The moon cast a silver sheen over the Lake of Life, its reflection shimmering on the water's surface like a shattered mirror of the heavens. The Core Region of the Star Dou Great Forest was never truly silent; it breathed with the soft chirping of nocturnal spirit insects and the distant, low rumble of some great beast turning in its sleep. For Huo Yuhao, nestled in his small, warm cave, these sounds were no longer a source of terror, but a strangely comforting lullaby.
He lay on a bed of soft, mossy grass Bi Ji had prepared for him, his new blue robes feeling like a second skin. His body was pleasantly tired from a day of training, a healthy ache that spoke of progress, not punishment. His mind was calm, his Soul Power circulating smoothly through his newly cleansed meridians according to the rhythm of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. For the first time, he was drifting off to sleep with a full belly and a peaceful heart.
It was in this serene state, hovering on the edge of dreams, that a frantic, high-pitched voice ripped through the tranquility of his mind.
'Kid! Kid, wake up! Get in here, NOW!'
It was Brother Skydream, and he sounded more panicked than Huo Yuhao had ever heard him.
The world outside dissolved. In an instant, Huo Yuhao's consciousness was pulled from his body and into the vast, shimmering expanse of his own Spiritual Sea. The sea itself was vibrant, larger and brighter than it had been just a week ago, a testament to his diligent cultivation of the Purple Demon Eyes and the nourishment from the forest's rich spiritual energy.
But the scene within the sea was anything but peaceful.
Skydream Iceworm's crystalline spiritual form was zipping back and forth, radiating waves of pure anxiety. His frantic energy was directed at the quiet corner of the sea where the small, grey ball of light had resided in motionless silence.
It was no longer silent.
The grey ball was pulsing with a slow, rhythmic light, like a deep and ancient heart beginning to beat once more. With each pulse, it drew in the ambient life energy that now saturated Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Sea, a direct result of Bi Ji's training and the potent environment. The grey light was growing brighter, stronger, and a formless, immense pressure was beginning to emanate from it, a pressure that made Skydream's million-year-old soul tremble.
'Look at it!' Skydream shrieked mentally, pointing a translucent tendril at the phenomenon. 'It's waking up! I knew it! I knew it was some kind of parasite or a hidden enemy! It's been biding its time, feeding on your energy, and now it's ready to make its move! We have to fight it! We have to destroy it before it takes over your body!'
Huo Yuhao stared at the pulsing grey light. He felt the immense pressure Skydream spoke of, an ancient power that dwarfed his own nascent abilities. Yet, he felt no malice. There was no killing intent, no spiritual corrosion like he'd felt from Zi Ji's aura, no predatory hunger.
There was just… power. And a deep, profound weariness, like a titan stirring from an eternal slumber. The Life Guardian Blade, resting quietly within the Eye of Destiny, hummed softly in resonance with the light, a gentle, reassuring thrum.
'Calm down, Brother Skydream,' Huo Yuhao projected, his own mental voice a stark contrast to Skydream's hysteria. 'It's not going to harm us.'
'Not going to harm us?! Kid, are you crazy?! That thing is an unknown variable! It repelled my spiritual power like it was nothing! In our own home! We can't take that risk!'
As Skydream continued his frantic tirade, the pulsing of the grey ball of light began to change. It quickened, and the light grew more concentrated, pulling itself inward until it formed a solid, incandescent sphere. The pressure intensified for a moment, silencing even Skydream, before it gently subsided.
Then, a voice echoed through the Spiritual Sea. It was ancient, tired, and filled with a wisdom that seemed to predate the mountains themselves.
"…The life energy is potent indeed. And this blade, forged from the very essence of Life Gold… It has done more than simply stabilize this wisp of a soul. It has allowed me to piece together memories that were long shattered…"
The grey sphere of light dissolved, not into nothingness, but into the spectral, translucent form of an old man. He wore simple, archaic grey robes, and his face was lined with the passage of eons. His form was faint, almost see-through, but his eyes… his eyes were as deep and vast as the starry night sky, holding a power that made the very fabric of the Spiritual Sea bow in deference.
He focused first on Skydream, then on Huo Yuhao.
"Strange," the old man mused, his voice echoing with ancient power. "The method you used to turn this… large worm… into what you call a Soul Spirit. The incantation, the principles of symbiotic soul-binding… they are remarkably similar to the holy necromantic arts I once possessed."
Skydream bristled with indignation. 'Hey! Who are you calling a large worm, you old ghost?! I am the one and only Skydream Iceworm! The world's first Million-Year Soul Beast! Show some respect!'
The old man's gaze did not even flicker. He completely ignored Skydream's outburst as if he were a buzzing fly, his full attention settling on Huo Yuhao. "And this Divine Tool," he continued, his spectral eyes gesturing towards the Eye of Destiny that hovered at the center of the sea. "The way it resonates with the soul, its connection to fate and life… This, too, feels like one of my creations. And yet… I have no memory of ever teaching you, child. Explain."
Huo Yuhao stood before the ancient spirit, his mind racing. The book Elder Huo had left him contained information on Elder Yi, the Holy Necromancer, his future self's most respected teacher. It had detailed his tragic, manipulated sacrifice. Looking at this powerful, wise spirit, Huo Yuhao knew, with absolute certainty, who this was.
This was his teacher. A man his future self-had sacrificed everything to give a second chance.
He could lie. He could feign ignorance. But looking into those ancient eyes, he felt that anything but the complete truth would be an insult. This man, and Brother Skydream, were his truest comrades in this new life. They deserved to know.
He took a deep breath, his small form standing resolute in the face of two immense powers.
'Elder Yi. Brother Skydream. What I am about to tell you is the deepest secret of my existence.'
He began to speak, his mental voice clear and steady. He told them everything. He spoke of the God of Emotions, his future self, trapped in a gilded cage in the Divine Realm. He explained the profound sorrow and rage that future self felt upon discovering his entire life had been a meticulously crafted lie, a stage play directed by the Sea God, Tang San.
He didn't know all the emotional details, the personal tragedies that his future self had kept locked away, but he recounted the objective facts from the book: the manipulation of his comrades, the forced reconciliation with his father, and the cold, calculated orchestration of Elder Yi's death at the Clear Sky Sect.
He described the ultimate act of rebellion: his future self burning his own divinity, siphoning the Divine Realm's core energy, not to travel back himself, but to send the Eye of Destiny, containing all his knowledge and a final wisp of his essence, back through time as a gift.
He explained that the powerful divine consciousness that had defeated Di Tian and negotiated with the Ferocious Beasts was that final remnant of his future self, who had used the last of his power to secure his safety before dissipating forever.
The Spiritual Sea fell into a profound silence as his story concluded.
It was Skydream who broke it, his spiritual form practically vibrating with an energy that was no longer panic, but pure, unadulterated, explosive excitement.
'Are you serious?! You're telling me that god… was YOU?! From the future?!' Skydream's thoughts crashed through the sea like a tidal wave. 'That means… that means my plan worked! It was destined to work! You becoming a god isn't just a gamble anymore, it's a historical fact! A pre-written destiny! Hah! Hahahaha! I knew it! I knew I had the best judgment of all beasts! I picked a future God! My investment is the safest in the entire universe!'
His joyous, egocentric rambling filled the air, a stark contrast to the quiet gravity of the other presence.
Elder Yi was silent for a long time, his spectral form unmoving. He looked at the small, earnest boy before him, and the pieces of a puzzle he didn't even know he was a part of clicked into place. The overwhelming sadness in that divine consciousness, the single-minded focus on ensuring the boy's safety, the immense sacrifice… it all made a terrible, tragic sense.
His future disciple had suffered unimaginably. He had reached the pinnacle of existence only to find it was a lie, and had chosen to erase himself from reality for a chance to set things right, to save the people he cared about. To save him.
A complex wave of emotions washed over the ancient necromancer. There was a profound sorrow for the suffering of his other self's student, a deep pride in the man he became—strong enough to defy the gods—and a quiet, fierce determination to ensure that this boy, his disciple, would never walk that same tragic path.
"So," Elder Yi's voice finally echoed, softer now, tinged with a hint of warmth. "It seems that even in another timeline, I chose a truly remarkable disciple."
He looked at Huo Yuhao, his gaze both a question and an invitation. "That future you is gone. His karma is his own. You are you. A new soul on a new path. But the connection remains. Huo Yuhao, are you willing to formally accept me, Yi Lai Ke Si, as your teacher?"
Huo Yuhao's heart swelled with emotion. This was the moment. This was the bond his future self had yearned to protect. Without a second of hesitation, he dropped to his knees in the ethereal space of his Spiritual Sea, bowing his head deeply in the most formal gesture of respect.
"Disciple Huo Yuhao pays his respects to Teacher!" he declared, his voice ringing with sincerity and joy.
A gentle, pleased smile graced Elder Yi's ancient face. "Good. Rise, my disciple."
As Huo Yuhao stood, he felt a profound shift within himself. He was no longer just a boy with a secret legacy. He was now a student, a disciple with a teacher to guide him, a true inheritor of a power that had once shaken the continent.
"As your teacher," Elder Yi began, his tone now one of guidance, "I must inform you of my current condition. Your future self's gift was immense. The life energy and the Life Gold have completely stabilized this remnant of my soul. It will no longer dissipate. In fact, it is slowly growing stronger by drawing on the vitality of this place."
His spectral form seemed to solidify slightly, his presence growing more distinct. "My power is a shadow of what it once was. I cannot call upon the full might of a Holy Necromancer. However," his eyes glinted with a power that transcended physical limitations, "the quality of my soul is that of a being who once crossed the threshold of divinity. In a direct confrontation of spiritual power… even that large black dragon outside would not be my match."
Skydream, who had been listening, let out a mental gasp. Stronger than Di Tian?! This old ghost was even more of a monster than he had imagined!
"However," Elder Yi continued, his tone cautious, "unleashing such power would exhaust me completely and halt my recovery for a very long time. I am your hidden blade, disciple, to be used only when all other options have failed. For now, my primary purpose is to recover, and to guide you."
Huo Yuhao's heart soared. He had another guardian, a trump card of unimaginable power sleeping within him. The last vestiges of fear for his future vanished, replaced by a boundless sense of security and determination.
"Teacher, please rest and recover!" Huo Yuhao said earnestly. "The life energy here is almost endless. Aunt Bi Ji told me so. And she, Di Tian, and the other beasts… they are all my protectors now. They will not harm me. You can absorb as much energy as you need without any worry!"
Elder Yi nodded, a look of satisfaction on his face. "Excellent. This environment is indeed a supreme sanctuary for soul recovery. I will enter a state of deep meditation to integrate my recovered memories and accelerate my healing. Do not hesitate to call upon me if you need guidance in your cultivation, especially in matters of the spirit. Your methods and my own arts are highly compatible."
With a final, reassuring look at his new disciple, Elder Yi's form faded, dissolving back into the now stable, gently pulsing grey sphere of light, which settled peacefully next to the Life Guardian Blade placed in the Spiritual Sea from the Eye of Destiny.
Huo Yuhao's consciousness returned to his body in the cave. The moon was still high in the sky. Only a few moments had passed. But for him, everything had changed. He was not alone. He had his comrades, his guardians, and now, his teacher. His path was clear, his heart was full, and the journey ahead, while fraught with challenge, was one he would now walk with the strength of giants at his back.