In a deep forest, in an area with slightly sparse trees now covered in frost, stood two people—no, a young boy and a huge worm, with the body of a dead ape-like creature next to them. A white ring floated above the corpse.
The young boy was a cute child with black hair and black eyes, wearing thin, worn clothes. He seemed malnourished and slightly shorter than average for his age. His lashes and brows were now lightly dusted with frost as he stared at the enormous silkworm. The creature had white, almost translucent skin, a golden mark on its forehead, and ten golden circles along its body from head to tail, exuding a pressure the boy could barely withstand—even when restrained.
The boy looked at the silkworm-like creature with awe, shock, and a hint of fear.
"First off, let me introduce myself. I am the embodiment of heroism and chivalry! A king of kings among soul beasts, who is both equally smart and good-looking! I'm an absolute expert that has cultivated for a million years! I'm the Skydream Iceworm, the one who's set the record for the longest lifespan on the Douluo Continent! You can call me—Brother Skydream!" the silkworm declared proudly.
"Wh-what do you want to do?" the boy, Huo Yuhao, asked with a blank yet confused and awed stare.
"This brother won't keep you in suspense! He wants to become your soul ring—the Douluo Continent's first-ever intelligent soul ring!" Skydream announced.
Before Yuhao could react, Skydream pressed its head against his forehead. The golden lines on its body pulsed and shifted, enveloping Yuhao's weak and thin frame.
"Too weak! Truly too weak! I'm so pitiful! How many more seals do I have to place so his frail body can handle me? It's too hard being an intelligent soul ring!" Skydream sighed as Yuhao lost consciousness from the energy surge.
As spiritual energy from their fusion spread, creatures in the surrounding forest fell into a momentary daze, their thoughts frozen.
Suddenly, the clear blue sky darkened unnaturally fast. A deafening BOOM echoed, plunging the remaining sunlight into darkness as an immense pressure descended, suffocating everything in its wake.
Skydream trembled in terror, pausing to glance at the darkened sky. Then, a dark grey mass of air—carrying overwhelming force—descended like a vortex, merging into Yuhao's body.
"Who dares to fight with this brother for a person?!" Skydream roared, launching a spiritual attack at the grey mass in an attempt to expel it.
An indistinct figure materialized behind Huo Yuhao, and an aged yet commanding voice resonated:
"The hand grasps the sun and moon, and plucks the stars from the sky; this world has no one like me. I didn't expect that this old man would still have a trace of remnant spirit lingering here."
The voice faded as the figure merged back into Yuhao, condensing into a small grey bead within his spiritual consciousness—completely unfazed by Skydream's assault.
Skydream gritted his teeth but held back another attack. Yuhao was already bleeding from every orifice, his body unable to handle the strain.
"The heavens are truly jealous of a genius like me!" Skydream lamented dramatically—
But before he could continue, the sky darkened further. Rainbow-colored lightning, radiating even greater pressure than before, struck Yuhao. A vortex formed, sucking both him and Skydream into Yuhao's body.
Yuhao's form flickered with seven colors as he awoke in a vast white space. Ten golden spheres floated in the air, with a small grey bead suspended among them.
"Where… is this?" Yuhao muttered in confusion.
Nearby, Skydream tumbled into view, half his body shimmering rainbow hues—just like Yuhao and the grey bead.
"This… is your spiritual sea," Skydream explained, shrinking to Yuhao's size and hovering beside him. "So, your name is Huo Yuhao?"
Having glimpsed Yuhao's memories, Skydream sighed. "You've lived a pitiful life, just like this brother! Yuhao, I was also trapped by evil beasts in this forest! Let's work hard together for revenge!"
His earlier bravado had vanished after the two unexpected intrusions.
"As this brother was saying, this is your spiritual consciousness—or spiritual sea. I'll be living here from now on. Since it was too small, I expanded it… but that strange lightning further improved and purified it, making this spiritual sea entirely yours."
Envy tinged Skydream's voice.
[Ding! The 10,000 Times Return System has been activated and merged with Host: Huo Yuhao!]
"Who's there?!" Yuhao jerked his head around.
"What happened, Yuhao?" Skydream asked, bewildered.
"You didn't hear that? It mentioned a 'Return System'!"
"Hear what?"
Skydream grew serious. Yuhao wasn't the type to imagine things.
[The 10,000 Times Return System—or 'Return System'—is merged with the Host's soul. This system will assist the Host on his journey.]
A black-and-gold translucent screen materialized before Yuhao's eyes, displaying the words elegantly. He flinched back.
"You can't see this?!"
"See what?"
Yuhao quickly relayed the system's message.
"A system? I've never heard of such a thing… Why can't I perceive it? We're in your spiritual sea!"
"That's because the system is bound—no, it's now part of Young Yuhao's soul. Try reading his memories again; you'll find they're blocked."
A new voice spoke. Skydream instinctively attempted to probe Yuhao's mind but froze when he failed. Both he and Yuhao turned toward the source.
There stood an old man with white hair and grey eyes, his lower body mist-like and incomplete. Grey mist swirled in his gaze, and an ancient, imposing aura radiated from him. The grey bead had vanished, and now, like Yuhao and Skydream, his form shimmered with seven colors.
"Who are you?! Why are you in Yuhao's spiritual sea?!" Skydream demanded, ready to fight despite the futility.
"Do not worry, little bug. Though I am but a fragment of divine consciousness, you cannot defeat me," the old man replied. "Most of my memories remain lost, but I recall being called the Necromancer Calamity, the Undead Holy God… Electrolux. You may address me as such."
His figure solidified slightly, appearing marginally younger.
"Young Yuhao, you are extraordinarily fortunate," Electrolux mused. "The lightning that struck you must have been this 'system.' It merged with your soul while bestowing unimaginable benefits upon both me and the little bug."
He paused. "I should have awakened months later, given my prior state. But the energy in the lightning restored my divine consciousness and continues to aid my recovery. No—the lightning isn't assisting me directly. It's strengthening Young Yuhao's body and spiritual realm. Since we reside in his spiritual sea and bear no hostility, we reap the benefits as well."
"So… we're profiting from Yuhao's opportunity?" Skydream said, still wary but relaxing slightly.
"Indeed. Now, Young Yuhao, please examine the system's functions. We must determine whether it will aid you."
"Greetings, Lord Electrolux," Yuhao bowed respectfully, recognizing the old man's divine origins.
"No need for such formality. If anything, I should thank you. Thanks to you, I have a chance to recover. Simply call me Electrolux."
Yuhao nodded and focused on the system interface.
[The Return System: When the Host invests or gives an object, skill, or anything else to a target, the system will—based on the target's favorability toward the Host and the target's strength—grant a reward. The reward will be a similar object or ability, multiplied by a minimum of 100 times to a maximum of 10,000 times. (Note: The upper limit increases with the Host's strength.)]
Yuhao read it aloud for Electrolux and Skydream.
"Favorability and strength…" Electrolux murmured. "Check both mine and the little bug's status."
[Name: Skydream Iceworm]
[Age: 1,000,000 years old]
[Favorability: 80 (Live or Die, Friend)]
[Favorability Scale:]
- 0-10: Acquaintance
- 11-30: Friend
- 31-50: Close Friend
- 51-70: Unlikely to Betray
- 71-80: Loyal, Will Not Betray
- 81-90: Life and Death Comrade
- 91-100: Will Do Anything for Host
(Note: Favorability isn't absolute. Someone at 70 may die for the Host under certain circumstances, while someone at 90 may leave in others. Human and spirit beast nature is unpredictable. Most married couples max out at 80 favorability.)
[Name: Electrolux]
[Titles: Undead Holy God, Necromancer, Necromantic Holy Magic God]
[Rank: Pseudo-God (Fragmented)]
[Strength: Second-Class God (Fragmented), Level 95 Super Douluo (Current, Weakened)]
[Favorability: 80 (Live or Die, Friend, Elder)]
"Hm. This system is quite precise," Electrolux noted. "Yuhao, you should wake now. Two children approach your location."
He turned to Skydream. "Little bug, in this world, a ten-year soul ring is considered weak. Though yours is a million-year ring, it currently resembles a ten-year one. Can you alter it to appear as a hundred-year ring?"
A hint of challenge laced his tone.
"Hmph! Are you underestimating this brother? Of course I can!" Skydream concentrated briefly before nodding proudly. "Done!"
"Thank you, Electrolux! Brother Skydream!" Yuhao said before dizziness overwhelmed him, and he awoke to reality.
Two figures stood over him—a beautiful young woman and a handsome young man, their concern evident. The system promptly displayed their details:
[Name: Mu Beibei]
[Name: Tang Ya]