Chapter 192: They Worship Him, But Not Only Him (Four Thousand)

Xiong Jun vaguely felt a chill beside him, subconsciously shivered, turned his head, and saw Huo Yuhao smiling at him, causing the corner of his mouth to twitch.

Did he go too far?

Ling Bing has a good temper. Usually, no matter what others say about him, he doesn't seem to get angry, so did he get angry this time?

Thinking about it carefully, he indeed went too far. After all, letting others witness this scene—once Huo Yuhao regains his identity, what expression will others have when they recall today's matter?

Moreover, this sacrificial activity involving representatives of various forces is broadcast via the Soul Guidance Network. In short, afterward, all citizens of the Federation will be able to see the scene of Huo Yuhao worshipping himself. Crucially, according to his opinion, Huo Yuhao will still be ranked in the conspicuous first position...

What is this called on the Soul Guidance Network? Social death?

But he also has a serious purpose!

Xiong Jun lightly coughed once, transmitting by voice:

"Ling Bing, don't think too much. Just now, in front of everyone, I admitted that you are the next Spirit Tower Successor, publicly expressed support for you, and to a certain extent showed that the Star Dou Great Forest has no objection to you succeeding as Tower Master."

"Letting you worship in front of everyone is also to consolidate your status!"

Xiong Jun spoke these words righteously and solemnly, absolutely not empty words.

No way, no way, surely no one thinks he said those words just now and brought Huo Yuhao out just to watch the fun, right?

Further establishing Huo Yuhao's status at the Spirit Ice Ceremony is also one of his purposes.

Didn't you see that the Snow Empress didn't stop him?

Of course, one thing is one thing; watching the fun is also one of the purposes. As for which purpose is more important... Xiong Jun is very sure that watching the fun definitely isn't as important as helping Huo Yuhao establish his status!!

Yes, he is very sure.

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao merely restrained his expression and softly said like a true junior: "Thank you, Tower Master Xiong Jun, for your guidance."

If not beaten for three days, they'll tear off the roof tiles.

Moreover, unlike Gu Ruiqiu's restrained actions, Xiong Jun is walking further and further down the path of courting death, going overboard. If not stopped, will the other party continue like this? After all, Xiong Jun's head has always been iron.

Suddenly he understood Sister Na's mood.

One and two, no third or fourth; you should restrain yourself a bit, Xiong Jun.

"......"

Looking at Huo Yuhao's calm expression, Xiong Jun's heart skipped a beat.

Ling Bing, don't be like this; you being like this makes me feel uneasy instead...

And just as Xiong Jun said, others don't know the relationship between the two. Now seeing Xiong Jun and Huo Yuhao's interaction, they all feel this is Xiong Jun acknowledging Huo Yuhao.

"We have no objections." Hao Ri Douluo and representatives of other forces all nodded slightly.

This is an internal decision of the Spirit Tower and has nothing to do with them.

However, although they have no say in this matter, everyone still looked curiously toward Qian Gu Dong Feng and several Soul Masters.

The high-ranking officials of the Spirit Tower gathered here today, besides Qian Gu Dong Feng, Snow Empress, Leng Yaozhu, and Xiong Jun, also include several Soul Masters.

Leng Yaozhu and Snow Empress need no explanation; those who know Huo Yuhao's relationship with Gu Yue Na and Snow Empress know these two definitely stand on Huo Yuhao's side. Now Xiong Jun seems to value Huo Yuhao quite highly as well.

Under these circumstances, everyone became curious for a moment about the opinions of other high-ranking officials of the Spirit Tower toward Huo Yuhao.

Hearing Xiong Jun's proposal, Qian Gu Dong Feng nodded calmly with a placid expression: "It is only right."

Seeing this, Hao Ri Douluo raised an eyebrow and looked toward a tall, thin middle-aged man.

Not only him, but others also turned their gazes toward that middle-aged man, with solemn expressions.

One of the Four Great Soul Masters—Zhao Chengyuan.

Information about this person is known among the major forces; there are basically no records of him taking action, and today is the first time many people see his true face.

If not because his daughter Zhao Yao has some fame in Mingdu's circles, the various forces' understanding of this person might be even less.

He is the most mysterious Soul Master, and possibly the strongest Soul Master. After all, according to the few known pieces of information, this person achieved Titled Douluo before the age of twenty, a record more terrifying than Erqing Douluo's!

Fortunately, breaking through to Titled seems to have exhausted his potential; he did not grow into a giant like Erqing Douluo. Hao Ri Douluo also felt not a trace of threat from him, obviously his cultivation is below his.

However, considering that terrifying record, he and others dare not underestimate Zhao Chengyuan.

"What are you all looking at me for? Several Tower Masters have agreed; I certainly can't sabotage our next Tower Master, can I?" Zhao Chengyuan said with a smile.

Other Soul Masters, hearing this, also nodded in agreement.

Huo Yuhao looked at the several Soul Masters, his gaze lingering on Zhao Chengyuan for an instant, then glanced at the female Councilor sent by the Federation.

Is this the tradition he left behind?

This person's disguise is no less than Nana Li's...

Because everyone unanimously passed Xiong Jun's proposal, the matter was thus decided.

And just as Qian Gu Dong Feng intended to lead everyone to the worship site, a gentle voice sounded in everyone's ears.

"It seems I haven't come too late."

Those present all turned their gazes toward the doorway of the Spirit Tower.

The newcomer was a beautiful woman in her twenties, wearing a water-green long dress, fresh and elegant, emitting natural vitality. Her emerald-green long hair flowed like a waterfall, falling behind her, swaying gently with the breeze, like a fairy in a painting.

"Holy Spirit Douluo?"

Some force representatives who arrived at the venue were somewhat surprised.

Holy Spirit Douluo, this healing-system Support System Soul Master second only to Bi Ji on the Continent, is little known on the Continent, all because she has always been indifferent to fame and profit and never deliberately promotes herself.

However, in the eyes of strong individuals who know Holy Spirit Douluo, she is also a legend of a generation.

Not only because of her powerful healing ability, but also because of her demeanor. After all, daring to continuously reject the olive branches of the Spirit Tower, War God Hall, Mingde Hall, and Shrek Academy—she is the only one.

Holy Spirit Douluo—Ya Li is of civilian origin; her martial soul is Wishing Angel. After awakening her martial soul at the Spirit Tower, she could have directly joined the Spirit Tower and received better guidance, but she did not. Because of her innate kind nature, she stayed in her birthplace and has always helped the townspeople with healing.

But also because of this, Holy Spirit Douluo accidentally discovered the secret of her own martial soul.

For Support System Soul Masters, raising soul power is relatively slow, and raising soul power through normal cultivation methods with the Wishing Angel martial soul is even more difficult than for other Support System Soul Masters.

The true cultivation method of this martial soul requires Faith Power. Holy Spirit Douluo discovered that every time she heals someone, she can gain Faith Power from them and raise her cultivation.

However, this matter did not disturb her state of mind. Holy Spirit Douluo simply grew step by step; when she reached a certain age, she left the town where she lived and began traveling around the Federation to heal others.

Many factions therefore took notice of her and extended olive branches one after another, but the Holy Spirit Douluo merely smiled and declined politely: "I neither want fame nor wish to hold any high position. My wish is only to save people; if anyone is injured or falls ill, they can come find me."

Perhaps some people could not understand her behavior. But Yi Hongchen understood — it was a purity similar to Ling Zichen's.

The Holy Spirit Douluo had her own faith, her own path to walk; so when all parties discovered she truly had no interest in joining any faction and only wanted to travel the four directions quietly, healing and saving people, they ceased disturbing her.

Their Mecha Master Association and Mingde Hall could only withdraw with regret.

As for coercion?

Leaving aside that a forcibly twisted melon isn't sweet and would only make others loathe you, the Holy Spirit Douluo has a whole host of powerful suitors — Erqing Douluo is one of them — do you want to go fight them?

If not for the martial soul awakening and the matter fifty years ago that gave the Holy Spirit Douluo an indirect connection with the Spirit Pagoda, Yi Hongchen would not have asked the Snow Empress about the Holy Spirit Douluo's whereabouts before.

As the Snow Empress said, strictly speaking this person does not belong to the Spirit Pagoda. Naturally, she does not belong to any other faction either. She is a healer, nothing more.

"Holy Spirit Crowned."

As the Holy Spirit Douluo walked over gracefully, the crowd either saluted or nodded slightly in respect.

The Holy Spirit Douluo's lips held a gentle smile as she returned the salute gracefully to everyone. Her slender fingertips brushed lightly over her skirt hem, her water-green sleeves fluttering slightly in the breeze. When her gaze inadvertently swept past Huo Yuhao, her fingertips trembled faintly and a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

"Holy Spirit Crowned, what's wrong?" Yi Hongchen, who had come over intending to discuss matters with the Holy Spirit Douluo, saw her expression change slightly and felt some doubt.

"Nothing."

The Holy Spirit Douluo recovered, smiled and shook her head, looking toward Qian Gu Dong Feng's direction.

"Chaos Tower Master, I hope I haven't delayed the hour?"

"Of course not, everyone please follow me."

Qian Gu Dong Feng turned and led the way, bringing everyone toward the Spirit Soul Elevator to the side.

The elevator doors closed slowly, the metal surface reflecting everyone's varied expressions. Huo Yuhao stood in the corner, able to sense the Holy Spirit Douluo's faint, intermittent gaze, but his expression did not change — he simply quietly perceived everything around him.

Ding—

The elevator stabilized and stopped; as the doors opened, a wave of clear, cold air rushed toward them. Before everyone's eyes appeared a long, deep corridor; the walls on both sides were inlaid with glowing deep-sea silver essence, like a star-river-paved road.

Not far away, a Crystal Memorial Hall seemingly built of ice crystals stood quietly. Twelve ice crystal lamps floated around the hall, emitting soft blue light that bathed the entire space in a glow like the eternal night of the Extreme North.

In the very center of the hall, a completely crystalline spirit tablet floated in midair, its surface engraved with soul power in four vigorous, powerful characters: "Spirit Ice Douluo." Below the spirit tablet, nine ice lotuses rotated slowly; each petal was coated with tiny ice crystals, refracting dreamlike radiance.

On the walls on both sides, lifelike ice sculptures recorded the First Generation Tower Master's major life moments:

The founding of the Spirit Pagoda, the scene of signing contracts with soul beasts... Most eye-catching was the wall directly facing the spirit tablet, carved with the scene of the Spirit Ice Douluo signing a contract with the Snow Empress and Di Tian.

Huo Yuhao looked at the surrounding arrangement, feeling some emotion in his heart.

Su Tong... thoughtful.

This place was originally established by Su Tong; over ten thousand years the Spirit Pagoda continuously repaired it, ultimately maintaining it to this day, becoming like this.

And upon arriving here, without needing a reminder, the many powerhouses already tacitly released their spirit souls.

Behind the Haori Douluo appeared a brilliant golden sun; a giant bird spirit soul wreathed in golden flames spread its wings and cried long; on the Chilong Douluo's shoulder coiled a crimson fire dragon, its whiskers dancing like tongues of fire; even the Holy Spirit Douluo gently raised her hand, and a crystalline transparent angel slowly unfurled its wings behind her.

The light of the various spirit souls intertwined, illuminating the spirit hall like a dream realm.

Seeing this, Xu Xiaoyan and the others also released their own spirit souls one after another.

The First Generation Tower Master linked soul beasts and humans together; participating in the worship ceremony naturally would not exclude spirit souls and soul beasts.

Someone once sighed — with such a worship ceremony existing, wanting to forget the Spirit Pagoda's original founding purpose is also a difficult thing.

And amid this brilliance woven from spirit soul radiance, an ice worm likewise appeared on Huo Yuhao's shoulder, taking the lead to walk forward.

His steps were very light, yet each step seemed to tread on everyone's hearts.

The Snow Empress and Gu Yue Na's gazes followed his back. Xu Xiaoyan and the others held their breath, watching Huo Yuhao walk step by step toward that floating spirit tablet.

When Huo Yuhao stood still before the spirit tablet, sensing a warmth only he could perceive, his thoughts involuntarily returned to before the Spirit Pagoda's founding, to his conversation with I Lao.

"Using a tower-structured magic array can make the spirit soul contract process smoother, while effectively raising the soul master's spiritual power cohesion... What about calling the organization the Spirit Pagoda?"

Huo Yuhao laughed: "Of course, but I have a question. I Lao, if I could master the ability to gather faith power and fuse this ability into the tower-type magic array, what kind of ability would a Spirit Pagoda built this way possess?"

I Lao was startled, then laughed: "Then the Spirit Pagoda could serve as a faith-gathering device, and your confidence in achieving godhood afterward would be higher."

"However, completing research in this aspect is no small difficulty; fortunately you have already reached the God Yuan Realm and can directly observe the existence of faith power..."

The memory flashed past; Huo Yuhao quickly withdrew his thoughts, focusing on the matter at hand.

All Spirit Pagoda buildings, even those built later, have not changed the most core structure — the tower-shaped structure and magic array set up to make spirit soul contracts more convenient.

For ten thousand years, they have kept working.

And the reason they could keep working is because the Spirit Pagoda continued on without forgetting its original heart...

Thinking of this, Huo Yuhao stood solemnly before the spirit tablet, holding incense in both hands, reciting the eulogy while bowing deeply.

The Spirit Pagoda's ability to stand for ten thousand years is not the achievement of one person alone. Today Huo Yuhao is here, sincerely bowing in thanks.

Because of your perseverance, my "passing" gained meaning!

Xiong Jun originally thought he could hold it in during such a scene, and not showing a strange expression would be not bad. But when Huo Yuhao truly began the worship, he discovered his own expression had subconsciously turned solemn, and his heart no longer held any thought of watching for amusement.

He could tell Ling Bing was worshiping very seriously, and the object was absolutely not himself.

Who?

The answer was revealed in the next moment from Huo Yuhao's eulogy.

"For ten thousand years, the Spirit Pagoda has not forgotten its original heart; countless seniors, spirit souls, and soul beasts united as one, creating today's prosperity."

"..."

Xiong Jun smiled helplessly in his heart and bowed deeply toward Huo Yuhao's direction.

Truly defeated by you.

The Snow Empress and Gu Yue Na's eyes flickered; hearing this, they likewise bowed solemnly toward Huo Yuhao's direction.

With them taking the lead, all the soul masters and spirit souls present bowed in unison without prior agreement.

But only the Snow Empress and the others knew.

It was him they worshipped.

And not just him.

End of Chapter