[?]
Looking at the white-haired siblings in front of him, Huo Yuhao slowly typed a question mark into his diary.
[What's going on here? I just arrived at the border of the Sun Moon Empire, and I've already run into Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen?]
[Could it be that if Tang San hadn't secretly interfered, I would've naturally come to the Sun Moon Empire after obtaining the Skydream Iceworm's spirit ring and Electrolux's divine shard in the Great Star Dou Forest, and met Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen?]
[But instead, Tang San's interference caused me to feel concern from Tang Ya and Bei Bei earlier on, prompting me to join Tang Sect, then use their recommendation to enter Shrek Academy, and completely fall into Tang San's ten-thousand-year scheme?]
Huo Yuhao figured the truth was probably just as he suspected. After all, if he wanted revenge against the Duke's Estate of the White Tiger, the best route would definitely be joining the Sun Moon Empire, and ultimately defeating that so-called father of his on the battlefield.
But no matter what the original course was, he was already here in the Sun Moon Empire, and Tang the Buddha's grand plan no longer applied to him.
With that thought, Huo Yuhao flipped the grilled fish in his hand and smiled as he said:
"My name is Huo Yuhao."
Xiao Hongchen nodded to show he'd remembered, while Meng Hongchen, after seeing the new entry in Huo Yuhao's diary, had a glint of cunning in her eye and a sense of smugness in her heart.
'Even though I'm probably not the only one with a diary replica, I should be the first to actually meet Huo Yuhao, right? Hehehe, little Yuhao, big sis is definitely dragging you into the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy!'
'He just said earlier he was thinking of ways to join the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, and as the granddaughter of the dean, isn't it totally logical and reasonable for me to recruit a genius while out on a relaxing stroll?'
With this in mind, Meng Hongchen bit into the grilled fish with her rosy lips. The flavor spread through her taste buds and into her brain, lighting up her eyes.
"Wow, this is delicious!"
Xiao Hongchen nodded rapidly in agreement:"Absolutely, absolutely! Yuhao, your grilled fish skills are insane!"
Huo Yuhao shrugged with a helpless look and said:"No choice, didn't have much to eat growing up. Got better at it with practice."
Xiao Hongchen paused mid-bite. Even though Huo Yuhao looked younger, why did he feel like this guy had lived through a whole saga already? Was it just his imagination?
While Xiao Hongchen was puzzled, Meng Hongchen blinked and asked curiously:
"Yuhao, why are you alone at the border? This place borders the Star Luo Empire, and war could break out anytime. It's not exactly safe."
Huo Yuhao, focused on his fish, replied faintly:"I escaped here from the Star Luo Empire."
Someone from the Star Luo Empire?
Xiao Hongchen paused again. Though surprised, he wasn't shocked.
He knew plenty of people from the Star Luo, Heaven Dou, and Dou Ling Empires had snuck into the Sun Moon Empire over the years. Clearly, this boy named Huo Yuhao was one of them.
Still, Huo Yuhao's distant gaze and the story-filled aura around him made Xiao Hongchen blurt out:
"You said you escaped from the Star Luo Empire? Did something happen to your family?"
Meng Hongchen gave Xiao Hongchen a reproachful look. Shouldn't she be the one asking that? Her brother didn't even know Huo Yuhao was a destiny-blessed protagonist, yet why did he seem unusually interested?
Even Xiao Hongchen couldn't explain it, but he genuinely felt a strong interest in Huo Yuhao, like he needed to understand what this boy had been through.
Huo Yuhao didn't hide anything. Instead, he laid it all out: he was the third son of the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, but harbored an irreconcilable hatred for him.
Xiao Hongchen was shocked at first upon hearing his identity, but that shock quickly turned into understanding as Huo Yuhao explained everything. Why he fled to the Sun Moon Empire, and why that identity brought only pain.
To Huo Yuhao, the title of White Tiger Duke's third son wasn't an honor — it was a curse!
Which meant one thing: Huo Yuhao was practically destined to join the Sun Moon Empire.
For someone bent on revenge against the White Tiger Duke, what better option than to join the Sun Moon Empire?
And Meng Hongchen, knowing even more behind-the-scenes details, now loathed the false god-king Tang San even more — that god sitting high above who dared to toy with Huo Yuhao's fate.
The hatred between Huo Yuhao and the Duke's estate was absolute, yet Tang San manipulated everything so that Huo Yuhao gave up on revenge. Worst of all, that disgusting man even forced him to change his name to Dai Yuhao.
Just thinking about it made one physically uncomfortable.
No wonder Huo Yuhao had said Tang San's so-called master plan was all about reshaping him into a loyal, selfless dog.
Fortunately, Huo Yuhao now saw through that scheme. No way he'd ever become Tang San's lapdog.
Recalling what Huo Yuhao had written about his martial soul and spirit skills — that even the upper ranks of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy would treasure him — Meng Hongchen smiled and asked:
"Yuhao, are you a Soul Master? With the White Tiger Duke's strength and status, taking revenge won't be easy."
Under Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen's gazes, Huo Yuhao released his spirit power without hesitation. A ring of luminous white rose up from his feet.
A faint golden sheen covered his deep blue eyes. Both Meng and Xiao could feel the soul energy in his gaze — and a spiritual ripple that made their minds blur for a second.
"A spiritual-type martial soul? With only a ten-year spirit ring?"
Xiao Hongchen was surprised, his gaze locked onto Huo Yuhao's glowing eyes.
"Yuhao, can you tell me what your martial soul is?"
Huo Yuhao pointed at his eyes."Spirit Eyes."
"Ah, no wonder it's a spiritual type. A body martial soul then? Even with just one ring, and a white one at that — if you've got me backing you, getting into the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy won't be a problem!"
Xiao Hongchen grinned. Given Huo Yuhao's vendetta, there was no way he'd let him go elsewhere!
At that moment, Huo Yuhao activated Skydream Iceworm's skill — Spiritual Detection and Sharing — linking it to both Xiao and Meng Hongchen.
On the surface, nothing changed. But the white-haired siblings suddenly stiffened, their eyes filled with shock.
Time seemed to slow down. Everything around them became unnaturally clear. Information flooded their minds. Every detail was laid bare.
Within a 50-meter radius, they didn't need eyes. Everything was mentally rendered in perfect 3D. Even the slightest motion triggered an immediate brain update.
"Holy crap! What is this?! Yuhao, is this your spirit skill?!"
Xiao Hongchen couldn't contain himself. He leaped into the air, ecstatic beyond words.
Huo Yuhao nodded."This is my first spirit skill — Spiritual Detection and Sharing."
Xiao Hongchen took a deep breath, rushed to Huo Yuhao, grabbed both hands, and spoke with heartfelt urgency:
"Yuhao, you must join us at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy! We need geniuses like you!"
(End of Chapter)