"Huo Yuhao greets Your Majesty."
Following the guard into the imperial study, Huo Yuhao came before the Star Luo Emperor.
When his gaze brushed past the imposing man standing to one side, a barely perceptible ripple flashed through his eyes—then quickly settled back into calm.
"Hahaha, rise at once!"
The Star Luo Emperor, who had been writing with bold strokes, set aside his brush and personally stepped forward to help the bowing youth to his feet.
He examined Huo Yuhao carefully, his tone brimming with admiration.
"As expected of the continent's number one genius—truly extraordinary in bearing!"
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly.
"Your Majesty overpraises me."
"Haha, no need for modesty. You should show the same spirit you displayed when facing the Sun Moon team alone on the arena."
The Star Luo Emperor's expression turned serious as he spoke directly:
"Yuhao, I summoned you here to ask—would you be willing to join my Star Luo Empire?"
"Do not refuse too quickly. I know you are not truly a student of Shrek."
"If you are willing to enter the service of Star Luo…"
"I promise to devote the empire's full resources to aid your cultivation. I can even grant you a hereditary marquisate—bestow land and title upon you as a king!"
At these words, the White Tiger Duke beside them was slightly taken aback.
Such terms—
even a Titled Douluo might never attain.
But recalling the talent the youth had displayed, it seemed only fitting.
He looked toward Huo Yuhao.
For reasons he could not explain,
as he gazed at the boy,
a strange feeling stirred within his heart.
At that moment,
Huo Yuhao spoke.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's great favor, but I aspire to roam the world freely and do not wish to be bound."
"My participation in the Spirit Master Tournament was also due to an agreement."
"You truly will not reconsider? The Star Luo Empire would not restrict your freedom."
"My ambitions do not lie here."
"Ah…"
The Star Luo Emperor let out a long sigh and said regretfully,
"Since your mind is set, I will not press the matter further."
"But the gates of Star Luo will always remain open to you. Today's promise will never be rescinded."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Huo Yuhao cupped his hands in salute. As he turned to leave, he suddenly paused and looked toward the White Tiger Duke.
"Duke, do you still remember Huo Yun'er?"
Without waiting for a response,
he stepped away and departed.
The White Tiger Duke was at first puzzled, then his pupils shrank abruptly.
"Yun… Yun'er?"
He remembered the personal maid his mother had left by his side—
the delicate young woman who had accompanied him before he ever donned armor and went to war.
A realization struck him like lightning. His face turned deathly pale as he suddenly looked up toward the direction the youth had left, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Co… could it be…? That's impossible!"
Seeing the drastic change in the White Tiger Duke's expression, the Star Luo Emperor asked with concern:
"My worthy brother, what troubles you so?"
The White Tiger Duke closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his voice trembling.
"Your Majesty, permit me to return to my residence to verify a certain matter."
Watching the White Tiger Duke hurry away,
the Star Luo Emperor's expression turned thoughtful.
After a long silence,
he said calmly:
"Investigate."
From the shadows of the study came a hoarse reply.
"Yes."
...
Huo Yuhao was not as composed as he appeared.
The cool air filled his lungs, then was slowly exhaled.
The image of his mother clutching his hands at her deathbed remained vivid before his eyes; her weak, repeated admonitions still echoed in his ears…
"Do not hate your father."
In that dilapidated courtyard, year after year, as flowers bloomed and withered,
his mother had always tended the white begonia blossoms—the White Tiger Duke's favorite—so that they flourished in abundance.
Yet until the very end of her life, she had never seen that man again.
"In this lifetime…"
"I will never forgive him."
"I will not change my surname. My name is Huo—Huo Yuhao."
Cultivation could dispel all distracting thoughts.
After leaving the imperial study,
Huo Yuhao did not return to Star Luo Plaza, but instead went straight back to the Star Emperor Hotel to focus on his training.
It was not until the following morning
that Zhang Lexuan lightly knocked on his door.
Only then did Huo Yuhao set out on the return journey with the rest of Shrek.
As for the Sun Moon team, who had been absent from both the award ceremony and the banquet, they had already returned to their empire ahead of time.
...
Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy — Illustrious Virtue Hall.
Within the spacious main hall,
metallic furnishings gleamed faintly under cold light.
Though the décor appeared simple, it exuded a heavy technological aura; every detail concealed hidden intricacies.
At the very front of the hall,
a plaque hung high above.
The three dark-golden characters "Illustrious Virtue Hall" seemed almost alive, radiating an austere chill.
"H-Hall Master, I failed in leading the team. I am willing to accept punishment."
Elder Ma knelt in the center of the hall with his head lowered, fear evident on his rugged face.
Seated at the front of the hall
was a short, plump middle-aged man.
His reddish-brown hair draped casually over his shoulders, accentuating his fair, round face and kindly smile.
"This matter is not your fault."
"No one could have anticipated that Shrek would produce such an unprecedented genius."
"As for the lost soul tools, I will personally go to Shrek to retrieve them."
"Shrek has been vigorously developing soul tools. Though those Level-8 soul tools are outdated, they must not be allowed to strengthen an enemy."
His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.
"And that Huo Yuhao—a twelve-year-old Titled Douluo. Does such a monstrous genius truly exist in this world?"
Hearing the man's murmur, Elder Ma felt uncertain.
This was vastly different from the Hall Master's usual temperament.
He cautiously raised his head. When he saw the faint smile on the Hall Master's face, he finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Thank you for your leniency, Hall Master."
He was just about to rise—
when the short, plump figure stood from his seat and slowly walked toward him.
"Do you know what was gained from this trip?"
Elder Ma's heart tightened, and he hurriedly lowered his head again.
"I… I do not know. Please enlighten me, Hall Master."
"You allowed Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen to understand that there is always someone stronger, and a sky beyond the sky."
The Hall Master's voice carried a trace of approval.
"Upon their return, they immediately entered closed-door cultivation. That awareness pleases me."
This Hall Master of Illustrious Virtue Hall, barely five feet tall, could not conceal his round physique even beneath his dark robes. His fair, plump face still bore a benevolent smile.
Yet as he approached step by step,
the shadow he cast completely engulfed Elder Ma.
"But there is one thing that deeply displeases me."
Elder Ma trembled violently.
"It is understandable that the academy's juniors lost their soul tools."
"But you—as an elder of Illustrious Virtue Hall and vice dean of the academy—led the team into battle and could not even safeguard your own soul tools…"
As his words fell,
a vast surge of force erupted.
Elder Ma was blasted backward, crashing into a stone wall a hundred meters away, his entire body embedded within it.
"Go to the Discipline Hall and receive your punishment. One month of confinement."
"Y-Yes!"
Elder Ma did not even dare wipe the blood from his mouth as he staggered away in a bow.
"Shrek…"
"A twelve-year-old Titled Douluo. Twin Martial Souls. Ultimate attributes…"
A cold light flashed in the Hall Master's eyes as his figure suddenly vanished from the hall.
"Anyone who dares to touch what belongs to Illustrious Virtue Hall must repay it with interest."
"I have advanced to the Titled Douluo realm, and reached the level of a Level-9 soul engineer…"
"Even if Mu En, that old undying relic, is still alive, he must already be at the end of his life."
"I do not fear Xuan Zi. In today's Shrek—who else can stand in my way, Jing Hongchen?"
...
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