Peerless: I Became Huo Yuhao's Dark Personality

Chapter 115 Making friends is fine, but making friends with ulterior motives is not (Two-in-One)

"Is your brother alright?" Huo Yumiao asked, getting up as she looked at Xiao Hongchen, who was still lying on the ground, questioning his existence.

"It's nothing, he just feels embarrassed and ashamed," Meng Hongchen said with a light laugh, shaking her head nonchalantly.

"Thank you." Huo Yumiao reached out and handed the bracelet-shaped baby bottle to Meng Hongchen.

"Here you go, consider it a little bonus for defeating Xiao. This baby bottle is a sample I made when I was researching different types of baby bottles. Its capacity and absorption speed are about 20% better than those on the market."

Don't refuse me, okay? Judging from what you just said, you probably don't have a bottle yet, right? With your physical strength, this is just right for you."

Meng Hongchen didn't say one more thing: this was actually the one she used most often on a daily basis. Theoretically speaking, as a Soul King, she should be using a level 5 healing bottle.

But this is the Sun Moon Empire, where it is common for Soul Masters to have poor physical fitness, and even geniuses like Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen are no exception.

Of course, their shortcomings are relative. Compared to those around them, their physical abilities are considered strong, but compared to Huo Yumiao and Huo Yuhao, who have been baptized by the Gold of Life, they are still no match.

Instead of being overly cautious with a level 5 baby bottle, it's better to relax and use a level 4 baby bottle. Although it will be a little slower, this isn't a battle, so being a little slower won't hurt.

Upon hearing the second half of Meng Hongchen's sentence, Huo Yumiao's initial reluctance subsided, and she became interested in the "types" Meng Hongchen mentioned.

In his mind, baby bottles were simply tools for replenishing soul power. Why would they be categorized for such a simple function? He immediately asked, "Aren't baby bottles only used for replenishing soul power? Why are there different types?"

"Of course, this is Mingdetang's knowledge. Anyway, as Master Guan's disciple, it's only a matter of time before you get in, so there's no harm in telling you."

Baby bottles can indeed only be used to replenish soul power, but there are two types: one is active absorption, which is the one I just gave you.

The other type is automatic replenishment, mainly used to power some large soul tools. Although both are called "milk bottles," they are not interchangeable.

Their internal cores are different; the type of bottle we absorb cannot be used for automatic functions, nor can we absorb self-powered bottles.

Huo Yumiao nodded in understanding. So that's what the categories meant. He knew from reading the original work that baby bottles were used for energy supply, but he didn't expect that the two were actually two different categories and couldn't be used interchangeably.

As the two exchanged questions, they happened to walk up to Xiao Hongchen. Seeing that his older brother was still lying on the ground, Meng Hongchen raised an eyebrow and kicked Xiao Hongchen in the shoulder without any mercy, his tone filled with impatience.

"That's enough, if you don't get up, we're leaving."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongchen, who was playing the role of a corpse on the ground, reluctantly got up. After his grandfather's death, Xiao Hongchen's ability to withstand pressure was many times stronger than before.

Furthermore, having seen Huo Yumiao's yellow, purple, and black soul rings beforehand, the blow of failure was secondary; the main reason was that he felt too ashamed to get up.

No matter how powerful Huo Yumiao is in every aspect, her cultivation level as a Soul Venerable is what it is. He is a Soul King, and a genius Soul King in everyone's eyes. It would be strange if he didn't have a mental breakdown after losing.

"Was that your ten-thousand-year soul skill just now?" Although Xiao Hongchen was asking, his tone was extremely firm. He didn't believe that such a powerful attack could be provided by a hundred-year or thousand-year soul ring.

"Your martial soul should be your eyes, right? I didn't sense any ice attribute fluctuations when your martial soul was attached to you, so why did your third soul skill absorb a ten-thousand-year ice attribute soul ring?"

Meng Hongchen frowned slightly. Her Zhu Qingbing Toad also possessed ice attributes, so she was certain that Huo Yumiao's eyes were definitely not ice-attributed.

But she shared the same thought as Xiao Hongchen: they both believed that such a powerful soul skill could only be provided by a ten-thousand-year soul ring; a hundred or a thousand years simply didn't make sense.

Before Huo Yumiao could speak, Meng Hongchen's expression suddenly changed, as if she had remembered something, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Ice Explosion Technique! The last soul skill you released was Ice Explosion Technique, wasn't it?"

Huo Yumiao was somewhat surprised to hear this. He really didn't expect that Meng Hongchen could recognize the Ice Explosion Technique. As a talent soul skill of the Ice Jade Scorpion clan, the Ice Explosion Technique is very rare even among the Ice Jade Scorpions, and even the Ice Emperor does not have it.

The only way for a Soul Master to acquire this Soul Skill is by hunting Ice Jade Scorpions that possess the Ice Explosion Technique and absorbing their Soul Rings or Soul Bones, with an extremely low probability.

However, the Ice Jade Scorpion that possesses the Ice Blast spell is destined to be the best among the Ice Jade Scorpion clan. In addition, Ice Jade Scorpions prefer to live in groups, making them virtually impossible to hunt.

All of the above reasons make the Ice Explosion Technique rare, and it was truly unexpected that Meng Hongchen could recognize this soul skill.

Huo Yumiao nodded slightly, "That's right, this is indeed the Ice Explosion Technique. I didn't expect you to recognize this soul skill."

"I obtained several of my spirit rings in the far north, so I am quite familiar with the powerful ice-attribute spirit beasts in the far north, including the Ice Jade Scorpion with its Ice Explosion Technique."

"My martial soul is the Crimson Ice Toad, a formidable soul beast even in the far north. Such soul beasts are very rare; you probably haven't heard of them." After saying this, Meng Hongchen looked curiously at Huo Yumiao and continued:

"Ice Blast Technique is a unique skill possessed only by the Ice Jade Scorpion. How could you possibly absorb its spirit ring? Moreover, the Ice Jade Scorpion's spirit ring has very high requirements for the spirit master's attributes. Even if your physical attributes are strong enough, it is impossible for you to absorb it successfully."

"Ice Explosion? That sounds familiar, like I've heard it somewhere before..." Xiao Hongchen muttered to himself, stroking his chin. He felt that the name Ice Explosion was strangely familiar.

"Ice Explosion Technique is not my third soul skill, it's my soul bone skill." After Huo Yumiao finished speaking, the two were stunned at first, and then showed expressions of understanding.

"Soul Bone? Is this the Ice Jade Scorpion's left arm bone that was auctioned at the Starlight Auction?" Xiao Hongchen snapped his fingers. He finally remembered the source of this familiarity. This Ice Explosion Technique had appeared at the previous Starlight Auction.

Meeting the probing gazes of the two above, Huo Yumiao nodded, but Meng Hongchen was even more puzzled, "The soul bone of the Ice Jade Scorpion cannot be absorbed by non-ice attribute soul masters. Your martial soul does not have the ice attribute, so how did you manage to do that?"

"I have twin martial souls. My second martial soul is ice-attribute, so I can absorb the soul bone of the Ice Jade Scorpion," Huo Yumiao explained, revealing that she had twin martial souls.

Things are different now. Although his strength is not enough to protect himself, he has Guan Zhenxiao as his backer, so no one dares to have any ill intentions towards him.

People fear becoming famous, just as pigs fear growing fat; that's a rule that ordinary people need to follow. To give an extreme example, the national treasuries of the four great empires are right there, but over the years, has anyone dared to take any action?
"Twin Martial Souls!" Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen exclaimed simultaneously. The surge of their second Martial Souls made them forget to continue asking Huo Yumiao about the Soul Skill she had just used.

Since the establishment of the Sun Moon Empire, there have been virtually no powerful Soul Masters, such as Super Douluo, twin Martial Souls, or ultimate attributes—these have never appeared in its ten-thousand-year history. "So, you have such a Soul Ring configuration because you simultaneously added Soul Rings to both of your Martial Souls?"

Xiao Hongchen's expression suddenly became somewhat excited, his eyes filled with anticipation. If that were the case, it would explain why Huo Yumiao had such a terrifying and astonishing combination of spirit rings.

But Xiao Hongchen was clearly disappointed. Huo Yumiao shook her head. "The second spirit ring can only be attached after you become a Soul King. Everyone knows that, right?"

The strongest among twin martial souls is usually the second martial soul. Everyone who understands this knows the reason: at least nine ten-thousand-year soul rings are there, so it would be strange if it wasn't strong.

Seeing Xiao Hongchen's expression freeze instantly, Meng Hongchen chuckled, "Xiao, just accept your fate. Your title as the number one genius of the Sun and Moon Sect is in jeopardy."

"I was careless this time. I didn't even use my fourth and fifth soul skills, okay? And there's my special soul tool. If I really went all out, the outcome would be uncertain!"

Although that's what he said, Xiao Hongchen's tone was somewhat evasive. He knew his own situation best. His fourth soul skill, Golden Sacrifice, increased his attack power, while his fifth soul skill, Golden Affection, was a defensive skill.

Xiao Hongchen still couldn't figure out how Huo Yumiao had so strangely deflected his attack. He wasn't sure if using the Sacrifice of Gold would prevent him from being deflected.

As for Laughing at the Mortal World with Golden Favor, he had even less hope. He couldn't even withstand that resilient barrier, let alone use Golden Favor…

As he thought about it, Xiao Hongchen recalled the terrifying power of Huo Yumiao's palm strike and couldn't help but shrink back.

"Come on, you, a Soul King, lost to a Soul Venerable even when you used all your soul power. You still have the nerve to complain? Let me ask you, do you not use your fourth or fifth soul skills because you don't want to? You can't use them."

Meng Hongchen chuckled lightly, casting a disdainful glance at Xiao Hongchen, her tone full of mockery, mercilessly ridiculing her own brother.

His fist hardened, and it was clear that Xiao Hongchen was starting to lose his guard. "Come on, Meng, you fight Yu Miao, and see if you can win!"

"I don't know if I'll win or not, but at least I won't lose like some people who lose in just a few rounds," Meng Hongchen said lazily, her attack power at its maximum.

Huo Yumiao looked at the two arguing and felt a sense of doubt. It was perfectly normal for siblings to quarrel, and it was also a sign of a good relationship.

But, he seems to still be there, right? Given his familiarity with the Hongchen siblings, it shouldn't be enough for them to reveal this more personal side of themselves in front of him, right? After all, this is only their second meeting.

The kind of bickering and teasing between Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen is actually a very private behavior. When someone is willing to show their private side to another person, it can already say something.

The fact that the two of them acted so casually and playfully in front of Huo Yumiao reflects their considerable affection for him, suggesting they consider him a good friend.

This is precisely what Huo Yumiao doesn't understand the most. Based on his understanding of the original work, he knows that both the Hongchen siblings have a considerable degree of arrogance, especially Xiao Hongchen, who is known as the number one genius.

This inevitably reminded Huo Yumiao of her first meeting with the two last night and her second meeting today, as she tried to find some clues.

The two of them didn't show anything special last night, except for their shock at mistaking him for Huo Yuhao, but that was within the normal range.

Then this morning, the two of them were far too kind to him. Their words and actions showed no trace of a genius's arrogance, especially after he defeated Xiao Hongchen, this behavior became even more pronounced.

The source of everything seems to be the strength he has demonstrated, or more precisely, his talent and the strength he will eventually reach.

So, what could have made these two people want to befriend him?

Want to get in touch with Elder Guan? Huo Yumiao thought it was unlikely. So, the answer was obvious. For the Hongchen siblings now, the thing they wanted to do most was to avenge Jing Hongchen.

Revenge requires only one thing: strength. Only a ferocious beast could bring down Jing Hongchen, whose combat power is comparable to that of a Super Douluo, especially in the Star Dou Great Forest.

Although Jing Hongchen is dead, he will always leave behind some energy, connections, money, or resources.

Huo Yumiao had read the original novel and knew that Xiong Jun and Wan Yao Wang wouldn't prevent Jing Hongchen from even escaping, but Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen didn't know that.

Their understanding of the ferocious beasts' combat power is certainly not as clear as his, so it's difficult to pinpoint the real culprit, but determining the scope is definitely not a problem. The top ten ferocious beasts are not a secret among major powers.

Hongchen and his sister saw his extraordinary talent and felt that with his help in the future, their chances of getting revenge would definitely increase greatly. Is that why they did all this?
The more Huo Yumiao thought about it, the more convinced she was that she was on the right track and that the two of them had definitely come to him with a purpose.

They wanted to befriend not only themselves, but also the equally talented Huo Yuhao. If they could win over the older brother first, the younger brother would naturally follow.

However, while it's true that they befriended him with the intention of avenging Jing Hongchen, that wasn't necessarily their sole motivation. Perhaps it was also mixed with a genuine desire to befriend him as a fellow genius.

Family affection, friendship, and love are all indispensable to the existence of a living being. Not all of them are necessary, but none can be absent.

Although Huo Yumiao was a transmigrator and not a native of Douluo Continent, he did not mind leaving behind some bonds, just like Huo Yuhao had become his bond.

From the moment Huo Yuhao chose to risk his life to rebuild Huo Yuhao's body, this bond was already established between the two. Huo Yumiao treated Huo Yuhao as her younger brother and would not allow the tragedy in the original story to happen.

The White Tiger Duke's Mansion will be wiped off the continent, and Tang San will fall from his pedestal.

Huo Yumiao is open to any kind of friendship, whether it's establishing a friendship with Xiao Hongchen or Meng Hongchen. He values ​​strength and prioritizes it, but that doesn't mean he only cares about strength.

He's not some immortal who's trying to cultivate the path of ruthlessness; he wants all the seven emotions and six desires.

However, making friends is fine, but making friends with ulterior motives is not. Therefore, after hearing Huo Yumiao's next words, the argument between the Hongchen siblings came to an abrupt halt.

"What do you want to do?"

(End of this chapter)