"However," Xu Jiujiu took a sip of her wine, then slowly leaned her body closer to Huo Yuhao, "I have a deal here. I wonder if little brother Yuhao would like to do it with big sister?"
Her melodious voice, mixed with the scent of alcohol, made Huo Yuhao's heart race uncontrollably. He was, after all, only twelve years old and understood nothing, whereas Xu Jiujiu was the head of the Star Luo Empire's intelligence; she knew all too well how to deal with men.
Huo Yuhao sat up straight, remaining calm. "...What deal?"
A satisfied smile curved at the corners of Xu Jiujiu's lips.
"My Imperial Brother has already sent people to the Ming Dou Mountain Range, preparing to take over Dai Hao's military power. But as you know, everything needs a legitimate reason. Moving so abruptly would surely shake the army's morale. Therefore, we need you to contribute a bit from your side and cooperate with us in a play."
Huo Yuhao nodded thoughtfully. "You want me to reveal my identity on the arena and make Dai Hao lose face publicly?"
The title of "illegitimate son" didn't sound good, but Huo Yuhao didn't care about it.
When one is out in the world, one's identity is given by oneself. If he said he had nothing to do with Dai Hao, who could deny it? Who would dare deny it?
Furthermore, once Dai Hao was dead, these rumors and slanders would naturally disappear.
Xu Jiujiu clapped her hands happily. "As expected of you, so smart! Afterward, you won't need to do anything; you just need to accept the official post bestowed by the Empire."
Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts racing.
No... it's not that simple. This would likely bind me to the Star Luo Empire...
Huo Yuhao wasn't particularly repulsed; after all, this was his home country, and he and his mother had received quite a few benefits from the Star Luo imperial family. There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world; one should repay others.
"However, I also have a request. I have things I want to do later, and when that time comes, the Empire cannot..."
Huo Yuhao paused, his expression turning a bit strange.
He felt something rubbing against his leg. Subconsciously, he reached down with his left hand to grab it and take a look...
It was Xu Jiujiu's small foot clad in black silk!!!
At some point, Xu Jiujiu had slipped off her high heels and extended her petite, exquisite jade-like foot toward Huo Yuhao, gently rubbing his calf.
The soft and smooth sensation transmitted through his hand made Huo Yuhao lose his focus for a moment. He knew that holding a Princess's foot like this was absolutely improper, but letting go so abruptly would also be quite rude. For a moment, he was at a loss.
"That is natural. The Empire will not suppress your development. You can rest assured on that point."
Huo Yuhao hurriedly let go of Xu Jiujiu's foot and awkwardly pulled back a bit of distance. "Cough, that's fine then. My apologies, Your Highness, for my lack of manners."
Looking at the flustered Huo Yuhao, Xu Jiujiu's mood instantly brightened. she said with a giggle, "It's nothing. I'm very much looking forward to your performance tomorrow..."
"Let's drink to our cooperation, little brother Yuhao."
...
Star Luo City, by a lake in the outskirts.
Du Busi and Mu En stood on opposite sides, facing each other.
The two peak human powerhouses did not display their Martial Souls or Soul Rings, nor did they engage in a clash of intent. They simply stood there, yet the heaven and earth around them were faintly trembling.
Leaning on his cane, Mu En said leisurely, "Not seen for many years, Busi, your temper is still so impulsive."
Du Busi said with some resentment, "The Dragon God Douluo! Back then, why did you make my elder brother retreat?!"
Mu En said indifferently, "You know the ins and outs of the matter perfectly well; there's no need to pester this old man about it. What are you doing here in Star Luo City? Is it for that child named Huo Yuhao?"
Du Busi raised his eyebrows and said proudly, "Naturally. Any Soul Master with a Body Martial Soul is by default a disciple of my Body Sect. You haven't forgotten that, have you? Moreover, his talent is worth a personal trip from this old man."
Mu En gave a cold laugh. "But don't you forget, Huo Yuhao doesn't just have a Body Martial Soul. His second Martial Soul is also an Ultimate Martial Soul! Every possessor of an Ultimate Martial Soul in the history of the Douluo Continent has been a disciple of my Shrek Academy. Why? Do you think you can teach an Ultimate Martial Soul well?"
Du Busi countered sharply, "Why couldn't I? Besides, if one cultivates the Body Martial Soul to the peak, it won't be inferior to an Ultimate Martial Soul! This old man has that confidence! Furthermore, I didn't see much of Shrek's influence on that kid."
The top-tier techniques of the Body Sect aren't just the second awakening of the Martial Soul; they also include the world's strongest body tempering method, the Innate Secret Method, and the Imperishable Golden Body!
Why was Du Busi so certain that Huo Yuhao was the future of the Body Sect? Not just because of that top-tier spiritual-type Body Martial Soul, but more importantly, because he felt an extremely dense blood essence power from Huo Yuhao's body—it even seemed like Huo Yuhao's blood essence was already faintly showing a trend of condensing into a Blood Essence Soul Core!
It had been unknown how many years since the Body Sect had seen a powerhouse with an Imperishable Golden Body. Even Du Busi himself hadn't reached that level yet; otherwise, he would have long been an Ultimate Douluo or even a Quasi-God.
One must know that the most difficult parts of their Body Sect's Innate Secret Method are the first layer and the final Imperishable Golden Body. The most difficult part of the first layer is condensing the "Blood Essence Soul Core"!
This was something that even Long Aotian, who also practiced the Innate Secret Method, had not achieved.
Yet Huo Yuhao had done it. What did this mean?
It meant that Huo Yuhao was born for the Body Sect!
So what if he had an Ultimate Martial Soul? Once Huo Yuhao finished cultivating the Imperishable Golden Body, he could just go to the Great Star Dou Forest, kill a few Ferocious Beasts, and get his Soul Rings!
Mu En's eyes flickered. "I'm sorry, you're late. That child is already this old man's closed-door disciple."
Of course, Huo Yuhao and Mu En had only spoken a few sentences in total. This statement from Mu En was clearly nonsense.
Having been in charge of the Sea God Pavilion for over a century, Mu En's skin had long ago become thicker than the city walls of Star Luo City.
"Get on the bus first, then buy the ticket." As a dignified Ultimate Douluo taking a disciple, could that kid even refuse?
As the saying goes, "Like master, like disciple." Looking at Yan Shaozhe's virtue, one can tell what Mu En was like in his youth.
Hearing this, Du Busi was greatly shocked. "What? He's already your disciple?!"
Elder Mu said coldly, "Indeed! Why? Do you think you are more suitable to teach him than I am?!"
"No... that won't do!" Du Busi shook his head decisively. "Regarding this child, our Body Sect cannot give up! And according to my Body Sect disciples, this little fellow has long had the intention of returning to my Body Sect."
Mu En almost couldn't keep his poker face. What on earth? Huo Yuhao actually wants to go to the Body Sect? He already has the intention?!
Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!
He actually believed Elder Xuan's ghost stories about wanting to temper Huo Yuhao's character. Had he known this earlier, he might as well have given Huo Yuhao the title of an Inner Court disciple right from the start...