Huo Yuhao inexplicably felt a chill running down his spine.
Was someone talking about him behind his back?
Oh, no, today's celebration… there must be quite a few people talking about him.
"Yuhao, is the food made by this thing really delicious?"
Gu Yuena looked at the exhibit in front of her with a strange expression, "The cookies are supposed to taste like your favorite food from memory… it doesn't seem reliable."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the exhibit in front of Gu Yuena.
They and Snow Empress were currently on the third floor of the Spirit Pagoda, where the latest achievements of the Spirit Pagoda were displayed, mostly related to spirit souls.
The one in front of Gu Yuena was one of them.
It was a pitch-black cubic device with no seams or buttons on its surface, as if it had been cut from a single piece of unknown material.
When the lights on the display sweep over it, the surface of the box will briefly reveal silver patterns resembling a star map, which then quickly disappears into the darkness.
On the side of the box was engraved a line of small text: [Taste Projector • First Generation Prototype]. There was no control panel, no display screen, only a palm-sized groove and a button on the top, where the ingredients were placed and the device was activated.
"You can try it and see for yourself."
Huo Yuhao looked at the staff member beside them, "We'll take three cookies."
Since it was a ceremony, they couldn't just stay invisible, but their identities would attract attention wherever they went.
So, to make things easier, he had slightly altered their appearances using his spiritual domain. Those at the Spirit Abyss level could see through it, but ordinary spirit masters wouldn't be able to recognize them.
"Alright, please wait a moment."
The staff member smiled and began operating the device.
Under his control, the box suddenly trembled slightly, and the pitch-black surface rippled as if another space was folded inside. After a very faint hum, the top of the box silently slid open a crack, and three perfectly shaped cookies were lifted out by some invisible force, floating in the air, emitting a faint aroma.
—There was no heating process, no mechanical sound, as if the finished product had been directly "taken" out of thin air.
"Please enjoy."
Huo Yuhao took the cookies, handed them to Snow Empress and Gu Yuena, and took a bite himself.
The crispy outer layer of the cookie melted on his tongue, and a burst of spicy, savory flavor exploded in his mouth.
This was… hot pot?
Hot pot-flavored cookies… it wasn't exactly dark cuisine, but it was still quite strange, though also interesting.
Huo Yuhao popped the rest of the cookie into his mouth and swallowed it, "By deceiving the taste buds, it makes you feel like you're eating your favorite food… in a sense, you're tasting your own memories. The prototype must be a plant spirit beast that affects the mind, right? A plant related to taste buds… is it the Memory Vine?"
The staff member first looked at him with some surprise, impressed by his knowledge, then smiled and said:
"Yes, the design of the machine was inspired by the functions of the Memory Vine. It's a masterpiece created in collaboration with a ten-thousand-year Memory Vine spirit soul and our researchers…"
On the other side, after Gu Yuena took a bite of her cookie, her purple eyes widened slightly. Her cookie had transformed into the taste of Star Dou honey pancakes.
It was a snack Huo Yuhao had made using the specialties of the Star Dou Great Forest, baked with hundred-year-old royal jelly and moonlight pine nut powder, sprinkled with her favorite silver laurel petals…
Snow Empress's fingertips emitted a faint mist of ice. What she tasted was the frost sugar crystal cake Huo Yuhao had made for her ten thousand years ago when they had gone out together… the main ingredients were snow honey from the far north and syrup made from snow ginseng, each bite carrying the pure sweetness of ice and snow.
Gu Yuena and Snow Empress savored the lingering on their taste buds. After a while, the former commented, "Since it's deceiving the taste buds, the flavor can be replicated, but the texture can't. It's still just a cookie. And after all, it's just a deception. If a spirit master wanted to, they could use their spirit power to break free from this influence…"
Hearing Gu Yuena's critique as if she were judging fine cuisine, the staff member looked embarrassed, "This is a technology exhibition, not a food exhibition."
Huo Yuhao exclaimed and transmitted his voice to Gu Yuena and Snow Empress, "I'll make some for you when we get back."
Snow Empress smiled gently, and Gu Yuena was about to say something when a familiar voice came from the side.
"Setting aside the texture, in terms of technology, it's quite promising, combining spatial compression with the Spirit Pagoda's unique spirit soul technology. I'd even like to talk to the creator. If we could add tactile deception to the taste deception, perhaps we could break through the current limitations of texture."
An elderly figure walked over, looking at Huo Yuhao and the others, and commented with a smile.
With his spiritual power, he could naturally see through Huo Yuhao's half-hearted disguise, but since the three of them clearly wanted to participate in the ceremony normally, he didn't expose them, only nodding slightly to Snow Empress as a sign of respect.
"President Yi?"
Huo Yuhao was somewhat surprised, "You're here so early?"
"I came to show my support for the Spirit Pagoda and to take a look at the technology exhibition. My cousin is here too." Yi Hongchen pointed in a certain direction and smiled, "It's a rare celebration, so we two old bones came to relax."
Huo Yuhao followed the direction he pointed and saw Wang Hongchen testing a device at a display stand.
It was a spirit soul ball.
Due to suggestions from some spirit masters, the Spirit Pagoda had also modified the spirit soul balls, developing more functions and uses, even colors, based on the previous design.
For example, the red flame ball that can attract fire-type spirit souls and make them feel more comfortable, the dark ball for dark-attribute spirit souls, and so on.
Hmm, they're going further and further down the path of spirit soul Pokémon…
What can I say? Congratulations?
Besides them, Yi Hongchen also took a cookie, tasted it, and smiled, "Indeed, a. This could be a great comfort for some secret research institutes or the army guarding the borders."
The staff member smiled, "I'm glad you like it. Would you like to try another one?"
Yi Hongchen waved his hand and walked over to Huo Yuhao and the others, sighing, "The replacement of spirit rings with spirit souls is something that was bound to happen with the changes of history. Resources are always limited. If we had continued following the ancient ways, spirit masters would have eventually disappeared into history. The emergence of spirit souls prevented that, but in my opinion, the value of spirit souls goes far beyond that."
"The Spirit Pagoda has countless spirit souls, and researchers have drawn inspiration from them to design soul tools that always bring unexpected surprises. I'm quite envious of that. I've even thought about retiring and coming to the Spirit Pagoda to study spirit souls."
"If you're really willing to come, we'll give you the highest level of treatment." Huo Yuhao said, "But I'm afraid President Wang Hongchen wouldn't allow it."
"I'm the president of the Mecha Association. If I want to come to the Spirit Pagoda to study after retirement, what does that have to do with the president of the Illustrations Virtue Hall?"
Yi Hongchen smiled and shook his head, "Alright, let's not talk about things that are still uncertain. I came over to say hello to you all and also to ask Her Majesty a question."
At this point, his gaze turned to Snow Empress, "Will Her Majesty, the Holy Spirit, participate in today's Spirit Ice Ceremony? I have something I'd like to ask her."
Snow Empress's eyes flickered, and she shook her head.
"I'm not sure, as she's not technically a member of the Spirit Pagoda. And you know her wish if she had a patient in her care, she would never abandon them. Whether she'll attend the ceremony depends entirely on what happens along the way."
Hearing this, Yi Hongchen smiled helplessly, "That's true, I forgot about her style. I hope the Holy Spirit Douluo can make it this time."
After saying this, Yi Hongchen looked at Wang Hongchen, who had finished his tour in the distance, "We're planning to go to the sixth floor to visit the historical exhibition area. Would you like to join us?"
Huo Yuhao fell silent.
Historical exhibition area? Are you sure it's not just unofficial history? Speaking of which, isn't the Illustrations Virtue Hall's unofficial history already extensive enough? Now you're coming to the Spirit Pagoda to look at it? (Wang Hongchen: Given the abundance of unofficial history in the Illustrations Virtue Hall, we need to come to the Spirit Pagoda to see the official history. Is there a problem?)
Snow Empress revised at Huo Yuhao and politely declined, "No need, we plan to look around elsewhere first."
When it comes to the history of the Spirit Ice Douluo, no one knows it better than her and Huo Yuhao.
Going to the historical exhibition area… would just be looking at unofficial history, and they've had enough of that. Neither she nor Huo Yuhao were interested in seeing it.
"Then we'll see you on the first floor during the worship ceremony."
Yi Hongchen nodded slightly and left.
…
Yi Hongchen and Wang Hongchen were the earliest representatives to arrive. As time passed, more and more representatives gathered at the Spirit Pagoda.
The First War God of the Battle God Shrine, the Sky Crossing Douluo; the Blazing Dragon Douluo from Shrek Academy; federal councils; the Blacksmith Association…
By the time Xu Xiaoyan had finished touring the celebration and reunited with her companions on the first floor of the Spirit Pagoda, she saw that a group of important figures had already arrived before the worship ceremony and were engaged in conversation with Qiangu Dongfeng, Xiong Jun, Leng Yaozhu, Snow Empress, and other high-ranking members of the Spirit Pagoda.
As for the younger generation like them, they can only watch from a distance.
Xu Xiaoyan stood at the edge of the crowd, her gaze passing through the layers of people to land on the group of imposing figures at the center. She clicked her tongue and said:
"The influence of this celebration is even greater than I imagined."
"Well, look at whose ceremony it is." Xie Xie said with a proud expression, "It's the founder of the Spirit Soul Method, the first tower master. Isn't it only natural for it to have such influence?"
Wang Jinxi nodded in agreement while glancing at Huo Yuhao, who had a strange expression, "Yuhao, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just feel a bit emotional."
Huo Yuhao shook his head and surveyed the surroundings.
Gu Ruiqiu, Ling Zichen, Ji Wufeng, and others were also here. When they saw him, Ling Zichen and Ji Wufeng responded normally, one nodded in greeting, while the other was very excited. Only Gu Ruiqiu… her eyes were evasive.
This was definitely not normal. Based on Huo Yuhao's understanding of her, she should be looking at him with the same interested expression as Xiong Jun.
How much have you been up to lately, Miss Gu Ruiqiu?
I'm really curious…
"Jinxi, Xiaoyan, and I ran into Teacher Luo earlier." Zhang Yangzi's voice interrupted Huo Yuhao's thoughts, "I thought the Pagoda Master Joyful Douluo would come to attend the celebration."
Gu Yuena explained in a calm tone, "If all the branch Pagoda masters gathered, it would cause too much of a stir, so most of them sent trusted representatives to attend. It's actually quite rare for Pagoda Master Xiong Jun to come in person."
Now that evil spirit masters were appearing again, if all the tower masters left their jurisdictions, it would be hard to prevent the Holy Spirit Sect from taking advantage of the chaos. Naturally, they couldn't all come.
Xiong Jun understood this as well.
But he still felt a bit disappointed that Di Tian and the others hadn't come in person to pay their respects.
Quite a few high-ranking members of the Spirit Pagoda had come to attend the ceremony today, but what Xiong Jun really hoped for was that the spirit beasts who knew Huo Yuhao's identity would come in person.
Why didn't you come? Isn't it fun to watch Spirit Ice's joke? Or are you afraid that Spirit Ice will settle accounts with you later?
What's there to be afraid of?
Although the master is a bit biased, she wouldn't just stand by and watch us get beaten up by Spirit Ice, right?
Xiong Jun sobbed inwardly, touched around the room, and finally his gaze landed on Huo Yuhao. Suddenly, he grinned, and his rough voice, amplified by spirit power, echoed throughout the hall:
"Everyone, before the worship ceremony begins, let me introduce someone."
He strode over to Huo Yuhao and, under the surprised gazes of the crowd, swung an arm around Huo Yuhao's shoulders, "This is the next successor of the Spirit Pagoda, Huo Yuhao!"
Leng Yaozhu and Qiangu Dongfeng's eyebrows twitched simultaneously.
Xiong Jun… what is he trying to do?
Leng Yaozhu's gaze instinctively turned to Snow Empress, who had a calm expression, and seeing that she had no reaction, she could only look back and watch how things unfolded.
Since Huo Yuhao's teacher didn't say anything, she had even less of a position to intervene.
The representatives of the various factions, however, were clearly very interested in Huo Yuhao. After Xiong Jun pulled him out, they all looked at him with warm smiles, scrutinizing him carefully.
At this glance, a few people showed looks of surprise, and the Sky Crossing Douluo even exclaimed:
"A Spirit Emperor?"
Unlike Wang Hongchen and Yi Hongchen, who often met with Huo Yuhao, many people here were meeting him for the first time. Combined with the fact that Huo Yuhao usually kept a low profile, they were all surprised by his progress in cultivation.
A thirteen-year-old Spirit Emperor… that's quite rare. Not to mention Huo Yuhao also had powerful spiritual power and excellent secondary profession abilities. It's not an exaggeration to say he's unprecedented.
The Sky Crossing Douluo narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as he examined Huo Yuhao, as if trying to see through him. The Blazing Dragon Douluo from Shrek Academy, however, frowned slightly, feeling uneasy all over.
Although he didn't know the details, Huo Yuhao must have visited the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well yesterday.
Now that his aura was so pronounced, it was clear he had made a major breakthrough recently.
His current level of cultivation must have been aided by some immortal herbs… it's all Cai Yue'er's fault, that spendthrift, making me even more awkward at the Spirit Pagoda!
Huo Yuhao revised at Xiong Jun, who was smiling, took a deep breath, and calmly met the gazes of the crowd, nodding slightly:
"I am Huo Yuhao, and I am deeply honored by the elders for granting me the name of Spirit Sovereign. As for my cultivation, it's just a stroke of luck that I've made some progress. It's not worth mentioning."
"A stroke of luck?" The Sky Crossing Douluo couldn't help but laugh, "If becoming a Spirit Emperor at thirteen is a 'stroke of luck,' then everyone in the spirit master world should be ashamed to death."
"That's right, as the next successor of the Spirit Pagoda, you can't be too modest."
Xiong Jun grinned, "Here's a suggestion. Let Huo Yuhao be the first to pay his respects to the Spirit Ice Douluo, with us as testimony. What do you think? Seeing such an outstanding junior, with both cultivation and soul tool skills advancing side by side, someone so similar to himself, the Spirit Ice Douluo would certainly be very pleased if he knew."
Huo Yuhao's eyelid twitched, and his eyes reflected Xiong Jun's figure, a chill spreading through his heart.
How can I release this anger in my heart?