Chapter 134: Necromantic Magic
After class.
Xiao Xiao sidled up to Furina and asked with a note of concern, "Furina, are you really sure you don't need teammates? Going solo... are you truly confident you can handle any situation that comes up?"
Wang Dong, overhearing this, couldn't hold back a laugh and patted Xiao Xiao on the shoulder. "Xiao Xiao, what kind of question is that? Have you forgotten how that Inner Courtyard Soul Emperor senior sister was dealt with by Furina at Sea God's Lake last time? The way I see it, this freshman assessment is probably no different from child's play to Furina. She'll breeze right through it."
He shifted tone, and a fighting spirit blazed in his eyes as he turned to Huo Yuhao. "But don't expect us to just roll over! I'm confident our team will be your strongest competitor, Furina. Our goal is the championship! Huo Yuhao, when the time comes, you'd better not go easy. You hear me?"
He emphasized that last line, clearly worried that Huo Yuhao, out of loyalty to Furina, might hold back during a match.
Huo Yuhao smiled frankly, his gaze clear. "Relax, Wang Dong. I would absolutely never do something like that. Since it's a proper competition, we should naturally give it our all. I also want to take this opportunity to show Sister Furina what my true level is right now."
He understood Wang Dong's concerns, but he also knew deep down that going all out in an official match was both a matter of respect for one's opponent and a way to demonstrate one's own worth. Even if the ultimate goal was to defeat Furina and take the championship, he had to fight for it with genuine strength.
Furina nodded in agreement as well. "Yuhao is right. In a competition, you should always give it your all. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how much you've all improved over this period of time." She genuinely wanted to use this chance to more directly assess the current combat abilities of Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and the others, and gauge what level they had reached. Provided, of course, that no unforeseen variables disrupted the proceedings.
Then, Furina beckoned to Huo Yuhao. "Oh, right. Yuhao, come over here. There's something I want to discuss with you privately. Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao—Tang Ya and Bei Bei are already waiting at the usual spot. You two head over first."
Huo Yuhao felt a slight twinge of curiosity, but he complied and walked over. Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao exchanged a glance. Though intrigued, they tactfully refrained from prying.
"Alright, we'll head over first then."
"Once you two are done, hurry over, okay?"
With those parting words, the pair left the classroom side by side.
Huo Yuhao stepped up before Furina and asked, "Sister Furina, what's the matter?"
Furina motioned for him to come closer and lowered her voice, speaking at a volume only the two of them could hear. "Yuhao, I have a hunch—or rather, a suggestion. When you find the right moment... try giving Wang Dong a hug."
Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned, deeply perplexed. "Hug Wang Dong? Would... would that yield anything?"
Just as his confusion settled, the aged and steady voice of Electrolux echoed within his spiritual sea: "Yuhao, do you still recall that time when you first exchanged blows with Wang Dong? When your attempt at martial soul fusion failed and the two of you suffered backlash? At that time, Tianmeng, the Ice Emperor, and I did not fully disclose to you some of the subtle anomalies we perceived. There may indeed be certain secrets hidden within that classmate Wang Dong's body."
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm also chimed in, "Exactly, exactly! That little girl Furina always manages to see through key mysteries. She is a genuine inheritor of a divine seat. Her words most likely carry some substance."
Huo Yuhao sank into thought and answered at the spiritual level, "I understand."
At that moment, the Ice Emperor's cold, proud voice also rang out, laced with a competitive edge: "Huo Yuhao, if you truly end up facing that girl Furina in the competition, you must remember to bring forth my Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion martial soul! Hmph. This emperor wants to see for herself—which is truly superior, my ultimate ice or her ultimate water!"
As one of the overlords of the Far North, she rarely encountered an opponent of a matching ultimate attribute, and it was difficult for her to resist a bit of competitive spirit.
Huo Yuhao found this inwardly amusing and responded, "If the opportunity to exchange blows presents itself, I shall naturally do my utmost."
The voice of Electrolux resounded once more, this time carrying great solemnity. "On a somewhat different note, Yuhao. Observing your training these past days, your spiritual power has already reached a considerable level of refinement, and your physique has strengthened substantially. This old man intends to pass on to you the necromantic magic he has spent his lifetime delving into. Would you be willing to learn it?"
Huo Yuhao's heart jolted upon hearing this, and he answered with a trace of hesitation, "Necromantic magic? That... that sounds as though it might bear some connection to the methods of evil soul masters..."
Electrolux immediately responded with stern gravity, "A complete fallacy! You must understand this: power itself is never inherently righteous or evil. The crux of the matter always lies in the heart of the one who wields it. Those with twisted hearts can commit evil even wielding the power of light. Those whose hearts are filled with justice and radiance—even if they command the power of death—can use it upon the righteous path, to protect all that must be protected."
"This old man's necromantic magic, when applied correctly, far from having any relation to evil, is even capable of suppressing and purifying the filthy tricks of those evil soul masters. Their crude parlor tricks, compared to the very essence of my magic, are no more than fireflies before the radiant moon. They are unworthy of mention."
He paused, his tone softening, carrying a hint of both expectation and wistful reflection. "Are you willing to learn? Consider this a token of recompense for this old man's lodging within your spiritual sea, and for the immortal herbs and spiritual medicines which that young lady has provided to nourish the divine sense. Besides, this old man does, in truth, wish to find a suitable inheritor, so that everything I have learned over a lifetime does not simply die with me."
After hearing him out, Huo Yuhao cast aside all remaining hesitation. A surge of emotion and profound respect welled up in his heart. He immediately bowed formally within the space of his spiritual world. "Disciple Huo Yuhao is willing to learn! Disciple pays his respects to Teacher Electrolux!"
The phantom image of Electrolux seemed to stroke its beard and nodded with gratification. "Good. Good. Once this freshman assessment of yours has concluded, this old man shall begin formally instructing you in the foundations of necromantic magic, and help you grasp its rudiments as quickly as possible."
"Thank you, Teacher!" Huo Yuhao replied reverently.
His consciousness returned to the waking world. Huo Yuhao nodded toward Furina and spoke with earnest seriousness. "Alright, Sister Furina. I've made a note of it. I'll look for a chance to give it a try... I just hope Wang Dong won't mind too much."
Although he still didn't fully grasp the specific purpose of the embrace, based on his trust in Furina, he resolved to attempt it as advised.
Furina patted him on the shoulder and added with a meaningful edge, "Mm. Trying it is one thing, but you yourself should also make the corresponding preparations, just in case something happens."
Inwardly, she calculated that while this course of action carried a certain amount of risk, with the God of Destruction now covertly watching over and protecting Huo Yuhao, it shouldn't lead to any uncontrollable accidents. The God of Destruction was not like Xuanzi or Yan Shaozhe; his methods and capabilities were on an entirely different level.
On the contrary, this might prove to be an opportunity. Tang San's divine sense was concealed within Wang Dong's body, and this contact might very well lure it into revealing some trace of itself.
At that point, the divine sense that the God of Destruction had left within Huo Yuhao's body could seize the opening to act, attempting to erase or seal away that foreign divine sense. If it succeeded, not only could it eliminate an immense potential hidden danger for Huo Yuhao, it could also allow Wang Dong to henceforth break free from Tang San's covert manipulations. Truly, achieving two aims with a single stroke.
"Alright. Business is finished. Let's go—we shouldn't keep Xiao Xiao and the others waiting too long," Furina said lightly.
"Mm, let's go." Huo Yuhao nodded, and the two walked out side by side. Yet within each of their hearts, they were both mulling over the coming assessment and the multitude of possibilities that lay ahead.