Leng Yaozhu laughed softly. "Look at you! Our little genius has finally returned!"
Huo Yuhao noticed the brief flash of shock in Gu Yue's eyes, but he chose to ignore it. He was focused on the task at hand.
He continued his explanation. "The bloodline within Wulin's body is incredibly potent. I am certain that trying to extract it directly would be a mistake. It is far too powerful."
"We would need a specific vessel, someone capable of receiving such a tyrannical bloodline, for this to even be possible."
"That is the only way to make sure the energy does not explode inside Wulin during the process. If it erupts, he will not survive."
Huo Yuhao let out a weary sigh. "The problem is that finding someone with that kind of physical potential is nearly impossible."
He had already consulted his teacher, Electrolux, in his mind. Even with his own enhanced physique and the power he held, he was nowhere near strong enough to act as the recipient for that chaotic bloodline.
Gu Yue stood there with her mouth slightly open, looking completely stunned by his words.
A moment later, her expression shifted. She clenched her fists tightly, a sharp light gleaming in her eyes.
"I actually know someone," she said, looking directly at Huo Yuhao and speaking with total conviction. "I know someone who can definitely withstand that bloodline power."
Huo Yuhao felt a jolt of surprise.
He had only shared this information because Gu Yue seemed curious. He never expected her to provide a perfect candidate so quickly.
He shook off his surprise, his face turning cold and serious.
"This is not a game, Gu Yue."
He stared into her eyes, his voice dropping to a solemn tone. "That bloodline is not something an ordinary human can touch. If the person you are thinking of fails to contain it, they will die instantly."
Gu Yue did not flinch. She met his gaze with a look of absolute confidence.
"If she cannot handle it, then I doubt anyone else on this continent could survive the power hidden inside Tang Wulin."
Huo Yuhao could not understand where her certainty came from, but she did not seem like she was lying or exaggerating.
He thought about it for a few seconds. "In that case, we should go talk to Wulin. He deserves to know exactly what is happening to his body."
Gu Yue shook her head immediately. "No, do not tell him yet. We need to go to Shrek City first. The person I am talking about is currently staying there."
Huo Yuhao considered her request and eventually gave a small nod.
"Fine. I was planning a trip there anyway to ask Aunt Leng about a few things."
...
Shrek City, Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.
The moment Huo Yuhao stepped into the main lobby, he felt dozens of eyes lock onto him.
He was no longer just a random kid from the outskirts.
He was the person at the very top of the young genius rankings, a name known across the entire continent for his unprecedented talent.
Quiet whispers began to ripple through the crowd. People looked at him with a mix of curiosity, jealousy, and deep respect.
Huo Yuhao ignored them all. He walked across the floor with a calm, indifferent expression and stepped into the elevator.
He watched the floor numbers climb higher and higher as the city blurred outside the glass.
Huo Yuhao stood perfectly still, his mind racing through calculations as he watched the digital display.
The elevator finally chimed and came to a stop.
He stepped out into a silent, private hallway. At the very end stood a single, heavy door.
Huo Yuhao walked up to it and gave a polite, gentle knock.
"Come in."
The voice was familiar. It sounded cool and professional, yet carried a hint of laziness.
Huo Yuhao pushed the door open and stepped inside.
He expected to find Leng Yaozhu busy with paperwork at her desk or perhaps resting on the sofa.
But the second he crossed the threshold, a flash of fiery red moved toward him at high speed!
Before Huo Yuhao could even think about dodging, two cool, slender hands grabbed his face.
Then, they began to aggressively pinch and pull at his cheeks.
"Mmph..."
His mouth was squeezed into a small pout, and he let out a faint, muffled sound of protest.
He didn't try to pull away. He simply stood there and let her mess with his face, even as his features were twisted and his eyes were squeezed shut.
"Pfft!"
Leng Yaozhu broke out into a genuine laugh at how ridiculous he looked.
She gave his cheeks one last firm squeeze before letting go and patting him affectionately on the head.
"Come on, sit down with me."
From the time he was three until he turned nine, Huo Yuhao had lived by her side.
She was the one who had raised him. She was the closest thing he had to family.
She had only sent him to Eastsea City because it was a necessary step for his growth.
Since they hadn't seen each other in months, Leng Yaozhu was clearly happy to have him back, dropping her usual dignified act.
She took his hand and led him over to the sofa.
Her actions were warm and natural. Her eyes, which usually looked down on the world with indifference, were soft as she looked at him.
"So, how have you been?" she asked, her voice light and teasing. "How does it feel to be the top-ranked genius of the Spirit Pagoda?"
Huo Yuhao felt a bit embarrassed and gave her a helpless look.
"Aunt Leng, please stop. You know I don't care about those lists or titles."
The smile on Leng Yaozhu's face dimmed as she turned more serious.
"It is good that you feel that way." Her voice became much heavier. "Qiangu Dongfeng didn't give you that title to be nice. He is trying to kill you with praise and public pressure."
But when she looked at his young, determined face again, she couldn't help but smile.
She reached over and messed up his hair. "But then again, you really are a genius. It will take a lot more than some public praise to bring you down."
Huo Yuhao looked at her with a grave expression. "Aunt Leng, I actually think this situation is useful."
"As long as I have this title and fame, the Pagoda Master has to be careful. He can't move against me openly without looking bad."
Leng Yaozhu nodded, seeing his point.
Qiangu Dongfeng wanted to use fame as a chain to bind him, but in Huo Yuhao's hands, that fame was becoming a shield.
She leaned back. "Anyway, tell me. Why did you come to see me today?"
Huo Yuhao didn't waste any time. "Aunt Leng, your spirit is the Fire Phoenix. I wanted to know what you could tell me about the Phoenix evil fire."
He then began to explain the history and the events from ten thousand years ago that he had been researching.
He knew that as a member of the Phoenix family, her knowledge of phoenix-type spirits was likely the best in the world.
Leng Yaozhu listened in silence. Her face remained calm, but her eyes showed she was thinking deeply about his questions.
When he finally finished talking, she began to answer in a slow, measured voice.
"The Phoenix spirit is considered one of the highest-ranking beast spirits in existence."
"However, they are very diverse based on their elemental attributes."
"You have Fire Phoenixes, Ice Phoenixes, Wind Phoenixes, and many others."
Huo Yuhao stayed quiet, soaking in every word she said.
"The Evil Fire Phoenix is actually a mutation of the standard Fire Phoenix spirit. For a long time, Shrek Academy was the only place where that specific line existed."
"In terms of power, that mutation is actually seen as a very good thing."
"It makes the phoenix flames much hotter. If a master reaches a high enough level, they can even manifest the Ultimate Fire."
She stopped for a second, her expression turning dark.
"But..."
"That evil fire has a nasty side effect. It corrupts the mind of the spirit master. If they lose control for even a second, they can turn into an Evil Soul Master."
Huo Yuhao felt his stomach drop slightly at those words.
"An Evil Soul Master?"
He immediately thought back to what he had seen at Sea God Lake.
He remembered the woman trapped in dark red flames, the madness in her eyes, and how she had almost killed those students without a second thought.
It all made sense now.
That was why she had lost her mind, why she was so dangerous, and why Yan Shaozhe looked so worried whenever her name came up.
Huo Yuhao thought for a moment. "But Shrek Academy is watching her. They wouldn't let her actually become an Evil Soul Master, right?"
Leng Yaozhu looked at him.
She didn't give him a direct answer. She simply gave him a long, knowing look that said more than words ever could.
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