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Chapter 53: Sin of Greed
As each second ticked by, a vibrant jade-green light emanated from every spine and rib of Huo Yuhao's body. This was a clear sign—the fusion of the Spirit bone was nearing completion. And at that precise moment, a dark-golden sphere of energy in Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea finally stirred.
"Hm?"
The sudden movement immediately drew Huo Yuhao's attention. He had fully unlocked the Sin of Greed over a month ago, yet he had never truly discovered its purpose—until now.
In the next instant, the dark-golden sphere split, separating a fluid-like mass of energy of the same color. It surged out from Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea and darted toward the Spirit bone in the process of merging.
From Snow Empress's perspective, Huo Yuhao's forehead suddenly glowed with a dark-golden light, moving at a steady, deliberate pace toward his chest.
"Is this… fusion?"
Huo Yuhao's brow furrowed. Peering inward with spiritual perception, he could clearly see that, with the addition of the Sin of Greed, the previously jade-green Ice Jade Scorpion Empress's torso bone began to pulse rhythmically, alternating between jade-green and dark-golden light, as though it were breathing.
And in this process, the two colors, like water blending with milk, began to slowly merge.
After roughly a minute, the entire torso bone had transformed into a profound, green-golden hue. Sensing the fusion complete, Huo Yuhao instinctively examined it with his spiritual power.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's eyes widen in astonishment, glittering with excitement, several nearby Spirit beasts could no longer contain their curiosity and asked aloud,
"Yuhao, what happened?"
"It's a bit complicated… start the Soul Spirit Contract first. I'll explain everything as we go."
Huo Yuhao began arranging the Soul Spirit Contract at a rapid pace while speaking. Ice Empress had already entrusted him with the fused torso bone; delaying would put Ice Empress at risk.
For Huo Yuhao, supporting the fusion of a spirit bone was effortless, and so performing the Soul Spirit Contract posed no real difficulty either. Through his explanation, the others gradually understood the purpose of the dark-golden energy they had just witnessed.
In short, Ice Empress's torso bone, transformed by the Original Sin of Greed, had gained the potential for evolution—just like an ice-attribute Martial Spirit.
Huo Yuhao could now absorb other torso bones or energy to increase the lifespan of the Ice-Jade Scorpion Empress's torso bone.
Ordinarily, a spirit bone could only accept one addition per body part, but this torso bone, modified by the Original Sin of Greed, allowed Huo Yuhao to continue absorbing additional same type spirit bones.
However, unlike the evolution of a Martial Spirit, which was a qualitative leap, the evolution of a spirit bone could only extend its lifespan. From this perspective, Martial Spirit evolution remained superior.
"Then…"
Skydream Ice Silkworm hesitated, his thoughts daring to wander into possibilities, but Huo Yuhao shook his head first.
"No. I just sensed the limitations for spirit bone evolution: first, the attribute must match, and second, the quality of the absorbed spirit bone must exceed that of the already absorbed bones; otherwise, absorption is impossible."
"You call this Greed? It doesn't even accept weaker spirit bones?"
Realizing Huo Yuhao's meaning, Skydream Ice Silkworm could not help but tease.
"Consider yourself lucky," Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes. "This thing's effect is far greater than you imagine, Skydream."
To evolve Ice-Jade Scorpion Empress's torso bone's lifespan now, only the torso bones provided by Snow Empress could suffice.
After all, apart from Snow Empress, the entire continent could not produce ice-attribute spirit beasts with spirit bones superior to Ice Empress's. This meant that evolving a torso bone was an extremely difficult task.
Yet Huo Yuhao did not feel that the effect of Greed was useless. While higher-quality spirit bones might be scarce, higher-quality energy was not necessarily so.
Moreover, the Original Sin of Greed did not act solely on the torso bone; in the future, it could also evolve other body parts' Spirit bones. Its true purpose was not to excel but to compensate for deficiencies.
The first thought that struck Huo Yuhao upon understanding the effect of the Original Sin of Greed was of his previous life's Ice-Jade Scorpion left arm bone, which had possessed the Ice Explosion Technique.
The strength of the Ice Explosion Technique had largely depended on Ice Empress modifying the arm bone, with a lifespan of 100,000 years when Huo Yuhao absorbed it. Only then could the technique reach its formidable power.
Otherwise, even a 10,000-year spirit bone could never have unleashed such power.
Now, with the Original Sin of Greed, Huo Yuhao could make the spirit bone even stronger than before. The potential of the Ice Explosion Technique, once enhanced, was unimaginable.
Shrek Academy.
Inner Academy.
"Hey, look, there's a new mission again!"
Passing by the mission board, a sharp-eyed inner academy student instinctively tugged at his companion, who brightened upon hearing the news.
"Let's go check it out."
To graduate from the Inner Academy, students had to complete thirty tasks issued by the Shrek Inner Court. Each day, assigned instructors would record the tasks on a special mission board for students to view and accept.
Hence, inner academy students would glance at the mission board whenever they passed, hoping to find a suitable mission. Beyond graduation requirements, completing these tasks was also a means of earning rewards.
Though the missions were voluntary and unrewarded by the academy itself, their objectives often promised substantial gains.
Particularly, those missions were highly sought after; once posted, students would compete fiercely for them.
Unlike missions from spirit masters, many missions were from ordinary humans. Completing these missions was easier, yet more lucrative. After all, the Shrek Academy claimed to protect the continent, but doing so required resources, didn't it?
Officials often hoarded vast wealth, and defeating one could yield immense spoils—essentially redistributing ill-gotten gains to the righteous.
"Recent disappearances in Ruixue City, suspected Evil Spirit Masters involved. Number unknown. Investigation and resolution required. I think it's a small town north of Heaven Dou City?"
"Tch, Evil Spirit Masters?"
One student sneered. "Dangerous and no real payoff. Should we take it?"
His companion pondered briefly before replying,
"I think it's manageable. The missing are ordinary people, and the numbers aren't high. Even if they're Evil Spirit Masters, they probably aren't that strong. We have thirty tasks to complete anyway; this one's relatively simple."
"Ugh… why does Dai Yueheng always get lucky? We rarely find missions from the officials, yet he's had two in a row. I even heard he obtained over 100,000 Gold Coins from a mission last time."
"Stop complaining. Let's just accept it and register."
As the two discussed, a voice came from behind them,
"Excuse me, can I take this mission instead?"
The two turned instinctively, startled by the newcomer.
"Senior Sister Zhang!"
"Hello," Zhang Lexuan nodded her head calmly, as if unaware of their previous discussion, and gestured to the paper in their hands.
"May I take this mission?"
(End of Chapter 53)