Douluo Dalu 2: Heavenly Eyed Douluo

Mu En and the girls stared at Huo Yuhao with wide eyes. Even the small yellow duck hiding under Elder Mu's hood popped out and stared at him.

What did he just say? Are you seriously rejecting a great opportunity that only inner courtyard students and elders could enjoy?! Wang Dong'er and the girls were completely dumbfounded.

'What's with their reaction?' Huo Yuhao scratched his cheek and said, "Well, it's just that I had a few things I wanted to do when I got back. And, well, I kinda need a new arm...?"

He nonchalantly pointed at his empty left sleeve.

'Huh. Yeah! That sounds incredibly reasonable!' They thought.

"Wait! Pavilion Master, can you have a look on Huo Yuhao's left arm?" Wang Dong'er asked, the other girls also turned to the old man with hopeful gazes.

After all, despite his frail appearance, he is the Sea God Pavilion! The strongest soul master in the entire academy; one of the very few Limit Douluos who is still alive in the entire continent. If there's someone who could help Huo Yuhao, Mu En certainly has the qualification.

Huo Yuhao wryly smiled, not expecting much. He was cursed by the Ice God, no matter how weakened she might've been, she was still a God. So unless Mu En had somehow achieved the fabled Godhood that many Titled Douluos craved or possessed even a fraction of a God's power, this was likely a futile request.

Considering that Elder Mu himself was severely injured and hadn't fully recovered, Huo Yuhao wasn't going to pin his hopes on a miracle.

But the hopeful gazes of Wang Dong'er and the others compelled him to remain silent, allowing Elder Mu to proceed without objection.

Elder Mu stroked his long white beard thoughtfully, his withered golden eyes narrowing slightly as he focused on Huo Yuhao's left sleeve. "I have been sensing an incredibly powerful curse, neither emanating both soul power and spiritual power, a higher stage of energy? And your cultivation as well.... Hm. I've only felt this once....Yuhao. Did you encounter a God?"

"Yes." Huo Yuhao nodded. He then recounted his confrontation with the Ice God; starting from when he first encountered a remnant of their power—their bone.

Elder Mu's eyes widened slightly, the faintest hint of surprise flickering across his weathered face. For someone who had lived through countless battles and seen innumerable wonders, encounters of the divine nature is an extremely rare case.

Especially since.... Mu En shook his head and said, "No wonder I detected a faint, familiar power emanating from you when you came back from your long training. I dismissed it at the time, thinking it impossible. Divine encounters are so rare they might as well be myths to most soul masters."

Huo Yuhao remained silent, letting Elder Mu process the revelation.

Elder Mu shook his head slowly, his expression both grave and contemplative. "To think that you, so young, have not only encountered such a force but survived it.... This is no small matter, child."

Wang Dong'er, standing by Huo Yuhao's side, spoke softly, her voice trembling slightly. "Pavilion Master, can you help treat Yuhao?"

Elder Mu let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. The disappointment was evident in the girls' expressions. "Unfortunately, no. The curse placed upon your left arm is divine in nature, far beyond the reach of mortal abilities. If I were at my peak, perhaps with the aid of the Golden Tree, I might have had a chance to dispel it."

"However," he paused, his voice tinged with regret, "in my current state, attempting such a feat would only hasten my demise."

"....I understand. Thank you, Elder Mu." Huo Yuhao said, placing his hand over his heart and lightly bowed. The girls shared a look and respectfully bowed towards Elder Mu in appreciation.

Elder Mu shook his head and sighed, "You are all good children. It feels me with sorrow and shame that I cannot help one child."

'As tensions between the mainland and the Sun Moon Empire are currently high, I have to prolong my life for as long as possible. I just hope that when I leave this world, I would still have enough power to ease the boy's divine curse.' Elder Mu inwardly said as he waved his hand.

The wooden walls surrounding them began to shift and distort, as if alive. Branches extended gracefully from the walls, their golden veins pulsating faintly with life energy. The air grew richer, saturated with vitality, and the faint hum of the Golden Tree resonated softly, filling the room with an otherworldly serenity.

The branches slowly went over the kids, grew smaller sticks of branches, and those sticks gently broke off and floated down, landing softly into the hands of each of the children.

They stared at the delicate golden fragments with awe, their faint glow resonating with an innate warmth that seemed to seep into their souls.

"This is...?"

Elder Mu chuckled at their expressions and explained, "Those fragments are your keys to the Sea God's Pavilion Underground World. Huo Yuhao is correct, you have all just returned from a grueling journey, and diving straight into cultivation without rest is unwise. These fragments will allow you to come back here when you're ready, at your own pace."

The children exchanged looks, their awe deepening as they understood the significance of the gift. Each fragment pulsed faintly.

Wang Dong'er held hers close, marveling at its warmth. "It's like it's alive," she murmured. With a martial soul that aligned with the light element, she was extremely sensitive towards it and the branch benefits her more than the others.

"Indeed," Elder Mu replied. "These fragments are connected to the Golden Tree. Not only will they teleport you back here when you snapped them, but for a limited time, they will help purify your bodies of impurities and enhance the absorption of soul and spiritual energies during your cultivation."

"Their energies is finite however, lasting for at least a year. By that point, I would interpret it as a refusal to take advantage of this opportunity. Should that happen, the fragments will lose their power and return to the Golden Tree. It is your choice, but do not let hesitation rob you of an opportunity to grow faster."

"Yes, elder!" Huo Yuhao and the others nodded earnestly.

Elder Mu slightly smiled. "Well then, time to go!"

Suddenly, their surroundings changed almost instantly and they looked around them, some to their shock and horror, that they were dozens of meters above the Sea God's Lake.

"Oops. Aiyaa. I've really gotten so old, that I couldn't transport people precisely. Apologies, children." Elder Mu's amused voice sounded in their minds.

'That old man!'

Veins popped on their foreheads at his cheap prank.

"Yuhao! Hold on to me!" Wang Dong'er exclaimed as her radiant wings unfurled from her back, the soft glow of her martial soul illuminating the water below.

Huo Yuhao nodded without hesitation and wrapped his arm around her, his grip firm but gentle.

'Hehe....' Wang Dong'er blushed, her heart skipping a beat.

"Uh...Dong'er?" Huo Yuhao said, a nervous tone to his voice.

"Ye—Hmm?!"

Her eyes widened and she looked down to see a pair of arms grabbing her legs.

"Xiao Xiao? Wha—Feng! Tian! Get off!"

Grabbing onto her legs was Xiao Xiao, with Wu Feng grabbing her by the waist with Ning Tian on her back.

"Nuh-uh! I'm not about to swim in my uniform!"

"Dong'er! Don't be selfish!"

"Yeah! We're in this together!"

Wang Dong'er's face twitched, her body trembling just as her butterfly wings are.

"Y-You idiots! I can't carry more than two people—!!"

Before Wang Dong'er could finish, her wings gave a violent shudder, and the entire group wobbled precariously in the air.

"Aaaaaaahhh!"

The group plummeted like a rock. The collective screams echoed through the air as they splashed into the Sea God's Lake, sending water flying everywhere.

Well, there was one who remained somewhat unaffected and landed gracefully on the surface of the water.

".....We can walk on water." Huo Yuhao muttered, looking blankly at the girls; coughing and spluttering as they surfaced. "Dong'er, I can walk on water with my soul power control—so can Xiao Xiao. You could've just took both Wu Feng and Ning Tian flying."

"Eh?" Wang Dong'er and the girls stared at him, then they looked at each other.

"Tehe! I forgot!" Xiao Xiao said, cutely tilting her head with one eye closed.

Ning Tian and Wu Feng turned towards Wang Dong'er, wondering what her excuse was.

Wang Dong'er blushed and pointed at Huo Yuhao, "W-Why didn't you say anything?!"

Huo Yuhao cupped his chin, looking deep in thought. "Well, to be honest? I kinda wanted to see you all wet. I mean, it's not everyday we get a chance to enjoy a nice dip in a very beautiful lake."

"Wha—?!" Their faces turned red, a mix of shock, embarrassment, and outrage flashing across their expressions.

Wang Dong'er splashed toward him furiously, her soaked uniform clinging to her, making her look unintentionally endearing and alluring. "Huo Yuhao, you pervert! I can't believe you'd say that!"

Xiao Xiao puffed her cheeks, her drenched appearance and pouty face made her look cute. "You could've saved us the trouble, and you chose not to?! Hmph! Hmph!"

Ning Tian coldly narrowed her eyes, giving off a intimidating yet hot demeanor. "Some gentleman you are, Huo Yuhao."

Wu Feng, ever the fiery one, glared at him, a dangerous fiery glint in her eyes. "Oh, you're so going to pay for this!"

Huo Yuhao stuck out his tongue.

Wang Dong'er and the others shared a look and nodded. Without any hesitation, they grabbed onto his legs.

"Wha—no! Stop that! Are you trying to drown me—Hahahaha! Don't tickle me!!"

Back in the Sea God Pavilion.

"Hohoho. Sorry about that kids, but you all looked so tense that that I thought you needed a little fun to loosen up," Elder Mu chuckled as he reclined in his seat, his serene laughter echoing softly through the Pavilion.

Elder Xuan, standing nearby, laughed as he raised his gourd. "Hehehe. Master, that was incredible! I didn't know you still had it. I mean, did you see their faces? Priceless!"

Elder Mu chortled and smiled slyly. "Xuan Zi, please. That was a mild haze for the young bloods. Also that we need to be certain that they know how to swim..."

He gently grabbed the slightly steaming tea by his side and took a sip, before continuing, "We don't want another repeat of that one student who became a inner courtyard student; who didn't tell any of us that he couldn't swim and accidentally drowned in the lake when crossing over to the island."

Elder Xuan went silent for a moment before taking another chug of his gourd.

"....Why didn't you report about Huo Yuhao's encounter with the Ice God?" Elder Mu asked.

Elder Xuan grunted and replied, "I thought it'd be better for you to see Huo Yuhao and judge for yourself. I figured you'd want the firsthand impression rather than secondhand details. Besides, you know how unreliable my storytelling gets after a few drinks."

"Hmm." Elder Mu closed his eyes, sipping his tea.

Elder Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Is something the matter?"

"....What I am about to say, can never leave this room unless it is either my successor or yours."

Elder Xuan's gaze sharpened and he placed the gourd on the table beside him. "What is it? What's happening?"

A sorrowful look flickered across Elder Mu's face as he inclined his head, staring up towards the sky out of the window.

The words that came out of his words next, instantly made Elder Xuan stand up with a shocked, pale look on his face.

"The Divine Realm has gone silent. The Gods are at war."

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3/4 chapters of the week