[ White World, Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. ]
[ After Huo Yuhao received approval for a four-month leave from Xuan Ziwen, he did not delay for a moment and immediately began preparations. ]
[ He first went to the exchange office and used his accumulated contribution points to trade for a batch of supplies — dry rations, cold-weather clothing, heating spirit tools, and some emergency medicine. Then, he returned to his dormitory and pulled out a pre-prepared package from under his bed. ]
[ Inside were several sets of plain, coarse cloth clothes and some tools for changing his appearance. ]
[ Huo Yuhao faced the mirror and began his disguise. He used a special gelatinous substance to alter his facial structure and used pigments to draw several scars on his face. A moment later, a youth with an ordinary appearance and a hint of World-weariness appeared in the mirror, looking like a completely different person from his original self. ]
[ "No one should be able to recognize me like this," he muttered to himself. ]
...
Black World, Douluo Continent.
"Disguise? Isn't this kid being a bit too cautious?"
"Nonsense, he is a celebrity in Bright Capital now, with countless factions watching him. If people knew he was going on a long journey, who knows what trouble might arise."
"Is this level of foresight really something only a twelve-year-old has?"
...
White World, Sun Moon Empire.
Many commoners saw Huo Yuhao's actions and praised him one after another:
"See that? This is the difference between the two Huo Yuhaos. Our Venerable Ming is stronger, better prepared, and more meticulous in his thinking!"
"Indeed, from Venerable Ming's actions over this past year, one can see that their goals are different!"
"No wonder their final cultivation levels are different too!"
...
[ After packing everything properly, Huo Yuhao left the academy under the cover of night. He arrived at a small town outside Bright Capital, where there was a carriage rental agency specializing in long-distance carriages. ]
[ "Boss, I want to rent a carriage to go north," Huo Yuhao said in a low voice. ]
[ The boss of the carriage agency sized him up, didn't ask any questions, and took him directly to see the carriage. It was a large carriage pulled by four horn-horses — horn-horses are a type of Spirit Beast with astonishing endurance, capable of traveling hundreds of miles a day without issue. ]
[ "This one costs one gold coin per day," said the boss. ]
[ Huo Yuhao nodded and paid a one-month deposit upfront. ]
[ He had not lacked money during his year of cultivation at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. ]
...
White World, Sun Moon Empire, Bright Capital.
The commoners looked at the Sky Screen and discussed it heatedly.
"One gold coin a day? Isn't that too expensive? That's the monthly expense for a family of three!"
"Expensive? What are you talking about! Is Venerable Ming short on money now? How many contribution points did he save up from doing missions? It's enough to spend for years."
"But this is still too extravagant..."
"Extravagant? Is your life more important or money? Taking this kind of carriage, he can reach the Far North Land in over a month. If he walked, he wouldn't make it in half a year!"
...
[ The carriage set off, heading north. ]
[ Huo Yuhao sat in the carriage, gazing at the scenery flashing by outside the window, silently calculating the time in his heart. ]
[ With a four-month vacation, the round trip alone would take more than two months. The time left for him to find the Ice Empress in the Far North Land and obtain a spirit ring was less than a month and a half. ]
[ "It will be in time," he told himself. ]
[ In his sea of consciousness, the voice of the Heavenly Dream Ice Worm rang out: "Kid, you are quite composed. This journey is not short." ]
[ Huo Yuhao smiled slightly: "With you here, there's no need to worry." ]
[ The Heavenly Dream Ice Worm let out a soft snort, but its tone carried a hint of satisfaction. Over the past year, its view of this host had completely changed. At first, it only thought this kid had a firm will and could be trusted. But later, it discovered that this kid not only had a firm will but was also meticulous and calculated every step. More importantly, he always maintained respect and trust for it, never treating it as a mere tool. ]
[ "Much more reliable than that old man," the Heavenly Dream Ice Worm thought silently to itself. The "old man" it referred to was, naturally, the sleeping Electrolux. ]
...
Black World, Douluo Continent.
"The Heavenly Dream Ice Worm's attitude towards the Huo Yuhao of that World is different."
"Nonsense, the Huo Yuhao of that World knew of its existence from the very beginning and took the initiative to communicate with it. The one on our side wasn't so proactive back then."
"Besides, that World also has Electrolux. With such a powerhouse around, how could the Heavenly Dream Ice Worm not be respectful?"
...
[ More than a month later, the carriage finally arrived at the outskirts of the Far North Land. ]
[ Huo Yuhao stepped off the carriage, gazed at the vast, white ice field in the distance, and took a deep breath. ]
[ "Arrived." ]
[ He paid the remaining fare and told the driver to wait for him there for a month. Then, he wrapped his cold-weather clothing tightly around himself and stepped into that World of ice and snow. ]
[ This time, with the guidance of the Heavenly Dream Ice Worm, his route was much smoother than that of the Huo Yuhao in the Black World. The Heavenly Dream Ice Worm knew clearly where it was dangerous and where it was safe, and knew how to avoid those powerful Spirit Beasts. Huo Yuhao encountered almost no setbacks and penetrated deep into the core area of the Far North Land. ]
...
[ "This is the place," the Heavenly Dream Ice Worm's voice rang out, "Hold on, I need to burn my molted shell to lure that fellow over." ]
[ Huo Yuhao nodded: "Please." ]
[ The Heavenly Dream Ice Worm's molted shell peeled off from his body and hovered in mid-air. Golden flames ignited, turning the shell into ashes and transforming into streams of golden light that spread in all directions. ]
[ Huo Yuhao curled up on the ground, enduring the extreme cold of minus one hundred degrees. He had consumed quite a few medicinal pills for strengthening his foundation, and his training hadn't lagged, so his physical fitness was much better than the Huo Yuhao of the Black World — a year of spirit tool crafting training had given him endurance far beyond ordinary people. However, he was still shivering all over, his face pale. ]
[ After an unknown amount of time, a terrifying figure descended from the sky. ]
[ The Ice Empress. ]
[ After listening to the Heavenly Dream Ice Worm's idea, she swept a cold glance at Huo Yuhao, her eyes full of disdain: "Heavenly Dream, this is the host you found? Innate rank one spirit power, trash among trash." ]
[ The Heavenly Dream Ice Worm's phantom appeared and chuckled: "Bing'er, don't be so hasty. Although this kid has poor talent, but..." ]
[ "But what?" the Ice Empress interrupted it, "Is this kind of trash worthy of my sacrifice?" ]
[ Huo Yuhao curled up on the ground, not speaking. He knew it wasn't time for him to speak yet. ]
[ The Heavenly Dream Ice Worm smiled bitterly: "Bing'er, listen to me..." ]
[ "I won't listen," the Ice Empress said coldly, "Heavenly Dream, you've lived for a million years, and this is the only judgment you have? This kind of trash isn't even worthy of carrying my shoes. You want me to sacrifice myself for him? In your dreams!" ]
[ She turned to leave. ]
[ Just then, an aged and gentle voice rang out: ]
[ "Little girl, don't be so aggressive with your words." ]
[ The Ice Empress's figure paused, and she turned around abruptly. ]
[ A grayish-white phantom slowly emerged from Huo Yuhao's body, wearing gray robes and having white hair, his left eye clear as a youth's, his right eye as deep as an abyss. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the Ice Empress indifferently. ]
[ "Is my disciple someone you can scold?" ]
[ Electrolux's voice was icy, his powerful soul aura locking onto the Ice Empress. ]