CHAPTER 8: SECRETS UNVEILED
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A Mysterious Encounter
The night after Huo Yuhao’s victory over Zhao Kun, the Tang Sect resting quarters were unusually quiet. Tang Ya and Beibei were reviewing the upcoming matchups, but Huo Yuhao felt restless. That lingering, ominous presence still weighed on his mind.
Unable to sleep, he decided to take a walk through the tournament grounds. The cool night air helped clear his thoughts, but as he wandered through the dimly lit pathways, he suddenly froze. His Spirit Eyes flared instinctively—a figure was watching him from the shadows.
“Who’s there?” Huo Yuhao called, his voice steady but cautious.
The figure stepped forward, revealing a tall man clad in dark robes. His face was partially obscured by a hood, but his piercing, silver eyes glinted in the moonlight. There was an aura of immense power about him, and Huo Yuhao immediately tensed.
“You’ve been making waves, boy,” the man said, his voice smooth and unsettling. “The Tang Sect must be proud to have such a talented disciple.”
Huo Yuhao tightened his grip on his White Tiger Dagger. “Who are you, and what do you want?”
The man chuckled. “No need to be so defensive. I’m merely... interested. You possess a unique aura, one that caught my attention the moment you stepped into this tournament. Tell me, boy, where did you acquire such potent spiritual energy?”
Huo Yuhao’s heart skipped a beat. Could this man sense the Skydream Iceworm? He remained silent, his mind racing.
The man’s smile widened. “No answer? That’s fine. I suppose I’ll find out soon enough. But heed my advice—power like yours will attract more than just curious eyes. Be careful who you trust.”
Before Huo Yuhao could respond, the man vanished, leaving only a faint trace of his unsettling presence.
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Discussing the Encounter
The next morning, Huo Yuhao recounted the encounter to Tang Ya and Beibei. Their reactions were a mix of concern and curiosity.
“A man with silver eyes?” Beibei repeated, frowning. “I’ve never heard of anyone like that. But if he can sense your spiritual energy, that’s troubling.”
Tang Ya nodded. “We need to be cautious. Yuhao, stick with us during the tournament. Don’t wander off alone.”
Huo Yuhao agreed, though his thoughts lingered on the man’s cryptic words. “Be careful who you trust.” What did he mean?
Stolen novel; please report.
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The Fourth Round
Despite the unsettling encounter, Huo Yuhao focused on the tournament. The fourth round paired him against a dual-element soul master named Luo Chen. Luo Chen’s martial soul, the Frostfire Eagle, granted him control over both ice and fire—a rare and formidable combination.
As the match began, Luo Chen wasted no time unleashing his dual-elemental attacks. Streams of icy wind and fiery blasts crisscrossed the arena, forcing Huo Yuhao to stay on the move.
“You’ve done well to make it this far,” Luo Chen said, his tone confident. “But your journey ends here.”
Huo Yuhao dodged another fiery blast, his Spirit Eyes glowing as he tracked Luo Chen’s movements. The dual elements were tricky to counter, but he noticed a pattern—Luo Chen had a slight delay when switching between ice and fire.
“Skydream, any tips?” Huo Yuhao asked mentally.
“Focus on disrupting his rhythm,” Skydream replied. “Force him to overextend, and then strike.”
Huo Yuhao nodded, formulating a plan. He used his spiritual detection to anticipate Luo Chen’s attacks, weaving through the onslaught with precise movements. When Luo Chen switched to ice, Huo Yuhao launched a volley of needles, aiming for his unprotected side.
The needles struck true, throwing Luo Chen off balance. Huo Yuhao seized the moment, closing the distance with a burst of speed. His White Tiger Dagger glinted as he struck, forcing Luo Chen to retreat.
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The Final Blow
Luo Chen growled, his frustration evident. “You’re better than I thought, but I’m not done yet!”
He unleashed a powerful combination of ice and fire, creating a swirling vortex that threatened to engulf the arena. The crowd gasped as the temperature fluctuated wildly, the ground cracking under the intense forces.
Huo Yuhao remained calm, his Spirit Eyes locking onto the vortex’s core. With a deep breath, he channeled his spiritual energy, focusing it through his dagger. In one swift motion, he lunged forward, cutting through the vortex and disrupting Luo Chen’s control.
The explosion of energy sent both competitors flying, but Huo Yuhao landed on his feet, his Spirit Eyes glowing fiercely. Luo Chen, on the other hand, collapsed to one knee, his strength depleted.
The referee raised his hand. “Winner: Huo Yuhao of the Tang Sect!”
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Unveiling a Mystery
As Huo Yuhao stepped off the battlefield, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something larger was at play. The mysterious man’s warning, the intense competition, and the lingering presence of the Skydream Iceworm all pointed to a greater challenge ahead.
That night, as he meditated, the Skydream Iceworm’s voice echoed in his mind. “Kid, I’ve been holding back, but it’s time you knew the truth. You’re not just a rising soul master—you’re part of something much bigger. The power you’ve inherited, the enemies you’ll face, and the allies you’ll find... all of it is connected.”
Huo Yuhao’s eyes snapped open. “What do you mean?”
“Patience,” Skydream said cryptically. “You’ll understand soon enough. For now, focus on the tournament. The real journey begins after.”
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A New Resolve
As the tournament moved into its final stages, Huo Yuhao’s resolve only deepened. He wasn’t just fighting for the Tang Sect’s revival or his own growth—he was fighting to uncover the truth and prepare for the challenges ahead.
With his Spirit Eyes glowing faintly and the Skydream Iceworm’s power surging within him, Huo Yuhao stepped forward, ready to face whatever destiny had in store.