Bear Lord's mood had been quite complicated to begin with.
He had only taken on a disciple — how did it suddenly involve the Sea God?
Then, hearing Tang Wulin take the initiative to come clean, Bear Lord's expression gradually became strange. Finally, after a moment of silence, he asked: "Wulin — don't you want the Golden Dragon King's power? This should be your biggest secret, right? Powerful bloodline power can easily attract covetous eyes."
Tang Wulin was stunned, then shook his head with a wry smile. "It's not even my own thing. I wish I could just take it out."
It was a bomb that could kill him. Earlier, it had made him work desperately to earn money. To say he liked that feeling — that would be impossible.
Of course, saying he hated it wouldn't be right either. He had gotten this far also by relying on the Golden Dragon King's power. But he wasn't about to let power make him lose sight of other things.
"Besides." The young boy looked up, his gaze clear. "If even the Spirit Transmission Tower and you aren't worth trusting, I wouldn't know what to do. I can't solve the problem on my own — I could only seek help from my teachers."
Hearing Tang Wulin's last words, Bear Lord's rugged face was slightly moved. He thought for a moment, then extended his broad palm and heavily patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry — leave it to your teacher."
Once his Lord recovered, what mischief could a mere wisp of divine consciousness do?
And now that Wulin had spoken up, they could think of a way to solve it together. Although he wasn't good at this sort of thing, there were others... beasts who were.
The only problem — the relationship between that wisp of divine consciousness and Wulin was trouble trouble...
"I'll teach you a method first: how to look inward and observe your own condition. Since the Golden Dragon King's seal and Old Tang exist within you, they can't be completely without a trace. Your spiritual awareness should be able to reach that place."
"You don't need to rely entirely on Old Tang's guidance. Your body and your spiritual space… you should be the one in control."
Bear Lord thought for a moment, planning to take it slow. He first taught Tang Wulin a method for manipulating spiritual power and a method for manipulating blood and energy. Watching him begin to practice, he left the place and first reported the specific situation to Gu Yuena.
"???"
In the room, Gu Yuena held her soul tool communicator, looking at Huo Yuhao. Her gaze hesitated and wandered between the communicator and Huo Yuhao.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao took the initiative to speak. "What is it?"
Feeling reassured, Gu Yuena didn't cover up either. "Yuhao — did you guide him?"
The current situation was somewhat unexpected. It was no longer suitable to keep Yuhao's matters hidden from Bear Lord. When necessary, she might need Yuhao's help.
But that was fine — it was just informing Bear Lord 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 answered.
On the other end of the soul tool communicator, Bear Lord heard the two talking and was somewhat surprised.
His Lord was with someone? And Yuhao... was that the child named Huo Yuhao?
Huo Yuhao... He had heard many repetitions of this name over the ten thousand years.
Because there "seemed" to be no famous person with this name, people didn't avoid using it when naming. He had even seen quite a few people with this name. At first, he had reacted, but gradually became numb.
So he hadn't thought much of it before.
But now, his Lord was discussing such important information as the Golden Dragon King with him, without hiding it from this Huo Yuhao...
A flash of surprise passed through Bear Lord's eyes. Connecting some previously received information with what Gu Yuena had told him, he vaguely formed a guess in his heart, yet found it somewhat hard to believe.
Sigh — could this Huo Yuhao possibly be the Spirit-Ice from ten thousand years ago? He was still alive?
Getting the answer from Huo Yuhao, Gu Yuena's brow furrowed slightly. She looked at the communicator.
"Bear Lord — what are your thoughts?"
Bear Lord temporarily set aside his thoughts. After a moment's hesitation, in a very respectful tone, he said: "My Lord — now that Wulin has already confessed the situation himself... could you give him a chance? All you need is the Golden Dragon King's divine core, isn't it?"
With others present, he needed to show respect to his Lord.
"..."
Gu Yuena knew that her next words would determine Bear Lord's attitude toward Tang Wulin.
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she walked to the window and looked toward the competition venue in the distance. Faint cheers could be heard.
A Spirit Soul competition was being held there.
Huo Yuhao sensed Gu Yuena's hesitation. He slowly walked to her side and followed her gaze toward the bustling competition venue. "Want to go see?"
"Yes — Spirit Soul competitions are quite interesting. Ten thousand years ago, you couldn't see such a harmonious scene."
Gu Yuena's eyes flickered slightly. After a moment of silence, she picked up the communicator again and spoke: "Bear Lord — is this a request from you?"
Bear Lord's rough voice was very solemn: "Yes. Although — if you don't agree, of course..."
"Since he chose to confess — give him a chance."
Gu Yuena's voice was clear and cold. "However — the Golden Dragon King's divine core will ultimately have to be removed. That wisp of divine consciousness will also have to be dealt with. He may not be able to accept the truth when he learns it. Be mentally prepared."
Bear Lord's eyes lit up with joy at this, but quickly grew. "Don't worry, My Lord — I will be responsible for keeping an eye on him."
Wulin — I haven't failed the 'teacher' you called me. Don't let me down either.
I don't know if the Sea God has been good to you, but the Spirit Transmission Tower hasn't treated you badly either, has it?
I don't ask for much. If you're ever in a dilemma, I'll knock you unconscious. Just don't make a scene afterwards.
"Yes," Gu Yuena replied softly. She was just about to end the call when Bear Lord's voice came through again.
"My Lord… the one by your side… could it be…?"
Gu Yuena exchanged a glance with Huo Yuhao and let out a faint chuckle. "What do you think?"
A sharp crack sounded from the other end of the communicator. Bear Lord had crushed the table beside him without realizing it.
"Unbelievable…" he muttered in his rough voice. "This world is getting more and more absurd."
Huo Yuhao couldn't help laughing. "Bear Lord — long time no see."
Hearing this greeting, Bear Lord confirmed the other's identity once and for all. He took a deep breath, then suddenly burst into loud laughter. "Good fellow! Spirit-Ice — you really aren't dead! Looks like the days ahead won't be boring!"
From the other end of the communicator came the sound of Bear Lord excitedly pacing back and forth, the floor thudding under his steps. "You're something — surviving to this day. You didn't fake your death and actually become a god, did you?"
"There's a memorial stele for you in the Star Dou Great Forest. Every year, the young ones come to lay flowers... and in front of your grave marker — also quite a few people come to pay respects. I even offered incense at your grave."
"Well, well — a living person receiving offerings, in other words, the faith of a deity. You've made quite a killing these ten thousand years!"
Huo Yuhao's smile instantly froze.
Gu Yuena's eyes, however, curved into crescents. She lightly covered her lips, her shoulders trembling slightly.
But quickly, she restrained her smile. Her voice took on an "infallible dignity." "Since you know Yuhao is a deity, and my ally, you..."
Huo Yuhao reached out to stop Gu Yuena. He coughed lightly. "Just interact with me as you would in the past."
Gu Yuena exchanged a glance with Huo Yuhao. Her expression was complex for a moment, but she quickly let it fade. She said: "Alright — let's stop here. I have some things to discuss with Yuhao."
Hanging up the communicator, Gu Yuena said to Huo Yuhao: "Yuhao — what do you think we should do now?"
"This 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 on his own. I have some doubts about the situation there."
The Sea God's seat was gone. Would that seal still be the same as before?
At the hotel's top floor, Bear Lord put away his communicator with a smile on his face.
Ten thousand years ago, his relationship with Huo Yuhao hadn't been particularly close. They had only met a few times, and even then, it had been under the other's disguise.
Within their Star Dou group, the only one who truly knew Huo Yuhao was Emperor Tian. Most of the information they had about him had also come from Emperor Tian.
Back then, they hadn't paid much attention either — after all, he was just a slightly special human. A hundred years would pass, and he'd be nothing but loess.
But how he had viewed him ten thousand years ago and how he viewed him now were completely different.
Bear Lord walked to the window, looking down at the scene below of people coming and going, accompanied by Spirit Souls, and murmured: "The scene today — originated with you. I thought you'd never see it, so I'd just tell you at your grave. Now it seems — you've seen it already."
***
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