Chapter Five: The Art of Conversation
“I was wrong! Isn’t it enough that I admit it? I apologize, I repent!” Desperately cornered, Tian Meng wailed.
“Alright then, I forgive you.”
Huo Yuhao, who had been scowling moments ago, suddenly broke into a smile and patted him on the forehead with satisfaction.
“Ahem…”
Tian Meng nearly felt a phantom pain in his nonexistent waist from the sudden twist. “You’re calmed down that easily? Just now you were acting like it was life or death.”
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao nodded somewhat absentmindedly, as if speaking to himself: “Tolerance.”
Uh…
To Tian Meng, watching from the side, it seemed more like self-hypnosis or brainwashing of some kind.
But he didn’t dare to point it out, fearing that Huo Yuhao would launch another fierce pursuit.
“Someone’s coming,” Tian Meng suddenly sensed two relatively weak auras approaching, their strength no more than around the fourth level.
“Can there really be others in the Star Dou Great Forest?”
Huo Yuhao frowned deeply.
…
“Yuhao? Wake up!”
Tang Ya leaned over Huohao, reaching out to gently tap his face.
“Slap!”
With a light sound and a cry of pain, Huohao instantly grasped her wrist, opening his eyes to reveal sharp golden light shining from his pupils.
Beibei, standing nearby with arms folded, suddenly tensed and relaxed her arms, ready to unleash her martial soul at any moment.
“This feeling… is he really just a first-level soul master?”
Feeling a slight sting in her brow, Beibei found it hard to believe that such a threatening aura came from this little one.
“Yuhao? You’re awake… ow~”
Tang Ya winced in pain, reflexively pulling her hand back, only to find she couldn’t break free from his grip.
“Sister Ya?”
Seeing clearly who was in front of him, Huohao released her wrist apologetically. “Sorry, I got a little nervous.”
“It’s alright…”
Tang Ya rubbed her wrist and forced a faint smile through the pain. “The Great Forest is full of all kinds of people, many of whom are villains. It’s good to be cautious.”
It really hurt.
---
Tang Ya’s heart was close to tears, feeling as if her wrist might snap.
Was Huohao’s grip too strong, or was her own strength just too weak—purely a worthless fifth-tier fighter?
“Yuhao, what exactly is your cultivation level now?”
Beibei asked with a serious expression.
“I just absorbed a soul ring, so it should be exactly level eleven,” Huohao replied, scratching his head shyly when the topic came up. “But I don’t really understand this well—I can only guess.”
“Absorbed a soul ring!”
Before Beibei could react, Tang Ya suddenly broke down, her voice trembling with disbelief. “You’re only just a first-level soul master?”
Had she fallen behind? How come every first-level soul master in the world seemed stronger than her?
“Yes. My innate soul power is relatively low; it took me five years to reach level ten. This time I came out to find a soul ring and continue my training.”
Huohao explained briefly, then stood up and dusted himself off. “Next, I want to visit Shrek Academy to see if I have a chance to enroll. If not, I’ll have to look elsewhere for an academy willing to accept me.”
No academy?
Hunting soul rings alone meant he probably had no backing forces.
Tang Ya and Beibei exchanged a glance, and Beibei suddenly realized what Tang Ya was thinking, sighing in exasperation, “What era do you think this is? Stop ruining people’s futures.”
Every day, it was like a pyramid scheme, dragging recruits to join all over the place. Even the elders in the inner sect were starting to disapprove.
They only tolerated it out of respect for their ancestors.
“What are you saying!” Tang Ya snapped back. “I’m helping him! For those with poor talent, Xuanyun Technique is the best aid, isn’t it? Besides, our Tang Sect has an open slot… isn’t that exactly what he needs?”
“…”
Listening to their argument, Huohao quietly stepped back several paces.
Although there was little evidence, judging from their attitudes, this so-called Tang Sect was clearly a sinking ship.
Before he could walk away, Tang Ya grabbed him eagerly and asked, “Little Yuhao, do you have any family?”
“No.”
Huohao instinctively touched the wooden token he held. “It’s just me now.”
“That’s wonderful! ＼(^▽^)／”
Tang Ya cheered.
Huohao twitched at the corner of his eye, forcing a stern expression as he gritted out two words: “Tol…erance!”
“Smack!”
The next moment, Tang Ya took a heavy slap to the head, while Beibei quickly pressed her down apologetically. “I’m really sorry—Sister Ya just speaks without thinking, no harm intended!”
---
Sigh~
Huohao sighed deeply and accepted the apology, then turned to take his leave. “You two are probably here to hunt soul rings as well, right? I won’t keep you. I have to head to Shrek City now.”
“Ah? But your soul power level won’t pass the entrance exam…”
Tang Ya wanted to argue further but was pulled back forcefully by Beibei.
Watching Huohao’s retreating figure, Beibei gave Tang Ya a heavy pat on the shoulder. “He’s upset right now; no matter what you say, it won’t help. Wait until later to bring up joining the Tang Sect again.”
“Later?”
Tang Ya pointed at Huohao. “Do you think… he can even get admitted?”
“I don’t know. It’s just my intuition, but he’s not ordinary.”
Beibei sighed. “If he can show outstanding combat achievements, maybe those old stubborn ones will relent.”
…
Within the Divine Realm, a blue figure watched the star grow ever brighter through the mist, a hint of joy flickering in his eyes.
Just as he predicted!
This star was the destined child born for this era. As long as he walked steadily forward, all coincidences and opportunities would surge forth, pushing him to the pinnacle.
Until he successfully ascended to godhood.
Those around him would also benefit, breaking through their limits… just like he did in the past.
A flash of reminiscence passed through the blue figure’s eyes but was quickly extinguished, his gaze returning to cold calmness.
For the greater plan, it was best to avoid such sentimental distractions.
“The tide of fate is already rushing in, and the rise of this star is unstoppable.”
With a wave of his hand, the blue figure stirred the chaotic mist into rippling waves. “All I have to do is subtly influence him at the start of his journey, and everything will unfold according to destiny…”
“Hm?”
The blue figure suddenly paused. The trajectory of the light spots symbolizing the Tang Sect’s fortune crossed paths with the star in the mist, and the possibility of their future convergence seemed to diminish.
“How can this be?”
The figure grew anxious, quickly probing with his divine sense, only to find a power of equal level rushing from afar to intercept him.
“Sea God, if there’s nothing urgent, it’s best not to interfere lightly in the mortal realm.”
“Destruction!”
Anger surged in the figure’s eyes. “You’re the one disturbing my plans, aren’t you?”