Tang San's Divine Sense: Huo Yuhao?!

Tang Wulin arrived at the Spirit Pagoda and stepped into a room. Several pairs of eyes turned toward him at once, two of them filled with immense complexity. It was Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi. Wang Jinxi looked somewhat weary. When Tang Wulin entered his field of vision, his eyes flickered, his expression complicated. Zhang Yangzi, on the other hand, looked at Tang Wulin with an aggrieved gaze, as if his position had been usurped. What in the world had happened? Tang Wulin was entirely at a loss. Luo Yanglu, who was also present, glanced between Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi before speaking to the incoming Tang Wulin. "Wulin, here is the situation. Your bloodline affected Jinxi, causing his Martial Soul to exhibit symptoms of a benign mutation. It hasn't stabilized yet, but strictly speaking, it's a good thing." "The catch is that if his Martial Soul mutates completely, Jinxi and Yangzi won't be able to use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill anymore." "Huh?" Tang Wulin was stunned, and he instantly realized why Zhang Yangzi's gaze was so conflicted. Wasn't this tantamount to him snatching Wang Jinxi away from Zhang Yangzi's side? At that thought, Tang Wulin turned nervously toward Luo Yanglu. "Teacher, can it be resolved?" "Don't worry, it's not a major issue. Wulin, during your cultivation going forward, keep your distance from Jinxi for a while. Then, cooperate with the Spirit Pagoda so we can examine your bloodline." Seeing their unease, Luo Yanglu offered Tang Wulin, Wang Jinxi, and Zhang Yangzi a reassuring smile. "None of you need to worry. The Spirit Pagoda has the means to stabilize Martial Souls. Whichever path you choose to take, it will be fine. For now, head back and cultivate as usual." Hearing that, all three breathed a collective sigh of relief and departed one by one. "Wulin, come with me for a moment. Stabilizing Jinxi's bloodline will likely require your help," Luo Yanglu said to Tang Wulin once the others had left, leading the way toward the door. Following behind him, Tang Wulin hesitated over whether he should tell Luo Yanglu directly about the Golden Dragon King bloodline. (Tang San's divine sense: *No, you don't!*) If the teacher knew about it, resolving these troubles would probably be far simpler... "Actually, regarding your bloodline, I've been investigating it recently and finally found some records." As they walked through the corridor, Luo Yanglu suddenly looked back at Tang Wulin and said, "Your bloodline should be related to the Golden Dragon." Tang Wulin froze. "The Golden Dragon?" "Indeed, the pinnacle of strength—the Golden Dragon!" Luo Yanglu nodded. "Currently, a young miss in the Spirit Pagoda possesses the Golden Dragon Martial Soul, but her contact with other Dragon-type Martial Soul users doesn't produce such pronounced suppression and enhancement as yours does. Your bloodline might be related to the legendary Dragon Kings." This information had come from the Gu Clan after communicating with them. As expected of a reclusive clan passed down from ancient times, their heritage and reserves were not to be underestimated. It was no wonder they had produced two heaven-favored daughters in a row like Gu Ruiqiu and Gu Yuena. "..." Well, it seemed he hardly needed to say a word before Teacher Luo Yanglu had already deduced most of the situation on his own. As expected of the profoundly resourceful Spirit Pagoda. Tang Wulin clicked his tongue in wonder. The two of them arrived at the Soul Spirit Research Institute. Luo Yanglu spoke briefly with the staff, then led Tang Wulin inside. "Wulin, draw a little blood first, and then summon your Soul Spirit." Tang Wulin didn't object. Following Luo Yanglu's instructions, he stepped forward to let a researcher draw a small sample of his blood, then summoned his Soul Spirit. A glittering, golden little snake crawled up Tang Wulin's arm, its golden vertical pupils surveying their surroundings. Luo Yanglu stared at the drastically transformed Grey Sea Snake. After a moment of silence, he said, "Wulin, your Soul Spirit might need to cooperate in some research. Having undergone mutation after absorbing your bloodline, it is the best subject for determining the extent of your bloodline's influence." Hearing this, Tang Wulin showed a worried expression. "Jinyu won't be harmed, will it?" He hadn't named his Soul Spirit Jinyu at first, but once it became tainted by the Golden Dragon King's bloodline, he felt its old name was no longer fitting and changed it to this one. He had always placed great value on this companion who had chosen him. Luo Yanglu smiled. "Rest assured. You can stay right beside it. It isn't anything dangerous, just extracting a tiny trace of bloodline power for research." With that, Luo Yanglu fetched a staff member, intending to find a Soul Spirit researcher to assist. But before long, he saw Huo Yuhao walking in through the doorway. "Yuhao, what brings you here?" "I'm quite interested in Wulin's Dragon-type bloodline. I am a Spirit Pagoda Soul Spirit researcher as well, so how about letting me handle this?" After addressing Luo Yanglu, Huo Yuhao turned to the bewildered Tang Wulin beside him and smiled. "Wulin, do you agree?" Seeing that it was Huo Yuhao, Tang Wulin felt a sense of relief, even if he was amazed that someone Huo Yuhao's age could juggle so many roles and even work in Soul Spirit research. Yuhao always gave off an exceptionally reliable impression. "Then I'll leave it to you, Yuhao." Seeing this, Luo Yanglu raised no objections. Three years ago, Huo Yuhao had mentioned wanting to research Soul Spirits and had studied under several researchers. According to their appraisals, Yuhao's technical competence was excellent, and he could easily pursue a researcher's path... *Wait, are the people at the Soul Spirit Research Institute trying to poach Yuhao?* Belatedly realizing this, Luo Yanglu glanced over at several staff members staring intently at Huo Yuhao and fell into contemplation. ... Under Huo Yuhao's lead, Tang Wulin arrived at a laboratory. The layout inside was clean and orderly. Various precision instruments and apparatuses were neatly arranged along the perimeter, gleaming with a metallic sheen. Huo Yuhao walked up to a lab bench, took a box out from a storage soul tool, and opened it. Inside was a palm-sized hexagonal metal casket. Its surface was etched with a web-like totem pattern, and a transparent crystal was embedded in its center. This was a Blood Source Pivot Crystal—the technological crystallization used by the Spirit Pagoda to extract Soul Spirit bloodline power for the creation of artificial Soul Spirits. It was an unranked soul tool. Indeed, for Soul Spirits. Ordinary Soul Beasts could have their bloodline genes extracted directly for research, but what about extinct beasts that only survived as Soul Spirits? For precious Soul Spirits like the Bluesilver Emperor, how could researchers extract a trace of bloodline power from their Origin without causing harm? Born from such considerations, this soul tool had been created. Today, however, it was not the main event. Under Tang Wulin's curious gaze, Huo Yuhao offered no detailed explanation, merely pointing toward a formation array in the corner of the lab. "Stay inside the array with Jinyu. I'll use the Blood Source Pivot Crystal to extract a trace of bloodline power." Tang Wulin nodded. Following Huo Yuhao's instructions, he obediently settled into the soul tool array alongside Jinyu. Huo Yuhao stepped forward to place the Blood Source Pivot Crystal at the core of the array, then activated it with soul power. In that exact instant, an invisible wave of spiritual power distorted the entire room. Huo Yuhao shifted his gaze to Jinyu. Raising his hand, while the little creature remained completely unaware, he gently placed it against its forehead. In a flash, Huo Yuhao's eyes shifted to a dead, silent grey. Whispering under his breath, a grey mist began to rise. A contract array surfaced on Jinyu's forehead. Immediately after, the grey mist unfurled, enveloping both Jinyu and Tang Wulin. At that very moment, using a contingency he had prepared in advance, Huo Yuhao temporarily transferred Jinyu's contract onto himself. And then... extract the bloodline! Tang San's divine sense jolted awake. Sensing that Tang Wulin was facing some unknown threat, he immediately turned his attention outward. But when he saw that faintly familiar figure, his expression slowly froze. "Huo Yuhao?!!!"