Wang Donger was stunned for a moment, seemingly still not fully recovered from the panic of just a moment ago.
It wasn't until Huo Yuhao's gaze landed on her face that she snapped back to reality and hurriedly introduced him: "This... this is my Second Dad, and he is also the Vice Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect."
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao wore an expression of just the right amount of sudden realization.
He bowed slightly, his tone carrying the natural respect and politeness a Junior shows when meeting an elder: "So it is you, Senior. Spirit Pagoda affairs are heavy, and I have not been able to find the time to visit the Clear Sky Sect. Please forgive me, Senior."
He spoke sincerely and naturally, his posture perfectly balanced—neither appearing to be deliberately currying favor nor showing any unusual nervousness.
Standing to the side watching his composed demeanor, the heart hanging in Wang Donger's chest finally settled down quite a bit.
She secretly observed Er Ming's expression. Seeing that although Er Ming still had a straight face, there were no signs of him causing trouble on the spot, she couldn't help but secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Er Ming was squinting, his gaze carefully examining Huo Yuhao from head to toe.
A trace of confusion couldn't help but arise in his heart; the child looked normal enough, with no issues.
The oracle descended by Tang San was very brief and did not provide specific details; it just told them to come and investigate Huo Yuhao's anomalies.
But as Er Ming stood here looking around, apart from his talent being even better than Tang San's, he really couldn't see anything particularly wrong with this kid.
Huo Yuhao stepped aside to clear the path, made a "please" gesture, and took the initiative to speak again: "Senior, follow me. Let's go to the reception room and sit down to chat."
Er Ming nodded expressionlessly and stepped into the elevator.
He stood behind Huo Yuhao, the elevator doors slowly closing, the metal walls reflecting the three of them.
He remained silent, the furrows in his brow not yet fully relaxed.
And standing in front of him, Huo Yuhao was far from as calm as he appeared on the surface.
His smile was appropriate, his tone composed, but the restlessness in his heart was tightly suppressed.
He knew clearly that the person standing behind him was likely a true existence standing at the Peak of the continent.
Someone who could be directly related to the Divine Realm surely had real combat power far beyond that of a simple ordinary Limit Douluo.
Huo Yuhao even secretly prepared for the other party to flip out and attack at any moment; he was genuinely worried that this Senior would not play by the rules and attack him directly.
However, observing up to now, the other party did not seem to have the intention of attacking.
Then the direction of the upcoming meeting would depend on how he performed and how he responded.
Inside the small reception room on the fourth floor of the Spirit Pagoda, warm light spilled softly over the coffee table and sofa.
Huo Yuhao, Er Ming, and Wang Donger each took their seats.
Huo Yuhao glanced at Wang Donger sitting beside him, then looked at the figure sitting opposite him, steady as a mountain, and was the first to break the silence: "Senior, you came this time to see Donger, right?"
Er Ming glanced at him, his tone indifferent: "Otherwise, could it be to see you?"
Sitting to the side, Wang Donger couldn't help but glance at Er Ming when she heard this; that wasn't what he said before.
She muttered to herself, but did not speak up to expose him.
Huo Yuhao, having been retorted to lightly, didn't mind at all; the smile on his face didn't diminish even a bit.
"It is my fault for not being able to find the time to visit the Clear Sky Sect to pay my respects to you, Senior. It is indeed my discourtesy as a Junior."
Hearing this, Er Ming snorted lightly again, picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip, but when he put the cup down, his expression suddenly became serious.
His gaze fell heavily on Huo Yuhao: "Kid, your talent is indeed good, but wanting to whisk away the little princess of my Clear Sky Sect is not such an easy matter. If you can't pass my test, don't think about being with Donger."
Wang Donger's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and she hurriedly called out: "Second Dad..."
She had only shouted two words when she was cut off by a stern look from Er Ming.
Er Ming looked at her, his tone carrying a rare solemnity: "Donger, this is also your Big Dad's intention."
Hearing this, Wang Donger's fingers, clenched on her knees, tightened involuntarily.
She didn't speak again, but a layer of nervousness clearly welled up in those powder-blue eyes.
Huo Yuhao, however, remained calm; he looked at Er Ming's stern face and asked: "Then how does one pass this test of yours, Senior?"
Er Ming looked at Huo Yuhao, was silent for a moment, and then slowly said: "Very simple, fight me."
"Second Dad!"
Wang Donger couldn't help but shout again, her voice a few decibels louder than before, carrying clear urgency and worry.
She was clear about Huo Yuhao's strength; he was a Genius far exceeding his peers, but she was equally clear about her Second Dad's strength.
That was a level standing at the Peak of the continent. No matter how much of a Genius Huo Yuhao was, he had no chance of winning in the face of absolute power.
This time Er Ming did not stand on ceremony and said coldly: "Do not speak."
He turned his gaze back to Huo Yuhao and said: "I don't require you to defeat me. As long as you perform well, it will count as passing the test. How about it?"
Er Ming had come this time burdened with Tang San's oracle, wanting to investigate the truth about Huo Yuhao.
After thinking it over, he felt that fighting Huo Yuhao directly was the most straightforward method.
He originally thought Huo Yuhao would accept the challenge; after all, this young man didn't look like a coward.
But Huo Yuhao shook his head: "Senior's strength is formidable; I am no match for you, so it's better to forget about exchanging blows with you, Senior."
Er Ming was stunned for a moment, truly not expecting Huo Yuhao to refuse so decisively.
His brows furrowed slightly, a trace of disbelief flashing in his eyes: "Is Donger not important to you at all? You aren't even willing to spar with me?"
When these words fell, Wang Donger's body stiffened slightly, and her gaze turned involuntarily toward Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao, however, was not in a hurry to explain; he first turned his head and gave Wang Donger a reassuring look.
Then he looked back at Er Ming and explained in a leisurely tone: "A challenge that is bound to end in defeat, I feel there is no need to proceed with it."
Naturally, he would not easily agree to spar with Er Ming. Who knew if there was some ulterior motive behind it?
After all, the other party was Tang San's person; he couldn't be too careful.
After catching the flash of disappointment in Wang Donger's eyes, as well as the surging anger on Er Ming's face, he shifted his tone and said: "However, once I have reached the Breakthrough to Titled Douluo, I can accompany you to exchange some moves, Senior."
"Oh?"
The anger on Er Ming's face receded quite a bit in an instant, replaced by a wave of curiosity.
His stern eyes narrowed slightly, as if re-evaluating Huo Yuhao, and his tone carried a trace of intrigued inquiry: "You think that after your Breakthrough to Titled Douluo, you won't be defeated?"
Huo Yuhao smiled: "Perhaps I will still lose, but it shouldn't be a particularly ugly defeat."
He had always had a vague feeling in his heart that the moment he truly achieved the Breakthrough to Titled Douluo, some kind of huge change would definitely occur.
That feeling had no basis; it was like some kind of intuition from the unknown, but he himself firmly believed it wouldn't be wrong.
Er Ming could naturally see Huo Yuhao's true cultivation level at this moment; it was indeed not far from the ninety-level mark of a Titled Douluo.
Er Ming weighed it in his heart and felt that waiting for a while wouldn't hurt.
After all, one day in the Divine Realm is one year in the Lower Realm; for Tang San, a few months in the Lower Realm would pass very quickly.
"Then it's a deal," Er Ming lifted his chin slightly, "Once you have your Breakthrough to Titled Douluo, we will fight."
Huo Yuhao nodded and answered crisply: "Rest assured, Senior, I will not break my promise."
Er Ming didn't say anything more; he suddenly turned his head, his gaze falling on Wang Donger, and said: "Donger, you go out first. I have some things to discuss with Huo Yuhao alone."
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A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.