiar with your new abilities. That's what matters!"
Her words were both comfort and guidance. She figured that once Electrolux's wisp of divine consciousness stabilized, it would naturally make itself known. No point fretting now.
Huo Yuhao found this reasoning sound and nodded. He stood, stretching his limbs, and felt his physical state was better than ever. He gazed toward the depths of the Great Star Dou Forest, a glint of eagerness flashing in his eyes. With these abilities, securing a hundred-year soul ring shouldn't be a problem anymore, right?
"Sister Furina, what should we do next—" Before Huo Yuhao could finish, his stomach let out a loud growl. He hadn't eaten a single thing since dawn.
Furina couldn't help but laugh. "Next, obviously, we fill our bellies! Mademoiselle Chevaleyda just caught a nice plump rabbit, and Lord Usher gathered some fresh wild berries. Time to witness the culinary prowess of this Water God... ahem, of this young lady's roasted rabbit!"
Seeing Furina so eagerly rolling up her sleeves, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but smile as well. Though he now had a chatterbox of a silkworm grub and a mysterious wisp of gray energy of unknown origin residing in his mind, at this moment—with Sister Furina and three wondrous companions by his side—he felt, for the first time, genuine anticipation for the adventures ahead. As for the two "uninvited guests" in his head... he'd take it one step at a time!