MTLNOVEL Chapter 13: Divine Throne of Eternity and Creation
Returning to the vicinity of the Spirit Pagoda by car, Huo Yuhao saw some families walking out with their children holding soul spirit balls. He suddenly spoke in the Spirit Sea,
"I'm a human being, but for me, it's Brother Tianmeng and your soul beasts who help me the most. Everyone in the Far North also takes great care of me."
"In such an age, is it possible for you to do what you want? It's the best I can do..."
As long as soul masters still need soul rings, the conflict between soul beasts and soul masters cannot completely disappear.
The soul contract serves as a breakthrough, offering a potential path for coexistence.
It was the only way he could think of for the two to live together in harmony.
"Yuhao..."
Ice Empress and Tianmeng were momentarily stunned, then both smiled simultaneously.
"You have done your best. Ten thousand years ago, who would have thought that soul beasts and soul masters could coexist in relative harmony? Don't overthink it."
Ice Empress smiled softly.
"Thank you."
Huo Yuhao smiled upon hearing this and was about to look away when he noticed two children holding soul balls starting to argue.
"My soul is the strongest!"
"No, my soul is the strongest!"
"Hmph, let's have a soul duel and see whose soul is stronger!"
One child raised the soul ball, preparing to throw it.
Not to be outdone, the other child also raised his soul ball and said:
"Come on, who's afraid of whom! My Flame Lion is definitely stronger than your soul!"
Huo Yuhao: "..."
Ice Empress: "..."
Tianmeng: "..."
Stop, that's not how souls work!
Fortunately, the parents of the two children intervened in time, preventing a full-blown soul Pokémon battle from breaking out in front of the Spirit Pagoda.
...
Inside the Spirit Pagoda, Huo Yuhao looked at the whale gum that had been processed by the senior soul master, now transformed into a golden gelatin, and sighed quietly.
'I didn't get to enjoy this 10,000 years ago, but now I have the chance to try it.'
"Absorb it quickly. Whale gum hardens as it cools, and this is the best time to absorb it," reminded the male soul master standing beside him, wearing glasses and a white uniform.
"Thank you, Senior Luo," Huo Yuhao expressed his gratitude and began to consume the whale gum.
Luoyang Lu, a Six-Ring Soul Emperor and a fire-attributed soul master, was also the... chef of this Spirit Pagoda branch.
Yes, a chef, but a special one for Hua Yichen.
He handled extremely precious ingredients, and the two seemed to have known each other for a long time, sharing a good relationship.
The piece of whale gum Huo Yuhao was consuming had been prepared by him.
According to Hua Yichen, Luoyang Lu would also provide him with "nutritious meals" made from various natural treasures in the future, something to look forward to.
Seeing that Huo Yuhao had finished the 10,000-year-old whale gum and had begun to sit cross-legged to cultivate and absorb its medicinal power, Luoyang Lu's eyes flickered.
He quietly exited the room and glanced toward the corner nearby.
"This kid is neither arrogant nor impatient, possesses an excellent heart, and his talent is unparalleled in my lifetime. But don't you think he's too quiet?"
"That's what you think," Hua Yichen said as he stepped out from the corner, glancing at the closed door and sighing softly.
Huo Yuhao and Mu Xi's conversation had not escaped his notice.
Huo Yuhao's calm demeanor at such a young age struck Hua Yichen as unusual, and not necessarily a good thing.
A person who remains as placid as water can face everything with composure, but such tranquility often comes from experiencing life's ups and downs.
This kind of growth is necessary, but losing one's sharpness might also mean losing the fierceness needed in critical moments.
"Perhaps it's his complicated family background that has shaped his personality," Hua Yichen mused.
"Do you have a good solution for this?"
Luoyang Lu shook his head. "Personality can't be changed overnight. What can I do? However, we can't let him continue to quietly cultivate in the Pagoda all the time. He needs training and stimulation."
As he spoke, his eyes gleamed with an idea. "What if we include him in the Young Genius List in three years? The pride and sharpness of a genius are honed through competition. Being on the list could serve as a motivation for him."
"The Young Genius List?" Hua Yichen frowned.
The Young Genius List, a sub-list of the Mainland Billboard, was established by the Spirit Pagoda to promote the development of the soul master world. Its true purpose, however, went beyond mere encouragement.
The Mainland Billboard ranked the top one hundred soul masters, while the Young Genius List focused on talents under the age of eighteen, evaluating them based on talent, strength, secondary professions, and soul power level.
With only thirty spots available, it was often referred to as the reserve list for the Mainland Billboard.
In addition to these two lists, there were others dedicated to forging, mecha manufacturing, and more.
The Young Genius List aimed to identify and nurture young talents, but it also had the effect of stirring up their competitive spirit.
Those who entered the list, no matter how humble they started, would inevitably develop a sense of pride and ambition as their talents were recognized and their rankings rose. Perhaps, Hua Yichen thought, this could be the solution for Huo Yuhao.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Huo Yuhao felt the enhancement of his physical constitution and slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of emotion crossing his face.
The conversation between Hua Yichen and Luoyang Lu had not been concealed, likely intended for him to overhear and reflect on his own state of mind.
While Huo Yuhao appreciated their concern for his psychological well-being, he was already self-aware.
From a certain perspective, he saw himself as someone who had merely "paid to play," while the true prodigies were those who had unlocked their potential through sheer effort and talent.
In terms of talent, there were those stronger than him.
In terms of willpower, he had nearly fainted during his fusion with Ice Empress. He was not significantly stronger than the original Huo Yuhao.
Given this, Huo Yuhao felt no pride in the talents bestowed upon him by others.
Yet, he did not belittle himself either.
He possessed knowledge beyond the original Huo Yuhao, mature values, an understanding of the plot, and more opportunities.
Most importantly, he was not driven by blind emotion, he was determined to carve his own path.
Only by truly understanding oneself could one advance further.
"I won't claim to be better than Long Haochen. As your master, I may not even be qualified," Huo Yuhao thought to himself.
"But since you've chosen to stay with me for 10,000 years, will you help me?"
Through the imprint deep within his spiritual sea, Huo Yuhao's spirit glimpsed a void space.
The space exuded an aura of endless darkness and silence, as if it existed at the edge of the universe, where time and space held no meaning.
Yet, a radiant throne subtly transformed the space, breathing life into it.
The throne was pitch black, its tall backrest simple yet imposing, exuding a sense of grandeur.
Engraved on the backrest were the sun, moon, stars, flowers, birds, fish, insects, and various plants.
Huo Yuhao knew its origin.
The Divine Throne of Eternity and Creation—a supreme artifact, the throne of the God of Creation.
It was here, waiting for him.