Huo Yuhao shivered as he noticed the burning intensity in Ji Juechen's eyes.
'Was my performance today a bit too dazzling? This guy isn't going to start clinging to me for daily sparring sessions, is he?'
That wouldn't do at all. Huo Yuhao already had enough on his plate. In his free time, he only wanted to be with Senior Meng. Anything else was out of the question.
His mind began to race. He needed to come up with a plan—something to make this sword fanatic give up the idea of constantly challenging him. Suddenly, something in the audience caught his attention. His eyes scanned the crowd until he found what he was looking for—a fiery red silhouette.
Huo Yuhao cleared his throat and sent a voice transmission to Ji Juechen.
"Brother Ji, are you looking for a strong opponent to spar with?"
Ji Juechen answered without hesitation.
"Absolutely."
"In my opinion, there's someone more suitable than me."
A sly smile curved across Huo Yuhao's face. He activated Spiritual Detection Sharing and locked onto Ma Xiaotao in the stands, projecting her image into Ji Juechen's spiritual sea.
Ji Juechen "saw" the fiery figure and turned his real gaze toward Huo Yuhao, puzzled.
"Hehe. She's a top student from Shrek Academy, close to Soul Sage level. Her martial soul is the powerful Evil Fire Phoenix. Trust me—she won't disappoint you. Instead of bullying a mere Soul Ancestor like me, wouldn't you rather have a proper opponent?"
After Huo Yuhao's heartfelt persuasion, Ji Juechen seemed to understand. He nodded slightly. Not sparring with you is fine, as long as someone else is willing.
Seeing him nod, Huo Yuhao let out a long breath of relief.
'At least I can enjoy a little peace now...'
After exchanging farewells with Ji Juechen, who carried Jing Ziyan on his back, Huo Yuhao ignored the wave of students now idolizing him and rushed out of the arena with Meng Hongchen in tow.
Of course, he also ignored the resentful stares from a certain pair of people who were watching him walk off hand-in-hand with Meng Hongchen.
As Huo Yuhao and Meng Hongchen strolled along a secluded path within the academy, chatting excitedly about the techniques they'd used in the match, Huo Yuhao suddenly frowned and came to a stop.
Walking ahead, Meng Hongchen looked back at him in confusion. She tugged his hand, which hadn't budged, and saw that he had suddenly closed his eyes, entering deep concentration.
"Hey? Yuhao? You there? Hello?"
After a moment, Huo Yuhao suddenly opened his eyes and glanced toward a distant direction, murmuring to himself.
"Guidance... the guidance of destiny."
Meng Hongchen saw his eyes glowing with a strange green-golden light. His whole being seemed to be in an entranced state. She tightened her grip on his hand, anxious.
Feeling her hand squeeze tighter, Huo Yuhao snapped out of it and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, I'm okay."
"So what just happened? You scared me."
Huo Yuhao reached out and gently patted her head as she pouted.
"Nothing much. I think I sensed something... maybe a small insight. It's a good thing."
Only then did Meng Hongchen relax and stop thinking about it. For soul masters, strange little moments of enlightenment weren't all that rare.
But what Huo Yuhao didn't tell her was that this insight wasn't so simple.
Just moments ago, the Sun of Life in his spiritual world had trembled. Following that, he had sensed a distant presence brimming with overwhelming vitality and the power of fate.
The Sun of Life seemed to be guiding him toward this being.
Huo Yuhao didn't know exactly what the presence was, but he was certain—this might be the will of the Goddess of Life herself.
He didn't dwell on it too much. Since fate was involved, he could make a few guesses. Still, many things remained uncertain. For now, he'd leave it to fate. From the faint divine message that came through the Sun of Life, Huo Yuhao understood—he didn't need to do anything, just be ready.
---
Sun Moon Empire Border — Darkmoon City
"Please present your cross-border pass."
At the gates of Darkmoon City, a heavily armed soldier dressed like a standard Soul Engineer Legion member stood before the leader of a merchant caravan.
Though technically a border city, Darkmoon was a critical military stronghold and a hub for cross-border trade. It held great importance within the Sun Moon Empire. Facing the northern border of the Heavenly Soul Empire, it linked directly to the imperial capital, Mingdu, and other major cities via wide trade roads often guarded by military patrols. Merchants had no fear of bandits along these routes.
That's why merchants from the Heavenly Soul Empire—whose relations with the Sun Moon Empire were less tense than the Star Luo Empire's—often favored trading through Darkmoon City. Of course, obtaining a cross-border pass required approval from both empires' top officials. Only small- to mid-sized private merchants with no political ties could qualify.
The caravan leader carefully produced a small parchment-bound pass and handed it over.
The soldier flipped it open and read aloud.
"Exporting rice, wheat, and corn to our country—five tons each. Importing refined iron and copper to the Heavenly Soul Empire. Everything checks out. Do you confirm?"
The caravan leader swallowed nervously.
"Confirmed, confirmed."
Cargo had to be personally inspected by high-ranking soldiers. If the caravan carried anything not listed, at best they'd be sent back; at worst, they could be detained or worse. There were precedents for death in the Sun Moon Empire under such circumstances.
Bribes were useless. These soldiers were Soul Engineer Legion elites—some of the finest in the empire. They had more money than they could spend and no interest in pocket change. The Sun Moon Empire prided itself on discipline.
The soldier nodded and signaled to his comrades, who swiftly moved in to inspect the caravan's goods.
Once the checks were complete and nothing suspicious was found, the merchant group was allowed to pass through the thick metal gates of Darkmoon City, which slowly opened with the hum of a soul device mechanism.
But no one noticed that beneath a pile of wheat stalks in one of the wagons, a young girl was hiding.
She had long, strangely green-golden hair, a delicate and lovely face, and clear emerald eyes.
Murmuring under her breath as the wagon creaked forward, the girl exhaled softly.
"The human world… is really dangerous."
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.