Douluo Continent: The Eye of Truth

Chapter 73 Reaching a Tacit Understanding

Huo Yuhao could sense that, along with the 'awakening' of these terrifying demon skulls, yellow spiritual flames flickered in their dark eyes, and the vast spiritual energy was interconnected.

It was as if a giant cage had been formed, trying to imprison Huo Yuhao, who had disturbed them, inside. This mental cage was constantly squeezing inward, trying to oppress Huo Yuhao's mind.

In addition, this enormous mental prison is also filled with various mental forces that can stir up the most primal fears in the hearts of living beings.

These spiritual forces were constantly trying to influence Huo Yuhao's mind.

However, this process lasted for about a few minutes, during which Huo Yuhao simply looked around, examining the surrounding rooms and skulls.

And Mu En, who was still outside the passageway, communicating and influencing the other six people through his mental power, was someone Huo Yuhao could see through his Eye of Truth. Mu En was watching him, but he hadn't spoken.

Now that he had come this far, Huo Yuhao was no longer going to hide. After all, the more he hid, the more he would expose. Revealing some of his "trump cards" at the right time would help him deceive others.

"How does this generate fear?" Huo Yuhao was currently using his True Eye to analyze the mental energy waveforms formed by the residual mental energy of the thousand-headed fear dragons after their deaths.

Through Huo Yuhao's observation, he discovered the structure of these skulls that supposedly only retain residual spiritual power after their "natural death."

Aside from some skulls that were indeed from natural deaths, most of the skulls of the Fear Demon were faintly entwined with patterns formed by alien soul power.

It was precisely these patterns that sealed the Fear Dragon's spiritual power within its long-dead body, allowing it to remain until now.

This must be some kind of secret technique, which involves using a secret method to strip away the spirits of the dread dragons and seal them within their skulls before killing them, and then preserving the skulls.

After all, as a subspecies of earth dragon, the Dread Dragon's population has not grown particularly large, and the subspecies of dragons are, after all, related to the dragon race.

Its inherent potential and lifespan are at least at the ten-thousand-year level for a soul beast. Even if it dies naturally due to injury, it will still take at least a thousand years.

The fact that Shrek Academy was able to collect 1,001 skulls of Dread Dragons that died of natural causes in just eight hundred years speaks volumes.

On the Douluo Continent, ten thousand years after the ascension of the Seven Gods, the descendants of the Fear Demon Dragon are only found in a small number in the Star Dou Great Forest, according to the records of the Shrek Academy's outer library, and their total number is certainly not large.

Putting this matter aside for now, to be honest, in Huo Yuhao's view, there is no right or wrong in this approach. In a world where the strong prey on the weak, strength is right and weakness is wrong. It is only normal for the Fear Dragon to be targeted and wiped out because of its special nature, since it is not strong enough.

Now, aside from those with the same 'color' and similar waveforms, analysis through the Eye of Truth reveals that these combined mental energy fluctuations originate from external mental energy waveforms of the Fear Dragons themselves.

Huo Yuhao observed that within this enormous mental cage enveloping him, there was actually a considerable amount of redundant mental energy mixed in.

These complex spiritual forces are not to say that they are insidious or difficult to eliminate.

Rather, it means that although the 'color,' strength, and level of these spiritual energies are all different, there are no exceptions.

These spiritual energies all emit waveforms that symbolize 'fear,' and the spiritual pressure emanating from these fear demon skulls is now being exerted.

In reality, it uses mental power to squeeze these mental energies carrying "fear" into the sea of ​​the mind of the person being affected.

Then, through a double impact of external spiritual power and external "fear" emotion, the fear in the affected person's heart is disturbed, deceived, and drawn out.

This should be the operating logic of the Dread Dragon's innate ability. As for the creature that was first hunted by the Dread Dragon, where did the fear effect come from?

Huo Yuhao guessed that it probably stemmed from the fear of the Fear Dragon itself.

Because Huo Yuhao discovered that at the root of all those complicated emotions of fear...

It is the same level and color of the spiritual power of the Fear Dragon, and they are connected to each other, but the waveform is different, and it exudes a spiritual power of fear.

Because perhaps some people are strong enough to suppress their own fears and remain calm even when faced with a collapsing mountain.

However, when someone uses fear as a weapon to forcibly penetrate the mind and will of the attacked, then the clash between minds will shake the mind of the attacked.

Even if one could normally calmly suppress one's distracting thoughts and fears, now the fears that were originally buried deep in one's heart will be drawn out.

"That's quite interesting, but if it's only to this extent, then the analysis is pretty much complete." Huo Yuhao thought to himself, even though he hadn't activated the second awakening form of his main martial soul.

However, after the second awakening, the level of spiritual power that rises to the tangible yet intangible realm is enough to allow the Eye of Truth to perform faster and more accurate analyses.

"After this, I'll be able to simulate the effects of the Dread Dragon's talent through mental power, so it seems I don't need to consider the Dread Dragon for my third spirit ring."

At the same time, Huo Yuhao also heard Mu En's voice, his aged voice echoing in the room.

"I originally thought I had been overestimating you, but I never expected that I would still be so mistaken."

As the sound echoed, the spiritual flames of the fear dragons that had been ignited and awakened by the intruders began to dim and extinguish one by one.

This statement is actually inaccurate. It is more likely that due to external mental interference, the body was forced into hibernation and slumber in order to preserve its remaining mental energy.

After all, for Huo Yuhao, the mental pressure from these fear dragons was completely insufficient, whether as a form of training or to exert influence on him. After his second awakening, Huo Yuhao's mental power had reached a level of tangible yet intangible.

Although he only met the standard in terms of mental strength, Huo Yuhao's accumulated mental strength was still far from the normal tangible and intangible level, but it was more than enough to protect himself.

Collecting these skulls of the Dread Dragons is not easy, even with secret techniques, so it's better to continue wasting the spiritual energy they contain.

It would be better to put it away sooner rather than later. That's why Moon took action and forcibly put the spiritual power in the skull of the Fear Demon into a dormant state. After all, these things are like water without roots, which will be constantly depleted.

"I didn't expect your mental strength to have reached this level." Moon said with some regret, while sighing inwardly.

It's a pity that I didn't discover Huo Yuhao's talent earlier. Now, although it's still immature, the seed has already sprouted, and it will be extremely difficult to interfere.

"Although I understand that this accumulation of spiritual power could never have been achieved by Huo himself through steady and solid efforts, as a second-ring Great Soul Master."

"There must have been many fortuitous encounters in this, because in my eyes, your spiritual power is still insufficient in quantity, but your level of spiritual power is already extremely high. Many weaker Title Douluos are not as good as you in terms of spiritual power."

"This can no longer be explained by a spiritual attribute martial soul alone. Since your martial soul is a physical martial soul, I believe that your physical martial soul has probably undergone a second awakening by chance, and the level must be extremely high."

"Huo Yuhao, tell me, am I right or wrong?"

Huo Yuhao did not deny it, but nodded.

After all, the secret method for the second awakening of the Body Martial Soul has always been strictly guarded by the Body Sect.

However, once there is one, there will be two. The second awakening secret technique of the Body Sect was also created by the first Body Sect Body Douluo.

It's not impossible for Huo Yuhao to achieve a second awakening of his original martial soul on his own.

On the contrary, it would be hard to imagine that Huo Yuhao's spiritual power level would not have been transformed by the second awakening of his martial soul.

What kind of rare and precious materials could enable a second-ring Soul Master to complete the transformation of his spiritual power to the level of tangible yet intangible?

At this moment, Moon felt nothing but regret. What a promising talent he was; how wonderful it would be if he belonged to Shrek Academy.

Now that Huo Yuhao's mental strength has reached such a level, Mu En originally planned to use the fearful environment created by the Fear Dragon's mental strength to exert pressure.

At the same time, by using his words and mental power to guide Huo Yuhao and thus interfere with Huo Yuhao's future path, his plan to make Huo Yuhao loyal to Shrek Academy was also thwarted.

The fact that Huo Yuhao's original martial soul awakened a second time, if it wasn't a direct inheritance from the Original Body Sect, can only mean that Huo Yuhao's original martial soul level was extremely high from the beginning, and that his talent and opportunities were exceptional.

The die is cast. Given Huo Yuhao's level of mental strength, it's unlikely that Mu En can subtly interfere. Forcibly influencing him would be counterproductive.

After all, the best outcome of Mu En's forceful influence would be that he would use the quality of his mental power to suppress Huo Yuhao and plant the seed of loyalty to Shrek Academy in his mind.

However, this would completely negate Huo Yuhao's greatest advantage: his talent in mental strength.

Only when Huo Yuhao's mental power is suppressed by Mu En can Mu En guarantee that Huo Yuhao will follow his own ideas and walk the path that he needs Huo Yuhao to follow.

However, in this case, Huo Yuhao's spiritual power will at most remain at its current level, without any further progress. For a soul master whose main talent is spiritual power, this would undoubtedly be a waste.

The worst outcome would be that Huo Yuhao's mental strength would not be able to withstand his own pressure, while at the same time he would be unwilling to be affected by Mu En.

Ultimately choosing to perish together with the enemy, ending in death, would mean losing a prodigy for no reason, which is not a good thing, since not gaining is losing.

As for the worst-case scenario, it is that Huo Yuhao's current achievement of the second awakening of his main body martial soul has great opportunities behind it. It may be the inheritance of a strong person, or it may be an ancient relic, or it may even be a trial of a god.

In this way, if Moon were to try to influence Huo Yuhao through force, it might actually create a young enemy for Shrek Academy who is relentless and has terrifying potential, which would be the worst possible option.

Moreover, based on Moon's previous observations and understanding of Huo Yuhao, Huo Yuhao's sense of belonging to Shrek Academy was not actually very deep unless external forces intervened, making him difficult to win over.

Since we can't subdue him and can't guarantee his loyalty, it's better to give him some benefits first to keep him in check before negotiating with the Body Sect.

After all, such a genius is absolutely not someone the Body Sect can afford to give up. In the future, they will be able to establish a fairly good relationship with Huo Yuhao, a future powerhouse.

It could also ease tensions with the Body Sect and even find a way to obtain some "gifts" from them. This exchange of benefits was the perfect solution that Mu En could think of at the moment.

With that in mind, Mu En continued, "Then could you show me your martial soul after your second awakening? Apart from the Body Sect, I have never seen a second awakening of a Body Martial Soul on an outsider."

Huo Yuhao politely declined, saying, "I'm sorry, the cost of activating the second awakening of a martial soul is quite high, and it also damages one's vital energy. If it's just for viewing, please don't make things difficult for me, Elder Mu."

After saying that, Mu En didn't say anything more. After all, martial soul is indeed a personal privacy, and he didn't intend to ask any further questions. He said, "Since this place is not suitable for you, Yuhao, you can come out first. I will take you to another room."

"Although that room is not suitable for a spirit-attribute soul master, it has many uses and is quite beneficial for a soul master's cultivation and consolidation."

Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao was momentarily confused about what Mu En, this old fox, was up to, but since he had already revealed it, Huo Yuhao naturally didn't need to pretend anymore.

"Elder Mu, I cannot accept rewards without merit. Moreover, after graduating from the outer academy, I do not intend to continue my studies in the inner academy. Instead, I plan to travel to various countries on the mainland to broaden my horizons."

"It's alright. You are still a student of Shrek Academy, and as your teacher, I will naturally treat you the same as everyone else."

"You will enjoy the same treatment as your companions, as you are also one of the Shrek Seven Devils of this generation. As for what happens after graduation, we'll talk about that after graduation."

"After all, even today, you are still a graduate of Shrek Academy, and you can still identify yourself with this identity even if you travel to other countries on the continent."

"If you are interested in the Body Martial Soul, I can also make connections for you with the reclusive sect, the Body Sect. You should know about the Body Sect, although it is not well-known."

"But you probably know something about being called the 'librarian' by your classmates in first grade."

Huo Yuhao nodded and stopped refusing. He now understood Mu En's meaning and reached a tacit understanding with him.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Elder Mu."

(End of this chapter)