The trio showed their rings and began pouring their soul power into them.
The first thing they took out was a set of armor that covered their entire body from head to toe; the only things it revealed were their eyes, nose, and mouth.
This set of armor was extremely flexible, and was made from some sort unknown material, which made it feel like a very thin piece of leather. Its texture resembled that of skin, yet it was extremely durable.
After testing it out for a bit, Huo Yuhao discovered that he was only able to send soul power outwards; he wasn't able to absorb any from the outside while he had it on.
The defensive capabilities of this set of armor could be seen without a doubt; a faint layer of thin scales was even visible atop the surface of the armor.
When they took out the outfits, Wang Yan had already retreated back to their camp.
Huo Yuhao walked away from Tang Ya and Xi Xi to get into the clothes. As he changed, he silently let out Xiao Dong from his transformation as a ring around his left thumb.
"Hey buddy," He smiled down at his chunky boi in his arms. Xiao Dong looked up to his father and sniffed. "I need your help for something. Think you can become a little more smaller?"
Sniff* Sniff*
Xiao Dong nodded and he shrunk down to the size of Huo Yuhao's hand, though he still retain his chubby figure.
His snow white ears twitched and Huo Yuhao warmly petted him before placing him down to his feet, "Listen, about five hundred meters that way, there's a hillside with a ton of people. Think you can take care of any stragglers nearby? Yeah? Good. Ah, but makes sure they're suspicious folk and not normal civilians, you understand?"
Sniff* Sniff*
Xiao Dong nodded animatedly and hopped up to a tree in a blur to normal Soul Ancestors.
Huo Yuhao didn't know why, but Xiao Dong had somehow raised its cultivation by many folds. Despite being around 10 years old when he first met him, he could now tell that the once ordinary Snow Bunny had broke through to at least a 1,000 years old! Both Skydream and Ice Empress confirmed it after being rendered speechless by its fast growth.
Skydream thinks that it might be the Ice God's Legacy influencing its potential due to the close exposure for so long, added that Xiao Dong had devoured numerous soul beasts and soul beasts that were obviously of a higher cultivation than it.
The Ice God's Legacy might've awakened its bloodline ability, similar to Tang Ya's Devour, since it carried a hint of the Ice God's Blood. Unfortunately for Xiao Dong though, their ancestor's remain could only help it this far, the rest of its growth would depend on its own efforts and the resources Huo Yuhao could provide.
As Huo Yuhao finished getting dressed, he could feel the subtle hum of power within the armor. It was designed not just for defense but to enhance agility and stealth, perfect for the mission ahead.
Other than armor, he had also been provided with a dark-green set of trench coats and a dark-green mask, as well as a dark-green cloak. Three Guardian-specialised flares were also strapped to his waist.
'I really do need to get the person who made these clothes and ask for pointers,' Huo Yuhao thought.
He rejoined Tang Ya and Xi Xi, who were also ready and waiting.
Tang Ya adjusted her own armor and smirked. "Feeling like a proper spy, Yuhao?"
"Shinobi more like, Teacher Xiao Ya." Huo Yuhao grinned and his expression turned serious. "Prepare to make a move, and remember, we're only here to gather information. Avoid fighting at all costs and if you can't, make sure to kill your opponent as swiftly as you can."
"Mm!"
Both girls nodded, their eyes conveying their resolution and will.
"Right, let's go!"
Huo Yuhao slightly bent his body, then leapt into the air and stepping onto a tree branch, his figure blurring and the girls followed close behind him.
The trio moved with precision and speed, their new armor allowing them to navigate the dense forest with ease.
Huo Yuhao led the way, his Spiritual Detection ability giving them a clear picture of their surroundings and the positions of the guards at the bottom of the hill where a cave could be clearly seen with several guards patrolling the entrance.
Huo Yuhao's gaze sharpened, 'We're coming up to the camp. And judging by the bloodlust around their bodies, they might really be our targets. Good. Follow closely behind me.'
Tang Ya and Xi Xi nodded, their movements silent and fluid. Though there would sometimes be a crackle of electricity around Xi Xi's legs, making her inwardly curse for her martial soul's passive ability of exuding lightning sparks around her body.
'Don't worry. As long as you stay near me and not make a sound literally like thunder, then you'll be fine.' Huo Yuhao communicated through his Spiritual Sharing and Xi Xi responded with a slight nod.
Huo Yuhao made a hand seal and his spiritual power surged out of his body like an invisible flow of water over their bodies, making them blend seamlessly with their surroundings. This was a Genjutsu classified around rank B or A, depending on the amount of spiritual power used. This technique allowed them to become nearly invisible to the naked eye and be untraceable to even a Soul Sage's senses.
It was like the Genjutsu he normally uses to hide his soul rings, but a bit more advanced as it uses the space around them to distort light and sound, the technique adapts accordingly to their surrounding. Pretty useful technique, which he called Nature's Blessing. The prerequisite for this technique was having immense spiritual power and a high level amount of control over it.
It was one of the many techniques he comprehended after his Spiritual training in the Akatsuki HQ.
They moved like a shadow, easily passing through the bandits guarding the entrance without attracting any attention. Huo Yuhao's Nature's Blessing technique proved invaluable as they navigated through the bandits, their forms blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings.
As they entered the cave, Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection shrank as it concentrated towards the path before them.
"Aaaa...." Tang Ya quietly cried, her face pale as she stared ahead and looked like she was about to vomit. Xi Xi also shared the same sentiment.
Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes, both of his hands clenched. Killing intent surged within his eyes like a tidal wave.
The scene awaiting them was gruesome and cruel. The Hands of Death were a worse bunch they had initially thought: there were more than a hundred sheets of human skin hanging from the walls, an infant's corpse impaled on a stalagmite and severed heads of people were impaled on spears to as a torch.
Their eyes went bloodshot. These bandits were truly evil, they didn't even let infants off! They were simply worse than beasts.
Huo Yuhao took a forced deep breath and used Spiritual Sharing, 'Screw the original plan. Teacher Xiao Ya, drop some seedlings around the entrance. We're going after the leader of this damn bandit group right this instant!'
"But what about-" Xi Xi whisperingly spoke.
Huo Yuhao cut her off. 'This group acts like a cult, we cut off the head and the body will wither. We have to take down their leader to dismantle their operations and put an end to their atrocities. After we kill the leader, we call for reinforcements to thoroughly purge this land of evil.'
Huo Yuhao took out a few Class 4 Soul Bombs and gave them to Xi Xi and ordered, 'Put them all over the walls. We leave no chance for escape or retaliation from these fuckers.'
"What about you?" Xi Xi quietly asked, taking the soul bombs in her hand.
'I'm going after the leader.' Huo Yuhao coldly said before his body disappeared in place.
Tang Ya looked straight into the deep cave and whispered, "Good luck, Yuhao."
Huo Yuhao blitzed through the interior of the cave with extreme speed using Body Flicker Jutsu, all the while killing off any bandits he came across with silent proficiency; slicing across their necks with a single stroke of his kunai.
He moved like a grim reaper, reaping the lives of the bandits with swift and deadly precision, no mercy was given. Each strike was calculated, each movement efficient and lethal. The bandits had no chance against his onslaught as he moved deeper into the cave, his senses honed and his determination unwavering. Most were normal humans, some being Soul Masters, Soul Grandmaster and Soul Elders.
Finally, he reached the inner chamber where he could see three strong auras within and a few weak ones. His bloodshot eyes became even more red when he saw the ones with weak auras. He already saw them at the entrance, which is why he was so desperate to kill off the leader.
But, it was already too late for them. He was too slow, the young girls...
Huo Yuhao's upper body began to glow a bright jade-white color, the temperature around him drastically dropped in an instant, which dropped even further when his left arm began to glow a dark-blue light, tribal tattoos appearing over his arm and reaching over his shoulder.
Droplets of tears mixed with snowflakes fell from his eyes as he stared at the scene before him. The sight of the young girls, their lifeless bodies lying on the cold, stone floor, sent a surge of rage coursing through him like a raging inferno.
Raising his hand, the power of Ultimate Ice converged at a single point.
"What the? What's with this cold?!"
"2nd brother, did you leave a window open or something?"
"Wait, something's wrong! A surge of energy is coming from outside!?"
Expectedly, the three experts from within the chamber had noticed the sudden change in temperature and the ominous aura that surrounded them. Their senses tingled with the approach of danger, but it was already too late.
With red frozen tears around his eyes, Huo Yuhao mumbled, the orb of snow-white energy at the tip of his index finger shone.
"Ice Release: Ice God's Sorrow."
.....
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