Chapter 457: Chapter 457: First Clash with Ma Xiaotao — The Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife (Extra)

After dinner,

Zhang Lexuan originally intended to arrange lodging for Huo Yuhao, so that he could remain at the academy and await the tournament one month later.

But Huo Yuhao politely declined.

Seeing the faint trace of distance lingering between his brows, she sighed inwardly.

His joining Shrek could not be rushed; it would have to be done step by step.

"Junior Brother, if you ever need anything, you may come to the inner court to find me."

Zhang Lexuan said seriously,

"Since we share the same master, we should support each other. There’s no need for formality."

Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement.

She personally escorted him to the academy gates, watching until his figure disappeared into the distance before turning back.

"Yuhao, that’s enough. Your senior sister has already gone far away."

Within his sea of consciousness,

Skydream Iceworm sighed.

"Your teacher is truly a formidable figure."

"Sigh, now that I no longer hold a godly position, we’ll have to be more careful in the future."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

Then Skydream teased,

"Yuhao, I think that senior sister of yours is quite good."

"Beautiful, talented, and highly respected within Shrek."

"If you were to tie the knot with her, wouldn’t cultivation resources fall right into your hands?"

"You’d better seize the opportunity!"

Huo Yuhao said helplessly,

"Brother Skydream, stop joking."

"I already have plans for the road ahead."

At that moment,

Electrolux spoke.

"Are you plotting to obtain that Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife?"

"Exactly."

Huo Yuhao pondered.

"In my previous life, I purchased the ’Devouring Spirit Cursed Blade’ at the Star Luo Auction House for one hundred thousand gold soul coins."

"After you purified it, Elder Yi, it became the ’Life Guardian Blade.’"

Electrolux replied approvingly,

"Yuhao, in this life you are advancing much faster. There is no need to follow the old steps rigidly."

"That Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife contains Life Gold within it. It can help you open the Eye of Life, grant your body an undying quality, and further enhance your spiritual power."

"With the addition of your two pills, you may well reach level fifty soul power directly."

"Such an opportunity must not be missed."

Huo Yuhao clenched his fist and nodded firmly.

...

The Star Luo Auction House was hidden deep beneath the imperial capital of the Star Luo Empire.

By the time Huo Yuhao arrived, travel-worn, two days had passed.

As usual,

entry required strict verification.

But when he presented the token gifted by Mu En, every checkpoint opened without obstruction.

"Teacher’s name truly carries weight."

"This token was meant to grant convenience within the academy—I didn’t expect it to command such authority even here."

He tucked away the token bearing the Light Holy Dragon emblem and stepped into the auction house renowned across the continent.

The interior glittered with splendor.

Crystal chandeliers illuminated murals on the vaulted ceiling, luxury evident everywhere.

"In my previous life, I obtained the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife three years from now."

"The blade is extremely baleful. Every previous owner met a tragic end, so no one dared use it."

"I hope the cursed blade is still lingering in the auction house."

With a clear objective, Huo Yuhao did not attend the ongoing auction. Instead, he went directly to the auction house’s steward.

Faced with this mysterious youth holding a token rumored to belong to the Dragon God Douluo, the steward dared not neglect him—though his expression showed difficulty.

"Honored guest, please forgive me. According to auction house rules, the identities of both buyer and seller cannot be disclosed."

He changed his tone and bowed slightly.

"However, I trust that you would not spread the information."

"To be frank, that cursed blade had been sitting unsold in the auction house for years. It was purchased just two days ago."

"What?"

Huo Yuhao frowned.

This was completely different from the future he remembered.

Had the timing simply not yet arrived—would the blade return to the auction house three years later?

Or had his rebirth altered the trajectory of fate?

"Yuhao, do not be anxious."

Electrolux’s voice echoed in his mind.

"Fate is profound and unpredictable. Aside from that one existence, none can fully glimpse heavenly secrets."

"Even if rebirth introduces variables, things will ultimately return to their destined course."

"The Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife is fated to be your opportunity."

Huo Yuhao steadied himself and asked,

"Who purchased it?"

The steward produced a recording-type soul tool and tapped it lightly.

When the light screen displayed the graceful figure with long, fiery-red hair—

Huo Yuhao froze.

"Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao?!"

...

Huo Yuhao spent another two days returning to Shrek Academy.

"What does Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao want with the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife?"

"She doesn’t even craft soul tools."

With this question in mind,

he strolled to the shores of Sea God Lake.

In his previous life, he had first encountered Ma Xiaotao here.

Before him stretched vast emerald waters, the lake surface like a mirror reflecting the blue sky.

Ancient trees towered along the shore, willows drooped gracefully, and within the misty vapor lingered abundant water-element energy, refreshing the spirit.

"Senior Sister Ma bears the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul. She must regularly vent the blazing flames within her body, or else the evil fire will devour her."

"The water-element energy around Sea God Lake is abundant—an ideal place for her to suppress the evil fire."

With that thought,

Huo Yuhao simply found a patch of bluestone by the shore and sat down cross-legged.

A gentle breeze brushed through his slightly disheveled hair.

The youth soon immersed himself in cultivation.

"Cultivation is like rowing upstream."

"Only by cherishing every inch of time can one ascend to the divine realm sooner and step into the true Divine Realm."

This meditation lasted several hours.

By the time dusk descended, the lake was gilded with the afterglow of the setting sun, rippling waves tinged with a touch of vast desolation.

Just then—

Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nannan, walking hand in hand, noticed the seated figure.

"Huh? It’s Huo Yuhao again? Did he join the academy?"

Xiao Xiao’s eyes lit up eagerly.

"He’s really diligent. Every time we see him, he’s cultivating."

"Come on, let’s go say hello."

Jiang Nannan tugged at her sleeve and gently shook her head.

"Let’s not disturb him. We can just watch from here."

Recalling the scene in the Extreme North where he crushed someone’s head with his bare hands, she still felt a lingering fear.

Xiao Xiao pouted.

"Fine."

"From the look of it, is Huo Yuhao waiting for someone again?"

"The academy’s been buzzing lately—saying Senior Sister toured the grounds with a young man. Could he be waiting for Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan again today?"

Jiang Nannan shook her head.

"I don’t know."

As they spoke,

a streak of blazing red suddenly appeared across the darkening lake surface.

Huo Yuhao sensed it and abruptly opened his eyes.

In the dim light, a brilliant glow shot three feet from his pupils.

With his eyesight—

he clearly saw jade cheeks flushed red as fire, crimson hair whipping like flames, and surging blazing soul power enveloping Ma Xiaotao as she split the waves and approached.

Wherever she passed,

rolling white mist steamed from the lake surface.

How similar this scene was to their first encounter in his previous life.

"Fate is indeed mysterious and unfathomable."

In just over a dozen breaths,

Ma Xiaotao swept to within several meters of Huo Yuhao.

Her Spirit Power boiled like raging fire, carrying scorching vapor that surged toward him.

"Huo Yuhao, be careful!" Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nannan cried out in alarm.

Facing the oncoming heatwave,

Huo Yuhao extended his palm and pressed it toward the lakeshore.

Buzz—

An icy-blue ripple spread from his palm.

Where it passed,

water vapor condensed into ice crystals, scattering across the lake.

The water before him froze rapidly at a visible speed.

Crack! Crack!

Crack! Crack!

The ice layer snapped sharply, carrying biting cold as it spread toward the crimson figure.

Ice and fire—

two opposing forces—

collided violently upon the dusk-shrouded lakeshore.