Chapter 1: Rebirth of Yuhao, No Longer a Pawn in This Life!
A splitting headache pulled Huo Yuhao out of the endless darkness.
He snapped his eyes open, and what met his gaze were dilapidated wooden beams; the air was filled with a faint scent of mold and medicinal herbs.
This place was incredibly familiar.
He struggled to sit up and looked around.
A small, crude room, a broken table, and the hard wooden bed beneath him.
This was the servant's quarters in the White Tiger Dukes Mansion where he and his mother had lived for over a decade.
But, he clearly should have been in the God Realm.
A tide of memories surged frantically into his mind; he was Huo Yuhao.
He was the Huo Yuhao who had inherited the God Position of the god of emotions, married Tang Wutong, the daughter of the Sea God Tang San, and finally entered the God Realm.
But he was even more so the Huo Yuhao who had been controlled by an invisible giant hand throughout his life, like a marionette.
From meeting Wang Donger to obtaining various resources, spirit rings, and Spirit Bones through a series of coincidences, and even his final God Position.
Behind everything, a person stood faintly visible—the Sea God Tang San.
His life, love, and path to godhood seemed like a pre-written script.
He was merely an actor, walking step by step according to the director's intentions.
Eventually becoming Tang San's son-in-law and a member of the God Realm under Tang San's control.
He became a pawn used to consolidate Tang San's power and even to contend against other God Kings.
Even the tragedy of his mother, Huo Yuner, seemed to have the shadow of that invisible giant hand behind it.
It was all just to make him hate the Dai Family more and rely more on the "kindness" bestowed by the Tang Sect and Tang San.
"Tang San!"
Huo Yuhao squeezed the name out from between his teeth, his fists clenched tight, nails nearly digging into his palms.
Unwillingness, anger, and deep humiliation swept over him.
He had thought he obtained everything through hard work and luck.
In the end, he was just the most ridiculous pawn on someone else's chessboard.
Just a "tool" carefully cultivated by Tang San to expand his power and stabilize the order of the God Realm.
Even his emotions, his hatred, and his gratitude had been calculated perfectly.
"Without your intervention, with my own efforts and the help of Brother Tianmeng and Elder Yi, could I not have become a god?"
"Why should you be the one to arrange my life!"
Just then, the door was gently pushed open.
A woman with a pale face and a frail build, but with incredibly gentle eyes, walked in carrying a bowl of medicine.
She was Huo Yuner.
"Yuhao, you're awake? How do you feel? You caught a fever from the rain yesterday; you scared me to death."
Seeing Huo Yuhao sitting up, the woman's face immediately showed a mix of pleasant surprise and worry.
"Mother?"
Looking at his mother, who was alive and well, not yet crushed by life or having died with grievances.
Huo Yuhao froze completely.
He suddenly looked down at his small and weak body; his spirit power was pitifully faint.
He had been reborn, back to when he was eleven years old, while his mother was still alive.
Immense shock and ecstasy dispersed his anger. He suddenly threw himself into his mother's arms, his voice choking up.
"Mom!"
Feeling his mother's real body heat, the thoughts in Huo Yuhao's heart became incredibly clear and firm.
In this life, he would never let his mother die with grievances.
In this life, he would never follow someone else's script again.
In this life, he would walk his own path and shatter all shackles.
Far away in the God Realm, Tang San was currently overwhelmed by a sudden and massive struggle for faith.
The belief systems of several small planes had become disordered simultaneously, requiring him, the God King, to use all his strength to stabilize and reconcile them, leaving him no time for other matters.
Furthermore, Huo Yuhao's Rebirth carried a trace of Soul fluctuations from another world, briefly interfering with Tang San's perception of his fate line.
It was this fleeting window of Opportunity that bought Huo Yuhao his initial and most important breathing room.
After all, a completely obedient Huo Yuhao who grew up according to his script was what suited his desire to control the Lower Realm and balance the forces of the God Realm.
He never thought that the web he had carefully woven would be torn open by a crack from Huo Yuhao's Rebirth.
Huo Yuner was at a loss due to her son's sudden emotional outburst and gently patted his back to comfort him.
"There, there, Yuhao, be good. Mom is here, it's alright."
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, suppressing his churning emotions.
He knew that the most important thing now was to change his mother's fate and improve his strength.
He remembered that soon, his mother would fall ill from overwork and being made difficult by the Duchess, her condition worsening until she died in sorrow.
"Mother, I'm fine now."
Huo Yuhao raised his head, his gaze becoming incredibly firm and calm.
"You should rest well; I'll drink the medicine myself. From today on, I will carry this family."
Huo Yuner was stunned as she looked at her son's eyes, which seemed to have matured immensely overnight.
Huo Yuhao took the medicine bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
The bitter taste was not even a ten-thousandth of the determination in his heart.
He gently helped his mother to the bedside to rest, then picked up the crude short knife in the corner.
"Mom, I'm going out for a bit; I'll be back soon."
Having said that, he walked out of the small house without looking back.
The sunlight was a bit dazzling; Huo Yuhao squinted toward the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest.
According to his memory, the million-year Spirit Beast Tianmeng Ice Silkworm should be escaping to the periphery of the Star Dou Great Forest within these few days.
"Brother Tianmeng,"
Huo Yuhao whispered to himself, a complex smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
"In this life, our encounter will be completely different."
"Tang San, just you wait and see. Without your intervention, I, Huo Yuhao, will only be stronger."
"In this life, my fate is mine to command, not the heavens', and certainly not yours!"
The young boy gripped the short knife tightly and strode toward the forest.
His back was resolute as he walked toward a path completely opposite to his previous life, one where he was the Dominator.
...
After Huo Yuhao left the back gate of the Duke's Mansion, his steps did not hesitate in the slightest as he ran straight toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
His current body was truly too weak; he hadn't run far before he started panting, and his spirit power was almost negligible.
But the determination in his eyes never wavered.
Reborn into a new life, he knew better than anyone the importance of early accumulation and cherished this chance to start over.
"I must reach that place as soon as possible and find the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm when it is at its weakest."
As Huo Yuhao trudged with difficulty, he rapidly recalled every detail of his past life in his mind.
"According to my memory, it burned its million-year cultivation to break through its imprisonment, and its Soul Origin was severely damaged; it will randomly fall somewhere on the periphery of the Star Dou Great Forest."
"Its aura is extremely faint, which is how it luckily escaped the perception of those terrifying existences deep within Star Dou and also temporarily hid from the gaze of the God Realm."
He was now racing against time, betting on the brief gap while Tang San was tied up with God Realm affairs and the interference from that trace of Soul fluctuation.
The trees at the edge of the forest gradually became denser, and the light grew dim.
Occasional roars from low-level Spirit Beasts made Huo Yuhao's heart leap into his throat.
He gripped the crude short knife tightly, his concentration highly focused, pushing the faint perception from his Spirit Eyes Martial Soul to its limit as he carefully avoided all possible dangers.
For him now, even a Ten-year Spirit Beast wild boar would be lethal.
Sweat soaked his ragged clothes, and his arms were scratched with several bloody marks by thorns, but he didn't care at all.
Compared to the pain he had experienced in his past life, these were nothing.
Finally, as the sun began to tilt westward, Huo Yuhao found the area from his past life's memory.
A relatively hidden clearing in the woods.
He lowered his body, held his breath, and carefully sensed the movements around him.
Time passed minute by minute; the forest was silent except for the rustling of wind through the leaves and the occasional chirp of an insect.
Huo Yuhao's heart gradually sank.
Had his Rebirth caused a butterfly effect, and the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm didn't land here?
Just as he was about to give up and prepare to risk expanding his search area—
Buzz!
An extremely faint but exceptionally pure and vast mental fluctuation rippled out from the center of the clearing like a wave!
It's here!
Chapter 2: A Million-Year spirit ring, Meeting Brother Tianmeng Again
Huo Yuhao's heart skipped a beat, his pupils constricting as he stared fixedly at the direction the fluctuations were coming from.
He saw the air there rippling slightly.
A massive silkworm, crystal clear like jade with ten Golden Patterns on its body, appeared out of thin air.
It then slammed heavily onto the ground.
It looked to be on its last breath, its body almost transparent, and the aura it emitted was intermittent and pathetically weak.
It was precisely the Million-Year Spirit Beast, the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm!
"Oh my god... finally... I finally escaped... I almost suffered a Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering..."
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's weak mental thoughts were emitted intermittently, filled with the relief of surviving a disaster.
And extreme weakness.
It struggled to move its plump body, seemingly wanting to observe its surroundings.
Then, it immediately noticed the human youth lying in the grass nearby, so weak he was almost negligible.
"No way... is Brother this unlucky? After finally escaping, I run into such a weak little brat?"
"This Soul strength... tsk tsk, it's not much stronger than an ordinary person's."
"His body is even more of a complete mess of fragility..."
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's mental fluctuations were filled with disdain and despair.
Its original ideal host should have been a Genius Spirit Master with extraordinary talent no matter what!
This one before it was simply the Trash of all Trash!
Huo Yuhao smiled slightly seeing Brother Tianmeng's chubby appearance.
Although he heard the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's undisguised disdain clearly, he was not angry.
Instead, his heart felt settled.
Everything was almost exactly the same as in his previous life.
He took a deep breath, knowing the critical moment had arrived.
He no longer hid, standing up directly from the grass and walking toward the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm.
"Eh?"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was surprised to notice that this weak human was not only unafraid but was actively walking toward it.
Huo Yuhao walked up to the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, looked up at its body which was still massive despite its weakness, and spoke directly.
His voice was calm, carrying a steadiness that did not match his age:
"You need a host to nourish your Soul, otherwise you will soon dissipate. And I need power."
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was stunned, its massive body wriggling slightly:
"You... how do you know, kid? Who exactly are you?"
It simply couldn't believe that such a weak human youth could see through its true state and predicament at a glance!
Huo Yuhao did not answer its question, but continued to look at it with those deep blue eyes, his tone incredibly serious:
"It doesn't matter who I am. You don't have many choices right now. And I might be the best choice you'll ever encounter."
He paused, his tone becoming heavier:
"Follow me, and in the future, I will lead you to transcend the God Realm and see a much wider world."
"Otherwise, you can just wait here for the last sliver of your Soul Origin to dissipate, or be treated as a supplement by other Spirit Beasts in the forest."
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was completely dazed.
Every single word from this youth struck its sore spot.
What shocked it even more was the natural confidence the youth showed and his gaze that seemed to perceive everything, making even an old fox like it, who had lived for a Million-Years, feel a hint of trepidation.
"You're... you're bragging! With your small frame, you want to transcend the God Realm?"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm spoke stubbornly, but its tone was clearly wavering.
In truth, it really had no choice; with every passing second, its Soul Origin was dissipating.
Moreover, what this human youth said was absolutely correct!
This forced the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm to seriously consider...
...the truth behind the other party's words.
"Believe it or not, it's up to you."
Huo Yuhao spread his hands, "This is your gamble, and it's mine too."
"Gamble on whether I can reach that step. But do you have any better choice?"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm fell silent.
The light on its massive body flickered unsteadily, showing the intense struggle within.
This youth before it was ridiculously weak, yet his words and actions exuded immense strangeness and mystery.
That steadiness and sophistication were not like a child's at all.
Perhaps... this... this really was a variable destined by fate?
"Damn it! Brother is gambling on you!"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm finally made up its mind, letting out a sorrowful and indignant mental roar.
"Brother worked hard for a Million-Years and doesn't want to just vanish like this! Kid, it's you! Don't let Brother down!"
As its voice fell, the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's massive body suddenly erupted with a blinding white-gold light.
Its entire body became completely illusory, turning into an incredibly majestic yet exceptionally gentle torrent of energy that surged toward Huo Yuhao!
This time, Huo Yuhao did not panic in the slightest; he had long been prepared, opening his body and mind to welcome this power.
"Come, Brother Tianmeng."
"In this life, we will fight side by side and no longer labor for the benefit of others!"
The massive energy poured gently into Huo Yuhao's body, not bringing the intense pain he had expected.
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was extremely careful this time, fearing it would burst this "fragile" body.
Soon, a spirit ring rose from beneath Huo Yuhao's feet, a halo whose magnificence and power were beyond words.
With a brilliant white-gold base, it was encircled by ten strange Golden Patterns!
Although the light was much dimmer than in his previous life, its Million-Year essence was still shocking!
The massive mental force, like a gentle ocean, began to nourish Huo Yuhao's parched Meridians and Soul.
His spirit power Rank began to climb at an astonishing speed, and his body was being subtly transformed.
At the same time, a mischievous, slightly weak, and excited voice rang out directly in Huo Yuhao's mind:
"Wahaha! Success! Brother finally has a host!"
"So you kid actually have a rare Mental System Spirit."
"Kid, how do you feel now? Isn't it amazing?"
"Remember Brother's great name—Tianmeng Ice Silkworm! The first Million-Year spirit ring in history, a Wisdom Spirit Ring!"
"Brother will look out for you from now on!"
Huo Yuhao felt the surging power within his body and the familiar voice in his mind.
A sincere smile belonging to a youth finally curled at the corners of his mouth.
The first step of the plan: success!
He possessed the initial capital to change his fate.
And this time, it was as completely equal partners that he initiated his bond with the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm.
At this moment...
Far away in the God Realm, Tang San, who was harmonizing the Power Of Faith, frowned slightly.
Just now, there seemed to be a trace of an extremely faint, abnormal fluctuation coming from the Lower Realm, but it vanished in an instant without a trace.
As if it were just an illusion.
He shook his head and continued to focus on the troublesome matters at hand, not looking further into it.
He did not know that the most important chess piece had already completely broken free from the chessboard.
Huo Yuhao clenched his fist, feeling an unprecedented sense of power within his body, and looked sharply into the depths of the forest.
"Mother, wait for me. I will soon have the power to protect you."
"Tang San, your script."
"It's time for a change of cast!"
Chapter 3: Spirit Eyes First Shows Its Might, Punching the Dogs Blocking the Way
Vast energy, like a gentle river, flowed slowly through Huo Yuhao's Meridians, nourishing his parched body and Soul.
That brilliant white-gold million-year spirit ring gradually faded into his body, but the transformation it brought was very real.
Huo Yuhao could clearly feel that his spirit power Rank had directly achieved a Breakthrough to Rank eleven!
This wasn't just an increase in Rank; his physical fitness and mental force perception had undergone a World-shaking enhancement.
His originally thin body seemed filled with some strength, and his vision and hearing became exceptionally sharp.
Every rustle of grass and movement of wind within a range of dozens of meters was clearly mapped in his mind.
This was the benefit of a million-year spirit ring; even just a residual portion of its Origin power was far beyond what an ordinary spirit ring could compare to.
"Wahahaha! Comfortable! So comfortable! Brother finally doesn't have to worry about immediate Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!"
The satisfied and smug voice of the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm echoed in Huo Yuhao's mind, "Kid, how does it feel? Did you suddenly fly from the ground to the sky?"
"Follow Brother from now on, and I guarantee you'll live the high life!"
Huo Yuhao felt the surging power within him, and his heart was also filled with uncontrollable excitement.
With this power, he finally had a starting point to change his fate.
"Brother Tianmeng, thank you."
Huo Yuhao spoke sincerely. Whether in his past life or this one, the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was his first guide and most important partner.
"Eh? Why so polite all of a sudden?"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was a bit uncomfortable, "We're grasshoppers on the same string now; if you're strong, I'm strong."
"But speaking of which, how were you so calm just now? It's like you already knew Brother was coming?"
"And, what did you mean by 'transcending the God Realm' earlier?"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was full of questions.
This youth was a bit too strange.
Huo Yuhao was silent for a moment, knowing some things couldn't be explained clearly now and would instead invite unnecessary trouble.
He weighed his words and said, "Brother Tianmeng, there are some things I can't explain in detail right now."
"You only need to know that I have no ill will toward you, and our goal is the same—to become stronger."
"Strong enough to control our own destiny."
"As for the God Realm... you'll find out later."
He paused and changed the subject:
"The priority now is to leave this place, then I need to go back and settle some matters."
He was worried about his mother, Huo Yuner. He had to return quickly to prevent the Duchess from making things difficult, and also start conditioning his mother's body.
"Fine, fine, what a mysterious kid."
Although the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was curious, he also knew now wasn't the time to probe.
"Brother will trust you for now."
"But you're a Spirit Master now anyway. Having your first spirit ring, your Spirit Eyes Martial Soul should have awakened a Spirit Ability, right? Try it quickly!"
Huo Yuhao nodded, his thoughts shifting slightly.
"Spirit Eyes, open."
A faint golden light flashed in his deep blue eyes, and the World instantly became completely different in his sight.
Colors were more vivid, and details were infinitely magnified.
Even the tiny dust floating in the air could be seen clearly.
His field of vision expanded rapidly, easily covering a range of nearly a hundred meters!
"Spiritual Detection!"
Huo Yuhao thought silently.
Instantly, with him as the center, everything within a fifty-meter radius—whether visible to the naked eye or hidden—was projected three-dimensionally and comprehensively into his mind.
Every detail was revealed.
Ants crawling on the ground, insects dormant behind leaves, the traces of earthworms burrowing underground.
Nothing could stay hidden.
"Tsk tsk, not bad, not bad!"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm commented, "The range and precision of this Spiritual Detection are almost catching up to some three-ring Spirit Elders of the mental system."
"The base bonuses of a million-year spirit ring are truly monstrous."
"But the Spirit Ability seems quite singular—only detection sharing?"
"It seems the quality of the Spirit itself has indeed limited its performance."
Huo Yuhao didn't care at all.
Spiritual Detection Sharing—this divine skill, which had accompanied him the longest in his past life and was one of the most practical, was finally back!
With it, whether in combat, avoiding danger, or finding items, it would bring an unparalleled advantage.
"Singular, but powerful enough."
The corners of Huo Yuhao's mouth curled up slightly, his confidence growing.
He identified the direction and started walking toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Having Spiritual Detection made his return journey incredibly easy.
He could always foresee danger in advance, skillfully avoiding those ten-year and hundred-year Spirit Beasts, making his speed several times faster than when he came.
Soon, the edge of the forest was in sight.
However, just as he was about to exit the forest, three uninvited guests suddenly appeared within the range of his Spiritual Detection.
They were three domestic servants wearing the guard uniforms of the White Tiger Dukes Mansion.
The leader was a shifty-looking fellow named Dai San, a minor manager.
On ordinary days, he often helped the Duchess make things difficult for the mother and son.
Dai San was leading two lackeys, seemingly patrolling nearby, and just happened to wander over here.
"Hmm? Isn't that the Little Bastard born from that bitch Huo Yuner?"
Dai San immediately spotted Huo Yuhao walking out of the woods, his Face instantly showing a mocking and arrogant expression.
"Little Bastard, instead of working in the mansion, what are you doing sneaking off to the Star Dou Great Forest?"
"Are you trying to slack off? Or are you trying to steal something?"
The other two lackeys also burst into laughter, maliciously blocking Huo Yuhao's path.
If it were the old Huo Yuhao, he would have only been able to swallow his anger, lowering his head while being scolded, and might even have been hit a few times.
But the current Huo Yuhao only gave them a cold sweep of his eyes.
Spiritual Detection had already seen through the trio's spirit power Ranks clearly.
Dai San was a Rank twelve Spirit Master, while the other two weren't even Spirit Masters, just ordinary people with slightly stronger bodies.
"Get lost."
Huo Yuhao's voice was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable chill.
Dai San was stunned for a moment, as if he couldn't believe his ears. This Little Bastard, who had always been submissive, actually dared to tell him to get lost today?
"Heh! You're revolting!"
Dai San immediately felt his Face couldn't be maintained and flew into a rage from shame.
"It seems if I don't teach you a good lesson on your mother's behalf today, you won't know the rules!"
Saying this, a white ten-year spirit ring rose from beneath his feet—Spirit Possession!
His hands became slightly thicker, and with a foul wind, he grabbed toward Huo Yuhao's shoulder, wanting to pin him to the ground.
In his view, dealing with this Little Bastard who wasn't even a Spirit Master was as easy as pie.
However, at the moment his hand was about to touch Huo Yuhao.
Beneath Huo Yuhao's feet, that shocking white-gold spirit ring suddenly flashed!
Although it was only a fleeting flash, the brilliant light and terrifying aura caused Dai San and his two lackeys to freeze instantly, their minds going blank!
What a terrifying spirit ring!
What was that?!
In that split second while they were dazed, Huo Yuhao moved.
His movements were as fast as Gui Mei, sidestepping to easily dodge Dai San's grab.
At the same time, he clenched his right fist, his Rank eleven spirit power surging within him as he punched Dai San's lower abdomen without hesitation!
Bang!
A muffled thud was accompanied by Dai San's pig-slaughtering scream.
He only felt a massive force, far beyond his imagination, strike him; even the stomach acid was almost beaten out of him.
His whole body bent over like a shrimp, and with a thud, he knelt on the ground.
He was in so much pain that cold sweat poured down, and he couldn't even speak.
The other two lackeys were completely terrified, looking at the terrifying spirit ring beneath Huo Yuhao's feet that had already disappeared but seemed branded into their minds.
And then looking at Huo Yuhao, who had flattened Manager Dai with a single punch, their legs trembled uncontrollably.
Huo Yuhao didn't even look at Dai San kneeling on the ground, his cold gaze sweeping over the two lackeys.
"Are you still going to block me?"
"No... we don't dare! Young Master Yuhao... we don't dare!"
The two lackeys were scared until their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, retreating repeatedly, almost falling on their butts.
Hmph.
Huo Yuhao gave a cold snort, no longer paying attention to these characters who bullied the weak and feared the strong, and stepped past Dai San, walking toward the Duke's Mansion.
Only when Huo Yuhao had walked far away did the two lackeys dare to step forward and help Dai San up.
Dai San clutched his agonizing abdomen, his Face pale, looking in the direction where Huo Yuhao had disappeared, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief.
"spirit ring... what kind of spirit ring was that?"
"And his strength... he's become a Spirit Master?"
"How... how is this possible?!"
Huo Yuhao ignored the shock behind him, clenching his fist and feeling the changes brought by power.
This was only the beginning. Those who had once bullied them, mother and son, he would settle accounts with them one by one, slowly.
The priority now was to return to his mother's side as soon as possible.
His pace quickened, his heart already home.
Huo Yuhao quickly returned to the outside of that familiar yet oppressive servant's room. Before he even pushed the door, Spiritual Detection had already clearly provided feedback on the situation inside.
His mother, Huo Yuner, was sitting by the bed coughing, her face even paler than before.
She still held a needle and thread in her hand, seemingly mending an old piece of his clothing.
Hearing the sound of footsteps outside the door, she hurriedly hid the clothes behind her back and forced herself to stand up, a gentle smile struggling to appear on her face.
This scene made Huo Yuhao's heart feel as if it had been fiercely tugged, filled with an incomparable bitterness.
He pushed the door and entered.
"Mom, I'm back."
Seeing her son return safe and sound, Huo Yuner clearly breathed a sigh of relief.
But then she noticed the cuts from thorns and faint traces of blood on Huo Yuhao's body, and she immediately felt distressed:
"Yuhao, where did you go? How did you end up like this? Quick, let Mama see..."
She stood up wanting to check Huo Yuhao's injuries, but because she rose too quickly, she felt a bout of dizziness and her body swayed.
Huo Yuhao stepped forward in a flash and steadily supported his mother.
Feeling the thinness of his mother's arms and the weakness of her body, the protective desire and determination to become stronger in his heart grew even more intense.
"Mom, I'm fine, I just accidentally got scratched by some branches."
Huo Yuhao helped his mother sit back down, his tone more steady and reliable than ever before.
"Don't move, just rest well. From today on, I will take care of everything."
Huo Yuner stared blankly at her son, feeling as if he had returned from his trip as a completely different person.
Not only had his gaze become sharp and deep, but there also seemed to be an indescribable temperament about him.
It made one feel inexplicably at ease.
"Yuhao, you..."
Just then, a burst of noisy footsteps and sharp cursing came from outside the door.
"Huo Yuner! You dead bitch! Get out here for me!"
It was the voice of that acerbic Old Matron by the Duchess's side.
The door was roughly pushed open, and the Old Matron burst in with two stout servant women, looking fierce.
That Old Matron saw Huo Yuner sitting by the bed and Huo Yuhao standing nearby at a glance; she put her hands on her hips and cursed:
"Fine! Huo Yuner, have you finished the handkerchief the Madam asked you to embroider?"
"You dare to slack off here?"
"And you, you Little Bastard, nowhere to be seen all day long, did you go off to do some shady business again?"
Seeing the torn clothes on Huo Yuhao, her saliva flew even more:
"Look at this wretched state of yours! You definitely weren't up to any good! It seems if I don't give you a lesson today, you won't know the rules of the mansion!"
"Someone, slap their mouths!"
One of the servant women, with a sinister smile on her face, stepped forward to grab Huo Yuner.
Huo Yuner's face turned deathly pale, and she subconsciously tried to shield her son behind her.
However, an arm reached out even faster than hers, firmly grabbing that servant woman's thick wrist.
The one who acted was indeed Huo Yuhao.
That servant woman was stunned and tried hard to break free, but she was surprised to find that the youth's hand was like an iron clamp; no matter how hard she tried, it didn't budge!
"Little Bastard, you've revolted! You dare to resist?"
Seeing this, the Old Matron shrieked.
Huo Yuhao slowly raised his head, his deep blue eyes completely icy, without a hint of warmth.
He swept his gaze over the Old Matron and the two servant women as if he were looking at a few buzzing flies.
"Rules?"
Huo Yuhao's voice was terrifyingly calm, "Whose rules? The Duchess's rules? Or the White Tiger Dukes Mansion's rules?"
With a slight exertion of his wrist, the servant woman he was holding suddenly felt as if her wrist bone was about to shatter, letting out a scream like a slaughtered pig.
"Ah! Let go! You little beast, let go quickly!"
The other servant woman and the Old Matron were stunned by this sudden turn of events.
They didn't expect the usually submissive Huo Yuhao to actually dare to fight back, and with such great strength!
"Yuhao, don't..."
Huo Yuner worriedly pulled at her son's hem, fearing he would cause a great disaster.
Huo Yuhao looked back at his mother with a reassuring gaze, then violently threw the servant woman's hand aside.
That servant woman stumbled back several steps and sat on the ground with a thud, clutching her wrist and wailing.
Huo Yuhao took a step forward, his icy gaze locking onto the Old Matron.
The Old Matron felt her skin crawl from his gaze and shouted with false bravado:
"You... what do you want to do? I am one of the Madam's people! If you dare touch me, the Madam will never let you and your mother off!"
"The Madam?" A mocking curve curled at the corner of Huo Yuhao's mouth. "What kind of thing is she?"
A single sentence, earth-shattering!
The Old Matron and the two servant women were all stunned, and even Huo Yuner covered her mouth, unable to believe her son would say something so rebellious.
"You... you're crazy! You dare to insult the Madam!"
The Old Matron pointed at Huo Yuhao, her fingers trembling.
"I insulted her, so what?"
Huo Yuhao's tone remained flat, but it carried an unquestionable dominance.
"Go back and tell your Madam that from today on, we mother and son have nothing to do with her or this White Tiger Dukes Mansion!"
"Those so-called rules of hers don't apply to us!"
"You... what did you say?" The Old Matron almost doubted her own ears.
"Don't you understand?" Huo Yuhao's gaze sharpened. "We are leaving the Duke's Mansion!"
"Leave? Hahaha!"
The Old Matron acted as if she had heard the world's biggest joke. "Just you? Two servants of lowly status, once you leave the Duke's Mansion, you won't even survive for a single day!"
"Little Bastard, I think you've lost your mind!"
"Whether we can survive or not is none of your concern,"
Huo Yuhao said coldly, "Now, take your people and get out of my room. Otherwise..."
Beneath his feet, that brilliant white-gold spirit ring flashed and vanished once more!
Although it was only for an instant, the terrifying pressure and noble aura brought by that million-year spirit ring impacted the minds of the Old Matron and the two servant women like something tangible!
The three of them simultaneously felt a shudder from the depths of their Souls; their legs went weak, and they almost knelt directly!
What kind of spirit ring was that?
They had never seen it, nor even heard of it!
But that aura was definitely far beyond any Spirit Master lord they had ever seen!
Fear instantly overwhelmed them.
"Spi... Spirit Master... You've become a Spirit Master?!"
The Old Matron's voice was shrill, filled with disbelief and fear.
"Get out."
The Old Matron's face was as pale as paper, and she didn't dare say another word, scrambling out of the room.
The two servant women also hurriedly helped up their companion from the ground and ran off in a panic, as if a vengeful ghost were chasing them.
The room fell silent instantly.
Huo Yuner looked at her son, her eyes filled with shock, confusion, and a trace of undetectable worry.
"Yuhao, you... you've really become a Spirit Master? That spirit ring just now..."
"Mom, it's true."
Huo Yuhao turned around and held his mother's cold hand, his tone firm.
"I encountered a great Opportunity and am now a Spirit Master. We have the ability to leave this place and live a better life."
His gaze swept over this dilapidated and damp little room, which was filled with more than ten years of their bitterness and humiliation, his eyes resolute.
"There is nothing here worth our nostalgia anymore. That man and this cold mansion were never our home."
Huo Yuner's tears instantly flowed down. Leave?
It wasn't that she hadn't thought about it, but as a weak woman with a child, where could she go after leaving the Duke's Mansion?
But now, her son had become a noble Spirit Master and seemed to possess incredible power...
"But... Yuhao, our registration contracts are still in the Madam's hands; she won't let us go so easily..."
Huo Yuner said worriedly.
"If she doesn't release them, she'll have to," a cold light flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes. "I will make her 'willingly' let us go."
He helped his mother sit down: "Mom, you rest first. Once I finish handling the last bit of business, we will leave this cage."
Huo Yuhao walked to the corner and picked up the White Tiger Dagger.
He looked at this dagger, his gaze complex.
In his previous life, he left with this dagger, his heart filled with hatred and fear toward the Duke's Mansion.
In this life, he still had to leave with this dagger, but his mindset was already different.
This was not an escape, but a severing of the past and the beginning of a new life!
His fingers brushed over the cold blade as he whispered softly, yet it was like making a vow:
"White Tiger Dukes Mansion, Dai Hao... today I, Huo Yuhao, sever all family ties with this place."
"When we meet again in the future, we will be strangers, or... enemies!"
The youth tightened his grip on the dagger, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, as he pushed open the door and strode out.
Sunlight spilled over him, as if draping him in a golden battle robe.
He knew there might still be obstacles ahead, but he was fearless.
A new life would be carved out by himself, one stroke at a time!
Huo Yuhao carried his mother on his back, walking steadily along the official road.
Although he was young, his physique as a rank eleven Spirit Master, combined with the initial transformation of his body by the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, made carrying his mother not too taxing.
Huo Yuner leaned against her son's narrow back, feeling his determination and strength, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Leaving that cage that had trapped her for half her life brought anxiety and confusion, but more than anything, a sense of unprecedented ease and liberation.
She gently wrapped her arms around her son's neck, pressing her face against his back, weeping silently yet smiling without a sound.
"Mom, let's go to Star Luo City first."
Huo Yuhao turned his head and said to his mother, "It's the most prosperous place, and there are plenty of opportunities."
"We'll settle down first, then I'll find a way to nurse you back to health."
"Mhm, I'll listen to you," Huo Yuner replied softly. She now trusted her son completely.
"Wow, kid, I didn't realize you were so responsible."
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's voice echoed in Huo Yuhao's mind, tinged with a bit of teasing and a hint of admiration.
"But with only rank eleven spirit power, it won't be easy to make a living in a big city."
"I know, Brother Tianmeng."
Huo Yuhao responded in his mind, "That's why I need your help. How far can your Spiritual Detection reach?"
"Hmph, so now you know to ask for my help?"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm snorted proudly. "Even though my strength is barely one-ten-thousandth of what it was, covering nearly half a city with Spiritual Detection is no problem at all!"
"I guarantee I can even find which house has a mouse stealing food!"
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao was overjoyed. This was undoubtedly his greatest asset right now.
"Great. When we enter the city, please help me keep an eye out, Brother Tianmeng, for a cheap and safe place to stay."
"And also where they buy Spirit Beast Materials or where low-level Spirit Masters are needed for help."
"Leave it to me!"
With a goal in mind, Huo Yuhao's pace quickened.
After walking for about half a day, the silhouette of a towering and majestic city finally appeared on the horizon.
The high city walls and the endless stream of people all showcased the prosperity of the Star Luo Empire's capital.
After paying a small entry tax, Huo Yuhao walked into Star Luo City with his mother on his back.
The noise and bustle within the city made Huo Yuner, who had lived in the servants' quarters of the Dukes Mansion her whole life, feel a bit overwhelmed; she instinctively gripped her son's clothes.
Huo Yuhao was quite calm; in his past life, he had seen cities in the God Realm far more magnificent than this.
While comforting his mother, he said in his mind, "Brother Tianmeng, I'm counting on you."
"Just watch!"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm immediately got to work, invisible spiritual waves radiating outward from Huo Yuhao as the center.
Instantly, the massive and complex flow of information from Star Luo City surged into Huo Yuhao's mind like a tide.
It was then quickly filtered and organized by the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, who fed the useful information back to him.
"Go into the third alley on the left. There's an old lady renting out a small, independent courtyard. The environment is quiet, and the price is reasonable."
"There's a medicinal herb shop in the East City Market with a sign saying they buy Spirit Beast Materials over ten years old and some specific herbs."
"There are many tasks posted outside the Mercenary Guild. There are a few escort missions for herb gathering with low requirements—a One-ring Spirit Master will do..."
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm provided intelligence efficiently, like a top-tier radar and information processing center.
Huo Yuhao felt greatly reassured; with this ability, the difficulty of establishing a foothold in this city was significantly reduced.
Following Tianmeng's guidance, he first found the small courtyard for rent.
The landlord was a kind old woman. Seeing that although Huo Yuhao was young, his eyes were clear and steady.
And since he was carrying his sick mother, her heart softened, and she rented the courtyard to them at a very low price.
Although the yard was small, with only one bedroom and a tiny kitchen.
But it was clean and tidy, and being a separate unit, it offered good privacy. Huo Yuhao was very satisfied and carefully settled his mother onto the bed.
"Mom, you rest well first. I'm going out to buy some food and supplies, and then see if there's a way to make some money."
Huo Yuhao tucked in the corners of his mother's quilt.
"Yuhao, thank you for your hard work... be careful."
Huo Yuner urged.
"Don't worry, Mom."
After leaving the courtyard, Huo Yuhao first went to buy some light food and daily necessities to bring home.
Then he headed toward the East City Market.
He needed to earn his first gold coin as soon as possible; his mother's medicine couldn't be interrupted.
The market was bustling with people, incredibly lively.
Huo Yuhao was about to check out the herb shop Tianmeng mentioned when the conversation of a few nearby Spirit Masters caught his attention.
"Have you heard? Something seems to have happened over at Shrek Academy!"
"What's wrong? What could happen to the continent's number one academy?"
"It seems a Genius Disciple from the Inner Court had a mishap during Cultivation, causing a Spirit backlash."
"I heard it's a girl whose Spirit is an extremely powerful flame, but she couldn't control it and almost burned down the training grounds!"
"Hiss... that powerful? What happened next?"
"Later, it was supposedly suppressed temporarily by the academy's experts, but I heard it can't be cured and could erupt again at any time."
"The academy's higher-ups are all having a headache now. She's such a promising talent, what a pity..."
"Yeah, I heard her name was Ma... Ma-something-Tao?"
"Ma Xiaotao! Yes, that's the name!"
Ma Xiaotao!
Hearing this name, Huo Yuhao's footsteps instantly halted, and his heart skipped a beat.
Although he had long known they would meet again, he hadn't expected to hear news of her so soon, and in such a manner.
The evil fire losing control... in his past life, under Tang San's manipulation, it was a problem he solved using Extreme Ice, which became the starting point of the complex entanglements between him, Wang Donger (Tang Wutong), and her.
In this life...
Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered.
"Brother Tianmeng."
"I'm here, kid."
"Can you roughly sense the direction of Shrek Academy? Or can you capture those powerful flame energy fluctuations?"
"Uh... it's a bit far. Star Luo City isn't close to Shrek."
"However..."
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm seemed to be sensing carefully. "If that flame energy erupts violently again, I should be able to vaguely catch a sense of the direction."
"What, are you interested in that little girl?"
Huo Yuhao didn't answer, only casting a deep look toward the general direction of Shrek Academy.
Ma Xiaotao...
Evil Fire Phoenix...
This might be an opportunity.
An opportunity to completely escape Tang San's script, to get to know her in his own way and solve her problem.
At the same time, it could also be a massive challenge.
Without Tang San's arrangements, how could he approach her?
And how could he gain the trust of those experts at Shrek Academy?
Huo Yuhao rubbed his chin, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.
"It seems I need to make money and increase my strength even faster."
He turned and walked firmly toward the medicinal herb shop.
Step one: establish a foothold.
Step two: accumulate strength.
Step three... Shrek Academy, Ma Xiaotao, I, Huo Yuhao, will be there soon!