Chapter 42: Electrum's Choice

"Is this the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Huo Yuhao, acting like a little follower, walked closely between the two groups, well-protected. After all, his strength was indeed somewhat... pathetic.

Due to the joining of Tang Ya and Beibei, Ning Tian and Wu Feng naturally followed along as well. Originally, Ning Wuque had intended to take Huo Yuhao alone to help him hunt for a spirit ring.

Although he might end up being knocked unconscious by the Skydream Iceworm at that time, at least there would have been a chance of being chosen by Electrus, right?

"Little brother Yuhao, you need to be a bit more careful from here on. The number of mental-attribute spirit beasts is extremely rare, and your first spirit ring might not be quite what you hope for. You need to mentally prepare yourself for that."

Walking at the rear of the group, Beibei comforted Huo Yuhao like a considerate older brother, giving him a mental cushion while also offering a glimmer of hope:

"However, a hundred-year-level spirit ring can still be guaranteed. There are still five days left before the academy enrollment closes, so during this time, we should be able to hunt a decent spirit ring for you."

"This, there's no need for so much trouble. I'll be more than satisfied with a hundred-year one."

Huo Yuhao wasn't greedy; this was already countless times better than his original plan. Under normal circumstances, hiring people to hunt a hundred-year spirit ring started at a hundred gold soul coins!

And that assumed someone would even take the job, and wouldn't just take the money and run!

"Senior Beibei is right. We still have plenty of time. Since I promised to help you hunt for a first spirit ring, I will definitely do my best to pick the best possible one for you within the limited time."

Walking in the lead, Ning Wuque spoke pleasantities, though in reality, he had long known what Huo Yuhao's first spirit ring would turn out to be.

Yet that didn't stop him from building favorability with the boy, did it? Who knew, he might continue to cross paths with Huo Yuhao in the future. How could a body-attribute spirit master not be a bit of a brawler?

Even though his own body-attribute spirit happened to be his eyes.

The group walked through the forest. Thanks to Ning Wuque and Beibei, some of the weaker ten-year spirit beasts automatically fled the moment they approached within ten meters of the group.

The journey had been exceptionally smooth, without even encountering the wind baboon that had almost achieved the "god-slaying" milestone when the divine was at its weakest; it was likely that the creature had long since been scared away.

However, some things were bound to happen when they were meant to.

Hum—

Space hummed. For a mere fraction of a second, Ning Wuque felt his brain grow slightly dizzy, and then...

He didn't faint! He could sense that this wave of mental impact was powerful enough to knock out an ordinary second-ring spirit master, but he was no ordinary second-ring spirit master!

His will roared within his mind, and his spirit cheered him on!

"Kaa—"

The chirping of an ant echoed through Ning Wuque's chaotic mental sea. In an instant, relying on his astonishing willpower, he broke free from the mental shock.

The moment he regained clarity, a cheap-sounding voice echoed in his ear:

"Hehehehe, who would have thought there'd actually be two Spirit Douluos? I might not be able to beat those bastards, but can't I even knock you guys out? Hehehehe!"

"You, what are you?!" (In terror)

"Don't be afraid~ Don't be afraid~ Big brother won't hurt you. Finally, big brother has met another mental-attribute human! It's a pity big brother doesn't cry, otherwise I'd definitely be weeping tears of joy right now!"

"A million years........."

"A wise spirit ring........."

"That's about it! Now I'm going in, little Yuhao~ The first time might hurt just a little bit, you have to bear with it~"

Opening his eyes, Ning Wuque steadied himself against a large tree nearby and struggled to stand up. He saw a giant silkworm fiercely charging into Huo Yuhao's body, leaving behind only a white-gold silkworm shell on the ground.

Before Ning Wuque could fully clear his head, a muffled roll of thunder suddenly rang out from the sky, followed by an overwhelmingly majestic voice:

"Holding the sun and moon in my hand and plucking the stars, there is no one in this world quite like me.

To think that this old man still had a shred of residual soul capable of surviving."

Following that, through the slits of his half-opened eyes, Ning Wuque saw a pitch-black figure suspended in the firmament. The figure first moved its body, intending to borrow Huo Yuhao's body to dwell within.

Yet the moment it got close, it stopped in its tracks as if sensing something.

And it was precisely this pause that made Ning Wuque's heart leap into his throat. Electrus had not chosen Huo Yuhao! He was evaluating the others!

Who could it be? Would it be him?

Ning Wuque wanted to make a sound, but no matter what, he couldn't do it. He had already expended a massive amount of mental energy just to wake up from the mental shock, and until he fully regained consciousness, his body refused to obey him, feeling as weak as if it had been numbed by anesthesia.

The figure lingered for merely two seconds, but those two seconds felt infinitely long to Ning Wuque.

He waited in anticipation, hoping that Electrus would choose—

Himself!

He watched as Electrus's residual soul flew toward his direction, a sight that filled Ning Wuque's heart with immense joy.

[An interesting kid...]

Electrus's voice suddenly resounded in Ning Wuque's mind, carrying an emotion known as "curiosity and exploration." With a single glance, it was as if he had seen straight through Ning Wuque's very being.

At this, although Ning Wuque felt a trace of doubt as to what exactly about him had piqued Electrus's interest—causing the spirit to pass over Huo Yuhao, and even Ning Tian, who was also quite suited to host him, and choose him instead—

What happened next, however, gave his mind a sudden realization.

He saw Electrus's soul transform into a ball of light and plunge directly into Ning Wuque's body.

And therein lay the problem!

Ning Wuque didn't feel anything extra added to his sea of consciousness; instead, he felt a sudden palpitation in his chest, or more accurately, in the region of his heart.

Following that was an overall drop in his body's vital blood energy. However, under Electrus's exquisite control, the flesh and blood producing that energy within him not only did not wither, but instead began operating normally at one hundred and fifty percent of its usual efficiency!

"Gurgle..."

Ning Wuque's stomach let out a mournful cry.

Hungry! Hungry! Hungry!

Before he could even retrieve food from his storage soul guide to replenish himself, a figure not far away was startled awake by the noise he had made.

"Ah-ah-ah-ah! Why are you awake? That shouldn't happen! It's over, it's over, it's over——!"

Suddenly, just as Ning Wuque was lost in thought, the panicked screech of the Skydream Iceworm rang in his ear.

He saw that the creature had already completely transformed into Huo Yuhao's wise spirit ring, but its spiritual projection had materialized into the form of a fragrant, tender little boy.

Looking at the fully conscious Ning Wuque with terror in his eyes, the worm realized things had gone horribly wrong!

The good news: No one was fighting him for territory.

The bad news: He had been discovered!!!

"I saw everything that just happened. Now is not the time to talk about this. Later on, I'll have a private chat with you and little brother Yuhao."

Ning Wuque spoke casually, ignoring the freaking-out Skydream. Instead, he forced himself to stay awake, guarding the sides of Wu Feng and Ning Tian while taking out food to replenish the energy his body desperately needed.

Even though all the spirit beasts in the surrounding area had most likely been knocked unconscious by Skydream, necessary precautions still had to be taken.