The flow of time in the Douluo Divine Realm and the Douluo Continent was entirely different, so even Tang San couldn't monitor the continent at all times.
How did Ye Wen know this? Because he could clearly see Huo Yun'er's soul still lingering around Huo Yuer.
In the original storyline, there was no explicit mention of what Huo Yun'er's spirit was. However, based on Huo Yuhao's spirit, it was likely a Body Spirit. Unfortunately, her low status meant she hadn't received proper cultivation.
Logically speaking, spirit masters with Body Spirits should possess considerable innate soul power.
But why hadn't Huo Yun'er been nurtured? Could it simply be because of her low status? Yet as Dai Hao's personal maid, she shouldn't have been so lowly that she couldn't even cultivate.
"Was it fear of the Body Sect coming to take her away? But due to his possessiveness, Dai Hao chose to bury Huo Yun'er's existence completely? Dai Hao, you truly are a selfish and ambitious man through and through," Ye Wen sneered coldly.
Suddenly, Ye Wen heard Huo Yuer say:
"Mother, I'm leaving.
Watch over me from above. No matter how much effort it takes, one day I will return and crush everything here beneath my feet. From now on, I will take your surname and change my name to Huo Yuer. I will avenge you. From this moment forward, there is no more Dai Yuer—only Huo Yuer."
Though she was only a frail 12-year-old girl, the astonishing determination she displayed left Ye Wen deeply impressed.
"No wonder she is the favored child of this era. Though her natural talent and strength are both weak, this resolve of hers has earned my approval," Ye Wen remarked thoughtfully.
Ye Wen had already intended to rectify past regrets, and now that young Huo Yuhao had transformed into Huo Yuer, it stirred even more compassion within him—after all, Ye Wen was still the father of many children.
Such a good girl shouldn't end up as someone who grovels for affection in the future.
With this in mind, Ye Wen deliberately stepped forward and snapped a dry branch underfoot.
*Snap.*
"?! Who's there!" Huo Yuer quickly turned around like a startled beast, her eyes filled with fear and panic.
But soon, her expression changed, brightening slightly, and a trace of resolve appeared.
She pulled out her mother Huo Yun'er's heirloom—the White Tiger Dagger—and fiercely confronted Ye Wen.
"That wretched woman still won't let me go, will she?! Fine then, I'll fight you to the death!"
With these words, she charged forward recklessly, seemingly intent on taking Ye Wen down with her.
Ye Wen felt somewhat helpless. Without proper education, Huo Yuer talked too much before fighting, and her movements were exaggerated, full of openings.
Ye Wen didn't even dodge; with a quick flick of his finger, he sent Huo Yuer crashing to the ground.
"Mmm… waaahhh…"
Lying on the ground, Huo Yuer became acutely aware of the vast gap in strength between herself and Ye Wen. Overwhelmed by despair, tears streamed down her face.
Huo Yuer realized she had run to this desolate wilderness, fulfilling the malicious intentions of the Duke's wife.
"Mother, I'm useless… waaahhh… I'm about to join you soon."
Seeing Ye Wen approach, Huo Yuer closed her eyes in resignation, her heart heavy with guilt toward her late mother.
She had just resolved to begin her revenge, but now…
Yet after a long while, the anticipated pain didn't come, leaving Huo Yuer puzzled. Why hadn't the assassin finished her off yet?
At this moment, a warm hand gently touched the spot where Huo Yuer had been struck.
"Does it still hurt? Sorry about that; I instinctively used a bit too much force.
But you can't blame Uncle for that—it's not like you didn't try to stab me with that dagger first. Anyone would defend themselves."
Ye Wen's soothing voice reached Huo Yuer's ears, leaving her bewildered.
Cautiously opening her eyes, Huo Yuer's sharp vision clearly captured Ye Wen's gentle face in her mind.
Before she could react further, Ye Wen lifted the girl's body from the ground and set her upright.
'Sigh.' No wonder this counterpart of Huo Yuhao evoked such pity—she weighed less than 100 pounds at this age, barely developed. If not for her long hair, Ye Wen might not have even recognized her as a girl.
"Uncle, who are you?" Huo Yuer asked timidly, now fully aware that she had jumped to conclusions earlier. She realized he was probably just a passerby.
However, when answering Huo Yuer's question, Ye Wen hesitated. He couldn't exactly say he was a god—that would make him sound insane.
"As for me, just think of me as a wandering soul master passing through," Ye Wen said in a slightly peculiar tone, trying to reassure the frightened girl.
Upon hearing the term "soul master," Huo Yuer's eyes lit up, but they quickly dimmed again.
Years of life in the White Tiger Duke's manor hadn't granted Huo Yuer any privileges, but it had taught her the harsh realities of human nature. She knew there was no such thing as unconditional kindness.
"Soul master cultivation ultimately depends on oneself," Huo Yuer thought bitterly, biting her lower lip.
Though she had long dreamed of avenging herself against the White Tiger Duke's family, her innate soul power of level one forced her to confront reality.
Her immediate priority now was to obtain her first soul ring and survive.
Ye Wen seemed to sense the inner struggles of this resilient girl and spoke kindly.
"Is something wrong?"
Huo Yuer shook her head decisively, then bowed slightly in apology.
"Nothing, Uncle. I'm sorry for troubling you earlier. I mistook you for an enemy. Please forgive me."
Though Huo Yuer hadn't received formal education from the White Tiger Duke's household, her respectful demeanor pleased Ye Wen greatly.
He even noticed Huo Yun'er's soul behind Huo Yuer seem to exhale in relief.
"Dai Hao, you truly deserve to die," Ye Wen thought darkly. Such a gentle beauty had been cruelly abandoned and died tragically, still thinking of Dai Hao—a scumbag—until her last breath. It was truly lamentable.
Suddenly, Ye Wen's brows twitched as a familiar divine presence entered his awareness.
"Though it has grown deeper and more refined, there's no mistaking this aura—it's definitely Tang San.
But does he plan to act now?"
Having already decided to immerse himself in this situation, Ye Wen naturally didn't want Tang San to succeed.
With a slight wave of his hand, a suction force emerged, and Huo Yun'er's soul was abruptly absorbed into Ye Wen's storage space.
?
Tang San in the God Realm was momentarily stunned.
Where had the soul of the destined child's mother gone?
Unwilling to give up, Tang San scanned the area several more times but still found no trace.
"Damn it, has she already returned to the underworld? Looks like I'll need to put in more effort to find her," Tang San thought, his surveillance vanishing shortly afterward.
Ye Wen's eyes turned cold. Tang San was still the same Tang San—arrogant and reckless whenever he gained a bit of power. With someone like him as an enforcer god, it was no wonder the God Realm was in chaos.
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