Xiong Jun's mood was quite complex.
He had just taken on a disciple, so how did it involve the Sea God?
Upon hearing Tang Wulin's voluntary confession, Xiong Jun's expression gradually became strange.
After a moment of silence, he asked, "Wulin, don't you want the power of the Golden Dragon King? This should be your biggest secret, right? Such a powerful bloodline can easily attract prying eyes."
Tang Wulin was stunned for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile, "It's not something that belongs to me. I even wish I could take it out."
It was a bomb, something that could kill him. It had even forced him to desperately earn money before. To say he liked that feeling would be impossible.
Of course, it wasn't exactly hatred either. He had come this far thanks to the power of the Golden Dragon King, but he wouldn't let the power blind him to other things.
"Moreover," the young man raised his head, his gaze clear, "If even the Spirit Pagoda and you aren't trustworthy, I don't know what to do. I can't solve this problem on my own, so I can only seek help from my teachers."
Hearing Tang Wulin's last words, Xiong Jun's rugged face showed a hint of emotion.
After a moment of thought, he extended his broad hand and gave Tang Wulin a firm pat on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, leave it to me."
Once the master recovers, can a wisp of divine consciousness still cause trouble?
And now that Wulin has come clean, they can work together to find a solution. Although he wasn't skilled in this area, there were others, or rather, beasts, who were.
The only problem was that the relationship between that wisp of divine consciousness and Wulin was troublesome...
"First, I'll teach you a method to thoroughly inspect your own body and see the specific situation. Since the Golden Dragon King's seal and that Old Tang exist within you, there must be traces. Your own spiritual consciousness should be able to reach them; you don't have to rely entirely on Old Tang's guidance. Your body and spiritual space should be under your own control."
Xiong Jun thought for a moment, deciding to take it step by step. He first taught Tang Wulin a method for using spiritual power and a technique for manipulating his bloodline energy.
After watching Tang Wulin begin to practice, he left the area to report the details to Gu Yuena.
"???"
In the room, Gu Yuena held her soul communicator and looked at Huo Yuhao, her gaze hesitating between the communicator and Huo Yuhao.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao spoke up, "What's wrong?"
Gu Yuena felt reassured and didn't hide anything, "Yuhao, was it your guidance?"
The current situation was somewhat unexpected. It wasn't suitable to hide Huo Yuhao's involvement from Xiong Jun anymore. If necessary, she might need Huo Yuhao's help.
But it was fine. It was just a matter of informing Xiong Jun and the others that she had an ally. It wasn't a big deal... right?
"No, it was Wulin's own choice."
Huo Yuhao shook his head and replied.
On the other end of the soul communicator, Xiong Jun was surprised to hear their exchange.
The master has someone with her? And Yuhao... is that the child named Huo Yuhao?
Huo Yuhao... Xiong Jun had heard this name repeated many times over the past ten thousand years.
Because historically, there didn't seem to be any famous figures with this name, so no one avoided using it when naming. He had even met many people with this name. At first, he had some reaction to it, but over time, he became numb to it.
So he hadn't thought much of it before.
But now, the master was discussing such important information about the Golden Dragon King with him, and she didn't hide it from this Huo Yuhao...
A flash of astonishment crossed Xiong Jun's eyes. Connecting the dots with some information he had received earlier and the intelligence Gu Yuena had shared with him, he began to form a conjecture, though it was hard to believe.
Could this Huo Yuhao be the Spirit Ice Douluo from ten thousand years ago? He's still alive?
After getting the answer from Huo Yuhao, Gu Yuena frowned slightly and looked at the soul communicator.
"Xiong Jun, what are your thoughts?"
Xiong Jun temporarily set aside his thoughts and, after a moment of hesitation, spoke in a very respectful tone, "Master, since Wulin has already come clean... could you give him a chance? What you need is only the Golden Dragon King's divine core, right?"
With others present, he had to give the master face.
"..."
Gu Yuena knew that her next words would determine Xiong Jun's attitude toward Tang Wulin.
She didn't answer immediately but walked to the window and looked out at the distant competition grounds, where faint cheers could be heard.
The Spirit Soul Competition was being held there.
Huo Yuhao noticed Gu Yuena's hesitation and walked over to her side, following her gaze to the lively competition grounds in the distance, "Do you want to go take a look?"
"Yes, the Spirit Soul Competition is quite interesting. Such a harmonious scene couldn't be seen ten thousand years ago."
Gu Yuena's eyes flickered slightly. After a moment of silence, she picked up the soul communicator again and said, "Xiong Jun, is this your request?"
Xiong Jun's rough voice was solemn, "Yes, of course, if you don't agree..."
"Since he chose to come clean, then give him a chance."
Gu Yuena's voice was cool, "However, the Golden Dragon King's divine core must eventually be extracted, and that wisp of divine consciousness must be dealt with. He may not be able to accept the truth once he knows it, so be prepared."
Hearing this, Xiong Jun's eyes showed a hint of joy, but it quickly turned serious, "Master, rest assured, I will keep a close eye on him."
Wulin, I haven't let you down by being your master, so don't disappoint me either.
I don't know how well the Sea God treats you, but we at the Spirit Pagoda haven't treated you badly, right?
I don't ask for much. If you face a dilemma, I'll knock you out, and you can deal with it afterward without making a fuss.
"Mm." Gu Yuena responded softly and was about to hang up when Xiong Jun's voice came through again, "Master, is the person beside you...?"
Gu Yuena exchanged a glance with Huo Yuhao and chuckled, "What do you think?"
There was a sudden "crack" sound from the communicator, Xiong Jun had accidentally crushed the table beside him. He muttered gruffly, "Damn it... this world is getting more and more surreal."
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but laugh, "Xiong Jun, long time no see."
Hearing this greeting, Xiong Jun completely confirmed the other's identity. He took a deep breath and suddenly burst into laughter, "Well, well! Spirit Ice, you're really not dead! Looks like life won't be boring from now on!"
The sound of Xiong Jun excitedly pacing back and forth came through the communicator, his heavy footsteps thudding on the ground, "You're something else, surviving until now. Did you fake your failure and actually become a god?"
"There's a monument to you in the Star Dou Forest, and every year, the young ones go to offer flowers... and there are also many people who visit your grave. I've even paid my respects there."
"This is great. A living person receiving offerings is essentially the faith of a deity. You've made quite a fortune over these ten thousand years!"
Huo Yuhao's smile instantly froze.
Gu Yuena's eyes curved into crescents as she lightly covered her lips, her shoulders trembling slightly.
But soon, she composed herself, her voice carrying an "unquestionable authority," "Since you know Yuhao is a deity and my ally, you..."
Huo Yuhao raised his hand to stop Gu Yuena and coughed lightly, "Just treat me as you did in the past."
Gu Yuena blinked, exchanged a glance with Huo Yuhao, and nodded, "Alright, let's end the conversation here. I have some things to discuss with Yuhao."
After hanging up the soul communicator, Gu Yuena turned to Huo Yuhao, "Yuhao, what do you think we should do now?"
"Since it involves the Golden Dragon King, you decide..."
Seeing Gu Yuena's trusting gaze, Huo Yuhao paused, "How about this: let's wait until Wulin has explored his spiritual space. I have some doubts about the situation there."
The Sea God's position is gone. Will the seal still be the same as before?
...
On the top floor of the hotel, Xiong Jun put away his soul communicator with a smile.
Ten thousand years ago, his relationship with Huo Yuhao hadn't been particularly good.
They had only met, and even then, it was when Huo Yuhao was in disguise. Among the Star Dou Forest, only Di Tian truly knew Huo Yuhao, and some of the information they had came from Di Tian.
Back then, they hadn't paid much attention to him, seeing him as just a somewhat special human. After a hundred years, he would be nothing but dust.
But the way they viewed him ten thousand years ago and the way they viewed him now were completely different.
Xiong Jun walked to the window and looked down at the bustling scene below, where people walked with their spirit souls by their sides. He murmured:
"The scene before us today originated from you. I thought you would never see it, so I went to your grave to tell you about it. Now it seems you've already seen it."