Cloud-like patterns appeared on the outer bones in his right hand, while triangular patterns showed up on the inner palm bones. These patterns overlapped meticulously and seemed to contain great strength. An immense power followed the great pains in Huo Yuhao’s palm and gradually fused with his mind.

Time passed slowly, and an entire night had gone by unknowingly, with the bright sunlight coming out. Huo Yuhao was sweating less and less, mist no longer rising from his skin.

“Whoosh—” The Life Guardian’s blade jumped out of Huo Yuhao’s palm and disappear in a flash of azure-green light into Huo Yuhao’s forehead. Instantly healing the wounds from its entry and exit.

After which Huo Yuhao let out a deep roar and lifted his right arm. A “pfft” sound was heard, and bloody lights shot out from his fingers.

Wang Dong started towards Huo Yuhao in concern, thinking that his palm couldn’t bear it and exploded. But he was immediately stopped by a powerful force, and Elder Xuan looking at him with a stern expression whilst shaking his head. 

Presently, five streaks of dark golden light—about fourteen inches in length—had shot out from each of Huo Yuhao’s fingers. They were wider at the fingertips and narrower at the end. When they appeared, a slight whirring sound was heard, and the dark golden lights undulated like rippling water. Huo Yuhao’s right hand had completely turned dark gold, the five blades of light seeming to be an extension of his fingers. Leaving no scars as it came out from his fingers.

The dark golden light started surging from his right palm. Extending up his arm and to the rest of his body. Seemingly baptizing Huo Yuhao in a layer of dark golden light. His Spirit Eyes also shot open with a golden flash of color before returning to normal.

Huo Yuhao’s body twitched while he let out a deep breath. Elder Xuan supported him quickly to keep him from falling, but he also subconsciously used his right palm to stabilize himself. His Darkgolden Terrorclaw silently pierced into the ground.

Huo Yuhao seemed to figure something out. He pulled his Darkgolden Terrorclaw out from the earth and stared at his dark gold palm. His mind wandered, and his claws disappeared. Everything returned to normal, including the color of his palm.

Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh of relief.

“Yuhao, how are you?”

A concerned Wang Dong and an awoken Xiao Xiao sprung to his side. Xiao Xiao was very grateful to him on top of being concerned.

Huo Yuhao forced a smile and said to Xiao Xiao, “I stole your soul bone.”

Xiao Xiao sobbed as she said, “Class Monitor, how can you put it like this? If not for you, my arm would’ve already been…”

Huo Yuhao laughed and replied, “Don’t worry, I won’t have you pledge your body to me.”

Elder Xuan was also relieved, “It’s completely fused, thank goodness it all worked out alright. I suspect that, without the life energy contained within that magical carving knife, Huo Yuhao couldn’t have pulled this off even if he had six soul rings. Perhaps only a seven ringed soul sage or higher could’ve enhanced their body enough with their Martial Soul True Body to absorb this soul bone. I must say, Huo Yuhao, you’re the first youngster I’ve come to admire.” 

Huo Yuhao laughed bitterly, “Elder Xuan, shall we rest for the day?” Upon finishing his statement, he collapsed into Wang Dong arms long before Elder Xuan could reply.

The three had benefited greatly from the last 24 hours. However, it was also mentally trying and left them exhausted. Elder Xuan had likewise been on edge the entire time he was following them. Primarily due to things spiraling out of his control.

However, the end result was fantastic for the trio. Xiao Xiao got her third soul ring, while Huo Yuhao got his third soul bone. It was even an exceedingly rare Darkgolden Terrorclaw Right Palm Bone, an external soul bone even.

……

The Sun Moon Empire’s capital, Radiant City. The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, Illustrious Virtue Hall.

“Are you sure?” Asked a person wearing a long, black robe, standing quietly in front of the Hallmaster of the Virtuous Hall, Jing Hongchen. It was apparent that he was a tall and burly man from his rough voice and build. However, his long, black robe and huge hat disguised his true appearance.

“I’m certain. I just came back from Shrek Academy. I’m sure you’re interested in the Dark Phoenix.”

“What do you want from telling me all this? Besides, it’s not easy to enter Shrek Academy.” The man in the black robe said in a deep voice.

Jing Hongchen smiled, his chubby face compressing as he said, “I know what you’re worried about. Shrek Academy is far more dangerous than we gave them credit for. With that Elder Mu holding down the fort, any tomfoolery on their campus grounds is just assured death. But what if we lured the powerhouses out from Shrek Academy?

The man wearing a black robe’s interest was piqued. “Tell me more.”

Jing Hongchen squinted, and a streak of sharp light flashed across his eyes. He spoke for almost 15 minutes. The man in the black robe nodded his head repeatedly, as if he fully agreed with his words.

“If this is the case, our chances are good. As the Dark Phoenix descends, the Sacred Lady will assume her position yet again. We must be ready to receive the Sacred Lady, but when all this is over, we’ll reward you handsomely.” The man in the black robe sounded excited, hysterical even.

……

Heaven Dou Empire’s capital, Heaven Dou City.

A petite and lonesome figure walked the streets. It was Tang Ya, it had been almost a month since she returned to Heaven Dou City. Her face no longer bore a smile, instead showing an unhealthy pallor, even more delicate in appearance than before.

Heaven Dou City was where she was born and raised. Five years ago, a sect that didn’t even have worldly renown had taken everything from her. The Tang Sect had collapsed after years of decay, and was wiped out. Her parents as well…

Tang Ya started to tear up when she thought of it.

“Mom, dad, I will help the Tang Sect regain its glory no matter the price I have to pay.” Tang Yan clenched her fists tightly.

She didn’t wait till Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao ended their secluded cultivations, and she left Shrek Academy even with Bei Bei’s objections. 

She returned to Heaven Dou City after leaving the academy and bought a small house with the savings she shared with Bei Bei.

Tang Ya’s original plan was to find her footing in Heaven Dou City before re-establishing the Tang Sect and recruiting disciples. She wanted to lay down the foundation before Bei Bei and the rest came to Heaven Dou City. They would join her in reclaiming the Tang Sect’s former glory after they graduated.

However, she now realized why Bei Bei had tried to dissuade her from being impatient in returning to Heaven Dou City. Everything was not as simple as she had imagined.

She hadn’t returned with insufficient money, not after calculating the costs of re-establishing the Tang Sect. Tang Ya was faced with an important problem: The sect wouldn’t have any income, not for a long time at least. But she couldn’t go back to Bei Bei for the money! The money that Bei Bei had already provided her with came from his family, and her pride wouldn’t allow her to ask for more.

Then there was the issue with connections. She was 10 years old when she left, and now 15 years old upon her return. How many contacts could a 15-year-old-girl have without any family have in such a large city? 

Tang Ya did attempt to seek out the old acquaintances of the Tang Sect, her parents’ friends. But they treated her like the plague and wanted nothing to do with her. Furthermore, when the sect that destroyed the Tang Sect discovered her, she was even further oppressed and discriminated against. Even when buying the bare necessities on the streets, she would find merchants that only raised their prices for her.

Over the last month, Tang Ya experienced true desolation, true isolation. The burning, primal fury that she had suppressed in her heart started to leak out. Rebuilding the Tang Sect was too much; her thin shoulders could barely carry on…

A huge door drifted into view from afar. Tang Ya’s body jerked slightly, and two streams of tears started to trickle down her pale face.

This gate was twenty feet high and fifty feet wide. The ten-foot-high wall extended twenty meters to either side of the gate, while the eye-catching crimson-red paint on the walls seemed slightly solemn. Grey tiles neatly and finely formed the roof of the gate, and two huge words could be seen, emblazoned above the gate. These two words were “Ironblood Sect”.

There were horizontally-inscribed boards that were placed vertically upright to the left and right of the gate. The left board wrote “A Heart As Loyal As the Blood of Iron”, while the right board was inscribed with the words “Lofty Existence For All Eternity”.

There was a time when this place didn’t look like that, when there was a board with only two words inscribed above this gate that read, “Tang Sect”.

Indeed, this was the former residence of the Tang Sect. Even though it wasn’t the same place the sect occupied long, long ago, when it was still the famous top sect of the world, but it was still the sect’s home for almost 3000 years! It was now home to the Ironblood Sect. This was a complete humiliation for the Tang Sect.

“This is my home—this is my home!”

Tang Ya lifted her right hand and wiped her tears away. Red light flashed in her eyes, and her aura started to become fiercer.

The Ironblood Sect didn’t do anything to her directly within the city, because Heaven Dou City was home to the Heaven Dou Empire’s royal family. Moreover, Tang Ya was from Shrek Academy. It would not end in their favor to attack her! But Tang Ya couldn’t bear with this humiliation any longer. Her primal impulses were screaming out to her in front of her old residence. She was here. She had arrived—and she would have vengeance.