One of the most prominent characteristics of solid-state soul power was probably the fact that they could leverage the origin energy of heaven and earth in the air better. Huo Yuhao had already felt this in his experiment from before.
Even if the solid-state soul power didn"t absorb the soul master"s own soul power, it would still continuously absorb the origin energy in the air by itself. The pertinent soul skill"s strength would therefore increase throughout this process.
This experiment was equivalent to opening a door to another world for Huo Yuhao, and it allowed him to see stranger things regarding soul masters. The first thing he wanted to do when he returned to the academy was to seek out Elder Xuan so that he could answer his questions and clear up his confusion.
“Hey, are you alright? Why are you always in such a daze? Did your injuries this time damage your brain?” Tang Wutong was flying beside him, and she couldn"t help but ask him that question. This fellow has been like this over the past few days. Everyone is worried about him, but they can"t really press him any further for fear of upsetting him. He keeps saying that"s he"s fine, he"s alright – but he doesn"t seem like he"s alright at all!
“Eh?” Huo Yuhao was deep in thought, and his thoughts became a little jumbled when he heard Tang Wutong"s voice. He frowned a little and said, “Of course I"m fine. I"m just thinking about some things.”
Tang Wutong rolled her eyes and said, “What do you have to think about, that you have to do that for a few days? It"s fine if something is wrong with you – just treat it as quickly as possible. Don"t force yourself!”
Huo Yuhao snapped, “Nothing is wrong with me. I"m perfectly fine. There are some questions that I need to think more about, so don"t interrupt my train of thought.” With that, he continued flying forward as he began to contemplate once more.
This guy! Tang Wutong glared at him, but he didn"t respond at all. He doesn"t recognize my good intentions at all. Hmph!
Everyone flew continuously until midday before Xu Sanshi, who had taken point, suggested for everyone to descend and have a rest. It was quite a coincidence that they descended onto a spot next to a wide river.
This enormous river was a hundred meters wide, and the flow of the water was very rapid. Even though it wasn"t very clear, one would consider the bluish-green river water"s clarity to be decent if its volume was taken into account.
“Huo Yuhao, I want to eat grilled fish. This river is so huge – I"m sure there are enough fish here. They must be very fat and juicy,” Nan Qiuqiu exclaimed joyfully.
“Ah? Grilled fish?” Huo Yuhao stared at her, and his eyes looked a little blank.
Xu Sanshi smiled and said, “Yes, Yuhao. Your grilled fish is the best in the world. Give us another taste of it! Everyone will probably get busy once we get back to the academy. You should also stop thinking and rest your mind a little bit. You should switch up your thoughts once in a while no matter what you"re contemplating.”
Huo Yuhao couldn"t really decline his request as he saw everyone"s hopeful eyes. He nodded and went ahead to catch some fish.
Tang Wutong secretly swallowed some saliva as she heard that they were eating grilled fish. She could still vividly recall the aromatic fragrance from the last time.
Catching fish was like a hot knife on b.u.t.ter for a Soul Sage. Huo Yuhao chose to use the simplest and most brutal method.
He froze some of the river"s water before he transformed it into icy spheres and detonated them in the water with Ice Explosion. The vigorous shockwaves flipped a large amount of fish out, and Huo Yuhao used Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to pull them onto the sh.o.r.e.
The entire process took a little more than ten seconds, and he proceeded to then process the fish. Ye Guyi and Nan Qiuqiu had already gone to collect firewood, while the others helped out in their own way to prepare rations and start a fire.
Huo Yuhao"s movement was extremely quick. His deep thoughts over the past few days were very helpful to him, and he had an increasingly strong feeling that he had found the right path. Therefore, he was eager to continue thinking.
The fish were processed after a short while, and a fire had been started. The grilling had begun.
Huo Yuhao didn"t do anything different from the last time. He was still very familiar with the techniques for grilling fish, and grilled fish quickly appeared one after another in his companions" hands for them to enjoy.
“Oh, this is good – it"s so good,” Nan Qiuqiu exclaimed elatedly as she ate.
Tang Wutong was also eating, but she realized that today"s grilled fish seemed a little different from the last time when they were traveling toward the Star Luo Empire"s Northwestern Field Army. The fish still tasted fresh and delicious, while the fire had been controlled extremely well – but something seemed to be missing. In a more exaggerated sense, the grilled fish seemed to lack spirit.
Tang Wutong sat down beside Jiang Nannan. She couldn"t help but whisper, “Sister Nannan, do you see any difference between the grilled fish today and the one we had the last time?”
Jiang Nannan was momentarily stunned. “Difference? Nope! The fish is very tasty. You don"t think it"s nice?”
Tang Wutong shook her head and replied, “Not that – I just feel like something seems to be missing from the last time.”
Jiang Nannan was dazed for another moment before a deep look appeared in her eyes. She whispered, “I think you"re right. Huo Yuhao thought you were Dong"er when he grilled fish for everyone the last time. He gave voice to the emotions in his inner heart when he was grilling for you. Afterwards, it should be because he realized that you"re not Dong"er, so he has treated you like everyone else.”
“Eh?” Tang Wutong stared at Jiang Nannan, surprised. She turned her eyes toward the grilled fish in her hands.
The fish is missing emotions? It"s missing a spirit? Can emotions be infused into a fish? In that case, his feelings for w.a.n.g Dong"er must be very deep!
For some reason, envy seemed to develop in her heart as her thoughts stopped here.
Everyone was satisfied after eating the grilled fish, and they continued their journey.
It was midnight when they returned to Shrek City. Xu Sanshi and the others went back to the Tang Sect, while Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong went to Shrek Academy.
Huo Yuhao was the group leader, so he had to report the results of their expedition to Elder Xuan. Tang Wutong didn"t belong to the Tang Sect, and she was staying in Shrek Academy in the first place.
Darkness permeated the skies. Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong weren"t flying anymore as they walked toward Shrek Academy, as that was a form of respect for the academy.
Shrek City had transformed quite a bit over this period of time. With the full effort of the academy and the Douluo continent"s three native empires, the new Shrek City"s construction speed was one of the fastest in the continent.
According to their current speed, they would need one more year at most before the Shrek City"s overall structure would take shape, and they would need another three years after that before the new city would be completely established.
Once the new Shrek City was constructed, its scale would rival that of Star Luo City and Heaven Dou City. It would be second only to the Sun Moon Empire"s Radiant City, which was the number-one city on the continent.
The academy"s main gates were already shut. However, that didn"t pose a problem to Huo Yuhao or Tang Wutong at all. Huo Yuhao didn"t want to disturb anyone, so he used Imitation before he concealed both Tang Wutong and himself, and they discreetly leapt over the wall.
The Sea G.o.d"s Lake came into view in the distance. Huo Yuhao stopped as he arrived at the lakeside, and Tang Wutong did the same.
The night sky was impressive tonight. Moonlight shone across the Sea G.o.d"s Lake, and it cast light on the lake"s clear ripples and waves. The moonlight was gentle, while all sorts of vegetation stacked on each other by the lakeside. The Sea G.o.d"s Island was barely visible in the distance as if this were a paradise on earth.
Huo Yuhao began to feel dazed as he saw everything in front of him. He could still clearly remember the time when he had realized that Dong"er was a girl – weren"t they on Sea G.o.d"s Lake?
The Sea G.o.d"s Fated Blind Date. Everything that had happened that day left an extremely deep impression in his mind.
Idiot – I"m her idiot. I was with her for such a long time, yet I didn"t realize she was a girl. That was really stupid of me!
He recounted all the sweetness and tenderness he had shared with Dong"er, and the corner of his mouth curled into a faint smile. He felt as if he could see Dong"er once more under the moonlight.
Dong"er, have you really been beside me this entire time? But why don"t you show yourself to see me?
Huo Yuhao reached inside as he reminisced, and retrieved the handkerchief that he had treasured this entire time.
Tang Wutong was but momentarily stunned by the beautiful scenery on Sea G.o.d"s Lake as she arrived by the lakeside. She was about to return to Sea G.o.d"s Island, but she immediately realized that Huo Yuhao was in a daze once more. Except, this was different from the last time. The way he was dazed from before seemed very muddleheaded as if he were very deep in thought.
However, his eyes were very gentle in this moment, much like the moonlight reflecting off the lake. The corner of his mouth was curled upward, and there was a slight smile on his face.
She instantly froze when she saw him reach into his shirt and take out a handkerchief that felt extremely familiar to her. That… isn"t that my handkerchief?
Huo Yuhao closed his eyes as he held onto the handkerchief and slowly took a deep breath through his nose. The moist air on the lakeside and the clear and fresh smell of vegetation wafted into his nose, while the handkerchief"s crisp aroma that he had yearned for was also part of all those refreshing smells that he was familiar with. He felt as if his heart and mind were both intoxicated as his entire body relaxed.
Tang Wutong was just watching him from beside him. She blushed a little – why is he holding my handkerchief? Does that mean he knows that I was sleeping beside him that night?
Huo Yuhao opened his eyes as he looked down at the handkerchief in his hands and heaved a faint sigh. “Dong"er, when will you return to my side? Have you really forgotten about me, or do you have some hidden troubles? If you have any problems, why don"t you let me face them together with you?”
b.a.s.t.a.r.d! He thinks my handkerchief belongs to her. Tang Wutong was so upset that she started to pout.
Huo Yuhao was completely immersed in his wonderful memories. Naturally, he wasn"t paying attention to Tang Wutong"s emotional changes. However, she didn"t disturb him and was just standing next to him.
This b.a.s.t.a.r.d – he"s quite concentrated in his love. Tang Wutong couldn"t help but recall the first time she had met Huo Yuhao. He almost immediately charged at her and embraced her in his arms, and that embrace was burning with pa.s.sion and filled with emotions. Tang Wutong was overcome with embarra.s.sment at that time, but she felt as if she were about to melt in his arms. She began to feel a little feverish when she recalled that moment.