Huo Yuhao stared intently at the Life Gold radiating a soft glow in Gu Yuena's hand, his heart seemingly slowing its beat.
He knew its value and instinctively wanted to refuse, but he seemed to have no reason to give it up.
"This is too precious, but I really need it right now. Consider this a favor I owe you, and I'll find a way to repay you later,"
Huo Yuhao said, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
"No need. Consider this Life Gold a gift from me; you don't need to repay it,"
Gu Yuena blinked at Huo Yuhao.
"How can I? This is too precious. I promise I'll find a way to repay you later,"
Gu Yuena said, blinking and a slight, almost imperceptible, bitter smile playing on her lips.
She said softly, "I thought our relationship was already quite good.
I didn't expect that in your heart, I'm just an ally?"
A trace of disappointment unconsciously crept into Gu Yuena's voice.
Soul beasts rarely fall in love with humans, but when they do, their emotions are often more genuine and passionate than those of humans.
In the past month or so spent with Huo Yuhao, Gu Yuena had become immersed in his gentleness. She had initially assumed he shared the same feelings.
Giving him the Gold of Life was a test, but his words filled her with uncertainty and unease.
"We both carry too much on our shoulders. I don't want to talk about these things now," Huo Yuhao said, his head bowed, his voice low, avoiding Gu Yuena's eyes.
Huo Yuhao was now certain that Tang San had also been reborn.
He had clearly sensed Tang San's powerful spiritual energy fluctuations; he knew exactly how strong Tang San was.
Since he could bring back the Eye of Eternity, Tang San could bring back the Asura Sword.
Although Huo Yuhao didn't know exactly how many super artifacts Tang San had brought back, he could only accept the worst-case scenario.
That means Tang San most likely brought back the Trident, the Eight Wings of the Sea God, and the Asura Sword.
Although he himself had already reached the cultivation level of a God King, Huo Yuhao was still not confident in facing Tang San.
Even if he could crush Tang San until he became a god, the situation would instantly reverse once the two of them became gods.
Huo Yuhao understood that after becoming a god, the balance of power between them would fundamentally change.
Even Tang San, with his Sea God status, wielding the Golden Trident and possessing the Eight Wings of the Sea God, could fight him to a standstill, let alone the Asura God Tang San.
As for killing Tang San before he became a god, that was utter nonsense.
He could unleash divine power for a second or two; couldn't Tang San do the same?
If they started fighting prematurely, the consequences would be far beyond what either of them could bear.
As one of the people who knew Tang San best in his previous life, Huo Yuhao was well aware of Tang San's personality.
This man was not only decisive and ruthless, but also vindictive and had no bottom line.
Huo Yuhao had witnessed Tang San's methods firsthand, and his fear of Tang San was at its peak.
Huo Yuhao dared not gamble on whether Tang San would take his anger out on the entire Soul Beast race.
If he really lost, and Tang San decided to retaliate against the Soul Beast race, then the entire Soul Beast world would face annihilation.
Huo Yuhao didn't want to drag the spirit beast race into his conflict with Tang San.
The reason Huo Yuhao dared to unite the entire Spirit Hall as his core force was because the conflict between the Spirit Hall and Tang San was irreconcilable.
But the spirit beast world was different; Huo Yuhao didn't want to involve the spirit beast race in his conflict with Tang San.
He knew the spirit beast race's precarious position and didn't want them to become sacrifices in his struggle with Tang San.
Therefore, before he had absolute confidence in fighting the Asura God, Huo Yuhao didn't want to get too entangled with Gu Yuena, lest he drag her into it.
Cooperating with Gu Yuena to promote spirit spirits was already the limit of what he could do.
"So, this is your reason for rejecting me?
Don't you think it's ridiculous?
I carry just as much burden as you do."
Gu Yuena's voice carried a hint of bitterness.
"I…" Huo Yuhao wanted to say something more, but Gu Yuena interrupted him directly.
"Alright, Huo Yuhao, you should go now.
I'm a little tired and need to rest at the Lake of Life.
You can go back on your own."
Gu Yuena's voice revealed a hint of weariness and determination.
After speaking, Gu Yuena turned and walked towards the Lake of Life, and Di Tian quickly followed her in.
Just as Gu Yuena was about to enter the Lake of Life, Huo Yuhao finally couldn't help but call out to her, "May I... go see the auspicious beast?"
Huo Yuhao's voice trembled slightly.
"What, afraid of dragging me into this?
Aren't you afraid of implicating the auspicious beast?"
Gu Yuena turned to look at Huo Yuhao, her eyes flashing with complex emotions.
Meanwhile, Di Tian's eyes immediately sharpened, his right hand's Dragon God Claw poised to strike.
He looked like a father whose daughter was about to be kidnapped by a young punk, as if he were about to rush forward and order Huo Yuhao to kill her.
"I...I just want to see her once..."
"Huo Yuhao..."
Gu Yuena's voice echoed in the air, her tone carrying an undeniable resolve.
"Come back when you've thought things through."
Gu Yuena shook her head.
"Your mind is in turmoil right now; it's not suitable for you to meet her. I hope you can calm down after returning from the far north."
Having said this, Gu Yuena didn't linger. She turned and stepped into the Lake of Life.
Huo Yuhao and Qian Renxue stood by the lake, watching Gu Yuena's figure gradually disappear beneath the shimmering surface.
Huo Yuhao gently stroked the Gu Yuena's Reverse Scale pendant hanging around his neck.
His heart was filled with mixed emotions, his mind a jumbled mess.
Qian Renxue stood beside him, leaning gently against him. "Alright, stop looking. She's gone."
Seeing Huo Yuhao like this, Qian Renxue felt a pang of sadness.
In her heart, Huo Yuhao had always been a gentle, reliable, and incredibly interesting young man.
Yet now, he seemed so lost and vulnerable.
Perhaps this was his true nature. This thought suddenly popped into Qian Renxue's mind.
After all, everyone has a side they don't show to others, and Huo Yuhao was no exception.
Behind Huo Yuhao's strength and optimism, perhaps, lay many untold pains and struggles.
Qian Renxue gently grasped Huo Yuhao's hand:
"No matter what happens in the future, I will be by your side.
Although I don't know what you're talking about, I can see that you're feeling just as lost and fearful as I was back then."
Huo Yuhao, someone as outstanding as you, what are you afraid of?
What is there to be afraid of?
Qian Renxue wondered to herself.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I'll take you back to the Spirit Hall.
After that, I'll head to the far north to obtain the soul spirit for my second spirit."
Huo Yuhao's face regained its usual sunny expression, as if nothing had happened.
"I guess when we meet again, you won't be able to beat me again!"
Huo Yuhao winked at Qian Renxue and said with a smile.
"Hmm...you're just bragging. Maybe by the next time we meet, I'll already be a Soul Saint.
Once I reach Soul Saint, my strength is beyond what a little brat like you can imagine."
"Hahaha, that's not necessarily true. After all, I'm a peerless genius..."
(The Far North storyline officially begins)