webnovelvip Chapter 263 Zi Lu
Chapter 263 Zi Lu
Chapter 263 Zi Lu
The next morning, Huo Yuhao set off directly for Tiandou City.
Although Xue Heng had stated that the date of the conferment ceremony was entirely up to Huo Yuhao, all the officials of Tiandou City awaited his arrival.
But Huo Yuhao couldn't really keep Tiandou City waiting for too long.
Talking to Huo Yun'er is an unspoken understanding between Xue Heng and Huo Yuhao.
A son who holds a high position should spend a good night with his mother.
When Huo Yuhao arrived in Tiandou City, Xue Heng first held a grand celebration banquet for him, and the whole city rejoiced.
The grand ceremony three days later drew massive crowds.
From the majestic city gates to the nine-tiered white jade steps in front of the main hall of the imperial palace, the area was already filled with solemn imperial guards and fervent crowds.
The golden flag of the Heavenly Soul Empire and the blue dragon flag symbolizing Huo Yuhao complemented each other, almost obscuring the sky.
"The Azure Dragon King, Huo Yuhao, is a prodigy with unparalleled martial prowess!"
"In the Eastern Expedition, we recovered our homeland, subdued a powerful enemy, opened up the sea frontier, and achieved a feat unprecedented in a thousand years!"
"By special decree, Huo Yuhao is hereby granted the title of—Guardian Dragon King!"
"He is bestowed with a lapis lazuli python robe, a nine-dragon crown, and the Dragon Seal to protect the nation! His rank is above that of a prince, and his honor is equal to that of the Imperial Preceptor! He is exempt from bowing to the Emperor and is allowed to enter the palace with a sword and shoes!"
"May the glory of the Huo family endure forever, sharing the fate of the nation!"
This is the highest level of promise an emperor can make to his subjects, transcending the significance of any reward itself.
Banners fluttered and ribbons danced in the air; the entire city was immersed in a near-frenzied celebration and adoration.
The royal banquet that night was far more extravagant and lively than the previous victory celebration banquet.
Even the grandest feasts and magnificent chapters must come to an end. Once everything settles down, returning to one's own path is the right way.
Huo Yuhao had too many things piling up, so after the banquet, he rushed to the Soul Research Institute without stopping.
After understanding the specific demands of the place, Huo Yuhao immediately made a decision to gather one hundred carefully trained new soul mentors and, together with Tianhe Wuchen, the Body Sect, and the Holy Dragon Brigade, head to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
He intends to open a furnace here at the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire to refine a small-scale biochemical gas furnace.
Today, the Institute of Mind and Soul has no shortage of theory, no shortage of future prospects, and no shortage of resources.
The only thing lacking is the powerful tools to fully implement these measures.
Mist hangs in the air, and smoke shrouds the secluded valley.
Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged above the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire, with streams of light emanating from the Qi Refining Furnace in front of him.
His hands moved so fast, like butterflies flitting among flowers, that only a blur could be seen.
Around the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire, the most outstanding young talents of the Heavenly Soul Empire sat together, cultivating with their eyes closed.
Huo Yuhao has now opened his Heavenly Heart Communication, which has greatly increased their cultivation speed.
Through the last exchange with the will of the Douluo Star plane, the amplification efficiency of the Heavenly Heart Interaction has reached four times.
With the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, a natural wonder second only to the Lake of Life, these geniuses are confident that they can break the record in the Soul Master world.
"They're all good kids."
Poison Undying placed a Jade Phosphorus Nine Absolute Flower into his storage soul tool: "The future pillars of the empire, and even more so the future of Douluo Star."
Di Tian shifted his gaze from Huo Yuhao to Du Busi's eyes: "Sect Master Poison, isn't Ao Tian about to become a Soul Saint?"
"It'll be soon," Poison Immortal said with a chuckle, "next year, no less."
"However, Aotian has already decided that he will wait until Yuhao creates his first soul skill before using the theory of Qi to achieve his own Soul Saint status."
""
The Soul Saint stage can be considered a crucial transition for Soul Masters, bridging the gap between their previous and future achievements.
If one wants to switch to cultivating Qi theory in the future, breaking through from the Martial Soul True Body of a Soul Saint will be the greatest help in perfecting Qi theory.
As Huo Yuhao's senior brother, Long Aotian knew that he would find it difficult to provide Huo Yuhao with much help in the future.
Because he was willing to be the first person in the future to attempt to challenge the Soul Saint with the theory of Qi.
It's not just Long Aotian.
The entire seed generation of the Body Sect, the Azure Dragon Guard, and even Tianhe Wuchen were all waiting for Yuhao to take this epoch-making first step.
They were willing to sacrifice their future to pave the way for Huo Yuhao's theories and to light a beacon for those who would follow.
Every era has its leaders, and every generation has its tasks.
"Yuhao is a trendsetter of this era."
"And these children are the kindling that will ignite the spark of a new era."
"They come from different backgrounds and have different personalities, but they all share a sincere heart and are ready to challenge the unknown."
Du Busi and Di Tian looked at the young people whose auras, varying in strength and attribute, were emanating from their bodies.
Guided by the communion of the heavens, they flowed like rivers into the sea, or like sparks igniting a prairie fire, together creating a vibrant scene.
A canvas with limitless potential.
"This is what young people should be like."
"This sense of responsibility, this awareness of passing on the torch, is the greatest hope for the future of the Empire, the Soul Beasts, and even the entire Douluo Star."
Di Tian laughed and said, "Throughout history, those who have been able to establish their own schools and create new chapters have all stood on the shoulders of giants, gathered a wealth of wisdom, and added their own outstanding comprehension and unparalleled courage."
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"Yuhao already possesses enough resources to pave a brand new future for Douluo Star."
Poison Undying nodded in deep agreement: "Yuhao's momentum has already risen. With the Empire's investment at all costs, the Body Sect's all-out support, and the tacit approval and watchfulness of the soul beasts, the combined power is enough to support a brand new framework."
"A framework that truly fits Douluo Star."
Emperor Tian remained silent.
Just then, Huo Yuhao's actions suddenly changed above the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well!
His originally complex and precise hand seals, which drew upon the primordial energy of heaven and earth and the creative light within the furnace, were suddenly withdrawn, as if gathering a vast expanse of waves into a small space.
The chemical refining furnace immediately emitted a deep and long hum.
The spewed energy streams swirled back, the furnace body shone brightly, and countless mysterious and complex runes appeared.
"Freeze!"
As Huo Yuhao shouted, he slammed his hands together inward!
Buzz!
All eyes were instantly drawn to them!
A furnace, about one meter in diameter and with a restrained dark gold color, was slowly "spit out" from the deep opening of the Qi Refining Furnace.
Its complex and precise structure far surpasses that of ordinary soul tools. Countless fine lines, as delicate as gossamer threads, naturally intertwine and nest on the dark gold surface of the furnace, forming a natural and harmonious Daoist charm.
Although its size is much smaller than the mother furnace, the core meaning of "refining all things and returning to the origin" that it exudes is of the same origin and quality as the huge Qi Refining Furnace. Huo Yuhao exhaled a long breath of turbid air.
Refining metals with conflicting properties and fusing them together is no longer a difficult task for him given his current cultivation level and the extraordinary nature of his Qi Refining Furnace.
The real challenge lies with "God".
The goal is to ensure that this small furnace truly inherits the "divine" power of the Huasheng Qi Refining Furnace—the ability to turn stone into gold and decay into magic, and to "refine all things."
At this moment, the dark gold furnace floating in the air, though complete in form and pattern, still had a faint sense of stagnation in its core array and energy flow, like a puppet with a perfect body but whose soul had not yet been awakened.
"Dean Xuan."
Huo Yuhao looked down at Xuan Ziwen, whose eyes were gleaming with a sharp light: "This first sub-furnace has completed its body and is fully formed."
"However, its spirituality has not yet awakened, and it still lacks the most essential spiritual imprint."
"This furnace belongs to none other than you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Yuhao spread his five fingers and gently guided them toward the small dark gold furnace.
The small furnace emitted a slight tremor, transformed into a stream of light, and flew towards Xuan Ziwen's location.
Xuan Ziwen practically lunged forward, his eyes fixed on the furnace, seeing nothing else.
He sat down cross-legged, placed the furnace in front of him, and slammed his hands together in a mudra towards his chest!
"puff!"
Xuan Ziwen opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of his most primordial essence blood!
This mouthful of essence blood containing the original source of Xuan Ziwen was not poured as wine, but transformed into a scorching, viscous rainbow of blood, precisely poured onto the core of the nested sub-furnace.
Without hesitation, he immediately began to use his spiritual power to guide the wisp of blood essence into a carving knife, probing into the core spirituality inside the furnace that had not yet been fully activated.
If it can be successfully activated, then this sub-furnace will completely belong to Xuan Ziwen.
Sizzle!
The moment the essence blood came into contact with the dark gold furnace, it produced a sound like a red-hot iron being quenched.
The dark golden furnace walls seemed to come alive, and the mysterious patterns that were originally just static engravings suddenly lit up.
A faint yet extremely tenacious spiritual fluctuation, like the first cry of a newborn baby, stubbornly and clearly emanated from the core depths of the furnace.
"Hahahahaha!"
Xuan Ziwen wept with joy: "It's done! The spiritual imprint is done!"
Then, he slammed his hands against the furnace wall and poured his spiritual energy into it without reservation!
The dark gold furnace emitted a high-pitched and clear hum, completely breaking free from Huo Yuhao's pull and hovering steadily in front of Xuan Ziwen.
Light flowed across the furnace body, and the spiritual fluctuations at its core blended seamlessly with Xuan Ziwen's spiritual power, without any stagnation. Instead, it exuded a harmonious feeling of perfect coordination and perfect understanding.
Huo Yuhao also showed a relieved smile.
This first step, this crucial step, has finally been taken.
"Dean Xuan, let's test its weight!" Huo Yuhao said loudly.
"That's exactly what I was thinking!" Xuan Ziwen was excited and grabbed a handful of things from his storage soul tool without hesitation.
There is ordinary iron ore, ore containing a weak amount of soul power, and several pieces of low-level rare metals with conflicting attributes.
Without even glancing at it, he threw himself headfirst into the swirling dark gold vortex above the furnace!
The moment the materials were added, the vortex suddenly contracted inward, and the furnace lid slammed shut!
All eyes were fixed on the small, dark gold furnace.
The speed at which the light flowed across the furnace wall suddenly increased, and the light of the core array faintly shone through the furnace wall, presenting a rhythm of efficient operation.
The furnace vibrated slightly, emitting a low and steady hum.
The buzzing gradually subsided.
The stove lid slid open silently.
An aroma far purer and more refined than that of the materials used spread out.
At the bottom of the stove, several things lay quietly:
A small piece of refined iron, gleaming with a pure metallic luster and free of any impurities.
Several metal ingots with mild properties and restrained energy.
A small clump of metallic powder, shimmering with different properties of light, as clear as glass.
"Incredible skill—absolutely incredible skill!"
A young researcher at the Soul Research Institute muttered to himself, trembling with excitement.
This is the future they're looking for! This is what soul tools should look like!
Turning the rotten into the miraculous!
With trembling hands, Xuan Ziwen carefully took out the refined product from the furnace.
The key to changing the world that he had been searching for all his life was finally in his hands!
Without hesitation, Xuan Ziwen bowed deeply to Huo Yuhao: "Xuan Ziwen is willing to wait for the Azure Dragon King to achieve the Qi Theory, so that he may become a Title Douluo!"
Huo Yuhao descended from mid-air and helped Xuan Ziwen up, saying, "I'm not the kind of genius who can create something from nothing and then perfect a completely new system to the point where nothing can be added to it."
All I can do is offer a theory and a seed.
Theory points the way, and seeds contain possibilities.
But for a tree to truly grow tall and provide shade, it requires the nurturing of countless hands, the collision of countless wisdoms, and countless trials and corrections.
After hearing Huo Yuhao's words, everyone present nodded in deep agreement.
Huo Yuhao didn't delay any longer. He rose higher and hovered above the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire, where he began to refine the second sub-furnace.
Seeing Huo Yuhao refocus his energy on refining the secondary furnace, Du Busi turned to Di Tian and asked, "Brother Gu Tian, has Xiong Jun challenged you?"
Di Tian shook his head and smiled bitterly.
He didn't know if Du Bu Si was just used to calling him "Brother Gu Tian" or if he was deliberately trying to take advantage of him.
"On the night the coronation banquet ended, Xiong Jun challenged me to a duel."
Di Tian replied, "After he learned some of the power techniques of the Azure Dragon Tearing the Sky Hand from Yu Hao, he has always wanted to dethrone me from the position of Beast God."
"But what he didn't know was that while Yuhao was teaching him, I was also secretly learning from him."
Di Tian and Du Busi had nothing to hide and openly admitted that they had also learned a few tricks from Huo Yuhao.
Poison Undying let out a "Whoa": "So, the reason Xiong-jun hasn't been guarding the council these past few days is because you took care of him?"
A rare hint of helplessness appeared on Di Tian's face, along with a knowing smile.
"With the guidance of this technique, Xiong Jun's brute strength is indeed three times more ferocious than before, tearing through the void with unstoppable force."
"But in the end, I managed to suppress it with the Dragon God Claw, which incorporated some of the true essence of the Azure Dragon Tear-the-Sky Hand."
"His injuries aren't serious, just a blow to his pride. He'll probably be bedridden for a while."
"Oh, by the way, I've already had Brigitte deliver that Silver Beast King to Azure Dragon City."
"Now everyone in the Star Dou Great Forest wants to take it for a walk, so it needs to rest."
Poison couldn't help but imagine the scene of Xiong Jun charging forward with a roar, only to be slammed into the ground by Di Tian.
He gave Di Tian a thumbs up: "Brother Gu Tian, you're truly superior! Your observations are incredibly insightful! You're firmly in control of the Beast God position!"
Di Tian shook his head, his gaze returning to Huo Yuhao and the radiant Transformation Furnace in front of him.
"What Yuhao brought was not just power, but a completely new path and perspective."
"Bear Lord is just the first in the Star Dou Great Forest to feel the impact."
"Compared to Xiong Jun's challenge to me, I look forward to the future showdown between Tianmeng and me."