Huo Yuhao carefully recalled his experiences in the Star Dou Great Forest but couldn't find anyone he had been intimately close with.
If he had to name someone he interacted with most frequently, it would definitely be Wang Dong.
But how could it be Wang Dong?
Huo Yuhao's face turned grim.
Could this Valley of the Endless Love be some kind of evil place?
Of course, he wouldn't have those kinds of feelings for his fragrant, good brother.
So, he started thinking about other senior brothers and sisters.
Who else was there?
Senior Sister Ling Luochen wasn't there.
None of the classmates he was familiar with were there.
Who else could it be?
Huo Yuhao frantically searched his memories, and they finally settled on the Auspicious Beast.
The Auspicious Beast...
Yes, it must be related to the Auspicious Beast.
He had grasped the key.
"I was teleported back and it's directly related to the Auspicious Beast. I returned right after the Attribute Connection with it! So..."
Huo Yuhao's eyes widened, filled with excitement.
"Bond of love, bond of love... It didn't specify a lover. So, I just established a connection. The key to this connection is the Auspicious Beast; it's my matchmaker!"
"Right! Brother Tianmeng also said the Auspicious Beast carries the fortune of the Spirit Beast race. The Auspicious Beast possesses the power of fortune. Perhaps it was the fortune on the Auspicious Beast that became the key to me forming this bond of love!"
"I saw the Auspicious Beast's memories. My other half hasn't come into contact with her yet."
"Yes!"
It must be like this!
Huo Yuhao was no longer confused.
Looking back at the Valley of the Endless Love, his eyes were filled with reverence.
This place was for making connections.
At the same time, he couldn't help but recall his Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Wang Dong, the Radiance of the Light Goddess.
If my other half is her...
Huo Yuhao's expression gradually became infatuated.
"Hehe, hehehe..."
Wiping the drool from his mouth, he bowed towards the Valley of the Endless Love.
"Please, let it be her."
After paying his respects to the matchmaker, Huo Yuhao left the Valley of the Endless Love, looking back every few steps.
He committed this strange place to memory, determined to return within three years.
By then, he would no longer be a single dog rejected by this strange place.
Returning to Sun Moon Imperial Capital, Huo Yuhao was still preoccupied with thoughts of his destined love.
However, the news brought by Fan Yu, who discovered his return, hit him like a bucket of cold water.
"Yuhao!"
Fan Yu pulled Huo Yuhao into a corner.
"You really went to the Star Dou Great Forest?"
"Yes, Teacher Fan Yu, how did you know? Did Elder Xuan tell you?"
Fan Yu's expression was grim.
"Not Elder Xuan. The Blacksmith Association."
"The Blacksmith Association? How would they know I went to the Star Dou Great Forest?"
"Shrek City was attacked by Spirit Beasts. Di Tian issued a long-distance威慑. One strike landed on the Shrek Inner Court. If not for the Golden Ancient Tree reacting, the Inner Court might have been flattened."
"What?"
Huo Yuhao was shocked.
"Before leaving, Di Tian threatened us, demanding that Elder Xuan take you to the Core Ferocious Region of the Star Dou Great Forest to apologize. Otherwise, he would come again and destroy Shrek," Fan Yu said. "Everyone in Shrek City heard it. The Blacksmith Association has good intelligence and spread the news to the Sun Moon Empire. Not just the Sun Moon Empire; probably the entire continent knows that you and Elder Xuan offended Di Tian in the Star Dou Great Forest."
Huo Yuhao's previously wonderful mood instantly soured.
"Teacher, you must be joking with me."
"Could I joke about something like this?" Fan Yu's face was serious. "This happened two months ago. By the way, how is Elder Xuan?"
"Elder Xuan and the others should have returned to the academy. All seventeen seniors were safe and sound and obtained their Spirit Rings. Could it be that Elder Xuan and the others haven't returned yet?" Huo Yuhao's eyes widened.
No way?
Is this where the trap springs?
The corner of Fan Yu's mouth twitched.
He had a bad feeling.
Hearts heavy, master and disciple returned to Mingde Hall in silence, deciding to wait for more news.
To their relief, news arrived from Shrek three days later: Xuan Zi had led the seventeen students back to the academy safely, creating a new record for Xuan Zi's leadership.
A cause for celebration.
But the next mountain blocked the hearts of all those from Shrek.
Di Tian!
How to resolve Di Tian's threat?
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath.
"Teacher, is our academy unable to withstand Di Tian?"
"I'm afraid so. In the short term, the academy has no ability to resist Di Tian," Fan Yu said helplessly.
Who was Di Tian?
He was the number one powerhouse on the continent.
Whether in the human Spirit Master world or the Spirit Beast world, no one, no Spirit Beast, could challenge his position.
Even a Limit Douluo only met the minimum threshold to face him.
"Yuhao, you're not actually thinking of risking a trip to the Core Ferocious Region, are you?" Fan Yu said.
"Teacher, do you think the Body Sect will intervene?"
"What are you thinking?" Fan Yu said helplessly. "They would be overjoyed if Shrek were destroyed. Why would they intervene to stop it?"
"But, the Blacksmith Association has a branch in Shrek City too. Aren't they afraid of getting caught up in it?"
After debating for a long time, Huo Yuhao decided to give it a try.
He went to Su Ming's research lab.
Su Ming opened the door.
He could roughly guess Huo Yuhao's purpose for coming.
"What is it?"
"Brother Su, I'd like to ask you for a favor." Huo Yuhao steeled himself to speak.
"Block Di Tian?"
Su Ming let out a cold laugh.
"You possess a Body Martial Soul. If Di Tian dares to move against you, the Body Sect will intervene. However, my Body Sect will not shield Shrek Academy for no reason. We won't confront Di Tian without cause. My teacher can act to protect you, but Xuan Zi must take the blame."
Hearing Su Ming's words, Huo Yuhao's face turned pale.
While his own safety would be guaranteed, Elder Xuan would be completely cut off from any hope of survival.
"Is Elder Xuan's survival so important? Would Di Tian only be appeased if I were killed?"
"You're still trying to secure benefits for Shrek."
Su Ming shook his head, indicating that Huo Yuhao could leave.
It had been so long since Mu En's death, and the Body Sect had never renewed their efforts to bring Huo Yuhao back into the sect.
This alone actually revealed the Body Sect's stance.
Even Du Busi was considering how to sever ties with Huo Yuhao without contradicting the Body Sect's core principles.
Yes.
Du Busi was also preparing to give up on Huo Yuhao.
Not because of Di Tian.
Even before the Di Tian incident arose, Du Busi was no longer very insistent on bringing Huo Yuhao back into the sect!
It was because Huo Yuhao insisted on joining Shrek Academy, insisted on joining the Tang Sect, acting against the sect's wishes. And the biggest point of conflict in all this was his discord with Su Ming.
Continuing to pursue Huo Yuhao would mean alienating Su Ming.
After all, the circumstances back then were quite clear.
Su Ming kindly invited Huo Yuhao, Huo Yuhao refused. Afterwards, Su Ming was pursued by people from Shrek, the sect went to demand justice, officially turning hostile with Shrek, and Huo Yuhao himself consistently drew a clear line with the Body Sect.
With all these developments, the words Du Busi once said to Mu En—that if Huo Yuhao wasn't treated well at Shrek Academy, the Body Sect would take him away at any time—had gradually been forgotten by design.
If there was one way that could make others in the Body Sect, besides Su Ming, consider accepting Huo Yuhao, it would be for Huo Yuhao to betray Shrek, completely renounce his status as a Shrek student, and leave the Tang Sect.
Unfortunately, this path was also blocked in Su Ming's earlier response.
***
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(Chapter End)