š CHAPTER 4: The God King's Gaze
The pressure in the cave was suffocating. Huo Yuhao felt as if the air had turned to lead, each breath a struggle. The man in blue robes stood at the entrance, his presence both serene and overwhelming. The gentle smile on his face did not reach his eyes, which held a depth of calculation that made Huo Yuhao's soul tremble.
Tang San. The God King had descended to the mortal world, decades before he was supposed to in the original story.
Huo Yuhao's mind raced. The system interface in his vision flickered with urgent warnings. The live-stream chat, which had been frozen in terror, now erupted with panic and advice.
[Viewer_GodsAreWatching]: "Don't reveal anything! He's probing!"
[Viewer_AsuraPath]:"He can't directly interfere! The heavenly rules! But he can test you!"
[Viewer_CalmDown]:"Answer normally. You're just a kid who got lucky. Don't show fear."
But how could he not be afraid? This was the architect of his suffering in the original story. The one who had turned Huo Yuhao into a puppet.
Advisor Tianmeng's voice quivered in his spiritual sea. "Partner, that... that is a god! A true god! And not just any god, I feel the aura of the sea and... something more sinister. How is he here? The barrier between the mortal and god realms..."
The Black Book remained still, but its pages were taut, as if ready to flip at any moment. The stolen treasures orbited it nervously.
Tang San took another step forward, his staff tapping lightly on the stone floor. The sound echoed like a judge's gavel.
"I felt a disturbance in the fate of this continent," Tang San said, his voice still gentle. "A ripple that should not have been. And it led me here, to a child in the midst of an... unconventional fusion with a spirit beast."
He tilted his head, his blue eyes piercing through Huo Yuhao. "You have not answered me. What is your name, child?"
Huo Yuhao clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. The pain helped him focus. He had to be careful. He was just an 11-year-old boy, a spirit master who had just gotten his first spirit ring. He couldn't know who this was.
He let his eyes widen with a mix of fear and awe, which wasn't hard to do. "I... I am Huo Yuhao, sir." He bowed slightly, as a young boy would to a powerful elder.
"Huo Yuhao," Tang San repeated, as if tasting the name. "A good name. Tell me, Huo Yuhao, how did you come to form a contract with this million-year spirit beast? Such a thing is unheard of."
Huo Yuhao's heart pounded. He was already being asked about the contract. He had to stick to his story.
"I was being attacked by a Wind Baboon, and then the iceworm appeared. It said it was being chased and needed help. It offered to become my spirit ring if I would help it hide and eventually get revenge. I agreed because I didn't want to die." He kept his explanation simple, the words of a scared child.
Tang San's smile didn't waver. "A contract, you say? Not an absorption, but a contract. That is indeed novel. And where did you learn of such a method?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "I didn't learn it, sir. The iceworm proposed it. It said it didn't want to disappear completely."
"Good, good," Tianmeng whispered in his mind. "Stick to the story. Let me take the blame for the contract idea."
Tang San's gaze shifted to the dissipating energy in the cave, then back to Huo Yuhao. "May I see your spirit ring?"
Huo Yuhao hesitated, but he knew refusal was not an option. He called forth his spirit ring.
A brilliant, milky-white ring emerged from his feet, with four golden stripes running through it. It was clearly a million-year ring, but the energy was stable, not explosive as it would have been in a forced absorption.
Tang San's eyes flickered with interest. "A million-year first ring. And it is stable. You are a fortunate child."
He paused, then asked, "What is your spirit?"
"Spirit Eyes, sir," Huo Yuhao said, activating his spirit. His eyes glowed with a faint golden light.
"Spirit Eyes... a mental attribute spirit. And the iceworm has given you a second spirit, I presume?" Tang San's question was casual, but Huo Yuhao felt the weight behind it.
"Yes, sir. An ice attribute spirit."
"I see." Tang San fell silent for a moment, his eyes never leaving Huo Yuhao. "You have great potential, Huo Yuhao. The path of a spirit master is long and arduous. Do you have a teacher? A sect?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "No, sir. I am alone."
"Alone," Tang San repeated. "A diamond in the rough. Such talent should not be wasted." He smiled warmly. "I am a traveler, and I have seen many things. I am also a teacher at heart. Would you be interested in becoming my disciple?"
The offer hung in the air, sweet and poisonous. In the original story, Tang San had never offered to take Huo Yuhao as a disciple directly. This was a deviation, and a dangerous one.
The live-stream chat exploded again.
[Viewer_DontDoIt]: "IT'S A TRAP! He wants to keep you close and under control!"
[Viewer_Maybe]:"But think of the resources! The protection!"
[Viewer_Rebellion]:"Remember the end goal! You can't be his disciple!"
Huo Yuhao knew the risks. Becoming Tang San's disciple would give him access to incredible resources and knowledge. But it would also put him directly under Tang San's thumb. Every step of his growth would be monitored and guided. He would be walking right into the gilded cage.
He took a deep breath. "Sir, I am honored. But... I have just started my journey. I don't even know who you are. And... I have a promise to keep to the iceworm. I must become strong enough to help it."
It was a rejection, but a polite one, from a child who didn't know better.
Tang San's expression did not change, but the temperature in the cave dropped a few degrees. "I understand. A promise is important. However, the path you are on is dangerous. Without guidance, you may fall to darkness or be crushed by those stronger than you."
He reached into his robe and pulled out a simple blue token. On it was engraved a simple hammer and ač (grass) character.
"This is a token of the Tang Sect," Tang San said. "I see you have the potential to become a great soul master. If you ever change your mind, or if you are in need of help, take this token to any Tang Sect branch. They will assist you."
Huo Yuhao accepted the token. It was cool to the touch, and he felt a wisp of divine energy within it. A tracking device? Or just a token?
"Thank you, sir," Huo Yuhao said, bowing again.
Tang San nodded. "I will be watching your progress with interest, Huo Yuhao. Do not disappoint me."
With that, the God King turned and walked out of the cave. With each step, his figure faded, until he was gone. The oppressive pressure lifted, and Huo Yuhao could breathe again.
He collapsed to his knees, sweat pouring down his face.
"He's gone," Tianmeng said, relief evident in his voice. "But he left a mark. That token... it has a trace of his divine sense. He can find you anywhere."
Huo Yuhao looked at the token in his hand. It was both a lifeline and a leash. He couldn't throw it away without arousing suspicion, but keeping it meant Tang San could always find him.
[System Alert: Critical encounter with Tang San completed.]
[Reward: 1000 Rebellion Points for avoiding direct discipleship.]
[New Mission: Remove the Divine Mark from the Tang Sect Token.]
The live-stream chat was still active, discussing the encounter.
[Viewer_NextSteps]: "You need to get stronger, fast. And you need to find a way to block his surveillance."
[Viewer_Treasures]:"Use the Black Book! Maybe it can isolate the token?"
[Viewer_WhereTo]:"Now what? You can't go to Shrek. What about the Sun Moon Empire?"
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath. He had survived the first unexpected encounter with the main antagonist. Now, he had to chart his own path.
"Advisor Tianmeng, what can you tell me about the Sun Moon Empire?" he asked mentally.
"The Sun Moon Empire? They are the leaders in soul tool technology. They are at war with the other empires, but if you want to grow in a different way, it might be a good place. But remember, you are now a walking treasure with a god's attention. You must be careful."
Huo Yuhao nodded. He had the Black Book, the system, the viewers, and the stolen treasures. He had a contract with a million-year spirit beast. He had a mutated ice spirit.
He had a lot of work to do.
First, he needed to leave the Star Dou Great Forest and get to a safe place. Then, he would decide his next move.
He stood up, looking at the token in his hand. Then, he opened his spiritual sea and called upon the Black Book.
"Can you isolate this token? Prevent it from being used to track me?"
The Black Book flipped open. A page with complex runes glowed. A beam of light shot out and enveloped the token. The wisp of divine energy was siphoned out and absorbed by the Book. The token became inert.
[Divine Mark removed. Token is now safe to carry.]
Huo Yuhao let out a sigh of relief. One problem solved.
He looked at the cave entrance. The world outside was waiting, full of danger and opportunity.
He took a step forward, then another. His journey had truly begun.
End of Chapter 4
---
š CHAPTER 5: The Road to Sun Moon
Huo Yuhao left the cave and made his way through the Star Dou Great Forest. With his enhanced Spirit Eyes and Tianmeng's spiritual detection, he avoided powerful spirit beasts. He survived on foraged berries and the occasional fish from streams.
After a week of travel, he reached the edge of the forest. A small town lay ahead, a trading post for spirit masters.
He needed money and information.
He remembered his mother's recipe for grilled fish. It was simple, but with his spirit power, he could control the heat perfectly. He caught some fish in a nearby river and set up a small grill at the edge of the town market.
The aroma drew people in. Soon, he had a line of customers. He sold the fish for copper coins, and within a few hours, he had enough to buy a map and some supplies.
From the map, he saw that he was in the Star Luo Empire, far from the Sun Moon Empire. He would need to cross the entire continent.
He also heard news from the traders: the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy was holding its annual entrance exams in three months. That was his target.
But how to get there? He was just a boy with no background.
He decided to join a merchant caravan heading towards the border. He offered to work as a helper in exchange for passage. The caravan master, a kind older man, agreed.
During the journey, Huo Yuhao practiced his spirit power and his ice spirit. He also conversed with Tianmeng and the viewers, planning his next steps.
The Black Book system provided him with daily missions, such as [Meditate for 4 hours] or [Practice Ice Control 100 times]. Completing them gave him small rewards and Rebellion Points.
He also explored the Black Book's treasury. He took out a piece of Frozen Marrow and, under Tianmeng's guidance, absorbed it slowly. It strengthened his bones and meridians, and his physique improved.
By the time the caravan reached the border city, Huo Yuhao had broken through to rank 12. His ice spirit had grown, and he could now create ice mirrors the size of a shield.
At the border, he faced a problem: the Sun Moon Empire was at war with the Star Luo Empire. Crossing the border was difficult.
He used his Spirit Eyes to find a hidden path through the mountains, avoiding the military checkpoints. It took him another month, but he finally set foot in the Sun Moon Empire.
He was now in a foreign land, with no identity. He used his remaining money to buy a set of common clothes and headed towards the capital, Sun Moon City.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy was a colossal complex of gleaming metal and glass. It was nothing like the traditional academies of the Star Luo Empire.
Huo Yuhao stood in line with hundreds of other children, waiting for the entrance exam. He had no recommendation, but the academy allowed anyone to take the exam.
The first test was spirit power. He placed his hand on the testing crystal. It glowed brightly.
"Spirit power: rank 13. Pass," the examiner said, surprised at such a high level for a seemingly common boy.
The next test was a written exam on basic mathematics and physics. Huo Yuhao, with his modern education from Earth, aced it.
The final test was a practical soul tool operation. He was given a simple spirit energy battery and asked to identify its components. With his Spirit Eyes, he could see the flow of energy and the structure. He completed the task in minutes.
The examiners were impressed. They admitted him on the spot.
Huo Yuhao was assigned to the freshman class and given a dorm room. He had taken the first step into a new world.
But he knew that the Sun Moon Empire was not without its dangers. The politics, the war, and the academy's own intrigues would be challenges. And always, in the back of his mind, he remembered the gentle smile of Tang San.
He had to grow strong, and he had to grow fast.
End of Chapter 5
---
š CHAPTER 6: Academy Life and Hidden Eyes
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy was a world of metal, steam, and humming energy cores. Huo Yuhao was assigned to Class 1-7, the "Special Admission" class for students with unusual backgrounds or talents.
His roommate was a shy boy named Ke Ni, whose spirit was a "Measurement Compass"āuseful for precision soul tool crafting but weak in combat. Ke Ni looked at Huo Yuhao with wide, nervous eyes.
"You... you have such strong spirit power for our age," Ke Ni whispered on their first night. "Are you from a noble family?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "I'm just an orphan. Got lucky."
"Lucky indeed," Tianmeng chuckled in his mind. "With a god's token in your pocket and a million-year spirit ring in your soul."
The academy curriculum was intense. Mornings were spent on theoretical classes: Spirit Mechanics, Energy Channel Dynamics, and Metallurgy. Afternoons were for practical workshops where they learned to assemble basic soul tools.
Huo Yuhao excelled. His Spirit Eyes gave him an unfair advantageāhe could see the flow of spirit power in circuits, spot microscopic flaws in metalwork, and memorize complex diagrams at a glance. Within a week, his teachers were taking notice.
But so were other students.
In the cafeteria on his tenth day, three older boys blocked his path. They wore the red-trimmed uniforms of the Combat Soul Engineering Department.
"You're the new kid from Class 1-7," said the leader, a burly boy with a sneer. "The one Teacher Li keeps praising. Think you're special?"
Huo Yuhao kept his eyes down, holding his tray. "No, senior."
"Good. Then you won't mind handing over your monthly spirit crystal allowance. Consider it... tuition for surviving here."
The live-stream chat flickered.
[Viewer_BullyAlert]: "Classic academy bullying! Beat them up!"
[Viewer_Strategy]:"Don't reveal your strength yet. Use your brain."
Huo Yuhao's Primordial Ice Seed stirred. He could feel the moisture in the air, the temperature difference between their bodies. He could flash-freeze the soup on their trays to their hands, or create an ice patch under their feet.
But that would reveal his ice spiritāand potentially attract more attention.
Instead, he activated his million-year spirit ring's first skill: [Spiritual Detection]. An invisible wave expanded, mapping the entire cafeteria. He saw the prefects chatting in the corner, a teacher grading papers at a distant table, and the exact position of every student.
He also saw the burly boy's spiritāa "Stone Armor Boar," a defensive-type spirit with poor mobility.
"Senior," Huo Yuhao said quietly, "there's a prefect watching from the west corner, and Teacher Wang just looked up from her grading. Are you sure you want to do this now?"
The boy's eyes widened. He glanced nervously toward the teachers' table. "You're bluffing."
"Teacher Wang is about to call your name. She's looking at the discipline log."
At that moment, a sharp voice rang out. "Zhang Kai! Is that you blocking the first-years again?"
The burly boyāZhang Kaiājumped. Teacher Wang was indeed walking toward them, her expression stern.
"Heh. Next time, new kid," Zhang Kai muttered before hurrying away with his friends.
Ke Ni, who had been hiding behind Huo Yuhao, breathed a sigh of relief. "How did you know Teacher Wang was coming?"
"I have good hearing," Huo Yuhao said simply.
"Clever," Tianmeng praised. "Using detection instead of confrontation. But they'll be back."
[Daily Mission Completed: Avoid conflict through intelligence.]
[Reward: 50 Rebellion Points. Skill [Spiritual Detection] proficiency increased.]
That night, alone in his dorm room, Huo Yuhao entered his spiritual sea. The Black Book floated serenely, surrounded by treasures.
"System, show me my current status."
[ Status Panel ]
Host:Huo Yuhao
Age:11
Cultivation:Spirit Person, Rank 13
Spirits:Spirit Eyes (Mutated), Primordial Ice Seed (Growth-type, ~1000 Year)
Spirit Rings:1 (Wisdom Ring - 400,000 Year, 7 Seals)
Physique:Below Average (improving)
Soul Power:130/130
Rebellion Points:1,250
System Functions:Live-Stream, Mission Board, Treasury (Limited Access), Analysis Module
"Analysis Module?" Huo Yuhao asked.
[Analysis Module: Can scan objects, techniques, or individuals to provide data. Cost: Varies.]
"Scan the Tang Sect token."
A beam of light shot from the Black Book to the token on his desk.
[Tang Sect Token]
Material:Spirit Silverwood
Enchantments:None (Divine Mark removed)
Hidden Function:Contains a miniature spatial formation that can store one small item.
Analysis:The spatial formation is inactive. Can be reactivated with 100 spirit power.
Huo Yuhao picked up the token. He channeled spirit power into it. With a faint shimmer, a small compartment opened, revealing a hidden space about the size of a fist. Inside was a single, ancient-looking scroll.
He unrolled it. The title read: "Mysterious Heaven Method - Foundation Chapter."
Tang San had left him the foundational cultivation method of the Tang Sectāthe very method he used to cultivate.
[System Alert: Detected High-Level Cultivation Method.]
[Analysis: "Mysterious Heaven Method" is a top-tier foundation-building technique. However, it contains subtle flaws designed to create dependency on the Tang Sect's higher-level methods and makes the cultivator's energy signature easily traceable by Tang San.]
The live-stream chat erupted.
[Viewer_Trap]: "SEE! It's a trap! He wants you to cultivate this so he can track and control you!"
[Viewer_ButPowerful]:"But it's a powerful method... can we modify it?"
[Viewer_UseBlackBook]:"The Black Book! It can analyze and optimize!"
Huo Yuhao's eyes narrowed. "System, can the Analysis Module remove the flaws and traceable elements?"
[Requires: 500 Rebellion Points. 24 hours analysis time.]
"Do it."
[Rebellion Points deducted: 500.]
[Analyzing "Mysterious Heaven Method - Foundation Chapter"...]
[Estimated time: 23:59:59.]
A progress bar appeared. Huo Yuhao put the scroll away. He would wait.
The next day in practical workshop, the class was tasked with creating a "Spirit Energy Amplifier," a basic soul tool that could boost a spirit skill's power by 5% for ten seconds.
While other students struggled with soldering and circuit alignment, Huo Yuhao worked with eerie precision. His Spirit Eyes allowed him to see the energy pathways, and his steady hands, trained by years of survival, didn't tremble.
He finished in half the allotted time. His amplifier tested at 7.3% boostāthe highest in class.
Teacher Li, a thin man with glasses, examined it with a complex soul tool scanner. "Remarkable. The spirit silver circuits are perfectly aligned. There's no energy leakage at all. How did you achieve this?"
"I just... focused, teacher," Huo Yuhao said.
"Have you considered transferring to the Advanced Engineering track? With your ta