After Leng Yaozhu left, only Dai Yuhao and the tall Han Tianyi remained in the room. The silence was heavy, broken only by the hum of the tower's energy.
Dai Yuhao looked up at the figure that stood like an iron tower. His small hands unconsciously clenched into fists, and his heart couldn't help but feel a sense of instinctive fear that a child has when facing an unknown powerhouse. To his young eyes, this man was as vast and imposing as the sky itself.
Han Tianyi's gaze merely narrowed slightly, and Dai Yuhao felt his whole body lighten, as if being lifted by an invisible and gentle force. It was as if the air around him had suddenly become a soft, supporting cushion.
Subsequently, his entire person actually floated up slowly until his line of sight was level with the standing Han Tianyi. This sudden feeling of suspension caused his eyes to widen slightly. He let out a small gasp, dangling his legs in the empty air as he tried to find his balance in this weightless state.
On Han Tianyi's serious face, a strange smile appeared at this moment. He stared at Dai Yuhao and asked slowly, "Kid, what exactly is your relationship with Vice Tower Master Leng?"
Dai Yuhao blinked his large, watery, and innocent eyes and replied, "Relationship? There's no special relationship. But Auntie Leng is very good to me; she took me to eat many delicious things I've never had before!"
His tone was full of pure gratitude and happiness, without a hint of falsehood or concealment. To a boy who had spent his life eating scraps, the simple act of being fed was the ultimate proof of a person's character.
Seeing the genuine innocence on the child's face, a glint flashed in Han Tianyi's eyes. He was a master of the mind, and he could see that the boy wasn't lying. He knew he wouldn't get any deeper inside information even if he asked further because the boy truly didn't know anything else.
The stern lines he had deliberately held on his face softened, revealing a smile that was slightly stiff but tried to appear kind. It was clear that the old man wasn't used to smiling at children, but he was making an effort for his guest.
"Vice Tower Master Leng took you to eat good things, so... this old man will also take you to taste some other 'good things'!"
"How about it? I guarantee it's a flavor you've never tried before."
The words "good things" held a great attraction for Dai Yuhao. In his world, that phrase was synonymous with the kindness he had found in this strange place.
The fear in his eyes was instantly replaced by curiosity and expectation. Looking at Han Tianyi with sparkling eyes, he nodded repeatedly, "Okay! Thank you, Elder Han!"
"Then let's go."
Han Tianyi didn't say much more. With a slight thought, the invisible force supporting Dai Yuhao steadily placed him back on the ground. The transition was so smooth that the boy barely felt his feet touch the floor.
With a gentle flick of his sleeve, the wall slid open silently, revealing a passage behind it that extended downward, glowing with a faint, crystalline white luster. It looked like a path made of pure starlight.
"Keep up, kid!"
Han Tianyi glanced back at Dai Yuhao and took the lead into the passage. His steps were silent, as if he were gliding through the air rather than walking on solid ground.
Dai Yuhao quickly moved his short legs to follow, his heart both nervous and filled with infinite curiosity about the "flavor never tried before"... This time, Dai Yuhao's "dream" lasted for a full month before he "woke up."
His consciousness seemed to penetrate an invisible boundary, re-perceiving the hard bedboard beneath him, the familiar faint dampness in the air, and his mother's gentle breathing. The cold reality of his life at the Duke's Mansion crashed back into him like a wave.
He opened his eyes, and what came into view was the familiar ceiling of his own small room, which had tiny cracks. It was a stark contrast to the gleaming white halls of the Spirit Pagoda he had just left.
Compared to the clean, bright, and carefree life at the Spirit Pagoda, life in this remote small courtyard of the White Tiger Dukes Mansion really seemed a bit dim and hard to endure. Every breath of the stale air was a reminder of his status here.
However, this month's "dream" experience didn't make Dai Yuhao spoiled. He had a maturity beyond his years, born from a life where nothing was ever given freely.
He didn't feel the slightest bit of dislike for the poverty before him because, to him, being able to stay with his mother, Huo Yuner, was the greatest happiness and satisfaction. She was his anchor in both worlds.
In the following days, that strange "dream" would still descend irregularly. Whenever he closed his eyes in the mansion, he would find himself back in the future world, learning and growing.
Every time he "fell asleep," the time and experiences would perfectly connect with the previous "dream." It was as if he were living two separate lives simultaneously, jumping between them with every blink.
Auntie Leng's careful guidance, the special dishes from Elder Han that could make his body feel warm, and all kinds of novel knowledge and things he encountered... everything continued in an orderly fashion. He learned about soul tools, battle armor, and the history of a world he didn't yet understand.
His Spirit was originally eyes with a brain. Although it hadn't undergone Awakening yet, the growth of his intelligence far exceeded that of an ordinary child. His mind was like a sponge, soaking up every bit of information provided by his mentors.
Therefore, as his age and experience grew, he gradually discovered abnormalities! The line between the dream and reality began to blur in ways that logic couldn't explain.
For example, the hidden injuries left by being bullied in the Dukes Mansion—when they were healed in the "dream," those injuries were gone after he woke up. The bruises would vanish, and the dull aches in his bones would disappear overnight.
For another example, after eating many good things in the "dream" and gaining quite a bit of weight, he would quietly pinch his own face and arms after waking up and find them to be a bit rounder as well. He was growing stronger and healthier than any servant child should be.
These anomalies made Dai Yuhao realize that the World with Auntie Leng and countless novel things might... not be a dream. It was too consistent, too physical, and too impactful to be a mere figment of his imagination.
It might be another truly existing World, and he, in some incomprehensible way, could travel between the two Worlds. He was a bridge between the past and the future, though he didn't yet know the significance of that role.
Afterward, Dai Yuhao began to investigate carefully. Through indirect questioning and listening to the stories Elder Han told, he also confirmed one thing: the other World he went to might be the World of 10,000 years later.
These "abnormalities" that Dai Yuhao could discover were naturally even more impossible to ignore for Leng Yaozhu, who had been closely following him. She watched him with a mix of wonder and suspicion, tracking his progress with a keen eye.
She clearly noticed the subtle changes in the child's physical condition, but because it wasn't a personal experience and her thinking was limited by inherent cognitive frameworks, she struggled to accept the truth.
She attributed all these incredible phenomena to that hypothetical "mastermind behind the scenes." She believed someone was using the boy as a vessel for some grand experiment.
As for the truth that was close at hand, she didn't quite dare to think in that direction; after all, that conclusion was even more unbelievable! The idea of time travel was a myth even in her advanced era.
Time flowed like a quiet, deep stream, silently passing by. The seasons changed, and with each passing year, the boy in the mansion grew stronger, while the boy in the tower grew wiser.
The three-year period Leng Yaozhu had been waiting for finally came to an end. The anticipation that had been building within her was reaching a breaking point.
Now, she would welcome that long-awaited and anxious moment of verification. The day of awakening had finally arrived.
"Yuhao."
Leng Yaozhu looked at the boy in front of her, who had grown much taller. He no longer looked like the starving waif she had pulled from the forest.
Over three years, under Han Tianyi's meticulous care, the thin and weak young child of the past had long since undergone a complete transformation. His skin was clear, and his posture was filled with a new-found confidence.
Now, Dai Yuhao's posture was upright, his complexion was rosy and healthy, his eyes were clear and spirited, and his whole body was filled with surging Qi and blood. He radiated a vitality that was almost palpable.
The level of his Foundation's solidity was by no means inferior to any direct descendant of a Prestigious Family who had been cultivated with resources since childhood. In fact, with the help of a 98Rank Douluo, his foundation was likely even superior.
"Aunt Leng!"
Dai Yuhao raised his head at the sound, a bright smile immediately blooming on his face as he called out affectionately. He trusted her more than anyone else in this future world.
Three years of spending time together and careful guidance had already made the relationship between the two closer; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were like mother and son. She had provided the care his biological father never had.
Leng Yaozhu reached out and habitually rubbed his soft hair, a smile on her lips. "The Spirit Awakening is about to take place. Are you... nervous?"
She asked Dai Yuhao, but deep in her eyes, a trace of an almost imperceptible ripple flickered. Her own hands were slightly trembling hidden within her long sleeves.
Heaven knows, the one whose heart was currently churning so much it was almost uncontrollable was actually herself. She was about to find out if her gamble on this boy would pay off.
In three years, all the mysteries would reach their final answer in the upcoming ceremony. The truth of his lineage and his potential would be laid bare.
Dai Yuhao's eyes were bright as he tried to maintain a calm appearance, the corners of his mouth turning up. "I'm okay, Aunt Leng. I'm not nervous."
Leng Yaozhu's gaze swept over his small hands, which were unconsciously clenched into fists with slightly whitening knuckles. She saw the same tension in him that she felt in herself.
She couldn't help but chuckle inwardly: This child's stubborn appearance is quite cute. Even at six, he was already trying to hide his emotions behind a mask of indifference.
How could Dai Yuhao not be nervous? This was the moment he had dreamed of every night in the Duke's Mansion.
On the Douluo Continent, the Spirit Awakening at the age of six is truly the turning point that determines the trajectory of a person's fate. It is the line between being a master of one's destiny or a slave to others.
If one can awaken a powerful Spirit, they can step onto the path of a Spirit Master, possessing the possibility of changing their own and even their Family's fate, gaining power, status, and respect. They would no longer be a bug to be stepped on.
If one awakens a Trash Spirit, they are destined to disappear into the crowd and spend their life in mediocrity. For Yuhao, that would mean returning to the Duke's Mansion to be bullied forever.
Furthermore, Dai Yuhao still hid a burning expectation in his heart. A hope that he hadn't even shared with Auntie Leng.
His mother, Huo Yuner, had softly told him that the White Tiger Clan possessed the Legacy Spirit "Evil Eyes White Tiger," which was a symbol of strength and glory. It was the mark of the Duke's bloodline.
As long as he could awaken the Evil Eyes White Tiger Spirit, he would... have the qualification to walk upright in front of his father. He believed that power was the only way to earn the respect he so desperately craved.
"Let's go."
Leng Yaozhu's gentle and calm voice sounded at the right time, interrupting the messy thoughts churning in Dai Yuhao's mind. She provided the stability he needed to take this final step.
She reached out her hand, and Dai Yuhao subconsciously placed his slightly sweaty small hand into that warm and dry palm. He felt her strength flow into him, calming his racing heart.
Leng Yaozhu led him through the quiet corridors inside the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, walking toward the special Awakening Room. Every step brought him closer to a future that would change the world forever.