Douluo Dalu 2: The True God King

The scene shifts to Huo Yuhao.

He had been placed by the members of the Body Sect in the outer disciples' communal dormitory.

Although Huo Yuhao's martial soul was decent, his natural talent and soul ring configuration were undeniably poor.

Du Busi couldn't possibly grant him exceptional treatment right away.

However, even as an outer disciple, Huo Yuhao still had his private room.

The members of the Body Sect had always been rare in number.

Soul Masters possessing a Body Martial Soul were as rare as phoenix feathers among their kind.

This was one of the reasons why Du Busi decided to keep Huo Yuhao despite his lackluster talent—because the number of Body Martial Soul users was simply too low.

Every single one of them was someone the Body Sect sought to recruit.

Moreover, the Body Sect was well known for its unity.

Though they were domineering and unreasonable, disregarding martial ethics, they were extremely protective of their own.

The fact that Du Busi didn't even scold Huo Yuhao despite being tricked so badly spoke volumes.

Closing the door, Huo Yuhao sat on his bed, looking around this unfamiliar place, feeling somewhat lost.

However, since he was already here, he decided to adapt.

It wasn't that he had abandoned Tang Sect or forgotten about Tang Ya.

But this was an order from Young Master.

Huo Yuhao had no choice but to obey.

Since that person said the Body Sect suited him better, then it must be more suitable than the Tang Sect.

A faint light flickered from the imitation Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges at his waist, and two books appeared in his hands.

Looking at them, Huo Yuhao fell into deep thought.

These were no ordinary books—they were rare cultivation techniques.

One had a dark purple cover, the other a deep crimson hue.

On the dark purple cover, four bold words were written in a flamboyant style: Sunflower Manual.

Flipping to the first page, he saw a striking maxim:

"Purple Cloud Divine Art is the foundation of the Dao. The Sunflower Manual is the peak of perfection."

"The peak of perfection."

Huo Yuhao's eyes gleamed with desire.

Just those four words were enough to move his heart.

But the Sunflower Manual had extremely harsh, even extreme, training requirements.

One had to castrate oneself.

Even the person who gave him this manual had told him to consider it carefully, warning that although it was immensely powerful, it was highly unorthodox.

It detailed a realm called "Heaven and Man Transformation," an extraordinary state of being, but the initial requirements were daunting enough to make any man shudder.

Huo Yuhao clenched his teeth, deeply hesitant.

"To achieve great things, one must have great resolve."

That was easy to say, but what man wouldn't hesitate at something like this?

"Just an inch or two… maybe…?"

A ruthless glint flashed across his face, his expression twisted.

He bore immense hatred—should he be ruthless even to himself to exact his revenge?

The more he thought about it, the more tempted he became, and he couldn't help but want to turn to the second page.

But just as he was about to, he stopped abruptly.

Because that person had warned him—unless he was completely sure, he must not read further.

Once he did, it would be hard to resist.

The martial arts recorded within would be far too enticing.

Summoning his immense willpower, Huo Yuhao restrained himself.

He decided to check the second book instead.

This was also a gift from that person.

He had been given a choice between the two.

Setting aside the Sunflower Manual, he picked up the other book.

The deep crimson cover gave off an eerie aura, an indescribable sense of wickedness.

Three black words were emblazoned on the cover: Life-Devouring Scripture.

Huo Yuhao's heart trembled as he opened it.

The introduction on the first page made his stomach drop.

Life-Devouring Scripture.

A technique that relied on consuming one's lifespan to gain power.

It wasn't inherently evil since it didn't steal the life force of other beings—it only burned the practitioner's lifespan.

The more life force consumed, the faster one's cultivation progressed and the more soul power increased—but at the cost of drastically shortening one's life.

The Life-Devouring Scripture also recorded many forbidden techniques, all involving the sacrifice of life force.

Simply put, it was a method to trade life for strength.

Huo Yuhao's hands trembled as he read the prologue.

Neither of these techniques was normal.

Both were extreme, bordering on the demonic.

If he had a choice, he would never touch either of them.

However, according to that person, in Huo Yuhao's current situation, conventional methods would never allow him to grow strong.

His foundation was too weak, his body too frail.

Only by walking an unconventional path could he have a chance to become powerful.

Otherwise, he would never achieve greatness in this lifetime.

Unless he had heaven-defying luck and was blessed with countless precious heavenly treasures, perhaps then he could defy fate.

But where would such luck come from?

Where would he find those heavenly treasures?

Even if the Body Sect possessed such resources, why would they waste them on someone as useless as him?

The resources needed to nurture Huo Yuhao could be used to train several other powerful disciples instead.

So in truth, he never had another path to choose from.

Taking a deep breath, he faced a difficult decision.

One required him to sacrifice his manhood.

The other demanded his very life.

Which one should he choose?

"Young Master, which should I take?"

"Can you guide me?"

Huo Yuhao muttered to himself, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two books.

After hesitating for over half an hour, he finally reached out and picked up the Life-Devouring Scripture.

"I can die young, but I cannot disgrace Young Master."

"Being neither man nor woman—wouldn't that be an embarrassment to Young Master?"

Determined, Huo Yuhao put away the Sunflower Manual.

It was indeed a powerful technique—perhaps he could arrange for its use in the future.

For now, he focused on the Life-Devouring Scripture, carefully reading through it.

Its profundity was in no way inferior to the Sunflower Manual—in fact, in some ways, it surpassed it.

It contained numerous offensive techniques with formidable power.

Comparing it to the Mysterious Heaven Skill, the difference was staggering.

Techniques like Mysterious Jade Hand and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon were completely outclassed by the Life-Devouring Scripture's Soul-Destroying Palm and Void Cleaving Strike.

Even Mysterious Heaven Skill paled in comparison to the soul power cultivated through the Life-Devouring Scripture—it was utterly crushed.

Aside from costing his lifespan, this technique had no real flaws.

"Hmm? Medicine Supplement Chapter?"

Flipping to the final section, Huo Yuhao was surprised to find a special chapter.

It was meant to mitigate the technique's drawbacks.

The Medicine Supplement Chapter outlined methods to replenish life force by consuming vast amounts of rare medicinal herbs.

Although the rate of replenishment could never match the speed of life force depletion, it at least provided a way to slow down premature death.

Huo Yuhao's eyes brightened—he was more convinced than ever that he had made the right choice.

"Young Master, I will become your most useful subordinate."

"And Dai Huabin, I will kill your entire family."

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes as he began cultivating the Life-Devouring Scripture.

Right now, the only issue troubling him was how to obtain medicinal resources.

But all of this was within Su Yu's expectations.

The reason Huo Yuhao was not valued was that his talent was too poor.

However, once his cultivation speed increased, the Body Sect would naturally take notice of him.

Moreover, although the Life-Devouring Scripture consumed one's lifespan, its effects were truly powerful.

It not only enhanced soul power but also significantly improved physical fitness.

Unless someone conducted a deep examination of Huo Yuhao's body, they wouldn't be able to notice anything unusual.

With this, would Huo Yuhao still have trouble obtaining resources and medicine?

This was called using the Body Sect's resources to cultivate one's people.

This was also the reason Su Yu sent Huo Yuhao to the Body Sect.

Getting things for free could be quite enjoyable at times.

...

...

...

Time passed like a fleeting horse; three months went by in the blink of an eye.

Three months had passed since Huo Yuhao was taken away and Mu En passed away.

Inside the Sea God Pavilion, Su Yu's figure appeared.

Looking at Su Yu before him, Yan Shaozhe showed a hint of surprise.

"You're leaving?"

"Why not stay a little longer?"

Su Yu smiled and said, "I have already stayed here for months, that's long enough."

"Next, I plan to travel around the continent and train myself."

Yan Shaozhe pondered for a moment before saying, "Since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you. Take Xiaotao with you."

Yan Shaozhe was somewhat disappointed about Su Yu's departure.

Even after three months, Han Ruoruo and the other two women had still not won over Su Yu.

With only Zhang Lexuan by his side, Yan Shaozhe didn't feel reassured at all.

But since Su Yu insisted on leaving, he didn't dare to force him to stay.

Although he had now reached the peak of Rank 98 soul power—

Logically speaking, he shouldn't be much weaker than Mu Wu.

Yet in front of Mu Wu, he still felt very weak.

Even though their soul power levels were similar, Mu Wu and he didn't seem to be on the same level at all.

Yan Shaozhe understood that this was the drawback of power transference.

Soul power obtained through transference was naturally inferior to that acquired through self-cultivation.

Additionally, his soul ring distribution was far inferior, his martial soul was weaker, and his comprehension of realms was lacking.

Yan Shaozhe was no match for Mu Wu at all.

So even with his improved strength, he remained humble before Su Yu.

Not to mention, there was still Hai Bodong—the nightmare that haunted him forever.

The beating he received from Hai Bodong back then had left an unimaginable psychological shadow.

"Of course, I'll take Xiaotao. She'll be my personal maid." Su Yu casually remarked.

Yan Shaozhe's mouth twitched. That wording…

Although Xiaotao was supposed to follow Su Yu's commands for ten years, to be used as he pleased,

Directly calling her a personal maid was a bit too crude, wasn't it?

Even though he had an opinion on it, he didn't dare voice it.

"Young Master Su Yu is truly humorous. I entrust Xiaotao to you; you may command her as you wish, without considering my dignity."

Yan Shaozhe spoke righteously, though his words were completely different from his true thoughts.

Su Yu blinked, looking at Yan Shaozhe with a strange expression.

Why do you have the misconception that I would care about your dignity?

Why are you so ordinary, yet so confident?

Sensing Su Yu's gaze, Yan Shaozhe's expression stiffened, and he changed the topic.

"Don't forget to explain things to Lexuan as well."

Su Yu shrugged, "Of course."

After exchanging a few more words, Su Yu left the Sea God Pavilion.

With his hands behind his back, he walked quietly along the narrow stone path.

Three months had passed, and quite a few things had happened.

Just as Su Yu had expected, Tang Ya had disappeared—Bei Bei failed to keep her safe.

Tang Ya's disappearance meant that she had still embarked on that path of no return.

He and Tang Ya had only met a few times; there was no real bond between them.

If the time came to strike, Su Yu would not hesitate.

As for Bei Bei, Tang Ya's disappearance had dealt him a heavy blow.

He was like a lost soul, wandering like a walking corpse.

He clung desperately to the so-called Tang Sect, forcing himself to endure.

Whether having Tang Ya as a girlfriend was Bei Bei's fortune or misfortune, no one could say.

If he fell in love with someone else, perhaps Bei Bei would feel much less burdened.

Of course, these matters did not concern Su Yu much—what he cared about were the people around him.

Meanwhile, Wang Dong'er had made significant progress.

With a White Dragon Right Leg Bone gifted by Su Yu, she successfully broke through to the Soul King level.

She also obtained her fifth soul ring, reaching Rank 52 Soul King.

Meng Hongchen remained at the Soul Emperor level, currently at Rank 62 soul power.

As for Zhang Lexuan, her soul power hadn't changed, still at Rank 88 Soul Douluo.

At the Soul Douluo stage, advancing even a single rank was extremely difficult.

Even for someone like Zhang Lexuan, it would take at least a year.

As for Su Yu himself, he had also made progress over these three months.

Three months ago, he had just broken through Rank 59.

Now, he had reached Rank 60.

Yes—Su Yu had finally reached the threshold of Rank 60.

With just one more soul ring, he would become a Soul Emperor.

This was one of the reasons why he wanted to leave.

Aside from that, over these three months, Su Yu had also completed his eighth-anniversary check-in reward.

The reward included a Soul Tool Compendium and a God-bestowed Soul Ring.

The Soul Tool Compendium contained detailed knowledge about soul tools, including the crafting methods for high-level soul tools.

It recorded everything from Rank 6 soul tools to Rank 15 soul tools.

The most powerful among them could slay gods—in the truest sense.

For example, the Rank 14 Super Soul Missile could wipe out the entire surface of a planet in one shot.

This was already the level of destructive power held by veteran High Gods.

As for the Rank 15 Soul Missile—even a God-King would break into a cold sweat upon seeing it.

With this compendium, Su Yu had completely grasped the developmental path of soul tools.

He could use it to become the strongest Soul Engineer.

Originally, due to the limitations of his era, soul tools posed no real threat to gods.

At times, Su Yu wondered if learning about soul tools was a waste of time.

But now, things were different.

This Soul Tool Compendium gave Su Yu absolute confidence.

Soul tools could indeed slay gods.

One Rank 15 Soul Missile—

Even Tang San would have to call him Father.

Apart from the Soul Tool Compendium, the other reward was a God-bestowed Soul Ring.